loving Christ

DEAR GOD: Your Enduring Presence Comforts Me~

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What Does Falling in Love With Jesus Actually Mean?

“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” – Matthew 28:20  


Enduring Presence 

In the closing verses of the Gospel of Matthew, we find the resurrected Christ imparting a final commission to His disciples. This passage, often referred to as the Great Commission, encapsulates the mission of the church and the enduring Presence of Christ.

The Command to Teach

Christ’s directive to “teach all nations” is a call to discipleship that extends beyond the mere transmission of knowledge. It is an invitation to a life-transforming journey that aligns one’s actions with the teachings of Jesus.

  • What does it mean for us to observe all that Christ has commanded
  • How does this shape our daily lives?

The Assurance of Presence

Perhaps the most comforting aspect of this verse is the promise that follows the command: “I am with you alway.” In a world fraught with uncertainty and change, the constancy of Christ’s presence offers an anchor for the soul. How do we experience this presence in our lives? In what ways does it sustain us through trials and tribulations?

The Scope of the Promise

The phrase “even unto the end of the world” speaks to the timeless nature of Christ’s commitment to His followers. It is a promise that transcends generations, cultures, and epochs. As we face the challenges of our own era, how does this assurance shape our perspective on the future?

A Moral Reflection

The moral imperative embedded in this scripture is clear: to live out the teachings of Christ and to share them with others. It calls us to a higher standard of conduct, one that reflects the love and grace of the One we follow. Are we living up to this calling? Are our lives a testament to the teachings we have received?

A Reflective Close

As we ponder the depth of Christ’s commission and the promise of His presence, let us take a moment to reflect on our role in this divine narrative. Are we active participants in the mission of teaching and sharing the Gospel? Do we find solace in the promise of Christ’s enduring presence?

Unity Prayer

“Dear LORD, we are humbled by Your great commission and the promise of Your eternal presence. Grant us the wisdom to teach Your ways and the courage to live them out. May we feel Your presence guiding us at every step, and may our lives be a reflection of Your love until the end of time, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Let’s embrace the teachings of Christ and find comfort in His everlasting presence all the days of our lives…

DEAR GOD: Help Me To Walk In Spirit~

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Walking In The Spirit - Part 1 - CrossBridge Community Church

Living life according to the Spirit is a process and a journey. There are so many great verses throughout the Bible that discuss being and walking in the Spirit, Romans 8 – may perhaps be one of the most insightful. Walking in the Spirit promotes general well-being. Even when things are bleak and you might be hindered by circumstances, situations, individuals, or events that transpired in your life-being led by the Holy Spirit will bring about ways in which you not only can and will cope, but will survive all things in life.

Walk in the Spirit (Romans 8:4)

There truly isn’t any shortcut to learning about “how to walk by the Spirit.” Life in the Spirit is trying to live according to God’s law and fundamentally do the right thing. But it’s much more than that. Walking in the Spirit is what it means to live as a Christian-some might say it’s like a light went off -and that light is Jesus Christ.

Set your minds on the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:5)
The question becomes sort of an old riddle: “How can someone extract all of the air out from a drinking glass? – The answer-fill it with something else!

So how do we overcome and pull away from our flesh and our mortal carnal ways, thoughts, actions? Well similar to the riddle, you need to “fill up on good things, godly things, clean things, an entirely different mindset that is strictly oriented toward the things of the Sprit-(Galatians 5:22–23)

We can’t extract thoughts that are displeasing to God from our minds. So, we have to “fill up on all good things.” When we put to the death the deeds of our body by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:13) Life becomes engaging in the most beautiful ways. We get to view, act upon and develop into who we are supposed to be, according to the LORD, and we are then able to serve Him in all kinds of capacities. We are then actively involved with being “one body in Christ.”

Pray in the Spirit.  (Romans 8:26–27)
We are unsure at times what we need or how to ask for help. We are shown that the Holy Spirit will make known by intercessory prayers to the Father, by groanings from within. Overall outcome and result is that our prayers will be answered according to the will of God, because the Spirit is moving us to pray thusly, and in fact presenting our prayer to the Father, and guiding us all the way through!

Eventually walking, acting and presenting in the Spirit to all those we encounter will become part of whom we are.In fact, it is who we are! We are one body in Christ. Believers have His Spirit within. And we can accomplish so much more when we do things in the Spirit, as we are intended to do. The Bible has so many more rich verses pertaining to this in both OT and NT. We just have to open His book and read and commune with Him.  And doing all this- will in fact, make our life a life worth LIVING!

“LORD, help guide and direct me along the highway of life, show me the paths in which I should walk, teach me the gentleness of Your Spirit, help me to walk elegantly and majestically in the Spirit as You have, open my eyes, ears heart and soul to be more like Jesus’ Spirit each day of my life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

 

 

 

 

 

DEAR GOD: I Will Always Follow Your Doctrine~

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Doctrine - Living Hope Bible Church

The book of Galatians is a letter written by the apostle Paul to the churches in Galatia. In this letter, Paul addresses the issue of false teachings that had infiltrated the church. The false teachings were coming from a group of people known as Judaizers, who were trying to convince the Galatians that they needed to follow Jewish customs and laws in order to be saved. Paul refutes this idea and emphasizes that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

In Galatians 1:6-10, Paul expresses his concern that the Galatians are abandoning Jesus’ grace and turning to a different gospel – a false gospel. He doesn’t mince words when it comes to Judaizers coming in and undermining the work he has done in Galatia. Paul feels so strongly about the good news that has been preached to the Galatians that he calls down a curse upon anyone who would dare to proffer an alternative gospel.

In Galatians 2:4, Paul talks about false brothers who had come in under false pretenses to spy on their freedom in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave them. Paul emphasizes that there is no room for a gospel that strays from the grace of Christ.

This warning still applies to this very day in time. Those that are following another gospel are in danger of losing their salvation bought and paid for by Jesus Christ. They are tampering with their existence and eternal life. The good news is it’s never too late. When we accept and willingly follow Jesus and His doctrine, and commandments we are fulfilling our roles as Christians. We are inherently moving onto a path of righteousness that is a gift from above (James 1:17) and we are acknowledging Him as our LORD and Savior.

Jesus is the way to LIFE.

Jesus is the way to FREEDOM.

Jesus is the way to SALVATION.

JESUS is the way for EVERYTHING.

Do you follow Jesus? When you do things will become easier to navigate as He will guide you through it all, both good and bad times.

Galatians 2:16: “yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”

Galatians 3:10-11: “For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.’ Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’”

Galatians 5:1: “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”

Galatians 5:4-6: “You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”

The above verses show that Paul was adamant that the Galatians should not be deceived by the false teachers who were trying to impose the law on them. He wanted them to understand that they were saved by grace through faith in Christ alone, and that nothing else mattered.

Remember Jesus said in Matthew 28:20 saying to preach His gospel and “… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The Gospel Christ tells us to teach is His- none other! And ignoring His commandments can prove detrimental to your soul.

Obeying it and following Him and accepting Him as your LORD and Savior, quite the contrary.

Your blessings will overflow, and your soul will not be in danger of the second death–no–instead it will live forever!

“Father, thank You for Your Word and Your promises, may I do all to promote Your Word, in my actions, thoughts, behavior, and heart, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

 

Dear God: May I sit on This Bench With You?

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We are so grateful for this day Lord, for Your love and for another day to serve You in all we do and say, thank You Lord, Amen.

It is incomprehensible to grasp the intensity of Your unconditional love, but it is so easy to be loved by You. Your infinite wisdom envelops our souls.  You harness our very being with freedom and truth, as we parade throughout the day in honor of You.

As creator of heaven and earth, Jesus was far greater than the Sabbath, a day that was instituted to remember His work of creation.  Jesus is Lord of all, and the Sabbath was intended to honor Him.  And rest in the Lord, to feel peace in His presence.

Give thanks to the Almighty God… for everything you do or say, give supplication in prayer to the Lord our God.

Imagine sitting on a bench speaking with Jesus today.  Would you know what to do?  Would you know what to say?  How would you react?  Would you be comfortable in His presence face to face?

Sitting on a bench with Jesus.  First thing I would say is “I love You my Lord and Savior, thank You.”  And kiss his very feet.  I think the next thing I would do is ask, “have I pleased You thus far?  And, if not- what might I do to change that?

Each day as we walk on earth our spiritual selves contained within our flesh bodies… we all should try to ask, “What would Jesus do?”  Think spiritually…always spiritually. What would He say to a person in need?  What would He do, concerning a situation we are facing?  What would He think?  How would He act? How would He feel?

In living like Christ as we follow His doctrine and gospel, are we in fact really doing what He would do or say?  Are we in fact walking in the righteous way of which He would be proud?  If He sat near you this very day on a bench in the park; are you ready to speak to Him and not hang your head in shame?  Would you be easy in His magnificent presence knowing you have done all you can to uphold His ways and choices in life?  Think about that for a moment. What would you do if Jesus were sitting near you right this very moment?

Overwhelming, isn’t it?  My heart swells with love that is beyond expression of any kind.  It is difficult to put into words the depths of love for Jesus Christ, our Savior, Lord of lords, and King of kings. He will be coming again. Soon, we are getting very near.  We are living in the fig tree generation, and it will be anytime now.  All signs point to it, all of what Jesus told us, warned us repeatedly every chance He had. It’s coming to fruition.

And realize that there will be many who will come in His name claiming to be Christ. Be aware and wise my brothers and sisters. Realize that the false prophets will be very tricky.  Always keep your eyes open, be watchmen.  Listen to the Father’s word for therein lies the truth, and all we need to know concerning our very salvation. Jesus is coming back again…we need to recognize HIS voice, and follow our Shepherd.  Be aware of false ones, and do not be deceived! Christ warns us repeatedly about being deceived.  Walk in His ways and heed His words, obey His commandments and be ready for Him always. 

“Be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves” Matthew 10:16 (NKJV)

 

Our Father loves us.  And all He wants for His unmerited favor, endless compassion and altruistic love is for us to love Him back. He gave us His book, and the “Holy Spirit” to guide us and be with us, our Comforter.  How amazing is that?  How amazing is He?

He is our Savior, our safety net, our Rock, our Protector, our Guide, our Father, our love, our Redeemer, our Very Own…and He loves us.  Our Everything, yet all He wants in return for all of this, and more, is for your obedience to Him, your faith…and your love.  That’s all…that’s it.

Does it get any better than that?

Jesus, I’m ready to sit with you on that park bench right now.

My brothers and sisters, are you ready to sit with Jesus today?

 

 

 

 

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

 

Matthew 10:32 (NKJV) “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.”

 

Matthew 24:5 9 (NKJV) “For many will come in My name, saying ‘I am the Christ, and will deceive many.”

 

Matthew 24:11 (NKJV) “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.”

 

Matthew 24:23-24 (NKJV) “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ:’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false Christ’s and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”

 

Matthew 28:20 (NKJV) “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”