1-10-2026 Predestination, saved or not saved?

 

The word ‘predestinate’ is only used twice in the bible.  Once in the present tense (now) and the other in the past-perfect context (something which is still continuing but started in the past).

The first is predestinate -Romans 8:29-30 (G4309 proorizo), the second is predestinated  - Ephesians 1:5, 11 (G4309 proorizo) which means predestine, predetermine, ordain before hand, predestinated.  Yes, It is the same word.  So, does God truly declare us saved, no matter what we do or say, before we are born?  If so, why do so many people endeavor to let Jesus into their heart?  What would be gained?

God is not slack, as we consider slackness, but He is long suffering that none should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).  Perish (G622 acaph) is to relieve, destroy, leave behind, bluntly – not to have anymore.  If God has already determined that we will be with Him, why bother to let Jesus into our lives?  God does have a condition on our eternal status?  God requires our obedience as to what He has told us over the centuries, millennia (John 14:15, Psalm 3:8, 62:1, Isa. 12:2, Jonah 2:9 as well as John 3:16, Acts 4:12) so we can be with Him, forever.  With all this, there is no salvation without repentance which is metanoia (G3341- reversal of guilt, repentance).  We have to turn from not abiding in God to abiding in Him.

God called numerous prophets in the Bible to deliver His messages, including major figures like Joseph (Gen. 50:18-21), or Moses (Exod. 3:4-10), Samuel (1 Sam. 3 4-21), David (1 Sam. 16:7-13, Elijah (1 Kings 17:1-2, 8-16), Elisha (2 Kings 2:11-15),  Isaiah (Isa. 6:8), Jeremiah (Jer. 1:4-5), Ezekiel (Ezek.1:128),  Daniel (Dan. 10:9-12) ,  and John the Baptist, alongside many others like the Minor Prophets (Hosea, Joel, Amos, etc.) and women such as Miriam (Num. 12: 6—16) and Anna (Luke 2:34-39).  Al of whom are recognized for speaking God's word and/or doing what God had told them, often through direct encounters or divine visions.  Let’s not forget Paul as he encountered Jesus as he travelled to Damascus (Acts 9:1-18). 

Thus, we might say that all of these men and women of the bible were ‘predestined’ to their calling and, in a sense, we would be correct.  Each of these people mentioned here were obedient and faithful to the Lord and Father blessed them with specific tasks.   So do we get hung up on people who have been faithful and doing mighty works are ‘predestined’ to perform that which they did?  It wasn’t the works that got them into eternal relationship with Father.  It was their faithfulness to the Lord which enabled them to do what they did which opened their door to eternity.  Yet God had a plan for each of them, but each had to be obedient to the Lord for that plan to come into fruition. 

Faith is things hoped for but the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1).  Read the list of faithful people in Hebrews chapter eleven.  They all believed and trusted in God and His coming Messiah.  Today, we believe the Messiah (Jesus) has already come and we await His return, to bring all who believe on Him, home.  The Jews knew the prophetic word of the coming Messiah but didn’t but, apparently, didn’t realize that the Messiah would first have to suffer (on the cross) and die for our transgressions (Isa. 53:1-2).  These two facts never seemed to register with Hebraic thinking.  They did believe that the Messiah would set up God’s kingdom here on earth.  Without the shedding of blood there is no remission for sin (Heb. 922).  Here, remission is the Greek word aphesis (H859) which is pardon, forgiveness or remission.  We find this in the Old Testament as well “The life of the flesh is in the blood and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls.  For it is the blood makes atonement for the soul” (Lev. 17:11).    

God has predestined all to come into His kingdom, but Father has given us all freewill.  Just because we’re ‘predestined doesn’t mean all will enter into God’s Kingdom.  Too many have and do exercise that freewill by telling God “no”!  Israel is an example when Moses challenged them at the golden calf and 3000 men fell by the sword (Exod. 32:25-28).  How about when Joshua challenged Israel as to whom they would serve (Joshua 32:14-25).  Jesus also asks us to choose Him to gain eternity (John 12:23-27).  So even though God desires all to come into His kingdom, He knows not all will accept His offer of life.  In order to abide in this gift of eternal life, we must first receive it and that eternal life is in Jesus Christ (1 John 5:11-12).

In the Old Testament, man’s ‘salvation’ was based on being obedient to the Law.  Jesus reprimanded the religious order saying that even though they knew the Law they didn’t abide in it (Matt. 23:25-28). Today, salvation is based upon receiving Jesus into our hearts as the true Messiah thus obtaining the power to show our love for Him by being obedient to the Law in what we say, do or think (John 14:15).

Jesus speaks about healing and other miracles.  Jesus tells us that “What things you desire, when you pray, believe you receive them and you shall have them” (Mark 11:24).  When we ask in faith, don’t waver, for when we waver, we are like waves of the sea and are tossed about (James 13:6-7).  When we have faith and do not doubt we can do what Jesus did… believe and receive (Matt. 21:21-22).  Jesus also encourages us when He said that he (us) who believe on Him shall do the works He did and greater because He goes to the Father. “Whatever you ask in My name, I will do that Father is glorified in the Son”. (Matt. 14:12-15).  Ask anything in My name and I will do it!  So if you love Me, keep My Commandments (John 14:12-15).  And what are His commandments? Love the Father with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and the second is like it – love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:29-31, Matt. 22:37-40).

So, we get benefits and have obligations with our relationship with the Lord to fulfill our ”pre-destination”.

One last example.  We buy ‘Johnny’ the toy which he has desired above all other toys.  We give it to him but we tell him that he must abide by our rules to keep it and enjoy it.  Should Johnny disobey our rules, we take his beloved toy from him for a while until he has ‘atoned’ for his disobedience.  Then we give him the toy back.  Should Johnny never make amends for his disobedience, it would be possible that he might never get the toy back.      

Are we predestined to be with the Lord?  Yes.  God said that He would (desires) that none would perish (2 Peter).  But, like with Johnny and his toy, when we continue in our disobedience, we may discover we will never enter into God’s kingdom.  His peace.  His love. 

Our predestination is not a blank check!  Can we get or do anything we want just because God loves us?   Of course not!  God is love and as we abide in His love, we are obedient to His will.  So through love and obedience, our ‘check’ becomes a secure thing.  Should we stray, repent and come back to Father seeking forgiveness?  We can receive God’s forgiveness.  Like the wayward child in Luke (Luke :15:18-24) we can be restored into that anticipation of abiding in the Lord forever.

We are predestined for eternal existence with Our Lord.  Yet not all will enter in.   We have the free choice to tell Him ‘no’ and miss out on the eternal love, joy and which peace which He offers.   Or we can freely choose to abide in God’s love with the promise of our eternal fellowship with Him.  And with this, we also have the free choice to operate any ‘special’ calling which He may have chosen us for.

Amen

 

 1-5-2026    (12-27-2025)      Getting to Know You

 

We’ve just celebrated the ‘birth’ of our Lord Jesus, but how well do we know the one whose life we pattern, that is after whom we shape our lives?

Father keeps bringing Job to my mind.  Yeah, the guy who had all those problems though he had not sinned.  The one who inspired the adage “the patience of Job”.  Job knew all about who God was then came he to know who God ‘really is (Job 42:5).  How many of us have come to the point in our lives where we have come to the same realization as Job?

We read the bible.  We talk and gain info from other Christians or listen to biblical teachers, but how well do we really know Jesus, God our heavenly Father or even the Holy Ghost?

We refer to God as the ‘Trinity’ (three persons in one).  How many of us think that we talking about three different people?  When I was younger, even into my twenties & thirties and with what I was hearing in the church, just reinforced this idea.  Okay, so what does the bible say about our relationship, (God & us)?  Who is God?

“Let us make man after our own likeness and give him dominion over the whole Earth”.  So God created ‘man’ in His own image both male and female (Gen. 1:26-27) then God explains how He made man (Gen. 2:7, 21-22). 

In my youth, God was explained as ‘three persons in one’!  Father, Son & Holy Ghost (Essence, Word and Breath.  We also are body, soul and spirit.  We are who we are.  God breathed life into Adam’s body (Gen 2:7) so we have a body and breath which gives us life.  The words we speak express our ideas to others and our breath carries what we said to their ears.  God spoke and brought things into existence.  Are we three persons in one, a trinity?  Body, soul and spirit?  Can we split into three parts?  Father reminded me of a pen knife I had as a child. It had a blade, a screw driver and maybe a can opener – all in one.  God is not a pen knife.  Though He created the heavens and he earth.  He can do whatever He desires just by speaking it into existence (Gen. chptr one)!

In the beginning – God… and His Spirit moved across the face of the waters (Gen. 1:1-2).  The Spirit of God is reflected in the Hebrew word ruwach (H7307 [breath, spirit) or the comparable Greek word is pneuma (G4151 [breeze, breath, Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:2, Psalm 33:6).  Who God is, or His breath, goes out and starts doing that which He intends. The Word is what God speaks or says and His breath carries His Word forth.  God spoke things into existence (John 1:1, Gen 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26, 29).  God said ,and it was so! And then, Father put all that into a body of the man (Matt. 1:19 – 25, John 1;1), and whom we call His name, Jesus.

Jesus desires that who receives Him will be one with Him as He is One in the Father (John 10:30, John 17:14-23). That is an inseparable relationship.  Father declares that He is one God and that we should love Him with all our heart, soul and might strength (Deut. 6:4-5, Mark 29:30).  Paul told the Colossians that Jesus is the fullness of the Godhead, that is He is all that God is (theotes G2320 – 1 Col. 2:9-10).

Let’s take a look at what that involves

God spoke with Moses on the mount.  Moses says “If they ask me, whom shall I say sent me?”  God replies “I AM that I AM, tell them ‘I AM” has sent you (Exod. 3:14).  John, in his vision, sees one like the Son of man amongst the seven candlesticks, woolen hair, feet like brass and eyes like flames of fire who declared “I AM Alpha and Omega, the first and the last …”(Rev. 1:11).  Bear in mind, that Father has also said this “I Am the first and the Last you shall have no other Gods before me” (Isa. 44:6).

Moses declares that God is his salvation (Exod. 15:1-2) and Paul reminds the Romans (and us) that as we confess our sin and receive Jesus it is unto our heart, we have salvation (Rom. 10:9-13). There is no other name, under heaven whereby man must be saved (Acts 4:12).  Gather and Son, our Savior!

God protects us. He is our shield and buckler, He protects from evil, man and things of this world.  He even sets angels over us for protection (Psalm 91:1-11, Psalm 121:5-8).  Jesus protects from us evil (2 Thess. 3.3) and He preserves us so we can enter into His heavenly kingdom (2 Tim. 4:18).  Are we starting to get the connection?

Father/Jesus/Holy Ghost is our comforter.  He guides our steps, gives US peace and provides proof before our enemies that He does takes care of us (Psalm 23:1-6).  He is with us and strengthens us (I Sam. 41:10).  As Jesus suffered for us, so shall His comfort abound in us (1 Corinth, 1:5), Jesus knows how we feel.  The Holy Ghost is our comforter (John 14:16).  So why do we need the Comforter (the HG)?  Jesus encourages us to receive he Holy Ghost (John 20:22).  For when He comes into us, we shall receive power (Acts 1:8 - G1411 dunamis –explosive), just as Jesus had so we can go and do the works that He did (John 14:12).   There are  more examples of what Jesus did and examples that we can also do them.  Examples like when Peter and John healed the lame man (Acts 3:1-9) or Paul when he explains to the Corinthians that healing comes through God’s Power (1 Corinth. 2:1-4, Acts 19:11-12) and that power is the Holy Ghost or the Spirit of God. 

Jesus teaches (Matt. 5:1-2).  The Holy Ghost also teaches us and will give us what to say (John 14:26).

There are more examples where God shows us how complete He is in the Father, Son and Holy Ghost!  Father, Son and Holy Ghost is the Godhead!  Jesus is the physical representation we have of the Godhead!  These aren’t three beings functioning as one but One who can diversify Himself in expressing himself and His love towards us, who He is, what He does and how He does it!  AND He desires to share this love with us so we can not only live in His image, but operate in His image!  In how we look.  In what we say.  In what we do.  He is in us and give us he strength to do what He does.

Remember that Jesus said:  The hour comes and is even now when true worshippers shall worship Father in Spirit and in truth for Father seeks such to worship Him in Spirit and truth (John 4:23-24).  God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship in Spirit and in truth!   God is who He is and asks us to be one with Him.  We should reflect His love in our lives so we can be His true children.  God is Spirit.  We have a spirit which gives us life and the Holy Ghost is He who connects the two for a Spirit to spirit connection (1 John 4:10-13).  If you will, we have a ‘hotline’ to God!

So, have we come to learn all about God or have we come to learn who God truly is?   We keep learning about Him as we read the scriptures and talk with Him.  As we talk to Him, the scriptures confirm what He has said to us.  So the scriptures and our prayers confirm each other as we learn to talk with God.  I AM, Savior, Teacher, Protector, Provider and more, says he Lord.

How well are getting to know our God?

Amen

11-29-2025         I AM that I AM

    

Who is God?

God had just told Moses that He is ending him back to Egypt to

Set His people free.  Moses asked whom shall I say sent me to bring them out?  God replied ‘I AM that I AM’, tell them that ‘I AM’ has sent you.” (Exodus 3:13-14)

Why would God say something like that?  He could have replied “Jehovah’,  ‘YAWEH’ or any other name like ‘El Shaddai’ or ‘Elohim’, but He chose to tell Moses “I AM”.

Why?

First God is love (1 John 4:8)

Second God is Spirit (John 4:24)

Third God created all things (Gen. 1:1-31). 

Then He expressed His ultimate power through time by performing miracles for Israel.

To mention several there were the ten plagues He set upon Egypt to encourage Pharaoh to release His people (Exod. Chptrs 4-12). He divided the Red Sea where Israel crossed unharmed but Pharaoh’s army was drowned (Exod. 14_21-23).  Jericho whose walls came tumbling down by the people shouting and the trumpets sounding (Josh. 6:20).  Also Shradrach, Meshach and Abednego, along with a fourth person went being untouched by the fiery furnace (Dan. 3:10-27).  Not to mention Mary, who had never been with a an but gave birth to Jesus (Matt. 1:18-24).   All the miracles performed by Jesus (Matt., Mark, Luke and John).  And more evidence of God using humans to perform His miracles.  Peter performed many miracles including the raising of Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead (Acts 9:36-41) and Paul who performed many miracles including bringing life back to Eutychus after he had fallen from the third loft (Acts 20:7-12)

So God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them and then performed miracles confirming his supremacy over all creation.  For us – miracles, for God – ‘just all in a day’s work’!  

Jesus performed miracles confirming His authenticity.  What did Jesus do? Feed the hungry (Matt. 15:20-39), healed the sick (Matt. 4:3) and raised the dead (John 11:38-44)!  And He gave authority to His apostles to do the same things He did land passed that on to us (John 14:12)?

Jesus promised the disciples that they would receive the Holy Ghost, after which they too would have power over the elements of the earth (John 20:22, Acts 1:8).  Info: Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit are the same.  The Hebrew word ruwach (H7307) means breath, spirit or exhalation while gava (H1478) is to breath out, give up the ghost or perish or human spirit.  The Greek word pneuma (G4151 means breath, spirit, soul or ghost so it can apply to God (capitalized) or man (not capitalized)

Now, how can we see miracles performed by our hand.  Three things need to be active in our lives: believe God desires and will give us this gift; be obedient and receive this gift; and then be bold enough to go out do it.  remember it is not us doing it but Father, through the Holy Ghost in us (Acts 3:1-16).  

Believe

In order to receive from God we need to believe that He is.  He has created all things, even us (1 Col. 1:16).  All things are created for our good (Rom. 8:28).  And He has given us authority over creation (Gen. 1:28, Matt. 28:18, Phil. 4:13).  Because we have the power of the Holy Ghost in us (Acts 1:8). 

Obedient/receive

Being obedient means that if we love God, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15).  And what are God’s Commandments?   Of course, the Ten Commandments as given in Exodus (Exod: 20:3-17), but all that Father has done hang on a single, two-fold commandment which is to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength (Mark 12:30) and we should love our neighbor as our self (Mark 12:31).  And as we keep God’s commandments, God will bless us beyond what we could imagine (Deut. 28:1-13, Eph. 3:19-20).  Jesus also tells us that if we keep His commandments He will manifest Himself to us (John 14:21) and that Father and Son shall make their abode with us (John 14:23).  His abode is living in us – through the Holy Ghost (John 14:18-26).  Father will withhold nothing from those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11). Doors will be opened to us as we seek and knock (Matt. 7:7).  When we believe that we can receive things from God, we will receive them (Mark 11:24).  We ask, follow His commandments and live in His love (in His will which is pleasing to Him) we shall receive (1 John 3:22).

Do it

How can we expect Father to do anything through us when we don’t believe He can or will do it?  Job came to know God personal (Job 42:5) and we also, need to come to that point where we don’t just know who Go is in our mind, but, as with Job, we discover who God is in our heart!  Then, as we trust Father and allow the Holy Ghost, He  will work in us and through us (John 14:16-18), teach us what to say (Luke 12:12) and lead us to all understanding (John 16:13).  We will be amazed at the positive results that follow.

God told Ezekiel to command those old dry bones to come together, then connect those bones with sinew so they don’t become scattered all over the place anymore, then cover that with muscle so those bodies can do what Father has called them to do and finally encase it all in skin so they can look like what they are supposed to look like – a complete body and remember, we ae made in the image of God (Gen  1:27).

To realize all this, WE still have to put what we intend into action.  Action is more than just praying.  It should be us who go out and share the love of Christ with others so that they (also) might enter into the Kingdom of God.  It should be us laying hands on people so they would be healed and/or made whole (Matt. 9:26, Mark 10:52, Matt. 14:35-36 ).  And Jesus has even given us the ability to raise the dead (Peter, Acts 9:36-41 and Paul, Acts 20:12).

We must believe (ourselves) so that those whom we encounter can merge into our belief with their own so they might receive these blessings!

GOD IS I AM.  He is anything and everything and it is His desire to share what He has with us so we can not only look like Him (in His image) but also act like Him (in His image).

So, we need to remember that we must believe that God is.  Then His desire is to do good things for us and through us.  We need that ‘Job’ relationship with Father.  Abide in God’s love that is be obedient to, in and through His will.  God has given gifts which are unique to us (1 Corinth.12:7-14, 1 Peter 4:10-11).  However, faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26) so let us then go out and do what Father has called us to do, at whatever level He has called being mindful that our intents must be clearly seen through our actions.

After all, Father IS everything that we need or should want!

He is ‘I AM’

Amen

 

11-15-2025         Do You Know Who I Am?

(DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM  (2011)

                 

This song/poem is about a person from childhood to old age and his/her relationship with God.  It was inspired by the lullaby ‘Hush, Little Baby’, which is thought to have been written in the Southern United States. The lyrics are from the point of view of a parent trying to appease an upset child by promising to give them a gift.   Its origin is not clear but Cecil Sharp, Endicott, Franklin County, Virginia, collected and notated a version in 1918.  Varying versions surfaced between 1929 into the 1940’s.  The song has been performed and recorded by many artists including Joan Baez, Burl Ives, Regina Spektor, Nina Simone, The Weavers and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Additionally, the song has been adapted into pop songs such as Maurice King's "Hambone", Inez and Charlie Foxx's "Mockingbird" and Bo Diddley's eponymous song "Bo Diddley", as well as Bobby McFerrin and Yo-Yo Ma's "Hush Little Baby" and Eminem's "Mockingbird".  Aretha Franklin, Carly Simon, James Taylor, Etta James, Taj Mahal and Dusty Springfield have each recorded "Mockingbird", which is an R&B variant of the song.  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hush,_Little_Baby).

 Consider this song/poem as Father talking to us.  ‘Do You Know Who I Am’

 Refrain  (The refrain is intended to be sung after each verse)

 I look in your face

And I wonder, my child

Do you know who I am

Have you any idea who I am?

 

Hush little baby, don’t you cry

You daddy is near, I’m standin’ by

I’ll clothe you, I’ll feed you

I’ll hold you always near

I’ll help you, I’ll guide you

So don’t you ever fear

 Refrain

 How quickly you grow, you’re growing strong

I know it’s soon, it won’t be long

I’ll fix your hurts and comfort you

Soon you’ll spread your wings and learn to fly

But remember the things that I do

I’ll always be there, by your side

 Refrain

 Now you are grown and living your life

Facing happiness, joy, trouble and strife

Decisions are tough, confusing at times

But ask me please, you’re still my child

I’ll guide you, direct you, the pleasure is mine

I’m here to help, all the while

Refrain

The breeze caresses a weathered face

Times and trials survived by grace

As we walk in the twilight sun

Memories sweet and hand in hand

Reflect on the things, the things we’ve done

I ask you now, do you know who I am

(Refrain )

I look in your face

And I wonder, my child

Do you know who I am

Have you any idea who I am?

 

Now compare this poem with chapter fifteen (v11-32) in the gospel of Luke.  Do we see any similarities? 

In the prodigal son, the Father give his youngest son his inheritance and allows him to go out into the world on his own, knowing what the lad might face.  The son experiences life outside of his father’s realm, he eventually realizes that doing things ‘his way’ weren’t such a good idea after all. He decides to ask his father to receive him back into the family.  He returns home and apologies for what he did and is received with love and restoration. 

Luke 15:11-32

King James Version

¹¹ And he said, a certain man had two sons:

¹² And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

¹³ And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

¹⁴ And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

¹⁵ And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

¹⁶ And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

¹⁷ And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

¹⁹ And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

²⁰ And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

²¹ And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

²² But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

²³ And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

²⁴ For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

²⁵ Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.

²⁶ And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

²⁷ And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

²⁸ And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

²⁹ And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

³⁰ But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

³¹ And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

³² It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Father says that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deut. 31:8).  Paul also says that Jesus said that He will never leave nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5).  When the Father and Son are in agreement, how can we possibly go wrong?  The bible says that a thing is established by two witness (Deut. 19:15, 2 Corinth. 13:1).  Enough said?  Job said “I have heard about You by the hearing of the ear” (Job 42:5 …)  God considered Job a perfect and upright man (Job 1:18-19, Job 2:3), but after Job and God had a ‘little chat’ (Job 38:1-41:34), Job said “but now I have seen you with my on eye” (… Job 42:5).  In other words, Job came to understand and know who God really is.

Do we think that Job thanked God for his troubles or was he thankful for God bringing him through all those troubles?  And when God blessed Job (Job 42:12-17), how grateful do we think Job must have been?  When situations come upon us, do we thank God for seeing us through those tough times?  How grateful are we when the smoke finally clears and we receive the blessings Father has for us?

How many of us go through life knowing ‘about’ God but never take the time to ask Father to lead us through the scriptures and/or really sit down and talk with Him as a friend?  Do we just say “Here it is …Thanx for t his, thanx for that, and then see ya later”?  When we talk with our close friends, do we truly listen to what they say?  Or do we interact with encouraging words?  Or vice versa?  Does Father deserve any less?  Moms and dads, when we explain something to our children, are we proud of ourselves because we set them straight’?  Or do we even really care that they understand what was said so they can grow from the experience?  Our heavenly Father does care and He works with us so we can grow (Col. 1:9-10), 2 Peter 1:4).

Communication is a two-way street.  We talk they listen and when they talk we listen.  Again, does the Almighty God deserve any less?  Along with other things, Webster’s defines communication as an exchange of information.  So do we talk “at” people or “with” people?  Do we talk ‘at’ God or do we talk ‘with’ God?

Father does talk with us through His written Word, but His desire is to speak with us “face to face”.  Or should I say heart to heart?  That is, we shouldn’t treat Him as an “it” but as “who”.  We are made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26).  God is love (1John 4:8) and He expects us to live in His image.  We can hear and see.  Father hears and sees and understands.  He is a compassionate God and when we approach Him with a true and humble heart, He takes us by the hand (Spiritually), helping us as we go.  

Even today, do we yet understand who Father truly is?  Father has feelings just as you and I.  My God!  He has created feelings!  Do we thank Him for all that He has done for us?  Are we grateful that He has loved us so much to care about us?  Even by taking our sins and placing them upon Himself on the cross!  It is difficult for a man to give his life for his brother or friend, but Jesus took our sins even when we weren’t acknowledging Him! (John 15:13, Rom. 5:8).  Are we following His example?  Do we thank Father for all He has done for us?  Do we show our gratitude for who He is?  Are we truly living in His image?

Thank you Father for all that You have done for me and help me to show my gratitude by living in Your love.

Amen 

11-1-2025           What Jesus has done for us

             

A man had just completed a gospel concert before a moderate crowd.  Several staff were around the stage front and an invitation to receive Jesus was offered.  The man, spent from his presentation, went to the side of the stage and sat on a chair which was waiting for him to use if he needed it.  A crowd started gathering around the workers but a young boy came over to where the man was sitting “I want to receive Jesus.”  The man said “son, are you sure for what you are asking?”  The boy replied “I want to receive Jesus!”  “What’s your name, son?”  “Johnny.” “Johnny, may I ask you a couple of questions?” “Sure.” 

Do you know the first four words of the bible?  “Something about God.”  Yes, ‘in the beginning’ God.  That means that before anything happened, before the heavens and the earth were created – God existed (Gen. 1:1).  The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters (a liquid, but more than just H2O) (Gen.1:2).  The Spirit of God is also His breath, just like you and me (blow out). Then God began speaking (Gen 1:3-31).  “When I am speaking, do I express myself in words?”  Johnny responded “Yes.” So God spoke words, just like us and creation started lining up just as God directed.  Do you believe this Johnny?  “Yes.”   

Now, the first six words of the Gospel of John begin “In the beginning was the Word”.  We know that God spoke words, right?  “Yes sir.”  John tells us that the Word was with God AND that the Word was God (John 1:1).  So, just like you and me, Johnny, God has breath, He can speak Words and He has essence, He exists.   If Israel were to ask, God told Moses to tell them ‘I AM’ sent him.  I AM means ‘I exist’.  God has three parts just like you and me.  We have a body, we can breathe and we can speak.  However, the bible tells us that God is Spirit (John 4:24) so His body is a little different from ours, He always was and will always be. He’ll never grow old and die (Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:11).  John also tells us that the Word of God is he light of the world and the light is Jesus who has come into this world so we can become God’s children (John 1:8-11).   That’s us, Johnny!  “Wow!”

Now, God wants us to know that He knows what we go through, each and every day.  So, He came into this world through Jesus.  No earthly father, yet bon of a virgin (Mary – Isa. 7:14, Matt. 1:20-23).  God spoke everything into existence, so it was no problem to speak life into Mary and bring Jesus into this world.  So Jesus lived as one of us for thirty years, showing us that we can live for God, pleasing Him in what we say and do.  Then, for the last three and a half years of His life on earth, Jesus explained to us how we too can live in God’s will (read the gospels, read the whole bible). 

Do you believe that what Jesus did, He did for you and me?  What did He do?  He allowed Himself to be arrested (Matt. 26:47-56), brought to trial before the Jews (Matt. 26:57-75) and then to the Romans, where He was beaten with a whip and taunted (Matt. 27:1-31).  After all this, Jesus was physically weakened so the Romans forced a man named Simon to carry Jesus’ cross (Matt. 27:32).  Now, just as Simon carried Jesus’ burden before the people, the cross to Golgotha, God allows us to carry the burden of Jesus before the people as we share God’s Word and love with those whom we encounter.

We know everybody sins (Rom. 3:23), so Jesus shed His blood and died on the cross so we could be cleansed of our sin (1 John 1:7). 

Finally, on the cross, when Jesus died. Yet, at the moment Jesus drew in and exhaled His last breath, the veil in the temple was torn in half, top to bottom, the earth shook and rocks were broken (Matt. 33-51).  The importance of the veil was that only the high priest could enter into the presence of God (in the Old Testament) that is into the Holy of Holies (Lev. 16:1-34, Heb. 9:1-10), But Jesus opened that doorway to all who would believe on Him (Heb.. 9:11-28) that we would have direct access to the Father, Himself, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

We have to believe that as Jesus died on the cross, He also rose from the grave (John 20:1-16) because Jesus says that He’ll come back for us one day we know can be with Him forever (John 14:3).

Do you believe this, Johnny?  “Yes!”   Then profess these things which you believe.  Then confess Jesus with your mouth that He is now your lord and Savior and thank Him for cleansing you from your sins (Rom. 10:9-10). 

Jesus also tells us that if we love Him, we need to keep His commandments (John 14:15) and His commandments (John 14:15) are actually one but in two parts – love God above all else and our neighbor as much as we love ourselves (Mark 12:28-31).  We love God because He first loved us then we love our neighbor as ourselves UP and OUT. 

“Okay!”  Johnny knelt asked Jesus into his life. 

Now the man was not a pastor so he added: Okay, now go tell your pastor what you have done and receive water baptism, as the cleansing with water is an outward expression of the cleansing which Jesus has just has done in your heart.  Oh, and Johnny, don’t forget to talk with God (pray Phil. 4:6) every day and ask Father to help you read your bible everyday so he Holy Ghost can lead you into truth and understanding (John 14:16-18, 2 Tim. 2:7).

May the Lord bless you richly!

Amen