Backbiters: There Is a Price for Being Disobedient

Scripture: Romans 1: 30-32

Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Scripture Commentary: Being disobedient may feel good, but it comes with a price.

We know that it’s wrong to be spiteful, a boaster, and disobedient. But why does wrong feel so good?

God allows us to choose. He won’t stop us from making choices that are against His will. He lets us declare our supposed independence from Him although He knows that in time, that “independence” will make us slaves to our rebellious choices.

We tend to believe lies that reinforce our own selfish desires. Today, more than ever, we need to be careful about the input we allow to inform our beliefs.

TV, music, movies and other forms of media often favorably present sinful lifestyles and unwholesome values . We are constantly bombarded with attitudes and beliefs that are totally opposed to the Word of God.

Paul says that nature itself is eagerly awaiting its own redemption from the effects of sin. So, knowing that everything comes at a price, live like a christian.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 1

Then Shall I Know God Will Save

Scripture: Judges 6: 36-38

And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.

Scripture Commentary: Trust and know that God has your back

Are you like Gideon in that when God tells you to do something, you question it? Are you constantly asking God for a sign? Gideon asked God three times to give him a sign so that he would believe God. Gideon believed when he saw the miracles of the fire from the rock, the fleece being wet, and then the ground wet and the fleece dry.

Was Gideon testing God or was he simply asking God for more encouragement? Was Gideon’s motives right or was his methods less than ideal? Are you trusting God or do you need more signs?

When you go to God and ask for His help, don’t always look for a sign before believing. Although you may not get the answer you were looking for, God will always guide you in the right direction.

Visible signs aren’t necessary if it only confirms what you already know is true. The greatest means of God’s guidance is His Word, The Bible. If you want more of God’s guidance, put your life in His hands, and study The Bible.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Judges Chapter 6

Being Saved Is Being Under Grace

Scripture: Romans 6: 1, 14-18

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?(1) For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Scripture Commentary: God places us under grace and mercy when we chose to be saved

We are under grace, and this grace has removed us from legalistic religion. Romans 10:4 says, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

Jesus said that he came not to change the law, but to fulfill it. Matthew 5:17-18 says, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

Jesus was crucified and on the third day was raised from the grave and ascended into heaven to sit by His Father. When Jesus ascended, He sent the Holy Spirit to us. Because of God’s love, grace and mercy, we are saved.

If it wasn’t for God’s grace, we would still be lost in the wilderness. When we become saved, our old self dies, and our new self, through His grace, is raised up in His spirit to begin a new life in Jesus Christ.

When we become saved, we move out of darkness into His light.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 6

Additional Reading:
Romans Chapter 10
Matthew Chapter 5

The Son of Man Came to Serve

Scripture: Mark 8:31-35

And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men. And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

Scripture commentary: Jesus as the Son of Man is the human agent of God

Jesus refers to himself as the ” Son of Man.” The expression comes from Daniel 7:13. Also, it refers to Jesus as the Messiah, the human agent of God who is vindicated by God.

In Mark 8, Jesus begins to speak plainly and directly to His disciples about His death and resurrection. As a result, He began to prepare them for what was coming, telling them three times that He would soon die.

Peter wanted Christ to be king, not the suffering servant. In addition, he was ready to receive the glory of following the Messiah, but not the persecution. He saw only part of the picture, not seeing God’s plan for Jesus’ life, and he was thinking of his own natural human desires and feelings.

Like Peter, we often do not see the plans that God has for our life because we are focusing only the things that we want, here and now. Do not hold on to the things of this world. Now is the time to deny the the things of this world and follow Jesus.

Note: The expression “the Son of man” occurs 81 times in the Greek text of the four Canonical gospels.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Mark Chapter 8

Come Unto Me, All Ye That Labour

Scripture: Matthew 11: 28- 30

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Scripture Commentary: Accept the invitation to come unto Jesus

Jesus invites us to rely on Him when He says, “Come unto me…” Accept him as Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten son and He will free us from the earthly burdens that we carry. When we put ourselves in Jesus’ care, the problems we thought we had are no longer important.

God gives us a peace that is so relaxing that it gives us the answers we need. Jesus mentions two kinds of people in his prayer: the “wise” who are arrogant in their own knowledge, and the “little children” who humbly open themselves to receive the truth of God’s Word.

Are you wise in your own eyes, or do you seek the truth in childlike faith, realizing that only God holds all the answers?

Christ’s death and resurrection gave us direct access to God the father. We are so fortunate that Jesus has clearly revealed God to us. He gives us His truth and tells us how we can know The Father.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Matthew Chapter 11

All Things Are Possible to Him That Believes

Scripture: Mark 9: 23-24, 29

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.(23-24) And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.(29)

Scripture Commentary: All things are possible with God

Do you really believe that prayer can answer your needs? The important word is “needs,” not wishes, wants, or desires. All things are possible through prayer.

God knows our needs, and He will take care of them. Faith is a gift from God, and prayer is the key that unlocks our faith. We are asking God to put our life in His hands when we pray. It is then that we are completely dependent on Him.

Prayer demonstrates our reliance on God as we humbly invite Him to fill us with faith and power. There is no substitute for prayer, especially in circumstances that appear to be impossible.

There’s a hymn by Bill and Gloria Gaither that sums it up well, saying, “I believe help thou my unbelief. I walk into the unknown trusting all the while.” We need help with our unbelief. Believing in Jesus means that anything is possible. Nothing is too difficult for God.

We cannot have everything we pray for as if by magic, but with faith, we can have everything we need to serve God. Put your faith in His hands and leave it there.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Mark Chapter 9

Have Faith in God to Move Your Mountains

Scripture: Mark 11: 22-23

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Scripture Commentary: Have faith in God to meet your needs

Many people ask God why He hasn’t answered their prayer although they’ve been praying it for a long time.

What are you praying for? Is it for money, a car, house, or it for something else?

God will answer your prayers if you are a believer. Don’t pray with selfish motives, and hold no grudge against anyone. When you pray, let it be for the good of God’s kingdom and not your earthly desires. God knows your needs, and He will provide. Believe in Him. He can move that mountain in your life.

Phillippians 4:6 tells us, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” And 1 Peter 3: 12 says, “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”

To pray effectively, you need faith in God, not faith in the object of your request. Change your focus; change your prayers. Focus on God, not on yourself.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Mark Chapter 11

Other Scripture on Prayer:
Philippians Chapter 4
1 Peter Chapter 3

Lord, Remember Me When You Come Into Your Kingdom

Scripture: Luke 23: 39, 42-43

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Acts 2:21

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Scripture Commentary: I want Jesus to save me and remember me as one of His own

Some of us know people who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. There are people who think what they are doing will save them.

Two criminals hung on the cross next to Jesus. The man on the left died daring Jesus to save both himself and them.

The man on the right turned to Jesus to ask his forgiveness, and Jesus accepted him. This dying criminal had more faith than Jesus’ followers and disciples put together. He had the faith to ask Jesus to remember him in his kingdom. In contrast, most of the disciples ran and hid from the Romans while Jesus was hanging on the cross. Where was their faith after being a first-hand witness to Jesus’ works?

This shows that our deeds do not save us. So you may ask, “What will save me?” Exercise the same faith as the criminal on the right. Ask Jesus to save you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Luke Chapter 23
Acts Chapter 2

Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord

Scripture: Mark 1: 1-3

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Scripture Commentary: Prepare yourself for Jesus – He is coming again!

When the herald arrived in town, the people knew to prepare as someone of prominence was coming. Today through the newspapers, radio, TV, billboards, and online resources, we hear and read about who is coming to town.

John The Baptist announced and prepared the people for the coming of Jesus Christ. Even now there are heralds announcing the second coming of our Lord.

Are you ready for him? What are you doing to get ready?

Jesus promises to return, and God is not a liar. Jesus will come for us today just as he did 2000 years ago. If you haven’t done it yet, it’s time to give up your selfish way of living, renounce your sins, seek God’s forgiveness, and establish a relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are living every day with the signs of His coming. Matthew 24: 7-8 says, “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

We know not the time, but we know that our Lord and Savior is coming!

Read the Entire Chapter:
Mark Chapter 1

Additional Reading:
Matthew Chapter 24

Watch! Be Alert For Jesus’ Return

Scripture: Mark 13: 34-37

For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Scripture Commentary: Watch and prepare for Jesus will return

Jesus left us the keys to his father’s house. The keys are his Word, the Bible. His footprints are on the ground, in the sand and on the floor.

Our God has gone to prepare our rooms.
What are you doing to prepare for the journey? Are you a servant for God or are you self-serving? Are you God’s porter, gate keeper, or a doorman to His temple? Do you spread God’s Gospel and try your best to live a Godly life?
Be Jesus’ servant; be a gatekeeper for Him. You don’t know when the Master will return.

Prepare! You plan for events in your life, such as births, weddings, home and car purchases. Are you preparing for Jesus Christ’s return?

When God has given you another second, minute, hour or day, give thanks. Spread his gospel to as many people as possible.