Tag: christianity

Who still waits upon God? gets fresh strength, spreads their wings, soars like eagles, runs, not get tired, walks, doesn’t lag behind? New strength for new challenges, for empty promises? Isaiah 40:27-31

Isaiah 40:27-31 Complete Jewish Bible

27 Why do you complain, Ya‘akov;
why do you say, Isra’el,
“My way is hidden from Adonai,
my rights are ignored by my God”?
28 Haven’t you known, haven’t you heard
that the everlasting God, Adonai,
the Creator of the ends of the earth,
does not grow tired or weary?
His understanding cannot be fathomed.
29 He invigorates the exhausted,
he gives strength to the powerless.
30 Young men may grow tired and weary,
even the fittest may stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in Adonai will renew their strength,
they will soar aloft as with eagles’ wings;
when they are running they won’t grow weary,
when they are walking they won’t get tired.

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.

We know what it is like to wait—caught in circumstances often far beyond our control and we may not have a clear sense of what it portends, is next, how it will turn out, how much more work is it, or how exactly the Lord is involved.

Especially in this season, we wait—snow storms and blizzards to abate, snow plows, shovel’s and strong backs to clear driveways and sidewalks, restrictions to ease, school busses to run, for return to work, for life to return to normal.

We sometimes listen to radios, internet to wonder if we’re going to make it.

The promise the Lord makes in Isaiah 40:31 is that those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength. What does it mean to “wait for the Lord”, and how can we find new strength from day to day until we see the things for which we long?

The Lord Is the Everlasting God (Isaiah 40:28)

Isaiah tells the people something that he knows that they know.

But they need to let this information sink deeply into their minds and hearts.

The Lord is the everlasting God. He is the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary.

God does not get tired. We get tired.

Every day at some point we get tired.

After a lot of activity or having a long day we are tired.

Not only do we get tired, but we also get weary.

Life can be wearisome.

Studying Ecclesiastes recall how the author speaks about the weariness of life.

Another day comes and another day goes.

A generation comes and a generation goes.

The sun rises and the sun goes down.

The streams run to the sea but the sea is never full. 

“All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing” (Ecclesiastes 1:8 ESV).

Life is just exhausting to us. Hardships wear us down.

The monotony and repetition of life wear us down.

The emptiness wears us down.

Bluntly, Isaiah writes, we get tired and we become weary with life.

But the Lord is the everlasting God.

He does not faint and he does not grow weary.

He is not tired.

He is not in need of rest.

God does not need to sleep.

God does not wear down.

God is not weak and he is not tired so that he cannot act.

Isaiah is going to talk more about this in a moment.

But before he does, he wants to underscore a key attribute about God at the end of verse 28.

There is no limit to God’s wisdom and understanding.

No one can grasp his understanding.

His comprehension is unsearchable.

No one can measure the depths of his understanding.

All of us have limits to our understanding.

We can think that we know a lot.

We can think that we have great wisdom and maybe we do.

But there is a limit.

There is only so much we know.

There is only so much we can understand.

God has revealed much for us to understand so that we can obey him.

But there is more that we cannot understand (Deuteronomy 29:29).

His understanding is infinite and ours is limited.

Therefore, God knows what to do.

God knows what he is doing.

God knows what his people need.

God knows how to respond and when to respond.

We struggle with this.

We too often do not know what to do.

We too often do not know what people need.

Even when we think we know what someone needs we can be wrong.

We too often do not know how to respond and when to respond.

But God does not struggle with these issues.

He knows what we need and when we need it.

God is not tired or weary to do what needs to be done.

The Lord Gives Strength to the Weary (Isaiah 40:29-30)

Notice what Isaiah wants us to understand in verse 29.

The Lord gives strength to the weary.

The Lord strengthens the powerless.

I love that Isaiah does not say that God gives strength to the strong.

I love that Isaiah does not say that God strengthens the powerful.

No, God gives strength to the weary.

God takes the powerless and gives them the strength that they need.

When does God do this?

Isaiah does not answer this yet.

He will answer this question in a moment.

But Isaiah needs to move us another direction first.

Look at verse 30.

In verse 30 we are taught that even the young will get tired and lose strength.

This is the problem of depending on yourself.

No matter how strong you are, you will fail.

No matter how strong you are, you will be disappointed.

No matter how strong you are, you will get weary.

Your strength only goes so far. Your strength can only sustain you for so long.

We need to look at our trials and severity that we experience and understand that God must show us that our strength will break.

We even talk about our trials and suffering in this way.

We will say to each other, “I am at my breaking point.”

This is the point of Isaiah 40:30.

Everyone has a breaking point.

No one is strong enough for life.

Every person will grow faint and become weary.

When we depend on ourselves then we will say such words like, “I am at my breaking point” or “I can’t do this anymore.”

Sometimes we think we are failures because we think we are not strong enough.

But God is confirming that no one is strong enough.

You are not supposed to be strong enough.

God has made life so that each one of us will grow weary and faint.

There is no scripture that tells you to go stand on your own strength.

There is no scripture that you says you need to be strong in yourself and depend on you to get through life.

But there are many scriptures that tell us to find our strength in the Lord and to stand in him because he gives strength to the weary.

When we are commanded to put on the whole armor of God, the picture was not to take the armor to fight for yourself and by yourself.

Rather, the armor of God is how we are strong in the Lord and stand up in the strength of his might.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-11 ESV)

So our failure to stand on our own is to be expected.

Even the youths will faint, the young men will stumble and fall (Isaiah 40:30).

The point is even the people you would visualize to be the strongest, have the greatest amount of endurance will not and cannot last on their own strength.

So back to the question we asked earlier because now it is about to be answered.

When does God give strength to the weary and strengthen the powerless?

Wait For the Lord (Isaiah 40:31)

Those who wait for the Lord will renew their strength.

This is a great image for us.

The people who wait for God will have their strength renewed.

So a contrast is being given to us.

If we are relying on our own strength in this life, eventually you will grow tired and weary, stumble and fall.

But those who are waiting on the Lord will have a different outcome.

Rather than being tired to the point of stumbling and falling, they will have their strength renewed such that they will rise up like an eagle.

It is a really vivid contrast.

It is a contrast of outcomes and a contrast of dependence.

If you depend on yourself, you will be weary and fall.

If you wait and hope for God, you will get your strength renewed and soar over the obstacles.

Now listen to the reversal picture in the rest of verse 31.

Those who wait for the Lord will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not faint.

This reminds me of an image that God used for Jeremiah who was struggling with his God-given mission.

God told him that if he was unable to run with people, what would he do when he had to run with horses (Jeremiah 12)?

The picture is that we are all going to have run the race of life.

But those who are looking for God are going to run and not give out.

The writer of Hebrews instructs us that we need to run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2).

How can we have the endurance we need?

The endurance does not come from ourselves but in wait for and looking to the Lord.

The apostle Paul also described the course of life as running a race.

He told the Corinthians that you cannot run aimlessly but run in such a way to receive the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24-26).

So let’s get to the heart of this instruction.

What does it mean to wait for the Lord?

Some translations read to hope for the Lord.

What we are doing is waiting for God’s answer.

We are waiting for God to turn the event.

We are waiting for God to reverse the circumstances.

We are waiting for God to open a new door.

We are waiting for God to break the light into the darkness.

There are so many examples of the people of faith showing us what it looks like to wait for the Lord and put your hope in him.

One of my favorite examples that we have recently looked at in our study is Joseph, Jacob’s son.

Joseph had to wait 13 years for his life to turn.

How long had Simeon waited?

Luke 2:25-33 Amplified Bible

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout [carefully observing the divine Law], and looking for the  [a] Consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed). 27 Prompted by the Spirit, he came into the temple [enclosure]; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, [b]to do for Him the custom required by the Law, 28 Simeon took Him into his arms, and blessed and  praised and thanked God, and said,

29 
“Now, Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to leave [this world] in peace,
According to Your word;
30 
For my eyes have seen Your Salvation,
31 
Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 
A Light for revelation to the Gentiles [to disclose was previously unknown],
And [to bring] the praise and honor and glory of Your people Israel.”

33 And His [legal] father and His mother were amazed at what was said about Him.

Recall everything went wrong in Joseph’s life, none of it was because of actions he had te continued to serve the Lord.

Continuing to walk by faith is how we hope in God and wait for him.

So Joseph kept doing what was right until one day the turn came in his life and God lifted from the pit, to Pharaoh’s royal next in line to the throne hierarchy.

One of the hardest things we must do in trials and in life is to wait for and hope for an indeterminate amount of in God, through those circumstances we face.

But God has expressed to us how we can wait for him.

First, if we trust in ourselves, depend on ourselves we grow faint and stumble.

We have to wait for God because failing to do so leaves us crushed.

Second, we can wait for the Lord because of who he is.

Go back to verse 28.

The Lord is the everlasting God.

He does not grow faint or weary.

There is no limit to his understanding.

Do you remember the point we made there?

God knows what to do and when to do it.

God knows what is needed in the moment.

He knows what we need and when we need it.

God does not struggle with what he needs to do next with our lives.

God knows what the next puzzle piece is in our lives, where it fits, and how to move us aside and move the new pierces into the exact place God has prepared.

New Strength for New Challenges

Isaiah 40:27-31 Amplified Bible

27 
Why, O Jacob, do you say, and declare, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord,
And the justice due me 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 tired or grow weary;
There is no searching of His understanding.
29 
He gives strength to the weary,
And to him who has no might He increases power.
30 
Even youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly,
31 
But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him]
Will gain new strength and renew their power;
They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun];
They will run and not become weary,
They will walk and not grow tired.

The challenges of life can feel overwhelming at times.

I remember in the initial days following my Open Heart Surgery (July 2023) when I was faced with several difficult decisions requiring more energy and wisdom and patience, physical spiritual strength than I felt I had within me.

I tried to rely on my own strength and resources, but it quickly became apparent that I was running on empty. 

This is where God’s promise of renewal comes in.

It’s not about having strength to do it all on our own; it’s about trusting God, whose strength is limitless.

In the same way an eagle soars with ease, we have the strength to rise above our struggles when we hope in God. I cannot fly. I didn’t have to fight or fly through challenges on nonexistent wings. God equips what we require for the journey. 

As we step into the newness of each day, let’s remember we don’t need to face life’s challenges alone.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Amplified Bible

A Thorn in the Flesh

7 Because of the surpassing greatness and extraordinary nature of the revelations [which I received from God], for this reason, to keep me from thinking of myself as important, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, to torment and harass me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me; 9 but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, that the vast power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me. 10 I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength].

The Lord’s strength is made perfect in our weakness, and he promises when we place our trust in him, God renews our strength, empower us to face whatever comes our way. 

God exerts his power not in distant and impersonal ways.

Instead, he extends the promise of strength to his people. The Christian faith does not deny the reality of our weariness but offers sure hope to weary souls.

Our need to trust God will never grow old.

God’s strength, God’s faithfulness, God’s promises, remains forever new.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 46 Amplified Bible

God the Refuge of His People.
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah, set to soprano voices. A Song.

46 God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable],
A very present and well-proved help in trouble.
2 
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains be shaken and slip into the heart of the seas,
3 
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains tremble at its roaring. Selah.

4 
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
5 
God is in the midst of her [His city], she will not be moved;
God will help her when the morning dawns.
6 
The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered and were moved;
He raised His voice, the earth melted.
7 
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold [our refuge, our high tower]. Selah.

8 
Come, behold the works of the Lord,
Who has brought desolations and wonders on the earth.
9 
He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow into pieces and snaps the spear in two;
He burns the chariots with fire.
10 
“Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold [our refuge, our high tower]. Selah.

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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Are we familiar with what the Bible Does NOT say about Resting in God? Psalm 116:1-7

Psalm 116:1-7 Revised Standard Version

Thanksgiving for Recovery from Illness

116 I love the Lord, because he has heard
    my voice and my supplications.
2 Because he inclined his ear to me,
    therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The snares of death encompassed me;
    the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
    I suffered distress and anguish.
4 Then I called on the name of the Lord:
    “O Lord, I beseech thee, save my life!”

5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
    our God is merciful.
6 The Lord preserves the simple;
    when I was brought low, he saved me.
7 Return, O my soul, to your rest;
    for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

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 many different opinions about what it means to rest.

Is it a waste of time, and should we feel guilty about taking days off?

Does it only refer to sleeping, or taking it easy during an illness?

Is it the emphasis on self-care that we see so often in our culture today?

We do not have to get lost in the confusion of these questions or the endless examples we find online.

Scripture presents us with instruction about rest.

Based on God’s Word, we can understand what resting is and is not.

And we can learn to distinguish between the opinions of others and what the Lord has actually taught.

For rest is woven into creation and reflects the priorities of our Maker.

We would be unwise if we never pause to consider what it means to rest, or to search for the answers in the Book that God has provided. So, let us bring our assumptions and our ideas and hold them up to the perfect light of His Word.

1. Resting Is Not Laziness

Some may think that taking time to cease from normal activity and to recharge is laziness.

To be fair, there is a great deal of teaching in Scripture that denounces the lazy person – the one who refuses to work.

God is correct to warn us of laziness because refusing to work leads to many problems (Proverbs 10:4; 13:4; 20:4).

We should understand, then, why some individuals are wary of resting, because they fear they are engaging in slothfulness.

But to take time off to rest in the Lord and be recharged in soul, body, and mind, is not laziness.

To rest is to obey the Lord who set in place a rhythm of work and rest.

When God created everything in six days, He ceased from His labors on the seventh day and declared it holy (Genesis 2:2-3).

Our Lord rested – and He certainly was not acting in laziness.

After the fall of man, God knew that a sinful human tendency is to keep working to the neglect of our own wellbeing.

Hence, He set in place a command for the Israelites that they should observe the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11) and keep it Holy unto God.

This applied to people, both native-born Israelites and foreigners, but also to animals.

Just as slothfulness is an issue individuals can struggle with, so is overworking.

We are not machines designed solely for the purpose of executing tasks.

We are finite humans (Psalm 103:15-16) made in the image of God.

If our Creator rested from His divine labor, and has told us to do the same, then our proper response is obedience and gratitude, give thanks for the gift of rest.

2. Rest Is Not Selfish

Because so much of Western culture is centered on activity, completing tasks, we can feel guilty for slowing down or taking time off.

We may even think that prioritizing rest is a selfish choice.

Instead of ceasing from our labor and engaging in soul-refreshing activities, we assume we should exert all of our available energy to work and be productive.

Masked in this way, we fail to see the refusal to rest is based on the belief that we are in control of our lives, everything falls on our shoulders to accomplish.

Rest forces us to acknowledge and declare that we are dependent on someone other than ourselves.

It is an act that shows we need God.

We see this demonstrated in Israel’s wilderness wanderings.

The Lord instructed them to collect manna each day, but also to gather an extra portion on the sixth day (Exodus 16:23, 26).

They were to rest on the seventh day.

Yet, some of the Israelites did not listen and gathered manna on the Sabbath – they trusted in their ability to provide for themselves instead of trusting in God (Exodus 16:27-30).

The giving of the double portion on the day before the Sabbath was meant to teach the Israelites to depend on the Lord, not themselves.

Resting might feel selfish if we have always listened to what the world tells us.

However, the more we recognize our weakness, need for the Lord’s provision, the more we will prioritize rest.

Our lives do not run on our own effort or striving.

God is the One who is sustaining us (Colossians 1:17).

We lay down our guilt and rest, showing others we depend on the Lord alone.

3. Rest Is Not a Waste of Time

Stopping from our work for blocks of time – whether it is a day or two, or in intervals throughout the day – may appear disadvantageous.

Would we not make more money and get more accomplished if we worked without stopping?

For those who are results-driven or are struggling to make ends meet, there is the temptation to view rest as a waste of time.

We should feel compassion for those near and far who are compelled to work long shifts while still not making enough to live on.

Such conditions are unjust and inhumane.

As a church, we need to work together to break such cycles of enslaving poverty.

However, there are people who refuse to slow down despite having sufficient resources.

Or they convince themselves that they need to check off one more task before they can permit themselves sufficient rest.

In their mind, rest is a privilege instead of a need.

Throughout Scripture, we find God’s call for us to come to Him.

We are invited to cease our striving, be still, and know that the Lord is God (Psalm 46:10).

To get away with Him to rest (Mark 6:31).

Instead of trying to please God with our endless activities, Jesus beckons us to,

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

He provides our ultimate rest through salvation.

Stopping from our normal work and endless to-do lists allows us to refuel.

An empty cup does not have much to give.

We must first be filled before we can give of ourselves in service to the Lord.

And how He will fill us! As David said, “my cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5).

4. Rest Is Not a Legalistic Rule

During New Testament times, the Jewish people followed a strict observance of the Sabbath.

Many of them believed adherence to this rule bought them favor with God.

So, when Rabbi Jesus began healing people on the Sabbath, lots of Pharisees and scribes objected.

As the synagogue ruler said after Jesus healed a woman who had been crippled for eighteen years:

“There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath” (Luke 13:14).

But Jesus rebuked them, pointing out their hypocrisy.

They led their livestock to water on the Sabbath, which could be categorized as “work.”

Yet this woman, a daughter of Abraham, who had suffered because of the work of Satan, was even more valuable. Should she not “be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” (Luke 13:16).

The Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus, said it was lawful to do right on the day of rest (Matthew 12:12).

As Jesus taught, the Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27-28).

God set it in place to benefit humankind.

Since the Pharisees and others had changed the day of rest into a legalistic rule and burden, they utterly missed the purpose and blessing of God’s command.

We, too, can misunderstand the principle of rest.

Jesus fulfilled the Law, including the Sabbath (see Romans 10:4).

As a result, believers are no longer under the Law, but under grace (Romans 6:14).

However, the principle of rest for the flourishing of humankind still applies.

Rest is a gift from the Lord, not something we should make as a rule to earn salvation.

5. Rest Is Not Unspiritual

Taking a vacation.

Allowing ourselves to enjoy an afternoon with family and friends.

Appreciating time spent doing a hobby or engaging in an enjoyable activity.

These are all good things, but we may be inclined to think that they have nothing to do with our faith.

We may even believe that such activities are unspiritual or do not affect our walk with Christ.

The opposite, though, is true.

When we mark off time to rest, we are declaring our trust in the Lord.

We acknowledge our weakness and limitations – that we are humans who have spiritual, emotional, and physical needs.

In many ways, rest is an act of faith.

For choosing to step away from schedules and work obligations requires that we entrust our needs, problems, and plans to God.

Many of us fret and toil thinking that we are reliant on ourselves, forgetting that it is from God that we receive the ability to work and provide for ourselves (Deuteronomy 8:17-18).

As Psalm 127:2 says,

“It is useless to get up early and stay up late in order to earn a living. God takes care of his own, even while they sleep.”

We do not have to anxiously work as if everything depended on us.

Likewise, we can engage in rest trusting God will continue to meet our needs.

He is the source of our life and salvation, not ourselves.

As we rest in faithfulness, we look forward to the ultimate rest that awaits us in eternity (Hebrews 4:9-11).

This is the final rest that is the culmination of our faith – living forever with the Lord in His Kingdom, and on the New Earth.

Until then, continue to follow Jesus, obeying Him in our working and resting.

In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit

Praying …..

Psalm 121 Revised Standard Version

Assurance of God’s Protection

A Song of Ascents.

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

3 He will not let your foot be moved,
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade
    on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and for evermore.

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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A New Identity in Christ? My ego is no longer central? Christ’s life will show me how and enable me to do it. Galatians 2:20-21

Galatians 2:20-21 Revised Standard Version

20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification[a] were through the law, then Christ died to no purpose.

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.

Some biblical verses reach so deeply into the heart of the gospel that they change the way you see everything. 

Galatians 2:20 stands among the most powerful declarations in Scripture.

Paul describes a life reshaped, redefined, and reborn through union with Christ.

He invites you to see that the Christian life is not powered by our efforts but by Crucified Savior Christ living in you.

This is not a theory.

It is reality.

A new identity, a new power, and a new way of envisioning being in the world.

Paul’s words remind us that the old ways of life built on striving, fear, and self-righteousness has come to an end.

A new life, empowered by the Son of God who loves you and gave Himself for you, has begun.

When this truth settles into your heart, it changes not only what you believe but how you live.

Today, we step into the beauty of a life shaped by Christ within.

Big Idea 1: Your Old Life Has Ended Through the Cross

Paul begins with a powerful truth.

You have been crucified with Christ.

This does not mean you lose your personality or your humanity.

It means the old system of earning righteousness, carrying guilt, and chasing identity has been put to death.

The cross is not only an event that saved you.

It is the place where your old self was laid down and a new self was raised.

Many believers struggle because they try to live the Christian life with the old mindset.

They fear failure.

Believers often try to earn what God freely gives.

They cling to old labels, old wounds, and old patterns.

Paul reminds you that the person who lived under the weight of sin is no longer there.

In Christ, the old is dead, and the new has come.

Seeing yourself through the lens of the cross changes the way you approach everything.

You are not fighting for victory, you are fighting from victory.

You are not earning acceptance; you are living from acceptance.

Freedom grows when you believe what Christ has done in you.

Big Idea 2: The Life You Live Today Is Christ Living in You

Paul says, It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.

This is the heart of Christian transformation.

The Christian life is not self-improvement.

It is Christ-empowered living. Jesus does not simply inspire you.

He indwells you.

He strengthens you, guides you, convicts you, and equips you.

This means change is possible because Christ is present.

Holiness is achievable because Christ is your power.

Obedience becomes joyful because Christ is your strength.

Your life does not depend on your willpower but on His presence.

When we pick up our bible’s, study scripture, pray Proverbs 3:5-10 to understand this transforming truth, spiritual growth becomes less and less about striving and more and more about what it means to authentically surrender self to God.

Proverbs 3:5-10 Revised Standard Version

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not rely on your own insight.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh[a]
    and refreshment[b] to your bones.

9 Honor the Lord with your substance
    and with the first fruits of all your produce;
10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,
    and your vats will be bursting with wine.

The life you now live, you live by faith.

Faith keeps you connected to Christ.

It invites His power into your weakness.

Faith reminds you that you are not walking alone.

Christ in you is the hope of glory and the source of your transformation.

Big Idea 3: Grace Becomes the Foundation of Your Identity and Confidence

Paul ends this passage with a warning and a promise.

He will not nullify the grace of God.

If righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

This truth guards your heart against replacing grace with effort.

Grace secures your identity, anchors your confidence, and reminds you that Christ’s sacrifice was complete and all-sufficient.

Grace does not make you passive.

It makes you grateful.

Grace frees you to obey out of love rather than fear.

It removes the pressure to perform, replaces it with the joy of living in Christ.

When grace becomes your foundation, prayer life deepens, hope strengthens, and your confidence rests no longer in yourself but in the One who loved you and gave Himself for you (Philippians 2:5-11).

Philippians 2:5-11 Revised Standard Version

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant,[a] being born in the likeness of men.  8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

You and I live in the freedom of a love which cannot be earned, won at any high stakes poker game or with a spin from a roulette wheel, will not be withdrawn.

Christ’s death declares your worth.

His life within you declares your purpose.

When I reflect on my life and who and where I once was, it’s easy to see how I’ve tried to define myself by my past, my mistakes, and the roles I’ve played.

There were times when I thought my whole identity was tied to my job, my achievements, or even how others saw me.

I struggled as I compared myself with others, thinking that who I was could only be measured by external success or someone else’s approval. 

But then I found freedom in Christ. 

Galatians 2:20 became a truth that I can hold on to—I no longer have to define myself by my past or even by what I’ve done.

I am now defined by the life Christ lives in me.

In him, my identity is secure.

No more striving to earn a sense of worth; no more living under the weight of expectations that I cannot hope to meet.

In Christ, I am a new creation. 

This new identity in Christ does not mean I don’t/I won’t still struggle with old habits or old thoughts.

But it does mean I have a foundation that is not built on shifting sand. 

Matthew 7:24-29 Revised Standard Version

Hearers and Doers

24 “Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; 25 and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; 27 and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it.”

28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

I can live with peace because the indelible truth is that I belong to Savior Jesus.

My identity is wrapped up in his love, his grace, the work he has done for me.

Galatians 2:20-21 pulls you into the center of the gospel and your identity.

You are crucified with Christ.

You are raised with Christ. Christ lives in you.

His grace sustains you, his love defines you, and his presence empowers you.

This is more than belief.

It is reality.

It shapes your decisions, your relationships, your purpose, and your confidence.

As you walk with God today, let this truth settle deeply into your heart.

John 14:22-27 Revised Standard Version

22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word which you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

25 “These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Christ died for you, He was resurrected for you, Christ lives in you, those truths changes everything.

“In the name of God, the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen”

Praying ….

Psalm 91Revised Standard Version
Assurance of God’s Protection

91 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High,
    who abides in the shadow of the Almighty,
2 will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress;
    my God, in whom I trust.”
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
    and from the deadly pestilence;
4 he will cover you with his pinions,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
    nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand;
    but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes
    and see the recompense of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge,[a]
    the Most High your habitation,
10 no evil shall befall you,
    no scourge come near your tent.

11 For he will give his angels charge of you
    to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder,
    the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.

14 Because he cleaves to me in love, I will deliver him;
    I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
    and show him my salvation.

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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So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? Walking, Living and Loving in Newness of Life. Romans 6:1-7

Romans 6:1-7 New American Standard Bible

Believers Are Dead to Sin, Alive to God

6 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 [a] Far from it! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4  Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become [b]united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be [c]in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old [d]self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be [e] done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for the one who has died is [f]freed from sin.

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.

Romans 6:1–14 explores how Christians should think about and respond to sin now that we are in Christ and our sins are forgiven.

In explaining this, Paul reveals new information about what happened when we put our faith in Christ. In a spiritual sense, we died with Him, and to our sin.

What does it mean to let sin reign in your body?

Sin remains in the body and if it is not kept in check, it will reign in the body.

Sin is not dead, but the Christian must be diligent to remain dead to sin.

The Christian is encouraged to yield the body as a slave to righteousness and holiness and not allow sin to reign, for God provides a way out.

What does Paul mean when he says we are dead to sin?

Being “dead to sin” means we renounce it once and for all.

This is called “repentance,” or changing your mind toward sin.

It means you were once the lord of your own life.

However, from this point forward, you are going to do a 180 degree about-face, follow Jesus as the Lord of your life. Repentance is the essence of conversion.

What does Romans 6 verse 4 mean?

Paul means to communicate a real spiritual transaction took place when we were saved.

On a spiritual level, we experienced death and burial with Christ.

Then God gloriously raised us from that spiritual death just as He raised Christ from physical death.

I. A Whole New You

What do you think of when you hear the phrase, “a whole new you”.

What if we were to type that phrase into an online search engine?

What kinds of sites do you think we would be directed to by that phrase?

Well, I did just that the other day and I bet you can guess the kinds of subjects, the kinds of services, that were being promoted with that very phrase.

There were sites, of course, about health and fitness and dietary wellness.

There were sites about all manner of cosmetic surgeries.

There were sites recommended having to do with continuing education, and time-management, fashion, an idea called “the power of conscious breathing”.

But why…why are people interested in discovering “a whole new you”?

And will any of those things I just mentioned from those search results, will anything of those things really, authentically, produce “a whole new you”?

Let’s bring these very questions to God’s word this morning.

Turn with me back to Romans 6.

II. The Passage: “Walk in Newness of Life” (6:1-7)

Romans 6:1-7 Christian Standard Bible

The New Life in Christ

6 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? 2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness[a] of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be[b] in the likeness of his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self[c] was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin[d] might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died is freed[e] from sin.

One of the most powerful truths of the Christian faith is that we don’t have to stay the same.

Through Jesus, we have been given the gift of new life—right here, right now.

We are not just slightly improved versions of our old selves.

We have been made new from the inside out. 

Paul’s words in Romans 6 remind us just as Jesus was raised from the dead, we too are invited into resurrection living.

That means the habits, thought patterns, and shame that once held us back no longer have to define us. The past no longer has the final word.

Grace does. 

Of course, walking in newness doesn’t always feel instant.

Often it means taking one small step of faith at a time.

But every step forward in obedience is a declaration that you belong to the risen Savior Christ and that your life is a living testimony to his transforming power.

Have you ever felt “undone” in the presence of God?  

If so, what happened or what came as a result?

Is there a space for you that feels holy?

Where and what is it about that space?

HEART
How can we live a life which is more sensitive to the holy that is all around us?

Why do you hold the site of true Godly holiness may cause a fear response in us?

When we feel undone, unworthy before the almighty, how should we respond?

HANDS
If love and holiness are tied together, how may you be able to seek to be more loving like Jesus is loving (turning the other cheek, praying for those who will persecute you/your enemies, forgiving, involvement ministry and mission?  

Matthew 10:1-8 New American Standard Bible

The Twelve Disciples; Instructions for Service

10 Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.

2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; and [a]James the son of Zebedee, and his brother [b]John; 3 Philip and [c]Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; [d] James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the [e]Zealot, and too Judas Iscariot, the one who also betrayed Him.

5 These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them, saying, “Do not go on a road [f]to Gentiles, and do not enter a city of Samaritans; 6 but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, [g]preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.

The 1981 movie The Blues Brothers, small-time criminals Jake and Elwood Blues receive a vision in church to reunite their band in order to save their former orphanage. To convince some of the band members to join them, they have only one message to convey: “We’re on a mission from God.”

In a sense, Jesus was doing the same with his disciples. He gathered them together and told them they were on a mission from God.

What was the mission?

They were invited to change lives in the name of Jesus.

Jesus empowered those twelve disciples to do amazing things in his name..

They were authorized to drive demons away and heal people from all kinds of sicknesses.

Jesus was not interested in making a name for himself, or building up his poll numbers.

He was announcing that the kingdom of God was on the move.

It was time for God’s agenda to be known in the life and actions of the Savior.

He gave his followers a mission from God, and the world will never be the same because of it.

That includes you and me too.

We have been sent into our neighborhoods to share the story of forgiveness in the name of Jesus. We have been sent into the places of trouble and despair to model the life-affirming witness of the Savior. We are on a mission from God!

Who in your life needs a gesture of God’s love this week to strangely warm their souls, how will you participate in helping God communicate HIs love for them? 

You are not who you used to be.

By God’s grace, you are becoming more of the person he has called you to be.

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

Praying ….

Psalm 15 New American Standard Bible

Description of a Citizen of Zion.

A Psalm of David.

15 Lord, who may reside in Your tent?
Who may settle on Your holy hill?
2 One who walks with integrity, practices righteousness,
And speaks truth in his heart.
3 He does not slander [a]with his tongue,
Nor do evil to his neighbor,
Nor bring shame on his friend;
4 A despicable person is despised in his eyes,
But he honors those who fear the Lord;
He takes an oath to his own detriment, and does not change;
5 He does not [b]lend his money [c]at interest,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
One who does these things will never be shaken.

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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Recalling, Reflecting the enduring promise of God’s unfailing love in Every new day. Psalm 118:21-25

Psalm 118:21-25 Revised Standard Version

21 I thank thee that thou hast answered me
    and hast become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders rejected
    has become the head of the corner.
23 This is the Lord’s doing;
    it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the Lord has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save us, we beseech thee, O Lord!
    O Lord, we beseech thee, give us success!

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.

Good morning this is the day the Lord has made!

Depending on how your day or week is going, you may not be too excited for me to give you this awesome welcome to a new day.

Still, as the scriptures do proclaim His truth; today is the day the Lord has made.

We all have days which rain down mixed blessings and Psalm 118 is all about finding the blessing in the midst of trials that bring those feelings of anxiety.

So let’s rejoice in the promises of God’s blessings and still remain glad in them.

How can our struggling countenance rejoice and be glad in our days when your life feels full of unlimited measures of both chaos, frustration and sadness?

What does it mean in Psalm 118:24 that this is the day that the Lord has made?

Psalm 118 is a very important Messianic psalm points directly to God whose goodness and grace lasts forever, and it identifies Jesus as Israel’s coming Messiah who has become their strength and stay.

And Jesus is our Redeemer as well. This is a psalm that rejoices over our great salvation and points directly to the Lord Jesus as our mighty Deliverer. 

This is a song that is attached to the very core of God’s own heart, for it is referring to the scheduled day when the Lord Jesus Christ will sit upon His heavenly-ordained throne as David’s rightful heir in the holy city of Jerusalem.

THIS is the day the Lord has made.

THIS is the day of Christ.

THIS is the day of Israel’s redemption when His people cry out to the Lord Jesus: “Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna!”

THIS is the day when the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of our GOD and of His Christ.

This is the song of rejoicing and praise which Israel will sing on that thrilling morning when their long-awaited Messiah rides into Jerusalem in power and great glory at His second advent.

Then He will set up His eternal kingdom in the midst of His people Israel, as King of kings, Lord of lords, the Messiah of Israel and Savior of ALL.

What a day that will be.

When the psalmist says, “This is the day that the LORD has made,” it’s not just about sunny skies and good vibes. It’s a declaration that no matter what the day holds, it is still God’s.

It means that God’s love, mercy, and faithfulness are already waiting for you in this day. Even when life feels unpredictable, God’s love doesn’t waver or stop. 

Rejoicing doesn’t mean pretending that everything is fine. It means choosing to trust the One who made the day—and who holds you in it.

Each morning brings a new opportunity to rest in God’s love, to find joy not in perfection but in God’s presence. 

You don’t have to carry yesterday’s weight into today. God’s love is new each morning—and it will meet you again tomorrow.

What rejoicing will flood the earth for this is the great day towards which the Lord’s plan of redemption has been steadily moving for millennia.

This is the day when God’s favor towards mankind will reach its fulfilment.

This is the day when there will be a resounding chorus of great joy, as all God’s people unite together with one great chorus of praise, as we sing in unison:

“This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His mercy endures forever.”

At His first coming Jesus came to His own people, but they rejected Him; and yet He was the royal Son of David, the Anointed of God.

He was the Stone which the builders rejected, yet He is the One who became the chief Cornerstone.

The man who falls on the Stone will be broken to pieces (saved by grace through faith) BUT on whosoever that Stone falls (unbeliever) will be scattered like dust.

At His first advent, they disapproved of His birth.

They criticized Jesus because He was from Galilee.

They disapproved of His lack of formal education and were highly critical when He exposed their hypocrisy, religiosity and man-made traditions.

They condemned Him for being a friend of tax collectors, lepers, crippled, and of talking, drinking water with a Samaritan woman and eating with prostitutes.

They closed their ears to His teaching, their eyes to His miracles and their heart to His Truth, .

At His first coming, a Roman spear pierced His side, from which poured out redemption’s blood-red stream over the sinful race of fallen man – as a dying, sin-cursed earth, groaned beneath the weight of sin, waiting in fervent hope for this special day of redemption.

And the sharp, double-edged sword which proceeds forth from His mouth at His second coming will destroy the wicked in the day of wrath, and the earth will be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.

What does it mean this is the day that the Lord has made?

“This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:24.

Each day is an unmistakably rich and precious gift from God, with new grace and new opportunities.

Jesus says that we have only this one day, and we must not be anxious for the day tomorrow.

This will be a day of great rejoicing and much joy; a day of blessing and grace; of health and happiness; of righteousness, justice; prosperity; peace and pardon.

This is the day when crowds will gather at the glorious second advent of Israel’s long-awaited Messiah, all nations will join in the joyous celebrations to honor the Lord most high.

This is the day of Christ’s glorious exaltation, which began with His rejection and humiliation at Calvary’s cross, but will climax on His great coronation day.

How we look forward to that day, when together we will sing: “This is the day that the Lord has made. We WILL rejoice and be glad in it!”

How can I apply Psalm 118:24 today?

Psalm 118:24 infuses meaning into today to know that God has made the day and has a purpose for it. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. The God who made us made everything that’s around us on this day that we have to experience. He’s made this day, so let us all rejoice.

In the name of God, the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 103 Revised Standard Version

Thanksgiving for God’s Goodness

A Psalm of David.

103 Bless the Lord, O my soul;
and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
    who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the Pit,
    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good as long as you live[a]
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The Lord works vindication
    and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
    his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide,
    nor will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
    nor requite us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father pities his children,
    so the Lord pities those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame;
    he remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass;
    he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
    and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
    upon those who fear him,
    and his righteousness to children’s children,
18 to those who keep his covenant
    and remember to do his commandments.

19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
    and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
    you mighty ones who do his word,
    hearkening to the voice of his word!
21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
    his ministers that do his will!
22 Bless the Lord, all his works,
    in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!

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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Meanwhile, living in such a way that the Gospel Message being witnessed to reflects, mirrors, His glory alone. Philippians 1:27-30.

Philippians 1:27-30 Amplified Bible

27 Only [be sure to] lead your lives in a manner [that will be] worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I do come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit [and one purpose], with one [a]mind striving side by side [as if in combat] for the faith of the gospel.  28 And in no way be alarmed or intimidated [in anything] by your opponents, for such [constancy and fearlessness on your part] is a [clear] sign [a proof and a seal] for them of [their impending] destruction, but [a clear sign] for you of deliverance and salvation, and that too, from God. 29 For you have been granted [the privilege] for Christ’s sake, not only to believe and confidently trust in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 [and so you are] experiencing the same [kind of] conflict which [b]you saw me endure, and which you hear to be mine now.

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.

Here, Apostle Paul focuses on how we represent the gospel in our lives. This is a personal challenge on how we reflect and defend the faith of the Gospel (v28).

While Paul is chained to a Roman soldier, he saw this as our primary purpose as God’s believers here and now. This idea builds up to Philippians 2:15 writing:

‘that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked, and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world’

In this 21st century technology dependent age, we need to raise our awareness level and realize that as believers, we are on full satellite display to the world.

How we reflect the gospel is important.

Is our ‘conduct’… ‘worthy of the gospel of Christ’? (1:27).

I like this poem:

You are writing a Gospel,

A chapter each day,

By the deeds that you do

And the words that you say.

Men read what you write,

Whether faithful or true:

Just what is the Gospel

According to you?

(source unknown)

The best Christian witnessing material, whether tracts or YouTube links are no substitute for your own Biblically correct witness, by the way you live your life.

In a number of places Apostle Paul continually reminded the church:

‘walk worthy of the Lord’ (Col 1:10)

‘walk worthy of your calling’ (Eph 4:1)

This representation can also be carried into Christian unity.

Paul writes our public behaviors must stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, (Philippians 1:27)

Our unity (one faith, one Gospel, one God, one mind) should be wrapped up in our purpose (The faith of the gospel).

Jesus final prayer for the church before His betrayal solidifies this lesson.

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:20-21)

Is this what we are actually, authentically, genuinely ‘striving together’ towards?

The way we dress, the way we smile or scowl, the way we carry ourselves, the tone and content of our speech… Every day, we are always making statements to all of those around us about what really matters and what life truly consists of.

For Christians, such statements should be in harmony with the gospel.

So Paul called the Philippians to close the gap between their beliefs and their behavior—between the creed they professed and the conduct they displayed.

Christ’s call to us today is no different. Even so, however mature we are in our faith and however much we close the gap, there always remains more to do.

Paul’s phrase “let your manner of life” comes from the Greek verb politeuesthe, which the NIV translates as “conduct yourselves.”

The root of this word comes from polis, which means “city,” and gives us other words like police and politics.

In a very real sense, Paul is concerned with Christian citizenship and conduct.

As we understand ourselves to be members of the city of God, we learn what it means to live as strangers and ambassadors in that other city, the city of man.

When we close the gap between belief and behavior and actions, others will get a foretaste of heaven through their interactions with us.

So what kind of statement should our actions make?

Simply this: the gospel of Christ is a gospel of love.

We see this in the words of John: “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:10-11).

In other words, just as God loves us, so we should love God and those around us—even those whom we, or others, tend to see as unlovely or unlovable—should do it with hope and joy! This message of love is the challenge that Paul gives us.

Not merely in the words you say,
Not only in the deeds confessed,
But in the most unconscious way
Is Christ expressed.[1]

1 Attributed to Beatrice Cleland, “Indwelt,” in, for instance, Our Aim: A Monthly Record of the Aborigines Inland Mission of Australia 68, no. 7 (17 March, 1955), p 1.

Isaiah 64:6-7 The Message
Can We Be Saved?

64 1-7 Oh, that you would rip open the heavens and descend,
    make the mountains shudder at your presence—
As when a forest catches fire,
    as when fire makes a pot to boil—
To shock your enemies into facing you,
    make the nations shake in their boots!
You did terrible things we never expected,
    descended and made the mountains shudder at your presence.
Since before time began
    no one has ever imagined,
No ear heard, no eye seen, a God like you
    who works for those who wait for him.
You meet those who happily do what is right,
    who keep a good memory of the way you work.
But how angry you’ve been with us!
    We’ve sinned and kept at it so long!
    Is there any hope for us? Can we be saved?
We’re all sin-infected, sin-contaminated.
    Our best efforts are grease-stained rags.
We dry up like autumn leaves—
    sin-dried, we’re blown off by the wind.
No one prays to you
    or makes the effort to reach out to you
Because you’ve turned away from us,
    left us to stew in our sins.

Pray, about how you will dress today, when you will smile, when you will scowl, how you will carry yourself today, the tone and content of your speech today.

What kind of statements are you making to the world?

Let them be ones that are worthy of the gospel of love.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit …..

Praying ….

Psalm 16 New American Standard Bible

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.

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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We were all reportedly taught, with regard to our former way of life, to put off our old selves which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitudes of our minds. Ephesians 4:17-24

Ephesians 4:17-24 New American Standard Bible

The Christian’s Walk

17 So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, that you are to no longer walk just as the [a]Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds, 18 being darkened in their understanding, [b]excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves up to indecent behavior [c]for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old [d]self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new [e]self, which [f]in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

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 comes a time when carrying the luggage of our old life just weighs too much. 

I remember more than just a few seasons where I kept rehearsing past failures, clinging to shame like a heavy coat in summer. I knew God was calling me to move forward, but it felt safer to stay in the familiar—even if it was painful. 

Ephesians 4:22-24 hits a grand slam here. Paul reminds us that the old self—the habits, thought patterns, and lies we’ve believed—must be put off.

Like clothing that doesn’t fit anymore, or has a multitude of holes in the back and front, we are meant to take it off so we can live in the freedom God offers. 

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 New American Standard Bible

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but [a]divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.

Letting go is not always a dramatic or hallelujah moment. Sometimes it’s just quiet and deliberate. It includes choosing not to respond the way we used to.

It means surrendering a mindset that has held us captive.

It involves refusing to let guilt define us when grace is freely offered.

We can’t fully embrace the new if we are still clinging to the old. 

What is God inviting you to release today? Whatever it is, trust that his grace is enough to carry you forward. 

As a believer in Christ we are to kiss our old selves good bye and say hello to a new life. It is important to see that the structure of these verses goes like this:

Say goodbye to the old self, RENEWAL IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MINDS, then put on the new self.

The new self is covered and full of God, which also includes living out His righteousness and holiness.

However, it is important that we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior so that we can have a renewal of our minds in order for the new self to be lived.

Paul said that to walk as the Gentiles walk is to walk after the old ways of the flesh (self) instead of the new way of the spirit.

It’s living in response to the natural world (what we see, hear, and touch). The futility of their mind ruled them. (Futility (mataiotes) means vain, empty, and devoid of truth.) It is a disillusioned and disconnected way of thinking and living.

The natural life is devoid of the truth of God.

The natural mind can only process what is in the natural world- feelings, experiences, self-will, etc.

It is like trying to make a meal in a dark room; the utensils, food, and oven are there, but all you have are instincts and self-will, but no direction because of the darkness.

You drop the knife on the floor, but it slipped under a cabinet; the oven is gas and requires a match but you don’t know where the matches are stored.

While you search for the matches, you realize the room is beginning to have a sick-sweet smell.

The gas had been left on too long, and the room was a ticking bomb; one light of the match and all would be lost.

This is what it is like to live in the futility and darkness of the mind.

When one lives based on feelings and self-will, all they have is their own smarts to get them by.

Some may do better than others based on intelligence and family background, but “self” will always deceive them.

Paul said to live in the futility of the mind is to be excluded from the life of God.

Excluded in the original word (apallotrioo) means to be “shut out from fellowship and intimacy” or a “non-participant.”

To be included in Christ is like trying to make a meal with all lights turned on.

Not only is the room brightly lit, but it is even better than that.

Grace is like Jesus coming into the kitchen, telling you to sit down while He makes the meal for you and cleans up!

People are fumbling around in the dark because they don’t know the kitchen is wired for light- they are ignorant of reality.

All can experience the light, but they have to be aware of the truth and receive it.

Stubborn unbelief keeps people in the dark; they either have never heard that there is some good news (the kitchen has been wired for light), or they all just want to keep fumbling around doing it their way.

The old way is destined for failure.

Paul said, “Lay aside the old self.”

When someone has received Christ, their old self was crucified with Christ. So why are we exhorted to lay the old self aside?

It is because many Christians, unaware that they died with Christ, are trying to reform their old selves.

It’s a lost cause.

Our flesh cannot be improved. What we need and what Christ offers is a brand new life-His life.

The supernatural and abundant life we’re called to live can only be received by faith and experienced by walking in the spirit.

We don’t put off and put on to become spiritual; we do this because we are spiritual.

Everyone born again is born of the spirit.

Since we are already in the spirit, let us walk after the spirit.

“and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,” Ephesians 4:23

To be renewed means that we are completely changed.

We go from making choices based on “self” to making choices based on what the Spirit spoke to us.

We start making wise decisions, and our lives go from hard to restful.

This doesn’t happen just by chance.

We have some work to do; this “work” is to change how we think.

On the day you were born again, a lot of things changed, but your way of thinking probably did not change.

If you liked vanilla cake and drove recklessly before you were saved, then you probably liked vanilla cake and drove recklessly after you were saved.

This is why the scriptures exhort us to put off the old and put on the new and be renewed in the spirit of our minds.

What you do follows what you think, what you think follows what you believe.

Renew your thinking so that your thoughts align with what God says about you.

You are what you believe.

“and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” Ephesians 4:24

You are righteous and holy, so act like it.

See yourself as God sees you.

Be who you truly are.

To put on the new man is choosing to walk in the new way of the spirit instead of the old ways of the flesh.

We don’t put off and put on to become spiritual; we do this because we are spiritual.

You are Created in righteousness.

You have been made into a new person, as righteous and holy as Jesus.

You are not being made righteous or righteous by your behavior- that is what is called man-made religion.

Manmade religion defines righteousness as morally good behavior or holy and right living according to God’s standard.

These are poor definitions for they suggest we can become righteous through proper performance.

Provided we live according to God’s standard or laws, God will judge us righteous.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Righteousness in the new covenant is the state of being right with God.

It is being able to say, “In Christ, I am holy, just, and right with God. I am loved by God, and God is for me.”

Jesus was made to be sin on our behalf so that we might become the righteousness of God in him (2 Cor 5:21).

Jesus was not made sin because he was a sinner, and you were not made righteous because you acted righteously.

God did it all.

You were stamped righteous for all eternity when you put your faith in Jesus.

At one time, you were unrighteous, but you were washed, sanctified, and declared righteous in the name of the Lord.

To be made righteous means you have had a complete renovation.

Righteousness means you are no longer the crooked person you used to be. While in Adam, you had inclinations that led you towards sin, no matter how hard you tried to avoid it.

In Christ, you are inclined to walk straight and true.

You desire to please the Lord.

It’s not that you are incapable of sinning.

It is just that sinning no longer appeals.

When you sin, it bothers you—“I wish I hadn’t done that”—testifying that this behavior is contrary to your new nature.

God wants us to discard our old lifestyles as we begin a new life with Him.

Every day, we get fresh mercy from above that gives us the chance to do better.

As long as we live, we’ll struggle with our sinful nature.

The Lord knows our trials and tribulations and gives us the Holy Spirit to help us renew our minds, put on the new self with true righteousness and holiness.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit

Praying …..

Psalm 93 New American Standard Bible

The Majesty of the Lord.

93 The Lord [a]reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
The Lord has clothed and encircled Himself with strength.
Indeed, the world is firmly established; it will not be moved.
2 Your throne is established from of old;
You are from eternity.

3 The floods have lifted up, Lord,
The floods have lifted up their voice,
The floods lift up their pounding waves.
4 More than the sounds of many waters,
Than the mighty breakers of the sea,
The Lord on high is mighty.
5 Your testimonies are fully confirmed;
Holiness is pleasing to Your house,
Lord, [b]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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How all Nature Reveals God’s Truth: The voice of Jehovah is upon all the waters: the God of glory thundereth,—Jehovah upon great waters. Psalm 29

Psalm 29 Darby Translation

A Psalm of David.

29 Give unto Jehovah, ye sons of the mighty ones, give unto Jehovah glory and strength;

2 Give unto Jehovah the glory of his name; worship Jehovah in holy splendour.

3 The voice of Jehovah is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth,—Jehovah upon great waters.

4 The voice of Jehovah is powerful; the voice of Jehovah is full of majesty.

5 The voice of Jehovah breaketh cedars; yea, Jehovah breaketh the cedars of Lebanon:

6 And he maketh them to skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young buffalo.

7 The voice of Jehovah cleaveth out flames of fire.

8 The voice of Jehovah shaketh the wilderness; Jehovah shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.

9 The voice of Jehovah maketh the hinds to calve, and layeth bare the forests; and in his temple doth every one say, Glory!

10 Jehovah sitteth upon the flood; yea, Jehovah sitteth as king for ever.

11 Jehovah will give strength unto his people; Jehovah will bless his people with peace.

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.

The Voice of the Lord

3 The voice of the Lord is on the waters;
The God of glory thunders,
The Lord is over [a]many waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful,
The voice of the Lord is majestic.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
Yes, the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon in pieces.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
And Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord divides [b]flames of fire.
8 The voice of the Lord [c]shakes the wilderness;
The Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple everything says, “Glory!”

The voice of the Lord features prominently in the Bible, from “Let there be . . . !” in Genesis 1 to “I am coming soon!” in Revelation 22.

Like any voice, the voice of the Lord can whisper or shout.

In 1 Kings 19, a gentle voice consoles the prophet Elijah, whose spirit is in turmoil.

Psalm 29 describes a roaring voice that rips forests apart.

The voice of the Lord speaks to Jesus when he is baptized.

It says, “You are my Son, whom I love” (Mark 1:11).

That’s an echo of Psalm 2 and Isaiah 42.

And it assigns a destiny to Jesus. He will be a king who rules as a servant.

Jesus embraces that destiny in obedient, faithful trust.

In Psalm 29 the powerful voice of the Lord breaks cedars in pieces, “twists the oaks,” and “strips the forests bare.”

Following the voice that calls to him, Jesus himself will be stripped bare and twisted.

He will be broken in pieces on a tree.

Crowned with thorns, he will be God’s suffering servant, the Savior of the world.

The voice of the Lord still speaks.

If we listen carefully, we can hear it.

From the cross the voice of the Lord whispers, “This is what power looks like.”

This statement also holds with God. His body of work is all around us, giving us a glimpse of His true nature and character.

1. The Galaxy Put on Full Display God’s Wisdom

Looking up at the heavens, we can’t help but be amazed and dumbfounded by how massive, intricate, majestic, and awesome our universe is.

So mind-blowing that even Albert Einstein, who doubted the very existence of God, couldn’t fathom that this vast universe, the way it’s created with such sharp precision and with all its endless number of milky ways and galaxies, could come into being by accident.

You see– the slightest miscalculation can throw the whole solar system into utter chaos, endangering everyone’s lives here on earth.

It’s no wonder, Einstein, with all his qualms and doubts about God, was once quoted as saying that there must be an Intelligent Being behind its creation.

Considering God’s wisdom, His precision and meticulous way with which He carries out tasks, should anyone then be vilified for having any skepticism or mistrusting God’s ability to manage our lives, trusting Him to take complete control of our future?

The way He masterfully brought forth everything into existence, down to the tiniest details, goes to show that we have no reason to doubt, nothing to fear.

We can entrust everything to His care, and breathe easy knowing that He’s all too powerful, wise, dependable, and trustworthy.

2. The Cyclical Nature of the Seasons Shows That God Wants Us to Rely on Him

The changing of seasons is a humbling reminder our lives are also governed by the cyclical seasons of life.

Just as a proud tree shoots out its green leaves and shiny fruits in spring, the autumn season, however, can then decimate everything it produces, losing everything in the process.

If you’ve passed by a naked tree stripped to its last leaf, you know what I mean.

God wants us to realize that difficult seasons don’t last if we continue to rely on Him, seeking His guidance in everything we do, so even during the driest spell of our lives, we will remain standing.

Just like that naked tree in the meadow, seemingly worn out and withered as it struggles to weather the autumn and winter seasons, it will remain undeterred because it knows and realizes God will bring its big comeback come the spring.

3. The Ants Show That God Abhors Laziness

Before the rain comes, I would often notice an army of tiny ants going out and about, carrying anything they can grab onto, shouldering morsels of food twice their size, and dumping their loot inside the tiniest holes no one can enter.

They are preparing for the rainy days ahead.

That’s why I am not at all surprised God Himself used the ants’ diligence, resourcefulness, perseverance as an example for people to follow and emulate.

God Himself is hardworking.

Didn’t He work for six full days and ‘rest’ only on the seventh day?

We’re not saying that we ought to work 6 days a week.

It only shows that we too are created for good work, we’re not brought into this world to couch away in laziness but use our God-given talents to contribute to its growth advancing God’s kingdom here on earth, both in small and big ways.

4. God Shows His Relentless Spirit in Nature 

God is simply relentless.

If there’s one thing I’ve realized about a side of God I didn’t notice before, it is His utterly relentless nature.

You can see God’s relentless nature in the way a butterfly rips itself out of its chrysalis after months of brutal, silent fight.

In the way ants carry morsels of food twice their weight for weeks or for even months, the way a seed pushes through dirt and mud to flower, refusing to die.

Reading, studying, the Scripture, we would realize once God puts His heart into something, He is relentless.

He will make sure whatever He sets His heart on, He will accomplish it in His own time, His heart’s desires will inevitably come to fruition. 

Did He not declare a long time ago that He would bring the Jewish people back to their homeland? True enough, despite those thousands of hard years of exile across many different nations, Jewish nation still ended up returning to Israel.

This happened despite the Jews’ refusal to go back to the land.

Can we blame them?

Israel, before their return to Eretz Israel, was mostly desert, it was infested with malaria-causing mosquitoes. Marshes and swamps were poorly drained before their arrival, turning many areas into a breeding ground for a type of mosquito, Anopheles, which is responsible for the spread of malaria disease in the region.

It’s a desert country where even a cactus struggled to thrive, according to Mark Twain, something he had noted in his diary during his visit to the land in 1867.

But God is relentless.

Whatever He set out to do, He brings to life.

A barren desert for more than two thousand years, the land has once again reverted back into what it was known for, land of milk and honey, land of many grazing cows and flourishing havens of fruits, veggies, and flowers of all kinds, a few years after the Jewish people had cultivated the fields and settled in their homeland.

“But you, mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home.” Ezekiel 36:8 NIV

And He is relentless in His pursuit of you.

Moment by moment, day after day, year after year, He is shaping you into the kind of person He aspires you to be.

He shapes your character through life experiences, the people He sends into your pathway, the souls He meant for you to meet.

That is why we’re confident that “ He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6 NIV

5. God’s Gentleness Is Visible in Nature

Whether it be a soft rain falling into the meadow, a mother swan guiding her young, a gentle stream flowing over rocks, a mother bird feeding her babies 100 times a day, dandelion seeds drifting in the wind, or the random kindness of strangers–we can observe, we feel a smile on our faces at God’s gentle nature.

Atheists and even some Christians often describe God in the Old Testament as wrathful and vengeful, exacting severe, insufferable punishment against those who defied His commands.

Truth is, some Christians even think that the God of the Old Testament seems different from the God of the New Testament.

It appears as if God has a contrasting character.

Wrathful as a lion in the Old Testament, gentle as a dove in the New Testament. 

If we were to scrutinize the reason behind God’s wrath in the Old Testament, we would inevitably realize those gravest circumstances compelling Him to exact a severe judgment against His people.

Before punishing a person, group of people, or a nation, God would send out repeated warnings not for days or months but for years, even decades, before executing judgment.

The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah came about due to the rampant sexual immorality and other immoral acts that ran rampant throughout those cities.  

God was merciful and gracious enough to send His prophets throughout the years to warn people about the impending catastrophe that would befall them if they would not turn away from their misbehaviors to repent of their many sins.

Yet, time and again, for decades, the inhabitants remained defiant, stubbornly rebellious.

And when the judgment was about to be carried out, did not God agree with Moses’ proposal several times as the latter pleaded with God to seek out those few righteous people, grant them mercy, and spare the city from His wrath?

In the end, those 10 righteous people in the land were allowed to leave and live.

And Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, but only after decades of warning.

God is not wrathful.

He is a God of justice. That is His nature, and as such, He carries out what only a just God is drawn to do: to exact judgment when dire circumstances demand it.

Being intimate with God isn’t just about carving out time to spend with Him in prayer; it’s about cultivating a deeper personal relationship with Him.

It’s also about knowing God for who He is.

And we can do so by observing His wonderful works around; nature has a way of revealing God’s heart.

The more we know Him, the more our love for Him is engraved deeply in our sin stone hardened hearts, enabling us to be transformed into kinder, gentler souls.

“He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:8 NKJV

“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” 1 John 2:3-6 NKJV

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit …

Praying ….

Psalm 19 New American Standard Bible

The Works and the Word of God.
For the music director. A Psalm of David.

19 The heavens tell of the glory of God;
And their expanse declares the work of His hands.
2 Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.
4 Their [a]line has gone out into all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.
In them He has placed a tent for the sun,
5 Which is like a groom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices like a strong person to run his course.
6 Its rising is from [b]one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the [c]other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

7 The Law of the Lord is [d]perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much pure gold;
Sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, Your servant is warned by them;
In keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
13 Also keep Your servant back from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me;
Then I will be innocent,
And I will be blameless of great wrongdoing.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

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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Now is the appointed time to just Go! Behold! From the very Beginning: its all about The Creator And The Word. Genesis 1:1-6

Bereshis 1:1-6 Orthodox Jewish Bible

1 In the beginning Elohim created hashomayim (the heavens, Himel) and haaretz (the earth).

2 And the earth was tohu vavohu (without form, and void); and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Ruach Elohim was hovering upon the face of the waters.

3 And Elohim said, Let there be light: and there was light [Tehillim 33:6,9].

4 And Elohim saw the light, that it was tov (good); and Elohim divided the ohr (light) from the choshech (darkness).

5 And Elohim called the light Yom (Day), and the darkness He called Lailah (Night). And the erev (evening) and the boker (morning) were Yom Echad (Day One, the First Day, Mk 16:2).

6 And Elohim said, Let there be a raki’a (expanse, dome, firmament) in the midst of the mayim (waters), and let it divide the mayim from the mayim.

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 the Bible we have God’s great story of the world from its beginning to its end.

This story includes not only mind numbing complexity and wondrous beauty but also great tragedy and sorrow.

One of the golden threads woven into this story focuses on the world’s true King. Who is this King, and what does true kingship look like on the earth?

In the Bible’s opening verses we can hear God speaking.

In the ancient world, no one could make things happen the way a king could by just speaking.

If the king said, “Let there be a banquet,” the obedient servants jumped into action. “Your wish is our command,” they would say.

In Genesis, God speaks as King, and the cosmos itself springs into being.

God can even make something out of nothing!

Light and darkness, day and night, water and sky, sun and moon, vegetation and creatures.

Whole arenas of life are formed and filled.

And the King says, “It is good.”

This Creator King builds by speaking, and his lordship over all things is put on display.

Ancient kings in their earthly kingdoms would build temples, palaces, and vast gardens. Creator King has spoken, built the marvelous temple-palace-garden complex that is creation, the whole universe, including our own earthly home.

The world in which we “live and move and have our being” exists because our King continues to speak and uphold its existence (Colossians 1:16-17). Amazing!

Appreciate this thought: There is, was will never a time when God did not exist. Before there was time, before there was anything at all, there was always God.

Hebrews 13:8 Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

8 Jesus Christ, yesterday, and to day; and the same for ever.

And since His nature is unchanging, so He has also always existed in the Trinity—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Amen!

When we are reading the Bible, we discover each member of the Holy Trinity was involved in creation: God the Father took the initiative, God the Holy Spirit is described as “hovering over” the proceedings, and God the Son was the agent of creation in all that was made (Genesis 1:2-3; John 1:3).

“All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small”[1] should leave us in awe; they were all fashioned by God’s command.

1 Cecil F. Alexander, “All Things Bright and Beautiful” (1848).

And He is not only the Creator of all; He is also the King, the Lord of all that He has created. All of nature is quite literally, by, in His hands, under His control.

As we visually try to picture waves crashing against ancient shorelines, it’s wonderfully encouraging to know each one is there as a direct result of God’s sovereign rule. He hasn’t stepped away from His creation, nor will He ever.

It’s so vitally important to remember God is also transcendent. He is sitting on His throne, above, beyond, fully unique and distinct from all that He has made.

This is what distinguishes Christianity from pantheism.

It is the idea that the natural world is a manifestation of God and therefore literally every single thing is somehow a part of Him.

With this belief, we dare not kill a fly, step on an ant – those insects are divine.

Similarly, we should not chop down a tree or eat meat, because these too are “parts of God.”

Teachings like these are mistaken and misguided and tend to lead to idolatry.

Scripture makes it crystal clear that time and time again that people will choose to worship “the creature rather than the Creator” (Romans 1:25).

When we see a great painting, we rightly admire and enjoy the painting, and then we praise the painter. All of creation is God’s canvas, and all of it speaks of “his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature” (v 20).

Only God is to be worshiped, for creation exists by His power and for His glory.

His existence knows no beginning or end, and He will reign forever.

He is the King.

Today, exalt Him as He alone deserves.

Go for a walk or look out of the window and sing praises to Him as you see His beauty displayed in what He has made.

Humble yourselves! Praise Him, Honor Him, Glorify Him, Worship Him, as He continues to rule over His creation, and for holding you in His sovereign hand.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit …

Praying ….

Psalm 23 Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

23 On the first day of the week, a psalm for David. The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof: the world, and all they that dwell therein.

2 For he hath founded it upon the seas; and hath prepared it upon the rivers.

3 Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord: or who shall stand in his holy place?

4 The innocent in hands, and clean of heart, who hath not taken his soul in vain, nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbour.

5 He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God his Saviour.

6 This is the generation of them that seek him, of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob.

7 Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates: and the King of Glory shall enter in.

8 Who is this King of Glory? the Lord who is strong and mighty: the Lord mighty in battle.

9 Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates: and the King of Glory shall enter in.

10 Who is this King of Glory? the Lord of hosts, he is the King of Glory.

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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Congregation to Pastor: just show us God, the Father, it will be just enough for us. Pastor preached: So, How long have you “believed” yet shouting out “Pastor, just reveal God the Father?” John 14:8–10

John 14:8-10Amplified Bible

8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father and then we will be satisfied.” 9  Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and you do not know Me yet, Philip, nor recognize clearly who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you I do not say on My own initiative or authority, but the Father, abiding continually in Me, does His works [His attesting miracles and acts of power].

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.

When have we felt closest to God? When have we felt most distant from God?

You might be doing “all the right things”—attending worship, reading the Bible, praying, studying, helping others—yet God still doesn’t seem very close.

Maybe we have felt this way in a crisis—or even in the midst of daily routines.

We just wish that God would show us unequivocally who he is and he is active.

Philip seems to show that sentiment, saying, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

But Jesus appeared surprised by this; saying, “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?”

Jesus had revealed the Father throughout his entire ministry!

Jesus “is himself God and . . . has made him known” (John 1:18).

He taught that he is “equal with God” (John 5:18).

He also said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).

Jesus makes “I am” statements, using the Lord’s special name “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:13-15).

He had walked on water, fed many thousands, spoke, stilled the storms, and had raised people from the dead.

That night, Jesus also ate his last supper with his disciples, telling them he would soon die and rise again (John 13).

Yet Philip still desperately wanted more revelation!

Would it really be enough?

John 14:8-10 Christian Standard Bible

Jesus Reveals the Father

8 “Lord,” said Philip, “show us the Father, and that’s enough for us.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time and you do not know me, Philip? The one who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who lives in me does his works.

One day in an art class, the teacher was going around the various paintings to look at what the children were doing, she asked a boy what it was he was painting.

The small boy said to her, “I’m painting a picture of God.”

“But we don’t know what God looks like,” the teacher replied.

“Well,” said the boy, “come back when I’ve finished and you’ll find out!”

With the birth of the infant Lord Jesus in Bethlehem, God took a brush and painted on the largest canvas of history what He Himself was really like.

Hebrews 1:1-4 New King James Version
God’s Supreme Revelation

1 God, who [a]at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the [b]worlds;  3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had [c]by Himself [d] purged [e]our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

When Christ appeared, He rendered obsolete all previous guesses about God’s nature, and He rendered arrogant all subsequent ones.

The writer to the Hebrews put it this way:

“At many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2).

In other words, through the prophets of old, God had spoken a multifaceted and varied word, weaving His character and His nature all through the pages of the Old Testament.

But in Bethlehem, God spoke in a personified Word.

The long-awaited Messiah, the Light of the nations, appeared—and in that tiny little baby, God made manifest His reality.

Just think: in that Bethlehem manger lay God… wiggling His toes!

The baby that nursed at the breast of Mary and was rocked to sleep in the arms of Joseph was God, and He remains God.

Is it any wonder that the shepherds went out and spread the word?

Is it any wonder that the wise men of His day bowed in worship before Him?

Jesus came to make the Father known.

May our hearts be so humbled by the incarnation that we come to know God personally, not merely intellectually.

Like the shepherds, we have the message of Christ’s advent to share with our society.

As we spread the good news of Jesus’ coming as the Messiah, as the one who is God and has come to make God known, pray that the wisdom of our world may bow before His glory.

Do you know Jesus as your Lord?

Our Lord’s Words to Philip seem to drip with discouragement.

Certainly Philip should have known better.

From reading this portion of John’s narrative, it appears John strongly believed it should be the natural wish of man in every age for some extraordinary vision, revelation of the Father – for an earnest desire for further light – a yearning for the miraculous. “Let us see the Father.”

Philip’s plea here reveals not only the weakness of his faith but the lack of his grasping, understanding, actualizing, the gospel way of making God known.

Jesus came to flesh out the Father for our eyes to see and subsequently as His 21st century followers we are covenanted to flesh out Jesus for the world to see.

To see with bodily eyes is one thing yet to see with eyes of faith is quite another.

Then—praise God—you have seen, and believe in His Father as Thomas stated.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit …

Praying …..

Psalm 19 English Standard Version

The Law of the Lord Is Perfect

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

19 The heavens declare the glory of God,
    and the sky above[a] proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
    and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
    whose voice is not heard.
4 Their voice[b] goes out through all the earth,
    and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
5     which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
    and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
    and its circuit to the end of them,
    and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect,[c]
    reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
    making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
    enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is clean,
    enduring forever;
the rules[d] of the Lord are true,
    and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
    even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
    and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can discern his errors?
    Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
    let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
    and innocent of great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
    be acceptable in your sight,
    O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

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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