Category: Jesus

Come…

Come…

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29)

Never have there been any kinder, more gentle words than this invitation of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a deep longing within each of us to hear His voice … calling us to draw close to Him and to surrender every wearisome burden of life. His appeal, “Come to me”, is the heart of the Gospel! Jesus assures us: “Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” And, “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me.” (John 6:35; 37-38)

Jesus taught, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ (Quoting Isaiah 54:13) Therefore, everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to me.” (John 6:44-45) And Jesus declared, “As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.” (Luke 6:47-48)

My friends, there is an abundance of grace to be received in His offer to Come! There are benefits to be enjoyed. When we come to Jesus and place our faith in Him, we receive His gifts of salvation and eternal life. Whoever comes to Jesus will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life! (John 8:12) Indeed, Jesus pleads: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:37-38) Jesus is the Way and the Truth and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except through Him!

So, I urge everyone to come to Jesus! He is waiting with open arms to embrace and betroth you! Yes, come to Jesus, and joyfully serve Him in love! One day, Jesus is going to come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what they have done. Indeed, we will hear that precious word again: “Come!” For the King will say, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the Kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” (Matthew 25:34)

Have a Blessed Day!

Redeemed…

Redeemed…

Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (1 Peter 1:17-19)

Is there anything better for believers than the knowledge they have been redeemed? Do we truly understand redemption – the redeeming love of God in Christ? We have been redeemed from the wages of sin and death! We have been redeemed from the power of sin and its empty life! We have been released from the shackles of guilt and the chains of darkness! Indeed, we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that we may proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Let us understand the significance of the redemption He accomplished! “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” (Cf. Deuteronomy 21:22-23)He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promised Holy Spirit.” (Galatians 3:13-14) Yes, we who trusted in Jesus, after we heard the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation; in Him, having believed, we were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory! (Ephesians 1:13-14)

Let us understand the necessity of the redemption He accomplished! In Jesus we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of God’s grace! (Ephesians 1:7) For God rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of His Beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14) Indeed, we have been freely justified by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. So, let us not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom we have been sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30) Rather, let us praise the One who paid our debt and raised us from the dead!

My friends, do you understand what it means to be redeemed? If so, then by faith, wrap yourself in the white linen that is to be our everlasting garment and give Him all the glory! Yes! Let us worship Christ Jesus, who entered the Most Holy Place with His own blood, and obtained for us eternal redemption! (Hebrews 9:12)

Have a Blessed Day!

Slumber…

Slumber…

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— (Proverbs 6:10)

I find it interesting that a lazy person only asks for a little sleep … a little slumber. Perhaps he would be offended if he were accused of outright laziness. A little is all that is desired.  Perhaps he thinks “a little” is easier to conceal…. But let us see the outcome of “a little” over the span of time:

Proverbs 6:6-11 (NIV)

Go to the ant, you lazy person; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.

Proverbs 24:30-34 (NIV)

I went past the field of a lazy person, past the vineyard of someone who has no wisdom or discernment. Thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.

Charles Surgeon observed: “It is by little procrastinations that people ruin their souls! They have no intention of delaying for years. They hope that it will be more convenient for them to seek God in a few months. They will get around to serious matters tomorrow.” And little by little, time eludes their attention. Indeed, life is wasted in small amounts! Opportunities for grace to be encountered are often taken for granted. And in the end, that person comes to spiritual poverty because of a little sleep … a little slumber … along their journey of faith.

As poverty will come to the idle, so ruin will come to those who remain undecided about Jesus. Yes, death will come to the unrepentant; and the unbeliever will miss salvation! For as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment; so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him, Jesus will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. (Hebrews 9:27-28)

My friends, there will come a solemn day when it will be too late to repent and believe. I urge you to do so today: because the hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, and our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here! Therefore, put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of His light. (Romans 13:11-12)

Have a Blessed Day!

Seek…

Seek…

Glory in His Holy Name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always. (1 Chronicles 16:10-11)

The Spirit declares: “Today is the day to seek the Lord while He may be found; to call upon Him while He is near.” (Isaiah 55:6) And so my heart cries out: “You, O God, are my God; early will I seek You! My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1) “Those who know your Name trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You.” (Psalm 9:10) “My heart says within me, ‘Seek His face!’ Yes, Lord, I will seek Your face today!” (Psalm 27:8) For You have said, “Blessed are those who keep Your statutes and seek You with all their heart!” (Psalm 119:2) Thus, Lord, “I seek you with all my heart; and do not let me stray from your commands.” (Psalm 119:10)

I believe we are called to always seek the face of the Lord Jesus! “The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.” (Psalm 14:2) Does He find us seeking Him? Thus says the Lord: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13) Do you seek Him with your whole heart? Have we come to understand that the Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him – to those who seek Him? (Lamentations 3:25) This is what the Lord says to His people: “Seek me and live!” (Amos 5:4) Indeed, let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you, O Lord; let those who long for your salvation declare, “The Lord is great!” (Psalm 40:16)

My friends, it is my desire to encourage us in this matter of seeking God. Jesus taught us to seek God and His Kingdom first above all things:

Luke 12:29-30 (NKJV)

Do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after; and your Heavenly Father knows that you need these things. Rather, seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

And Jesus has affirmed:

Luke 11:9-10 (NKJV)

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple. (Psalm 27:4)

O saints, let us seek Him!

Have a Blessed Day!

Receive…

Receive…

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (Colossians 2:6-7)

To receive is to come into possession of something such as a gift. When you receive someone, you greet and welcome them into your home. In Ephesians 2:8-9, faith is represented as a gift from God. Yes, because of His grace, we receive salvation and eternal life through faith in Christ Jesus. And when we receive Jesus, He comes to dwell within us. As John 14:23 affirms: Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”

One might ask, “How do I receive the gift of faith?” Well, consider how the earth receives light and warmth from the sun – how the clouds release their rain to water the fields and fill the streams. Everything necessary for life is given without any effort from the recipient. It is simply received as a blessing from God. Likewise, our faith is a gift that only needs acceptance. Indeed, the faith we receive from God is essential for life. For by faith, Jesus becomes a real and precious possession. He becomes our very own! I think about the metaphor Jesus used to describe this abiding union:

John 15:4-5 (NIV)

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Jesus tells us to remain in Him. And this is how we know if we are abiding in Him – we will bear much fruit to the glory of God the Father. If you and I do not bear fruit, then we are failing to abide in Jesus. The Apostle John explains:

1 John 2:3-6 (NIV)

We know that we have come to know Jesus if we keep His commands. Whoever says, “I know Him,” but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys His word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.

My friends, what we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. (1 Corinthians 2:12) The Father gave us His Son to abide in us through the Spirit. Just as we receive Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior, let us abide in Him and bear much fruit! Amen.

Have a Blessed Day!

Weary…

Weary…

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NLT)

Weary is a word that describes our human condition far too often. We get caught up in the snares of over engagement. We labor at great length. We carry emotional and spiritual burdens far too heavy for us. The loads of life itself just bring us to sheer exhaustion. We are worn out … fatigued … drained as a result of excessive exertion and lack of sleep. Is it any wonder why we have become distressed and disheartened in this world?

Looking at these realities, I have found great comfort in the words of Jesus.  I want to find rest … rest for my soul. Indeed, Jesus invites us each of us to come to Him and to learn from Him. For the Lord will keep in perfect peace all who trust in Him … all whose thoughts are fixed on Him. (Cf. Isaiah 26:3) He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. (Isaiah 40:29) And Jesus said to His disciples: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

King David was a man who often faced the dangers of war and the burdens of governing the people of Israel. Yet, he advised: “Cast your cares of the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.” (Psalm 55:22) Likewise, the Apostle Peter drew upon this scripture and urged: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7) And Paul gave us this encouragement: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

My friends, Father God has provided us wise counsel in His Word to lean upon Jesus and to trust Him in all circumstances. Let us remember the purpose of all our labors in life is to bear fruit to the glory of God. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9) Yes, consider Jesus who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:3) But most of all, take some time to rest at the feet of Jesus. Like Mary, we can still choose what is best! (Luke 10:38-42)

Have a Blessed Day!

Truth…

Truth…

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

I love how John approached this description of Jesus in his gospel narrative.  The Logos of God – the Word of God … His Being Incarnate … sent from His dwelling place in heaven to dwell among us. Jesus revealed the love and grace of God. Jesus confirmed His Existence, His Being, and His Truth. Jesus told His disciples, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” (John 14:7-10) Oh my friends, our compassionate, merciful, loving Creator HAS been made known to us; and He desires us to know Him … and to worship Him in the Spirit and in Truth. (John 4:23-24)

I believe every person who has ever been born desires to know the truth. There is a void in their soul longing to be filled with the truth of their existence. When Pontius Pilate examined Jesus, He told Pilate, “The reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Yet, Pilate was unmoved and retorted, “What is truth?” (John 18:33-38) Humans profess that we want to know truth, but when confronted with the truth, we are hesitant to believe it or to believe in Him.  Jesus told His disciples: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) And He went on to encourage them: “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.” (John 14:11)

It is incumbent of us to believe Jesus at His Word! Indeed, Jesus said that those who hold to His teachings will come to know the Truth, and the Truth will set them free! (John 8:31) When we walk in accordance with the truth, we’re set free from darkness. We’re released from the bondage of sin. We’re given liberty from the fear of death. (Hebrews 2:14-15) Yes, let us heed the things we should remember about Truth: The Word of God is Truth; and we are separated from the world by it. (John 17:17) The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth; and He proceeds from the Father and testifies about the Truth of Jesus. (John 15:26) Whoever lives by the Truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. (John 3:21)

Have a Blessed Day!

Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” ~ John 8:45-47