Be ready

Are you ready at a moments notice to defend your faith? Do you know how to share the gospel? If someone asks you about your faith, it is important that you be ready to give them an answer. 1 Peter 3:15 says, "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 is in you, with meekness and fear." We never know when we will have the opportunity to help change a person's eternal address. This is why we should plan for success by being students of the Word and men and women of prayer. If we do this, then we will be ready to shine as lights in this dark world.

Be wise

Do you desire wisdom? Do you need wisdom in order to make a tough decision? Everyone at some point in their life desires wisdom. This is why people seek help from others in order to attain knowledge. Some people will go to a psychologist, some will go to a therapist, some will go to a psychic, or some to a new age guru. Is that really the place to find wisdom? No way! James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." If you need wisdom, why not go to the wisest of them all, God.

Be careful

1 Corinthians 10:12 reads, "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." Some people think that because they have been Christians for a number of years that they are untouchable. That is simply not true. If you are a Christian, mark my words, you definitely have the ability to fall flat on your face. The key is to make sure that you are standing firm on the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ. If you do this, you will have something strong to help you get back on your feet when you do fall.

Are you tempted?

Do you feel shameful because you are tempted? Temptation is something that every Christian faces. It is not a sin to be tempted. However, what you do with it could lead to sin. The Apostle Paul gives us great insight concerning this topic. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." Temptation is common, but God is faithful. He will not only provide us with a way of escape, but God will neither give us more then we can bear. Isn't that great news?

Are you holy?

Holiness has been described as being consecrated or being set apart for God. The real question that I should be asking you is: "Is your life set apart for God?" 1 Peter 1:15, 16 says, "but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'" God, the creator of heaven and earth, has called you and I to lay our lives before His altar. When we do this in complete surrender, we will begin to live a holy life. If you and I give our lives to Him wholly, we will become more holy.

Are you merciful?

Being merciful has been defined as: showing a person compassion or being kindly affectionate toward someone. In Matthew 5:7, Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." Do you find it difficult to show people kindness? Are you struggling with compassion? Everyone needs compassion. When we show people love, compassion and kindness, we become more like Christ. God has shown us mercy. This is why we too should be merciful. If Christians aren't kind, then what kind of Christians are they?

Are you successful?

Many people today are seeking success. Some people are looking to self help books. Some are looking to certain programs. Some are attending money making seminars. What does it really mean to become successful? Joshua 1:8 reads: "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." Success should not be measured by the amount of money a person possesses. Real success should be measured by the amount of time a person spends with their Lord. If we would spend more time memorizing the Scriptures and doing what the Bible tells us to do, we would find the secret to success.

Are you afraid?

In the world that we live in today, fear is something that everyone experiences. People are afraid of speaking in public, losing their jobs, losing their homes, dying, or even the boogie man. But should Christian be filled with fear? Deuteronomy 31:6 tells us to "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God He is the one who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." If we as believer's could get in our mind that the God who created the heavens and the earth is with us, there would be nothing to fear.

A spiritual shower

Do you take showers frequently? Hopefully you do. Not just for you, but for the sake of others. In the world we live in, we are going to get dirty. As important as it is to clean up our physical bodies, it is even more important for us to get cleaned up spiritually. 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." We are not perfect just because we are Christians, and we are going to make mistakes. But the good news is that all we have to do is confess our sins to the Lord. He will forgive us, and clean us up. That is better than any shower!

A faithful friend

Do you have many friends that you can depend on? Do you have someone that won't let you down? It's been noted that, "A real friend stabs you in the face, not the back." Friendships are important. God has placed certain people in our lives to correct us, encourage us, and pray for us. 1 Samuel 20:17 tells this story: "Now Jonathan again caused David to vow, because he loved him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul." The example of Jonathan and David's friendship proves to be one rooted in love. Jonathan put his life on the line to make sure his friend David would be protected from Saul (his own father). True friendship is putting someone's life before your own.

Are you angry?

Do you ever get mad? Do you ever loose your cool? Have you ever blown up on someone? Ephesians 4:26 says, "Be angry, and do not sin." Everyone, at some point, gets upset or angry. There is nothing wrong with getting angry. In fact, getting angry is perfectly normal. God created this emotion and it is a part of life. Getting angry is not the problem. It is what you do with that anger that matters. We are to be slow to speak and quick to listen. We are also to remember that a soft word turns away wrath. If we could master this emotion (anger), then we would shine as lights in this dark world.

The good and bad (part 3)

Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." The bad news is that the wages of our sin is death. Because we are sinners we are deserving of death and are separated from God because of our sin. We could not pay the penalty for our own sin. There is no good work we could do or amount of money that we could pay. However, the good news is that Jesus Christ gave us the greatest gift that anyone could give to any person. He willingly laid down his life so that you and I could have eternal life. That is definitely good news.

The good and bad (part 2)

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." The bad news is that Satan has come to totally invade our lives. He has come to steal, kill and destroy us. That seems pretty bad, but that doesn't compare to the good news. The good news is that Jesus also has come. Jesus has come to give us abundant life while we live here on the earth and eternal life once we leave this earth. Praise God!

The good and bad (part 1)

Isaiah 53:6: "All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, everyone, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." The bad news is that every single one of us, like sheep, have wandered and gone astray. The Bible goes on to tell us that there is no one that is righteous, and all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. However, the good news is that 2000 years ago God sent His one and only Son to this earth to die on the cross for us. Because the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all, we can now have eternal life.

Giving thanks!

With an upset economy, a crashing stock market and the loss of a job, is it still possible to give God thanks? Of course! 1 Corinthians 15:57 says, " But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." If there is nothing else for us to give God thanks for, we could always give Him thanks for His sacrifice. Even if we never won the lottery or became the most famous reality show host or became successful in our career, we can still praise Him. Thank God that I am no longer on the road to hell, but on the road to heaven!

He Begins

Genesis 1:1 says, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Can you imagine this? God's creation is under His command. God begins creation by creating the heavens and the earth. What an amazing concept this is. Yet, this same God created me and you to be worshipers. It's not that we worship the creation, but we worship the one who created it.

He Declares

Psalm 19:1, 2 tells us, "The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows his handiwork." God's greatest declaration is His creation. His creation speaks about Him and shows us how glorious of a God He is. When examining the work of His hands, we see that everything is intricately placed in perfection. His creation cannot be duplicated or replaced by any other thing.

He Holds

Colossians 1:17 states, "He is before all things, and in Him all things consist." The creator of heaven and earth is not only before all things, but He keeps it all together. Every little detail of His creation is set in the exact location that it must be placed. The clouds blow at just the right speed. The temperature is set at the right setting. The seasons turn perfectly. The earth rotates precisely. And yet, the same God that holds His creation together also holds our lives in the palm of His hands.

Why evangelism?

We should evangelize because the Bible tells us to. 2 Timothy 4:2 declares, "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season." People need to know that there is a Savior who has come to the world, has died on the cross, and has risen on the third day. If we don't tell them, then who will? Remember, at some point in your life, someone told you about Jesus. If that is how you came to faith in Christ, then that may be how others will come to Him. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, you'll be glad you did.

Why fellowship?

With the advancements that have been made in recent technology, information can be gathered in a number of ways. You can watch the news using your direct television satellite dish. You can listen to varieties of music using high definition radio or on the internet. But how about going to church? It is quite possible to listen to or watch a variety of television evangelists. However, the writer of Hebrews reminds us: "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together." We need to be closely connected to other Christians, in order to stir up love and be encouraged.

Why involvement?

Are you involved in your local church? Have you been using the gifts that God has given to you? Romans 12:6 tells us: "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them:" God has given every single one of us various gifts to use for His glory. If we're not using them, then they're going to be wasted. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, then it is your duty to be involved in the local church. You will be blessed and glad that you did.

Why love?

Today, the word love has sort of lost its real meaning. People will say, "I love my dog, or I love that movie, or I really love this cup of coffee." As a follower of Jesus Christ, it is vital that we show love to the world. Not the kind of love that expects to get something in return, but the kind of godly love that gives sacrificially. Jesus said, "By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." When we show love to our neighbor, love to our spouse, or even love to our enemy, we prove to be a genuine disciple of Jesus Christ.

The better beginning

We can't turn back the time and avoid where we came from. Some of us had a reckless past, a violent past, or even an immoral past. Just because we had a rough beginning doesn't mean there is no hope for us. God has a much better way for us to live, and His plans are far better than our own. Jeremiah 29:11 says it like this: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." If we would allow God to take over our unknown future, then we will be given a much better beginning.

The battle's on!

Some people think that if they become a Christian everything is going to be okay. They will not face hard times anymore, there will be no more trials, and they will be happy all the time. That is simply not true. Often times, when someone makes a commitment to follow after Christ, it is as though Satan has declared war on their life. Ephesians 6:12 says "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Although becoming a Christian is like enlisting in the army, we can be encouraged in the knowledge that God is with us and that the battle belongs to the Lord.

The brand new life

2 Corinthians 5:17 says "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." Are you living like you are a new creation in Christ? Have the old things in your life passed away? If you are a believer in Jesus Christ then you should definitely be living like a different person. There is no reason to look back or even go back for that matter. God wants you and I to live for Him in a way that pleases him and brings great joy to Him. Let those old things go, and you will no doubt live a new life in Christ.

The body offering

Have you given God your body? Have you fully offered yourself to Him for his glory and honor?
Romans 12:1 says "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." 2000 years ago, God the Father sent his only begotten Son to the world, to be the ultimate body offering for you and I. The only reasonable or rational response to His offering is to offer ourselves to Him. If we do this every morning, no doubt God will use our lives to bring Him much glory.

The breakaway

Have you broken away from bad influences? When I was a young boy, my parents would tell me not to hang out with certain people. I don't know exactly how they knew that some of my friends were troublemakers, but they did. James tells us that we are to "lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word." Have you done that? Have you said goodbye to your old behaviors or things that have caused you to sin? If you haven't you should. If you do this, you will begin to experience a clean breakaway from this world and start living a well pleasing life for God.

Do you know the truth?

Truth has been defined as that which is really real. Today in the media there are plenty of articles that are written with lies. Some people not only enjoy reading them, but they also love spreading them. Jesus said, "you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." Do you know the truth? Have you been set free from the lies of the devil? Jesus went on to say that he was the way the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through Him. If you haven't accepted the ultimate truth that Jesus came, died, and rose on the third day, you should definitely do this today!

Are you happy?

It's been said that, "the search for happiness is often the cause of unhappiness." Millions of people worldwide are on this pursuit. They think that if they just establish their career, they will find happiness. Some people might think that they will be happy if they have enough plastic surgery or that they will have a happy life by getting married. Unfortunately, that is not true. The psalmist said, "blessed (or happy) is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly." Walking through life without God will make a person unhappy. It is only when you find God and start to walk with him that you will truly find happiness (joy).

Who do you trust?

Can a person really trust the telemarketer who promises great benefits if he signs up for a certain service? Or can he trust the infomercial that promises a whole set of hair for purchasing a rubbing compound? Or can he trust the seminar that promises instant cash for investing money in an organization? Probably not! The Bible tells us in Proverbs 3:5, 6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." The promise is that if we will trust the Lord God with everything and seek Him even when we think we have complete understanding of a decision, that God will lead us. The way we acknowledge Him is by living a bold life for Him. We have to tell others about Him. If we will do this God will give us divine direction.

Why should I pray?

You and I should pray for a few reasons. Here are a couple. First of all, because the Bible tells us to pray. The Bible says to pray without ceasing (continuously). Secondly, it is how we communicate with God. When we have a conversation with friends it is done primarily through conversation. And so it is when we pray; we speak to God audibly about things that are happening in our life. As Christians it is important to be involved in a one on one audible relationship with him.

What is life?

"In Him was life and the life was the light of men and the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it."

People are endlessly searching for something to find life in. Some think that life is found in a pursuit of riches, some think that they will find life in the pursuit of pleasure, some think that they will find life in a romantic relationship and so on. Is life really attained this way? Can a person find a life of happiness and fulfillment in these things? No way! Life is not found in things, true life is found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. When you give your life to him in total surrender it is at that moment that you find life.