Saturday, January 11, 2025

January 11, 2025

I’m not going to lie; after reading 1 Thessalonians 2, I thought it would be hard to make a lesson out of it. However, God, in His mighty power, made me aware of His ability to turn anything in His Word into a lesson. We know the power of the Holy Spirit because of our faith in Jesus, and maybe this only applies to us because of our belief that the Bible is the written word of God. If anyone wants proof that God used men to convey His words, Paul makes it clear in the following verse:

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. 1 Thessalonians 2:13


Not only that, but God gives us the ability to understand and believe those words because of the same Spirit. You could use this verse to show someone that the Bible is God’s voice because if they were meant to understand it, the Holy Spirit would be engaged in them to comprehend. It’s worth the try if someone responds that humans wrote the Bible without the inspiration of God. The word of God validates the scriptures!

Friday, January 10, 2025

January 10, 2025

Not only do we need to read the scriptures, but the reading must be accompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit to make sense. Anyone can read, but when God’s power manifests through us by His Spirit, we know we are saved. What does that look like? You will begin to rid yourself of your old sinful ways and take on the identity of Christ. Similarly, what were just words on a page before your salvation has new meaning and depth as the Holy Spirit reveals the truth through God’s living words.

What’s more and quite unusual is that you bear with affliction, knowing that tribulations only strengthen your faith. We see God’s power manifest when we are going through trials and come out with new strength that can only be attributed to God. Another point to remember is that we were chosen, which means our strength to endure hardships comes directly from the Lord; he wouldn’t have picked you if he didn’t think you could handle it. Today, thank God for him choosing you for salvation, giving you the strength to endure the process of sanctification, and opening your eyes through the power of the Holy Spirit.


Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: 1 Thessalonians 1:4-6

Thursday, January 9, 2025

January 9, 2025

Did you know that even those who committed serious crimes that received salvation in Jesus have the same spiritual rights as you do? It doesn’t matter if they are in jail or walking among us, they have just as much right to the kingdom of heaven as those of us who have never committed a crime. If the truth be told, they are more thankful for their salvation than we are because they have more sins forgiven and appreciate their cleansing more. Don’t let this fact sting you, but they are also our brother or sister in Christ! Do we have to bring into the fold a saved criminal? You bet you do! If they are saved by the grace of God, just like you, they are considered as free as you are and are part of the kingdom of God. When they first receive their salvation, they are rough around the edges, but that’s where we must give the most grace and embrace them so they don’t fall away. It may be essential to stay cautiously optimistic and use our gift of discernment so we aren’t taken advantage of. If they had plans of harming, maybe our love would help turn them around if their salvation was only a show to catch us off guard. The Holy Spirit should reveal to us if their salvation is sincere. We must love everyone because we don’t know who is part of us. 

Keep God in the forefront of your mind by praying. Pray, pray some more, and ask God to help you throughout your day. 


Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven. Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Colossians 4:1-2

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

January 8, 2025

Even though we are not required to keep the ceremonial law, we are still supposed to fashion ourselves after Jesus and walk in his ways. That means we must put on his likeness because he dwells within us. We don’t want to do anything that displeases him, which goes back to his commands to love God and love others. Some people are hard to love, but if they are, could they really be saved? If you are hard to love, you don’t want anyone asking that question about you. If they are not saved, we want to set an example of love and make them want to be like us and have the kind of peace that is only given to us by God. A good example plants good seeds; a bad example plants weeds! If you tell people you are a Christian, follow Jesus’s behavior, refrain from filthy talk, anger, and spitefulness, and say only good things about him. The main point is that you know what’s right in the eyes of God, so do those things and live a life pleasing to God.

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Colossians 3:8


Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Colossians 3:12-13

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

January 7, 2025

Matthew Henry opened my eyes to something significant that happened when Jesus was crucified; the Law of Moses and the fence laws that were put in place to keep the people from even getting close to breaking the law were nailed to the cross with him. When you cross out a law or put a nail into it invalidates it, which is what Jesus did for us. We are more free than we ever imagined. We still have to follow the law of the land, but more importantly, we are to follow the ordinances that Jesus gave us, which, boiled down, amount to loving God and people and bringing others to know him. The ceremonial ordinances in which Jesus wants us to participate are communion and baptism. Are those things too much to ask when he wiped out all our sins? All the other requirements from the law are not required, like the new moon ceremonies, the food you are allowed to eat, and the sabbath requirements. We should still walk in an upright manner that is becoming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, but because it is impossible to keep all the law, Jesus set us free from it. What a relief! Watch out for those churches trying to make you keep the Law of Moses; they have probably been infiltrated by governmental authority and are trying to control you. If you don’t understand Colossians 2 in the KJV, read it in the ESV, it makes these verses seem clearer.

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, Colossians 2 16-18


Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Colossians 2:20-22

Monday, January 6, 2025

January 6, 2025

Since there is currently emphasis placed on spiritual beings, which some are calling aliens, and since this first Chapter of Colossians mentions them, I thought I would share an interesting verse:

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: Colossians 1:16


From this verse, we can see differing levels of these unseen creatures. God created all creatures, even the evil ones, and if there are aliens, He made them too. I believe aliens are one of these levels of creatures. God uses these creatures to complete his plan and to test our faithfulness. Are you passing His test? Have you set your eyes on Jesus, rejecting evil temptations? Clinging to Jesus and placing our hope in him is the best way to overcome the challenges of the world and become free from temptations. 


True freedom comes when we set our hopes on the heavenly reward rather than earthly treasures. Think about where the desires for worldly things came from; if you hadn’t seen it on television or on social media, would you even want it? Jesus is who we should desire and emulate; he is the head of the body and the church and is the firstborn from the dead, not that he was the first brought to life from the dead, but the first to raise himself and conquer death. 


And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. Colossians 1:17-18

Sunday, January 5, 2025

January 5, 2025

This last chapter of Philippians has so many good lessons that I had difficulty choosing which one to elaborate on. 

*Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4

*Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Philippians 4:5

*Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6

*And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

*Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:9

*I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

*But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19


All these verses are memory verses; can you believe they are all in one chapter of Philippians? I decided to pull one verse out to cover because we all tend to look at the worse side of others. How quick are we to assess a person's behavior without looking for the good in them? One thing I do is look for something positive in them rather than the negative. I also ask the question, "Why are they acting unreasonably?" And, "What kind of trauma have they had to deal with that has made them act the way they do?" Instead of lambasting them, have some compassion. In your mind, point out a good characteristic, like a nice smile, or maybe they didn't see me or mean to cut me off in traffic. If you focus on the positive, it will de-escalate the situation, and rather than have a bad outcome, you've changed your focus and made it easier to forgive their mistakes and made it less likely that you will have to pull a weapon or have them draw a weapon and have it end in tragedy. Think about these things!


Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8