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Listen while you read: "I Know Whom I Have Believed"1
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Acts 4:12 – Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. (NIV)
One evening, as we were all going inside for the night, one of the baby goats let out a loud wail. My daughter went to investigate.
Mulan, one of our young kids, was trapped on a bench in the barn. Mulan's left hoof and ankle had slipped through one of the wooden slats. It seemed impossible that this could have happened, but it had. In trying to free herself, she had also fallen off the edge of the bench and was dangling in the air, not being big enough to be able to touch the floor with her hind feet.
My family valiantly tried to free her but no amount of pressure or turning of the hoof and ankle worked. The only thing left to do was to cut away the slat of wood that held her. Once this was accomplished, Mulan's desperate situation was alleviated.
Like Mulan, all human beings have been caught in a desperate spiritual situation because Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. No thing or no one could free the two of them from the spiritual death sentence that their sin brought upon them, and subsequently, every human being thereafter. All of us were doomed, left dangling in a hopeless situation until Someone stepped in to save us.
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV)
Jesus can do what no other man or amount of work can do to save us. He and He alone can free us once and for all from the consequences and hold of sin that keeps us from eternal life in heaven with Him. When we humble ourselves and confess our sin, believing in His power, and His alone, to forgive and free us from our sin — past, present, and future — we are no longer left dangling, wondering about what comes after death on this earth. Through His disciple John, the Lord has written something for all of us to think about:
1 John 5:10-12 – Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: 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. (NIV)
Prayer: Father God, thank You that Jesus is able to do what no one or no thing on this earth has power to do: to save us from our sin and to restore us into an eternal relationship with You. Blessed be the name of the Lord! Amen.
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About the author:
Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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Lynne, Amen, and Amen!
Lynne – And thanks to Mulan for enduring the trial that provided this most vivid imagery to spark our spirit.
Thank you, Lynne, for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. To God be the glory. Blessings.
Hello Lynne,
Thank you for today’s message.
Blessings!
Another good one my friend! It is so true the mess we can get ourselves into and thank goodness, Jesus helps us and the Word gives direction.
Have a blessed weekend.
Dear Lynne,
It is so good to hear about your animal antics again. You always bring such a good application from these incidents.
Praise the LORD for all of His provisions for us.
Thanks for another dramatic account of “Life on the farm”. Glad Mulan survived!
We thought of you the other day, when we heard that dreadful fires were raging once again in Atlin. How tragic! Just when we thought these things were OVER!
Bless you and your family, dear Lord, and keep them SAFE!
Hi Lynne,
This is a great analogy of our situation without Jesus who rescues us from our predicament due to our sin.
I hope and pray Mulan has fully recovered from his ordeal and has learned from the predicament he found himself in.
Blessings.
Lynne, Your goat story illustrates the salvation message clearly and in straight-forward words. I contrast that to the many online discussions I’ve heard lately over our world’s problems. They spend hours describing the problem, but cannot offer a solution. They can’t fathom anything apart from human capability. The Good News seems like a ridiculous option. Oh, how it offends our pride.
Good morning, Lynne,
I am so glad that Mulan was not injured in her adventure onto the bench. Thanks for the great reminder of why Jesus came to live on the earth and save us from our sins.
Sometimes we become complacent when life is comfortable and devotionals help to remind us how quickly life can change. Being focused on our gratitude to Jesus, helps us to remember to spread the love and grace of Jesus whenever we can. May you feel blessed as you enjoy your day.
Hi Lynne,
I am just reading this devotional. We have been caught up in a situation that is beyond belief as far as my husband and I are concerned. One of his associates from his work days died recently. His wife contacted us. The co-worker was a nonbeliever. There was no service of any kind. He had been married once before and when she would bring up the matter of a will, he would say, “we will do that later.” All his finances are tied up and she doesn’t know what to do…what a mess!
So, it was very good for me to read your reassuring words expressing thoughts that I know to be true. Cannot imagine people who think this life is all there is.
Thanks once more for writing, Lynne.
Hi Lynne,
Your animals certainly do provide you with wonderful inspiration for an inspiring message. This was a good one, as usual. Bless Mulan for “suffering for Jesus’ sake!”
Many thanks Lynne for another of your very interesting and relative analogies. You always do a great job of using an activity or happening with your pets to relate to the love and care available to us from seeking our loving Lord Jesus. Blessings for these very special writings you prepare.