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"Do not postpone for the future what you so greatly need in the present." (attributed to Hudson Taylor)
Her vintage dishes showed little wear. Of course! She had considered them too precious for everyday use, so she carefully preserved them for special times — essentially, for future use only. Now, after her death, it was my task to pack those dishes and donate them to charity. Sadly, she had never experienced the fullest joy that they could have provided her.
No doubt you can relate, especially if you learned to save your best treasures for future use only. Keep in mind that we might do that with spiritual treasures, too. I'm thinking of those blessings provided by God "who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ." (Ephesians 1:3b NLT)
Did you notice those words, "in the heavenly realms"? I admit that for many years, they flew over my head. That's because "heaven", as I incorrectly assumed, referred essentially to a remote place and time — for future use only in the afterlife. That's bad theology, folks! It leaves us deprived! Heavenly realms, more correctly, refers to God's domain of rule which encompasses the here-and-now. It's where Christ is seated, reigning right now, above all evil forces. Therefore, we can say:
2 Peter 1:3-4 – By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires. (NLT)
So then, neither Christ's reign nor His provisions are exclusively for a future order! Thus, through Him we can experience the joy that we so desperately need, especially when we feel overwhelmed by relentless troubles. Through Him, we can have a gladness that sustains us when despondency is about to submerge us.
Of course, it is futile to seek joy and happiness in wrong ways — but in Christ? That's never futile! Quite the contrary. We need such provisions to sustain our wellbeing — and also to bless one another.
I say, let's go for it! — just like the psalmist did in praying:
Psalm 90:14 – Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives. (NLT)
Prayer: Generous heavenly Provider, we thank You that Your magnificent blessings are not for future use only, and that we need not postpone for the future what we greatly need in the present. Amen.
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Thank you.
Thank you. Well said.
Thanks Dianne I needed that.
Thank you for today’s thoughts.
Amen. Thank you for your messages!
Very encouraging, Diane. Thank you.
Thanks for the encouragement, Diane.
Wonderfully chosen words Diane! Blessings.
Amen! Thanks and many blessings! Blessings.
Thank you, Diane, for another inspiring devotion.
Great message, live for today, in the present. Thank you.
Hi Diane. A great devotional.
God Bless.
Good reminder, Diane. We need to use and enjoy today, not just waiting for “someday” to come.
Beautiful stuff, Diane. Blessings Come To Those Who Notice! (In big letters over my front door…) Yay for your good words today.
Thank you, Diane, for your devotional today. God is rearranging my priorities to live in his strength and in the present.
Bless you and your writing. I have enjoyed them over the years.
Hi Diane: Thanks so much for your devotion. Due to the pandemic, our in-person church attendance has been interrupted. We miss this. Hopefully, things will return to near-normal next month. Thanks again.
(Ont.)
Greetings Diane,
Very good advice in your devotional this morning. We are so fortunate that our Lord is ever ready to serve us at all times and not just sometime into the future. Blessings for these very thoughtful writings you submit.
Diane:
I, too, have mistakenly held Heaven to be a far-off abstraction rather than existing in the here and now. I guess it’s because I see so much sin and grief around us today that we lose track of the Lord’s care for us.
Your point is a good one… we must be aware daily of His grace and have it guide our lives from now until forever.
Blessings are all around us.
Diane, a powerful reminder, and one very much needed. Thank you.
Diane,
Thank you for sharing about God’s provision at all times. I remember saving special dishes that I never ended up using. May your days be blessed.
Hello Diane, and what a blessing shortly before going to bed. I look forward to what good things you have share with us. I love treasures. In a China cabinet I look over and see a dinner and luncheon plates from the set of China my parents brought home from Japan in 1922 before I was born. They mean a lot to me but no one else I know of. The younger generations are not interested in what we love. My husband was in the Navy and was in Japan many times and always came home loaded with gifts for our family. It gets used maybe 4 times a year. Living styles have changed so badly in was that families don’t share their lives as a family very much anymore. Good night my Dear Friend and may you be blessed in ways unknown.
I just want to pass on to you how meaningful your comments struck me to-day as we deal with such a troubled and diseased world, nevertheless, rejoicing in hope from our lovely Prince Edward Island.
Thanks again.