Be Careful Who You Copy

Scripture: Romans 12: 2

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Scripture Commentary:

Be careful who you copy. You may find you are going in the wrong direction. I remember as a child playing follow the leader. We took turns following each other walking on the sidewalk and avoiding the cracks, walking between parked cars, and jumping over the railing that separated our porch from a neighbor’s porch. Although the game was harmless, the principle of following others continues throughout life; however, today the consequences can be far more serious.

People imitate social media influencers, sometimes copying challenges that have life-threatening consequences. Youth follow their peers and sometimes find themselves in a flash mob committing crimes and assaults. Fear of not being accepted is innate to our humanity. God created us to be in relationship with himself and each other.

Scripture teaches that the world’s systems are influenced by spiritual forces that oppose God. 1 John 16 says, “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.”

Let Jesus lead you. God has a good plan for your life. Learn to appreciate what God has given you. Be thankful. Gratitude shifts our perspective from what is lacking to what we have. Allow God to be the leader of your life today.

Amen.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Romans 12

1 John 2

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Romans:

You Have No Excuse

We Have Our Minds Set on Jesus

Scripture Commentary by Minister Elton Richardson

Find Peace Within Yourself

Scripture: Matthew 5: 9

God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

Scripture Commentary:

If we identify ourselves as children of God, our objective is to find peace within ourselves and in the community around us. Jesus began the sermon on the mount with the beatitudes, a series of blessings. Each one was a blessing from God that yielded its own reward.

A peacemaker seeks resolutions that bring unity between individuals and communities. Such a person is marked by compassion, empathy, love, and grace that often surpasses the understanding of those around them.

Every day, look for opportunities to be a peacemaker. Offer a kind word, extend grace, or choose silence over harshness. These choices bring peace to others. Also, it cultivates the peace of Christ within us. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. He provides everything we need to live as His Children.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Matthew 5

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Matthew:

How Can Anyone Walk On Water?

Worship God In Spirit and In Truth

Commentary by Min. Elton Richardson

Accept Jesus and Be Born Again

Scripture: John 3: 1-3

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. ²He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” ³Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.

Scripture Commentary: Discover what it means to be born again.

Free at last! Being born again happens when you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. At that time the sinful life you had been living is washed away. The old you is gone; you’ve been given a new self. God gives each of us this gift when we accept Him. Thank God almighty, I am free at last.

We are born sinners but we do not have to live this way.

When Jesus told Nicodemus that he needed to become born again, Nicodemus was thinking of the physical body. Jesus, however, was talking about the Holy Spirit that has been given to each of us. Have you talked to your Holy Spirit lately? If not, call on it now. No matter who you are or what you’ve been doing with God, He is ready to forgive and forget your past transgressions and give you His almighty love.

God gives you multiple chances to accept Him.

He knows we are weak, but He is strong. Are you ready to be born again? Are you ready to be washed in the spiritual blood of Jesus Christ? Be free at last! Thank God almighty, free at last!

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

John 3

Read Other Commentary From the Book of John:

Jesus, the Light of the World

Jesus Is the Living Water

God Loves Us Even in the Wilderness

Scripture: Deuteronomy 32: 51-52

⁵¹Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of MeribahKadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel. ⁵²Yet thou shalt see the land before thee; but thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the children of Israel.

Scripture Commentary:

The consequence for Moses’ trespass against God in front of the children of Israel was that he would not enter the Promised Land. Despite Moses’ disobedience, God still loved him and those who passed away. There are times when Moses disobeyed God. For example, in Numbers 20, God told Moses to speak to a rock to get water, but Moses struck the rock twice. Another time, Moses sent 12 men to scout out Canaan and report back in 40 days about the people, cities, and resources. Ten men feared what they saw, and two men reported that we can conquer the land as God has promised. God was angry with Moses and the Israelites because they chose to believe the ten men and not put their faith in God.

We, too, at times anger God with our disobedience, and yet God continues to love us. If God forgives us for our disobedience and even forgets our transgressions, then why is it so hard for us to forgive others and even forget their transgressions against us? How can we say we are Christians and not forgive others while we seek God’s forgiveness? Matthew 22:39-b, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” This is a type of love we should strive to practice every day.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Deuteronomy 32

Numbers 20

Matthew 22

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Deuteronomy:

God Will Not Fail or Forsake You

Who I Am Not

Mercy in the Midst of Judgement

Scripture: Psalm 51: 1-3

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. ²Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. ³For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

Scripture Commentary:

God referred to David as “a man after his own heart,” found in 1 Samuel 13:14, because David had demonstrated his commitment and faith in serving God. David protected the sheep from the lion, and David defeated Goliath. God anointed David to be king over Israel. God showed mercy and protected David from Saul, who sought to kill him. All of humanity has a sinful heart and falls short of loving God and loving each other the way we should.

David wrote this Psalm after Nathan, the prophet, told him the story of the rich man and the poor man. The rich man took the only sheep that the poor man had to cook instead of using one of his own sheep. Nathan tells David that he is like the rich man, when he sent Uriah to the front line in battle to be killed so that he, David, could have Bethsheba as his wife. Bethsheba was Uriah’s wife.

God shows us mercy and forgives our transgressions.

We can go to God as David did, seeking God’s forgiveness for our transgressions. Through God’s loving kindness and multitude of tender mercies, God will forgive us for our transgressions. There are consequences for our transgressions. God’s judgment in David’s case was the death of Bathsheba and David’s son. In our case, it will be whatever God’s judgment requires of us. But remember this, God’s love for humanity is forever, and he will never leave or forsake us. Never.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Psalm 51

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Psalms:

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep …

Go to God for Help. He Won’t Let You Down

Jesus Died For Our Sins

Scripture: Romans 5: 6-8, 11, 19

⁶When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. ⁷Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. ⁸But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. ¹¹So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.¹⁹Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

Scripture Commentary:

Adam disobeyed God and his sin was passed onto us. Jesus Christ died for our sins and atoned for us. Jesus died for the ungodly and as well the godly. He showed us the way to God and His kingdom.

Although we are disobedient, Jesus made us righteous to God. We are weak on our own, but through Christ we become strong. Think of it: God loved us before we knew Him or even accepted Him! We are lost within ourselves, doing our own thing without acknowledging God; however, God acknowledged each of us before we were born. Through Jesus Christ we become closer to the Father.

When you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you become a member of God’s family and inherit His love and forgiveness.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans 5

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Romans:

Jesus Delivered Us and Teaches Us Love

God Is the Root That Supports You

What Kind of Seed Are You?

Scripture: Matthew 13: 37 – 39

³⁷Jesus replied, “The Son of Man^[d] is the farmer who plants the good seed. ³⁸The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. ³⁹The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world,^[e] and the harvesters are the angels.

Scripture Commentary:

What kind of seed are you? Are you the seed languishing on the roadside, looking at the people passing by, saying and doing nothing? If so, go and join life filled with the Spirit of God.

Are you the seed laying between stones and rocks, waiting to be burned up by the sun? If that’s you, pull yourself up and let God fertilize you with His Word.

Perhaps you are planted among thorns and are being choked to death. If so, you are among Satan’s followers, thinking you have it all and need nothing. You are in trouble if you are in this camp.

The last seed is in good soil. This seed can help all the others, turning them to good. Call on Jesus Christ!

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Matthew 13

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Matthew:

God’s People Are the Salt of the Earth

Jesus Calls Us to Follow Him

What It Means to Follow Jesus

Scripture: Luke 9: 59-62

⁵⁹He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” ⁶⁰But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead!^[l] Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.” ⁶¹Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.” ⁶²But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

Scripture Commentary:

Jesus tells two men, “Come, follow me.” One man asks Jesus to let him bury his father first. The other wants to say goodbye to his family. Jesus tells the first man to go and bury his father, then follow him and spread the message of God’s kingdom. He tells the second man that he is not worthy to spread God’s word.

The first man is fulfilling his burial duties to his father. Jesus tells us that there are requirements to follow God. Those requirements do not include forsaking responsibility to family. The first man had a duty to family that needed to be fulfilled. Jesus’s response was to go and fulfill that duty, then go and spread God’s message.

The second person was just going to say goodbye, and maybe have a goodbye party. He had nothing urgent or important that had to be done.

Two people, two requirements. One was accepted and the other rejected. God knows our heart, soul and mind. If you are truthful to God in your request, He will honor it with love and understanding.

In John 14:13, Jesus tells us, “You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.”

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Luke 9

John 14

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Luke:

Be a Reflection of the Light of Jesus

How Hard Is It To Forgive?

Will You Betray Jesus?

Scripture: Matthew 26: 14 – 15, 25

¹⁴Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests ¹⁵and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. ²⁵Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, “Rabbi, am I the one?” And Jesus told him, “You have said it.”

Scripture Commentary:

The question: “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” The answer: thirty pieces of silver. That was the price of a slave during that time. It’s ironic that Jesus Christ, the servant for man, was also our slave servant. He came into the world to take our sins onto himself, giving us the only true path to God, Our Father.

Jesus chose Judas to be one of his disciples although he knew what Judas would do. The deed was foretold in Psalm 41: 9 (Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me.)

The second question asked is “Rabbi, am I the one?” Jesus replied, “You have said it.”

God will ask each of us a question.

What have you done in His name? Your reply can be nothing or Lord, I have finished the assignment you gave me. When you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you received your assignment. If you’ve done nothing, sitting on the sidelines, then you did what Satan had for you. As a child of God, you are to love and help those in need.

Jesus paid the price for you.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Matthew 26

Psalm 41

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Matthew:

Will You Be Prepared When Christ Returns?

Not Everyone Has a Relationship with God. What About You?

Don’t Be Deceived By the Serpent

Scripture: Genesis 3: 1-3

The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” ²“Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. ³“It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”

Scripture Commentary: The serpent deceives.

The Bible refers to Satan as the serpent and records three times where he has a conversation with someone. Genesis 3 is the first time, and Job 1: 7-11 and Job 2: 2-6 is the second time. The third time is in Matthew 4: 3-10.

A conversation is defined as “an informal spoken exchange, a familiar talk.” The last part of familiar spells “liar.” Satan will do or say anything to get you to follow him. Satan had to get God’s permission to attack Job. He lied to Eve to sway her. With Jesus, he was lost before he even got started.