Category Archives: Jesus–our all in all

Always The Same??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #476

16 Sunday Aug 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, JESUS, Jesus IN You!, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus is our peace, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all, The Right Jesus!, The Same Yesterday, The Word Or The World?, This is the Way, Though your sins be as scarlet-they shall be white as snow.

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Always The Same???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #476

“Jesus Christ

the same yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”  Hebrews 13:8

I have a few brief things to share with you today!  Brief but ever so true, not only truth but our greatest hope and confidence. It’s all about Jesus!

“And when I saw him,

I fell at his feet as dead.

And he laid his right hand upon me,

saying unto me,

Fear not;

I am the first and the last:

18 I am he that liveth,

and was dead;

and, behold,

I am alive for evermore,

Amen;

and have the keys

of hell and of death.”  Revelation 1:17-18

“And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write;

These things saith the first and the last,

which was dead,

and is alive;” Revelation 2:8

“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

Jesus IS our hope and confidence; He gave His life for our salvation, and He will ever be with His own.  Are you letting life get you down?  Don’t let the enemy steal your hope, joy and confidence; Jesus IS our all in all.

“And have put on the new man,

which is renewed in knowledge

after the image of him that created him:

11 Where there is neither

Greek nor Jew,

circumcision nor uncircumcision,

Barbarian, Scythian,

bond nor free:

but Christ is all, and in all.”  Colossians 3:10-11

Jesus said it a little differently—a way that gives us the greatest of confidence, truth and joy; as well as strength and hope!

“The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come

that they might have life,

and that they might have it more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life

for the sheep.” John 10:10-11

Jesus fulfilled the prophecy given to Joseph in regard to His purpose at Calvary!  He came for you and me!  He came not to show us the way—but to BE the way via His blood!!

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.”   Matthew 1:21

I pray that these things will encourage you in your walk with The Lord Jesus!  And I want to leave you with two of my favorite and most encouraging passages—I repeat them often; as they are closely related.

“Let your conversation be without covetousness;

and be content with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.”  Hebrews 13:5-6

And the Psalmists confirmation of our amazing God and His Word!

“What time I am afraid,

I will trust in thee.

4 In God I will praise his word,

in God I have put my trust;

I will not fear

what flesh can do unto me.” Psalm 56:3-4

Amen and Amen!!!

I Am Persuaded!! Are You? A Word from THE WORD!!! #474

09 Sunday Aug 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, By example, Change your attitude, Changed Lives, Choices And Consequences, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Knows, Jesus Knows YOUR Storm, Jesus Saves!, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all, Judgment Is Coming, Perilous Times Are Here, Persecution, Perseverance, Pleasure in sin for a season, Polluted by the world?

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I Am Persuaded!! Are You? A Word from THE WORD!!! #474

One of my favorite songs is based on one of my favorite verses from Paul’s writing, and I’d like to share a few thoughts in regard to our confidence in Jesus Christ The Lord, which have brought me comfort and peace, and I hope it will do the same for you today. (And just so you’ll know, the song is titled, ‘I Know Whom I Have believed’, written by Major Daniel Webster Whittle in 1883).

“Be not thou therefore ashamed

of the testimony of our Lord,

nor of me his prisoner:

but be thou partaker of the afflictions

of the gospel

according to the power of God;

9 Who hath saved us,

and called us with an holy calling,

not according to our works,

but according to his own purpose

and grace,

which was given us in Christ Jesus

before the world began,

10 But is now made manifest

by the appearing

of our Saviour Jesus Christ,

who hath abolished death,

and hath brought life

and immortality to light

through the gospel:

11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher,

and an apostle,

and a teacher of the Gentiles.

12 For the which cause

I also suffer these things:

nevertheless I am not ashamed:

for I know whom I have believed,

and am persuaded that he is able

to keep that which I have

committed unto him

against that day.

13 Hold fast the form of sound words,

which thou hast heard of me,

in faith

and love

which is in Christ Jesus.”  2 Timothy 1:8-13

I encourage you to ponder these things which Paul so boldly and confidently shared with his son-in-the-ministry, Timothy, and that you will find the courage to have this same confidence in our Lord Jesus; for my friends, trials and persecution are on the way!  Not to be doom and gloom, but the days are here when we who stand fast for Jesus will find ourselves and our devotion to God’s Word maligned and opposed.  Paul reminds us clearly that his confidence is in Jesus and that there is no shame in Him, or His ability to deliver and keep His Word to deliver our salvation, and to bring us unto Himself as He has promised.

“Let not your heart be troubled:

ye believe in God,

believe also in me.

2 In my Father’s house are many mansions:

if it were not so,

I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come again,

and receive you unto myself;

that where I am,

there ye may be also.

4 And whither I go ye know,

and the way ye know.

5 Thomas saith unto him,

Lord, we know not whither thou goest;

and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth, and

the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:1-6

Jesus told us (and his disciples on that day) clearly that He was about to depart, but He would return and that return is even closer today than it was then!  Do we really believe that?  If we do are we living like it?  Are we sharing Jesus with not only our words but with our lives; I know I have failed so often, but we serve a Lord of forgiveness and restoration—the Lord who committed no sin, but died in our place; the sinless Lamb of God who takes away “the sin of the world” for all who will believe and receive Him in repentance and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for that very sin.  The author of Hebrews makes this perfectly clear—do you believe it?  Will you stand in confidence no matter how or when the world comes against us and our Lord Jesus?

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest,

that is passed into the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God,

let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted

like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:14-16

“Nor yet that he should offer himself often,

as the high priest entereth

into the holy place every year

with blood of others;

26 For then must he often have suffered

since the foundation of the world:

but now once in the end of the world

 hath he appeared to put away sin

by the sacrifice of himself.

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

but after this the judgment:

28 So Christ was once offered

to bear the sins of many;

and unto them that look for him

shall he appear the second time

without sin

unto salvation.”  Hebrews 9:25-28

And Paul put it a little differently, as he declared that we not only receive forgiveness of sin, but we receive the righteousness of Jesus applied to our account!  Jesus’ blood allows us to exchange our sin for His righteousness.

“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 5:17-21

So, we can walk in victory no matter the circumstances, when our name is written down in the Lamb’s book of Life!  How about you?  Are you ready to stand for Jesus knowing that the perils of the world’s powers can’t change my relationship with Jesus, nor interrupt my destiny—but there is surely coming a time, and now is in much of the world, when they will try vehemently!

“Yea,

and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus

shall suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and seducers

shall wax worse and worse,

deceiving, and being deceived.”   2 Timothy 3:12-13

And in closing a reminder that there is a test coming; and there’s only one right answer—have you been born again?  I encourage you to read all of John chapter 3 and ponder it as well as these passages which we have looked at today.  May God encourage you in His truth today.

“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

Just a word of clarification—we will be judged by our works, not because “works” save, but because whatever is in your heart will come out in your actions—your works!  What are your works and mine saying about us?  Jesus knows our heart, and it will be revealed one day—I think maybe sooner than we think!  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, as you can see, there is a test; and as I have heard it said, “Life has many choices, but eternity has only two!”

Amen and Amen!!!

If I Be Lifted Up??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #460

17 Wednesday Jun 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, I Know Whom I Have Beleived, If I be lifted up---, Jesus Saves!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all

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If I Be Lifted Up??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #460

Today I want us to consider a simple statement of Jesus, that I think we often misunderstand and perhaps even misuse.  It is part of one of the most important passages that John recorded for us in his gospel.  I pray that this will be a       help and an encouragement to each of us.

“There was a man of the Pharisees,

named Nicodemus,

a ruler of the Jews:

2 The same came to Jesus by night,

and said unto him,

Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher

come from God:

for no man can do these miracles

that thou doest,

except God be with him.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him,

How can a man be born when he is old?

can he enter the second time

into his mother’s womb, and be born?

5 Jesus answered,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born of water

and of the Spirit,

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit

is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,

Ye must be born again.

 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth,

and thou hearest the sound thereof,

but canst not tell whence it cometh,

and whither it goeth:

so is every one

that is born of the Spirit.”  John 3:1-8

Jesus had a visitor from the Pharisees; note that they were the main ones persecuting and rejecting Jesus, and yet this leader of the Jews came to question Jesus and yet couldn’t comprehend what Jesus was trying to tell him.  While Nicodemus called Jesus, Rabbi, and then he acknowledged that Jesus was a “teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him”; yet with all of this he didn’t understand what Jesus was trying to teach him.

Let’s work our way through it and see if we can understand?  In verse 3 Jesus tells him that being “born again” is a prerequisite to even seeing the Kingdom of God, much less entering it.  But Nicodemus was thinking in the natural realm, not the supernatural, he wanted to know how a man could enter into the womb and be born naturally again.  Jesus explained that spiritual things were what He was talking about—how like us so often, we want physical answers to spiritual questions, and Jesus is so often trying to tell us deeper spiritual things; are we being as obtuse as Nicodemus or are we willing to hear the message.  Jesus wants us to see that what is “born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit”. Jesus wanted Nicodemus and us to understand that the new birth was that which only God could give, and that only through the coming sacrifice of Jesus at Calvary.  It’s what John was referring to in chapter 1 of his gospel.

“He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.”  John 1:11-13

The new birth is a work of God in those who respond to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus refers to another important point in John 6:

“No man can come to me,

except the Father

which hath sent me draw him:

and I will raise him up at the last day.”  John 6:44

What I want us to understand is that Jesus was telling Nicodemus He was, is and ever shall be, “the way, the truth, and the life”!  And the verses that precedes our flagship of the gospel, John 3:16-19, is the one I want us to focus on, along with the parallel verse from John 12.

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent

in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.”  John 3:14-15

This is what Jesus wanted both Nicodemus and us to understand that HE was come to pay for sin for all who will look unto Him in repentance and faith in His coming (at that point) sacrifice at Calvary.  So when Jesus was talking about being “lifted up”, He wasn’t referring to us lifting up His name before the world, but HIS own lifting up on the cross.  Let’s see how this fits with what He says in chapter 12.

“Now is the judgment of this world:

now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

32 And I,

if I be lifted up from the earth,

will draw all men unto me.

33 This he said,

signifying what death he should die.”   John 12:31-33

So when Jesus says “if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me”, He isn’t calling us to lift Him up (although we are called to share the gospel of His “lifting up” as we have opportunity) but to share the truth that HIS lifting up was going to be the payment for sin, and the giving of eternal life to all who believe!

So, will we hear the word of the Lord, and let it speak truth to our hearts, or be like Nicodemus and miss the message He is trying to speak to our hearts (although Nicodemus did come to Jesus eventually…See John 19:38-40)?  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test.

Amen and Amen!!!

Faith Or Presumption??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #446

27 Monday Apr 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, JESUS, Jesus In Genesis!, Jesus IN You!, Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Jesus Saves, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Jesus--our all in all

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Faith Or Presumption???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #446

Faith can be a called a crutch, or it can be a sure and certain thing, when it’s placed in Jesus Christ and Him alone.  My faith is confidently placed in the surety of what Jesus did at Calvary! It’s the Gospel at its core; the blood of Jesus that “cleanseth us from all sin…”. Paul said it most concisely in 1 Corinthians 15, and his evidence is clearly stated in the phrase, “according to the scripture”; meaning that everything about Jesus isn’t just a whim, but it is cemented in scripture from Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 3:15 where God promised the “seed” that would crush the serpent’s head but would only have HIS heel bruised, and His victory revealed from the resurrection through the Revelation—which is all about JESUS.  Genesis is the very first promise of the Messiah who would redeem us from our sin; which is what our faith must be rooted and grounded in.

Presumption, on the other hand, is our telling God what our plan is, making our own way, rather than believing what Jesus said!

“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

And as we are clearly told in the book of Acts.

“This is the stone

which was set at nought of you builders,

which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other:

for there is none other name

under heaven

given among men,

whereby we must be saved.”   Acts 4:11-12

No other way!  It’s not just saying His name!  It’s not just doing good works!  It’s not about what “I” can do, what I can say, or any religious activity or set of rules or confidence in anything men may tell us to do.  Nor is it simply “saying” the name of Jesus like a magic talisman!  IT IS in the person of the sinless, holy Son of God, Jesus, who was born of a virgin, who lived a sinless life in this human flesh, and who willingly, lovingly gave Himself up as the only perfect sacrifice for sin.  So I must see myself as a sinner and come before a holy God in humble recognition of my sin, repenting of going my own way, and asking for God’s forgiveness that is only available through Jesus’ blood.

“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

It’s all about Jesus, my friends, not me!  I can’t be good enough to gain heaven apart from repentance of my sin and confidence and faith in the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice of Jesus at Calvary!  (No earthly priesthood could fully atone for sin—for there was never a perfect sacrifice, or one who could live forever or give eternal life—until Jesus Christ The Lord came to be the ultimate sacrifice for all who will come to Him believing in HIS substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for my sin and yours—which Jesus became on the cross, because He loves us!)

“And they truly were many priests,

because they were not suffered to continue

by reason of death:

24 But this man,

because he continueth ever,

hath an unchangeable priesthood.

25 Wherefore he is able also

to save them to the uttermost

that come unto God by him,

seeing he ever liveth

to make intercession for them.”                   Hebrews 7:23-25

He was, is and always will be God, yet He set aside His glory (not forsaking it, but taking on human flesh, He laid aside His glory to go to Calvary for all who will believe!) to walk this earth in, with and for the sake of mankind!  I can’t pay for my own sin apart from hell, but Jesus has paid the price to all who will come to Him, for He is the God-Man Savior!

“Let your conversation

be without covetousness;

and be content

with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.

7 Remember them which have the rule over you,

who have spoken unto you the word of God:

whose faith follow,

considering the end of their conversation.

8 Jesus Christ

the same yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”  Hebrews 13:5-8

Who are you following, the feel-good gospel, or the Gospel of the cross of Jesus Christ our Lord?  Have you received the truth as your own, and bowed before King Jesus in repentance and faith?  Or are you going your own way?  Jesus is calling, will you open the door?  Two proclamations of Jesus—the cost and the invitation.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give in exchange

for his soul?” Matthew 16:24-26

“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!!!

It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test!

Foolishness Or Truth??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #437

21 Wednesday Jan 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Good News, Gospel, JESUS, Jesus is able, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Jesus Saves!, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all, One Day Too Late?, One Foundation, Only One Way

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Foolishness Or Truth??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #437

It seems that we live in a culture (the whole world) that clings to anything they want to call truth, yet Biblical truth seems to be excluded from acceptable conversation—in both interpersonal and public situations.  Well, I want us to consider what scripture says about the Gospel—scripture reminds us that the world will call preaching Jesus foolish!  What do you call it?  Do you know what the gospel is?  I would like to spend some time today sharing the Gospel from a scriptural perspective.  I hope you will find it helpful; and also that you will receive it to your heart, if you haven’t already been born again.

“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

Jesus shared this truth with His disciples as He was about to leave this world, and He assured them that He would return; and while they didn’t understand it as He spoke to them then, for the most part, they later gave their very lives in defense of this truth.  Jesus also shared truth with a religious leader named Nicodemus.

“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.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.”  John 3:16-19

Jesus makes it clear—it’s your choice!  You can believe and receive His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice that He made on the cross of Calvary, for He died in my place and yours—but only for those who see our sin and turn to Him with a repentant heart and receive His amazing gift of eternal life and forgiveness of our sin. (See Colossians 1;14) For sin, my friend, is the issue.  Will you receive Jesus’ gift of life and forgiveness, or will you pay for your own sin and be condemned to hell?  It’s your choice but choose wisely, there is a test, and Jesus is coming again soon!  Paul made this most clear in his letter to the believers at Rome.

“For all have sinned,

and come short

of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

“But now being made free from sin,

and become servants to God,

ye have your fruit unto holiness,

and the end everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God is eternal life through

Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 6:22-23

The truth of the Gospel IS JESUS—His death burial and resurrection to pay for the sin of all who will come to Him.  The check has been written; the choice of belief and receipt is in your hands!  But you must choose!  You are choosing each and every day that you wait to decide, every day that you put it off until a tomorrow that may or may not come.  Will you be saved today?  Peter told a massive gathering in Jerusalem shortly after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, that they had to choose to be saved or stay lost! (the “man” who was standing before the crowd was a man healed in Jesus’ name.)

“Be it known unto you all,

and to all the people of Israel,

that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

whom ye crucified,

whom God raised from the dead,

even by him doth this man

stand here before you whole.

11 This is the stone which was set at nought

of you builders,

which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other:

for there is none other name

under heaven

given among men,

whereby we must be saved.”  Acts 4:10-12

How amazing that Peter proclaimed the Gospel that Jesus is the only way of salvation—the only way to be saved; and Paul also gives us the Gospel in a nutshell (you might say!)

“For I delivered unto you

first of all that which I also received,

how that Christ died

for our sins

according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day

according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas,

then of the twelve:

6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred

brethren at once;

of whom the greater part remain

unto this present,

but some are fallen asleep.”  1 Corinthians 15:3-6

So, if we sum it up, what is the Gospel?  Simply put, that Jesus (the one born of a virgin that He might “…save His people from their sins…”) lived a sinless life, died a death which He didn’t deserve for your sin and mine, that He was buried and laid in the borrowed tomb for 3 days, then He rose on the third day victorious over sin, death and hell for all who will believe and receive Him.  All of this done “according to the scriptures” which God made known thousands of years before it was fulfilled!  For God always keeps HIS WORD, in His time!

So, how are we to get the message out?  Not entertainment, or catchy phrases, or any way of man!  Paul made it clear—and I still believe God’s way is God’s way!

“For Christ sent me not to baptize,

but to preach the gospel:

not with wisdom of words,

lest the cross of Christ should be

made of none effect.

18 For the preaching of the cross

is to them that perish foolishness;

but unto us which are saved

it is the power of God.

19 For it is written,

I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

and will bring to nothing the understanding

of the prudent.

20 Where is the wise?

where is the scribe?

where is the disputer of this world?

hath not God made foolish

the wisdom of this world?

21 For after that in the wisdom of God

the world by wisdom knew not God,

it pleased God

by the foolishness of preaching

to save them that believe.”  1 Corinthians 1:17-21

God chose preaching!  So what is that?  Telling the truth of the Gospel just as Paul shared above—that Jesus died “for our sins…according to the scripture…”; that He “was buried”; and that HE “rose again the third day… according to the scripture”!  Jesus IS the Gospel!  What’s your gospel?  May we go forth sharing the truth of what Jesus did to save sinners—the Gospel shared by “preaching”—that which the world (and oft-times even the church) disdains as ineffective!  But God chose this way!  May we be found to be faithful witnesses of the truth of The Gospel—and preaching means ‘telling forth’.

In closing, a portion of one of my favorite passages about what Jesus did!  I pray that you will be moved to trust God and His salvation which Jesus accomplished for you and me on the cross!

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith

into this grace wherein we stand,

and rejoice in hope of the glory of God…

…5 And hope maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God is shed abroad

in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength,

in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die:

yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us,

in that, while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

9 Much more then,

being now justified by his blood,

we shall be saved from wrath through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies,

we were reconciled to God

by the death of his Son,

much more,

being reconciled,

we shall be saved by his life.

11 And not only so,

but we also joy in God

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom we have now

received the atonement.”                         Portions of Romans 5:1-11

(I encourage you to read this entire chapter—in fact the book of Romans would be a great way to start your year!)

May we be faithful to share God’s truth, God’s way!!!

Amen and Amen!!!