Just a Minute!

Do you know that God is satisfied with everything Jesus Christ accomplished on your behalf?

If so let me ask another question.

Are you satisfied with the work of Jesus Christ on your behalf?

I mean the one who knew no sin stood in your place and suffered punishment for your sins. He turned aside the wrath you justly deserved once and for all.

And God accepted the sacrifice as the final and complete payment.

Now Here is what that means.

Your sins have been judged and punished every last one of them.

Do you believe it?

If so, it means you are satisfied with the work of Jesus just like God is.

That’s faith.

Faith that brings rest to the soul and assurance to the heart.

That’s what it means to be satisfied with Jesus.

Categories: New Covenant Righteousness/Justification Love

For the past 50 years or so, prophecy buffs have plunged deep into its pages of the Revelation to answer questions like…

When is Jesus coming back?
Will Christians go through the tribulation?
Who is the antichrist?

All intriguing questions.

But here is what I’ve observed, all this fascination has led mainly to fear and confusion.

That’s not what God intends.

So what is this mystery book really about?

It is the revelation of Jesus Christ.

It’s about Jesus glorified, sitting at the right hand of God the Father, with all the heavenly host bowing down in worship singing —

Holy holy holy is the Lord God almighty, who was and is and is to come.

Read Revelation with this in mind and you will be blessed.

Categories: Jesus Christ End Times

Have you ever felt ineffective or unproductive in your Christian life?

I have.

It was like all my spiritual growth came to a screeching halt.

I didn’t know the cause until I read these words from Peter’s 2nd letter.

“But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.”

If you are not growing, it’s because you have forgotten that your sins have been forgiven once and for all.

I know it sounds way too simple. But there is something powerful that happens when a person rests in the finished work of Christ.

So let me encourage you today to stop and remember.

Your sins have been forgiven.

You have been cleansed once and for all.

Never forget these truths. It’s the key to growing in Christ.

Categories: Christian Living Forgiveness/Repentance

Do you know where you are going in life?

As a child of God, your ultimate destination is God’s presence.

But what about here and now.

Consider this.

The promised land was Israel’s destination.

But it foreshadowed the place God had in mind for you — the Sabbath rest.

The writer of Hebrews put it this way.

“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.”

Jesus has done everything on your behalf for you to experience total forgiveness of sins and to enjoy a personal and intimate relationship with God.

This place of rest is ready and waiting. It’s where God wants you to be.

Are you ready to enter by faith.

Categories: Salvation Christian Living

Here is good news — God is patient, not wanting anyone to perish.

And as Peter wrote, our Lord’s patience means salvation.

Let me ask, what were you like as a person before you trusted Jesus Christ?

I was a mess.

I tried to be good and do the right things, but it never worked out so well for me.

The things I wanted to do, I didn’t. And the things I didn’t want to do, I did.

I was expecting punishment at any time.

But what I received was something much different. I received salvation.

I bet your story is much the same. No matter how far afield you got, God never gave up on you.

He stuck with you through thick and thin.

And His patience toward you meant salvation.

And that’s good news.

Categories: Salvation

The Lord is coming back.

When, we don’t know, but that hasn’t stopped groups and individuals from playing “pick that date.”

But even the most scholarly theologian is a loser in that game.

As Jesus said, It’s not for us to know the times and dates the Father has set.

And besides the New Testament writers wrote about the Lord’s return to encourage us and give us hope today.

Can you imagine rejoicing in the Lord or giving thanks in all things if this world is all there is?

Face it the world is a tough place, filled with trials, temptations.

But we can endure knowing what lies ahead — that we will be with the Lord forever.

When Jesus returns… that’s God’s business. Take comfort in the the truth that he is coming back for you.

Categories: End Times Jesus Christ

Is your mind boggled by the fact you belong to Jesus Christ?

Does the love of God still rock your world?

Is there anything in life to you more satisfying than the fellowship you share with God.

Paul raised these questions in his letter to the Philippians to help his readers live out what truly matters in life.

It seems like busyness of life bogged them down and robbed them of the joy of knowing Christ.

Sound familiar.

We’ve all been there.

Maybe its time to ask these questions and digest what it really means to belong to Christ: to know and experience the love of God and to walk in fellowship with his Spirit.

These are the realities that matter — the realities that bring satisfaction and contentment to the soul.

Categories: Love Jesus Christ Hope

Do you want to know how to pray?

Let me encourage you to check out the prayers of Paul.

One of his most significant prayers is found in Ephesians 3:16-19.

It is a prayer I encourage every believer to personally adopt as their own.

Here are the four main requests

• That Christ may dwell in your heart by faith.
• That you would be rooted and established in love.
• That you would be strengthened with the power of the Holy Spirit to grasp the love of God.
• That you would be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

So let me ask…

What if you did adopt this as the prayer of your heart?

Would God hear and would God answer?

Try it out.

I think you will find His answer will far exceed anything you could ask or imagine.

Categories: Prayer Faith Hope Love

To Paul, the love of God meant everything.

Just check out 1 Corinthians 13.

It is more important than speaking in tongues or giving all to the poor or having faith to move mountains.

As spectacular as these may be, if they are done without love, they are meaningless.

Just a bunch of noise makers.

And of faith, hope and love, the greatest is love.

Why?

Because love is God’s nature.

As John wrote, God is love.

He is the source.

He is the one who is patient and kind to you, who never keeps records of your wrongs, who rejoices in truth, who protects, who hopes and believes the best and perseveres with you.

This is the love of God, a love that never fails, a love that means everything.

Categories: Love Jesus Christ

The message matters.

And not just any message. There is only one that saves and it is the message concerning Jesus.

His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.

Add to this message or take away from it and you rob it of its power.

The Corinthians were doing just that.

Some believed water baptism was an essential piece of the story. Others added the wisdom of man to the mix.

Confusion and division in the church was the result.

There is nothing to add to the Gospel. The story of Jesus is enough and sufficient.

Think about it.

His death took away your sins once and for all. And He was raised to life in victory and power.

The work is done, complete, finished. 

That’s the message. And it’s good news.

The message does matter. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.

Categories: Hope Jesus Christ Resurrection