Meditations

We are saved unto good works.  For we – the believer in Jesus Christ are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:10.  We are not created for the gospel.  We are commissioned to go and preach the gospel.  We are not created to protest.  We are commanded to love.  We are not created to criticize the government.  We are created for good works.  The early Church got the message.  The Lord Jesus when He was here on earth went about doing good.  The disciples now apostles witnessed those good works.  Upon the Day of Pentecost the Apostles understood they were to do as their Master had done.  Do good works.  Acts 2:44-47; 4:34 -37 tells us of their good works.  “They distributed to each as anyone had need.” Verse 35.  Today, there are many Christian organizations and churches that do good works.  Some of their good ...

Our Lord Jesus is our example in every circumstance of life.  When He was on the cross being pummeled with the hatred of men, and with the vitriol of hell, He said, Father, forgive them…..Why did Jesus ask His Father to forgive them?  In the midst of intense hatred Jesus loved.  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16.  Jesus came to redeemed us back to our God.  He died for us, so we can be forgiven. That is why He calls upon us to love our enemies.  In Matthew 5:44 our Lord said, ….“Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”   Love your enemies.  It is only through God’s love that we can love our enemies,    we can do good to those who hate us, we can bless those who curse us.  It is only through God’s love that we can pray for t...

Giving thanks is always a bit difficult.  The Lord Jesus when He was here on earth once healed ten lepers, and only one returned to give Him thanks.  I do not know about you, but sometimes I do not feel like saying “thank you”.  Sometimes I forget to say thank you to the person holding the door for me to step into a building.   Giving thanks always – means all of the time – no excuses, no forgetfulness, no apprehensions.  It takes effort and discipline to always say thanks. Giving thanks always for all things means everything is included.  No item is left out.  We are to give thanks for the things we consider good.  The things we consider bad.  The things we consider to be inconsequential, and the things we consider unworthy of our thankfulness.  We are happy to give thanks for the good things, the good happenings in our lives.  We are overjoyed to do so, and we – I know I do – let everyone around us know that we are. G...

How often do you speak with your friends, family members (not living with you), and members of your church family?  I hope regularly.  We are so busy living our lives that some of us hardly make the time to chat with friends, family, colleagues or even our church family.  Speech is a gift from God.  We should cherish our speaking and use our tongues to encourage others.  Have your conversations taken a back seat to texting, facebook and twitter?  I hope not.  Ephesians chapter 5 tells us how to live our lives daily. V1 : Imitate God as children imitate their parents.  V2:  Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, ….”  Jesus is our example of what love looks like.  Happy Valentine’s Day! One of the habits we are to adopt (v19) is “Speaking to one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.  Has anyone ever spoken to you in Psalms?  How would that sound?  I am thinking we should ...

A new year is a good time for a fresh start – a new beginning.  Thirty days of 2015 have already passed.  That’s okay.  We have three hundred and thirty five ahead of us.  Now is a good time for a new beginning.  God also love beginnings.  God may be saying to some of us if not all of us, hinting even, trying to get our attention on what He wills for us this year. In Genesis chapter 12 after the death of Abram’s father, God called Abram to a new beginning.  For some of us our new beginnings come after the death of a loved one, or after the loss of a job, or a move to a new neighborhood, or even during or after an illness or tragedy.  “Now the Lord had said to Abram:”And He may be saying the same to some of us. “Get out of your country,”   Before you accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, in what country did you live?   Some believers in Christ Jesus are still living in the country of their first birth.   The “country” o...

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!   How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!  Romans 11:33 When we think of riches, we think of money, mansions, luxurious vehicles and on and on.   This verse is telling us that God  has riches of wisdom and knowledge.  The depth of the riches of God’s wisdom and God’s knowledge is so deep, no human being can fathom it. God's wisdom and knowledge is seen in His judgments.   We cannot search out God’s judgments.  We should not even try.  When we see an unusual occurrence in a person’s life or in our own, the temptation is usually to analyze or explain the reason for the event.  God’s ways are vastly higher than ours.  We should not even try to give a reason for any event in anyone’s life or in our own.   The only reason we are exhorted to give - is the reason for the hope that is within us. 1 Peter 3:15...

A new year has begun with all of its unknowns.  However, we know who love us and who cares for us.  We thank our God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for His wonderful mercies in 2014.  My family and I saw God’s workings in every aspect of our lives.  Many started 2014 and did not see it finished.  Some started 2014 enthusiastically, and as the year unfolded so did their hopes and dreams.  Some others fervently pursued their goals when suddenly they were blindsided by sickness, or by some sort of tragedy.  How will we face this year ahead of us? God loves us.  We know He does.   Is God with us in the difficult times?  Does this God of the Bible really care for us?  Yes He is!  Yes He does!  The Word of God tells us in John’s Gospel Chapter 3 verse 16:  “That God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…….”  God created us, He loves and cares for us.  He sacrificially gave His S...