Monday, February 14, 2022

TRUE LOVE

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 45-47

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

This is the view from atop Mount Carmel looking west toward the sunset over the Mediterranean Sea. It was from here that a “cloud the size of a man’s hand” was reported to Elijah (1 Kings 18:44). God spoke to Elijah as He did to Jeremiah. God’s love will find a way sooner or later to bring people back to Himself, but it must be a decision of human free will. That’s what true love means. Happy Valentine’s Day!

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Jeremiah 46:27

But do not fear, O My servant Jacob,

And do not be dismayed, O Israel!

For behold, I will save you from afar,

And your offspring from the land of their captivity;

Jacob shall return, have rest and be at ease;

No one shall make him afraid.

Jeremiah 45 is Jeremiah’s word from God for his personal assistant and secretary (scribe), Baruch. Baruch’s prize was “Life.” He went as a guest of honour to Babylon where he was allowed to buy property and to prosper. There is an Apocryphal book called by his name. The Apocrypha is a collection of writings judged by the Jewish scholars as not inspired by God, yet somewhat valuable for study.

Jeremiah 46 tells us of Pharaoh Necho, King of Egypt. Necho had killed good King Josiah of Judah (2 Chronicles 35:20-27). After his return to Egypt, Necho deposed and deported Josiah’s son Jehoahaz, and made Jehoiakim his puppet king in Jerusalem. In 606 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated Necho and world history was forever altered. Egypt would never again be considered a world power (46:13). In the midst of all this, God’s Word to His people is stated in our key verse. Jeremiah 47 tells us of the Philistine cities which were also caught in the midst of the wars between Egypt and Babylon (Iraq).

This Valentines Day, let’s contrast the message of Jesus with that of Muhammed. The Koran says, “God loves those who love him.” In contrast to this, the Bible says, “God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Let’s take time to read 1 John 4:7-19 as our St. Valentine’s Day meditation. Recently a man from Mecca called in to the Light For All Nations Arabic ministry and received the unconditional love of Jesus by grace through faith.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, I love You because You first loved me! Not as the Koran says, in effect, that You love me because I first loved You! You are the Initiator! You courted and wooed me! You won my heart!!! Increase my capacity to be filled with more of Your love than ever before, I pray. In the Name of the One of Whom it is written, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16a), Jesus Christ! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I have asked our son Ron to write the personal words for today. He posts the blog every morning for me at 6 a.m.

Hi Friends! The Bible tells us to “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). Dad embedded prayer into the DNA of Crossroads from the very beginning. I know this will take me well over the 100 words Dad asked me to write, but allow me to share a story that illustrates what I’m talking about…

When I was a teenager, I was part of our high school basketball team. I remember having to wake up extremely early one morning in order to attend a practice, which our overly zealous coach had scheduled well before the school day began. My teammates and I were far from enthusiastic about having to get our bodies out of bed that early, but that was the only time the gymnasium was available before our big championship game. So I set my alarm for “dark and early.” When the dreaded beeping noise hit my ears, I reluctantly rolled out of bed, got dressed, and tiptoed my way through the dark hallway and down the stairs, being careful not to wake anyone else in the family. However, when I got to the living room, I was surprised to see the lights on and hear someone speaking. When I looked to my left, I saw my Dad kneeling next to the couch with dozens of pieces of paper spread out all over the furniture. I paused long enough to figure out what was going on. Dad was in prayer, weeping and interceding before God on behalf of the many who had written to him as a result of the recently launched 100 Huntley Street daily TV program. He never saw me as I continued tiptoeing out the door and off to my practice. That experience deeply impacted me. It strongly reinforced to my heart the truth of Dad’s genuine passion for God and passion for people. He wasn’t on television because of any ego trip or because he needed a job. He was called by God to share the love of Jesus to a lost and hurting world. He lived what he believed about the infinite value of a soul. After that, I could think of nothing else I wanted to do with my life than work with my Dad, which I had the privilege of doing from 1985 to 2015.

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone,

Ron

17 thoughts on “Monday, February 14, 2022

  1. Thank You, Father, for True love, which brought You to intervene for us, to give Your own Son for us. Thank You, Jesus, for calling us to You though we had, and have, no merits of our own. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for being with us as we go through this life.
    Send out Your workers, Lord, filled with joy in Your Presence. Help all Your people bring Your Word to others. Prepare people for Your Word, and we pray for a great harvest of souls.
    I also pray for our leaders, that You soften their hearts so they will turn to You and be saved. In Jesus’s great name, amen

  2. Thank you Rob for your heart-felt prayers and for your keen insight.

    I confess that at times the book of Jeremiah discourages me, but then I remember that as we read today in our key verse…….But do not fear, and do not be dismayed…(pharaphrased by me)…..that our Heavenly Father is in control.

    What a heart warming story that Ron Mainse wrote in today’s blog, how beautiful to read of a father’s example and influence.

    May God Bless and keep us all today in His care, and may His will be done!

  3. Thank You Lord. Ron’s testimony about his dad brought tears to my eyes. Thank you Rob for your prayer. Thank You Father that You are anwering our prayers. Thank You Jesus for showing us the way. Thank You Holy Spirit for helping us and guiding us. We praise You Lord, for you are so good and Your mercy endures forever.

  4. Amen,Rob.” …soften their hearts so they will turn to You…”.I pray this for all elected officials in all democracies every night.
    I always love reading Ron’s story about his dad in deep prayer and I read every word.What a blessing.
    Today’s scripture reminds us that Israel “is” a land bridge between northern nations and Africa and gets caught in the middle sometimes.May God bless

  5. I too was brought to tears. by Ron’s comment s. David has left a wonderful family who are continuing to spread the Word here at home and throughout the World. May we all follow this example.
    Sending Valentines wishing to everyone. Jesus loves us all so much. ❤️
    Eleanor M.

  6. Amen to all the prayers
    I will be continuing to pray for the meeting between PM and premiers leads to a peaceful settlement and thAt God’s will be done

  7. Hallelujah praise God, for that same passion is still visible today in yge ministry of 100 Huntley, it is a light shining into the dark area’s of this nation Canada. And throughout the world. The Lord bless this ministry of 100 Huntley. Here in our nation and the world. Our God is a loving God who 1st seeked us, through His Son Son coming, and proclaiming life through LOVE..
    Blessings Dale

  8. 14th day of the “Prayer Map of Canada”:
    1. Pray for God’s kingdom to come in your home, neighbourhood, city or community , and n our nation. ( Matt. 6:10)
    2. Pray for those who serve with denominations and Christian organizations in Canada – that God will bless their ministry and anoint them for effective service.

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