Tag: christianity

Beyond my comfort and convenience, have I truly decided to follow Jesus? Luke 9:57-62

Luke 9:57-62 Amplified Bible

Exacting Discipleship

57 As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 And Jesus told him, “Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” 59 He said to another, “Follow Me [accepting Me as Master and Teacher].” But he said, “Lord, allow me first to go and [a]bury my father.” 60 But He said to him, “Allow the [spiritually] dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and spread the news about the kingdom of God.” 61 Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord [as Your disciple]; but first let me say goodbye to those at my home.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back [to the things left behind] is fit for the kingdom of God.”

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.

It is time to get serious.

It is time to commit to a course of action.

Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, and He was showing us what it really means to be His follower.

Following Jesus is not always easy or comfortable.

It may mean giving up things that feel safe or easy in our lives so we can do what God asks us to do.

As we look at these verses, we are invited to think about how our own journey with Jesus means stepping out of our comfort zones and facing challenges for His sake.

This devotion reminds us following Jesus can be hard and may require major League life transforming sacrifices. Jesus teaches us that true devotion to Him is more than just words- It means being 100% willing to make difficult choices.

Luke 9:51-56

The cost of…

1. Surrendering personal plans.

Jesus shows us how important it is to let go of our own plans to follow God’s purpose. Jesus knew He would face suffering, but He chose to go to Jerusalem anyway, showing that He trusted God’s plan more than His own comfort.

The Disciples wanted to call fire down on the Samaritan villagers because they misunderstood Jesus’ mission- They thought justice meant revenge; but Jesus’ way is different; it’s about sacrifice and humility.

This teaches us that being a follower of Jesus sometimes means giving up our personal dreams and our comfort to do what God asks. True discipleship means trusting that God’s plan is much better, even when it’s hard or uncomfortable.

From a spiritual point of view, surrendering our plans is an act of faith.

It means trusting that God’s wisdom and love are greater than our own ideas.

Jesus shows us that real commitment to God involves making a choice to focus on His Kingdom rather than our own safety or comfort.

Surrender is not just giving up but actively choosing to follow God’s will.

It’s about copying Jesus’ example, even if it means facing difficulties or hardship.

When we do this, we join in God’s work of saving and transforming lives.

We find true purpose and fulfillment not in personal comfort, but in a life of sacrifice, service, and trusting God’s perfect plan.

Luke 9:57-58

The cost of…

2. Prioritizing God’s mission over worldly attachments.

Jesus shows us that following Him requires more than just words; it involves real commitment, even if it means giving up some comforts.

When someone wants to follow Jesus, Jesus points out that He doesn’t have a permanent home or treasured possessions like other people- He is focused on God’s mission.

This teaches us that putting God’s work 1st might mean letting go of things we treasure, like money, comfort, gourmet foods or living standards, social status.

True discipleship means changing what we care about so that God’s plans become more important than temporary worldly things that can distract us from what truly matters forever.

Jesus’ words also remind us that following Him can come with a cost.

We are called to let go of attachments to our possessions, comfort, or even our personal plans if they stand in the way of God’s purpose.

The Bible teaches that our main allegiance should be to God’s Kingdom, not worldly things.

This passage encourages us to examine what we value most, (whether it’s possessions, popularity, or comfort)to ask if we are 0.01% willing to give those up to do God’s work.

Being a true follower of Jesus means being ready to face down challenges and sacrifices, just as Jesus Himself did, so His mission can go forward in our lives.

Luke 9:59-60

The cost of…

3. Total devotion and uncompromising obedience.

Jesus is calling people to follow Him wholeheartedly.

He wants us to be completely committed, even if it means giving up things that are important to us, like comfort, status, or family.

Jesus’s words remind us that being His disciple isn’t about doing things just when it’s easy or convenient.

Instead, it’s about making a firm decision to put God’s Kingdom 1st in our lives, no matter what it costs. Jesus Himself showed this kind of total obedience to God, and He asks us to do the same- Being above and beyond willing to leave behind anything that might keep us from fully following Him.

From a spiritual point of view, this passage shows us that following Jesus is not always easy or without sacrifice.

It’s a calling to live a life of complete devotion- Giving everything we are to God’s will.

True obedience means choosing to follow Jesus even when it’s difficult or costly, just like Jesus obeyed His Father’s plan for salvation.

It’s about surrendering ourselves completely, (heart, mind, soul, strength) and trusting that the reward of following Jesus is worth any sacrifice we make.

This kind of devotion reflects Jesus’s own life and mission and shows us that genuine discipleship involves a deep commitment that goes above and beyond comfort and convenience.

Luke 9:61-62

The cost of…

4. Unwavering commitment despite distractions and setbacks.

Following Jesus requires a strong and steady commitment, no matter what distractions or setbacks we face.

Spiritually, it shows us that being His disciple means putting Him 1st, even when other things in life try to pull us away.

Jesus’ reply to the person who wants to follow Him but 1st wants to say goodbye to family reminds us following Jesus might require significant deeply personal sacrifices that push us out of our comfort zones.

Trusting in God’s plan helps us stay focused on what truly matters, even when life gets tough or tempting things try to distract us from our spiritual purpose.

This teaching also shows us that true discipleship is about staying faithful during difficult times.

Jesus Himself stayed committed to His mission, even when faced with suffering and temptations.

As His followers, we are called to be just as faithful, knowing that setbacks and challenges are natural part of our journey. Our love for Jesus and obedience to Him should keep us steady, trusting that God’s plan will win in the end.

Being fully committed to Jesus means giving Him our whole heart, choosing to follow Him beyond comfort and convenience, and remaining faithful no matter what obstacles come our way.

Closing Thoughts …

Jesus is asking us to follow Him with all our hearts, even when it’s hard and we have to leave our comfort behind.

His trip to Jerusalem shows us that being His disciple means we might have to make sacrifices, stay committed, and trust Him no matter what.

We are called to put God’s Kingdom 1st, instead of always choosing what’s easy and comfortable.

Remember, the good things Jesus gives us are worth any difficulty, and His grace will help us through every challenge.

Today, I want to invite you to answer Jesus’s call with a willing heart.

If you feel Him speaking to you, encouraging you to go beyond comfort and get closer to Him, now is the time to respond.

Whether you are taking that 1st step of faith or need to come back to Him, I encourage you to come forward and pray.

Ask Jesus to help and guide you.

Don’t wait- His love and plan for your life are waiting for you.

Come, and let’s walk together far beyond comfort and convenience into the wonderful, abundant life Jesus offers.

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

Praying …

Psalm 16 Complete Jewish Bible

16 (0) Mikhtam. By David:

(1) Protect me, God,
for you are my refuge.
2 I said to Adonai, “You are my Lord;
I have nothing good outside of you.”
3 The holy people in the land are the ones
who are worthy of honor; all my pleasure is in them.

4 Those who run after another god
multiply their sorrows;
To such gods I will not offer
drink offerings of blood
or take their names on my lips.

5 Adonai, my assigned portion, my cup:
you safeguard my share.
6 Pleasant places were measured out for me;
I am content with my heritage.

7 I bless Adonai, my counselor;
at night my inmost being instructs me.
8 I always set Adonai before me;
with him at my right hand, I can never be moved;
9 so my heart is glad, my glory rejoices,
and my body too rests in safety;
10 for you will not abandon me to Sh’ol,
you will not let your faithful one see the Abyss.
11 You make me know the path of life;
in your presence is unbounded joy,
in your right hand eternal delight.

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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Praying or Despairing? When You Don’t Have Any Friends, when you have no acquaintances to keep you company, our life in our isolation. Matthew 11:16-19

Matthew 11:16-19 Message

16-19 “How can I account for this generation? The people have been like spoiled children whining to their parents, ‘We wanted to skip rope, and you were always too tired; we wanted to talk, but you were always too busy.’ John came fasting and they called him crazy. I came feasting and they called me a boozer, a friend of the misfits. Opinion polls don’t count for much, do they? The proof of the pudding is in the eating.”

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 Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and ‘sinners.’” (Matthew 11:19)

I met an individual last year was struggling with a serious illness. When I asked him if he knew Jesus, he said “Sorry, but I’m not ready to give my life to Jesus,”

“Have you told Jesus that?” I asked.

Judging from the stymied look on her face, the idea of praying was the farthest thing from his mind. “Why don’t you take time right now to tell Jesus? Whatever is on your heart, you can tell Him.”

The elderly man gave a smile when I reached for his hand and then bowed his head with mine saying,

“Lord, I…uh…they tell me I should give my life to you…and although I can’t, that is, I guess I won’t, I really do…I really want to believe. Please…help me.”

“You’re well on your way to believing in Christ,” I said after he finished praying.

How could I be so sure?

Because he had opened up his heart to encounter the Lord Jesus.

When someone engages God in prayer, they can never be quite the same.

That elderly man’s prayer, though feeble and faltering, meant the Savior, in turn, had a handhold on him. With much encouragement and prayers, it wasn’t long before he accepted Jesus and was welcomed into God’s family

The good news sounds great to those who see Jesus befriending them. In the gospels, the Lord Jesus is constantly presented as a friend of sinners. He moved among the “untouchable'” people as their friend before He became their Savior.

Who can you befriend on Jesus’ behalf today?

Ask God to bring to mind someone who needs Him, and how about you?

Do you need a friend today?

Ask Jesus to be with you in a way that will be a comfort to you.

What did Jesus say about associating with sinners?

Jesus said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matt. 9:13).

For Jesus, calling sinners didn’t mean standing at a distance and shouting, “Hey, what you are doing is wrong! Stop doing that and come over here.”

Rather, it meant going to where the sinners actually were and being with them, associating with them.

Does the Bible say Jesus was a friend of sinners?

Jesus is called a friend of sinners (Matt. 11:19; Luke 7:34).

Them and us.

No matter what more we might say about his intentions, or the outcome of such friendship, Jesus freely associated with all sinners in a connectional, relational way before any change or expectation of repentance on the part of the sinners.

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

Praying ….

Psalm 16 The Message

16 1-2 Keep me safe, O God,
    I’ve run for dear life to you.
I say to God, “Be my Lord!”
    Without you, nothing makes sense.

3 And these God-chosen lives all around—
    what splendid friends they make!

4 Don’t just go shopping for a god.
    Gods are not for sale.
I swear I’ll never treat god-names
    like brand-names.

5-6 My choice is you, God, first and only.
    And now I find I’m your choice!
You set me up with a house and yard.
    And then you made me your heir!

7-8 The wise counsel God gives when I’m awake
    is confirmed by my sleeping heart.
Day and night I’ll stick with God;
    I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go.

9-10 I’m happy from the inside out,
    and from the outside in, I’m firmly formed.
You canceled my ticket to hell—
    that’s not my destination!

11 Now you’ve got my feet on the life path,
    all radiant from the shining of your face.
Ever since you took my hand,
    I’m on the right way.

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, God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, to make them   reflect our nature…”Genesis 1:26-28

Genesis 1:26-28 English Standard Version

26 Then God said, “Let us make man[a] in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

27 So God created man in his own image,
    in the image of God he created him;
    male and female he created them.

28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Word of God for the Children of God.

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

Today, there’s a lot of talk about identity — owning our identity, claiming our identity — and it makes allot of Christians wonder: Does the Bible address this?

What Does God Say about Our Identity?

It turns out God has a lot to say about our identity, and his loving, generous, and merciful guidance starts right in the very first chapter of his holy Word.

In Genesis 1:27, we’re told, “God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

That’s right — we’re made in the very image of love and goodness and also perfection itself: God Almighty.

That doesn’t mean we ourselves, on our own, are perfect.

But because we are made in God’s image, we know that we are special to him, beloved, and intentionally created.

We have the potential to be like him, though it is only through the saving power and merciful gift of Jesus Christ we are able to be saved, fully reconciled to God.  

That’s a beautiful and tremendously precious thing.

Many of us struggle with our identity.

Perhaps we self-identity based on our upbringing, or the sins of our past, or even the names bullies mocked and brutalized us on the school playground.

Maybe we’ve given ourselves inflated or false identities, identities that fade with the world.

But as Christians, we get a new and eternal identity.

And God has quite a lot to say about that.

The Bible contains a number of statements God makes about our identity.

Let’s dive in to see what these are.

We Are a New Creation in Christ

Those of us who are Christians get an unexpectedly wonderful gift when we choose to follow Jesus: We are new creations.

We get an entirely new start in life.

All of the mistakes of our past are wiped clean.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul writes, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

It reminds me of what Jesus talked about with Nicodemus in John 3:3 about being “born again.”

When we are born again as believers, baptized with water and Spirit into God’s heavenly family, we are then able to enter God’s kingdom.

We become part of a new identity, that of “Christ-follower.”

As John explains in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Remembering this clarifies everything.

We Are God’s Children

Another extraordinary truth is that we are sons and daughters of God, part of God’s family. 

John 1:12-13 tells us, “To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

Ephesians 2:19 tells us that because Jesus destroyed the barrier between us and God, we who believe are “members of his household.”

Galatians 4:5-7 says that because of Jesus, we were adopted as God’s own — no longer a slave but God’s own child. (Ephesians 1:5 echoes this.)

As Romans 8:16 so passionately proclaims, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”

Remembering that identity reminds us to behave as children who honor their heavenly Father.

We are ‘Heavenites’ — Citizens of Heaven

People from Brooklyn are called Brooklynites, while biblical people from Israel were called Israelites. We, however, are told in Scripture that we are citizens of heaven; therefore, we can claim identity as “Heavenites,” people of heaven.

Philippians 3:20 tells us clearly that “our citizenship is in heaven.”

Jesus himself said he was going ahead of us to his Father’s house — heaven — to prepare a place for us there in the many rooms that await (John 14:2-3).

Because we are citizens of heaven, we must take this seriously and do our best to live this way on earth.

Paul writes that we are “Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20), and that’s true.

For many, we are the face of God.

We shine his light and spread his word so that all may know, fulfilling Jesus’s Great Commission that he gave his followers in Matthew 28:19-20 to go and makes disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey.

We are not to love the world and its ways (1 John 2:15-17), but rather to love only God, and second to love others as ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40).

Remembering that identity reminds us to live our lives in a way that points to him, now and always.

We Are Part of God’s Body

The Bible is clear we are the body of Christ, with every person as a different part (1 Corinthians 12:27).

Some are teachers, healers, or prophets, just like there are eyes, ears, or feet.

Therefore, we must understand that our bodies are not our own.

Bought with a price, they are temples of the Holy Spirit who lives inside us (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Ephesians 1:22-23 says much the same, noting that Christ is our head.

In John 15, Jesus talks about being the true vine, while we are the branches.

As he explains, just as with branches on a tree, they are fully connected:

“If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Remembering that identity helps when we walk in the world.

We Are Forgiven and Free

As followers of Jesus, we have the assurance that our sins are forgiven.

This means we’re no longer destined to agony but liberated for heavenly glory.

We’re not chained to the past but free for God’s good purpose.

As 1 John 2:12 says, “Your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.”

And as Galatians 5:1 reminds us,

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Remembering this helps us stand up straight when on assignment from God.

What are some more identities God gives us?

The Bible is filled with many more statements about our identity: beloved, strengthen, complete, made whole.

Here are only just a few:

At our core, our identity is found in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

To echo what our savior said in John 15:5, apart from him, we can do nothing.

Our identity is rooted in him, woven perfectly in a protective, loving bind that lasts for eternity.

We receive a God-given sense of purpose and belonging in this, liberating us for the good purposes God has for his glory.

And that is far better than anything this world can offer.

Our Identities in God, the Father, God the Son God the Holy Spirit

Thanks be to God!

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

Praying ….

Psalm 8 New American Standard Bible

The Lord’s Glory and Mankind’s Dignity.
For the music director; on the Gittith. A Psalm of David.

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

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

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

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

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The Words of Eternal Life. “Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom else should we go? You alone have the words of eternal life.” John 6:66-71

John 6:60-71 New King James Version

Many Disciples Turn Away

60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a [a]hard saying; who can understand it?”

61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples [b]complained about this, He said to them, “Does this [c]offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

66 From that time many of His disciples went [d]back and walked with Him no more.  67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the [e]Christ, the Son of the living God.”

70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” 71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.

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.

At some point in every Christian’s life, we come face-to-face with doubt.

Something happens that we did not expect, and even the strongest among us begin to question everything about what and why we believe.

The enemy is non-stop relentless in the presence of our pain, and he begins to apply pressure with three specific questions:

“Is it true?”

“Is it worth it?”

“Is it remotely believable?”

These questions are followed by countless others.

Did God really say what’s in His word?

Is all this really going to be worth it?

If God really loved you, would you be suffering as much as you are now?

Why am I bothering myself with my effort – I only achieve more confusion?

This Biblical stuff is too hard to grasp, and it seems like you are worse off than before; wouldn’t it be easier to just run as the wind away or walk out on Jesus?

In the scripture above, Jesus relays the utmost importance of “drinking His blood” and “eating His flesh.”

This was a difficult lesson and many walked out on Him because it made them uncomfortable – is Jesus only looking for cannibals’ to become His followers?

Jesus then asked His disciples if they were going to quit, too. But Peter answered Him, “To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

When the tsunami’s of doubt come and the enemy starts to ask hard questions, answer him with another: Where else could I go? Jesus has the words of eternal life, and no matter how utterly difficult life becomes, I will not walk out on Him.

Words of Eternal Life
John 6:67-69Amplified Bible

67 So Jesus said to the twelve [disciples], “You do not want to leave too, do you?” 68 Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You [alone] have the words of eternal life [you are our only hope]. 69 We have believed and confidently trusted, and [even more] we have come to know [by personal observation and experience] that You are the Holy One of God [the Christ, the Son of the living God].”

Crowds can be fickle, switching quickly from enthusiasm to rejection and even violence. Sometimes these dramatic swings are triggered by just a few words.

Jesus’ teaching in John 6 shows his words can trigger rejection or lead to life.

As Jesus’ reputation grew, the crowds of people around him dramatically increased.

Why?

Because he was a wonder worker.

Just a day or two earlier, Jesus had fed a huge crowd of several thousand people (John 6:1-15).

But while the crowds were drawn to his miraculous works, they didn’t always like his surprising teachings.

At the synagogue in Capernaum, he had told the crowd that if they wanted to have eternal life, they had to eat of his body and drink of his blood (6:53-59).

Turned off by that vision of cannibalistic behavior, many people rejected Jesus.

Jesus asked his closest disciples if they wanted to leave too.

Speaking on behalf of them all, Peter asked, “Lord, to whom shall we go?”

And then he made this bedrock confession: “You have the words of eternal life.”

When the Holy Spirit softens our hearts and opens our eyes to faith in Christ, we can see Jesus for who he really is, just as Peter did and, affirm our faith in Him.

John 14:1-6 Amplified Bible

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

14 “Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and I will take you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. 4 And [to the place]  where I am going, you know the way.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him,  “[a]I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Jesus is the Son of God, our only truth for faith and life.

Affirmation of Faith – Apostles’ Creed I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

And then, like Peter, we can also unconditionally trust him as we live and serve.

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

Praying …

Psalm 29 Complete Jewish Bible

29 (0) A psalm of David:

(1) Give Adonai his due, you who are godly;
give Adonai his due of glory and strength;
2 give Adonai the glory due his name;
worship Adonai in holy splendor.

3 The voice of Adonai is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
Adonai over rushing waters,
4 the voice of Adonai in power,
the voice of Adonai in splendor.

5 The voice of Adonai cracks the cedars;
Adonai splinters the cedars of the L’vanon
6 and makes the L’vanon skip like a calf,
Siryon like a young wild ox.

7 The voice of Adonai flashes fiery flames;
8 the voice of Adonai rocks the desert,
Adonai convulses the Kadesh Desert.
9 The voice of Adonai causes deer to give birth
and strips the forests bare —
while in his temple, all cry, “Glory!”
10 Adonai sits enthroned above the flood!
Adonai sits enthroned as king forever!
11 May Adonai give strength to his people!
May Adonai bless his people with shalom!

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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Lord, this is my prayer; there is not a single moment of my life for which I don’t have a need for your Direction. Psalm 119:73-80

Psalm 119:73-80 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

73 Your hands have made and fashioned me;
    give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,
    because I have hoped in your word.
75 I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right
    and that in faithfulness you have humbled me.
76 Let your steadfast love become my comfort
    according to your promise to your servant.
77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live,
    for your law is my delight.
78 Let the arrogant be put to shame,
    for they have subverted me with guile;
    as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
79 Let those who fear you turn to me,
    so that they may know your decrees.
80 May my heart be blameless in your statutes,
    so that I may not be put to shame.

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.

How Much More Knowledge Shall We Receive From the Lord?

God knows us so well that he knows the best way to teach us what he wants us to know. Let’s celebrate when we learn the lesson, believe the promise, obey the command or trust in faith. We are all learning how to selflessly follow our Lord.

Which verse or passage in the Bible – or maybe it’s an entire book – do you find too difficult to understand? What parts of the Bible do you feel you have to wade through every word trying figure out exactly what’s being said?

The reality is that there are some things that our human minds simply cannot grasp – such as the true grandeur of heaven – until we pass from this life and into eternity and we are able to see things as God sees them.

But the Bible is God’s letter to us and his instructions for how to live. He wants us to understand it.

The good news is that because God is the one that created us, he understands the limitations of our understanding.

So when we get frustrated with trying to understand something in the Bible, we can first remember God is our creator and already knows we are struggling. 

The same God that fashioned and created us with His own hands, paying attention to every minute little detail even to the point of every human being having different fingerprints, is the same God who understands our weaknesses and frailties.

But God did not leave us alone to figure things out.

At the moment we became a Christian, the Holy Spirit moved in and took up residence within us.

Part of the job of the Holy Spirit is to help us understand the Bible.

In Psalm 119:73, the psalmist is asking God to give him understanding so he could learn God’s commandments.

In essence, saying, “God you are the one you made me, now help me understand.”

Any time we open God’s Word, we should begin with a prayer before reading the first word – a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to help us understand.

1 John 2:27 says, “The anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you don’t need anyone to teach you. Instead, His anointing teaches you about all things and is true and is not a lie; just as He has taught you, remain in Him.”

1 Corinthians 2:10 “Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.”

So when you are having a difficult time understanding the Bible, stop where you are and ask the Holy Spirit to help you.

Another element to understanding God’s Word is that we must have a heart that is willing to do whatever God is saying to us.

We don’t just read it so we can check the box on our daily Bible reading plan.

We should be reading with the expectation that God will reveal something new to us – whether that is something about His character, the way He expects us to live as His children, or He uses His Word to convict us of sin.

Whatever He reveals, the purpose is to make us more and more like Christ and to grow us as Christians as He prepares us to do His will.

James 1:22 “Be doers of the word and not hearers only.”

John 7:17 says, “If anyone wants to do His will, he will understand whether the teaching is from God or if I am speaking on My own.”

So be sure you are willing to do whatever God might reveal to you as you are asking the Holy Spirit to help you understand.

We also have to be willing to give up our own ideas.

In Isaiah 53:6, we find that “we have all turned to our own way.”

We can’t take a single verse out of the Bible and make it say what we want it to say to fit what we want to do.

Proverbs 16:25 teaches, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

Satan is called the “deceiver” in the Bible.

From the very beginning of the Bible we find Satan deceiving Eve and he continues to deceive all the way through to Revelation.

2 Corinthians 11:14 says, “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”

And in Revelation 12:9, the Bible tells us what will happen to Satan:

“The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.”

Satan knows that because you have been saved, that you do not belong to him.

But if he can insert a spike strip in your roadway, and trip you up so you don’t understand the Bible, then you may not live the abundant, victorious life God intends for you or perhaps it will keep you from winning someone else to Christ.

He wants to deceive us so we do not have a good understanding of the Bible.

Rather than bringing our own creative clever ideas to the table when we open God’s Word, we should initially have a desire, a passion, to understand God’s Word His way, digging into the context and depend on Him to reveal it to us.

If we expect to truly understand God’s Word, we can’t just sit down and read it – we have to study it.

You might say, I go to church on Sunday and listen to the preacher and I’m part of a small group too.

But how do you know if what they are teaching is Biblical truth if you are not studying it for yourself?

2 Timothy 2:15 teaches, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of the truth.”

If you want to truly understand the Bible, you have to study it in depth so that you can understand it accurately.

Don’t just depend on your pastor to do the study work.

Study it for yourself!

As we are studying God’s Word, we need to compare spiritual things with spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:13).

In other words we use the Bible to interpret the Bible.

Let’s say you wanted to put a complex puzzle together or a modeled car.

With all the pieces lying around you, how do you know what the finished product is supposed to look like?

You look at the picture on the box.

Studying God’s Word is much like that.

When we come to a part we don’t understand we need to take the main topic of what we are studying, search the entire Bible for everything it has to say about that topic.

There are many online helps for this.

One of the easiest ways to see verses all on a single topic is go to openbible.info.

https://www.openbible.info/

The search bar will say, “What does the Bible say about” and you type in the topic. The website will pull up all the verses that pertain to that topic.

You can then begin to study each verse in it’s own scriptural context. We can then get a full picture about what God has to say on the topic you are studying.

Sometimes, we just need a sounding board too so we can process the thoughts that are revealed as we study.

So we can maybe make an appointment with our pastors or another Godly saint more spiritually mature than us and talk with them about what we are studying.

God can use these people to help us connect all the dots so we can understand what He is saying to us. Again, we should not just rely on their understanding.

We have to do our own study work.

We need to follow the teaching in Proverbs 3:5-6,

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths. 

Understanding God’s Word requires us to trust God with all that we are, to set aside our own biased and faulty thinking as we acknowledge God and His truth. Then he alone will direct our paths and bring the understanding He wants to reveal to us.

Lastly, remember God’s Word is “living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Because it is living, each time we come to study it, we can learn something new from it.

Never think nor believe you will reach the maximum point of understanding the entirety of God’s Word.

As we live and move through life and face different problems or seasons of life, God will assuredly reveal to us just what we need for that moment – then in the next moment, He will certainly show us something new to ponder and reflect.

So, if you find yourself praying like the psalmist, “Give me understanding” remember:

Remember that God’s Word is living and active.

We can never stop studying His Word for each time we study it, he will reveal something new.

God is our creator, He understands all of the limitations of our human minds.

God didn’t leave us on our own to figure it out – He gave us the Holy Spirit to guide us into truth.

We must have the heart to do His will as He reveals His truth to us.

We must be willing to give up our ideas, trade them for understanding it God’s way

We must be willing to study it – in depth – not just read it and we need to study it for ourselves rather than only depend on what someone else is saying.

When trying to understand God’s Word we must compare spiritual things with spiritual by leaning hard into what the entire Bible has to say on a topic rather than a single verse.

We can discuss what we are studying with spiritually mature Christians who can help us process our thoughts – but not to depend on them to give us the answer.

We can utilize Bible study tools to help guide our study, but they should never replace the hard work of study or work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and they should not be our sole source of truth – only God can be our source of truth.

We need walk ourselves to that place from which to trust God to bring us to the understanding He wants for us rather than leaning on our own understanding.

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

Praying …

Psalm 119:105-112 The Message

105-112 By your words I can see where I’m going;
    they throw a beam of light on my dark path.
I’ve committed myself and I’ll never turn back
    from living by your righteous order.
Everything’s falling apart on me, God;
    put me together again with your Word.
Adorn me with your finest sayings, God;
    teach me your holy rules.
My life is as close as my own hands,
    but I don’t forget what you have revealed.
The wicked do their best to throw me off track,
    but I don’t swerve an inch from your course.
I inherited your book on living; it’s mine forever—
    what a gift! And how happy it makes me!
I concentrate on doing exactly what you say—
    I always have and always will.

* * *

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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Serving our Sovereign God. Can we rightly discuss what ought to be the Christian’s relationship to authority? Isaiah 40:18-31

Isaiah 40:18-31 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

18 To whom, then, will you liken God,
    or what likeness compare with him?
19 An idol? A workman casts it,
    and a goldsmith overlays it with gold
    and casts for it silver chains.
20 As a gift one chooses mulberry wood[a]
    —wood that will not rot—
then seeks out a skilled artisan
    to set up an image that will not topple.

21 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
    Has it not been told you from the beginning?
    Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
    and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers,
who stretches out the heavens like a curtain
    and spreads them like a tent to live in,
23 who brings princes to naught
    and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing.

24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,
    scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,
when he blows upon them, and they wither,
    and the tempest carries them off like stubble.

25 To whom, then, will you compare me,
    or who is my equal? says the Holy One.

28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint
    and strengthens the powerless.
30 Even youths will faint and be weary,
    and the young will fall exhausted,
31 but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint.

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 is a beautiful song titled, “Where Could I Go?” sung by Elvis Presley. 

The first verse talks about the difficulty of facing temptations.

So then the question is asked, “Where could I go but to the Lord?”

The second verse speaks about having good neighbors.

But when my soul needs manna from above, where could I go but to the Lord?

The third verse talks about having good friends and receiving comfort from God’s Word.

But when I face death, where could I go but to the Lord?

The chorus repeats that when you are seeking a refuge for your soul, there is no where else you can go but to the Lord.

When you are needing a friend who can save you in the end, where can you go but to the Lord?

It is this kind of thinking that Isaiah wants his people to consider in Isaiah 40.

In Isaiah 40:27 the people are questioning God.

They are saying that God does not see what they are experiencing and that God does not care.

Isaiah has given two pictures about God through verse 17.

God is pictured as a saving shepherd, gathering his sheep into his arms.

God is also pictured as being so great in power and majesty that nothing is too hard or too big for him to handle.

The third picture of God that we are going to see begins in Isaiah 40:18.

The key question to this picture is asked twice. With whom will you compare God? (Isaiah 40:18,25). What Isaiah is going to tell us about God is so that we will draw the exact same conclusion as the song, “Where could I go but to the Lord?”

Trying To Compare God (Isaiah 40:18-20)

So Isaiah begins in verse 18 by asking us to try to figure out to whom you can compare your God.

What is an accurate comparison?

If we are trying to explain God to someone, what likeness will you use so that you can make this comparison?

As we think about God, who or what can we compare him to so that we can get a better understanding of him?

The expected answer to this rhetorical question is that you cannot compare God to anything or anyone.

There is no comparison.

Any attempt falls woefully short.

But, still, Isaiah tells us to try to make the comparison.

Look at verse 19.

Can we compare our God to an idol?

Can we have an idol before us to see if there are some kinds of comparisons we can make?

The first problem with an idol is that it is made.

Whatever we make cannot be compared to God.

Even if you overlay the idol with gold, put silver chains on it, you still made it.

You are the one trying to ascribe value to it.

Maybe you are able to make a contribution to this idol by choosing wood that stays durable and strong, will not rot or be consumed by insects. You know that we want to make absolutely sure that our idol(s) will not wear out over time.

Is this a good comparison for God?

Maybe we are so precise, so skillful, so Leonardo Da Vinci smart (IQ 180-200) that we set up the idol in such a way to make sure the idol does not fall over.

Is this a good comparison for God?

God wanted to even show the Philistines the silliness of such a comparison.

Turn to God’s word to 1 Samuel 5.

As a judgment on the people of Israel, the Philistines destroy the city of Shiloh and capture the ark of the covenant.

Look at 1 Samuel 5:2-5.

The Philistines took the ark of God, brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it beside Dagon.

Dagon was an important Canaanite god that was worship by the Philistines, Amorites, and other peoples in the area.

So notice how the Philistines are putting God and Dagon in comparison by placing the ark of the covenant next to the Dagon idol.

Look at 1 Samuel 5:3.

The people of Ashdod (a city of the Philistines) came in the next day, they saw the Dagon idol had fallen face down on the ground before the ark of the Lord.

Here is God saying that there is no possible comparison to be made here. Now here is how you know you do not have a true God: you pick up your idol, move it and/or put it back into place. The people think that this happened by accident.

But in verse 4 we read that the very next day they came into the temple and they found the Dagon statue yet again fallen on his face before the ark of the Lord.

But this time the head and both hands were broken off. You do not dare try to compare this God to anything anywhere in creation. There is no one like God.

Exodus 20:1-6 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

The Ten Commandments

20 Then God spoke all these words,

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; 3 you shall have no other gods before[a] me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me 6 but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation[b] of those who love me and keep my commandments.

In the Ten Commandments, God helps us identify the main relational barriers–the sins–that can get between us and him.

Thankfully the 1st commandment isn’t truthfully a big deal since almost everyone believes in God–or is it?

I suppose that depends on what God is asking of us here.

The first commandment is much more than simply a call to believe in the existence of a higher being.

This is a practical command.

The “other gods” of which this command speaks include any persons or things in my life to which I give an excessive amount of loyalty, or for which I have an excessive amount of affection.

My “god” is the person or thing highest in rank or authority in my life.

This command, then, isn’t simply about my abstract beliefs.

This command is about how I live and what I value most.

God isn’t just saying we need to believe he exists.

The God of the Bible wants to be the only God in our lives. If we follow some other crafted god, that will be a barrier to our relationship with the true God.

We need to look closely at our agendas for today, the people we spend time with, how I spend my money. How “god-like” are these activities in my life?

Is there some brick-smashing we need to do so our God will be first in our lives?

The Supremacy of God (Isaiah 40:21-24)

In verse 21 Isaiah returns to questioning his people.

These are things that his people should clearly know.

Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

Has this not been told to you from the beginning?

Do you not know this since the earth was founded?

God sits above the circle of the earth, the people of the earth like grasshoppers.

Have you ever had the opportunity to stand on a very high place and look down?

Maybe you have gone to the Empire State Building in New York City or Willis Tower in Chicago or the Space Needle in Seattle.

Perhaps you have been on top of a large Ferris wheel or sky rider.

When you look down you see how small people look.

Maybe you have stood at the rim of the Grand Canyon and looked down.

Or climbed up to the top of the highest mountains in your native countries.

You are standing on such an elevated place and so high up that everything looks small beneath you.

Isaiah 2:1-4 Lexham English Bible

The Mountain of Yahweh

2 The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:

2 And it shall happen in the future of the days
the mountain of the house[a] of Yahweh shall be established;
it will be among the highest[b] of the mountains,
    and it shall be raised from the hills.
All of the nations shall travel to him;
3     many peoples shall come.
And they shall say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh,
    to the house[c] of the God of Jacob,
and may he teach us part of his ways,
    and let us walk in his paths.”
For instruction shall go out from Zion,
    and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem.
4 He shall judge between the nations
    and he shall arbitrate for many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into ploughshares
    and their spears into pruning hooks.
A nation shall not lift up a sword against a nation,
    and they shall not learn war again.

This is the point Isaiah is making. Do you not know how high and exalted God is? Do you not understand his elevated state? How can you compare anything in creation to God when God is so much greater than anything that he has made? 

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

Praying …

Psalm 65 The Message

65 1-2 Silence is praise to you,
    Zion-dwelling God,
And also obedience.
    You hear the prayer in it all.

2-8 We all arrive at your doorstep sooner
    or later, loaded with guilt,
Our sins too much for us—
    but you get rid of them once and for all.
Blessed are the chosen! Blessed the guest
    at home in your place!
We expect our fill of good things
    in your house, your heavenly manse.
All your salvation wonders
    are on display in your trophy room.
Earth-Tamer, Ocean-Pourer,
    Mountain-Maker, Hill-Dresser,
Muzzler of sea storm and wave crash,
    of mobs in noisy riot—
Far and wide they’ll come to a stop,
    they’ll stare in awe, in wonder.
Dawn and dusk take turns
    calling, “Come and worship.”

9-13 Oh, visit the earth,
    ask her to join the dance!
Deck her out in spring showers,
    fill the God-River with living water.
Paint the wheat fields golden.
    Creation was made for this!
Drench the plowed fields,
    soak the dirt clods
With rainfall as harrow and rake
    bring her to blossom and fruit.
Snow-crown the peaks with splendor,
    scatter rose petals down your paths,
All through the wild meadows, rose petals.
    Set the hills to dancing,
Dress the canyon walls with live sheep,
    a drape of flax across the valleys.
Let them shout, and shout, and shout!
    Oh, oh, let them sing!

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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Genuine Service Selfless Servanthood Bending, Bowing, our Spirits to “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:27-30

John 3:27-30 Amplified Bible

27 John replied, “A man can receive nothing [he can claim nothing at all] unless it has been granted to him from heaven [for there is no other source than the sovereign will of God]. 28 You yourselves are my witnesses that I stated, ‘I am not the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed),’ but, ‘I have [only] been sent ahead of Him [as His appointed forerunner and messenger to announce and proclaim His coming].’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this pleasure and joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase [in prominence], but I must decrease.

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 people who claim to be experts at reading body language. They can discern what is being communicated in the ways others position their bodies and hands and by the facial expressions they make. This could be a useful skill, especially for knowing—or at least coming close to knowing—whether someone is being genuine or false.

There are ways, though, that Christians can conduct themselves with inauthenticity that cannot be read by people fluent in body language. It’s a sad fact that different motivations drive people to serve in the name of Christ. Some people serve not out of genuine interest in the well-being of others but with self-interest leading the way. They may want to be noticed. They may crave a pat on the back. They may be pursuing a good reputation. Such a motivation may lead to good things being done, but it doesn’t produce genuine service. Christian service, in other words, can be fake. From a distance, it looks like the real thing, but get up close and you find it to be wanting.

So how do we know what is authentic? Here are two signs of a genuine heart of service for us to look for in ourselves, as well as in others.

First is the willingness to serve in anonymity. This is the kind of service that delights in doing good regardless of any attention. “Among those born of women none is greater than John,” said Jesus Himself (Luke 7:28)—and yet the Baptist longed to see Christ glorified at his own expense, a passion articulated so memorably when he confessed, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Second is the existence of sincerity. The apostle Paul affirmed that his friend Timothy, for example, was “genuinely concerned” for the Philippians’ welfare, unlike those who “seek their own interests” (Philippians 2:20-21). Epaphroditus, too, was “longing for” the good of the Philippian church (v 26). Such longing cannot be faked but arises out of genuine love.

What does John 3:27-30 mean?

In verse 27, God gives people to Jesus, and they leave John the Baptist and go to Jesus. This is God’s doing. This is part of the “must” of verse 30. And in verse 28, God sends John not to be the Christ but to go declare, go before and point to him. It’s God’s plan John gathers a people and then send them away to Jesus.

What is the meaning of John 3:28-30?

John 3:28-29 (NIV)

John had indeed confessed freely to them that he was definitely not the Christ.

Luke 1:12-17 Amplified Bible

12 When Zacharias saw the angel, he was troubled and overcome with fear. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, because your petition [in prayer] was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him  [a] John.  14 You will have great joy and delight, and many will rejoice over his birth, 15 for he will be great and distinguished in the sight of the Lord; and will never drink wine or liquor, and he will be filled with and empowered to act by the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb. 16 He will turn many of the sons of Israel back [from sin] to [love and serve] the Lord their God. 17 It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous [which is to seek and submit to the will of God]—in order to make ready a people [perfectly] prepared [spiritually and morally] for the Lord.”

John was sent ahead as an ambassador to prepare the way for Jesus’ coming by calling people back to a proper relationship with God through the repentance of their sins.

What does the Bible verse John 3:30 mean?

It is interesting to know that just because Jesus is Lord, He only becomes Lord of your life when you allow Him to do so.

John the Baptist stated here, “He must become greater; I must become less.” If you allow Jesus to be Lord of your life, you are allowing Him to become greater.

Preacher DL Moody declared that he was “content to be God’s errand boy.”

Could you say that with integrity?

Would, should, could, do you, delight in decreasing in status if that means only Christ’s glory will increase?

Do you have real concern—longing, even—for the good of others?

Those around us may not be able to tell what motivates us, but we can be sure that the Savior we claim to serve most certainly can.

Perhaps this is a good opportunity to prayerfully consider the example of Paul, who said,

“I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:24).

Dare ourselves to ask God for .01% the grace to echo these words with sincerity.

Who knows what He will do with the life you have fully surrendered to Him?

Psalm 139:23-24 Complete Jewish Bible

23 Examine me, God, and know my heart;
test me, and know my thoughts.
24 See if there is in me any hurtful way,
and lead me along the eternal way.

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

Praying ….

Psalm 16 Complete Jewish Bible

16 (0) Mikhtam. By David:

(1) Protect me, God,
for you are my refuge.
2 I said to Adonai, “You are my Lord;
I have nothing good outside of you.”
3 The holy people in the land are the ones
who are worthy of honor; all my pleasure is in them.

4 Those who run after another god
multiply their sorrows;
To such gods I will not offer
drink offerings of blood
or take their names on my lips.

5 Adonai, my assigned portion, my cup:
you safeguard my share.
6 Pleasant places were measured out for me;
I am content with my heritage.

7 I bless Adonai, my counselor;
at night my inmost being instructs me.
8 I always set Adonai before me;
with him at my right hand, I can never be moved;
9 so my heart is glad, my glory rejoices,
and my body too rests in safety;
10 for you will not abandon me to Sh’ol,
you will not let your faithful one see the Abyss.
11 You make me know the path of life;
in your presence is unbounded joy,
in your right hand eternal delight.

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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Dare we to be the only ones who are eavesdropping? Jesus is saying unto Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be fishing for my people.” Luke 5:1-11

Luke 5:1-11 New Living Translation

The First Disciples

5 One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee,[a] great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. 2 He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon,[b] its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”

5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.

8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” 9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. 10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.

Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” 11 And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.

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.

I like to think of fishing as something that is to be relaxing.

I want a folding chair and a book when I fish.

Cast out the line, sit down, and read a book until something bites.

When I was a child, I liked placing the red and white bobbers on the fishing line.

Then, when I saw the bobber go under the water, I knew to pull the line.

Most of us today also view fishing as something to do recreationally.

But being that fisherman in the first century was a tough life and required hard labor.

Casting out their boats into the Sea of Galilee, 1st century fisherman had to stand on the edge of the boat and cast large nets into the water and then haul the nets back in.

For hours and hours a fisherman would continue to cast nets into the water.

This was not a one-man job for the work was laborious. With a catch of fish, a few men would be required to lift and pull the weight of the fish into the boat.

One thing I hated about fishing is the prospect of catching nothing. Spending hours fishing only to come home empty-handed is a great disappointment.

Even worse is when you look around and see others catching fish.

So you decide to move to that spot and it dries up. So you keep moving, hoping to catch fish, but to no avail.

But a fisherman in the 1st century, a lack of fish was not only a disappointment but was the loss of a paycheck.

Working as a fisherman is what put money in their pockets, food on the table.

So, Do you still think you like fishing?

I do, although I would often return home with an empty bucket, a sunburn and far too many mosquito bites to count and scratch at. Unlike me, Simon Peter didn’t fish for fun; his life depended on it. In this dramatic story, Peter not only catches a boatload of fish, but he is called by Jesus the Messiah to follow him.

After an exhausting, unsuccessful night of fishing, Simon and his crew were washing out their nets when Jesus came by.

He asked if he could use their boat for speaking to the people by the lakeshore, and then later he told the fishermen to take their boat out for a big catch of fish.

Simon wearily complied.

He was soon overwhelmed, however, with hauling in a catch of so many fish that his nets nearly broke. Simon fell at Jesus’ feet. He knew he was in the presence of the Lord, whose authority over creation was overwhelmingly clear.

Simon’s encounter with Jesus that day echoed the call of prophets like Moses, Isaiah, and Ezekiel, who knew they were in the presence of the living God.

And, like the prophets, Simon Peter was called by the Lord to serve him.

And what would that service be?

Jesus told Peter that from now on he would “fish for people” by drawing people around him to the love of Jesus.

When we meet Jesus, the living God, we do well to fall to our knees too.

Jesus calls each of us to obediently follow him and to share, without any conditions or excuses, in the glorious task of drawing others to his love.

The real authentic message here are in the last few words:

‘without thinking about success or failure, life or death, sacrifice or reward, consequences, vast riches or abject poverty, salaries, contracts, labor unions or anything associated, they silently stopped, left everything and followed him’.

They left everything behind them; the money from their great catch, business responsibilities because they had been captivated instead by the person of Jesus.

It dos not look like they asked or consulted their families or their attorney’s!

They just walked away from everything – looking for the Kingdom of God.

We too are to ‘seek first the kingdom of God’ – to live in God’s world, carrying the message of the Good News of Savior Jesus Christ from that vantage point.

So, how much do you authentically think you would still love laboring for God?

Psalm 107:23-32 The Message

23-32 Some of you set sail in big ships;
    you put to sea to do business in faraway ports.
Out at sea you saw God in action,
    saw his breathtaking ways with the ocean:
With a word he called up the wind—
    an ocean storm, towering waves!
You shot high in the sky, then the bottom dropped out;
    your hearts were stuck in your throats.
You were spun like a top, you reeled like a drunk,
    you didn’t know which end was up.
Then you called out to God in your desperate condition;
    he got you out in the nick of time.
He quieted the wind down to a whisper,
    put a muzzle on all the big waves.
And you were so glad when the storm died down,
    and he led you safely back to harbor.
So thank God for his marvelous love,
    for his miracle mercy to the children he loves.
Lift high your praises when the people assemble,
    shout Hallelujah when the elders meet!

Fisherman’s Prayer

God grant that I may live to fish until my dying day, and when it comes to my last cast I then must humbly pray. When in the Lord’s safe landing net I’m peacefully asleep. That in His mercy, I be judged good enough to keep.

The Fisherman with His Savior

Surely Jesus loves fishermen for He chose them for His own, To be with Him and learn from Him and someday share His home. It must have been their trust in God and patience He found rare, That keeps them very near His heart and forever in His care.

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 humans will keep brainstorming options and plans, but God’s purpose will always prevail. Proverbs 19:21

Proverbs 19:21 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

21 The human mind may devise many plans,
    but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.

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.

Life rarely follows the path we imagined.

We create timelines, set goals, and chase dreams — only to face unexpected setbacks, delays, and heartbreaks.

Whether it’s a lost opportunity, a closed door, or an unforeseen crisis, these detours can leave us questioning everything.

We may feel disoriented, disappointed, or even forgotten.

But even when our carefully crafted plans unravel, God’s purpose remains steady.

His sovereign hand is never shaken 

Proverbs 19:21 Amplified Bible

21 
Many plans are in a man’s mind,
But it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand (be carried out).

This powerful verse grounds us in truth: while it’s natural to dream and plan, it’s God’s overarching purpose that ultimately comes to pass.

And that’s good news.

Why? Because God sees and shapes the bigger picture.

He knows the end from the beginning.

While our plans may be well-intentioned, they are limited by what we can see and understand.

His purpose, however, is rooted in divine wisdom, love, and eternal perspective.

When life feels like it’s falling apart, God is often assembling something better — something aligned with His perfect will and timing.

If you’re feeling uncertain, behind, or heartbroken over dreams that haven’t come true, let this prayer guide you back unto God’s peace and perspective.

Proverbs 3:5-8 Amplified Bible

5 
Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart
And do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
6 
[a]In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him,
And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].
7 
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord [with reverent awe and obedience] and turn [entirely] away from evil.
8 
It will be health to your body [your marrow, your nerves, your sinews, your muscles—all your inner parts]
And refreshment (physical well-being) to your bones.

The Bible is chock full of stories of people who have made plans for their lives but who never saw it come to pass because they did not sufficiently take into account the greatest outside influencer of their lives that being the will of God.

If we apply the same principles we learn from these stories, we can see the same thing in the lives of many from secular history as well. God is in control, not us.

In our lives, my wife and I have seen times that we thought we were headed one direction, only to find out that what seemed so sure and so secure (so good) to us was redirected into a dead end and life took us in a completely different way.

Sometimes it was because we made our plans without asking God and at other times, we just couldn’t contemplate nor understand what he had in store for us.

What makes this even more interesting is that some of the worst tragedies (at least it seemed it was to me at the time) turned out to be exactly just what we needed to redirect us and take us in an unseen but wonderful direction in life.

Seek his will for your life and he will lead you.

Seek his guidance and he will show you the way.

Follow his teaching and he opens doors for you that you never thought nor ever considered were possible. Trust God to lead you. Pray for him to guide you.

Open your heart to his response.

In absolute faith, give Jesus your life and he will use you in his way.

He has a place for every one of us in his plans.

Let him lead.

Let him guide.

Let him direct your steps.

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

Praying …

Thanksgiving for the Lord’s Favor.

A Psalm of David.

138 I will give You thanks with all my heart;
I sing praises to You before the [pagan] gods.
2 
I will bow down [in worship] toward Your holy temple
And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word together with Your name.
3 
On the day I called, You answered me;
And You made me bold and confident with [renewed] strength in my life.

4 
All the kings of the land will give thanks and praise You, O Lord,
When they have heard of the promises of Your mouth [which were fulfilled].
5 
Yes, they will sing of the ways of the Lord [joyfully celebrating His wonderful acts],
For great is the glory and majesty of the Lord.
6 
Though the Lord is exalted,
He regards the lowly [and invites them into His fellowship];
But the proud and haughty He knows from a distance.

7 
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;
You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will save me.
8 
The Lord will accomplish that which concerns me;
Your [unwavering] lovingkindness, O Lord, endures forever—
Do not abandon the works of Your own hands.

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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Transformed by this Truth? “every person is as Close to God as they all think they want to be.” James 4:8

James 4:7-10 New American Standard Bible 1995

7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt 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.

Today, we explore a profound, yet too often untouched truth:

“Every person is as close to God as they think they want to be.”

This statement challenges us to reflect on our personal relationship with God.

Our main text today is James 4:8 (NLT):

“Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.”

James addresses believers, urging them to draw near to God.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/jas/4/7-10/t_conc_1150008

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The Greek word for “come close” is “engizo”, which means to approach or draw near. This is a call to intimate fellowship with God.

James emphasizes the reciprocal nature of our relationship with God.

When we take steps towards Him, He responds by drawing closer to us.

This verse also highlights the need for repentance and purity, symbolized by washing hands and purifying hearts.

Evaluate your daily walk with God.

Are you taking intentional steps to draw nearer to Him?

This may involve prayer, reading the Bible, or worship.

As you do, you will experience His presence more profoundly.

Psalm 145:18 (NLT): “The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.”

This verse reassures us God is near to those who earnestly seek Him in truth.

Commit to seeking God sincerely and truthfully.

Make calling upon Him a daily practice.

How to Get Close to God: Come

Dr. A.W. Tozer said, “The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One.”

It sounds so good on paper: all of God is exactly where all of who we are – are!

But what do you do when you can’t find God?

What if God doesn’t seem to be there for you?

Some Christians struggle with that question.

“What do you do when God seems far very away, and you’re praying to an empty chair, and you’re reading the Bible for your devotions, but you do it only because you know dad said you should, and it does not mean anything to you?”

What do you do if you feel like?

Here’s one idea: read and reread Psalm 139, and let it sink in.

Then come near to the God who loves you and knows everything about you.

That’s what James says: “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”

Throughout the Bible God invites us to come.

The Lord invites us to come and reason together (Isaiah 1:18).

Isaiah 55:1-3 New American Standard Bible 1995

The Free Offer of Mercy

55 “Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters;
And you who have no [a]money come, buy and eat.
Come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without cost.
2 “Why do you [b]spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And delight yourself in abundance.
3 “Incline your ear and come to Me.
Listen, that [c]you may live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
According to the faithful mercies [d]shown to David.

Jesus invites the weary to come to him and find rest (Matthew 11:28-29), and he promises that he will never drive us away (John 6:37).

The only caveat is first, we have to come just exactly as we are–empty-handed.

Come and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who died to save us from our sins.

Before you go to sleep tonight, pray, plead, for Jesus to draw near to your heart.

If you really want him to, he will respond.

The Turn of the Heart

James 4:1-4 New American Standard Bible 1995

Things to Avoid

4 [a]What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? [b]Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask [c]with wrong motives, so that you may spend it [d]on your pleasures. 4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Prayer connects our heart with God’s heart. For many people, the word heart represents only their emotions, especially feelings like love, sadness, and hope.

It’s in the mind that logic resides, many will say.

The heart is for feeling and the brain is for thinking, and the two are often too pitted against each other.

The Bible teaches, however, that the heart is the center of every aspect of being human: our reason, our emotions, and our will. The heart directs our affections, molds, shapes our decision making, and determines our ultimate allegiances.

This is why Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).

Today’s Bible reading contains a harsh rebuke of people whose hearts have turned away from God.

It affects all their thinking, decision making, motives, emotions, and behaviors.

The spiritual fallout of a broken relationship with God is that prayer is rendered ineffective.

But nestled in this passage are words of hope.

No matter how far our hearts may wander from God, he promises to be near when we turn to him.

That’s because he is always near and caring for us (see Matthew 28:20;  Philippians 4:4-6).

One renewing encounter with God can change everything.

And it’s always just one prayer away.

The One who died for you will never drive you away.

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

Praying …

Psalm 113 New American Standard Bible 1995

The Lord Exalts the Humble.

113 [a]Praise [b]the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
Praise the name of the Lord.
2 Blessed be the name of the Lord
From this time forth and forever.
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting
The name of the Lord is to be praised.
4 The Lord is high above all nations;
His glory is above the heavens.

5 Who is like the Lord our God,
Who is enthroned on high,
6 Who [c]humbles Himself to behold
The things that are in heaven and in the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust
And lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 To make them sit with [d]princes,
With the [e]princes of His people.
9 He makes the barren woman abide in the house
As a joyful mother of children.
[f]Praise [g]the Lord!

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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