God loves us – Page 41 – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

Spiritual Growth is Silent

Spiritual Growth Is Silent Devotional Reading and Podcast

Jesus created the world to have consistent and continuous growth and movement. All bodies of water, the sea, streams, and oceans give us evidence of that movement. And nothing is more exciting than planting seeds and anxiously watching and waiting for the little seedlings to burst through the dirt.

We were also created to achieve growth through spiritual and academic learning. Still, God’s plan is for us to utilize the Bible as our primary source of gaining knowledge. From the moment we pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit [before studying the Bible], we receive discernment of the Scriptures, wisdom, and spiritual guidance for applying the Truth to our lives.

“But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16, ESV)

To live holy means we put God first. Daily worship includes prayer expressing gratitude, Bible study, and asking for Divine guidance regarding life’s challenges. Hearing God’s Voice can happen in various ways. The Holy Spirit speaks to us through the Scriptures and our thoughts. Make worship an intimate time between you and God without distractions or disruptions.

Our commitment to obey and walk in God’s Purpose is the only way to achieve spiritual growth. Spiritual growth and transformation are dynamic and occur throughout our lifetime as long as we remain dedicated to God.

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience…” (Colossians 1:9-11).

Like the plant that grows silently, our spiritual growth is also silent. We visualize the development of plant life stages, but how do we know if we are growing spiritually? Our characters change as evidenced by the desire to intentionally guard our hearts. The programs, music, and conversations we previously watched, listened to and participated in become displeasing to our eyes and ears. We become intentional and committed to our relationship with Christ.

As we grow, we begin to take better care of our souls. The more we learn about God’s character and the life of Christ, our hearts are filled with love—we love God, others, and ourselves. When our hearts are bursting with love for God, we willingly change our lifestyles to include praying and studying the Scriptures. Another godly trait we gain is compassion–we will begin to care about the well-being of those in need.

Our goals change from pleasing ourselves to pleasing God. We begin to desire a character that has the [righteous] qualities of the Fruit of the Spirit. Do not try to monitor or speed up your spiritual growth. We can change undesirable habits or curtail unrighteous traits, such as impatience [which demonstrates we are doing our part], yet, spiritual transformation is a continuous and lifelong process orchestrated by the Holy Spirit.

Like the plant that requires light, water, and nutrients for proper growth and maturity, we also need the Light and Living Water that only Christ can provide. Realistically, we will fall when we fail to pray for guidance. Do not become discouraged! “For a righteous person falls seven times and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of disaster” (Proverbs 24:16). We must repent, get back up, not repeat the same mistake, and keep going.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” —Matthew 11:28, NIV

We have Divine Help every second of our lives. God is only a prayer away. Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). We have a Father who loves us!

Our transformation relies on a close relationship with Christ. Surrender and obedience allow us to receive the spiritual nutrients that flow from the Source, Jesus Christ. Yes, Christ not only gives us strength, but He also nurtures us with His everlasting love!

Every Christian’s Goal: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Every day we fight against our sinful traits, but we can win those battles with the Holy Spirit who gives us the strength to overcome our carnal desires and resist temptation. Our willingness to cooperate and surrender to God’s will and plans allows the Holy Spirit to achieve the continuous transformation required for eternal life.

There is a marked difference between spiritual growth and natural growth. We reach mental and physical maturity by a certain age, but we never cease growing spiritually. God has designed that we are ever learning and growing in our walk on the Path of Righteousness.

Sanctification, to be molded into the likeness of Christ–His Character lasts throughout our cycle of life on this earth.

Scripture: “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him, all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him” (Colossians 1: 15-16).

Prayer: God, I ask You to show me the way and reveal what You want me to do. I want to do what you want me to do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A Love Letter to Jesus, Our Wonderful Savior

Dear Jesus, With all of my heart, I thank You for Your awesome love and the greatest sacrificial gift of Your life for humanity. Although I struggle to comprehend the magnitude of Agape love, I know that Your love is everything that I need. I surrender myself to You and pray that one day I will see You face to face to ask you the question that is deeply hidden in my heart. I love You, Jesus. Yes, my heart belongs to You. Love Always, your Daughter

Traveling in Safety

Traveling in Safety Devotional Reading and Podcast

Yesterday, I watched an interesting story of a woman [age 40 +] who restarted her life after a divorce. Her desire was always to travel. But could she live a rugged life with the uncertainties of which direction am I going in and where will I stay overnight? What about the finances? She weighed her life experience against the fear of the unknown and move forward by converting a cargo van [without windows] into a tiny home that revealed amazing creativity and functionality.

As she spoke about planning the van’s conversion, her primary goal in designing was to ensure her safety. A solo woman living the van life must always be on the alert. One of her never will do this–boondocking in isolated places. The best advice for those thinking about living full-time in a traveling home is to always be highly observant of your surroundings and join an online community of travelers eager to share their knowledge, wisdom, and experience to maintain a peaceful and safe lifestyle on the road.

As I thought about the intentional steps this van lifer took to ensure her physical safety and overall well-being, I reflected on the believer’s life. Is spiritual safety a priority for us? We know that Satan is our greatest enemy, yet, we have another enemy within. ” But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire” (James 1:14).

Ensuring our spiritual safety requires prayer, self-denial, and self-control.

Even the most disciplined person has a point of weakness. Learning and practicing self-denial and self-control is a joint effort and requires the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit. Even the apostle Paul had to admit that he was a slave to sin, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” (Romans 7:15, NIV).

Can you imagine a godly man who wrote most of the New Testament confessing that he also struggled with sin? Yet that same godly man also gave us the answer to staying safe in our spiritual journey, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).

Maintaining the Highest Level of Spiritual Safety in Our Journey of Life

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Human Effort: Our safety foundation begins with a steadfast relationship with Christ. We must possess faith, trust, and obedience as core spiritual traits. Praying, Studying the Scriptures, Asking for the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit, and Evaluating our thoughts, behaviors, and lifestyle are daily responsibilities in keeping us spiritually safe. With a strong determination, we strive for the character traits of the Fruit of the Spirit.

What do you watch and listen to? What is on your enjoyment list? Who is in your social circle? “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character’ ” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Paul advises us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves with the community of believers. Maintaining spiritual safety includes having friends and mentors who help us stay on the Path of Righteousness through their prayers, joyful conversations, and godly advice.

Divine Intervention: “If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it”(John 14:14). “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26).

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide a way of escape, so that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

An intentional sin is an act of wilful disobedience. And that is a heart problem of disloyalty against God. Even if we do not commit intentional sins, we face spiritual warfare every day that places us in danger of compromising our relationship with God. “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13).

One of Satan’s best tactics is to deceive us by using our friends and family. Never say yes when asked to participate in any social function that does not glorify God. The best response is, “I have to pray about it” or “No, I am unable to do that.” And never apologize for turning down the invitation to engage in sinful activities.

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Our Value to God: There is another aspect of maintaining our spiritual safety that many of us never think about, we forget that our worth was determined by Christ before humanity was created. When we pray and meditate on whom we belong to and the price that Jesus paid for our redemption, we realize that we are recipients of the greatest gift given to humanity by our loving Savior.

And Jesus tells us, “…I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3).

Although we can never anticipate the time or type of temptation, the Holy Spirit will make us aware it is Satan’s entrapment that has a dangerous outcome. To maintain our spiritual safety, every day we must stay spiritually alert by staying connected to the Source and Sustainer of our lives. Renounce every enticement of sin and learn to “Just say, No!” even if it originates from the desires of your heart.

Prayer: God, we confess the desires of our hearts are not in alignment with your will and plans for our lives. Lord, forgive us for placing ourselves in danger of sinning against You. We pray for Divine strength as we travel through this earthly journey. Thank you, for the Holy Spirit and the angels who protect us from spiritual warfare and physical harm. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray, Amen.

Come Back to God

Come Back to God Devotional Reading and Podcast

“King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, ‘You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.’ Yet Solomon clung to these women in love.” 1 Kings 11:1-2

Within the past two years have you grown closer to God? The answer to the question appears to be a simple yes or no, but an in-depth reflection of the time we spend in daily worship and our lifestyle choices reveals the love in our hearts for God and the status of our relationship with Christ.

We live in a culture where people have a lot to say, but they rarely listen unless it is for financial gain or enjoyment. There are more discussions on relationships, politics, social injustices, travel, food, and the pursuit of [our] happiness than the Plan of Salvation, Righteousness by Faith, and the Second Coming of Jesus. Even in most Christian social functions, we rarely discuss God.

There was a time when Christians prayed and diligently studied the Bible, but the lack of scriptural knowledge is rapidly increasing because we are distracted. Like King Solomon, we have interacted and formed deadly relationships with those without desire for eternal life in the New Heaven and New Earth.

We have allowed earthly pleasures and our agendas to separate us from God. Yet, this is not without a price. The disruptions that disturb our peace have left us weary and disoriented. Because God is no longer first our first response to resolve challenges and hardships is to rely on ourselves, or to contact family and friends for answers.

Sadly, at a time when biblical prophecies are being fulfilled, our primary focus is no longer on God. The natural disasters, nuclear weapon preparation, threats of war retaliation, and those appearing godly are the signs of last-day prophecies being fulfilled. Since 2020, we have had an uncontrollable global virus with a history of developing new variants that are still wreaking havoc globally and causing a burden on the healthcare arena.

King Solomon was blessed with wisdom and wealth but he gave into his carnal desires of lustful pleasures. Satan has 6,00o years of experience deceiving people on the planet Earth. There was a time that Christians were dedicated to Christ and appreciated His sacrificial gift to redeem us from our sins. Sadly like King Solomon, we have chosen the temporary pleasures of sin to tear us away from God.

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people” (2 Timothy 3:1-5, NIV).

We have made ourselves an idol. Self-worship is demonstrated by our decision to put God on hold by pursuing whatever is desirable to our hearts. Even so, satisfying our desires and actions comes with a price resulting in spiritual bankruptcy! We now have a generation of Christians who are apathetic and unaware of the time we are living in.

The people who claim that we serve God under His Banner of Truth are fragmented more than ever. Instead of proclaiming Jesus as a Loving Savior who died and rose again for the salvation of humanity, we are pursuing our agendas. Many are beyond feeling remorseful for turning away from God. We feel that we are living our best lives and are happily satisfied with our decisions.

The Call to Repentance: “Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty.” Zechariah 1:3

Because we serve a Loving and Merciful God, Jesus is pleading with us to repent and come back to God. We are no match for spiritual warfare! All of heaven is concerned for humanity. God, the Father, and the angels watched Jesus, the Commander of Heaven and Earth die a gruesome and humiliating death on the cross that He did not deserve.

With love, Jesus gave His life for the redemption of people who would never love Him back or lose their love for Him because they are pursuing the desires of the heart. We are losing the race against time. It’s time that we return to our first love, Jesus Christ. Our decision to renounce sin is a matter of life and death! God requires loyal, faithful, obedient men and women of God. And those character traits are only possible if we possess a heart filled with love for God.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:7-8).

Prayer: God, we ask for the forgiveness of our sins. We pray an Intercessory prayer for those who have lost their first love. We ask for the Holy Spirit to touch their hearts and remind them of the matchless love of Christ and His plans for them to live eternally with Him. We also pray they will choose life by returning to God and dedicating their lives to His service. In Jesus’ worthy Name, Amen.

Wanted: Disciples Who Will “Follow Me”

Wanted: Disciples Who Will “Follow Me” Devotional Reading and Podcast

“As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he rose and followed him.” (Matthew 9:9)

Matthew was of Jewish descent but worked for the Roman government as a tax collector. He was despised by the other Jews because of his habit of overcharging and oppressing those whom he collected taxes from. Yet, Jesus knew there was something in Matthew’s heart that yearned to know the truth. Jesus gave the command, “Follow me” [that has the option to say no] to Matthew and he followed.

Matthew walked away from his life to obey Christ and become a disciple including his financially lucrative position. He chose the Kingdom of God over money. Yes, Matthew gave up everything to follow Christ.

In the Scriptures, there are examples of others that Jesus called, the rich, young ruler, and the man who was in mourning for the death of a family member who chose not to follow Jesus. They were unable to become disciples because of their love for traditional beliefs and worldly possessions. Denial reveals their earthly priorities. Like many today who desire to serve God, yet, they are unwilling to give up all that is required to become one of Christ’s disciples.

Jesus says, “Follow Me” but the unspoken words “Not by Force” is understood by the fact that we were created with the free will of choice. Many will accept Christ as their personal Savior, but they do not desire to be a faithful and obedient disciple. Satan has deceived many Christians into thinking that we can develop the description of discipleship.

When an individual applies for a position the company’s advertisement must include a job description. The interviewer provides a breakdown of the duties required for the position. An experienced job-seeker is aware that the flexibility of the position is minimal. Usually, there are only a couple of negotiable areas, the starting salary and the work hours.

“And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’ ” (Mark 8:34)

Every person who accepts Christ as their personal Savior has the job description of being a full-time disciple. The difference between the employer’s job description and Jesus’ disciple, we are accountable to God 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Christians follow Christ–we move in the same direction and obey God’s will and plans.

Disciple’s Job Description: We are called to love and lead people to Christ. “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20).

The Mindset and Behaviors of a Disciple–

True Disciples Follow Jesus, the Leader
Faithful, Obedient, and Live a Sacrificial Life
Called to leave everyone and everything
Prioritize by always having Jesus first

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).

We receive the discernment and power to use our spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit. Not everyone has the same gifts. Whether we are part of an Outreach Ministry in our church or have been directed to use our gifts in other ways, God never leaves us guessing about our role in discipleship. Praying and studying the Bible are the ways that we receive spiritual nourishment and God’s guidance.

God knows that most have secular jobs that require at least 40 hours a week. Even so, we are always required to put God first. Our godly lifestyle, our behaviors of demonstrating love and kindness, and the gentle tone of our spoken words portray the love of Christ which are non-verbal ways of witnessing.

God has allowed humanity to make advancements in technology for the advancement of the Gospel of Salvation. We can use our time to post an encouraging Scripture or make a video witnessing the love of Jesus every day on social media. Yet, we also have the responsibility to “Go!” We can volunteer at a food pantry or homeless shelter once a week. When at the store, we can easily say, God loves you. The diverse ways to use our gifts are endless.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

We are accountable to God for how we used or wasted our talents [spiritual gifts] and our time. In reading Matthew chapter 25, verses 31 to 46, Jesus separates the sheep from the goats. The goats are also Christians who did not perform their duties of discipleship during their lifetime on earth.

“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:44-46).

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work (Revelation 22:12).

When Jesus comes, His reward is not based on weekly church attendance or tithe and offerings. Daily study of the Bible is to be utilized for spiritual growth and for sharing Scriptures with others. We have neighbors who know nothing about Jesus. It is our work as a disciple, the time we spent witnessing and caring for others that Jesus will reward.

Who will tell them? We are called to lead people to Jesus, the Savior of the world. Our commitment to Christ is all or nothing. Remember, it is the non-negotiable duty of all disciples to follow in the footsteps of Christ.

Prayer: God, we pray for forgiveness for not fulfilling our role as a disciple. We ask for the anointing of the Holy Spirit and the boldness to tell others about Jesus. Give us guidance and direction to use our spiritual gifts for Your honor and glory. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray. Amen.

Where is Your Loyalty?

Where is Your Loyalty? Devotional Reading and Podcast

Where is your allegiance? If you are unsure, measure yourself with these Spiritual Traits.

My Heart belongs to Christ

I am Praying without ceasing
I am Studying the Scriptures
I am Redeemed by His Grace
I am Committed to His Purposes
I am Empowered by His Holy Spirit
I am Faithfully Trusting His Plans
I am Obedient to His Commands
I am Traveling on the Path of Righteousness
I am Willing to Face Death for His Cause

We were created to live eternally with God. The Plan of Salvation was not an afterthought. The All-knowing [Omniscient] God accepted Jesus’ sacrificial gift to willingly die for us before humanity was created. The unequaled love that redeems us from sin also immediately forgives us of our sins when we repent.

“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage, I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33)

The righteous can expect a life of struggle. Yes, we will suffer from hardships and sorrows. There is no other way to build our faith and change our character to have the attributes of the Fruit of the Spirit [Galatians 5:22-23].

Preparation for eternal life begins in our earthly journey. Spiritual transformation is lifelong and requires human effort and Divine Intervention. Our relationship with Christ enables us to receive His Agape love throughout our lives. Jesus promised the disciples that the Holy Spirit would come and empower us to stay on the Path of Righteousness.

God has provided us with the Holy Spirit to teach, direct, and give us spiritual strength, wisdom, and discernment. Our guardian angels protect us from physical harm and unseen spiritual warfare every moment. In the Holy Scriptures, God has revealed signs of the last days and the end time.

But know this, that in the last days, perilous times will come For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

According to Matthew chapter 24 and the book of Revelation, we are living in the last days. The union of state [government] and the [false] church is the fulfillment of one of the prophecies in Revelation that indicates the end of time. Although the prophecy has not occurred yet, we must pray for discernment of the Scriptures as we diligently prepare for eternal life.

As long as we are faithful, loyal, and obedient, we are guaranteed that Jesus is committed to saving us. “…Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…” (Philippians 1:6).

“He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:8)

“For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay” (Habakkuk 2:3).

You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. For, “In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay (Hebrews 10:36-37).

Where is your loyalty?

Prayer: God, we pray for those who are in the valley of indecision that they will give up their earthly pursuits and wholeheartedly serve You. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus, Amen.

The Cost of Following JESUS

The Cost of Following Jesus—Devotional Reading and Podcast

“And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then one said to Him, ‘Lord, are there few who are saved?’ And He said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.'” Luke 13:22-24

Most of us agree that Jesus’ sacrificial offering of dying on the cross at Calvary is a priceless gift and His love for humanity is incomparable which raises the question, “What am I willing to do for Christ?” For a relationship to be reciprocal, both individuals are required to do their part. Love, faith, trust, and going above and beyond for each other are the expectation for growth and stability.

Yet there appears to be a conflict in our relationship with Christ. We desire His love, grace, mercies, protection, peace, joy, and material blessings. Yes, we love to receive. When facing unresolvable challenges, we ask God for His Divine Intervention, yet we do not have the desire to reciprocate. We expect much from our Heavenly Father but give very little.

“…that if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

Acknowledgment of Jesus’ deity and confession of our sins, allow us to receive righteousness by [our] faith which is imputed by Jesus through grace. Salvation is accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior and believing wholeheartedly that God raised His Son from the dead and we are saved from our sins. There are no complexities in the Plan of Salvation. Accepting Jesus is so simple that little children can understand. Thank You, Holy Spirit!

If salvation is simple, then why do so many Christians fall short of God’s expectations? Because staying on the Path of Righteousness requires daily entrance through the “Narrow Gate.” We are required to take up our cross and follow Christ. Surrendering our will every day to Christ is taking up our cross. Faith and obedience are two-character traits that God requires for everyone who proclaims, I am a Christian.

We struggle with righteousness because our hearts are not fully dedicated to Christ. Although we would never renounce our belief in God, we cannot enter the narrow gate because of one sin, Disobedience. Under the giant umbrella of disobedience are the personal sins of each person which grow from the desires of their hearts.

We are accustomed to abiding by governmental laws, city ordinances, and employer policies which only give room for the smallest margin of error, yet most breaches include a reprimand or disciplinary action. Sadly, we place a higher priority on laws and policies than on God’s forgiveness, grace, and mercy.

The assumption of God freely giving us the benefits that are reserved for the righteous propels us to continue to live according to our desires. Our prevailing thought, God will forgive is true. Yes, He forgives us but true repentance is possessing the sorrow for our sins along with the commitment to cease sinning. Intentional and wilful sins create the sin of pride which is another detour from living righteously—now we have the sin of presumption to add to our growing list of sins.

Because God is loving and fair, “…He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45).

Disobedience changes our spiritual status from righteous to unrighteous. The one sin that causes disobedience also compromises our morals, values, and loyalty to God. When we no longer feel guilt [having conflict in our minds] regarding our sins then we have grieved the Holy Spirit. Our free will of choice is a gift that God will never take away even if it leads to us being lost.

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;…” (Romans 1:28-31)

We are living in a modern Sodom and Gomorrah where every imaginable sin is at the highest level. No one is exempt from the internal war of carnal desires that rages within us.

We can’t live righteously without Divine Intervention. The only way for us to escape the penalty of sin and enter the narrow gate is to take up our cross and follow Jesus. With careful consideration, we can agree the cost of following Christ is cheap compared to the debt of sin which is the second and final death.

Surrender, confession, and repentance flows from the heart who is full of love for God. We need the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit to enter the narrow gate. The cost of following Christ is to give up our natural desires of the heart. Our relationship with Jesus is one of a vine and branch. We are the branches who can do nothing unless we receive our spiritual nourishment from Jesus Christ, the Vine.

Prayer: God, we ask for forgiveness for our disobedience against You. We thank you for the greatest gift of Your Son, Jesus. We desire to enter the narrow gate every day and surrender and commit our hearts, minds, and souls to You. Jesus, we love You and ask this prayer in Your Holy Name, Amen.

How Did the Focus Change from Jesus to Us?

How Did the Focus Change from Jesus to Us? Devotional Reading and Podcast

Satan has invented a counterfeit for everything God has blessed as holy and righteous. Within the past five years, the focus of salvation has changed from Jesus to our emotions. Sermons on how to live a happy life with financial prosperity have replaced sermons on how to live a righteous, faithful, and obedient life.

“I Surrender All” has been replaced with songs entitled “Bless Me” along with one to two hours of singing-only worship services. How did we digress from Jesus to ourselves? Watching motivational videos has replaced daily worship, prayer, and studying the Bible.

We are distracted and too busy to have a meaningful relationship with Christ. We have readily embraced the false teachings of pursuing happiness because of the worldview of destroying boundaries to live your best life. Yes, we are victims of the ideology of self-worship.

Recently, one of the long-standing Pastors in Dallas, Texas stated in his interview that the subsequent generations who are in the church now do not understand the in-depth meaning of the Scriptures, so he had to change his style of preaching. There is a prevailing disinterest in all that is holy because of our desires and lifestyles.

Studying the Bible is no longer encouraged in the churches that promote happiness. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot discern the Truth which is God-breathed nor will we have a deeper understanding of who God is. The solution is to present one or two verses that will promote mental and emotional well-being. Truth is an area of debate that has led to various ideas. The erroneous ideas have caused many to commit sins that originate from presumption.

Presumption: an idea that is taken to be true, and often used as the basis for other ideas, although it is not known for certain.

An example of misinterpretation is the verse when Jesus tells us to ask anything in His name and He will do it. “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14)

It is our preference to hear the verse found in John chapter 14 as opposed to the verse in 1st John chapter 5. “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14).

Because the spiritual meaning does not coincide with our desires, we misrepresent the Scriptures. Even so, Jesus will never give us everything we desire from a financial perspective. Although our prayers are not always financial, we cannot take for granted that we will be healed which is also an expectation of many Christians. We do not have the privilege of demanding anything from our Heavenly Father.

Satan has influenced the leaders whose messages contain a mixture of partial truth and worldviews. Churches whose focus is to keep their members happy will preach verse #1 from the pulpit. “All you have to do is pray and God will fulfill the desires of your heart, but you must first take action by pursuing the marriage partner, starting the business, and purchasing the house.”

The Bible Explains Itself by giving us examples of prayers that represent the things we should ask God for.

“At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, ‘Ask! What shall I give you?'” (1 Kings 3:5)

“…Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” (1 King 3:8-9)

“The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.” (1 Kings 3:10, 12)

King Solomon not only pleased God with His request for wisdom, but God also gave him the honor of being the wisest man who ever lived. Because of Solomon’s humility, God also blessed him with excessive wealth.

When Jesus was speaking to His disciples about Him going away, they were filled with sorrow. Jesus’ concern for His disciples, “Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete” (John 16:24).

Sadly, like the disciples, we have an agenda of pleasing ourselves. We do not pray and ask Jesus for anything crucial to our spiritual growth. Instead of praying for the anointing of the Holy Spirit or for our characters to be transformed into Jesus’ likeness [Galatians 5:22-23] and the spiritual power to resist temptation, we are asking God to “Bless Me” with tangible things, relationships, and marriages that are not in alignment with God’s plans for our lives.

Creeping Compromise

There is danger in taking our eyes off Jesus and placing them on our heart’s desires. Worshipping God according to how we feel results in a compromised relationship with Christ. The earthly things we must have and pursue without God’s blessings will determine our destiny.

Whether we commit the sins of presumption because we fail to study and lack knowledge of spiritual things, from self-interpretation of the Scriptures, being misled by church leaders, or wilful disobedience, we are still held accountable for our sins of presumption.

Jesus Defines His Divinity and His Righteous Position: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me'” (John 14:6). Jesus has provided us with the guidance we need to live righteously.

“If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37-38).
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

Jesus not only identifies the requisites for His followers, but He also reminds us of His Divine Authority, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last” (Revelation 22:13). “…I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star” (Revelation 22:16).

Our earthly agendas determine our destiny–eternal life or the second and final death. We are rapidly moving forward from living in the last days to the end of time. Jesus says that we must choose whom we will serve. Choosing Jesus requires us to redirect our focus off of self. Invite the Holy Spirit into your life to learn the accurate meaning of the Scriptures.

Love for Christ keeps us grounded in a world where spiritual warfare includes self-worship. Our desires must align with God’s plans and purpose if our goal is to live eternally with our Lord and Savior. Give up the blended ideologies that are designed to make us lose our heavenly reward.

“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life” (John 5:39-40).

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we pray for forgiveness for placing the focus on ourselves and our selfish desires. We surrender our hearts, minds, and souls to You. We ask for the anointing of the Holy Spirit, wisdom, and discernment. We need Your guidance and strength to continue to walk this spiritual journey. Thank You for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in Your Holy Name, Amen.

The Sabbath is Forever!

Throughout the Holy Scriptures, God has given us many commands and 10 Commandments including the Creation Seventh-Day Sabbath which is Saturday. We have no evidence that God changed the Day that He blessed and made Holy. Pray for discernment from the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth of Satan’s deception. Hint: Emperor Constantine.

In Jesus’ name, receive your blessing.

Restoring Our Relationship with Christ

Restoring Our Relationship with Christ Sabbath Devotional Reading and Podcast

All relationships begin with a foundation of faith, trust, and love. At the beginning of the human relationship, we place our faith and trust in each other and as time passes, we begin to love. But in our relationship with Jesus, we act on the innate love that is in our hearts by responding to His invitation.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).

Reflect on the moment that you decided to accept Jesus as your personal Savior. Whether you were in church, watching a religious program, listening to a podcast, or in mental, emotional, or physical distress and called on God for help that was your moment of acknowledgment and surrender to a higher power outside of yourself.

“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me” (John 15:26).

We did not accept Jesus because of a decision based on our efforts alone, the Holy Spirit touched our hearts, and we responded to the invitation from Jesus by saying yes. Why do we make an immediate decision to accept Christ or call out to God even though we have never acknowledged Him before? We can thank Jesus for His promise of sending us a Helper the Holy Spirit.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). From Jesus’ love, He created us with the innate ability to love God and others. “We love him, because he first loved us (1 John 4:19).

If we were born with the ability to love God, then why do so many reject Jesus Christ? We were created with the free will choice to accept or reject the only way that we can come to God, and that is through His Son, Jesus. In the New Testament, the two apostles and two disciples who wrote the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) documented the longstanding history of those who chose to openly reject Jesus.

Throughout the New Testament, we become aware that most of the Jewish people rejected Christ as the Son of God. In Nazareth, Jesus was reading from Isaiah, and the people listening accused Him of blasphemy. “On hearing this, all the people in the synagogue were enraged. They got up, drove Him out of the town, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw Him over the cliff. But Jesus passed through the crowd and went on His way.…” (Luke 4:28-30).

Even so, their rejection led to Jesus’ crucifixion which was necessary for the Plan of Salvation to be brought to fruition. When Jesus uttered the words, “It is finished!” He was referring to His sacrifice for the Redemption of humanity. Sadly, all who reject Christ will result in dying the second and final death as described in Malachi chapter 1.

The Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit

At Pentecost, when Peter used the writings of the prophet Joel and King David to explain they crucified Jesus, who was the prophesied Son of God, the multitude was filled with fear. “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men, and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37).

“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent and let every one of you is baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call’ ” Acts 2:37-38).

Once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we face a continuous struggle of staying in our relationship with Him. Jesus was aware that we would face many obstacles of spiritual warfare that would disrupt our commitment to becoming a follower of Christ.

We are pressured to accept worldviews that represent the decline of morals and values. Many proclaim the truth is what they believe it to be, and most Christians no longer separate themselves from unbelievers [which include those who acknowledge God, but do not have a relationship with Christ based on surrender and obedience].

Yet, the greatest obstacles are the constant busyness and overwhelming noise that have us distracted from our goal of loving God. We have acclimated to the constant noise of screen time, video games, digital programs, artificial intelligence, endless texting, and relying on our cellular devices as if they are a lifeline.

“And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment.” (Mark 12:30)

Our spiritual relationship with Christ is broken because we are mesmerized by the distractions that Satan has intentionally placed in our lives. Most Christians are detached from God, barely having time to spend with Him in prayer and a meaningful study of the Bible. Our time is wasted on self-seeking activities that enhance our knowledge and skills but do nothing for building our relationship with Christ.

We are living in the last days! The time is now for us to renew our commitment to Christ through surrender and repentance. Daily worship in this earthly life is preparing us to worship God eternally. Without loving God and putting Him first, we cannot do our part in the plan of Salvation.

“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—” Revelation 3:14-17

Spiritual transformation requires daily surrender, obedience, faith, trust, and hearing God’s Voice through prayer and Bible study. But most importantly, it’s about our love for God. The warning to the Laodecian church is for today’s 21st-century Christians which includes you and me. We are not upholding the standard of righteousness that God requires.

“Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” (Luke 6:12)

Christ was our role model on this earth. If he pursued solitude to pray for Divine guidance then we certainly need to separate ourselves from the noise of distractions to hear God’s Voice. We require Divine Intervention for direction to withstand temptations and to receive the anointing, power, and presence of the Holy Spirit.

The Silent Life—When that inner voice is not heard when a man cannot attain the Spiritual Peace that comes from being perfectly at one with His true self, his life is miserable and exhausting for he cannot go on happily for long unless he is in contact with the Spiritual Source of Life. Thomas Merton

We are pursuing the wrong sources to provide us with peace and contentment. Once we have accepted Christ and let our relationship falter, we recognize the change in our inner selves and lifestyles. Our thoughts, decisions, behaviors, and the people we socialize with fail to represent a Christ-like character.

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me, you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Without Christ, we no longer have the Holy Spirit to lead, direct, and give us clarity [discernment] over any dilemma we face. Either we will make a change and renew our covenant with Christ or we will continue in our present state of disregarding the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)

“The sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit does not lie in any sudden word or deed; it is the firm, determined resistance of truth and evidence.” Ellen G. White

If you accepted Christ as your personal Savior, have gone astray, and do not feel any conviction or remorse with your current mindset and lifestyle then the Holy Spirit is no longer giving you promptings to repent.

The Apostle Paul tells us of the Perils of Not Progressing in our relationship with Christ.

“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. (Hebrews 6:4-6, NKJV)

A modern translation reads: “For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come—and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.” (Hebrews 6:4-6, NLT)

Restoration of our relationship with Christ is a personal decision that relies on each individual. God always requires the human effort of love, faith, surrender to His will, and obedience in the relationship with His Son. Without those intentional character traits, we lose our spiritual connection with God.

It is difficult to believe that one would reject Christ and suffer the consequences of the wages of sin. We may perceive ourselves as living acceptable to God because we do not engage in the worst worldly sins, yet, disobedience is a sin. Our Heavenly Father is doing all He can to give us a better life. His help is only a prayer away.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

As long as we have breath in our bodies and sound minds, we can decide to restore our relationship with Christ. Repentance—asking God for forgiveness requires humility and a contrite heart full of sorrow for our sins. And the prayer of forgiveness receives an immediate yes from God!

Staying on the Path of Righteousness requires the human effort of following Christ no matter the cost. When we do our part by remaining steadfast, we automatically receive the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit to give us strength and power. The walk with Christ requires the loss of relationships and surrendering our will to God’s will and plan for our lives.

Jesus is ready at any time to receive us when we desire to give up everything for Him. To be a disciple means to forsake all others and travel a life-long journey that includes suffering trials and sorrows. The reward: Living forever in a perfect, sinless, and majestic New Heaven and New Earth with Jesus, the King of Kings. Amen!

Prayer: Lord, we pray for those who have lost their love for You. We know that we are living in the last days and are easily distracted by the busyness and noise of this world. We pray this intercessory prayer for those who have rejected You that they will return. We ask this prayer in Your Worthy Name, Amen.