Category Archives: Truth is True

Is Anything Wrong??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #450

13 Wednesday May 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Form of godliness?, Believe God?, Believing God's Words, Biblical Boundaries Matter!, Blood of Jesus cleanses us, Boldness without arrogance., Born Again, Broad road or the Straight Gate?, Righteousness, Righteousness exalts a nation, Today is the day of Salvation, True Gospel, True Knowledge, Trusting Jesus?, Truth is True, Victory IN Jesus!, Walk in the Spirit, Walking by Faith or Sight?

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Is Anything Wrong???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #450

The subtitle of this post could be: A Yardstick, Biblically Speaking!  I would like to share some food for thought, as we look at our own lives, and the culture around us, especially in light of what God’s Word has to say!  God’s Word which should be the lodestar for the born again—for the church—for Chrisitan faith and practice; but it seems to seldom be what’s held up as right!  You decide, but please base your decision on what God has said, rather than what our culture is broadcasting as “truth”.

Let’s consider first today, what Jesus declared as truth.

“Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,           

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be that find it.

15 Beware of false prophets,

which come to you in sheep’s clothing,

but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”   Matthew 7:13-15

Jesus declared plainly that HE is the only right way to God.

“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 also made it clear that Satan is a liar and much of what we hear today, is straight out of hell!  As I often say, “Saying so doesn’t make it so!”  Only Jesus can make it so when we belong to Him, having been truly born again of The Holy Spirit of God—it ought to show it as we order our lives according to God’s Word not the world!  What’s your plumbline? (See John 1:10-13)

“Jesus said unto them,

If God were your Father,

ye would love me:

for I proceeded forth and came from God;

neither came I of myself,

but he sent me.

43 Why do ye not understand my speech?

even because ye cannot hear my word.

44 Ye are of your father the devil,

and the lusts of your father ye will do.

He was a murderer from the beginning,

and abode not in the truth,

because there is no truth in him.

When he speaketh a lie,

he speaketh of his own:

for he is a liar,

and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth,

ye believe me not.”  John 8:42-45

And what I believe to be one of Jesus’ most concise descriptions of truth also comes from the Gospel of Matthew.  Please consider it carefully—and yes, I go to this passage often for good cause; Jesus said it, and we need to hear it!  May we heed its truth; which gate are you choosing?

“Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit

is hewn down,

and cast into the fire.

20 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 :19-23

When will we realize that we are called to live like the redeemed; after all it was Jesus’ blood which purchased our forgiveness and pardon of our sin.  Will you trample His blood, or will you withstand in this evil day holding to His Word as God grants us grace and wisdom to follow Him!

“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;

8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us

in all wisdom and prudence;” Ephesians 1:6-8

“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

Are you ready to stand before Him?

“And when he had taken the book,

the four beasts and four and twenty elders

fell down before the Lamb,

having every one of them harps, and golden vials

full of odours,

which are the prayers of saints.

9 And they sung a new song, saying,

Thou art worthy to take the book,

and to open the seals thereof:

for thou wast slain,

and hast redeemed us to God

by thy blood

out of every kindred,

and tongue,

and people,

and nation;

10 And hast made us unto our God

kings and priests:

and we shall reign

on the earth.”  Revelation5:8-10

“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven,

Now is come salvation,

and strength,

and the kingdom of our God,

and the power of his Christ:

for the accuser of our brethren is cast down,

which accused them before our God

day and night.

11 And they overcame him

by the blood of the Lamb,

and by the word of their testimony;

and they loved not their lives

unto the death.” Revelation 12:10-11

What are we loving more than Jesus and His Word?  Peter calls us to live holy lives!  Would that describe you and I today?  Right now?

“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.

17 And if ye call on the Father,

who without respect of persons

judgeth according to every man’s work,

pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

18 Forasmuch as ye know

that ye were not redeemed

with corruptible things,

as silver and gold,

from your vain conversation

received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ,

as of a lamb without blemish

and without spot:” 1 Peter 1:13-19

And I’d like to close this article with some hard scriptures that we don’t like to talk about today; mainly, I think, because we have chosen to abandon the truth which they contain—for ourselves, for our children and those closest to us.  We would rather condone bad and sinful behavior than take a stand for righteousness and be ridiculed and/or rejected by those we love and admire.  Give it some thought.

“Marriage is honourable in all,

and the bed undefiled:

but whoremongers and adulterers

God will judge.

5 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 13:4-6

Whom or what are you afraid of in this world?

“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…

…. 19 What? know ye not

that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost

which is in you,

which ye have of God,

and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price:

therefore glorify God in your body,

and in your spirit,

which are God’s.” Portions of 1 Corinthians 6:9-20

My heart is heavy, and I pray that you will hear the voice of Jesus as He speaks His truth to your heart and mine.  May we be found faithful servants and not those imitators who will hear, “depart from me, I never knew you…”! (Don’t miss the “such were some of you, but…”!  When Jesus saves and redeems us, we are never the same!  Who’s your Father?

Remember, “…ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.”  Numbers 32;23

Amen and Amen!!!

Is Your Truth True??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #447

02 Saturday May 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Form of godliness?, Abundant Life In Jesus, All Sufficient God!, All things that pertain to life and godliness, Almost But Lost, The Cross or the world?, The Gospel, The Light of The Word IS Jesus, The Word, Though HE slay me--still will I trust HIM, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Truth is True, Words Matter, Worldliness

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Is Your Truth True???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #447

 

“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 14:5-6

Thomas asked how to get to the place which Jesus declared that He was preparing.  Jesus answered with the most concise and enlightening declaration of truth in practically all of scripture.  I want to call each of us to examine what we are choosing to claim as truth.  We hear so much on every hand that truth is left up to each person’s creation!  That is just not true.  Jesus wrestled with the lack of understanding with the very people that God had chosen for His own; yet they had come up with their own version of truth—the main reason that they failed to recognize their Messiah, and that Jesus was that One and only “Way” to The Father, salvation and heaven!  What have you chosen, in fact what are you choosing this very day—in reality what you are choosing each and every day!  Jesus made even more declarations about truth.

“I have many things to say and to judge of you:

but he that sent me is true;

and I speak to the world those things

which I have heard of him.

27 They understood not

that he spake to them of the Father.

28 Then said Jesus unto them,

When ye have lifted up the Son of man,

then shall ye know that I am he,

and that I do nothing of myself;

but as my Father hath taught me,

I speak these things.

29 And he that sent me

is with me:

the Father hath not left me alone;

for I do always

those things that please him.

30 As he spake these words,

many believed on him.

31 Then said Jesus to those Jews

which believed on him,

If ye continue in my word,

then are ye my disciples indeed;

32 And ye shall know the truth,

and the truth

shall make you free.”   John 8:26-32

Jesus proclaimed Himself to be of The One who “sent” Him, and that He did all that pleased the Father.  Oh how replete with truth the Gospel of John is!  Jesus told the Pharisee Nicodemus the truth of the love of God—Jesus IS the love of God and His truth!  And before we look at that great passage in John 3, let’s look at some clear revelations of what God expects of us and Jesus (as The Son of God) as well.)

“Jesus said unto them,

If God were your Father,

ye would love me:

for I proceeded forth

and came from God;

neither came I of myself,

but he sent me.”  John 8:42

Jesus came from God!  He is God!  And His Word IS truth!

“In the beginning

was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning

with God.

3 All things were made by him;

and without him

was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life;

and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness;

and the darkness comprehended it not.”  John 1:1-5

And Jesus proclamation of truth in John 3, He came to be lifted up—to die—that we might live by His sacrifice!

“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.

16 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 3:14-19

Jesus IS God—the same God that was “In the beginning…” of Genesis 1!  The creator, the redeemer and savior of all who will come to Him in repentance of sin, and faith and trust in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin!  Jesus also made it clear that when we are born again into Him, we are to share the love that we have received from HIM!  And while it’s kind of popular today to talk about “love like Jesus”, I don’t see much love that is born again to the same kind of love that Jesus expressed—truth, even when it was not received; courage, doing what God has called us to, regardless of the response of the world; grace without perversion (especially perversion of God’s Word to accommodate the world around us—making Christianity palatable is totally not biblical…); holiness—letting the righteousness of God shine through us as Paul calls us to.

“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

Is the righteousness and holiness of Jesus seen in you—or are you claiming the name of Jesus without ever receiving His holiness and righteousness as Paul describes above? Have you been made a new creature in Christ, or have you just tagged His name onto your lifestyle, goals and worldliness?  Jesus spoke truth to the crowds in Israel, and it still stands fast today; not a popular message but truth!!!  And Jesus IS truth.  What truth are you counting on?  Jesus and His Word, or your own version of truth—a supposed truth that makes whatever is popular ok—as it is said, “If it feels good, just do it.”  Let’s measure that against what Jesus actually said. (A lengthy passage but a necessary one.)

“Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be that find it.

15 Beware of false prophets,

which come to you in sheep’s clothing,

but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits.

Do men gather grapes of thorns,

or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree

bringeth forth good fruit;

but a corrupt tree

bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth

not forth good fruit is hewn down,

and cast into the fire.

20 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 7:13-23

What will Jesus say to you, enter in? Or depart from me? It’s your call but choose wisely there is a test! Jesus knows those who are His!

“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 Timothy 2:19

Amen and Amen!!!

Trusting To Sight Alone??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #445

25 Saturday Apr 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, The Lord Is My Shepherd, The Love of God, This is the Way, Though HE slay me--still will I trust HIM, Though your sins be as scarlet-they shall be white as snow., Trials, Tried by FIRE!, True Knowledge, Trust, Trust God, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus, Truth is True, Try yourselves, Tuned In To Jesus, Turn to God's Word, Unexpected Interruptions

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Trusting To Sight Alone???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #445

There’s an old adage that said, “I’ll have to see it to believe it!”  While we’ve probably all said it at one time or another, it is 180 degrees opposite of biblical faith and God’s Word!  I am amazed at all that goes on in our so-called Christian culture with little to no regard for what God has clearly said in His Word.  I simply want to encourage us to consider what it really means to trust God in our daily walk, and I’ll start with one of my favorite passages.  I want us to simply walk through what the scripture actually gives us as a guide for living—not just life, but the living of it—for The Lord; are we ready to heed His Word?

“Trust in the LORD

with all thine heart;

and lean not

unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways

acknowledge him,

and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise

in thine own eyes:

fear the LORD,

and depart from evil.

 8 It shall be health to thy navel,

and marrow to thy bones.

9 Honour the LORD

with thy substance,

and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

10 So shall thy barns be filled

with plenty,

and thy presses shall burst out

with new wine.

11 My son,

despise not

the chastening of the LORD;

neither be weary

of his correction:” Proverbs 3:5-11

I find it interesting that many of us know verses 5-6 by heart, but we have often left that which follows untouched!  Do you see what God is telling us?  Yes, we are to trust GOD—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—with all our heart; and then God goes on to tell us that we are to “lean not” to our own understanding, abilities, strengths, intuitions, human reasoning, and the justifications of our culture claiming that wrong is right and vice-versa!  Isaiah warned us long ago of the danger of heeding wrong advice!  Isaiah warned of the very thing that we are watching take place in our culture.  Our job is to stand fast in “evil day”; and friends we are there!

“Woe unto them

 that call evil good,

and good evil;

that put darkness for light,

and light for darkness;

that put bitter for sweet,

and sweet for bitter!

21 Woe unto them

that are wise

in their own eyes,

and prudent

in their own sight!”  Isaiah 5:20-21

James warned a group of early believers that our lives ought to reflect God’s nature, the redeemed life, a sanctified life of virtue, character and holiness. Somewhere down the line we have chosen an “easy believism” that neglects repentance, regeneration and a changed life.  We are to keep our eyes on Jesus, The prize, and not the culture around us, no matter whom we fear might be ‘hurt’ by our proclamation of the Truth—Jesus!  Remember, the very proclamation of the truth of Who He was, is and ever shall be, cost Him His life, which He laid down willingly for my sin and yours!  What price are you and I unwilling to pay to proclaim God’s truth?  Let’s consider what James had to say, and I know this is a lengthy passage, but one which I pray will call us to account before our God and our Lord Jesus!

“For every kind of beasts, and of birds,

and of serpents, and of things in the sea,

is tamed,

and hath been tamed of mankind:

8 But the tongue can no man tame;

it is an unruly evil,

full of deadly poison.

9 Therewith bless we God,

even the Father;

and therewith curse we men,

which are made after

the similitude of God.

10 Out of the same mouth

proceedeth blessing and cursing.

My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11 Doth a fountain

send forth at the same place

sweet water and bitter?

12 Can the fig tree, my brethren,

bear olive berries?

either a vine,

figs?

so can no fountain

both yield salt water and fresh.

13 Who is a wise man

and endued with knowledge among you?

let him shew out of a good conversation

his works with meekness of wisdom.

14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife

in your hearts,

glory not,

and lie not against the truth.

15 This wisdom descendeth not from above,

but is earthly,

sensual,

devilish.”  James 3:7-15

As I am often wont to say, “Saying so doesn’t make it so?”  What does my/your life style say? Our speech?  Our treatment of others?  Our generosity, or the lack thereof?  Paul gives us a very clear picture of living a life of faithful obedience or a life devoted to the world. (And just FYI, James isn’t saying that our tongue can’t be tamed; he is saying that no “man” can tame the tongue—only a redeemed heart can affect a man’s speech).  Jesus said it not me.

“Do not ye yet understand,

that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth

goeth into the belly,

and is cast out into the draught?

18 But those things

which proceed out of the mouth

come forth from the heart;

and they defile the man.

19 For out of the heart proceed

evil thoughts,

murders,

adulteries,

fornications,

thefts,

false witness,

blasphemies:” Matthew 15:17-19

Let us also consider today (I hope to address this again soon), Paul’s great picture of the contrast between the fleshly life and a holy life—lived in the power of Jesus through the work of His Holy Spirit. It’s your call, but judge wisely according to God’s Word not the world’s standard!

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil

the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,

and the Spirit against the flesh:

and these are contrary the one to the other:

 so that ye cannot do

the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit,

ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest,  

which are these;

Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,

lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry,

witchcraft, hatred, variance,

emulations,

wrath, strife, seditions,

 heresies, 21 Envyings, murders,

drunkenness, revellings, and such like:

of the which I tell you before,

as I have also told you in time past,

that they which do such things

shall not inherit

the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is

love, joy, peace,

longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,

faith, 23 Meekness, temperance:

against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”Galatians 5:16-25

I know that these are heavy things, but they are things that I truly believe we need to be reminded of.  As some of you know, I lost my husband 2 months ago and wound up in the hospital and rehab for a month shortly after his death.  It was a trying time, but my confidence was, has been and still is in the power, goodness and sovereign care of my Jesus!  No, it hasn’t been fun, nor has it been easy, but as Job said so long ago, “…though He slay me, still will I trust Him…” Job 13:15. And in closing I want us to consider another statement from some who trusted God out of the fire and in it!  Where’s your trust?

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king,

O Nebuchadnezzar,

we are not careful to answer thee

in this matter.

17 If it be so,

our God whom we serve

is able to deliver us

from the burning fiery furnace,

and he will deliver us

out of thine hand, O king.

18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king,

that we will not serve thy gods,

nor worship the golden image

which thou hast set up.”  Daniel 3:16-18

Will you choose to stand with Jesus, or buckle under the threat of fire?  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test—and I think it may be coming very soon.  I’m praying for you.  As an old song said…” …they wouldn’t bend…they wouldn’t bow…they wouldn’t burn…” (from the song, The Fourth Man in the Fire, by Arthur Smith…), I pray that we will be found as faithful as they were, for they knew their God and His Word!  How about you and me?  I pray that God will find me faithful!

Amen and Amen!!!

What’s In The Mirror??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #434

14 Wednesday Jan 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, God's Wisdom, Godliness will be opposed, Godly Character, Good Stewards, Have you not seen?, He Died That We Could Live, Only One Way, Open The Door to JESUS, Opposition, Opposition to Godliness, Order my steps, Perseverance, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?, Truth is True, Turn to God's Word, Uncertainty--God HAS the answer, Victory IN Jesus!, Wait upon the Lord, Walking by Faith or Sight?, Walking With Jesus

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What’s In The Mirror??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #434

“But who may abide the day of his coming?

and who shall stand when he appeareth?

for he is like a refiner’s fire,

and like fullers’ soap:

3 And he shall sit

as a refiner

and purifier

of silver:

and he shall purify the sons of Levi,

and purge

them as gold and silver,

that they may offer unto the LORD

an offering in righteousness.”  Malachi 3:2-3

“And I will bring the third part through the fire,

and will refine them as silver is refined,

and will try them as gold is tried:

they shall call on my name,

and I will hear them:

I will say,

It is my people:

and they shall say,

The LORD is my God.”  Zechariah 13:9

The refiner is said to have put the metal into the pot—the refining pot—and as it melted, he would skim off the dross (the impurities), and heat it again, then repeat until he could see his reflection in the melted metal.  Oh, that Jesus would see His reflection in me!  So often we/I want to be used of God, but we aren’t willing to stay in the refining pot and let God remove the impurities in my life!  Even as Jeremiah teaches us and wants us to hear what God is saying to you and me today!

“The word which came to Jeremiah

from the LORD, saying,

2 Arise, and go down to the potter’s house,

and there I will cause thee to hear my words.

3 Then I went down to the potter’s house,

and, behold,

he wrought a work on the wheels.

4 And the vessel that he made of clay

was marred in the hand of the potter:

so he made it again another vessel,

as seemed good to the potter to make it.

5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

6 O house of Israel,

cannot I do with you as this potter?

saith the LORD.

Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand,

so are ye in mine hand,

O house of Israel.”  Jeremiah 18:1-6

God wants to work in my life and yours if we are willing to yield ourselves to His care, His work and His design to conform us into the image of our Lord; but Jesus made it clear that the refining process is painful, and when we follow Him, we will encounter the same kinds of things that HE faced!  Are you encountering opposition?  Know that Jesus faced it also, unto death!  He went to Calvary for you and me!

“These things I command you,

that ye love one another.

18 If the world hate you,

ye know that it hated me

before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world,

the world would love his own:

but because ye are not of the world,

but I have chosen you out of the world,

therefore the world hateth you. 20

Remember the word that I said unto you,

The servant is not greater than his lord.

If they have persecuted me,

they will also persecute you;

if they have kept my saying,

they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things will they do unto you

for my name’s sake,

because they know not him

that sent me.”  John 15:17-21

When we consider Paul’s words to the Roman believers it becomes quite clear that living for Jesus isn’t the snap that many try to make.  It’s not just doing things, being in the right ‘crowd’, or even doing ‘godly works’; rather it means trusting Jesus with all that He is teaching me day by day, through thick and thin, through the simple and the most difficult, when I understand and even more when I don’t!  God’s Word is true in all things; we must take the time to dig into it and study it so that we come to know our God through it!  Let’s consider a portion of Romans chapter 8, and while these are lengthy passages, I think they say what we need to hear.  I hope you will find this helpful!

“There is therefore now no condemnation

to them which are in Christ Jesus,

who walk not after the flesh,

but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus

hath made me free from the law

of sin and death.

3 For what the law could not do,

in that it was weak through the flesh,

God sending his own Son

in the likeness of sinful flesh,

and for sin,

condemned sin in the flesh:

4 That the righteousness of the law

might be fulfilled in us,

who walk not after the flesh,

but after the Spirit.”  Romans 8:1-4

“But if we hope for that we see not,

then do we with patience wait for it.

26 Likewise the Spirit also

helpeth our infirmities:

for we know not what we should pray for

as we ought:

but the Spirit itself

maketh intercession for us

with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts

knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,

because he maketh intercession for the saints

according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things work together

for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate

to be conformed to the image of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate,

them he also called:

and whom he called,

them he also justified:

and whom he justified,

them he also glorified.

31 What shall we then say to these things?

If God be for us,

who can be against us?”  Romans 8:25-31

God is faithful even when we don’t understand.  Joseph is one of my favorite Old Testament examples of this amazing principle.  God gave Joseph prophetic dreams, and upon sharing them in excitement over God’s revelation, his brothers hated him.  Without getting into the debate over Joseph’s attitude, I see Joseph as a young man of character, and after all of his trials, he remained faithful to God and trusted to God’s care!  After bringing his family to Egypt and burying his father, his brother’s feared that he would take revenge upon them for their actions in his youth, and they pled for his grace.  He shared one of the greatest passages on our trust in the sovereign control of God.  I love it and try to remember Joseph’s example every day.  I pray that it will speak to you today!

“And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead,

they said,

Joseph will peradventure hate us,

and will certainly requite us

all the evil which we did unto him.

16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying,

Thy father did command before he died,

saying,

17 So shall ye say unto Joseph,

Forgive, I pray thee now,

the trespass of thy brethren,

and their sin;

for they did unto thee evil:

and now, we pray thee,

forgive the trespass of the servants

of the God of thy father.

And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.

18 And his brethren also went

and fell down before his face;

and they said,

Behold, we be thy servants.

19 And Joseph said unto them,

Fear not:

for am I in the place of God?

20 But as for you,

ye thought evil against me;

but God meant it unto good,

to bring to pass,

as it is this day,

to save much people alive.

21 Now therefore fear ye not:

I will nourish you,

and your little ones.

And he comforted them,

and spake kindly unto them.”  Genesis 50:15-21

What do you see in the mirror?  God’s workings and the trust that you can rest in, or are you still trying to work it out yourself?  May God speak to your heart today, and I pray that you will find the confidence to rest in God’s faithful provision—He is the great refiner, if we will but rest to His faithful provision.

Amen and Amen!!!

The Slide (The Children’s Sin)?? A Word from THE WORD!!! #403

09 Sunday Nov 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Inside out or Outside In?, Iron Sharpening Iron, Iron Sharpens Iron, Jesus Built A Bridge, Jesus IN You!, Jesus is able, Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Jesus Knows YOUR Storm, Jesus lives today!, Tried by FIRE!, Troubles, True Gospel, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Truth is True, Try yourselves, Weeping Tears., Well Done Thou good and faithful servant!

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The Slide (The Children’s Sin)?? A Word from THE WORD!!! #403

“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.”  John 3:1-3

I love this third chapter of the Gospel of John; it is so plain yet profound; we have a teacher/Pharisee coming to Jesus to find out who He was!  While he came by night (possibly due to fear of the other Jewish leaders) he clearly wanted to understand more about Jesus; and while Nicodemus seemed to start off with flattery, Jesus cut right to the chase, as he told this religious leader that “except a man be born again” he couldn’t even “see the kingdom of God”!  Now this seems kind of redundant to us, who have heard this phrase for years, Nicodemus was taken aback and asked the most basic of questions.

“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 3:4-8

When we go back to John chapter 1, we can understand what Jesus is saying about the Spirit—it’s essential.

“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 Apostle John is telling us that this “Word” who came from God came to save us—to give us this new birth!  And what does John do but tell us what the new birth is!  It is being “born… of God”; even as Jesus clarifies in John chapter 3 three times in verses 5-8.  We are born of the flesh of our parents, while to be born again is to be born “of God”—being “born of the Spirit”!  My thoughts for today call us to examine our choices; especially as parents and as children of God.  When we are born “of the Spirit” we are born into the family of God, and we are, as Paul describes “new creatures” in Jesus; and as “new creatures” we are called to walk in God’s ways not the world’s!  But the thing I want us to especially consider, is, when we fail to teach and lead our children in the ways of God, and they choose the sin of the world, what will we do!  Are we going to placate them and accept their sin, condoning their sin, or are we going to hold the truth in high regard, no matter who may disagree—even our family and others whom we love?

“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

When we are “born again” we become new creatures (creations) “in Christ”, we are to see things from God’s perspective, His Word’s truth and “withstand in the evil day”; yet so often we seem to be doing ok, until the slide comes!  What do I mean? Well, I mean much like the slide we used to help our children play on when they were small, we are now purporting the same mentality for our grown children who choose ways, life choices and behaviors that have gone down the slide of immorality, ungodliness, and deviance!  Yet, we won’t take a stand and call them to repentance, we just seem to “go along, to get along”!  We are called to be holy before our God, and the world—and that includes our children who get caught up in the worldliness of sin!  I have seen this time and time again, parents don’t want to “lose” the relationship, yet they are willing to take the chance that their approval will bring about change—or some just don’t care anymore!  They just want to be in “good graces” regardless of what they have to accept to do that!  My question is, if we are willing to accept any sin, to maintain the “connection” what kind of good are we doing?  Are we sending our loved ones to hell with our “approval”, or are we willing to call them to repentance and life-changing salvation that is only in Jesus?  The world may sell them a bill-of-goods but are we doing the same thing when we fail to call them to repent unto salvation—life-transforming, saving faith in Jesus!  As Paul tells us above, Jesus exchanges our sin (by His blood) for His righteousness; what an amazing exchange!  Let’s go back to John and see what else Jesus told Nicodemus about salvation—the most important subject we can ever discuss.

“Nicodemus answered and said unto him,

How can these things be?

10 Jesus answered and said unto him,

Art thou a master of Israel,

and knowest not these things?

11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

We speak that we do know,

and testify that we have seen;

and ye receive not our witness.

12 If I have told you earthly things,

and ye believe not,

how shall ye believe,

if I tell you of heavenly things?

13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven,

but he that came down from heaven,

even the Son of man which is in heaven.

14 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.

16 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.”  John 3:10-16

Jesus goes on to tell Nicodemus that he ought to understand the spiritual things that Jesus was sharing with Him; then He went on to reveal to Nicodemus that He came to be the deliverer of salvation to all who would believe in Him (and know that His lifting up was referring to Calvary’s payment for sin—His blood shed when he would be lifted up on the cross!).

And while that is all part of God’s amazing grace, there is more that I want us to see in the following verses in John 6.

“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.

20 For every one that doeth evil

hateth the light,

neither cometh to the light,

lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth

cometh to the light,

that his deeds may be made manifest,

that they are wrought in God.”  John 3:17-21

Are your loved ones walking in sin and refusing to repent—Jesus makes it clear that there is a delineation between right and wrong, between sin and righteousness, between a broken and contrite heart and a heart full of pride and confidence in sin rather than God!  A perfect picture of that is found at the cross!  Two thieves worthy of the death sentence they had earned, and Jesus the pure and sinless Lamb of God all nailed to their respective crosses.  One thief continued to rail on Jesus to take them down supernaturally, the other came to realize that Jesus was the not guilty one, and he called on Jesus in repentance and faith in who this One on this middle cross was and asked to be with Him in His kingdom.

“And one of the malefactors which were hanged

railed on him, saying,

If thou be Christ,

save thyself and us.

40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying,

Dost not thou fear God,

seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

41 And we indeed justly;

for we receive the due reward of our deeds:

but this man hath done nothing amiss.

42 And he said unto Jesus,

Lord, remember me

when thou comest into thy kingdom.

43 And Jesus said unto him,

Verily I say unto thee,

To day shalt thou be with me

in paradise.”  Luke 23:39-43

One man who only wanted deliverance from his just penalty, the other one who repented of his rejection of Jesus and asked to be with Jesus in salvation!  And Jesus assured him that salvation was his!  So, friends, my question is especially for we parents; are we willing to hold our children to the truth of God’s Word, or will we cave to keep them close to us?  Always we need to cover it all in prayer and speaking the truth in love—God’s truth in God’s love.  The Gospel is the only hope that our children have, or any one, either in or out of our circle of loved ones?

Are we willing to place God’s standard at the head of our lives?  Or are we too fearful of standing fast and the cost of taking a stand with the ones we love?  Are we willing to give them the Gospel from a heart of love and assurance.

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it,

do not cease to pray for you,

and to desire that ye might be filled

with the knowledge of his will

in all wisdom

and spiritual understanding;

10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord

unto all pleasing,

being fruitful in every good work,

and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11 Strengthened with all might,

according to his glorious power,

unto all patience and longsuffering

with joyfulness;

12 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 1:9-14

If we belong to Jesus, the prayer and desire of our heart ought to be the salvation of all those whom we know and love; and that includes calling them to repent of sin and come to Jesus in abandon of sin and faith in His saving grace.  Paul gives us an amazing picture which I call “the gospel in a nutshell”!  I pray that we will share it boldly and with a heart of compassion.

“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:” 1 Corinthians 15:3-5

And one last declaration of Jesus.

“3 I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish…

5 I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish.”  Luke 13:3 & 5

Amen and Amen!!!