Category Archives: A Form of godliness?

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!!!

Is God’s Word Truth??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #393

01 Wednesday Oct 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Form of godliness?, God's grace is sufficient...always!, God's Judgment, God's Righteousness Not mine, God's ways are not our ways, God's Wisdom, Godly Wisdom, The Things of God, The Word, The Word Or The World?, There IS a Test!, This is the Way, Time Is Grace!, Too Late To Call?, Transformed life, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Truth is True, Uncertainty--God HAS the answer, Unrighteous will not inherit, Victory IN Jesus!, What are you hungry for?, What are you listening to?, What do you SEE?, What's in your book?, What's The Word?, Who are YOU following?, Who are you listening to?, Who will you believe and follow?, Who's Listening Anyway?, Whose Sheep are You?

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Is God’s Word Truth??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #393

I feel led to write this article today, as I just read some startling statistics that break my heart; but I have no doubt that they reflect where our culture is.  The bottom line was that less than 10% of those who claim to be “Christians” actually believe the Word of God/The Bible to be true, authoritative and useful for ordering our lives before a Holy God!  So, I want to share what the Word of God has to say about itself.  It’s your choice, as to what you believer, but choose wisely for there is a test; and believe it or not, God’s Word is and ever will be the plumbline!

“For the word of God is

quick,

and powerful,

and sharper than any twoedged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder

of soul and spirit,

and of the joints and marrow,

and is a discerner

of the thoughts

and intents

of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature

that is not manifest in his sight:

but all things are naked and opened

unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”               Hebrews 4:12-13

You may deny the veracity of The Word of God, but your denial will not diminish the truth that it is what you will stand and be judged by one day!  What you do with Jesus and His Word is truly your choice, but the consequences have already been set.  Paul gives us a most powerful declaration of the truth of the Bible—God’s Word!  Other’s words may be tempting to believe as they usually (almost always) feed the fleshly desires, rather than the truths of God!

“If we believe not,

yet he abideth faithful:

he cannot deny himself.

14 Of these things put them in remembrance,

charging them before the Lord

that they strive not about words to no profit,

but to the subverting of the hearers.

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:13-15

And just an observation, if we are called to “rightly” divide the word of God, it is implied that there is a way to “wrongly” divide (or interpret and apply it) God’s Word.  What are you doing with the Bible?  Are you taking other’s opinions of what it says, or are you digging in yourself to see what God says?  Whether we believe and accept it or not, God remains faithful and His Word is true; again I say, it’s your choice but choose wisely, there is a test!  Let’s look at what else Paul told this young pastor!

“All scripture

is given by inspiration of God, and

is profitable

for doctrine,

for reproof,

for correction,

for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be

perfect,

throughly furnished

unto all good works.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17

Just FYI, the word ‘perfect’ here means stable and mature, it is not a reference to attaining sinless perfection!  This is calling us to understand that it is the Bible, God’s Word, which can help us to know truth (doctrine); to reveal our failure and sin (reproof); to correct us and set our feet back on the road of the light of our God (correction); and one of the greatest things is that it helps us to learn the ways of righteousness (the preventive measures for a godly life, instruction in righteousness!)!  Then Paul lifts us up to see that this very Word of God is what will help us to be mature, useful and equipped spiritually for whatever good works God may set before us!  Oh, to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, and our heart and flesh feasting on His Word.  It’s like medicine for the soul and our weak flesh.

Jesus said it best as He dealt with the temptation of Satan face to face!

“And when the tempter came to him, he said,

If thou be the Son of God,

command that these stones be made bread.

4 But he answered and said,

It is written,

Man shall not live by bread alone,

but by every word

that proceedeth

out of the mouth of God.”              Matthew 4:3-4

What if our diets were as set on God’s Word as on the physical food that we love –some of us way too much!  So in closing I just want to remind every one of us that there is a day coming when we will give an account—let us consider the fate of those who don’t know Jesus; yet also we need to consider that every genuine believer in Jesus will also give an account.  Are you living according to God’s Word?  How can you if you don’t know it?  You can’t!  So dig in my friend; dig in and feast on the riches of all that God has sent to us in this amazing love letter—from Genesis to Revelation!  It’s all true—whether you believe it or not!

“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

No second chances!

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die,

but after this the judgment:” Hebrews 9:27

Then consider Paul’s explanation of the believer’s accounting.

“For other foundation can no man lay

than that is laid,

which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation

gold,

silver,

precious stones,

wood,

hay,

stubble

13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest:

for the day shall declare it,

because it shall be revealed by fire;

and the fire shall try every man’s work

of what sort it is.

14 If any man’s work abide

which he hath built thereupon,

he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man’s work shall be burned,

he shall suffer loss:

but he himself shall be saved;

yet so as by fire.

16 Know ye not

that ye are the temple of God,

and that the Spirit of God

dwelleth in you?”  1 Corinthians 3:11-16

Are you ordering your steps with Jesus or the world?  It’s your choice but remember there is a test.  May we pray with the Psalmist today?  And the next today…….  And the next today…

“Order my steps

in thy word:

and let not any iniquity

have dominion over me.”  Psalm 119:139

Amen and Amen!!!

Redeemed Through The Blood?? A Word from THE WORD!!! #392

28 Sunday Sep 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Form of godliness?, Are You Ready, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Jesus Saves!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Redeemed By HIS Blood, Redemption or Rehearsal?, Redemption Through HIS Blood, Regeneration, Renewing or Reviewing, Repentance, Restoration, Saved by Grace Through Faith, Saved FROM Sin, SIN, Sin IS the issue

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Redeemed Through The Blood?? A Word from THE WORD!!! #392

“To the praise of the glory of his grace,

wherein he hath made us accepted

in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

the forgiveness of sins,

according to the riches of his grace;”  Ephesians 1:6-7

As Paul also told the Colossian believers, almost the same thing.

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet to be partakers

of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:” Colossians 1:12-14

What is redemption?

Redemption: an act of atoning for guilt…an act or the state  

of being rescued…repurchase of something sold, as to a pawn shop…

Redemption is the act of God’s love in being bought back; in the case of man, being bought back from the penalty of sin, which is death (going all the way back to Genesis chapter 3!)  We must know that sin is the issue, it is the death penalty for all who have sinned, and that includes every human, excepting the God/Man/Savior, Jesus, who did no sin.  He’s the only one.

“For even hereunto were ye called:

because Christ also suffered for us,

leaving us an example,

that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin,

neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled,

reviled not again;

when he suffered,

he threatened not;

but committed himself

to him that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self bare our sins

in his own body on the tree,

that we,

being dead to sins,

should live unto righteousness:

by whose stripes ye were healed.

25 For ye were as sheep

going astray;

but are now returned

unto the Shepherd

and Bishop

of your souls.”  1 Peter 2:21-25

My question is, if you claim to have been redeemed, has it made a difference in your life.  The Apostle John paints a picture for us in his first letter to believers, let’s consider what he calls us to.

“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 1:6-10

How do we “make him a liar”?  We make God a liar when we say we have not sinned—not me, I’m good…I’ve done___!  I’ve been______!  Paul declares the truth that SIN is the issue in his letter to the believers in Rome.

“For all have sinned,

and come short

of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

But the beauty of God’s plan of redemption, is that we don’t have to stay short of God’s glory, we can find salvation, justification and redemption in JESUS; let’s see what Paul goes on to tell us about this sin issue (Jesus is the cure!)

“24 Being justified freely

by his grace

through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth

to be a propitiation

through faith in his blood,

to declare his righteousness

for the remission of sins that are past,

through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say,

at this time

his righteousness:

that he might be just,

and the justifier

of him which believeth in Jesus.” Romans 3:24-26

Jesus provided the sacrifice for sin for all who will come to Him in repentance of sin, and faith/belief in HIS substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin—the only acceptable payment for sin.  Even as Jesus said in John 14:6, “… I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”!

And without coming to Jesus, we will face the fate that Paul declares as truth to the Roman believers.

“For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

To make it simple, have you been born again?  Have you received the “gift of God…Jesus Christ our Lord”?  I pray that you have; but if you haven’t you can call on Him even now, and I’ll leave you with His call to you who don’t now Him. If you do know Him, are you living like the redeemed?  We’ll talk more about that next time.

“Behold,

I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20

Amen and Amen!!!