--The Object of the Lesson~ -Who had the most profoundly positive impact on your life? Maybe a parent or grandparent? A beloved teacher or neighbor? --Whatever your answer, I'll bet there is a common thread--what you learned was either modeled before your eyes or put into a tangible context to help you understand. In other words, it took the form of an object lesson.
Clearly God wired us to gain wisdom in this way. And the Master of object lessons was the Son of God Himself! Little wonder the rest of God's Word abounds in object lessons as well! We will find many of these lessons as we study these stories from the Bible. ~~~~~~~~~~~ --THE LESSON OF THE SERPENT~~ --Genesis 3:1-15
"Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.'" --(Genesis 3:14) ----- -Snakes frequently get the award for creepiest animal. But actually they are often docile creatures. Before the curse they were considered truly beautiful.
God's curse on the serpent seems random until you see it for what it is: a 'permanent' object lesson. God had just dealt with man's fall from innocence. God knew that because of Adam's sin, a great cost would be paid to restore mankind and rescue His people from the punishment of death.
The cursed serpent is a reminder that temptation can come even from beautiful things. But in verse 15 we already--in the very beginning of the Bible!--are given hope. God makes His first promise to send a Savior to buy back anyone who fell for the serpent's lies: "He [Jesus] will crush your [Satan's] head and you [Satan] will strike his [Jesus'] heel." This mysterious pronouncement means that although Satan would someday play a role in the death of Christ, the final outcome would be Jesus' resurrection, the destruction of Satan, and the redemption of all who believe in Jesus.~~ ----- -Next time you see a snake slithering along, think of it as God's sign that He has defeated Satan and provided new life for you. When we come to Christ we are given a 'new life', new creation, in Him.~~
--Anchor Devotions
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
-- -A LESSON HE COULD UNDERSTAND ~~ --Genesis 15:1-19
-"When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces." (Genesis 15:17) ----- -Abram had trouble believing that God would keep His promise. He still lived in a tent, though God had assured him land of his own. "How can I know that I will gain possession of it?" Abram asked (Genesis 15:8).
So God spoke to him through something he could understand. According to the custom of the day for two persons making an oath to each other, Abram would cut the carcases of animals in half and put them on the ground with a path between the halves. Normally, both parties would walk there to demonstrate their commitment. But God caused Abram to fall into a deep sleep and showed him 'spiritual insight' of a smoking fire pot and a blazing torch moving down the path instead. God was making a solemn commitment to fulfill His promise. Abram knew he had an unbreakable contract, one that God would fulfill even if Abram failed.
Do you sometimes doubt that God will keep all of His promises? He sealed every one of them through the precious blood of His Son on the Cross, an "object lesson" reaching right into our hearts.~~ ----- -An animal's blood was shed in the covenant between Abram and God, pointing to the blood of the Lamb of God shed for you and me. Jesus paid our sin-debt. We must give our hearts and lives to Him.~~
--Anchor Devotions
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
"Thus He overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities--and also the vegetation in the land. But Lot's wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt." (Genesis 19:25-26)
--LOT and his family were spared from destruction, but they learned very little from the experience. Lot was uncooperative and cowardly. His daughters continued the lewd behaviors that Sodom and Gomorrah had been judged for. Most memorable was Lot's wife who, though warned, looked back on the cities God judged and was turned into a pillar of salt. She became an 'object lesson' to everyone.
Salt was everywhere in the plain of the Dead Sea. Gathered, sold and used for preserving and seasoning, salt eventually returned to the earth and was used again. Whether Lot's wife was buried or just left there, her legacy became nothing but chemical processes.
The lesson for us is that unless we are obedient to God's plan, a similar pitiful end awaits us. Ecclesiastes 12:7 says, "The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the Spirit returns to God who gave it." Our bodies will dissolve someday. While we have breath and life, we are the salt of the earth, here to give glory to the One who gives us eternal life.~~ ---- --The next time someone says, "Pass the salt, please", consider the lesson you can learn and who may be teaching it to you. Yes, salt is a preservative, but it also 'stings' in an open wound. ~~~
--Anchor Devotions~~
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
- -The Lesson of being: "Born-Again" ----[Born 'spiritually', 'from above', 'through faith'] --Two Imperatives -By: Henry Morris, Ph.D.
--“Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:7).
The term “born again” has come into such common use in recent years, even in political campaigns, that its tremendous meaning has been all but lost. But Jesus—who ought to know, being none other than God incarnate—said “Ye must be born again!” Furthermore, He said it to Nicodemus, one of the most religiously knowledgeable people of that day.
He did not say to Nicodemus that “'they' must be born again,” meaning the unbelieving multitudes who were not as instructed in the things of God as they should be. Nor did he say that “we must be born again,” meaning all of us mortals including Himself. Rather, Jesus said, “Ye must be born again!”
Even a man like Nicodemus must be born spiritually—born again (literally, “born from above”)—if he were ever to see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). In answer to his question as to how this could be, Jesus said he must be born of the Spirit, supernaturally.
But Nicodemus—as well as each of us—was born a sinner and was still a sinner, even failing to recognize Christ as Son of man and Son of God. How could he be born again?
The answer is in a second imperative:“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:14,15). If “ye must be born again,” then “even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” Christ must die for our sins before it can ever be possible that a lost sinner can be born again.
Since Jesus Christ was lifted up on the Cross to die for us, our burden of sin has also been lifted up and placed on Him. If we would enter God’s kingdom, we must be born again through faith in Him! There is no other way! --ICR/HMM= / THE WORD IS ALIVE= Casting Crowns <http://youtu.be/XBsf-emx_UM> -----------
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--OBJECT LESSONS Found in the Bible -- - -The Lesson of: PEACE
-"For He himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility..." ---Ephesians 2:14~~
--Do you think of yourself as a peacemaker? God calls us to be peacemakers in a world that is filled with strife, unrest and chaos...even if we do not want to be. He gave us specific mandates about cultivating peace in our lives.
-'Practice personal peace'--in contrast to worry--as an act of our will (Colossians 3:15). Peace does not come automatically or passively. We must pursue it, making every effort to do what leads to peace (Romans 14:13).
-'Maintain peace', and therefore unity, in the church (Ephesians 4:3). It is in that unity that others will know God is real.
-'Live peaceably' with everyone--as much as it is possible for you (Romans 12:18). We may have to give up some personal "rights" to do so.
And most wonderfully of all, know that Jesus Himself is your peace! The 'Prince of Peace', He came to this earth to do away with the dividing wall of sin that formerly kept us from Him. Now we have been brought near to Him, His love and peace growing in us and producing a harvest of righteousness and peace!~~
Exodus 34:19-20; Genesis 22:1-18 "Abraham answered, 'God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.' And the two of them went on together." (Genesis 22:8)~~ ----- ---- -God tested Abraham to see if his heart was true to God. He told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, his beloved son. Abraham prepared to obey, but at the last moment God sent a substitute, a male sheep, to be the sacrifice. The redemption of Abraham's Isaac became an 'object lesson' that involved every "Isaac" in Israel.
Moses introduced the lesson in Exodus 34:19-20 with God's decree that every firstborn son, animal or human, belong to Him. The animals could be sacrificed or redeemed. But the firstborn human sons, the "Isaacs" of Israel, must not be sacrificed but redeemed by the substitute of a sheep.
Every time Israel redeemed their beloved sons, God taught them this lesson. He taught it for centuries until He completed it in Jesus Christ. The act of offering one's own son was reserved for God alone. Humanity had been told to redeem their beloved sons, but God sacrificed His beloved Son to redeem humanity. All who believe became "Isaacs," redeemed from the curse of sin by a substitute: God's own Son, Jesus. --- He has taken care to teach us the completeness of His love; Let's respond to His plan for us with complete obedience.~~
--Psalm 130 ----- Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer. ---Romans 12:12 --- Day after day for years Harry shared with the Lord his concern for his son-in-law John who had turned away from God. But then Harry died. A few months later, John turned back to God. When his mother-in-law Marsha told him that Harry had been praying for him every day, John replied, "I waited too long." But Marsha joyfully shared: "The Lord is still answering the prayers Harry prayed during his earthly life."
Harry's story is an encouragement to us who pray and wait. He continued "steadfastly in prayer" and waited patiently (Rom. 12:12).
The author of Psalm 130 experienced 'waiting in prayer'. He said, "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits" (v.5). He found hope in God because he knew that "with the LORD there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption" (v.7).
Author Samuel Enyia wrote about God's timing: "God does not depend on our time. Our time is chronological and linear but God...is timeless. He will act at the fullness of His time. Our prayer...may not necessarily rush God into action, but...places us before Him in fellowship."
What a privilege we have to fellowship with God in prayer and to wait for the answer in the fullness of His time.~~ ---------- -God may delay our request, but He will never disappoint our trust.
--ODB/AC
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
-Jesus is the only Person who could pay for our salvation. ----- "Through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men." --Romans 5:18 ------ -HERE in the United States, we've been on a bottled water binge for a number of years. Even though most people have a safe supply of water that is free and readily available from faucets and drinking fountains, they still purchase bottled water. Choosing to pay for something that I can enjoy at no cost doesn't make sense to me, but some people believe that a product they pay for is superior to anything they receive free.
This sometimes carries over into our spiritual lives. Some struggle to accept that 'salvation is a gift'. They want to do something to earn it. The problem is, no one can afford it. The price of salvation is perfection (Matt. 19:21), and Jesus is the only person who could pay the price (Rom. 5:18). To anyone who thirsts, He promises to "give of the fountain of the water of life freely" (Rev. 21:6).
Some people try to purchase the living water of salvation with good deeds and charitable donations. Although these are forms of spiritual service valued by God, they are not what God requires for the forgiveness of our sin. Jesus already paid the price by dying in our place, and He offers to quench our spiritual thirst when we drink freely from God's fountain that will never run dry.
Jesus is the Living Water-- Just one drink will make you whole; Drawing daily from that wellspring Brings refreshment to the soul.~~ ------ --JESUS IS THE ONLY FOUNTAIN WHO CAN SATISFY THE THIRSTY SOUL. ~~
“Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?” - Proverbs 6:27
Filmmakers and TV executives tell us that what kids watch in movies or TV does not affect them. If it has no affect, then why do businesses spend billions of dollars in advertising?
Why would a corporation spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for one minute of television time to showcase their product if what is seen has no affect on the viewer? You cannot tell me that someone sitting and watching some sex-saturated show for one hour is not going to be affected. Of course they are! We are affected by what we see. As a matter of fact, what we see makes us what we are. Don’t be fooled!
There’s an old saying: “The eyes are the window to the soul.” Job vowed in Job 31:1, “I have made a covenant with my eyes.” God has given you individual freedom. It is your responsibility to set a guard over your eyes and what they take in.
--Adrian Rogers~~
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
---True Spiritual Growth ---James 1:17-27 (please read) --As we read God's Word, we will change on the inside..,THEN that moves to the outside of our daily lives.~
--THE LESSON OF TRUE SPIRITUAL GROWTH~~ -If you want to genuinely grow in spiritual maturity, it is not enough to simply be instructed by the Word of God. You may love going to church or listening to Christian radio programs. You might talk about everything you hear and assume you're growing because your knowledge is increasing. However, if you don't actually grow closer to God by allowing His Word to change you from the inside out, your head will merely continue to fill with information. You might even sound like a godly person who is admired for the ability to quote chapter and verse. But if you don't take the next step and allow God to touch others' lives through you, you're missing the point.
Spiritual growth is the result of practicing the truth you receive from God. He wants you to give away what He gives you--that is, by loving and serving others and sharing the truth of the gospel. Our example is Jesus, who said that He did not come to be served, but to serve even the lowest outcasts in His society (Matt. 20:28). He could have exalted Himself and spent all His time preaching and teaching. Instead, Jesus did only the Father's will, which was to reveal His heart of love to a broken world. The Lord sacrificially involved Himself in people's lives, and He calls us to follow in His footsteps.
God's plan is to reach the world through you. If that weren't the case, He would have taken you to heaven as soon as you were saved. But you are here for a purpose--to live out Christ's life alongside hurting people who desperately need to experience His love.
--IN TOUCH~~
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
-If you've ever read through Leviticus, you may have wondered why God gave the Israelites so many rules and details about sacrifices and worship procedures. When I was a boy, I remember thinking all those cows could have fed a lot of people. To me, the sacrifices seemed like a big waste, but that's because I didn't understand what the Lord was teaching His people.
Today we have the finished Scriptures to help us understand who God is and what He desires of us. But in the days of the Old Testament, He taught His people by example. He wanted them to grasp three things: His holiness; their sinfulness and the consequences of disobedience; and His care for them—that He was the source of every good thing. The rules and regulations He instituted were visible 'object lessons'.
In every detail, He revealed His holiness—and in every sacrifice, the cost of sin. The rules of the tabernacle taught the people not to take worship lightly. It was a serious and awesome privilege to approach a holy, righteous God.
Today, it's rather easy to lose sight of the Lord's holiness. To prevent that, try re-examining the Old Testament sacrificial system for a fresh perspective on the seriousness of worship.
God is our Heavenly Father, and we have instant access to His throne room. Yet we should think about whether we're treating Him with the reverence He deserves. At church, instead of being preoccupied and distracted, we should understand what a privilege it is to come into His presence. --IN TOUCH~~ / IN YOUR PRESENCE/ BY: Paul Wilbur <http://youtu.be/g5MFhZLO73A> -----------
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven." (Matthew 18:3-4)~
--JESUS' disciples asked, "Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" No doubt they were thinking of all they had done, and they expected Him to name one of them. Instead, Jesus called a young child to stand in front of Him. He told them the honor went to anyone who was like this child. What do we know about this child?
We don't know his name or anything about him. Jesus didn't want us to know much about that individual, but we know what 'all' little children are like. They are needy. They are unable to get along in this world without someone to parent them. They are helpless.
This is exactly how Jesus wants us to come to Him: in all our need and helplessness, fully depending on His grace to carry us in this world. Just as He urged the disciples to change their mindset from wondering who had done the best things for God's kingdom, Jesus urges us to lay aside all our accomplishments and good deeds. Approach Him instead as a little child with nothing to offer and who desperately needs his parent. "Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, and He will lift you up." --Anchor~~
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--Waterless Clouds “Woe unto them! . . . clouds they are without water, carried about of winds.” (Jude 1:11-12)
This appears to be the only reference in the Bible that compares clouds to people. Several references use cloud imagery to depict the presence of God directing Israel (Exodus 13:21), speaking to Moses (Exodus 16:10-11), anointing the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-38) and the temple (1 Kings 8:10-11), and speaking to the apostles on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:5). Our Lord Jesus was taken up to heaven in a cloud (Acts 1:9) and will return in a cloud as well (Luke 21:27).
-Here, however, Jude applies a strong negative imagery. Those who introduce evil into the Lord’s churches may seem to represent the presence of God, but their misty vapor holds no “water”—it will only obscure the brilliance of light and obfuscate the real “temperature” of the environment.
In an agrarian-based economy, clouds were hopeful signs of rain to refresh the land. Some of that positive view has been lost by urban societies, which often see rain as an inconvenience. New Testament imagery connects water with life-giving properties emanating from the Holy Spirit and with the cleansing value of the words of Scripture (John 4:14; Ephesians 5:26). Paul warned Pastor Titus about many “unruly and vain talkers and deceivers” who must be stopped so that “good men” would become “sound in the faith” (Titus 1:8-13).
Thus, Jude compares those who hinder “the faith” to those who appear to represent godly pursuits and character but are empty of the refreshing and guiding power of the Holy Spirit and void of biblical wisdom and insight. They are “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14) and “serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:18). --ICR/HMM III
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--OBJECT LESSONS FOUND IN THE BIBLE~~ (Stories given to help us understand and learn from God's Word.) ---------- --WHAT IS IT? --Exodus 16
"When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, 'What is it?' For they did not know what it was." (Exodus 16:15)
~~THE Israelites were slaves in Egypt for 400 years. God freed them through a series of miracles, proving that He was their Protector and Savior. But freedom brought uncertainty. They accused Moses: "You have brought us out into this desert to starve this whole assembly." After just two months they were ready to go back to slavery. When God provided a bread-like substance to feed them, their surprised reply was, "Manna?" which means, "What is it?"
The manna came once a day, and people gathered what they needed. If they tried to gather more, it spoiled. God's message was clear: Use what I give you today and trust me for tomorrow.
The Israelites had an obvious job (crossing the desert) and an obvious provision (manna lying on the ground). This was made plain to them. Sometimes our mission and His provision may not be so clear. Like the Israelites we may ask, "What is it?" But if we follow Jesus Christ, He will provide all the guidance and resources we'll need, enough for today and into tomorrow.~~ --- -Every day God leads us the same way; He gives us a job to do and enough faith to do it. Press on, in Jesus Name. ~~
--Object Lessons Found in the Bible -(Stories/examples for us to learn what is right and what is wrong, in God's eyes.)
--BIND THEM ON YOUR FOREHEADS~~ --Deuteronomy 6:1-9
"Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord...promised you." --(Deuteronomy 6:3) --- -IN THIS passage God promised long life and prosperity to the Israelites if they would obey Him. He even gave them instructions for a way to help them remember the promise. He told them to write down His commands and wear them on their foreheads and hands. It would be a daily 'object lesson' to help them remember.
There is no record that any Israelite in the Old Testament actually wore them. Worse, the record clearly shows that they failed to obey His other commands, too. There were times when it was more normal to disobey then to obey God's laws. It's not that the "phylacteries," as they were later called, would magically keep them from sinning. They were merely the first step in the process of obedience: making the people aware of the God to whom they belonged.
God's promises to us are somewhat different today, but they still hinge on obedience. The promise of eternal life was won by 'Christ's' obedience, not our own. And the promise of abundant life now is fulfilled as we walk daily with Him. ---- -As we find practical ways to remind ourselves that we belong to Jesus, we will enjoy His promises and follow His guidance. God has special plans for each of His children. You will hear Him say, "This is the Way, Walk ye in it." ~~
-"Then Jesus said to them, 'I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save a life or to destroy it?'" (Luke 6:9)
--JESUS was unlike any other teacher. He not only knew His audience, He knew their thoughts. On this occasion as He taught in the Synagogue, some in the audience had such twisted thinking that Jesus decided to expose it before they even expressed it. They were trying to catch Jesus on a technicality, watching to see if He would break the Law against working on the Sabbath by healing a man with a shriveled hand. But Jesus knew their thoughts and cut through their hypocrisy. "Which is lawful on the Sabbath," He asked, "to do good or evil?" Then he healed the man. With this flawless logic and demonstration of true goodness, one would think they'd get straightened out. But the passage says they were furious and began to plot against Him. They were focused only on what they wanted.
How alarmingly close to that we can be! When we focus on our own desires, we too take our eyes off of Jesus and waste opportunities to do good and to honor God. We can remind ourselves that we are here for His glory, not our own. --- "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his own soul?" (Matthew 16:26)
--A Golden Object in a -Golden Lesson ~~ --Daniel 3:1-25
"Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." --(Daniel 3:25)
-Nebuchadnezzar, the most powerful king in the world, made a huge golden idol to be worshiped by all. It was an 'object lesson' for the whole world: loyalty to Nebuchadnezzar comes first.
But three Hebrew officials refused to obey, knowing that proper allegiance is always to God first. The king was furious! He ordered them thrown into a blazing furnace stoked so hot that it killed the soldiers who threw them in. Yet the Hebrew men were unharmed. The king leaped to his feet in awe at the three and the additional supernatural fourth Man with them.
Why was a furnace this big sitting there so handy? It was probably the same one used to make the king's idol. Using the king's own resources, God showed His power over idols, a furnace, the laws of nature, and men. Sending His messenger to walk with the men is a picture of how Jesus would come years later and walk alongside of us. The prophet Isaiah would tell of it: "When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze" (43:2). --- -God can use anything to teach the unlimited scope of His power. Even the hard heart of the Babylonian king was moved eventually (Daniel 5:37).
---He Knows What You Need -How did Jesus endure the terror of the crucifixion? He went first to the Father with his fears. He modeled the words of Psalm 56:3, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.”
Do the same with yours! And be specific. Jesus was. “Take this cup,” He prayed. Give God the number of the flight. Tell Him the length of the speech. Share the details of the job transfer. He has plenty of time. He also has plenty of compassion. He won’t tell you to “buck up” or “get tough.” He has been where you are. He knows how you feel. And He knows what you need.
That’s why we punctuate our prayers as Jesus did. “If you are willing. . .” Was God willing? Yes and no. He didn’t take away the Cross, but he took away the fear. Who’s to say He won’t do the same for you?
--Can you take a few minutes to thank Him? We owe all to Him. The Savior of the world."Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin." That sacrifice had to be PERFECT! No sins, no blemishes or tainted thoughts or words. THAT IS JESUS!
--THE CROSS is not just a pretty necklace or 'lucky charm' to keep with our little 'special jewelry items'. NO! We owe our lives totally to Him, JESUS. "For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son in the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." (John 3:16,17)<https://youtu.be/6t0Tdj5cgno>
At the Cross (Where Blood Ran Red) ~ Chris Tomlin~
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--GOD HAS DONE IT / Self-Sufficiency Must Go! --(Matthew 19:16-22~ ~
---The rich young ruler. He’s rich, powerful. Just ask him. He knows where he’s going. But today he has a question. Calling on this carpenter’s Son for help must be awkward. “Teacher,” he asks, “what good thing must I do to get eternal life” (Matthew 19:16)? How much do I need to invest to be certain of my return?
Jesus’ answer is intended to make the young man wince. “Obey the commandments.”
“Hey,” he grins, I’ve obeyed all of these.”
Jesus gets to the point. “If you want to be perfect, go sell your possessions, give to the poor and you’ll have treasures in heaven” (Matthew 19:21). The statement leaves the young man distraught. It wasn’t the money that hindered the rich man—it was the self-sufficiency. God does for his children what they can’t do for themselves. This was the message of Paul: “For what the law was powerless to do—God did” (Romans 8:3).
--Applause of Heaven/ML
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--BIBLE MEDITATION: “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:16
--DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: The rich man asked Jesus, “Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17). Then Jesus asked him if he had kept the law. He said yes. In love Jesus responded, “One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow Me” (Mark 10:21b). But the rich man was “sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions” (Mark 10:22).
Jesus let him go. Jesus didn’t run after him. And there’s another thing I want you to notice: Jesus didn’t lower His standards.
--ACTION POINT: Is there anything you love more than Jesus? You must willingly lay it down to be saved. Follow in His steps, and listen to His Words. They Give Life everlasting! --Adrian Rogers~~ / Your Words Give Us Life (ThirdDay) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfpRfA_Z9Iw -------------
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
-"The LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." (Exodus 34:14) ----- -IN 2014 a University of California researcher used a stuffed dog to show that animals are capable of jealousy. Professor Christine Harris asked dog owners to show affection for a stuffed animal in the presence of their pet. She found that three-fourths of the dogs responded with apparent envy. Some tried to get attention with touch or a gentle nudge. Others tried to push between their owner and the toy. A few went so far as to snap at their stuffed rival.
In a dog, jealousy seems heartwarming. In people, it can lead to less admirable results. Yet, as Moses and Paul remind us, there is also another jealousy--one that beautifully reflects the heart of God.
When Paul wrote to the church at Corinth he said he was "jealous for you with a godly jealousy" (2 Cor. 11:2). He didn't want them to be "led astray from [their] sincere and pure devotion to Christ" (v.3). Such jealousy reflects the heart of God, who told Moses in the Ten Commandments, "I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God" (Ex. 20:5).
God's jealousy is not like our self-centered love. His heart expresses His protective zeal for those who are His by creation and salvation. He made us and rescued us to know and enjoy Him forever. How could we ask for anything more than a God who is so zealous--and jealous--for our happiness? You are loved with an everlasting love and underneath are His everlasting arms. ~~
--God loves every one of us as if there were but one of us to love. --(AUGUSTINE) ~~ ------ --ODB/MD --One Name for God is YAHWEH- --YHWH= Yahweh/ JEHOVAH GOD = (some=Yahweh) = JEHOVAH --A form of the Hebrew Name of the Old Testament. Our God who is present. ~~ <https://youtu.be/zP0vLeZjaaI> ----------
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--(Please read Luke 10:38-42) --"One thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part." -(v.42)~~
--Sometimes good things take us away from something better. That happened in the life of Martha, whose story is recorded in Luke 10:38-42). When Jesus and His disciples arrived in the village of Bethany, Martha welcomed them into her home. Being a good host meant that someone had to prepare the meal for the guests, so we don't want to be too hard on her.
When Martha complained that her sister Mary wasn't helping, Jesus defended Mary's choice to sit at His feet. But the Lord wasn't saying that Mary was more spiritual than her sister. On occasion Martha seems to have shown more trust in Jesus than Mary did (John 11:19-20). And He wasn't being critical of Martha's desire to look after their physical needs. Rather, what the Lord wanted Martha to hear is that in the busyness of our service, listening to Him is the main event. ---- 'Dear Lord, help me to remember that my service for You is important, but it can never take the place of intimate fellowship with You.' amen~~ <https://youtu.be/CwEKRZ0I7Gg>
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--Are We Living in the Last Days? Does God Tell Lies?
--Jehovah God never lies. He can not lie, because He is the Creator of the entire universe.(Note: Titus 1:2) "Paul, a bondservant of GOD and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began." Also we see (Hebrews 6:18)- By two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us."
--Are we living in the last days? Keep in mind that Jehovah Yahweh, YHWH, is outside of our earthly time. He is our loving, covenant-keeping God. He does not operate according to our calendars or clocks. He is eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.
We read in 1 Peter 1:20-21- "He, [YHWH],indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last time for you, who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."
Apostates Predicted= "These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit." (JUDE 16-19)
-"Little children, it is the last hour; and you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour." (1 John 2:18) ------- We are living in very difficult times. Things are going to get much worse because the enemy of our souls, (Satan), knows his time is short. The Lord has warned us in His Word what is happening and what will continue, until He comes to take us Home. Stand Firm and Faint Not. Keep the faith. Be sure whatever teaching you are sitting under lines up with the Word of God, the Holy Bible. There are churches today that are adding their own words, and other books to the Bible. Beware of the LDS- Mormon, Jehovah Witnesses, and several others. Many of them are exposed on this forum. "You shall know them by their fruit." If it's not Biblical, get out of there and go to a Bible believing, Christian Church. Ask the Lord Jesus to open your spiritual eyes to know the truth. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6)
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--God's Timing Makes Sense of 'Adversity' --By: James J. S. Johnson, J.D., Th.D.
--Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. — --(1 Peter 4:19)
“Why do people suffer bad things that they don’t deserve?” It was the inquirer rather than the question that was surprising: a seven-year-old boy.
--The answer to this child’s question is provided in the book of Job. In Job’s experience, he questioned why an infinitely wise, good, and powerful God would allow a basically good man to suffer terrible calamities on Earth while letting other humans, who behave far worse, escape such calamities. Such inequity confuses child and adult alike, especially if one assumes that total “fairness” is supposed to be achieved during this earthly lifetime. But how do you explain Job—its theology of human suffering, and how God tests human character in time for His eternal purposes—to a second grader?
Start by explaining the importance of how temporal needs are followed by timely care, in our own lives, using a “nature sermon”—the same approach God Himself used while He was replying to Job’s agonizing questions. God pointed to how He takes care of earthly creatures through His providential timing. Lion and raven babies hunger first, then they eat. Wild goats and deer have designed timeframes for gestation, then birth occurs. Hawks and eagles fly with purposeful timing, synching their flights to thermal air currents and season-timed migrations.
Sequential timing is vital for the important things in this life, even the basics of being born, metabolizing food, and daily movements. Timing contextualizes all of the temporal adversities in human life, too. But eventually, all temporal afflictions end.
God was testing Job’s moral character. We know this now because we have the entire book and know the entire ordeal, including the happy ending. But if God had told Job about the test in advance, including how God was proving that Satan was an impudent liar, it would have ruined the legitimacy of Job’s own trial of faith. What Job learned through his agonizing ordeal was synched to sequenced timing—God’s timing—so that Job’s sufferings ultimately ended and counted for good.
God delayed some answers, but He did not ignore Job. He provided Job with proof of His wisdom and goodness and power in a sermon about nature (Job 38–41). He gave adequate information to Job, emphasizing that He was Maker and Master of His own creation, orchestrating and operating its synchronized moving parts (including humans and animals) so that, as Paul would later say, “all things work together for good.” (Romans 8:28)
Amazing! God has ordained seasons and migrations, fitted deer and goats for pregnancies, and provides food to animals to satisfy their hunger. God’s timing is important in our own daily challenges, whether we are seven or 77, reminding us like Job that even amidst life’s many confusions and agonies we can trust His all-wise and providential care. God knows what He is doing!
--ICR/JJJ --For references:<ICR.org>/Feb 2016--
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--(Please read: 1 Samuel 25:14-33) -'When the LORD takes pleasure in anyone's way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them.' ---- -David and 400 of his warriors thundered through the countryside in search of Nabal, a prosperous brute who had harshly refused to lend them help. David would have murdered him if he hadn't first encountered Abigail, Nabal's wife. She had packed up enough food to feed an army and traveled out to meet the troops, hoping to head off disaster. She respectfully reminded David that guilt would haunt him if he followed through with his vengeful plan (1 SAM. 25:31). David realized she was right and blessed her for her good judgment.
David's anger was legitimate--he had protected Nabal's shepherds in the wilderness (vv.14-17) and had been repaid evil for good. However, his anger was leading him into sin. David's first instinct was to sink his sword into Nabal, even though he knew God did not approve of murder and revenge (EX. 20:13; LEV. 19:18).
When we've been offended, it's good to compare our instincts with God's intent for human behavior. We may be inclined to strike at people verbally, isolate ourselves, or escape through any number of ways. However, choosing a gracious response will help us avoid regret, and most important it will please God. When our desire is to honor God in our relationships, He is able to make even our enemies to be at peace with us (see Proverbs 16:7/ text).~~
-'Lord, thank You for holding back Your anger and having mercy on me. Help me to walk in step with Your Spirit so that my actions please You in every situation.' amen~
-WE CAN ENDURE LIFE'S WRONGS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT GOD WILL MAKE THINGS RIGHT. THE LORD IS ALWAYS IN CONTROL. WE MUST BE OBEDIENT AND LEAVE THE RESULTS TO HIM. ~~ --ODB/JBS
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--LORD JESUS, I Want to Be Near You~~Restore Me --"Greater is the one who lives inside of you, than he who lives in the world." --(1 John 4:4) ---- -"We do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses." (Hebrews 4:15)
-Jesus knew what it was like to lose His personal space in the commotion of crowds desperate to see and touch Him. A woman who had suffered from constant bleeding from 12 years and could find no cure touched the fringe of His robe. Immediately, her bleeding stopped (LUKE 8:43-44).
Jesus' question, "Who touched me?" (v.45) isn't as strange as it sounds. He felt power come out of Him (v.46). That touch was different from those who merely happened to accidentally touch Him.
While we must admit that we do sometimes wish to keep our personal space and privacy, the only way we help a world of hurting people is to let them get close enough to be touched by the encouragement, comfort, and grace of Christ in us. ~~
-'Lord Jesus, I want to be near You and know You so that when I'm in contact with others they can see You through me. Holy, Holy, I want to see the fullness of Your majesty. Restore Me to Yourself, when I fall. In Jesus Name. Amen'~ --ODB/CPH - RESTORE ME- Kutless <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfi0BXGPEDA>
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Psalm 8:3-4)
This question has been posed as a rhetorical question by many generations of skeptics, especially in our present generation when the tremendous size of the universe is often used to argue that God, if He exists, could not possibly be interested in such a small speck of dust as our own planet.
But, essentially, the same argument was used against Job by one of his three “miserable comforters” (Job 16:2) over 3,500 years ago. “How then can man be justified with God? . . . that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?” (Job 25:4, 6). This dismal type of reasoning, however, is utterly fallacious. Significance is not a function of size, but of purposeful complexity, and the human brain is surely the most complex physical system in the entire universe, as acknowledged even by such an eminent atheistic scientist as Isaac Asimov. Rather than being insignificant nonentities, men and women have been created in the very image of God and are the objects of His redeeming love.
-- The most wonderful measure of man’s importance is the fact that God, Himself, became a man! “Christ Jesus . . . being in the form of God, . . . took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:5-7) to be able to take our death penalty upon Himself.
Furthermore, God’s love for man is measured not only by His substitutionary death for our sins, but also by His eternal creative purpose for us. He has redeemed us so that “in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7). --ICR/ HMM--/ I Am Not Alone / Kari Jobe~
--WHAT IS THE CHRISTIAN LIFE? ---(Please Read/ Titus 3:4-7)
--The Christian Life is just that—a life, not simply a set of rules. Sadly, a lot of churches preach Christianity as a list of dos and don’ts. Then faith looks like a formula: 'Jesus’ saving grace plus doing good things minus doing bad things equals righteousness.' Most of us have enough problems without worrying about whether we’re following the extra-biblical rules of a church.
A man-made formula for righteousness runs counter to scriptural teaching.. Not only did Jesus condemn the Pharisees’ heavy-handed religion, but He Himself offered liberty through grace (Matt. 23:1-4; John 8:36). Neither keeping God’s law by self-effort nor adhering to extra rules makes a person free. Legalistic believers are in bondage and growing ever weaker.
When a person accepts the saving grace of Jesus Christ, he or she receives a new life. (See Rom. 6:4-7.) This is not an uptight lifestyle of doing good works. A believer is a changed person—the same body but a transformed mind and heart. Christ lives through you.. His Holy Spirit flows into your spirit just as sap runs in a grapevine. It’s like getting a spiritual blood transfusion! Strength pumps into places where weakness once prevailed. Why rely upon your frail self when the courage and power to follow God’s will are available through Christ?
-I know what it feels like to burn out from trying to do good in my own strength. My desire for you is that you’ll surrender to the Lord. Depend upon Him to change you from the inside out, and trust that He will. Jesus is your life. He will never get tired of transforming you. **--IN TOUCH~** -["Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 'We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf; Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." --(2 Corinthians 5:17-21)] Please, if you hear God speaking to your heart, as He speaks to all, but few listen, Come to Christ as your Lord and Savior. He died so that you can live eternally with Him. You can only do this by asking Him to come into your life, repenting of your sins, and turning away from your old sinful life and following Christ Jesus. //--IN CHRIST ALONE~ / Phillips, Craig, Dean ~~ <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoMOYGUrGg4> -----------
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.” --- (Psalm 23:4)
--Psalm 23 is perched between Psalm 22, which tells about the crucifixion of Jesus, and Psalm 24, which is a prophecy of the Coronation of Jesus. It is beautiful trilogy about the Savior’s Cross, the Shepherd’s Crook, and the Sovereign’s Crown.
Psalm 23 is the valley between the blood-drenched slopes of Mount Calvary and the sunlit peaks of Mount Zion. Thank God for every valley, because there must be a mountain.
If you are in the valley today, remember that you wouldn’t be there had there not been mountains to cross. There is vision in the valley and hope in the hills.--[You are loved with an everlasting love and underneath are His everlasting arms. Jesus said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you. You are Mine. I have your name engraved on the palm of my nail-pierced hands."] --Adrian Rogers~~--/ 'HOW CAN IT BE?' --Lauren Daigle <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmtmWJ3CaBE> -----------
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
---Building Bridges to the Kingdom of God~ --(Please Read/ Matthew 25:31-34)
Scripture refers to "the kingdom of God" frequently, but many people are unclear as to its meaning. Let's look at the past, present, and future reality of this concept.
The first thing we must realize is that the 'heavenly kingdom' refers to everything under Christ's control. At the moment of salvation, we are transferred from the reign of darkness to the bright authority of Jesus. And we are eternally secure in Him.
As today's verses explain, Jesus' kingdom and reign have been planned since the foundation of the world. From the beginning, God has been preparing mankind for what is to come. One way was by using prophets to foretell how He would redeem humanity and sovereignly rule over heaven and earth.
Once Jesus came and gave His life, He established the "present" kingdom. This isn't a geographical locale; it's a term describing the heart, where God's Holy Spirit indwells believers to guide, counsel, and empower.
But there is also a future aspect of the kingdom, which we can anticipate with excitement. You are probably familiar with the words "Thy kingdom come" from the Lord's Prayer (Luke 11:2 kjv). This speaks of the new heaven and new earth, where we will enjoy freedom from pain and sin. There, we will worship Jesus with gladness and joy for all eternity.
As God's kingdom ambassadors, we who are His children have the responsibility and privilege of sharing the good news: Through Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, all who trust in Him are forgiven of sin and assured of eternal life with God. Whom can you tell about this amazing gift? Jesus is alive right now and seated at the right hand of God the Father praying for us. He is alive inside of each believer, spiritually. --IN TOUCH~~--/ Amazing Love(You are My King)--Hillsong <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avJ4lDnZWRU> --------
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--HOW SIN AFFECTS YOUR PRAYER LIFE~~ ---By: Greg Laurie Daily~~
--"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear." —--(Psalm 66:18)
--Habitual sin in the life of a Christian can bring his or her prayer life to a screeching halt. That is not to say we have to be sinless to pray. If that were the case, none of us could ever approach God. The Bible even says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). It also tells us that 'when we sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous' (see 1 John 2:1).
The Bible makes allowances for sin in our lives and offers God’s mercy and forgiveness to us, but unconfessed sin certainly can hinder our prayers. The psalmist said, “If I 'regard' iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear” (66:18). Another way to translate the word regard would be “hold on to.” In other words, if we cling to iniquity in our hearts, the Lord will not hear us.
There is a difference between sin and willful sin. There is a difference between stumbling, being sorry for it, and turning from it, and continually, willfully, and habitually sinning. If you are sensing God’s conviction and know what you’re doing isn’t right, that is God’s Holy Spirit lovingly trying to wake you up and warn you of the perilous path you have put yourself on.
-Hebrews 12:6 says, “Whom the Lord loves He chastens.” To loosely paraphrase, “Whom God really loves, He spanks.” Because He cares about you, He applies the “board of education” to your “seat of understanding.” Some of us need a trip behind God’s woodshed. When that happens, don’t recoil and complain that it’s unfair. Instead, rejoice that God loves you enough to deal with you as a father deals with his son or daughter.~~ -------- --'Draw Me Close to You' / Katinas~~ (one person's thoughts made in the post. Also listed under 'Show More'. Not Hillsong. ) <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJBYyNsQd0> -------
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
“Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.” -----(John 19:40)-
The Jews of Jesus’ day prepared bodies for burial in a much different fashion than we do today. In our text the word “wound” actually means “to bind, tie, or wind,” and bodies were tightly rolled up in long strips of linen cloth. Parallel passages in Matthew 27:59, Mark 15:46, and Luke 23:53 employ words derived from the Greek 'hellisso', meaning “to coil,” from which we get our word “helix.”
The tightness of the winding can be inferred from the raising of Lazarus from the dead. After Christ had called him back to life, “he that was dead came forth, bound [same word as ‘wound’] hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go” (John 11:44).
On resurrection morning, after hearing the news of the missing body of Christ, Peter and John ran to the sepulcher. “Peter . . . went into the sepulcher, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped [same word as ‘wound’] together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple . . . and he saw, and believed” (John 20:6-8).
John recognized, as we should, that only a miracle could account for the state of these linen clothes. If thieves had stolen the body, they would either have taken the clothes, or the clothes would have been strewn around, not lying in the same location and shape as they had been when the body was present. Previously, John “knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead” (v. 9), but when he saw the linen clothes, he “believed.”
-Christ miraculously rose from the dead. John believed; we have his eyewitness testimony. Can we do less?
"I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. For true and just are his judgments. --- The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: -"Amen, Hallelujah!"
Then a voice came from the throne, saying: "Praise our God, all you his servants, You who fear him, both small and great!"
Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: --HALLELUJAH! For our Lord God Almighty reigns! Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the Wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean was given her to wear."-(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)
Then the angel said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are invited to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb!" And he added, "These are the true words of God." ---(Revelation 19:1-9 ~~~~~~~~~~ "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him no one knows but He himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the 'Word of God.'
The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written:
--'KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.'~~
And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army." ------------ "And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.
"I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the Word of God." --[REVELATION 20:1-4A- NIV/ (selected verses)] --"LORD, TAKE UP YOUR HOLY THRONE"/ Paul Wilbur~~<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzn7hHgEDP0> -----------
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
---CERTAINTY ABOUT SALVATION~~ --(Please Read/ 1 John 5:13)--
One of the main reasons many Christians fail to serve God joyfully is their uncertainty about where they stand with Him. They don’t understand the basic nature of their relationship with the Lord and, as a result, hold back from dedicating themselves fully to His service.
You probably have seen similar types of hesitancy played out in day-to-day life. For example, perhaps you’re acquainted with a man and a woman who are known as the “on again, off again” couple—the pair who seem to dance around the idea of relationship but somehow never quite seem able to commit. It’s difficult to make that life-changing decision when you’re not sure how the other person feels about you, isn’t it?
The same thing holds true in your life of faith. No one wants a spouse—or a Savior—who might leave at any time, for any reason. No, we want certainty. And when that is missing, the whole context of the relationship is out of balance.
The apostle John was surely thinking about this as the Holy Spirit inspired him to write the beautiful word of encouragement we find in 1 John 5:13. What was his purpose in writing? “That you may 'know' that you have eternal life” (emphasis added).
John was writing to bring certainty to uncertain believers. He wanted them to know that there was no “off again” time for anyone who had engaged in a relationship with the Father. Because God is your constant companion, you can trust that He is faithful—eternally always with you.~~ --IN TOUCH~~ --'At the Cross' / with: Hillsong~~ <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkRudaBidHc> -----------
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--(1 Samuel 16:7) says, “. . .man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Those words were written for misfits and outcasts. God uses them all.
Moses ran from justice, but God used him. Jonah ran from God, but God used him. Rahab ran a brothel. Sarah ran out of hope, Lot ran with the wrong crowd, but God used them all. And David? Human eyes saw a gangly teenager, smelling like sheep. Yet the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is the one!” (1 Samuel 16:12).
God saw what no one else saw– a God-seeking heart. David took after God’s heart, because he stayed after God’s heart. In the end, that is all God wants or needs. Others measure your waist size or wallet. Not God. He examines hearts. When he finds one set on Him, He calls it and claims it. --"Yes, I am coming quickly. Amen Even so, Come Lord Jesus."--(Revelation 22:20-20)
--Refuge is a favorite word of David’s. You will count as many as forty-plus appearances in some versions of the Bible. But never did David use the word more poignantly than in Psalm 57. The introduction to the passage explains its background…...“A song of David when he fled from Saul into the cave.” Lost in shadows and thought, he has nowhere to turn. To go home, he endangers his family. To go to the tabernacle, he imperils the priests. Saul will kill him. Here he sits, all alone. But then he remembers he is not. And from the recesses of the cave a sweet voice floats:
“Be merciful to me, O God! For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I make my refuge.” (Psalm 57:1)
Make God your refuge. Let Him be the foundation on which you stand!
“Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” ------(Hebrews 12:15)
Bitterness and a bitter spirit should never characterize a person who has experienced the saving grace of God through Jesus Christ. No matter how seriously one may have been wronged, if he has known God’s forgiving grace for his own wrongdoings, he should manifest that same grace in his life toward others, even though they do not merit it (for neither did he merit God’s forgiving grace himself).
Bitterness is a characteristic of the ungodly “whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness” (Romans 3:14). A Christian must never try to rationalize it as “righteous indignation” or to think that certain injustices give him the “right” to be bitter and resentful. “If ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish” (James 3:14-15). Rooted bitterness will soon “spring up,” not only robbing the bitter believer of joy and true fruitfulness, but bearing bitter fruit whereby many others will “be defiled.”
The antidote, of course, is never to “fail of the grace of God.” That is, we need to be “looking diligently,” moment by moment, at the wonderful grace of God by which we were saved through faith and in which we continue to live each day.
Therefore, “let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:31-32). Otherwise, we not only hurt both ourselves and others, but we also grieve “the holy Spirit of God” (v. 30). --ICR/HMM--(Jesus gave His life away just to be with us through eternity. Bless His holy Name.) ---'LOVE SONG' / Third Day / <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjFEkI8ETf0> -----
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--The Bible says in Romans 8:28 that “in everything God works for the good of those who love Him.” -
Do this simple exercise. Remove the word “everything” and replace it with the symbol of your tragedy. How would Romans 8:28 read in your life? 'In hospital stays' God works for the good. In 'divorce papers' God works for the good.
As hard as it may be to believe, you could be only a Saturday away from a resurrection. Hours from that precious prayer of a changed heart…God, you did this for 'me'?
Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, Paul said, The Scriptures give us patience and encouragement so that we can have hope. These are not somewhere-over-the-rainbow illusions. They are historic moments in which a real God met real pain so we could answer the question, “where is God when I hurt?”
---TEST ME, LORD, and TRY ME, Examine My Heart and My Mind...
--As I was reading other posts, I thought of the Psalm I had read earlier today: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everylasting life" (Psalm 139: 23-23 NLT).
I adore the relationship between David and God. Because David is secure, standing in the safety of their love, he offers a bold prayer. His desire to be upright before the Lord is as powerful as his need for breath. He knows that God is Just, and he also knows God's Love. This must be the kind of prayer that the Lord delight in--an invitation to shape the human spirit with holy hands.
We should try to stay in an attitude of prayer and worship. No, it's not easy while living in this fallen world. Try to remind yourself that we are only on this planet Earth for a few minutes compared to all eternity with our King of Glory, Jesus Christ. As we share His love with others, we are reminded to stay in an attitude of praise and worship. 'God inhabits the praises of his people.' ~~
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers.” ----(1 Peter 1:18)--
Not all the wealth of the world can redeem a single soul, for gold and silver are merely corruptible elements in a world under “the bondage of corruption” (Romans 8:21).. Everything in the physical creation is decaying and dying. In fact, one day all these “elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10). Even the very seeds that transmit life are “corruptible seed” (1 Peter 1:23), and all mankind is “corruptible man” (Romans 1:23). Modern science recognizes this universal principle of decay as one of its most basic laws—the law of increasing entropy.
Even in this corruptible world, however, some things are incorruptible. There is the “incorruptible . . . word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23). Even though “heaven and earth shall pass away,” the words of Christ “shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
We are redeemed, not by silver and gold, but “with the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:19). God Himself is the “uncorruptible God” (Romans 1:23), and He has “begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away” (1 Peter 1:3-4). We work, not as others “to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible” (1 Corinthians 9:25).
Finally, these dying bodies will themselves be redeemed, “for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:52-53). --ICR/HMM --/ 'This is My Desire' (also Known as) = 'Lord, I Give You My Heart'--Hillsong ~~ <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obi5ZGujiuU> --------
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
A few years ago a group of sales men went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner. In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly-missed boarding....
ALL BUT ONE!! He paused, took a deep breath, got in touch with his feelings and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.
He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. The he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor.
He was glad he did. The 16-year-old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her; no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.
The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket.
When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, "Here, please take this $40.00 for the damage we did. Are you okay?" She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, "I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly."
As the sales man started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, "Mister..." He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes. She continued, "Are you Jesus?"
He stopped in mid-stride...and he wondered. He gently went back and said, "No, I am nothing like Jesus - He is good, kind, caring, loving, and would never have bumped into your display in the first place.
"The girl gently nodded: "I only asked because I prayed for Jesus to help me gather the apples. He sent you to help me, so you are like Him -- only He knows who will do His will. Thank you for hearing His call, Mister."
Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: "Are you Jesus?"
Do people mistake you for Jesus? That's our destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace.
If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to Church. It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day.
You are the apple of His eye even though you, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked up you and me on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit. Yes, the last 3 words Jesus said on the Cross were, "It is finished."-(John 19:30) What was finished? He died a painful and brutal death to pay the sin-debt that we owed. He died to save us from living in eternity apart from Him. Jesus is in Heaven right now praying for you and for me. He is watching everything we do.
So, let's go into the world by walking, driving, or typing on the internet telling about His love, so others can know as He said, "I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." --(John 14:6). ~~~~~~~~~ ---"Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in Heaven. "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in Heaven." --[Matthew 10:32-33]
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--CRYING OUT TO GOD~~ ---(Please Read/ Psalm 34:15-17)--
--When we face a crisis, the Lord is willing and able to help. But before He will become involved and release His divine energy into our situation, He requires one thing: a righteous heart.
This, of course, is not an expectation that we live a perfect life, which our Father knows would be impossible. When a sinner turns to God for salvation, He cleanses the heart of iniquity and gives that person a new nature (2 Corinthians 5:17). Yet even believers will follow old flesh patterns at times, so the Lord calls us to confess and repent when we miss the mark. Then He will “cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Thankfully, He hears us in our imperfection as long as we desire to walk in His way. The problem arises, however, when a Christian knowingly lives in sin and chooses not to turn from it—the Lord will not hear an unrepentant heart.
Today’s passage shows that the heavenly Father wants His children to cry out to Him. During trials, we tend to pray this way—with increased focus, passion, and sincerity. Hannah is a good example. Heartbroken over her barrenness, she went to the temple and beseeched the Lord with such emotion that the priest thought she was drunk! God answered her plea and opened her womb (1 Samuel 1:1-20).
When a crisis comes, cry out to our almighty God, but be sure you do so with a righteous heart. Then He will hear and answer—either fulfilling your hoped-for request or providing a different solution. Because He is omniscient, loving, and sovereign, you can fully trust that His answer is in your best interest. --IN TOUCH~--/"TRADING MY SORROWS" --Darrell Evans ~<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvJWy-aKbTA> ------
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
---PROMISE OF PROTECTION / PLEASE READ ALL OF PSALM 23.~
-"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." --(PSALM 23:4-6) ~~
**Psalm 23 is one of the most familiar psalms in the Scripture. It’s an amazing collection of the promises and blessings of God. One of the more interesting details here is that God doesn’t seem overly concerned about my enemies.
If it were up to me, I’d throw them in a pit. But He is going to set a table for me in their presence. According to this passage, I should not fear even then because He will be anointing me, blessing me, and showering me with goodness and love. Sometimes we have the notion that if we really love God we will never have to contend with opposition and never feel fear. God has created us with the capacity to fear, and some fear is healthy. But this passage reminds us that even in the midst of that our God is more than able to not only take care of us, but to bless us.
**THINK ABOUT IT Do you trust God with your fears? Do you allow Him to bless you even in the midst of your fears?
**PRAYER "Heavenly Father, we live in a sinful world where dark forces seek to pull us away. You are a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Thank You, Lord, for Your unfailing promise of protection. I can fear no evil for “Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” In Jesus’ name, amen."
---[Acts 4:12 (NIV®)] “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
The redefinition of the word “tolerance” has made it nearly impossible to debate religious truth claims respectfully. Instead, this new tolerance, which seems to have become our ultimate civic virtue, requires that we abandon all truth claims lest we offend someone. The problem with that notion is that all religions make mutually exclusive truth claims.
Either Jesus is the only way of salvation, or He is not. What Christians, Muslims, Jews, and Hindus say about the person and work of Jesus Christ cannot be reconciled. Jesus’ assertion and the clear assertion of the New Testament is that participation in the Kingdom of God is extended to you and me by Almighty God when we personally choose Jesus of Nazareth as Lord.
-- That invitation will be the greatest we will ever receive, and the nature of it needs to be clearly understood and communicated so that we understand the truth claims we are making.
**THINK ABOUT IT Do you have friends or family who make other claims about religious truth? How do you communicate the claim of Scripture that Jesus is the only way of salvation?
**PRAYER --"Heavenly Father, I praise the name of Jesus, Your Son—the way to God. Thank You for delivering me from an empty way of life to life as a child of the Living God. May I always reflect the light of Christ in everything I do and everywhere I go. In Jesus’ name, amen."
**Blessings, **Pastor Allen Jackson ***Intend Ministries[/color]
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
---CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED TO BE HIS LIGHT~~~ ---Pastor James Merritt~~
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light and lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” -----(Matthew 5:14-15)--
---Several years ago, I visited Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico. Carlsbad Cavern includes a large cave chamber, named the “Big Room.” It is a natural limestone chamber that is almost 4000 feet long, 625 feet wide, and 255 feet high at the highest point. It is the seventh largest cave chamber in the world.-
To say it is an amazing site is an understatement. The force of water over time has decorated the cave in a seemingly endless array of spectacular formations. Stalactites adorn the chambers of the cavern like draperies and chandeliers. Walking through this national treasure hidden beneath the ground is truly awe-inspiring. Several times I found myself whispering, “Only God could do this.”
Perhaps the most memorable part of my tour happened while deep within the belly of the cave. In the damp, moist center, the guide instructed us to stand still and not move. I thought I had experienced darkness until they turned off of the lights deep in that cave. Since there is absolutely no light source, your eyes never adjust to the darkness – it just envelops everything. It is impossible even to see your hand right in front of your face. Any light at all goes a long way in that kind of darkness.
**Jesus has appointed His followers to be the light source in this dark world. The sources of light deep inside Carlsbad Cavern did us no good when they were present, but not turned on. What good is light if it is not shining? Christ intends for His people to share His light with, “everyone in the house.” He hasn’t given us His light to keep for ourselves, but to shine and share with those enveloped in utter darkness…those with no light source of their own.
The world offers many counterfeit sources of light; but we know that Jesus is the only true light. Only He can lead us from darkness to light. To keep the truth of His salvation to ourselves is like having light and never turning it on. If you have surrendered your life to Christ in faith, then you have His light. The question is, are you shining it in the darkness?
--"Holy Father, Thank You for giving me the light of Your Son. Please give me courage, boldness and compassion to shine it everywhere I go, for everyone I meet. Lord, I just want You. You are the reason we live and move and have our being. Help me Lord, to shine for You to a dark world in need of You as their Savior. In Jesus’ Name, Amen".--"NOTHING ELSE"/ --Cody Carnes ~ <https://youtu.be/4BhTAJ49MQ0> ----------
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
"Do to others as you would have them do to you." --(LUKE 6:31 /NIV)
--TWO MORNINGS a week I take the bus into town. I find that bus ride an uplifting experience. I am constantly struck by the presence of God in the lives of the people around me. The drivers are kind and caring, often waiting for people who are running late to catch the bus. They greet everyone, not just the regulars, and go out of their way to help those with disabilities. Similarly, the kindness of the passengers is an inspiration. If anyone needs help, two or three people will immediately offer assistance--by giving up their seats to those who are frail and elderly, by lifting heavy suitcases, and by helping mothers with strollers and children.
We often think that we must do great deeds to make a significant difference in the world. However, my morning bus ride reminds me that small acts of kindness done by ordinary people are just as significant. What a lovelier place our world would be if all treated other people as we ourselves would like to be treated. We can serve God faithfully every day by showing kindness to one another. Isn't that how Jesus lived. He still lives today through us, His people. Let's shine His light in this dark world. "Christ in you the hope of glory.".
---THE INGREDIENTS OF HOPE / CHRIST IN YOU , THE HOPE OF GLORY
--"By two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us". ---(–Hebrews 6:18)
--" [God] willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." ---(Colossians 1:27)---
---What can we hold on to when we are going through a storm in life? In Hebrews 6:17-18, the writer showed us the ingredients of hope: “God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.”God’s promise and God’s oath–these are the two unchangeable things in which our hope rests. Let’s look at each of them.
Consider God’s promise. What gives us hope? It is the fact that God has said it, and what God says, He will fulfill. Some Christians today say, “Just envision what it is you want in life. Do you want a bigger house? Do you want healing? Name whatever you want, and claim it in the name of Jesus.” But before you claim it, you better be sure God has named it. God has not named for any of us exemption from problems in life. But here are three things God has promised for us.
Promise number one: God will not allow anything to happen to you without a purpose. Nothing comes into your life that has not, first of all, been sifted through the perfect, good, loving will of God. Romans 8:28 says, “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Everything that happens in your life is part of God’s plan to shape you into the image of Jesus Christ. That is not saying that everything that happens to you is good; it is saying that everything that happens–the good, the bad, the ugly–is all working together for God for a great purpose. Promise number two: God will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). You can name that promise and claim it. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” And promise number three: God will redeem your soul when you die. To be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). We have hope because of the promise of God.
Now that should be sufficient, shouldn’t it? But God has given us something else: His oath. In Old Testament times, if somebody made a promise to another person, he would swear by a name greater than himself that he would fulfill what he promised to do. We do that today in court. You raise your right hand and say, “So help me God.” You are swearing by a name greater than yourself. The Bible says that when God made this promise to Abraham, He swore an oath by His own name. Did you know God has given you and me an oath for the promises He has made to us? That oath is a person, the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:14 says when we trusted in Christ we were sealed by the Holy Spirit, “who is given as a pledge of our inheritance.” The writer of Hebrews called this oath “a strong encouragement” (6:18). Our hope is in God’s promise that never changes and in His oath that He will fulfill.
--PTV/RJ~~
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--ONE OF THE MOST PROFOUND OBJECT LESSONS/ JESUS IS GOD!
---FRIENDS OF CHRIST ~~~ ----(John 15:14-17) / AND (Colossians 1:13-20)--
[ **Friend, as Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6) We must accept that Jesus is G-D. Colossians Chapter 1 is one of the most profound books in the New Testament. "The Incomparable Christ"~ / Here we read "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." (VS15) ~ Please pray and ask the Holy Spirit to open your spiritual eyes to see Christ as the Messiah. He never turns away a sincere heart. This must be accepted by 'FAITH'. God cannot lie. (Hebrews 6: verse 18) HE IS CREATOR!]
--There is no higher privilege than becoming a friend of Jesus Christ. And that is what He calls those of us who have believed and received Him as our Savior and Lord. What an amazing thought—that Jesus died for us and suffered our punishment for sins so that we could have a relationship with the Father through Him.
Sometimes people get the idea that the Lord is some distant deity who is busy with global problems but isn’t concerned about individuals. Or perhaps they think that He’s an uninvolved Creator who made mankind and left them to figure everything out on their own. The truth is that the triune God is a relational being who created humans in His image and invites us to enter into a relationship with Him. [Our Jehovah G-D is a Trintiy, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They are inseparable.]
Although sin broke that possibility, the plan of redemption was already in place. Then, at just the right time, the Son of God came into the world and by His own death made it possible for mankind to be set free from sin and reconciled to the Father. We have been made new creatures who can now respond to our Creator with love, worship, and obedience.
Christians today tend to focus on Jesus’ teaching, miracles, and death on the cross, but we should not overlook the fact that He spent three years with 12 men in a tight relational bond. His priority was to instruct and prepare them to reach the world with the gospel of salvation after He returned to the Father. We are the spiritual descendants of the Lord’s disciples, and He imparts His Spirit to us as our closest companion and comforter.~~ --IN TOUCH~ "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all." --(2 Corinthians 13:14 /NASB ) -"Trinity Song" Sandra McCracken / <https://youtu.be/oaginDUwFO8> ~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
-"Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved." ---(Psalm 55:22 / NRSV) --
---The members of our youth group were weighed down by heavy burdens and many worries. When the time came for our monthly hike, the leaders saw a great opportunity to help the teens to trust the Lord with their concerns. Each youth received a backpack and water bottle for the short hike. Many of them wondered what the backpacks contained since they were so heavy.
Halfway up the hill, the youth were directed to open their backpacks where they found several bricks. Many of them complained about carrying needless weight, but others figured out the object lesson right away. We instructed each to take out the bricks and write on them their burdens, worries, and cares. "School stress," "finances," "parents divorcing," broken friendships," and "my future" were some of the concerns. When we arrived at the top of the hill, the students knelt down to lay their bricks at a large Cross and offer their personal prayers to God to share these specific burdens.
At the end, all of us rose and prayed around the Cross--standing upon the very burdens that once were on our backs. The return trip was much easier and joyful as each person recalled God's care. We all have burdens, cares, and frustrations over what 'might' happen in the future. But we can always remember that Jesus is sustaining us. He goes before us every step of the way. No, it will not be easy. It was not easy for Jesus. Regardless, we stay with our Shepherd, Christ. ~~
--UPPER ROOM/MM ~~-"CHRIST IS ENOUGH" / (Acoustic Version) by Hillsong ~<https://youtu.be/n8EQSz2WQ-M> ~~~~~~~~~~~
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
---BEING SEEN AND LOVED BY GOD ~~ --(By Touching Lives / Dr. James Merritt)
--“She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.’” ---(Genesis 16:13)--
There are many names for God used in the Bible. People give some of these names to Him, while others He calls Himself. There is one name that is particularly comforting when life throws a sucker punch. When we are reeling from the sting of being mistreated, taken advantage of, or misunderstood, it helps to remember this Name. In the Hebrew, His name is El Roi, translated as “The God who sees.”
The lady who first called God by this name knew a little something about being mistreated. Her name was Hagar; and she was Sarah’s maidservant. When Sarah grew tired of waiting for God to fulfill His promise to give her children, she sent Hagar in to her husband Abraham to conceive a child for her (a common custom of that time). When Hagar did conceive and bear a son to Abraham, Sarah became jealous and mistreated her, having Abraham send her and her son, Ishmael, away. It was at this time – after being used and forgotten – that Hagar understood that God truly saw her. Although it felt like she was alone and forsaken because they were outcasts, God came to her and promised to protect her son. And all at once Hagar understood that she was never alone. When all else failed, God saw her.
In Psalm 139:15-18 we find these words describing El Roi: “My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.” It is impossible to escape the eyes of God. Even in the darkest of situations, God sees you. Even after the worst mistake, God sees you. When we feel alone, when bad things happen, it is not God that needs to change – we do. He sees us, but we must choose to see Him.
--"El Roi, It is so comforting to know that You see me. You know my past, my present, and my future. I don’t have to worry as long as I’m trusting and following You. Thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You, Lord, I know You are always with me. I love you. I will trust in You, the G-D who sees me. ~ In Jesus Name, Amen~" --"The God Who Sees" / Nicolle Mullen // --<https://youtu.be/sz81dIfwf4Y> ~~~~~~~
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
~~~GRACE CHANGES EVERYTHING~~ ~~We Are Saved By Grace/ [not by works] ~ -- 'Touching Lives'/ Dr. James Merritt
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” --[Ephesians 2:8-10]-- ~~By grace. Through faith. For God’s work. In this passage we see how grace, faith and works harmoniously and fluidly work together for God’s glory and our redemption. Many a church has been split wide open because of such theological issues as grace and works. But such dissension is not only unbiblical, it is also unnecessary. How do we reconcile God’s grace and our works? We don’t. There is no reason to reconcile things that are not opposed to one another, is there?
Grace, faith and works are not contrary to one another, but essential. Works are evidence of faith…the effect of belief. And it is by God’s grace that we believe. We don’t work to be saved; but we do work if we are saved. Do you see the difference?
God’s grace in Christ, when it is unleashed on a heart, changes everything. His grace awakens the spiritually dead every bit as much as when Christ summoned Lazarus from the grave. “Come forth,” He beckons. The once-selfish heart is transformed to serve. The once-greedy heart is willing to give. The once-rude heart is inspired to be kind. Grace changes everything.
This grace-change is both instantaneous and ongoing. Our position changes immediately as we go from slave to son, enemy to friend, and from lost to found. Faith in Christ instantly results in a new heart. The old has gone and the new has come. But transformation is also ongoing. The “good works” we were saved to do happen over time. It is a daily choice to put off the old and put on the new. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith" --[Romans 3:23-25]. "All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him [Jesus]~[Isaiah 53:5-6] ~~"If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land"--[2 Chronicles 7 verse 14].
"Dear Father, Today I surrender my life to Your hands. Help me to trust You in every situation. Thank You for Jesus, my Lord and Savior. Help me Lord to live for You and to never be ashamed of your Word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.~" --"All We Like Sheep"/ Don Moen//<https://youtu.be/a-W4PmyGmaQ> ~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
'When He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me"--[Luke 22:19] --
--The night before the crucifixion, Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples. During that historic meal, He gave them a visual illustration of what He was doing for them--so that whenever they would break bread, which was a daily occurrence, they would remember the salvation He's provided. He knew they would need such a reminder in the days ahead.
It is interesting to note that when doing spiritual battle, the armor that is given to protect the mind is the helmet of salvation (Ephesians6:17). Recalling what Jesus has accomplished for us on the Cross is crucial for us as we live the Christian life, and even more as we encounter trials. Why? because thinking about our salvation helps us focus on what is really important, how God has already provided for us, and who it is who unfailingly helps us
So today, remember Jesus --recall the great salvation He has given you. And rejoice that the One who triumphed over sin and death is the One who helps you in all your battles.
"Lord Jesus, thank You for this great salvation--especially the hope and assurance it brings me in every circumstance of life. Thank You, Lord, that You will never leave me nor forsake me. I give you praise, Jehovah YAHWEH ~ YHWH. \o/ ---IN TOUCH~~[Friends, If the song is missing, please go to youtube and find it, listen and know that Jesus is always with you. "Never Have To Be Alone" ~(by CECE WINANS] --'Never Have To Be Alone'// CECE WINANS (lyrics) ~~<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRYi4WPiwV0> ~~~~~~~~~~~
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
~~~"All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” ---[1 Kings 19:5]
--[PLEASE READ/ 1 KINGS 19:1–9]--
One summer, I faced what seemed an impossible task—a big writing project with a looming deadline. Having spent day after day on my own, endeavoring to get the words onto the page, I felt exhausted and discouraged, and I wanted to give up. A wise friend asked me, “When’s the last time you felt refreshed? Maybe you need to allow yourself to rest and to enjoy a good meal.”
~~~I knew immediately that she was right. Her advice made me think of Elijah and the terrifying message he received from Jezebel (1 Kings 19:2)—although, of course, my writing project wasn’t anywhere near the cosmic scale of the prophet’s experience. After Elijah triumphed over the false prophets on Mount Carmel, Jezebel sent word that she would capture and kill him, and he despaired, longing to die. But then he enjoyed a good sleep and was twice visited by an angel who gave him food to eat. After God renewed his physical strength, he was able to continue with his journey.
When the “journey is too much” for us (v. 7), we might need to rest and enjoy a healthy and satisfying meal. For when we are exhausted or hungry, we can easily succumb to disappointment or fear. But when God meets our physical needs through His resources, as much as possible in this fallen world, we can take the next step in serving and resting in Jesus. ~
~~REFLECT & PRAY
~~"Creator God, You formed us as Your people. Thank You for our limitations, which remind us that You’re God and we’re not. Help us to serve You with gladness and joy. We praise You, our Lord, Savior, Rock and Redeemer. Thank You for your love, grace and mercy. In Jesus Name~ amen" --ODB/ABP~--"Mercy Said No" (lyrics/ CeCe Winans) //<https://youtu.be/Ra4F91nfQdc> ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~["For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind"-[2 Timothy 1 verse 7 (KJV)] ~~["There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love" [1 John 4 verse 8 (NKJV)] ~~["In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me" - [Psalm 56:11] ~~[So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" --[Hebrews 13:6] ~~ ~~~~~~~~
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
"You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore G-D, Your G-D, has anointed You with the oil Of gladness [joy] above your companions." --[Hebrews 1:9]
~~If you were to play the part of Jesus in a movie, how would you approach the role? That was the challenge faced by Bruce Marchiano, who played Jesus in the 1993 Visual Bible movie Matthew. Knowing that millions of viewers would draw conclusions about Jesus based on his work, the weight of getting Christ "right" felt overwhelming. He fell to his knees in prayer and begged Jesus for ---well, for Jesus.
Bruce gained insight from the first chapter of Hebrews, where the writer tells us how God the Father set the Son apart by anointing Him "with the oil of joy" (1:9). This kind of joy is one of celebration--a gladness of connection to the Father set the Son apart by anointing Him "with the oil of joy" (text). This kind of joy is one of celebration--a gladness of connection to the Father expressed wholeheartedly. Such joy ruled in Jesus' heart throughout His life. As Hebrews 12:2 describes it, "For the joy set before him He endured the Cross, scoring its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Taking his cue from this scriptural expression, Bruce offered a uniquely joy-filled portrayal of his Savior. As a result, he became known as "the smiling Jesus." We too can dare to fall to our knees and "plead for Jesus to be seen in us." May He so fill us with His character that people around us see the expression of His love in us!
--"LORD G-D, we plead for You to shine through us, for your glory. May your heart be what others see in us today. May we radiate Your joy in all we say and do. Keep us humble for You. We praise You, our Rock and our Redeemer, Jesus Christ."
--THE LORD CAN'T HAVE A DILEMMA, but if He could, it would be this: How can a loving God justly forgive sinners? Although God loves the people He created, He can't ignore, excuse, or arbitrarily forgive their transgressions, since His justice demands that sin's penalty be paid.
The solution was the Cross, where divine love and justice met. Because God loves us, He sent His Son to earth to shed His precious blood on the Cross in payment for our sin debt (Romans 6:23). Since only a sacrifice without defect was acceptable (Leviticus 22:20), Jesus alone qualified: As God in human flesh, He was the only Person who ever lived a sinless life. At the Cross, our sin was laid on Him, and He died in our place. This satisfied the Father's justice "so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus" (Romans 3:26).
From our perspective, salvation is a free gift offered to everyone who confesses Jesus as Savior and Lord. However, for the Son and the heavenly Father, it was a very costly transaction. Therefore, we should never take our salvation for granted or think lightly of it. This gift is our most precious possession. ~~
When we give our lives totally over to the Lord Jesus, He will change us from the inside out. Let's give Him all we have, for his glory. \o/
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ---(1 Corinthians 1:18)--
--Years ago, my father lost a battle against cancer. This highly intelligent man bore a stubborn streak deeper than anyone I've ever met. Cynical retorts blocked any path I'd lay toward our Savior.
As dad lay on his deathbed, I'd all but abandoned hope, considering his salvation an impossibility. It was time to let Jesus take over. Jesus stretched His hand to touch my father's heart. At last, Dad accepted Him and was saved. Jesus's timing was perfect, as always.
No one is beyond his reach. Right now I'm interceding for a specific person's salvation. When we're together, I pull the Lord's Name, Yahweh, YHWH, (our covenant-keeping Creator), into our conversations. I hope to draw my loved one's interest. Will the Lord grant this friend eternal life? There's no way to know. Jesus alone decides who, what, why, and when of each soul's destiny.
As for me, I'm willing to step aside as He leads --to wait, watch, and hope in faith. ~~ --ODB/HG~
"Lord Jesus, thank You for sending the right person in the path of our lost loved ones, to lead them to faith in You. All glory goes to You, our Lord and Redeemer." --"GOD WHO STAYS"// (lyrics) Matthew West// https://youtu.be/flJF1fMvz5Y ~~~~~~~
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
~~REJOICE IN GOD'S GENEROSITY / OUR CREATOR IS ALWAYS FAIR~`
~~"These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work…’” ---[Matthew 20:12 / NIV ]
--A man hired some workers in the morning, others at noon, more at mid-afternoon, and a last group late in the day. When he paid everyone the same wage, the all-day workers complained. “Why are you griping?” he said. “Didn’t you agree to work for this amount? If I want to pay the latecomers the same amount I paid those who enlisted early, I will.”
This story (parable) speaks to all of us. If you are a latecomer to faith, bless you! Many people have done great things for the Kingdom after following Jesus as adults. If you have been following Jesus since your youth, bless you! God uses people who have walked with Him for most of their lives to do wonderful things. Our God is in the building and restoration business, and He can accomplish His purposes through people of all ages and at all stages. Let’s accept and rejoice with all of our brothers and sisters in Christ—no matter their entry date.
THINK ABOUT IT God can accomplish His purposes through people of all ages and at all stages. It is not too late for anyone. Start praying for all those “latecomers” to wholeheartedly begin now to follow Him. Then rejoice for them as co-labors in God’s Kingdom purposes.
PRAYER ~~"Heavenly Father, thank You for bringing me into Your Kingdom and for all those You will be bringing in. Help me to be as generous as You, that I might be an encouraging member of Your Body, rejoicing in and accepting all our members. In Jesus’ name, amen. Blessings, Pastor Allen Jackson ~~~~~~~~~~
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
~~~A GOOD NAME ~~ ---"A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold." ---(Proverbs 22:1 / NIV) --
~~~We should pay attention to how we conduct ourselves because our words and actions will be attached to our names forever. When you say the name of a person you know or know of, you immediately process a mental image. You also think about some of what you know about that person. That leads you to tag that person with some adjectives, especially if it is someone you know well: friendly or unfriendly, helpful or unhelpful, generous or stingy, good or evil. For example, what comes to mind when you hear the name Corrie ten Boom? What do we want people to think when they hear our name? Do we want them to remember our kindness during a trying time? Our generosity during a difficult season? Our faith when their faith was small? If “a good name is more desirable than great riches,” we should do what we can to be the kind of person who causes warm feelings to flow when our name is mentioned.
THINK ABOUT IT You were created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2:10). When it comes to doing the kinds of things that bring a good name, the Christ-follower can honestly say, “I was made for this!”
PRAYER --"Heavenly Father, give me grace to accomplish the good works You have planned and gain a good name that brings honor to Yours. Holy Spirit, help me bear Your fruit as I follow through on Your invitations to bless and serve others. In Jesus’ name, amen." Blessings, Pastor Allen Jackson --[Friend, we all were born into sin. That makes us all sinners, until we invite Jesus into our lives. He will change us from the inside out. We can not do this on our own. Our fleshly-self, wants only selfish things. That is why Jesus came to set us free from 'self'. If you have not received Him as your Lord and Savior, why not do that now? He loves you so much that He died for (the forgiveness of my) your sins. Jesus loves you with an everlasting love and underneath are His everlasting arms. The Bible is a personal love letter to each person. When others see us, we want to be an example of Him (1 Timothy 4:12). Let's shine for Jesus.] --"Till I Met You" -(lyrics) //Laura Story~~--<https://youtu.be/6T5cRCyQaf4> ~~~~~~~~
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--'Jesus said, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." ---[John 6:51 / NIV] -
--"ARE YOU Getting enough sunshine?" my doctor asked. He may have noticed my I-work-at-my-desk-all-day pallor.
"I work at my desk all day," I told him. "But I take Vitamin D supplements."
He looked at my lab results. "Your calcium is on the low side of normal. Are you eating enough dark greens?' "Not to worry, Doctor. I'll take a calcium supplement, or two."
This is how the appointment progressed in my mind as I prepared for my annual physical. I was compiling the list of medications and supplements, conscious that I was supplementing much of what the human body can normally get from a healthy diet and ten minutes of fresh air a day.
How often do we try to do the same with our spiritual health? We depend on supplements--someone else's insights, Sunday's sermon, a brief nugget heard on the radio--as our entire spiritual intake for the week. We lean on supplements rather than a rich diet of daily Bible readying, prayer time, and reflection with Jesus.
Jesus no doubt carried on a perpetual internal conversation with His Father, but He still stole away by Himself for extended times of prayer. He said, we should "abide" in Him (John 15:7, NKJV), which seems more like a meal than a quick snack, doesn't it?
~Guideposts/CR~ "Father, help me to keep Jesus first in my life. I can not abide without my Savior. Thank You, my Lord, Redeemer, and Savior. amen" -"Even If" // Mercy Me //<https://youtu.be/PT_X7daBsCo> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
~~“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” ---(Matthew 6:33 / NIV)
~~If I interviewed a dozen people who know you well, what would they say you are seeking? For some of us the answers would be influence, name recognition, or fame. For others the answers might be extreme fitness goals, sports fandom, or a hobby. Others might say the right vehicle in front of the right house in the right zip code. Those things are not inherently evil, but they all pale in comparison to the importance of seeking God’s Kingdom and His righteousness. Do the people who know you best know the priority the things of God have in your life? If not, I encourage you to give new emphasis to the simple habits of daily Bible reading and prayer. The Spirit of God will begin to show you new things about your relationship with the Lord. Your priorities may change, but that will be a good thing. When those dozen people are asked again about your life’s priorities, they will be able to say things like, “She wants Jesus more than anything else,” and “He is a righteous man.”
THINK ABOUT IT What does “seeking God’s Kingdom and His righteousness” look like for you? What steps are you currently taking that give momentum to your pursuit of God’s priorities? Conversely, has anything crept in that has diverted or stalled your pursuit of the things of God?
PRAYER ~~"Heavenly Father, I want seeking Your Kingdom and righteousness to be my priority. Holy Spirit, show me where my hunger for righteousness has dulled or my “first love” zeal for You has cooled. I want You to come first in my life! In Jesus’ name, amen."
Blessings, Pastor Allen Jackson ~~~~~~~~
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: “Peace and prosperity to you! I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end. He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” --[Daniel 6:25-27 / NLT] -
As a Christ-follower of many years, I can tell you that in my experience following God often has not felt like the safest choice. When Daniel had been faithful to God and survived the lion’s den, the result was more incredible than anything he could have imagined. King Darius, who had recently ordered his execution, sent a message to everyone under his sphere of influence that the God Daniel worshipped was the Living God, a King whose Kingdom would never end. If you are astonished at the outcome of one man’s faithfulness, know that God is still in the business of using people and can do great things through you, too.
THINK ABOUT IT Courageous obedience to God always has an impact on others—amazing those without faith and inspiring the faith-filled. Be determined to follow Jesus resolutely, and trust your outcomes to God. He will not overlook one bit of the faith you put in Him.
PRAYER Heavenly Father, You are ever faithful to me. Help me remain faithful to You, though the cost be high. Keep me safe; You are my refuge. May my obedience encourage Your people, dishearten the adversary, and draw the lost to You. In Jesus’ name, amen. Blessings, Pastor Allen Jackson [Friends, we often read about the martyrs and Christians who die rather than turn their backs on the Lord Jesus. Are we willing to die for Him, in order to live eternally with Him? We must make that choice. Jesus said, "If you follow me, you will be persecuted. " ]
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--"Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit." - [Psalm 147:5] --
--AFTER a recent move, Mabel's seven-year-old son, Ryan, fussed as he prepared to attend a summer camp at his new school. Mabel encouraged him, assuring him that she understood change was hard. But one morning, Ryan's out-of-character grumpiness seemed excessive. With compassion, Mabel asked, "What's bothering you, son?"
Staring out of the window, Ryan shrugged. "I Don't know, Mom. I just have too many feelings."
Mabel's heart ached as she comforted him. Desperate for a way to help him, she shared that the move was hard for her too. She assured Ryan that God would stay close, that He knows everything, even when they couldn't understand or voice their frustrations. "Let's set up a visit with your friends before school," she said. They made plans, grateful that God understands even when His children have "too many feelings."
The write of Psalm 147 experienced overwhelming emotions throughout his faith journey and recognized the benefits of praising the all-knowing Maker and Sustainer of all, the Healer of physical and emotional wounds (vv.1-6). He praised God for the ways He provides and "delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in His unfailing love" (v.11).
When we're struggling to make sense of our emotions, we don't have to feel alone or discouraged. We can rest in the unlimited understanding of our unchanging, loving God. ~~ "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever." --[Hebrews 13:8] --ODB/XD~ ~~~~~~~~~
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
-[Please Read / Matthew 18:1-11 and Luke 22:24-30]
--~~Today's Bible reading shows how Jesus dealt with the question of greatness among His disciples. In the first reading, Jesus used a small child to illustrate the humility required for someone to be greatest in His kingdom. In the second, Jesus taught that the greatest one is he who honors others by serving them. Am I willing to serve others, or do I regard them as being lower than I am?
Today's key verse is in the context of Christ humbling Himself, coming down to earth, and living as a servant. We are called to have the same "lowliness of mind" and to show it toward others. What we do for others, especially the less fortunate, we are doing for Jesus if we have a servant heart and have no thought of reward. "And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matthew 25:40).
So there are two answers to the question, "Who is greatest?" The first answer is that the greatest person has the attitude of a small child, who generally shows a humble spirit. This is certainly different from today's popular spirit of "look out for number one" and "watch what I can do!" The second answer is that the greatest person has a heart to willingly serve others. Christ not only taught these principles but also demonstrated them in His own life. Let's follow His example, esteem others above ourselves, and serve them with a heart full of love. ~~
--'Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.'- [Romans 12:10] ~
--BSW/FB~
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
---"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." --[Isaiah 55:1] --[Please Read/ John 4:1-26]
--The Samaritan woman in today's Bible reading had a desperate need. She had a strong desire for her thirst to be quenched. Her tendency was natural--the physical body does have an instinctive thirst for water. But Jesus responded to her spiritual need! The woman mentioned Jerusalem, where the temple was designated for the presence of God. There the people could have their spiritual thirst satisfied by making contact with God.
Ironically, there was no reliable water source within ancient Jerusalem itself. The main source was the Gihon spring, located outside the city. This may signify that the people of God have no means in themselves to quench their spiritual thirst; God is their only source of true satisfaction. But because of sin and rebellion, the Israelites often became severed from God and lost His presence and protection.
Jesus presented Himself to the Samaritan woman as the "outside source" of living, spiritual water. "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." The water from Jesus does not satisfy just one time; it can become a "well" or spring gushing up with endless life!
We need a constant inflow of living water from Jesus, or we will dry up. This does not mean that His presence will remove all hardships and temptations, but that He will always give us the sustenance we need.So let's never deprive ourselves of the living water from Jesus. Through daily Bible reading and prayer, let's always stay connected to the eternal Source of soul satisfaction.
--'Worshiping Jesus must come first; He alone can slake our thirst.' ~~ --BSW~JK~ ~~~~~~~~~
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." ---[Matthew 11:29 / NIV] --
--MY HUSBAND is a football coach and his day are devoted to helping young men develop character even as they learn the in as and outs of the game. One of the things he does is meet regularly with members of the team who aspire to be leaders and discuss what makes someone a good leader. They've talked about "grit," courage, and work ethic. The lesson this week was humility. It seemed to be the hardest one for them so far, and yet it's probably the most important.
Its' easy to get confused about what humility is. The football buys wanted to associate it with being quiet and shy, not being competitive, lacking self-confidence. While mental toughness, being brave, and working hard all made sense to them as leaders, humility seemed foreign. It's not what they thought of as a leadership skill.
C. S. Lewis said, "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less." My husband told the players that humility is really just keeping your accomplishments and talent in proper perspective. It's confidence without arrogance. It's being strong enough to lift others us.
Our perfect example in this is Jesus. What kind of God issues the invitation in the verse above? The same God who chose to be born in a barn, work as a carpenter, befriend prostitutes, and die on a cross. For His followers, humility is not optional. It's the essence of being a Christian. ~~
--ODB/GFF~
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." --(Ephesians 4:1-6) --
~~We face the temptation to discard longsuffering and forbearance. We then seek out those who hold popular views that match our own and claim the spirit of unity and rally around a cause, while isolating ourselves from those who see it a bit differently than we do. This is contrary to what the Holy Spirit desires to effect through us. The spirit of unity encourages us to build walls of contempt in the midst of the church and thus prevent the Spirit from unifying us and working through us.
The unity of the Spirit, on the other hand, describes the result of the Holy Spirit bringing believers from all walks of life together. The Holy Spirit provides an internal resilient bond between Christ and His church. As believers and followers of Christ our vocation is to walk with compassion for those who are in bondage to sin and Satan. We are not called to fulfill our duty through worldly influence nor by force, "for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds" (2 Corinthians 10:4).
We have an awesome opportunity as chosen warriors of our King to employ our weapons of prayer, compassion, forgiveness, and meekness in the warfare that is raging in the world around us. The witness of the Holy Spirit dwelling in the heart of Christians will call others to join us in victory.
Christians can be assured of victory. We have the promise from Christ that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against [His church]" (Matthew 16:18). We are the bride of Christ. He is coming back for us someday! He has given us the responsibility to build His kingdom. We must not let the spirit of unity replace the "unity of the Spirit."
--BSW/SC~ ~~~~~~
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--"Make them holy in the truth, your word is truth. " --[John 17:17/ CEB]
--AS MY HUSBAND drove through heavy traffic on the interstate, I turned to look at the cars behind us. When I turned back around, the side-view mirror caught my eye. Then I looked at the vehicles behind us again. "Well, I'll be!" I exclaimed. "The objects in this mirror are closer than they appear." Through decades of driving, I'd seen those exact words on the mirror without ever stopping to think about what it meant--that the mirror did not give an accurate view of the traffic behind my car. I shuddered to think how my lack of understanding could've easily caused a wreck.
Like that side-view mirror, my eyes often don't give an accurate view of what I see around me. My vision can be clouded by many things--preconceived ideas, fear, sinful attitudes, or the enemy. My emotions are changeable and often deceptive, distorting my perception. What the culture presents as truth has often been twisted and molded to fit a particular bias. How can I be sure I'm getting an accurate view of what's going on around me?
When Jesus referred to God's Word, He didn't use an adjective; He didn't say it was "true." He used a noun, "Truth," implying that the Word is the only standard of truth against which everything else must be evaluated. Jesus prayed for the Scriptures to purify His followers, to convict, correct, and guide them.
We need the lens of the Bible to interpret the circumstances of our life as well as current events. As we study the life-changing truth it contains, we learn to see things from a true perspective. But if we depend on our own limited vision and human understanding, we can easily make a wreck of our lives. ~~
--Keep your eyes on the Cross! Jesus is the only Way to the Father. --Guideposts/DNM~ ~~~~~~~~~
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--"The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart. --[1 Samuel 16:7/ NIV] --
--One Sunday afternoon as my husband and I waited in the church foyer for a meeting to start, a man who knew about the church's ministry with those experiencing homelessness came in to ask for bus money. We gave him five dollars, and he went on his way. A few minutes later a second man appeared. We expected another request for money. Instead, to our surprise, he held out a five-dollar bill and said that he wanted to make a donation to our church. In that instant our human-ness views of people who experience homelessness were turned upside down. We were amazed at the generosity of this man who seemed to have so little.
In 1 Samuel 16, the prophet Samuel was sent to anoint one of Jesse's sons as king. As each of Jesse's seven oldest sons stood before Samuel, the prophet was certain that each one would be the one chosen. However, God reminded Samuel in today's verse that God looks at the heart, not the outward appearance. Finally the youngest son, David, was anointed with God's blessing.
That five-dollar donation reminded me to look beyond appearance to what persons' actions reveal about their hearts. No matter our appearance or our faults, God loves us and shows us how to love one another. 'You are loved with an everlasting love and underneath are His everlasting arms.' ~~
--BSW/MAM
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--"Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy; when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me." --[Micah 7:8] --[Please Read/ Philippians Chapter 3] --
--It was a drizzly winter day. My companions and I were spread out on the round bales of hay behind a neighbor's hay shed, overlooking a hay field on one side and some timber and brush on the other. A perfect setting for hunting coyotes. Suddenly my friend Clay pointed and said, "There's one!" A coyote stood in plain sight, just outside the woods, but it was leery. It turned and started back into the timber, then stopped. My brother shot and missed and the coyote ran off, disappearing into the woods. What a disappointment!
Have you ever missed the mark? Maybe you have a goal, a high point you are trying to reach, but you're not there yet. Perhaps you've fallen into sin; it could be anger, gossip, or impurity in your personal life. You've tried and tried to overcome but have fallen again. Maybe you are a father or minister. Life and circumstances have not gone the way you envisioned, and you feel like a total failure. Or you may be a husband or wife. Your love has cooled, resulting in a tense atmosphere and sharp words.
Do not let Satan discourage you by making you think, "It's hopeless. I'm just a big failure." There is hope! In today Bible reading [Philippians 3], Paul revealed his secret for overcoming no matter what things are in the past."Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark." Today, make a fresh start toward God! Jesus is our Advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1). He offers forgiveness, cleansing and power to overcome every temptation or sin. Keep your eyes on Jesus and the Cross, where He paid all your sin-debts, by dying for you.
--BSW/NW
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--Our Lord Is A Gentleman / He Waits to be Invited ~
---HE"S WAITING TO BE INVITED ~~~~~~~
---"Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." ---[Psalm 127:1 / NIV] --
---This psalm is attributed to wise King Solomon. He also wrote the book of Ecclesiastes, where he warned, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity” (1:1 NASB®). This kind of vanity is not looking into the mirror and admiring what you see; it is the vanity of something that is useless or meaningless because it was undertaken without God’s input and blessing. There is dignity and blessing in labor, but it is tempting to make a plan and expect God to bless it, instead of asking God to show us what He wants to do and how we can be a part of it. There is also a literal and practical application of this verse: I think we should specifically ask the Lord to watch over our houses and our cities so that His plans and purposes will be accomplished there. The Lord is waiting to be invited into our lives in these very specific ways, so don’t forget to make these simple requests of Him.
THINK ABOUT IT Do you practice asking God’s opinion about the plans you want to make, the places you want to go, even the things you want to purchase? If not, begin to ask His opinion. It will delight Him to be invited into the discussion.
PRAYER "Heavenly Father, forgive me for when I have charted my course without consulting You, then wanted Your blessing. Help me always invite You into the specifics of my life, and help me to hear and honor Your choices. Your opinion matters! In Jesus’ name, amen " . Blessings, Pastor Allen Jackson
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--"Do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own." ---[Matthew 6:14] --
-BIBLE MEDITATION
“…casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” ---(1 Peter 5:7)
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT
--What happens when you worry? You bring tomorrow’s difficulty into today. God didn’t give you grace for tomorrow’s difficulties. He only gives you grace for today.
When you reach into tomorrow’s troubles, you overload today’s circuit. Worry doesn’t take the sorrow out of tomorrow, it takes the strength out of today. Then when you meet tomorrow, you’re out of breath because you’re already overloaded from today. Worry, therefore, does not make you ready for the future; it really makes you unready.
Worry will eat your lunch. It’ll eat your breakfast and dinner, too. Confess your worries as sin (because they are). Put your concerns at the throne of Almighty God, trusting Him to provide.
ACTION POINT
Yesterday is just a canceled check. Tomorrow is a promissory note. Today has all the cash you can handle. Spend it wisely.
--LWF/Adrian Rogers ~~
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles us. --[HEBREWS 12:1] --
~~Lean food rations, waterproof boots, and a map are some of the essentials carried by hikers on the John Muir Trail. The John Muir Trail is 211-mile path in the western United States that winds across creeks, around lakes and woods, and up and over mountains, encompassing 47,000 feet of elevation gain. Because traversing this trail takes about three weeks, carrying the right amount of supplies is critical. Too much and you will run out of strength to carry it all; too little and you won't have what you need for the journey.
Finishing well on our journey as believers in Jesus also requires careful consideration of what we bring. In Hebrews 12, we're told to "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles." The author compares our lives to a "race marked out for us," one in which we must "not grow weary and lose heart" (vv.1,3). To become overburdened with sin or distracted by things outside of God's purpose for us is to carry an unnecessary weight.
-Just as there are packing lists for the John Muir Trail, God has provided directions for following Jesus in the Bible. We can know what habits, dreams, and desires are worth bringing along by examining them in light of the Scriptures. When we travel light, we're able to finish well.
"Lord Jesus, help me travel lightly according to Your wisdom and to finish well as the Holy Spirit guides my steps. In Christ's Name. amen"
----"God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them." --
----OUR SON spent years of his life in a children's home prior to our adopting him. Before leaving the cinderblock building together to go home, we asked to collect his belongings. Sadly, he had none. We exchanged the clothes he was wearing for the new items we'd brought for him, and also left some clothing for other children. Even though I was grieved by how little he had, I rejoiced that we could now help meet his physical and emotional needs.
A few years later, we saw a person asking for donations for families in need. My son was eager to donate his stuffed animals and a few coins to help them. Given his background, he might have (understandably) been more inclined to hold tightly to his belongings. But he willfully wanted to help others.
I'd like to think the reason for his generous response was the same as that of the early church: "God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all" that nobody in their midst had need (Acts 4:33-34). The people willingly sold their own possessions to provide for one another's needs.
When we become aware of the needs of others, whether material or intangible, may God's grace be so powerfully at work in us that we respond as they did, willingly giving from our hearts to those in need. This makes us vessels of God's grace as fellow believers in Jesus. "one in heart and mind" (v.32).
--"Thank You, Lord God, for all You have given to me, including Your grace. Help me to extend Your grace to others. I praise You, O Lord, for choosing me to be Your child." -ODB/KH~
---How many disasters have been averted because one person refused to buckle under the strain? It’s this kind of composure Paul is summoning when he says: “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything” (Philippians 4:5-6 NIV). --
The Greek word translated here as “gentleness” describes a temperament that’s seasoned and mature. It envisions an attitude fitting to the occasion, levelheaded and tempered. This gentleness is “evident to all.” Family members take note. Your friends sense a difference. Coworkers benefit from it.
The gentle person is sober minded and clear thinking. The contagiously calm person is the one who reminds others God is in control. Pursue this gentleness. The Lord is near. You are not alone. You may feel alone, you may think you’re alone, but there is never a moment in which you face life without help.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." --[Philippians 4:6-7]
God is near—be anxious for nothing!
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
--"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."--- --[Ephesians 5:1,2] --
---Should he tell? Would he complain? The student at an elite Manhattan high school worried how to respond to abuse from a onetime friend. The classmate often called him ugly racial names--to his face. Another shared a photo of him around school, the caption called him a "monkey."
Trying to focus on his school work he vowed to ignore the humiliation. Yet he didn't seek punishment. He'd seen students expelled from school become embittered by such justice.
Then a teacher, "horrified" at what was happening, inspired the school to offer an innovative solution -- restorative justice. The main goal? To restore. Indeed, to repair harm done.
Put in dialogue, the student and his offended talked honestly and listened, his ex-friend eventually apologizing-- their friendship renewed.
What made this justice so healing? Mercy. It's a stunning Biblical gift.
Jesus provided that golden combination on the cross, suffering for our sins "once for all" (Hebrews 10:10)--thus satisfying a just God, while dispensing to us His loving mercy. The sinful nation of Israel received a similar reprieve. Scheming to offer to God empty sacrifices--burnt offerings, year-old calves or "rivers of olive oil" --Micah told them:"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:6-8).
Do we offer mercy as eagerly as justice? It's a holy gift worth giving. ~~
--"I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it." ---[Revelation 2:17] ---
----SOMEONE said we go through life with three names: the name our parents gave us, the name others give us (our reputation), and the name we give ourselves (our character). The name others give us matters, as "a good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold" (Proverbs 22:1). But while reputation is important, character matters more.
There's yet another name that's even more important. Jesus told the Christians in Pergamum that though their reputation had suffered some well-deserved hits, He had a new name reserved in heaven tor those who fight back and conquer temptation. "To the one who is victorious, I will give...a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it" (Revelation 2:17).
We aren't sure why Jesus promised a white stone Is it an award for winning? A token for admission to the Messianic Banquet? Perhaps it's similar to what jurors once used to vote for acquittal. We simply don't know. Whatever it is, God promises our new name will wipe away our shame (See Isaiah 62:1-5).
Our reputation may be tattered, and our character may be seemingly beyond repair. But neither name ultimately defines us. It's not what others call you nor even what you call yourself that matters. You are who Jesus says you are.
~~ LIVE INTO YOU NEW NAME AND ALLOW JESUS TO USE YOU!
--ODB/ MW ~~~~~~~~~~
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." [John 14:6]
---"A time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." --- ---[John 4:23]
----INTENSE pain and a debilitating headache prevented me from attending services with my local church family....again. Grieving the loss of community worship, I watched an online sermon. At first, complaints soured my experience. The poor sound and video quality distracted me. But then a voice sang a familiar hymn.. Tears flowed as I sang these words: "Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart. Naught be all else to me save that Thou art. Thou my best thought, by day or by night. Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light." Yes, sometimes we need to turn on praise and worship music to change our thoughts and help us concentrate on our Lord Jesus.
Focusing on the gift of God's constant presence, will help us worship Him while we wait for His answer to our prayers. Scripture affirms the vital, essential nature of corporate worship ( (Hebrews 10:25), God is not bound bound within the walls of a church building. During Jesus' chat with the Samaritan woman at the well, He defied all expectation of the Messiah (John 4:5). Instead of condemnation, Jesus spoke truth and loved her as she stood next to the well (v.30). He revealed His intimate and sovereign knowledge of His children (vv. 17-18). Proclaiming His deity, Jesus declared that the Holy Spirit evoked true worship from the hearts of Gods people, not from a specific physical location (vv. 23-24).
When we focus on who God is, what He's done, and all He's promised, we can rejoice in His constant presence as we worship Him with other believers, in our living rooms... and everywhere!
--"Father God, please help me to worship You as I rejoice in who You are, what You've done, and all You promise to do. Holy Spirit, come have your way. I praise Your holy Name, YAHWEH....YHWH ~amen" ---ODB/XD~
--"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." ---[Proverbs 16:9] --
---I often pray for the future readers of a Daily Guideposts post as I write it. So right now I'm praying for you. Praying that the words I write will resonate with you right now, in the place where you are and that it will speak to your heart.
The amazing thing is that God, in His omnipotence, answers this prayer.
It's mind-boggling to think about how God is workings right now to establish my steps, so that in time, He can reveal to you how He established yours. I can't fathom it, but I do treasure it.
. I treasure the fact that today, right now, you will read these words that I wrote months ago and know that God has plans for you today.~~
--I pray that today is a wonderful day for you, in Jesus. ~~
--
an "object lesson" reaching right into our hearts.~~
Our prayer...may not necessarily rush God into action, but...places us before Him in fellowship."
~~ 
