Monday, February 29, 2016

Not by Silver or Gold

And you shall be redeemed without money.” Isaiah 52:3
Picture in your mind a slave market. The slave trader is auctioning off his “merchandise”. In the crowd of buyers are all the slave trader’s friends. There is greed, debauchery, murder, and such like. They are all vying for the slaves that they might abuse them to death with their particular trade. But there is one more person at that auction. His purpose is to buy the slaves and set them free. The slave trader sees him and trembles. He keeps urging his comrades to bid up the price. Finally the price reaches a point where no one can pay the fee.
That is when the stranger steps to the front and asks what the final price shall be. The slave trader grins an evil grin and replies, “The price is the death of the purchaser.” Everyone gasps for no one would pay such a price for slaves, but the stranger says, “So be it.” The stranger is Jesus and we are the slaves. The price for our redemption was not money. It was the precious blood of Christ.

Dear Jesus, Thank You for paying the full price for me. Amen. 



Abundant Grace can be found at my website, www.davidccraig.net. You can subscribe to this daily devotion and receive it free M-F simply by placing your email address on the sidebar to follow this blog by email. You can also find book publishing opportunities with Quality Christian Books plus fundraising opportunities for your Christian organization or youth group.

Friday, February 26, 2016

The Comfort of God

I, even I, am He who comforts you.” Isaiah 51:12
Isaiah 51:3 sets the tone for this chapter. “For the Lord will comfort Zion.” Isaiah 40:1, the beginning verse of this entire section of Isaiah 40-66, begins like this, “’Comfort, yes comfort My people’, says your God.” Isaiah 66, the last chapter of this final twenty-seven chapter section of Isaiah says, “So I will comfort you and you shall be comforted.” These twenty-seven chapters contain repeated warnings against idolatry and false worship. They continue repeated warnings of the consequences of ignoring God. But through it all God wants to remind them that it is His purpose to comfort them and not give them up to destruction.
Our sins justly require God to judge us and condemn us, but that is not the greatest desire of God. His desire is that we would repent of our sins, trust His Son, and receive His comfort. Like a shepherd picking up and carrying a little hurt lamb, God wants to comfort us. In turn He wants us to take His comfort and share it with those who are also in need of it.

Dear Father, Thank You for Your compassion and comfort. Amen. 


  The Friday Benediction
Until Monday, my friends, may the good God envelop you with His grace; may you prove the common confession of faith, “I believe in the holy Christian church and in the fellowship of the saints”, and may you be enriched with joy and hope as you exercise that confession this weekend.  Amen



Abundant Grace can be found at my website, www.davidccraig.net. You can subscribe to this daily devotion and receive it free M-F simply by placing your email address on the sidebar to follow this blog by email. You can also find book publishing opportunities with Quality Christian Books plus fundraising opportunities for your Christian organization or youth group at:

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Now or Forever?

Do not fear the reproach of men for My salvation will be forever.” Isaiah 51:7-8
Do you hear the voice of Jesus in the words of God to Isaiah? We should. First our God is the God who changes not. His message has been consistent from the time of Adam to the time of His new creation. His message for all time is, “Trust in me and not in men. They will pass away but I will be God forever.” Since this is true, who must we fear, God or man? Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are reviled for the sake of righteousness. Blessed are they who are spoken falsely against for my name’s sake.”
Sinful men will pass away. Their curses against the righteous will die with them. The haters of God will be no more. But God will still be here. His people will be with Him without the ongoing persecution found in this world. The time for the rulers of this present age is simply this present age. The time for God is now and forever.

Dear Father, Thank You for keeping me forever. Amen.



Abundant Grace can be found at my website, www.davidccraig.net. You can subscribe to this daily devotion and receive it free M-F simply by placing your email address on the sidebar to follow this blog by email. You can also find Quality Christian Books on my website plus fundraising opportunities for your Christian organization or youth group.

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Wednesday, February 24, 2016

What Will Last?

For the heavens will vanish away and the earth grow old like a garment.” Isaiah 51:6
Are you fond of what you have? Is your house the culmination of all your dreams? Does sitting outside on a starry night and enjoying the pleasant sound of crickets fill you with total satisfaction? God has news for you. It isn’t going to last. Everything we see will perish. There will be no more night sky. There will be no more corrupted earth on which to build a house. Everything will pass away.
God’s original creation was perfect. Man corrupted it through sin. God sent His Son to pay the penalty for sin during His first advent. But Jesus is coming again and when He does there will be a wiping away of the old and the coming of a perfect new creation. Isaiah warned the people not to cling to this earthly existence and not to forget that God had better plans in store for His people. The message is still the same. Through Christ we become a new creation and we will live with Him in His new creation.

Dear Father, Thank You for Your promises about tomorrow. Amen. 



Abundant Grace can be found at my website, www.davidccraig.net. You can subscribe to this daily devotion and receive it free M-F simply by placing your email address on the sidebar to follow this blog by email. You can also find Quality Christian Books on my website plus fundraising opportunities for your Christian organization or youth group.

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Tuesday, February 23, 2016

The Solid Rock

Look to the rock from which you were hewn.” Isaiah 51:1
What is our origin? Evolutionists would say that randomness is our origin. A chance combination of inert materials that were somehow animated and developed progressively into humanity. The Bible says something quite a bit different. God made us. But actually that is true of all mankind. Believers have something added. We have been reborn. We have another source than just the flesh to which we can look for our identity.
The psalmist, Jesus, and Peter all refer to the stone which the builders rejected as being the true cornerstone. That rock, of course, is Jesus. Our new birth is through Jesus. He is the rock from which we are hewn. Abraham rejoiced to see Jesus and by faith he was saved. (Gen. 15, John 8). Our rock is Christ and upon this rock is the Church built and we who believe are the Church. When we wonder what to do or how to do it, we need to look to the rock from which we are hewn. Then we will know.

Dear Father, Help us not to forget our origin. Amen. 



Abundant Grace can be found at my website, www.davidccraig.net. You can subscribe to this daily devotion and receive it free M-F simply by placing your email address on the sidebar to follow this blog by email. You can also find Quality Christian Books on my website plus fundraising opportunities for your Christian organization or youth group.

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Monday, February 22, 2016

When Troubles Surround Us

Surely the Lord God will help me; who is he who will condemn me?” Isaiah 50:9
We live in a world of turmoil, fear, and disappointment. World news can cause us fear. National conditions can cause us anxiety. Daily circumstances can cause disappointments. In all these things we can be tempted to doubt God’s concern about the world in general or us in particular. We might even blame Him for allowing so many problems to exist in the world or in our lives. Job’s wife had a solution for this attitude. She told Job to “curse God and die.” Sometimes we are all too ready to do the cursing part.
We need to remember the truth about God. The author of Hebrews says, “The Lord is my helper.” Here he is quoting multiple Old Testament texts and contexts. The Lord is not the adversary of His children. He is our helper. He is the one who actually keeps us from condemnation as revealed in Romans 8. Instead of suspecting God of opposing us, we must remember that He sacrificed His own Son to redeem us and make us His child.

Dear Father, Thank You for being our helper. Amen. 



Abundant Grace can be found at my website, www.davidccraig.net. You can subscribe to this daily devotion and receive it free M-F simply by placing your email address on the sidebar to follow this blog by email. You can also find Quality Christian Books on my website plus fundraising opportunities for your Christian organization or youth group.

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Friday, February 19, 2016

The Great Amen

And the truth of the LORD endures forever. Psalm 117:2 NKJV
Our meditations on the Lord’s Prayer have daily revealed to us the great treasures God has given to His people.  Each phrase has revealed a jewel that adds great value to our daily walk with God.  That is no less so in what we find at the end, a simple word that means so much and assures us of such great promises.  When Jesus pronounced the Amen He wasn’t just telling us to open our eyes and get on with our day; He was making a powerful declaration to His Church.
Amen means “So be it”.  In the modern vernacular it could be expressed by saying, “All the goods promised are signed, sealed and delivered.”  Jesus said that the jewels of this prayer are true and that He had put His own stamp of authority on them.  “Count on it”, He says. We can carry these jewels with us every day, hold them in our hands, use them and remind ourselves that we are not paupers.  We are repeating to God His very own words and promises and God’s word is true forever.  Amen. 

Precious Father, We thank You for this precious casket of jewels and please help us to treasure them as we should.  Amen.  


  The Friday Benediction
Until Monday, my friends, may the good God envelop you with His grace; may you prove the common confession of faith, “I believe in the holy Christian church and in the fellowship of the saints”, and may you be enriched with joy and hope as you exercise that confession this weekend.  Amen



Abundant Grace can be found at my website, www.davidccraig.net. You can subscribe to this daily devotion and receive it free M-F simply by placing your email address on the sidebar to follow this blog by email. You can also find Quality Christian Books on my website plus fundraising opportunities for your Christian organization or youth group.

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Thursday, February 18, 2016

Who Wins?

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”  Revelation 4:11 KJV
A childhood discussion about super-heroes always comes to the concluding question – if super hero A got into a fight with super hero B, who would win?  In ancient pagan religion there was often conflict between the gods.  When two gods go to war, which is going to win?  What actually happened in these conflicts was that man always lost.  But joyfully there is but one true God and He is all powerful and He wins.  In His victory He offers man to win with Him. 
This one true God has the power to defeat all man’s enemies.  He has given us the treasure of His Son to defeat for us the enemy of death.  He has given us the treasure of His Spirit to defeat in us the power of the flesh.  He has given us the treasure of the promise of the resurrection from the dead and eternal life forever with Him in heaven.  Who wins?  Our blessed Triune God wins!  And with Him, all who believe in His Son will also win.  To Him be the glory forever. 

Precious Father, Grant us joyful confidence in Your victory for us today.  Amen.  



Abundant Grace can be found at my website, www.davidccraig.net. You can subscribe to this daily devotion and receive it free M-F simply by placing your email address on the sidebar to follow this blog by email. You can also find Quality Christian Books on my website plus fundraising opportunities for your Christian organization or youth group.

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Wednesday, February 17, 2016

The Greatest Gift We Can Give

Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.”  Psalm 145:13 KJV
What do you give as a present to a person who has everything?  Whatever you may give him he may already have a dozen of already and each of better quality than your gift.  No treasure that is brought to him can match the treasure he already has.  We would have to think long and hard as to what treasure we could bring as a gift to such a person.
God does have everything.  He is the Sovereign of earth and heaven.  The psalmist said that He owns the cattle on a thousand hills.  What can we bring to One who has it all?  We can bring Him the gift of praise.  We can bring Him the gift of proclaiming to everyone His eternal honor.  We can bring Him the gift of ourselves as truly humble servants of His kingdom.  Our life springs from the eternal King and so we can give back to Him that which is most precious to us – ourselves. 

Precious Father, Truly all things are Yours, including us.  We give You this day ourselves as the greatest gift we can bring.  Amen.



Abundant Grace can be found at my website, www.davidccraig.net. You can subscribe to this daily devotion and receive it free M-F simply by placing your email address on the sidebar to follow this blog by email. You can also find Quality Christian Books on my website plus fundraising opportunities for your Christian organization or youth group.

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Tuesday, February 16, 2016

True Security

“The Lord is my refuge and my fortress” Psalm 91:2
The wealthy and prominent often spend vast amounts of money on security.  We live in an evil world and they know that they are targets.  Good security is expensive.  God has promised us security in Him.  That is a gift of immeasurable value. We need His security because we live in an evil world with the very prince of darkness as our chief foe.  Satan is described for us as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.  He has been described as the chief thief and the murderer of body and soul.  God says our only hope against this adversary is God Himself.
I was doing a ride along with a friend of mine who was a police officer. We went on a call to a home with a vicious dog.  As we approached the house I stood behind my friend.  He was much bigger than I and he had a gun.  It was assumed that such protection might be needed.  God is much bigger than my friend.  He alone can deliver us from the evil one.

Precious Father, Help me to confidently stand firmly in the shadow of Thy protection. Amen.  



Abundant Grace can be found at my website, www.davidccraig.net. You can subscribe to this daily devotion and receive it free M-F simply by placing your email address on the sidebar to follow this blog by email. You can also find Quality Christian Books on my website plus fundraising opportunities for your Christian organization or youth group.

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Monday, February 15, 2016

Away from Temptation

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold” Ps 19:10 NKJV
David declared that the Law of the Lord was better than fine gold.  God’s Word is a rich treasure and all who seek in it will find valuable gems beyond measure.  One gem of God’s grace that we find there is light.  The psalmist said, “The entrance of Thy word gives light.”  Lights can be used for a certain area, like a flashlight along a path, or as the beacon of a searchlight that casts its beam afar.  The Law of God does both.
We can find in the Law the universal expectations of God’s rules for humanity.  If we follow these precepts God will lead us not into temptation.  They will be the gold standard by which a “young man will keep his ways pure.”  His Word and Spirit also light our pathway day by day.  They instruct us in the good will of God for daily living and away from the selfishness of sin.  God has offered us both His Word and His Spirit to lead us away from temptation.  He will gladly amplify its good to us as we ask Him to do so each day. 

Precious Father, Help me in Your Word today to find the way that most pleases You.  Amen



Abundant Grace can be found at my website, www.davidccraig.net. You can subscribe to this daily devotion and receive it free M-F simply by placing your email address on the sidebar to follow this blog by email. You can also find Quality Christian Books on my website plus fundraising opportunities for your Christian organization or youth group.

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Friday, February 12, 2016

Forgiving

Forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” Eph. 4:32 NKJV
What immense treasures we find in the jewel bag of God’s grace.  The incalculable value of His grace will continually amaze us.  Life, the wealth of peace and joy, spring from the promises He makes and the gifts He offers.  Forgiving others is one of them.  It is not a natural thing to do.  It is a God enabled thing.  His grace makes it possible. 
Consider all the wars fought and the blood feuds that have raged all because forgiveness is not in the heart of man.  Think of the lives lost and the millions of dollars expended because an offence cannot be forgiven.  All of that is our just debt to God for our sin, but He has forgiven it in Christ.  He paid the priceless gift of His blood to forgive us and to empower us to forgive others.  How often we lose the joy of life and the value of living because we do not forgive.  Christ has forgiven us and we in turn can, by His grace, forgive others and find the true wealth of fulfilled joy in Him.

Precious Father, Help us to forgive those who sin against us as You have forgiven us.  Amen.   


  The Friday Benediction
Until Monday, my friends, may the good God envelop you with His grace; may you prove the common confession of faith, “I believe in the holy Christian church and in the fellowship of the saints”, and may you be enriched with joy and hope as you exercise that confession this weekend.  Amen



Abundant Grace can be found at my website, www.davidccraig.net. You can subscribe to this daily devotion and receive it free M-F simply by placing your email address on the sidebar to follow this blog by email. You can also find Quality Christian Books on my website plus fundraising opportunities for your Christian organization or youth group.

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Thursday, February 11, 2016

Forgiven

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” Eph. 1:7 NKJV
What is the medical value of forgiveness?  The grace of God is a jewel bag of enormous worth.  That worth can be seen in an area like medicine.  Tens of thousands of people suffer physical symptoms related to guilt.  They seek hundreds of millions of dollars a year in medical attention to heal what medicine cannot heal.  The dollar cost of psychosomatic illness is astounding.
What amazing grace we find in this offer from God for forgiveness of sin.  At the cross of Calvary Jesus washed our sins away.  He carried them from us as far as the east is from the west.  Daily He offers to cleanse us from the sin that we commit.  The absolution that He offers is complete.  He cleanses us from “all unrighteousness”.  What an astounding measure of grace it is that states, “I declare you not guilty.”  That is what God in grace offers us through the blood of His Son alone.   We can receive by faith the promise of forgiveness by God and rejoice in His grace.

Precious Father, Give me calm and confident peace in Your forgiveness today.  Amen.



Abundant Grace can be found at my website, www.davidccraig.net. You can subscribe to this daily devotion and receive it free M-F simply by placing your email address on the sidebar to follow this blog by email. You can also find Quality Christian Books on my website plus fundraising opportunities for your Christian organization or youth group.

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Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Who Really Provides?

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” Matt 6:26 NKJV
How big would the jewel have to be to pay for all the meals you will eat in a lifetime?  How about for all the food people feed to the birds?  God feeds the birds, and maybe He uses caring people to help do so.  Jesus said that the birds are simply confident in the provision of God for their needs.  His provision for all creation is beyond measurement in cost.  Am I, a bird feeder, part of God’s means of provision for them?  They don’t know or care.  They just eat.
God calls us to see Him as the birds see me.  Daily there is food out for them in our yard.  Daily God promises to provide for His children.  As we pray this part of the prayer it is both a petition and recognition that God is the ultimate source of all our provision.  Whether it is bread or shelter or other needs, God is the source.  He gives strength for work and sun and rain for growth.  Our Father cares for us more than the birds of the air and the lilies of field.  We can respond by recognizing the source of all our provision.   

Precious Father, You know our needs; give us confidence in Your provision.  Amen. 



Abundant Grace can be found at my website, www.davidccraig.net. You can subscribe to this daily devotion and receive it free M-F simply by placing your email address on the sidebar to follow this blog by email. You can also find Quality Christian Books on my website plus fundraising opportunities for your Christian organization or youth group.

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Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Whose Will Is to Be Done?

God, who made the world and everything in it, He is Lord of heaven and earth” Acts 17:24 NKJV
The jewel of this petition is a lockbox treasure for our minds and hearts.  While it often seems that the god of this world is firmly in control, the Bible assures us differently.  God is at work preserving the saints.  He is at work reaching the lost.  He is at work judging nations.  He has a divine will for this world and we beseech Him to fulfill it.  The scriptures assure us that God neither slumbers nor sleeps.  His watch care is certain and His power is active in heaven and earth. 
Most importantly, perhaps, is that when we pray for His will to be done we remember who it is who is praying.  We are praying.  We are His children.  We are asking for Him to reveal His will and power in us for His glory sake.  We are testifying of our submission to His divine plan.  We can make this petition very personal and say, “Thy will be done in me as it is in heaven.”  Then we carry this jewel of purpose with us all day long and let its radiance shine to all God’s creation. 

Precious Father, Help me today to be a willing vessel of Your will.  Amen.  



Abundant Grace can be found at my website, www.davidccraig.net. You can subscribe to this daily devotion and receive it free M-F simply by placing your email address on the sidebar to follow this blog by email. You can also find Quality Christian Books on my website plus fundraising opportunities for your Christian organization or youth group.

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Monday, February 8, 2016

Thy Will Be Done

“For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother." Mark 3:35 NKJV
Never have rubies been found more precious than those formed by the drops of blood Jesus sweat in the Garden of Gethsemane.  They were jewels of grace for us.  He, the Son of God, innocent of any sin, faced the dread cross of Calvary and certain separation from the Father.  He who knew no sin was to become sin for us.  Yet faced with agony of body and soul He prayed, “Thy will be done.” When Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy will be done”, He knew what it meant.
Hebrews tells us that Christ despised the shame of the cross.  He the maker of wood and iron became the sacrifice on the bloody cross for our sins.  What was His strength?  Hebrews also tells us that He looked forward to the resurrection and reunion with the Father.  Glory awaited Him and He endured the cross in anticipation of the seat at the Father’s right hand.  The resurrection and glory that awaits us is also what Paul tells us is the means to endure the shame of Christ in this life.  In the hope of Christ we say, “Thy will be done.” 

Precious Savior, Strengthen us each day to say with You, “Father, Thy will be done.”  Amen.



Abundant Grace can be found at my website, www.davidccraig.net. You can subscribe to this daily devotion and receive it free M-F simply by placing your email address on the sidebar to follow this blog by email. You can also find Quality Christian Books on my website plus fundraising opportunities for your Christian organization or youth group.

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Friday, February 5, 2016

Thy Kingdom Come

“The Lord of Hosts is His Name. He shall be called the God of the whole earth.”  Isaiah 54:5 NKJV
In the Tower of London visitors can see the crown jewels behind a protective glass.  All the glory and pride of English royalty is there on display, but it is not at that particular time on the head of the queen.  There is a grand celebration at the time it is taken out and placed on her head.  At His first advent Christ’s crown was inglorious.  He was king and told Pilate that He was.  But the crown He was given to wear did not come from a mine of precious jewels but from a thorn tree.  The crowns that His brothers and sisters have worn for generations have also been crowns of thorns.
It shall not always be that way.  He shall come again.  He shall come in the glory of the Father and with the angels in heaven.  He will sweep away all the corruption of earth and set up a righteous kingdom that has no end.  Paul said that in that day we will be glorified with Him.  Until then we can let Him reign as King in our lives to the praise of His glory. 

Precious Father, Help us patiently and obediently wait for Thy kingdom.  Amen.


  The Friday Benediction
Until Monday, my friends, may the good God envelop you with His grace; may you prove the common confession of faith, “I believe in the holy Christian church and in the fellowship of the saints”, and may you be enriched with joy and hope as you exercise that confession this weekend.  Amen



Abundant Grace can be found at my website, www.davidccraig.net. You can subscribe to this daily devotion and receive it free M-F simply by placing your email address on the sidebar to follow this blog by email. You can also find Quality Christian Books on my website plus fundraising opportunities for your Christian organization or youth group.

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Thursday, February 4, 2016

The Glory of His Name

“Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.” Ps 113:2 KJV
Here is the crown jewel of adoration.  Nothing is more radiant, more glorious and more vibrant with life and beauty than the Name of the Lord.  As the psalmist said in another place, “His Name alone is excellent”.  Here we are at the throne of grace and we get to declare our adoration and praise and say, “Father, You are excellent.  You are perfect.  You are holy.”  All the bells of our mind are ringing out and resounding with praise at the Name of the Lord.  Our eyes are blinded by the glory of this precious jewel while our heart leaps with exaltation. 
With all the passion of our being we kneel before Him and say, “Let me make Your Name glorious in my life.”  What joy, what exuberant joy enthralls us as we give up ourselves in utter abandonment to the glory of that Name.  Every fiber of our being cries out; let the magnificence of that precious jewel glow through me.  Let its brilliance shine so brightly that I am hidden and only He is seen.  O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Thy Name in all the earth.

Precious God, let the glory of Thy Name shine clearly in me today.  Amen.



Abundant Grace can be found at my website, www.davidccraig.net. You can subscribe to this daily devotion and receive it free M-F simply by placing your email address on the sidebar to follow this blog by email. You can also find Quality Christian Books on my website plus fundraising opportunities for your Christian organization or youth group.

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Wednesday, February 3, 2016

The Heavenly Father of Earthly Compassion

And I said: ‘I pray, LORD God of heaven, O great and awesome God’.” Neh. 1:5 NKJV
What a priceless jewel it is to have a God who is above all.  Nehemiah saw Him as the great and awesome God of heaven.  Isaiah saw Him as the God who was high and lifted up.  He is no mere mortal or creation of mortal imagination.  He is as Moses said, God of heaven and earth.  There is no dominion where He cannot hold sway and no secret that is hid from His sight.  This is the God who asks us to call Him Father.  This is the God, the only God, who in love sent His Son to redeem us as a people for Himself.  This is the God who promises us a home with Him in His eternal heaven forever.
 His heavenly throne is one of power and also of mercy.  His throne is one of judgment and also of amazing love.  His throne is the seat of law and the seat of grace.  We come to this Father in heaven by His own invitation, through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ, and share our hopes, our cares and needs with Him. 

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for admission to Your throne of grace.  Amen.  



Abundant Grace can be found at my website, www.davidccraig.net. You can subscribe to this daily devotion and receive it free M-F simply by placing your email address on the sidebar to follow this blog by email. You can also find Quality Christian Books on my website plus fundraising opportunities for your Christian organization or youth group.

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Tuesday, February 2, 2016

OUR Father, HIS Family

No longer as a slave but more than a slave -- a beloved brother” Philemon 16 NKJV
There is another beautiful facet on the diamond of God’s grace that we find in the first two words of the Lord’s Prayer.  Actually it is the first word, OUR.  In His wonderful grace God has placed us into a new family.  We become part of His body, the Church, the bride of Christ.  The world can be a lonely place.  It is hostile to God and His Word.  We can begin to feel small and alone in this world.  But we are not alone.  We are part of that great Christian body, the Church of God on earth. 
God has placed us into a new community of common purpose.  Others also want to see the Name of God glorified, His Word bear fruit and righteousness prevail.   Within this body we find the love and support that the world cannot give.  We find a bond of fellowship and love that transcends culture, status, wealth and other human boundaries.  We come together in hope before OUR Father.  He cares and loves and hears us all.  Onesimus the slave became the brother of Philemon the owner. Together they speak to us the great joy of Christ’s body, the Church. 

Precious Father, please help me today to rejoice in your body, the Church.  Amen.  



Abundant Grace can be found at my website, www.davidccraig.net. You can subscribe to this daily devotion and receive it free M-F simply by placing your email address on the sidebar to follow this blog by email. You can also find Quality Christian Books on my website plus fundraising opportunities for your Christian organization or youth group.

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Monday, February 1, 2016

Abba, Father

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." Romans 8:15 NKJV
Grace is like a finely cut diamond.  It is brilliant with many facets that glow and shine.  Many facets of grace are found in the Lord’s Prayer.  The first is found in just the first two words, “Our Father”.  There is the grace of adoption by God and brotherhood with Christ.  What a wonderful family we have been granted by grace.  God the Father Almighty is our Father.  Nothing is too hard for Him to do for us.  Christ is our brother.  The totality of our failed human condition is known to Him, but He receives us by grace. 
The simple word, Father, alone raises us to the ecstasy of belonging to God.  We are His children by His grace.  He sought us when we were in rebellion against Him and clothed us with the garments of heaven.  He feeds us with the bread of life and holds our hand during each moment of our daily walk through life.  He loves to hear our chatter and delights when we crawl into His lap for a close snuggle.  O dear and precious words, “Our Father”. 

Dear Precious Father, our Father, comfort us with these words of grace today.  Amen.  



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