Jesus Patiently Endured - We Should Too!

 

 

    We are called to be different from the world – that is what ‘holy’ and ‘saint’ mean – “like the Lord/different from the world” (Romans 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 11:1, John 15:18-21). Being different from the world has never been more needful, especially in North America. We are being coerced into believing that we need to support groups that go against God’s laws. Members of the church are being persuaded that progress is needed, but in what direction is the world’s “progress” leading? Because we hold to God's ways, we are being called names and ridiculed for our “archaic” and “narrow-minded” beliefs.

     We will suffer for doing what is good. When that happens, God instructs us to follow Jesus’ example and take our suffering patiently – never letting the persecutions shift our focus (Philippians 3:13-14, Colossians 3:1-4), not allowing it to cause us to talk like the world through complaints and threats, but instead wholly trust in God, in His commands, and in His promises (Hebrews 11:6), just as Jesus did (Hebrews 12:2)!

Jesus (1 Peter 2:21-23):

• committed no sin 
• no deceit found in His mouth
• when He was reviled, did not revile in return
• when He suffered He did not threaten
• He committed himself to God who judges righteously

Following in Jesus’ steps, you and I:

• do our very best to avoid sin by walking prayerfully and carefully (Ephesians 5:1-17)
• do our very best to know the Truth (John 8:31-32), speak the truth (Ephesians 4:25, 29-32), and live the truth without hypocrisy (Luke 6:46-49, Titus 1:16). We respect God enough to represent Him properly to the world in all that we do.
• do not throw insult back at insult (Colossians 3:8-10, 12-15)
• do not threaten to repay hurt (Romans 12:17-21)  
• remember that God sees all and knows all – He is the righteous Judge; He truly knows who is at fault. We trust in His help, care, and comfort (Hebrews 4:16, 1 Peter 5:6-7, 2 Corinthians 1:3-7)!

    To this we were called. Knowing this, let us prepare ourselves by daily putting on the armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), prayerfully making our requests known to God with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6-7),  spend time meditating on what is true, just, and noble (Philippians 4:8), and filling our minds/hearts with His truth (2 Timothy 3:16-17), so we are always ready to give a defense for our hope, with meekness and with fear (1 Peter 3:15)!

You can do it! So can I!!

Jesus Prayed Often - So Should We!

      

    Jesus prayed early in the morning, in the evening, and even through the night. Many of us follow this pattern with prayers soon after we open our eyes in the morning and prayers again before we close our eyes at night (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). Just as the Psalmist wrote that he would declare God's lovingkindness in the morning, and His faithfulness every night (Psalm 92:1-2) Jesus, desiring to honour His Father, would have been thankful to Him, given praise to Him, and given Him the glory due His name.  

    Some of us may have even been through times of great concern and upheaval in which we have either stayed up to pray through the night or prayed every time we woke from our troubled sleep. Just as Jesus would have experienced, we too, can find great comfort and strength in casting our cares on God (1 Peter 5:7) and pleading with Him for His mercy and grace (Hebrews 4:16, Luke 18:1-7).

    Jesus prayed before, after, and sometimes during big events in His life. Jesus prayed at His baptism (Luke 3:21), after healing people all evening (Mark 1:35), before walking on the water (Matthew 14:23, Mark 6:46, John 6:15), before choosing the twelve apostles , at the Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-29), 3x in the Garden of Gethsemane before He was tried and crucified (Matthew 26:36-46), and 3x while on the cross (Luke 23:34, Matthew 27:46, Luke 23:46). 

    We need to teach ourselves to go to God in prayer before big decisions are made or big events are planned AND after decisions are made and events happen. We should work toward it being our first thought and greatest comfort to seek God's help, strength, and wisdom for all that we do, so much so that we pray to Him even while in the middle of big events and as decisions are being made.  

Side note: Jesus also left us an example to pray for blessing and give thanks to God for our food before we eat: feeding the multitudes (Matthew 14:19, 15:36), at His institution of the Lord's Supper (Matthew 26:26-27), and at the supper in Emmaus after His resurrection (Luke 24:30-31). Consider Romans 14:6.  

    Jesus prayed when life was unusually busy. Jesus often withdrew from the crowds that thronged Him to pray to His Father (Mark 1 :35; 5:15-16, Matthew 14:23). We don't likely have crowds thronging us, but we may have many obligations that pull us in several directions. Women today wear many hats: being all things to their husband and family, some work outside their home or from home, while others volunteer at school/community groups outside the home in their "spare" time. Just as Jesus purposed reprieve from His hectic schedule to commune with His Father, so too should we purpose time to be in solitude with God, so that we can recharge our spiritual batteries (Galatians 6:9-10, Psalm 138:3, 2 Corinthians 4:16, Psalm 18:32) and refresh our focus (Colossians 3:1-2)!

    Jesus prayed without ceasing (2 Thessalonians 5:17) - He never gave up on prayer - and neither should we! Let us add more prayer to our day ! Let's run to God in good times and bad to seek His help and nourish our souls, to praise Him and honour Him at all times for being our loving Father, and for providing us with the perfect example to follow! 

To be more like the Son in 2021 - pray, pray, PRAY!!

You can do it! So can I!!

 

Jesus Had Compassion For People - We Should Too!

"Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest." (Matthew 9:35-38 NKJV)

    There are hundreds of people all around each one of us who need direction in their life, who need to know God and learn of His way, who need the Good Shepherd to lead them in what is good and right. We need to care for these lost and wandering souls enough that we pray for those who are labouring for the Lord in our areas and pray also that God will send more labourers to our area to work!

    We can and should be praying for those who are labouring for the Lord. We can and should be praying for more men to rise up and work for the Lord. We can and should be encouraging young men to work toward being preachers and bible class teachers. 

    How wonderful would it be, especially here in Canada, to have more congregations of God's people! To have faithful men step up and take on the noble task of preaching God's holy Word!! To have more people reached, to have more souls saved, more people living as Christ lived in humble obedience to God, looking around them with compassionate hearts and praying that the Lord of the harvest would send even more labourers into His harvest!!

     Let's follow Jesus' command and example (read John 17:1-26) and pray for men, young and old, to rise up and choose to preach and teach the Good News of Christ!! 

    You can do it! So can I!!

 

Jesus Talked To People About His Father - We Can Too!

     Jesus sat down with people and told them of his Father (consider Matthew 5-7) and we can do the same!

    We can read and study to know God's Word and we can sit down with people (friends, family, neighbours, coworkers) and tell them of our heavenly Father (Ephesians 5:15-17, Mark 5:19, Psalm 66:16)! And don't disregard your own children and/or husband either. Talking regularly to them about God and His Word will not only make you more comfortable with the subject but will be a real boost and encouragement to them as well (Deuteronomy 6:8-9; 11:18-22)!

    Let's try to bring God into the conversation as often as possible this week. Introduce a Bible verse you've read/studied or a sermon you have recently heard. Make mention of a blessing you have received or you see in someone's life (to help them see it). Suggest that God is bigger that any trouble we can face and well able to help if we turn to Him.

"My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness 

and Your salvation all the day, 

for I do not know their limits.

I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD;

I will make mention of Your righteousness,

of Yours only." (Psalm 71:15-16 NKJV)

     Let's be more like the Son in 2021 by using the opportunities we are given to simply talk to people about our Father! 

    You can do it! So can I!!

Jesus Didn't Seek Status, He Sought Souls - We Should Too!

    Jesus was often criticized for being "a friend to tax collectors and sinners" (Matthew 11:19) because the world often looks for greatness in status, rank, and popularity, but Jesus did not come to seek prestige - He sought prisoners, He did not seek rank - He sought rejects, He did not seek popularity, He sought plain men and women like you and I.

    Jesus went to the sick, so they could know the Great Physician (Matthew 9:10-12). He spoke to sinners, so they could hear of redemption (Matthew 9:13, Titus 2:14). He taught the lost so they could find the way home (Luke 19:10, Romans 6)!

     To be like Jesus we do not need to have a big house, we do not need to attain high levels of education, we do not need to have high-paying/high-status jobs or mingle with the rich and famous - we can do as He did wherever we are! We can tell our neighbours of God's greatness! We can educate ourselves in God's holy word simply by reading, obeying, and praying for understanding and wisdom! We can share the rich blessings we have received from God when we mingle with our friends, family, and co-workers!

    We need to be careful how much focus and attention we give to earthly pursuits! We need to look around us right now and see the souls that surround us. We can help those around us and those who come into our lives through our every day activities! 

    As a Mom I have a household of souls that I need to be looking to and teaching (and reinforcing my husband's spiritual instruction). My children's friends, their parents, their teachers are all naturally in my realm, as well as near neighbours, my own friends, the grocery cashier, the pharmacy clerk  - all souls in need of a Saviour!     

    Who is in your realm? How can you encourage them today? How can you turn their attention to God and His way? By being more like the Son in 2021!! By simply talking to them, telling them of God's love and care for them!!

You can do it! So can I!!

 

Jesus Knew The Scriptures - And We Should Too (Part 2)

     Jesus used His scripture knowledge to disarm the devil and nullify the temptations set before Him (Matthew 4:1-11). He truly exemplified Romans 12:21 in this encounter! In so doing He also teaches us how we too can avoid temptation: by putting our focus on God and keeping in mind our spiritual growth (Psalm 119:59-60, Colossians 3), by trusting God’s love and patience rather than testing them (Romans 6:14, 2 Peter 3:9), and dedicating ourselves wholly to Him, giving Him due honour and respect through proper worship (John 4:24).

    We need to be prepared to do what Jesus did – use Scriptures to counteract the devil’s lures – but also hear what these Scriptures teach – prioritize God and humbly honour and obey Him - so we are wise to temptations! Consider:

• Man should live by every word that proceeds from God's mouth. Prioritize the spiritual over the physical (Matthew 5:6, John 4:31-34; 51, 57) 
• You should not tempt/test God. Use your time in proving God's wisdom through humble obedience, don't waste your time trying to disprove or question God (His existence, nor His commands) through man-made doubts and theories (Deuteronomy 6:16, Exodus 17:2, 7)
• Worship God and serve only God.  Give your time and devotion to your holy Creator not anything created by men (consider Matthew 6:19-21; 24, 33, 1 Timothy 6:3-10; 17-19)

    Those who work in identifying counterfeit currency do not study every aspect of the counterfeits, they study the authentic! They know the genuine article so well that they can spot deceptions and discrepancies quickly.

    The devil is a master counterfeiter. He tries to pass off his lies as truth so we need to know the genuine article – we need to know the Truth (John 8:31-32), not a man-made version of it (Matthew 15:8-9), not a hearsay version of it (Matthew 7:21-23) – we need to read God’s Word, the Bible (Psalm 119:160, John 17:17); we need to know it so we can understand it, and use the knowledge we have gained from it to be wise to the devil’s lies and resist him (James 4:7, Hebrews 5:14)  

    Jesus knew the authentic – Jesus was the authentic! – but we can be like Him by diligently studying God’s word, to understand Him better, so we can worship and serve Him more accurately and mindfully! So that we can know the Truth and not be lured away by the lie!

    To Be More Like the Son in 2021 let’s do all we can to increase our Bible knowledge!

    From wherever you are right now - BEGIN! 

Helpful Links

Bible Reading Plans:

• Classic Read-through-the-Bible (365 days, find it here)
• Read through the New Testament (90 days, find it here)
• Read Old and New Testament (365 days, find it here)
• Stay on Track Plan (364 day, weekday only, weekends can be used to catch up, find it here)
• The Busy Life – 2 year Read-through-the-Bible Plan (find it here)
  

Note: Six years ago, I followed the classic plan (at top of list), the next year I followed a chronological reading plan (find it here). I felt well-established in my new daily habit by that time so for the past four years I have made up my own daily reading plan  (one chapter from Old Testament and one chapter from New Testament) that allows me to read through sections of the Old Testament and the complete New Testament 3-4 times in a year.

Find one that works for you so you can get into God’s word every day! Do your best to create new reading habits - it is well worth your time and effort!! You can do it! So can I!!

Jesus Knew the Scriptures - We Should Too!

     Yes, Jesus IS the very Word of God, so of course He would know the Scriptures but in wanting to be more like the Son in 2021, we too should know the Scriptures!

      Scriptures are good for us to know - they were written for our learning so we can develop patience, trust, and hope (Romans 15:4) and for our admonition (1 Corinthians 10:11). Note: admonition means 'to put in mind,' it envelops the idea 'to warn' and 'counsel people to choose God.'  

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable 

for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction

in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, 

thoroughly equipped for every good work."

(2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV)  

 

    In Ephesians 5, we are instructed to walk as children of light, finding out what is acceptable to the Lord (vv8,10) and to be wise, understanding what the will of the Lord is (vv15-17). At the time this epistle was written, the first century Christians in Ephesus (and everywhere else) would have needed to be like the noble Bereans who searched the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11); they would have only had access to the Scriptures (what we now call the "Old Testament") and the letters written to their church (or nearby churches), to find out what was acceptable to God and to understand His will, so learning and knowing the Scriptures was vital for understanding and assurance!

 

    Today, I believe it is no different! Although we have the complete message of God in Bible-form, and as followers of Christ we have the New Testament for our guide to live right before God, we do ourselves a disservice if we keep ourselves from reading and learning the Old Testament. 

 

       I'm reading through the Old Testament right now, and yes, Genesis and Exodus are exciting and filled with grand narrative and yes, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy can feel tedious and possibly repetitious, but just when I was "knee-deep" in Leviticus and trying to justify my own desire to skip it (and the next two books that follow), I realized something small but significant from my reading: God required absolute holiness in any person who came near His presence and in any thing presented to Him. God does not change - so His requirements then are His requirements now - when 1 Peter 1:14-16 tells Christians to "be holy in all your conduct" and "be holy, for I am holy," we need to take that seriously, just as the Israelites needed to. If I had not taken the time to read the small, sometimes uninteresting 'in-between' information, I would not have been able to make this needful connection point.

 

    So, don't be content with only the major accounts that most learn as children (Creation, the Flood, Crossing the Red Sea, etc.), read the in-betweens, the leading-up-to's and the afterwards! Learn more about yourself when you see your own choices/attitudes reflected in the choices/attitudes of those ordinary people (just like you!) who fill the pages of the Scriptures! Heed the warning that flashes out from the accounts of disobedience. Come to better understand the prophets and the serious messages they were burdened with and the hope they had that the people would turn from their evil ways back to their loving God! Learn of God and His holiness, His consistency, and His unending love for His children!

 

     Be more like the Son in 2021 by reading. learning, and knowing the Scriptures!

You can do it! So can I!!

      

Jesus Determined to Be About His Father's Business, So Should We!

     Jesus, even at a young age, was determined to begin and do His Father's business (Luke 2:41-52). We, as God's children, should also be determined to do our Father's business!

"Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," 

shall enter the kingdom of heaven, 

but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." 

(Matthew 7:21 NKJV) 

     We need to appreciate God adopting us as His children (Ephesians 1:3-6), so much so that we joy in learning and doing His will (James 1:21-25, 1 Peter 2:1-3)! We need to value and respect God's word as His word (1 Thessalonians 2:13) and grow and develop as we obey the commands found within it (2 Peter 3:17-18).

 

    Jesus determined to fulfill His God-given purpose (Isaiah 7:14-15, 40:10-11, 53:1-12, Luke 19:10, John 3:16; 6:38) and He accomplished it (John 17:4, 19:30)!

 

    To be more like the Son in 2021, let's consider our God-given purpose and determine to fulfill it! 

 

    What is our purpose? Consider these purpose-filled verses:

  

    1) SEEK GOD!

Acts 17:26-27 “He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, thought He is not far from each one of us.”

     2) PROCLAIM HIS PRAISES!

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

     3) DO GOOD WORKS!

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

     We were created to seek God and find Him! God says to us, “Seek My face” and we begin to fulfill part of our purpose when our heart responds as David’s did: “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”(Psalm 27:8) Consider, also, the promise found in Hebrews 11:6, God will reward those who diligently seek Him!

    We are to tell others of God's love, generosity, and greatness! Read and reread Psalm 34:1-3 - "magnify the LORD" means to 'declare His greatness;' we need to fulfill our purpose by praising God and proclaiming His praises to others!! Turn to and consider Psalm 50:23 – praise glorifies God! Sounds a lot like what we read in Ephesians 1:3-14 – “to the praise of His glory!” God is worthy of all praise and those around us NEED to hear of His wondrous deeds (Psalm 78:4)!

     We are to do good works! God created us to do good works. When we do good works, those who observe us will glorify God (Matthew 5:13-16); they will attribute our kindnesses to God!! To Him be the glory!! God wants us to be ZEALOUS for good works – eagerly looking for ways to share His blessings with others (Galatians 6:6-10)! Good works meet urgent needs and are beneficial to others (1 Timothy 6:18) and that can cause some to grow weary, so that is why we are to look for ways to stir up one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24), so that we can all fulfill this part of our purpose! Still unconvinced? Turn to and read Titus 2 and 3, take note of how many times good works are mentioned in these two chapters!

     WE ALL HAVE THE SAME PURPOSE!! It is true that we all have different abilities/talents with which to fulfill our common purpose, and we are all in different areas of the world and have unique circles of influence to fulfill our purpose in, but we ALL have the same purpose to fulfill!! And not only can you fulfill your purpose, but I truly believe that you feel fulfilled too (consider Jesus' statement in John 4:34)!! 

    It is time to begin fulfilling your purpose - just as Jesus did! Seek God, proclaim His praises, and do good works!!

    Jesus did it, so you and I can do it, too!

 "If you know these things, 

blessed are you if you do them." 

(John 13:17, NKJV)

     

Jesus is the Son of God, We Can Be Children of God

    We, like the apostles, have come to believe and know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (John 6:69). It is through Jesus, through belief in His name, that He gives us the right (authority) to become children of God (John 1:12-13)!  

"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, 

that we should be called children of God! 

Therefore the world does not know us, 

because it did not know Him." 

(1 John 3:1 NKJV) 

 

    We can be more like the Son in 2021, by being children of God! We become children of God when we, through faith in Christ Jesus, are baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:26-29), becoming a member of His body (1 Corinthians 12:12-14), an heir of God through Him (Galatians 4:1-7)! 

    God sent the Holy Spirit, who gave God's message to the writers of what we now know as the Holy Bible (1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:16-21, 2 Timothy 3:16-17)! When we read the Bible we can learn of God and learn of His way (Ephesians 5:8-10, 15-17); the way He wants us to conduct ourselves, the way that Jesus exemplified for us in the New Testament! 

    We, who are in Christ (Christians) commit to do God's commands, we make His instructions our daily guide, and in so doing we are letting ourselves be led by the Spirit! The Holy Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16-17)!! 

 

"Beloved, now we are children of God; 

and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be,

but we know that when He is revealed,

We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

And everyone who has this hope in Him

purifies Himself, just as He is pure."

(1 John 3:2-3 NKJV) 

 

    So, how do become more like the Son in 2021? How do we let the beauty of Jesus been seen in ourselves each and every day? 

 

    By joying in the fact that we have a Father who loved us enough to send His Son to die for us so that through faith and obedience we too can be called children of God! When we truly joy in this fact and truly appreciate the hope we have as God's children we will sacrifice our own self and selfish desires (Romans 8:13, Matthew 16:24-26, Romans 12:1-2, consider also Galatians 5:16-25), and make every effort to live right before God throughout our lives, just as Jesus did (John 6:38-40)! 

    You can do it! So can I!!

 

 

 

     

    

Be More Like the SON in 2021

    Many of you know that my Dad is a preacher. Growing up, I remember Dad often wrote a New Year's theme sermon and its title, as per his style, would rhyme with the new year number; something like: "Increase Our Faith in Thee in 1983." 

     As you can tell from the title of this post, I am following suit. I realized then when my dad was creating those annual themes and I know now that when something rhymes people are more apt to remember it (consider the ability to recall song lyrics), so, our theme for this year is...

Be More Like the SON in 2021

    God calls us by the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14) to be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29-30). All that Jesus did, all the He endured and suffered, He did to leave us an example so we could follow His steps (1 Peter 1:21)!

     Whether you are a seasoned Bible student who has studied Jesus many times, a beginning bible student who is wanting to know more about Him or you find yourself somewhere in between, I believe that there is always room for improvement, there is always more we can learn from Jesus and the example He left for us to follow!

     Consider this theme as you go through your week - and let this song (with rhyming lyrics!) prepare your mind and heart to Be More Like the SON in 2021! 

  Click the link below to listen to "Let the Beauty of Jesus Be Seen in Me"