Devotional May 5, 2006 BENEFITS

[zoeseymour]

All Scripture from the King James Version


Through television ads we learn the benefits of drinking milk include strengthening our bones. The benefit of exercise is a healthier mind and body.

Some people receive benefits from an employer such as health and dental coverage. As Americans we share many benefits from living in a free country.

Have you considered the benefits we receive from being a child of God? It's true, we have benefits!

Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.

Psalm 103:2
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.

Daily benefits, just take a moment to think on this.
Daily, we know His mercies are new every morning.
He daily loadeth us with benefits. The benefits are His provisions for us.

We have the benefits of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
We benefit from the Blood of Jesus for salvation, healing, deliverance, victory, peace.
We benefit in that the Heavenly host are ministers to the heirs of salvation, that's us!

Psalm 116:12
What shall I render unto the LORD for all His benefits toward me?

God wants us to love our neighbor as ourselves. He wants us to obey His Word. He wants us to have no other Gods before Him.

I'd like to know what are some of the benefits you receive from God.

What do you think we can render unto Him for all His benefits to us?

Please write, I'd love to hear what you have to say.

Thanks to Pastor King and 1st Assembly for this opportunity to share.

zoe

[ANGELA]

HI AUNT ZOE (TEE HEE),
WELL, I'VE BEEN SITTING HERE PONDERING. AND I THINK, AS A BELIEVER, IT'S A CHALLENGE TO LIST OUR BENEFITS -- NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE HARD TO SEE....BUT BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO SEE ANYTHING ELSE! IF WE WILL LOOK WITH SPIRITUAL EYES, WE WILL SEE GOD'S BENEFITS ARE ALL-ENCOMPASSING. AND I THINK FOR ME, THAT'S THE NUTSHELL OF IT. EVEN THE CRUMMY STUFF OF LIFE, THE TRIALS, THE HARDNESS OF LIVING IN THIS WORLD THAT IS NOT HOME TO US....WE CAN CHOOSE TO SEE EVEN THOSE AS BENEFITS. ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, GOD CONTINUES TO SHOW HIS GLORY THROUGH OUR LIVES, IN GOOD TIMES OR BAD. WHEN LIFE DOESN'T GO MY WAY (AS IT OFTEN DOES NOT, YOU KNOW:), AND I'M TEMPTED TO POUT OR COMPLAIN TO GOD THAT HE'S NOT DOING HIS JOB TO MAKE ME HAPPY, I AM SWIFTY (AND LOVINGLY) REMINDED THAT HIS JOB IS NOT TO MAKE ME HAPPY, NOR DOES HE OWE ME ANYTHING. THAT IS NOT TO SAY WE CAN'T FIND JOY IN THE LORD, REGARDLESS OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, OR THAT GOD IS TOO BUSY DEALING WITH EVERYONE ELSE TO MEET OUR NEEDS....QUITE THE CONTRARY. HE HAS BLESSED US FAR BEYOND ANYTHING WE DESERVE. AND JUST BECAUSE I'M NOT HAPPY AT THE MOMENT DOES NOT MEAN GOD HAS CEASED TO BE GOOD. JUST WHEN LIFE SEEMS UNFAIR AND DISAPPOINTING IS WHEN GOD SEEMS TO SHOW HIS FAITHFULNESS, DESPITE OURSELVES. HIS VERY EXISTENCE IN OUR LIVES IS A BENEFIT -- EVEN IF HE GAVE US NOTHING MORE THAN WHAT WE HAVE....AND WHAT MORE IS ESSENTIAL THAN SALVATION? AND YET WE ALL CAN AGREE, WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED FAR BEYOND EVEN THAT, IN BIG AND SMALL WAYS. HE DIDN'T SAVE US BECAUSE HE OWED US OR BECAUSE WE DESERVED IT. AND HE DOESN'T HEAP BENEFIT UPON BENEFIT INTO OUR LIVES BECAUSE WE'RE GOOD -- BUT BECAUSE HE IS GOOD. HE IS GOOD. AND BECAUSE HE IS GOOD, OUR LIST OF BENEFITS SHOULD BE ENDLESS. AND WHAT DO WE GIVE BACK TO HIM FOR THESE BENEFITS? FOR THERE IS NO WAY WE COULD EVER AFFORD THE BILL OR MEASURE UP TO HIS STANDARD OF PERFECTION ON OUR OWN TO DESERVE THEM....(AGAIN, ANOTHER BENEFIT. HE DOES FOR US, WHAT WE CANNOT DO FOR OURSELVES.) WHAT DO I GIVE BACK TO HIM? EVERYTHING. FOR IT ALL BELONGS TO HIM ANYWAY: THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE IS ALSO THE LORD OF MY LIFE AND EVERYTHING IN IT. HE IS THE CREATOR/OWNER OF ALL, INCLUDING ME. IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY OR PLEASANT TO BE A LIVING SACRIFICE. BUT THERE ARE BENEFITS! IT IS A PRIVILEDGE TO SERVE HIM, FOR THERE IS NO ONE MORE WORTHY OF OUR TIME AND ATTENTION. AND OUR BENEFITS ARE IMMEASURABLE AS A RESULT....THEY ARE ETERNAL.
ANGELA

[revking]

Great devotional Zoe keep up the good work! How soon before we see another one?

[cscott6]

Sister Zoe,

[cscott6]

Sister Zoe,
Thanks for reminding me that complaining about my life or my circumstances isn't nearly the price God had to pay for His Son. Jesus is the one that even though our circumstances may seem hard, He is in the midst of it, even when we can't see or feel His presence. He has our ultimate plan in His hands, and knows our outcome. Victory is what I choose this day.

God Bless!
;D