Category Archives: Salvation

Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals, Salvation

Sacred Script

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Though not raised in a Christian home, my first Bible was a gift from my parents at Christmastime. It remained boxed and unread for years. Little did I know the great treasure I had left unclaimed? God warns and woos through sacred script.

“Go, inquire of the LORD for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the LORD that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us (2 Kings 22:13 NKJ).”

I discovered truth & treasure.

“For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:1-3 NKJ).”

Sadly, we often don’t know the value of what we have until we lose it.

“Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord GOD,
‘That I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine of bread,
Nor a thirst for water,
But of hearing the words of the LORD.”
(Amos 8:11 NKJ)

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals, Missions, Salvation, Women

Women on Mission

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The Lord God frequently does what we least expect. If we try to put His activity in a box He is sure to escape its confines. Resurrection morning was not scripted by any of the disciples.

Before daylight, a close knit group of faithful women began a mission of love for their departed Lord and friend. Laden with spices to anoint His body, they reverently approached His tomb. They likely discussed the problem of getting inside to perform their task. The large stone sealing His tomb created a barrier they needed to overcome.

The sight of His open tomb caught them by surprise. The stone lay off to the side, giving complete access to the burial place (that had been given by a wealthy Council member). The kindness of Christ follower Joseph of Arimathea did not go unnoticed.

The women humbly entered the tomb and discovered the tomb was empty; Jesus no longer occupied the grave!

Suddenly, they encountered two men in radiant clothing. The natural reaction of fright gripped the women; in awe, they fell to the ground.

The men asked a penetrating question, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead (Luke 24:5b NAS)?”

The messenger continued, “He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again (Luke 24:6-7 NAS).”

Yes, they remembered Jesus telling them of his death and resurrection. To rise again? That had not seemed possible. Alive? They saw Him die! Three days had passed since His lifeless body had been sealed inside the tomb…

The morning skies brightened. Hearts cold with grief now pulsed with hope and joy.

Culture, tradition and prejudice prevailed. Women held few places of influence. Against all odds, women were the recipients of the angel’s resurrection announcement. Matthew said, “And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to report it to his disciples (Matthew 28:8 NAS).”

Catch sight of frail women lifting their skirts and breathlessly running to tell Jesus’ disciples.

Before carrying out their mission, they came face-to-face with Christ. He encouraged the women and gave them His personal message. “Do not be afraid; go and take word to my brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they shall see me (Matthew 28: 10 NAS)”

Women…

*Women were first to see the open tomb.

*Women were first to hear of His resurrection.

*Women were first to see the risen Redeemer.

*Women were first to carry the Gospel message. Jesus lives; He conquered death.

The disciples rejected their message.

“And these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them (Luke 24: 11 NAS).”

Jesus later appeared to His disciples in His resurrected body.

Proof cancelled out rejection.

He lives and He is coming again!

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Christian Growth, Devotionals, Missions, Salvation, The Church

We Talk

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I live in an area that is predominately agricultural.                    

Farmers, families, and friends depend on crops to keep money in circulation. We all talk about the weather. In times of summer drought, we talk more.

Farmers pray.

Christ Jesus compared the lost and dying to a harvest.

In our churches, pastors and congregations talk about the lost. In times of dwindling numbers and apostasy, we talk more.

Missionaries pray.

“After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, ‘The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest (Luke 10:1-2 NKJ).”

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Christian Growth, Devotionals, Salvation

Fill er’ up!

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“Fill er’ up!”

My best girlfriend’s dad owned and operated a Sunoco gas station in our rural Mycenae neighborhood. I’m sure ‘Fill er’ up’ was music to his ears. Back in those days, a dollar went a long way. The decision to fill the tank when stopping for gas was using common sense. Why put it off?

Why do people have a tendency to wait to make the most important decision of their lives?

“For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2 NKJ).”

He will fill you.

“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:14-19 NKJ).”

 
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Christian Growth, Devotionals, Salvation

I Confess

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‘I confess.’

Words of someone ready to admit their guilt.

He or she is ready to come clean.

‘I confess.’

Words of one who confesses Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. Seeking Him, and His forgiveness; they are ready to receive His cleansing.

“He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:15-16 NKJ).”

‘I confess. ‘

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven (Matthew 10:32 NKJ).”         12471528_10204979913689110_9211174592249462285_o

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals, Salvation

Behold, your King…

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The King has come…

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him (Matthew 2:1-2 NKJ).”

Your King is coming…                                        SEPTEMBER 2014 002

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King is coming to you;
He is just and having salvation,
Lowly and riding on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.”
(Zechariah 9:9 NKJ)

He rules over a spiritual kingdom…

“Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here (John 18:36 NKJ).”

Enthrone Him…

“Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, ‘The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21 NKJ).”

The King ‘is’ coming!
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20 NKJ).”

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Devotionals, Salvation

Hooray!

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I nearly heave a sigh of relief when reading ‘This is not a bill,’ in bold print.  Not only has a company relieved my financial concerns; they have pushed my happy button.

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Scenario: It is February; the electric company discovers they have overcharged you due to a computer glitch. In turn, they credit your account and you do not have to pay the current humongous electric bill.

As difficult as it is for me to comprehend, God erased my debt!

“He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the cross (Colossians 2:14 HCS).”

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals, Salvation

When the LORD is Keeping Count …

saint-29666_1280                                                                                                                                   A  Disciple 

Jesus chose Twelve Disciples.

That is fact. Yet, He sent out an additional  seventy.

“After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come (Luke 10:1 KJV).”

I am allowing truths from this passage to seep into my soul.

There is strength in numbers when the LORD is keeping count.

In sending them out two-by-two, the disciples had the companionship and prayer support they would need in their outreach ministry.  In addition, the second disciple could confirm the testimony of the first to share.

Their outreach was in preparation of Jesus arrival.

I cannot fathom the numbers of those that Jesus has sent in his name. I do know that he wants you and I personally involved in the expansion of his kingdom.

 
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen (Matthew 28:18-20 KJV).”

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Bible Studies, Christian Growth, Devotionals, Salvation

Obit

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“Therefore I [Micah] will lament and wail; I will go stripped and [virtually] naked; I will make a wailing like the jackals and a lamentation like the ostriches. For [Samaria’s] wounds are incurable and they come even to Judah; He [the Lord] has reached to the gate of my people, to Jerusalem (Micah 1:8-9 Amplified Bible).”

These are not the words of a lunatic or one on mind-altering drugs. SEPTEMBER 2014 002

If voiced today,  authorities might put the speaker in a padded cell. No matter, he would make it his prayer room.

The Prophet Micah had inside information from the Lord God about the future destruction of Samaria. As we grieve impending death of a loved one battling cancer, he saw the effects of sin in its advanced stages. He diagnosed it as an incurable spiritual disease.

“For the wages which sin pays is death (Romans 6:23a Amplified Bible).”

That reads like an obituary. Praise God, a birth announcement follows!

“For the wages which sin pays is death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23 Amplified Bible).”

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Christian Growth, Devotionals, Relationships, Salvation

Whoso? Meso!

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Whoso?  Meso!

“For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD (Proverbs 8:35 KJV).”

I’m a bargain shopper; it makes my day when I find something I need at a low price.  When I found Jesus, I discovered that he had been what I needed most all along; I found life eternal.

Our lifetime relationship began with his gift of favour (grace).

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV).”

He keeps me securely in his hand. “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand (John 10:28 KJV).”

Finders, keepers!  “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13 KJV).”

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