Tag Archive | Jesus Christ

To them, it’s all just foolishness!

Question: What do I do when family and friends make fun of my Christian beliefs?

Answer: Remember that being ridiculed, called names, and ignored is nothing new to those who follow Jesus Christ. In today’s politically correct culture, it’s considered out-of-step with the times to live our lives according to God’s Holy Word. When we say things like, “We support the biblical definition of marriage (as in Matthew 19:4-6),” or that “Children are gifts from God and it is wrong to abort them (Psalms 127:3),” unbelievers react like we are out of our minds. They find it strange that we can actually believe such things. As the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 1:18, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (NKJV)

Also, the world will warn us that if we continue to hold to these beliefs, we’ll risk being called hateful, unintelligent, and backwards instead of being seen as progressive in our thinking. After all, nobody wants to come across as dumb in front of others. Little do they know that God would say that it is them who lack knowledge and that it is them who fail to be wise. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” When they choose to ignore God’s Word and instead do what is right in their own eyes, they’re saying that they know better than God! Most certainly, they do not! But, as Romans 1:22 says, “Professing to be wise, they became fools…” So, as they promote their sinful behaviors, they need to know they are dishonoring their Creator. And, God will not be mocked! (Galatians 6:7)

Therefore, Believers should take comfort in knowing that Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.” (John 15:18) We must not lose hope. Instead, we must continue to pray for the salvation of our loved ones and friends, and that they go on to live a life that is pleasing to God. We must continue to show them the love of Christ and not forget that before each of us accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we were lost just like them.

So, the next time you are attacked for your Christian beliefs, stand strong in God’s Word! Say to them as Paul said in Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…” Amen!

(Re-posted and updated from my 6/26/15 blog post.)

Stop just shaking your head about things. Take action!

May12

Question: I just shake my head in disbelief about our country’s moral decline. What can I do? I feel helpless!

Answer: It’s understandable to feel frustrated about the onslaught of daily bad news. So many people seem to be on the fast-track to see how low they can go when it comes to doing things that go against God’s Word. Still murder, hatred, theft, etc. — none of these sins are new. (Read Romans 1:18-32 )

But these days, thanks to our access to 24/7 news, we can witness our elected officials, celebrities, and media and academic elites shamelessly supporting sinful things on a regular basis. This can be very disturbing to watch! But instead of just shaking your head about the negative direction our society is headed, take action!

First, pray! Remember, we need to show the love of God to everyone – including those who are leading our society away from God. Since doing this does not always come easy, we need to pray about them regularly. Pray that the Lord will give us wisdom in how and when we are to deal with those who work against His Word. Pray that He gives us the right words to say when speaking with those who do not share our beliefs.

Also, realize that one person really can make a big difference! Ask God to give you wisdom to know how you can help people live their lives to please Him. Many people believe God would have them give financially to support organizations, in addition to their churches, to help them spread the Gospel to others.

You could join others in educating people about the negative results of not living according to God’s Word. This type of action might take the form of holding public forums, rallies, and marches to get people’s attention so that you can teach them about current issues.

When it’s time to elect new officers into leadership locally, state-wide, and nationally, take action! For example, you could distribute voter guides to let people know where the politicians they vote into power stand on the important cultural issues of today. That way, people will not make the mistake of voting for leaders who plan to support policies and laws which go against the Word of God!

When all is said and done, Believers need to know that ultimately it’s not about how clever we are with our words. But rather it’s about God’s Holy Spirit moving on people’s hearts that will get them to change their immoral ways. So, as 2 Thessalonians 3:13 says, “…do not grow weary in doing good.” ( NKJV ) Continue to pray for people to live their lives to please God. Pray that they accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, ask God for forgiveness, and repent of their sins.

Remember “… with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) So stop just shaking your head about the declining moral condition of the culture. Take action!

(Re-posted from my Feb. 8, 2019 Blog)

Are you sure you know the whole story?

Apr5

Question: Does Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge,” apply to us today?

Answer: This scripture in Hosea was referring to the LORD warning the ancient Israelites of the suffering they would endure for choosing to live against the laws of God. Often, today’s Believers also fail to understand and follow some of the basic teachings of our faith. This is a problem because this lack of knowledge can lead to many ungodly personal decisions which can result in a host of bad consequences. Usually, this happens when Believers fail to grow in the understanding of the Scriptures. They forget the importance of regularly reading and studying God’s Holy Word. In fact, the Apostle Paul tells Timothy, “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 NKJV )

Of course, the first and most important way one shows their approval by God is to accept His Only Son, Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They acknowledge that Jesus, who was without sin, died on the cross to take the punishment we all deserve as sinners. They know that He rose again on the third day and lives with our Father God in heaven. (Read Matthew 4:17, John 3:16, John 14:6) Therefore, they will ask Jesus to forgive their sins, repent (turn away from their sins), and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior!

Then, even after accepting Christ as Savior, some Believers fail to prioritize their need to live their lives to please Him. They prefer to take shortcuts like only listening to preachers and Bible teachers who just tell them what they want to hear. (2 Timothy 4:1-4) They may not want to hear or read any parts of God’s Word that says there can still be earthly consequences for our sinful choices even after we are saved. They prefer to listen only to those who tell them to blame others for their circumstances – even if the fault is only their own.

If we fail to learn about and follow God’s Word concerning our sexual behavior, nurturing our marriage, raising our children, being kind to others, handling money, or any other situation of life, we are not living to please God! When we are guilty of these things, Believers must ask God for forgiveness and pray for God’s Holy Spirit to guide them as they repent of these sins. (Read 1 John 1:9)

Christians will fail to understand the whole story about God’s Word if we don’t accept that God loves us, and He expects us to serve Him with gladness! In fact, Our Father has made many wonderful promises to us as Believers. He will bless us if we follow His Word and serve Him. By serving God, we can take comfort in knowing that our God is faithful in providing for our needs. And, we know that God always keeps His promises!

So Believers, remember that in order to get the whole story, you must read and study God’s Word. Don’t suffer or be destroyed for lack of knowledge!

Can we just get to the bottom line?

Mar6

Question: Since I wasn’t raised in a Christian home, does God have the same expectations of me as those who were?

Answer: No matter how you were raised, God has given each one of us a choice. As Joshua said to the Israelites in the days after God had given them victory over their enemies: “…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…” (Joshua 24:15 NKJV). God has given us the free will to choose to follow Him or follow Satan.

We have only two choices. There isn’t a third choice for all who are old enough and mentally able to understand. He tells us in His Holy Word that we are all sinners in need of a Savior. As such, we cannot enter Heaven being unrighteous, to be with our righteous God. But since our God is a loving God, He made the way for us to still be able to go to Heaven. (John 3:16) That one and only way is by accepting God’s Son Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior!

The Scriptures summarize these truths in Romans 6: 23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Jesus Christ was put to death on the cross to take the punishment we deserve for our sins. He rose to life again on the third day afterwards and lives forever with our Father God in Heaven!

Once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, God wants us to live our lives to please Him. We do this by putting God first in our lives. We put Him first by studying and growing in the knowledge of His Word. We make all of our decisions based on which choices would be pleasing to our Lord. For example, by studying scripture, we know that we do not please God if we support actions and behaviors that He calls sinful. (See Galatians 5:16-26) And all along the way, we are to pray for His Holy Spirit to guide us and keep us from all unrighteousness!

So the bottom line is: God has given each of us free will to choose to serve Him or to serve Satan. We cannot earn our way to Heaven. We can get there only by understanding that we are saved by God’s grace through accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Through Him, we are to ask forgiveness of our sins, turn away from of our sins, and live our lives for the Lord.

We can choose to turn away from God and not be obedient to His teachings. If we make this choice and end up in hell, we have no one to blame but ourselves. We can’t blame our bad parents. We can’t blame evil people in the world. We can’t even blame the hypocrites we might find in church. God expects each of us to take responsibility for our own choices.

So choose wisely — eternal damnation with Satan in hell, or eternal life in Heaven with God. God loves you and wants you to choose Jesus Christ as your Savior so you can go to Heaven. Do this — and you’ll be forever thankful that you did!

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!

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!

Are you ready to stand?

Jan12

Question: How do I avoid being dragged into political arguments at work?

Answer: You can always try changing the subject to a more neutral topic. Of course, conversations during work time should be kept to business related topics anyway. But when some people with strong opinions want to get you on their side of a political issue, they won’t be stopped easily. It’s best to go ahead and prepare yourself for how you will respond when challenged.

But you should never let anyone bully you or intimidate you into agreeing with their positions if those positions are opposite to your own. Be aware that some of these people already know you take biblically-based positions on the issues. And they just won’t tolerate you having different beliefs. You can try reporting them to your HR department if they continue to bully you. This may put a stop to their behavior, or it may not. Try anyway since no one should be bullied in the workplace or anywhere else.

Still, times will come when Believers will be confronted about their beliefs. They’ll be accused of being haters of others and lacking intelligence. When this happens, they will do well to remember 1 Peter 3:15-16. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that it in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.” (NKJV)

And face it. These conversations won’t just be taking place at work. Believers will have similar talks with family and friends who may not agree with our positions. Regardless of who we speak with we must stand strong for the beliefs God’s Word says are true. Therefore, we must regularly study the Bible and pray for God’s Holy Spirit to give us the words to say when we are witnessing about these issues to others.

By doing these things, you’ll be prepared to stand!

Are you letting fear control your life?

Oct6

Question: After hearing about so many scary events happening in the world, I’m almost afraid to leave my house. Help!

Answer: From natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes destroying cities to increasing local crime and terrorist attacks, there’s plenty of news to cause fear. But dangerous events and crimes, while seeming to be on the rise, are actually nothing new. Jesus told His disciples to expect various types of troubling events. In Matthew 24: 6-7, Jesus says, “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.” ( NKJV )

Our God IS an awesome God! He wants us to remember that He knows that Satan spreads evil in the world. God knows there are many things that make us fearful. But, as the Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” As Christians, we are to put our faith and trust in God. We are to pray to God to protect us wherever we go. And, pray for wisdom to know when we should stay where we are and not go in order to avoid danger.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, asked Him to forgive your sins, and repented of your sins, you know your life is now in the hands of Jesus. He has empowered you with His Holy Spirit to guide and protect you. He will keep you in His loving care until He decides to call you home to heaven. Until that time comes, God wants us to continue to live our lives and to live our lives in the ways that please Him.

Therefore, you should continue to enjoy life with your family and friends. Enjoy being the hands and feet of Jesus by helping those in need. Enjoy doing all you can to show God’s love to others…especially to those who are not yet Believers! Pray for wisdom to know when and how to avoid dangerous situations. But do not make yourself a slave to the fears caused by that “thief,” the devil. Remember the words of Jesus found in John 10:10, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Amen!

So, go out and enjoy that abundant life God has planned for you!

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