For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16, CSB
God created humans for fellowship, with Him and each other, and that was ruined by our sin. But He loved us enough to come Himself to remove sin from all who believe this to restore fellowship.
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20, CSB
How can we go on loving our sin when Christ died for those sins and now lives in us? Let us cling to our Savior and seek His love and grace in every area of our lives.
On this day 24 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. I encourage everyone to remember their own re-birthday (and if you aren’t sure/can’t remember, just claim your birthday.)
This year, I get to start Christian Worldview courses (as one of the instructors) with 167 students who were all born after this momentous day in my life. Tomorrow I am with fellow seminarians who also were mostly born after this date! (2 are about my age, and 2 others are in theor later 20’s.)
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 and being!
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31, ESV
God may not heal or illnesses and pains in this life, but He will heal our souls and rejuvenate our spirits when we put our faith in Christ. We will be empowered to run the race of faith in strength and grace.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV
God saves us by His grace. All we are asked to do is believe that Jesus’ death and resurrection have us that grace.
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Romans 10:10, ESV
God changes our sinful hearts to be able to believe and confess that Jesus is God our who died for us and rose again. Find the salvation of Christ and believe it.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
1 Peter 1:3, ESV
When we were still straying from God, He sent His Son to bring us mercy, grace, forgiveness, and restored relationship. The Holy Spirit brings us into the faith that saves us and unites us in the hope of Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
1 Peter 1:3, ESV
When we were still straying from God, He sent His Son to bring us mercy, grace, forgiveness, and restored relationship. The Holy Spirit brings us into the faith that saves us and unites us in the hope of Christ.
I don’t normally make a big deal about this particular day of the year. I prefer to dwell on January 9, the day I became a believer in Jesus as my Savior.
What is special of this day?
Well, on October 26, 1983, I was born.
As I turn two score years old, it occurred to me that this year I will have spent two and half times longer as a Christian than not as a Christian. I was 16 years in the spiritual wilderness when I first bent my knee and confessed Jesus as Lord. This coming year, I celebrate 24 years walking as a disciple of Jesus in the Promise.
I may have completed 40 revolutions about our Sun, but I await eternity wrapped in the love of The Son.
And I am thankful for our God’s love and grace, for all the gifts He has given, especially for eternal life. (And a loving, God-fearing wife who helps me grow and stay on the straight-and-narrow. And I await greeting my mother once more in His presence.)
yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
Do we truly love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths? Maybe I can help with the mind part, at least! This is Daniel M. Klem, apparent poet, reluctant yet passionate Disciple (Peter?), and foolish man attempting to understand theology!