Text: Matthew 24:29-31
He creates. He restores. He redeems.
We live these little patterns over and over, day in and day out. We prove to be human and fall away. He proves to be Good and Holy and Amazing and picks us up and gives us a fresh start. Again. And again. This repetitive nature of life in Christ could almost feel exhausting if only seen from our human point of view. But again, in His grace, He gives us a glimpse of more.
In Matthew 24, we find Jesus and a group of disciples who are about to walk through one of the craziest events in the history of man. If we had the time to recap all of Matthew, it would be so beautiful and meaningful to watch the scene shift. A few chapters ago, He was walking with them – telling them parables, healing the sick, answering their questions. And now, the mood has changed and He is alone with His guys on the Mount of Olives, and they’re wondering – “What’s really going to happen? How does this story end?”
Maybe it was that he’d predicted his death so many times by this point, or the fact that He’d just lamented publicly over Jerusalem. Maybe it was because His words were getting weightier by the moment with the many “woe to you” and “Truly, I say” type phrases. Something in those disciples was beginning to shift and connect, and they were beginning to see, It’s not always going to be like this. This pattern of us not understanding, him explaining and setting us right, it has to have an ending place.
Do you feel it today, too? I don’t think for a second we should lose the joyful, grateful response towards Him who is continually picking us up and setting us right. But, the continual redemption process has a purpose and it has an end. A beautiful one.
It isn’t a fairytale, just like what happened in Genesis isn’t either. It isn’t a fable or a false promise or tall tale told to bolster our moral. Our Savior, the One who took us from death to life, the One who extended grace yesterday and today, the One we’re trusting for tomorrow – He is coming back. He’s going to come in power and glory, and He’s going to gather us up.
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41 thoughts on "it all has a point"
What a refreshing study!! Sometimes I get stuck in the hear and now, in the continual drudge of falling and failing and beating myself up for not being perfect. It is so comforting to know that, YES, someday all things will be made right and we will be in perfect relationship with the Father. While I am so thankful for grace, I am also really looking forward to the time when sin will no longer have a place in my existence.
That’s exactly how I’ve been feeling lately. Like I need to be perfect at everything and not make mistakes but it’s so encouraging to know I don’t have to and that it’s ok for me to fail sometimes because I’m human and I’m not perfect but that hope that one day, everything will be made right and Jesus will come back to bring us home.
I feel that today sisters… That I continuosly stumble and I am tired and I feel so guilty being in this same mountain over and over again. And yes I feel exhausted.
“This repetitive nature of life in Christ could almost feel exhausting if only seen from our human point of view. But again, in His grace, He gives us a glimpse of more”
But thank God that there is this ONE DAY, where it will all end BEAUTIFULLY. That He has something for me MORE than what these earthly eues could perceived.
Lord I need You to help me see things through Your lenses. Sincerely I want to see You, the One who sees me in the situation I am here. I know You are here.
Romans 5:3-5 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
I am thankful that all of this day to day stuff produces hope.
Apocalypse / end-time scripture used to scare me. But after last night (another awakening but deeply hurtful experience), I sort of found my answer I was searching for since I was 16. I never fully understood the magnitude of Jesus' redeeming me to go to heaven with Him… Just like the disciples, it took me yesterday to find out that "it's not always going to be like this." It was a comforting thought.
Whilst many, many areas of my life are truly joyful and amazing right now (Praise be to God), there is one nagging area that never fails to pierce me, over and over again, from the people who are the closest to me and whom I was born to love (no other choice). The fact that MY ending with Him in heaven is such a beautiful one is truly a comforting thought in this fallen world.
I can now take comfort in the fact that when the time does come, I will be hurt-free, heartbreak-free, and fully embraced by Him and surrounded by all things good in heaven.
"The sky, not the grave, is our goal."
But I am also grateful that my God is such an awesome awesome Daddy God who loves me like a princess, embraces me tenderly and loves on me everyday. That my Daddy God heals and restores – being an awesome healer, provider, deliverer and Saviour, all in one.
"I stand in awe of you, I am amazed by how you reach into my brokenness, make me beautiful again."
Like Amy, I too have been dealing with a broken heart for the past 9 months or so, and for me even the title is something I needed to hear tonight (for me!!)…it all has a point. It doesn’t always seem like it all has a point when you’re in the middle of it, but it does. God can and does work through anything and everything…it really does all have a point. Praise God!
I'm so encouraged by this. We have a Father who specializes in picking us up and is so close when we fall. It's a like a daddy close enough to catch his little one when they are learning to sit or walk or ride a bike or balance a bank account…close enough to catch you but sometimes falling grows us up and shows us how good and gracious our Father is. In what I'm navigating, I am confident my Father in heaven could change everything but instead he's teaching me and growing me and graciously redeeming EVERYTHING because he knows the end of the story. He's the author and perfecter of our faith and I'm glad he's neither taken aback nor afraid of what twists and turns and ups and downs our lives take. He's good and always redeeming. Thank you Jesus!
This sums up my feelings perfectly:
"Nothing I want more than to hear those trumpets"
-"Ex Nihilo"-Andy mineo
I thought of that lyric too when I read v. 31.
I get chills and smile every time I hear that line in the song. I love that song, it's amazing!
Our Lord is so gracious, so good. Girls, you wouldn't believe the beautiful work Christ has been doing in my heart. Praise be to God for softening my heart of stoney perfectionism with his loving-kindness and gentle, life-giving grace. This devo is so appropriate; I feel as if I've just come back to truly understanding and believing the gospel, that I can't be perfect on my own– that God does not expect me to get it all right, but to love and trust Him fully at all times, no matter how badly I've slipped or how badly something hurts. Praise be to God! That Christ has not only lovingly bent down to pick us up, but that one day, He will make us so that we'll have perfected hinds' feet just like Him, never to fall again!
Blessings, sisters. I love you all so much.
Have you read Hind's Feet on High Places? Such a lovely book!
Your mention of "hind's feet" brought it to my mind :)
Yes I have! I love it so much!! :)
End times scripture has always made me feel antsy and nervous, but reading through today makes me feel hopeful. I don't have to worry about my future at all. NO ONE knows when this will happen, but it will be unmistakable to ALL, regardless of your status in the kingdom. I pray that I am able to do the work God has called me to do until that day comes. Thank you, Father, for securing my future and knowing the ending already!
Thank you so much for this. Praise God that He is patient. Unlike me. Praise God that he is Loving and kind and that He pours out his grace into our lives. But I keep falling. Sometimes deliberately (knowing it is sin but still fall into is) because the world’s temptations are so overwhelming, that I give in. But no matter how many times I genuinely turn to Him and ask for forgiveness, I find myself falling again. Will there be a time He will stop catching? Praying for strength to overcome my fleshly desires and that my love for The Lord can conquer anything.
His love for you can conquer anything! Isn't that awesome!
I loved this today. Currently in a season of heartbreak, but I have to keep reminding myself that He has a greater plan, I can't see the whole picture just yet. But someday He will make all things clear, and I must keep clinging to that.
Please pray for me, dear sisters.
Amy, hi….am so very sorry for your sadness…God has a way of calming our hearts…and filling it with his peace…. give all to Him…..He is always there for us if we allow Him. Will be praying for you dear sister….. He sees, He knows …trust Him…and quite rightly said The Lord has a plan and a purpose for us all…..sending you a hug and love dear one….x
Amy, I fully understand and will pray for His peace on you as He guides your path in His way and His timing. I thank Him now for the healing of your broken heart as He brings you grace and understanding for all that brought you to this very place. His blessings will be beautiful.
I so often live in the here and now and not in the "glimpse[s] of more" to come. May I remain in the present – focused on the task at hand and not worrying about tomorrow – but be more frequently reminded of the big picture and things to come.
This morning's reading reminded me of how truly blessed I am to know God and have a relationship with Him. It is such a privilege that we have! Beyond that, I am also so blessed to live in a place where I can freely gather with fellow Christians, study the Word, access countless Christian resources (www.bible.com is a favorite for sure!) and communities online (such as this one and The Influence Network) without persecution or penalty.
As I thank God for those freedoms this morning, I also want to pray that He will open the right doors and place the right people into my life for me to share God's love with. I also will be praying for discernment to seize those opportunities properly, with the right words and approach.
We are so blessed sisters! Have a wonderful Monday :)
It’s not always going to be like this. This pattern of us not understanding, him explaining and setting us right, it has to have an ending place. These 2 statements jumped out at me today. How often do we feel that "we have all the time in the world to witness to others?" We put it off for another day. We don't show in our lives to others how much he loves us not matter what. The picture Janee provided was amazing. How many times do we walk by a lost or needy soul and fail to pick them up as Christ picks us up? This study is convicting me in so many areas of my Christian walk. I pray that God continues to open my heart and my mind to what he wants me to draw from this.
Have a blessed day.
What a promise we have! I sometimes see the narrow road ahead, long long road, no ending. So narrow almost like a tightrope…the strength of my Savior being my railings. Brilliant light shines on the road and the fluttering of wings above my head. Oh to stay on this path every moment…sometimes a break in the railing occurs, I slip off….road is rocky, surroundings noisy, no light illuminating my way. I cry out, a gentle hand pulls me back on the lit road, the railing closes…..Thank you Jesus for always being there.
This gives me the image of the toddling child. The one who takes a step, maybe two, and falls down. Whether we are 5 months saved – we are that toddling child. 5 years saved – a toddling child. 20 or 50 years saved – a toddling child. But unlike our human parents, God will never grow to old, or too tired, to bend down and pick us up. With every step we take, He smiles down on us. With every fall, He rushes in to comfort us. What a beautiful picture, of a loving Father.
May you see His smile, with every toddle you take – and see His loving Hand with every fall the floor will break.
Thank you for this image. It feels like I should have gotten it right by now– more loving, more patient, more forgiving, yet God still picks me up each times.
This is so encouraging to me. There are times where I feel like " am I ever going to get it right? " This is my perfectionist nature speaking but then to have the hope and truth breathed into that lie. There will be a day that all my sins and imperfections will be overcome. I hold to that great hope and it motivates me to continue to be transformed now as I long for that great day!
This is the question that has been askin myself these past few days Rachel
This is the question I have been asking myself these past few days..
“Am I EVER goin to get it right?”
Ang I’m tired and I feel guilty and this feeling is overwhelming and I feel so defeated today. Please pray for me sisters.
***this devo is so encouraging. Thank God who never gets tired picking us up but i just hate it when I was forgiven over and over to fall again and again.
He’s going to gather us up. Could there be any more beautiful promise than that? It’s not all failure, healing, just to fail again. One day those scars from all te bang-ups and falls will be healed without a trace. And there will be no more falls; only One Who sees us whole and clean. Beautiful mystery.
(And, PS, what a wonderful blessing to hear from Jessi today!)
We fall, He picks us up. We fall again, He lifts us. So thankful for this – and, that, one day we will be with Him, and stop falling.
So thankful that He doesn't view us from the human perspective.
I won't be dull forever. All the areas that I struggle to understand, will someday all be revealed when he takes me home. In the meantime, I turn to him daily asking that the helper that he's left me will continue to teach me in the way that I should go. Oh Holy Spirit, may I be so intuned to your prompts and nudgings that keep me on this straight and narrow path. Thank you father that you did not leave us without your spirit until you gather us all together.
Amen, Valanne. Your words are beautiful and encouraging today.
All I can say is, "Praise God that He is coming back!"
What a promise we all have to hold onto in this world. That this life is not the end, but that we will spend eternity with him, and with our loved ones who have gone before. Praise God.
I fall and he picks me up. How many times has he had to do that, yet he never tires or gets impatient with me. How blessed I am that I have Christ. He's changing my heart in ways I could never have imagined. May it all be for his glory.
Blessings to all this Monday
Tricia, I thought the same thing. Then I thought, WOW what a busy God you are to pick us ALL up, every day, dust us off, Bless us and send us out again knowing He'll do it all over for EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US!!! I'm in awe of His tireless love for the human race.
Thank you Sweet Jesus for coming for us, for showing us the Loving Father you have. Thank you, Father for the daily reminder that we belong to you and you will not forget us, but forgive us again and again. Lord Jesus, my heart is bursting with appreciation for you and all you do.
I know I'm late but I'm here.
God Bless you all.
AMEN!
………then sings my soul, my saviour God to their, how great though art, how great thou art…
This old gospel song came to mind as I read this morning's devo…. " when Jesus comes the tempters power is broken…when Jesus comes our tears He wipes away…He takes the gloom and fills the night with glory….when Jesus comes He sets the captives free… when Jesus Comes ALL is changed….
Hallelujah!!!! AMEN, AMEN, AMEN.
Looking forward, holding on to the Lord Gods promises ……then sings my soul, my saviour God to their, how great though art, how great thou art…
Have a good and God blessed day, beautiful ones….xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx