Eternal Reign

What life and death decision have you made? Think you haven’t made one? What if you made one without knowing it? What if you made one but didn’t recognize it? What if your decision not only meant life but meant you would reign alongside the King of kings?

We don’t typically think we make life and death decisions. We think those decisions are made by other people, especially the military, law enforcement, and criminals. That line of thinking is true, but only if we are thinking about our physical life on this earth.

We all, every-single-person, make a life and death decision at least once. We decide to accept God’s gift of eternal life by accepting his Son, Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior, or we choose eternal separation from God, also known as death. If we choose life, we also choose to be conquerors and reign with Jesus Christ forever.

We may not always be faithful, but we can count on Jesus always being faithful. We may occasionally stumble, but He does not. We may make mistakes, but He doesn’t. Our inability to follow Jesus does not impact His ability to remain true to His Word. His very nature is to be truth. His truth is not just for today but is everlasting.

The best news we can hear is that we have gained eternal life, no matter what happens to us in this life. That eternal life is perfect, amazing, beyond comprehension, and forever. Though we may not think about it often, we should remind ourselves regularly that we have something that can never be taken away from us, something that is far better than anything we can imagine, far greater than anything on this earth.

I pray we all realize we make a life and death decision. I pray we choose eternal life. I pray each one of us choose to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and know that He is always true to His Word. Life and death decision. Choose eternal life. Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Trust in His truth.

2 Timothy 2:11b-13

If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 

if we endure, we will also reign with him; 

if we deny him, he will also deny us; 

if we are faithless, he remains faithful— 

he cannot deny himself.

Ancestry or Gospel

What do you know about your ancestors? How far back can you trace your heritage? Can you trace it back to Europe or Africa or the Middle East? Did you know your great grandparents? Do you know where they lived? Have you traced the migration of your ancestors?

Some of us are interested in our ancestry and others are not. Some of us will spend hours going over the migration path of our ancestors and others could not care less. Regardless of whether we enjoy looking at our ancestry or not, without them we would not be here now.

Though our heritage is important in many ways, it does not have to define us. We may come from a family of poor people and achieve great things. We may have some horrible people in our ancestry tree and be good people. Though the genetics passed down to us does define us in one aspect, it doesn’t completely define us nor keep us from making the right decision.

The Jews and the early Christians speak of Jesus being the son of David. However, if you look at the lineage provided in both Matthew and Luke, both of them trace the ancestry to Joseph. Now, we all know that Joseph was not really Jesus’s father. Mary was a virgin and impregnated by the power of God (Luke 1:35). Yet, the Jews traced heritage by the husband in their patriarchal society.

When the Apostle Paul writes to young Timothy, he references Jesus as a descendant of David. But more importantly, he states that he suffers for the gospel’s sake. It is due to his spreading the news of Jesus that he has been chained by human authorities. Are we willing to be chained for the sake of the gospel? I dare say most of us are not. Yet, we should be willing to go to our death, if need be, to tell others about Jesus. Quite simply, He is that important. The eternal life of others is that important.

I pray we all credit our ancestors for our being here. I pray we understand Jesus is the Son of God. I pray each one of us is willing to put our lives on the line to spread the good news of the gospel. Know Jesus is the Son of God. Tell others about Jesus. Be willing to suffer for Jesus.

2 Timothy 2:8-9 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained.

Refined Like Silver

Have you ever felt like you were being wrung through the wringer? Have you felt like you were being tested beyond your ability to withstand it? Were you able to get through it? Were there multiple occasions you felt that way? Did you think God had abandoned you?

We all go through trying times. Some of them are tougher than others. Some may be so tough that we feel like there is no way we will get through them. The truth of the matter is that we wouldn’t get through them without a little help. That help always comes from God.

I know, some of you will say, “It wasn’t God who helped me, it was my family.” Or you might say it was your friend. So, let’s ask the obvious question. Who sent that person to help? Who tied you to them in the first place? Who put them in your life? There is only one answer — God. He has created each of us and uses a variety of situations to put different people in our lives — some for a lifetime and some for a season.

God allows us to go through tough times so that we will learn to depend on him. It is when we depend on him for everything that we gain a deeper understanding of how God provides. He also allows us to go through tough times to cause us to grow. I’m reminded of the story of the silversmith and the passage that states God will refine us like silver (Zechariah 13:9). A silversmith must heat up the silver to burn off impurities. He knows when it is enough when he can see his reflection in it.

When we go through tough times, rather than complaining, we would be better served to ask God what he desires to teach us. As God reveals what he is teaching us, we should learn. The more we learn from God, the more we understand who he is. The more we understand who he is, the more we will love him. It all works to our good.

I pray we all seek to learn from God during the tough times. I pray we choose to grow, rather than stay stagnant. I pray each one of us will seek to better understand who God is and love him more. Learn from God. Choose to grow. Seek to understand God. Love God with your whole being.

Psalm 66:11-12

You brought us into the net; 

you laid burdens on our backs; 

you let people ride over our heads; 

we went through fire and through water; 

yet you have brought us out to a spacious place.

Be Observant

How observant are you? Do you notice everything happening around you? Do you notice the changes along your morning and evening commute? Do you notice the eagle soaring on your drive through the country? Have you observed and recognized the things God has done?

Being observant can keep us safe, whereas moving about in a daze can be dangerous. But being observant can mean much more than safety. It can bring us joy. It can keep us informed. It can allow us to see God working among us, seeing his mighty deeds in our midst.

Our observations are not made merely with our eyes but also with our ears. It requires us to use our minds to piece together the information. As we see God’s actions and hear of his actions, we can put the pieces together to see the larger picture of God working. Though we won’t be able to see the entire picture, we can see a much larger picture than if we go through life unobservant.

Learning to be observant takes time. We can be trained by others, such as when I was trained while in the Marine Corps. Or we can train ourselves. In some ways, it is like gathering intelligence and piecing what you gather together. The more we piece together, the clearer the picture becomes of how God is working and how much he loves us.

Let me encourage everyone to seek to be more observant. Notice the beauty of creation. Notice the change in people as they grow closer to God. Notice the blessings that God bestows on us. Recognize the miracles of God. And as we notice them, let’s add one piece to another to see a bigger picture of God at work and praise him for all he does.

I pray we all seek to be more observant. I pray we see and hear God working in our lives. I pray each one of us piece together our observations to better appreciate all that God is doing around us. Be more observant. See God working. Hear God working. Put the pieces together. Praise God for his blessings.

Psalm 66:5

Come and see what God has done: 

he is awesome in his deeds among mortals.

Community Interest

Do you like where you live? Are you happy with your local community? Do you disagree with some of the decisions made? Do you wish your community was safer, had better jobs available, or better schools? Have you put forth your desires for your community in prayer to God?

It doesn’t matter where we live, we can find something we disagree with about it. We may believe our community is not as safe as it could be. I may think more should be done to attract better jobs. We want the school system to be better. We could mention many more concerns.

So, what do we do about it? We do what God told Jeremiah to tell the Israelites. He told them to build houses, plant gardens, have children, and live their lives. But he didn’t stop there. He went on to say that they were to seek out the best for the city where they lived? Why? God said it is in the welfare of where you live that you will find your welfare.

Wow! If our community does better, we do better. Because of that principle, God says we are to pray for our community. We are to be positive contributors by working to make the community better. But we don’t work alone. When we pray, we bring God into the equation. We know that all things are possible for God. So, by bringing him into the equation, we make all things possible for our community. It’s amazing what can be accomplished when we work together and ask God to be our guide and provider.

I pray we all seek the best for our community. I pray we choose to make a positive impact on our community. I pray each one of us prays for our community and trust God to provide. Seek the best for your community. Make a positive impact. Pray for your community. Trust God in all things.

Jeremiah 29:7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

Who We Listen To

Who is your closest confidant? Is it a close friend or family member? Do they provide you with wise advice when you need it? Do you always ask the same person for advice? How often do you ask God to provide the wise advice you need?

We often have one or two people we ask advice from. They may or may not always be the right person to provide the best advice. We may be asking them to provide advice for something outside of their specialty or scope of knowledge.

Jesus tells us a parable of a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. The rich man would not give Lazarus the scraps from his table. Both die with Lazarus going to heaven and the rich man going to hades. The rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus with a drop of water to cool his tongue, but Lazarus cannot cross the chasm. The rich man then asks Abraham to send Lazarus to his family to warn them.

Just like Abraham told the rich man that his family would not listen to someone risen from the dead, people today do not listen to Jesus, who rose from the dead. Are we listening to Him? Do we fully trust Him? Are we asking Him for advice?

We, being professing Christians, should always be listening for God’s advice. It may come in many forms and from different sources. If we are asking God for advice, we must keep our minds and ears open to hear it. God uses a variety of people whom we come across in our lives to provide us the advice he wants to give us.

I pray we all seek God’s advice. I pray we open our minds and ears to hear God’s advice. I pray each one of us trusts Jesus to provide what we need, including guidance in accordance with His plan. Seek God’s advice. Open your minds. Open your ears. Hear God’s advice. Trust Jesus to provide the best advice.

Luke 16:31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Increase Our Faith

Do you believe your faith is big enough? Do you ever wonder if you need to work on your faith? Does it feel as though your faith is too little, too late? How much faith do you think you need to be faithful? How much faith does it take to move mountains? Ever thought about it?

Our faith is no small thing. In fact, it is a big deal. But that doesn’t mean our faith is always as strong as it should be. Strengthening or increasing our faith is work, but we don’t do it alone. God helps us strengthen our faith if we ask. For he desires that we have a strong faith.

Our faith is being battled for. Jesus desires us to put our faith in Him. Satan fights tooth and nail to keep us from having faith, though he doesn’t care if we believe in God. Why? Even Satan believes in God. He is also fearful of and angry with God because he knows God has already won the war. It is not a matter of Satan winning but how many he can take down with him.

So, it is a good thing that the apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith. Think about that for just a moment. By the time they make this request, they have been with Jesus for a couple years. They have seen miracles. And yet, they ask that their faith be increased. They have come to the realization that their faith is not as strong as it should be.

If the apostles, who spent three years with Jesus in person, thought they needed Him to increase their faith, how much more should we be asking Him to increase ours? We have not seen Him in the flesh, witnessed Him perform miracles, nor heard Him teach the crowds. Our belief and faith are based on what we read in the Bible and the teaching done by pastors and theologians. Though those are not insignificant, they are not the same as physically seeing Jesus.

I pray we all realize we need to increase our faith. I pray we trust that Jesus can help us increase our faith. I pray each one of us will ask Jesus to increase our faith and seek to do the work He has set before us. Increase your faith. Ask Jesus to increase your faith. Trust that He will. Use your faith to do the works He has set before you.

Luke 17:5-6 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree”, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

High Standard

Do you hold yourself to a high standard? How do you determine if it is high or not? What is your standard based on? How do you go about holding yourself to that standard? Are there people who have invested in you? Who do you lean on to help you hold onto the good entrusted to you?

It seems people have lowered their standards. I remember when a child who was disrespectful to an elder would have been disciplined. Now their parents laugh, thinking it funny. I remember when politicians were statesmen. Now they spend their time pitting people against each other.

The Apostle Paul tells his understudy, Timothy, to hold to the standard Paul had taught him. What was that standard? Based on Paul’s teachings, we can rightly assume it included living according to the commands Jesus gave us. It included loving everyone, showing grace to others, a willingness to forgive, sharing blessings with others, caring for those in need, and teaching people about Jesus.

Paul had spent considerable time with Timothy, investing in him. Paul saw something in Timothy that he could mold and build into a teacher, just as Paul was. Paul knew he had taught Timothy well and that Timothy had received his teaching well. He encourages Timothy to enlist the help of the Holy Spirit to hold onto his teachings and to live up to the standard set.

We can be like young Timothy. We can live up to the standard, but we cannot do it on our own. Just like Timothy, we need to lean on the Holy Spirit. We must trust him to guide us. We must be open to hear his guidance and willing to follow it. It is when we hold ourselves to Jesus’ standard and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit that we live the abundant life He promised us.

I pray we all decide to hold ourselves to a high standard. I pray we lean on the Holy Spirit to guide us. I pray each one of us will remember the sound teaching we have received. Hold yourself to a high standard. Lean on the Holy Spirit. Remember sound teaching. Live the abundant life.

2 Timothy 1:13-14 Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.

Gospel Truth

Do you have a hard time speaking to others about the gospel? Is challenging to speak about Jesus to your family or friends or co-workers? Have you wanted to tell someone but couldn’t bring yourself to? Have you considered that is Satan whispering to you and making you feel ashamed?

Our culture pressures us to conform to its unwritten rules. We may call it peer pressure, but it is more than just our peers. Satan uses the news media, organizations, and individuals to pressure us to be silent when it comes to the gospel. Yet, the gospel is the best news we can spread.

The Apostle Paul tells Timothy not to be ashamed of the gospel. He reminds him that we are called for God’s purposes and by God’s grace. God’s grace is far more than we often think about. We may define it as unmerited favor. But what does that definition mean? It encompasses forgiveness, blessings, guidance, provision, protection, and more.

Notice that Paul states God’s grace was given before time began through Jesus Christ. We forget that Jesus existed before time began. We remember He was born to Mary at a specific point in time, which is when the divine became flesh. Yet, in John 1, we are told that Jesus existed before time and through Him all things were created.

When Jesus stepped into His creation, He changed everything. Through His death, burial, and resurrection, He abolished death and gave us eternal life. Yes, we will leave our mortal bodies and this world, but we will live forever with God. Satan wants to conform us to this world and be ashamed of the gospel so we will not bring others into the body of Christ. Will we listen to his lies or speak the truth of Jesus Christ?

I pray we all overcome our feelings of shame for the gospel. I pray we choose to tell others about Jesus. I pray each one of us will reject Satan’s lies and speak the truth of the gospel. Do not be ashamed. Reject Satan’s lies. Speak the truth. Tell others about the gospel of Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:8-10 Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, in the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace, and this grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

A Clear Conscience

Are you grateful to God? Do you worship him with a clear conscience? Have you given him your whole heart? Is your mind focused on him when you worship? Do you remember others in your prayers? Do you pray for the church as a whole? Do you pray the lost will be found?

We don’t always show our gratefulness to God. We like to think we accomplished something all on our own. Our worship doesn’t always encompass our whole heart and mind. Our minds will sometimes stray. Our hearts may not be fully committed on any given day.

When we say we will pray for someone, we don’t always follow up on it. Though we say we pray for our family, we do not always do that. We often do not include praying for the church when we pray. Praying the lost will be found and be brought to Jesus is rarely prayed for. Yet all of these are people we should be praying for regularly, even if we rotate through them from one day to the next.

Let’s not kid ourselves. We all go through dry times. We all get very busy. We often have too many things on our minds. For these reasons, we need to set aside time, as challenging as that may be, to spend quiet time with God pouring out our prayers. It is when we are willing to dedicate our time to him that we see him move the most. It is when we slowdown that we can commune with God, worshiping him and praying to him. God desires us to spend time with him.

I pray we all choose to slowdown. I pray we worship God with our whole hearts. I pray each one of us prays for the church, the lost, our families, our friends, and our communities. Slowdown. Spend time with God. Worship God with your whole heart. Pray for the church and others.

1 Timothy 1:3 I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.