Tag: bible

Jesus looked and pointedly asked His disciples; “Okay, now how about all of you, who do each of you say I am?” Matthew 16:13-18

Matthew 16:13-18 English Standard Version

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

13 When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock[a] I will build my church, and the gates of hell[b] shall not prevail against it.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

In Matthew 16, Jesus asked His disciples who people say that He is. Some claimed he was a teacher, a prophet and a number of other possible theories.

Then Jesus brought the question home, “But who do you say that I am”.

This one question must be answered by every man or woman who will ever walk the earth.

How we answer this question determines whether or not Jesus is our Savior or just another teacher we pass by.

This single question is the foundational issue of Christianity.

In preparation for this message, I did a brief study and found the first time the word “church” is used in the Bible is in the passage we are currently studying.  

Matthew 16:18 First verse in the Bible where we find the word “church” used.

In that verse, Jesus promises to build His church and He says, “The gates of hell will not prevail against it.”

Imagine that!

Jesus said the gates of Hell could not stop His church, could not win against His church, could not win against His Bride.

The gates of hell themselves could not stop the church’s progress.

Sadly, I am afraid to contend that it isn’t the gates of hell which are prevailing against many churches.

I am afraid that many churches are failing, are having trouble today because we have forgotten our purpose, we have forgotten our mission.

We have forgotten why we exist.

We have become too afraid to ask each other; “who do we say Jesus is?”

Who will be the one’s who confess, ““Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”“?

Who will be the one’s who confess, ““You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.””

First I would like you to see with me the commission of the church.

I. THE COMMISSION OF THE CHURCH

– Matthew 28:18-20

In these verses Jesus gives the purpose of the church and some of the steps to fulfilling that purpose.

In verse 18 Jesus says:

Go and do what? Make disciples.

The Commission of the church is to make disciples.

I believe that we as a church are leading people to the Lord.

I believe we are being salt and light in the world. I believe we are helping people to grow, but I fear that we are not producing many true disciples of Jesus Christ.

We may do many things as a church.

We may sing together.

We can reach out.

We can visit.

We can encourage one another and do all of those other things, but if we are not making disciples, we are not effectively fulfilling the commission Jesus gave us.

Now, many of you would probably consider yourselves disciples.

Let me give you 7 marks of a true disciple and as I do, let me ask you to put a check mark by the ones that accurately describe you.

True disciples:

1. Embrace salvation by grace through Jesus Christ

2. Learn and understand the principles of Christian living

3. Obey God’s laws and commands

4. Represent God to the world

5. Serve other people

6. Reproduce themselves in Christ, become more like Christ.

7. Worship God with sincerity, intensity, and consistency.

In order to make disciples, we must first, be disciples.

The commission of the church is to make disciples.

As we think of the church and our commission, we look at the functions a church and its members must be involved in order to fulfill our commission.

I believe there are 7 primary functions a church and its members must be involved in.

II. THE FUNCTIONS OF A CHURCH

1. Worship – The first function of the church and of Jesus’ disciples is worship.

> Matthew 4:10 …Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.

My friends, worship should be a priority in this church and in the life of every believer, in the life of every disciple of Jesus Christ.

We are to worship daily, regularly, faithfully, and with all of our heart.

> Psalm 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. 

> John 4:24 God is spirit, and His worshippers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Let me ask, when we come for “worship services” on Sunday morning, are we worshipping Him in our spirit or are we just going through the motions?

Have we prepared our hearts?

Have we gotten the rest we need so we won’t be irritated and distracted by the people encounter before the service begins?

Have we asked God to let Him be pleased with us and our worship during the service?

When we leave, do we pray God will be pleased with our sacrifice of worship?

Or of much greater concern, whether we were pleased with us and our worship.

2. Giving – The second function of the church and of Jesus’ disciples is giving.

> 1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of the week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income.

The Bible teaches we should tithe, give a 10th of our income to God, and that’s before our offerings even kick in.

In a recent survey of “born-again believers” it was discovered that only 8% of them tithe, and twice as many 16% give nothing.

> Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet you rob Me. But you ask, “How do we rob You?” In tithes and offerings.

3. Evangelism

> Romans 10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?

God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world so that people could be saved.

And the only way people are going to be able to hear that news is if you and I are diligently working, sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Recall Matthew 28:18. Jesus says, Go into all the world and make disciples. My friend, you and I must be going in order to share.

True or False?

Less than 1 out of every 10 Born Again Believers have ever intentionally built a friendship with a non-Christian in order to share their faith.

We must be diligent in the assignment Jesus gave us.

4. Fellowship

The church and Christ’s disciples are to fellowship.

Christians need to belong to a family.

Christians need the fellowship of other believers.

> Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves … to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread.

> Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing.

> Galatians 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens.

We are to fellowship together.

We are to spend time together, getting to know one another, encouraging one another, and helping one another.

It breaks my heart when the church holds fellowships are scantily attended.

I understand things come up.

I understand we have other commitments, but church families must spend time together in order to remain a family.

I hear folks talk about how little they know about other people in the church, or about how few people speak to them.

Listen, if you want a friend, be a friend.

If you desire people to shake your hand, you shake their hand.

If you want people to know and care about you, then get to know those other people and care about them.

The church and Jesus’ disciples fellowship.

5. Teaching

– Matthew 28:18-20 The Great Commission

Part of making and being a disciple is teaching and learning.

> Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching.

My friends, we need to continue to learn, to continue to study.

God’s Word is shallow enough the newest Christian can wade in it without harm, but deep enough the most mature Christian can never reach its depths.

Moving quickly, 6th, God’s church and His disciples are involved in prayer.

6. Prayer

> Matthew 21:13 My house will be called a house of prayer.

Jesus, quoting the Old Testament, said God’s house would be known as a house of prayer.

When we work, we accomplish what we are able to do with our strength; but when we pray, we can accomplish what can be done through God’s strength.

The Bible records Jesus often went off by Himself to pray.

The Church God uses will unerringly recognize it’s dependence on Him and will make prayer a major part of its work and ministry.

7. Ministry

>John 13:35 By this may all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love, one for another.

We are to fulfill the commission God has given us as a church.

We must be involved in ministries and missions of sacrifice and service if we are going to consider ourselves true disciples of Jesus Christ.

*** Take a minute. Look over this list.

Which would we say are the areas our churches are strongest in, weakest in?

What are we going to do about it?

So, we think about what that means for our lives today.

Jesus is still building his church.

How is he doing it?

He’s doing it through you and me proclaiming Jesus as the son of the living God.

The church grows today through you and me making this good news known where we live and wherever God leads us in the world.

So realize the parts, roles, God has given us to play in the building of his church.

Proclaim this promise “God is Alive!” as the people of God proclaim the Gospel of Christ, declare everywhere Jesus builds his church and nothing can stop it. 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying …

Unless the Lord Builds the House

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.

127 Unless the Lord builds the house,
    those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
    the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
    and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
    for he gives to his beloved sleep.

3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
    the fruit of the womb a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
    are the children[a] of one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man
    who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
    when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.[b]

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Once we were buried deep in our sins. Now made fully alive in Christ Jesus. No more used to be, or wannabe’s, or more never can be. Ephesians 2:1-10

Ephesians 2:1-10 Common English Bible

Saved from sin to life

2 At one time you were like a dead person because of the things you did wrong and your offenses against God. 2 You used to live like people of this world. You followed the rule of a destructive spiritual power. This is the spirit of disobedience to God’s will that is now at work in persons whose lives are characterized by disobedience. 3 At one time you were like those persons. All of you used to do whatever felt good and whatever you thought you wanted so that you were children headed for punishment just like everyone else.

4-5 However, God is rich in mercy. He brought us to life with Christ while we were dead as a result of those things that we did wrong. He did this because of the great love that he has for us. You are saved by God’s grace! 6 And God raised us up and seated us in the heavens with Christ Jesus. 7 God did this to show future generations the greatness of his grace by the goodness that God has shown us in Christ Jesus.

8 You are saved by God’s grace because of your faith.[a] This salvation is God’s gift. It’s not something you possessed. 9 It’s not something you did that you can be proud of. 10 Instead, we are God’s accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things. God planned for these good things to be the way that we live our lives.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

No Longer Dead, but Alive!

From Death to Life

2 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the age of this world and according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

Nothing is more basic and universal to humanity than the desire to live.

But we don’t want merely to exist.

We want a life that is long in years and rich in quality.

No wonder!

We are told in Genesis that God created human beings in his own image and likeness (Genesis 1:27).

Since God is the source of true life, people created in his image are naturally inclined toward desiring life.

The alternative to life is death, and we go to great lengths to avoid it.

Most observers recognize that increasing healthcare costs are putting immense strain on our households, governments, insurers and our healthcare providers – and too that the money spent is not translating into better health outcomes.

In 2021 alone, global spending on health reached a staggering $9.8 trillion, accounting for 10.3% of global Global Domestic Product.

Yet, last decade, life expectancy has stagnated in too many countries, including the United States (US), which alone spends over $4 trillion annually on health.

Understanding the True Cost of End-of-Life Care …

When someone receives a diagnosis of serious or terminal illness, the most immediate focus naturally centers on medical treatment, quality of life, and time with loved ones. Yet lurking beneath these urgent concerns is a question many families will mightily struggle to address: how will we pay for this?

For many people with terminal illnesses, hospital care represents the largest single expense. The final year of life often involves multiple hospitalizations, emergency room visits, intensive care stays, each carrying substantial costs.

The cost of end-of-life care represents most significant financial challenges families face, yet it’s a topic often shrouded in confusion, shame, and silence. 

How Much Does Hospice Cost Without Insurance?

Hospice care without insurance can range anywhere from $150–$500 per day, or $5,000–$15,000 per month, depending on the level(s) of care you agree to.

What is the overall average cost of death?

Among the eye-opening facts discovered: The average total expense of a loved one’s death is a hefty $12,70o –$15,000 or more depending on arrangements.

But Paul understood that there’s another kind of death that’s just as real as physical death but not as obvious. When the apostle Paul writes, “You were dead in your transgressions and sins,” he is referring to spiritual death.

In the Bible, spiritual death is caused by people’s separation from, and rejection of, fellowship with God, their Creator.

Because every person is created in God’s image, we all share a desire for life.

Because every person is trapped in rebellion against God, we all are alienated from the God of life.

Spiritual death is universal.

The Bible says every person without Christ is spiritually dead.

But when we look around us, this doesn’t seem to ring true. Some people might look totally corrupt, but many others look like decent people and appear very much alive. Isn’t it extreme to say that all people without Jesus are dead in sin?

Well, a carefully embalmed body may appear to be less shocking than a mangled or decaying corpse, a corpse is still a corpse, no matter what cosmetics are used.

In the same way, one person’s sinful condition may be much less offensive than another’s.

There may be different degrees of spiritual decay, but all are equally dead in sin.

Once a person is dead, the degree of decay makes little difference.

Dead is dead.

That’s why believers talk like this:

“On my own, I would ignore the Bible and be indifferent to Christ. But because God’s Spirit has breathed new life into my soul, I trust in Jesus and believe his Word. It is by grace I have been saved.”

“At just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly… While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).

When we were dead and decaying, Jesus overcame sin and death.

Then he breathed the life of his Spirit into our souls and created in us the faith to believe in him.

We did nothing.

God has done it all.

But that’s not the end of the story.

The book of Ephesians introduces us to the answer to death in all its forms.

This is good news …

Embracing the good-news message of Jesus means life for all who believe.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying ….

The Lord’s Glory and Mankind’s Dignity.

For the music director; on the Gittith. A Psalm of David.

8 Lord, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name in all the earth,
You who have [a]displayed Your splendor above the heavens!
2 From the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have established [b]strength
Because of Your enemies,
To do away with the enemy and the revengeful.

3 When I [c]consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have set in place;
4 What is man that You think of him,
And a son of man that You are concerned about him?
5 Yet You have made him a little lower than [d]God,
And You crown him with glory and majesty!
6 You have him rule over the works of Your hands;
You have put everything under his feet,
7 All sheep and oxen,
And also the animals of the field,
8 The birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

9 Lord, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name in all the earth!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Can I honor God’s covenant for rest? Stop juggling between burdens and God’s Word? Obey my heart ordering me to stop, sit down, simply shut up? Psalms 37:7-11

Psalm 37:7-11 New American Standard Bible

7 [a]Rest in the Lord and wait [b]patiently for Him;
Do not get upset because of one who is successful in his way,
Because of the person who carries out wicked schemes.
8 Cease from anger and abandon wrath;
Do not get upset; it leads only to evildoing.
9 For evildoers will be eliminated,
But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while and the wicked person will be no more;
And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.
11 But the humble will inherit the land
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

In Seeking God’s Face, a devotional prayer book, author Philip Reinders urges readers to take the time each day to enjoy God’s presence.

Every day he invites us to “take refreshment in God’s presence.”

In his own words the author is repeating what David says in today’s verse: “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.”

Most of us will find ourselves too busy, or too distracted to be still and to wait patiently for the Lord.

Today, I urge you to take a few moments today to look back on the past week and see the amount of time you have spent enjoying God’s presence.

Maybe you rushed to work or hurried to get your kids to school or to some other activity.

Maybe you had several meetings to attend, several appointments to keep, text messages to send, and emails to answer.

You may have had games to go to and other events to attend with your kids.

As you glance back, do you see much time or too little or no time at all, in which you exclusively focused on God’s presence?

If not, perhaps a few changes are needed.

What if you got up a few minutes earlier each day to pray?

What if you spent a half-hour less watching television or texting or on the Internet to pick up your bible to just reflect on God and enjoy his presence?

Some of us must learn to say “no” to some activities in our church or school.

Perhaps we need to discipline ourselves to be still before the Lord and to take the time to wait patiently for him?

The Significance of Sabbath Rest

Exodus 20:8-11 New American Standard Bible

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 For six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God; on it  you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male slave or your female slave, or your cattle, or your [a]resident who [b]stays with you.  11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day; for that reason the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

I recall several times when I neglected rest and found myself overwhelmed by busyness and stress.

A pastor friend of mine shared with me Exodus 20:8-11 and encouraged me to intentionally set aside times each week exclusively for rest, study, reflection, implicitly trusting that God’s commandment to rest was not just for physical rejuvenation but also for spiritual renewal.

Sabbath is a sacred gift from God, a covenanted time set apart for rest, worship, and reflection.

It reminds us of God’s creative power and his desire for us to experience his peace. In a culture that values productivity and constant activity, observing our Sabbath day requires intentional commitment and full trust in God’s provision.

When we honor the Sabbath, we accept our dependence on God and his never ending faithfulness.

We cease from our usual work to deliberately delight in God’s presence and to prioritize relationships with him and others.

Sabbath rest allows us to recharge physically, emotionally, and spiritually to serve God and others throughout the week. Each Sabbath day is an invitation to fully embrace, enjoy God’s rest, to align our hearts with his rhythms of grace.

As you long for spiritual refreshment and deeper intimacy with God, consider embracing the gift of Sabbath rest.

Set aside time to worship, pray, and reflect on God’s goodness, mercy and love.

May each Sabbath remind you of God’s love and his desire for us to rest in him.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying ….

Praise for the Lord’s Goodness.

A Psalm, a Song for the Sabbath day.

92 It is good to give thanks to the Lord
And to sing praises to Your name, Most High;
2 To declare Your goodness in the morning
And Your faithfulness by [a]night,
3 [b]With the ten-stringed lute and [c]with the harp,
[d]With resounding music on the lyre.
4 For You, Lord, have made me joyful by [e]what You have done,
I will sing for joy over the works of Your hands.

5 How great are Your works, Lord!
Your [f]thoughts are very deep.
6 A stupid person has no knowledge,
Nor does a foolish person understand this:
7 When the wicked sprouted up like grass
And all who did injustice flourished,
It was only that they might be destroyed forevermore.
8 But You, Lord, are on high forever.
9 For, behold, Your enemies, Lord,
For, behold, Your enemies will perish;
All who do injustice will be scattered.

10 But You have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;
I have [g]been anointed with fresh oil.
11 And my eye has looked at my enemies,
My ears hear of the evildoers who rise up against me.
12 The righteous person will [h]flourish like the palm tree,
He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Planted in the house of the Lord,
They will flourish in the courtyards of our God.
14 They will still [i]yield fruit in advanced age;
They will be [j]full of sap and very green,
15 To [k]declare that the Lord is just;
He is my rock, and there is no malice in Him.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Who is speaking here, man or God? “I, yes I, am the only one who will forgive and forget your sins—I will reconcile and restore our connection. Isaiah 43:22-28

Isaiah 43:22-28 Christian Standard Bible

22 “But, Jacob, you have not called on me,
because, Israel, you have become weary of me.
23 You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings
or honored me with your sacrifices.
I have not burdened you with offerings
or wearied you with incense.[a]
24 You have not bought me aromatic cane with silver,
or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices.
But you have burdened me with your sins;
you have wearied me with your iniquities.

25 “I am the one, I sweep away your transgressions
for my own sake
and remember your sins no more.
26 Remind me. Let’s argue the case together.
Recount the facts, so that you may be vindicated.
27 Your first father sinned,
and your mediators have rebelled against me.
28 So I defiled the officers of the sanctuary,
and set Jacob apart for destruction
and Israel for scorn.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Forgiveness is a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith, and it’s often misunderstood as being synonymous with reconciliation and forgetting. However, the Bible teaches that these three concepts are distinct and should not be conflated.

Forgiveness: Letting Go of the Debt

Forgiveness is the act of releasing someone from the debt they owe us.

When we forgive, we choose to absorb the cost of the hurt or offense, rather than demanding payment or revenge.

This is exemplified in the Lord’s Prayer, where Jesus teaches us to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12).

The biblical account of Joseph’s life, we see a powerful example of forgiveness.

Despite being sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph chooses to forgive them, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20).

Joseph’s forgiveness didn’t mean he forgot what his brothers had done, but rather that he released them from the debt they owed him.

Reconciliation: Restoring Relationships

Reconciliation, on the other hand, involves the restoration of a broken relationship.

While forgiveness is a necessary step towards reconciliation, it’s not the same thing.

Reconciliation requires effort and commitment from both parties to rebuild trust and communication.

In the New Testament, we see an example of reconciliation in the story of Zacchaeus.

After Jesus forgives Zacchaeus and eats with him, Zacchaeus makes amends for his past wrongdoings by giving half of his possessions to the poor and repaying those he had cheated (Luke 19:1-10).

This act of restitution is a key part of the reconciliation process.

Forgetting: A Divine Privilege

Forgetting, in the biblical sense, is not about erasing memories or ignoring past hurts. Rather, it’s about God’s ability to remove our sins from His memory.

The prophet Isaiah writes, “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more” (Isaiah 43:25).

While humans can’t literally forget past hurts, we can choose to not dwell on them or hold them against others.

This is an act of trust in God’s sovereignty and justice.

Healer of Broken Relationships

Reconciliation: the restoration of friendly relations. the action of making one view or belief compatible with another.

What is biblical reconciliation?

“Reconciliation” in our everyday experience suggests the restoration of friendship or harmony between individuals or groups that have been separated from one another by bitter conflict.

Biblically, “reconciliation” is used more frequently to describe humanity’s relationship with God.

What does God say about reconciliation?

2 Corinthians 5:18-21

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.

2 Corinthians 5:16-20 Modern English Version

16 So from now on we do not regard anyone according to the flesh. Yes, though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet we do not regard Him as such from now on. 17 Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away. Look, all things have become new. 18 All this is from God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their sins against them, and has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation. 20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us. We implore you in Christ’s stead: Be reconciled to God.

Sin involves not only violating a command but also betraying a relationship.

Not only do we need Jesus Christ to receive the punishment we deserve, but we also need someone to heal our broken relationships.

If a spouse has an affair, the other spouse feels hurt and distrusts, and even if they wants to restore their relationship, trust too must be restored.

In our sins we betray God. 

Genesis 6:5-6 says, “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. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled.”

Can couples who have endured the pain of betrayal be reconciled?

Sometimes.

Those who survive betrayal to have a loving, trust-filled relationship almost always need someone to help them reconcile.

Similarly, because we have betrayed God, we need someone to reconcile us to God.

The broken relationship between each of us and God can be restored and healed through the work of Jesus on the Cross.

He came to make all things new, including our relationship with God.

Jesus, our reconciler, draws us back to God even when we want to run the other way.

In conclusion, forgiveness, reconciliation, and forgetting are distinct concepts in the biblical narrative.

Forgiveness is the act of releasing someone from the debt they owe us, while reconciliation involves the restoration of a broken relationship.

Forgetting, in the biblical sense, is a divine privilege that only God can exercise.

As Christians, we’re called to forgive others as God has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32).

While this doesn’t necessarily mean reconciliation or forgetting, it does mean releasing others from the debt they owe us and implicitly trusting our perfectly just, righteous God to handle all matters of justice and relational restoration.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying …

Psalm 121New King James Version
God the Help of Those Who Seek Him

A Song of Ascents.

121 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not allow your foot to [a]be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your [b]keeper;
The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord shall [c]preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve[d] your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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When we discern ourselves as stuck between those rocks and hard places; are our first thoughts about standing on the promises of God or promises derived from twiddling our thumbs? Isaiah 43:1-7

Isaiah 43:1-7 New Living Translation

The Savior of Israel

43 But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
    O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
    I have called you by name; you are mine.
2 When you go through deep waters,
    I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
    you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
    you will not be burned up;
    the flames will not consume you.
3 For I am the Lord, your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom;
    I gave Ethiopia[a] and Seba in your place.
4 Others were given in exchange for you.
    I traded their lives for yours
because you are precious to me.
    You are honored, and I love you.

5 “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.
    I will gather you and your children from east and west.
6 I will say to the north and south,
    ‘Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel
    from the distant corners of the earth.
7 Bring all who claim me as their God,
    for I have made them for my glory.
    It was I who created them.’”

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

What does it mean to be between a rock and a hard place?

The idiom between a rock and a hard place means “in a very difficult situation” and used in situations where you have to choose between an array of unpleasant alternatives (e.g., “I’m caught between a rock and a hard place—if I don’t tell my boss, I could lose my job, but if I do, I’ll be betraying my coworkers”).

This idiom, “between a rock and a hard place” originates in Greek mythology.

It is linked back to the phrase “between Scylla and Charybdis.”

Scylla and Charybdis are two immortal and irresistible monsters who beset the narrow waters traversed by the hero Odysseus in his wanderings described in Homer’s Odyssey.

Several idioms, such as “on the horns of a dilemma“, “between the devil and the deep blue sea” express similar meanings.

What does God say about making a way?

This is the ultimate God who will make a way scripture: 

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19.

The Bible tells us God will make a way where there seems to be no other way.

The Old Testament of the Bible is full of stories how God rescued the Israelites from their enemies.

The people of Israel weren’t always obedient to God and sometimes they forgot their love for Him.

There were times that they even forgot all the miracles that God performed for them on their behalf!

But God always made a way for Israel when it seemed there was no other way for them to be saved as a nation from their enemies. But God……..

I love those two words, ‘But God’!

God stepped into impossible situations for many people as we read throughout the Bible and He made a way for them.

And just as God made a way for Israel, He will make a way for each of us in our situations.

He is our strong tower, God is our shield and our shepherd.

There are many names of God which reveal His character and they will convince us God can make a sure way in our life when there seems to be no other way.

God is unchanging. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8.

God is our waymaker. God is working behind the scenes in our lives and He has a good plan and a purpose for each of us.

This is what the Lord says,

He who makes a way through the sea And a path through the mighty waters, Isaiah 43:16.

You might not see Him at work yet but just trust God is making a way through the wilderness.

He promises to make rivers in your desert to refresh you and sustain you.

God promises to make a way through the storms of your life, to pave a pathway through the mighty waters threaten to overwhelm you.

We have seen God work behind the scenes in our lives when God miraculously made a way for us when there seemed to be no other way.

God miraculously provides:

  • a baby (grandson or granddaughter)
  • Spouses
  • a home
  • Extended Families
  • Church Families
  • Great Neighbors
  • jobs
  • BFF
  • a car or truck or SUV that we did not believe we could afford
  • the exact finances we needed to cover expenses
  • bodily healing
  • spiritual healing

And I am sure that anyone reading this can identify many more blessings.

Hearing God’s Word and Acting upon God’s Word.

Matthew 7:24-29 New King James Version

Build on the Rock

24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

28 And so it was, Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

In the story of the wise and foolish builders, Jesus explains it’s not enough to hear God’s Word.

We also have to put it into practice.

We need to obey the Lord and seek to follow him with all our heart.

Picture the two kinds of people in the illustrations Jesus gives here.

Both hear his words, but only one puts them into practice, the other does not.

One hears and obeys; the other hears and ignores.

Both have had the same basic instruction.

But while one follows the proven practice of building on a firm foundation, the other ignores that wisdom and builds a house which has no foundation at all.

Jesus is using a simple illustration that even children can understand.

Among his listeners, everyone knew that only a fool would try to build a house without a foundation. A house like that would fall apart in the path of a heavy storm. But a house with a truly firm foundation would withstand many storms.

Similarly, Jesus was saying, we must put God’s words into practice.

The only way to build a life that will last is to base it on the firm foundation of God and his Word.

As the psalmist had said many years earlier,

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge” (Psalm 18:2).

How much of that can we attribute that to our God given gifts and skills?

Let’s not only hear the Word, but also obey it. In God’s strength we can!

If we treat the Bible like little more than a list of promises, you can slip into thinking life is supposed to be easy and fair, “piece of cake” for Christians.

For example, you might think that if you are having trouble in your marriage, God has a promise that will make our marriage better. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

If you are struggling financially, God has a promise which will make our bank accounts swell.

What are God’s promises for finances?

​“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus“ (Phil. 4:19).

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8).

All we have to do is pick and choose the verse or verses which contains our favorite promise, and life will get better.

The problem with that way of thinking is the primary promises in the Bible are nowhere connected with any divine assurances or guarantees that we will all be healthy, wealthy, and wise.

Instead God promises that he will be with you.

What are God’s promises for finances?

​“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).

“God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8).

In Isaiah 43, the prophet does not say that God will prevent fire and floods.

Instead, God promises he will be with us as we pass through fire and as floods threaten to overwhelm our circumstances.

You may think this is a cheap promise, but if you understand God’s nature, you can grasp that this is a tremendous gift.

God is the source of all good things, so having God with us is the best possible way to live.

His presence does not guarantee that every moment will be blissful, but it does mean that we have the greatest blessings available.

God’s gift of himself is the greatest gift of all.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying …..

The Lord Exalted for His Goodness.

A Psalm of Praise, of David.

145 I will exalt You, my God, the King,
And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised;
And His greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation will praise Your works to another,
And will declare Your mighty acts.
5 On the glorious [a]splendor of Your majesty
And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.
6 People will speak of the [b]power of Your awesome acts,
And I will tell of Your greatness.
7 They will burst forth [c]in speaking of Your abundant goodness,
And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.

8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate;
Slow to anger and great in mercy.
9 The Lord is good to all,
And His mercies are over all His works.
10 All Your works will give thanks to You, Lord,
And Your godly ones will bless You.
11 They will speak of the glory of Your kingdom,
And talk of Your might,
12 To make known to the sons of mankind [d]Your mighty acts,
And the glory of the majesty of [e]Your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is [f]an everlasting kingdom,
And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
[g]The Lord is faithful in His words,
And holy in all His works.

14 The Lord supports all who fall,
And raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all [h]look to You,
And You give them their food in due time.
16 You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways,
And kind in all His works.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on Him,
To all who call on Him in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He will also hear their cry for help and save them.
20 The Lord watches over all who love Him,
But He will destroy all the wicked.
21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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When I choose to harden my heart as a granite mountain, solidly assuring myself God does not care about me; I sprint for dear life, hiding behind the boulders, safe in my granite hideout. Psalm 20

Psalm 20 English Standard Version

Trust in the Name of the Lord Our God

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

20 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
    May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary
    and give you support from Zion!
3 May he remember all your offerings
    and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah

4 May he grant you your heart’s desire
    and fulfill all your plans!
5 May we shout for joy over your salvation,
    and in the name of our God set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!

6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;
    he will answer him from his holy heaven
    with the saving might of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
8 They collapse and fall,
    but we rise and stand upright.

9 O Lord, save the king!
    May he answer us when we call.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Esteemed and Exalted Above All Others

God alone created the universe and claims us as his own.

God alone is the holy and perfect One whose name is above all names.

No other name should ever be so highly honored.

God is also the only one who loves us perfectly.

God alone cares for us and provides for us each day.

God alone is always faithful and always keeps his promises.

The first five verses of this Psalm begin with a blessing from David illustrating His complete understanding of where his true strength, victories over sin, and everything his heart could desire came from. (See also Psalm 23 and Psalm 27)

Often times we are prone to forget this.

If we are in trouble, do we call out to the Lord for help?

If we are weak, discouraged, depressed, or overcome by our circumstances of life, do we call out to the Lord for help?

How well do we recognize that because of the Lord’s great love for His true saints, He is always available to help and guide us in the way we should go?

Verses 7 and 8 not only express confidence in God but they also emphasize our identity as the children of God.

There are two kinds of people in the world: those who trust in the name of the LORD and those who don’t.

We are the kind “who trust in the name of the LORD our God.”

Or again, there are those who “collapse and stay fallen” under chariot wheels and those who “rise and stand upright.”

We rise and stand upright because that is the kind of people we are as children of God and devoted, steadfast followers of His anointed one, namely Jesus.

In David’s day chariots were a mark of great strength and power.

Those going into battle with a fleet of chariots and horses had a significant military advantage.

They combined high speed, strength, durability, and mobility that could not be overcome by ground infantry—and yet, even all of this might was as nothing compared to “the name of the LORD our God.”

Isaiah 40:27-31 New American Standard Bible

27 Why do you say, Jacob, and you assert, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord,
And the justice due me [a]escapes the notice of my God”?
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth
Does not become weary or tired.
His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives strength to the weary,
And to the one who lacks might He increases power.
30 Though youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly,

31 Yet those who [b]wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will [c]mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.

Our efforts to understanding this passage from Isaiah 40:27-31, will prayerfully brings us to an amazing encounter with that glorious testimony of David found in Psalm 20 verse 7. 

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

What things do we as Children of God in this 21st century turn to instead of turning our faces unto God?

We may not have chariots, but we certainly do not have any difficulty trusting in the many forms of transportation we have in our day: cars, boats, vans.

I suppose, however, the Psalmist was really thinking of military strength.

What then do we trust in militarily, by force of arms?

It seems as though this world is on a thirst quest to see which country can own, control the most farm land, energy resources, mineral rights, nuclear weapons.

Does that mean that God is obsolete?

God is just as powerful and just as much in control in this the 21st century as he was in the time of the writer of this Psalm!

Please pray today that God would surround you with an increased awareness of His constant presence and peace, and that you would cry out to Him for help.

Only God cares so much for His children that no request is too small, and no child of His is too unimportant, too unworthy, for Him to hear and answer.

What an amazing God we have! 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying ….

God Sustains His Servant.

For the music director. A Psalm of David.

40 I waited [a]patiently for the Lord;
And He reached down to me and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up out of the pit of [b]destruction, out of the mud;
And He set my feet on a rock, making my footsteps firm.
3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
Many will see and fear
And will trust in the Lord.

4 How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust,
And has not turned to the [c]proud, nor to those who become involved in falsehood.
5 Many, Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done,
And Your thoughts toward us;
There is no one to compare with You.
If I would declare and speak of them,
They would be too numerous to count.

6 You have not desired [d]sacrifice and meal offering;
You have [e]opened my ears;
You have not required burnt offering and sin offering.
7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
It is [f]written of me in the scroll of the book.
8 I delight to do Your will, my God;
Your Law is within my [g]heart.”

9 I have proclaimed good news of righteousness in the great congregation;
Behold, I will not restrain my lips,
Lord, You know.
10 I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your mercy and Your truth from the great congregation.

11 You, Lord, will not withhold Your compassion from me;
[h]Your mercy and Your truth will continually watch over me.
12 For evils beyond number have surrounded me;
My guilty deeds have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see;
They are more numerous than the hairs of my head,
And my heart has [i]failed me.

13 Be pleased, Lord, to rescue me;
Hurry, Lord, to help me.
14 May those be ashamed and humiliated together
Who seek my [j]life to destroy it;
May those be turned back and dishonored
Who delight [k]in my hurt.
15 May those be [l]appalled because of their shame
Who say to me, “Aha, aha!”
16 May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
May those who love Your salvation continually say,
“The Lord be exalted!”
17 But I am afflicted and needy;
May the Lord be mindful of me.
You are my help and my savior;
Do not delay, my God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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O’ those inevitable mistakes of God’s people. Why would we ever complain; He doesn’t care what happens to me; God has lost track of me; God is deaf. Isaiah 40:27

Isaiah 40:27-31 New American Standard Bible

27 Why do you say, Jacob, and you assert, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord,
And the justice due me [a]escapes the notice of my God”?
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth
Does not become weary or tired.
His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives strength to the weary,
And to the one who lacks might He increases power.
30 Though youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly,
31 Yet those who [b]wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will [c]mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.

Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

There are times when our life is turned upside down and overtaken by adversity.

Our hearts are filled with grief, pain and hurt.

We’d love to have answers but they are not forthcoming.

Isaiah 40 reminds us of the importance of trusting in the Lord God and finding strength in Him.

Waiting quietly for the Lord when things are not going well, we are each given renewed strength.

Actually, Isaiah 40:31 could be rendered somewhat differently.

“Those who wait for the Lord exchange their strength.”

They surrender their strength to replace it with a better strength.

Human strength fails a person because it diminishes and isn’t consistent.

God’s strength is extra strength and is everlasting.

The Lord God is the only One who has never-ending strength.

Isaiah uses very beautiful imagery to portray the strength God gives to those who trust in Him.

In the strength of the Lord we begin to soar like eagles.

The eagle is a picture of confidence, flying so effortlessly and gracefully.

This majestic bird takes advantage of the wind to soar and to mount up high in the heavens.

Effortlessly soaring high in the sky the sharp eyed eagle can see far distances.

It soars far above troubles; its enemies cannot reach it.

In fact those enemies seem quite small and insignificant.

Those who wait for the Lord do not leap into utter darkness with a cry of hopelessness on their lips.

The Lord gives us wings to soar and allows us to move along, empowering us by the wind of His Holy Spirit.

In the strength of the Lord we are to fight those dark feelings and emotions that imprison us.

Mounting on the wings of faith and prayer, we are lifted up above our problems and we inhale the air of heaven.

Exchanging our strength for God’s strength allows us to keep going.

God will not let us go but will give us all things freely and fully in Christ Jesus.

The Lord renews our strength by intertwining the cords and strands of His grace and mercy into our life, forming a strong rope of redeeming love.

The LORD God wraps His strength around our strands of life to give us strength.

Those who authentically wait in true faith are renewed in strength so that they can continue serving the Lord.

Seek the power of your life in the strength of your God.

When we wait for Him (do we really know how to wait for God?) we will receive His help and aid even when you least expect it.

While they were waiting, God’s people were discouraged and feeling helpless.

What is the meaning of Isaiah 40 verse 27?

In this verse the prophet uses a long rhetorical question to tell his people that they should not complain that God has abandoned them since it was not true.

He quotes their complaints within his question.

Despite the majesty God had shown for them in the uniqueness of his being and the greatness of his work, the people were mistaken in two ways.

First, they thought God had forgotten them, was ignoring, rejecting, their pleas.

They began to severely doubt God’s goodness and care.

They were like deists, who imagine God is deaf, distant and indifferent to our struggles.

Second, they thought God was being unfair to them.

They believed they had special rights that were not being delivered to them.

They accused God of neglect and injustice.

They did not see God’s loving care in his discipline.

They ignored his commands and his call to love him with all their heart, soul, mind and strength and to love their neighbors as themselves (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18; see Matthew 22:34-40).

God’s discipline is not done without love.

Storms in life may come, but they do not nullify God’s care.

Isaiah 54:7-10 Christian Standard Bible

7 “I deserted you for a brief moment,
but I will take you back with abundant compassion.
8 In a surge of anger
I hid my face from you for a moment,
but I will have compassion on you
with everlasting love,”
says the Lord your Redeemer.
9 “For this is like the days[a] of Noah to me:
when I swore that the water of Noah
would never flood the earth again,
so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you
or rebuke you.
10 Though the mountains move
and the hills shake,
my love will not be removed from you
and my covenant of peace will not be shaken,”
says your compassionate Lord.

We are always and forever loved by God, and he graciously and abundantly give us life and offered his life rot us for forgiveness despite our multitude of sins.

John 10:6-10 The Message

6-10 Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about. So he tried again. “I’ll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to no good—sheep rustlers, every one of them. But the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.

We are chosen not on the basis of how good we are or what we have done.

We are saved by grace through faith in the Lord and by the power of Jesus’ sacrifice for us.

Hebrews 8:7-13 Christian Standard Bible

A Superior Covenant

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one. 8 But finding fault with his people,[a] he says:[b]

See, the days are coming, says the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah—
9 not like the covenant
that I made with their ancestors
on the day I took them by the hand
to lead them out of the land of Egypt.
I showed no concern for them, says the Lord,
because they did not continue in my covenant.
10 For this is the covenant
that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my laws into their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
11 And each person will not teach his fellow citizen,[c]
and each his brother or sister, saying, “Know the Lord,”
because they will all know me,
from the least to the greatest of them.
12 For I will forgive their wrongdoing,
and I will never again remember their sins.[d][e]

13 By saying a new covenant, he has declared that the first is obsolete.

And what is obsolete and growing old is about to pass away.

Through our perfect High Priest Jesus, we are freed to approach the Lord with faith, humility and gratitude, no matter what our circumstances might be.

The New Covenant of Grace ….

Hebrews 8:10-13 Modern English Version

10 This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
    after those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws into their minds
    and write them on their hearts;
and I will be their God,
    and they shall be My people.
11 No longer shall every man teach his neighbor,
    and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
for all shall know Me,
    from the least of them to the greatest.[a]
12 For I will be merciful toward their unrighteousness,
    and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”[b]

13 In speaking of a new covenant He has made the first one old. Now that which is decaying and growing old is ready to vanish away.

I can still remember the first time I really thought I understood the gift of God’s grace.

I had been used to the idea of “earning” favor and approval from people, and that extended into seeking approval from God.

It was a familiar pattern: Perform well, and you will be rewarded. Fail, and you are left with guilt and consequences. 

But grace is not like that.

It depends not on our performance but on God’s promises—sealed through Jesus. 

The writer of Hebrews contrasts the old covenant, which was based on laws and rituals, with the new covenant of grace established by the sacrifice of Jesus.

The old covenant required continuous sacrifices for sin, but Jesus, through his sacrifice of himself once for all, made it possible for us all to draw near to God, being loved and forgiven. 

James 4:1-10 Modern English Version

Friendship With the World

4 Where do wars and fights among you come from? Do they not come from your lusts that war in your body? 2 You lust and do not have, so you kill. You desire to have and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask, and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your passions.

4 You adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5 Do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “He yearns jealously for the spirit that lives in us”[a]? 6 But He gives more grace. For this reason it says:

“God resists the proud,
    but gives grace to the humble.”[b]

7 Therefore submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to dejection. 10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

The new covenant means that we no longer need to fear God’s judgment.

We are invited into an intimate relationship with God, marked not by our obedience but by God’s perfect love.

No matter what our mistakes are, God’s grace is always greater.

This is the good news of salvation—the new covenant in Jesus. 

As we reflect on all this, let’s embrace the freedom that comes with grace.

No longer bound by old rules, we can live in hope and peace, knowing God has made a way for us to be fully loved and forgiven.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying ….

Psalm 32 New American Standard Bible

Blessedness of Forgiveness and of Trust in God.

A Psalm of David. A [a]Maskil.

32 How blessed is he whose wrongdoing is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered!
2 How blessed is a person whose guilt the Lord does not take into account,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit!

3 When I kept silent about my sin, my [b]body wasted away
Through my [c]groaning all day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My [d]vitality failed as with the dry heat of summer. Selah
5 I acknowledged my sin to You,
And I did not hide my guilt;
I said, “I will confess my wrongdoings to the Lord”;
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You [e]in a time when You may be found;
Certainly in a flood of great waters, they will not reach him.
7 You are my hiding place; You keep me from trouble;
You surround me with [f]songs of deliverance. Selah

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will advise you with My eye upon you.
9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you.
10 The sorrows of the wicked are many,
But the one who trusts in the Lord, goodness will surround him.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Do not love the world’s ways. Do not love the world’s goods. For our love of the world squashes, squeezes out, love for the Father. 1 John 2:15-17

1 John 2:15-17 New American Standard Bible

Do Not Love the World

15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Today, we are going to delve into a topic that is as relevant today as it was when the Apostle John first penned his letters – living with a heavenly conscious, the world’s allurements vs. god’s promises, and preparing for our eternal place.

Christian missionary, author, and speaker Elisabeth Elliot once wrote,

“Heaven is not here, it’s There. If we were given all we wanted here, our hearts would settle for this world rather than the next. God is forever luring us up and away from this one, wooing us to Himself, His still invisible Kingdom, where we will certainly find what we so keenly long for.”

Living with a Heavenly Conscious

Living with a heavenly conscious is a concept that calls for us to shift our focus and priorities from temporal to the eternal, from the earthly to the heavenly.

It is a call to live in the present with an awareness of our future destination.

It is about understanding that our time on earth is temporary and that our true home is in heaven with our Father.

This understanding should influence our decisions, actions, and attitudes.

Colossians 3:2: Paul admonishes us to “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

This scripture is a clear directive for us to live with a heavenly consciousness.

It is a call to prioritize spiritual matters over worldly concerns.

It’s about recognizing our earthly life is a journey towards our eternal home.

Not overly attached to the things of this world: It means that our ultimate goal is not to amass wealth, attain worldly success, or seek earthly pleasures.

Instead, our ultimate goal is to live in a manner that pleases God and prepares us for eternity.

This does not mean that we should neglect our earthly responsibilities or shun worldly possessions.

Rather, it means that these things should not be our primary focus or source of satisfaction.

What is the explanation of 1 John 2 15 17?

Three incentives in the text (1 John 2:15–17): 

Loving the world is incompatible with the Father’s love (“the love of the Father is not in him”).

The world and its desires are passing away—it’s a bad investment.

Doing God’s will abides forever—eternal durability beats temporary payoff.

Live with an awareness of God’s presence in our lives: We recognize that God is with us in every situation, guiding us, comforting us, and providing for us.

We live with a sense of gratitude, knowing that every good thing we have comes from God.

We also live with a sense of responsibility, knowing that we are stewards of God’s gifts and that we will one day give an account of how we used these gifts.

Live with a sense of hope: Despite the challenges and difficulties we face in this world, we have hope because we know that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).

We hope because we know our labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).

We have hope because we know we have an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade, kept in heaven for us (1 Peter 1:4).

Not a call to escapism or a denial of reality: It is a call to live in the reality of God’s kingdom.

It is a call to live with a perspective that transcends the temporal and embraces the eternal.

It is a call to live with a consciousness of our identity as citizens of heaven.

Preparing for Our Eternal Place

As believers, we are called to live with an eternal perspective, always preparing for our eternal place.

This preparation is not about earning our place in heaven, for that is a gift freely given through the grace of God and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Rather, it is about our living in a way that reflects our heavenly citizenship even while we are still here on earth.

Philippians 3:20: Paul reminds us that

“our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

This means that while we live in this world, we are not of this world.

Our actions, decisions, and lifestyle should reflect the values of our heavenly home, not the temporary allurements of this world.

A daily surrender to God’s will:

It means seeking His kingdom first in all things (Matthew 6:33).

It involves making decisions that may not make sense to the world but are in line with God’s Word and His will for our lives.

It means living a life of love, kindness, and forgiveness, mirroring the character of Christ in all we do.

Storing up treasures in heaven and not on earth:

In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus warns us not to store up treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal, but to store up treasures in heaven.

Our investments should not be solely in earthly possessions or achievements but in the things that have eternal value – our relationship with God, our love for others, our service to the kingdom of God.

Living with the end in mind: It means living each day as if it could be our last, always ready to meet our Maker.

This involves constant self-examination, repentance, and striving to live a life pleasing to God.

It means living in the light of eternity, knowing that this world is temporary and fleeting, but our eternal home is forever.

Sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with others:

We are called to be ambassadors for Christ, to share the hope we have in Him with a world that is lost and dying.

Our preparation for eternity is not a solitary journey but one that we should invite others to join.

By sharing the gospel, we help others prepare for their eternal place as well.

Remember that the allurements of this world are only temporary and fleeting.

They can never satisfy the deep longing within our hearts that only God can fill.

Let’s strive to live with a heavenly consciousness, always looking forward to the eternal place that God has prepared for us.

Let’s not settle for just the temporary pleasures of this world, but let’s pursue the eternal promises of God.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying …..

The Lord, the Psalmist’s Portion in Life and Salvation in Death.

A [a]Mikhtam of David.

16 Protect me, God, for I take refuge in You.
2 [b]I said to the Lord, “You are [c]my Lord;
I have nothing good besides You.”
3 As for the [d]saints who are on the earth,
[e]They are the majestic ones; all my delight is in them.
4 [f]The pains of those who have acquired another god will be multiplied;
I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood,
Nor will I take their names upon my lips.

5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You support my lot.
6 The measuring lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
Indeed, my inheritance is beautiful to me.

7 I will bless the Lord who has advised me;
Indeed, my [g]mind instructs me in the night.
8 I have set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
10 For You will not abandon my soul to [h]Sheol;
You will not [i]allow Your [j]Holy One to [k]undergo decay.
11 You will make known to me the way of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

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Love from the center of who you are; do not pretend. Be good friends who love and rejoice deeply; practice often playing praying model, second fiddle. Romans 12:9-16

Romans 12:9-16 English Standard Version

Marks of the True Christian

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,[a] serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.[b] Never be wise in your own sight.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Living in Harmony Is Necessary …. Or living in Harmony is Irrelevant

Wise believers acknowledge when Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another” (John 13:34), this was not simply a suggestion for getting along.

So too, the Bible’s commands exactly how we are all summoned by God to treat one another and such commands from God should not be considered optional.

That’s not the nature of God’s commands.

As Christ’s followers, we must remember how our relationship with God affects our relationships with each other.

When we pray, “Our Lord’s Prayer” we begin to pray to our ABBA our Father, acknowledging that we are part of a family that includes sisters and brothers.

We’re called to live in harmony together.

Today’s reading mentions specific ways of doing so, such as honoring one another above ourselves, holding to what is good, praying faithfully, sharing with people in need, showing utmost hospitality, and not being proud.

When believers live in harmony, expressing their love for one another by sharing tears in times of sorrow, expanding their joy by celebrating together, they become appealing witnesses to their hope in Christ.

When a coworker observes, “It’s amazing how you guys love each other,” the cause of Christ moves forward.

Jesus taught this when he prayed that all believers “may be one” and “may be brought to complete unity.

Then, “he said to the Father, the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:22-23).

In practical terms, how do we learn to love others as Christ loves us?

John writes, “Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, ‘Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.’ When Jesus heard that, He said, ‘This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was” (John 11:3-6).

At first glance you may think,

“But I thought Jesus loved them — why would he not rush to help?”

In fact, maybe you have asked that question many times regarding your own life.

“Why aren’t You answering my prayers, Lord? Why is my situation still the same? Where are You, Lord? I need You now!”

God’s love is agape love — it’s a love that gives people what God alone knows is necessary in the situation and brings about God’s greater purpose and his glory.

In this situation with Lazarus, Jesus did not tarry because he didn’t love him or care that he would die.

Jesus waited because there was a higher purpose at work — the glorifying of God and the witness to all those around that he truly was the Messiah, the very Redeemer for whom they had so desperately been looking to come for decades.

Now, that’s amazing!

Lazarus had to die for the glory of God to be revealed in and through his life.

As we love people the way God loves us, we have a deep inner trust in God that no matter what they are going through, the Lord remains in absolute control of the situation and will be glorified.

Agape love moves to treat all people with understanding and compassion, not compulsion.

If I love you, there’s a time to speak, and there’s a time to be silent. There’s a time to have an opinion and there’s a time to say nothing. There’s a time to let the Holy Spirit say, “This door is not open; so do not speak in this situation.”

We need to implicitly trust God with those we love by putting them into his hands, entrusting them to him, no matter what it looks like to our eyes.

God will call these people at the appropriate time out of the grave of their experience.

True love — God’s love working in and through us — has this ability.

9-10 Love from the centre of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

11-13 Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fuelled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

14-16 Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.

17-19 Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.”

20-21 Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

Out of that passage here are a couple of my favorite statements ……

  • Practice playing second fiddle
  • Don’t burn out: keep yourself fuelled and aflame
  • Cheerfully expectant
  • Be inventive in hospitality
  • Laugh with your happy friends
  • Discover beauty in everybody
  • Your generosity will surprise him with goodness

Powerful and inspiring thoughts.

Now to put them in action …..

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying ….

The Steadfast Love of the Lord

33 Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous!
    Praise befits the upright.
2 Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;
    make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!
3 Sing to him a new song;
    play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

4 For the word of the Lord is upright,
    and all his work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice;
    the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.

6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
    and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap;
    he puts the deeps in storehouses.

8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;
    let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
    he commanded, and it stood firm.

10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
    he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
    the plans of his heart to all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
    the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!

13 The Lord looks down from heaven;
    he sees all the children of man;
14 from where he sits enthroned he looks out
    on all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 he who fashions the hearts of them all
    and observes all their deeds.
16 The king is not saved by his great army;
    a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The war horse is a false hope for salvation,
    and by its great might it cannot rescue.

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
    on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19 that he may deliver their soul from death
    and keep them alive in famine.

20 Our soul waits for the Lord;
    he is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart is glad in him,
    because we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
    even as we hope in you.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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OMG! Beauty Revealed! Surely God is in this place and I did not know it. It is none other than the house of God, the very gateway into heaven! OMG! Genesis 28:10-17

Genesis 28:10-17 New King James Version

Jacob’s Vow at Bethel

10 Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. 12 Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said: “I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. 14 Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep[a] you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”

16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

There are some bible stories we can’t get out of our heads.

They keep showing up; they keep tapping us on the shoulder and whispering, “Hey there.”

And we meet something new and surprising sometimes as the story shape shifts, providing something we need to hear, at the moment we need to hear it.

For me, lately, it’s this story from Genesis 28, where Jacob receives a message from God. 

It’s a familiar story to many…Jacob is on the run, fleeing from a mess of his own making. 

He had hatched up an elaborate scheme to cheat his brother and trick his father, but the whole rotten plan came crashing down around him.

Instead of getting everything from his father, Jacob had to run for his life.

And so this night he finds himself far from home all alone in the wilderness with a stone for a pillow. 

That sounds like he might be getting what’s coming to him—“He’s made his bed now sh he should lie in it.” 

But that night God appears in his dreams.

Instead of a message of judgment and punishment, which is what you might expect, God tells him good news about his life–God is going to bless him!

Jacob wakes up saying,

“Surely God is in this place and I did not  know it. How awesome is this place…it is the gate of heaven.” 

He names the place Beth-El, the house of God.

The story of Jacob is part of one of the biggest messages of the Bible.

It’s the message that God cares about us despite our mischievously hard heart, and is continually reaching out to us–not always in any typical and predictable ways, not in ways that make any sense to us and seldom as we would expect.

If there was a vote, Jacob would have been voted, “Man least likely to succeed, be trustworthy, be reliable, to have many friends, be given a vision from God.”

I often pray that God would give me more than my fair share, clear examples of his presence and beauty in my life. I hear of Christians who’ll have that vibrant prayer life, or who feel the presence of God so surely, and I wish that I had those experiences more often myself. I pray God would show more beauty in my life.

Those are good desires to have and good prayers to pray.

But I could also pray for the ability to see 1% more of God’s beautiful salvation already present in my life and in and throughout our world of neighborhoods.

That’s what Jacob was able to see. He had a dream about a stairway with the angels of God going up and down on it. God spoke directly to Jacob in that dream, reminding him of God’s promises to love him and care for his family.

When Jacob awoke, he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”

The incomparable beauty of God’s salvation had been with him all along.

That doesn’t always happen in our dreams, but God does assure us that he is always true to his promises. I am thankful that God’s presence is always with me, whether I am aware of it, I recognize it, or not.

The good news that there is a connection between the earth and heaven, that image of the ladder, it still touches us all. His vision still reminds us that we are not alone; we are always connected to God, God is always watching out for us.

We want assurance, we want awareness, we want direction, want promises that the kingdom of heaven is as close to us as our own skin and things will turn out.

I pray God will keep me aware he is near.

I pray I will be aware, able to recognize, God’s presence and beauty all around. 

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Praying ….

84 1-2 What a beautiful home, God-of-the-Angel-Armies!
    I’ve always longed to live in a place like this,
Always dreamed of a room in your house,
    where I could sing for joy to God-alive!

3-4 Birds find nooks and crannies in your house,
    sparrows and swallows make nests there.
They lay their eggs and raise their young,
    singing their songs in the place where we worship.
God-of-the-Angel-Armies! King! God!
    How blessed they are to live and sing there!

5-7 And how blessed all those in whom you live,
    whose lives become roads you travel;
They wind through lonesome valleys, come upon brooks,
    discover cool springs and pools brimming with rain!
God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain, and
    at the last turn—Zion! God in full view!

8-9 God-of-the-Angel-Armies, listen:
    O God of Jacob, open your ears—I’m praying!
Look at our shields, glistening in the sun,
    our faces, shining with your gracious anointing.

10-12 One day spent in your house, this beautiful place of worship,
    beats thousands spent on Greek island beaches.
I’d rather scrub floors in the house of my God
    than be honored as a guest in the palace of sin.
All sunshine and sovereign is God,
    generous in gifts and glory.
He doesn’t scrimp with his traveling companions.
    It’s smooth sailing all the way with God-of-the-Angel-Armies.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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