Romans 4:4-5
When people work, their wages are not a gift.
Workers earn what they receive.
But people are declared righteous because of their faith,
not because of their work. (NLT)
The apostle Paul is telling us what God said of Abraham (Genesis 15:6) many centuries before as an illustration of faith in contrast to works. Paul is expanding on the declaration of justification by faith, saying that the act of declaring a person righteous before God is set completely apart from any kind of human work. If salvation were based on our own effort, God would owe salvation as a debt to be paid—but salvation is “always” a sovereignly given gift of God’s amazing grace (Ephesians 2:8); the gift that no one deserves, nor can be earned. For a gift is just what it is—a freely given. It is only those who relinquish all claims to goodness and acknowledge their ungodliness who become candidates for justification (Luke 5:31-32).
When a person faithfully receives the greatest gift ever given to mankind and repents of their ungodly living, the Holy Spirit of the Living God will take up residence in your heart and give you all that you need to live a righteous life that will not only benefit you, but everyone around you as well. The only way that I am able to fight the sinful nature we all inherited, is with the power of the Holy Spirit that lives within me. There is absolutely no other way that I or anyone would be able to fight the good fight well enough to win the battle for our souls without God’s sovereign strength and wisdom. And the only way to victory and everlasting life, my friends, is by accepting the gift of His saving grace and then live faithfully in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.
A Whisper of Hope
Accepting My gift faithfully…dear child, brings joy to My heart. For the only way to survive the pounding this world gives is by your living in Me and I in you—and then believe. The beating you take from this world is nothing compared to the glory that awaits you in Paradise. But in order to get there, My child, you must walk with Me in faith; in the Light that will show you the Way.
Genesis 15:6
And Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD
declared him righteous because of his faith. (NLT)
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. (NASB)
Luke 5:31-32
And Jesus answered and said to them,
“Those who are well do not need a physician, but those who are sick.
“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Hope For All
Matthew 12:20-21
“A battered reed He will not break off,
And a smoldering wick He will not put out,
Until He leads justice to victory,
And in His name the Gentiles will hope.” (NASB)
Here the apostle Matthew is quoting the words of God through the prophet Isaiah to demonstrate (contrary to the typical Jewish belief) that the Messiah would not arrive with political agendas, military campaigns, and with great fanfare, but with a gracious and gentle touch—giving hope to the entire known world. Shepherds used the reed to make their flutes, but once cracked or worn it became useless for making music. A smoldering wick is also deemed useless for giving light. These two examples represent people who were also deemed useless to the world. Our Savior, the Jesus Christ, came to restore and rekindle such people, not to break or quench and throw away. We find in these verses words that speak of His tender compassion toward the lowliest of the lost. He did not come to gather the strong for a revolution, but to show mercy and grace to the weak and hopeless.
Simply knowing who our mighty and loving God is, can and will bring joy to anyone no matter who you are or what your circumstances may be. The coming of our Lord, Christ Jesus (Luke 2:11), to save the lost and hopeless and to redeem His people (Titus 2:11) gives us reason to rejoice and sing praises to His glorious name. When you know the Truth, that the world hates and tries to hide in darkness, it is like a breath of fresh air or the coming of spring after a long and blistery winter. Receiving the gift of new life from the Savior of the world is the message of Christmas, my friends, and one we can celebrate with joy even when darkness and trouble are knocking at our door (1 Peter 1:6).
A Whisper of Hope
I Am your Sustainer…dear child. I bring hope to the lost and joy to the suffering. I came to walk with you in this life-journey, and I will be with you always. Put your trust in Me, for you cannot trust a world that hates Me. I came to give you life, the very life that the world wants to take away from you. Rejoice in Me, My child, for in Me there is joy for all!
Luke 2:11
For today in the city of David there has been born
for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (NASB)
Titus 2:11
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men. (NASB)
1 Peter 1:6
So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though
it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. (NLT)
“A battered reed He will not break off,
And a smoldering wick He will not put out,
Until He leads justice to victory,
And in His name the Gentiles will hope.” (NASB)
Here the apostle Matthew is quoting the words of God through the prophet Isaiah to demonstrate (contrary to the typical Jewish belief) that the Messiah would not arrive with political agendas, military campaigns, and with great fanfare, but with a gracious and gentle touch—giving hope to the entire known world. Shepherds used the reed to make their flutes, but once cracked or worn it became useless for making music. A smoldering wick is also deemed useless for giving light. These two examples represent people who were also deemed useless to the world. Our Savior, the Jesus Christ, came to restore and rekindle such people, not to break or quench and throw away. We find in these verses words that speak of His tender compassion toward the lowliest of the lost. He did not come to gather the strong for a revolution, but to show mercy and grace to the weak and hopeless.
Simply knowing who our mighty and loving God is, can and will bring joy to anyone no matter who you are or what your circumstances may be. The coming of our Lord, Christ Jesus (Luke 2:11), to save the lost and hopeless and to redeem His people (Titus 2:11) gives us reason to rejoice and sing praises to His glorious name. When you know the Truth, that the world hates and tries to hide in darkness, it is like a breath of fresh air or the coming of spring after a long and blistery winter. Receiving the gift of new life from the Savior of the world is the message of Christmas, my friends, and one we can celebrate with joy even when darkness and trouble are knocking at our door (1 Peter 1:6).
A Whisper of Hope
I Am your Sustainer…dear child. I bring hope to the lost and joy to the suffering. I came to walk with you in this life-journey, and I will be with you always. Put your trust in Me, for you cannot trust a world that hates Me. I came to give you life, the very life that the world wants to take away from you. Rejoice in Me, My child, for in Me there is joy for all!
Luke 2:11
For today in the city of David there has been born
for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (NASB)
Titus 2:11
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men. (NASB)
1 Peter 1:6
So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though
it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. (NLT)
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Light For The World
Luke 2:28-32
Simeon was there.
He took the child in his arms and praised God saying,
“Lord, now I can die in Peace!
As You promised me, I have seen the Savior
You have given to all the people.
He is the Light to reveal God to the nations,
and He is the Glory of Your people Israel!” (NLT)
Eight days after Jesus’ birth and after His circumcision in the Temple, Joseph and Mary took Him to Jerusalem for the purification offering, as required by the Law of Moses. It was here they met a devout and righteous man named Simon who had been told by an angel of the LORD that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. This psalm of praise, the forth of five psalms found in the Gospel of Luke, is a heart felt expression of one man’s extraordinary faith.
Although this particular man called Simon is not mentioned anyplace else in the Bible, he is certainly worth mentioning because of his amazing faith. It seems to be our human nature that we get impatient or lose hope when we have to wait for something we are in dire need of or something we desire and long to have. And much like Abraham’s wife Sarah, we often grow weary of waiting on the Lord and take matters into our own hands, often finding ourselves discouraged and feeling even more hopeless. It is for this very reason that we must fully trust in the Lord our God, for He knows perfectly what we need and when we need it.
Because God is holy (Psalm 99:9), He cannot lie (Titus 1:2), nor can He give us false promises and hope. And for all who believe in God’s Word as Truth there is no longer the need to wait for the Messiah, because He has come and provided the salvation that all peoples are so dire in need of. For every man, woman, and child who is borne into this world cannot (by their own will or strength) save themselves from the final judgment of God by obeying the Law of Moses; it is impossible without the saving grace of God. It is by faith in Christ Jesus our Savior that we are saved from the power of sin and death which hangs over our heads and enslaves our lives (Romans 3:25). And it is with this faith that we receive both the strength and the wisdom of God, through His Holy Spirit, that we are able to maintain our righteous standing before our eternal holy and just God. My dear friends, now that we have faith in God’s salvation we must wait patiently, once again, with the steadfast faith of Simon; for Jesus is coming back, just as His words in the Book of Revelation tell us, to completely destroy the old and fallen way of life so that He can bring in the new and perfect everlasting life for those who put their faith in the Truth that the LORD Almighty has so graciously provided.
A Whisper of Hope
Stay to Me…dear child, for it is through Me that you have found right standing before the Most Holy God. Remain in Me and I shall remain in you, and together forever will we be.
Psalm 99:9
For the LORD our God is holy. (NKJV)
Titus 1:2
In the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago. (NASB)
Romans 3:25
For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins
and satisfy God’s anger against us. (NLT)
Simeon was there.
He took the child in his arms and praised God saying,
“Lord, now I can die in Peace!
As You promised me, I have seen the Savior
You have given to all the people.
He is the Light to reveal God to the nations,
and He is the Glory of Your people Israel!” (NLT)
Eight days after Jesus’ birth and after His circumcision in the Temple, Joseph and Mary took Him to Jerusalem for the purification offering, as required by the Law of Moses. It was here they met a devout and righteous man named Simon who had been told by an angel of the LORD that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. This psalm of praise, the forth of five psalms found in the Gospel of Luke, is a heart felt expression of one man’s extraordinary faith.
Although this particular man called Simon is not mentioned anyplace else in the Bible, he is certainly worth mentioning because of his amazing faith. It seems to be our human nature that we get impatient or lose hope when we have to wait for something we are in dire need of or something we desire and long to have. And much like Abraham’s wife Sarah, we often grow weary of waiting on the Lord and take matters into our own hands, often finding ourselves discouraged and feeling even more hopeless. It is for this very reason that we must fully trust in the Lord our God, for He knows perfectly what we need and when we need it.
Because God is holy (Psalm 99:9), He cannot lie (Titus 1:2), nor can He give us false promises and hope. And for all who believe in God’s Word as Truth there is no longer the need to wait for the Messiah, because He has come and provided the salvation that all peoples are so dire in need of. For every man, woman, and child who is borne into this world cannot (by their own will or strength) save themselves from the final judgment of God by obeying the Law of Moses; it is impossible without the saving grace of God. It is by faith in Christ Jesus our Savior that we are saved from the power of sin and death which hangs over our heads and enslaves our lives (Romans 3:25). And it is with this faith that we receive both the strength and the wisdom of God, through His Holy Spirit, that we are able to maintain our righteous standing before our eternal holy and just God. My dear friends, now that we have faith in God’s salvation we must wait patiently, once again, with the steadfast faith of Simon; for Jesus is coming back, just as His words in the Book of Revelation tell us, to completely destroy the old and fallen way of life so that He can bring in the new and perfect everlasting life for those who put their faith in the Truth that the LORD Almighty has so graciously provided.
A Whisper of Hope
Stay to Me…dear child, for it is through Me that you have found right standing before the Most Holy God. Remain in Me and I shall remain in you, and together forever will we be.
Psalm 99:9
For the LORD our God is holy. (NKJV)
Titus 1:2
In the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago. (NASB)
Romans 3:25
For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins
and satisfy God’s anger against us. (NLT)
The Joy of God
Nehemiah 8:10
Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet,
and send portions to him who has nothing prepared;
for this day is holy to our Lord.
Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is our strength. (NASB)
After the High Priest Ezra, with some help from the Levites, read and explained God’s Law, the people of Israel, including Ezra, were filled with sorrowful remorse and wept, not only for their rebellion against God, but also for the terrible consequences that their sin brought upon the entire nation of Israel. It was then that the governor, Nehemiah, told his people to rejoice in this day of revelation; the day when they not only came to understand both their sin and its punishment, but most importantly, the saving grace of the merciful and Almighty God.
As I ponder my days gone past, I realize that the word “joy” was a word I only heard during the Christmas season; a word that had no true significance for me other than a temporary feeling that masked my pain of living too many years without hope. For the first fifty-five years of my life I can remember times when I did feel the joy of Christmas tugging on my heart even though I could not grasp the incredible message of hope that Christmas brings.
In humble thanksgiving, I now understand and believe with confidence that God has walked with us on earth, fully man, yet fully God (Luke 1:35). He came to show us the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). It is God’s nature to save that which is lost (Luke 19:10) and there is no better reason for rejoicing, my dear friends, than celebrating the human birth of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Knowing the Truth of Christmas can bring the kind of joy which can be celebrated every single day of the year. It is the true joy of Christmas that gives us hope when we are hopeless; that gives us strength when we have no strength left; and gladness when there is nothing but sorrow. This amazing joy you experience in knowing that the God of all creation is the same God who loves you enough to save you from a path of self-destruction to a path that brings life, is feeling the joy of heaven, which brings such a gladness to the heart that nothing of this world will ever be able take away from you.
A Whisper of Hope
Joy to the world…is My gift to you, dear and precious one. I came to bring you good tidings; to bring you the Good News. You bring Me great joy, My child, when you walk with thanksgiving, this path I have given you. No matter what your circumstances are, know that I Am who I say I Am; the Savior of the world. Rejoice in Me, your Redeemer, so that we can rejoice together one day soon!
Luke 1:35
The angle answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason
the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.
John 4:16
Jesus said to him, “ I am the way, and the truth, and the life…”
Luke 19:10
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet,
and send portions to him who has nothing prepared;
for this day is holy to our Lord.
Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is our strength. (NASB)
After the High Priest Ezra, with some help from the Levites, read and explained God’s Law, the people of Israel, including Ezra, were filled with sorrowful remorse and wept, not only for their rebellion against God, but also for the terrible consequences that their sin brought upon the entire nation of Israel. It was then that the governor, Nehemiah, told his people to rejoice in this day of revelation; the day when they not only came to understand both their sin and its punishment, but most importantly, the saving grace of the merciful and Almighty God.
As I ponder my days gone past, I realize that the word “joy” was a word I only heard during the Christmas season; a word that had no true significance for me other than a temporary feeling that masked my pain of living too many years without hope. For the first fifty-five years of my life I can remember times when I did feel the joy of Christmas tugging on my heart even though I could not grasp the incredible message of hope that Christmas brings.
In humble thanksgiving, I now understand and believe with confidence that God has walked with us on earth, fully man, yet fully God (Luke 1:35). He came to show us the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). It is God’s nature to save that which is lost (Luke 19:10) and there is no better reason for rejoicing, my dear friends, than celebrating the human birth of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Knowing the Truth of Christmas can bring the kind of joy which can be celebrated every single day of the year. It is the true joy of Christmas that gives us hope when we are hopeless; that gives us strength when we have no strength left; and gladness when there is nothing but sorrow. This amazing joy you experience in knowing that the God of all creation is the same God who loves you enough to save you from a path of self-destruction to a path that brings life, is feeling the joy of heaven, which brings such a gladness to the heart that nothing of this world will ever be able take away from you.
A Whisper of Hope
Joy to the world…is My gift to you, dear and precious one. I came to bring you good tidings; to bring you the Good News. You bring Me great joy, My child, when you walk with thanksgiving, this path I have given you. No matter what your circumstances are, know that I Am who I say I Am; the Savior of the world. Rejoice in Me, your Redeemer, so that we can rejoice together one day soon!
Luke 1:35
The angle answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason
the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.
John 4:16
Jesus said to him, “ I am the way, and the truth, and the life…”
Luke 19:10
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
The Birth of Christmas
Luke 2:9-11
And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them;
and they were terribly frightened.
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold,
I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;
for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (NASB)
This “Good News” which announced the arrival of baby Jesus is indeed as joyful today as it was two thousand years ago to these lowly, yet righteous shepherds. Knowing that the Creator of life left the glory of heaven to take on a fully human existence in order to live and suffer and die so that you and all peoples would be set free from the power of sin and death, and have the opportunity to share in His heavenly glory is truly, my friends, a reason to rejoice. The hope that Christmas brings (this greatest event in human history) is for everyone who ever was or will ever be borne into this world; from the lowest to the highest; for the poorest to the richest, and for the worst of us to the best of us. The birth of God into this fallen world has given us the only hope there is if we are to experience any peace at all while living this hard and unpredictable life that spares no one the pain and uncertainty that it brings. There are so many deprived people in this world who live every day of their lives in disease and hunger and in persecution and fear; innocent people who are hoping for something; for anything that will ease the darkness they are living in. But even for those who suffer unmercifully there is Good News, for when Jesus brings the hope of heaven into their lives, it becomes their peace and joy and the one thing they can look forward to with certainty—the only Truth that will bring comfort and peace to their weary souls. Christ Jesus is the only Hope anyone has in this cruel and unforgiving world. Only Jesus has the power to truly comfort and bring peace to our weary souls; souls who long for the heartbreak and pain of suffering to end so that they, too, can find some joy in living.
If the Lord our God had not been borne to us, our Savior, this world would be a place without hope, without joy, and without the only Light that saves us from the dark wrath that this fallen world brings. I pray that the hand of God will touch all people this Christmas Season, so that every soul would hear the truth of why we should celebrate this special time of year. The birth of Jesus our Lord brings both joy and light to the world—a world that needed the Savior then, and a world that is still very much in need of the Savior today!
A Whisper of Hope
I have come…just as it was promised you, My child. I have come to give you hope, to give you a future that shares in My glory. Celebrate My coming with joy and peace in your heart which endures all things. It is because I love you that I came. I came to save your soul. I came to give you joy.
Micah 5:2
“As for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
His goings forth are from long ago, from days of eternity.”
Malachi 3:1
“Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me”.
Luke 2:14
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them;
and they were terribly frightened.
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold,
I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;
for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (NASB)
This “Good News” which announced the arrival of baby Jesus is indeed as joyful today as it was two thousand years ago to these lowly, yet righteous shepherds. Knowing that the Creator of life left the glory of heaven to take on a fully human existence in order to live and suffer and die so that you and all peoples would be set free from the power of sin and death, and have the opportunity to share in His heavenly glory is truly, my friends, a reason to rejoice. The hope that Christmas brings (this greatest event in human history) is for everyone who ever was or will ever be borne into this world; from the lowest to the highest; for the poorest to the richest, and for the worst of us to the best of us. The birth of God into this fallen world has given us the only hope there is if we are to experience any peace at all while living this hard and unpredictable life that spares no one the pain and uncertainty that it brings. There are so many deprived people in this world who live every day of their lives in disease and hunger and in persecution and fear; innocent people who are hoping for something; for anything that will ease the darkness they are living in. But even for those who suffer unmercifully there is Good News, for when Jesus brings the hope of heaven into their lives, it becomes their peace and joy and the one thing they can look forward to with certainty—the only Truth that will bring comfort and peace to their weary souls. Christ Jesus is the only Hope anyone has in this cruel and unforgiving world. Only Jesus has the power to truly comfort and bring peace to our weary souls; souls who long for the heartbreak and pain of suffering to end so that they, too, can find some joy in living.
If the Lord our God had not been borne to us, our Savior, this world would be a place without hope, without joy, and without the only Light that saves us from the dark wrath that this fallen world brings. I pray that the hand of God will touch all people this Christmas Season, so that every soul would hear the truth of why we should celebrate this special time of year. The birth of Jesus our Lord brings both joy and light to the world—a world that needed the Savior then, and a world that is still very much in need of the Savior today!
A Whisper of Hope
I have come…just as it was promised you, My child. I have come to give you hope, to give you a future that shares in My glory. Celebrate My coming with joy and peace in your heart which endures all things. It is because I love you that I came. I came to save your soul. I came to give you joy.
Micah 5:2
“As for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
His goings forth are from long ago, from days of eternity.”
Malachi 3:1
“Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me”.
Luke 2:14
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
God's Gift
Romans 8:1-4
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus
from the power of sin that leads to death.
The Law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature.
But God put into effect a different plan to save us.
He sent His own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful.
God destroyed sin’s control over us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins.
He did this so that the requirement of the Law would be fully accomplished for us
who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. (NLT)
There is absolutely no better blessing than receiving and believing in the Good News of our LORD, Jesus Christ, for this is when life truly begins—as it did for me six years ago today. It was not until the Lord came knocking at my door and offered me His free gift of salvation that I discovered the real meaning of living a life with joy and gratitude (Revelation 3:20). It was only after the Lord opened my eyes to His Truth and filled my heart with His Peace that I was finally able to live this life with thanksgiving in my heart and experience the joy of living by walking in the Spirit of the Lord our God, Christ Jesus. Like most people of this world, there have been many dark and difficult circumstances in my life that I was unable to look beyond, which, without God, held me in bondage to sin and depression—a depression that took away any joy I found in living, even though the Lord had given me plenty that I could rejoice in. And like many, I looked for the joy of living in all the wrong places and for all the wrong reasons, and when discovered, I was unable to recognize it and where it came from. My, dearest friends, we deserve nothing but condemnation for our rebellion against God’s holiness. It is only because of God’s mercy and grace that any of us have been spared the full consequences of our sin (Ephesians 2:4-7). It is only by the love of the Father that we have any hope at all in a world that is infected with sin and death. Even the poor and suffering souls who have no reason to believe in hope, there is Hope in Jesus, especially when the Spirit of God is living in your heart and directing your path. We all know that life in this world is short, but what many do not know is that the eternal life we find in Christ Jesus is both glorious and forever. And by the Word of His promise, it will be worth any and all the suffering that we endure in this hard and difficult life-journey (Romans 8:18). For those of us who are alive in Christ, we can set our eyes on what lies beyond our painful circumstances, and what we see brings us a joy that is far above and beyond any joy that the world is able to give.
A Whisper of Hope
I have set you free, My child…no longer must you fear the world and its promise of death. I have taken your punishment upon Myself and you are now clothed in My righteousness and can stand in awe before the Holy Living God. Cast all your burdens upon My shoulders and put your hope in the One who made you His own. Rejoice in Me, dear child, for you are mine forever!
Revelations 3:20
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” (NASB)
Ephesians 2:4-5
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) (NASB)
Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (NASB)
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus
from the power of sin that leads to death.
The Law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature.
But God put into effect a different plan to save us.
He sent His own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful.
God destroyed sin’s control over us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins.
He did this so that the requirement of the Law would be fully accomplished for us
who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. (NLT)
There is absolutely no better blessing than receiving and believing in the Good News of our LORD, Jesus Christ, for this is when life truly begins—as it did for me six years ago today. It was not until the Lord came knocking at my door and offered me His free gift of salvation that I discovered the real meaning of living a life with joy and gratitude (Revelation 3:20). It was only after the Lord opened my eyes to His Truth and filled my heart with His Peace that I was finally able to live this life with thanksgiving in my heart and experience the joy of living by walking in the Spirit of the Lord our God, Christ Jesus. Like most people of this world, there have been many dark and difficult circumstances in my life that I was unable to look beyond, which, without God, held me in bondage to sin and depression—a depression that took away any joy I found in living, even though the Lord had given me plenty that I could rejoice in. And like many, I looked for the joy of living in all the wrong places and for all the wrong reasons, and when discovered, I was unable to recognize it and where it came from. My, dearest friends, we deserve nothing but condemnation for our rebellion against God’s holiness. It is only because of God’s mercy and grace that any of us have been spared the full consequences of our sin (Ephesians 2:4-7). It is only by the love of the Father that we have any hope at all in a world that is infected with sin and death. Even the poor and suffering souls who have no reason to believe in hope, there is Hope in Jesus, especially when the Spirit of God is living in your heart and directing your path. We all know that life in this world is short, but what many do not know is that the eternal life we find in Christ Jesus is both glorious and forever. And by the Word of His promise, it will be worth any and all the suffering that we endure in this hard and difficult life-journey (Romans 8:18). For those of us who are alive in Christ, we can set our eyes on what lies beyond our painful circumstances, and what we see brings us a joy that is far above and beyond any joy that the world is able to give.
A Whisper of Hope
I have set you free, My child…no longer must you fear the world and its promise of death. I have taken your punishment upon Myself and you are now clothed in My righteousness and can stand in awe before the Holy Living God. Cast all your burdens upon My shoulders and put your hope in the One who made you His own. Rejoice in Me, dear child, for you are mine forever!
Revelations 3:20
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” (NASB)
Ephesians 2:4-5
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) (NASB)
Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (NASB)
Soul Comfort
Psalm 119:81-82
My soul languishes for Your salvation: I wait for Your word.
My eyes fail with longing for Your word;
While I say, “When will You comfort me?” (NASB)
Much like King David, our hearts and souls also long for God to deliver us from this hard and difficult life. We long for that day when all the pain and disappointment will cease; the day when there will be no more death and destruction; the day when we are no longer loaded down with all the doubt and fear that hold us captive to sin and then robs us of the joy that God has for us. And like David, many of us cry out night and day for God to deliver us from our times of darkness, praying for the comfort and the answers that only our Creator can provide.
But unlike David and all of God’s people of the Old Testament times, we have our Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, who has provided us with the salvation that was promised from the beginning of time (Genesis 3:15). We now have the New Testament in our hands and the entire Bible in words that can be read or listened to by most peoples in our world. And unlike David, we need not look too much further into the future for the return of our Savior, for His return is so much closer now than it was when David wrote this Psalm. We also do not have to rely solely on the words of the prophets any longer, for our Lord has not only come and fulfilled His promise to us (John 3:16), but He has also given us the Holy Spirit to not only prepare our hearts for eternity, but to comfort us with His peace (Romans 8:16) until He returns to take us Home. Although the hour is rapidly approaching, my dear friends, there is still time to prepare our hearts and share the Good News with the hopeless and lost, because the LORD our Savior wants no one left behind.
A Whisper of Hope
Never doubt…My dear one, that your salvation has been accomplished with My blood. The price has been paid in full and one day soon I will share My inheritance with you. When anyone asks you if you are going to heaven, you need not hesitate your answer, because when you believe that I Am the Perfect Sacrificial Lamb who gave His life to save your soul, you can be sure that your salvation has been accomplished once and for all.
Genesis 3:15
“And I will put enmity between your seed
and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.” (NASB)
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (NASB)
Romans 8:16
For His Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us
that we are God’s children. And since we are His children,
we will share His treasures—for everything God gives to His Son, Christ, is ours, too. (NLT)
My soul languishes for Your salvation: I wait for Your word.
My eyes fail with longing for Your word;
While I say, “When will You comfort me?” (NASB)
Much like King David, our hearts and souls also long for God to deliver us from this hard and difficult life. We long for that day when all the pain and disappointment will cease; the day when there will be no more death and destruction; the day when we are no longer loaded down with all the doubt and fear that hold us captive to sin and then robs us of the joy that God has for us. And like David, many of us cry out night and day for God to deliver us from our times of darkness, praying for the comfort and the answers that only our Creator can provide.
But unlike David and all of God’s people of the Old Testament times, we have our Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, who has provided us with the salvation that was promised from the beginning of time (Genesis 3:15). We now have the New Testament in our hands and the entire Bible in words that can be read or listened to by most peoples in our world. And unlike David, we need not look too much further into the future for the return of our Savior, for His return is so much closer now than it was when David wrote this Psalm. We also do not have to rely solely on the words of the prophets any longer, for our Lord has not only come and fulfilled His promise to us (John 3:16), but He has also given us the Holy Spirit to not only prepare our hearts for eternity, but to comfort us with His peace (Romans 8:16) until He returns to take us Home. Although the hour is rapidly approaching, my dear friends, there is still time to prepare our hearts and share the Good News with the hopeless and lost, because the LORD our Savior wants no one left behind.
A Whisper of Hope
Never doubt…My dear one, that your salvation has been accomplished with My blood. The price has been paid in full and one day soon I will share My inheritance with you. When anyone asks you if you are going to heaven, you need not hesitate your answer, because when you believe that I Am the Perfect Sacrificial Lamb who gave His life to save your soul, you can be sure that your salvation has been accomplished once and for all.
Genesis 3:15
“And I will put enmity between your seed
and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.” (NASB)
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (NASB)
Romans 8:16
For His Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us
that we are God’s children. And since we are His children,
we will share His treasures—for everything God gives to His Son, Christ, is ours, too. (NLT)
Saturday, December 11, 2010
The Word of Life
Psalm 119:49-50
Remember the word to Your servant,
Upon which You have caused me to hope.
This is my comfort in my affliction,
For Your word has given me life. (NKJV)
There is no greater Hope, than the hope we have in the Creator of life and the God of our salvation, Christ Jesus (Psalm 146:5). Who else can better comfort our discouraged souls and give us peace amidst the afflictions we suffer in this world, than the One who voluntarily took upon Himself the sins of the world and the wrath of God in order that we could stand righteous in our sin before the LORD? My dear friends, when you begin to understand and believe in the Truth that our gracious God has given us, you will learn to pray with confidence and put your hope in the mercy and grace of our Loving God (1 Chronicles 16:34), because the Word of the LORD is “Truth” itself and all of His promises hold true (Psalm 119:160).
There have been many people throughout the age of man who have spent their entire lives without experiencing the joy of God’s Truth and go to the grave never knowing the Hope of true joy in this life that was created in and for God’s glory. But because of God’s incredible mercy and grace there have also been many, like myself, who were once living a life (dead in sin) without any hope but death itself, that have now been made alive in Christ who gives us hope and peace in all our circumstances. Through God’s Word, the Holy Spirit can breathe into any dying soul the precious gift of eternal life that He, the Author of Life, has promised to all who humbly come to Him believing in the Truth that He has so graciously given to us.
A Whisper of Hope
My Truth is your only Hope…dear child. For when you put your hope in anything this world has to offer, you will discover that it is a false hope that leads to disappointment, and if pursued will end in the total destruction of your life forever. It is far better to wait on the LORD in patient perseverance with the hope of better things to come, then to accumulate all that the world has for you only to loose it all when you die and be forever lacking in any good thing at all.
Psalm 146:5
How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
Whose hope is in the LORD his God. (NASB)
1 Chronicles 16:34
Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever. (NKJV)
Psalm 119:160
The sum of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting. (NASB)
Remember the word to Your servant,
Upon which You have caused me to hope.
This is my comfort in my affliction,
For Your word has given me life. (NKJV)
There is no greater Hope, than the hope we have in the Creator of life and the God of our salvation, Christ Jesus (Psalm 146:5). Who else can better comfort our discouraged souls and give us peace amidst the afflictions we suffer in this world, than the One who voluntarily took upon Himself the sins of the world and the wrath of God in order that we could stand righteous in our sin before the LORD? My dear friends, when you begin to understand and believe in the Truth that our gracious God has given us, you will learn to pray with confidence and put your hope in the mercy and grace of our Loving God (1 Chronicles 16:34), because the Word of the LORD is “Truth” itself and all of His promises hold true (Psalm 119:160).
There have been many people throughout the age of man who have spent their entire lives without experiencing the joy of God’s Truth and go to the grave never knowing the Hope of true joy in this life that was created in and for God’s glory. But because of God’s incredible mercy and grace there have also been many, like myself, who were once living a life (dead in sin) without any hope but death itself, that have now been made alive in Christ who gives us hope and peace in all our circumstances. Through God’s Word, the Holy Spirit can breathe into any dying soul the precious gift of eternal life that He, the Author of Life, has promised to all who humbly come to Him believing in the Truth that He has so graciously given to us.
A Whisper of Hope
My Truth is your only Hope…dear child. For when you put your hope in anything this world has to offer, you will discover that it is a false hope that leads to disappointment, and if pursued will end in the total destruction of your life forever. It is far better to wait on the LORD in patient perseverance with the hope of better things to come, then to accumulate all that the world has for you only to loose it all when you die and be forever lacking in any good thing at all.
Psalm 146:5
How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
Whose hope is in the LORD his God. (NASB)
1 Chronicles 16:34
Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever. (NKJV)
Psalm 119:160
The sum of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting. (NASB)
Believing The Unseen Truth
John 20:29
Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed?
Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” (NLT)
In this passage of Scripture, Jesus is speaking to the Apostle Thomas who was not present the first time Jesus had appeared to His disciples after His death and resurrection. Doubting Thomas, as he is often called, had told his fellow disciples that He would have to see and touch Jesus in order to believe that Jesus had conquered death.
As imperfect human beings living in this imperfect world, many of us have difficulty believing in things that we cannot actually see with our own imperfect eyes. For example; even though we are in the mist of a raging spiritual warfare for our very souls (Ephesians 6:12), the unbelieving people of this world pass it off as a myth of the disillusioned religious fanatic, or just another great theme for a science fiction novel. Or how about the day when Christ will return to Earth in all His glory to judge both the living and the dead (Revelation 20:11-13); Fact or fiction? The unseen Truth of not?
I wonder how many times you have said, “I’ll have to see it to believe it?” I know there are many new Christians out there who struggle with their faith wishing that Jesus would some how show Himself so they could be sure that His Word is the absolute Truth. But I also know there have been many lost souls, like myself, who were so lost and so hopeless and had so given up that when the Savior called we reached out in blind faith to grab hold of the hand of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. For many of us this was our last hope, because any other option would have had the same unfulfilling results as before. And because everything in our fallen world has been infected with sin, this world can only temporarily satisfy the hungers of our sinful nature. The world with all its recourses will never be able to fulfill the deep desires of our hearts, because it is only God who can satisfy us completely (John 6:35). My dear friends, until the King of kings and the Lord of all lord’s returns to take us Home, we must trust with as much human faith as we can possibly muster, for only then will our imperfect eyes be changed so that we will be able to see and touch and experience the Perfect Truth of our Glorious God in Heaven.
A Whisper of Hope
Believe in the Hope…I give you, My child. For I Am the only Hope that holds true in this world of endless lies and false hope. One day your earthly life will be taken away, but until that time you must trust in the path that I have chosen for you; a righteous path that requires steadfast faith in Me; a path that will lead you Home to Me where you belong!
Ephesians 6:12
For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. (NLT)
Revelation 20:11-13
And I saw a great white throne, and I saw the One who was sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from His presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to the things written in the books, according to what they had done. The sea gave up the dead in it, and death and the grave gave up the dead in them. They were all judged according to their deeds. (NLT)
John 6:35
Jesus replied, “I am the Bread of Life. No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry again. Those who believe in Me will never thirst. (NLT)
Zakery Daniel
Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed?
Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” (NLT)
In this passage of Scripture, Jesus is speaking to the Apostle Thomas who was not present the first time Jesus had appeared to His disciples after His death and resurrection. Doubting Thomas, as he is often called, had told his fellow disciples that He would have to see and touch Jesus in order to believe that Jesus had conquered death.
As imperfect human beings living in this imperfect world, many of us have difficulty believing in things that we cannot actually see with our own imperfect eyes. For example; even though we are in the mist of a raging spiritual warfare for our very souls (Ephesians 6:12), the unbelieving people of this world pass it off as a myth of the disillusioned religious fanatic, or just another great theme for a science fiction novel. Or how about the day when Christ will return to Earth in all His glory to judge both the living and the dead (Revelation 20:11-13); Fact or fiction? The unseen Truth of not?
I wonder how many times you have said, “I’ll have to see it to believe it?” I know there are many new Christians out there who struggle with their faith wishing that Jesus would some how show Himself so they could be sure that His Word is the absolute Truth. But I also know there have been many lost souls, like myself, who were so lost and so hopeless and had so given up that when the Savior called we reached out in blind faith to grab hold of the hand of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. For many of us this was our last hope, because any other option would have had the same unfulfilling results as before. And because everything in our fallen world has been infected with sin, this world can only temporarily satisfy the hungers of our sinful nature. The world with all its recourses will never be able to fulfill the deep desires of our hearts, because it is only God who can satisfy us completely (John 6:35). My dear friends, until the King of kings and the Lord of all lord’s returns to take us Home, we must trust with as much human faith as we can possibly muster, for only then will our imperfect eyes be changed so that we will be able to see and touch and experience the Perfect Truth of our Glorious God in Heaven.
A Whisper of Hope
Believe in the Hope…I give you, My child. For I Am the only Hope that holds true in this world of endless lies and false hope. One day your earthly life will be taken away, but until that time you must trust in the path that I have chosen for you; a righteous path that requires steadfast faith in Me; a path that will lead you Home to Me where you belong!
Ephesians 6:12
For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. (NLT)
Revelation 20:11-13
And I saw a great white throne, and I saw the One who was sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from His presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to the things written in the books, according to what they had done. The sea gave up the dead in it, and death and the grave gave up the dead in them. They were all judged according to their deeds. (NLT)
John 6:35
Jesus replied, “I am the Bread of Life. No one who comes to Me will ever be hungry again. Those who believe in Me will never thirst. (NLT)
Zakery Daniel
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