Money Can’t Buy What Is Eternal

Scripture: Acts 8: 9,13,18

But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Sa-ma’-ri-a, giving out that himself was some great one: (9) Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.(13) And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money.(18)

Scripture Commentary: Money won’t get you into heaven

In our world, everything has a price. We live in a world of wealth, of bribes, and of materialism. Simon thought he could buy the Holy Spirit’s power with money. Peter harshly rebuked him. The only way to receive God’s power is to do what Peter told Simon to do; turn from sin, ask God for forgiveness, and fill up with his Spirit. God gives the Holy Spirit in return for you giving yourself to him.

You can’t put a price on God

Can you calculate the price value of our Lord Jesus Christ? “O Lord, if you get me out of this mess, I will be good,” or “If you help me hit the lottery, I will do what you will have me to do.” Do these phrases sound familiar? Do you have a price for your service to God?

Do not put a price on giving yourself to God. God wants you to serve him out of your faith. No amount of money can buy salvation and forgiveness. None can buy God’s love. Give yourself to our Lord Jesus Christ. He will show you the way to salvation.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Acts Chapter 8

Love Is Of God; Let Us Love One Another

Scripture: 1 John 4: 4-8

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Scripture Commentary: Love is of God

Is there a person in your life whom you hate; someone who has done wrong by you either in actions or words? Do you consider yourself a child of God? If you answer yes to both, then think about this scripture. We are of God, and love is of God.

To be a child of God means to love as he loves.

God’s love knows no bounds. Walking in God’s image means you cannot hate another person and call yourself a child of God. If Jesus Christ is your savior, you are to love everyone.

If you truly follow Christ, the Holy Spirit dwells in you. With the Holy Spirit in you, you will love everyone, including your enemies. God reveals himself to others through our acts of love.

John tells you that “God is love” not “Love is God.”

The world has shallow and selfish views of love; it has turned these words around and contaminated the understanding of love.

Real love is God, for he gave his only begotten son to us and for you, to show you his love for you. How can you say you love God and dislike someone? If you truly know God, you will love as he loves.

Read the Entire Chapter:
1 John Chapter 4

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

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

A Violator Cannot Forgive His Own Trespasses

Scripture: Colossians 2: 13-14

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus is the sacrificial lamb to cleanse us of our trespasses

How foolish for us to think that our good deeds may one day cancel out our trespasses. Our good deeds are defective because we don’t honor God in the way we do them. Are our good deeds done in joyful dependence on God, acknowledging Him as the author of our life? Are we fulfilling the command to serve?

The strength that God supplies is so “that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”** Without Jesus’ exalting faith, our deeds signify nothing but rebellion.

God does not save through good deeds.

If we are saved from the consequences of our bad deeds, it will not be because they weigh less than our good ones. It will be because our debt was nailed to the cross of Jesus Christ.

God does not save sinners the way that we think. Jesus, with His suffering, death and resurrection, cancel the record of our trespasses so that they are blotted out. There is no balance, no debt!

The cancellation happened when Jesus was nailed to and died on the cross. God loves us, He will forgive and forget all our sins when we turn to Jesus, who is the light and path to the Father.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Colossians Chapter 2

**Additional Reading:
1 Peter Chapter 4

Content: The State of Peaceful Happiness

Scripture: Philippians 4: 10-13

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Scripture Commentary: Are you content in any circumstance that you face?

The secret to being content is drawing on Christ’s power for strength. Do you have great needs? And are you discontented because you don’t have what you want? Learn to rely on God’s promise and Christ’s power to help you be content. If you always want more, ask God to remove that desire and teach you contentment.

If you detach yourself from the non-essentials, you can concentrate better on the Lord.

The Lord will take care of all of your needs

Often the desire for more or better possessions is really a longing to fill an empty place in your life. The power we receive in union with Christ is sufficient to do His will and to face the challenges that arise from our commitment to doing it.

Ask yourself, is it need or is it greed? The Lord Jesus Christ fulfills all your needs.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Philippians 4

Do Not Despair; God Is With You

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4: 8-12

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

Scripture Commentary: God shows us again and again in the Bible not to despair

Paul reminds us that we often feel like we are losing the battle, living in despair, persecuted, abandoned, struck down, and destroyed. But hope and faith in Jesus Christ redeems us. Our flesh is perishable; it is subject to sin and suffering. God never abandons us, and his love and support will never perish.

Christ defeated death and gives us eternal life. All of our obstacles, humiliations, and trials are opportunities for Christ to demonstrate his power and presence in our lives. Paul suffered as he preached the Good News, but he knew that one day his trials would end. He held onto the promise of God’s rest and rewards.

Trust God to lift you out of your despair; He will never fail you

We all face troubles. It is easy to focus on our pain and the things we hate about our day to day lives. We must push through the negative and concentrate on our ultimate goal.

Athletes push themselves to the finish line, even when they’re tired and sore. Push yourself toward Jesus Christ. Let your faith guide you. Let Christ strengthen you. Do not let fatigue, pain, or criticism stop you from reaching the end.

Don’t forsake your eternal life because of the intensity of today’s pain. Your very weakness allows the resurrection power of Christ to strengthen you moment by moment.

Read the Entire Chapter:
2 Corinthians Chapter 4