Gleanings From The Word

Tag: Kevin Corbin

  • God’s Incredible Promise to You

    God’s Incredible Promise to You

    Yesterday, I was sitting in my office at home watching the rain fall. At times it came down by the bucketful, and at others it was just a wet drizzle, something like walking through a cloud

    At one point, just for a few seconds, the sun peeked through the clouds, while the rain kept falling. The sunbeams caught the rain, giving the drops the appearance of millions of delicate diamonds or prisms suspended in the air. 

    I simply do not have words for the beauty of the moment, and it was just that “a moment”. Within a matter of two or three seconds at the most, the sunshine was gone, and the moment had passed. Had I not been looking out the window at that very moment, I would have missed it all.

    I thought about all those raindrops suspended in the light. I wondered how many drops were falling in the backyard alone, let alone the entire landscape around me. 

    I did a quick internet search and came up with a crude number. In the backyard, something in the order of 125,000 raindrops a second, assuming a moderate rainfall. Over the city of Abbotsford, that’s about 5.2 billion raindrops a second or 19 trillion an hour. I know those numbers are very rough, but they stagger my imagination.

    Trying to comprehend the number of raindrops got me thinking of God’s incredible promise to Abram (soon to be Abraham)

    After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.”And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:1-6

    God’s incredible promis is promise beyond comprehension, yet a true promise, nonetheless. It was fulfilled (and continues to be fulfilled) in ways that Abram could never have comprehended. Every believer is a spiritual child of Abraham.

    What was Abram’s response to the promise? He believed, and God credited it to him as righteousness.

    God also makes promises beyond our comprehension to us. He promises forgiveness for our sins. He promises life everlasting. He promises that we shall be joint heirs with Christ. He promises to return.

    What should our response be to His promises? If Abram is any example, and I believe he is, we should believe. God never breaks a promise. Our whole future is predicated on one decision … do we believe and trust God’s incredible promises?

    Until next time, may you believe and may it be credited to you as righteousness. If you already believe, ponder the miracle of your salvation and praise god for His mercy.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    Our eternal inheritance in Jesus – an unbreakable promise
    What’s your anchor? Where are you rooted?
    The Gospel – the best news you will ever hear
    Read the Word. Read the Word. Read the Word.
  • Why does it matter? The Season of Lent

    Why does it matter? The Season of Lent

    We’re in the season of Lent, that 40-day preparation phase for Resurrection Sunday. The concept of Lent began around the second century and was typically a day or two of fasting.

    Over time, after Constantine made Christianity “legal,” it became far more structured, with 40 days of Lent to mirror the 40s of Scripture (40 days of rain, 40 years in the wilderness, Jesus’ 40 days of fasting, etc.).

    By the Middle Ages, it was even more so. The season began on Ash Wednesday, marked by ashes as a sign of repentance. Liturgical colors turned purple, and the final week became known as Holy Week, culminating in Good Friday and Easter.

    Ritual fasting became more structured, often one meal a day and no meat – the tradition of fish on Fridays was implemented to aid Spanish fishermen, but that’s a story for another day.

    According to one source, “The Protestant Reformation changed how Lent was observed: Reformers like Martin Luther did not reject Lent outright but resisted compulsory fasting. In more Reformed traditions influenced by John Calvin, the season was often deemphasized. Anglican and Lutheran traditions generally retained it in modified form.”

    Today, in evangelical circles, it is hardly mentioned and has become an almost extinct tradition. That’s a huge loss. A formal, highly structured Lenten period can easily become simply a ritual, but losing it entirely risks losing an opportunity for reflection and devotion.

    Whatever your personal thought on the subject, and practices for Lent, one thing is certain. The event we look forward to changed the world forever.

    The resurrection is important enough to be recorded in all four gospels, albeit with a slightly different take in each account. Here’s a portion of one …

    Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” Matthew 28:1-10

    Our Lord is risen and alive. He is returning for His bride. That, my friends, is worth meditating on and celebrating every day of the year, but especially as we approach Resurrection Sunday. It’s only 34 days away. Ponder Jesus during this season of Lent.

    Celebrate and praise the Risen Lamb.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    The Gospel – the best news you will ever hear
    Passion Week – Maundy Thursday