February 5

I Can Only Imagine
Bible in a Year:
Exodus 36–38
Matthew 23:1–22
The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

Today's Scripture & Insight:

2 Corinthians 5:1–10
I settled into the church pew behind a woman as the worship team began playing “I Can Only Imagine.” Raising my hands, I praised God as the woman’s sweet soprano voice harmonized with mine. After telling me about her health struggles, we decided to pray together during her upcoming cancer treatments.

A few months later, Louise told me she feared dying. Leaning on her hospital bed, I rested my head next to hers, whispered a prayer, and quietly sang our song. I can only imagine what it was like for Louise when she worshiped Jesus face-to-face just a few days later.

The apostle Paul offered comforting assurance for his readers who were facing death (2 Corinthians 5:1). The suffering experienced on this side of eternity may cause groaning, but our hope remains anchored to our heavenly dwelling—our eternal existence with Jesus (vv. 2–4). Though God designed us to yearn for everlasting life with Him (vv. 5–6), His promises are meant to impact the way we live for Him now (vv. 7–10).

As we live to please Jesus while waiting for Him to return or call us home, we can rejoice in the peace of His constant presence. What will we experience the moment we leave our earthly bodies and join Jesus in eternity? We can only imagine!

By: Xochitl Dixon

Loving God, thank You for promising to be with me on earth and for all eternity.

Rewards for Being Different

February 05, 2023
by Pastor Chuck Swindoll
Scriptures: Matthew 5:3–6

God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. (Matthew 5:3–6)
For the past few days, we have observed the promises Jesus made in "The Beatitudes."

We are only halfway through the list, but it's a good place to stop and summarize what we have seen in this inspired portrait thus far.

Jesus is describing how to be different, how to be His unique servant in a hostile, wicked world. He honors particular character traits and offers special rewards for each.

Those who are genuinely humble before God, who turn to Him in absolute dependence, will be assured of a place in His kingdom.
Those who show compassion on behalf of the needy, and the hurting, will receive (in return) much comfort in their own lives.
Those who are gentle—strong within yet controlled without, who bring a soothing graciousness into irritating situations, will win out.
Those who have a passionate appetite for righteousness, both heavenly and earthly, will receive from the Lord an unusual measure of personal contentment and satisfaction.
Before going further, let's ask ourselves these questions (try to answer each one directly and honestly):

Am I really different?
Do I take all this seriously . . . so much so that I am willing to change?
Is it coming through to me that serving others is one of the most Christlike attitudes I can have?
What significant difference will the ideas expressed in the Beatitudes have on my life?
The bottom-line question is not, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" but rather, "What are you becoming, now that you're grown?"

Prayer - February 5, 2023
Rev. Bill Dorwart, C.S.C.

Almighty and ever living God, your people long to taste and see the goodness of your love. Bless our hands and our wits that we might become your beacon of hope in a darkened world. Make our voice your own that your children may savor the presence of your promise and peace revealed in Jesus who is Lord forever and ever. Amen

Did God Offer a Book or a Walk?

When I got married, my lover, Patti, did not hand me a book of rules to keep to make her happy. She offered to walk and talk with me daily and desired that I would listen to her and honor and respect her by hearing and meeting the desires of her heart.



Likewise, my divine lover didn't offer me a book of rules either. He offered the same thing Patti offered, His voice: My sheep hear My voice (Jn. 10:27). God's desire was for us to have a walk in His garden where we would commune (Gen. 3:8). As I hear and honor His voice, I receive His wisdom, healing, and strength.

However, for years I was taught and believed that He was no longer speaking and I was to live out of a book, the Bible. What a tragedy, to reduce a relationship with Almighty God to a set of rules which I codified from a book, which I would then strive hard to keep. This constituted the first ten years of my Christian life.

God confronted the Israelites about living from rules rather than living from His voice

The Israelites were caught up in offering sacrifices and meticulous obedience to endless rules, and God says, that’s not what I instructed you to do. I told you to obey My voice.

I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. "But this is what I commanded them, saying, 'Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you' (Jer. 7:21-23).

Jesus confronted the Israelites about living from rules rather than living from God's voice

In Matthew 23 Jesus describes the Pharisees as being focused on laws and outer things, but inwardly they are messed up.

Jesus declares: "He who is of God hears the words (rhemas = spoken words) of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God" (Jn. 8:47). Young's Literal Translation replaces "words" with the clearest meaning, "sayings." So this verse is specifically referring to the spoken words from God, His voice in our hearts.

Do you think Jesus still stands behind John 8:47 today?

Jesus, our perfect example, modeled living out of the VOICE of His Father

"I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge ... I seek ... the will of Him who sent Me" (Jn. 5:30).

"But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God" (Jn. 8:40).

"The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you" (Jn. 14:17).

"When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me" (Jn. 15:26).

More... https://www.cwgministries.org/blogs/did-god-offer-book-or-walk-and-talk

Liveprayer Daily Devotional Sunday February 5, 2023

https://www.liveprayer.com/devotional.cfm?id=55372

***LIVEPRAYER CHURCH!!! Haven't been to church yet this week? Join me for this week's service at the LivePrayer Church. This week's message is: “Confidence in God!” Please visit the website at: http://liveprayerchurch.com and be part this week's worship service. Each Sunday there will be a new service at 12:01am EST