Category: Abide in Him

Can you tell the difference?


My dear children, you come from God and belong to God. You have already won a big victory over those false teachers, for the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything in the world. These people belong to the Christ-denying world. They talk the world’s language and the world eats it up. But we come from God and belong to God. Anyone who knows God understands us and listens. The person who has nothing to do with God will, of course, not listen to us. This is another test for telling the Spirit of Truth from the spirit of deception. 1 John 4:4 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/1jn.4.4.MSG

Sometimes we can hear it when someone else talks about something that they have an opinion about. The truth is evident in the words that they speak about their beliefs. Then you come across someone else who is not speaking of what they know but what they want from you. Deception can take all kinds of shapes and change them to fit whatever the agenda may be, make sure you know the Bible well enough to spot the difference.

Be thankful in all things


Amen

Jesus washes their feet


Then he said, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer. If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life. John 13:14 MSG https://bible.com/bible/97/jhn.13.14.MSG

This act of love on the part of Jesus would be considered invasive and possibly a sexual perversion today. God loves you and has always been near you, seek Him while their is still time.

What kind of mask do you wear?


In our societies all over this world we are afraid of a virus and it’s “offspring” so we wear masks to protect us from them. But have you ever considered the kind of mask that we wear around each other because of religion? Our religious masks make us seem to be “Christians” so we pull them out and wear them on the days that we feel like it such as on Sunday morning or Easter or Christmas but when we leave the company of those we are in at those times we take the mask off. We are ashamed of being identified with Jesus Christ outside of church so we remove the mask and just be ourselves until we either need God’s help or we feel like being a “christian” again for a time.

What will this mask accomplish? Nothing for your eternal salvation that’s for sure. It will only make those who know you feel that being a Christian is useless and hypocritical because it isn’t real. That is the way the world looks at the church and Christians in particular because of Who we claim to believe in and follow. This mask of religion has changed the view of those outside of the church because of this. Religion doesn’t save you.

The mask of religion makes us look very convincing as a Christian but our heart hasn’t been changed! Because with the mask of religion on we haven’t really given our heart to Jesus Christ! Why? Because, like the Pharisees we don’t think we need salvation nor do we need Jesus Christ. This mask causes many people to think that they are saved and that they are Christians but in truth it is a lie of Satan. He knows it and he laughs about it every Sunday in church.

So, how can we get rid of this mask and become Christians for real? First, we have to admit that we need Jesus Christ as our savior and then make Him to focus of our daily lives. Seek to follow Him in prayer and study His Word a little every day because if we don’t we will be living a lie to the outside world and to God as well. We will be behind the mask all over again. What difference does studying God’s Word make in your life and mine? Because it gets your mind and heart in tune with God and His voice so that whenever He speaks to you one day, you will know Who is speaking!

The closer that you draw to Him through reading His Word the closer He will be in your mind and heart to give you strength and purpose to serve in His Kingdom here as well as into eternity. The words that you read in the Bible were inspired by God’s Holy Spirit so they read your spiritual condition while you are reading them. They will be there in your mind when needed even if you haven’t “committed them to memory”, the Holy Spirit will bring them to your mind when you need them. I pray that all who read this may feel the love of God in their hearts and turn to Him and His Son, Jesus Christ, for salvation. Amen

What can we do?


Jesus did all of the work for us to have salvation, so what can we do? We really don’t have to do anything except to believe in Him and His provision for us through that belief because with faith coupled with our belief in Him our salvation is given to us by the grace of God. After we are saved there are many things that we can do regardless of the attitude of some that Christians have all of these rules and are just very boring. Compared to what we did in our “old life” without Christ, whatever that may have been, it could be boring to your friends from that time. After your heart has been changed by the Holy Spirit you no longer need to do the things that you did before. You may not feel like hanging out with your old friends but you will have new sisters and brothers through Christ in a church near you. Join a Bible study and learn more about your risen Savior that provided you with this gift of salvation. Study your Bible each day and learn about how much you are truly loved by God, the Creator, and the Sustainer of the universe. Imagine being loved by the One Who created you to be who you are and Who knows you far better than anyone else.

The Savior and God of all keeps every part of you and the world around you together and working for your blessing and for His glory. Every part of the universe is held together by His will and for His purpose just like we are. The Bible, God’s Word, is full of all kinds of stories about loss and pain, love, anger, regret and yet He can guide you through them all if you will let Him.

God blesses us even in our trials


When you are tested, seek the Lord ask Him for strength. He will bless you and take you through your trials no matter how much it may hurt. You will come through this stronger in your faith and even more able to stand when another trial comes.

God comforts us…


God is always near us and He never leaves. He is always within a whisper of a prayer, regardless of what has happened. The best part is that He will never leave you or me out in the cold. No matter what, He is always by our side.

You are my Strength


Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord , my strength, and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14 KJV (https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.19.14.KJV)

David wrote this and it was his prayer to God that He would accept David’s prayer and give him strength for this endeavors. He also recognized God as His redeemer and Savior. God has been watching over the entire world for a very long time. He loves the Jewish people but He also loves us as well. God gives us the blessings of life and the freedom to choose to follow Him and be His servant if we choose to but many people don’t choose to be a follower of Jesus. Some because they are enslaved to another religion and some simply because they don’t believe the Bible is true and they don’t believe in God.

We have a Sun that isn’t unstable so there’s a blessing right there. We aren’t too close to it so our summers aren’t too hot and our winters are bearable as well. The gravity of Earth is perfect for us so everything good about this is influenced by God’s design of it all. Even the outer planets tend “guard duty” for us against any comet or asteroid which might want to wander in at an angle which would bring it toward Earth.

Our solar system is balanced so that every part of it is doing God’s work in keeping it balanced according to God’s design. So why can’t we look at the night sky and realize that God’s handiwork has been declaring all along that His hands designed everything that we see? Because mankind doesn’t want to see God’s hand in everything. They don’t want to believe that He is in control of everything in the universe. He has control but He doesn’t force His control on us, especially in regards to our belief in Jesus. Yes, He wants us to come to know Him as our Savior but God also knows that not everyone will. The evidence is here on Earth and in the heavens. It is in His Word and in the lives of those who do believe in Him. Seek Him while He can be found because one day soon it will be much harder to come to know Him.

If you want to know Him read the book of John then read the book of Romans, both will give you a picture of Him and His love for us and the reason why all of the disciples were martyred to the last man except for John. There have been many millions killed because of their belief in Jesus over the past two thousand years which is proof that it is true because nobody would die for something that they thought was a lie.

Whatever you do…


And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23‭-‬24 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/col.3.23-24.KJV

Stay connected to Jesus


Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. John 15:2 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.15.2.KJV

Living with Jesus every day is not a chore, it is a choice. Make it your choice every day so that others will see Him living through your life!