Category: Devotion of the Day

Waiting For A Kingdom

A good man…who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
Luke 23:50, 51

Some of us are looking for a better day. We are waiting for that time when God’s kingdom shall come, when His will shall be done on earth as in heaven. We seek a country. We are strangers and pilgrims on this earth. We are not at home here. Our citizenship is in heaven.

I know it looks to some as though the Kingdom were nowhere near. It must have been a dark day for Joseph of Arimathea when he laid away the body of Jesus. It looked like the devil had everything going his way. But far from it! Redemption’s work had been finished, and the resurrection was only a few hours away!

Throughout this wretched world more hearts are waiting for the Kingdom than we imagine. All other kingdoms are coming to an end. More than one patient Joseph of Arimathea is humbly carrying on. Lift up your heads, all ye who desire a better country. When things look darkest to the world, they look brightest to the Christian. Our King is coming back!

What better thing could be said of any mortal than this: “A good man…who also himself waited for the kingdom of God”?

Side Trip To Egypt

Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help.
Isaiah 31:1

Abram did it and got into an embarrassing predicament, denied his wife, and was sent out of the land. What a testimony for the Father of the Faithful! But he as not the only good man who visited Egypt in time of famine. We forget so easily that God can furnish tables in the wilderness. When times are hard we turn to the world for help. And sometimes Egypt offers a bigger salary!

We never need to leave Canaan and go back over Jordan for any reason whatsoever. We commonly think of the Promised Land as flowing with milk and honey, flourishing with figs and pomegranates. But sometimes God sends a drought and the pickings are slim and the garlic and onions and fleshpots tantalize us, tempt us to Egypt.

Are you passing through a dry spell and a lean season? Christians and churches are apt to turn to Pharaoh in spiritual famine. But it always means denial and embarrassment and humiliation and loss of testimony. All that we need we have in Canaan. No side trips are necessary. Settle down in Beulah Land and enjoy the country!