Category Archives: A Form of godliness?

What’s Your Excuse Now??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #435

16 Friday Jan 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Form of godliness?, Choices And Consequences, Choose Wisely, Choose You This Day!, Choosing Jesus or The World?, It's Your Choice, JESUS, Jesus Built A Bridge, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Joy of The Lord!, Judgment, Judgment Is Coming, This is the Way, Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done, What's In Your Heart?, Where are you leading those following you?

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What’s Your Excuse Now

??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #435

We live in a culture filled with ready-made excuses—I’ve been deprived, neglected, poor, sick, my parents didn’t do right, they are too strict, too lenient, to tight, to extravagant, I saw it on social media, all my friends are doing it!  I……fill in the blank________!  Jesus talks about our choices—it’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test coming!  And you don’t know when it will come.

“Wherefore by their fruits

ye shall know them.

21 Not every one

that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth the will

of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils?

and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.”  Matthew 7:20-23

Jesus continues on in this passage to give us an amazing example of the import of our choices.  There are choices we make that seem unimportant, and we often think if we make it look good, it doesn’t matter what our foundation is; but Jesus makes it clear that without a proper foundation life will fall apart when the storms come—and they will come!  And please remember that JESUS IS THE ROCK! (The Rock of Ages, if you would!)

“Therefore whosoever heareth

these sayings of mine,

and doeth them,

I will liken him unto a wise man,

which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell not:

for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth

these sayings of mine,

and doeth them not,

shall be likened unto a foolish man,

which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell:

and great was the fall of it.”Matthew 7:25-27

What foundation are you laying?  Is your confidence in the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice of Jesus for sin?  Or is your confidence in the world or anything other than the cross of Jesus Christ our Lord!  I pray that you will forsake the excuses and cling to Jesus!

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth, and

the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:6

There is a day of accounting coming, I pray that you will take care of business with Jesus—HE is the only way to salvation!  Don’t excuse yourself right into hell.

“And I saw a great white throne,

and him that sat on it,

from whose face

the earth and the heaven fled away;

and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead,

small and great,

stand before God;

and the books were opened:

and another book was opened,

which is the book of life:

and the dead were judged out of those things

which were written in the books,

according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead

which were in it;

and death and hell delivered up the dead

which were in them:

and they were judged every man

according to their works.

14 And death and hell

were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death.

15 And whosoever

was not found written in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-15

Your choices matter—and there will be no excuses to give.  Please be ready to meet Jesus—He is coming soon!

“And, behold,

I come quickly;

and my reward is with me,

to give every man

according as his work shall be.

13 I am Alpha and Omega,

the beginning and the end,

the first and the last.”  Revelation 22:12-13

Amen and Amen!!!

Remember, just saying so doesn’t make it so!!!

What’s your excuse?

Counterfeit Or Genuine??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #430

05 Monday Jan 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Form of godliness?, A Witness--Good or Bad???, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, For Such A Time As This, God Knows, God Knows His Own, God Who Sees, God's Ability for our Inability!, God's glory NOT mine!, God's grace is sufficient...always!, God's Righteousness Not mine, God's ways are not our ways, Godliness will be opposed, Godly Wisdom, Good Stewards, Gospel, Jesus IN You!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Jesus Knows, Jesus Saves!, Jesus' standard?, Lies That Defeat Us, Like Jesus NOT Each Other, Listening To God, Living For Jesus, Living in Christ, Living Right, Living TODAY!, Mindset on Jesus!, My Help Cometh from THE LORD, My sheep hear my voice..., The Word

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Counterfeit Or Genuine???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #430

There is so much going on around us that claims to be of God, yet how can we know what is genuine—whether in our own lives or the lives of those we encounter (particularly on the media—of any kind).  So how are we to know what’s counterfeit and what’s not?  Simply put, there is only one way and that’s to dig into The Word of God!  First and foremost because it’s what God calls us to do, secondly it is the only way to discern truth from error, and there is a lot of error going around dressed up as ‘truth’!

One of the questions that I want us to consider today, is “If you belong to Jesus, why is your lifestyle denying Him, by denying what His Word says?”  If we have genuinely been born again to new life in Jesus, why are we so often, in essence, slandering The One that we call LORD?

“Study

to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman

that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.

16 But shun profane and vain babblings:

for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

17 And their word will eat as doth a canker:

of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

18 Who concerning the truth have erred,

saying that the resurrection is past

already;

and overthrow the faith of some.

19 Nevertheless the foundation of God

standeth sure,

having this seal,

The Lord knoweth them that are his.

And, Let every one

 that nameth the name of Christ

depart from iniquity.”  2 Timohty 2:15-19

We are called to study—to dig in to God’s Word with diligence—that we might “shew thyself”—to display, live honorably and openly to the world as a true follower of Jesus—not bringing shame upon our Lord.  Are we able to “shew thyself approved unto God”?  Or are we not truly His, but faking it, living a lie, trying to go along to get along!  I pray not!  Whose approval are you seeking?  Does your speech betray Jesus?  Do your morals betray what His Word teaches?  Are your choices based on the worldly rather than the “way, the truth and the life” of Jesus! (See John 14:6).  Who are you following? People say pretty things, they sound good to the ear, but we are to try “the spirits” and not just go along to get along.  Paul warns us of those pretty sounding words.

“Preach the word;

be instant in season,

out of season;

reprove,

rebuke,

exhort

with all longsuffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come

when they will not endure sound doctrine;

but after their own lusts

shall they heap to themselves teachers,

having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears

from the truth,

and shall be turned unto fables.”  2 Timohty 4:2-4

I truly believe that what Paul warns us of is surely upon us.  Check out this list.

“This know also,

that in the last days perilous times

shall come.

2 For men shall be

lovers of their own selves,

covetous,

boasters,

proud,

blasphemers,

disobedient to parents,

unthankful,

unholy,

3 Without natural affection,

trucebreakers,

false accusers,

incontinent,

fierce,

despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors,

heady,

highminded,

lovers of pleasures

more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness,

but denying the power thereof:

from such turn away.”  2 Timothy 3:1-5

In Blanche’s paraphrase, men will adorn themselves with religion without any relationship to Jesus!  They’ll use His name and claim His power but is will simply be a “form” not reality—biblical reality!  As we noted above in 2 Timohty 2:19, God knows His own, and while you can fool some of the people all of the time, and you can fool all of the people some of the time—you can’t fool GOD.  Jesus had something pretty severe to say to this, let’s look.

“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth

the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day,

Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils?

and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.”  Matthew 7:20-23

God knows!  And the day will reveal it—sometimes before then, the truth will be revealed!  God’s timing is always perfect!  And in a closing passage, one that is not very popular today, but it’s God’s Word and we need to know that truth is still truth whether people receive and believe it or not!  But let me preface this passage by saying that the key is Paul’s declaration of his confidence in the Corinthian believers, who “were” once participating in these behaviors, but he makes it clear that when Jesus saves us, there is a change!

“Know ye not

that the unrighteous

shall not inherit the kingdom of God?

Be not deceived:

neither fornicators, nor idolaters,

nor adulterers, nor effeminate,

nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10 Nor thieves, nor covetous,

nor drunkards, nor revilers,

nor extortioners,

shall inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And such were some of you:

but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified,

but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus,

and by the Spirit of our God.”  1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Some of the greatest words in all of scripture, “such were some of you: but…”!!!!  Amen and thank you Jesus—such was I–but I have been saved, born again by the Spirit of God; I’ve been washed, sanctified, and justified by the work of Jesus!  His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for my sin!!!

How about you?  I pray that you will come to Jesus if you haven’t, and if you have been born again by the power of the blood, that you will make this a year of new beginnings in your devotion to our Lord and Savior—Master of all creation, including me!  Praise His holy name and thank you Jesus for saving me.  Look to the cross my friend, HE went there for you too!!!

“For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son

into the world to condemn the world;

but that the world through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name of the only begotten

Son of God.”  John 3:16-18

Amen and Amen!!!

Hidden Dangers??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #429

02 Friday Jan 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Form of godliness?, A Witness--Good or Bad???, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Religion isn't enough?, Relying on self or Jesus?, This is the Way, Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done, What are you doing with your TIME?, What are you listening to?, What does worldliness look like?, What's coming out of YOUR mouth?, What's In Your Heart?, What's In Your Mouth?, Where are you leading those following you?, Who will you believe and follow?, Who's Listening?, Whom are you trusting?, Words Matter

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Hidden Dangers???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #429

As we step into this new year of 2026, I’d like to share a couple of thoughts about being aware of the truths of this world and the enemy who is ever ready to trip us up.  We do have an adversary that we need to be aware of.  We must keep our focus of God and His Word, while realizing that Satan is an ever-present enemy, ever ready to deceive us and we must determine to know truth so that we can make good, realistic and informed (from God’s Word) decisions in all our ways.

“Order my steps

in thy word:

and let not any iniquity

have dominion over me.

134 Deliver me

from the oppression of man:

so will I keep thy precepts.

135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant;

 and teach me thy statutes.” Psalm 119:133-135

And while this verse asks for God to “teach me”, He will teach us, but HE will not open your skull and pour in His ways, but He will help us to know Him through His Word, when we open the Bible and hide His word in our own heart and mind.

“With my whole heart have I sought thee:

O let me not wander

from thy commandments.

11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart,

that I might not sin against thee.

12 Blessed art thou, O LORD:

teach me thy statutes.”  Psalm 119:10-12

Peter draws us an amazing picture of the battle that we are in; yet we must ever remember that we “we wrestle not again flesh and blood“ (See Ephesians 6:10-18), for “the battle is not yours, but God’s…” (See 2 Chronicles 20:15)!

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him;

for he careth for you.

8 Be sober,

be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil,

as a roaring lion,

walketh about,

seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith,

knowing that the same afflictions

are accomplished in your brethren

that are in the world.

10 But the God of all grace,

who hath called us unto his eternal glory

by Christ Jesus,

after that ye have suffered a while,

make you perfect,

stablish,

strengthen,

settle you.

11 To him be glory and dominion

for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:6-11

Our diligent effort will be rewarded at the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, when our King will take His rightful place upon The Throne of this world!  Will you be found faithful?  It’s up to you—it’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test!

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,

be sober,

and hope to the end

for the grace that is to be brought unto you

at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children,

not fashioning yourselves

according to the former lusts

in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy

in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

Be ye holy;

for I am holy.”  1 Peter 1:13-15

May the joy and peace of The Lord go with you into this new year; and may you grow in grace, truth and power each day!

“Now the God of hope

fill you with all joy

and peace

in believing,

that ye may abound in hope,

through the power of the Holy Ghost.”  Romans 15:13

And Paul’s word of encouragement to the Philippians believers!

“And the peace of God,

which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts and minds

through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren,

whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue,

and if there be any praise,

think on these things.”  Philippians 4:7-8

Amen and Amen!!!

A Christmas Fortnight! A Word from THE WORD! #416

12 Friday Dec 2025

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, A Father's Love, A Form of godliness?, All About Jesus!, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Christ IN YOU, Christmas, Christmas IS Jesus, Christmas IS?, Christmas Lights, Christmas Ponderings, Ornments of God's glory.

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Christmas Fortnight   A Word from THE WORD! #416

What a wonderful time of year.  A time to think of Jesus’ birth. Today let’s think about “ornaments”.  Many are buying and hanging ‘ornaments’ on their trees, placing them about their homes and offices.  What about ornaments?  What about you?  Are you simply hanging and placing ornaments around you or are you being an ornament as well?

1 Peter 3:3-4 says this,

“Whose adorning                                                     

 let it not be that outward adorning

of plaiting the hair,

and of wearing of gold,

or of putting on of apparel;

4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart,

in that which is not corruptible,

even the ornament

of a meek and quiet spirit,

which is in the sight of God of great price.” 

What does God value as ornamentation?

A meek and quiet spirit—

it “is in the sight of God of great price”. 

Wouldn’t you want to have an ornament that God values?

Well, we are to BE one!!!

Proverbs 1:8-9, in reference to God’s laws and godly parents declares,

“My son, hear the instruction of thy father,

and forsake not the law of thy mother:

  9 For they shall be an ornament

of grace unto thy head,

and chains about thy neck.” 

God values obedient learning.

Obedience is the real sign that we have learned.

Are we wearing God’s grace?

Are we HIS ornament to the world?

Proverbs 25:12 has a different twist.

“As an earring of gold,                                            

and an ornament of fine gold,                                         

so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.” 

Giving and heeding good, godly, scriptural advice is as “an ornament of fine gold”.  But, are we being good and godly advisors and obedient listeners?

Today as you are out and about determine to be an “ornament” to God!

To be an ornament of His grace to the world around you!!

The most glorious of Christmas ornaments –

a reflection of the babe born to die for US!  JESUS!!!!!

Stepping In The Light, Maybe? A Word from THE WORD!!! #398

20 Monday Oct 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Form of godliness?, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Jesus Saves!, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Let You Light So Shine, Light In The Dark, Like Jesus NOT Each Other, Shine as lights in the world, Signs of the times?, Sin IS the issue, Someone is following you!, The Heart is deceitful and dreadfully wicked..., The Light of The Word IS Jesus, The Light of The World, The LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT Reigneth!, The Only Way, Today is the day of Salvation, Touch them while you can?, Transformed life, Treasure here or in heaven?, Victory IN Jesus!, Walk in the Spirit, Walking With Jesus

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Stepping In The Light, Maybe?  A Word from THE WORD!!! #398

Where are you walking today?  We are called to walk in the light, but just as the moon has no light of its own but only the reflection of the “sun”, so we can only have light as we know Jesus and keep our eyes fixed on Him, then His reflection can be seen in and through us!  The issue isn’t the light, for Jesus IS the light.

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying,

I am the light of the world:

he that followeth me

shall not walk in darkness,

but shall have

the light of life.”  John 8:12

When we are born again, saved by the blood of Jesus that cleanseth us from sin, we receive Him into our hearts, lives and it’s up to us to follow Him—we can stay in line to receive the light or we can allow the world to eclipse our light from Jesus, just as natural eclipses eliminate that light of the “sun”, so we allow the world to eclipse the light of “The Son”!  Are you walking in the dark or the light?  Jesus makes it clear what we are to be and do!

“Ye are the light of the world.

A city that is set on an hill

cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle,

and put it under a bushel,

but on a candlestick;

and it giveth light unto all

that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men,

that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”              Matthew 5:14-16

Is your candle shining with the light of Jesus?  Or are you walking in the darkness of the world?  Jesus not only calls us to Himself to be saved, but when we do come to Him in repentance of our sin and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for that sin, He does a transforming work in us—a work that only His blood and payment for our sin can do.  Then as His children, genuine believers, we can reflect a work that is not of our selves; Paul’s message to the Corinthians believers makes this even clearer.

“For the love of Christ constraineth us;

because we thus judge,

that if one died for all,

then were all dead:

15 And that he died for all,

that they which live

should not henceforth live unto themselves,

but unto him which died for them,

and rose again.

16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man

after the flesh: yea,

though we have known Christ after the flesh,

yet now henceforth know we him no more.

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God,

who hath reconciled us to himself

by Jesus Christ,

and hath given to us the ministry

of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ,

reconciling the world unto himself,

not imputing their trespasses unto them;

and hath committed unto us

the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,

as though God did beseech you by us:

we pray you in Christ’s stead,

be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made the righteousness of God

in him.”  2 Corinthians 5:14-21

This tells us how we can do what Jesus talked about in being more “righteous” than the Pharisees; for it’s not our righteousness, or anything that we have done (other than having faith/belief in what Jesus paid and provided for all who will believe and come to Him!)

“For I say unto you,

That except your righteousness shall exceed

the righteousness of the scribes

and Pharisees,

ye shall in no case enter into

the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 5:20

While Jesus changes our heart at salvation, there is another more perfect change coming, not just in our actions, but in our very being—we shall be like Him.

“Now this I say, brethren,

that flesh and blood cannot inherit

the kingdom of God;

neither doth corruption inherit

incorruption.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery;

We shall not all sleep,

but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment,

in the twinkling of an eye,

at the last trump:

for the trumpet shall sound,

and the dead shall be raised incorruptible,

and we shall be changed.”  1 Corinthians 15:50-52

Oh the glory that is to come; but we have a life to live in this present world, and it is to be a reflection of The One to whom we belong at salvation—The One who bought us with a price; the price of His own life’s blood in payment for my sin—for He had none of His own (see Hebrews 4:15)!  He made it possible for us to walk in HIS light, and the Apostle John calls us to this walk—being in His light and walking in it, that others may be drawn to The Light, Jesus!  Where is your walk leading?   Are you leading those closest to you to the light or the dark!  Remember there is a consequence to every choice.  You are free to choose, but remember there is a test, and you are not free to set your own consequences.

“This then is the message

which we have heard of him,

and declare unto you,

that God is light,

and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him,

and walk in darkness,

we lie, and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  

9 If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,

 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

10 If we say that we have not sinned,

we make him a liar,

and his word is not in us.”  1 John 1:5-10

“He that saith he is in the light,

and hateth his brother,

is in darkness even until now.

10 He that loveth his brother

abideth in the light,

and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

11 But he that hateth his brother

is in darkness, and walketh in darkness,

and knoweth not whither he goeth,

because that darkness hath blinded

his eyes.”  1 John 2:9-11

So, the question is, are you stepping in the light, or treading the path of darkness?  Are you leading others to the light or dooming them to hell in the darkness?  James said it better than I can.

“But be ye doers of the word,

and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word,

and not a doer,

he is like unto a man beholding his natural face

in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself,

and goeth his way,

and straightway forgetteth

what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty,

and continueth therein,

he being not a forgetful hearer,

but a doer of the work,

this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any man among you seem to be religious,

and bridleth not his tongue,

but deceiveth his own heart,

this man’s religion is vain.”  James 1:22-26

Amen and Amen!!!