Are you living your life…for Christ?

Jan10

Question: How do I make sure I’m living my life to please God?

Answer: To know that you are living your life to please God, starts with understanding that your life and every life is a gift from God! He is the One who creates life. From conception to natural death, God loves us and cares about each of our lives. And, He wants us all to live our lives in the way He intended for us to live. If we decide to live our lives in ways that just satisfy ourselves first instead of putting God first in our lives, we are not living to please God.

The first step in pleasing God is accepting His only Son, Jesus Christ, as your Lord and Savior. God’s Word tells us that we are all sinners in need of a Savior. That sin keeps us separated from an eternal life with God. But God loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the Cross to take the punishment we deserve for our sins. (See John 3:16) Jesus rose to life on the third day and is alive with God the Father in Heaven. By asking God to forgive us of our sins and accepting Jesus Christ as our one and only Savior, we will have eternal life with God in Heaven!

Jesus, Himself, repeatedly confirms this truth in His Word. For example, in John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (NKJV) And, in John 10:30, Jesus says, “I and My Father are one.” We know this is true because Jesus does not lie!

The next steps to living your life for God through Jesus Christ are to pray and study God’s Word. Pray for His Holy Spirit to guide your steps so that you live in God’s plan for your life. (See Jeremiah 29:11) And, you need to regularly read and study God’s Holy Word, The Bible. This is important because “All scripture is given by inspiration of God. And it is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…” (2 Timothy 3:16) And the Lord wants you to “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

By following these steps, you will learn how God expects you to live your life to please Him. Will you be perfect? No! If you could be perfect, you would not need the Savior. But, when you mess up and sin, you can ask Jesus to forgive you and repent of your sins! And, He will. Does this mean you won’t have any problems? No. You are still flesh. The Word tells us that the works of the flesh create problems. (See Galatians 5:19-21). We are to pray for God to help us through the difficult times. He is faithful to see us through!

But, while there will be times of trouble, there will also be many times of great blessings! Remember that through the Holy Spirit, you will reap the fruit of the Spirit, “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” (Galatians 5:22-23)

Therefore, through the Holy Spirit, you will be able to be “salt and light” for the Lord (Matthew 5:13-16) and ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). You would be living a life of holiness and good works which would be pleasing to God! For such a life well-lived, you could hear God say to you, as Jesus said in His story about the obedient servant in Matthew 25:23, “…Well done, good and faithful servant…”

Amen!

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Don’t have a Jesus-free Christmas!

Dec4

Question:  In the hustle and bustle of the season, how can I make sure I’m keeping Christ in Christmas?

Answer:  Even dedicated Christians can sometimes find themselves consumed with every tradition of the holiday season except what’s most important.  They can forget that Jesus really is the reason for the season!  Christians know that this is the time of the year we choose to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Therefore, we should make the time and make the effort to keep Christ in our Christmas!  But, if we know this, then why don’t we do it?

Unfortunately, some Christians can get as consumed with creating the picture-perfect Christmas experience as the world does. They fill themselves with anxiety trying to get the best super sales on the most popular gifts.  Adults get worked up over seeing their peers gifting themselves with the latest “must-have” gadgets and new technology.  They wear themselves out trying to keep up with the trends of the crowd. They forget to  pause, reflect, and be thankful for the greatest gift – Jesus Christ.

Likewise, many Christian families find themselves in turmoil during this season.  Married couples fight over which in-laws they are going to spend Christmas Day with.  Parents argue over how much money they are going to spend to make sure their children have this year’s hottest toys. They fill the family calendar with so many seasonal activities that they find themselves exhausted.  Yet, they fail to make time for the most important things – reading, meditating on, and discussing God’s Word.

Most importantly, during this season of spending extra time with family and friends, too many Christians fail to include in their discussions talk of their walk with the Lord.  They tend not to share with their family and friends how God has brought them faithfully through this year.  They are willing to talk about everything else but Jesus.  It doesn’t have to be this way.

Don’t have a Jesus-free Christmas!  See that you and your family are keeping Christ in Christmas. There are many ways you can do this.  For example, plan to take your family to a church Christmas program that tells the story of Christ’s birth.  While decorating the tree, play or sing Christmas hymns that give praise to our Lord.  Make sure to share with your family and friends how God has blessed you this year.  And, always make sure your family knows the story of the birth of our Savior.  Luke 2: 1-20 spells out in detail how Jesus was born in Bethlehem.  This Bible passage may be one you’d even want to read aloud together.  Listen to a reading of this account by clicking here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCKpwaRxIww&feature=youtube_gdata .

And, have a very Merry CHRISTmas!

(Re-posted from 12/11/14)

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family    www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries   www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network  www.cbn.com

World Magazine   www.worldmag.com

Have you forgotten your blessings already?

Nov7

Question: How can I break the bad habit of doubting God will answer my prayers?

Answer: Breaking that bad habit starts with reading His Holy Word. For example, we read in 1 Peter 3:12 that “the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers…” (NKJV) In Matthew 7:7-11, Jesus tells us to “Ask, and it will be given to you…For everyone who asks receives.” He goes on to say that “If you…being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

Therefore, the Bible tells us that God hears and answers our prayers. And, Believers know that God keeps His promises to us. He does not lie, so we can trust what He says! God will answer our prayers according to His will…in His time and in His own way! He may not always answer the way we want, but we must take comfort in recognizing that God knows what’s best better than we do!

Also, know that Satan wants us to doubt God so that our faith will be weak. Satan wants us to forget the many times God has blessed us. He knows that when we remember our blessings, our faith grows stronger! He knows that by remembering our blessings, we can have powerful personal testimonies to share with others. We would be able to tell them about all the amazing things God has done for us. Our sharing would in turn edify others and help draw them closer to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

So, that’s why it’s important for us to not forget our blessings. We should not forget the times when we have prayed to the LORD for what seemed almost impossible. But we exercised our faith and prayed anyway – knowing that with God all things are possible!

For example, you might remember praying that you would have enough money to get your car fixed – a car you depended on to drive yourself to work. The repair costs ended up being much less than you thought they would be so you had enough money to cover the repairs. Or, you were surprised to learn that the needed repairs were all covered under warranty. You didn’t have to pay anything to get your car fixed. You were so happy to receive such a blessing, and you thanked God for answering your prayers!

Or, you might remember the time your loved one was very, very sick. The doctors gave them only a small chance for recovery. But you continued to pray to God for healing, and they were healed – leaving even the doctors in amazement! You praised the LORD and thanked Him for blessing your loved one with complete healing!

But, not long after that another problem comes up. You start hearing rumors that there will be layoffs on your job. Almost immediately, you start fearing you will be one of the workers laid off. Even before it actually happens, you start feeling anxious and losing sleep wondering how you are going to pay your bills without having a job.

You forget that the same God who brought you through the other challenges in your life, the same God who made sure your car repair costs were covered and who healed your loved one when they were sick is still there for you! He is still with you – hearing and answering your prayers! He’s still willing and able to protect you and bless you! You just need to continue to cast your cares upon Him and trust Him to take care of you!

So Believers, don’t let Satan make you doubt God and His love for you! Remember all the ways our LORD has blessed you and continues to bless you! Trust in His promises to be with us always, and know that He indeed hears and answers our prayers!

Believers beware…the battle is on!

Oct8

Question:  Why do some Christians say we’re in a spiritual war?

Answer:  Just being Believers makes us target number one for Satan.  The Bible tells us to “be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, NKJV)   Jesus also says in John 10:10 that “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…”  Therefore, Christians must be on guard against the devil achieving his goals of  causing trouble and trying to destroy our lives.  In other words, Believers need to recognize when we are facing spiritual warfare.

There are many different circumstances Christians find themselves in that are actually experiences of spiritual warfare.  For example, when you’re facing challenges like marital troubles, unemployment,  financial difficulties, medical problems — physical or emotional — and  you start to feel like things are never going to get better or that you’re just a failure in life, you’re in a spiritual battle.

Or, when your children, who were raised in the Church but then later rebel against the biblical morals they were taught to live by,  you know you’re in a spiritual battle.  Another example is when  your boss or co-workers show open resentment of you for being morally different from them.  They may even deny you promotions because you believe in living out your Christian beliefs.  They make fun of you because you don’t laugh at their dirty jokes or join them in their after-work  partying where they are known for getting drunk and doing other sinful things.   You know you’re in a spiritual battle.

God’s Word tells us to handle these times of spiritual warfare by turning to Him through Bible study and prayer to receive God’s guidance and help.  Said another way, the Word tells us to put our armor on!    Ephesians 6:11-18 says:

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”  (NIV)

Nationally known pastor and author Dr. Tony Evans created a compelling and helpful Bible study on how Christians should deal with spiritual battles.  The title of the study is “Victory in Spiritual Warfare.”   Check out the 1 minute, 26 second trailer about this study here:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n6m9DLHJ_Y.

So, Believers beware; the battle is on!  Thankfully, we can trust that God has provided the way to victory over Satan in these battles.   That way to victory starts when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, ask Jesus to forgive our sins and repent, then receive the power of God’s Holy Spirit into our lives.  It is God’s power that will give us the victory over spiritual battles!

(Re-posted from Feb. 25, 2014)

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family     http://www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries   http://www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network   http://www.cbn.com

World Magazine    www.worldmag.com

Better watch who you let scratch that itch!

Sep5

Question: Some members of our new Bible study group really like that our teacher only teaches us positive and happy lessons. Should I be concerned we’re not being taught the other lessons in the Bible?

Answer: Yes. While it’s natural that most people prefer to hear things that are easier to accept or things that only make them happy, Believers must learn to listen to the entire content of God’s Holy Word. And just as Jesus Christ directed His disciples to do as part of The Great Commission, we are to study the Word to receive all of God’s teachings.

Matthew 28:19-20 quotes Jesus as saying to His disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” (NKJV) Jesus wants us to know all the teachings of the scriptures He has left for us!

It’s important that we understand the whole of God’s Word so that we won’t be surprised or confused when things still go wrong or make us unhappy in our lives. By learning the entirety of God’s Word, we’ll know that bad things can and probably will happen to us even after we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We’ll learn that we still sin. That’s why we need to accept Jesus as our Savior. Since we are not perfect, we cannot save ourselves and make ourselves worthy to enter Heaven.

Many people don’t want to learn the entirety of God’s Word because then they’ll have to face the fact the Bible teaches us we must repent of our sins! We read that we must turn from our sinful ways in order to live a life that is pleasing to God. And the truth is, most people don’t want to stop their sinning. Therefore, they don’t want to hear preachers and teachers who tell them about scriptures that reveal these truths.

So instead of listening to sound doctrine, these people seek out preachers and teachers who tell them only about the scriptures they want to hear. For example, most people don’t mind being told to help the poor or that they should be kind to each other. But these same people might get upset when presented with scriptures that show they shouldn’t cheat on their taxes or have sex outside of marriage. They may not like hearing these teachings even though both sets of teachings are true according to God’s Word!

The Bible warns us there will be people like this. In fact, the Apostle Paul tells the young preacher Timothy, “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NIV)

But we must not give in to those who have itching ears. Instead, we must follow the the directive Paul gives to Timothy in verse 2 of the same chapter. He commands Timothy to “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and teaching.” (NKJV)

So Christians, please remember: It’s not about if a Bible teacher’s lesson pleases us — it’s about if that Bible teacher’s lesson pleases God! Therefore, seek out preachers and teachers who present the entirety of God’s Word truthfully!

Do you have your game face on?

Aug2

Question: Not one person at my job wished me a happy birthday. This made me very angry and hurt, but I just put on my game face and kept smiling at everyone. Should I have told them how mean I really think they are?

Answer: No. In this case, it could have been many reasons for their lack of birthday greetings. Maybe they didn’t know it was your birthday. Or, maybe they weren’t sure you wanted to be recognized as being another year older. Some strict business climates today may even consider such greetings as getting too personal! Who knows!

The bottom line is that if this behavior was unusual for your co-workers, maybe you should have mentioned to them how happy you felt that day because it was your birthday. Most decent people would respond with “Happy Birthday!” If they don’t, show them Christian forgiveness and  just leave it alone. Don’t let unkind treatment ruin your birthday. After work, just plan to do something special for yourself, alone or with others who care about you. Remember, as Believers, we don’t want to let the devil steal our joy!

Also, know that getting in the habit of wearing a smiling face on the outside while seething with hurt and anger on the inside is not healthy… not physically and not spiritually.  Physically, you can end up with problems such as high blood pressure. This condition can develop as a result of the constant stress from holding your feelings in instead of having a healthy, God-honoring outlet for those feelings.

Spiritually, you can end up being driven to behaviors that go against the word of God! In fact, Proverbs 29:22 warns us that  “An angry man stirs up strife, And a furious man abounds in transgression.” (NKJV)  So, we must be careful when dealing with our anger.  Our anger should not cause us to sin by bringing  harm on ourselves or by causing harm to others!

Though we should have righteous anger against all the sinful behavior in this world, we must keep our reactions to them moral and not try to exact vengeance on our own. The Apostle Paul reminds us of this in Romans 12:19, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written,’Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the  Lord.”  He goes on to say in verse 21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

So, pray to God to help you deal in a righteous way with the things that cause you anger. Remember Ephesians 4:26-27 which says, “‘Be angry, and do not sin’:  do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.”

And since our Almighty God is omniscient, He already knows our every thought and action even before we do them.  Therefore our fake outward facial expressions cannot fool God. He knows our heart.

So, forget about putting on your game face. Learn to draw your peace and strength from God’s Holy Spirit and let His light shine through you to others!

Amen!

 

A House Divided

Jul1

Question:  How important is having unity in the Christian community?

Answer:  Unity can be very important as long as you’re united for the right reasons.

Jesus says in Matthew 12:25, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” (NKJV)  This teaching can be applied in a variety of situations from whole communities to churches, families, and even marriages.  Combine this knowledge with what is revealed about Satan, the thief in John 10:10,  “The thief does not come except to steal. and to kill, and to destroy. I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and that they may it more abundantly.”  Satan knows that one of the most effective ways of destroying something is attacking it from the inside out.  Therefore, an important goal for every group is to stay united in living your lives to please Jesus.  God, through the teachings of His Holy Word, should be the referee and final decision maker in settling disagreements and divisions whenever they arise.

How many times over the years have you heard of church congregations splitting apart when some members disagree with their new pastor?  As a result, hurt feelings and bitterness can last for years.  Obviously, if the church leaders are teaching that the Bible is not true or saying that Jesus is not our only way into Heaven, they are wrong.  You should leave such a church and find one that teaches that the Bible is, indeed, true.  Otherwise, when your Bible-believing, Bible teaching church is having some disagreements within the congregation, pray for God’s Holy Spirit to bring unity to that body of believers.  You will have trouble taking the Gospel out to the world and making new disciples, as Jesus commanded in Matthew chapter 28, if the current disciples are spending most of their time fighting with each other!  As a church, repent of your sins and forgive each other.  Then, your church can be united in showing God’s love in a variety of ways to the local communities and beyond.  Check out this minute and 35 second video by renowned Pastor Tony Evans as he explains the importance of unity in the Body of Christ.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5x1Zfd1b_8.

Also, be aware that if Satan will try to destroy the unity of a church congregation by attacking from within, he will also try to destroy a marriage or a family the same way.  Far too often, we hear of marriages and families breaking apart as a result of various disagreements, or sinful temptations such as adultery, pornography, greed, and deceit.  Seeing how often this happens, we need to be better prepared spiritually.  Dedicate your marriage, family, and yourself to the Lord.  Pray for God’s Holy Spirit to protect you, your spouse, and your family from the temptations of Satan.  Pray for you all to be united in believing in and living by His Word.

Remember that God has provided us with the Bible as a manual for living life His way.  So, study His Word, the Holy Bible, and follow its teachings to help keep you from being in a house divided by Satan.  Instead, you will be in a house united by Jesus!

(Re-posted from my August 2013  Blog)

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family    www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries   www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network   www1.cbn.com

World Magazine        www.worldmag.com

A Family Needs a Firm Foundation

Jun12

Question:  In these challenging social times, how do I help my children be strong Christians?

Answer:  It’s true that traditional Christian values are being challenged from every direction.  If your son or daughter attends public schools or universities, they are most likely being taught to believe ideas and ways that are contrary to God’s biblical teachings…in addition to the regular reading, writing, and math.  Most parents are not aware of this.  That’s why parents need to be very active in keeping up with what’s going on in their child’s school.  However, the bottom line is that parents cannot be with their child every minute.  Therefore, it becomes even more important that parents are teaching their children from a very early age what exactly their family believes.  Proverbs 22:6 tells us to train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.  This training will be their firm foundation.

Sadly, too many Christians today don’t even know themselves what God teaches us in His Word-The Holy Bible.  As Christians, we need to read and study the Bible for ourselves.  Plus, it is extremely important to attend a true Bible believing, Bible teaching church.  Be aware that many places call themselves a church, but they don’t even teach that the Bible is true.  If you are in a church like this, you and your family need to leave NOW!  Learn God’s Word!  Being strong in the Lord starts with you and your children understanding that we are all sinners in need of a Savior.  Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, is that Savior.  Once we ask Jesus to forgive us our sins, repent, and accept Him as our Savior, we can go on to grow in our faith in the Lord!  Know that we cannot strive in this world by our own strength.  God gives us His Holy Spirit to guide and comfort us through this life…until we die from this world, and move on to eternal life in Heaven!

(Re-posted from March 2012)

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family          www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries  www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network  www.cbn.com

World Magazine          www.worldmag.com

Are you all talk and no action?

May17

Question: When I go along with things my friends do that I know are wrong, I feel like such a hypocrite. But should I feel this way?  After all, I really don’t want them to get mad at me, and God knows what’s really in my heart.

Answer: Yes. You should feel like a hypocrite because you are being a hypocrite! You admit that as a Christian you know these actions by your friends are wrong, yet you participate with them anyway.  And you are absolutely correct when you say that God knows what’s in our heart. So He knows that you willingly choose to do wrong to please your friends instead of doing the right thing to please God! (See Romans 12:9)

Too often, many Christians will say they believe and love the word of God, but then choose to act in ways that go against the teachings of God.  For example, parents rightfully teach their children that lying is wrong.  Then, their children hear them lying to someone – like a bill collector – or find out they’ve been lying on their tax returns. These parents are teaching their children that it’s fine to say one thing yet do the opposite.

Other examples would be when we pray to God to heal us of sickness caused by our unhealthy lifestyles or to get us out of financial debt. We rightfully say that God wants us to be both physically and financially healthy. Yet, we choose to keep overeating foods we know are bad for us and charging up our credit cards to the max with items we don’t need!

Or when Christians say they want to put God first in their lives, then in reality put Him second! This can happen, for example, when you admire your favorite celebrities and politicians so much that you disregard the sinful causes they promote and give them your support and your vote! You do this even when you know what they unashamedly support goes against the word of God! You are saying you put God first, but by these actions are actually putting them first and Him second.

Still more examples include how you treat other people. You may say that God wants us to show His love to everyone, yet you fail to treat people who look different than you with respect. Or you fail to be kind to or even speak to people you feel are somehow unworthy. You may even fail to show God’s love to members of your own family!

In all of these examples and in many others, you are talking the talk but not walking the walk!  You are being a hypocrite and therefore not pleasing God!

But there is good news! Our God is full of grace and mercy! Because of His great love for us He has made a way for us to make our relationship right with Him. It starts with you accepting God’s one and only Son, Jesus Christ, as your Lord and Savior! ( Romans 10:9) Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins, and stop being a hypocrite!

It’s true that we will not be perfect in this life — “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”  (Romans 3:23).  But we want to take steps to keep us on the right track. We must regularly pray for God’s Holy Spirit to guide us through our days so that we make the right decisions.  And we must take the time to regularly read and study the Bible so that we will know God’s word for ourselves.

So stop being all talk and no action. Start really putting God first in your life. Every day, pray to know what is pleasing to Him.  Then do it!

Amen

 

Your secret is out!

Apr20

Question: I’m a leader in my community hiding a terrible secret. I’m addicted to pornography. I try to hide it from my family by watching it after everyone goes to bed. How do I free myself from this sinful habit?

Answer: Sadly, your addiction is shared by billions of people around the world. For example, one popular pornography site gets 42 billion visits yearly! This site includes videos of young girls being raped, trafficked, and abused! (Source:  American Family Association Journal, May 2020 Edition, Page 7)  And this is just one of numerous sites!

But like every  other sinful behavior we try to hide, it really isn’t a secret at all.  None of us can hide any of our behavior from the One who sees all and knows all – the Lord God Almighty! We’re told in 1 John 3:20, “For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.” (NKJV)

Therefore, God knows about everything from our sexual immorality to our greed and evil-mindedness (see Romans Ch. 1:18-32).  He also knows the “hidden” sins of the heart– when we are “undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful…” (v.31)  These scriptures go on to say that even when people aren’t actually committing these shameful behaviors themselves, they still sin when they “approve of those who practice them.” (v.32)  Even many Believers fall into these sinful behaviors. (Ephesians 5:5-12)

Thankfully, God has provided us all with the way to truly be free from our sins – including pornography addiction and every other sin.  That one and only way is through His only Son, Jesus Christ!  Jesus died on the cross – and rose on the third day –  to take the punishment of death we deserved for our sins. That’s why we must accept Jesus as our one and only Savior. We are to ask Him to forgive us of our sins. And, we are to repent (turn away) from our sins, and live our lives to please God!

Through His Holy Word, the Bible, we learn how and why we are to live to please God. We also learn the importance of praying for God’s help. By the power of His Holy Spirit, we are given the will-power and guidance we need to turn from our sins and grow in the knowledge of God’s Word.

Knowing God’s Word is very important in helping us stay strong against the evil in our lives. The Word reminds us that we can’t hide from God.  Hebrews 4:12-13 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

So, if you still think you’re hiding your sin, you’re not. Your secret is out to God!  And know that the only way to truly set yourself free from your sins starts with accepting Jesus as your Savior and asking Him to set you free!

As Jesus, Himself, said:  “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”  (John 8:36)

Amen!