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Listen while you read: "Wonderful Grace Of Jesus"1 (Lyrics) |
Because we are tempted to judge others by their possessions, it is easy to jump to a conclusion when we know their address. For example, when we hear the word "penthouse", it is easy to assume that the described location is opulent and better than other locations in the same building.
There are eight floors in the building where I reside. The suites on the eighth floor have the designation "PH", whereas other suites have the exact number of their floor shown on the elevator panel.
We have many laughs when we get on the elevator, speculating what PH stands for. A normal assumption is "penthouse", implying extra elegance. In fact, the suites are the same size and cost, but for some reason, the management chose PH rather than 8 for that floor.
Sometimes, a resident will say that it stands for "Poor House", but yesterday, I was pleased to hear a resident say that it means "Pure Heaven"!
Another strange habit in buildings is the avoidance of certain numbers. In 1997, we purchased a condominium unit on the thirteenth floor but it was designated as 1409.
When we first brought our five-year-old grandson to the building, he was intrigued with all the numbers on the elevator panel. He immediately determined that "P" meant "parking" and that "G" was for "get off", since that was the floor where the main entrance was.
He then started counting from 2, 3, and 4 up to 10, 11, and 12. He suddenly stopped. "Grandpa, they don't know how to count in this building." He knew what the next number should be, but the elevator panel showed 14.
We lived for over twenty years on the thirteenth floor but with a designation of 1409. It didn't really make a big difference in our lives, but we never forgot the lesson that our young grandchild taught us. We were living in a false location!
Does our address here on earth really matter to a Christian?
There is a popular song by Jim Reeves which claims that our address here is not that important.
- This world is not my home I'm just a passing through
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue
The angels beckon me from heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore
Oh Lord You know I have no friend like You
If heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do
The angels beckon me from heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore
The fact that you are reading this establishes that you are still "passing through"!
Paul gives us excellent advice:
Philippians 1:20-21,23-24 – I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. (NIV)
We can continue chasing the penthouse life, or we can elevate our sights to our heavenly home, which is available through belief in Jesus Christ. The choice is ours.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to concentrate on our true address and to serve You through helping others until You take us home. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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Monday, January 13, 2025 – In Milton, Ontario — Pray for James, a Christian prisoner at Maplehurst Correctional Facility, Milton, Ontario, as he leads forty men in prayer each morning. Pray for these men to fully give their hearts to Jesus!
Husband: "January 12, 2025: Please pray for my husband Jim who is in the hospital with bladder problems...." 
Amen.
Thank you.
Great reminder, Vincent.
Very good reading. Enjoyed the touches of humour too.
I always enjoy your devotionals but today’s was special to me. I needed these kind thoughtful words from you. Thanks.
You’re right, Vincent. I now live in what many would call a tiny house and it’s perfect. Leaves me free to focus on important things.
Dear Walter:
Thank you for morning chuckle and the valuable lesson in your writing.
God bless you my brother in Christ.
I marvel at the adroitness of your mind and your delicious sense of humour – you can find and communicate God’s treasures to enrich my day.
Thanks for your faithfulness.
As always, thanks, Vincent. I have come to recognize a devotional from you and when I started to read this one, I said to myself, “This one is from Vincent.”
Your efforts and analogies are appreciated.
Thanks for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. Since I live in a mobile home park, everyone shares the same street address, but are designated by an alphabet letter…thus there is no plot #13…just letters. Blessings.
Thank you, Vincent, for your story today, and how you spiritualized it. My house is #916 which is very important in case of an emergency or for visitors needing it. But the day will come when that number won’t be needed, but how I lived my life for Jesus Christ.
(Cal.)
Thank you, Vincent, for today’s reading. It reminded me of a university address I had which was on the 13th floor. I love what your grandson said! I feel it also tied in with the Daily Bread reading – John 10:9 where Jesus speaks of being the gate where…(he) will go in and out and find pasture.
Anyway, thanks again for a good start to my day.
Dear Vince,
Many thanks for another special devotional reminding us of the real special address that awaits us. No address on earth can compare to the one that awaits us. Also thank you for focusing on one of my favourite Jim Reeves songs. He was a great singer and I’m sure still singing up in Heaven.
Lord’s blessings for your special writings.
(B.C.)
Our building also has no #13 says 25 floors but really not.
My husband went into teaching, then worked at Schneider. They assisted my husband upgrading his education by juggling his shifts according to when his classes were.
My husband finished school with Teacher’s College and a BA. He did not get a job right away. Then Nov came and on Friday the 13 he had a job interview, got a job with troubled kids, 13 kids in room number 13. So, does he stay away from 13? no. Just an interesting story for 13.
(ON)
Dear Vince
Oh, how I needed a couple of lines that you wrote today!
Because my husband went to his heavenly home several months ago, I too, have longed to be with the Lord!
I have read Phil. 1: 20-21 and 23-24 before BUT today, I saw the words with new, fresh meaning as the Holy Spirit seemed to shout and hi-lite them for me. I don’t remember ‘seeing’ before, the words “it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body”!!
In your prayer, I see a reason it is ‘more necessary to remain in the body’: “to serve You through helping others until You take us home”. It’s not ‘my time’ yet because He has work still for me to do!!!
THANK YOU so much for allowing the Spirit to guide you as you penned this devotional! What an inspiration and blessing it has been!!
Great story, blessings Vincent!
Dear V. Walter,
Keep on encouraging the lad in his insistence on honesty!
Thanks for a very fine devotional.
I’m up there in years too, but like you, I pray to be a witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ for as long as God gives me the ability in His world.