Category: News

COME AS A CHILD “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3-4) You may have heard it a hundred times: God sent His Son, Jesus, to save us from sin and restore us to our heavenly Father. Perhaps you volunteer in a Sunday morning children’s program or Vacation Bible School, and you have shared this message often with the next generation. But is it possible that while you’ve heard and shared these truths, you’ve never applied them to yourself? Many have grown up attending church. They have read the Bible and even memorized large sections. Yet they’re still on the outside looking in at the mystery of salvation. Regardless of our age, Jesus said we are to come to Him as children. Children rarely worry about their needs. They trust their parents will provide. A little child is completely dependent on his or her parents. Our heavenly Father provides for us, including our most vital need: the need for a Savior. All He asks is that we respond with the same childlike trust. When we receive the gift of salvation, He calls us to trust Him, not only for eternity, but also for each new day. About the writer: Ava Pennington is a Bible teacher, speaker, and author of DAILY REFLECTIONS ON THE NAMES OF GOD: A DEVOTIONAL. She has a Bible Studies Certificate from Moody Bible Institute and teaches a weekly interdenominational Bible study class for 200 women in Stuart, Florida. She also enjoys Scrabble games with her husband and playing with her two boxer puppies. Ava has been a regular Anchor writer for several years. Source: Anchor Devotional – Come as a Child Originally posted 2015-10-02 04:51:56.

PEACE WITHIN HIS WALLS “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls…’ For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, ‘Peace be within you.’” (Psalm 122:6-8) We will need the Lord’s daily grace to fulfill the Father’s will that we as disciples will be one as Jesus and the Father are one (John 17:11). What an incredibly high standard of unity that is! It will involve putting other Christians’ interests above our own and considering that we may be wrong even about dearly held theological concepts. It will mean allowing the Lord’s steadfast love to fill us, taking priority over our being right. It will mean that if anyone has something against us, even if in fact it is that person’s fault, we will try sincerely to put it right with them. This takes priority over any other seemingly pressing Christian duty (Matthew 5:23-24). As I know in my own life, this takes a great deal of self-control. However, unity does depend on the walls being built up by exercising this self-control. The book of Proverbs says, “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control” (25:28). And the brokenness of our own walls will impact the defenses of other believers. Source: Anchor Devotional – Peace within His Walls Originally posted 2015-09-29 18:34:20.