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"

Purifying Ourselves

    God is pure and we should be doing all that is necessary to purify ourselves (1 John 3:1-3) and keeping ourselves pure. Jesus died to purify us (Titus 2:13-14), we must give ourselves to the daily effort of maintaining our purity (consider Romans 12:1-2) We need to be always watchful of the influences we allow into our lives (Psalm 1, 1 Corinthians 15:33, Ephesians 5:15-17, 2 Timothy 2:22) because only those who are pure in heart will be blessed with seeing God (Matthew 5:8).

    How do we purify ourselves and maintain our purity?

• By meditating on pure things (Philippians 4:8). God’s Word is pure (Psalm 12:6; 19:8, Proverbs 30:5). Determine to sit and read the bible throughout the day and/or memorize bible verses to think on as you go about your day.
• By drawing near to God, which will help us not be double-minded (anxious, doubting, fearful, etc. Consider Philippians 4:6-8 and James 1:2-8).
• By keeping our thoughts and words pure (Proverbs 15:26, Titus 1:15-16). Pure words are pleasant and do much good.
• By keeping busy with good works (James 1:27, Proverbs 20:9, Titus 3:8); helping us stay unspotted from the world.

    We must strive for a pure heart and mind so that we can wholly obey God’s command to love our brethren fervently (1 Peter 1:22). Pure heart --> pure motives --> sincere care --> fervent love. In doing so we can reach our full potential and help our brethren do the same!

    When we purify our hearts and minds, we are showing God that we value what He has granted us: the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38, 1 John 1:9), the opportunity to be called His children, the hope of seeing Him as He is in eternity (1 John 3:1-3, Matthew 5:8), plus SO much more (Psalm 40:5, 68:19, 139:17-18)! Our daily determination to be pure lets God know that we honour His purity and perfection (Psalm 119:101-102)! We are saying that what He has done is greatly appreciated, what He has instructed is founded in love and true wisdom, and what He provides for our success is simply immeasurable!    

    In a world that is constantly promoting and celebrating impurity, how much more so should we, as God’s own children, be promoting and celebrating His purity and His instruction in purity through praise and humble obedience (1 Peter 2:9, James 1:25)? How else will the world know of the path different than the one they are stumbling along? How else will our lamp shine to light the way that leads to true freedom, peace, and joy?

    It is worth every effort to purify your heart and mind! God is worthy of your continued diligence in this pursuit!! He has provided all we need, let’s do our part and promote purity by living pure and faithful lives before Him!!

You can do it! So can I!!

 

Loving One Another With A Pure Heart

 “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth 

through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, 

love one another fervently with a pure heart…”  

(1 Peter 1:22 NKJV)

    It is God who purifies our souls from all uncleanness when we obey the Truth by being baptized (Acts 2:38; 22:16) and then as Christians, when we stumble, we can pray to God, confess our sin, and He will cleanse us (our souls) from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:8-10).

    Having a pure heart is OUR responsibility! We must determine daily to maintain the garden of our heart: tilling the hardened areas, making them tender and receptive to the Truth, clearing the stones of offense, pulling out the thorns of distraction (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23), and carefully tending the seed of Truth (Luke 8:11), nurturing it through obedience (James 1:25), continued study (Acts 17:11), and prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17); allowing it to purify our hearts. And just as actual plants purify our air, giving us a better quality of life, so too will God’s holy Word!!

    When we are baptized, not only do we have our souls purified by God but we also become part of the body of Christ, we are now members of His body with all others who have obeyed the Truth (1Corinthians 12:12-14, Acts 2:47, Ephesians 1:22-23, 4:15-16)! We have brethren! Brethren who flee the same things we flee, who pursue the same things we pursue – consider 2 Timothy 2:22 – and our need to have a pure heart not only benefits us but will benefit them as well!

    God commands us to sincerely love our brethren, without selfish motives or hypocrisy (consider 1 John 3:17-19) and this can only be accomplished with the next command “love one another fervently with a pure heart.” It is only when we work to keep our heart pure that we can be sincere in our love and sincerity in our love will lead to fervency - loving to our full potential! – doing all we can to help, encourage, guide, and benefit our brothers and sisters in Christ!

    If God has purified your soul, do all that is necessary to purify your heart and to keep it pure! Discover the better quality of life that God’s Word provides when we let it take firm root in our heart as we hear and obey it!  Love your brethren with a love so sincere that it will motivate you to keep your heart pure, in doing this you may just encourage your brethren to do the same! We are all in this together and it is only with pure hearts that we can reach our full potential!!

You can do it! So can I!!     

  

Keeping Yourself Unspotted From the World

“Pure and undefiled religion before God 

and the Father is this: to visit orphans 

and widows in their trouble, and to keep 

oneself unspotted from the world.”  

(James 1:27 NKJV)

    When we purify our heart and continue to purify it, our actions will reflect that purity. As we set our mind on things above instead of on things of the earth, even this will be revealed through the choices we make.

“Even a child is known by his deeds, 

whether what he does is pure and right.” 

(Proverbs 20:9 NKJV)

    Jesus taught that they who meet the needs of those in need are the blessed of His Father and when He comes to gather His own they will be welcomed into the kingdom prepared for them (Matthew 25:31-46). Does this remind you of one of the beatitudes we have studied? “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8)

    One of the purest ways to feel purpose and fulfillment in this life is to help others who need our help. In Jesus’ time these helps did not exist except by the hands of caring individuals who looked with loving eyes and generous hearts to the needs of those around them. Consider the behavior of the very first Christians in Acts – they saw the need among their brethren and either shared or sold their possessions and land so that needs were met, resulting in them having all things in common (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-37).

    Jesus wants us to take care of those who have no help – women without husbands, children without parents – those who are vulnerable to evil schemes concocted by immoral people, those who need love, guidance, reassurance, and/or provision to carry on through life. He wants us to have hearts that are loving, willing to share, and always watchful of any dangers lurking about those we are helping. Pure hearts can allow us to accomplish this. Pure attitudes and pure love for God and our fellow man will help us to obey this command!

    Do all you can to keep yourself unspotted from the world so that you can see those in need and help them with pure intent and sincere care!

You can do it! So can I!!

 

Keeping Our Minds and Thoughts Pure

“The thoughts of the wicked 

are an abomination to the LORD, 

but the words of the pure are pleasant.” 

 (Proverbs 15:26 NKJV)

    Have you ever been in a conversation with a couple of people and you’re telling them of some happening in your life that is completely proper and one person hears it for what it is and the other hears it and because of their coarse thoughts twists your innocent words into innuendo and double entendre, which they mention to your embarrassment, leaving you dumbfounded, aghast at the very thought, and tripping over your tongue to be sure to proclaim that you meant no such thing?

“To the pure all things are pure, 

but to those who are defiled and unbelieving 

nothing is pure, but even their mind 

and conscience is defiled.”  

(Titus 1:15 NKJV)  

    Maybe at times we, ourselves, have allowed our “sense of humour” to become impure, coarse, and defiled; thinking we can simply laugh it off with “I was just joking” (please consider Proverbs 26:18-19). When we allow ourselves to behave like that, to think and speak like that we exemplify what is written in Titus 1:16 “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.”

    When we allow impurities to dwell in our hearts/minds because we find them “naughty” (a.k.a. “a guilty pleasure”) we are allowing a form of childish rebellion take hold in our minds, we think that “no one will ever know, so it’s okay,” as though you are keeping a secret from the people around you, but Matthew 12:33-37 declares that what you think in your heart will come out, the bad fruit we are developing will become obvious because the longer we harbor impure thoughts the more comfortable we become with them and the more natural it will be for us to let them come out in our speech.

    Can you understand then, the difficulty you would have in trying to teach someone the Truth and tell them of the need to submit to Jesus and His commands, if you have spent much of your previous conversations with them laughing about impure things and twisting words into innuendo? You have disqualified yourself from every good work and God saved us from our sins and created us in Christ Jesus for good works, which He prepared beforehand so that we may continue in them (Ephesians 2:1-10)!

    Let’s be brutally honest with ourselves. Let’s look carefully at our hearts and take note of where our minds go when we listen. Take the time to truly scrutinize what you watch, what you listen to, what you read. If you find yourself guilty of impurity confess your shortcoming to God (1 John 1:9)! Do all you can to cleanse your life of every evil influence and fill your mind instead with God’s pure and holy word each and every day, so that our words will be pleasant in their purity and we can do the good that God created us to do!!

You can do it! So can I!!