Sabbath Devotional – Steps 2 Success with Spiritual Solutions

God Is Love And God Loves You

“Because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.'” (1 Peter 1:16).

“God is pure Holiness, and when we come to Him, we must see Him as being Holy.”

“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.” (Jeremiah 31:3, Amplified Bible).

“God is love. Love is His character. Love is the very essence of who He is. God is love, Jesus created us in His image (Gen. 1:27) to love and to desire love.”

“In Hebrew, one major word for love is hesed. This describes God’s covenant love for humankind, which encompasses traits of loyalty, protectiveness, steadfastness, and tenderness.”

“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). “God, the Father’s Love is revealed and given to humanity through Jesus Christ.”

The Holy Scriptures give us evidence of Jesus’ Divine Love for us. Each new day, we receive the phenomenal blessing of God’s Ruach breath, which keeps us alive.

Studying the Scriptures keeps us anchored in Christ. When life’s challenges and adversities arrive, our first response is a prayer for help. Faith and trust in God’s promises to help us gives us abundant peace, hope, and happiness.

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, Amplified Bible).

The Christian journey results in a tough life that requires experiencing trials, overcoming temptations, and choosing every day to live a sacrificial life of self-denial, still Jesus commands us to be courageous:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9).

We have an unbreakable promise that God is with us. Daily surrender, prayer, and Bible Study strengthens our faith, keeps us connected to Christ, giving us comfort and peace despite our circumstances.

“How well do you know God’s Character and the history of His Divine Intervention?

Proof of God’s Faithfulness: The Bible gives us total access to the many stories of God’s intervention, protecting and rescuing the righteous from their enemies.

In fact, the Apostle Paul compares the Christian journey to a life of a soldier [Ephesians 6]. So we would never feel alone and discouraged, Jesus invites us to continuously ask Him for strength and help:

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16).

With God, victory is guaranteed, not only do we receive the spiritual strength to persevere and keep moving forward, Satan’s schemes are always defeated. Yes and Amen!

Reflection: What is our response to God’s Amazing and Endless Love? We respond with hearts that are filled with love, honor, and gratitude to God.

Yes, we have hope in God’s promises! On Calvary’s Cross, Jesus Christ won The Great Controversy between Good and Evil

Christian soldiers utilize prayer as our first response to every challenge. When personal worship is our priority, we receive angelic protection from seen and invisible spiritual dangers [Ephesians 6:10-13].

“For He will give his angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91:11).

From inviting Christ, our Savior and Triumphant King to have dominion in our lives, we receive the promise that all of Heaven is committed to helping us to live as overcomers.

Everything Has Its Time: “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

In Revelation chapter 19, Jesus reveals how He will remove sin and wickedness. Despite the escalation of evil on this earth, God’s loving promises give us hope, peace, and contentment.

“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). Loving God is the foundation of our relationship with Jesus Christ.

With joyful anticipation, we have this hope that we will live eternally with our Triumphant King forever in the New Heaven and New Earth. Hallelujah! Amen!

Lord God, for this new day of life and for the Holy Sabbath, we praise your Holy Name. We rejoice because Your promises are steadfast and You are always faithful. We are so grateful that You never change. Thank You for giving us Spiritual Stability, which strengthens our faith, and releases all of our anxieties and worries. We honor and revere Your Sovereign Authority and in faith, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Thank You, God – Worshiping With Grateful Hearts

“This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:21-23).

Today, I took time to meditate on God’s Amazing Love and Faithfulness. God gifted me with many blessings this week, and as I reflected on His countless mercies, there were so many that it brought tears to my eyes.

The breath flowing through my Respiratory System is God’s Ruach breath. My heart beats a regular rhythm and my brain ensures that my internal organs maintain homeostasis [the body’s automatic, self-regulating process of maintaining a stable, balanced internal environment despite changing external conditions].

Each new day, I awakened alert and oriented, emotionally stable, and with good physical health. From praying and studying the Bible, with confidence, I know that God loves me, provided my necessities, and protected me from physical danger and spiritual warfare.

As each day progressed, I did not have to worry or wonder if I would have food, clothing, and a safe place to sleep. My home is clean, providing shelter and safety from the changing elements.

If it rains, I look out of my window, never thinking about the need to look for shelter and when the Floridian temperature escalates to 90 degrees, my air conditioner provides an ambient temperature, keeping my home cool and comfy.

And one of my greatest blessings, that I do not take for granted, is Religious Liberty. I have the freedom to worship God without fear of retaliation.

As if all of those blessings are not enough, the greatest blessing I received is the free gift of Salvation. “We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19).

As I continued to reflect on God’s Love, I felt ashamed of the times that I complain, or desire more than God has blessed me with.

Every day, our Heavenly Father gives us countless blessings that we take for granted, never thinking to whisper, God, thank You, yet He remains Loving, Gracious, and Faithful.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17, NIV).

We only have one gift to give to Jesus Christ, our Triumphant King, and that is our heart filled with love, humility, surrender, faithful obedience, and gratitude.

Lord God, we love You and thank You for Your Abiding Love. We ask for forgiveness for taking your gifts of love for granted. As we enter the Holy Sabbath, we express our love and appreciation for taking care of us this week and keeping us out of harm’s way. We ask for the spiritual blessings of wisdom and strength and with immense gratitude, we ask this prayer in the Loving and Righteous Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Growing Closer to Christ – Striving For The Best Spiritual Health

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” (3 John 1:2)

Strive For The Best Spiritual Health: Christ created us to live in harmony with God’s Laws of Health. Our mental, emotional, and physical health impacts our spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2).

The concept “We are what we eat” is a reality, yet healthy intake extends beyond nutrients [food]. Every day, we use our Five Senses [sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch] to either build or tear down our Spiritual Health.

Satan entices us by appealing to our Senses; still, it is our hearts’ desires that propel us to say yes to temptation. “The mind influences the body and the body influences the mind.” We are shaped by what we watch, listen to, the habits we practice, and the people in our inner circle of family and friends.

God’s Standard for Believers: “Be holy, for I am Holy.” (1 Peter 1:16).

Because we live in a time when Satan has used digital and virtual platforms to covertly present compromising entertainment, many Christians are being deceived and engaging in sinful activities.

For example, I prefer playing logic games, so I chose one that had good reviews. All was well until it wasn’t. As I advanced to higher levels, I noticed an unusual number of words related to the occult, mythology, and criminal activity. And the Ads progressed from family appropriate to covert but suggestive immorality.

Although I diligently pray and study the Bible every day, I was focused on the game, which was challenging, and I had achieved a high score; I gradually became desensitized to the content. I thought, “It’s only a game, I don’t believe in those false teachings.”

Yahweh Nissi—Jesus Christ, Our Mighty Warrior Against Satan’s Deceptions

“I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8, BSB).

Jesus loves and protects those who love Him. On the day I dismissed the game’s promotion of false teachings, during evening worship, the Holy Spirit spoke to me, “Do not love the things of this world.” And yes, I knew that I had a decision to make: Obey God and let go of the game, or continue in disobedience.

“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.” (1 John 2:15, NLT).

In 2026, Blended Christianity, the integration of “soft” worldly activities, has been accepted and is being practiced by many believers:

Hanging out with people who acknowledge that God exists, but do not serve Him, watching programming and playing games with violence, sexual content, or gambling, listening to secular music [Rock, Jazz, R&B, etc.], taking sleep gummies, recreational drugs, alcoholic drinks, using profanity, and the list is endless.

“Moral perfection is required of all believers. We should never lower the standard of Righteousness in order to satisfy our desires. We need to understand that nurturing character imperfections is wilfully sinning against God.”

Christ Is Our Righteous Standard and Role Model

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” (Galatians 5:16-17).

If unbelievers love and promote the activities, then we know they are not of God. Aggressive sports [hands-on contact], animal fights, parties with secular music, alcoholic beverages, and recreational use of marijuana, legal or not, are activities that will prevent us from receiving Eternal Life.

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). We may not agree, but Jesus loved us unconditionally, paying with His life to save our souls. We cannot afford to let this Earth’s temporary trinkets corrupt our minds, making us apathetic toward receiving our Crown of Life.

The habits and lifestyles that we practice now either allow the Holy Spirit to transform us [Sanctification] to live righteously forever in a loving and peaceful New Heaven and New Earth with God, or they do not.

Every aspect of our being, our thoughts, choices, activities, and friends must reflect God’s Holiness. And yes, it is a tough decision, but we cannot justify socializing with unbelieving family members. It is always the Christian who must compromise when they choose friends who do not follow Christ.

We must ask ourselves, Does this activity or individual represent the Righteousness of Christ? Pray before embracing fun and relaxing activities, and let God choose your friends.

Reflection: We cannot judge ourselves. Our lifestyle reveals if we are following Christ on the Narrow Path of Righteousness. Still, we should pray and ask God, “Does my heart and lifestyle represent the Righteousness of Christ?

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:1, NIV).

Lord God, we ask You to reveal the habits, activities, friends, and family members who are preventing us from living holy and receiving our reward of Eternal Life. We ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and to create a pure heart within us. As we honor Your Holy Sabbath, Lord, we ask for Your guidance, wisdom, and strength as we strive to live righteously. In faith, we ask this prayer in Jesus’ Loving and Righteous Name, Amen.

Great Is His Faithfulness!

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.” (Jeremiah 31:3, Amplified Bible)

March 2026 was the beginning of my commitment to manage my gift of time, allowing myself to pay attention to Jesus’ Love and Presence in my life. Worship is a lifestyle that requires us to keep our faith and focus on Christ.

From whispering prayers of gratitude and asking for guidance before making decisions, I discovered that Jesus, our Shepherd, always keeps us safe and gives us the best blessings.

From surrendering myself every day to God, I have no worries about resolving life’s challenges or the future. The decision to put my life in Jesus’ hands is better than I could ever imagine; Yes, I can testify, Great Is His Faithfulness!

“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). To maintain a heart-to-heart relationship with Jesus requires a daily commitment of reciprocal love for Christ.

Loving Christ includes the daily commitment to faithfully follow and obey Him:

David’s Prayer: “Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day long.” (Psalm 25:4-5).

We demonstrate our love and gratitude for Jesus’ Faithfulness through humility, daily surrender, and faithful obedience.

And from our willingness to obey, we receive the blessings of Jesus’ peace and joy abundantly flowing into our hearts.

“Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid.” [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.] (John 14:27, Amplified Bible).

Jesus, we thank You for Your steadfast love and for redeeming us. Throughout our lives, You have been faithful, taking care of us, even when we thought, we were taking care of ourselves. Jesus, our Shepherd and Triumphant King, we love You and praise Your Holy Name. In faith, we pray this prayer of gratitude in Your Holy Name, Amen.

Humanity Was Created For God’s Glory

“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over [g]all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth…'”

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them…” (Genesis 1:26-28).

Humanity was created with a Spiritual Purpose: “God, Jesus Christ, created human beings to worship and honor God, the Father. [We are called] to dedicate all personal capabilities, influence, and talents to Him as a sacred trust.”

“…life is not a random, mechanical process but a purposeful design, and encourages viewing oneself as God’s workmanship.”

“Everyone who is called by My name,
Whom I have created for My glory;
I have formed him, yes, I have made him.” (Isaiah 43:7).

Isaiah 43:7 emphasizes that we are:

Created for God’s Glory: Humans are designed to reflect God’s glory in all aspects of life.
A Sacred Trust: Life, talents, and capabilities are entrusted by God and should be used to impart His grace to others.
Individual Ownership: God calls His people by name, and as “new creatures,” [we] are set apart for Him.
Purposeful Formation: Being “formed” by God means each individual has a Divine purpose, countering the idea of chance or fate.
Transformation of Character: The process of being God’s people involves trials that refine character and remove dross

Jesus developed a Righteous Character through constant prayer and faithful obedience to God, the Father. From His example and through Jesus’ Divine Strength, the Holy Spirit empowers us to live as righteous overcomers.

Lord God, we praise your Holy Name and give You the honor and reverence that You deserve. We ask for wisdom, discernment, and the strength to overcome our desires and the temptations designed to separate us from You. Please reveal anything in our lives that is against Your will and plans. In faith, we ask this prayer in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sabbath Peace and Blessings

“We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). The Triune God: God, the Father, God, Jesus, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit, not only love us, but the Triune God is Agape Love.

February 14th is designated as an annual day of Love, and causes many to become discouraged because they do not have someone who loves them. Even in a relationship or marriage, human love may also disappoint because our love is always conditional and often moody.

God’s Love Qualifiers: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV).

The words “I love you” are only words if the actions contradict God’s definition of true love. Every believer has received the spiritual gift of Godly Love [2 Timothy 1:7] and is expected to give love that is consistent, respectful, patient, kind, and, most importantly, forgiving.

“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you.” (Jeremiah 31:3). Thankfully, we can always depend on God’s Agape Love to remain unchanged. Yes and Amen!

And it was from Divine Love that God said, “Let us make man in our image.” We were created by Jesus, Who is Divine Love. Although Adam and Eve disobeyed and humanity continues to reject God, He still loves us!

“God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). We received undeserved, unmatched Divine Love and the opportunity to live forever with God when Jesus died on Calvary’s Cross to complete the Plan of Redemption [that was in place before the world was created].

God reiterates His, “Love never fails.” Every day, our hearts beat, and we breathe God’s Ruach breath flowing through our lungs. We are showered with the Divine gifts of love, peace, provisions, and angelic protection that human hearts and hands cannot give us.

Although the Holy Scriptures assure us of God’s Consistent Love, many believers feel unloved and that God is distant because they do not reciprocate God’s Love. If we fail to pray and study the Bible, then we are spiritually disconnected from God, and yes, we will feel empty.

“Why do you keep on saying that I am your Lord, when you refuse to do what I say?” (Luke 6:46, CEV). Without using our faith to trust and obey God, we demonstrate that we are involved in a one-sided love relationship. Sadly, we accept God’s love, but fail to love Him.

“But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23-24, BSB).

Loving God is more than attending weekly church services; loving God flows from unselfish hearts overflowing with gratitude, and is revealed through trusting, obeying, praying, singing, studying the Holy Scriptures, and thanking Him by placing Him first in our lives.

Jesus, Our Great High Priest: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16, BSB).

Separation, Solitude, and Silence invites the Holy Spirit to lift us up into the Most Holy Presence of God, Jesus Christ, our High Priest, Heavenly Intercessor, and the Only Mediator between God, the Father, and humanity.

Spending time alone with God every day is needed to build a faith-based relationship with Christ. True love for God can only arise from hearts that invite the Holy Spirit to sanctify them in daily personal worship.

True love for God reveals itself through the desire to obey and follow Christ on the Narrow Path of Righteousness. We were bought with the blood of Jesus Christ and cannot think and live as unbelievers who worship themselves by following their thoughts and personal agendas.

Prayer and Bible Study invite the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s Divine Love and to sanctify us—Sanctification is the lifelong spiritual process of growth and transformation that requires human effort and Divine Intervention. By giving God the firstfruits of our time, we receive spiritual guidance, peace, comfort, and contentment.

God rewards us when we dedicate our gift of time to worship Him in daily personal worship. The Holy Spirit fills our hearts with the Divine Agape Love that transcends human love. It is impossible to feel unloved or hopeless when we take the time to be in God’s Holy and Loving presence.

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39).

All of Heaven is lovingly devoted to humanity: Christ is our Mediator between God, the Father, and humanity. We receive God, the Father’s and Jesus’ Love through the Holy Spirit.

Prayer, Patience, and Perseverance reveal our love and gratitude for God, the Father, who did not hesitate to give Jesus Christ, God the Son, to redeem us from the only outcome of sin [Romans 6:23].

Lord God, we come to You in humility, surrendering our hearts to You, because You deserve all the glory, honor, and praise for saving our souls. We thank You for Your Faithfulness and never-ending Love, Grace, and Mercies. Thank You for the Divine Gift of Jesus, God, Your Son, who has promised to complete the work in us, if we are faithful. Lord, teach us how to love You and to love others. We pray for wisdom, strength, and guidance from the Holy Spirit as we continue our spiritual journey. Today, we ask You for a double spiritual blessing on Your Holy Sabbath; a blessing that will permeate our mind, body, and soul and empower us to redirect our love, faith, and focus from ourselves and this temporary Earth to You and the promise of living in our Forever Home. In faith, we ask these things in Jesus’ Holy and Loving Name, Amen.

Embracing the Spirit of Humility

“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8, NIV).

Jesus’ “profound act of obedience and self-emptying, where He willingly gave up His Divine glory to become a human, a servant, and ultimately, to die on a cross for the sake of others” is not understood and appreciated.

Before Adam and Eve were created, God the Father and Jesus, God the Son, had a Father and Son discussion regarding Adam and Eve’s fall, due to disobedience.

John 3:16 states: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Because of God’s love for humanity, the Father gave His Divine approval for His One and Only Son to come to Earth, only live for 33 years, and experience rejection, hatred, and die a criminal’s death on Calvary’s Cross.

“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us His children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.” (1 John 3:1, NLT).

The Plan of Redemption was not an afterthought. Jesus said, “Father, I am willing to die for humanity,” even though He knew that most would still reject Him as Lord and Savior. We can’t even begin to imagine the depth of the Agape Love that was the catalyst for Jesus’ great sacrifice.

Jesus’ Gentle, Humble Spirit

“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.” (Matthew 11:29).

“And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.’ ” (Luke 9:58).

“And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” (John 8:29).

No human being can ever make the proclamation that our Savior made, “I always obey my Father.” But we can certainly strive from today forward to love God more than ourselves by embracing the Righteous Spirit of Humility, and making a Covenant to faithfully obey God.

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).

Satan has deceived the Christian Community into thinking that Heaven is cheap, that we can live as we please, not study the Bible, and fail to pray for guidance before we make decisions.

The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 12:1-2 that we must live an obedient life of self-sacrifice and renounce the practices of unbelievers to please God.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2, NIV).

The easiest way for us to know if pride is ruling our hearts is to pray and ask God if our lives represent faithful obedience. If we awaken each morning with pre-planned agendas, never praying for God to reveal His plans, then we are following our own thoughts.

Excluding God from our daily decisions reveals that we have redirected our faith from God to ourselves, for which there is no reward of Eternal Life.

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…” (Colossians 3:12, ESV).

Reflection: Are we willing to invite Jesus to change our naturally selfish hearts to hearts overflowing with surrender and humility?

Jesus’ Promise to those who use their faith to embrace a spirit of humility: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26).

A heart of stone symbolizes stubbornness, resistance, and insensitivity to God’s will and commands. The people of Israel had become hard-hearted due to their idolatry and disobedience.
A heart of flesh contrasts with this, representing a tender, responsive, and obedient heart that is sensitive to God’s guidance.

“For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; he adorns the humble with salvation.” (Psalm 149:4).

Lord God, we ask that You forgive us for our spirit of pride, which leads to a lifestyle of self-reliance. We confess that we often fail to think of praying and asking for Your Divine guidance before we begin our daily agendas. Lord, we ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and anoint us with Your Holy Spirit. Today, we make the commitment to serve you with love, humility, and faithful obedience. Jesus, we thank You for loving us with an everlasting love that prompted You to give Your all for us, and ask this prayer in Your Righteous and Loving Name, Amen.

“The Authority of Jesus Questioned”

Matthew 21:23-27…

23 “Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while He was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. ‘By what authority are you doing these things?’ they asked. ‘And who gave you this authority?’ “

24 Jesus replied, ‘I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 “John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin? ‘ “

“They discussed it among themselves and said, ‘If we say, From heaven, He will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.’ “

27 “So they answered Jesus, ‘We don’t know.’ Then he said, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’ “

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).

The commitment to follow Christ has always required surrender and faithful obedience to His authority, which was given to Him by God, the Father.

When we fail to consecrate and commit ourselves to God through daily personal worship, our thoughts and actions supersede our spoken words.

But what we do not understand is that we are questioning God’s Authority, which places us in wilful rebellion against God’s Sovereignty.

“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8, NIV). Jesus’s earthly life reveals that obedience to God is non-negotiable.

Remain Faithful to God

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” (Proverbs 3:3-4).

Never Trust Your Own Thoughts

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him And He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Reverence God Through a Spirit of Humility

“Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones” (Proverbs 3:7).

Embrace God’s Promise of His Faithfulness

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Honor God’s Sovereignty, Because He Is God

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the LORD. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’ ” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Our Allegiance and Loyalty Is To God, or To Ourselves

Reflection: By whose authority are you living your life? Every day, we choose our destiny, our choices and lifestyles reveal if we are obeying God, or not.

If we live according to our thoughts and desires, then we choose to forfeit our reward of The Crown of Life. Our only reward will be whatever we pursued and accomplished in our earthly lives.

Jesus’ Promise To the Faithful

“To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with Me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:21, NIV).

Bible Study: Revelation 19, 21-22

Lord God, we ask forgiveness for the sins of self-reliance and disobedience. Cleanse us from all unrighteousness, and remove the stubbornness in our hearts. We desperately need Your Holy Spirit to baptize our hearts, and minds, so we can see life through spiritual eyes, and live a sacrificial life of obedience. Lord, we consecrate our lives to follow Jesus Christ, our Shepherd, and ask for the daily Spiritual strength, wisdom, and discernment required to live as overcomers. God, we acknowledge that You are the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory, and ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of our Triumphant King, Jesus, Amen.

Steadfast Faith Triumphs In Trouble

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

In John 16:33, Jesus tells us about the life His disciples will face: “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Faith takes effort! Remembering our former blessings and supernatural miracles from the Giver of Life waters the seed of our ever-growing faith. A heart filled with gratitude expressed through prayer is the only way to strengthen our faith.

This Scripture represents the hardships of our tribulations: “If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send a plague among My people…” (2 Chronicles 7:13)

Yes, the trials and sorrows are too great for us to resolve. Victory is impossible without unrealistic faith, trust, hope, and confidence in God. We do not have to analyze or try to figure out the solutions. A prayer based on belief in a Loving and Omnipotent Father God never escapes the ears of God.

God tells us what is required to receive His Divine Intervention: “…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:13-14)

Faith is the response of our hearts to God’s gracious appeals for our fellowship with Him. It is the healing relationship with the One who is the Source of all life, health, and happiness. Faith restores us to our rightful state, to the condition in which we were created to live: union with our Creator. His Healing Love, D. Winn

“Lord, I Believe, Please Help My Unbelief!”

Prayer: God, please forgive us for the sin of self-reliance. We desire to live a Christ-centered, Faith-based life. Lord, we desperately need You in times of peace and tough times. Hear our prayer, and give us the direction and the strength to live as one who is faithful. In Jesus’ Worthy Name, we pray. Amen.

Great Is His Faithfulness – Sabbath Peace and Blessings

Our primary goal should be to abide in Christ. Setting aside time to separate ourselves and worship God invites the Holy Spirit to give us knowledge, wisdom, and a deeper understanding, so we perceive life through spiritual eyes.

This weekend, commit to setting aside at least 2 hours a day to fast, earnestly pray for a heart-to-heart revival with Christ, and study the Bible.

The Bible is our Spiritual Road Map, and should be studied every day under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. For the next 30-60 days, study the Books of Joshua and Ruth to learn God’s Loving and Righteous Character, and His history of intervening for those who love and obey Him.

Our desire to draw closer to Christ is rewarded with the Strength to persevere and endure this tough journey of life that cannot be accomplished without Divine help. Yes and Amen.

Lord God, we thank You for loving us so much, that you gave Your Only Son, Jesus to redeem us. As we worship with You this Sabbath, we ask for the blessings of Spiritual Renewal and Restoration. We love You, and look forward to the day when Jesus will come again, in whose Worthy Name, we ask this prayer. Amen.