Tag: Sabbath

The Character of Christ

The willingness to accept Jesus Christ as our Redeemer and Savior is from a responsive heart, which embraces Jesus’ sacrifice to give humanity salvation. As a result, we receive a spiritual transformation with a transformed heart that leads to a life of loving and caring. And yes, Jesus gives us a life complete with joy and peace, but also one of trials and sorrows as we travel down the Path of Righteousness. 

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.” John 14:27

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

If accepting Jesus and serving God provides us with peace and joy, then why are we in the predicament that even caused David to question himself: Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God! Psalm 43:5

The ongoing hardships of the 21st century have produced believers plagued with discouragement, depression, and a mindset surrounded by darkness. Something isn’t right! I asked a couple of individuals to give me their opinion of why we have so little faith and trust in God. They were not sure of how or why the mental and emotional conditions have increased throughout the years. Still, I do not wish to present only my viewpoint of this terrible dilemma. 

I deferred the question to my mother, who is 88 years young. “Mom, why do you think that modern believers do not possess the faith, trust, joy, and peace that serving God offers?

Her response, “They do not know God. Prayer and Bible study are not their priorities. How can you have faith and trust in someone that you don’t know? Life is tough, but God has promised to never leave us or forsake us.” 

History reveals that most individuals decided to walk into a church to turn their lives around by accepting Jesus. They were aware that their habits and behaviors had to change. Attending church, praying, and studying the Bible were the building blocks to forming a solid relationship with Jesus Christ. New believers were told that suffering through trials was necessary to change their character and to be a disciple. They understood that hardships would show up as changes in their lives, job loss, sickness, etc. We sang songs with lyrics that told us to faithfully hold on because Jesus will work it out.

Our conversations consisted of trusting in God because faith believes that God does the impossible. We kept hope alive by telling each other to expect deliverance and never give up while waiting for God’s answer. Oh, and the songs we learned and sang, “Trouble in my way, Jesus will fix it, after awhile,” “Victory is Mine,” “We are Marching to Zion,” and “Trust and Obey,” provided the additional strength to make it through those tough times. We prayed all day and night for stronger faith and trust in God. And we demonstrated our love for each other by calling, praying with them, and home visitation, always asking, “What do you need?”

Fast forward to 2021, and we now have a body of believers who have accepted Christ and do not attend church. They may find out through social media that believers must study the Bible and pray without ceasing. The “babes in Christ” require nurturing to help them through their spiritual journey. Sadly, many fall prey to the loneliness of being a Christian and succumb to discouragement and temptation.

Then we have the seasoned Christians who are mature, but are more concerned about self. They are the believers with spiritual strength, Yet, they have no desire to help the new believers or anyone overcome by the tribulations of life. In fact, the trending behaviors of performing random acts of kindness, pass it forward, giving tax-deductible charitable donations, and paying for the person’s groceries standing behind you while filming it for TikTok, they have consoled themselves with the thought that good deeds are acceptable to God. 

Still, these actions are not the same as having the “Character of Christ” and the “Fruit of the Spirit. “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you? And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.'” Matthew 25:44-45

In the Four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, God has given us a record of the many events that reveal Jesus’ character. The life of Christ is given by four different men who followed Jesus. The Gospels agree that the Son of Man ministered to others without discrimination. Yes, Jesus was stern when He pointed out the pride and hypocrisy of the rulers who were teaching the law but oppressing the people with man-made rules that they did not keep. The central theme of the Bible is based on the Love of God. Jesus was loving, fair, tender, and full of compassion.

Remember the woman caught in adultery? Have you ever wondered why Jesus bent down? And what was He writing on the ground? What caused the people to turn and walk away?

4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. 7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.

Adultery for the woman was punishable by stoning to death. A theologian gives this answer, “Two scriptures point out that Jesus was writing on the ground. Many ask, “Why was Jesus writing on the ground?” He was writing the secret sins of her accusers. Once exposed, all they could do is turn and walk away in shame.”

One would think that Jesus’ disciples would possess His character. No, they had the same mindset that many possess right now:

That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.” “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered. Matthew 14:15-17

When we accepted Jesus’ invitation, He accepted us just as we were, no questions asked. However, by studying the scriptures, we learn that our surrender to God involves a complete spiritual makeover. 1 Corinthians 13, The Love Chapter, gives us God’s definition of love, Galatians 5:22-23 tells the importance of being anointed with the Holy Spirit and the characteristics we are expected to possess. The Apostle Paul commands us, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32.

The believer’s financial responsibility: But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 1 John 3:17

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12. 

We have the free will of choice to serve God. Even so, with our commitment [to surrender], we agree to the transformation of our hearts and mind. Submission to the will of God is no longer an option. Giving ourselves wholeheartedly–without reservation allows us to conform obediently to our Heavenly Father.
We become transformed into the likeness of Christ. The person that we used to be, no longer exists. God uses trials to purge undesirable behaviors and negative traits from our character.

We must die daily to the fleshly desires of self [Romans 8:13]. Sanctification is a life-long journey on the Path of Righteousness. Preparation to receive the reward of eternal life in the New Heaven and New Earth requires Divine intervention. We cannot save ourselves. Allowing God to do a great work within gives us the perseverance to move forward in Jesus’ name.

The struggle is real. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, suffering is part of our servitude. Still, we have a loving, compassionate, and powerful Heavenly Intercessor, Jesus Christ that promises to see us through. 

“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

Prayer: Thank you, God. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Holy Spirit. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry

Exempt From Situations and Circumstances

The reply to a blogger’s statement of “Do not focus on your circumstances, pray and God will see you through” was, “Why would you say that, all we have is circumstances?” Although the blogger had good intentions, the first part of his statement is inaccurate. The righteous are exempt from situations and circumstances.

Our journey consists of running a marathon and jumping over the hurdles of trials and tribulations. Suffering involves hardships and sorrows because spiritual refinement is required to align our character, create dependency on God, and build faith. Yes, our tribulations have a purpose. God is preparing us for eternal life.

Living righteously means that we put God first. With a concerted effort, we make sure that God is involved in every aspect of our lives. We pray, have faith, trust, and obediently wait for God’s answer. As disciples of Christ, whose sufferings were extreme, we were forewarned that suffering is required to serve God: I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart [have courage], I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.

Yes, at times, we become tired, and the weariness weighs us down. But we press on because we do not rely on our strength to run the race. In fact, we are always victorious. How? We have the advantage because Jesus provides us with His strength, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13.

We acknowledge God’s gifts of unmerited and abundant grace and mercies that are freely given. God does not rain on us. God reigns over us. Our storms do not last forever: And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who is called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10.

However, the reply to the blogger’s statement was the truth. In my lifetime, I have heard many times, “I have a situation.” Without God, one’s life is full of situations, circumstances, predicaments, and the consequences that are certain to follow. Praise God! Saying yes to Jesus’ knock at the door of our hearts provides us with the opportunity of not only being exempt, but we also are never alone, always covered by the love of God.  It is the human effort of faith and God’s divine intervention that guarantees our win-win outcome.

Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12. Amplified Bible

Prayer: God, thank you for the trials and sorrows that prepare us for the reward of immortality in the perfect and sinless New Heaven and New Earth. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry

The Resilience of Humanity

The most phenomenal event that I have ever witnessed occurred when I was in nursing school. I was in the Maternal-Child clinical rotation for 6 weeks and was disappointed because I had not seen the birth of a baby. There was an influx of mothers admitted as high-risk pregnancies, and the hospital’s policy restricted student nurses from being assigned to that category of patients.

After 3 weeks, I received the good news that I was assigned to a healthy young mother in labor with her first child. All went well, and within four hours, she gave birth to a healthy baby girl. In witnessing the birth, I almost fell to the floor. No, it was not because of fear. At that moment, I knew that God was greater than my mind could ever comprehend. I was so overwhelmed that I wanted to fall to my knees and worship the Creator of all humanity. Even so, I had to exercise complete restraint or risk being expelled from the nursing program.

Although I studied Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology, Chemistry, etc., and possessed theoretical knowledge, I was not prepared for the magnitude of seeing a new life enter the world. Perhaps that is the breakdown. If we took the time to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of our mind and body, our perspective of God would be one of reverence and grateful servitude.

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Genesis 2:7

Is it because I was born into a family with the hereditary gift of artistic creativity that I can create visual imagery of God bending down, making a man from dust, and breathing life into the first human being? Surely not! We have lost our desire to contemplate the wonders of God as represented in the human body and mind. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. Psalms 139:14

Have you ever thought about your heart that beats without your intervention?

Your heart beats about 100,000 times in one day and about 35 million times in a year. During an average lifetime, the human heart will beat more than 2.5 billion times. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/heart/heartfacts.html

What did King David realize when he said that we are fearfully and wonderfully made? The emotional trauma or physical injury that many have endured does not stop the heart from beating or the lungs from breathing. The residual effects of sadness may cause us to feel as if we will not live another day, but we continue. And at some point, we accept that we are compelled to move forward. With each new day, even if therapeutic intervention is needed, we provide our bodies with the food and fluids required to sustain our lives. All it takes is a shred of hope and a mustard seed size of faith, and we begin to regroup and rebuild our lives.

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 CSB

For those who have children, a parent will rarely throw in the towel on their maturing child. They respond to the child’s needs [or children] by using their mental and emotional strength to push them through the process of growth and development. Our Father God created us with the resiliency to keep going despite our circumstances. Even when we reject Him, God does not retaliate by distancing Himself or by ending our lives. He surrounds us. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence. Psalm 139:7

We must address the impact of the hardships of life that pierce our souls. 

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him. For the help of His countenance. Psalm 42:5

In reading the Psalms, we recognize that David was a musician who was very intense and emotional.  Although he was a king who had all of the physical amenities of life, David struggled with discouragement. And rightly so, the individuals living in the palace despised the fact that God had anointed him to be their King. Many of us can relate to not having the love, understanding, and nurturing from those we lived with or were raised by. Yes, it produces sadness. But we do not have to end up the way we started. God is a healer of all infirmities. He is a God of new beginnings!

Even in his distress, David was aware that his duty was to maintain a close relationship with God. The book of Psalms portrays a man who experienced roller-coaster emotions, yet, David constantly acknowledged God’s omnipresence. The verses of his songs reveal the condition of the fragile human heart along with God’s compassion and His desire to heal our brokenness and soothe our hearts with His never-failing love. David continuously acknowledged his love and adoration for the God who always sees, is ever-present and never forsakes us.

Let us make the concerted effort to thank God for our highly complex mind and body that He made in His image. But also remember, we have a soul that longs for a constant spiritual connection to God. The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3

Prayer: God, we ask for your healing touch on our minds and bodies. Please comfort our hearts and reveal your love as we continue to faithfully serve you. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry

The Consideration of Others

And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Romans 15:4‭-‬5 NLT

In reading the Apostle Paul’s writings, He always stresses our responsibility to look out for others first. Why the importance of placing the needs of someone else over ourselves? Because we are the selfless servants [disciples] of Jesus Christ. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 28:20. Jesus is our role model. Yet, many Christians–Christ-like fail to obey Jesus’ command to put others first.

“What about me?” is usually the question that overpowers our thoughts. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33. When serving God, we have everything we need to live contented, unselfish, and purpose-driven lives. Read Matthew 6:25-34 for reassurance.

Helping others allows our hearts to have an overflow of love and demonstrates our willingness to trust and obey God. From that love, God can mold our characters. We focus on the apparent sins in our lives but rarely reflect on our misaligned character traits. 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

It is our characters that present the most significant challenge. We cannot self-evaluate our own faults. From our perspective, we always look good. The Holy Spirit enables us to achieve the requirements of daily spiritual growth–Sanctification is an ongoing and life-long journey. We do not have to understand how the Holy Spirit works. Our responsibility is to pray daily to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Without the help of the third person of the Trinity, change is impossible. We were born with the sinful mindset of “always looking out for number one.”

The scriptures reveal that Jesus’ disciples were people just like you and I, they possessed intrinsic selfishness. And they fed their selfish spirit by always striving to be greater than each other. Sadly, there was so much internal conflict that it impacted their faith and the ability to perform miracles. Although Jesus usually pointed out their sinful traits through parables, we find scriptures that indicate Jesus’ open rebuke and correction of  their behaviors. Even Jesus had to set the boundaries of “enough is enough.”

The battle with self is one that never ends. Feeding the five thousand would never have happened if it were up to His disciples. As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” Matthew 14:15

Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” Matthew 14:16. Their response of “And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” Matthew 14:17 indicates the spiritual deficit of no faith. Twelve men could perform the same miracle as Jesus, yet, they could do nothing because of their desire to be the greatest among them.

We do not have to repeat the mistakes of Jesus’ twelve. Praying daily and submitting our will to God allows us to live righteously through faith, trust, and obedience.

What does God require of us? He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you? But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

Helping others [not limited to financial assistance] require the love of God along with humility and total obedience. Believers who have compassion and the desire to encourage others are at the lowest level when discouragement and depression are at their highest levels among our brothers and sisters.

Jesus declared, “ ’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’…Matthew 22:37-39

Putting the needs of others first, we reap abundant rewards. Our stony heart is chipped away, revealing tenderness and compassion. Our relationship with Jesus Christ reaches a higher level of growth as the roots of discipleship reach deeper into the soil of righteousness by faith.

We will receive immortality when Jesus comes again. Even so, throughout the Bible, love prevails. It is our character that must be changed before Jesus coming again. Many do not believe in this concept that we have to put forth the human effort to get rid of sinful traits. Revelation 22:11 confirms that when Jesus comes again, “He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” The day that Jesus appears is the day no further change will occur in our characters.

No worries. God is aware that we need His help to change. Divine Intervention: “…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

Obedience to God is a fruit that grows from a heart filled with love and dedication to please God. Our reward is eternal life in a perfect world. Love God, Love Others, and Love Yourself. 

Prayer: God, we ask you create in us a clean heart and give us the desire to fulfill our role as disciples. Please remove the selfishness from our hearts that we may live a purpose-driven life. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry

He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. Revelation 21:7

Exiting Egypt-the Chains of Bondage

The story of the Israelites is one of God’s love and mercy for humanity. Many of us struggle with mental, emotional, and spiritual bondage. Enslavement wears a mask and is not easily recognized. It could be the job that steals our time, leaving us physically exhausted and too tired to worship God. The thought of a lifetime of loneliness causes us to embrace the unequally yoked relationships with unbelievers. Still, the strongest chains are found in loyalty to cultural traditions or pursuing worldly desires.

Please know that Satan uses the people, the places that produce excitement, and the secret things we desire to enslave us. And why not? He knows his fate, so he works harder on the believer who has behaviors comparable to his followers–all unbelievers. But God is aware of our fragile hearts and our tendency toward disobedience. And His power prevents Satan from breaking us to the point of despair and hopelessness.

Before we complain that our chains are not easily broken and it is too much for us to bear, the Apostle Paul tells us, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.’ 1 Corinthians 10:13

And who should know better than Saul converted to Paul? Saul had a thirst for the bloodshed of Christian believers–yes, premeditated murder. His mindset was so heinous that Jesus spoke to him personally on the road to Damascus. Saul was stricken with blindness to complete his spiritual transformation, and for three days and nights, he fasted without food or water. Our Omnipotent God transformed Saul into an Apostle who wrote books of the Bible and sent many letters to the churches while in prison. History tells us that prisoners were shackled with heavy chains, severely limiting their physical movement. Yet, he never lost his faith in God.

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. Psalm 34:17

I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! Isaiah 65:24

Receiving deliverance from our shackles is a choice based on the willingness to faithfully obey God. Imagine receiving a shortened prison sentence for a crime you committed and when you receive the news that you will be released within 48 hours, you say, “No, I want to serve the remainder of my time.” It sounds foolish. But that is exactly what the community of Israel did. They were willing to be shackled with the chains of slavery in exchange for food.

“If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.” Exodus 16:3

God has promised to deliver us from any situation that has enslaved us in the chains of a spiritual life or death struggle. His promises hold true: The Red Sea became a watery grave; the walls of Jericho fell with a shout; and, a young shepherd boy killed a giant with a slingshot and stone. There is no one greater than the ” I AM.”

God knows that many of us will look back and wish for former things when the journey becomes rugged. When we are suffering from mental, emotional and spiritual exhaustion that is when we are to fall on our knees and and ask for help from the “One and Only God.” El Shaddai is ready to reveal His love and power to maintain our freedom. We cannot waver! Either we accept His grace and mercy to live without our shackles or we choose to live with them. It is a walk of faith to accept our freedom and keep moving forward. Without faith it is impossible to please God…Hebrews 11:6.

Human Effort [Faith and Trust] + Divine Intervention = A Victorious Outcome!

Prayer: God, we have been enslaved by our circumstances for too long. We ask that you free us from chains of the jobs, relationships, and habits that prevent us from surrendering to You. Give us your strength as we faithfully and obediently serve you in spiritual freedom. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry

Created for His Purpose

“Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

When I initially enrolled in college to pursue my degree in Psychology, I was more than excited. The complexities of the human mind have always fascinated my overly creative brain. With a focus on Behavioral Health, I would empower others to learn and choose options that promote emotional wellness. All was well until it was time to select courses for the next semester. The core classes were not available during the day [this was in an era before online courses]. I could not take evening classes due to my job responsibilities. The disappointment of sitting out a semester was overwhelming as I thought about the setback in achieving my goals.

We are allowed to do anything, but not everything is good for us to do. We are allowed to do anything, but not all things help us grow strong as Christians. 1 Corinthians 10:23 NLV.

My plans were blocked because there was a significant conflict between my goals and God’s plans and purpose for my life. I have always been a believer. Still, I enjoyed fulfilling my dreams according to my desires. 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.

Through my discouragement, God revealed His plan and my purpose. He opened the windows of heaven. I received numerous scholarships and grants for my nursing education. Although I was the oldest nursing student in my class at 40 y/o, I graduated with top honors. And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28.

Serving patients and their families requires humility, which allowed the spiritual growth that I needed to become a follower of Jesus Christ. God used nursing as a ministry for me to provide compassionate care, emotional and spiritual support to diverse populations. Many years later, I can say, “Thank you, God, for your divine intervention. Amen.”

Our walk through life is as different as our fingerprints. Even so, a believer’s steps are ordered by God. We are to make disciples like the Apostle Paul. His conversion reveals the incredible power of God to give us a complete spiritual makeover and restoration when we surrender to Him—created by Him and for His purpose. 

Prayer: God, we ask you to reveal your purpose and direction for our lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. © 2021 Sonya Johnson, Faithful Fishers Ministry