The world system wants you to conform to its way of doing things.

You feel that pressure day in and day out, that pressure to stand with the world on what it has determined to be “the right side of history."

But, its version of "the right side" will come to an inevitable end.

And the truth of the Gospel—God’s love, grace and mercy—will reign forever.

Here is the great news.

As a believer, you are part of God’s story now.

And he is giving a sneak peek through you as to what that story will look like at the end of the age.

When the pressure of the world mounts, remember you are in God’s story.

And as Peter wrote, set your hope fully on the grace of God that will be brought to you at the revelation of Christ.

Categories: Identity/Self Image Grace

You are the light of the world.

Now don’t try to live up to this high calling on your own.

There is too much at stake.

The reason you are the light of the world is because the light of the world, Jesus, lives in you.

And he is the source of the good works that flow through you.

So trust him.

He saved you by his grace, and you are now his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.

So as you live your life in dependence on him, he will shine the light of his life through you.

Maybe through an act of kindness, or an encouraging word, or a grateful attitude.

Abide in him.

This is how you let your light shine before others.

Categories: Identity/Self Image Christian Living

You are the salt of the earth.

It’s not because you are a good, moral person.

It’s because you are a believer in Jesus Christ.

And He dwells in you.

He is the one who makes you salty &mdash His life in you.

He works through you as a preservative, offering hope to a lost and weary world.

And as a flavoring sharing the flavor of His life to those dead in sin.

So as you live your life in Him, trust him to sprinkle the flavor of his love, grace, mercy and forgiveness on people who need his life-giving touch.

It’s a privilege and a purpose beyond compare.

So today, be ready and available for Jesus to share the salt and light of his life in and through you.

Categories: Identity/Self Image Christian Living

In high school and college I wanted to be part of the “in crowd.”

To fit in and hang out with the popular people.

I wanted to be on the inside.

Then I learned something significant.

Jesus was never a part of the “in crowd.”

The religious insiders of the day rejected him.

They cast him outside the gates of their protected existence.

Here is what Hebrews says.

“So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his blood.”

If you want authentic life, eternal life, it’s not with the in crowd.

Go out to Jesus. There you will find what the in crowd could never provide.

Life, forgiveness, and freedom.

Categories: Identity/Self Image Christian Living

At the right time, God sent Jesus.

He sent Jesus to redeem those under the law.

Now that’s all of us.

We were born into this world under the law of sin and death.

We were under the control of sin’s power, slaves to sin.

But no longer.

Christ went into that market place of sin and death and became sin for us.

He paid the price.

And once he did, he adopted us as sons and daughters and filled us with his Spirit.

It is by His Spirit that we cry out “Abba, Father.”

Think about how your status has changed in Christ.

You were once a slave to sin.

Now you are a son or daughter of the King, and heir of God.

Categories: Identity/Self Image Christian Living

Where do you live?

As I kid, I lived at 122 Maple Ave, Marietta GA.

My mom and dad wanted me to know that information. It was important to them.

Even more so, it is important to know where you live spiritually.

Now at one time, you lived in the kingdom of darkness.

You were lost, spiritually dead.

But God rescued you from that dark place.and moved you into the kingdom of light.

He gave you life—His life and He changed you spiritual address.

Now you live in Jesus Christ, in the kingdom of God’s beloved Son.

So where do you live spiritually?

Your live in Jesus. He is your permanent home.

Now that you know your spiritual address, let me encourage you to get comfortable in your spiritual home.

You’ll be glad you did.

Categories: Identity/Self Image Love

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come.

This greeting of grace and peace is from Jesus.

And in this short statement we learn that He existed before anything else, that He lives today and is presently seated at the right hand of God the Father, and He is coming back.

And that’s wonderful news.

Because this Jesus who is coming back is the one who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.

Not only that, he made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father.

Don’t miss the blessing of these words.

Jesus loves you and has freed you from your sins and he has placed you into his kingdom.

You belong to Jesus forever, and that’s good news.

Categories: Identity/Self Image Hope

Revelation speaks of a time when the seven bowls of God’s wrath will be poured out on earth.

Now, these bowls are for those who bear the mark of the beast and worship his image.

But I’ve talked to many Christians who are afraid that God’s wrath is going to be poured out on them.

That’s not what the Bible says.

We have been saved from the wrath to come.

Listen to these verses of encouragement and hope from the book of 1 Thessalonians.

“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.”

You Christian are safe and secure in the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

You have been saved from the wrath to come. And that is good news.

Categories: End Times Hope Identity/Self Image

According to the law of Moses, marriage is for life.

A man and woman are bound to each other as long as they are both alive.

But when one dies, the other is released from the law and is free to marry another.

Now Paul uses this illustration to explain a key point of the Gospel.

You were once married to sin and death.

You were bound to that relationship by the the law.

Now the only way out was through death.

And here is the good news. You died with Jesus Christ.

And the law can no longer hold you as a prisoner of sin.

As Paul wrote in Romans 7:4, “You died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you might belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead.”

Categories: Jesus Christ Identity/Self Image Righteousness/Justification

You are a gifted person.

Your salvation is a gift.

The Holy Spirit living in you is a gift.

And you have received a gift from the Holy Spirit.

As Peter said, a gift to be used to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.

It doesn’t matter what that gift is.

If it is in speaking, you simply speak the words of God

If it is in serving, you serve in the power God supplies.

So today, recognize that in Christ, you are a gifted person.

That you have been equipped uniquely by God’s Spirit to serve those around you as a steward of His grace.

Trust God’s Spirit to use your gift as a blessing to others.

It’s the way to glorify God through Jesus Christ.

Categories: Holy Spirit New Covenant Identity/Self Image