Daily Devotional for January 9, 2016

Proverbs 13:13
If you reject God’s teaching,
    you will pay the price;
    if you obey his commands,
    you will be rewarded.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
    
People all over the country have “lottery fever” as the Powerball jackpot is approaching $900 million. Reporters from countless news outlets are interviewing ticket buyers who speculate on how they will “spend the reward!”  The options run the gamut from “quit my job” to “buy my parents a new home” to “travel the world” and more!

It has now been a little better than a week since we took my mother to the hospital Emergency Department in what was a precarious condition, to put it mildly. And it’s pretty well gone downhill since. The days have been filled with all sorts of emotions and situations that we have had to “digest” and accept. In many ways, our worlds have each been turned upside down as we have adjusted to new schedules, reports from doctors and nurses, close quarters and new relationships with family members and friends, coping with a myriad of emotions that change each hour, and dealing with a bevy of unknowns.

It’s a lot…and we are all doing the best that we can.  And when she has a lucid moment, my little mother will often say, “God will take care of this.”  I know that she is right…because my mother never rejected God’s teaching.  She has always obeyed His commands…and God is not about to desert her – especially now.  A reward is coming…and probably fairly soon.  It’s not of the $900 million variety – but quite frankly, it’s something even better!

We’ve all got “Lottery Fever” of the best kind around here…and soon, my mother will cash in her “ticket.” Obey God’s commands…surrender to His teaching, and know that when life on this earth is over, you really do have the winning ticket – to a “Heavenly Lottery” that provides Eternity in the presence of God Almighty!  It truly doesn’t get any better than that!

Are you ready to be a “Heavenly winner?”  Will this be the day that you begin to really follow God’s teaching and obey His commands?  Aren’t you ready to get in the running for the best “Lottery” of all?
  
©2016 Debbie Robus