Eloi Eloi lama sabachthani

Bible Reading: Mark 15

Mark 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

After six grueling hours on the cross Jesus cried out this pitiful plea to the Father. He was near death and his mission was almost fulfilled. The people standing around did not understand what he meant. Do we?

Why did he cry out this particular saying? This was prophesied almost a thousand years before it happened.

Psalms 22:1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

David prophetically described the crucifixion of Jesus Christ during his days. He began his prophetic Psalm with these heart-wrenching words that would later come from the mouth of our Savior.

Why was Jesus forsaken by the Father? Because as he hung on the cross, he took all the sins of the world upon himself and bore them.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Jesus took our sins and the Father who is too pure to look upon sin had to forsake the Son for a season. In all of eternity nothing like that had ever happened! Jesus experienced a kind of separation from the Father that brought about this cry from the cross.

He did this for you! He took your sin so you could be forgiven and free. Call upon his name today and praise him for what he has done!

In Christ,
Rody

As a little child

Bible Reading: Mark 10

Mark 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

I love hearing the ideas my children come up with! They don't know the word 'impossible'. They have no idea how much things cost! They come up with these ideas to make elaborate club houses and motorized life sized Lego cars! They also believe me.

When I tell them something, they believe it. They have not learned skepticism or realism. Their worlds have plenty of room for Swiss Family Robinson style tree houses. My son thinks we should just do away with money as a society and have stores where you just go in and get what you need. (I call him a socialist and tell him it will never work!)

The Kingdom of God however is something that right now is invisible. We must hear the Word of God and believe him when he tells us that Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us. We will not get to go see it and then believe. We must TRUST the Word of God like a child who believes what their parents tell them.

We must do away with skepticism and our supposedly 'rational' minds when we come to Scripture and simply sit quietly and listen as Jesus talks to us. Like a child hearing a bedtime story and then drifting off to sleep imagining what they heard, we need to listen to the Word of God. It is not a fairy tale. It is the truth and unless we believe it, we will never receive the promises that God has made in it.

If you have some excited children around your house this Christmas season, keep that image in mind as you meditate on this verse. Let's get excited about the gift of God's Son and the incredible gift of answered prayer from our loving Heavenly Father!

In Christ,
Rody

Their worm diets not

Bible Reading: Mark 9

Mark 9:43-44 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

Hell is not a pleasant subject. Especially this time of year, when people are focusing so much on the birth of Christ. We must remember that Jesus was born to save us from hell.

Jesus taught us that sin is so serious that to remove those things that offend us is better than going to hell. Here Jesus makes the contrast between eternal life and eternal hell. He describes entering life maimed as better than going to hell with both hands. For the believer, death is a doorway to eternal life with Jesus. However, sin will send a person to hell. A person who is not born again will face hell.

This is the description that Jesus gives us: hell is a fire that is never quenched. He says this twice. He also says their worm dieth not. Worms live in rotting flesh. Eternal fire and eternal rotting. How horrible! Yet, we must believe this because Jesus taught about it.

We must also ask this question: What could be so bad that the Son of God would have to die? Hell is the answer. Jesus came to save us from this horrible reality.

If we are honest with ourselves, how much would we have to cut off to get rid of everything that offends?

Mark 7:21-23 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Not just hands, feet and eyes, but hearts would have to go! We cannot save ourselves! That is why Jesus was born. He loves us and came to save us. We only enter into life because of him!

In Christ,
Rody

Ashamed of me and of my words

Bible Reading: Mark 8

Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

How could anyone be ashamed of Jesus and his words? Well, it can happen. Have you ever thought that you should have talked to someone about their relationship with Jesus Christ and yet felt ashamed to bring it up? Have you ever been embarrassed to point out what the Bible says about something that comes up in conversation? This has happened to every follower of Jesus at one time or another. Maybe it is not so much a shame of Christ, but a fear of being rejected.

However, never forget what the Bible says about Jesus:

Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

John 15:18-19 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

The world hates Jesus, his word and his followers. To follow Jesus means rejection in this world. Paul knew this and he declared:

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Don't be ashamed of Jesus or the gospel. Pray for boldness to proclaim his word. When people hear the message of the gospel, they can be saved if they will only believe. You can be a trumpet for the goodness and love of God. Don't be silent!

In Christ,
Rody

Their heart is far from me

Bible Reading: Mark 7

Mark 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

The scribes and Pharisees of Jesus' day were very concerned with religion. They had a whole list of things that religious men were supposed to do or to avoid. They were especially focused on washing their hands and their dishes. If they could not wash properly, they would not eat. This was seen as being very pious and holy.

This is what religion always does. It gives you a set of external standards to do. If you do these, you are accepted. If you do not, you are seen as a compromiser.

Jesus pointed out that they were hypocrites. That word means a 'play actor'. They were pretending to be pious, but in reality, they were sinful at heart. Their outward bodies might be clean, but their inward souls were dirty. They talked about God and religious things, but their hearts did not belong to God.

Don't fall into this trap. A relationship with Jesus is not a set of rules. It is a reality where we understand and confess our sin and receive Jesus into our lives. All the rituals in the world will not save you. Only Jesus can save you. All the washing in the world cannot cleanse your heart. Only the precious blood of Jesus can cleanse from sin.

Jesus wants us to love him with all our heart. Outward religion is not love. It is only ritual. Love is from a pure heart. We need to pray with David:

Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

He will do! When he comes in, he cleans up the house.

In Christ,
Rody

Why are ye so fearful

Bible Reading: Mark 4

Mark 4:40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

The disciples just saw Jesus speak to the wind and rebuke a terrible storm they were in at sea. He told the wind to be still! The disciples were exceedingly fearful and Jesus wanted to know why. They were in the boat with the Creator of the meteorological system - they should not have been surprised that all of his creation is subject to his word!

Jesus questioned their fear. They were with him. What did they have to be afraid of? They needed faith. They needed to trust him and believe his word. That is what we need today. The opposite of fear is faith. Faith brings courage.


When we trust Jesus, we can face the storms of life with courage. We can also face his providence and miracles knowing that he is at work in the world. Prayerful disciples expect for the Lord to be at work all around them. When we see something happen and know it must be Jesus at work we are grateful because we know who his is!

There is no need to fear when you walk by faith. The Holy Spirit is leading you in the direction he wants you to go. Faithfully follow the Lord!

In Christ,
Rody

That they should be with him

Bible Reading: Mark 3

Mark 3:14-15 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, 15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

Yes, he gave them power to heal and to cast out devils. Yes, they were sent forth to preach. The most incredible blessing of the choosing of the twelve however, was that he ordained them 'that they should be with him'. Just to be with Jesus is the most incredible blessing there is. To spend time with him and listen to his word is the one thing that is needful. This is what Mary chose!

Luke 10:41-42 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Time spent with Jesus will never be taken away. It is that good part of our lives. Do you spend time with Jesus? We have that privilege on a daily basis. We are invited to spend time with him any time we want.

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

When we are on mission with Jesus, we are promised his presence with us.

Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

It is the promise by which we cultivate contentment in our lives.

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Jesus is with us. His Spirit lives in us. He will never leave us. He is with us always. Now he invites us to be with him. Will you spend time with Jesus today? It is that good part which shall never be taken away from you.

In Christ,
Rody

I came not to call the righteous

Bible Reading: Mark 2

Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

The self-righteous have no need of Jesus. Only the desperate and those who know they are sinners go to the Savior. The Pharisees of Jesus' day saw themselves as righteous and they looked upon other men with contempt.

Luke 18:9-14 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

A person who sees themselves as righteous looks down on others and has no need for a Savior. This is the trap of religion and the path to hell. The Bible tells us clearly there is none righteous, no, not one. (Romans 3:10)

The physician of souls is come and he invites all who are sin-sick to come to him for forgiveness and cleansing. Will you go to the Savior? Will you trust in him alone for righteousness?

1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Jesus Christ is our righteousness. Trust him!

In Christ,
Rody

Come

Bible Reading: Revelation 22

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

The Bible ends with a wonderful invitation to come to Jesus. He has the water of life. Jesus offered this water to a Samaritan woman at a well.

John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Are you thirsty? Then come to Jesus. He has the water of life. Once you drink of this water, you will never thirst again.

The invitation is offered to "whosoever will" and notice where the invitation comes from. The Spirit says, "Come." The Holy Spirit invites people to come to Jesus and drink the living water. The bride also says, "Come." This is the invitation from the church.

Here is the wonderful news! The invitation is offered to all and the church joins with the Holy Spirit in inviting people to come to Jesus. Are you a part of this inviting party? Please join in! Come. Then go and invite others!

In Christ,
Rody

God shall wipe away all tears

Bible Reading: Revelation 21

Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

This is what we look forward to in Christ! Do you suffer from tears? Of course you do because we all live in a world where there is sin. Sin leads to pain and suffering. Our God loves us so much that he came into our sinful world and suffered and died as a man. Jesus did this so that we could be saved and have a hope for a home with him where there is no sin.

Imagine a world where there is no death. Loved ones don't die. People don't have congenital defects that kill them too soon. People don't have car accidents. People don't have cancer.

Imagine a world with no sorrow or crying. There is nothing there to cause it! No broken relationships. No divorces. No loss. No regrets.

Imagine a world with no pain. No sore backs. No headaches. No broken bones. No cancer. No radiation. No needles.

All these things are passed away. These things are all the result of sin and there will be no sin in this new heaven and new earth.

It is God who will wipe away the tears from all eyes. Our loving Heavenly Father will wipe away the last tears from the old creation and when our eyes clear we will see the new heavens and new earth Jesus has made for us.

What a day that will be.

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

In Christ,
Rody

Written in the book of life

Bible Reading: Revelation 20

Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

This chapter explains that Satan will be bound for one thousand years and Christ will reign on earth during a period of time that has been called the Millennium. This will be a time of peace on earth and a time when man and animal will dwell together in harmony. However, at the end of the thousand years, the devil will be loosed from the bottomless pit. He will lead the unbelievers in an attempt to attack the saints and the King. The fire of God will devour them and the devil will be cast into the lake of fire.
At this point, the Bible tells us there will be a Great White Throne Judgment. The unbelievers will be resurrected and they will be judged. Their works will be scrutinized by Jesus Christ and they will receive sentence - the lake of fire for eternity. Everyone whose name is not found written in the book of life will be cast into the fire.
Is your name written in the book of life? How does a person know if their name is written in the book of life? Paul knew that Clement and others were written in the book:

Philippians 4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, your name is in the book. It is the unbeliever whose name is not in the book.

Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Those who do not know Jesus will worship the beast. They are not believers and their names are not in the book. Do you want your name in the book? Then repent and trust in Christ. Confess to him your sin and your need of a Savior and ask him to save you. He will!

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

In Christ,
Rody

Faithful and True

Bible Reading: Revelation 19

Revelation 19:11-13 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

Here we see Jesus, our King returning to make a righteous war. You and I have never seen a righteous war. We have seen the kinds of wars that men make and both sides say they are righteous. Jesus however, is Faithful and True. What a wonderful thought - our God is faithful and true.

Jesus always does what he says he will do - faithful. He always tells the truth - true. Here we see the return of the king. He promised he would come again and he will. His eyes are a flame of fire. Can you imagine how terrible this sight will be to men and women who do not know him? Those fiery eyes see all. Nothing is hidden from his sight.

His vesture is dipped in blood. There will be much bloodshed at the Second Coming of our Lord. Too bad because now is the day of grace. Anyone who will receive him may be forgiven. But many men will not. They hate the name of Jesus.

His name is called the Word of God. That is what John said when he introduced him - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1).

The Word came in the flesh to seek and save that which was lost. The Word will come again to bring vengeance upon his enemies. I pray that you will receive him as your Savior and Lord now so that when he does come again, you can be with him and not against him!

In Christ,
Rody

Come out of her my people

Bible Reading: Revelation 18

Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

What should a believer do when they find themselves in a false system? They should do exactly what John heard the voice from heaven say. They should come out of that. The Bible instructed those followers of Jesus who were tempted to go back into Judiasm to:

Hebrews 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

The Jewish believers were instructed to go forth unto him without the camp. Here in Revelation, the true believers in Jesus are instructed to come out of the Babylonian system. To stay would be to partake in her sins. To stay would be to receive her plagues.

Followers of Jesus are to gather together with the saints. (Hebrews 10:24-25). This means we need to be a part of the true church. This is not an particular denomination. It means to be a part of a church that believes the Bible and worships Jesus.

Maybe you are a part of a church like that. You should praise God and pray for your church. If you are a part of the Babylonian system, you need to get out of it. Go to Jesus and bear his reproach.

In Christ,
Rody

Mystery Babylon the Great

Bible Reading: Revelation 17

Revelation 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of harlots and abominations of the earth.

The New Testament reveals two women representative of all people. First, there is the chaste woman who is the bride of Christ - the church. Second, there is the whore - Mystery Babylon.

Just who or what is this Mother of Harlots? She is described as a whore (17:1). She is arrayed in purple and scarlet color and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls (17:4). She is drunk with the blood of saints and with the blood of martyrs of Jesus (17:6).

It is evident that this woman sits upon the government because she sits upon the seven mountains or seven kings. What does she represent?

Mystery Babylon represents false religious systems. These have always sit upon the government and been decked with costly apparel. They have always persecuted the true followers of Christ. She is the Mother of Harlots and many false systems have come from her. She is a whore because she is not the true bride of Christ but charges for her services.

The Bible tells us that the ten horns will hate the whore and will make her desolate before they devour her. Eventually the government will be done with the false, compromising religious systems and will destroy them.

What a graphic picture of the false religious systems of the last two thousand years! Look around. Who is wearing purple and scarlet and decked with gold? Who commits fornication with the kings of the earth? It is always a compromising religious system who wants their representative to have the ear of the king.

What kind of people ought we to be? We need to be a part of the true bride of Christ. Christ loves his church and gave himself for her. Christ is coming for his church. But this harlot will continue to be vying for power during the time of the Great Tribulation.

Trust Jesus and follow him!

In Christ,
Rody

I come as a thief

Bible Reading: Revelation 16

Revelation 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Thieves can't break into houses where someone is prepared and watching for them. They break into houses where no one is watching. They come and go quickly. Most of the time they have done all their damage before anyone even knows it. The evidence of their coming is only recognized later.

Jesus says here that the one who watches for him will be blessed. This warning comes right before the seventh angel pours out his vial upon the earth and the great battle of Armageddon happens. The demon spirits have already gone forth to gather the kings of the earth to battle against Jesus.

What does Jesus say to every people in every age? He says to watch for his coming. The Jews were to be watching for the coming of Messiah. He came as a baby in a manger and most of them missed him. He says to the church to watch for his rapture. He will come as a theif.

1 Thessalonians 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

1 Thessalonians 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Jesus tells the Israelites before the great battle of Armageddon to watch for his coming. They are to be ready because he could come at any time.

Even though this warning is given to Israel during the Great Tribulation, the church is given the same warning. We are to watch and be sober. Are you watching for the coming of Jesus? Do you live in light of his imminent return? He promised to come and get us (John 14:1-3). Are you ready? Have you given up?

Whatever you do, don't give up.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us- ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Keep watching. Jesus is coming again!

In Christ,
Rody

Victory over the beast

Bible Reading: Revelation 15

Revelation 15:2-4 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

John saw those who had victory over the beast singing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. They were praising God standing on the sea of glass before the throne of God.

How did they have victory over the beast? You remember that the Bible says the beast will require people to worship him and receive his mark. Anyone who will not do this will be killed. These however had gotten victory over him.

Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

These overcomers had victory over the beast through their faith. They had the blood of the Lamb that cleansed them of all sin. They had the word of their testimony. When asked to compromise their faith, they would not. They were not ashamed of the name of Jesus Christ and continued to give testimony and be witnesses to the truth of Jesus Christ. And they loved not their lives unto death. In other words, they were willing to die for the truth. They would not live a lie. They would not worship the beast and so he killed them. However, their deaths sent them straight to the throne of the King!

They believed what the Bible says:

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

You and I can over the world, the flesh and the devil right now the same way these saints will have victory over the beast in the future. The blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony and a realization that to live is Christ and to die is gain!

In Christ,
Rody

The patience of the saints

Bible Reading: Revelation 18

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Patience is a necessary virtue for a follower of Jesus Christ. Patience is needed for enduring trials.

James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Patience is necessary for waiting upon the Lord.

James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

Romans 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Patience is necessary for finishing the race that is set before us.

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Patience is necessary for dealing with people.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

So how do we cultivate patience in our lives? We obey and believe. We keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ. Patience is a calm determination that God is right and he is in control. We can trust his Word and so we believe and we walk in obedience.

1 John 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

Love and believe. That is patience. Saints walk in patience.

In Christ,
Rody

The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world

Bible Reading: Revelation 13

Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

People want to worship. We know that there is something greater and more powerful than us. Pagan ideas have influenced many, many people with notions of a multitude of gods. If we do not worship the one true and living God, we will worship something else.

The Bible tells us that during the time of the Great Tribulation, the beast will be worshipped. All those who do not believe in Jesus will worship the beast. This is fascinating considering the fact that there are literally millions of gods and goddesses worshipped all over the world. There is coming a time when Satan will do such a good job marketing his man that the whole world will worship him.

But the worship of the true God is the only true worship. From the foundation of the world, God's lamb was slain. His plan has always been to redeem men by the blood of Jesus. In every age, there is only one God!

Will you worship king Jesus? Will you place your trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ? The only ones who will not worship the beast are those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Is your name written in the book? Trust Jesus and it will be.

In Christ,
Rody

When they shall have finished their testimony

Bible Reading: Revelation 11

Revelation 11:7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

The two witnesses have a specific task and it lasts for a specific period of time. They cannot be hurt until they have accomplished their task. When their task is over, the beast is able to kill them.

The apostle Paul was also conscience of a specific purpose that he was to accomplish. At one point, he was ready to depart and be with Christ, but it was not time yet.

Philippians 1:21-25 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith.

Jesus told Paul he had a mission before him. He had to complete his mission before he could depart and be with Christ.

If you are a follower of Christ, he has a specific purpose for your life. He wants to glorify himself in you. He wants to transform your character and he wants to bring others to faith through your witness.

Do you live with that sense of purpose? Do you know that God has you here for a reason?

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

God has good works that he has before ordained that we walk in them. So many people go through life with no sense of purpose. They have little direction and are simply living for themselves. To live with purpose is to live being led by the Holy Spirit.

Both Paul and the two witnesses had a purpose and that purpose was to give testimony to the truth of Jesus Christ. Paul said in his last days:

2 Timothy 4:6-7 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.

He fought the good fight, finished his course, and kept the faith. Let's focus on God's purpose for our lives. We are invincible until it is our time to depart and be with Christ!

In Christ,
Rody

Eat it up

Bible Reading: Revelation 10

Revelation 10:9-11 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. 11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

The little book that was in the angel's hand was something John was to eat. It would taste like honey on his lips but be bitter in his stomach. This is truly a reference to the Word of God. It does a person this way. It gives you Heart Burn!

That is what happened to the two men on the road to Emmaus who walked and heard the Word of the Lord from Jesus.

Luke 24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

When you eat up God's book it tastes good! There are "Great and precious promises " (2 Peter 1:4). Jeremiah discovered this bitter-sweet nature of the Word of God:

Jeremiah 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.

Later when he did not want to preach anymore he experienced the heart burn!

Jeremiah 20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

Once we take in the wonderful word of God, we discover the heart-burn. We cannot keep it to ourselves, but we must preach the gospel! The heart burn comes when we read of the sin of man and the judgment outside of faith in Jesus Christ. Then like John we are commissioned to go and preach to people's, nations, tongues and kings.

Have you experienced the bitter-sweetness of the Bible? Do you know the wonderful comfort and patience that comes from feeding on the Word of God?

Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Have you felt the heart-burn that comes when you realize that not everyone has the same promises?

What will you do about it?

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

In Christ,
Rody

Repented not of the works of their hands

Bible Reading: Revelation 9

Revelation 9:20-21 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: 21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

One third of the people who are alive on earth have just been killed by the terrible creatures that are unleashed from the bottomless pit. And yet, they continue in their rebellious lifestyle. Many men hate God and will continue to do so.

They worship devils and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone and wood. The Bible makes it clear that idolatry is the worship of devils.

1 Corinthians 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

These idols cannot see, hear or walk. People have done this for centuries. Why would someone worship an image? Why would someone bow before an engraved thing? God is not represented by images made by men. When men refuse to worship God, they will worship idols.

These men would not repent of their idolatry nor of their murders, sorceries, fornication or thefts. God has called us to love him above all else, but if you will not worship the true God, you will worship idols and serve them. This is what the service of idols brings - sin.

As we approach Thanksgiving on Thursday, let's remember our worship of the true God. A mark of idolatry and sin is not being thankful.

Romans 1:20-21 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Let's thank God for his goodness to us in Jesus Christ!

In Christ,
Rody

Silence in heaven

Bible Reading: Revelation 8

Revelation 8:1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

We read of all the noise in heaven in Revelation 4 and 5.

Revelation 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

Now before the angels begin to sound their trumpets it is silent for about a half hour. Why the silence? Because all the host of heaven are contemplating the devastation that is about to be unleashed upon the earth. This is a judgment that is coming.

Does God take pleasure in this judgment?

Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

God does not want any to perish.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us- ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Can you imagine how horrible this judgment will be that the very thought of it would silence the continual praise of heaven? This judgment can be avoided. Anyone who will turn to Jesus now and trust in him can be spared this judgment. Maybe you need to repent and trust in Jesus. Maybe you need to share the gospel with someone who needs to hear the good news today.

In Christ,
Rody

The Lamb which is in the midst of the throne

Bible Reading: Revelation 7

Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

The leadership of the Lamb is the destiny of the saints. Here in Revelation 7, we meet a 'great multitude' who are praising the Lamb. When John sees these people, he is informed by one of the elders that they are those who have come out of great tribulation.

Revelation 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

These are people who are saved during the time of the Great Tribulation. They were not raptured with the church, but were saved after the church went to heaven. They have been persecuted and martyred by the antichrist and now stand before the throne.

If you are saved now, you already know the Lamb. Isn't it wonderful to know that the Lamb will feed you? You can trust him. He will lead you to fountains of waters. It is interesting that the Shepherd of Psalm 23 is also the Lamb of Revelation. Our God is also our Sacrifice. He took our place and we can be clean from sin because of his blood.

Do you have tears? Of course, this life has much pain and sorrow. Don't worry, God will one day wipe away all those tears. He will lead us. Let's follow the Lamb!

In Christ,
Rody

Fall on us and hide us

Bible Reading: Revelation 6

Revelation 6:15-16 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

What could cause all these men to be so afraid? Why would anyone want mountains and rocks to fall on them and hide them? What could they have just seen that caused such fear?

Revelation 6:12-14 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

An earthquake, stars falling from heaven, the sun black as sackcloth and the moon as read as blood combined with the heaven being rolled up like a scroll. When this happens, they can see the Lamb! A lamb is not a scary creature by any means, but these men are terrified! Why? Because the time of judgment has come.

This will affect all men. The wealthy and elite and the poor. All who do not worship King Jesus will be looking into the face of the Lamb who was slain and will know that their time of judgment has come.

What a difference between these men and the fact that beleivers are encouraged to comfort one another with the reminder that Jesus is coming for us (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). The last words of the Bible are:

Revelation 22:20-21 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

What a difference! Do you look forward to the Jesus that you trust and love returning or will you be one who is begging the mountains to fall on you and hide you? I pray that you will trust him now!

In Christ,
Rody

By thy blood

Bible Reading: Revelation 5

Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

Worthy. Most men and women know they are not perfect, but think that somehow they can do something to prove themselves worthy of God's acceptance. It is interesting that when John was invited to the throne of God that a search was made throughout all of creation for a man worthy to open the book and loose the seals that God had.

Revelation 5:3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

This caused John great sorrow as he wept because there was not a worthy man found. The Bible declares:

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Ecclesiastes 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

For this reason when the Lamb stepped forward to open the book and break the seals the twenty four elders and the beasts before the throne broke out into a new song of worship. They declared Jesus Christ to be the worthy one. He is the only worthy one. Why? Because he has redeemed us by his blood!

We must stop trying to prove ourselves worthy and fall on our knees and worship the One who is worthy! Jesus! He is the Redeemer. There would be no righteousness without his righteousness. There would be no salvation without him. He is worthy of worship.

In Christ,
Rody

Holy, holy, holy

Bible Reading: Revelation 4

Revelation 4:7-8 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

The Lord God Almighty is worthy of all praise, honor and glory. He has created creatures that live solely to surround his throne with praise. These beasts are similar to the cherubim that Ezekiel saw. If they are the same or similar, I do not know.

It is interesting to think of their significance. Apparently, they all had similar bodies but their faces were different. My thoughts are that ancient Assyrian, Egyptian and other mythologies were corruptions and attempted copies of these creatures because they all depict in idolatry half-man, half-animal 'gods'. It is sad because they missed the true worship of God and worshipped that which he created instead of worshipping him!

These creatures worship him day and night. I think they depict for us the characteristics of true service to God. The lion reminds us of strength and boldness. He is the king of the beasts. The calf or ox reminds us of the strength of steadiness and toiling work. The man reminds us of the strength of intelligence and thinking work. The eagle reminds us of the strength of swiftness and endurance work.

This is the way we should worship God.

Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

Proverbs 14:4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Isaiah 40:29-31 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

This is how we should worship the Lord. With boldness, strength, intelligence and endurance.

1 Corinthians 10:31Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

This is God's purpose for our lives. This is why he created us.

Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

In Christ,
Rody

An Open Door

Bible Reading: Revelation 3

Revelation 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

You want to be a church like the one at Philadelphia. They did not receive receive any rebuke from the Lord but received an open door of opportunity for ministry and evangelism. Here is what I find interesting about this church.

1. They had a little strength. This was not a mighty and powerful Mega-church. It was a small group that was not strong outwardly. But they realized that their strength was in the Lord. We must also realize that it is not earthly strength that makes kingdom progress.

Zechariah 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

1 Corinthians 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.

2. They kept the Word of Jesus. This church believed the Bible and kept it. They preached it and taught it to others. They did what the Bible says a follower of Jesus ought to do. They knew this:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

3. They had not denied his name. This church proclaimed the name of Jesus. They loved the Lord and knew he was their king and their only hope.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

They were not ashamed of the name of Jesus.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

This is what a good church is like. They pray to God knowing:

Matthew 6:13b ...For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

It is Jesus' kingdom - we will not deny his name.
It is Jesus' power - we will keep his word.
It is Jesus' glory - we have a little strength.

In Christ,
Rody

Thou hast left thy first love

Bible Reading: Revelation 2

Revelation 2:4-5 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Can you love right doctrine more than Jesus? Can you love the idea of church more than Jesus? Can you love service more than Jesus?

Apparently so, because that is the charge he brought against the Ephesian church. Don't get me wrong, right doctrine is essential. Paul had warned this church that savage wolves would come among them:

Acts 20:28-30 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

They had listened and so Jesus said they had tried them which said they were apostles and found them liars.

How can a church with this kind of watching and discernment leave their first love? I suggest that it is a kind of legalism. It is a focus on doctrine that forgets the fact that all doctrine is just a great love, worship and understanding of our Lord. It becomes a religion and we forget that Jesus is to have all our devotion.

Beware and don't let this happen to you! It is happening in our day and I think many churches are so focused on teaching that they have forgotten where that teaching is to lead. If it is happening to you, here is the way back - remember from whence thou art fallen. Repent and do the first works. Remember those early days of your relationship with Jesus Christ and the love you had for him. Remember the focus on evangelism you had when you wanted everyone to experience the grace and forgiveness you had received. Remember those days when gathering with the church was a joy and you could not wait to worship and to be encouraged by your fellow believers. Go back to that! Keep good doctrine and allow that inspired Scripture to cause you to love the Lord more!

In Christ,
Rody

In the Spirit

Bible Reading: Revelation 1

Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

John was the man who was chosen by God to signify the revelation of Jesus Christ and to show God's servants the things which must shortly come to pass. He tells us where he was when he received this revelation. He was in the isle called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. He was exiled to a prison island for preaching Christ.

He also tells us what he was doing when he received this revelation of Jesus Christ - he was in the Spirit. What does that mean? It means that he was praying in the Holy Spirit and worshipping God.

John 4:23-24 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

John was in an intimate time of worship and prayer when the Lord appeared to him.

Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

We are told to pray in the Sprit and to watch and pray for all saints. As a godly pastor, John was separated from his flock and was no doubt interceding for them.

Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

He was also building himself up in the faith by spending time in prayer. This is essential to all believers. We must seek God through prayer and commune with him.

Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Because John did not know what to pray for specifically, he was also experiencing the intercession of the Holy Spirit who knows perfectly the will of God. We need to spend this kind of time alone with Jesus in prayer. We need to pray in the Holy Spirit.

John also tells us this was on the Lord's day. In his exile and estranged from his flock, John spent the Lord's day in prayer since he could not gather together with his church.

I want to encourage you and challenge you today. Jesus invites us into prayer. The Holy Spirit within will help us with our prayer. Let us get alone with God today!

In Christ,
Rody

Keep yourselves in the love of God

Bible Reading: Jude

Jude 1:20-21 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Jude wrote for a very specific purpose to the church of his day. He was adamant - certain ungodly men had crept into the church unaware and were trying to denying the Lord Jesus Christ. He reminded the believers of his day that God judged those of Israel that did not believe, the wicked angels who left their own habitation and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha.

He is telling us that ungodly men of every age will be judged. When the Lord returns. He quotes a prophecy by Enoch that tells of the second coming of Jesus Christ. Then he points out the true nature of these 'filthy dreamers'.

Jude 1:19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

They are 'sensual'. The Greek word is psuchikos and is translated as 'natural' in other places.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Here is the definition of the 'natural' or 'sensual' man. He does not have the Spirit. The Bible says:

Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

The difference between these men and believers is the Holy Spirit living in them. These men are not saved so they are at work trying to destroy the church.

Jude admonishes the believers of every age by telling us to build ourselves up on our most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. We have the Holy Spirit living in us. We are to pray in him. This is how we keep ourselves in the love of God. This is how we stay focused on our hope of the Lord Jesus returning for us. We have the Spirit! He lives in us. He comforts us, helps us and teaches us.

Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Keep yourselves in the love of God!

In Christ,
Rody

For his name's sake they went forth

Bible Reading: 3 John

3 John 1:7-8 Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

Missionaries have gone forth preaching the message of the gospel since the very first days after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. These believers have travelled extensively and stayed away from home sometimes for their entire lives. They took on this mission for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ who called them forth.

This missionary work is accomplished by the church and funded by the church. The missionary does not take anything of the Gentiles. Instead the traveler depended upon the charity of fellow believers. Gaius was one who showed kindness and charity to these traveling believers. He showed them hospitality and received them into his home.

The apostolic teaching is that we should help missionaries on their way. When we do this, we are fellow helpers to the truth. When they go in truth and preach the truth of Jesus we can help them.

Maybe the Holy Spirit is setting you apart for this kind of work. Maybe he is calling you to go and serve in some other part of the world. Maybe he is calling you to be a fellow helper to someone who will go. Either way, you and I can participate with Jesus in the work of preaching the gospel to every creature.

The missionary mandate is to be funded by the church. It is not to be taken from the Gentiles. The church should fund the work until there is a church to support itself. Then that church can begin to help others. The church must continue on and on...

In Christ,
Rody

Children walking in truth

Bible Reading: 2 John

2 John 1:4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

It is debatable as to whether John was using a metaphor and writing to a church which he calls in this epistle "the elect lady" or whether he was actually writing to a lady that he knew. It really does not change the meaning either way. The point of the letter is two fold. First, John commends her on she and her families walk in the truth. Second, he warns her to look out for false teachers that can lead her astray.

When John had been with some of her children, he found that they were walking in the truth. This was a source of great joy to him. This is what he wanted and had worked toward. This is what the Father wants.

Do your children walk in the truth? If they are still little, can I encourage you to be diligent to pray for them and teach them the truth of Jesus Christ? The Bible gives a wonderful admonition on how to do this in Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

The commandment we have received of the Father is to walk in the truth. When children do that it means they have been taught from the Holy Scriptures.

2 Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

If your children are not walking in the truth don't give up on them! It is never too late. If you are not directly responsible for their teaching anymore, then pray for them. Nothing is impossible with God. Continue to walk with Christ and boldly go to the throne of grace in intercession for them.

Handing down the faith to the next generation is very important. Let's be diligent to help young ones to know Jesus and walk with him!

In Christ,
Rody

This is the love of God

Bible Reading: 1 John 5

1 John 5:2-3 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

How do you know if you love the children of God or not? The Bible is clear that true children of God love one another. So how do we know if we are loving them?

The Bible here tells us very plainly: when we love God and keep his commandments. The love of God is to keep his commandments. For some reason, this strikes us as legalistic. However, a true follower of Jesus will desire the things that He desires. Jesus said:

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

The commandments os God are not grievous. The yoke of Jesus is easy and his burden is light. These passages are saying the same thing. To take the yoke of Jesus is to submit to him and to his leadership in your life. To obey the commandments of God is not a grievous thing because God empowers you to obey him. His commands are simple - Believe and love. When we have faith in Christ, the love of God will be in us and we can allow the Holy Spirit to bring forth fruit in our lives.

To love is to obey. To love is to fulfill the law. To love is not something we are capable of doing on our own. It is something that God does for us.

Let God's love flow through your life today!

In Christ,
Rody

His love is perfected in us

Bible Reading: 1 John 4

1 John 4:12-13 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

How do you know if God lives in you? You know because God is love and if God lives in you by his Holy Spirit, then love will come from your life.

The point that John is making is that since we cannot see God we must see his evidence in our lives. His evidence is the work of the Holy Spirit. Remember what Jesus told Nicodemus?

John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

You cannot see the wind, but you hear the sound. You cannot see God but you can see love. This love of God is perfected in us as we love one another. Think of trying to master something. Like shooting, for instance. The more you practice on the rifle range, the better you will become. The art of shooting will be perfected in you. In the same way, we must practice loving and the church is the place for practice.

As we love one another, we get better and better at it. Love is from God. It is God's nature and God's idea. When we love others and truly find love in our hearts, we know that we dwell in him! If the One who is love dwells in you, then love will flow through your life to him and others!

The fruit of the Spirit is love...(Galatians 5:22).

In Christ,
Rody

This is his commandment

Bible Reading: 1 John 3

1 John 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

Here John sums up the commandments of Christ for us very simply. If we are to be obedient to the Lord, we must understand these two things. First, we must believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ. This is salvation and the beginning of a life that is pleasing to God. It is commanded!

Acts 16:30-31 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Acts 17:30-31 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Mark 1:14-15 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

You must believe on Jesus to be pleasing to God. You must also love one another. This too is commanded by Jesus.

John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

When you love God, you will believe in Jesus as he says. When you love one another, you fulfill any law that there every could be from God!

Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Faith and love are the commands that we must obey.

In Christ,
Rody

He that loveth his brother

Bible Reading: 1 John 2

1 John 2:10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

What does the light of Jesus Christ do in our lives? One thing He does is cause us to walk in the light. In other words, the life of Christ in us causes us to walk in the truth. Light is a metaphor in Scripture for truth. A true follower of Christ loves his brother. Jesus said:

John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Jesus has commanded us to love the brethren. We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:10). A believer in Christ does not stumble around in the darkness because he has the light of Christ in him.

The one who is stumbling around in darkness the person who hates.

1 John 2:11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

Is this the life of Christ? No, hatred is darkness. Love is light. Jesus does not cause us to hate our brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus causes us to love. So if he lives in us, we will have a love for the brethren.

If you want to walk a spiritual life, love! Love is the fulfillment of the law.

In Christ,
Rody

That your joy may be full

Bible Reading: 1 John 1

1 John 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

Do you have joy? What is joy? The Greek word translated 'joy' means calmly happy or well off. It means to rejoice. Do you walk through life 'cal my happy'?

Here then is the key to joy. To know Jesus and to have the life that he gives in you. John says this is one reason for writing his epistle! Joy is a not something that you and I produce. We are the glad bearers of if, but it is produced in us by the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

There are many things in life that are not joyful. There is heartache and tragedy. There is loss and pain. But, in light of the 'Word of life', they all pale in comparison. When we consider what Jesus has done for us in bearing our sins in his own body on the tree, we have cause for joy. When we consider what lies in store for us as the sons of God, we have cause for joy.

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

So we can have a full joy. How do we have that? We focus on Jesus and get to know him. We read his Word and enjoy the fullness of the Spirit in our lives. We fellowship with him and realize that in Christ we are forgiven and we have fellowship with God! We experience the joy of sharing the gospel and seeing others come to faith in Christ. We experience the joy of answered prayer. We have the joy of the Lord as our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

We can rejoice in the Lord knowing that he is coming again to receive us unto himself!

Psalms 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Philippians 4:4-5 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Joyfully in Christ,
Rody

Your own steadfastness

Bible Reading: 2 Peter 3
2 Peter 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

Peter has just reminded us that Jesus is coming again. He is going to usher in a whole new world. The elements will melt with fervent heat and new heavens and a new earth will come. However, we do not know when this will happen. It is a guarantee and the Lord's long-suffering is because he is allowing men and women to hear the gospel and be saved.

Whatever you do, don't get caught up in the error of the wicked. Keep your eyes on Jesus and don't get sidetracked. The wicked say Jesus is not coming. The wicked say there is no heaven and no hell. The wicked say live as you please.

If you as a follower of Jesus get caught up in this thinking, you will fall from your steadfastness. In other words, you will stop waiting and watching for the return of Jesus. You will stop sharing the gospel in the hope that others will be saved. Whatever you do, don't do that! It is a real danger and so many have had this happen in their lives.

What do you do to stay steadfast and focused on the Lord's mission? The next verse tells us:

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

You must keep growing in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Read your Bible and pray. Gather together with the church. Share the gospel with others and keep growing. It is the answer to falling from steadfastness!

In Christ,
Rody

It had been better

Bible Reading: 2 Peter 2

2 Peter 2:21-22 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

False prophets are a reality. Peter warns us that just as they were among the children of Israel, they will be among the Church. They have an agenda and are always trying to gain followers.

Is a false prophet a person who used to be saved, but now is lost? No, the Bible here tells us that they have heard the gospel and know the way of righteousness, but they turn from it.

John says it like this:

1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

A false teacher was never saved. The sad reality is that they have heard the good news of Jesus, but they turn from the holy commandment and turn to whatever brand of heresy they teach. The Bible here uses a graphic illustration of two animals, a dog and a sow.

A dog is an interesting creature that God designed with a very special characteristic to teach us about false prophets. A dog will vomit and then go back and eat it! In the same way, a false prophet will hear the good news of Jesus, but will turn and go back to the old religion or occult practices that they once knew.

It is also like washing a sow. It does not do much good, because when she first gets a chance, she will find a mud hole and wallow in it. Both of these animals prefer their filth to cleanliness. The false prophet shows his/her true colors because they prefer the filth of their old belief system to the truth of Jesus Christ.

Be on guard and know the Word. If you know the truth, it will make you free!

In Christ,
Rody

Great and precious promises

Bible Reading: 2 Peter 1
2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

The knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord is something we MUST have. Not to just know about Jesus, but to know him personally and to love him with all our heart, soul mind and strength.

How do we know God? We know God as he has revealed himself to us in Jesus Christ. He has done more than just tell us a little bit about God. The Bible says:

2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

The divine power of Jesus has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. We need nothing else! What we do need is to know, believe and appropriate the great and precious promises that he has given to us. It is by these great and precious promises that we are partakers of the divine nature.

As we know the wonderful promises of our Lord, we believe them. This is what it means to live by faith. So in order to live by faith, we must hear the Word so we can know the great and precious promises that have been made to us by the Lord.

Can you hear what Peter is saying? It is as you hear and believe the great and precious promises that you are a partaker of the divine nature. Do you want to see your character transformed? You need to get into the Word of God and hear what Jesus has promised to those who love him.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

In Christ,
Rody

Humble yourselves

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 5
1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

All believers are exhorted in 1 Peter to be subject one to another. "Be clothed with humility" (1 Peter 5:5) is the way Peter puts it. Be humble before God because he is the One with the mighty hand. His mighty hand can exalt and his mighty hand can take care of you.

Do you trust in Jesus? If you do then you do not need pride. Pride says, "Look at me! Look what I did." Humility says, "Look at what Jesus did!"

When you humble yourself and trust in Jesus, you do not need to exalt yourself. You just need to be about his business and trust him. He will exalt you when he sees fit. His mighty hand can pick you up and place you in the position he wants for you to have.

When you trust in Jesus you do not need to worry. His mighty hand is strong enough to handle all the cares that you and I have. Cast them upon him!

Psalms 89:13 Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.

We are invited by Peter to cast all our care upon Jesus because he cares for us. His care and his strength are more than enough to handle anything that comes our way.

We do not have to promote ourselves and we do not have to worry about protection or provision. We need to trust in the mighty hand of God and humble ourselves before him. When we cast our cares his way, his hand is strong enough to catch them!

In Christ,
Rody

They think it strange

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 4
1 Peter 4:4-5 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

When someone gets saved later in life, they many times have a hard time with some of their friends. These friends might have been company in drinking and partying. Now, the believer wants nothing to do with these things because Jesus Christ has changed his life.

When a person who used to 'run in excess of riot' stops participating in these activities, their friends often speak evil of them. They think you are now 'too good to hang out with them' and that you are 'holier than thou'. That is not the case however.

The truth is that now Jesus lives in you. His Spirit and His Word are the driving influences in the Christians life. Jesus does not lead people into sin. He leads you in holiness. A follower of Jesus will be lead away from those things.

The believer knows that he will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give account to Jesus some day. He or she wants to be able to say he lived for the Lord instead of for his own lusts. The Bible says:

1 Peter 4:1-2 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

Be done with sin and live for the will of God. Your friends may not understand this. Don't be judgmental. Be truthful and love them. Tell them about the hope that is in you with meekness and fear (1 Peter 3:15).

They may not understand at first, but keep on praying for them and trust God. They may become Christ followers too.

In Christ,
Rody

Be ready always

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 3
1 Peter 3:14-16 But and if ye suffer for righteousness'sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

Peter is helping us to understand that sometimes as Christians we suffer for the sake of righteousness. When you follow Jesus Christ and live a Spirit-filled life, there is suffering involved sometimes. People try to destroy Christians and the message of the gospel.

The Bible here says don't give in to the temptation to fight back and whatever you do, don't suffer as a wrongdoer. In other words, don't be a law-breaker and a criminal. But when you do the will of the Lord and suffer for it, it will give you an opportunity to to do two things.

First, you will have an opportunity to give an answer for the hope that is within you. In other words, you will have an opportunity to share the gospel with unbelievers. Do you think God would allow his children to suffer if it opened doors for the gospel to unbelievers? He allowed his Son, Jesus to suffer to pay for our sins.

Second, when you suffer for doing the right thing, it will bring shame upon those who accuse you. When someone falsely accuses your good lifestyle, it will eventually turn upside down. When everyone else would react with anger or fear and you show love and compassion, it shows. Unbelievers will see there is something different about you.

So always be ready. Instead of asking, "Why me?", see suffering as an opportunity. Take the opportunity and share the good news of Jesus every time you get a chance.

In Christ,
Rody

The Shepherd and Bishop of your souls

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 2

1 Peter 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

The Bible often compares the people of God to sheep. When David, the sweet psalmist of Israel (2 Samuel 23:1) wrote of the Lord, he said:

Psalms 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

The relationship of a Christ-follower to Jesus is one of a sheep to his shepherd. He cares for us and keeps us safe. He is constantly with us and desires us to do well.

When Isaiah wrote of the cross and described mankind's rebellion, he likened us to sheep once again:

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

We are like straying sheep and the Lord laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all. Straying sheep were the point of Jesus' earthly ministry and he came looking for us so he could save us by taking our penalty for straying upon himself.

John 10:10-11 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

John 10:15-16 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Jesus is also the Bishop of our souls. The word Bishop means 'overseer' and is a word that is used interchangeably for elder or pastor in the church. The word pastor means 'shepherd'. So, our Shepherd, Pastor, Bishop is Jesus who tends his flock.

What a wonderful thought to know that Jesus looks after me like a shepherd does his sheep. Even though I was going astray, he has now gathered me up into his flock and he is keeping me.

Praise his wonderful name!

In Christ,
Rody

The Precious Blood of Christ

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 1

1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

To redeem means to buy back. We are sold into slavery to sin. That sin is something we are born with and will eventually send us to hell unless we are redeemed out of the power of it. But how can a man pay the redemption price for his soul? How much does it cost?

Psalms 49:6-9 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; 7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: 8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) 9 That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

Since the redemption of the soul is precious, it takes something even more precious to redeem it! No man can pay this price. No one has enough of that which is precious to pay for it. It takes the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Corruptible things cannot even compare in value to the blood of God's Son, Jesus.

The vain conversation received by tradition from the fathers is the idea that by making sacrifices someone could actually pay the ransom for their soul. It is impossible. Animals and corruptible metals are not worth enough.

Only the lamb of God who has no blemish and no spot could do it. Your soul is precious to God. But as precious as you are, you and I cannot compare with the only begotten Son of God - Jesus Christ. Can you see the love of the Father for you? He gave his Son to redeem you! The blood of Jesus is so precious that it can pay the ransom for every soul. Will you trust him for the salvation that only he can give? He is our only hope.

In Christ,
Rody

A man subject to like passions

Bible Reading: James 5
James 5:17-18 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

Have you ever read of the mighty prophet Elijah in the book of Kings and thought, "Wow! What an incredible man of God. I could never be like that,"? James wants us to know that the mighty Elijah was a man just like us. He struggled with the same flesh we do and he sinned.

The reason Elijah was so mighty was because he was mighty in prayer. James wants us to know that we can pray mighty prayers like Elijah prayed and we can see wonderful answers to prayer like Elijah saw.

He prayed earnestly...
He prayed again...

Prayer was Elijah's secret weapon. He believed God's Word and he asked God to act according to his Word.

Elijah was righteous because of his faith. Just like father Abraham:

Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

The faith of Elijah led him to pray and ask God for mighty things. He was not sinless. He was righteous. And the Bible says righteous men can receive mighty answers to prayer just like Elijah.

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

A righteous man is honest enough to know he sins and will be honest about them. Your prayers are powerful and avail much. They can accomplish great things. If you will believe God and ask in faith, he will answer. James' point here is not the Elijah was a super saint that we could never be like. His point is that he was a man who struggled like we do.

Do you want to see God do great things? Then ask in faith like Elijah!

In Christ,
Rody

He giveth more grace

Bible Reading: James 4
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

God's grace is amazing and is greater than all our sin! However, who does God give his grace to? He gives it to the humble. The proud person finds that God is resisting him. James helps us understand how to get into a grace-receiving situation before God. We must:

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

The proud person makes sure that they are lifted up. Some times they exalt themselves. But the Bible tells us to humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord. How do we do that?

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

We submit to God and resist the devil. We do this by realizing who God is and our great need for him. We submit to God when we seek his will in his word and heed what Jesus tells us.

James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

We draw near to God through prayer. We accept the multitude of invitations in the Scriptures to come to Jesus by prayer. As we do this, we will realize our sin and confess to him. This is the cleansing that will take place.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

When we are serious about submitting to God and we draw nigh to him, we will also see ourselves in truth. This will bring out our condition apart from Christ and we will mourn.

James 4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

We will not have to manufacture this. When we truly draw near to God this will be evident. When we humble ourselves before God, we can be assured that he will lift us up. Like a child in a father's arms, we will be lifted up near to the smiling face of our loving Heavenly Father who gives grace!

In Christ,
Rody

The wisdom that is from above

Bible Reading: James 3
James 3:17-18 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

There is an earthly wisdom and there is a wisdom from above. God is his word wants us to be able to distinguish between the two. How do we know the difference? The difference has to do with us either being peacemakers or causing strife. If we cause strife, the wisdom we are following is from below.

James 3:14-16 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

The world, the flesh and the devil are at work when there is bitter envying and strife. But where there is purity and righteousness being sown by peacemakers, there is heavenly wisdom at work.

Look around you at the situations in your life. Are these sowing peace or strife? Look at the political world - strife. Look at the United Nations - strife. Look at your family... Look at your church...

What is being sown? What kind of wisdom is it? Jesus said:

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

You will be called a child of God if you are a peacemaker. Godly wisdom in all it's purity, gentleness, mercy and good fruits is easy to be intreated. In other words, you can ask a Godly wise person a question and they will listen to you. If you seek the wisdom from above, you will live a life of integrity and not walk in hypocrisy.

Are you walking in godly wisdom? Jesus said the wise man hears the sayings of his and does them. Are you walking in the Spirit? One more thing about wisdom. The Bible promises if you need it, ask for it in faith and God will give it to you:

James 1:5-6 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

In Christ,
rody

Faith if it hath not works is dead

Bible Reading: James 2
James 2:17-18 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

A man is saved by faith apart from works. But a true faith always has works that flow from it. We often meet people who say they believe in Jesus, but have not been to church in years. Their lives look just like the people who live around them. Some of them are living an openly rebellious life to the clear teaching of the New Testament. Are they truly saved?

The answer is - only God knows. However as James says a man can show the faith he has by his works. A truly saved man will have a changed life. His life will now be a witness to the truth of Jesus Christ. He will be a man of prayer. He will love Jesus Christ and love the brethren. He will be a giver and not a taker.

A dead faith is a mere profession with no possession of the life that Christ gives. A true faith comes from the indwelling Spirit of God who lives in us. If the Spirit lives in us, he will want to bear fruit in our lives.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

A true faith shows! If the life of Jesus is in you, let him get out of you.

In Christ,
Rody