God is the Greatest!
“For God (the greatest lover) so loved (the greatest degree) the world (the greatest company) that He gave (the greatest act) His only begotten Son (the greatest gift), that whoever (the greatest opportunity) believes (the greatest simplicity) in Him (the greatest attraction) should not perish (the greatest promise) but (the greatest difference) have (the greatest certainty) everlasting life (the greatest possession).”
(parenthetical commentary on John 3:16 by Chuck Swindoll)
God is amazing!
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” John 1:1 ESV. Continue reading in John and it’s clear that Jesus is the One referred to as “the Word.” Jesus is God. Notice here that “in the beginning,” the Word/Jesus was already in existence. Since Jesus is God, He is eternal, existing before time and space. Our God exists in three distinct persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. It’s amazing that He wants to have a relationship with us. He was with the Israelites in a pillar of fire and a cloud. He was in the tabernacle and later in the temple. Then He came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ. After Jesus left, the Holy Spirit came to live in the lives of believers. Three persons, yet one unique God. That’s the God we serve! Amazing! I encourage you to repent of your sins and put your faith and trust in Him today. If you have never read the Bible, I encourage you to start in John and keep on reading. It will change your life!
Leadership 101
To seek the lost who need to be saved…
Jesus knew His purpose in life. He said, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10 ESV
The apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:22 ESV, “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.”
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matt. 28:18-20 ESV
His purpose must become our purpose!
…the Holy Spirit says,’Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion’…” (Heb. 3:7-11 ESV) There is a reason the quote begins with the word “today.” Now is the time to respond. Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts! Every time a person says no to what God is telling them to do, their heart is hardened. When your “today” is over, it is eternally too late. When your “today” is over He swears you will not enter His heavenly rest. Do you sense the urgency?
– Don Jennings IIIIf it’s true that the Spirit of God dwells in us and that our bodies are the Holy Spirit’s temple, then shouldn’t there be a huge difference between the person who has the Spirit of God living inside of him or her and the person who does not? - Francis Chan in “Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit”
Instead of fearing I need to have faith!
“The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, ‘Master, Master, we’re going to drown!’ When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. Then he asked them, ‘Where is your faith?’” (Luke 8:24-25 NLT) Jesus rebuked the wind and the waves and also the disciples who were fearful.
Prayer is the key to wise decisions.
One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Luke 6:12-13 NLT
Godly men needed!
As I read Mark 15:39-41 today it struck me that not a single man stood with Jesus in His “trial,” beating and death. One man, Judas betrayed Him and another man, Peter, denied Him, and the rest of His disciples deserted Him. But many women stood by Him. ”When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!” Some women were there, watching from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joseph), and Salome. They had been followers of Jesus and had cared for him while he was in Galilee. Many other women who had come with him to Jerusalem were also there.” Praise the Lord for godly women! Today, as in Jesus’ day, there is a need for men to stand up unashamedly for Christ, to lead our families, our communities, and our churches. Lord, please help us to man up and lock arms with godly women!
Of all the commandments, which is the most important?
Jesus answered that question in Mark 12:29-31 NIV ‘84. “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Whatever is important to Jesus must be important to us as well!
