Dallas Willard Daily Devotional, February 26, 2020

Click to view this email in your browser.

Learning to Live the Reality of Heaven's Rule As disciples (literally students) of Jesus, our goal is to learn to be like him. We begin by trusting him to receive us as we are. But our confidence in him leads us toward the same kind of faith he had, a faith that made it possible for him to act as he did. Jesus's faith was expressed in his gospel of heaven's rule, the good news of the "kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 4:17). Heaven is a deeply significant word. From Abraham (Genesis 24:7) onward, it signified to the people of Israel the direct availability of God to his children, as well as his supremacy over all that affects us. From heaven, "the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry" (Psalm 34:15; also 1 Peter 3:12). Jesus was concerned to pass on to his followers this reality of heaven's rule that undergirded his life. When he sent his twelve friends out on their first mission, he told them it was like sending "sheep in the midst of wolves" (Matthew 10:16). It would be butterflies against machine guns. Nevertheless—imagine sheep being told this!—there was no need for them to fear. Two sparrows cost a penny. Yet not one falls upon the earth "apart from your Father." Heaven is so close that even the hairs on our heads are numbered. "So do not be afraid," Jesus tells us. "You are of more value than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:29–31). From The Great Omission: Reclaiming Jesus's Essential Teachings on Discipleship. Copyright © 2006 by Dallas Willard. All rights reserved. Used with permission of HarperCollins Publishers. Forward this email to your friends, or invite them to subscribe to receive the Dallas Willard Daily Devotional.

Bible Gateway Recommendations

Buy Now The Allure of Gentleness: Defending the Faith in the Manner of Jesus Retail: $15.99 Our Price: $10.49 Save: $5.50

Copyright Information   Copyright 2016 © HarperOne. Drawn from the works of Dallas Willard. Used by permission. Subscription Information   This email was sent to mucomacamucomaca.muco@blogger.com by Bible Gateway, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA. This email is part of a devotional or newsletter that you signed up for on BibleGateway.com. If you have questions or comments about this email, please contact us.   Manage all Bible Gateway subscriptions — Opt Out of all Bible Gateway communication