Daily Devotional for July 12, 2014

1 Peter 1:3-5
What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole.

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.  Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.  All rights reserved.

We live in an age where virtually everything we say and do has at least the possibility of being caught on camera.  There are “security cameras” on city streets and sidewalks…in parking lots and shopping centers…and in virtually every store one enters.  For as little as $200, you can own a “GoPro” camera…which “makes it easy to document and share your life’s most interesting experiences,” according to information on found at http://gopro.com.  The company’s slogan is “Wear it. Mount it. Love it.™”  With the advent of Google Glass (http://google.com/Glass), a wearable computer with OHMD (Optical Head-mounted Display), anyone you encounter can be capturing your every move while walking, riding a bike, driving a car, and more.  We are a world that is watched over by others.  Some of us would do well to remember this!

The “watchful eye” of a “GoPro” camera, Google Glass, or a security camera is significantly different from the “careful watch” of God.  Yes, all of these can potentially note every move we make.  But only One offers genuine care and protection – both now and into the future.  Only the life-giving nurture and shield of God’s love – and salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ – can sustain us…on this earth and into Eternity!  And care for us, He does!

I can see how life often wouldn’t make a whole lot of sense for those who don’t know Jesus.  I’ll be honest…Greg and I have both started giving the “news” little more than a passing glance.  He skims the “Sports” section of the newspaper…I check the obituaries (don’t judge!) and sometimes the “regional” sections.  We listen for the weather forecast and sort of “half-listen” to the local news reports.  It’s all so bleak and disheartening.  And yes, we know that bad things happen.  But these days, we are choosing to focus more on good things…happy events…blessings - and the hand of God in any and all circumstances.  We are not burying our heads in the sand…we are trusting the One who makes a way where none seems evident!

We know that our future is secure in heaven…and that God wants us to enjoy our time on this earth – and to be productive while we are here.  In the midst of war, pain, suffering, sickness, disagreement, natural disaster and so much more possible sadness and sorrow, there is great grace, mercy, hope, and delight.  God supplies all of this AND the promise of eternity with Him in heaven!  It really doesn’t get any better than that!  So let the world watch and record our every move…and let them find us joyfully serving God out of His abundance for us – and our confidence that He is not only watching, but in full control.

Let us live out our faith each and every day…let’s show the world how happy we are to be saved by the blood of Jesus…and destined for the glory of Heaven.  Let’s give others a picture of THAT for a change…and see how God works because of it!  Are you in?


©2014 Debbie Robus

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