Not My Will Be Done

A compilation

Among the olive trees, Jesus was praying. Many times he had prayed in “desolate places” (Luke 5:16). Yet never had he known desolation like this. In this familiar garden of prayer, Jesus looked deeply into the Father’s Cup he was about to drink and was terrified. Everything in his human flesh wanted to flee the impending physical torture of crucifixion. And his Holy Spirit groaned with ineffable dread at the far greater impending spiritual torture of being forsaken by his Father.

Such was his distress over this “baptism” (Luke 12:50), the very thing he had come into the world to accomplish (John 12:27), that Jesus cried out, “Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36).

Yet not what I will, but what you will. Nine words. Nine unfathomable words.

God [the Son], having longed, and even pled, to be delivered from God’s will, expressed in these nine simple words a humble faith in and submission to God’s will that was more beautiful than all the glory in the created heavens and earth combined. … Never has another human felt such an intense desire to be spared the will of God. And never has any human exercised such humble, obedient faith in the Father’s will. “And being made perfect”—having exercised perfectly obedient trust in his Father in all possible dimensions—“he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him” (Hebrews 5:9). …

No one understands better than God how difficult it can be for a human to embrace the will of God. And no human has suffered more in embracing the will of God the Father than God the Son. When Jesus calls us to follow him, whatever the cost, he is not calling us to do something he is either unwilling to do or has never done himself.

That is why we look to Jesus as the “author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). He is our great high priest who understands, far better than we do, what it’s like to willingly and faithfully endure the sometimes excruciating, momentarily painful will of God for the sake of the eternal joy set before us (Hebrews 4:15; 12:2). And now he always lives to intercede for us so that we will make it through the pain to the eternal joy (Hebrews 7:25). …

If we find that, in body and soul, we wish God’s will for us could be done in a way different from what God’s will appears to be, we may wholeheartedly pray with Jesus, “Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me.” But only if we will also pray with Jesus these nine gloriously humble words, “Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Because God’s will for us, however painful now, will result in joy inexpressible and full of glory and the salvation of our souls (1 Peter 1:8).

—Jon Bloom (desiringgod.org)

 

Surrendering our will

I think we often overlook the significance of what happened in Gethsemane, but as it relates to our redemption, nothing could be more important. If Calvary is the door to salvation, Gethsemane was the hinge. It was here in this garden where the eternal future of humanity hung in the balance. It was here that our fate was decided. All of history was depending on this moment.

Where Adam failed in the Garden of Eden, Jesus prevailed in the Garden of Gethsemane. And the key to Christ’s victory here was the secret of His whole life, embodied in those seven immortal words, “Not my will, but thine, be done.”

The Roman soldiers seized Jesus and crucified Him, but they could not take His life, for He had already laid it down in Gethsemane. “No one takes My life from Me,” was Jesus’s confession, “but I lay it down of Myself.” You cannot kill a man who is already dead! It is here that we find the next great secret for discovering God’s will for our lives—the secret of the surrendered will.

We must begin by recognising something so simple yet so significant: there may be a difference between what we want and what God wants. With this awareness we must constantly make sure our will is surrendered to His. Many times, people embark on the journey to discover God’s will having already made up their minds about what they think God wants them to do. And often what they are actually seeking is divine validation of what they desire.

If you truly want God’s will for your life, you cannot simply pray “Your will be done.” You must include “Not my will.”

—Daniel Kolenda (cfan.org.uk)

 

His ways are better

Have you ever felt the agony that comes when you know God is calling you to do something you don’t want to do? The reality is most of the Bible calls us to stuff we don’t want to do, but we know God’s ways are better, so we trust him. If you’ve felt this, you are not alone. There are many people in the Bible that felt the tension of trusting God. Chief among them is Jesus.

Before going to the cross to die for the sins of the world (including yours and mine), Jesus went to one of his frequent prayer spots in the Garden of Gethsemane, across from the brook of Kidron. It was during this prayer session where we read that Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39). But let us not miss something significant. Jesus was in agony over what was coming and what he had to do…

Matthew 26:37 says he was “sorrowful and troubled.” Mark 14:33 says Jesus was “greatly distressed and troubled.” And Luke records that an angel appeared to comfort Jesus; and he was in agony, so much so that his sweat was dripping like blood. (However, some manuscripts do not contain Luke 22:43–44.) The point is that Jesus was very uncomfortable, and he even asked God if there was any other way.

Nevertheless, Jesus was committed to doing the will of the Father, no matter what. … And the will of the Father was that Jesus would die under the crushing weight of the world’s sin so God and man could be reconciled.

At times we feel agony and anguish over doing the will of the Father. We worry and fret. We balk. But in the end, we must say, “Not my will, but the will of God.” …

You may be struggling in the tension of trusting that Jesus’ ways are better than the world’s ways… Don’t be in agony, but if you are, trust God. His ways are better.

—Bryan Catherman (redeeminglifeutah.org)

 

Feeling “inspired” to do God’s will

We all have certain responsibilities and duties that the Lord expects us to fulfill, whether we feel inspired to do so or not. Even prayer—our communion with the Lord—is something the Lord expects us to do and that we know we need to do. Witnessing and being a representative of the Lord’s love to others is another important duty and responsibility.

We don’t always feel inspired and enthusiastic to witness or minister to others, or to take time with the Lord, or even to pray. But we can’t wait until we feel inspired about doing whatever it is we’re supposed to do. We just can’t go by our feelings or live by our feelings—God’s will has to be our guide.

Feeling inspired is a motivation that comes and goes. The motivation that we need to hang on to are the facts, not the feelings—the fact that God’s Word tells us to do certain things that will help us in our spiritual walk with the Lord or that will help others. If anything is going to truly and consistently motivate us, the facts in God’s Word that spell out His will for us will. When you know something is God’s will for you, whether you feel inspired about it or not, if you just obey Him and do it by faith, as unto the Lord, He will bless you for it.

If the great men of God in the Bible had only obeyed God’s will when they felt inspired, they would have never accomplished anything for Him. Moses certainly didn’t feel like presenting his case to Pharaoh and leading the Jewish people out of Egypt. Nor did the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, or Daniel feel like doing the difficult and dangerous things that God commanded them to do. In fact, most of them argued with the Lord that He had the wrong guy and that He should get someone else to do the job!

We know that Jesus didn’t feel inspired about dying on the cross for the sins of the world, and even pleaded with His Father that “If it be possible, let this cup pass from Me.” But the bottom line was His declaration “Nevertheless, not My will, but Thine be done.”

When we know the Lord wants us to do something, whether we particularly feel like it or not, we should just go ahead and do it by faith, trusting in Him. He suffered and died to redeem us; thus we are indebted to Him. We are His servants, whom He purchased with His blood.

“For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18–19).

—Maria Fontaine

 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2024 The Family International

Living by Faith

A compilation

If we were to construct a top ten list of the most misunderstood words in the Christian vocabulary, I would nominate the word “faith” for the number one spot. It is a word which introduces us to a key factor in Christian living, designed to bring freedom, liberty, and power into our experience. Yet, like no other word, it has brought frustration, discouragement, and even a sense of condemnation to people.

It is by faith that truth becomes experience, and without it truth remains elusive, impractical, and theoretical. The writer of the book of Hebrews, comparing Israel in the Old Testament to his readers, states, “For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard it did not combine it with faith” (Hebrews 4:2). Two groups of people heard the same truth. To the one, it was of immense value, but to the other, it was of no value at all. The reason? One group combined what they knew with faith, and the other did not. It was the combination of truth with faith that made the truth work and become effective in their lives.

One thing we cannot escape as we read the Bible is that faith is an indispensable part of the Christian experience. The Scripture tells us that we are cleansed by faith, that we are saved by faith, that we are justified by faith, and that we have access to God by faith. However, having been saved by faith, we also discover that we are to live by faith, to walk by faith, and in so doing we discover we are to fight the good fight of faith, to take the shield of faith, and to overcome the world by faith.

We then discover that without faith, it is impossible to please Him, and that whatever is not of faith is sin. Furthermore, if we have difficulty living the Christian life, in all probability our difficulty will be related to our exercise of faith or our lack of it. …

In the Christian life, the object of our faith is the Lord Jesus Christ. The exercise of faith is an attitude of trust toward Him, which enables Him to be what He is and to do what He does within our own experience. When Scripture states that we are “saved by faith,” it means that we recognize our utter inability to save ourselves, and in dependence upon Christ we say something like, “Lord Jesus, I cannot save myself, but You can save me. I trust You to do so.” The result of our faith in Him is that God is able to work for us, in us, and through us. …

The Christian life is not something we live for God, but something God lives in us. From start to finish, it is a life of faith in God’s ability to work.

—Charles Price (Christ for Real: How to Grow into God’s Likeness)

 

A living faith

With His Word for the foundation of our faith, God has given us the power to live by faith to fulfill His purpose for our lives and to be a living testament of His love to the world. We are privileged to know His love, to be loved by Him personally, and to be empowered by His Spirit. He has entrusted us with the task and calling of reaching the world with His love and truth. He has provided the blueprint for living a godly life in His Word.

Throughout the Old and New Testaments, the importance of God’s Word to the walk of faith is paramount. Jesus, quoting the Scripture, said that “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

His Word provides a foundation for our faith, as well as guidance, instruction, counsel, encourage­ment, motivation, enlightenment, education, and power. His Word provides the strength to do His will and it helps us to continue growing spiritually. May we each continue to ground our faith in His Word, so that our lives will continue to be filled with His Spirit. Our faith is built on reverence for the Word, cultivating a personal relationship with the Lord, and obedience to the Lord and His Word.

As we seek to give our lives, hearts, and minds to the Lord, we can trust Him to guide us every day in our walk with Him. We can be confident that He will continue to perform the good work He began in our lives until its completion (Philippians 1:6). The Lord has promised that His Word will be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, leading us along His path that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day (Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 4:18).

—Maria Fontaine

 

A life of trust

Whenever someone believes the gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:3–5), that person is identified with Christ in the past (being positionally declared righteous), present (growing into righteousness), and future (being presented as perfectly righteous). Both the past and present aspects are seen in Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” …

The idea that we live by faith focuses on the present aspect of the Christian’s identity in Christ. In Galatians 2:20, Paul utilizes the phrase “in the body,” pointing specifically to the physical life of the Christian, as lived “now.” Living by faith is an act that takes place while the Christian is alive on the earth. This idea of presently being “in Christ” is critical to living by faith. …

To live by faith is to live trusting Jesus, who loved us to the point of dying in our place (John 3:16), purchasing our salvation. This trust should be a constant throughout the life of the believer.

—GotQuestions.org

 

The just will live by faith

It’s a bold statement, the sort of thing the apostles of old might have emblazoned on a T-shirt had that been an option 2,000 years ago: the just shall live by faith. … The original verse comes from Habakkuk 2:4, which is an Old Testament prophetic book written by the prophet Habakkuk to the people of Judah around 600 BC. …

In addition to “just,” other Bible translations use phrases like “the righteous,” “those who are good,” “those who are right with God,” “the person of integrity,” or “the person who is godly.” These are people who walk with the Lord, who are not perfect, but who strive to follow His ways and don’t stray from His teachings or commands.

Even when things are dark and gloomy and all hope seems lost, these just and righteous ones put their trust in God and hold fast to their faith. They know that God’s glory will prevail no matter what. They know God is the Almighty, the one and only true and perfect God, and they don’t bow to idols or false gods.

The phrase “live by faith” means the manner in which one lives—a conscious choice to follow God and not the ways of the surrounding culture, whether that’s worshipping false gods or other evil actions. But it also means that the just and righteous will live because of this. That is, because they choose to trust God and live in alignment with Him, they will be saved.

Paul quoted Habakkuk 2:4 a few times in his epistles to the early church. In Romans, Paul writes, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith’” (Romans 1:16–17). …

The point the Lord made back in days of old was the same point made in Jesus: the righteous and just are to walk by faith and to trust that all will be well in the Lord. When life is hard and suffering is heavy, it can be extremely difficult to live by faith. But trusting in our sovereign God is exactly what we must do.

—Jessica Brodie (christianity.com)

 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2024 The Family International

Crisis Management

There is a way to remain hopeful even in the midst of crises. As we read and absorb God’s Word, our faith and trust in His care for us grow. (See Romans 10:17; Psalm 18:30.)

Ask God for help.

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.

—Psalm 34:17

 

In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.

—Psalm 86:7

 

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

—Hebrews 4:16

 

Meditate on God’s promises.

The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who … remember to do his commandments.

—Psalm 103:17–18

 

You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.

—Psalm 119:114

 

Whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

—Romans 15:4 NKJV

 

Trust God to resolve the problem.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

—Proverbs 3:5–6

 

Those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

—Psalm 9:10

 

Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

—Hebrews 10:35–36 NIV

 

Remind yourself of God’s goodness and faithfulness.

The mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you.

—Isaiah 54:10

 

We know that for those who love God all things work together for good.

—Romans 8:28

 

I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.

—Philippians 1:6

 

Thank Him for answering your prayers.

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

—Psalm 107:1

 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

—Philippians 4:6–7

 

 

 

 

Copyright 2024 © Activated. All rights reserved.

Signs of the Times

By Peter Amsterdam

The times we are living in are unprecedented in many ways, due to modern technology, the mass migration of people, and globalization on many fronts. Modern life often leads to people feeling isolated, adrift, or without a clear moral compass in ways that other generations didn’t experience to the same extent. We are witnessing struggles related to racism, discrimination, and bias; questions about authority and violence; corruption in high places, and concerns about the future health and sustainability of the planet. We certainly are living in troublous times in many ways.

Of course, every generation has experienced its own unique set of challenges, struggles, and growing pains. If we look through history, we can see this constant pattern. This is not surprising to Christians, as we know that we live in a fallen world and that sin is a reality that must be confronted in every generation, as it is manifested in the evils of poverty, oppression, war, and inhumanity. We are not surprised by world conditions, as we know what the cause is: humanity’s broken relationship with God and the effects of that brokenness.

As Christians, however, our ultimate hope isn’t in this world or its political systems, as we know these are temporal and will pass away. We count ourselves amongst those described in Hebrews who have no lasting city on this earth, but desire “a better country, that is, a heavenly one” (Hebrews 11:16). We eagerly look forward to Jesus’ Second Coming, when all the pain, suffering, evils, and injustice will be made right and “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9). Nearly 2,000 years have passed since John wrote at the end of the book of Revelation, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” and believers have wholeheartedly echoed this sentiment since then, and we continue to do so today.

Many Christians in recent times—as they have in times past—have sought to understand the relevance of current events and contemporary culture as they relate to the timetable for Jesus’ return. Are current world conditions—including modern technology, globalization, the widespread preaching of the gospel, the move to cashless economies and worldwide digital currencies—signs that we are entering the final seven years that will precede the Second Coming of Jesus Christ? How are we to interpret current events in light of their relevance to what the Bible teaches about this momentous period of world history, and what conclusions can we draw?

The answers to such questions are to be drawn first and foremost from Scripture and what the Bible cumulatively teaches us about the period immediately leading up to Jesus’ Second Coming. Of course, the exact details of how these events will play out are not as detailed as we would like, but the Bible does provide a clear outline of what we can expect to see, collectively referred to as “the signs of the times.” Let’s review some of these.

 

Signs of Jesus’ coming

When Jesus’ disciples asked Him: “What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3), Jesus replied: “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains” (Matthew 24:6–8). The version in the Gospel of Luke includes pestilences in this list (Luke 21:11).

As we look through history, we can see that this “beginning of birth pains” has been occurring since the time of Jesus, referred to in the Bible as the “last days” to describe the period of time between Jesus’ first and second coming (1 John 2:18). There have been wars and rumors of wars, though in some periods of history much more so than today. There have been, and continue to be, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes. Jesus referred to these as being only the beginning of sorrows (Matthew 24:8 NKJV).

However, the Bible describes some clear signs that we will see and that will allow us to know that the end is ”at the very gates” (Matthew 24:33). Among other things, the Bible tells us that we will see the following signs before the Second Coming of Jesus:

• Lawlessness will increase and the love of many will grow cold (Matthew 24:12).
• The gospel will be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations (Matthew 24:14).
• There will come a great falling away (or rebellion) from God (2 Thessalonians 2:3 NKJV).
• The Antichrist and his powerful empire will rise (2 Thessalonians 2:3–9).
• The institution of the Antichrist government’s “mark of the beast,” without which no one will be able to buy or sell (Revelation 13:16–18).
• The great tribulation and persecution of Christians for three and a half years (Matthew 24:21–22).

When attempting to discern whether we are seeing the signs of the times being fulfilled in our lifetime, it is also important to bear in mind that they are a collection of events, not a single event. As Jesus explained: “When you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!” (Matthew 24:33 NKJV).

 

Always prepared

There is no question that every day that passes brings the world closer to Jesus’ return. As Christians, we await this triumphant event with eager anticipation, and we want to be prepared for it. Will we experience His Second Coming in our lifetimes? We can’t know that until we see the fulfillment of the definitive signs Jesus and others gave us in the Bible.

What kind of preparation should we be concerned with as followers of Jesus? After describing in Matthew 24 what His followers will face during those final days, Jesus goes on to say: “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” And Jesus, as if in answer to their unspoken question of how to live in that state of constant readiness, goes on to say:

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions” (Matthew 24:45–47).

Jesus refocuses the conversation on faithfulness with this reference to the faithful and wise servant, who has been given a responsibility for the master’s household and performs his job diligently. He doesn’t know when his master is going to return, but that doesn’t sway him; he is focused on being faithful in his work. When the master returns, that servant will be blessed.

Whether or not we will personally live to see the final seven years of world history in our lifetime, how we live our lives during the time God gives us on earth is what ultimately counts. As Christians, we are called to love God, love others, share the gospel, and do our best to live the teachings of Jesus. If we are faithful to do these things, we can trust that we will be prepared for whatever comes.

May we be faithful to pattern our lives according to God’s Word, to follow Him closely, and to share the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ with as many people as we can.

 

I know of nothing which I would choose to have as the subject of my ambition for life than to be kept faithful to my God till death, still to be a soul winner, still to be a true herald of the cross, and testify the name of Jesus to the last hour.

—Charles Spurgeon

 

 

 

 

Copyright 2024 © Activated. All rights reserved.

Easter: Why We Celebrate the New Covenant

By Andrew Heart

We celebrate Christmas and the birth of Christ, and so we should. But if our Lord had only lived here with us on the earth, but had not died for our sins as the sacrificial “Lamb of God” and risen from the grave, He would not have defeated death (Romans 6:10; 2 Timothy 1:10), and we would not be redeemed. Jesus introduced His new covenant “in His blood” to His disciples during the Last Supper. But what did that mean? His Jewish disciples would have been well acquainted with the covenant God made with Moses on Mount Sinai. But what was this new covenant all about?

Simply put, a “covenant” is a contract or an agreement. Under the “old” agreement, the Mosaic covenant, Israel was called to obey God and keep the Law, and in return, God would protect and bless them. The “new” agreement was between God and all mankind, with Jesus as the mediator (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:22).

Whereas under the old covenant the shedding of blood of a sacrificial animal was repeatedly required for the atonement of sin (Hebrews 10:1–4), the new covenant was written with the blood of Jesus, who was “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29). His blood was shed “once, for all” on the cross, as He “died to sin,” and “we know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him” (Romans 6:9–10).

If the “new covenant” is genuinely new, that must of necessity make the “old covenant” old. And if it is old, is it then still valid and in enforcement? Can the old and the new coexist? Or with the introduction of the new, is the old then set to “vanish away,” as Paul explains in Hebrews 8:13?

We know that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16), and that of course includes the Old Testament. But the Old Testament must be interpreted in light of the New Testament, not the other way around.

The book of Hebrews is extremely important to this understanding and was written to explain to the Jews, who up until that point had only known the Law, that a new and better covenant had now come (Jeremiah 31:31–34; Hebrews 8:6–8). The entire book of Hebrews is about Jesus and how He is the guarantor of the new and better covenant. This is essential for every Christian to understand. Paul explains that many of the forms and rituals of the Old Testament were types and shadows of the better things to come (Colossians 2:16–17; Hebrews 8:5, 10:1).

When Jesus presented Himself to His disciples after His death, the disciples asked Him if He would now restore the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6). The Greek word for “restore again” in Strong’s Bible Dictionary is “apokathistemi”—to reconstitute, restore. Up until that time, the disciples could not envision any other sort of kingdom than a physical kingdom restored to Israel.

He answered their first question by telling them it was not for them to know about times and seasons, but that they would receive power by the Holy Spirit to be witnesses, first locally, and then to the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 1:7–8). He then answered their second question regarding a restored physical kingdom by rising up into the heavens to sit on the right hand of the Father (Acts 1:9). And it was from that vantage point, sitting on that throne, that He would rule, not on an earthly throne in a physical temple on earth. Christ’s ascension confirmed the new covenant.

When Jesus was comparing “new wine” to “old” in Luke 5:36–39, He said, “No one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’” In this parable the Lord was explaining how the old guard (the scribes, Pharisees, and Jewish religious leaders) longed to cling to the “old way” (or covenant) rather than receive the “new wine” that He was pouring out. That’s why the new wine had to be poured into new bottles that could receive it (Matthew 9:16–17). This was shown clearly in how the Jewish religious leaders responded to the man in John 9 who had been born blind but had been healed by Jesus: “They reviled him, saying, ‘You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from” (John 9:28–29).

In conclusion, the new covenant was initiated at the Last Supper and confirmed through Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension into glory. The reason Paul spent so much time focusing on it was because it represented a monumental change for his Jewish audience, and it was difficult to understand—much less accept.

The study of Scripture is important to understand why we celebrate Easter and the ushering in of the new covenant. The disciples in Berea received the word with eagerness and searched the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul and Silas were teaching was the truth (Acts 17:10–11).

With so many voices and so much deception in the world today, it’s more important than ever to be anchored in the truth of God’s Word, and not tossed about by every “wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14). “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20–21).

 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2024 The Family International

Love Your Enemies

By Peter Amsterdam

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus not only taught that members of the kingdom of God should not retaliate and resist when wronged by others, but He taught that we are to love our enemies:

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:43–48).

Jesus paraphrased Leviticus 19:18, you shall love your neighbor, and then added the phrase and hate your enemy, which most likely summarized the way many in His day interpreted Scripture. There is no Scripture which specifically says to hate your enemy, though it can be inferred by Old Testament verses such as “Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies” (Psalm 139:21–22).

There are Old Testament passages that speak of showing kindness and goodwill toward one’s enemies: “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink” (Proverbs 25:21). “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles” (Proverbs 24:17).

Author D. A. Carson commented: “Some Jews took the word ‘neighbor’ to be exclusive: we are to love only our neighbor, they thought, and therefore we are to hate our enemies. This was actually taught in some circles” (D. A. Carson, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and His Confrontation with the World).

The key lies in the matter of defining who is a neighbor. The word “neighbor” in the Old Testament is used generally as a term for a member of the Jewish people. All throughout the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, the word “neighbor” generally refers to fellow Jews. The full sentence Jesus paraphrased said: “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18).

The general Jewish thinking at the time left “non-neighbors,” basically non-Jews, outside the command to love. However, Jesus greatly expanded the understanding of who is a neighbor to include strangers and even enemies. This is made clear both in this portion of the Sermon on the Mount as well as in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29–37).

John Stott explains that according to Jesus, our neighbor is “not necessarily a member of our own race, rank or religion. … Our ‘neighbor’ in the vocabulary of God includes our enemy. What constitutes him our neighbor is simply that he is a fellow human being in need, whose need we know and are in a position in some measure to relieve” (John R. W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount).

We are to love even our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, pray for those who abuse us (Luke 6:27–28). Why? Because we are God’s children, and this is how God treats people.

Speaking of humanity in general, the apostle Paul made the point that corporately, through Adam’s sin (and individually through our own sins), humanity rejected God and thus were considered His enemy, yet Scripture tells us that “while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son” (Romans 5:10). From the very beginning, God loved humanity; even though humanity was in rebellion against Him due to our sins, He loved us. As His children we should do as He does, by loving our enemies.

We’re told to pray for those who persecute and abuse us. We are to pray for them as Jesus prayed after being severely beaten and nailed to the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). We are children of our Father, and therefore should imitate His love. He doesn’t discriminate. He gives the blessings of sunshine and rain not only to the just, but also to the unjust. God is inclusive when it comes to His love, and as disciples, our attitudes toward others should reflect His.

Earlier in the Sermon Jesus taught His followers to go the extra mile, to refrain from slapping back in retaliation, to give not just our tunic but our cloak when someone sues us; and here He goes a step further, saying we are to love these people, to love even our enemies, to be positive in our attitude toward them. The love He speaks of isn’t referring to a natural affection or feelings of love, but rather the type of love which stems from the will and chooses to love the undeserving. It’s a love that is shown in action, compassion, and kindness.

Jesus next puts forth two hypothetical cases: “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” (Matthew 5:46–47).

Loving those who love you is nothing special. Even those who were considered the lowest of the low in Jesus’ milieu, the hated tax collectors, loved their family and friends. Jesus makes the point that there is no reward for doing what is naturally commonplace. He then pointed out that if you greet only those of your own people (in this case, fellow Jews), you are only doing what everyone does, including the Gentiles—the people who were looked down upon and considered idolaters. There is nothing exceptional about warmly greeting your own people. The implication is that more is expected of believers.

Earlier on in the Sermon, Jesus said: “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). As members of the kingdom, we are to do more than what is naturally done, to go beyond the norm. We are to imitate God by manifesting His love to everyone, including those who hate us and persecute us.

Jesus then ended with: “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). The meaning of “perfect” as used here isn’t moral perfection. John Stott explains:

Both the hunger for righteousness and the prayer for forgiveness, being continuous, are clear indications that Jesus did not expect his followers to become morally perfect in this life. The context shows the ‘perfection’ he means relates to love, that perfect love of God which is shown even to those who do not return it. Indeed, the scholars tell us that the Aramaic word which Jesus may well have used meant ‘all-embracing’ (Stott, Message of the Sermon on the Mount).

The direction to “be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect” picks up on the earlier point of imitating God. A believer’s lifestyle, along with the principles behind it, is meant to be different from the norm. It derives its direction and inspiration from the character of God rather than from the social norms of society. Jesus teaches that we are to look beyond simple obedience to the rules and restrictions of the Law to reflect God’s character as best we can. It echoes the repeated direction given in the Old Testament: “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2).

Like the Father, our treatment of others shouldn’t be determined by who they are or their treatment of us. God loves all people and bestows His love on them even if they don’t believe in Him—even if they hate Him. He doesn’t respond in kind. Instead, He loves them because He is love. We too are called to move beyond reacting to others based on our personal feelings about them or how they treat us or what they say. Instead we are to be governed by God’s love, to love as He does. When we do, we reflect His love toward them.

It is clear throughout Scripture that in the life to come, those who have been evil and have rejected the gift of a personal relationship with God made possible through the sacrifice of His Son will face judgment (John 3:36; John 5:28–29). God hates their evil (and ours as well), but He loves them as individuals. Thus, while we should love the individuals as God loves them, it doesn’t mean we accept or embrace what they do and who they become, or that we never speak against or take a stance against their wrongdoing or ungodly actions.

Paul says to “hate what is evil, cling to what is good” (Romans 12:9), and there is such a thing as righteous anger against evil. But such anger is hatred for the evil deeds; it’s hating what God hates. It’s not a personal hatred; it has no personal malice, vindictiveness, or spite.

God loves every human being, even though they sin against Him. He offers them the means of salvation from His wrath against their sin. When we are called to love our enemies, it’s a call to love them as God loves them, to desire good for them, to pray that they will come to know Him so they can spend eternity with Him.

Jesus’ call to love our enemies is His call for us to live as members of His kingdom by letting our light shine before others, doing our best to reflect the nature and character of God, our Father in heaven.

 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2024 The Family International

Don’t Worry, Be Happy!

A compilation

There are some things I’m good at: I can clean, organize, delegate, and plan like a boss. I can cook well enough to get paid to do it, and I can write pretty well. But I have one skill that I haven’t yet figured out how to market, and when I do, I’m fairly certain it will make me rich. I can worry with such skill and creativity that I’m convinced it’s gotta be worth something!

Do you know anyone who is interested in adding a professional “worrier” to their team? I can imagine all the possible worst-case scenarios and outcomes for companies and individuals. I can worry about things that are actual possibilities, and also about things that are so far-fetched they haven’t even made movies about them yet. I would love to put this skill to work, because at the moment it’s really more of a liability—something that robs me of peace and tranquility and wastes a lot of my time and energy.

God’s Word says, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself” (Matthew 6:34). Another passage says, “Do not be anxious for anything” (Philippians 4:6). These instructions really conflict with my worrying. So how can I comfortably worry about things when the Bible tells me so clearly not to worry?

If I’m really honest, there are times—lots of times—when my worrying steals all the joy out of my life. I have cried over tragedies that never happened. I have raged over difficulties that never materialized. I have stressed over problems that never came to pass. I’m sure I will be able to say with Mark Twain, “I’m old and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.”

I’m not sharing all this with you with the sole intention of convincing you that I’m nuts. I’m actually telling you this so that you can learn from my foolishness. Heck, I’m learning from my foolishness! Sometimes I feel foolish when, after a sleepless night spent crying, worrying, and stressing, I wake up in the morning to a tragedy-free life!

The good news is that I’ve been through this cycle enough times that I’m starting to realize the futility and uselessness of it. I can’t say that I’ve come close to breaking the worry habit yet, but I’m starting to think that maybe I should … stop!

But the fact is that it’s really hard not to worry. Life is pretty messy and unpredictable. Wouldn’t you agree? With all of life’s looming woes, how can anyone not worry?

There’s this little poem I once read (actually I read it so many times that I have memorized it):

I have nothing to do with tomorrow,
My Savior will make that His care.
Should it [be filled] with trouble and sorrow,
He’ll help me to suffer and bear.

I have nothing to do with tomorrow
Its burden then why should I share?
Its grace and its strength I can’t borrow,
So why should I borrow its care?

—Major D. W. Whittle

Isn’t that great advice? My worrying, your worrying—does nothing for our futures. I’ve never worried my way out of a problem. The only thing my worrying has accomplished was to sap my strength for the present. I’m guessing that that’s all you’ve managed to do with your worrying as well.

I can’t tell you that I’ve harnessed any amazing meditation techniques that have eliminated my worrying. I don’t know that there’s any one thing that takes away the urge to worry and stress about things. But here are a couple of things that I picked up from Dale Carnegie that are helping me:

• Ask yourself what’s the worst that can happen and make peace with it.

Now that might seem a little scary to do, but it’s one of the best ways I’ve found to let go of worry. In the words of Dale, “Once you accept the worst that can happen, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. It’s the beginning of freedom.” This technique has helped me greatly, as I can pray for grace and trust that God has never failed me, and He won’t fail me ever … not even if the “worst” were to happen!

• Set about doing the things that actually can be done to improve the situation.

Sometimes there is something that I can do, like make a phone call, send an email, write down what I need to remember or take care of, and especially commit my cares to the Lord in prayer.

I worry the most at night. Sometimes getting up and doing something makes things easier than just lying there. (It’s easier to deal with worry during the day, as I keep pretty busy.)

When I apply these steps I am amazingly able to let go of my worries, or at least keep them at bay.

My worries are likely different from your worries. But regardless of the issues, worrying is just as much a waste of time for you as it is for me. It’s something I want out of my life, and something you probably want out of your life, too. Why should we worry and stress when we can actually trust the Lord and be happy?

No matter how bad or difficult things get, there is always something to be grateful for and something that makes life worth living. I firmly believe that is a truth that will never change.

If you can eliminate the habit of worrying, you will save so much time and energy. And that’s time and energy that you can use toward building your future or working on the things that really matter.

And I’ll end this with the words of a well-known song by Bobby McFerrin: Don’t worry; be happy.

—Mara Hodler (Adapted from a Just1Thing podcast)

 

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Matthew 6:31–32 says, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”

A lot of our workaholism is rooted in worry. You have to put your security in something that can’t be taken from you. Trust that God knows your needs and can provide for you.

A Christian man, after struggling for years, finally said, “God, I’m going to give you my business. You’re the CEO now. You’re in charge of my career—the profits, payoffs, promotions. It’s your business now and you run it.”

The next day his business warehouse burned to the ground. He was seen standing outside the warehouse with a smile on his face. He said, “Last night I gave my business to God. If he wants to burn it down, it’s his business.”

He had a new perspective: “God will handle it! As quickly as he burned the thing down, he can raise it up again.” That’s called trust.

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, 30: “Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. … The yoke I will give you is easy, and the load I will put on you is light.”

Jesus came to give you a lifestyle that is easy and light. If you’re carrying a load that is heavy and overbearing, then it’s not from God.

Perhaps you have been in this lifestyle so long, you don’t know any other way. You’re dead tired, but you can’t seem to stop. God has a word for you: “Trust me. I’ll take care of you. Exchange your pressure [worry] for my peace.”

—Rick Warren (pastors.com)

 

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Worry is largely a matter of thinking about things at the wrong time. I have built into your brain the amazing capacity to observe your own thoughts. So it is possible to monitor your thoughts and make choices about them.

To avoid wasting mental and emotional energy, timing is very important. If you think about certain things at the wrong time—for example, when you’re lying in bed—it’s all too easy to start worrying about them. This is why it’s so helpful to monitor your thinking. Instead of waiting until you’re deep in worry, you can interrupt anxious, negative thoughts and change the subject.

I want you to discipline your mind to minimize worry and maximize worship. This will require much ongoing effort, but you will find that it is a path to freedom. When you realize you’re thinking about something at the wrong time—a worrisome, negative thought at a time when you can do nothing about it—take swift action. Tell yourself, “Not now!” and direct your mind elsewhere. The best direction for your thinking is toward Me. Draw near Me by expressing your trust in Me, your love for Me. This is worship.

Strive to live more fully in the present, refusing to worry about tomorrow. Striving involves devoting serious effort and energy to something; it usually includes struggle. You must exert continual effort if you want to live present-tense in My Presence. I urge you to make Me the major pursuit of your everyday life.

It’s essential to resist the temptation to worry. You live in a fallen world, full of sin and struggles—you will never run short of things that can provoke anxiety. However, remember that each day has enough trouble of its own. I carefully calibrate the amount of difficulty you will encounter on a given day. I know exactly how much you can handle with My help. And I am always near—ready to strengthen, encourage, and comfort you.

Pursuing a close walk with Me is the best way to live in the present. Keep bringing your thoughts back to Me whenever they wander. Return to Me joyfully, beloved. I will take great delight in you and rejoice over you with singing.

—Jesus (Sarah Young, Jesus Today)

 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2024 The Family International

Forgiving Your Worst Enemy

By Steve Hearts

The title of this article may have already made you cringe. Or perhaps it’s brought to mind a certain someone (or someones) who have grievously hurt or offended you in some way, or who you’d love to see pay for their words or actions toward you. The idea of forgiving them may seem unpleasant or even downright absurd. Forgiving your “worst enemy” is an important part of the forgiveness journey that must not be overlooked. Nevertheless, forgiving others is not the focus of this article.

Now, before you let out a sigh of relief, I suggest you read a little further, as you may find what I will talk about no less of a challenge to put into action. The “worst enemy” I’m referring to here is none other than our very own selves. We are often the most difficult ones to forgive.

We often beat ourselves up over things we wish we’d done differently, or we torture ourselves with remorse over things we wish we hadn’t done at all. Even though we’re aware that God has forgiven us, we ignore His forgiveness and stubbornly continue in our state of self-recrimination.

When my grandmother had a stroke a couple of years ago and returned to her home country where she could receive better care, both of my brothers visited her before she left. For various reasons, I was unable to be there. Although my family understood this, I felt terrible about it. The next time I saw my brothers, I told them how rotten I felt. They told me to stop beating myself up, assuring me that everyone understood why I couldn’t be there. My aunts and uncles had told me the same thing, so I finally forgave myself. But it took a while.

For years after my mother passed away, I consistently played the “if only” game. If only I’d tried harder despite my blindness to live a more independent life while she was alive, I could have helped her more during her illness. If only I had shown her more appreciation for the many sacrifices she had made for me. If only I’d had the guts to spend more time with her when she was the most ill, instead of turning away in denial, seeking to hide from the painful reality of her illness. And on and on it went.

In an article I wrote previously, I spoke of having been transformed and cleansed of resentment when I offered the Lord praise and thankfulness, in relation to my mother’s passing. I specifically thanked Him for seeing my mother through her illness and taking her when He did.

Here is one small but important detail that I did not share in that article. What also helped bring complete spiritual healing was thanking Him in spite of my seeming shortcomings and mistakes as her son. I say “seeming” because no one else has ever accused me of these shortcomings and failures—the only accuser was myself. I came to realize this as I praised the Lord in spite of all the blame I had placed on myself in the “if only” game I’d been playing. I found that praising the Lord propelled me along the path of self-forgiveness—causing all condemnation, remorse, and regret to dissipate.

What also encourages me to learn how to forgive myself is when I recall the many biblical examples of God’s boundless forgiveness of His people, no matter how great the offense. I can only imagine the difficulty those in Bible history must have had to receive God’s forgiveness and to forgive themselves.

Jesus’ disciples most likely felt devastated after they “forsook Him and fled” as He was taken by the Roman soldiers (Mark 14:50). Today we have great respect for the apostles, but they probably felt undignified and like traitors at Jesus’ trial and execution.

No doubt Peter felt the worst of them all. He must have felt brave for not having fled along with the rest of his buddies when the soldiers first came. But he’d stayed by Jesus’ side only to deny Him three times, just as Jesus predicted he would. So much for his initial show of bravery. The Bible tells us that when Peter recalled Jesus’ foretelling of his denial once it had already taken place, and how he had insisted that he’d die with Jesus before denying Him, “he went out and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:75).

After that, he undoubtedly felt like an outcast from the rest of the disciples. He might have figured that even though they ran, at least they hadn’t outright denied Jesus. For this reason, once Jesus was resurrected, the angel at the tomb told Mary Magdalene and her companions, “Go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you” (Mark 16:7). Jesus wanted Peter to know that he was still considered His disciple, and that he had been forgiven.

Judas, on the other hand, upon realizing he’d betrayed his own master and savior, succumbed to the guilt and hung himself. I’ve often wondered what would have happened if he’d simply repented and accepted God’s forgiveness. Who knows?

Paul the apostle is someone else who, I imagine felt quite unworthy of God’s forgiveness and willingness to use him, considering the role he’d played in persecuting and arresting Christians prior to his miraculous conversion. I have no doubt that he truly spoke from his heart when he said, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). That statement was likely based on his having experienced firsthand the amazing love of Jesus, which washes away all guilt and liberates us from condemnation. He had to have known the feeling of being haunted by the past, since he talked about “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead” (Philippians 3:13).

You may have heard the saying that we are our own worst enemy. In many cases, being our worst enemy is due to our refusal to accept God’s forgiveness and to forgive ourselves. Hard as this is for me to put into practice, striving to do so has worked wonders in my life—drastically changing my spiritual and physical health for the better. More recently, I’ve been doing the following exercise that the Lord suggested to me. When haunted by my past failures and shortcomings, I repeatedly tell myself, “I forgive you, Steve.” In the past, I’ve used this exercise to forgive others, and it’s worked wonders. Yet I see more wonders as I use it for myself.

I am further motivated by God’s promise, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18). If God promises to blot out our sins and remember no more our iniquities, who are we to hold on to them? God is faithful to forgive us. But it’s up to us to take the step and forgive ourselves. So what are we waiting for?

 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2024 The Family International

Breaking Down Fear

Compilation

There is a theory that we are born with three fears: fear of loud noises, fear of falling, and fear of abandonment. These fears, according to some psychologists, are hardwired into our nature; all others are acquired. Fear of spiders, fear of the dark, fear of dentists, and the rest of our many fears are programmed into our psyche through either firsthand experience or information we take in.

Fears generally fall into two categories: legitimate fears that warn of a genuine threat, either physical or emotional, and unfounded fears that are born of one’s imagination and have little or no basis in reality. The trouble is, our brains have difficulty telling the two apart and will often react to both in the same way: increased activity in the brain’s amygdala area (The amygdala has been called the seat of emotion) which activates our fight-or-flight response.

One method that therapists use to help a person overcome fear is through controlled exposure to whatever is causing the fear response. When the fear is not realized—in other words, when the feared consequence repeatedly does not take place—the mind is retrained to not react in fear when confronted by the supposed threat.

Other fears are harder to overcome because they are not tied to a physical situation. Rather, they are internal, having to do with worry and insecurity. Analyzing them to separate reality from misperception can help, but our greatest source of understanding, comfort, and relief from such fears is God Himself. When we have the assurance that He has our best interests at heart, stands with us in the present, and promises that all things will work together for good in the end for those who love God (See Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28), it helps put things in perspective and fears recede.

God has provided relief from fear through a personal connection with Him. We make that connection through prayer, and we strengthen it by reading and studying God’s Word, believing His promises to us therein, and applying them in our daily lives. The more we learn to turn to and depend on God, the more He is able to help us overcome our fears.

—Roald Watterson

 

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Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

—Isaiah 41:10

 

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The Bible says that “love is of God” and “God is love” (1 John 4:7–8); in other words, love is a fundamental characteristic of who God is. There is a distinct word for the type of love that God displays. In the Greek, this word is agape, and it refers to a benevolent and charitable love that seeks the best for the loved one. …

“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Sometimes this “spirit of fear” overcomes us, and to overcome it we need to trust in and love God more completely. … To help us be complete in love, God has liberally sprinkled encouragement against fear throughout the Bible. God tells us not to be afraid of being alone, of being too weak, of not being heard in our prayers, or of being destitute of physical necessities. These admonishments cover many different aspects of the “spirit of fear.”

The Scriptures are bursting with admonitions from God to His people to overcome fear and doubt—over 350 commands to “fear not.” As a matter of fact, the one verbal encouragement Jesus gives more than any other is a call to fearless living (e.g., Matthew 6:25; 9:2; 10:28; 10:31).

The key to overcoming fear is total and complete trust in God. Trusting God is how Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced the fiery furnace without fear (Daniel 3). Trusting God is how Stephen stood before his killers fearlessly (Acts 7). To trust God is to refuse to give in to fear. Even in the darkest times, we can trust in God to make things right. This trust comes from knowing God and knowing that He is good.

—GotQuestions.org

 

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An angel appeared to the crowd gathered at the empty tomb of Jesus, and do you know the first thing he said?

Do not be afraid.

This is actually the most common command given throughout the Bible … it is said 365 times.

That’s a command to be fearless for every day of the year!

Easy to say, but hard to do, as fear also shows up as anxiety, worry, and even anger!

So how can [we] be sure that [we] can live fearlessly because of the resurrection?

Because we know these five truths:

1. We know Jesus tells us the truth because he is the truth.
2. We know God loves us extravagantly.
3. We know God has a good plan for our lives.
4. We know God will take care of our needs.
5. We know that death is not the end.

But not everyone is aware of these five truths! … So spread this Good News to as many people as possible!

—Rick Warren (Pastors.com)

 

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Some years ago I read an account that went something like this:

A group of scientists and botanists were exploring remote regions of the Alps in search of new species of flowers. One day they noticed through binoculars a flower of such rarity and beauty that its value to science was incalculable. But it lay deep in a ravine with cliffs on both sides. To get the flower, someone had to be lowered over the cliff on a rope.

A curious young boy was watching nearby, and the scientists told him they would pay him well if he would agree to be lowered over the cliff to retrieve the flower below.

The boy took one long look down the steep, dizzy depths and said, “I’ll be back in a minute.” A short time later he returned, followed by a gray-haired man. Approaching the botanist, the boy said, “I’ll go over that cliff and get that flower for you if this man holds the rope. He’s my dad.”

His whole assurance was based in the fact that his father was trustworthy. Isn’t this even more true for us as Christians?

—Our Daily Bread (sermonsearch.com)

 

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Comforting God, I love to hear you whispering in my mind: “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.” These loving words are like a warm blanket wrapped around me—sheltering me from the coldness of fear and discouragement.

When trouble is stalking me, remind me to grip Your hand tightly and stay in communication with You. I can trust and not be afraid because You are my Strength and Song. Your powerful Presence is with me always: I face nothing alone! I am grateful that you have promised to strengthen me and help me.

Your strong hand supports me in both good and bad times. When things are going smoothly in my life, I may be less attentive to Your faithful Presence. But when I’m walking through the valley of the shadow of death, I’m profoundly aware of my need for You. At such times, holding on to Your hand keeps me standing—and enables me to put one foot in front of the other.

As I seek to endure adversity in trusting dependence on You, please bless me with Peace and Joy in Your Presence.

In Your dependable Name, Jesus, Amen.

—Sarah Young (Jesus Listens)

 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2024 The Family International

Jesus, the Risen Savior

By Gabriel and Sally García

Johanna-Ruth Dobschiner was a young Jewish woman who survived the WWII German occupation of the Netherlands by hiding in attics and behind false walls in the homes of the members of the Dutch resistance. It was during the long, tedious hours hidden upstairs in the home of Bastian Johan Ader, the pastor of a small church and leader of an “underground” cell, that Johanna-Ruth took a Bible from his bookshelf and began to read it from cover to cover.

In the Old Testament she read the stories that she had often heard in her Orthodox Jewish home. But then, to her surprise, the Bible had a second part, the New Testament. Starting with the Gospels, she read the amazing story of the man named Jesus! As she read, she imagined that she was one of His disciples following Him throughout Palestine. She was sure that He was the Messiah and could not understand how no one had ever told her about Him!

So heartbroken was she to read about His crucifixion, death, and burial that she closed the Bible and mourned for seven days, as was the Jewish custom. It was sometime later, when she decided to continue reading from where she had left off, that she excitedly discovered that Jesus had risen from the dead! He was the Messiah after all! After reading the stories of the first Christians in the book of Acts, she saw that Christ, through the Holy Spirit, lives on within us, and so she surrendered her heart and life to Jesus.

This Easter let us share Johanna-Ruth’s joy upon discovering the resurrected Christ, and help others come to know Him as well.

 

 

 

 

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