"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. " - Matthew 21:22

If you could ask God, The Eternal One, just one question; and you knew with 100% certainty that He would answer your question; what question would you ask God? 

I've asked this question hundreds of times in my lifetime to children and even people over a 100 years old. Each time, the look on their faces when asked this question always amazes me. Let me pose this question to you. 

Let's say that God let a giant white sheet down from Heaven that set before you. On this white sheet were gold letters addressed specifically to you by name.

The words written said that for you on this day, you will be allowed to ask the Eternal God one question; and you have the assurance that He will answer your question, but only "one" question, and you will never again be given this opportunity to ask again in your lifetime. What question would you ask God?

I was Uganda one time where I asked more than 100 orphaned children in school this question. I asked them to write down for me their answers. Some asked if they will see their mother or father again in Heaven. Some asked if God loves them, some asked if God they will go to Heaven, some asked if God will provide food and clothing them. One of the children stood up with a curious look on his face and asked me; "What question would you ask God?" In asking this question hundreds of times, I've only had one person, a young Ugandan girl, ask me this question.

If I had the opportunity to ask God just one question that I knew with 100% certainty He was going to answer for me I would ask; Dear Lord, you know what I need right now more than myself, What question should I be asking you Lord?

IF WE ASK ANYTHING

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us."

- 1 John 5;14 

YOU SHOULD ASK GOD

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."

- James 1:5

TO ALL WHO CALL UPON ME

"For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you."

- Psalm 86:5 

MY REFUGE AND MY FORTRESS

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day."

- Psalm 91:1-16 

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“And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” – Luke 15:20

In this verse (Luke 15:20), we see the only mention of when God ran. It is found within the Parable of the Prodigal son. Here we see a joyful Father running at the first sight of his prodigal son returning that had left him some time ago. 

For a parent it is heart wrenching to have a child go the way of a prodigal. I have experienced this pain in my lifetime. The pain of this sorrow is deeper than one can imagine. You second guess the way you raised your children, the things you said, the choices you made, but it the end it is their choice to leave. This sorrow resides in a deep place within your soul. In this verse, God shows us how we should treat a prodigal that returns home; 

“But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” – Luke 15:20 

There is another parable where Jesus left the ninety-nine sheep to go after the one sheep that went astray (Luke 15:4). In Greek text, the word “astray” used here can also be translated, “deceived astray”. 

How do you deal with the loss of a prodigal child? Do you go after them, or do you let him go as the Father illustrated in the Prodigal’s parable did for his son? These are very hard questions. The father in this story waited for his son to return and then ran to him when he saw him coming towards him.  

A closer look at the culture of that day shows that the Father may have had to run to his son in an effort to save his life from being stoned to death. The son had dishonored his Father. In those days, many a rebellious son had been stoned for a lesser offense. The son would have had to pass through the housing of the Father’s servants and neighbors. Stoning was certainly a possibility, and the Father knew this. Perhaps this is why he “ran” to his son. Perhaps he had heard others talking about what would be a just punishment for his rebellious son. Perhaps he ran to protect him from any harm. 

Another thing to consider is the Father’s robe. He would have had to lift up the bottom of his robe to run to his son. This was a sign of dishonor for a father to lift up his robe and run in any manner, thus showing his concern only for the life of his son who was lost and was now returning. This parable is rich with many treasures and insights for anyone wanting to study how God receives back to Himself those of us who choose to leave. 

THE DAUGHTER WHO LEFT HER MOTHER

I’m reminded of another story on this topic about a daughter who left her mother one night to pursue the things that she had heard the world had to offer her. The mother had always left a light on and her door unlocked for her daughter when she would return home late at night. The daughter consumed by her passions, came home later and later until one evening until she did not return home at all. Her passions had taken her flesh far beyond her wildest imaginations. 

Then one day, she was reminded of her mother. Many years had passed.  She quickly headed home, traveling all day to see her mother. When she arrived late at night, she saw the light that her mother had left on and was surprised to find the door was left unlocked. 

When she entered her mother’s home, she asked her mother why she had left the light on so late, and why the door was unlocked so late at night. Her mother replied that she did this every night since she had  left, anticipating her return, and now she was joyful that the day had finally come of her return home. The daughter fell to her mother’s feet and wept. Such devoted love from the broken heart of a mother. 

I think that having a prodigal child is one of the hardest things a parent can experience in this life. Never lose hope for the day when you can rejoice in the words spoken by a Father many years ago (Luke 15:23-24); “And bring hither the fatted calf and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.”

ONLY WAY TO BE REVIVED AND HEALED FROM BACKSLIDING

"There is only one way to be revived and healed from our backslidings so that we may become fruitful even in old age. We must take a steady look at the glory of Christ in His special character, in His grace and work, as shown to us in the Scripture."

- John Owen (1616-1683) English Nonconformist Church Leader

HOWEVER FAR YOU HAVE GONE FROM GOD

"However far you have gone from God and however stiff may be the tempest that blows about you, if you get this promise under your feet all the storms that hell can let loose against a human soul will leave you unshaken. But you must keep a firm stand on the promise. 

- Clovis G. Chappell (1882-1972) Tennessee Methodist Clergyman

THE BACKSLIDER IN HEART

"The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways."

- Proverbs 14:14

Photo Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Return_of_the_Prodigal_Son_(Rembrandt)

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." - Ecclesiastes 9:10

IN ALL LABOR THERE IS PROFIT 

"In all labor there is profit, But mere talk leads only to poverty."  

- Proverbs 14:23 

HE WHO TILLS HIS LAND   

"He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, But he who pursues worthless things lacks sense."  

- Proverbs 10:4

THE LORD PUT MAN IN THE GARDEN TO CULTIVATE  

"Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it."

 - Genesis 2:15

COME TO ME, ALL WHO LABOR   

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."  

- Matthew 11:28

DO YOUR WORK HEARTILY 

"If you want to live in this world, doing the duty of life, knowing the blessings of it, doing your work heartily, and yet not absorbed by it, remember that the one power whereby you can so act is, that all shall be consecrated to Christ, and done for His sake."  

- Alexander MacLaren (1826-1919) President Baptist World Congress

THE HAND OF THE DILLIGENT WILL RULE   

"The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slack hand will be put to forced labor."  

- Proverbs 12:24

HE WHO TILLS HIS LAND   

"He who tills his land will have plenty of food, But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty."  

- Proverbs 28:19

THE SLEEP OF THE WORKING MAN  

"The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep."  

- Ecclesiastes 5:12

WHO GATHERS BY LABOR INCREASES IT   

"Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles, but the one who gathers by labor increases it."  

- Proverbs 13:11

THAT THEY MAY REST FROM THEIR LABORS  

"And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, write, blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’ Yes, says the Spirit, so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”  

- Revelation 14:13

THE LABOR AND SWEAT OF OUR BROW  

"The labor and sweat of our brows is so far from being a curse, that without it our very bread would not be so great a blessing. If it were not for labor, men could neither eat so much, nor relish so pleasantly, nor sleep so soundly, nor be so healthful, so useful, so strong, so patient, so noble, nor so untempted."  

- Jeremy Taylor (1613-1667) Church of England Cleric

WHEN YOU EAT OF THE FRUIT OF YOUR HANDS  

"How blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways. When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, you will be happy and it will be well with you."  

- Psalm 128:1-2

THE LABORERS ARE FEW      

"Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few."    

- Matthew 9:37

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"Wherefore comfort one another with these words." - 1 Thessalonians 4:18

THY ROD AND STAFF COMFORT ME  

"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."  

- Psalm 23:4

THIS IS MY COMFORT IN MY AFFLICTION  

"This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life." 

- Psalm 119:50

THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT  

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."  

- 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

FOR THEY WILL COMFORTED  

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

- Matthew 5:4

FOR THE GREATER COMFORTS SAKE  

"Look how fears have presented themselves, so have supports and encouragements; yea, when I have started, even as it were at nothing else but my shadow, yet God, as being very tender of me, hath not suffered me to be molested, but would with one Scripture or another, strengthen me against all; insomuch that I have often said, Were it lawful, I could pray for greater trouble, for the greater comfort's sake."  

- John Bunyan (1628-1688) English Minister Writer

HE GAVE US ETERNAL COMFORT  

"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word."  

- 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

AND COMFORTED HIM ALL OVER  

"Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold." 

- Job 42:12 

HIS HAND, GIVES INEXPRESSABLE COMFORT 

"In the midst of the awesomeness, a touch comes, and you know it is the right hand of Jesus Christ. You know it is not the hand of restraint, correction, nor chastisement, but the right hand of the Everlasting Father. Whenever His hand is laid upon you, it gives inexpressible peace and comfort, and the sense that "underneath are the everlasting arms, (Deuteronomy 33:27) full of support, provision, comfort and strength."   

 - Oswald J. Smith (1889-1986) Canadian Pastor  

MANY WHO DESIRE COMFORT 

"Jesus has many who love his kingdom in heaven, but few who bear his cross.  He has many who desire comfort, but few who desire suffering.  He finds many to share his feast, but few his fasting.  All desire to rejoice with him, but few are willing to suffer for his sake.  Many follow Jesus to the breaking of bread, but few to the drinking of the cup of his passion.  Many admire the miracles but few follow him to the humiliation of his cross.  Many love Jesus as long as no hardship touches them."  

- Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471) Christian Theologian

MOST COMFORTING THOUGHT OF THE HEART  

"What we need very badly these days is a company of Christians who are prepared to trust God as completely now as they know they must do at the last day.  For each of us the time is coming when we shall have nothing but God.  Health and wealth and friends and hiding places will be swept away, and we shall have only God.  To the man of pseudo faith that is a terrifying thought, but to real faith it is one of the most comforting thoughts the heart can entertain."  

- A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) American Pastor and Teacher

Photo Source: wikiart.org/en/rembrandt/jacob-wrestling-with-the-angel-1659

By understanding God's covenant with us we can better understand how God is faithful. He never will fail to keep His word, His promises and His Eternal covenant with us. No matter what happens today in the world, no matter what you are suffering with, or how dire your earthly circumstance, you can count on God's Eternal covenant. When you understand this, you will find a peace that really does pass all understanding.

THROUGH THE BLOOD OF THE ETERNAL COVENANT

"Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." 

- Hebrews 13:20-21

MY COVENANT BETWEEN ME AND YOU  

"And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you."   

- Genesis 17:7 

GOD KEEPS HIS COVENANT  

"Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments." 

- Deuteronomy 7:9

THOSE WHO KEEP HIS COVENANT  

"But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts."  

- Psalm 103:17-18

CHRIST THE MEDIATOR OF A NEW COVENANT  

"For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant." 

- Hebrews 9:15

BLESSINGS UNDER THE COVENANT OF GRACE

"Guidance, like all God's acts of blessing under the covenant of grace, is a sovereign act. Not merely does God will to guide us in the sense of showing us his way, that we may tread it; he wills also to guide us in the more fundamental sense of ensuring that, whatever happens, whatever mistakes we may make, we shall come safely home. Slippings and strayings there will be, no doubt, but the everlasting arms are beneath us; we shall be caught, rescued, restored. This is God's promise; this is how good he is." 

- J. I. Packer (1926-2020) Canadian Evangelical Theologian 

RAINBOW COVENANT BETWEEN ME AND THE EARTH  

"I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth."  

- Genesis 9:13

HE REMEMBERED HIS COVENANT  

"The Israelites frequently forsook God, and he as frequently forsook them. But when they repented and returned to him, he remembered his covenant and delivered them from their distresses." 

- Adoniram Judson (1788-1850) American Missionary to Burma 

NOR MY COVENANT OF PEACE BE REMOVED  

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you."  

- Isaiah 54:10

HE WILL KEEP COVENANT WITH THEM  

"Those that set God always before them and walk before him with all their hearts, shall find him as good as his word and better; he will both keep covenant with them and show mercy to them."  

- Matthew Henry (1662-1714) Nonconformist Minister, Writer 

BLOOD OF THE ETERNAL COVENANT 

"Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."  

- Hebrews 13:20-21

KEEP THIS FOREVER IN THE IMAGINATION  

"O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee."  

- Chronicles-1 29:18 

Photo Source: tate.org.uk/art/artworks/martin-plate-from-illustrations-to-the-bible-the-covenant-t04897

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." - Proverbs 4:23

DILIGENTLY KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD  

"You should diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and His testimonies and His statutes which He has commanded you."  

- Deuteronomy 6:17

BE DILIGENT TO CONFIRM YOUR CALLING   

"Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall."  

- 2 Peter 1:10

BE DILIGENT IN THE PRESENT  

"Being in Christ, it is safe to forget the past; it is possible to be sure of the future; it is possible to be diligent in the present."  

- Alexander MacLaren (1826-1919) President Baptist World Congress

BE DILIGENT TO BE FOUND  

"Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace."  

- 2 Peter 3:14

THE SOULD OF THE DILIGENT IS RICHLY SUPPLIED  

"The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied."  

- Proverbs 13:4

THE HAND OF THE DILIGENT MAKES RICH   

"A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich."  

- Proverbs 10:4

HE REWARDS THE THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM  

"Cast not away your confidence because God defers his performances. That which does not come in your time, will be hastened in his time, which is always the more convenient season. God will work when he pleases, how he pleases, and by what means he pleases. He is not bound to keep our time, but he will perform his word, honour our faith, and reward them that diligently seek him."  

- Matthew Henry (1662-1714) Nonconformist Minister, Writer 

DILIGENTLY LISTEN TO THE LORD 

Saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, your healer.”  

- Exodus 15:26

COMMANDED YOUR PRECEPTS TO BE KEPT DILIGENTLY  

"You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently."  

- Psalm 119:4

BE DILIGENT TO BE FOUND BY HIM 

"Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless."  

- 2 Peter 3:14 

THOSE WHO SEEK ME DILIGENTLY FIND ME  

"I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me." 

- Proverbs 8:17

Photo Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diligence

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” -  James 1: 2-4

PUT ON THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

- Ephesians 6:11-18

FOR WE WRESTLE NOT

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."

- Ephesians 6:12-13

HE WILL COVER YOU

"He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler."

- Psalm 91:4

HE IS OUR HELP AND OUR SHIELD

"Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield."

- Psalm 7:10 

IN WHOM I TAKE REFUGE, MY SAVIOR  

He said, "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies."   

- 2 Samuel 22:2-4 

ABOVE ALL, TAKING THE SHIELD OF FAITH

"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." 

- Ephesians 6:16

THE SHIELD OF FAITH  

"In all circumstances take up the shield of faith."  

- Ephesians 6:16

Photo Source: 

rhemaincensedevotional.org/2018/02/05/fiery-darts-are-quenchable-by-faith/

In my lifetime I have I have been fortunate to have friendships that have been "Iron sharpeneth iron" relationships. Some people you meet in this life will be "Wood." You can sharpen them, but they cannot sharpen you like "Iron" can.  These simple words; "iron sharpens iron" shows two pieces working together and that no one is alone. 

In Old Testament times, one iron blade was used to sharpen another blade until both became more effective tools.  Left alone, both blades would be dull and become useless. 

The Hebrew word used here for "sharpeneth" means a "severe, be fierce, sharpen, let iron by means of iron grow sharp."  

There is a mutual advantage when you rub two iron edges together. When iron is rubbed against another piece of iron it not only sharpens, it will also shapes it. 

Choosing friends is one of the most important things you will do in this life. The same is true for children. Make sure they have friends that will be "iron" to help sharpen them for life's many twists and challenges.

Learned men can sharpen one another's minds and excite each other to learned studies. Words from Believers that have gone before us and who lived through our circumstances can also sharpen us in many ways. 

As they days we live in grow more wicked, it will be even more important to surround yourself with friends that can sharpen and shape you

THE BEST MIRROR

"The best mirror is an old friend."

- George Herbert (1593-1633), Welsh Poet and Priest of the Church of England

IT IS BEST TO BE WITH THOSE

"It the best to be with those in time, that we hope to be within eternity."

- Thomas Fuller (1608-1661), English Scholar, Preacher, Author

SHOW MAN'S BOOKS

"Show me a man's books and show me a man's companions--and I will tell you what sort of a man he is."

- William Tiptaft (1803-1864), British Minister

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