Category Archives: Inspirational

Christian, Inspirational

A Race To Be Won

Have you heard Jesus did it all, it is finished, you don’t need to do anything for your salvation?

Jesus completed his race. He lived an Holy life teaching us to follow him and the Heavenly Father. He was scourged and died on the cross as the final sacrifice for our sins.

What about our race? Do we have to do anything to be cleansed in Jesus’ blood? Do we have to do anything to make it to Heaven?

If you accept Jesus as Messiah, you need to repent and be baptized (submerged in water) in the name of Jesus for the remission or forgiveness of sins in your life till that point. Acts 2:38 After baptism forgiveness of sin can be covered in love and by confession. James 5:20, 1 Peter 4:8, 1 John 1:9.

This is at the heart of the race assigned to us all: Preach the truth to others – Mark 16:15-16, Keep the Commandments – Romans 2:13, John 14:15, Ecclesiastes 12:13, Love one another – John 13:34.

As Paul hoped to finish his race well, 2 Timothy 4:7-8, so do we. Jesus completed his life and work proclaiming, “It is finished”, while on the cross, but our race as we follow him is yet to be won!

Standard
Christian, Inspirational

Available To All

I had a conversation with a Church of Christ preacher who believed the gospel was available only to humanity.

I don’t believe this to be the case. See Mark 16:15 KJV. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Men may not often have the opportunity to preach to every creature or baptize angels, but I believe the gospel of Christ is available to any creature that can understand it. Only Satan, the Anti-Christ, and the False Prophet have received their final judgment. Revelation 10:20

Except for those three, salvation is available to all.

Standard
Christian, Inspirational

Try

I really do not care for defining sin as missing the mark. To me it seems to make light of sin. It is not a game or sport.

Yet, I thought of a reason to appreciate this definition more. If you’re aiming for the mark using an archery or weapon example you’re trying to hit the bullseye.

Yoda once said Do or Do Not, There Is No Try. This might work for some, but I’ve always found to accomplish you must first try.

Try. Aim for the mark. Practice not sinning, until it becomes second nature.

Standard
Christian, Inspirational

Least

So yesterday I woke up thinking about the Sabbath. I was specifically thinking about a conversation I had via email with a person at Chick-fil-A. I wanted to inform the owner he had the wrong day to be closed. I believe the Sabbath is to be observed from Friday eve to Saturday eve. Leviticus 23:32.

The conversation ended with the employee asking, can we both agree Sunday is the day most people observe as to the Lord. We left the conversation there, but it’s been gnawing at me. I want to go back and ask him and the owner is the day off for the people or for God? I believe God would want the Sabbath observance on the correct day.

So that being said, how did I proceed to live my Sabbath? I bought lotto tickets, I went to McDonald’s twice for coffee, Taco Bell once for lunch, and then finally I did some shopping at Family Dollar.

Why do I tell you this? I found excuses to do each of the above things I mentioned. While I didn’t work myself other than perhaps driving I did cause the stranger in my gates to work. Exodus 20:10.

There is 1 John 1:9 and I hope I do better. I want to share in the heritage of Jacob. Isaiah 58:13-14.

Standard
Christian, Inspirational

Rebels

Star Wars and other movies have turned the words rebel and rebellion into something good. Meanwhile the words religion and legalism have been transformed by hip preachers into something uncool.

They say we are saved by grace and not by works (acts of religion and legalism) but let me ask you a few questions.

  • Is it work for you not to kill?
  • Is it work for you not to bear false witness?
  • Is it work for you not to commit adultery?
  • Is it work for you to respect the name of God?
  • Is it work for you not to make or worship idols?
  • Is it work to take a day off and not work at all?
  • Is it work to respect your mom and dad?
  • Is it work to not steal?
  • Is it work for you to not covet another’s property?

Is it really laborious to keep the law? I admit I’ve had issues with or broken all of these, but as I’ve given my life to Jesus they’ve become easier to keep. You would think not working or causing others to work would be easy, but I’m still not doing well with Sabbath keeping. However, since truly turning to Christ keeping most of the Ten Commandments has not been work at all.

In Romans in the New Testament we are told to love and that love fulfils the law. Romans 13:8, 13:10.

I guess that’s my final question.

  • Is love work?

Rebel against the mainstream. Make you religion Christianity and make part of your relationship with Jesus the keeping of his law.

Standard
Christian, Inspirational

A Living Example

Jesus didn’t come to the Earth and live a perfect sinless life to be a dead sacrifice. He came to be a living example! He wants us to keep his law.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:48 KJV Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Certain men say you cannot be perfect. I don’t believe Jesus would have told us to do something that is impossible. Rather I believe with Jesus all things are possible. He can help us to walk perfectly and sinless before the Heavenly Father.

Remember in Ecclesiastes 12:13 Solomon said, Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Therefore we strive for perfection with Jesus’ aid.

Standard
Christian, Inspirational

Freedom of Religion

I have heard several times how blessed we are to have freedom of religion and assembly in the U.S. I think the sad, but more accurate truth is that we have freedom in the United States to be lukewarm.

Where is the persecution Jesus promised?

It could be freedom and grace granted by God or it could be Satan has you solidly in his grip.

Do you follow the Ten Commandments? Is the law even preached in your church?

Satan is content to let you be lukewarm.

Don’t be satisfied with it yourself.

Standard
Christian, Inspirational

David and Goliath

What did David have that I’m not sure the Ukrainians have?

Jesus Christ.

I don’t know the percentage of Christians in the Ukraine, but I do know through God all things are possible.

Appeal to Jesus.

Glory be to our God. Salvation is his.

1 Timothy 2:5 KJV
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Standard
Christian, Inspirational

As a Practical Matter

There are some deep matters in the Holy Bible and this article is not intended to detract from any of them. It is intended to simplify, explain, and promote the sacrifice of Jesus.

Jesus died showing us how to walk before our LORD, the Heavenly Father. He walked in the truth and did not sin.

He was killed by those who would ask, what is truth and not care for the answer.

He was killed by those who could not or would not give up their sin.

He was killed by people who were afraid of judgment.

Jesus wanted us to walk in the light: Accept the truth, confess your sins one to another, be baptized by immersion in water in the name of Jesus or in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and strive every day not to sin.

Simply put, Christianity and how you live it out depends on how much you value Jesus’ sacrifice.

Does it matter that Jesus was God? Does it matter he was the anointed one? Is there really something special about his blood? Should it matter he was resurrected? These are a few of the deeper matters this article will not cover.

He died showing us how to live!

Standard
Christian, Inspirational

Tell of His Love

If you’re a reader of my blog, you might know I’m against certain interpretations of God’s love. I will say again, there is no such thing as unconditional love.

Preach and teach the truth. At it’s very heart is John 3:16. Jehovah gave his Son and Jesus willingly laid down his life for us. Hence when we speak of God’s love there’s no reason to exaggerate.

1 John 4:16 KJV …God is love…

Exodus 34:14 KJV For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

Isaiah 49:15-16 KJV Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. [16] Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

Standard