Following Jesus & Forsaking Sin

The more we become like Jesus (sanctification, the daily work of the Holy Spirit in our lives), the less sin that will be found in our lives. More Jesus = Less Sin. It is that simple. Right?

To look around us you would probably answer that question with a "no". Many "Christians" are no different than the lost people around them. Their lives look identical. The only difference seems to be that the "Christian" attends church occasionally. Is that really what Jesus wants from His followers?

Today, we will consider two verses from the Old Testament that reveal what should be the Christian's response to sinfulness. There we find these words: "Turn away from evil and do good, and dwell there forever. For the LORD loves justice and will not abandon His faithful ones. They are kept safe forever, but the children of the wicked will be destroyed" (Psalm 37:27-28)."

It seems that the idea of "Turn away" means to no longer look at, no longer long after, and no longer allow that sin to be our desire. We must turn away from evil and run to Jesus. Run to Jesus, who has provided the way of salvation. It is only through saving faith in Him that a person will, in His presence, "dwell there forever." Jesus doesn't save us to leave us trapped in our sinfulness. He saves us to live in victory over sin. He is our victory. Therefore, we run to Jesus.

How do we run to Jesus? (1) Turn away from sin. (2) Seek Jesus through prayer and study of His Word. (3) Allow the Holy Spirit to do His work of daily sanctification. 

Praying Today for:

(1) The Lake O' the Pines Community of Berea

(2) The State of Maryland

(3) The Nation of Eritrea

(4) The North African & Middle Eastern Peoples throughout the World

Following Jesus requires Immediate Response

Jesus' birth is undoubtedly the greatest event of all history. The events surrounding Jesus' birth are interesting to say the least. His parents traveled from Nazareth to a little town outside of Jerusalem called Bethlehem; where Mary gave birth to Jesus in a stable. The King of Kings was born in the lowly conditions of a manger stall. Jesus' birth was announced by angels. But this announcement was not made to the religious elite or upper class of society. Instead, angels announced the birth of the Savior of the World to shepherds. These shepherds were given instruction concerning the place where the Messiah would be found.

In Luke 2:8-20 records the announcement being made to those shepherds and their response. First, we read about their fear and how the angels shared with them the good news. Second, we read about the shepherd's response to one another. "Let's go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us" (verse 15). Then we read "They hurried off " (verse 16).

Did you see their immediate response? "Let's go straight . . . They hurried off." It is important to see their determination to immediately go to the place where Jesus was. They were interested in seeing their Messiah. Are we immediately going to Jesus? Do we want to see Him? Do we want to see Him?

"After seeing . . . they reported the message" (verse 17). We have the same responsibility and need the same immediate response.

Praying today for:
(1) The Lake O' the Pines Community of Big Oaks
(2) The State of New York
(3) The Nation of Suriname
(4) The Central Asian Peoples throughout the World

Following Jesus requires Humility

After an angel revealed to her that she was to give birth to the Son of God, Mary poured out her heart in a beautiful declaration of humility. As recorded in Luke 1:46-55, we read how Mary declared the greatness of God and her humble state as His slave.

Mary calls God her Savior. Why? Because He looked upon her with favor. His favor was not simply based on her Jewish heritage. His favor was not simply based on the fact that she was a virgin. His favor was not simply based on where she lived. Instead, verse 48 gives a clue as one reason for God's favor to be poured out on Mary: "the humble condition of His slave."

Mary declares that this favor is not just for that specific time period but "from now on all generations" (verse 48). God is the Mighty One and His name is holy.

Notice that Mary continues pointing to God. She doesn't take credit. She doesn't take this wonderful blessing as a reason to become selfish. Instead she demonstrates her humility by continually pointing to God, lifting His name on high.

God has indeed poured out His favor on us through salvation in Jesus Christ. It is now important for us to follow Jesus in humility by continuing to point to God in all things.

Today praying for:

(1) The Lake O' the Pines Community of Jefferson

(2) The State of Maine

(3) The Nation of the Cayman Islands

(4) The Southeast Asian Peoples throughout the World

Following Jesus to Disciple Others

Discipleship is one of the most important areas of a Christian's life. I am personally thankful to the LORD for men and women who taught me God's Word, instructed me in the living for the LORD, and shared their lives with me as means to disciple me. Sadly, discipleship is missing in the lives of many Christians. Thus they never truly develop into a mature follower of Christ. This doesn't mean that they are lost but they have never grown in the faith.

Today, Luke 1:1-4 speaks to the need of discipleship. Yes, this is the introduction for the book. It gives information about the audience, the author, and additional information. The original audience is specifically a man named Theophilus. We don't know much about him expect that both the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts are both addressed to him.

Most likely the Gospel of Luke was written by a man named Luke. There are many things about Luke that we find in Scripture: he was a physician and apparently a historian.

It is within the additional information that we find some important details that specifically speak to us about making disciples. There is that fact that Luke is aware of the other efforts to record the events surrounding Jesus' life and ministry. He also aware of the "original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed" (verse 2) down to each of them. It is this word that has been handed down that Luke desires to share with his friend Theophilus. Luke's purpose is stated in verse 4: "So that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed." All of this is after he has "carefully investigated everything from the first, to write" (verse 3). Luke has done his homework. He knows what he believes and why he believes it. 

But don't miss this. He doesn't keep his knowledge about Jesus to himself. He doesn't keep all that he has learned to himself. He instead is eager to share this information with his friend. 

Do we have the same motivation to share with our friends. As Jesus teaches us, let us teach those around us. As we learn knew truths from God's Word, let us share these truths with those around us. By doing this we will be "Following Jesus to disciple others."

Praying today for:
(1) The Lake O' the Pines community of Eagle Landing
(2) The State of North Carolina
(3) The Nation of Tunisia
(4) The European Peoples throughout the World

How Valuable is God's Love?

That may seem like a strange question. But take just a moment and give some thought to its answer. How valuable is God's love?

Perhaps your first response was something like this: "We would have nothing without God's love for us". That sounds like a good answer doesn't it? For indeed, we would have nothing without God. Another first response might have been: "God's love is more valuable than anything else in the world." That answer sounds good as well. His love is to be valued more than anything else.

Join me as we discover how the Scripture answers this question. Psalm 36:7-10 says,

God, Your faithful love is so valuable that people take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They are filled from the abundance of Your house; You let them drink from Your refreshing stream, for with You is life's fountain. In Your light we will see light. Spread Your faithful love over those who know You, and Your righteousness over the upright in heart.

According to these verses, God's love causes His people to seek refuge in Him to be filled with His presence, to drink from His refreshing stream, to see the light, and to be covered with His love. God is our refuge and strength. It is in Him that we come to in times of difficulty. God also feels His people with His very presence through the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is through the power and work of the Holy Spirit that you and I are guided to fulfill His purpose in live, daily are sanctified to become more like Jesus, and through all things bring the Father glory.

Jesus declared that He could give living water to the woman at the well in John 4. Jesus' salvation is given to all who come to Him. Salvation is available to all who will confess all sin, repent from sin, and surrender one's life to follow Jesus. This salvation is refreshing to a life that is dead within the grasp of sin's destructiveness. 

Has God spread His great love over you? Are you daily giving Him praise for His salvation?

How valuable is God's love?

Praying today for:
(1) The Lake O' the Pines Community of Johnson Creek / Campers

(2) The State of Louisiana

(3) The Nation of Belarus

(4) The American Peoples throughout the World

What will Happen to Lost People?

Most Christians believe that the Bible teaches that lost people will go to hell when they die. Many Christian people are committed to praying for lost people to be saved. Some Christians are committed to personally witnessing to lost people with the good news of Jesus Christ. And even fewer Christians are passionately pursuing those who are lost with the gospel that is power of God for salvation.

Why? Why do so many Christians know the destiny of lost people, fewer Christians pray for lost people, even fewer Christians witness to lost people, and even fewer have a passionate pursuit of lost people with the gospel of Christ?

Two answers come to mind: (1) Either Christians simply are being disobedient to God's command of witnessing found in many passages of Scripture (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, etc.) or (2) Christians simply don't believe what the Bible teaches about the destination of lost people.

Jesus said to His disciples, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:15-16). Do we believe this? Do believe that only those who believe in Jesus are saved? Do really believe that only those who are baptized (by the Holy Spirit) are saved? Do really believe that those who do not believe will be condemned? If we do believe these words, if we do believe these realities; then we must "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation." This starts right out side our doors, spreads into our communities, and wherever else the Lord leads us.

Today praying for:

(1) The Lake O' the Pines Community of Crestwood

(2) The State of North Dakota

(3) The Nation of Ukraine

(4) The South Asian Peoples throughout the World

Access Granted

Can you and I really enter the very presence of God? If so, what/who has granted us that access?

The answer to the first question is "YES". Yes, we can enter into the very presence of God through prayer. However, we must remember that God is Holy and only the redeemed, forgiven, and those who have confessed and repented of all sin are holy to enter into God's presence.

The answer to the second question is "JESUS"! Jesus has granted access into the very presence of God through His death on the cross. Recorded in Mark 15:38 we read, "Then the curtain of the sanctuary was split in two from top to bottom." That curtain that once separated the outer court (that place for ordinary people / that place for all non-Jews) from the inner holy of holies (that place of God's altar / that place of God's presence). We were separated but notice that the curtain was split from top to bottom. The emphasis here is that this is something that only God could accomplish. It is interesting that the curtain splitting took place at the very moment that Jesus breathed His last breath on the cross.

Therefore, we are encouraged to "approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time" (Hebrews 4:16).

Praying Today for:
(1) The Lake O' the Pines Community of Victory

(2) The State of Kentucky

(3) The Nation of Andorra

(4) The East Asian Peoples throughout the World