A Threefold Cord

Thought For Today - July 26
A Threefold Cord\
By: Robert A. Searles
 
My Christian friend, and brother, who can find a virtuous woman? "For her price is far above rubies." Proverb 31: 10.

If you are blessed of God with a good wife, you ought to treasure her above everything else under God. "A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones." Proverbs 12: 4.

"Who so findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the Lord." Proverb 18: 22
A good wife, my friend , is from the Lord, and if you have a good wife, love her and care for her, and give yourself for her as Christ hath loved the church and has given himself for it.
 
I thank the Lord for my good wife. "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She maketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants ships, she bringeth her food from afar. she riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. she considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and she strengenth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night, she layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet." Proverbs 31: 11-21.

My father, I thank you for giving me a virtuous woman to be my life companion. Help me to be to her as Christ is to the church. May our lives together bear fruit for your glory, and may we walk together, hand in hand with you, for a threefold cord is not easily broken. In Jesus name. Amen.

Because He Lives

Thought For Today - July 24
Because He Lives
By:Robert A. Searles

In the midst of all his troubles and afflictions, Job could say: "I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for my self, and mine eye shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me." Job 19: 25-27

This kind of assurance and faith would enable anyone to endure the light afflictions of the moment, in light of his immortality promised in the word of God to all who are the redeemed of the Lord. Nothing can hurt, and nothing can destroy that which God has ordained forever. Christ our Lord came to earth to save sinners. Death could not hold him. He was the first fruits of all them that sleep.
Through him and by him we have everlasting life. This mortal shall put on immortality. This corruptible body shall put on incorruption, and we shall be preserved forever in the presence of our blessed Lord.

Take heart dear Christian friend, some day the clouds will clear away, and the son of God shall appear. "The dead in Christ shall rise first, and we who are alive and remain on the earth shall be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. So shall we ever be with the Lord."
Believe it! receive it! and enjoy it! This is your comfort, your strength, and your joy. That which God has ordained forever cannot be altered by men, nor time, nor circumstance.

A Goodly Heritage

Thought for Today - July 23
A Goodly Heritage
By: Robert A, Searles

"The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage." Psalm 16: 6

In spite of all the difficulties and problems we may face from day to day, how fortunate we are if we have been the recipient of God's grace and have been saved and born again into God's family. I thank God for my salvation . I thank God for a Savior who was willing to leave the splendor of Heaven and come to earth to rescue me. I thank God for Calvary, the old rugged cross, the death, burial and resurrection of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I thank God for the person of the Holy Spirit who is my constant companion, my guide and my overseer. I thank God for the written word of God, which administered by the Holy Spirit, is my source of nourishment and renewed strength as I feast upon it.
Yes, because of God's amazing grace , I am a fortunate person. I do have a goodly heritage, the lines are fallen unto me in a pleasant place.

"I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Psalm 16:7-11

Safe and Secure

Thought For Today - July 21
Safe and Secure
By: Robert A. Searles

Christian, do you have a sense of safety and security that accompanies you at all times wherever you are or whatever you are doing? If you are a Christian, a child of God, having been born again into the family of God by placing your faith and trust in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, you can have this sense of security because the Lord is your shepherd, and you are the sheep of his pasture. If you will believe it, you can go through the day, and lay your head on your pillow at night with the full assurance that goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life; and that you will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23: 6

Once saved, then forever sealed and kept by the holy Spirit so that you need never again fear being lost and separated from God, although at times, because of disobedience, you may be out of God's fellowship because of disregard for God's word. We Like sheep sometimes wander from the fold, but the faithful shepherd will leave the ninety and nine and go after the wandering and wayward sheep to return him to the security of the fold

You need not be fearful of the prosecuting attorney, your accuser (Satan , the Devil) before the throne of God,for you are passed from death unto life, and though guilty of sin, you are blameless because "there is therefore now no condemnation to them that be in Christ Jesus." Your judgment is past. The penalty for your sins and mine having been paid by Christ our Lord.

Child of God - redeemed of the Lord - joint heir of Christ, you and I can declare - “ I shall not want.” "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23

A Day of All Days

Thought For Today - July 20
A Day of All Days
 By: Robert A. Searles

“Good Friday“, was it just another day, or the most important day in all history? Because of what transpired over two thousand years ago in a far distant land, I am today, I am a free man, a rich man, and a son of a King for which I am eternally grateful. Christ came into the world to save sinners. Christ died for my sins according to the scriptures, he was buried, and rose again the third day according to the scriptures. I know that it was the very only begotten son of God who did this for me because he was declared to be the son of God by his resurrection. How wonderful it is to be saved, to know that God is your Father, and that heaven is your eternal home; but how awful it is to be lost! to be a wandering star forever, without hope; without direction; without a place of rest; wandering aimlessly through all eternity, suffering the pains and torments of an endless hell. How awful to be separated forever from all that is good, and pure, and lovely! How awful never to behold the beauty and the fragrance of a heavenly springtime; never to behold the brightness of God's glory; never to be comforted by the harmonic strains of the symphony of a holy life. To be forever condemned to the darkness of night where there is nothing but weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth, where the fire never ceaseth and the worm dieth not, how terrible that would be!

This need not be the destiny of any person whom God has called to salvation. Salvation is free to all who will believe and receive it by faith. Yes, my friend, as the songwriter, Mr. George Bernard has said one day long ago: "On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame: and I love that old cross, where the dearest and best, for a world of lost sinners was slain. In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, a wondrous beauty I see; For it was on that old cross, Jesus suffered and died, to pardon and sanctify me. So I'll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown."  

But the cross was not the end. Christ the Lord is risen today, Hallelujah! what a Savior! The blessed hope of the believer is that Christ is risen, that he lives on high, and is at the right hand of the Father interceding for us, and that he is preparing a place for us, and will come again to receive us unto himself.
 
What a day of rejoicing it was for the early apostles when on the first day of the week, upon coming to the sepulcher, they found it empty, and being informed by the angels that he is not here, but he is risen as he said. What joys, we as believers have to look forward to when that long awaited day arrives, and the dead in Christ shall arise from their graves and all believers will be raised and reunited with Christ and our saved loved ones and forever be alive with Christ.

Does Anyone Hear Our Song?

Thought For Today - July 18
Does Anyone Hear Our Song?
By: Robert A Searles

Does anyone hear our song? Can the world hear the voice of singing from our soul? Does our attitude and life style generate a referential fear and respect for God in others? We who have been truly saved and born again can say: "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord." Psalm 40: 2,3

When the Lord does a work of regeneration in the heart of man, the result cannot be hid, but it will be obvious to the world that something has happened - something has changed in that particular life. When the righteousness of Christ has been imputed to us and his spirit is implanted in our heart, then his light will shine as a candle in a dark corner. The goodness and mercy and salvation of God will be seen through our lives and our song of praise ought to be heard. Does anyone hear our song?

"I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy loving kindness and thy truth from the great congregation. "Psalm 40: 10

Go in the Strength of the Lord

Thought For Today July 17
Go in the Strength of the Lord
By: Robert A. Searles

"I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only." Psalm 71: 16

I will go in the strength of the Lord. In order for us to go in the strength of the Lord our God, we need to focus our mind upon the Lord the moment we awake in the morning, and keep our minds stayed upon him throughout the entire day. 

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon thee, because he trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26.3

We need to be ever thankful and always counting the blessings which our Lord has bestowed upon us. We need to have songs of praise always in our heart. 

"I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed. My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt." Psalm 71:22-24

God is Our Refuge

Thought For Today July 16
God Is Our Refuge.
By: Robert A. Searles

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah".Psalm 46: 1,2,3

This kind of confidence in God our father gives us a peace in our hearts that the world cannot give, and a peace it cannot take away. To know that God, the Holy Spirit is constantly abiding with us, and that he is our unfailing companion from the day that we are born again into the family of God until God takes us home to Heaven.

"The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge, Selah."

"For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for?" Deuteronomy 4: 7

Who could possibly be any better off, or more safe and secure than we who are the children of God?
"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah." Psalm 46: 10,11

Pray for the Salvation of Others

Thought For Today - July 15
Pray For the Salvation of Others.
By: Robert A. Searles                                                                                                                                                           
"Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Romans 10:1-4

Paul's heart's desire and concern for his fellow countrymen, Israel, was that they might be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth of the way of salvation.They knew about God, and had heard about God, and they talked about God. They feared the wrath of God, and had a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. They were trying to establish their own righteousness by their good works and trying to appease God and give God a reason for saving them, not realizing that the righteousness of God is so great and far above anything they could ever imagine and achieve, that no one but God himself could measure up to it. They could not see that Jesus, the Christ ,was the only person who could and did fulfill all the requirements of the law of works, and was willing to impute his righteousness to them if they would only believe and confess him as their Lord.

Our heart's desire for all our relatives, friends and loved ones is that they might be saved. Many of our friends, relatives, and loved ones will tell you that they have heard about God, they know about God, and may believe that God exists and fear the wrath of God - consequently, they are going about trying as hard as they might to establish a record of righteousness with God by their own good works that will please God, and earn them a place in God's heaven.

If we want our friends, relatives, and loved ones to be truly saved and enjoy the blessings of eternal life in heaven with God, somehow we must reach then with the true message of salvation. God will not be satisfied with anyone's good works or good deeds and will not be influenced by them, because none of our good works and deeds can measure up to his righteousness which is in Christ. Christ alone could measure up to the righteousness of God and is willing to impute his righteousness to all who will believe for their salvation. He paid the debt that is owed to God for our sins, and none of us can, by any amount of good works or good deeds, pay for our sins, for we are all sinners, both Jew and Gentile alike.

The only way that anyone can be saved is given to us in verse nine of Romans 10: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

Love God With All Our Heart

Thought For Today - July 14
Love God With all Our Heart
By: Robert A Searles

To love the Lord, our God with all our heart, and all our mind, and all our soul, is the first and greatest of all the commandments.

God loved us and gave himself completely for us so that we who were born estranged from God, living under the power and dominion of sin, might be reconciled to him, and share in all the power and glory of his only begotten son.

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Oh! the amazing grace of God that saved a sinful wretch like me, therefore: - "I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies." Psalm 18: 1-3

We ought to rise up early in the morning and begin to sing of the power of God, and continue all the day long, singing the praises and power of God.

"But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defense, and the God of my mercy." Psalm 59: 16-17

"Thoughts for Today"  are taken from my book - "Morning Thoughts and Meditations" available from my website

Morning thoughts

Morning Thoughts and Meditations

by Robert A. Searles (Goodreads Author)

Paperback edition

Now on sale for only $16.00 plus shipping

Begin your day with God through bible reading and prayer. Walk throughout the day with God. End each day with God with prayer and meditations. Here in our new book we offer 365 daily thoughts and meditations to help you with your daily devotions, one for each day of the year.