Archive for the ‘ Jesus ’ Category
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 22:37-39 ESV
In world focused on ignoring God and loving self, we gather together to encourage each other to love God and others sacrificially.
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:9, ESV
This world draws away from God and His Law, so let us gather together to study Scripture and help each other to live in a way pleasing to God and have His peace.
Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down! Touch the mountains so that they smoke!
Psalm 144:5, ESV
We come together to remind each other of God’s promises and covenants, especially that God came to us to redeem us from sin.
O Lord, what is man that you regard him, or the son of man that you think of him? Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.
Psalm 144:3-4, ESV
Looking at our world, it’s easy to see humans are relatively insignificant and horrible to each other. Therefore, we gather together in Christ to remind each other that the Creator loves us, saves us, and lifts us up by His Spirit.
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!
Psalm 143:10, ESV
It is not natural for us to want to do God’s will, so we meet regularly with fellow believers – those empowered by Christ’s Holy Spirit – to encourage each other to lovingly obey Him.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
Matthew 5:6, ESV
Righteousness is not our default but rather selfishness. When the Holy Spirit helps us override our natural desires to seek Christ, we find that God is what our souls truly craved all along, and He gives of Himself more than we can comprehend.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
Matthew 5:5, ESV
When we can admit that we can’t get through this life in our own power, that only in Christ can we fully thrive, then we find that we can be co-heirs with Him, living eternally on a restored Earth in glorified bodies like His, worshipping and truly living.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Matthew 5:4, ESV
As the saying goes, it’s okay to not be okay. In fact, we must realize our sinfulness and that we have wounded God. Not just wounded, but our sins held Jesus to the cross until He died.
When we mourn our sin and its destructive, killing power and offense to God, then we can find comfort and forgiveness in the resurrected Savior.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:3, ESV
We must do the difficult thing of admitting we are wretched sinners to a holy God then we will find ourselves lamenting our condition. This is when we are free to receive God’s grace and forgiveness in Christ and find the full eternal freedom He offers.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
Psalm 34:4-5, ESV
Our fear darkens our outlook on life and connection with God, and when we can admit our need for help, He puts His light in us and shows us hope and grace.
a simple man of God 