The Ultimate Insurance Policy

 

By Andrea Merrell

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 23:6 NKJV

Insurance policies can be tricky. Most companies are legit but not all. Sometimes things change that no one can control, but the policy holder is always the one who suffers.

Upon early retirement, my husband’s employer guaranteed our coverage (both life and health) would continue as long as he lived. Not so. Soon after retirement, our medical premiums began to go up each year. They finally went up so high we couldn’t afford them at all. Sometime later, we got a letter stating we no longer had life insurance. At our age, we could only afford a very modest policy.

With our home and auto insurance, every time we made a claim, either our premium went up or they threatened to cancel.

It seems insurance is a necessary evil that is supposed to cover you through accidents, sickness, natural disasters, and even death. But as one writer puts it, the only policy that you can depend on—the one that extends even beyond death—is the one God offers, paid in full by the blood of Jesus. It can’t be canceled, and there is never any fine print.

If you’re a child of God, your future is secure. You are covered for all eternity.

That’s the ultimate insurance policy.

Photo by Vlad Deep on Unsplash

 

There’s No Such Thing as a Problem-Free Life

 

By Andrea Merrell

In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties.

But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.

John 16:33 MSG

 

As I sat quietly one morning, I found myself dwelling on recent circumstances that threatened to take me down. Steal my peace. Rob me of my joy. “It seems it’s always something, Lord,” I complained. “I get over one problem, then here comes another. When do I get a break?”

I’m sure the Lord was smiling as I opened Jesus Calling and read that day’s devotion by Sarah Young:

Do not long for the absence of problems in your life. That is an unrealistic goal since in this world you will have trouble … Begin each day anticipating problems, asking Me to equip you for whatever difficulties you will encounter. The best equipping is My living Presence, My hand that never lets go of yours. Discuss everything with Me. Take a lighthearted view of trouble, seeing it as a challenge that you and I together can handle. ~Jesus

I had to smile too. Busted. Again. Longing for something never promised to me in this fallen world and forgetting that God is always with me, holding my hand and walking me through the fire. Giving me a chance to use my faith, without which it is impossible to please Him. And reminding me that each trial I face produces patience and spiritual growth.

Remember, there’s no such thing as a problem-free life on this earth, but one day it will be our reality for all eternity.

Are you ready for eternity?

Photo by Dmitrii Ko on Unsplash

What Do You Value Most?

 

By Andrea Merrell

 

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,

with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.

This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this:             

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

There is no other commandment greater than these.

Mark 12:30-31 NKJV

 

The question stunned the people in the room. “If catastrophe struck and you had to leave your home immediately, other than a family member or pet, what one item would you take with you?" In other words, the speaker was asking what we considered our most valuable possession.

After a long silence, a lively discussion ensued. “My purse,” one lady said. "It has my driver's license and all my credit cards." 

“My computer,” a man chimed in. "And my box of Cuban cigars," he added. Everyone chuckled. 

The answers continued. My cell phone. The family photo album. My Bible. My grandmother’s antique vase. My dad’s coin collection.

Answers kept coming, some serious, others funny. It was a sobering thought to determine where we place value. The sad part was knowing that every item named was just a thing. A material possession that could be damaged, misplaced, lost, or even stolen. And as the saying goes, “You can’t take it with you.”

Now it’s your turn. Think about it for a moment. What do you value most?

No matter where you place value, here's a sobering thought. Jesus said He would never leave us. He is with us every single moment in every single situation. We are instructed to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Our relationship with Him should be our most valuable possession. That relationship and our love for others should never be compromised or taken for granted. Neither one can ever be damaged, misplaced, lost, or even stolen.

They are ours for all eternity.

 

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles.)

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