Tell Me Where to Go!

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The Lord's angel said to Philip, “Go south along the desert road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza.”  So Philip left.

An important Ethiopian official happened to be going along that road in his chariot. He was the chief treasurer for Candace, the Queen of Ethiopia. The official had gone to Jerusalem to worship and was now on his way home. He was sitting in his chariot, reading the book of the prophet Isaiah.

The Spirit told Philip to catch up with the chariot.  Philip ran up close and heard the man reading aloud from the book of Isaiah. Philip asked him, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

The official answered, “How can I understand unless someone helps me?” He then invited Philip to come up and sit beside him.

The man was reading the passage that said, “He was led like a sheep on its way to be killed. He was silent as a lamb whose wool is being cut off, and he did not say a word.

He was treated like a nobody and did not receive a fair trial. How can he have children, if his life is snatched away?”

The official said to Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or about someone else?”   So Philip began at this place in the Scriptures and explained the good news about Jesus.

Acts 8:26-35

The Ethiopian official thought he was on the road back to Ethiopia, but in reality he was on the road that led to Jesus Christ! This man was seeking God and he traveled in a chariot all the way from Ethiopia to Israel in order to worship God. The journey would take many days at best.

An angel told Philip where to go, but did not tell him what to do until he got there!

I usually pray, "Lord tell me where to go and what to do!" But sometimes, the Lord just tells me where to go and I find out what to do when I get there. That keeps faith alive and well in your walk with Jesus.

When Phillip obeyed the Lord and went to the road that led from Jerusalem to Gaza, then the Spirit told him to run along side the chariot. Philip was about to see the Holy Spirit invade the life of the Ethiopian official, who then took the story of Jesus Christ back to a land where it still flourishes today!

The lesson for me is this: When God tells me to go to a place, I need not ask why! I need simply to obey when I hear the voice of the Lord. We have been deceived to think that in order to accomplish great things for the Lord we need lots of planning, education and money. God can use certainly those things but what He needs most of all is those who will obey Him without question! God knew that the heart of the Ethiopian official was ready to receive Jesus, and so He sent Philip to meet him on his journey! What an exciting adventure Philip was on as he walked with Jesus!

"Lord Jesus, tell me where to go today, and I trust that You will show me what to do when I get there! May You, Jesus be praised forever. Amen."

He Knows What I Think!

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Every word we speak was taught to us by God’s Spirit, not by human wisdom. And this same Spirit helps us teach spiritual things to spiritual people.  That’s why only someone who has God’s Spirit can understand spiritual blessings. Anyone who doesn’t have God’s Spirit thinks these blessings are foolish.

People who are guided by the Spirit can make all kinds of judgments, but they cannot be judged by others.  The Scriptures ask,

“Has anyone ever known
the thoughts of the Lord
or given him advice?”

But we understand what Christ is thinking.

1 Corinthians 2:13-16

Perhaps the greatest blessing that comes from having the Holy Spirit dwell in you is that you can then understand what Christ is thinking.  The "mind of Christ" is certainly a mystery to anyone who does not have the Holy Spirit. 

Knowing how someone else thinks is the key to solving crimes as well as having a lasting and happy marriage.  Knowing the mind of Christ unlocks the mysteries of Eternity and changes the way you see everything here on earth! 

When you see sin and suffering in the world around you, knowing what Jesus thinks about those terrible things can restore your peace and enable you to keep on walking with Him!  The Holy Spirit in you, enables you to know what Jesus thinks, and since Jesus was fully human while He walked on this earth, He knows what you think as well!  When two people know each other's mind, the relationship can be long and fruitful.  When one of those two is the Lord Jesus Christ, the relationship can go on forever!

"Lord Jesus, thank You for letting me know what You think about everything in life!  And thank You Lord that You came here to earth so that You could not only die for me, but so that You could know my mind as well.  Praise Your Holy Name forever! Amen."

Obedience Before Understanding!

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As God says in the Scriptures,  “I will destroy the wisdom of all who claim to be wise.   I will confuse those who think they know so much.”

What happened to those wise people? What happened to those experts in the Scriptures? What happened to the ones who think they have all the answers? Didn't God show that the wisdom of this world is foolish?   God was wise and decided not to let the people of this world use their wisdom to learn about him.

Instead, God chose to save only those who believe the foolish message we preach.

1 Corinthians 1:19-21

More than forty years ago I was first exposed to the concept of how the Gospel of Jesus Christ impacts different cultures. For me, at the time it was an "earth shaking" revelation that each culture will adjust itself to the truths of God's Word, but each one will remain distinct and unique even after being impacted by and remaining true to the Gospel!

That truth is crucial when you proclaim the message of Jesus to cultures other than your own. Otherwise you unwittingly export your own culture along with the Gospel.
But the Wisdom of God goes far beyond even that wisdom about different cultures.

Over the years I have seen men and women violate this bit of human wisdom about the Gospel and cultures and still have their efforts mightily blessed by God. Here is the "bottom line of following Jesus." Use the wisdom God has given you AND do everything He tells you to do even when it doesn't seem wise! That is what Abraham had to do when God told him to sacrifice his son Isaac! And that is what you will have to do as a follower of Jesus, navigating through this life.Remember that obedience to the Word of God often comes before understanding!

"Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me the wisdom to walk through this world as Your follower. But help me Lord to never put even wisdom itself before being obedient to You. May You be praised now and forever. Amen."

Follow the Whisper from Jesus!

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Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve disciples. He went to the chief priests and asked, “How much will you give me if I help you arrest Jesus?” They paid Judas 30 silver coins,  and from then on he started looking for a good chance to betray Jesus.

Matthew 24:14-16

What have you been offered to betray Jesus?  Of course, there was only one Judas Iscariot, but Satan is still quite willing to reward any follower of Jesus if he or she will betray the Lord.  How can you betray Jesus today?  It is quite simple and probably quite familiar.  Jesus shows you the way that you should go, and then there comes a profitable opportunity for you to go another way.  

With Judas it was 30 pieces of silver that "tipped the scales" and made him feel "ok" about betraying the Lord.  Some believe that Judas did not expect his betrayal to send Jesus to the Cross, and that may indeed be the case.  But when you go your own way instead of the way the Lord wants you to go, the consequences may be far worse than you expect as well.

When Jesus impresses your heart with the fact that you should speak to a stranger, you have no idea where that brief conversation will lead in the life of that "stranger" or others who know him or her.  When you sow a seed for Jesus in one heart, the new life that may come from that one seed might be so great that no one could imagine how many will turn to Jesus because of that one encounter!

And when you decide not to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in your daily walk, the impact on others, even years from now might be tragically significant.

Of course, you must not dwell on what may or may not happen in the future, but never take a whisper from the Lord lightly!  When the Holy Spirit pulls on the reigns of your heart, go that way without delay.  Let Him be in total control and know for certain that He has a Godly purpose for every Word!

And when Satan offers you 30 pieces of silver, RUN!

"Lord Jesus, help me never to betray you by accepting Satan's alternative for a direction You are showing me in life.  Give me the courage to follow every leading from You today and every day.  And may You be praised forever.  Amen."

Greatest Freedom of All!

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When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all his angels, he will sit on his royal throne.  The people of all nations will be brought before him, and he will separate them, as shepherds separate their sheep from their goats.

He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.  Then the king will say to those on his right, “My father has blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world was created.

Matthew 25:31-34

Before the world was created, God prepared a Kingdom for those who would follow Jesus Christ! I believe that the eternal purpose of the creation of the human race was to provide God with citizens for that Kingdom. God is the King and we are His subjects! The ideas of "self-government" and "democracy" will not be part of that Kingdom. When you are living under the constant care and infinite love of God why would you want to choose your own way, instead of His?

When doing the Will of God becomes the very air that you breathe, and every step that you take is measured by whether or not God is pleased with it, then the greatest freedom in all of Eternity is being His slave!

When you belong completely to Jesus Christ you are free to explore Eternity with the very one who created it! Your job here on earth becomes simply the casting off of everything that wars against His claim on your life and heart!

"Lord Jesus, my Sweet Lord, today I want You to take more of my life and heart. Control every part of me, until there is nothing left for anyone else. May I know today even more of the Greatest Freedom of being Your slave. And may You be praised and glorified forever and ever. Amen."

Are You With Jesus Where He Is?

 

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Father, I want everyone you have given me to be with me, wherever I am. Then they will see the glory you have given me, because you loved me before the world was created.  Good Father, the people of this world don't know you. But I know you, and my followers know that you sent me.   I told them what you are like, and I will tell them even more. Then the love you have for me will become part of them, and I will be one with them.

John 17:24-26

Do you want to be with Jesus where He is or do you want Jesus to be with you where you are? There is a huge difference!

When Jesus is with you where you are, you will see His power touch those in your circle of friends. And that is certainly a good thing. When Jesus is with you, His wisdom and power will open doors and solve problems in your life in remarkable, and yes even miraculous ways! For most Christians it seems to be enough to know that Jesus is "with you always." He is with you and it is wonderful!

But when you are with Jesus where He is, you see Him reach out and touch the Universe around Him with His Power and Glory! When you are with Jesus where He is, you find yourself in places you have never been before, and perhaps no one has ever been. When you are with Jesus where He is, your spirit is bathed in the Glory of God and immersed in the Promise of Eternity! What an utterly remarkable reality that Jesus wants me to be with Him where He is!

"Lord Jesus, I do want You to be with me as I walk through this day here on planet earth. But I also Lord want to be with You where You are! I want to see beyond the door of Heaven and walk with You on the streets of gold! Give me the patience to wait for that Day when I am with You always, and never let me stop longing to see it come! May You, Jesus be praised forever. Amen."

Thirsty for God?

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Everything is finished! I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give water from the life-giving fountain to everyone who is thirsty.  All who win the victory will be given these blessings. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Revelation 21:6-7

Are you "thirsty for God" or do you want to be thirsty for God? In some parts of the world being thirsty for God is not something you even notice. When you have even the smallest desire for God you can satisfy it without anyone interfering.

But there are places, and you may be there yourself, where pursuing God is not encouraged or even officially allowed! If you run after God in those countries you must be careful because there are those who are ready to persecute you or even kill you for your faith in Jesus Christ.

When you are denied water your thirst grows even greater and when men attempt to deny you access to Jesus Christ your thirst for Him blossoms and grows! That is part of the reason that you will find greater faith in places where Christians are persecuted for their faith. With persecution comes greater thirst!

Never forget that Jesus will satisfy your thirst for Him! How much do you long for and thirst for Jesus Christ? The more you want Jesus, the more you will have of Him! Never be afraid of venturing out into the dry desert of this life, because Jesus will satisfy your thirst! He is an unending supply of life giving water!

"Lord Jesus, my life is empty without You, and my thirst for You grows every day. Satisfy me with Your life giving water, today and tomorrow and every day for Eternity. Praise Your Name forever. Amen."

Are You a Friend of the Author’s Son?

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I saw a great white throne with someone sitting on it. Earth and heaven tried to run away, but there was no place for them to go. I also saw all the dead people standing in front of that throne. Every one of them was there, no matter who they had once been. Several books were opened, and then the book of life was opened. The dead were judged by what those books said they had done.

The sea gave up the dead people who were in it, and death and its kingdom also gave up their dead. Then everyone was judged by what they had done. Afterwards, death and its kingdom were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  Anyone whose name wasn't written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:11-15

I only remember one time seeing my name in a book. While I was growing up the father of a good friend wrote an autobiography and he mentioned my name as a friend of his oldest son. That was pretty exciting at the time, but I suppose I haven't even thought about that in many years.

When the "Day of Judgment" arrives whether or not your name is mentioned in a book will make all the difference between Heaven and Hell. If your name is found in the Book of Life, you will spend eternity in Heaven with Jesus. If your name is not there you will spend eternity in Hell, separated from God.

So how do you get your name in the Book of Life? Is it because you live a really good life? Is it because you were rich and successful in business? Is it just blind luck? No it is none of those.

Your name will appear in the Book of Life if you are a friend of the author's Son, Jesus! If you don't know Jesus and call Him your friend, then your name will not be in the Book of Life. It may be exciting to see your name in a book written by someone here on earth, but nothing will ever compare to seeing your name in the Book of Life!

"Lord Jesus, my place in Heaven is reserved only because of You and what You did for me on the Cross! Thank You for making it possible for my name to appear in the Book of Life! May You be praised forever. Amen."

Miracles of Satan!

 

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An evil spirit that looked like a frog came out of the mouth of the dragon. One also came out of the mouth of the beast, and another out of the mouth of the false prophet.

 

These evil spirits had the power to work miracles. They went to every king on earth, to bring them together for a war against God All-Powerful. But that will be the day of God’s great victory.

Revelation 16:13-14

Evil spirits are not a joke! The evil spirits described in these verses had the power to work miracles. Satan's power does go beyond the natural world.

For many years I thought miracles were always good? But when miracles come from those who are at war with God they certainly are not good. Why would the enemies of God want to do miracles? When Satan displays his super natural power many people bow down and honor him.

It is also important to notice that these evil spirits in verse 13 came out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet. Contrast that with what comes out of the mouth of God. God spoke the world into existence. Every Word that comes out of the mouth of God is powerful and the cosmos itself lines up with the Spoken Word of God!

So the final conflict on Planet Earth is a War of Words! Those evil spirits which come from the mouths of the Dragon, the beast and the false prophet will do battle with the Word of God! The fact that God will win does not mean that the battle will not be fierce!

Remember, if you see a verifiable miracle you may or may not be witnessing the power of God. The Bible clearly says that some evil spirits have the power to do miracles. Let only the miracles that come from the mouth of God build your faith!

"Lord Jesus, help me to know the difference between a miracle that comes from an evil spirit and a miracle that comes from You. Thank You Lord that You have already won the victory on the Cross. May You be praised forever. Amen."

Off With Your Head!

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I now saw another beast. This one came out of the ground. It had two horns like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon.  It worked for the beast whose fatal wound had been healed. And it used all its authority to force the earth and its people to worship that beast. It worked mighty miracles, and while people watched, it even made fire come down from the sky.

This second beast fooled people on earth by working miracles for the first one. Then it talked them into making an idol in the form of the beast that did not die after being wounded by a sword.  It was allowed to put breath into the idol, so it could speak. Everyone who refused to worship the idol of the beast was put to death.

Revelation 13:11-15

The penalty is death for anyone who refuses to worship the idol of the beast! That sounds frighteningly contemporary! "If you don't worship like we want you to, then off with your head!"

My job as a Christian is not to "read the tea leaves" of the signs of the End, but rather to be ready to stand firm for Jesus if I am called upon to lose my head for Him!

You see, it really doesn't matter where we are on the prophetic time line when you are given the ultimatum to deny the Lord or lose your head. If it is moments before the return of Jesus or many decades before His return your response and responsibility remain the same.

And whether or not we are in the "End Times" there are those now who would like to cut off your head if you refuse to "convert" and deny Jesus! That can quickly make these the "End Times" for me, whether or not they are for anyone else!

A man who formerly believed that I should lose my head, heard the call of Jesus on his life and when I asked him, he told me that my response should be to love those who want to kill me and to pray for them!

So here is the challenge for me and for you. Make sure that anyone who is about to cut off your head, is someone you love!

"Lord Jesus, I don't know when You will return, but I know that I must never deny You even if I lose my head for refusing to renounce my love for You. Help me to love everyone that You love and died to save! Amen."

Prayer for Willingness!

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We had been in Caesarea for several days, when the prophet Agabus came to us from Judea.  He took Paul's belt, and with it he tied up his own hands and feet. Then he told us, “The Holy Spirit says that some of the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will tie up the man who owns this belt. They will also hand him over to the Gentiles.”   After Agabus said this, we and the followers living there begged Paul not to go to Jerusalem.

But Paul answered, “Why are you crying and breaking my heart? I am not only willing to be put in jail for the Lord Jesus, but I am even willing to die for him in Jerusalem!”

Since we could not get Paul to change his mind, we gave up and prayed, “Lord, please make us willing to do what you want.”

Acts 21:10-14

Did you notice in these verses that when Paul could not be convinced not to go to Jerusalem the prayer that was uttered was not for Paul! I think I would have prayed "Lord bless Paul and protect him from the harm that will be inflicted on him in Jerusalem." Instead they prayed "Lord help us to be willing to do what You want!"

When I look at some rather long "prayer request" lists, the focus is usually to ask God to heal the sicknesses and remove the difficulties from the lives of those who are suffering.

Instead of asking God to help us to be willing to do what He wants, we ask Him to do what we want! The problem with that is that we don't see the "big picture" of our lives as God does. We want immediate relief from this problem or that problem, while God sees how those problems are perhaps essential to the shaping of our lives into the image of Jesus Christ!

"Lord Jesus, show Your power in my life by making me willing to suffer whatever comes my way by Your Sovereign choice! May my victorious life be measured by how much I have become like You, my Lord, Jesus! Praise Your Name now and forever! Amen."

Is Your God Unknown?

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So Paul stood up in front of the council and said:

People of Athens, I see that you are very religious.  As I was going through your city and looking at the things you worship, I found an altar with the words, “To an Unknown God.” You worship this God, but you don't really know him. So I want to tell you about him.   This God made the world and everything in it. He is Lord of heaven and earth, and he doesn't live in temples built by human hands.   He doesn't need help from anyone. He gives life, breath, and everything else to all people.

Acts 17:22-25

Did you know that you can be "very religious" without being a Christian? In fact, you can be very religious without claiming to be a follower of any formal religion. Even those who claim that they have no god have given their heart and allegiance to someone or something.

You will be a "worshiper." The question is simply who or what will you worship?
Many people worship the "things" that they are able to collect or the money that they have which enables them to acquire material things.

Some worship power and authority and they do everything in life with the goal of gaining more power and authority over others.

There are also those who worship nature and the beauty of the earth. They are the ones who see the greatest crime to be anything that would harm the balance of nature.

All of these people know who their god is and they live their lives to please their chosen sovereign.

You may have chosen God Almighty, Lord of Heaven and earth to be your God, but is He still an "unknown" God to you? This life is primarily about getting to know God who is your Creator and the source of everything you have!

There is a famous Broadway play called "The King and I." The most memorable song from that musical begins with the words "Getting to know you, getting to know all about you." That is also the theme song for the life of a Christian. Christians spend their lives getting to know Jesus Christ who is Himself God in the flesh. Spend time today reading the Bible in order to know more about Jesus and pray continually as you converse with your Creator.

"Lord Jesus, I want to know you better today than I did yesterday. Show me today something about You that I do not know! And may You, Lord be praised forever. Amen."

Show the Lord that You Love Him!

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All who belong to the Lord, show how you love him.  The Lord protects the faithful,  but he severely punishes  everyone who is proud.

Psalm 31:23

How do you know that someone loves you? Is it what they say, or what they do?
I don't know who originally said it, but "your actions speak so loudly, that I can't hear what you say" is so very true.

I'm not sure I ever heard my father say "I love you," but everything he did for me for the 38 years that we were both alive on planet earth told me without question that he loved me!

It is wonderful to sing praises to the Lord and to declare with your mouth that you love Him! But it is even more important that your actions each day proclaim your love! Are you humble before the Lord and do you have a willing heart, willing to obey every Word that comes from your Heavenly Father?

"Lord Jesus, show me something today that You want me to do. Give me another way to show You that I love you. Thank You Jesus. Amen."

Be Ready Now or Later!

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You can be certain that in the last days there will be some very hard times.  People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud, stuck-up, rude, and disobedient to their parents. They will also be ungrateful, godless, heartless, and hateful. Their words will be cruel, and they will have no self-control or pity. These people will hate everything good.  They will be sneaky, reckless, and puffed up with pride. Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure.

2 Timothy 3:1-4

The hardest part is just before the baby comes! When the labor pain arrives, for a short while you forget all the joy of preparing for the baby. For some the pain is extremely severe, in fact I am of course told, as a man I can never really understand how bad it is.

As we prepare for and look forward to the return of Jesus Christ, the Bible says that just before He comes, it will be like labor pains. Unless you knew the baby was coming, when the labor pains arrived you would certainly be tempted to give up all hope of things being better. If we are living in the days just prior to the return of Jesus, then things that are bad will even get worse and the pain will only stop when Jesus comes!

But I remember, and you may as well something we called "false labor" pains. We thought, this is it, the baby is on the way, but it was not yet time. You may have even made a quick run to the hospital for nothing. It certainly seems as if the time of the return of Jesus is at hand, but no one knows for certain. These days may indeed be false labor. So we must live ready for the trouble to come because of the soon return of Jesus, but we must also be ready to suffer here, maybe even for years to come.

Jesus will return! That is certain. You can "bet your life" on it! But the date of His return has not yet been revealed! Be ready today for the return of Jesus and be ready to live out the rest of your days on this earth, knowing that when you leave this earth you will be with Jesus! Either way you will be with Jesus forever if you have given your heart to Him.

"Lord Jesus, give me the strength to stand here while we wait for your return. And Lord give me the patience to wait even for years to come if that is the Will of the Father. Either way, may You be praised forever. Amen."

When God Breathes!

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But don't be fooled! People will rebel against God. Then before the Lord returns, the wicked one who is doomed to be destroyed will appear.   He will brag and oppose everything holy or sacred. He will even sit in God's temple and claim to be God.  Don't you remember I told you this while I was still with you?

You already know what is holding this wicked one back until it is time for him to come.  His mysterious power is already at work, but someone is holding him back. And the wicked one won't appear until this someone is out of the way.   Then he will appear, but the Lord Jesus will kill him simply by breathing on him. He will be completely destroyed by the Lord's glorious return.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-8

"When your father gets home he will take care of it!" That was the threat my mother would often use when my brother and I were not being obedient. And it worked! Even the thought of my father's disciple would insure that we would obey our mother.
When Jesus Christ returns, He will destroy the "wicked one" by simply breathing on him. At the beginning it was the breath of God that brought life to a lump of clay, and when Jesus returns it will be His breath that will kill the "wicked one."

When the wind blows, I am reminded of the breath of God. A soft warm wind is peaceful and calms my heart. But a strong wind can blow away everything I have in only a second or two. When God breathes on you it will either bring life, or it will destroy you.

Don't be upset by wicked and evil men. Don't despair even if you think you see today the truly "wicked one" described in the Bible! Evil will not win in the End. Jesus will return as He said He would and His breath will destroy the wicked one!

When I had been disobedient to my mother as a child, I feared the return of my father. But when I was obedient I longed for his home coming! If you are disobedient to God, you most certainly fear the return of Jesus Christ. But if you obey His every Word, your heart will long to see Him coming with the clouds!

"Lord Jesus, help me to be obedient to You today so that Your breath will be a soft and peaceful breeze and Your coming something I long for! May You be praised forever. Amen."

Obey the Law

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Heaven and earth may disappear. But I promise you not even a period or comma will ever disappear from the Law. Everything written in it must happen.

If you reject even the least important command in the Law and teach others to do the same, you will be the least important person in the kingdom of heaven. But if you obey and teach others its commands, you will have an important place in the kingdom.

Matthew 5:18-19 (CEV)

There is a law that God made that everyone obeys. It is the "Law of Gravity." Everyday I am very careful not to disobey the Law of Gravity. If I do, there are sudden and usually painful consequences. Most recently, I stepped on our cat in the dark at the top of a flight of steps and then I descended the steps without my feet touching even one of them!

The Word of God is filled with God's wisdom. God has graciously revealed everything we need to know to live on this earth. But obeying the Word of God is not optional. If you choose to disobey even the least of God's commandments, there are certain consequences.

We like to focus on the fact that we are saved by grace, through faith in Jesus and not by keeping the law! And that is true, but even a man who is saved must obey the "Law of Gravity" and all the other Words of God or there will be consequences in his life. We sometimes live as if a "saved" man cannot fall out of a tree!

Of course, your faith in Jesus Christ is primary and the most important thing in your life, but never ignore the things that God has said. If you do, you will suffer for it. God told us things about lying, stealing, sexual purity, being faithful in marriage, honoring your parents, and the list goes on and on.
Set your heart today to be obedient to every Word God has spoken. Let your life and the way you live it conform to the Word, every Word of God! When you do, you will be blessed!

"Lord Jesus, help me today to open my ears and my heart to receive and obey every Word that comes from You. And may You be praised forever. Amen."

Heaven and the Cross!

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God himself was pleased to live fully in his Son.

And God was pleased for him to make peace by sacrificing his blood on the cross, so that all beings in heaven and on earth would be brought back to God.

You used to be far from God. Your thoughts made you his enemies, and you did evil things.  But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent.

Colossians 1:19-22

The power of the Cross did not stop at the "ends of the earth!"  The Blood of Jesus which was sacrificed on the Cross made it so that "all beings in Heaven and on Earth would be brought back to God."  It is easy to see who the ones on earth are that need to be reconciled to God.  The rebellious sinners who have rejected God in pursuit of their own pleasure and have separated themselves from their Eternal Father desperately need the Blood of Jesus to bring them back to God.  We were all one of them, when we came to Jesus!  But who are the ones in Heaven who need the Cross?

Attempts to answer that question have fueled the flames of many heresies and false doctrines.  But the simple answer is this: No one is reconciled to God without the Blood of Jesus.  That list would include, Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, King David, and every other great man or woman of God whose stories are recorded in the Old Testament.  None of them could have been reconciled to God without the Cross.  So they must have waited with great anticipation for the Day when the price for their sins would be paid with Jesus' Blood.  Can you imagine the shout of praise that must have gone up when all the men and women of God who had already died got the news that their sins where covered with His Blood?

Don't ever forget that nothing can "bring you back to God" except the Blood of Jesus.  You can't do enough good things to deserve Heaven.  It is the Cross that makes all the difference in your life forever.  The most important thing that ever happened on earth was when Jesus died to reconcile you and me to God! 

"Thank You Jesus for providing the only way for any man to be brought back to God.  Give me opportunity today to tell someone else what You did on that glorious day.  And may You be praised forever.  Amen."

To Think About List!

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Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable — if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise — dwell on these things.

Philippians 4:8 (HCSB)

For a few years I worked as a news reporter at a radio station in Ohio. My job was to gather, write and read the stories that were presented as "news" to the folks who listened to the radio. No one said it, but my real job was to gather, write and read the "bad news" in our community. If it was good news it usually never made it on the air!

Human beings like to think about things that are not good. But Christians are encouraged to think about things that are "true, honorable, just, pure, lovely and commendable." Of course that doesn't mean that you never think about things that are true, but are not pleasant. But I believe its those other five things that should fill my mind most of the time. Ask yourself as you go through your day, is this thing I am thinking about, "true, honorable, just, pure, lovely or commendable?" If it is not, then quickly abandon your current train of thought and go to something that is clearly one of those truly uplifting thoughts.

It is not just the evil thoughts that we should get out of our minds. Use your mind to ponder the beautiful things of God and leave room for nothing else. If you need to, then make yourself a "To Think About List." Those are the things that will uplift your heart and draw you closer to God when you think about them. Post your "To Think About List" next to your "To Do List" and refer to it often during the day!

"Lord Jesus, help me today to fill my mind with things that please You. May all my thoughts today be something that is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely or commendable. And certainly at the top of that list is praising Your Name, forever! Amen."

Wake Up Now!

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This is what you must write to the angel of the church in Sardis:

I have the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. Listen to what I say.

I know what you are doing. Everyone may think you are alive, but you are dead.  Wake up! You have only a little strength left, and it is almost gone. So try to become stronger. I have found that you are not completely obeying God.  Remember the teaching you were given and heard. Hold firmly to it and turn from your sins. If you don't wake up, I will come when you least expect it, just as a thief does.

Revelation 3:1-3

Do you struggle with the fact that "everyone" thinks something of you that is not true? When the Apostle John wrote the Book of Revelation he exposed the truth about the believers in Sardis. The Sardis Christians were able to put on a great "front" which made everyone think that they were vibrant, alive and well as followers of Jesus, but they were not! In fact, John says they were dead.

So what was John's advice to the weak and dying Sardis Christians? It was simple: Wake up and try to become stronger! Then John gave some very practical advice about how to wake up and become stronger. He said they should begin by "completely obeying God." Then they must remember the "teaching" which of course was the Word of God and repent of their sins!

So there are the steps to waking up and becoming stronger. You must completely obey whatever God tells you to do and always remember the Word of God as you daily repent of your sins!

If you do those three things you will no longer need to be warned by the Holy Spirit of the deep trouble you are in as a believer!

That is the way you can wake up and grow stronger in Jesus. If there is something the Lord has spoken to your heart, then begin today to be completely obedient to it. Make the Word of God a big part of this and every day of your life. And finally you must repent! When you spend time in God's Word, your own sins will become quite clear.

"Lord Jesus, others may think that I am strong, but You know how weak I am. Help me today to be completely obedient to You as I fill my mind and heart with Your Word and repent of my sins! And may You be praised forever! Amen."

Will You Confess Jesus Now or Then?

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Christ was truly God.

But he did not try to remain

equal with God.

 

Instead he gave up everything

and became a slave,

when he became

like one of us.

 

Christ was humble.

He obeyed God and even died

on a cross.

 

Then God gave Christ

the highest place

and honored his name

above all others.

 

So at the name of Jesus

everyone will bow down,

those in heaven, on earth,

and under the earth.

 

And to the glory

of God the Father

everyone will openly agree,

“Jesus Christ is Lord!”

Philippians 2:6-11

Today there are many people in this world who do not confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  Either they have never heard about Him or they have heard and decided to reject the claim of Jesus Himself that He is Lord! 

But there will come a day, and it may come very soon when everyone "in heaven, on earth, and under the earth" will bow down at His Name!  We will all proclaim that Christ Jesus is Lord! There will be no atheists in Hell! 

Everyone will know the TRUTH of who Jesus is and those who placed their faith in Him will receive the reward of Heaven.  The rest, who refused to trust Jesus will be eternally separated from God!  

The difference between those in Heaven and those in Hell will be "when" they bowed down and recognized Jesus Christ for who He is!  Those in Heaven will be the ones who confessed His Name while they lived here on earth.  Those in Hell will be the ones who waited until this life on earth was over before they fell down before Him. 

You will openly agree that Jesus Christ is Lord!  The question that makes all the difference for eternity is whether you will confess Him now or wait until after you pass from this life!  If you refuse to confess Him now, you will have an eternity in Hell to regret it!  If you confess Jesus is Lord while you live on this earth, you will have an eternity to rejoice with Him in Heaven!

Just, DO IT NOW!

"Lord Jesus, help me to confess Your Name to someone every day.  Give me the opportunity and the courage today to proclaim that You are indeed Lord!  And may You be praised forever!  Amen."

Say YES to Jesus!

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Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children.  Let love be your guide. Christ loved us and offered his life for us as a sacrifice that pleases God.

You are God's people, so don't let it be said that any of you are immoral or indecent or greedy.

Ephesians 5:1-3

Jesus acted like God!  The things that He did were the things that God would do if He had a human body.  In fact, Jesus was God in the flesh!  Love was the guide for the life of Jesus.  He loved God and did everything God wanted Him to do.  Jesus loved us and sacrificed His life on the Cross so that we could be what God wants us to be.

The very Hand of God formed you and shaped you in your mother's womb.  And the Son of God provided the sacrifice so that you could be formed by the Holy Spirit in you into the image of Jesus!  It is an amazing and glorious transformation.  A sinner who is stained with the Blood of the Lamb and is guilty of rejecting the One sent to save Him, is transformed by that Blood into the image of Jesus Christ.  It all begins when the "sinner" says YES to Jesus!  Jesus stands at the door and knocks, but waits until you open the door!  Then, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, comes in and make His home in your heart!

It's not about rules, or about rights!  It's about righteousness!  The righteousness of Jesus is transferred into your heart. 

You were created in the image of God and were perfect before Him until your "brush with Satan" blurred the picture.  Jesus, on the Cross restored the picture and brought you back into perfect relationship with God the Father!

"Lord Jesus, I want You to clean my heart again today, so that everything about me will be like everything about You!  And may You be praised forever.  Amen."

Choose Your Engine

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I want you to know about the great and mighty power that God has for us followers. It is the same wonderful power he used  when he raised Christ from death and let him sit at his right side in heaven.  There Christ rules over all forces, authorities, powers, and rulers. He rules over all beings in this world and will rule in the future world as well.

Ephesians 1:19-21

Have you ever seen a large boat with a small "trolling" motor hanging over the stern? Using only a relatively weak engine the boat is able to move slowly through the water while the fishermen search for a catch. But when needed, they turn off the trolling motor and start the very powerful engine deep inside the boat.

A life lived only in the power of the "fleshly man" is like that boat cruising through rough waters with only the trolling motor. You can move through life and accomplish some things, but it is nothing compared to allowing the Holy Spirit of God to empower your every step!

These Bible verses even say that the power that is available to you as a follower of Jesus Christ is the same power that God used to raise Jesus from death and let Him sit at the right side of God in Heaven! I must confess that I don't even begin to comprehend the full extent of what that means. If the Resurrection and Ascension Power is there for me, then what difference should that make in my life? It does mean that I have the Power to be victorious over everything that might come my way!

So are you navigating through the stormy water of this life using only a small trolling motor for the power to move? Or are you trusting in Jesus to empower you by His Spirit to move surely and swiftly through all the rough seas of life? The difference between the successful and victorious Christian and one who is not is whether or not God's Power is the "engine of choice!" You can choose to run your life on your own power or by the Power of God's Spirit. The difference will be quite evident to everyone!

"Lord Jesus, I choose today to run my life with Your Power and not my own. Strengthen me in my resolve to let the Holy Spirit be the driving force of everything I do, today and forever. Amen."

Tears of Terror or Joy?

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Look! He is coming

with the clouds.

Everyone will see him,

even the ones who stuck

a sword through him.

All people on earth

will weep because of him.

Yes, it will happen! Amen.

The Lord God says, “I am Alpha and Omega, the one who is and was and is coming. I am God All-Powerful!”

Revelation 1:7-8

The return of Jesus Christ will not be a secret and private event. When Jesus returns everyone will see Him coming! And all people will weep because of Him. Some will be tears of despair and fear and others will shed tears of joy!

Can you imagine the fear of those who have rejected Jesus and even spoken out against anyone who has faith in Him? Those who persecuted the followers of Jesus will themselves be terrified when that day comes. It will suddenly become clear to everyone that Jesus is real and that all other "roads to God" lead straight to Hell!
But those who fall down and worship Jesus now, will fall down and worship Him then, and their tears will pour out because of the joy of seeing Jesus!

When Jesus comes, your tears will come as well. But you now have a choice as to whether your tears will come in terror or joy! When that day comes it will be too late to choose Jesus!

Jesus chose you and came to earth to pay the price for your eternal salvation! If you choose Jesus now, then when He comes that "Day of Joy" will last forever!

"Lord Jesus, I know that You will come back, even as You said You would. When You do may my tears be TEARS OF JOY and not tears of terror! Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen."