Incomparable faithfulness through and through it all.

 

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24.

We are learning about the faithfulness of God in our recent daily insights. In the first session, we have seen God repeatedly say in the pages of the Bible that He will be faithful to you and will not leave you alone. It is His faithfulness that prompts not to leave you no matter what happens in your life. We have also seen God is one hundred percent faithful because He is not a man who should change his mind. If He said, He would do it. His unchanging nature backs all his promises.

In the prior session, we have also seen that God is faithful to you because He calls you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. His faithfulness promised and said He would keep you firm (strengthened) to the very end. Peter explains this in 1 peter 1:5 God protects a Christ believer by His power until he receives the fullness of this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. (NLT). NIV translates to Christ believers are “shielded by God’s power”. Not only will He keep firm until that day by His power, but also He will make you stand blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our today’s insight goes along with our previous thoughts. It says, “God of peace, sanctify you through and through, May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”  It says the one who calls you (referring to God who calls you to come to Jesus, His Son) is faithful, and He will keep your spirit, soul, and body blameless at the coming of our Lord in the future. Who does it? God in His faithfulness does it.  I love the way NLT translated this – It says, “God will make this happen, for He who calls you is faithful.” It is God and His faithfulness that accomplishes this for you. 

 Praise the Lord! All thanks and worship belong to Him.

You see, through and through it all – good and bad things happened and still happen to you-the God of peace will sanctify the whole of you. You see, man consists of three parts—soul, spirit, and body. God would sanctify the whole of you through and through it all. The word meaning of sanctify is to set a thing or person for the purpose/goal designed or intended by God. Through and through it all, a Christ believer is sanctified (separated or set apart) when he or she lives on this planet earth for the ultimate purpose of God. The word sanctify also means in its Greek original meaning “to make more holy.” Human beings left in themselves do not get holy in any sense. Natural bend or tendencies are toward unholiness. However, the progressive making of a person (by the Holy Spirit’s work inside) happens to look more like Jesus is the meaning intended here.

What does the final product look like? It says your spirit, soul, and body (the whole of you) would be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Beloved in Christ, May I remind you this again- It is His faithfulness that will make this happen. It says, “the one who calls you (God) is faithful, and He will do it, or He will make this happen. Ephesians 5:25-27 says Christ loved His church. He gave up his life for you to make you holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. Why did He do this? It says there -to present the church (you) glorious without spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, you will be holy and without fault. 

You see the greatness of God’s commitment and faithfulness toward you. What can we do? Give thanks, worship. Joyfully and thankfully sing to the Lord for His incomparable and indescribable faithfulness.

You see, it says the one who calls you is faithful. That means God still calls people to come to His Son, Jesus Christ, reminding His faithfulness. It is not late as of yet. If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your savior, would you pray after me now?

“Father in heaven, I hear your invitation to come to Jesus and believe in Him and what He has done for me. I believe Jesus died, buried, and rose again for my sins. Please have mercy on me and forgive my sins. Please save me and grant me all these heavenly blessings you have in store for me. In the name of Christ, I pray. Amen.”

The only cleanser that erases all and makes you pure white again.

 

“and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”1 John 1:7(b).

While I was placing heavily stained clothes into the washing machine, a thought came to my mind – what is the most powerful detergent available? Upon google search, of course, we all end up there; the results I got included Tide, and ultra Stain release, and a special stain remover. Another one-Persil the ProClean Stain Fighter.

I recently talked to a friend who mentioned a few secrets that he never shared with anyone else. It reminded me of Hebrews 12:1 (b), where the author talks about the sin that so easily entangles us. You see, the author says ‘the sin’ that so easily entangles us. This tells me each one of us has a particular sin that so easily entangles. I know what is ‘the sin’ that so easily entangles me. You know yours. Even though we try hard with the Word of God and the help of the Holy Spirit, it can still haunt us consistently. Were you there?

Beloved, as our garments need powerful detergent or plates and utensils need a powerful dishwasher, the sin that easily entangles us requires the most powerful cleanser. The Bible says, “there is the only one cleanser that can fully and completely wash away your sins and make you clean and white forever. Our today’s insight says, “the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” There is no other powerful detergent that can wash away your sins.

When Paul (whose name was Saul before) gave his testimony in front of the court, he explained his wonderful encounter with Jesus Christ in Acts 22. He admits he persecuted the followers of Jesus to their death, arrested innocent believers, and put them in prison; he pulled people from their homes to punish them. After Jesus encountered him (Acts 9), He sent Ananias to him. Ananias said to Saul, “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’ Calling the name of the Lord Jesus. Paul says in 1st Timothy, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” He says he is the worst sinner. However, his sins were washed away by Christ and his sinless and divine blood.

Beloved, do you think you can not wash away your sin? Of course, it is true you can not wash away your sins by your good works and efforts. If God can wash away Paul’s sin, He can do the same thing for you. Why don’t you come to the only cleanser that is still available to cleanse you fully and completely? The cleaner that makes you white again?

The promise- “and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” is especially true in a Christ believer’s life. It says we have two options even as a believer. We still can walk in darkness if we choose to, or we can walk in the light as God Himself is light. Now, if we walk in the light of God, then the blood of Jesus, His son, keeps on cleansing us from every stain that results from sin. This is the consequence or result of walking in the light of God. This gives us confidence in Christ’s blood’s efficacy as a continuous provision against our past, present, and future contingencies. In short, if we stick with God to walk in His light no matter what, then the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us on a going basis of all our sins. Believers in Christ, who walks in the light of God, are cleansed by the power of the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Got a moment for prayer? “Father in heaven, I come to you and trust in the blood of Christ that erases all of my sins and shortcoming and makes me brand new again. I believe Jesus died, buried, and rose again for my sins. I accept Him as my savior and Lord. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

Make It All For The Advancement Of The Gospel!

“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advancement of the Good News.” Philippians 1:12

God’s plan and purpose may not always be your plans and purposes. Bible affirms this truth in Isaiah 55:8-9. God’s thoughts are not your thoughts. God’s ways are not your ways. Just like the heavens are higher than the earth, so are his ways higher than your ways and his thoughts than your thoughts.

Joseph testified this truth when he said “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” Genesis 50:20. Joseph could have repaid for their evil when he had an excellent opportunity on his hand, Yet he allowed God’s plan to be fulfilled in his life.

Apostle Paul was a great man of God and a very well organized believer. Yet few of the circumstances occurred to him were not according to his wishes or plans. Romans chapter 1 says how much he was eager to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the city of Rome, which was the center of the then world. However, God had a different plan in his wish to go to Rome. God’s plan for Paul was not more of Gospel preaching in Rome. God’s plan consisted of his arrest and imprisonment for about two years. Roman guards were replaced every four hours to watch him and he was in chains. This restricted his freedom of movement.

Our insight comes from such a bleak background.  However, Paul says, “I want you to know, brother and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advancement of the good news.” Even such a restricted and embarrassed background resulted in the furtherance of the Gospel of Christ. How? He says in verse 13 everyone there in the court of the emperor Cesar including the palace guard heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Secondly, the other believers in Christ had gained confidence and they began speaking the Gospel boldly without fear. Thirdly, even some of the family members of Nero, an evil emperor, believed in Jesus Christ as elsewhere in Philippians 4:22 reports, Fourthly, we have many of the epistles of the New Testament section of the Bible in our hands because of God’s plan of his imprisonment. These New Testament epistles he wrote advanced the furtherance of the Gospel of Christ over the last 20 centuries. You see, they could stop the preaching of the Gospel in the city of Rome. However, they could not stop him from writing even though he was in chains. God paved a way for the entrance of the good news of Jesus even inside the palace and among the palace guards. It also paved the way for the salvation of Emperors’ own households and reach out to millions of people over the years.

Paul knew God has a better plan behind all that was happening to him. He understood all things, good or bad, whatever, can result in the advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Beloved, how about you? Do you know this truth is applicable in your life also if you let God allow you to use your circumstances? He does not waste any pains or troubles. He causes all things to work together for good to achieve His plan through it all. Therefore why don’t you rest assured in God’s better plan? Paul said in Philippians 4 this – I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I understand your plans are better than my plans although I may not comprehend it all now. Down on the road, I would see your hands all over my life. You are the loving and sovereign God. I submit my will to your plans and purposes. I believe you sent your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to save me. I accept him as my savior and Lord. I open my heart and life to your will and plans. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

Hurt? Joy Comes In The Morning!

 

“Weeping may last through the night,
but joy comes with the morning.” Psalms 30:5.  NLT

Elvis Presley said, “When things go wrong, don’t go with them.”
However, I would suggest the same in a different way – don’t allow your mind to go with them. But remain to wait for the joy that rise again in the morning.

In Texas, where I live, we had gloomy skies and thick clouds for the last few days. However, the sun broke through the clouds finally and amazing sunlight all around us today. What a joy and brilliance today. When we are in a fog and darkness, we long for light. Sometimes we worry whether we would ever see the light at the end of the tunnel, don’t we? But morning light is around the corner, the God of the Bible promises.

A teenage girl from Canada called Amanda Michelle Todd faced despair and attempted suicide and finally succeeded in 2012 at the age of fifteen. She was a victim of Cyberbullying. However, Juliette Lewis said this, “The bravest thing I ever did was continuing my life when I wanted to die.”

You may say a Christian should never lose his or her hope. Yes, it is true that a sincere Christian hopes in the Lord for help and deliverance. However, there are times we also feel hopeless. When our dreams and aspirations get shattered, we would feel never be the same. It could be the desertion of a spouse, serious illness, spouse in an emergency room, financial breakdown, loss of or strayed children and the list goes on. It becomes hard to believe we would see better days ahead.

Listen to what Job said in his deep depression, “And now my life seeps away. Depression haunts my days. At night my bones are filled with pain,
which gnaws at me relentlessly. With a strong hand, God grabs my shirt.
He grips me by the collar of my coat. He has thrown me into the mud.
I’m nothing more than dust and ashes.” Job 30:16-19 NLT. He continued describing his plight in verses 20-23, ” “I cry to you, O God, but you don’t answer. I stand before you, but you don’t even look. You have become cruel toward me. You use your power to persecute me. You throw me into the whirlwind and destroy me in the storm. And I know you are sending me to my death— the destination of all who live.” Job 30:16-19 NLT. These words in agony point to the impression that the Joy did not come in the morning. Job’s life history proves joy eventually came to him from the divine hand when God restored his blessings. (Job 42:10).

Our daily insight gives God’s promise to all who weep and are in deep depression. Listen-the Bible says, “The weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning,” God of the Bible says in the Scripture. Could you take this promise to your heart? Weeping can last through all night. I was encountered weeping and felt hopeless for a long night time of several years. However, God brought joy to me in the morning eventually. I know many can testify to this fact.

Dearly beloved, were you weeping for a long time? Do you wonder if morning will come to your life? Job thought as you do. Joseph, the teenage boy, though he would never have joy in his life. However, they all met with beautiful light in the morning. Grab hold of God’s promise in the midst of your hopeless situation. Weeping and crying come to all of us in different styles and fashions. It leaves doubt, hopelessness, and broken hearts inside of us. Understand God promises Joy and it comes. As weeping is real, so joy in the morning is also a fact.

The guarantee of the morning filled with Joy is because God is love. He is compassionate and full of mercy and loving-kindness. Beloved, God loves you. Jesus said you are more valuable than the whole world. God’s love does not depend on how much you love Him. God proved His love toward us when we were all sinners and enemies to Him by giving His one and only Son for our sins. God is love. God loves you. It makes all the difference for you. That is why Joy will have to come in the morning. Do not forsake your hope in the Lord. Do not stop waiting for Him. As you expect and hope on Him for the joyful morning, you will find new strength. You will soar high on wings like eagles. You will run and not grow weary. You will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31).

Are you ready to soar high on wings like eagles? Put your hope in God. Joy is around the corner for you.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I believe you will bring joy to my life again. It is your promise, and I trust in your word. I understand you love me. Your love prompts you to save me, and I believe I will see the goodness of you in my life. I believe Jesus Christ died and rose again for all of my sins. I accept Him as my savior and Lord. Please forgive me and save me. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

Draw Near To God!

“Come close to God, and God will come close to you.” James 4:8

Bible says God calls people to come close to Him with a promise that He will come close to you. Another translation is to draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.

Bible also says, “let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help us in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16.

Some observations: You see, God’s throne is called the throne of grace. Is it not amazing and beautiful that God’s throne is called the throne of grace? It is a throne filled with grace. Second, how can we come to God? We can go to Him with confidence. In other words, do not be afraid and do not be doubtful to go too close to God. You can come with confidence. Third, now, what is the result of coming or drawing near to God? As a result of coming to God, you can receive mercy, find grace to help in the time of our need. You would be surprised with the blessings of being close to God. 

Bible says the prodigal son was fed up and frustrated with his impoverished condition. He was hungry and no place to live. All friends left when money is gone. Finally, he made up his mind and said I am going home. He came close to His father’s house in fear of rejection. 

Father embraced him and received him as his loving son and throw a big feast to celebrate his coming back home. Luke 15:11-32

Are you tired, frustrated, and fed up with your current situation? Get up and come near to God, your father in heaven. He is just prayer away. He will embrace and receive you to His home of abundance and bless you with all heavenly blessings.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, looked around and saw people who were weary and burdened. With full of compassion, He called and said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.

I know many are restless and stressed out these days. No peace in their homes. No peace at work. No peace in the community, no peace in the nation, and nowhere. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is calling such people who lost hope and peace. They thought the world and pleasures would enrich their lives. However, they only found out that instead of enhancing happiness, sinful pleasures and going after it gave only destruction, ruin, and the absence of peace and chaos in their lives. Jesus promises and gives you rest to your heavy laden and worried souls.

Why should you come close to God? Bible says because God can save forever those who draw near to God through His Son, Jesus Christ, since He paid for all of your sins on the cross of calvary, died in your place, and rose again. Jesus Christ paid the penalty of all your sins. He will save you forever. Marvelous and good news! Bible says God opened a new and living way through the curtain, that is, the body of Jesus Christ, to come to Holy God with confidence. Jesus’s body was broken for all of your sins, and it became the new and living way to God. Besides, the savior Jesus Christ is there at the throne of grace to help you, to welcome you. Jesus Christ always lives to make intercession for them. He is the advocate who pleads your case for your favor in the court of heaven. It means He is available to help in the time of your need. 

Beloved, why don’t you make a U-turn and come to God now? I do not know where you are today. It does not matter where you are. You may have never come to God. Or you were away for a while by the deception of your friends and the sinful pleasures of this world. You come now. God says, ” I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3.

Would you come? Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I heard your loving call. I heard you saying come close. I will come close to you. I take my step toward you now by believing your Word. I accept Jesus Christ as my savior and Lord. I believe He died and rose again for my sins. Please forgive my sins and save me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen.”

You Have God, and You Have It All!

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5.

Many think having more money and wealth gives them worth and value. Their thought process is centered around money and its benefits. They think the more money they have, the happier they become. However, the truth is more money would not necessarily make you happier than you are now.

Your happiness has two secrets. The first one is called ‘contentment’. If you are not happy and content with what you have now, most probably you won’t be happy if you have more. Your attitude of gratitude for what you already have now is the secret to happiness. The happy people are content. The second secret is trusting on what God had already promised. He promised and said, “never will I leave you; never will I forsake you”.

You see, the first depends on the second one. Your attitude of contentment is based on your assurance in the promise of God that He will never leave you nor forsake you. You can never be truly content without trusting God’s promise. Therefore it is not more money you actually need. It is God and His promises are what you need.

The Bible says God can give sufficiently all that you need when you trust him with all your needs. Bible says 2nd Corinthians 9:8, “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work,” Listen! God is able to bless you, how? “Abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” Apostle Paul was struggling for words to explain how God is able to meet all your needs. Abundantly, in all things at all times, having all that you need, abound in everything.

Beloved, having God and His promises in your life provides true richness and contentment. When you have God and His Word, you are content. You would not lack anything. Not only you are content but also God foresees all your needs and provides at all times so that you will have all you need to be met abundantly.

You see at the end of the day, if you have God in your life, you have it all. Not the money or anything else, but who you need is God and wonderful promises. Now the question is- do you have God in your life? You may now ask the question of how can I have God in my life? You can enjoy God, his presence and blessings when you come to His Son, Jesus Christ and accept him as your savior. Bible says in John 1:12-13 says, “But to all who did accept him (Jesus) and believe in him (Jesus) he (God) gave the right to become children of God. They did not become his children in any human way—by any human parents or human desire. They were born of God.” You become a child of God based on your acceptance of His Son, Jesus Christ. As a child of God, you become a co-heirs of all that God has. Then you are truly rich and content.

Therefore, remember to “keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

“Father in heaven, Help me to develop a lifestyle not based on the want and love of money but based on your love, care, and provisions. You are the ultimate source of all blessings. When I have you in my life, I have it all. I know I can become your child by accepting Jesus as my savior and Lord. I accept Jesus and invite him to my life. Please forgive my sins and make me happy and content in you and your wonderful promises. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

Even The Mustard Seed Faith Has divine Power and Potential! Do not ignore it.

“Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you” Matthew 9:29

Your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ could very well determine what and how much you are going to receive from him. While Jesus came out of the house of Jairus, two blind men followed him and cried out “have mercy on us, Son of David.” It was the faith of Jairus, the synagogue leader that was revealed in his request that compelled Jesus to go to his house. (Matthew 9:18). On the way, it was the faith of the woman who had bleeding for 12 years got instant healing from Jesus. (9:20-21). Now the two blind men were calling on him continuously for a long time. It says when he had come indoors, the blind men came to him there also. Jesus asked them, “do you believe that I am able to do this?” They replied, “Yes, Lord.” Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored.” Did you notice what Jesus said, “according to your faith”?

Beloved, your faith in Jesus Christ determines the outcome. The two blind men believed fully that Jesus was able to give them sight. When Jesus touched, they got the eyesight. You can talk and teach about faith. However, examine yourself how much faith you have in Jesus Christ that he is able to take care of all your issues? Do you have full faith in him? If you read Gospels, you will discover Jesus directly connected the faith of the people with the reception of miracles. He said ‘your faith has made you well” to the woman who had bleeding for 12 years. (9:22). Your faith in Him is important and plays a major role in what and how you would receive from him.

You see, faith is an action word. In faith, you move. In faith, you make decisions and in faith you take actions. If you have faith in another person, you would want to know more about that person. If you have faith in God, you would study the Scripture the Bible to know more about him. You would take some steps toward him in faith. The woman who had bleeding for long twelve years struggled through a multitude of people to touch the garment of Jesus in faith. She said to herself, if I just touch the end of the clothes of Jesus, I would get healed. That is an example of unwavering faith in action. The two blind men followed Jesus outdoor and indoor because they had faith in Jesus that he is powerful to give them eyesight. They believed if Jesus says it would surely happen. They called him “Son of David”. They understood Jesus is the promised Messiah the savior.

If you have faith in Jesus and move your faith in him with action, you will experience more miracles in your life. Faith in Jesus can be the size of mustard seed. But it has divine power back up. It has the divine potential to achieve big things for the Lord. (Matthew 17:20). All the things you wish or want may not happen to you. It is not all good for you in this sinful world and people. You see, all you want are not necessarily good for you eventually, especially in this sin-bound world and among people. God knows it ahead of time. God knows what is good for you and your people. Even if you do not get all you wanted, you can firmly believe he would bring the best to you out of all the difficulties you face.

Remember Bible says in Romans 8:28 that God has the ability and power to cause all things to work together for good for you if you are a true believer in Christ. After some time, you would look back and figure out it was God who worked out all things good for you. Faith is full trust in the hand and plan of God for you. The understanding and full assurance that no matter what God is in your side period! The calm assurance that He will make all good at the end, even though painful and frustrating right now.

Jesus said according to your faith let it be done to you. It is true you will receive according to your faith in Him. More faith in Jesus brings more supernatural or miraculous things in your life. However, faith in Jesus begins small like the grain of a mustard seed. However, you will experience God’s hand in your life on an on-going basis when you have faith and trust in him. May the life history of Jairus, the woman who had bleeding for 12 years, two blind men and many others described in the New Testament may help you to grow in faith in Christ Jesus.

“Father in heaven, I know you are always looking for genuine faith in Jesus Christ to release your power, help, and deliverance because you let Jesus die, bury and rose again in my place for my sins. I believe in Jesus and accept him as my savior and Lord. You taught me faith can begin the grain of a  mustard seed and later become a huge tree bearing fruits for many. Help me to grow in faith in Christ Jesus. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”

“Do Not Fear, For I AM With You!

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Do not fear or fear not is the most repeated command in the Bible. God directly said this in the Old Testament many times and also through his prophets and Jesus repeated it many times in the New Testament. Lloyd Ogilvie in his book says there is 366 fear not in the Bible – one for every single day and even for the leap year.

One of the common fear that haunts people is the fear of failure in life. Young people face the fear of failure in their schools, colleges, and career, married fear they may fail in their family life, the aged fear that they may not have anybody when they face real needs like loss of health, memory issues, etc.

 Salvador Dali, whose artworks and paintings are world-famous, was bold enough to make that famous statement, “Have no fear of perfection – you will never achieve it.” I live in the USA, and quarterly and annual reviews many employees are faced with fear and anxiety because of the fear that I may have missed or made an error somewhere. Unfortunately, failure or error seems unacceptable in the corporate culture of the USA. This is one of the reasons for the high-stress level in US workplaces. Many corporations, although not all, seem to forget or are blind to the fact that we are only human and the culture elevates perfectness to such a high standard and wants to see perfectness in all we do. Fear of failure impacts all- strong, weak, educated, illiterate, brilliant, and average.

Beloved, we can get comforted because the God of the Bible acknowledges the fact of failure in our lives. Bible says the truth in Ecclesiastes 7:20, “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” In other words, there is not a single person who lives on earth who does good all the time and never sins. You won’t see such a person, period! The only exception is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We all are prone to fail in one way or another.

Look at the past. Didn’t you fail many times in the past? We all did. In one fashion or another. So the truth is we will fail again in our lives. First, keep this truth in your heart. This truth of we all would fail necessitates the need for grace and forgiveness in our lives. Typically, it is hard to see such grace and forgiveness in this world, especially when we fail. People are quick to point fingers. Culture constantly looks to blame someone.

However, God specializes in grace and offers it sufficiently and abundantly amid our failures so that we can clean the slates of past failures and move on with our lives. We need God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness. He is not in short supply for all grace, mercy, and forgiveness, if we call on Him. 2 Timothy 2:1 says, “Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus.” Do not be fearful, God understands our frame and failures, even if no one else understands and He has a beautiful pre-plan to refashion us. Thereby, we can be strong through the grace God gives us in Christ Jesus.

In today’s Bible verse the Lord God says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” It is when we hit the bottom, that divine opportunities emerge to make us fly on high grounds again. God’s amazing grace, available in the person of Jesus Christ, is the doorway to fly high.

Beloved, got a moment for today’s prayer? Pray after me. “Father in heaven, I know my failure is not a surprise to you. You knew that I would fail and have grace in store for me. I believe Christ died for all my faults and sins and rose again victoriously. I accept Him as my savior and Lord. Lord, please forgive me in your grace and rebuild my life according to your design now. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

Citizen of Heaven or Enemy of the Cross of Christ?

“For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Philippians 3:18-21).

I read a quote that says, “Its choice- not chance that determines your destiny.” by Jean Nidetch. However, God says in the Bible that He had already written your destiny based on the choice you make right now.

In today’s passage, Apostle Paul says he repeats the same thing. Many people live as if they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. Their attitudes, words, and actions indicate they are the enemies of the Cross of Jesus. They live for the now and here. They live for their stomach and lustful passions. They glory in apparently shameful things. Shame actions are glorious for them. They always and continuously think about earthly things. If the statement was true in the first century, how much more is it true today? Their destiny is destruction.

However, there is a second group of people in our insight. They know their citizenship is not here on the earth. They know for sure theirs is in heaven. They eagerly wait for the savior who comes from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who died, buried, rose again for them, and then ascended to heaven. (Acts 1:9-11). Why do they wait eagerly? The next verse says, “Lord Jesus Christ will transform their lowly bodies so that they will be like the glorious body of Him. Their bodies will look like his glorious and majestic body. How does he do this? It says, “by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control.” Colossians 1:17 says this about the Son of God, Jesus. It says, “He is before all things, and in him, all things hold together.” Who holds the whole universe together? Who has the power to do it? Bible says Jesus Christ does this. The gigantic machine called the whole universe runs on its track with no collisions or slightest technical issues because Christ Jesus holds it together in his power.

Beloved, your humble and lowly bodies will be transformed to look like his glorious and heavenly body by the exertion of the same power that Jesus holds all the universe together. Your glorious destiny is already written if you are a believer in Christ Jesus. God had already written the epilogue of your life if you have His Son, Jesus Christ. 1 John 3 says, “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children. That is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are god’s children because they don’t know Him. We are God’s children, but he has not shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.”
What great love God the Father has lavished on you that you would share the glory of His Son throughout eternity. Is it not the amazing grace of God that saved a wretch like me?

Beloved, do not wait for the chance. Chance or your best wish would never make it. It is your choice that determines your future destiny. You choose your career, your spouse, your house, and you choose your political party. However, the most important choice you would make is none of the above. It is this- where will you spend your eternity when you breathe last? This is the cardinal and most vital choice you would ever make. Jesus says and it is recorded in Revelation 3:20, “’Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” Door means the door of your heart. Invite Jesus to come into your life. He promises he will dine with you. It means if you invite him to come in, he will accept you no matter who you are. He will fellowship with you, not only here on this earth, but also all through eternity. At the time of your death, he takes you to His home in heaven. You will spend eternity with Him. What a wonderful choice! What a marvelous invitation!

“Father in heaven, I do not want my destiny in destruction. I want to make sure my destiny is heaven with you. I believe by accepting Jesus Christ as my savior I can be a citizen of heaven. I also know Jesus by the exertion of his power that holds all in control will transform my lowly body to become like his glorious body. I open the door of my heart and life and invite Jesus to come in. Please give me your love and fellowship now and forever. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”

Quicken Your Spiritual Growth!

“So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to—the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, and you must put on the new self, which is created in God’s likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy.” Ephesians 4:22-25 GNT.

We learned yesterday that you must cooperate with the Holy Spirit whom God gave inside you. When you become a child of God and until you depart from this world in death or by rapture at the time of the appearance of Christ in the clouds, you have two pulls – the old flesh and the newly planted Holy Spirit. The old self and the new self is the reality of all believers in Christ. The old self has deceitful and fleshly desires and the result would be destruction. However, you must put on the new self, created by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. The result is you would be more like Jesus Christ, upright and righteous. Whom you feed would grow inside you and become stronger. You must consistently feed the Holy Spirit and not the flesh if you want to grow spiritually and become all God wants you to become. The result would be more spiritual fruit and less of fleshly actions. The choice is yours. No one else can play a part in this matter, although others can help, teach, counsel you based on the truths of the Bible. At the end of the day, you have one life here on this earth now. You make the choice whom you would allow to grow inside you-flesh or the Holy Spirit.

Beloved, you do nothing for your salvation, the forgiveness of sins and eternal life except you receive this gift from God by accepting Jesus as your savior and Lord. However, the Bible says spiritual growth is a matter of your consistent effort to become more like Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit and the Word of God, the Bible, are the catalysts for the achievement of spiritual growth. Spiritual growth means you grow in the Holy Spirit who is given to you at the time of your acceptance of Jesus Christ. It also does mean you make the best effort not to grow in your flesh.

Less of flesh and more of the Holy Spirit is what spiritual growth is all about.

In other words, you do not just wait in idle hoping spiritual growth would happen. You have the provision of the Holy Spirit inside you. He will help you to grow for sure. However, you must cooperate with Him to make the growth happen. Bible says you must follow after and pursue the things of God. It also says make every effort in epistles and be diligent in your effort to grow. Our insight says you must get rid of the old self and put on the new self. It takes ongoing commitment and effort from you. The Holy Spirit helps you in this process.

One of the best and proven ways you can accelerate your spiritual growth in a short period is by systematically studying the Bible. When you spend time reading and studying the Bible, the Holy Spirit comes along and helps you grow much faster. If you need to attend a Bible seminary that accurately and correctly teaches the Bible, do it as soon as possible. Each day, each month, each year is going to make a big difference in your life. God would use what you learned later in your life in His own supernatural ways. God never wastes a student of His book. He knows exactly how to use his student in marvelous ways, again if you co-operate with the Holy Spirit inside you.

Another way to quicken your spiritual growth is by attending a systematic Bible teaching class in a Bible-teaching church. In most of the churches, they have well-trained Seminary students or alumni who can help you to grow spiritually by accurately teaching the Bible. Visit a nearby Bible teaching and preaching church and inquire about Bible class sessions. They would be happy to help you.

Beloved, have you taken the first step as of yet? The first step of receiving Jesus and asking Him to forgive your sins and save you. This first step is foundational for all that God has in store for you.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I want to grow in your Holy Spirit. I pray for your help to grow spiritually. Help me to take the right steps. Help me to lean on your Holy Spirit every day and every moment of my life. Help me to study the Bible. Help me know you better. I believe Jesus died and rose again for my sins. I pray to forgive all my sins and save me. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”