Tag: Jesus Christ

Fear of the Final Judgment

Fear of the Final Judgment Devotional Reading and Podcast

If you love Me, keep My commandments.” —John 14:15

In this Scripture, Jesus tells us that love and obedience to all of His commands and precepts are required to have a steadfast relationship with Him. Because we were created with free will, God gives us His commandments which require total obedience, yet He does not coerce us to obey. We are free moral agents who can choose eternal life or death.

“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

The Jewish rulers, the Pharisees, and the Sadducees searched the Scriptures [the Old Testament] and highly revered Moses who spoke of the Messiah, yet they did not believe that Jesus of Nazareth could be the Messiah. Their preconceived ideas of the coming Messiah included a powerful and wealthy King who would free them from Roman oppression, which led to their rejection of Jesus as the Son of God.

Sadly we possess the same characteristics. We have preconceived ideas of living righteously. Because we desire to live according to our thoughts and desires, many Christian believers avoid studying the entire Bible [especially the Scriptures on obedience]. Disobedience reveals the true condition of the person’s heart who has not surrendered to accept and obey God’s commandments.

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” —James 1:22

Half-hearted commitments to God produce spiritual unrest. The Holy Spirit warns us that we are making the wrong choices. Our response is one of fear [punishment from God]. Because we are not ready to fully obey, we lose the battle of wavering between obedience and disobedience.

Eventually, deception takes over our hearts. By continuously ignoring the Spirit’s warnings, we lose our spiritual discernment and are unable to differentiate between God’s truth and our version of the Truth. We hear God’s Word but cannot apply His principles to our lives because our true desire is to live according to our dictates.

Life Requires Us to Choose

In simple terms, choice refers to the act of making a decision or selecting an option from various possibilities. As we start each day, we encounter several situations that require us to make choices. One of the foremost choices we face is whether we will surrender ourselves to God through prayer. This decision sets the tone for our thoughts and actions, indicating whether we are committed to following Christ or merely focused on our desires.

Positive Choices or Poor Choices either Lead us to God or Away from God

There is no middle ground or neutrality in serving God. Life demands that we choose right or wrong, truth versus error, and reveals our commitment to God. Our choices are based on things and situations, including all the uncertainties that life offers. Whether good or bad, our decisions determine our eternal destiny.

Self-Reflection: Are my choices and decision-making guided by a Spirit-directed conscience? Are my decisions guided by the Righteous principles of God’s Word?

Before Our Commitment to Christ: “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience…” (Ephesians 2:1-2).

Acceptance of Christ: “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)…For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:verses 4,5, and 10).

Love produces Obedience. When we love Jesus, we do His will without hesitation. Obedience is a choice that demonstrates our love and commitment to God. We have confidence and peace when we follow Christ and stay on the Path of Righteousness.

For many years, I possessed fear when I heard a sermon or read Scriptures concerning the Second Coming of Christ and the Judgment. Always feeling uncertain whether or not I would be saved, I did not have the peace that comes from serving God.

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46).

Fearing Judgment is a result of vacillating between obedience and disobedience and demonstrates that we are half-hearted Christians. Through self-reliance, we place ourselves in a state of spiritual unrest when we do not choose to fully serve God. Disobedience places us in a worse situation than the unrighteous who do not fear God or Judgment. Our wavering status with God causes us to fear the Final Judgment.

“For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.” —John 5:26-27

Jesus is our Judge and our Defense Attorney. He is our Advocate. The Judgment reveals God’s justice and mercy. Although we have lived a prior life of pursuing and satisfying the sinful desires of our hearts, our daily surrender proclaims the love and gratitude we have for Jesus’ great sacrifice to save our souls. We no longer fear Judgment because we have chosen to obey. From our faithful obedience, we are saved under the Righteous Merits of Christ.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” —John 5:24

We are saved by grace. Grace causes us to live obedient lives. In faith, we experience a spiritual transformation of our minds. Our overwhelming love for God produces faith and trust in His will and plans for our lives. Obedience is faith in action which proclaims that we only have one choice: to obey God. Because we love Christ, we desire to do His will.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” —Ephesians 2:8

Good works are a product of obedience that is strengthened by the Holy Spirit. While our works do not save us, they serve as evidence of our sincere faith. Throughout the Old Testament, numerous individuals demonstrated their unwavering faith and trust in God through their obedient actions. Joseph, Joshua, Moses, Rahab, Esther, and Ruth are among those who followed God’s guidance with steadfast obedience.

When we choose Jesus, our commitment includes total obedience to the will of God. Remember, even Jesus in His earthly life had to learn obedience. Our choice to be obedient to God results in a spiritual transformation into the likeness of Christ who is waiting to give us our reward of eternal life based on His merits.

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” —1 John 4:18

Prayer: Lord God, we thank You for your never-changing love for us. We desire to wholeheartedly serve You. We pray for forgiveness for our wilful disobedience. Lead, guide, and direct us so that we can make the right choices. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray. Amen.

Not Enough Praying

Not Enough Praying

When we make prayer an intentional habit, we invite the presence and power of the Holy Spirit into our lives. We have challenges that require Divine Help! Praying once or twice a day is never enough. It is not necessary to pray long, tedious prayers. Use honest words from your heart. Tell Jesus. He loves to hear from us. Begin praying every hour, not always asking but also expressing gratitude 🙏

Prayer: Lord, we come to You, not asking for anything, but to say Thank You for being our Best Friend, our Provider, and our King. We ask this prayer in Your Holy Name. 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.

© 2023 Steps2successwithspiritualsolutions

The Potter and the Clay

But now, O Lord you are our Father, we are the clay, and you our Potter; And all of us are the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8

Timothy constantly sought Paul’s advice and instruction. He exercised consideration and calm thought, inquiring at every step, Is this the way of the Lord? The Holy Spirit found in him one who could be molded and fashioned as a temple for the indwelling of the divine Presence. TT 109.1

The question is, Are we surrendering to the power of the Holy Spirit and allowing Jesus Christ to transform our character? God is not intrusive. He does not force us to change into His image. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20

Prayer: God, we desire to be molded in the Character of Christ. We pray for forgiveness of our sins. We ask to be molded in your hands. As we prepare for your soon coming, we pray for guidance in every aspect of our lives. In the powerful name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

© 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry

Trading In the Old Me

Imagine that you received an even-trade offer to receive a new vehicle for turning in your current vehicle. The only condition is that you would not see the new vehicle prior to the trade. Some would hesitate and need time to think about it, while others would give a definite answer of no. Still, there is the enthusiastic group that would be elated, readily agreeing to participate in the blind trade.

When we accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior we agreed to surrender and to become His disciples. Changing us from our inherited tendencies, eliminating our self-reliance, taking away the desire for worldly habits, and giving us a character makeover is a lifetime spiritual process known as Sanctification. The Apostle Paul tells us in 2nd Corinthians 5:17, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ have become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun.” NLT. Yes, Sanctification is to become holy as Jesus is holy.

Where do you stand as far as trading off the old you in exchange for the new person in Christ Jesus? Which group of individuals represent your decision to become like Christ?

Prayer: God, we thank you for the opportunity to become holy and to live righteously. We have made the decision to be faithful disciples in preparation for eternal life. Thank you, for giving your life that we may be redeemed from our sins. We ask this prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry

The Earth is the Lord’s–Happy Sabbath!

In a world with constant changes and challenges, we can be confident in knowing that ” Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8