We understand that Jesus did not believe that the Father had forsaken him. We also understand that Jesus knew why he was on the cross. Yet these words confuse us.

Consider the true nature of Jesus. At all times he is one hundred percent God, but also one hundred percent man. At this moment we see Jesus’ full humanity on display. In his pain, in his difficulty, in his agony, he cried out to the father.

There are a few lessons we can take away from the final moments on the cross. First, it is okay for us to cry out and question God. Here we see Jesus, the God of the universe who created everything, our Lord and savior expressing his frustration, his confusion, and his struggle to try to understand and make sense of what the Father was doing at this moment in his Humanity.

We know that God is good. We know that God works together all things for the good for all those who love Him according to his purpose. But in our Humanity, we still don’t understand what God is doing. In our Humanity, we might be confused and frustrated or maybe even angry. But it is in these moments that we must remember that God is inviting us to cast all our cares on him because he loved us.

The second thing we can learn is even though we cry out to God, He may never give us an answer to why. Jesus reached out to the Father, “My God my God, why have you forsaken me?” and in response there was silence. There are times in our lives when we cry out to God, “Why are you allowing this to happen to me?” And as we continue to cry out to God, why why why, we must accept the fact that there will be times in our lives when even though we may ask the question why, God may never answer. Ask yourself, if God were to answer your question why, would it make you feel any better? Would it take away the pain?

We have to be careful not to confuse silence with absence. Sometimes we assume that because God has not answered our prayers, he must not care about us. Or that he does not hear us. Just because He is silent doesn’t mean He is absent from our lives. In reality, God is doing things behind the scenes that you and I have no idea about. There are so many times in my life when I would cry out to God and I didn’t understand God’s plan but when I look back, I can see all that God was orchestrating behind the scenes.

The final lesson we can learn is that Jesus understands our pain. He understands what it’s like to be betrayed. He understands what it’s like to be denied. He understands what it’s like to be humiliated. He understands what it’s like to be tempted. He understands all the difficulties and all the pains that you and I are dealing with because he went through them too.

The next time you are dealing with difficulties I encourage you to remember that it is okay to cry out to God, to express your heart to God, to give all your pain and burdens, and cast your cares upon Him. But accept the fact that God may not ever explain why He is doing whatever He is doing, and because God may be silent that doesn’t mean that He is absent in your life because the Bible says that He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Jesus’ birth only appears in two of the gospels, his ascension, in another two and Acts. But do you know what is mentioned in every single gospel? Not Jesus’ birth, not even Jesus’ teachings, but Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Easter is so important because our Christianity revolves around the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Without that resurrection, Christianity would be meaningless because our sins would not be forgiven by the sacrifice of Christ. If it wasn’t for Easter we would have to continue living like the Jews of the old testament, offering up animal sacrifices to the Lord for our sins.

Easter is just as important today as it was nearly 2000 years ago because it represents how Jesus saved us from our sins by dying and rising again after three days. Conquering death so that we may live for eternity with our Heavenly Father. For all of humanity, not just the Jews, but also the Gentiles that their sins may be redeemed if they believe in Him.

So let’s celebrate Easter like it’s the most important time of the year. Because it is. What it represents is life. It is the center of our faith.

Happy Easter

The Bible is the living, breathing word of God. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, we read, “Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.” “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thought of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12.

If you desire to know the true nature of our creator, the Bible is the book for you. I encourage you to read the Bible and read it often. It is the best way to grow a more meaningful and deeper relationship with God. It is after all the best-selling book of all time.

Regardless of what denomination you may call yourself, if you call yourself a Christian you worship Christ and believe these fundamental truths: 

• Christ is truly human and truly God
• Christ was born of the Vergin Mary
• Christ died for our sins
• Christ rose from the dead
• Christ ascended into heaven and will return to judge the living and the dead

As long as you believe in these essentials, this is what’s important. Different denominations can disagree on other matters, and there’s vast diversity among them. But the fact that they can all agree on these essentials indicates their importance to all Christians. 

All this diversity is what we should expect from a religion that spans the whole world and has lasted over two thousand years. 

John Wesley said, “We may not all believe alike, but we can all love alike.” We may disagree on important matters like Christian baptism. However, we can still find the foundation for our fellowship with one another and treat one another with genuine respect—as members of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:1–14:40).

We must put our differences aside and work together to reach a lost and hurting world so that heaven may be more filled. 

Paul expresses thanks to the Philippian believers with a reminder that he was not thankful because he was in need, rather he was showing them that he was humble and content. Paul could exist with or without earthly needs being met beyond basic essentials. In addition to living humbly, Paul focuses on the concept of contentment, regardless of his circumstances.

“…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Philippians 4:11-12.

Paul’s variety of ministry experiences offered him times of plenty, as well as times of need. This allowed Paul to learn how to find joy, regardless of his circumstances.

Writing from Roman imprisonment, he was at a time of great need. Even so, Paul expresses joy and contentment. It’s important to recall that his imprisonment was not brief. He had been continually held for two years in Rome, in addition to multiple years in Palestine. Contentment was essential for Paul to find joy in his circumstances.

God desires us to be content and not worry in any circumstances. You are precious and valuable to our creator.

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Matthew 6:26

Try to find joy and peace in even the toughest times.
I pray this prayer on you from Numbers 6:24-26

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gratious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

Two examples of these sacraments include baptism and holy communion. 

Baptism is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual work of grace. Baptis marked the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. John the baptizer made it clear when he said, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming. …….. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:8)

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus said, “Go . . . make disciples . . . baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Baptism “is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him” (Acts 2:38-39).

Baptism is a public confession of our faith and marks our new identity in Christ.

Jesus instituted the sacrament of Holy Communion during his last supper with his disciples, and he commanded them to continue sharing the bread and cup of the new covenant in remembrance of him (Luke 22:19-20).

And Jesus said to his disciples, “This [bread] is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). “Then he took a cup, and after giving

thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you’” (Matt. 26:27).

When we come to the Lord’s Table, we come to the banquet table of God.

In addition to these sacraments, there are many other means of grace we can describe as sacred moments such as prayer, worship, or marriage. 

Regardless of what sacraments you practice or believe in, these are holy moments that we get to share with God, our creator. In the words of John Wesley, “We may not all believe alike, but we can all love alike.” Love first because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

Even God, the creator of the universe found time to rest (Genesis 2:3). And the fourth commandment reminds us to “remember the Sabbath day.” (Exodus 20:8) If the creator found time to rest and called it holy, who are we to think we have the power to do more?

Forget the troubles of the world. Relax and spend time with the family. Stop the stress/fatigue cycle. Find your Sabbath.

Like Ezekiel, we will all face situations that seem impossible — an addiction, betrayal, barren womb, or wayward child. Ezekiel put all his doubts aside and did as the Lord asked, prophesizing the return of Israel in Ezekiel Chapter 36.

The Lord showed Ezekiel a vision of a valley of dry bones coming together with flesh and becoming filled with the breath of life (Ezekiel 37:1-14). This vision symbolized the whole house of Israel that was then in captivity. Like unburied skeletons, the Israelites were wasting away with no end to their judgment in sight. They thought their hope was gone, and they were cut off forever, with their nation dying in the flames of Babylon’s attack with no hope of resurrection.

The dry bones signified God’s plan for Israel’s restoration. The vision also, more importantly, showed that Israel’s new life depended on God’s power to be brought back from a dead state and filled with the “breath of life.” Something that only our God could do.

Today we can see God’s plan at work with the establishment of the state of Israel in the 1940s. The Israelites now reside in the Holy Land, with Jerusalem becoming recognized as the capital of Israel in 2017. God’s plan is not yet complete with Israel, and He’s not through with you either.

God says He brought dry bones to life, so “you would know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 37:13). What if we approached each day believing that what God did then, He can do again?

Jesus said in Mark 11:24, “I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.”

“…Revive us so we can call on your name once more. Turn us again to yourself, O LORD, God of Heaven’s Armies. Make your face shine down upon us…” (Psalm 80:18-19)

“Won’t you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.” (Psalm 85:6-7)

“Create in me a clean hear, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)

The following questions are from Newspring Church’s devotion Pray for revival.

Praise

• Where have you seen God bring something dead to life? Maybe it was a relationship, a career, or a dream.
• What did you learn about God’s faithfulness and unfailing love from that experience?

Repentance

• Is there any situation where you’ve given up because things feel too far gone or too impossible to change? Where have you lost faith?
• How is your heart toward God? How do you deal with disappointments or despair?

Ask

• What do you want to see God revive in you?
• Where do you want to see a revival around you? Ask God to show how you can help bring revival to your home, work, or community.
• Where do you long to see revival in the church? Ask to fill His church with joy, unity, boldness, confidence, generosity — and whatever else His Spirit brings to mind.

Yield

• Read Psalm 51, making these words your own. If a line causes your heart to skip a beat, pause and wait to hear God speak. When you get to the end, consider what God said to you. The first step in any revival is aligning what we say about ourselves with what our Father says to us.

Many Christians believe these verses to mean being hot is to be on fire for the Lord and cold is to be far from God or ungodly. We can all agree in this context we all desire to be hot; however, I believe there is a more accurate interpretation of these verses.

When taken in context, Jesus says, “I wish you were hot or cold.” Do you believe that Jesus is saying that he wishes that we were either spiritually hot or spiritually cold and not of God? If this is the case, why then would God not spit out the spiritually cold?

Jesus taught in parables that were easily understood by the people of the time. They would have understood that water is essential to life. Hot water is good for healing, cooking, cleaning while cold water is refreshing and sustaining. Lukewarm water on the other hand has no useful purpose.

So with this understanding, what is Jesus trying to teach us in Revelations? He wishes that we would be useful to God. Either hot or cold, like water both are useful, but lukewarm water has no purpose. If you are not useful to God, he will spit you out.

Ask yourself, “am I being useful to the Lord?”

“…when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.”

Here we see that the righteous are gathered at the Lord’s right hand, at a place of honor, while the unrighteous are gathered at his left.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothes? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'”

Here Jesus is making it clear that whatever we do to our fellow brothers and sisters, we are doing to the Lord. “You must love the Lord you God with all your hear, all your soul, and all you mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love you neighbor as yourself.'” Matthew 22: 37-39

“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.
For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
Then they will replay, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sister, you were refusing me.’
And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

Let me be clear, our salvation is paid for by Christ’s blood on the cross. Nothing we can do, or any amount of good works, will ever earn us a place in heaven. It is by Grace alone. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.

“What good is it, dear brothers and sister, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, ‘Goodbye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well’–but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.” James 2:14-16.

Brothers and sisters, don’t let another day go by without helping one another, treating them as you would the Lord Jesus.

God has created us for community and friendships. The friendships and relationships we create with our church families are a blessing that allows us to do more for God’s Kingdom.

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭24‬-‭25

The enemy has used the last few years to isolate us. Like a predator on the hunt, the easy target is the one separated from the herd. We live in discouraging times, so the more godly relationships we can have to remind us that we are not alone in our faith, the better. 

We are called to love God, and love people. 

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'” Matthew 9:35-38

We are the workers in the field and what we have been called to do is even more important now because the task is not as easy as it once was. But through our relationship with Christ as the Head, we who are His hands and feet can accomplish this vital work. 

It’s time to come together again as a church body, encouraging one another and spreading the Good News. The time is short but the harvest is plentiful. 

His prayer led to an idea–The Candy Cane.

He chose to make the candy cane in the shape of a shepherd’s staff. After all, Jesus is the shepherd to his followers and the Bible notes that the “sheep” would hear His voice and follow him (Psalm 23:1, John 10:11, John 10:27-30, Isaiah 40:11). Not only was the candy cane in the shape of a staff, but when held upside down, it formed a “J,” which stood for Jesus (Luke 1:31, Matthew 1:21). The candy maker chose hard candy for the candy cane, which was done to remind children that Jesus was our “rock,” dependable and strong (Psalm 31:3). Wide red stripes were added to the candy cane, representative of the crucifixion and the blood Jesus shed for our sins. Through his blood, we are given salvation and life (Revelation 1:5, John 3:16, Luke 22:20). There are also white stripes on the candy cane, which represents the holiness, and purity of Jesus, who was sinless (I John 1:7). Peppermint was the flavor that the candy maker chose for the candy cane. Peppermint was very similar to hyssop, which was used for sacrifice and purification in the Old Testament, reminding us of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. It also reminds us of the spices brought by the Wise Men when they came to visit Jesus (Psalm 51:7, John 10:29, Matthew 2:11). Of course, when the candy cane is eaten, it is often broken, which the candy maker meant as a reminder that when Jesus was crucified, his body was broken (I Cor. 11:24). The candy cane was also made to be given as a gift, representing the love of Jesus when he gave us the gift of salvation.

Although no one is quite sure if the legend of the candy cane is really true, the beauty of the legend is such a reminder of God’s love for us around Christmas. In this legend, it was a way that the candy maker could tell the children the story of Christmas, and still today, we have candy canes as a reminder of the real reason we celebrate Christmas.

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… a partridge in a pear tree.

The partridge in a pear tree represents Jesus, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on the first day of Christmas. Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge, the only bird that will die to protect its young.

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… two turtledoves.

These twin birds represent the Old and New Testaments where we find the complete story of our faith and God’s plan for the world.

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… three French hens.

These birds represent faith, hope, and love. This gift hearkens back to 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter written by the apostle Paul.

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… five gold rings.

The gift of the rings represents the first five books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah.

On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… six geese a-laying.

These lyrics come from the first story found in the Bible. Each egg is a day in creation, a time when the world was “hatched” or formed by God.

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me… seven swans a-swimming.

This one is a bit trickier with the seven gifts represent the gifts of the Holy Spirit: prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, and compassion. As swans are one of the most beautiful and graceful creatures on earth, they would seem to be a perfect symbol for spiritual gifts.

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… eight maids a-milking.

As Christ came to save even the lowest of the low, this gift represents the ones who would receive his word and accept his grace. Being a milkmaid was one of the worst jobs one could have at the time. Jesus cared as much about servants as he did those of royal blood. The eight who were blessed included the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… nine ladies dancing.

These nine dancers represent the fruit of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me… ten lords a-leaping.

This is probably the easiest gift to understand. As lords were judges and in charge of the law, represents the Ten Commandments.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… eleven pipers piping.

This is almost a trick question, as most think of the disciples in terms of a dozen. But when Judas betrayed Jesus and committed suicide, there were only eleven men who carried out the gospel message.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… twelve drummers drumming.

The drummers are the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed. “I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

We often struggle to understand what God’s will is for us, yet here it is, clear as day: God wants us to rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in ALL circumstances. Did you hear that word all? Give thanks always, all the time. 

God doesn’t ask us to ignore the difficult times, people, and circumstances to live out this scripture. Instead, God’s will is to rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances. 

So what do we do when life’s not fair? There are two ways we can live our lives concerning this scripture. The first is to expect our lives to be simple and easy and life to go our way. If you’re living your life this way, you will set yourself up for a lot of disappointment, and it will be hard to live God’s will for your life, giving thanks in all circumstances. 

The second way you can live your life is to realize that we are nothing more than dust and to dust, we must return, it is much easier to look to God and see EVERYTHING as a gift. Life’s not fair, but what we deserve is death. With every heartbeat, we must recognize that our lives are a gift from God. 

So how do we get to the point where we can recognize everything as a gift? We already know the answer.

1. Rejoice always. Celebrate what God is doing ALWAYS.
2. Pray continually. It isn’t just praying a couple of times a day, it’s spending our whole lives in prayer. Don’t limit your time of intimacy with the Father. The Father is with us and want’s to be with us. But why pray continually if he already knows everything? Prayer can help us have a deeper understanding of ourselves. When we have a deeper understanding our ourselves, it deepens our relationship with God.  
3. Give thanks in ALL circumstances. It doesn’t say to give thanks FOR all circumstances. I’m not thankful for all circumstances. Paul reminds us that we can give thanks IN them because the Father is IN them. We can live thanks in all circumstances because we don’t need to obtain favor. When we gave our lives over to Jesus, we put our trust IN Jesus. At that moment, Jesus and his life obtained everything that our life hadn’t. We obtained death. We can not obtain through any amount of work or effort what has already been given by grace.

When we are in the presence of God we will recognize all the things He is doing, and we will want to rejoice always. And when we are with Him, we can talk about everything. Pray continually. As we do, we will see that God is using absolutely everything, and we will be thankful. 

When you pay attention to the details you will see God everywhere. 

Proverbs 19:20 “Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.”

As we go through life, we’ll face continuous opportunities for new memberships, situations, investments, associations, relationships, career opportunities, and alliances. Not every opportunity will be a good one or even the right one. Many of them aren’t even sent by God. But as we seek the Father, bring each opportunity before him in prayer, He’ll show us the path we’re to follow as we seek to fulfill our purpose.

Jeremiah 29:11 “‘For I know the plans I have for you’, says the LORD. ‘They are plans for goog and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'”

As more and more of your potential becomes a reality and you live out the purpose God’s planned for you, make sure that you are continuously seeking renewal.

Continually reaffirm your commitment to the Lord, reaffirm your priorities, re-establish your discipline, reaffirm your desire to do your best, rekindle your enthusiasm, refresh yourself in the Lord and revisit the vision God has for your life.

You can live in an ongoing state of renewal only if you rely on the Holy Spirit to be your constant and unending source of joy, love, faith, and confidence. God wants you to fulfill your potential and live out your purpose.

Be sure to choose to want what HE wants.

Often I think God’s mercy has a limit and that I have pushed Him beyond that limit. However, as we have just read, He is slow to anger, and He is abounding in steadfast love. His mercy is over us and He is good to everyone that He has made.

In Isaiah 41:10 we will read what God promises us and what this means for us. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

He tells us we have nothing to fear because He is with us and He is our God. He will never change. His promises remain the same.

“…Nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

God’s love has no limit.

Our potential is the sum of all possibilities God has for our lives. We have no way of comprehending all the possibilities that an all-wise, all-knowing, infinite God sees. We can not know with our finite minds and limited perspective all that He knows.

There is a significant amount of risk involved in trusting God in all things. Risk, after all, is a part of the very nature of faith. We put our belief in a God whom we can’t see but still experience. And put our faith in His promise to work all things to our benefit (Romans 8:28), even if we can’t understand what must occur to get us from where we are to where we hope to be. And put our faith in the love of God to transform us in ways we can’t even begin to imagine.

After Jesus had multiplied five loaves and two fish to feed 5,000, He told His disciples to get into a boat and go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee while He went to pray by Himself. And while Jesus was still on the mountain, the boat was being tossed about in the middle of the sea.

Jesus came down and went to them, walking on the sea. (Matthew 14:25). The disciples were afraid but Jesus commanded them to not be afraid. What happened next is perhaps one of the biggest steps of faith in the whole Bible. Peter answered Jesus saying, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water,” (Matthew 14:28). As Jesus bid Peter to come, Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on the water to go to Jesus. Of all the disciples, only one risked everything to step out in faith and became the only person in the Bible who walked on water. Would you be willing to do the same?

The experience deepened Peter’s faith and made him willing to take even greater risks later in his life and ministry. The same could be true for each of us. What we see as a risk may be the very situation God uses to strengthen our faith. That risk could be what God will use to carry us one giant step closer to fulfilling our purpose and reaching our full potential.

Take the word “love” for example. I’m sure you know what it means to love and be loved, but there are three Greek words for “love” we will find in the Bible.

The first we find is Philos, the warm affection or friendship. Philos was commonly used when referring to friendships or family relationships. For example, it was used in Matthew 10:37 to indicate love for father and mother or son and daughter. Philos was the word used for Jesus’ love for his friend Lazarus (John 11:3,36) and His love for His disciples (John 20:2).

The second Greek word for love is Eros referring to physical or sexual love. This is where we get the word erotic from. While Eros was commonly used in the Greek-speaking world of New Testament times, the word itself is not found in the pages of the New Testament. The concept of physical love, however–expressed in the concept of marriage–is found and affirmed in the New Testament.

Our final word for love found in the Greek language is Agape, the sacrificial, unconditional love of God. Agape love is the highest form of love in the New Testament. Agape is the word that describes God’s love in John 3:16. We are commanded to love God (Matthew 22:37) and love one another (John 13:34) with agape love.

To say agape love is the highest form of love is not to diminish the other kinds of love. All genuine love comes from God because God is love and is where we build our foundation. A healthy marriage will express all thee forms of love.

There is another Greek word I would like to talk about, Timios meaning great price, precious, held in honor, esteemed, and especially dear. Timios is used to describe the “precious” redeeming blood of Christ in 1 Peter 1:18-19. Timios is used again to describe the “precious” promise of God. There is another place we see the use of Timios, Hebrews 13:4, “Marrige is to be held in TIMIOS among all…”

The same word that is used to describe the precious blood of Christ and the promise of God is also used to describe marriage. When we look at our spouse, we should see the beautiful creation that God holds dear, and express our love for His creation in all forms, Philos, Eros, and Agape.

To be reconciled means to be reunited with someone from whom one has been alienated. Forgiveness can lead to restored fellowship. Sin leads to alienation from God, but through Christ, we can be forgiven and reconciled to God.

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 says “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal though us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

Sometimes it isn’t easy to do the right thing, to be reconciled, or to reconcile with others. We may even be persecuted for it. Matthew 10:20 says “God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.” Remember God sometimes uses momentary failure for success in His time.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

When we are reconciled with God through Christ Jesus, we must do the same and share the love of God. “ If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and deliver up my body as a martyr, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not hold a grudge or indulge in self praise; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things ,endures all things.” 1st Corinthians 13:1-7.

“For I am sure that nothing can separate us from the love God has for us. Not death, not life, not angels, not ruling spirits, nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us, nothing below us, or anything else in the whole world will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39.

God’s redeeming grace uplifts us, frees us, and strengthens us. It awakens us to the greatest reality of our lives—God’s redeeming love and the spiritual connection we have with God and others being made in his image.

Don’t let anything separate us from sharing the love of God the father with our fellow man.

We were created to be with God. He walked with man in the Garden of Eden. But when man ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evile, we became separated from God. Sin and God can not co-exist, so God created a perfect plan to remove sin from the world for good. 

In Old Testament times, God dwelled in the temple. This was as close to God that we could ever get. But sacrifices were required to atone for our sins. When God sent Jesus, he became the perfect and blameless sacrifice that washed our sins away once and for all. 

On that day, the veil was torn, and there became a new temple, a new dwelling place for God, in those who accepted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. 

When we receive the Spirit, there are qualities that we will display: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We are also commanded to Love our fellow men as ourselves. Matthew 22:39.

When we display these qualities, we are displaying the love of God, and God is seen through us. He is seen through the nurses in the emergency room, the volunteers serving in the soup kitchen, the person who stops to help others on the side of the road, or the person who holds the door for others. 

When I look at others displaying the fruits of the spirit, I see God, and the great love he has for us. 

God has placed great value on your life. God loves us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to die for your and my sins. (John 3:16, Romans 5:8) He then sent the Holy Spirit to be our helper, our comforter. (Acts 5:32, 2 Corinthians 5:5) You are an heir of salvation. (Ephesians 1:5) You are not alone. Be comforted that your heavenly Father is watching over us at all times. (Psalm 121:5-8)

You are so valuable to God, not because of anything you have done, not because of anything you will do but simply because He chose to love you. (Titus 3:5) All glory deserves to go to God.The same God of scripture is the same God the is living today. (Psalm 33:11, Isaiah 40:8)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (Psalm 51:12)

God created you in His image, for is glory. (Genesis 1:27) No matter how small, irrelevant, or unimportant you feel, no matter how insignificant you feel, you are valuable to God.

Let’s take a look in the Bible…
In Luke 9:23 Jesus says, “If any of you want to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me…” The cross is a powerful daily reminder of how we should lives, putting others first and ourselves last.

In first Corinthians 1:18, Paul said, “The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.” The cross separates God’s followers from those who don’t yet know Him. If you don’t know God, the cross may seem foolish. But for people who know God, when we think of the cross, and look upon it, picturing Jesus hanging on it, and remember the crucifixion, we feel thankful and comforted because we know we are God’s children.

The message of the cross draws a line between the people who know God and the people who need to.

In Colossians 2:13-14 Paul wrote, “You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.”

Hebrews 12:2, “Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.” Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”

And back in Luke 9:26, Jesus says, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.”

The cross is a simple upright post with a transverse bar and was used to crucify Jesus Christ. It’s a symbol of death, but also so much more. Death and life, hate and love, violence and peace, accusation and forgiveness, sin and purity, brokenness and wholeness, all is lost yet everything is gained, destruction and restoration, defeat and victory. Once the cruelest form of execution, yet now a symbol of abundant life.

When we say there is power in the cross, we’re not talking about the cross at all. We’re talking about the power of Jesus who loved us and gave us our forgiveness at the cross.

The phrase, ‘there is power in the cross,’ is just another way for us to describe and picture the powerful love of our God.

In Galatians 6:4 we read “Let each one examine his own work. Then he can take pride in himself and not compare himself with someone else.”

“God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10.

Instead of chasing unrealistic expectations, we should chase the one who made us who we are.

Through my struggles, I’m reminded of how Job was tormented by Satin. But Satin couldn’t do anything to Job without God’s permission. And God doesn’t permit the enemy to do anything to us unless it is for our good and His glory. God is perfect and all-knowing. He knows what we need, even before we ask for it. If God is telling you no to removing a trial, tribulation, or ‘thorn in the flesh,’ it’s because He is using it for something good. God knows the end from the beginning and only has our best in mind.

Take your burdens and give them to God. They are God’s burdens now.

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.

I like the way the Message translation puts it…

“I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

I hope these words comfort you if you are going through a tough time or trial. Times are tough, and I understand. So does God. Trust in Him. God knows what he is doing.
“Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 64:10. Do not be afraid or discouraged… For the battle is not our, but God’s. (2 Chronicles 20:16).

The same is true of life. Like an elaborate tapestry, our lives are woven little by little. Oftentimes, however, our lives seem like a tangled mess. Mistakes, missed opportunities, and mixed motives.

God has plans and purposes for each of us. If you look back on your life and see a tangled mess rather than a tapestry, trust God is working all those things together in a way we just may not see yet. It’s all about having the right perspective.

One day you will be able to turn over the tapestry of your life and see the beautiful masterpiece God has been creating.

The Apostle Paul calls death our “enemy” (1 Corinthians 15:25-26). Death reminds us that we live in a broken world. Death was never part of God’s original design. When you recognize this, you will long for the final restoration of all things, when the last enemy–death–has been defeated.

Death leaves us feeling alone, but remember, you are never alone in the darkness. Your Savior, Jesus, has taken the name Emmanuel, or “God with us.” This name reminds you that when you came to Christ, you also became the place where God dwells! His presence makes it impossible for you to be alone. (John 14:15-20)

The death of Jesus Christ is a powerful demonstration that the best things can come from the worst. Peter said that Jesus’ death was an evil thing done by evil men to the only truly good person (Acts 2:22-36). Jesus died on the cross so God could defeat sin and death–two enemies we couldn’t defeat on our own. In the same way, God can and does bring wonderful things out of the darkest moments of our lives.

One day death will be put to death. The loss of a loved one should remind you that God’s work is not yet complete. Because of sin, death entered the world. Jesus died so we would no longer have to die. When He rose from the dead, death was defeated. Until He returns, we still experience death but one day life won’t give way to death. Children won’t mourn their parents, parents won’t mourn their children, and there will be no widows or grieving friends.

On the cross Jesus defeated death, and his resurrection is your guarantee that one day, all who believe in Him, will be resurrected to a life of glory and peace. One day He is coming again to end physical death and usher in a new heaven and earth where there will be no death, no tears, and no sorrow (Revelation 21:1-4).

If you are struggling with the grief after the loss of a loved one, please read this article for a deeper look into biblical truth, and how to find healing in God.

By all accounts, this was a miracle. It was clear. I call it ‘Red Sea Clear.’ They must have known that when the sea cleared and the ground was dry, God wanted them to go that way. It WAS God’s will. Wouldn’t it be nice if every time we wanted to know God’s will, He made it ‘Red Sea Clear?’

When the Israelites made it to the other side, they praised God, singing, worshiping, and thanking God for the miracle He just performed. But before too long, they started complaining again. How quickly we forget God’s grace.

We should try singing, praising, and thanking God before the sea is parted. Thank God in advance, “Lord, I know you are going to part this Red Sea. I know this, because you promised it in your Word. And I know you can’t break your Word, or your promise. I wan’t to thank you now for what You are going to do.”

When the Israelites praised, it wasn’t in faith, it was in relief. We need praise in faith being the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things that have not yet happened. And when the Red Sea parts and you see the dry ground, don’t just walk, run out in faith.

Righteousness and faith.

To be righteous means that you are right with God. You know what it feels like when your relationship with another person is just right. Nothing can stand between you, and you always do right by each other. With God, that’s called righteous, and in the Bible, it’s the only way to heaven.

“But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.'” Galatians 3:10.

The problem is we can never live to the standard of righteousness set by God.

“So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law…” Galatians 3:11.

So God made a way to reconcile us.

“But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hong on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoinge…” Galatians 3:13.

Jesus paid for our sins, to break the curse, and make us righteous. Right with God by faith in Jesus. The righteous shall live by faith.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

“I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:12-13

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

Displaying gratitude is a distinguishing quality of Christians, but there are positive health benefits too. Practicing gratitude increases dopamine levels in our brain, making us feel good and encouraging us to seek more of the same. The more we are grateful for, the more we will find things to be grateful for.

Jesus tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:7 that we are all given at least one spiritual gift. Our spiritual gifts are specific ways that the Holy Spirit works in our lives according to God’s purpose. These gifts, along with our interests, abilities, hobbies, likes, and dislikes, come together to form who we are and how we participate in the work God is doing all around us.

These gifts, however, aren’t just for ourselves. We’re called to use them to serve others as good stewards of God’s grace (1 Peter 4:10). God takes who He made us to be and matches it with the needs of others.

As we continue to grow, we’ll naturally develop deep care for other people. Our attention will turn away from our own needs to the needs of others (Galatians 5:13).

The Gospel is enacted through local churches all around the world. It is through actions like opening doors, holding babies, pouring coffee, and praying for others that we discover how we are made and how the Lord can use us.

We should also serve outside the church, meeting the needs of others where they are. Volunteer at a local shelter or soup kitchen. As you serve outside the church, you may be the only piece of Jesus that others see in their day.

By serving others, we are awarded the opportunity to know more about who God made us to be. We learn our likes and dislikes. What we can and can’t do well. God will fill in the picture as we discover more about ourselves. He will continue to grow us while He uses us to meet the needs of others.

“And He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

This is the good news of Jesus and he commands his followers to share it with the whole world.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Whether it’s in your immediate circles, neighborhoods, or globally, we are commissioned to share the good news of what Jesus Christ has done, is still doing, and will continue to do.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

More than just light, Christ’s followers are also called to be the “salt” of the earth, preserving a world that would quickly turn rancid and corrupt without the saving grace and love of Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:13).

This means:

• Loving their neighbors (Mark 12:30-31); Taking care of the poor (Deuteronomy 15:11).
• Feeding the hungry (Isaiah 58:10); Clothing the needy (1 John 3:17).
• Being hospitable to strangers (Matthew 25:35); Healing the sick (Luke 10:9, James 5:14).
• Forgiving others (Matthew 6:14-15); Promoting justice and mercy (Micah 6:8).
• Promoting peace (Matthew 5:9; Romans 12:18); Caring for the captive, the prisoner, and the oppressed (Hebrews 13:3, Matthew 25:36).
• Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).

This is the purpose of the church and the power of Christ’s disciples, we are not just receivers of the gospel but participants in it. We are truly the hands and feet of a living Jesus who is still active in saving the world.

I don’t know about you, but for me, the last couple of years have been particularly difficult. I have found myself at the end of my rope, wondering how much more I can take.

No matter what we might be going through, the bible should always be where we look for divine inspiration. So what does the bible say about God not giving us more than we can handle?

Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation” — or test since it is the same word in Greek — “has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted [tested] beyond your ability [beyond what you are able].”

Let’s read on, “but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” There is the key, he will also provide a way of endurance.

“We” means that we never go through any temptation, trial, or difficulty alone. It is with God’s help that we ate able to do all things.

So what is meant by handle? Does it mean we will never stumble or fail? Nope. We will fail. What it means is that God will never let us stumble or fail to the point that we can’t recover, repent, and be restored.

Here are some verses to back this up:

Philippians 1:6: “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Romans 8:30: “Those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” He is going to keep you.

1 Peter 1:5: “By God’s power [we] are being guarded through faith for a salvation.” God’s power is guarding me. He won’t let me fail beyond return in any test.

1 Corinthians 1:8: “[He] will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]”

I don’t know about you, but for me, the last couple of years have been particularly difficult. I have found myself at the end of my rope, wondering how much more I can take.

No matter what we might be going through, the bible should always be where we look for divine inspiration. So what does the bible say about God not giving us more than we can handle?

Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation” — or test since it is the same word in Greek — “has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted [tested] beyond your ability [beyond what you are able].”

Let’s read on, “but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” There is the key, he will also provide a way of endurance.

“We” means that we never go through any temptation, trial, or difficulty alone. It is with God’s help that we ate able to do all things.

So what is meant by handle? Does it mean we will never stumble or fail? Nope. We will fail. What it means is that God will never let us stumble or fail to the point that we can’t recover, repent, and be restored.

Here are some verses to back this up:

Philippians 1:6: “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Romans 8:30: “Those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” He is going to keep you.

1 Peter 1:5: “By God’s power [we] are being guarded through faith for a salvation.” God’s power is guarding me. He won’t let me fail beyond return in any test.

1 Corinthians 1:8: “[He] will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]”

God gave us an excellent example of what a father should be and it starts with being a good teacher. Proverbs 22:6, “Train a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” It’s our responsibility as fathers, not the schools or government, to set our children on the correct path.

Our children are always looking up to us, dad’s need to live an exemplary life. Colossians 4:5-6, “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunities. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.”

We must also provide for our family. 1 Timothy 5:8, “But if someone does not provide for his own, especially his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

A good father must discipline his children. Proverbs 13:24, “The one who spares his rod hates his child, but the one who loves his child is diligent in disciplining.” We discipline, not to be cruel, but because we love our children. To protect and teach them.

And just like the Father has compassion for us, we too must have compassion for our children. Psalm 103:13, “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on his faithful followers.”

We can discipline and hold our children accountable, but we must never give up on them. The story of “The Prodigal Son” (Luke 15:20-24) is a great example of a father who never gives up hope and is ready to receive his child back with open arms.

And even if you don’t have children of your own, there are likely other children in your life that look up to you.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, Ephesians 5:25.

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

It’s time to put it to action, James 1:22, “But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.”

Author Lowell Snow writes, “The land is ripe for spiritual harvest, yet the church seems to be powerless to reap it because the people in the pews are not experiencing an authentic encounter with God. […] The major roadblock isn’t the lack of desire or effort, but the absence of effective prayer…” [2] Christians understand they should pray, and they want to pray, but they don’t know how to pray.

Daniel Henderson gives the 4/4 prayer pattern, which can help lead us in prayer. It follows the same pattern as a conductor: Upward, Downward, Inward, Outward, Upward. [3]

Upward. Focus on Reverence and Adoration.
Downward. Focus on our response through confession, allegiance, and recommitment to God.
Inward. Focus on Requests. Trust in the provision of God, pray for the lost, and forgiveness and purity.
Outword. Focus on Readiness. Praying to prepare for spiritual tests.
Upward. Reverence. Ending where you began, focusing on the greatness of God.

There are many ways, patterns, and methods to get us on our knees in prayer; however, knowing a lot of techniques is useless unless we simply pray. Take some time to pray right now.

References:
[1]Dave Earley, “Creating a Passion for Prayer,” (lecture, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, MO).
[2]Lowell Snow, Prayer Guide: A Manual for Leading Prayer, Stonehouse Creations: Prairie Grove, AR. 2006. p.141.
[3] Daniel Henderson, Fresh Encounters. NavPress: Colorado Springs, Colorado, 2008. ch.13.

Salvation isn’t anything we can do; it’s what He already did. He paid the price. It is finished. It is as simple as A B C. Admit you’re a sinner, believe Jesus is Lord, and call upon His name.

A. Admit you’re a sinner – Romans 3:10, “…No one is righteous, not even one.” All our good works will never be enough. Romans 3:23, “All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God.” Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin, is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

B. Believe Jesus is Lord – Romans 10:9, if you, “…believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved…”

C. Call upon His name – Romans 10:9-10, “…if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved.” Here’s why “for it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

Finally, Romans 10:13 seals the deal, “All who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” It’s that simple.

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Ephesians 6:11-17

David Chadwick said it this way in his Moments of Hope devotional:
“The first piece of the armor is the belt of truth. Truth, by its very definition, is exclusive. It means something is true and other things are lies. The evil one is the father of lies (John 8:44). Every lie finds its origin in him.

“Every other piece of the full armor of God is attached to the belt of truth. If you don’t begin with truth, you’ll never defeat the enemy. And Jesus said God’s Word is true (John 17:17).”

Next, we have the Breastplate of Righteousness. Righteousness means being made right. In daily spiritual battles, the enemy tries to tempt us but righteousness protects the heart from being wounded by sin.

Peace is an attribute of the Lord’s very person and character (Galatians 5:22). The gospel is the forgiveness of sins and access to and oneness with God through faith in Christ. When we stand strong, we prevent the enemy from shaking us loose with worry.

“Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Replenish your faith by spending time in God’s word.

The battlefield of our mind is the primary place spiritual battle is fought. The helmet of salvation (like the breastplate of righteousness) protects us from the enemy. Surrender thoughts that don’t line up with Scripture. As Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

The explanation of this piece of armor is right there in the verse – it is the word of God. And it is the only piece of armor that is both defensive and offensive. As Greg Laurie explains:

“When we are tempted, the most effective weapon that God has given to us as believers is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

The Armor of God reminds Christians about the reality of spiritual battle and describes the protection available to them.

Jesus’ birth only appears in two of the gospels, his ascension, in another two and Acts. But do you know what is mentioned in every single gospel? Not Jesus’ birth, not even Jesus’ teachings, but Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Easter is so important because our Christianity revolves around the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Without that resurrection, Christianity would be meaningless because our sins would not be forgiven by the sacrifice of Christ. If it wasn’t for Easter we would have to continue living like the Jews of the old testament, offering up animal sacrifices to the Lord for our sins.

Easter is just as important today as it was nearly 2000 years ago because it represents how Jesus saved us from our sins by dying and rising again after three days. Conquering death so that we may live for eternity with our Heavenly Father. For all of humanity, not just the Jews, but also the Gentiles that their sins may be redeemed if they believe in Him.

So let’s celebrate Easter like it’s the most important time of the year. Because it is. What it represents is life. It is the center of our faith.

Happy Easter

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Romans 8:28-29: In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose, which is to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.
James 1:17: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Rick Warren the author of “The Purpose Driven Life,” explains God’s five purposes for us.

We were planned for God’s pleasure
so your first purpose is to offer real worship.

We were formed for God’s family
so your second purpose is to enjoy real fellowship.

We were created to become like Christ,
so your third purpose is to learn real discipleship.

We were shaped for serving God
so your fourth purpose is to practice real ministry.

We were made for a mission
so your fifth purpose is to live out real evangelism.

“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:16-17

We must glorify God in all things by living a Purpose Driven Live. We are all created in God’s image but we are also unique. God’s plans for each of us are different. None of us experience the same things in life. Our goal, however, is the same. Dream big, pray continually and seek to do God’s will.

It can be as simple as remembering the acronym joy is a beautiful reminder of where our priority should be. J stands for Jesus, O for others, and Y for yourself.

1. Put Jesus first
   Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.
2. Next, others
   In Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
3. Finally, yourself
   “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh [for your own desires], but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14.

So if your looking for true joy in your life, remember Jesus first, then others and yourself last.

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:14-17

Let’s look at the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke chapter 10.

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him up, and went off, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, but when he saw the injured man, he passes by on the other side. So too a Levite, when he came up to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan who was traveling came to where the injured man was, and when he saw him, he felt compassion for him. He went up to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever else you spend, I will repay you when I come back this way.’ Which of these three do you think became a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”

Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus tells us, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”

The priests were the religious leaders of the time, while the Levites were the teachers, judges, and caretakers of the temple. The Samaritans, on the other hand, were like you and me. Notice how Jesus says the Samaritan felt compassion. He didn’t only care for the man’s wounds but went above and beyond by giving the man a ride on his animal, likely meaning the Samaritan had to walk. He then puts the man in an inn and pays for his care. Some even say the two silver coins were all the money the Samaritan had. The good Samaritan is the perfect example of what Christian Action looks like, bearing the witness of Christ.

“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:26