September 5-6

“(God) will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” - Revelation 21:4

With world events as they are at the moment, we watch as the media relentlessly presents daily pictures and reports of atrocities so hideous that they beggar belief – the inhumanity of man against man. Loved ones torn apart through no fault of their own. We long for the day when Christ will return – for the new earth, when “peace on earth and goodwill to all men” is a fact.

Many tears are flowing, yet the Bible tells us that God chronicles every one our tears, “Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll – are they not on Your record?” - Psalm 56:8. Every tear cried, God will redeem and recompense. Our tears are valuable to Him, He understands the pain that causes them. While on earth Jesus Himself wept – over Jerusalem and what He foresaw in the future, our today – at the grave of His friend Lazarus – and in the garden at Gethsemane, when His agony of mind was so intense.

We have further insight into the value Jesus places on tears when Mary anointed Him with a perfume that would, at that time, have cost a year's wages to buy. But it was her tears, not the perfume, that moved Him so powerfully (Luke 7: 44).

In this world's events we see prophecy after prophecy being fulfilled, but we have God's promise. Before He returned home, Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled....I go to prepare a place for you....I will come again....that where I am, there you may be also” - John 14:1-3. Hang in there. Don't give up hope.

“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, I will give to everyone according to what he has done” - Revelation 22:12

The song I have chosen is “The Midnight Cry,” sung by John Starnes

     Housekeeping details for you

     The point of this short blog will become clear if you decide to use this reading in the way we intend it. Netherfield Seventh-day Adventist Church believes in healthy churches. You can see what that means if you head to the relevant Healthy Churches page of the website. We also want other churches to be healthy. That means you can join in our campaign to create healthy churches, with healthy people serving the people in those churches.

     A healthy church is one where Jesus comes first. A healthy church is one where the people work together to put Jesus first. One thing we are doing is to join people together to spread that news. I would like you to look at our prayer partners page. This will explain how we want you to use this short devotional. Very basically we want you to find a like-minded Christian friend who you will join with to : choose to pray together every day, decide together on a way to serve other people together, to help them grow as Christians - and to invite the Holy Spirit into your life every day. This blog that you will receive every day simply gives a common spiritual purpose. If you are a newcomer and want to join the blog with this object in mind click here