Heaven #6

For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

"then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men),

Isaiah 57:15, 2 Chronicles 6:30 www.solascriptura.com

Father, You inhabit eternity. What a necessary truth for us to know. You await our arrival into Your Holy place. You have told us before that everyone is invited but here You tell us the nature of those who will have accepted Your invitation. You will dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit.

Father we know that pride and egocentric behavior are disgusting to You. Yet, we have seen repeatedly how some of Your children once behaved that way. Some of us have more trouble being humble and contrite than others but here we see that we must overcome that tendency, through the strength of the Holy Spirit in us, if we ever intend to stand in Your presence.

Father, we do confess our sins, this day, and beg that we not deceive ourselves in matters of obedience. We know that You know our every thought and action but better than that, we know You rejoice with us when we make good choices and do Your will. Bless us and keep us this day. We pray in Jesus' Holy name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Heaven #7

"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. "All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. "And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 'for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 'I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 'When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 'Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 'for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 'I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' "Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' "Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Matthew 25:31-46, www.solascriptura.com

Jesus, You teach us that our love for You must be accompanied by our love for our fellow man for if we do not love one another it is the same as if we do not love You.

Help us to see every human encounter as an opportunity to demonstrate that what we do to others, we do unto You. Oh how we will need help this day with that reality. Touch our lives and lead us we pray. Amen.

Bruce Caldwell

Temptation #1

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. I Jn 4:1,4 "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. "Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

Revelation 3:10-12, www.solascriptura.com

Father, such words as recorded by the beloved apostle John, are too wonderful to fully grasp. Thank you for Your Spirit in us that enable us to "overcome" the evil that surrounds us.

We yearn for Your name to be upon us, marked for eternity in New Jerusalem, heaven. Give us a witness this day to a soul that seeks You and bring Your peace to each of us this day. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell