Tag: christianity

The Greatest Transfer of Trust; “Put your entire trust in the Master Jesus. Then you will live as you were meant to live—and everyone in your house included!” Acts 16:25-31

Acts 16:25-31 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was an earthquake so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 The jailer[a] called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them outside and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

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 started with an earthquake that forced prison doors to open. A jailer’s world literally crumbling around him unto death by his own sword. In that moment of desperation, he discovered what we all eventually find – our strength will never be enough. “What must I do to be saved?” His question pierced the darkness.

For centuries, religion had made salvation complicated. Endless rules. Constant striving. Never quite measuring up. But on that night, in a prison of all places, heaven’s answer rang with breathtaking simplicity: “Believe in the Lord Jesus.”

Not “get better first” or “prove yourself worthy.” Not “try harder” or “do more.” Just believe. Just Trust. Just Receive.

In that moment, a prison became a sanctuary, and a hardened jailer discovered what countless hearts have found since – when we stop trying to save ourselves by our own severely limited resources, we quickly find the One who already has.

That same invitation lights up every dark place today: believe in Jesus.

One of the most important keys to being an effective witness for Christ is to be constantly on the lookout for open doors and open hearts.

We need to ask God for opportunities to share our faith, and we need to keep watch as God opens doors for us.

For the apostle Paul, every place he went was a potential mission field.

Even behind the closed doors of a prison Paul and Silas found open doors for sharing their faith.

First they sang hymns to God at midnight, and later they shared the story of Jesus with the jailer.

Jails have a way of hardening a person’s heart. The seamy side of life can leave one calloused and impenetrable. But the earthquake brought the jailer to his knees both physically and spiritually. He was scared, open, receptive, softened by the circumstances. Paul, Silas, saw the opportunity for a spiritual harvest.

Part of being an effective witness is being able to discern when people are open to hearing the good news. Be 100% assured that God is at work tilling the hard-packed soil of people’s hearts. The Holy Spirit is right now doing his spadework in the lives of many people around us.

That’s why we must always be ready to share the message of Jesus’ love. As 1 Peter 3:15 says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

1 Peter 3:13-18 The Message

13-18 If with heart and soul you’re doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath. It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God.

Let grace do what all our striving never could.

1 Peter 3:15-16 Amplified Bible

15 But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect. 16 And see to it that your conscience is entirely clear, so that every time you are slandered or falsely accused, those who attack or disparage your good behavior in Christ will be shamed [by their own words].

The fact that you’re reading these devotions suggests that you probably have some idea of what it means to be saved.

Saved is a familiar word, and yet it can mean different things to people in different places along the journey of faith.

For some, it can mean going back to church.

For others, it may mean agreeing with certain ideas in Christianity.

For yet others, being saved may mean being willing to feel guilty over sins they used to take pride in.

As God leads us, each faith-growing experience inevitably involves some kind of minor surrender—as when you face a crisis and seek direction, looking to God to sustain you along the way.

If you let God lead, guide and direct you along a series of surrenders, you’re eventually going reach a “tipping point” where something inside you realizes that you simply need to hand everything over to the God who’s been guiding you through the fog.

You can tell this has happened when you start worrying less about getting God’s help for what you want and instead start to wonder what he really wants for me and you. Instead of wanting God to find your way, you’re first seeking his way.

Have you been saved like that?

Ask Yourself:

  • What does it mean to move beyond knowing about Jesus to truly believing in Him?
  • How has simple faith in Jesus changed your perspective on life?

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

Praying …

Psalm 13 English Standard Version

How Long, O Lord?
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

13 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I take counsel in my soul
    and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
    light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
    lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
    my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
    because he has dealt bountifully with me.

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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Why it is good for us to be reminded what happens when we take the Bible Out of Context? 2 Timothy 2:14-18

2 Timothy 2:14-18 New King James Version

Approved and Disapproved Workers

14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to [a]strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and [b]idle babblings, for they will [c]increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.

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 seems that whenever anyone quotes from the Bible, it is automatically out of context, or that whatever the Bible says, Christians just believe the opposite.

For example, It says homosexuality is wrong – Christians don’t. It says women should not speak in church – Christians don’t believe this either. Have I now found the right context, do I believe the opposite of whatever the Bible says?

I think one of the biggest issues that we have in Christianity today is that so many “Christians” are biblically illiterate and very liberal in their theology.

So they don’t know or comprehend what the Bible says, and even when they do, they will pick and choose what they want to believe, usually based on feelings, friends’ experiences, or cultures outside the Church.

Actually, I am glad to mention the 1 Corinthians text in your question. For, in response to it, if you put it into the correct context, you will see that the belief of women not speaking at all in church is in fact taking that little paragraph out of context.

1 Corinthians is a reply letter from Paul to the Corinthians. Part of it is what was reported to Paul from members of Chloe’s house-church, and part of it was in response to a previous letter written to him asking about certain issues.

In 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, Paul is addressing the need for order and quiet during the worship service.

Understanding the Bible IN Context

In the context of this passage, the women did not understand everything being preached…it was over their heads.

But instead of asking their OWN husbands (v.35), they were asking other men and other women’s husbands, disrupting the order worship and disturbing the men they were asking, who really wanted to listen.

Notice, IN CONTEXT, Paul tells them they should shut up and wait until after they get home, where they should ask their OWN husbands for understanding.

Paul says it is disgraceful for them to speak in church because the focus is supposed to be fully on the Lord…their disturbances are preventing this (this is also in sync with Paul’s talk about the head coverings).

If you have doubt of this, then notice women were not the only ones Paul tells to shut up in service, but also prophets who were speaking out of turn, as well as those speaking in tongues without interpreters…something you will experience in many tongues-promoting churches, and you will notice the rebuke from Paul if you keep this paragraph in the context in which it was written.

So you see, Paul was not saying that women (in general) should not speak in church (indefinitely), but that these particular women needed to quiet their mouths during worship so as to stop disrupting the focus from Christ.

Misconceptions By Reading the Bible Out Of Context

As for homosexuality, you are correct in saying that it is wrong.

However, I suggest so many people attack gays with the Bible that people’s compassions cause them to see scripture incorrectly, judging it or counting it wrong.

Then they start believing whatever they want (or feel is right), instead of what the Bible actually says.

I think if they were to focus on 1 Corinthians 6:11 (“And that is what some of you WERE. But you were washed, sanctified, and justified…”), instead of the verses before it, they will see that it is not a means of tearing gays down in particular,

but helping the Corinthian Christians understand such is not the behavior of those within the Body of Christ — there is supposed to be a transformation by the Holy Spirit — a cleansing, sanctification, justification, and transformation.

Those behaviors mentioned in this chapter are those of the culture outside the Church, thus are unacceptable among those called to be Holy, as God is Holy.

On that note, notice also that Paul does not only mention homosexuals, but many other types of people, also (wrongdoers, idolaters, adulterers, the sexually immoral, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, slanderers, swindlers).

I suggest it is wrong when somebody pulls out parts of scripture and goes after certain groups mentioned in the text, leaving out the others mentioned (notice, people will focus on gays, but say nothing to their buddies who get drunk every weekend or their friends living with their “hetero”-sexual partners).

Sin is sin, and it leads to death, period.

Everybody needs to acknowledge their sin, repent, and accept Jesus Christ as Lord (and their Lord and Savior) if they wish to be cleansed from sin.

Also, you cannot lead somebody to repentance by “attacking” them with the Bible, and nor will they recognize their need to repent if sin is continuously candy-coated as something less serious and deadly than it is, by people who claim to know the only One who can save them from it.

What Happens When You Take the Bible Out of Context?

2 Timothy 2:14-18 The Message

14-18 Repeat these basic essentials over and over to God’s people. Warn them before God against pious nitpicking, which chips away at the faith. It just wears everyone out. Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple. Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they’re not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul. Hymenaeus and Philetus are examples, throwing believers off stride and missing the truth by a mile by saying the resurrection is over and done with.

Ever felt confused or misled when reading Scripture? You’re not alone. In this sobering reminder, we’re warned of common mistakes believers make when interpreting the Bible—from ignoring the original language to ripping verses out of context. Before you build your beliefs, learn how to study God’s Word carefully, prayerfully, and accurately—because accurate truth really matters.

The Bible also says, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” So how can anyone claim sinless perfection?

Be very careful to study to understand the languages of the Bible.

Secondly, don’t take a single verse and run with it out of context. Many people have made that mistake.

Some even say, “I’ll just open the Bible, and whatever verse my eyes land on—that’s the verse for me today.”

But Scripture isn’t a lottery.

You need to read the Bible consistently, daily, and in its entirety.

Always ask yourself these questions:

-Who were the original readers?
-What was the author trying to communicate to them?
-What issues or problems were being addressed?

For example, the Apostle Paul was often answering specific questions sent to him by the churches, like the one in Corinth.

Understanding the context of those questions is essential.

Again, don’t isolate a verse.

Do not put it through a vegetable chopper or a deli meat slicer.

Read it in its full context.

Check it against https://www.blueletterbible.org/

Check it against https://www.biblestudytools.com/concordances/strongs-exhaustive-concordance/

Only after doing that should you apply it to your own life. But don’t start by asking, “What does this mean to me?” That can easily lead you astray.

Instead, ask:

-Why was it written?
-What is the context?
-How can I rightly apply this truth today?

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

Praying …

Psalm 119:9-16 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

9 How can young people keep their way pure?
    By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
    do not let me stray from your commandments.
11 I treasure your word in my heart,
    so that I may not sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, O Lord;
    teach me your statutes.
13 With my lips I declare
    all the ordinances of your mouth.
14 I delight in the way of your decrees
    as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on your precepts
    and fix my eyes on your ways.
16 I will delight in your statutes;
    I will not forget your word.

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 Does God Use Flowers to Teach Us about Himself? ‘Walk out into the fields, look at the wildflowers. They don’t fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen such color and design quite like it?’ Luke 12:25-28

Luke 12:27-28 The Message

25-28 “Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can’t even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don’t fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for 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.

“April showers bring May flowers” is a phrase I heard my mother say all too often. She was obsessed with flower gardens and had a green thumb to match.

My childhood was filled with days running around our 40 acres of country, I’d run through meadows of unbelievably vivid colors blowing in the wind, flowers were everywhere. Our property was an oasis for all types, kinds, and colors.

My most vivid memory is the joy I felt when I was with mom walking through those flowers she loved.

As a child, I was not a believer and did not think about what flowers symbolize.

These past 20 plus years, in my marriage, my walk of faith and the realization that I too am obsessed with flowers, my thoughts about them have blossomed. 

God created flowers for His children for many reasons.

They represent many aspects of the Christian walk.

I want to take time and examine what flowers symbolize, the spiritual truths they convey, how we learn more about the character of God from flowers. 

Floral Symbolism in the Bible

Flowers are vibrant and majestic.

They are beautiful symbols of so many aspects of life.

In the Bible, flowers often represent beauty and glory.

In Song of Solomon 2:2 it is written “Like a lily among thorns, so is my darling among the young women.” Solomon uses the lily flower in this poetic verse to illustrate that the lily is a flower so beautiful, it stands out among thorns.

In Luke 12:27, God uses the wildflowers to point out the beauty displayed on the earth.

“Consider how the wild flowers grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these.”

While flowers represent beauty and glory, they also represent mortality.

Myrrh is one such flower that symbolizes this idea beautifully. Myrrh is an old flower dating back to the Old Testament (Esther 2:12).

It was used as an aromatic for perfumes, and it comes full circle in Jesus’ life.

Jesus was presented myrrh at his birth (Matthew 2:8). Myrrh is then mixed with the wine the Roman soldiers gave him on the cross (Mark 15:23). As Jesus was being prepared for burial, myrrh’s used in the embalming process (John 19:39). 

Flowers are also used to symbolize divine provision and care for God’s children.

In Exodus 28, God gives instruction for the priestly garments Aaron and his sons needed to fulfill their duties.

In verse 33, God says to “make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn on its lower hem and all around it.”

God also used flowers such as mallow, mint, saffron, rye, cumin, caper berries, and dill to provide food and spices for His people.

Mint and dill were also used as tithes.

Flax is another flowering plant that was used to make linen for clothing. 

Flowers are also used to symbolize love, purity, growth, and restoration.

The rose and or crocus flower gives us hope for renewal (Isaiah 35:1).

Hyssop was used to purify and cleanse (Psalm 51:7).

Mandrakes are seen as a symbol of love and fertility. Its roots were often prepared and eaten as a fertility drug (Genesis 30:14, Song of Solomon 7:13).

Flowers were and continue to be the perfect symbol for the Christian life.

It is a beautiful life that gives us hope, renewal, a promise of provision, and an understanding of its fragility. 

Spiritual Truths Found in Flowers

The Bible is filled with teachings that provide us with essential spiritual truths.

What is the meaning of Luke 12:27?

Jesus is explaining that God has more important uses for our energy than worrying.

We have no good reason to panic about starvation, nakedness, or even death.

In Luke 12:24, He reminds a crowd that ravens neither work nor store food in barns, but God feeds them regardless.

Jesus spends his entire ministry sharing these truths with us.

When we read the words of Jesus, we witness the creative power He has.

Every flower that blooms on every plant comes from God.

He spoke them into existence.

That is powerful! The vibrant colors, the whimsical shapes, and the statuesque stems speak of His worthiness of our worship. 

Flowers remind us that our lives are transient and fleeting.

Every spring, summer, and autumn we enjoy the colorful blossoms as they unfurl their petals, but we know winter is coming and the blossoms will fade and disappear.

Our lives on Earth are but a vapor. Our worldly pursuits are temporary.

The old will pass away, but we have hope that one day we will be restored at the right hand of our Father. 

All flowers rely on sun and water for growth.

Sometimes we must give them a boost with fertilizer and spritz of pest deterrent.

If the flowers’ needs are not met, they do not grow.

Flowers are an ultimate example of dependence and humility.

We need God to guide our paths and keep us from harm. With Him, we can have no fear. He is our inspiration, encouragement, and only source of abundant life. 

God’s Character Displayed

What does consider how the wildflowers grow mean?

It could be translated as “examine carefully,” “observe well,” or “learn thoroughly.”

Jesus says: Examine the wildflowers carefully.

Learn thoroughly from them.

Jesus invites us to consider: what might these wildflowers have to teach us – the ones who don’t toil or spin and yet are clothed so beautifully?

Flowers symbolize many things.

They remind us of important spiritual truths. But the ultimate lesson we learn from flowers is better understanding God’s character. Our God is a caring God.

He created flowers to give us something exquisite to look at, provide for our basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter. Before God made man, God knew what we needed and cared enough to create it. 

Our God is also attentive to detail.

Each flower has a unique color, petal, leaf, and stem.

Some flowers are grown from seed while others are grown from bulbs.

Some flowers are dwarf varieties while some have double blooms.

The diligence God uses in the creation of flowers tells us that He is attentive to the details of our lives.

He has taken time to create us and prepare us for the plan He has for us.

We do not have to doubt Him because every detail is taken care of.

God boldly shows us His creative side when we observe flowers.

Watching the distinct stages of growth is amazing.

How creative is it to take a tiny seed that will sprout a plant that can grow as tall as six feet.

The array of colors tells us that we can be creative too. Flowers are useful for life-giving purposes, but they also are a way God makes our lives colorful. 

Commonly known as the Foxglove, Giant Shirley Digitalis comes in mixed colors. Foxgloves are tall plants with elongated, spotted, bell-shaped flowers of red, white and pink. Prefers shade in moderately rich soil.

Flowers also show off the transformative power God has.

Every flower God created has the power to transform our lives.

Flowers can turn a difficult day into a good one.

Flowers can be used to cleanse us when their aromas are used in soaps and perfumes.

They can put a smile on our faces.

Just as we are dirty with sin, God can transform our hearts, minds, and lives.

A plain field of grass can be plowed and filled with flower seeds and become transformed into a colorful, vibrant place.

Our plain lives can be made full and vibrant when we allow God to transform us. 

Final Floral Thoughts

What is the spiritual meaning of a wildflower?

The most significant meanings of wildflowers is their symbolism of unity.

These flowers grow together in natural meadows and fields, creating a beautiful tapestry of colors and scents. They remind us despite our many differences, we can come together to create community, something beautiful and harmonious.

Flowers are so much more than a stem with leaves and bloom.

They are a piece of God’s creation that symbolize purity, love, provision, and beauty. They are beautiful reminders that our lives are fleeting.

One day this Earth will be gone, and a new heaven and earth will take its place.

While we wait, we can only depend on God. 

The next time you see wildflowers in the field, tend the flowers in our garden, remember we serve a creative God. We serve a God that can transform our lives. 

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

Praying …

Psalm 46 The Message

46 1-3 God is a safe place to hide,
    ready to help when we need him.
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
    courageous in seastorm and earthquake,
Before the rush and roar of oceans,
    the tremors that shift mountains.

    Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
    God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

4-6 River fountains splash joy, cooling God’s city,
    this sacred haunt of the Most High.
God lives here, the streets are safe,
    God at your service from crack of dawn.
Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten,
    but Earth does anything he says.

7     Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
    God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

8-10 Attention, all! See the marvels of God!
    He plants flowers and trees all over the earth,
Bans war from pole to pole,
    breaks all the weapons across his knee.
“Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
    loving look at me, your High God,
    above politics, above everything.”

11     Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
    God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

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 Camel’s Challenge? “Do you have any idea how difficult it is for the rich to enter God’s kingdom? Its far easier to gallop a camel through a needle’s eye for rich to enter God’s kingdom.” Matthew 19:23-24

Matthew 19:23-24 Amplified Bible

23 Jesus said to His disciples, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, it is difficult for a rich man [who clings to possessions and status as security] to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man [who places his faith in wealth and status] to enter 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.

Jesus is emphatic: It is extremely difficult for the rich to embrace the radical call of discipleship in the Kingdom of God.

But, salvation does not depend on our ability, but on God’s generous grace.

The key point for us, however, is to be reminded about the dangers of wealth and possessions.

They can become our god, our stumbling block, our choking point, our diversion, our downfall as they become things we wont give up to follow Jesus.

From our vantage point, following Jesus’ radical call is impossible.

Fortunately, God has provided the Holy Spirit and fellow-Christians.

We all need the guidance of the Spirit and the strength of a dedicated Christian community to lead, guide, direct, and yield to Jesus’ call in all areas of our lives, including using our “poverty, wealth and possessions” to serve our neighbors.

Camels were one of the largest animals in the lands of the Bible.

Their ability to go without water is legendary.

Camels function like tractor trailers today because they can carry large amounts of cargo over great distances and harsh desert terrain.

In Biblical times, owning camels was a sign of wealth and many well-known individuals possessed them, Abram (Gen. 12:16), Jacob (Gen. 31:17), and Job (Job 1:3).

Jesus makes a spiritual point by referencing the size of a camel.

In Matthew 19:16–24, a rich young man approaches Jesus, asking, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

Jesus responds by highlighting the commandments, which the young man claims to have kept.

Then Jesus said, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (v. 21).

The young man, saddened by his response, walked away because he had great wealth.

Jesus then turned to His disciples and said, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God” (vv. 23–24).

The imagery of a camel attempting to pass through the eye of a needle is intentionally jarring.

Since camels were the largest animals commonly seen in Israel at the time, His audience would know this would be uncommon and extremely difficult.

While some argue that the “eye of the needle” referred to a small narrow gate, it is much more likely it meant the minuscule eye of an actual sewing needle.

What does Matthew 19:24 mean?

It means Jesus was able to see that what came first in this man’s heart was his riches…. To follow Christ we have to give up everything that will take His place as God in our life. So be in riches or people or status or popularity and fame. If we cannot give that up, cannot walk or run away, we cannot be His disciple. 

This underscored the seemingly impossible task of entering God’s kingdom with a heart gripped by our “Golden Calves” material wealth and possessions.

Jesus had failed to separate the rich young man from his wealth. The trouble with possessions is that they can too easily possess us.

Jesus calls for radical change in our lives, a change that can seem unattainable.

However, he poignantly reminds us that, while something may seem utterly impossible for mortals, “for with God, all things are possible”.

Go Deeper

What are you holding on to that might hinder your spiritual growth? Consider what it means to “sell your possessions and give to the poor” in your own life?

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

Praying …

Psalm 49

The Folly of Trusting in Riches.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

49 Hear this, all peoples;
Listen carefully, all inhabitants of the world,
2 
Both low and high,
Rich and poor together:
3 
My mouth will speak wisdom,
And the meditation of my heart will be understanding.
4 
I will incline my ear and consent to a proverb;
On the lyre I will unfold my riddle.

5 
Why should I fear in the days of evil,
When the wickedness of those who would betray me surrounds me [on every side],
6 
Even those who trust in and rely on their wealth
And boast of the abundance of their riches?
7 
None of them can by any means redeem [either himself or] his brother,
Nor give to God a ransom for him—
8 
For the ransom of his soul is too costly,
And he should cease trying forever—
9 
So that he should live on eternally,
That he should never see the pit (grave) and undergo decay.

10 
For he sees that even wise men die;
The fool and the stupid alike perish
And leave their wealth to others.
11 
Their inward thought is that their houses will continue forever,
And their dwelling places to all generations;
They have named their lands after their own names [ignoring God].
12 
But man, with all his [self] honor and pomp, will not endure;
He is like the beasts that perish.

13 
This is the fate of those who are foolishly confident,
And of those after them who approve [and are influenced by] their words. Selah.
14 
Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead);
Death will be their shepherd;
And the upright shall rule over them in the morning,
And their form and beauty shall [a]be for Sheol to consume,
So that they have no dwelling [on earth].
15 
But God will redeem my life from the power of Sheol,
For He will receive me. Selah.

16 
Be not afraid when [an ungodly] man becomes rich,
When the wealth and glory of his house are increased;
17 
For when he dies he will carry nothing away;
His glory will not descend after him.
18 
Though while he lives he counts himself happy and prosperous—
And though people praise you when you do well for yourself—
19 
He shall go to the generation of his fathers;
They shall never again see the light.
20 
A man [who is held] in honor,
Yet who lacks [spiritual] understanding and a teachable heart, is like the beasts that perish.

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

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Who is My Family? These are my mother and brothers. Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys my heavenly Father’s will are my brother, my sister, and mother. Matthew 12:46-50

Matthew 12:46-50 New Revised Standard Version

The True Kindred of Jesus

46 While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, ‘Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.’[a] 48  But to the one who had told him this, Jesus[b] replied, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ 49 And pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’

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.

Can I begin to imagine this scene? Jesus’ beloved family comes by as he is preaching. Here He seizes the chance to widen that fortunate group.

He is not callously denying or ignoring family ties, but is instead, extending them into the Kingdom of God with a gesture that is like an ordination. When he points to the group of disciples, can I imagine that I am standing among them?

What is there to reflect on, to meditate over, pray to the Holy Spirit for clarity?

Reflection:

Belonging to God is basic relationship, prior to all human relations. We came from God before we came from father and mother. (Psalm 139:13-18)

Psalm 139:13-18 Revised Standard Version

13 For thou didst form my inward parts,
    thou didst knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise thee, for thou art fearful and wonderful.[a]
    Wonderful are thy works!
Thou knowest me right well;
15     my frame was not hidden from thee,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately wrought in the depths of the earth.
16 Thy eyes beheld my unformed substance;
    in thy book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious to me are thy thoughts, O God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
    When I awake, I am still with thee.[b]

Still there are times during our journey of life when family goes second to God.

How would Mary have taken this statement?

Was she being diminished?

Her faith was deep and was strong enough to know her spiritual relationship to her Son was stronger even that the human mother-son relationship.

Reflection:

The relationship we have with Jesus is founded on something deeper than even the deepest human relationships of family.

We are the family of God and are brother and sister to Jesus when we try to do God’s will and to make God’s kingdom come.

Prayer deepens our appreciation of the values of the kingdom of God: justice, holiness, peace, compassion, faith, and love – all central to the life of Jesus.

Reflection:

I wonder what did his mother and family want to speak to him about?

The evidence is they were coming from home to take him back home. Jesus, with his radical teaching, and challenging religious views, was becoming an embarrassment if not a danger to his family.

Jesus’ way of life would lead him into opposition with those closest to him, his family.

Reflection:

Jesus counts me among his closest, his next-of-kin.

I show that this is my identity as I do the will of God.

When you hear the word family, what usually comes to mind?

Where I grew up, a family was generally made up of a husband and wife and their biological children.

Some families also had adopted children. Some couples did not have children, and some parents were separated or divorced. But the most common family in that time and culture was the nuclear family. In the Bible and in today’s world, though, it’s less common to find families fitting that biblical description.

When Jesus’ family tried to get a message to him as crowds gathered around him, he saw an opportunity for a teaching moment and said, “Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Jesus was helping his followers to describe a new kind of family, a community bound by something more powerful than the blood in our veins.

This is not a rejection of the biological family. It’s an invitation to a bigger, richer family—the family of God, with whom we live in the kingdom of God.

By this narrative text you and I are invited to meet family members in your own community/neighborhoods where you work and live, in my biological family, and in other family groups that are too often a hidden or invisible part of life.

May God’s Holy Spirit work in us all to recognize the beautiful gift of his family in the relationships and communities we are a part of—no matter how different or diverse they might be.

Reflection

I pray that I may do the will of God with joy and courage, perhaps praying the ‘Our Father’ as I now ask that God’s will be done in this world as it is in heaven.

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

Praying …

Psalm 103:11-18 Revised Standard Version

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.

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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Today’s Reminder is to please let the peace of God reign inside your hearts. Colossians 3:15–17

Colossians 3:15-17 The Message

15-17 Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

Word of God for the Children of God

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

What do football, soccer, basketball, tennis, and baseball have in common?

They all involve some sort of referees whose sole purpose is to enforce the rules of the game.

These rule-keepers play a critical role.

Authority has been given to them to ensure the game is fairly played and can proceed without confusion or disruption.

In Colossians 3:15, describes how followers of Jesus should live:

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

What does it mean to let the “peace of Christ” rule?

In a sporting event, the person with the most authority is given responsibility to enforce the rules of the game.

In the Christian life, Jesus has that authority.

When all of our individual opinions and desires are subjected to Him, He brings us together allowing peace to rule over us. When His peace rules, we will “bear with each other,” “forgive one another,” and will “put on love” (vv. 13–14).

As members of one body, we are to be mindful of and thankful for the rules we have been given by God.

They help us relate to one another in a spirit of thanksgiving (v. 15).

Paul explains how this happens through teaching and worship:

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts” (v.16).

Notice how a spirit of thankfulness and gratitude is woven through these verses. We are told to sing to God “with gratitude in your hearts” (v. 16).

Paul says that “whatever [we] do, whether in word or deed,” when done in Jesus’ name, demonstrates our thankfulness to God (v. 17).

Go Deeper

Are you able to say you are experiencing the peace of Christ in your heart? In what ways is the peace of Christ being displayed in your life toward others?

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

Praying, ….

Philippians 4:6-9 The Message

6-7 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

8-9 Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

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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I Have a New Identity in Christ; ‘The thief comes only so that he can steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and have it abundantly.’ John 10:6-10

John 10:6-10 New Living Translation

6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, 7 so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me[a] were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved.[b] They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

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.

Identity theft is a growing threat today. High tech scammers anonymously try to steal our personal information and gain access to our financial accounts.

In the spirit world, another identity thief lurks as well. The master deceiver, Satan, tries to rob believers of the assurance of their new identity in Christ.

He continuously tries to sow seeds of doubt, despair, confusion, and insecurity within us. If he cannot possess us, the devil wants at least to wear us down and make us feel defeated, and weak, limiting our service for God and his kingdom.

Make no bones about it; Satan is our most vicious adversary whose mode of operandi is to seek and to destroy.

If he cannot keep us from being saved, he strives to keep us from being used.

Satan is forever seeking opportunities for his savage attacks therefore we are to not be fearful rather on our guard. While Satan is most definitely far out of our league in power, he is certainly not out of God’s authority– Hallelujah for that!

But we are not alone.

We have the presence of God in our hearts, and we have God’s Word to assure us and strengthen us with the truth.

Jesus promises that we will have life to the full, and no one can snatch us out of his hand (John 10:28-30).

28 And I give them eternal life, and they will never, ever [by any means] perish; and no one will ever snatch them out of My hand. 29 [a]My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are One [in essence and nature].”

The Lord and his Word remain our best protection, affirming that we are not defined by past successes or failures but only by our union with Christ.

Through faith, we receive his righteousness and become the children of God.

We are forgiven, cleansed, commissioned to be his representatives in the world.

As God’s handiwork, as God’s masterpiece, we are expertly woven together, created to do good works that honor the Lord and bring blessing to others.

As God reassures us through his Spirit and his Word, we are redeemed, beloved, and empowered to live out his purposes with confidence and grace each day.

How do I apply John 10:10 to my life?

To abundantly live the John 10:10 life is to live a life committed to Christ. It takes deliberate discipline, continual conversion, and a life thoroughly rooted in Scripture and the sacraments. When we choose this life and ignore the many thieves surrounding us, we’re sure to have a life of abundance, hope, and peace.

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

Praying …

Psalm 23 The Message

23 1-3 God, my shepherd!
    I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
    you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
    you let me catch my breath
    and send me in the right direction.

4 Even when the way goes through
    Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
    when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
    makes me feel secure.

5 You serve me a six-course dinner
    right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
    my cup brims with blessing.

6 Your beauty and love chase after me
    every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
    for the rest of my life.

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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I Am more than a Conqueror; ‘But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.’ Romans 8:31-39

Romans 8:31-39 Revised Standard Version

God’s Love in Christ Jesus

31 What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies; 34 who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us?[a] 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For thy sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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 times of uncertainty, upheaval and seeming chaos, it’s natural for people to extend themselves seek out a strong leader to restore order, to bring resolution.

It may be a military hero, a political figure, or a charismatic leader.

We all too often rush to look to our own resources to bring stability to a volatile situation, don’t we?

Yet when we discover the ultimate victor and King, Jesus Christ, we learn, as he states in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:31-33 Amplified Bible

31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now [at last] believe? 32 Take careful notice: an hour is coming, and has arrived, when you will all be scattered, each to his own home, leaving Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.  33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]

Through his triumph over sin and death, Jesus declares victory over every force that opposes God and his plan of restoration. His victory brings hope to believers, promising peace and triumph despite the trials and struggles they may endure.

In light of this, Paul boldly proclaims in Romans 8, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

The adversity believers experience is nothing new (Romans 8:36).

Do not be surprised when you suffer for Christ’s sake.

This happened to the godly saints in the Old Testament and the New Testament (Psalm 44:22; Hebrews 11:36-38; 2 Timothy 3:12). Nothing that enters our life is able or sufficient to separate us from God’s love demonstrated at the cross. 

God’s love allows the believer to be a conqueror in adversity (Romans 8:37).

God walks with us through every adversity and hardship. We do not merely survive or squeak by. We do not just succeed. We are more than conquerors!

In Christ, we are super-conquerors. This verse emphasizes the absolute and overwhelming victory that God gives to the believer through Christ. Believers are supremely victorious because of their abiding relationship with Christ. 

God allows nothing to separate us from his love (Romans 8:38-39). The victory Jesus won through his death and resurrection is now shared with his followers.

Our identity in Christ transforms us into victors who have new, full life forever in Christ. When we align with Jesus, no other power or influence can defeat us or keep us down. Don’t let, don’t allow suffering cause you to doubt God’s love. 

What should you do with this wonderful passage?

First, you should make sure these wonderful truths apply to you.

This magnificent promise of God’s love is only for those who have a personal relationship with him made possible through faith in Jesus Christ. If you know Christ as savior, you can be confident that God’s love for you is unchanging.

You must meditate on and rehearse this marvelous passage in your mind so that you’ll be convinced of this truth. As you’ll face suffering, hardship, persecution, allow the trials to drive you, empower you directly into the loving arms of God.

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

Praying …

20 1-4 God answer you on the day you crash,
The name God-of-Jacob put you out of harm’s reach,
Send reinforcements from Holy Hill,
Dispatch from Zion fresh supplies,
Exclaim over your offerings,
Celebrate your sacrifices,
Give you what your heart desires,
Accomplish your plans.

5 When you win, we plan to raise the roof
    and lead the parade with our banners.
May all your wishes come true!

6 That clinches it—help’s coming,
    an answer’s on the way,
    everything’s going to work out.

7-8 See those people polishing their chariots,
    and those others grooming their horses?
    But we’re making garlands for God our God.
The chariots will rust,
    those horses pull up lame—
    and we’ll be on our feet, standing tall.

9 Make the king a winner, God;
    the day we call, give us your answer.

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 can I get right with God? ‘There is no difference at all between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned, fall infinitely short of the glory of God.’ Romans 3:21–24

Romans 3:21-24 New International Version

Righteousness Through Faith

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in[a] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ 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.

Sin stands in the way of our being right with God. We can get right with God by repenting of our sin and trusting in Jesus as our Savior and Lord. By doing so, we receive forgiveness of our sins and the gift of eternal life.

what does the bible say?

The way to be in right standing with God was the same in the Old Testament as in the New Testament—by faith.

Before Christ died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins, God gave His people the Law to point out sin, to reveal God’s holy standard, and to show humanity their need for a Savior.

The Law served as a guide to lead people to Christ, highlighting their inability to achieve righteousness, or right standing, through their own efforts.

The Law pointed them to the necessity of God’s grace and forgiveness.

Scripture exhorts us to repent of sin and to believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior who is the path to eternal life.

Paul makes it clear in Romans that no person can get to heaven by his own effort. All sin is an infinite offense against God and deserves God’s wrath.

We need to be made righteous to be in right standing before God. Right standing with God is attained through faith in Jesus Christ and His redemptive work.

The barrier that keeps us from being right with God is sin.

In spite of our sin, God made a way for us to be in right standing with Him, to be declared righteous, to be freely justified by God’s grace, to be forgiven of our sins through the work of Jesus Christ, and to be granted eternal life.

The only solution to being right with God is trusting in Jesus as our Savior.

from the old testament
  • Abram (Abraham) was righteous, or in right standing before the Lord, because Abram believed in Him (Genesis 15:6).
  • God offers cleansing of sin to those who obey and believe in Him (Isaiah 1:18–20).
  • By turning to the Lord and believing in Him, we can be declared righteous, be justified before Him, and be saved (Isaiah 45:21–25).
  • Righteous people who are in right standing with God believe in Him and live by His faithfulness (Habakkuk 2:4).
  • God calls those who have turned away from Him to repent of sin in order to be in right standing with Him, and He promises that He will be gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in loving kindness (Joel 2:12–13).
  • Everyone who calls on the Lord will be saved and in right standing with Him (Joel 2:32).
from the new testament
  • Right standing is given through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22).
  • Humans sin and do not measure up to God’s perfect standard, but those who believe are given the free gift of grace through Jesus (Romans 3:23).
  • Our sins lead to death, but God gave us the free gift of His son, so we can have eternal life (Romans 6:23).
  • We can be right with God and saved from eternal death by declaring that Jesus is Lord and believing that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9).
  • Jesus took on the world’s sins at the cross so that all who believe would be made righteous before God (2 Corinthians 5:21).
  • Righteousness comes through faith in God (Philippians 3:9).
  • God gave us His Son so that all who believe would not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
  • If we believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and that He is our Lord and Savior, we are justified before God (Romans 10:9–10).
  • We need to confess our sins to be in right standing with God (1 John 1:9).
  • It is by grace through faith that we are saved and are thus in right standing with God (Ephesians 2:8–9).
implications for today

If you are asking this question, it likely means you feel the burden of your sins.

Our sins lead us to death, but take heart—God gave us a way to be forgiven of our sins and to have eternal life!

How can you receive eternal life? Jesus taught that eternal life comes by faith: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

You must believe in Jesus to escape death and the punishment for your sins and to have eternal life in heaven with Jesus.

Genuine faith leads to repentance and a commitment to follow Christ. Salvation is not earned by good works but is a gift from God that is received through faith.

God loves you and created you to have a relationship with Him, to reflect His glory, and to fulfill His purposes.

However, sin separates us from God, and we cannot bridge this gap on our own.

Jesus Christ, God’s Son, came to earth, lived a sinless life, and died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.

He rose from the dead, defeating sin and death.

By trusting in Jesus and accepting Him as your Savior and Lord, you can receive forgiveness for your sins and the gift of eternal life with God.

There is no special prayer you must say to get right with God.

However, if you would like to accept Jesus as your Savior and know for certain you have eternal life, you can tell God with a prayer similar to this:

“Dear God, I realize I am a sinner and could never reach heaven by my own good deeds. Right now, I place my faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son, who took the punishment for my sins on the cross and rose from the dead to give me eternal life and restore me to rightness with you. Please forgive me of my sins and help me to live for you. Thank you for accepting me and giving me eternal life.”

Have you made a decision for Christ because of what you have read here?

understand

  • Sin separates us from God; faith in Jesus makes us right with Him.
  • Getting right with God has always come by faith, not works.
  • Jesus’s death and resurrection offers forgiveness and eternal life to all who will believe.
reflect
  • How have you seen the weight of sin affect your relationship with God, and how does faith in Jesus bring hope?
  • What does repentance look like in your daily life, and how can you make it a genuine practice?
  • Have you fully trusted in Jesus for your salvation, or are you relying on your own efforts to be right with God?
engage

What role do we play in helping others get right with God?

How can we explain the significance of faith over works in being right with God to someone unfamiliar with the gospel?

What Old Testament examples, like Abraham’s faith, can help us illustrate the consistency of God’s plan for salvation?

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

Praying, ….

19 1-2 God’s glory is on tour in the skies,
    God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.
Madame Day holds classes every morning,
    Professor Night lectures each evening.

3-4 Their words aren’t heard,
    their voices aren’t recorded,
But their silence fills the earth:
    unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.

4-5 God makes a huge dome
    for the sun—a superdome!
The morning sun’s a new husband
    leaping from his honeymoon bed,
The daybreaking sun an athlete
    racing to the tape.

6 That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies
    from sunrise to sunset,
Melting ice, scorching deserts,
    warming hearts to faith.

7-9 The revelation of God is whole
    and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
    and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
    showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
    and easy on the eyes.
God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
    with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate
    down to the nth degree.

10 God’s Word is better than a diamond,
    better than a diamond set between emeralds.
You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring,
    better than red, ripe strawberries.

11-14 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger
    and directs us to hidden treasure.
Otherwise how will we find our way?
    Or know when we play the fool?
Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
    Keep me from stupid sins,
    from thinking I can take over your work;
Then I can start this day sun-washed,
    scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
These are the words in my mouth;
    these are what I chew on and pray.
Accept them when I place them
    on the morning altar,
O God, my Altar-Rock,
    God, Priest-of-My-Altar.

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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One Grand Story! ‘The Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day the Lord will be one and His name one.’ Zechariah 14:1-9

Zechariah 14:1-9 English Standard Version

The Coming Day of the Lord

14 Behold, a day is coming for the Lord, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst. 2 For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. 3 Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. 4 On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. 5 And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.[a]

6 On that day there shall be no light, cold, or frost.[b] 7 And there shall be a unique[c] day, which is known to the Lord, neither day nor night, but at evening time there shall be light.

8 On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea[d] and half of them to the western sea.[e] It shall continue in summer as in winter.

9 And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day the Lord will be one and his name one.

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’s message from Zechariah 14:9 paints a beautiful picture for us: a future where God is the one true King over the whole earth.

Imagine that—a time when everyone is united under His loving rule, and all the disagreements and fights we see now are gone.

This isn’t just a nice thought for the future; it’s a guide for how we should try to live our lives today.

This big promise compels us to think about how we can bring a little bit of that future unity into our world right now.

It’s about our being kind, finding ways to get along with others, and showing the same love to everyone, no matter how different they might seem from us.

We’re being called to act like citizens of God’s kingdom today, working to make peace and help others just like Jesus did.

So, how do we do this?

We can start small, in our families, schools, or workplaces, by being the person or people who truly listens, forgives, and tries to understand where others are coming from. Every act of kindness, every effort to make peace, is like planting fields of the most responsive seeds of God’s future kingdom here in our time.

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

Praying …

Psalm 29

A Psalm of David.

1 Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty,
give unto the Lord glory and strength.
2 Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name;
worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters:
the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
5 The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars;
yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He maketh them also to skip like a calf;
Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.
7 The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire.
8 The voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness;
the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to calve,
and discovereth the forests:
and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.

10 The Lord sitteth upon the flood;
yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever.
11 The Lord will give strength unto his people;
the Lord will bless his people with peace.

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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