Sweating-Blood Scared - Martin Wiles

He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. Luke 22:44 NLT

He had proudly denied the existence of God and spewed nothing but hate for him. But that was before he lay on his deathbed, sweating-blood scared.

The movie, God’s Not Dead, details the story of a battle between a college freshman and an atheist philosophy professor who challenges the young student to prove God’s existence—a battle the student wins when he asks the professor how he can hate someone who doesn’t exist.

Having a change of mind, the professor hurries to a Newsboys concert, only to be hit by a car while crossing the road. Fortunately, a local pastor is nearby and rushes to his side. Fear washes over the professor’s face as he realizes that perhaps God is alive after all. Willing to take the risk, he professes his belief in Jesus Christ just before he takes his last breath.

Fear also washed over Jesus before his death as he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane—so much so that his sweat became like blood (Luke 22:44). Although God in the flesh, he was also very much human. He knew the agony involved in crucifixion, but realized his would be even more painful. He would take the sin of the world upon himself.

God has created within us a fight-or-flight mechanism that serves us well. When we find ourselves unwillingly in danger, God gives us healthy fear, which leads us to run away. This mechanism can also provide adrenaline power that we don’t typically have when we need to fight.

Satan, on the other hand, is the master of burdening us with unhealthy fear. This spirit debilitates and keeps us from fulfilling God’s plan for our lives. We’ll make excuses instead of forging ahead. This fear can also prevent us from forming healthy relationships, causing us to dwell on those that weren’t. With this fear, Satan can steal, kill, and destroy God’s intentions for us.

Overcoming the fear of sweating blood is as simple as acknowledging it, reminding ourselves that it isn’t coming from God, and asking God to replace it with a sound mind that trusts him to lead us into his bright future.

Give your fears to God, and let him replace them with a sound mind. Don't be sweating-blood scared. 

Father, I place my fears in your hands and ask for peace of mind, soul, and spirit. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Giving the Best - Martin Wiles

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:9 NLT

Doing again what I had already done thirty years before was a surreal experience. But after all, who said giving the best was easy? 

Five candidates and I sat in front of the presiding bishop. We were ordinands and would soon be ordained by the presiding bishop. But the difference between me and them was that I had already done this many years before in another denomination. Although the doctrine and governing style between the two denominations differed slightly, the ordination process was similar—yet still touching. The bishop instructed us on the seriousness of the process and related its purpose. Then, one by one, we were called to the stage for the presiding board to lay hands on and pray for us, separating us for the preaching and teaching of the gospel. Once again, I was reminded that God demands my best.

If anybody could have tired of doing good things, Paul certainly could have. His zeal for spreading the gospel to the Jews and the pagan world was equally as fierce as his persecution of Christians before he met the risen Jesus on the Damascus Road. He traveled the known world on numerous mission trips, endeavoring to present everyone with the opportunity to trust in Jesus Christ. He gave his best until he was finally put to death for doing his best. 

Before meeting the risen Christ, Paul’s fervor was probably an attempt to earn acceptance with God. He was, after all, a Pharisee—a religious leader who had studied under a master teacher and who obeyed the Old Testament law zealously. New understanding, however, dawned on him after his Damascus Road encounter. Now he worked to tell others that they couldn’t work to attain salvation.

Salvation can’t be earned through good works, but we will want to do them when we choose to follow Christ. He is our example, and studying his life reveals that he spent the majority of his time serving others. 

Christianity is ironic. God promises persecution, but he also promises peace and abundance. Amid trying circumstances and persecution, we can find peace, joy, and fulfillment by taking our eyes off ourselves and putting servant hands on others. 

Give God your best by obeying him and serving others.

Father, as you have given your best for me, prompt me to offer my best to you. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Unashamed - Martin Wiles

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes. Romans 1:16 NLT

Some things that I was ashamed of growing up, I’m now ashamed I was ashamed of.

Until my middle school years, I was proud of my parents. While they didn’t give me everything I wanted, they gave me all I needed. I never had to wear raggedy clothes or holey shoes. Mom prepared home-cooked meals, and our cabinets were never bare. Although my parents were not lovey-dovey, they always acted in ways that let me know I was loved. Abusive or negative words never flowed from their mouths. They wanted the best for their three sons.

When I reached the teenage years, my attitude changed. Suddenly, feelings of shame over who my parents were arose. I didn’t enjoy telling people my father was a preacher because then they labeled me a “PK.” They expected me to be good all the time. And the rules I had previously willingly obeyed now seemed foolish. Being made to go to church every time the doors were opened didn’t help either. Many of my friends never darkened a church’s doors.

Reflecting now, I’m ashamed that I ever was ashamed of my parents. Unfortunately, I was sometimes ashamed of what Paul proclaims loudly that he isn’t ashamed of: the gospel of Jesus Christ. I didn’t like others to know I was a preacher’s kid. I certainly didn’t flaunt my faith and rarely shared it.

Things changed when I was in my mid-twenties. I adopted Paul’s attitude—and for good reason. The gospel is good news, and people need to hear some good news. After all, bad news is almost all we hear from media sources. Telling people they are loved unconditionally and can be forgiven of their sins is encouraging news worth spreading.

I’m not ashamed to share something that includes an invitation for everyone. God excludes none except those who refuse on their own volition to come. Nor am I ashamed to share something that has eternal consequences. Refusing to accept God’s gospel means an eternity in a less-than-pleasant place.

Sharing news that has the power to change lives is something to be proud of, not ashamed of. When we receive the good news of the gospel, everything changes: our outlook on life, our priorities, our relationships, and our eternity.

Don't be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Father, give me the fortitude to boldly proclaim the best news I could ever share.

 

I invite you to try my book Grits, Grace, and Grands. If you have grands, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Doing the Religious Mix - Martin Wiles

Then our ancestors joined in the worship of Baal at Peor; they even ate sacrifices offered to the dead! Psalm 106:28 NLT

I suppose Timmy thought no one would notice—and they didn’t. A church I once pastored decided to host a wild game supper since no church in our immediate area did. Timmy hunted anything—and cooked everything. What better person to head this up, I thought.

Among the many interesting dishes Timmy concocted was a wild game-bird perlo. The name of the particular bird that was supposed to inhabit this perlo escapes me, but I haven’t forgotten what Timmy whispered in my ear before the supper began: “I wasn’t able to kill enough _____ to put in the perlo, so I had to add some ____.” Then he listed a few non-game birds—killdeer, robin, mockingbird. My stomach churned. I knew this man and what he was capable of cooking. Could I try this? For fun, I walked over to the pot labeled “Wild Game Surprise” and dished out a large spoonful. Tasty.

The nation of Israel wasn’t as successful as Timmy at mixing things. The nation began with Abraham and God’s call for him to leave his pagan homeland and travel to a new place. Abraham’s descendants had a checkered history of trying to mix religions. Baal was the primary god of the land—a fertility god. Worshiping him and his female counterpart would ensure their crops, livestock, and families produced—or so they thought. They tried numerous times to get this religious mix mixed correctly but never succeeded. That’s because we can’t mix religion.

I have also discovered what they discovered: God doesn’t share His affection with anyone or anything. He is jealous—or zealous—not in a sinful way, but in a way that is for my good. He knows my pandering after other things at his expense will lead to ultimate disappointment and spiritual failure. I can’t mix loving and serving him with anything else.

The good news is that we don’t have to. God’s love for us is unconditional, immeasurable, and sufficient. What He gives us—love and possessions—is all we’ll ever need. We don’t need compromise; we simply need to trust Him . . . period. Jesus said we couldn’t serve him and mammon—money, possessions, or anything else.

Jesus is all you need. Don’t look for anything or anyone else. Doing the religious mix won't work. 

Father, when I think I need just one more thing to satisfy me, remind me you are all I need. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Innocent before God - Martin Wiles

How can a mere mortal stand before God and claim to be righteous? Job 25:4 NLT

I love questions—especially the ones I have to ponder deeply.

I often ask difficult questions to encourage my middle school students to use their critical thinking skills. These include, "Why is there something rather than nothing?" "How do I know the universe really exists and is not merely an illusion?" "Do we have free will?" "Does God exist?" "Is there life after death?" "Can we really experience anything objectively?" "What is the best moral system?" and "What are numbers?"

Job offers an even deeper philosophical question: "How can a person be innocent before God?" Going free while being guilty is possible—at least in the American judicial system, if the judge sets bail and I can afford to pay it. But with God…

The Bible’s pronouncement on my predicament is clear: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Although I walk around in apparent freedom, a day will come when I’ll be tried…unless.

Unlike in the court system, we cannot pay our way out of our spiritual predicament. We don’t have enough money to bribe God or offer him a deal. Nor can we perform enough good works to make up for our sinful acts. Job’s fair-weather friends told him that sin caused his bad fortune. Yet, Job maintained his innocence. Although he asked, "How can a person be innocent before God, he honestly thought he was.

The good news is that we can be innocent before God. God declares our innocence through a big theological phrase: imputed righteousness. God takes what characterizes his Son, Jesus Christ, and imputes it to us. He credits Jesus' righteousness to our account. 

We're not righteous because we’ve attained perfection or a sinless state. Instead, we're righteous because God has made us so in Christ. When God looks at us, he views us in Christ. Living with that knowledge gives a new perspective on life. It changes how we view ourselves and others. It also gives us a more profound love for God. He did for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves.

So, yes, Job, a person can stand innocent before God, but only because of Christ's actions. Now that you know the answer, how are you standing?

Father, thank you for the standing you have granted me in Jesus Christ. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Road of No Return - Martin Wiles

For soon I must go down that road from which I will never return. Job 16:22 NLT

Roads are as different as people.

I’ve driven down mountain roads that twist and turn. Other roads are as straight as an arrow. Long stretches reach into the distance, and one can see for miles on end. Then there are the more common roads peppered with potholes.

Not so long ago, I saw something new: variegated roads. Their appearance is explained by the cost-saving efforts of local highway departments. Instead of re-asphalting the entire road, the workers simply fill in the cracks, leaving an odd appearance.

And I’ve traveled on roads where towns are separated by many miles and on others where I encounter a town every few miles.

But never have I traveled a road from which there was no return—a road that disappeared from behind me as I traveled it. Every road I’ve ever been on, I could turn around and go back the same way I came. Job, however, introduces a road of no return. 

Job’s road of no return was death. Once he traversed it, he could not return. Nor can we. And we can’t escape traveling it either. While driving, we can typically avoid certain roads by taking an alternate route. Not so with death. Unless we’re alive when Jesus returns, we will travel death’s highway.

When we travel this road, we can’t take anyone or anything along. No possessions or family members. No stocks or bonds. Or play toys. Not even our body. Our immortal soul is the only thing we’ll take. The real us. We won’t enter into soul sleep nor will we be annihilated.

The destination of this road is one of two places: heaven or hell. Which destination we reach is our choice—a choice made while we’re alive. What we do with Jesus in life doesn’t determine whether or not we travel the road of no return, but it does determine our final destination.

Once we’ve traveled the road of no return, we can’t come back to warn others about where we’ve ended up or to encourage them to visit where we are. Our chances of telling others about heaven and hell are over.

We have no choice but to travel the road of no return, but we can choose where the road takes us. Think about where your road is taking you.

Father, I thank You that the road of no return leads to an eternity with You when I make the proper preparations.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

 

The Go Bag - Lynne Phipps

Help me welcome my good friend, Lynne Phipps, as a new writer for Love Lines from God. 

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 2 Peter 3:10 NIV

When a friend of mine was evacuated from his home and then town because of a wildfire, I asked him if he had taken all his important legal papers, identification, and medical files with him. He told me he had not. He had simply left quickly. My friend did not have what has come to be known as “a go bag.”

One keeps a go bag ready in case of an emergency evacuation notice, something that is happening frequently due to the shift in weather patterns our world is experiencing. Fires, floods, landslides, hurricanes, tornados, and the like can come on us with little or sometimes no warning. Having a go bag ready and waiting can make a huge difference when dealing with long-term evacuations or the possible loss of our home and property.

Similarly, the Scriptures remind us that the day of the Lord’s return will also come upon us when we least expect it. When that day comes, we will not have time to prepare to meet our heavenly Father. The time will have passed to ready our spiritual go bag. We will be evacuated to an eternity spent with or without God.

John writes, “And this is the testimony (statement or proof): God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:11,12 NIV).

Jesus, the Son of God, offers us our spiritual go bag for free. It is known as salvation. Knowing him as our personal Lord and Saviour and trusting him for the forgiveness of our sins, which makes us holy and acceptable to God, assures us that our name is written in God’s Book of Life. Not knowing Christ, however, condemns us to judgment and eternal death in the lake of fire known as Hades. 

Each one of us is going to be evacuated from this earth, whether by death or through the return of Jesus. This is a fact, a given. The question is whether we are ready. 

Is the Spirit of Jesus residing within your heart through accepting the gift of salvation? Make sure your go bag is ready.

Lord God, may my eyes be opened to see the need of the peoples of the world for salvation so that I can help them prepare their spiritual go bag. In Christ’s name, amen.

Tweetable: Do you have your go bag ready? 

Lynne Phipps and her family live on a small hobby farm in the heart of Alberta, Canada’s farming country. She has been writing devotions for forty years and never tires of the spiritual correlation the Holy Spirit blesses her with. He uses normal everyday events and the behaviors of the multitude of glorious creatures He has brought across her path to point her to the truths of God. Lynne is a devotion writer for VineWords: Devotions and More.

I invite you to try my newest book, Grits, Grace, and Grands, in eBook or paperback. If you are an editor who wants to hone your grammar skills or someone who just wants to improve your writing or speaking, this is the book for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

The Final Appointment - Martin Wiles

And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment. Hebrews 9:27 NLT

“Did you hear that Richey* died?”

The early morning text came from my cousin, a first responder in the town where Richey lived. She had seen Richey’s sister’s post on Facebook. He had experienced headaches for a few days with no relief. After Richey missed supper with his parents the night before, Richey’s dad walked over the next day to check on him and discovered him dead. 

Richey and I had been best friends during high school—and for a few years after that. We also worked at the same grocery store in our local town, where we both bagged groceries. After high school, Richey went to work for a small business, where he remained for the next twenty years.

But my life took a different turn. I worked locally, too, for a few years, but a layoff took me several towns over to find another job. Eventually, I went back to college. After graduation, I moved from one city to another—and even to another state, before finally coming back to my home state.

Throughout my transitions, I lost touch with Richey. I thought of him often—after all, he was my best friend. After Facebook was born, I searched for him. I found his sisters and brother, but never located him. I guess he wasn’t a Facebook fan. Now, he was gone.

I’ve heard it said that no parent should have to bury a child, but Richey’s mom and dad had buried two: Richey’s youngest sister and now Richey.

Even though it is appointed for us to die, very few want to. “And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27 NLT).

Depression drives some to an early death by suicide. Pain and disease plague others. And some get tired of living in a world that seems to have gone awry. Dad fell into the last category.

Dad’s first heart valve lasted one year. When doctors told him he needed another one, he didn’t want it. The family talked him into having the surgery, but he matter-of-factly informed us he would not be coming home from Atlanta, Georgia, after his surgery. He had lost the will to live. He had lived the seventy years God had promised and was ready to go to heaven. Dad was right. He never made it home.

Christians believe in heaven—a place where gold lines the streets, where pain flees, where everyone gets along, and where time is erased—but most people I’ve met are in no hurry to get there. Not if it means we must die. We want to enjoy earth as long as possible before passing through the unknown.

Death separates us from earthbound family and friends. But, of course, some of our friends and family—barring a change—won’t make it to heaven. They have no interest in God. In that case, death separates us forever. Not a pleasant thought.

We can’t do much about this death thing though. Unless Christ returns, we’ll all experience it. Exercising and eating right won’t prevent it. Nor will freezing our bodies after death, hoping scientists will one day find a way to bring them back to life. God has appointed death, and it will happen.

As I age, I find myself scanning the obituaries of local newspapers--the same thing my grandparents and great-grandparents did. They lived before the internet when the only sources of information were the local newspaper, the local television station, the local radio station, and the local busybody who knew everything about everybody. As I look over the names, I hope I won’t see anyone I know—but I will because dying is what we do.

Fortunately, we don’t have to live with dread over death. God has made a wonderful, eternal place for us. Jesus said when He left earth, He would return for His children—at His Second Coming or our death. And heaven will inhabit beauty and circumstances we’ve never experienced before.

Before we get there, our earthly sojourn allows us to invite others to travel to heaven with us. This journey also gives us time to accomplish God’s plan for us. To do all the good we possibly can to as many people as we can for as long as we can. Finally, when our time is over, God will usher us into heaven and say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

I don't know about Richey. As a teenager, he never had time for God. I hope somewhere along the way, he changed that. 

Enjoy your time on earth, but don’t forget to prepare for eternity.

Father, let me enjoy my time on earth, but prompt me not to forget to prepare for my death and eternity.

*Name changed to protect privacy.

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First Things First - Martin Wiles

On November 21, 2015, I experienced another first.

Firsts are important. On this day, two cousins brought a mahogany china cabinet to our home. The reason it was a first is not because it's the first one I've ever owned but because it was the first piece of furniture my mom ever bought with her money. She purchased it to hold China, which she planned to purchase as a part of setting up housekeeping with my dad.

But Uncle Sam called Dad. He and Mom would be going to Oklahoma. So, Mom gave the China cabinet to her sister for safekeeping because she had no room for it in Oklahoma. Somehow, my aunt never returned the cabinet to Mom.

Many years later, my aunt died, and her children, knowing the piece belonged to Mom, called to see if she wanted it. Having now remarried—and now possessing several more China cabinets—Mom told them she wanted it but to give it to me. My wife and I had less room than Mom, but not wanting to forego the chance to own a "first," we squeezed it in.

Knowing the human heart's tendency toward selfishness, Jesus spoke several times about firsts. When asked what the greatest commandment was, He said to put God first.

"Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind'" (Matthew 22:37 NIV).

On this occasion, Jesus corrected his disciples, who argued about which one of them was the greatest. Jesus said it was the one who was willing to serve.

My most important first was August 31, 1960—the day I sucked my first breath of outside air and entered this world. The second came nine years later—the day I recognized I was a sinner and needed Jesus' forgiveness.

Putting first things first entails recognizing our sinful bent, asking Jesus to forgive our sins, and committing our lives to him. With this first, other firsts will hold more value.

This first first should lead to a second first: humility. Jesus' disciples wanted to rule, but Jesus reminded them firstness came from serving, not lording. Pride gets us nowhere with God—or others. On the other hand, God praises humility—and others usually do, too.

Serving becomes much easier when we love God above all other people and things--adopt a servant mindset, although it might not appear we're first at all. Jesus says he will reward us if we offer a mere cup of cold water to someone in his name.  

Amid the many things that clamor for your attention, ask God to help you put first things first.

Father, as I set priorities in life, guide me to put first things first: You, my family, my church, and others.

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I invite you to try my newest book, Life's Many Moods: A Collection of Poetry, in eBook or paperback. Throughout the years, poets have expressed emotions in various ways through the picturesque method of poetry. Click on the title above to order your copy today. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Reach for the Light - Martin Wiles

They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. Romans 2:15 NLT

“Every year, this random flower comes up.”

An early morning Snap and a picture arrived on my phone from my daughter. Like the flower, our conversations are sometimes random as well. Not that we don’t communicate regularly, but what we communicate about and how long we communicate suits her generation’s style of talking.

“It’s a hyacinth and a bulb flower,” I responded.

“But I pulled it up two years ago before landscaping my yard, and I put a grass barrier down over the area.”

I told her she obviously didn’t get the bulb. “God designed it to reach for the light, and that’s what it’s doing.”

I got the traditional hand-over-the-face meme when I told her this would make a good writing topic. But she got the point.

My wife and I have had flowers do the same thing. We once decided to plant Mexican petunias, not knowing they were considered invasive—that is, they spread like crazy. We worked for months and even years to eliminate them when we decided we didn’t want them anymore. But each spring, some magically appeared again. They were reaching for the light—doing what God designed them to do.

Romans is Paul’s theological dissertation, and in this section, he demonstrates how all people—even those God had not communicated with through the law—still knew what the law was and were responsible to Him. God might not have given them a written law as He did the Jewish people, but He placed the knowledge of right and wrong in their minds. They instinctively knew the difference.

Everyone reaches for the Light. The problem comes in knowing what light we’re reaching for and how we’re supposed to reach the light. Without knowing God’s commands and principles, we’ll always reach in the wrong direction. If a seed or bulb sprouts and goes downward, it will never see the light of day—or grow and do what God designed for it to do.

Left to ourselves, we seek the Light in evil and twisted ways. We pervert relationships, sex, technology, jobs, communities, cities, and the entire world. God created good in us, but when we intermingle it with our sinful nature, we reach for the Light in corrupted ways.

The instinctive thing God wants us to know is that we reach Him, the Light, only by repentance and faith. Once we’ve done that, we can grow, bloom, and produce fruit in healthy and beneficial ways that make the world better.

When my daughter sent me the Snap of the flower, it was in full bloom. My wife and I have grown them before. The bloom doesn’t last long—like most spring bulb plants. But our bloom . . . well, that’s another story. Reaching the Light correctly sets us up to bloom our entire lifetime.

Think of some ways you can bloom for the Light.

Father, help me to bloom brightly for You. 

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Pierced for God - Martin Wiles

But suppose your servant says, ‘I will not leave you’…In that case, take an awl and push it through his earlobe into the door. After that, he will be your servant for life. Deuteronomy 15:16-17 NLT

They were popular among boys and men at the time, so when my son asked if he could get an earring, I said, “Sure.” 

His anxiety level was high. We loaded up in the car and made our way to the local mall where we found a piercing pagoda located in the middle. Though only twelve, he sat in the chair like a little man and let the attendant jam a needle through his ear lobe. He beamed, and everything seemed well—until we started walking.

“Dad, I don’t feel so well,” he remarked. I found myself lying him down on a mall bench and retrieving a wet paper towel for his face.

Six weeks later, the time came to change the stud. Once again, he was excited, having picked out a new earring to install. This time he didn’t make it to the bench but collapsed on the bathroom floor. Several weeks later—when his ear got infected—he decided he didn’t want an earring after all.

If a Hebrew owned a fellow Hebrew servant for some reason, he was to free him after six years of service. But if the slave loved him and wanted to stay, the master pierced his ear with an awl. He would be his slave forever.

I’ve never had my ear pierced, but I have had my heart punctured. When I placed my faith in Jesus Christ, I became His forever. He didn’t take an awl and make a hole in my ear, but He did pierce my heart with the presence of His Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit is the Seal that proves I belong to Christ—forever.

What kept the servant awled to his master was love. What keeps our heart pierced for Christ is the same. No amount of service we can offer can ever repay Him for all He’s done for us. He’s carried our sins away as far as the East is from the West, and He’s buried them in the deepest portions of the ocean—never to be held against us again.

Has your heart been pierced for Christ? If not, He’s waiting with the awl.

Father, we dedicate ourselves to You . . . forever. 

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