Bible League: Living His Word Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. — Colossians 3:1-2 NLT Seasickness can be a very unpleasant experience for an individual. If you have ever had motion sickness when travelling in a car or an amusement park ride, you may also be susceptible to seasickness while in a boat. The unpleasant feeling of dizziness, nausea, and fatigue is a result of a conflict in the inner ear, where the human balance mechanism resides, and the unpleasant feeling usually goes away when the motion stops. While travelling in a boat, the erratic motion on the water can cause one to be seasick. And the solution to the problem is usually to look straight ahead at a fixed point, such as the horizon. In addition, relax and breathe slowly while focusing on the breathing. It is amazing how looking straight ahead at the horizon instantly makes you feel better. Therefore, it is safe to assume that when your focus is on your immediate surroundings (the waves and the erratic motion of the boat) you feel terrible; but when your focus is on the far horizon, you are able to ride the very same unstable environment with ease. The ride of life is very similar, isn't it? Often, the wind and the waves of life can cause our souls to feel anxious, and uncomfortable in many ways. When our focus is on our immediate surroundings—problems, challenges, disappointments, and heartbreaks—the anxiety can envelop us and steal our joy and peace. The erratic motion of your lifeboat has caused you to feel seasick. But God's Word reminds us to set our sights on the far horizon, the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. God's Word reminds us to think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. We already know that we are headed to God's kingdom. We know that we are citizens of heaven; a place where there is no sorrow, no pain, and no tears. We know our God is a God of justice. We know our future is in a place where there is immense love and joy for eternity. Therefore, set your sights on the realities of heaven. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. Relax and breathe slowly while thanking God for the breath. Look straight ahead at the horizon. Remember the story of Peter walking on water? As long as Peter's eyes were on Jesus, he walked on water. Amazing! Peter literally walked on water! But as soon as he saw the wind and the waves, he began to sink. Lesson learned: keep your eyes on Jesus. The apostle Paul was beaten, stoned, left to die, was in a shipwreck, thrown into prison, rejected by friends... and yet he set his sights on heaven, not the things of earth. And as a result, we have much of the New Testament that he wrote to encourage us to do the same. We live in a world full of turmoil. We live in a very volatile world where anything could happen anytime. Amidst the chaos, there are people and acquaintances who try to influence our thoughts in one way or another. But let us heed God's Word and set our sights on what we know to be true. Let us think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. Life's "seasickness" has no hold over those whose sights are set on the realities of heaven. By Santosh Chandran, Bible League International staff, New Zealand Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading2 Samuel 13, 14 2 Samuel 13 -- Amnon and Tamar; Amnom Killed by Absalom NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Samuel 14 -- The Widow of Tekoa; Absalom Recalled NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 20:1-26 Luke 20 -- Jesus' Authority; Parable of the Tenants; Give to Caesar; Marriage at the Resurrection NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion A quarrelsome wife is as annoyingas constant dripping on a rainy day. Stopping her complaints is like trying to stop the wind or trying to hold something with greased hands. Insight Quarrelsome nagging, a steady stream of unwanted advice, is a form of torture. People nag because they think they're not getting through, but nagging hinders communication more than it helps. Challenge When tempted to engage in this destructive habit, stop and examine your motives. Are you more concerned about yourself—getting your way, being right—than about the person you are pretending to help? If you are truly concerned about other people, think of a more effective way to get through to them. Surprise them with words of patience and love, and see what happens. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Songs 2:10 Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.Lo, I hear the voice of my Beloved! He speaks to me! Fair weather is smiling upon the face of the earth, and he would not have me spiritually asleep while nature is all around me awaking from her winter's rest. He bids me "Rise up," and well he may; for I have long enough been lying among the pots of worldliness. He is risen, I am risen in him, why then should I cleave unto the dust? From lower loves, desires, pursuits, and aspirations, I would rise towards him. He calls me by the sweet title of "My love," and counts me fair; this is a good argument for my rising. If he has thus exalted me, and thinks me thus comely, how can I linger in the tents of Kedar and find congenial associates among the sons of men? He bids me "Come away." Further and further from everything selfish, grovelling, worldly, sinful, he calls me; yea, from the outwardly religious world which knows him not, and has no sympathy with the mystery of the higher life, he calls me. "Come away" has no harsh sound in it to my ear, for what is there to hold me in this wilderness of vanity and sin? O my Lord, would that I could come away, but I am taken among the thorns, and cannot escape from them as I would. I would, if it were possible, have neither eyes, nor ears, nor heart for sin. Thou callest me to thyself by saying "Come away," and this is a melodious call indeed. To come to thee is to come home from exile, to come to land out of the raging storm, to come to rest after long labor, to come to the goal of my desires and the summit of my wishes. But Lord, how can a stone rise, how can a lump of clay come away from the horrible pit? O raise me, draw me. Thy grace can do it. Send forth thy Holy Spirit to kindle sacred flames of love in my heart, and I will continue to rise until I leave life and time behind me, and indeed come away. Daily Light on the Daily Path Matthew 1:21 "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 1 Peter 2:24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Isaiah 53:5,6 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. • All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. Luke 24:46,47 and He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, • and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Hebrews 9:26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Acts 5:31 "He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. Acts 13:38,39 "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, • and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses. 1 John 2:12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name's sake. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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