Archive for the ‘ Jesus ’ Category
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6, ESV
We have the promise and reminder: We are made new, but our transformation is not complete until Jesus returns.
Until then, live out your salvation with fear and trembling.
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9, NASB
Jesus will return, on His timetable. It is okay to long for His return, but remember that He is waiting for the full number of those who believe.
Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Colossians 3:1, NASB
All of our power and worth comes from who Christ is: the Son of God, perfect and blameless, who died for our salvation.
Turn to Him in every moment of every day.
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.
John 15:4, NASB
We are commanded to love God and love people, but it is at best difficult and at worst impossible without continually being consumed by the love of God through Jesus.
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, NASB
God calls individuals for the sake of community. There is an individual element, but the communal is the focus.
How do we overcome? How are we strengthened and motivated?
Together: with the Church and by the Lord.
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.
John 15:2, NASB
Not all who call themselves Christians truly are. We can put on a good show, but God knows our hearts, and He judges our actions, or lack thereof.
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Galatians 5:24, NASB
We can not grow in Christ if we refuse to let go of our sinful desires. Christ died to remove our sins, not to remove all penalty if we choose to keep sinning.
Give up your evil desires, or you have not really accepted Christ, merely used Him.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Matthew 7:24, NASB
On Christ the solid rock we stand … if only we believe this Son of God came and died for our sins, as He said.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.
Matthew 16:24, NASB
Christianity is not a simple “Just believe, and all is good” faith. Jesus expects us to deny ourselves and look more like Him, to turn aside from sin and sacrificially love others.
On this day 19 years ago, at 6:46 PM CST, I bent my knee to Jesus as Lord and Savior. (If you do a search on this site for “birthday”, you will see the various explanations.)
I like to call it my Re-Birthday, as we call faith in Christ being born again. This comes from John 3 and 1 Peter 1.
Something that excites me this year is that my Re-Birthday falls on Wednesday, which means I get to teach the youth about our Lord today!
Also, it is my mother-in-law’s birthday, so join me in wishing her a happy and blessed day! If not for her, I would not have my wife!
God bless you, and remember that Jesus Christ is the reason we live and move and breathe and have meaning!
a simple man of God 