Guard…

Guard…

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. ~ Proverbs 4:23

Guard is an informative word for us. Used here as a verb, it means to keep safe from harm or danger; to protect; to watch over; to keep under control or restraint as a matter of caution or prudence. King Solomon, in his wisdom, saw the preeminence of safeguarding our hearts in order to protect us and others from everything that flows from it. Indeed, if we look at the assessment of Scripture regarding our hearts – our innermost beings – we find the following:

Genesis 6:5 (NIV)

The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.

Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV)

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

Our Lord Jesus admonished His disciples and followers to guard their hearts as well:

Luke 12:1-2 (NIV)

Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to His disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.

Luke 12:15 (NIV)

Then Jesus said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

Indeed, Jesus taught that the pure in heart would see God. (Matthew 5:8) He advised that we should store up for ourselves treasures in heaven … for where your treasure is, there your heart will be. (Matthew 6:20-21) He, too, warned that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34) Yes, the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. (Matthew 15:18-19)

Likewise, the Apostles spoke of the necessity for us to guard our hearts and salvation we have received by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. In 2 Timothy 1:13-14, Paul urged his protege: “What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Peter, affirming the inspired writings of Paul, concluded: “Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (2 Peter 3:17-18)

Dear believer, in these last days, it is imperative that we stay alert and on guard because our enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) Yes, like Paul, I encourage you: “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14) Set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at His coming! (1 Peter 1:13)

Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV)

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 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. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Have a Blessed Day!

Strong…

Strong…

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love. (1 Corinthians 16:13)

When we think of being strong, the idea of having the power to move heavy weights or perform physically demanding tasks probably comes to mind. But for the Christian, we more readily identify with the ability to withstand great force or pressure being exerted against us. And so, it is of great importance for us to be trained and equipped in those spiritual disciplines which strengthen our resolve and determination to triumph; that is, to overcome the world through victorious faith in Christ Jesus. (1 John 5:4)

In Ephesians 6:10-18 Paul instructed:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Note the key premise: Our struggle is not against flesh and blood; rather, we must come to terms with the spiritual warfare going on around us. As Paul explains: “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

My friends, I am praying for spiritual awakening within the Church to break forth in 2024! I am praying the people of God will prepare themselves for the battles already in sight on the horizon. Yes, let us begin with a time of fasting and prayer … to seek the power and presence of the Lord.
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7) Indeed, let the weak say I am strong!

Have a Blessed Day!

Sleep…

Sleep…

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” (Genesis 28:16-17)

Sleep. It is a state of suspended consciousness. We are typically not aware of ourselves or our surroundings. Sleep is a physical need of all living creatures – required for a period of rest and inactivity for the body. It is essential for healthy brain function and restoration. And even if you try to force yourself to stay awake, sleep will inevitably happen as the brain takes over….

What I found interesting in our verse is the metaphorical application of sleep to our spiritual awareness. As Jacob pondered: “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” Indeed, too often we are not aware of the presence of God or His Holy Spirit. Too often we are spiritually asleep – not realizing what is happening in the heavenly realms. As Paul noted: “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)

I think of Jesus in His hour of desperation on the night of His betrayal. He was deeply troubled. Jesus had asked His disciples to watch and pray for Him. Yet, each time He returned from a time of prayer with the Father, they had fallen asleep. Jesus asked them, “Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46) Oh, how heavy were their eyes because their spirits were not alert to the dark forces already in motion….

Jesus spoke to His disciples of another time to come … the day of His return and the Judgment. Again, He urged them to be alert and pray because that Day of the Lord is unknown. Jesus warned: “If the Son of Man comes suddenly, do not let Him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” (Mark 13:36-37) Yes, Jesus says to His Church: “Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. (Revelation 3:2-3)

Have a Blessed Day!

But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” ~ Ephesians 5:13-14

Honor God With Your Body

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.

Our Verse of the Day presents an important concept for us to understand regarding our walk of faith in Christ Jesus. The call to holiness in our lives is the spiritual expectation of a “new creature”. In John 3, Jesus spoke about the requirement to be born-again … born of the Spirit … in order to see the Kingdom of God. In our verse, Paul develops this prerequisite further for us and expounds on its implications. Although the immediate context is focused on sexual immorality, the broader application is admonishment against all unrighteous behavior in our lives. We have received redemption through the blood of Christ, and it was confirmed by His resurrection from the dead. When we understand and embraced what God has done for us in Christ, it follows that we would seek to thank and honor God with our bodies and souls … with our very beings. Let’s break down our verse for additional perspective:

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?

We can only receive the Spirit of God when we receive Jesus and put our faith in Him as Lord and Savior of our lives. There is no other mechanism for His presence to indwell you … to abide inside your being … except that you abide in Him through faith. Consider that Jesus affirmed we must be born of water and the Spirit or we cannot enter the Kingdom of God. (Cf. John 3:5) Further, Jesus promised us the gift of the Holy Spirit when He assured the disciples: “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. (Cf. John 14:15-18)

You are not your own; you were bought at a price.

We were purchased by God. The payment was the atoning sacrifice of His One and Only Son – Jesus. He offered up His life in order to redeem us from condemnation and eternal separation from God. There was not anything we did to deserve it or earn it. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Cf. Romans 3:23) But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Cf. Romans 5:8) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. (Cf. Ephesians 2:8) When we realize that we are not our own … that God created us and gave us His commands for life to the fullest … and then forgave the rebellion of our sinful hearts so that we would not be condemned forever; I think then we will attain the power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ! The price of redemption is beyond our ability to conceive! So, I join with Paul in his prayer:

Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV)

¹⁶I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Therefore, honor God with your bodies.

This is the bottom line of our faith in action here upon the earth. We are to honor God with our bodies – the ones He fashioned and gave us as gifts and breathed life into – so that we might live in step with His Holy Spirit in our inner beings. Paul urged, “In view of God’s mercy, we should offer our bodies as living sacrifices; holy and pleasing to God – for this is our true and proper worship.” (Cf. Romans 12:1) And, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like unbelievers, who do not know God.” (Cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5)

I think Paul does a great job explaining this concept of the indwelling Spirit and His purposeful work within us, so I have reprinted a couple of passages for our consideration here:

Romans 8:1-14 (NIV)

¹Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ²because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set us free from the law of sin and death. ³For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so, He condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ⁵Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. ⁹You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. ¹¹And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you. ¹²Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. ¹³For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Galatians 5:16-25 (NIV)

¹⁶So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ¹⁹The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;²⁰idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the Kingdom of God. ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

I think the above passages explain why we are called to live by the Spirit and to put to death the works of the sinful human nature. Though we know that there is a great and ongoing conflict between our flesh and our spirit, Paul brings an interesting perspective on this fight when he asserts: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Cf. Ephesians 6:12) Indeed, we need the spiritual armor of God to prepare and protect ourselves in this battle … and having done all … to stand (persevere) through faith. The role of the Holy Spirit is to guide us into the Truth. What He receives from the Father and the Son is imparted to us. (Cf. John 16:13) Why? So that we will be instructed and directed into a life of holiness … to be conformed to the image of Jesus. Spiritual holiness is manifested through our bodies … how we live! And as John informed us: “This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.” (Cf. 1 John 2:6)

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” ~ 1 Peter 1:14-16

The Way of Faithfulness…

Psalm 119:30 (NIV)

I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws.

Our Verse of the Day affords us a simple, yet powerful message. The decision to be faithful –faithful to God and to one another is always individual. God has created each of us with a personal will that allows us to choose according to the dictates of our own hearts. So, we are challenged to thoughtfully consider our decisions before we make them, as well as the commitments we have determine in our hearts to fulfill. It brings to mine other verses that I believe are applicable: “I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Cf. Psalm 119:11) And, “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” (Cf. 1 Samuel 15:22)

The Psalmist gives us, perhaps, the most vital key to exercising the wisdom we need to apply for both short-term and long-term decisions. Actions are essentially the output or engagement of the thoughts of our hearts. And so, what we set our hearts on ultimately determines what we will do. If we set our hearts on the laws of God … His Spirit-inspired Word (the expressed will of God), then we will discern the right choices available to us. Why? Because we will have the knowledge needed to exercise our personal wills in a manner that produces correct decisions for our lives. And, again, our choice to be obedient will be manifested by our conduct. What we ultimately do will always be the expression of the inclination of the thoughts of our hearts. And therein lies the tension … the internal conviction that arises when we do not set our hearts on the will of God and surrender to Him….

Here are some other Scriptures that might bring some additional insight on this subject:

1 Chronicles 28:8-9 (NIV)

“So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever. “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 (NIV)

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was like a husband to them,” declares the Lord. “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

James 1:22-25 (NIV)

Do not merely listen to (or read) the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to (or reads) the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard (read), but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

My friends, we know the will of God has been expressed in His Word, but it is up to us to align the inclinations of our hearts and to surrender ourselves to His revealed will! The difficulty here for us is that no one truly has the capacity to change their own heart. It is God who changes the heart and conforms us to the image of His Son. It is the merciful gift of His Spirit and grace that draws us to Christ Jesus so that we can be filled with the power of His anointing! And, as we have learned, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” (Cf. 2 Peter 1:3) Even so, as believers, we will experience a continual spiritual battle for our minds because thoughts determine behavior; and the thoughts of our hearts must be brought captive to the Word of God at all times. “For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Cf. Hebrews 4:13) Yes, we need to be reading the Word … studying it … knowing what it instructs … and applying it to our hearts.

A simple short verse can awaken us once again to the choice of faithfulness! I feel so strongly about the message it imparts. God has been unfailing in His faithfulness to us! (Cf. Psalm 89) So, if we want to be faithful to God, then we will have to discipline ourselves and our thoughts through the light and wisdom of His Word. If we want to be effective and productive in the Kingdom of God, we will have to be students of the Word of God. If you get a moment this week, I would encourage you to read 1 Corinthians 2. I believe you will find it applicable to the general discussion here. If we want to live as Jesus did and be conformed to His image, then we will need to have His mind. And Paul asserts we do have the mind of Christ because His Spirit imparts His thoughts to us as believers. It is my prayer that we will reflect on this truth more deeply. Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. ~ 3 John 2-4

Spiritual Tension…

Matthew 16:25 (NIV)

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will find it.

In our Verse of the Day, Jesus presented a challenge to those who followed Him; and that challenge extends to us as believers today! It poses a spiritual tension that impacts our view of self, life, and purpose; and we are familiar with similar paradoxes presented in Scripture such as:

“The last shall be first, and the first shall be last.” (Cf. Matthew 20:8; Mark 9:35; Luke 13:30)

“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Cf. Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14)

In these types of dualisms, we find Jesus teaching us that seeking self-importance; engaging in self-promotion; and reliance on self-preservation are misguided approaches when it comes to having a meaningful and fulfilling life in Him. Jesus is telling us that pursuing significance in your life with a worldly point of view is not going to produce the eternal results we want to achieve … the works for which God created us. (Cf. Ephesians 2:10) And I believe that each of us probably enter this tension each day. It is the struggle between our own wills and the will of God for us…. So, let’s look at our verse in the surrounding context because I think that will shed more light on the life approach Jesus is calling us to pursue:

Matthew 16:21-28 (NIV)

²¹From that time on Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. ²²Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” ²³Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” ²⁴Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will find it. ²⁶What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? ²⁷For the Son of Man 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. ²⁸“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom.”

Jesus presents a powerful lesson to us here. And in the context, we learn more about what Jesus meant when He said, “Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will find it.” The context begins with Jesus explaining the upcoming events surrounding His death; and Peter (naturally) does not believe it is appropriate for Jesus to suffer or for those foreboding things to occur. Who would want their friend to be mistreated or killed? Yet, Jesus rebukes Peter saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me. You are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (ESV) And therein lies the tension we experience when evaluating what we believe our lives should be or how we believe they should turn out. Too often, we are pursuing the things of man and not setting our minds on what God wants for our lives. Perhaps this is why Jesus asks the more pointed question:“What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Verse 26) Jesus is trying to get us to see the error of our thinking and calls for a radical “reset of our mindset.”

Notice how Jesus associates what Peter was thinking and the direction he was going in the conversation with the spiritual darkness and deception of Satan. Do not underestimate the “influence” that Satan can have upon your thought life … your mindset … to take you in a direction that is away from what God has ordained for your life. Satan will attempt to align you with the wisdom of the world … but that is not of God. We are in the world but chosen to not be of the world. (Cf. John 17:14-15) Our Lord Jesus learned and demonstrated that a life aligned with the will of the Father is to be humbly submitted and reverently obedient. As Paul observed, “And being found in appearance as a man, Jesus humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross! (Cf. Philippians 2:8) Therein lies the solution to our dilemma – the tension we feel when choosing between our own way (the way of the world) or submitting to the direction God has ordained for us. Jesus kept it simple for us when He said to His disciples, “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me. (Verse 24)

If you want to redeem your life, then you will need to let go of the one you are clinging to. You can accomplish this; but you’ll need to deny yourself and take up your cross (the place of self-sacrifice) and follow Jesus. If you want to be first, then you need to place yourself last. You can accomplish this; but you’ll need to deny yourself and take up your cross (the place of self-sacrifice) and follow Jesus. If you want to be looked up to and admired for all of your accomplishments and success, then you need to be quiet and not boast. Let your deeds speak for the themselves. After all, did not God gift you and afford you the opportunities for success? Give Him the glory! And remember, you can accomplish this; but you’ll need to deny yourself and take up your cross (the place of self-sacrifice) and follow Jesus.

My friends, the way Jesus taught us to approach life is quite opposite to what the world says you and I should do to be successful. If we want to be productive and effective in His Kingdom, we will have to embrace a more unconventional approach of how significance should be viewed for our lives. God said the meek shall inherit the earth; not the strong and mighty. (Cf. Matthew 5:5; Psalm 37:11) God said to give first and generously, and it shall be returned to you. (Cf. Luke 6:38) As John the Baptist affirmed when looking at his own life in comparison to the Messiah, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (Cf. John 3:30) And so, to save your life, you must lose it. To be exalted, you must humble yourself. And, yes, the first shall be last, and the last first. This is the wisdom God has been revealed to us in His Word … through His Son.

It is my prayer that we will come to a full understanding of these principles for life. I think we will find both “power” and “freedom” in these approaches. But most of all, I believe we will experience what God desires for each of us in our relationships … with Him and with each other. As Paul concluded, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (Cf. Romans 12:1) So, “lose” your life in service and ministry to others, and there you will find your true life … the life God intends for your good and for His glory!

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

When I Am Afraid…

Psalm 56:3-4 (NIV)

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

As I reflect on our Verse of Day, I wonder: “Are you afraid this morning? Anxious about your life? Concerned about your future? King David experienced those types of feelings and insecurities. We all do from time to time. Life does not always go as expected. Circumstances and situations change. Relationships change. People change. The only thing that is certain in our lives is change! And, there is another thing of which we can be certain … God’s unchanging nature. His love and mercy are everlasting! They endure forever! God does not change. (Cf. Psalm 55:19; Malachi 3:6; James 1:17) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Cf. Hebrews 13:8)

Through adversity and great challenges, King David came to understand that the only thing he could really trust in life was God Himself! When fighting life’s battles … both real and perceived … both external and self-inflicted, I think we should consider these words from the pen of David:

Psalm 20 (NIV)

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May He send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. May He remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. Selah. May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy over Your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests. Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to His anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of His right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. Lord, give victory to the king! Answer us when we call!

Although, David was referring to his position as the anointed King of Israel, understand that you abide in Christ and are anointed by His Spirit as a believer. Yes, through faith, the Holy Spirit abides in you and equips you for a victorious life! You are the recipient of His victorious power! As Peter wrote: “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. (Cf. 2 Peter 1:3) So, trust that God does hear your prayers and answers them from His heavenly sanctuary. Yes, trust that Christ Jesus is your mediator and sits at the right hand of God (Cf. 1 Timothy 2:5). Indeed, you can trust Him with your life … because He created your life! God loves you and He is for you! (Cf. Romans 8:28-32)

God has given us His Spirit … and He has given us His Word! And these are the greatest weapons we can wield in the spiritual battles that the Adversary wages against us. Paul exhorted Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God (in indwelling Holy Spirit) … for the Spirit God gives us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline. (Cf. 2 Timothy 1:6-7) Indeed, Paul taught that the struggles we encounter with people are not against flesh and blood but with spiritual forces of evil:

Ephesians 6:10-17 (NIV)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

In God I trust and am not afraid. Let this be our banner today! “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (Cf. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5) And I recall the word of the Lord to Joshua: “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Cf. Joshua 1:8-9)

Here are some additional references that speak into this message:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. ~ Proverbs 29:25

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord Himself, is the Rock eternal. ~ Isaiah 26:4

No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord. ~ Isaiah 54:17

The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him. ~ Nahum 1:7

My friends, we are spurred by God to trust in Him. King David urged, “Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.” (Cf. Psalm 62:8) And, “I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Cf. Psalm 91:2) Indeed, trust is the foundation of our faith in God. Trust is inherent to a life without fear. And so, I pray that you will find all of these Scriptures an encouragement for your journey of faith.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

This is what the Lord says: Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. ~ Jeremiah 17:7-8

The Riches of God’s Grace

Ephesians 1:7 (NIV)

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace … that He lavished on us.

Our Verse of the Day is central to the Gospel message we have been called to declare: In Jesus we have redemption – through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace! And I believe we should look deeper at this verse … its declaration of redemption in Christ within the full context of the prologue of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians:

Ephesians 1:1-10 (NIV)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He (God) chose us in Him (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will— to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him (Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, He (God) made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

By the grace of God the Father, we have been saved! This is not of ourselves … but through the lavish gift of grace given to us. And this grace is received through the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives. Yes, our redemption and salvation is the will of God; and we can know it without fear or doubt! Everything else given to us by God can be understood once this foundation of truth has been laid within our souls. As Paul instructed, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. (Cf. 1 Corinthians 2:12) But before the Spirit of God can give us this discernment, the testimony of God in Jesus Christ must be believed! As Paul addressed the believers in Corinth:

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NRSV)

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery (testimony) of God to you with superior speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were made not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

Why is this so important? Because there is a spirit of deception permeating, enveloping, and encircling the world right now. There is a veil of darkness that is blinding people to the truth concerning Christ Jesus. (Cf. 2 Corinthians 4:4) People are searching for answers and seeking truth; but there are world powers, spiritual forces of darkness, and false prophets who cloak the truth with a lie. The seeds of doubt are being sown and watered under the disruptions of wars and rumors of war; world economic instability and collapse; pestilence and famine; and the birth pangs of coming tribulation. (Cf. Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21) Indeed, the spirit of deception and doctrines of demons is spreading rapidly in these last days. Even now, as Jesus declared to the lukewarm Church at Laodicea: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Cf. Revelation 3:20)

My friends, we are in spiritual warfare for the Truth to be unfettered and released! For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Cf. Ephesians 6:12) And within this spiritual war going on … and we need to hold fast to this Truth: In Christ Jesus we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us. We need to remain steadfast and confident … to trust God at His Word. Yes, even now I am reminded of this scripture Jude 3-4:^“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.”

It is my prayer that the message of the cross will be declared in this season. I pray for those who have wandered from the faith to repent and return to Jesus who willingly and joyfully shed His own blood for the forgiveness and atonement of our sins. And I pray in hope for those who have rejected the offer of salvation through Jesus Christ that God would grant them repentance … so that we, the Body of Christ, can lead them to a knowledge of the Truth. Yes, I pray they will come to their senses and escape the deceptive schemes of the devil (Satan), who has taken them captive to do his will. (Cf. 2 Timothy 2:25-26) Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good. ~ Titus 2:11-14

Man of Sorrows…

Isaiah 53:3-4 (NIV)

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces He was despised, and we held Him in low esteem. Surely, He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted.

Our Verse of the Day comes from a portion of the messianic prophecy captured in Chapter 53 of the Book of Isaiah. As our Celebration of the Resurrection approaches, I think it is a good idea for us to revisit this prophetic description of Yeshua Hamashiach and to reflect on the suffering He would endure for our rebellion and transgressions (the sins of the whole world) against God:

Isaiah 53:1-12 (NIV)

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces He was despised, and we held Him in low esteem. Surely, He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed (saved). We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth. By oppression (arrest) and judgment He was taken away. Yet who of His generation considered that He was cut off from the land of the living; that for the transgression of my people He was punished? He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death, though He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer, and though the Lord makes His life an offering for sin, He will see His offspring and prolong His days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in His hand. After He has suffered, He will see the light of life (the fruit of His suffering) and will be satisfied; by His knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will give Him a portion among the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He poured out His life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Approximately 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, the Prophet Isaiah gave this prophetic word. The accuracy of his portrayal of the Messiah (Savior) to come is astounding; and to me, it instills an even greater measure of faith in the reliability of the identity of Jesus and His claim to be the Son of God. Jesus would affirm His suffering, death, and resurrection as the authentication of His divine nature; His role in the plan of salvation; and His sovereign authority over all people. Oh, how I wish all people would receive this understanding…. Jesus is the Messiah! He is the Savior! Yes, He is Lord! As Paul confirmed: “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Cf. Philippians 2:9-11; Romans 14:11; Isaiah 45:23)

So, I have a thought to share today because people often question why a loving God would send His own Son to be sacrificed for the transgressions and iniquities of people. Why would God require a blood sacrifice for the atonement of sin? Well, I think we forget, at times, just how serious sin is in the presence of a perfectly holy God. The Bible reveals that it was God’s plan to enjoy fellowship with His creation for eternity; and I believe that He ultimately will. However, when man sinned against God, an irreversible offense occurred in the sight of God. Such a serious affront to Him, His Love, and His Holiness required an equally serious resolution. Scripture reveals that in the mind of God, the resolution required that an unblemished lamb would have to be offered as a sacrifice for atonement to be effectuated. However, for the eternal atonement of man, a completely sinless man would have to shed His blood for a completely sinful mankind. In His love, God provided His own sacrifice – His own unblemished lamb for our atonement. Through the crucifixion of Jesus, His Son, He “eternal redemption” was obtained for us. (Cf. Hebrews 9:12)

Rather than question God on why He would be moved to the extreme of a crucifixion to commute His execution of our death sentence; I believe we should instead place our focus on the serious, fatal nature of sin itself. The Apostle James asserted in James 1:13-15: “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” And as Paul explained: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ.” (Cf. Romans 6:23) Indeed, we need to ultimately understand that our sin nailed Jesus to the cross – not Roman soldiers. It was truly our sinfulness that led to His death; and it was a compassionate act of love on His part to submit to His own unmerited slaughter. The harshness and cruelty should wake us up and alert us to how God truly feels about our disobedience and rebellion!

And so, as we enter the upcoming week of the passion and reflect on the events that took place, I pray that we will look inwardly and examine ourselves. I pray we will consider what Paul admonished with regard to sin in our lives:

Romans 6:1-14 (NIV)

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him. The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to Him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. ~ Hebrews 12-1-3

Christ – Our Sin Offering

1 Timothy 2:5-6 (NIV)

God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Our Verse of the Day asserts an interesting theological statement, but I really do not like how it has been translated here in the New International Version (NIV). So, I thought that I might explore some other English translations for comparison. I found some that I think better express what I believe Paul was communicating here:

New Living Translation

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

New Matthew Bible

For he has made him who knew no sin to be a sin offering for us, so that we, by means of him, should be that righteousness which is accepted before God.

Tree of Live Version

He made the One who knew no sin to become a sin offering on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

What I struggled with in the more widely known translations (i.e., KJV, NKJV, NIV, ESV, RSV, AMP, etc.) is this language: He (meaning Jesus) became sin or that God made Him to be sin. I just have a hard time conceiving that possibility in my mind. So, I was glad to see additional translations that confirmed what I believed Paul meant: the concept of Jesus “becoming a sin offering”. This is highly consistent with the surrounding context of “reconciliation with God” and with the inspired writings of the Apostle John. Let’s look at the additional context first:

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (NIV)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation. The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be a sin offering for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

And this language is consistent with the doctrinal material that Paul shared in the Book of Romans:

Romans 3:20-26 (NIV)

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—He did it to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Romans 8:1-4 (NIV)

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

In my mind, Paul simply explained in greater detail what the Apostle John had attested:

1 John 4:9-10 (NIV)

This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

While John focuses on the love God demonstrated by sending His Son to become an eternal sin offering so that we might have eternal life; Paul deepens our understanding of HOW the love and grace of God has effectually accomplished our justification through Christ Jesus. Paul preaches an absolute home-run sermon which you will find in Acts 13:13-42. I highly encourage you to read the entire linked passage, but I want to focus on his conclusion:

Acts 13:38-41(NIV)

“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through Him, everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: “‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’”

Although Paul is quoting Habakkuk 1:5 in Verse 41, he uses its prophetic application of warning for those who scoff, dispute, discredit, and do not believe the message being declared to them. He was urging them to not reject the Gospel or it’s proclamation of freedom from darkness or it’s declaration of hope and reconciliation with God. Yet, the religious and self-righteous could not understand or accept this message of love and grace or the justification afforded us through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus through His blood shed on a cross. Paul explains the reason for this spiritual tension and conflict produced in people when the Gospel is preached to them:

2 Corinthians 3:13-18 (NIV)

We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is the veil taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

It is not that the Gospel is unclear; rather, it is that unbelievers are blinded by Satan. There is a veil of darkness that covers their hearts so that the light and liberty of the Gospel cannot be discerned. The Apostle John stated, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But 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. (Cf. John 3:19-21) And Paul informed us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Cf. Ephesians 6:12)

My friends, we need to be aware of this struggle. There is spiritual warfare being fought on the battlefields of our minds. That is why embracing truth is so important! This is why we are sanctified (set apart unto God) by the Truth … which is found in Jesus, the Word of God. (Cf. John 17:17) So, I pray we will all take time to read, study, and be transformed by the truth found in God’s Word; and to share it with others. I think that is the most important thing we can be doing in these latter days.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age (Satan) has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the Gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:3-5