Obedience without honor is hypocrisy ∙

Obedience without honor is hypocrisy ∙

And so the Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote. Because of this, I will once again astound these hypocrites with amazing wonders. The wisdom of the wise will pass away, and the intelligence of the intelligent will disappear.” – Isaiah 29:13-14

2 Kings 23:2-25

 2 And the king went up to the Temple of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, along with the priests and the prophets – all the people from the least to the greatest. There, the king read to them the entire Book of the Covenant that had been found in the LORD’s Temple.

 3 The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the LORD’s presence. He pledged to obey the LORD by keeping all his commands, laws, and decrees with all his heart and soul.

 24 Josiah also got rid of the mediums and psychics, the household gods, the idols, and every other kind of detestable practice, both in Jerusalem and throughout the land of Judah. He obeyed the laws written in the scroll that Hilkiah the priest had found in the LORD’s Temple.

 25 Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since.

One hideous development of modern warfare is the IED (Improvised Explosive Device). IEDs have been in the news for years, particularly since their widespread use during the Iraq War that commenced in 2003. IEDs are essentially “homemade” bombs used to kill, maim, destroy, incapacitate, harass, or distract. Often referred to as roadside bombs, IEDs are assembled from military supplies or any other accessible materials.

The process of creating an IED lacks a standard procedure due to the diverse range of materials and explosives available in different regions. However, specific common characteristics can be identified, such as their deceptive design and inclusion of a detonation mechanism. They are usually placed near walkways or along thoroughfares.

Before the advent of the IED, the concealed weapon of choice was the time bomb. A time bomb is an explosive device whose detonation is triggered by a timer.

Regrettably, early life experiences often set IEDs or time bombs in our spirits. These emotional triggers can lie dormant for years, only to explode unexpectedly later in life. Usually, we remain unaware of their existence until they detonate, leaving emotional wreckage in their wake.

Obedience without honor is hypocrisy. Hollow obedience is akin to planting a time bomb. External compliance without genuine, deep-seated love and devotion is merely a facade. Worst still, it isn’t very respectful to the Father. He desires obedience that flows from a human heart overflowing with love and respect, not superficial, meaningless displays of religious devotion.

Mark 7:6-7

 6 Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

 7 Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’”

Consider the old cliché about “standing up on the inside.” A 4-year-old little girl’s mom tells the story. Mom has come to the end of her rope regarding the little girl’s misbehavior. She says, “Sara, go sit in the corner right now! Don’t get up until I tell you to!” Sara goes to the corner and sits down. In a few minutes, Sara retorts, “Mom, I am sitting down on the outside, but I am standing up on the inside!” This behavior is a reflection of our fallen DNA. Sadly, many children of the King are in that mode: outward compliance but inward rebellion. A rebellious spirit is invisible and difficult to detect. Often only the Father and the person know it exists.

If we are rebelling on the inside, no matter how good it may appear on the outside, we are not really obeying at all.

Malachi 1:10 “How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “and I will not accept your offerings.”

REFLECT & PRAY

Psalms 139:23-24

 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

 24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Father You know the secrets of our hearts. Search my heart and reveal what You want me to see and how to respond.

INSIGHT

How do these time bombs get set? They are planted by insults to little children’s tender, vulnerable spirits.

Consider a little boy whose dad is seldom at home. He spends most of his time talking with his mom. He grows into his teenage years; his conversations often turn into arguments. An invisible IED is planted that it’s okay and normal to argue with a woman. Later in life, he marries a young lady, and the homemade bomb is triggered and goes off, and he begins to argue with her. Their relationship is marred.

Consider the little girl who obeys her parents purely out of fear of the consequences of not doing so. There is no love or respect. Later in life, she marries a young man. Her hidden IED goes off. She does not respect or value his wishes or opinions. She merely goes along to keep the peace, but she churns inside. Over time, they grow further and further apart and have no conscious awareness of why.

These time bombs are insidious and diabolical. Children of the King enter the kingdom with live time bombs ready to explode at any time. They have no idea that these incendiary devices lurk inside, primed and waiting to go off.

Why is it essential that we become aware of our triggers and explosive responses? We often go into denial, hide the truth from ourselves, and attempt to hide them from the Father as well. How foolish to try to get something by Him. The Father knows everything all the time.

Isaiah 29:15-16

 15 What sorrow awaits those who try to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their evil deeds in the dark! “The LORD can’t see us,” they say. “He doesn’t know what’s going on!”

 16 How foolish can you be? He is the Potter, and he is certainly greater than you, the clay! Should the created thing say of the one who made it, “He didn’t make me”? Does a jar ever say, “The potter who made me is stupid?”

Is there any way to uncover and safely remove our inner explosive devices? Yes, of course. The Father knows us thoroughly, and He searches every heart. He can reveal our weaponized wounds.

Jeremiah 17:9-10

 9 The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?

 10 But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives.

He will reveal them to each child of the King if they desire Him to do so. The process can be long and arduous. But will redemption and freedom are at the end of the tunnel.

Isaiah 1:18 Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

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© Dr. H 2024

Faithful feet ∙

Faithful feet ∙

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. – Psalm 119:105

Psalm 119:105-114

 105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

 106 I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again: I will obey your righteous regulations.

 107 I have suffered much, O LORD; restore my life again as you promised.

 108 LORD, accept my offering of praise and teach me your regulations.

 109 My life constantly hangs in the balance, but I will not stop obeying your instructions.

 111 Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart’s delight.

 112 I am determined to keep your decrees to the very end.

 113 I hate those with divided loyalties, but I love your instructions.

 114 You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope.

“Happy Feet,” a 2006 computer-animated musical comedy film, was directed, produced, and co-scripted by George Miller. The film features the vocal talents of Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Brittany Murphy, and Hugh Jackman. The movie is about emperor penguins who find their soul mates through song. Every emperor penguin sings their unique song called a “Heartsong” to attract a mate. If the male penguin’s Heartsong matches the female’s Heartsong, the two penguins become mates. Norma Jean lays an egg that she entrusts to her mate, Memphis, while she joins the other females on a fishing expedition. Unfortunately, Memphis briefly misplaces the egg. The hatched chick, Mumble, is born with a terrible singing voice; he can barely sing at all. But worse yet, he doesn’t have a Heartsong. Without a Heartsong, Mumble may never make and find true love.

Surprisingly, Mumble possesses an ability none of the other penguins do – he can tap dance. None of the penguins had ever seen tap dancing before. Mumble’s dad, Memphis, says it “just ain’t penguin.” When Mumble becomes a young adult, his elders frequently ridicule him. Mumble is just too different – especially for Noah the Elder, the stern leader of the empire penguins. He banishes Mumble from the community.

Mumble finds companionship with a group of Adelie penguins known as “the Amigos,” who celebrate Mumble’s dance moves and warmly welcome him into their group.

When mating season arrives, Mumble falls for Gloria. Unable to express his feelings through a Heart Song, Mumble instead synchronizes his tap dancing with Gloria’s song. Touched by his unique expression of affection. She falls with him, and they join together, singing and dancing to “Boogie Wonderland.”

The naysayers voiced their opinions, asserting that Happy Feet “just ain’t penguin.” Happy Feet just don’t belong. But what about Faithful Feet?

What exactly are Faithful Feet? They are feet guided by the Word of God and follow the righteous path. As children of the King, having Faithful Feet should be one of our defining characteristics. But alas, Faithful Feet are almost as rare as Happy Feet among emperor penguins. Even though some of us might start life with certain challenges, it will never prevent us from developing Faithful Feet. It’s entirely up to us. We must desire Faithful Feet and actively seek them.

REFLECT & PRAY

“Left to ourselves, we often don’t know which way leads to life and which way ends in death; we remain in the dark. But God’s Word provides us with a searchlight to cut through the darkness and lead us to safety” (Stanley).

Father deep in my heart I long to follow You and live by Your Word. I made plenty of mistakes and failed; getting this right took me a long time. Guide me one “step” at a time.

INSIGHT

In the Old Testament, life is depicted as a journey along a path. How do the children of the King navigate the route the Father has laid out for them? The Father has given us His word as our compass.

Colossians 1:13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.

We live in a fallen world that is engulfed in darkness (John 1:5; 3:19; 12:46). How can we see our way in the darkness? “Only God’s light can guide us aright. Obedience to the Word keeps us walking in the light” (Wiersbe).

Darkness is the absence of light. Darkness is simply darkness. It never varies. Darkness continues when there is no light present. Yet, even the slightest glimmer of light can dispel the darkness. The greater the light, the less the darkness.

The people of ancient times didn’t have the modern lighting we enjoy today. Instead, they relied on small oil lamps for illumination. The lamps were small clay dishes resembling squashed teapots with a tiny wick. Their light pierced the darkness, moving forward with each step taken. But the light illuminated the path only one step ahead. Because of the darkness, the route ahead in the distance could not be seen. As a result, those who ventured out at night did so with extreme caution. They walked very circumspectly and slowly in order not to venture off the path.

This is how the Father intends for us to walk through life by faith, taking one step at a time. Every step of obedience, carried out by Faithful Feet, sheds light on the subsequent step. Gradually yet steadily, the children of the King reach their intended destinations along the path the Father intended.

The word of God is a light that illuminates our life’s journey. It offers wisdom and guidance for the children of the King to know how to live.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119 is Hebrew poetry. Hebrew poetry rhymes thoughts, not sounds. Thus, my feet and path are synonymous or parallel thoughts. They refer to proper behavior, conduct, and a way of life for every child of the King. The word God provides the truth needed for good moral decisions.

Faithful Feet are illustrated in the following prayerful words:

“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me.

I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself,

and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.”

“But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road,

though I may know nothing about it.”

“Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone” (Thomas Merton).

At times, the children of the King have Fearful Feet rather than Faithful Feet. But as we walk through life following the word of God, our fear diminishes, and our faith grows. First, we make a conscious choice to desire Faithful Feet. Subsequently, we take the next step and start walking in submission and obedience to the word of God.

Do you walk in faith or fear? Remember, they are mutually exclusive and cannot coexist.

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© Dr. H 2024

O God of my righteousness!

O God of my righteousness!

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! – Psalms 4:1

Psalms 4:1-3

 1 Answer me when I call, O God, my vindicator! Though I am hemmed in, you will lead me into a wide, open place. Have mercy on me and respond to my prayer!

 2 How long will you people ruin my reputation? How long will you make groundless accusations? How long will you continue your lies?

 3 You can be sure of this: The LORD set apart the godly for himself. The LORD will answer when I call to him.

Literature and history are replete with examples of vindicators. But what exactly is a vindicator, and what role do they play? In essence, they advocate for others, demonstrating their innocence or righteousness. They absolve individuals from blame, suspicion, or uncertainty. Vindicators often stand up for the right, seek justice, or fight for those wrongly accused.

In fiction, Zorro is the hero of the people. The Jedi of Star Wars fight for the right. Superman fought for truth, justice, and the American way. Atticus Finch in “To Kill a Mockingbird” acts as a vindicator for Tom Robinson, a black man wrongly accused of a crime within a society plagued by racial bias. The prophet Amos spoke out against injustice and advocated for righteousness when ancient Israel was in deep moral decline.

The term vindicator comes from Latin, derived from the verb vindicare, which means to liberate, act as an avenger, protect, and defend. The Latin phrase Deo vindice is translated as God as defender/protector.

Who is the ultimate vindicator?

God, our heavenly Father

As David prays in times of distress, he refers to his Father God as “God of my righteousness.”

A superficial read of this verse is somewhat confusing. Why? Because we focus On what righteousness israther than what righteousness does. The Father is righteous, and He always acts righteously. How does the Father act in a righteous way?

David shows the way. He pleads with the Father as “God of my righteousness.” It is an appeal to God’s character as an upholder of justice and His covenant, a protector of His own. (Kidner). David is in dire straits. He is eager to be vindicated and purposely invokes God with the epithet, “God of my vindication” (Dahood).

A layman’s paraphrase of the sense of Psalms 4:1 might read, Father, you have always protected me; you always have my back. Once again, I am in trouble, and I need your help. Answer my desperate cry for help.

Psalms 4 is a declaration of confidence in the Father. It reveals David’s close walk throughout his lifetime. The Father has come through for him before, and David has the confident expectation that He will again.

REFLECT & PRAY

“God wants us to come ‘boldly’ into His presence, not timidly or anxiously or in fear of how He might respond. He wants to help us, and He has all the grace we need to confront any challenge we might face” (Stanley).

Father what a privilege and delight it is a child of the King. You are my vindicator, and You always have my back. You encourage me to come to You during my times of need with the expectation that You will respond in the nick of time.

INSIGHT

The term “righteous” is not simply a characteristic or attribute of God the Father. He is truly the embodiment of righteousness.

The Hebrew word for righteousness is sedeq. Sedeq is a legal term that means defense or vindication against the charges brought by one’s accuser. Briggs translates the phrase as “the God who vindicates his cause against his adversaries and establishes his right.” The NJV translates as “maintainer of my rights.” “In some languages, one may reverse the order of the two clauses and say, ‘O God, you are my defender. So please listen to me and help me when I pray’” (UBS).

Sedeq “expresses the relation between God and His people. It signifies more than an absolute standard or norm. True, God is righteous in Himself, but His righteousness is expressed as He relates to His people, as a father to His children. He has promised them His presence and victory over adverse circumstances” (VanGemeren).

David learned a tremendous open secret. “Faith in God’s righteousness is based on God’s covenant promise that He will come to the rescue of His children in need. Calling boldly on God is a privilege that belongs to His children” (VanGemeren).

God always does what is right! He defends those in need. He protects His own. And He does it with delight and joy. He is our Dad.

Thus, David boldly cries out to his Father God, “Oh God, my righteousness.” What David does, any child of the King can do. It is our privilege as members of God’s Forever Family.

Hebrews 4:16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There, we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

What does it mean when the author of Hebrews writes, “in time of need” or “when we need it most?” The Greek word here is eukairos. Eukairos is derived from eú– well, good, and kairós – time. It has the sense of opportune time, well-timed, favorable, or suitable time.

G. Campbell Morgan writes, “I am never tired of pointing out that the Greek phrase translated ‘in time of need’ is a colloquialism of which ‘in the nick of time’ is the exact equivalent. ‘That we may receive mercy and find grace to help in the nick of time – grace just when and where I need it. You are attacked by temptation. At the moment of assault, you look to Him, and the grace is there to help in the nick of time. There is no postponement of your petition until the evening hour of prayer. But there in the city street with the flaming temptation in front of you, turn to Christ with a cry for help, and the grace will be there in the nick of time.”

Ephesians 3:12 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.

“As a result of Christ’s work and our union with Him, we now have the unspeakable privilege of entering into God’s presence at any time, in full confidence of being heard, and without any fear of being scolded (MacDonald). Our boldness is the respectful attitude and absence of fear we have as children addressing their Father. Our access is our liberty to speak to God in prayer. Our confidence is the assurance of a welcome, a hearing, and a wise and loving answer. And it is all through faith in Him, that is, our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ” (MacDonald).

John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr. was born at Georgetown University Hospital on November 25, 1960. It was two weeks after his father and namesake, Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts, was elected president. His father was sworn in as president two months after John Jr. was born.

A journalist mistakenly heard JFK repeating his son’s name, “John,” in quick succession, which led to the widespread but unofficial nickname “John-John.”

During the initial three years of his existence, John Jr. resided in the White House. He was known for his bold and frequent visits to his father’s office. He often was seen scrambling around or sitting beneath the imposing Resolute desk in the Oval Office.

All children of the King share the same privilege. We are welcome to come boldly into the Father’s throne room and sit on His lap whenever we so desire. He gladly receives us because we are His children, and He is our Dad. 

John-John, under his dad’s desk

God is never in a hurry, but He’s always on time!

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© Dr. H 2024

Welcome home ∙∙

Welcome home ∙∙

But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” – Acts 7:55-56

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17

 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

 15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.

 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves.

 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then, we will be with the Lord forever.

The inception of the Regata Storica dates back to 1489 when the enchanting Caterina Cornato, the Queen of Cyprus, voluntarily renounced her throne in favor of Venice. Venetians hosted a grand parade of elaborately adorned gondolas to celebrate her arrival along their world-famous canals. This tradition has been celebrated since 1489, with the Regata Storica taking place on the first day of September. The event features a vibrant water procession featuring a kaleidoscope of charming, multicolored boats.

Regata Storica is one of the most spectacular, picturesque, and moving events of Venetian life. It encapsulates the spirit of Venice.

The first Regata Storica was nothing short of a royal reception.

A splendid reception lies ahead of each child of the King. When the time comes, we will be granted a majestic homecoming to the Father’s house.

John 14:1-3

 1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.

 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I will prepare a place for you?

 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

REFLECT & PRAY

A grand welcome is in store for all of the children of the King. We will finally be home with the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Father thank you. You have prepared and laid out the welcome mat to receive Your children in front of the entrance to our home in heaven. Thank You for making us part of Your Forever Family.

INSIGHT

The Scriptures make it explicitly clear that when the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, He sat down at the right hand of God, the place of highest honor. The Lord Jesus Christ had accomplished all He had come to earth to do. He reconciled the human race to the Father and made redemption possible. Being in the right hand of the Father is now His rightful place for all eternity.

Hebrews 1:13 And God never said to any of the angels, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”

Mark 16:19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

Why does Stephen see the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, standing rather than sitting?

Acts 7:55-56

 55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;

 56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Very soon, stones will be hurled at him. Stephen is about to become this first Christian martyr. The Lord Jesus Christ stood to honor and welcome him. He was coming home. Stephen received the most royal welcome from the King of Kings and Lord of lords. What an honor and privilege!

One of the most significant promises of the Lord Jesus Christ is that one day, He would return from heaven alive and gather all who have believed in Him to Himself. All of the children of the King would be united for all time. We will be with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

However, this prompts a logical question. The promise was given nearly 2000 years ago. Innumerable multitudes of the Father’s children have believed, lived their lives, and passed away. Concurrently, many of His children will be present when the Lord Jesus Christ returns. Does death place those who have passed at any disadvantage compared to those who remain alive? How will the departed and living children of the King unite?

Paul answers this question for us.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17

 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

 15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.

 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves.

 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.

The Thessalonians were puzzled about the fate of believers who had already died. It seems they all anticipated being alive when Christ returned. So, the burning issue concerned those who have already died, been buried, and possibly disintegrated in the earth or seas. Would they be left behind? The gathering together of all children of the King, those who have died and those who remain alive, will occur all at once. They will all be collectively welcomed home. Those who have passed away will be miraculously reassembled, atom by atom, from wherever they rest. They, too, will receive the most royal of all welcomes from the King of Kings and Lord of lords.

In this world, the children of the King are not exactly welcome. This world is not our permanent abode. We are merely passing through. This world is not our home. A delightful and wonderful welcome awaits us when we go to our eternal home.

We are to encourage each other with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

The picture Paul paints is an attempt to describe the indescribable. Upon the command of the Lord Jesus Christ, the voice of an archangel and God’s trumpet will rouse the dead. Then, both the dead and the living will be caught up in the clouds to meet Christ, and after that, they will be forever with their Lord (Barclay).

This astonishing event will be fantastic, incredible, and beyond words. It will be more impressive than any of the biblical epics that Hollywood has ever produced. The setting, lighting, and sound effects will be literally out of this world.

One day, all children of the King will hear delightful, loving words of welcome. They undoubtedly will be similar to “well done, good, and faithful servant.” You have been faithful . . . Enter into the joy of Your Master. Let’s celebrate together! – (Matthew 25:23)

This begins in eternal celebration with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, awesome!

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© Dr. H 2024

 ∙∙

But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” – Acts 7:55-56

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17

 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

 15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.

 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves.

 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then, we will be with the Lord forever.

The inception of the Regata Storica dates back to 1489 when the enchanting Caterina Cornato, the Queen of Cyprus, voluntarily renounced her throne in favor of Venice. Venetians hosted a grand parade of elaborately adorned gondolas to celebrate her arrival along their world-famous canals. This tradition has been celebrated since 1489, with the Regata Storica taking place on the first day of September. The event features a vibrant water procession featuring a kaleidoscope of charming, multicolored boats.

Regata Storica is one of the most spectacular, picturesque, and moving events of Venetian life. It encapsulates the spirit of Venice.

The first Regata Storica was nothing short of a royal reception.

A splendid reception lies ahead of each child of the King. When the time comes, we will be granted a majestic homecoming to the Father’s house.

John 14:1-3

 1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.

 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I will prepare a place for you?

 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

REFLECT & PRAY

A grand welcome is in store for all of the children of the King. We will finally be home with the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Father thank you. You have prepared and laid out the welcome mat to receive Your children in front of the entrance to our home in heaven. Thank You for making us part of Your Forever Family.

INSIGHT

The Scriptures make it explicitly clear that when the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, He sat down at the right hand of God, the place of highest honor. The Lord Jesus Christ had accomplished all He had come to earth to do. He reconciled the human race to the Father and made redemption possible. Being in the right hand of the Father is now His rightful place for all eternity.

Hebrews 1:13 And God never said to any of the angels, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”

Mark 16:19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

Why does Stephen see the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, standing rather than sitting?

Acts 7:55-56

 55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;

 56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Very soon, stones will be hurled at him. Stephen is about to become this first Christian martyr. The Lord Jesus Christ stood to honor and welcome him. He was coming home. Stephen received the most royal welcome from the King of Kings and Lord of lords. What an honor and privilege!

One of the most significant promises of the Lord Jesus Christ is that one day, He would return from heaven alive and gather all who have believed in Him to Himself. All of the children of the King would be united for all time. We will be with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

However, this prompts a logical question. The promise was given nearly 2000 years ago. Innumerable multitudes of the Father’s children have believed, lived their lives, and passed away. Concurrently, many of His children will be present when the Lord Jesus Christ returns. Does death place those who have passed at any disadvantage compared to those who remain alive? How will the departed and living children of the King unite?

Paul answers this question for us.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17

 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

 15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.

 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves.

 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.

The Thessalonians were puzzled about the fate of believers who had already died. It seems they all anticipated being alive when Christ returned. So, the burning issue concerned those who have already died, been buried, and possibly disintegrated in the earth or seas. Would they be left behind? The gathering together of all children of the King, those who have died and those who remain alive, will occur all at once. They will all be collectively welcomed home. Those who have passed away will be miraculously reassembled, atom by atom, from wherever they rest. They, too, will receive the most royal of all welcomes from the King of Kings and Lord of lords.

In this world, the children of the King are not exactly welcome. This world is not our home. We are merely passing through. A delightful and wonderful welcome awaits us when we go to our eternal home.

We are to encourage each other with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

The picture Paul paints is an attempt to describe the indescribable. Upon the command of the Lord Jesus Christ, the voice of an archangel and God’s trumpet will rouse the dead. Then, both the dead and the living will be caught up in the clouds to meet Christ, and after that, they will be forever with their Lord (Barclay).

This astonishing event will be fantastic, incredible, and beyond words. It will be more impressive than any of the biblical epics that Hollywood has ever produced. The setting, lighting, and sound effects will be literally out of this world.

One day, all children of the King will hear delightful, loving words of welcome. They undoubtedly will be similar to “well done, good, and faithful servant.” You have been faithful . . . Enter into the joy of Your Master. Let’s celebrate together! – (Matthew 25:23)

This begins in eternal celebration with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, awesome!

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© Dr. H 2024