Author: Margret Abbott

The song, “Blessed  Assurance,” is in every hymn book:

                   “Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine!

                   Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!

                   Heir of salvation, purchase of God.

                   Born of His spirit, washed in His blood.”

These words were written by the famous blind song writer, Fanny Crosby.  As an infant, incompetent medical treatment rendered her sightless for life.  She is the author of over 2,000 beloved hymns as the one above and others such as “Jesus, Keep Me Near the  Cross,” “Sweet Hour of Prayer,” and “To God Be the Glory.” 

A few years ago, a friend of ours sang this song in her hospital room when she was very ill.  It was quite a witness as the nurse ran in to attend to her needs.  So, do you have that blessed assurance in God’s Son, Jesus?  Does your family know the forgiving love of Christ?

Let’s offer a prayer:

Jesus said in John 14:6:  “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one can come to the Father except through me.”

Father, come close to us.  As you died on the cross for our sins, give us the faith to know you personally.  Forgive us for doubting your love.  Give us the power from the Holy Spirit to live and share you free gift with others.

In Jesus Name    AMEN

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1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV:  “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love.  But the greatest of these is love.”

Last May, the devotion asked what your favorite Bible verse was.  One person handed in his favorite verse to the pastor after church and it was the above 1 Corinthians 13:13.  Shortly after that, I heard a request on the radio to read the whole 13th chapter everyday for a week.  It seemed that Jesus was trying to get that message into my heart and soul as I read it each day.  No matter how much faith, or prophetic knowledge or hope we can have, nothing really matters if we do not have His “love.”  So, I asked myself a question:  How do I get  that “love” that is unselfish and pure?  Well, the answer came in John 14:6 NIV,  Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No man comes to the Father except by me.”  Jesus is the only perfect love and He desires to give that to you and me.  I still make mistakes, but He forgives me when I ask Him and keeps teaching me how to love in His holy way.  So, if Jesus died for me, I can live for Him and know His love that seeks to honor Him. 

Well, I told Jesus that I sure fall short of His standards!  And you know what He told me?  God sent His only Son into the world not to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:17)  He took away our sins on the cross and we can believe in Him as our Savior.  Jesus did die, but He rose again on the third day proving He was the Son of God.  Wow, Jesus’ blood “covers my sins” as the old hymn says. 

Please ponder these verses and read 1 Corinthians 13 everyday for this month.  You will begin to understand His unfathomable love! 

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— WE SAY:  “It’s impossible.” God’s Word says, (Luke 18:27) “…The things that are impossible with men are possible with God.”

— WE SAY:  “Nobody really loves me.” The well known verse is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world (that’s you!) that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”

— WE SAY: “God is not here today and He isn’t everywhere all the time.”  Yes He is!  He’s with you when you are sleeping and Jesus is with you when you are on the couch watching your favorite TV program.  Oh my, if He’s there, would you want Him to leave?  Hebrews 13:5a: because God says, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

— WE SAY:  “Well, nobody’s perfect and we all make mistakes.  It’s the way we have been since we were born.”   That’s why Jesus died on the cross and paid the penalty for our sins.  Now, we can go to heaven with Him if we have ask Him into our hearts.  What if we sin?  1John 1:9 says:  “If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  (another word for that is un-goodness)  He helps us to grow as we strive to be more like Him.  

 — So, will money make my day better?  Perhaps, but you “can’t take it with you.”  Only the love of God lasts forever. Don’t be a doubter.  Don’t make excuses.  Jesus knows we aren’t perfect, but He invites us to be with Him forever and He will take care of us.  I’d rather have Jesus on my side than the devil.

Back in April, we celebrated Easter when Jesus died on the cross for our sins and arose from the dead on Easter Morning.  He didn’t do that flippantly.  It’s serious.  He loves you and wants you with Him. 

Don’t miss your opportunity. 

Folks at St. Petrie care about you.  You can call us — 815- 246-9890. 

Think about this devotion and please take it to heart.

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Philippians 1: 9-11(NKJV): “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of

righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”

This a scripture prayer that you can pray for your family, friends, and even yourself knowing that you are always in the will of God. As you read the Bible, you will find other verses that you can pray as certain

situations arise. Colossians 1: 3-6(NKJV): “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints; because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which is come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it also among you since the day you heard of it and knew the grace of God in truth. “This is another passage for those growing in their walk with Christ.

Challenge yourself to pray these scriptures for a month. I will do the same. See what Jesus will do in your life and the lives of those you pray for.

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January Devotions

Are you willing to get out of the boat in 2023?

Matt 14: 22-34 (NIV) tells the story when came to the disciples walking on the water during a terrible storm around three o’clock in the morning. The disciples thought they were seeing a ghost until Jesus said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Matt. 14: 27)Then the disciple Peter asked Jesus to tell him to come to him on the water. Jesus said: “Come.” (verse 29) Peter got out of the boat and begin to walk on the water. The other disciples did not follow, but stayed in the boat.

Peter foolish for getting out of the boat and being afraid when the he began to sink? At least he got out of the boat while the others stayed in the security of the boat. Peter did not miss the opportunity to stretch his faith.  Of course the wind died down when Jesus got back in the boat and those in the boat worshipped him saying: “Truly you are the Son of God.”(vs 32)

So, here we are today. As the Holy Spirit leads, are we willing to get out of the boat and serve the Lord His will everyday? This be your courageous prayer with Jesus’ help in the New Year.

We start our New Year at St Petrie, may we pray each day for the opportunity to share Christ with someone.

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The first is fear of the Lord.  This does not mean to be afraid of God, but to reverence Him for His power and glory.  This is an acknowledgement of all that God is including a respect for His holy wrath and anger.

Psalm 11: 10 tells us that the fear of the Lord is the

beginning of wisdom and leads to life, rest, peace and contentment (Proverbs 19: 23).  Proverbs 14: 26 states that the fear of the Lord provides security and a place of safety for us.

With all those promises, we should reach out in faith to God’s Son, Christ, who died on the cross for our sins.  Why wouldn’t we all willingly come to the Savior who has poured out so much love to us?

The second kind of fear in this world is of the devil.  The Bible gives promises to stand against Satan.  1John 4:4 says: “Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.”   11Timothy 1:7 tells us: “For God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.”

The key to overcoming fear is complete trust in Jesus Christ.  Ask Him for it.  Proverbs 3: 5,6 says;  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.  Lean not unto your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”

***** Remember when we learned Isaiah 41:10 in Sunday School?

“Fear not, for I am with you.  Be not dismayed for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, I will help, uphold you with my righteous right hand.”                                           ~cms