Day 3: Already, But Not Yet
Reading: 2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Reading: Matthew 28:18
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Reading: Romans 8:18-25
Present Suffering and Future Glory
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that[a] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Footnotes
[a] Romans 8:21 Or subjected it in hope. 21 For
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Devotional:
One of the most honest tensions in the Christian life is living between what God has already accomplished and what he has not yet brought to completion. You are already declared holy, yet you still wrestle with sin. Jesus already holds all authority, yet the world does not yet reflect that authority fully. This tension is not a sign that God has failed. It is a sign that he is patient, not wanting anyone to be lost. You are called to live faithfully in the space between the already and the not yet, trusting that God's promises are certain even when they are not yet visible.
Where in your life are you struggling to trust God in the space between his promises and their fulfillment?
Identify one area where you are tempted to lose hope. Bring it before God in prayer and ask him to strengthen your confidence in his faithfulness.
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Reading: Matthew 28:18
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Reading: Romans 8:18-25
Present Suffering and Future Glory
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that[a] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Footnotes
[a] Romans 8:21 Or subjected it in hope. 21 For
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Devotional:
One of the most honest tensions in the Christian life is living between what God has already accomplished and what he has not yet brought to completion. You are already declared holy, yet you still wrestle with sin. Jesus already holds all authority, yet the world does not yet reflect that authority fully. This tension is not a sign that God has failed. It is a sign that he is patient, not wanting anyone to be lost. You are called to live faithfully in the space between the already and the not yet, trusting that God's promises are certain even when they are not yet visible.
Where in your life are you struggling to trust God in the space between his promises and their fulfillment?
Identify one area where you are tempted to lose hope. Bring it before God in prayer and ask him to strengthen your confidence in his faithfulness.
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February
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March
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April
From Hosanna to Crucify - The Fickleness of Human HeartsLove in Action - Serving The Least Of TheseReturning To The Good ShepherdThe Empty Tomb - Evidence of VictoryWhy Do You Look Among The Dead?Crucified With Christ - Your Personal ResurrectionFrom Fear To Faith - The Disciples' JourneyLiving Resurrection Life DailyDay 1: The Heart of DiscipleshipDay 2: The Power of Your StoryDay 3: Waiting with PurposeDay 4: Community Makes DisciplesDay 5: Healing and Purpose in JesusDay 1: The Consuming Fire of God's PresenceDay 2: Waiting in WorshipDay 3: When God's Timing Exceeds Our PlanningDay 4: Baptized and Filled with the Holy SpiritDay 5: Pierced Hearts and Transformed LivesDay 1: Waiting in WorshipDay 2: Unqualified but ObedientDay 3: The Holy Spirit's PowerDay 4: Church as Family
May
Day 5: Your Life MissionDay 1: What Do You Have to Give?Day 2: Community Over CharityDay 3: Discernment in GivingDay 4: Walking in the LightDay 5: Mission-Focused HelpingDay 1: What Do You Have to Offer?Day 2: Faith That Helps Others StandDay 3: Healing as a Sign Pointing to JesusDay 4: Different Kinds of Healing We All NeedDay 5: Becoming a Healing CommunityDay 1: The Power of the SpiritDay 2: Rejoicing in PersecutionDay 3: United in MissionDay 4: Generous Hearts, Growing ChurchDay 5: Obedience Over ComfortDay 1: Everything Belongs to GodDay 2: The Heart Behind the GiftDay 3: Unity Through the SpiritDay 4: Obedience Over ObligationDay 5: Trusting God's Provision
June
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It’s so easy to get stuck in what we can see in front of our faces. Having faith in the Lord is so hard sometimes. Even though He shows me time and time again that His way is better than what I think is the right answer, I still wonder if He’s going to follow through THIS TIME. Does my will align with His? Will He answer THIS prayer with a yes? Almost every time, though, He does… and when He doesn’t, I see His ways are better and I’m in awe of Him. Time is an illusion and God is Lord over it. I find myself wrestling with that fact regularly.
I find myself struggling sometimes when bad things happen that don’t make sense. Like my friends loosing their 3.5 month old son. I struggle to understand God’s sovereignty in that. But then God shows up in the most unexpected ways other times. It’s a weird limbo game of life we live sometimes.
One thing I struggle with is dealing with my health issues. Dealing with several chronic illnesses can really take a toll on your physical and mental health. I often find myself asking God to take those away. I know that God can choose to heal me or He can continue to use my illnesses to teach me more about Him and to help others going through similar situations. I may not see healing until I reach my eternal home in heaven, but I try everyday to remember God’s promise that He will always be with me, in the good and the hard times.
I love this section from the devotional: You are called to live faithfully in the space between the already and the not yet, trusting that God's promises are certain even when they are not yet visible. 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” May I faithfully focus my mind on my Lord and Savior and His promises. He has faithfully made His presence know in my past, and He continues to be with me now and throughout eternity! No matter the situation or outcome, what better promise could we ask for? There is joy and peace in His presence!