Save Yourself Through Belief; Save Others Through Discipleship

Scripture: Luke 23: 37-41

And said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the Jews. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Scripture Commentary: You save yourself when you accept Jesus as your Saviour

Two criminals hung on crosses on either side of Jesus, to be crucified with him. One challenged Christ to prove himself. “Save yourself and us!” he cries. The other asked Jesus for forgiveness for he knew he had done wrong.

Which one are you? Are your thoughts and actions self-serving? Or, are you like the criminal who sought forgiveness from Christ?

Accepting Christ into your life reflects who you are as a person

You receive and give love. You receive forgiveness and forgive. Our deeds alone will not save us. Our faith in Christ will.

Earthly life is finite. The potential for our time to be fulfilling and wholesome exists in our walk with God. The sooner we choose this walk, the more time we have to do God’s will. However, even those who are latecomers – who repent in their last moments – can still be with God in paradise.

Repent now. Every day is a blessing, and there is always the chance you may not wake in the morning. Live as though each day is the last chance you have to accept Christ.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Luke Chapter 23

Give Thanks to God; Praise His Holy Name

Scripture: Psalm 105: 1-4

O Give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. Seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face evermore.

Scripture Commentary: Give thanks to God every day of your life

Did you thank the Lord your God today, yesterday, or any day? If you are reading this, then God gave you another day; a day to praise his name. Give thanks to him, and seek him.

How long has it been since you talked about God to someone? Have you reflected on all of the things he has done in your life?

Rejoice, God’s love for you is great. Seek God every day; talk to him, tell him you love him and need him. God seems far away, but he is not. Persist in your search for him, and he will show himself to you. God rewards those who sincerely seek him. Jesus promised, “Seek and you will find,” and, “Knock and the door will be open.”

God is not lost. You may be lost. Read the Bible; investigate the records of the history of God’s people; search and you will see a loving God waiting for you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Psalms Chapter 105

Jesus Will Prepare A Place For Us

Scripture: Amos 4: 10,12

I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.(10) Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, of Israel.( 12)

Scripture Commentary: Prepare yourself to meet the Lord; He prepares a place for you in His Father’s house

What will it take for us to listen to our Lord Jesus Christ and do as he instructs? Are we too like the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, who turned away from God? Is the lifestyle you’re living mirroring God? What are you doing to prepare to meet your Saviour?

Facing God, the one we’ve rejected and disobeyed, is inevitable. If we don’t face him, then we are like the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. They typify the ultimate and extreme through their sinful degrading behavior, their rebellion against God.

God’s intention is to use faithful people to bless the world. To do and live as God intends is the only way to prepare yourself for when you meet him face to face.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Amos Chapter 4

Walk After The Lord Day After Day

Scripture: Romans 8: 1-4

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Scripture Commentary: Do you walk after the flesh or after the Holy Spirit?

Paul sorted all people into two categories; those whose sinful natures control them, and those who follow or walk after the Holy Spirit. Which are you? Every one of us would fall into the first category if Jesus hadn’t offered us a way out. Accept Jesus into your life; follow his way of eternal life and peace.

Jesus gave himself as the sacrifice for our sins. He forgave us, relieves us of our guilt and lets us go free. Without Jesus there would be no hope at all. We would be justly condemned for breaking God’s holy law every day.

We have the right of choice every day … Who do you choose to follow?

Every day we must consciously choose to center our lives around God. Thank God every day. He declares us not guilty in spite of our sin. God offers mercy and freedom from sin. He gives us the power to carry out his will. Do God’s will and you will always do right. Let the reality of Christ’s power lift you up to real victory over sin.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 8

Do Not Believe Everything You Hear

Scripture: 1 John 4: 1-3

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

Scripture Commentary: Do not believe every spirit as all is not from God. Be discerning.

“Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits…” This excerpt warns us against believing everything we hear. Just because someone tells you their message is inspired by God does not mean you should trust them.

There are many impersonators, pretending to be people of God. Question them, question their words, and find the truth. Christians should have faith, but they shouldn’t be gullible. If a message is truly from God, it will be consistent with Christ’s teachings.

We live in a world that increasingly embraces evil because it knows no better.

The antichrist epitomizes all evil, and the increasingly evil world we live in will receive him well. The wickedness around us is frightening, and the problems we face seem insurmountable.

Evil’s strength is greater than ours, but not greater than God’s. God conquers all evil.

His love for us is stronger than the work of evil.

Read the entire chapter:
1 John Chapter 4

Faith Is the Confidence In What We Hope For

Scripture: Hebrews 11: 1, 3, 6

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.(1) By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.(3) And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.(6)

Scripture Commentary: What words describe faith?

Faith is certainty. It is surety. But of what are you sure? And of what are you certain? These two qualities have a secure start and end point.

The start point of faith is believing in God’s character. He is who He says.

The end point is believing in God’s promises. He will do what He says.

Do not put your faith in earthly things.

Our faith is in the God who created us and the entire universe. We are here to serve God. Put yourself in His hands and spread His gospel.

God will not settle for a mere acknowledgement of His existence. He wants a personal, dynamic relationship with you. When you tell others the gospel, tell them to be honest and diligent in their search for the truth.

God will give you the strength to do what He asks.

Remember others who obeyed the call: Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses. And if you listen, you too!

Read the Entire Chapter:
Hebrews Chapter 11

Jesus Is the Perfect Forever Sacrifice For Our Sins

Scripture: Hebrews 10: 10-14

And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Scripture Commentary: There is no sacrifice greater than that of Jesus who saves us all

The high priest would make sacrifices once a year, every year, to God. The sacrifice, a burnt offering, was given to atone for sins committed. The costly offering of an animal’s life impressed upon the sinner the seriousness of his sin before God.

Jesus Christ sacrificed himself by shedding his blood on the cross. This was infinitely greater than any offering in the Old Testament. Jesus’ blood negated the animal sacrifice and negated the system where the priest made intercession on our behalf before God. With Jesus’ death and resurrection, this system was no longer needed.

Jesus makes it possible for us to go directly to God

The priests’ work was never finished in that every year they had to stand and offer sacrifices. Jesus’ sacrifice finished it.

We still sin, but because of Jesus dying on the cross, we can go to God ourselves and ask for forgiveness. He sent the Holy Spirit to help us. If only we will listen.

God is still preparing us; He is not finished with us.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Hebrews Chapter 10