Horizon

Hope Beyond Distant Horizons

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As we will be traveling for three weeks, starting tomorrow, the posts will be few and far between. This devotional from several years ago encourages me as we head off towards our own distant horizons. 

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalms 121:1-2 ESV

When life is all tea and roses, it seems obvious to us that tomorrow will be the same or better. But when the rose petals darken from early frost and our teacups fall and smash to pieces, our forecast changes. Weaknesses, hospital stays and doctor visits clamor to fill up our calendar. On those days where is our hope? The psalmist says he looks out as far as his eyes can see, and on his horizon lie distant hills. Beyond those hills is a new and uncharted territory. What things lie behind them? When we have passed our farthest horizon what then? Then God’s answer echoes back from the hills: – “My help comes from the Lord!” The God who created those hills will still walk with us beyond our farthest horizons to the very ends of the earth!

Peace

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The best part of being at the beach this afternoon, was not jumping in the water to cool off, but feeling the breeze quiet my heart and mind. It has always intrigued me how Jesus never said that the world did not offer peace. He only said that the peace He gives is different (and way better) than what this world can offer us.

It’s not that the peace we can find on this earth is always bad, but rather it is always temporary. We had to come home from the beach, tomorrow we go to the doctor and then come blood tests and then come bills and on and on. The peace that calmed my heart for a moment at the shore will be forgotten but God’s peace rests on the unchanging truth of His word. His promise of life, forgiveness and rest for my soul stretch on past the horizon of eternity. Peace more sure than a river and broader than all oceans is available any time and any place in the person of Jesus Christ.

 

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Point of Contact

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And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. Matthew 9:20 NJKVP1040067

There was only one hem on the garment of Christ. In fact when the soldiers went to divide his clothing they gambled for His outer garment because it was all on piece. The only hem available for the woman to touch was at the very lowest point of the robe of Jesus Christ. Like this woman in the crowd our own needs may have dominated our focus for years. Friends, family, and even her ability to enter a place or worship all were affected by her need until that day as Jesus was passing by in the crowd. We are not told if she had listened to Jesus’ words herself or if she had simply believed what others had told her about him. What we do know is that the message she had heard about Jesus Christ was enough for her to determine that she would do anything to get to Him. The power of her need for that one single moment had no ability to prevent her from pressing through the crowd in order to fall to her knees and reach up and touch the hem of His robe. The good news for us is that our invisible God gives us a visible point of contact in the lowest of places. When we are willing and hearts are humbled He may pass by to give us a visible connection to His invisible power and grace!

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud,But gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 NJKV