"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1.
We were far away from God because of sin. Through Jesus, we are no longer far away. We were enemies of God. Through Jesus, we are now at peace with God. We were guilty in the eyes of God. Through Jesus, we are now righteous. We were darkness. Through Jesus, we are now light. We were dead in our sins. Through Jesus, we are now alive to God. We were condemned to be forever separated from God. Through Jesus, we are headed to be eternally with God, our Father. We were children of the devil. Through Jesus, we are now children of God. Welcome to God's family. Praise God.
Saturday, April 25, 2020
Friday, April 24, 2020
For God so loved the world
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16.
Most Christians know the verse by heart. Some non Christians know it too. It's great, because this one simple verse conveys us tremendous truths. It shows how much God loves us, and how we get our sins forgiven. However, one more thing can be spotted in the verse and I believe it is very important. It tells us about the value of a human in God's eyes. It is priceless. Can you believe it?
There is no monetary value for us. Human are the crown of God's creation. He created us according to His own image and likeness. Unfortunately, we sinned. We besmeared the beauty that God gave us. Sin separated us from God. Yet, we were still amazingly valuable to our Creator. He decided to give Himself for our redemption. Wow! If He valued us so much, that is the greatest measurement for our self-worth. People try to build their own self-esteem by various psychological tricks. I know no better thing than to know that God Himself died to redeem us. This is in-measurable price. And after you accept this priceless gift, God becomes your Father. Wow! What a privilege! Billions of thanks to Him here on earth and many more when we meet Him on the other side of eternity.
Most Christians know the verse by heart. Some non Christians know it too. It's great, because this one simple verse conveys us tremendous truths. It shows how much God loves us, and how we get our sins forgiven. However, one more thing can be spotted in the verse and I believe it is very important. It tells us about the value of a human in God's eyes. It is priceless. Can you believe it?
There is no monetary value for us. Human are the crown of God's creation. He created us according to His own image and likeness. Unfortunately, we sinned. We besmeared the beauty that God gave us. Sin separated us from God. Yet, we were still amazingly valuable to our Creator. He decided to give Himself for our redemption. Wow! If He valued us so much, that is the greatest measurement for our self-worth. People try to build their own self-esteem by various psychological tricks. I know no better thing than to know that God Himself died to redeem us. This is in-measurable price. And after you accept this priceless gift, God becomes your Father. Wow! What a privilege! Billions of thanks to Him here on earth and many more when we meet Him on the other side of eternity.
Thursday, April 23, 2020
Jesus came to give life
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" John 10:10.
When you look at the world today and see lots of misery, suffering, evil, wars, anxiety and other stuff that break people's hearts you see the works of the thief (sin and devil). These 2 work in tandem causing so much grief. Even sicknesses and diseases are the result of the 2. They cause us to lose peace, joy, health, happiness, satisfaction, success and all the good stuff that every human being dreams of having. It's important to know the source of all the evil, and I hope you see that. However, there is somebody, who can turn things around, and He did.
Jesus came to bring us life full of abundance. He came to restore our value as humans. He came to return peace between us and God. He came to return us right position before God. He gives joy. He blesses. He forgives sins. He heals our bodies. He does not condemn, but justifies us. He shows us what God is like. He is our Father. A good Father. A Father who gives good gifts for His children. There is fullness of life in Jesus. The only thing that He takes away from us (if we allow Him) is our sins. Well, the Bible says, He took our diseases too. Let's not walk around with the weights that the thief put on us. Let's go to Jesus, and He will gives us life full of abundance.
When you look at the world today and see lots of misery, suffering, evil, wars, anxiety and other stuff that break people's hearts you see the works of the thief (sin and devil). These 2 work in tandem causing so much grief. Even sicknesses and diseases are the result of the 2. They cause us to lose peace, joy, health, happiness, satisfaction, success and all the good stuff that every human being dreams of having. It's important to know the source of all the evil, and I hope you see that. However, there is somebody, who can turn things around, and He did.
Jesus came to bring us life full of abundance. He came to restore our value as humans. He came to return peace between us and God. He came to return us right position before God. He gives joy. He blesses. He forgives sins. He heals our bodies. He does not condemn, but justifies us. He shows us what God is like. He is our Father. A good Father. A Father who gives good gifts for His children. There is fullness of life in Jesus. The only thing that He takes away from us (if we allow Him) is our sins. Well, the Bible says, He took our diseases too. Let's not walk around with the weights that the thief put on us. Let's go to Jesus, and He will gives us life full of abundance.
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
God is in control
"The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all" Psalms 103:19.
The current pandemic of coronavirus has generated a lot of talks among Christians and not conspiracy theorists about the upcoming change in the world. Possible global government, massive chipping, one currency, persecution and many more. Well, it's possible. The world has undergone various stages in politics. Various power groups struggled to gain global power. And there are some ideas regarding that in the Bible (book of revelation). However, as a Christian I am really more interested in what God is doing than what various power hungry groups are.
You know, God never left this earth. He created it. The earth belongs to Him. Nothing happens in the world without His knowledge, and nothing will. He is still on the throne and He is still in control. Jesus Christ is the Savior of our souls and the day is approaching when He is coming back to the earth as the King of kings. That's why I am more interested in God's politics, than the world politics. God is moving things. We are approaching to the end times and we should be more worried about states of our souls than about the state of politics. It's ok to follow that too, but do we see that God is above everything and one day His kingdom will reign forever, and it will never have an end? Even if ungodliness manages to climb on the throne of the global politics, it will be for a short season. God will take over from there. We have to keep serving God and true King Jesus, who will reign forever. Let's keep our focus on God and get courage and peace from Him, even if things might get for the worse. Have faith in God, because eventually, He will visibly rule the world. I am waiting for that type of President.
The current pandemic of coronavirus has generated a lot of talks among Christians and not conspiracy theorists about the upcoming change in the world. Possible global government, massive chipping, one currency, persecution and many more. Well, it's possible. The world has undergone various stages in politics. Various power groups struggled to gain global power. And there are some ideas regarding that in the Bible (book of revelation). However, as a Christian I am really more interested in what God is doing than what various power hungry groups are.
You know, God never left this earth. He created it. The earth belongs to Him. Nothing happens in the world without His knowledge, and nothing will. He is still on the throne and He is still in control. Jesus Christ is the Savior of our souls and the day is approaching when He is coming back to the earth as the King of kings. That's why I am more interested in God's politics, than the world politics. God is moving things. We are approaching to the end times and we should be more worried about states of our souls than about the state of politics. It's ok to follow that too, but do we see that God is above everything and one day His kingdom will reign forever, and it will never have an end? Even if ungodliness manages to climb on the throne of the global politics, it will be for a short season. God will take over from there. We have to keep serving God and true King Jesus, who will reign forever. Let's keep our focus on God and get courage and peace from Him, even if things might get for the worse. Have faith in God, because eventually, He will visibly rule the world. I am waiting for that type of President.
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
God always works behind the scenes
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" Romans 8:28.
It is obvious that bad things happen to everyone, Christians included. We want to live in a better world, but we don't. Some grow up in toxic environment, dysfunctional families, others have health issues, yet others lack success in life. The list can be very long. One preacher told a person who was complaining to him about the troubles in his life: "Welcome to the world where everybody suffers". Christians are not naive people, they are not blind to the bad stuff that happens around or even in their own very lives. However, we do not end being negative or pessimistic. Why?
Because we have a good God, who never leaves us. He has a way of how to deal with the bad stuff in our lives and turn it into something good. We should always remember that. Unfavorable conditions will always be there, trials and tests too. However, the most important thing for us is to have faith that God is always with us and a strong hope that He will turn everything that comes against us for the better. He has a purpose for our lives. And He knows how to achieve it if we cooperate with Him. He always works behind the scenes. Let's trust that God is good and anything we go through will make us stronger in the end.
It is obvious that bad things happen to everyone, Christians included. We want to live in a better world, but we don't. Some grow up in toxic environment, dysfunctional families, others have health issues, yet others lack success in life. The list can be very long. One preacher told a person who was complaining to him about the troubles in his life: "Welcome to the world where everybody suffers". Christians are not naive people, they are not blind to the bad stuff that happens around or even in their own very lives. However, we do not end being negative or pessimistic. Why?
Because we have a good God, who never leaves us. He has a way of how to deal with the bad stuff in our lives and turn it into something good. We should always remember that. Unfavorable conditions will always be there, trials and tests too. However, the most important thing for us is to have faith that God is always with us and a strong hope that He will turn everything that comes against us for the better. He has a purpose for our lives. And He knows how to achieve it if we cooperate with Him. He always works behind the scenes. Let's trust that God is good and anything we go through will make us stronger in the end.
Monday, April 20, 2020
Love casts out fear
"Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in
love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.
But he who fears has not been made perfect in love" 1 John 4:18.
Fear and love never stay together. One casts another out. People throughout centuries feared God. In a wrong way. They did not know Him. They saw a distorted picture of Him. They were scared to be punished and sent to hell. Some have the same image of God today. A picture of an angry God is a wrong picture. Apostle John confirms that. He says that we may have boldness in the day of judgment. Not fear judgment, but have boldness in that day. You have been justified by faith in Jesus, and you will not be punished for your past sins.
Your love for God draws you closer to Him. You know that He had forgiven your sins, and this knowledge removes fear from your heart. The fact that He loved you so much that He gave His only Son for you does something even more. It breeds love for God/Jesus in your heart.
No more slaverish fear of judgment and of God. You love Him. Yes, there is a different kind of fear of God that the Bible talks about. That fear means you shun everything that God does not like. That type of fear is not a feeling. It is your desire and a decision to behave in a way that God likes. It's just like when you love somebody, you don't do (at least try not to) things the person does not like. It is the same with our relationship with God. You don't do things you don't like because you love Him.
He loves you and you love Him back. The slaverish fear pushes us away from God. The love that we have in our hearts for Him, pushes us closer to Him. You cannot have both. God loves you, Jesus paid price for you sins. He was punished for you. Punishment does not belong to you. If you meditate on that, this will cast away fear. Who or what should you fear if the creator of the Universe loves you and is on your side? Trust Him.
Fear and love never stay together. One casts another out. People throughout centuries feared God. In a wrong way. They did not know Him. They saw a distorted picture of Him. They were scared to be punished and sent to hell. Some have the same image of God today. A picture of an angry God is a wrong picture. Apostle John confirms that. He says that we may have boldness in the day of judgment. Not fear judgment, but have boldness in that day. You have been justified by faith in Jesus, and you will not be punished for your past sins.
Your love for God draws you closer to Him. You know that He had forgiven your sins, and this knowledge removes fear from your heart. The fact that He loved you so much that He gave His only Son for you does something even more. It breeds love for God/Jesus in your heart.
No more slaverish fear of judgment and of God. You love Him. Yes, there is a different kind of fear of God that the Bible talks about. That fear means you shun everything that God does not like. That type of fear is not a feeling. It is your desire and a decision to behave in a way that God likes. It's just like when you love somebody, you don't do (at least try not to) things the person does not like. It is the same with our relationship with God. You don't do things you don't like because you love Him.
He loves you and you love Him back. The slaverish fear pushes us away from God. The love that we have in our hearts for Him, pushes us closer to Him. You cannot have both. God loves you, Jesus paid price for you sins. He was punished for you. Punishment does not belong to you. If you meditate on that, this will cast away fear. Who or what should you fear if the creator of the Universe loves you and is on your side? Trust Him.
Sunday, April 19, 2020
The word of God always accomplishes the mission it is sent for
"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth:It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it" Isaiah 55:10-11.
Rain and snow have power to do something good for the earth. They help the earth to produce harvest and accomplish many other things. Similarly, the word of God can have a lot of functions, but it is mostly sent to help people to implement changes in their lives. One word from God can change our lives forever. God's word can be applied to any area of your life. If you don't have hope, it gives hope. If you feel sad, it can produce in you joy. It you are worried, it can bring you peace of mind. And so on, and so forth. So, define what kind of situation you are in, then look what the Word of God says about your situation. Find as many verses as you can and read them. Those verses will produce positive result in you. Even if your situation does not change, you will be able to look at it from God's perspective and get new strength, or wisdom to solve problems that arise in your life.
Rain and snow have power to do something good for the earth. They help the earth to produce harvest and accomplish many other things. Similarly, the word of God can have a lot of functions, but it is mostly sent to help people to implement changes in their lives. One word from God can change our lives forever. God's word can be applied to any area of your life. If you don't have hope, it gives hope. If you feel sad, it can produce in you joy. It you are worried, it can bring you peace of mind. And so on, and so forth. So, define what kind of situation you are in, then look what the Word of God says about your situation. Find as many verses as you can and read them. Those verses will produce positive result in you. Even if your situation does not change, you will be able to look at it from God's perspective and get new strength, or wisdom to solve problems that arise in your life.
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