Keep Your Eyes On Him

     "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16      "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:20-21      The word of the Lord will stand forever and it is flawless. (2 Samuel 22:31) The word is from the very mouth of God. It is not something that man conjured up on his own. Every word is perfect and true and was written in the power of God's Holy Spirit. We have everything we need to live this life beginning in the book of Genesis to the book of Revelation.       God tells us in His word that He does not change. (Malachi 3:10) Because of this truth, God is the same ye...

     "In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace." Romans 6:11-14      When Paul wrote these verses under the power of the Holy Spirit, he tells us that we should be dead to sin. What does that mean? He elaborates on this as he tells us not to let sin reign (or rule) in our bodies. To let sin reign, would mean to let it have control over you so that you are walking in the flesh as opposed to walking in the Spirit. My friend, you and I are still human, so we are going to sin, however, this should not be habitual or rather, it ...

     "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes, even his own life-he cannot be My disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple." Luke 14:26-27      These words from Jesus may sound harsh, especially to someone who does not know Him. His words are very strong and full of passion in these verses. First, we must understand that there is a choice involved. Jesus clearly says " if anyone comes to Me ." From the beginning, Jesus has never forced His way on anyone. He patiently, lovingly waits for us to respond to His call. Once we say 'yes' to His call, He doesn't want to just be first in our life, no, He wants to be our one and only! When we think of the other relationships in our lives such as spouse, children, mother, father, sibling or friend, there should be no comparison! Yes, my friend, we love our families and friends, but our relations...

      "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue  to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." Colossians 2:6-7      The day you received Christ was the day your life truly began! This day marked the beginning of a beautiful relationship. A relationship that needs to be fed and nurtured every single day of your life. Friend, it is not over once you come to know Christ. If that was the case, then as soon as we are saved, Jesus would call us home. Some people think that when they become saved then that is it and they basically just wait to go to heaven. We are not to be bystanders in this process. No, there is work for us to do which God has already prepared in advance for each one of us. "For by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmansh...

     "But what about you? (Jesus) asked. "Who do you say I am?" Luke 9:20      Jesus asked this question to Peter, but this question still holds for you and me today. Who do you say Jesus is? Who is He to you? It isn't enough for us to know about Jesus. Friend, it is more than just head knowledge. God sent Jesus for you and me to die a horrible death on the cross for our sin. Why did God do this? Why would He send His one and only Son to die? In a word, the answer is love! God sent Jesus because He loves you and me so very much and He wants us to have a relationship with Him. Jesus is the bridge between us and God. There was no amount of sacrifice or offering we could bring to God that would take away our sin. God is holy. In Him there is no sin and because of this, there had to be a perfect, spotless, blameless sacrifice. That sacrifice is Jesus. He is the only one who could take away the sin of the world. "The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a ...

      "Praise the Lord O my soul; all my inmost being , praise His holy name. Praise the Lord O my soul, and forget not all His benefits-who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." Psalm 103:1-5      There is no true satisfaction in this life without the One who created you and me. As we read in Ecclesiastes, "A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without Him, who can eat or find enjoyment?" (2:24-25)  You may find temporary satisfaction in certain things of life, but none that will satisfy you as Jesus will.      We were created by God for Him and His glory. It is not until we come to know Christ, that we see everything else we have strived for is nothing more than ...