Author: Jayne Lawson

“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” – John 6:38

Looking around at this world, I see and hear about lots of things that are very depressing. I hear about global warming and how our earth is suffering drastic changes due to man’s pollution of the atmosphere. I see hatred, anger, and intolerance between religions, races, nations, and government leaders. I have lived in cities where the crime rates have skyrocketed, and I have witnessed individuals living inside their cars or cardboard boxes. I see acres and acres of trees cut down, destroying natural habitats and environments to make way for urbanization. I’ve seen smog so think it was dangerous to go outside. I’ve heard people mock God and His Word in my country, and I’ve seen places of worship covered with vicious graffiti on their walls. I’ve seen believers attacked for their faith, and I’ve heard of horrible persecutions and murders of Christians in other lands.

This is the world that Jesus left heaven to come to. For all eternity past, He had dwelt in heaven, surrounded by angels who loved Him and worshipped Him with songs and praises continually. The entire place was filled with the glory of God. There was no hatred, no destruction of the environment, no war, no homeless people, no racism, no poverty. It was perfect… it is perfect still! It’s where God’s holiness can be found everywhere! This is what Jesus willingly left to come to earth to live as a man who did no wrong, be betrayed by a friend, mocked, ridiculed, and eventually executed on a rugged cross as a lowly criminal.

Jesus left the glory of heaven for one reason. He came to become our Saviour. 1 John 4:14 states, “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” Jesus was sent by His Father in heaven for a specific purpose, and He chose to obey the will of God. At any point in time, He could have said it was over… finished… not worth the effort. But He didn’t. He waited until God’s work truly was finished. He waited until He hung on the cross and took the weight of all the sins of the world upon Himself. And when He did, His beloved Father turned away, unable to look upon His Son, who bore the sins of all mankind. 1 Peter 2:24 states, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” For the first time in all eternity, Jesus was separated from His Father. That is when the work was completed, and Jesus finally announced, “It is finished.” (John 19:30) Sin’s price had been paid by the Son of God, who shed His precious blood on Calvary, suffering and dying a heinous death to become our Redeemer.

The story didn’t end there though. 3 days after His death, Jesus rose from the grave! Through His resurrection, He proved He really was God’s Son who had the power to forgive sins and become the Saviour of the world. “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 5:30-31)

I am so glad Jesus chose to come to earth from heaven to be my Saviour. One day soon, I will see Him and be able to thank Him for saving my soul from death and hell, for in His coming to earth, He purchased my redemption and gave me eternal life. One sweet day, I will be with Him in His glorious heaven where He is preparing a place for me. Jesus said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:3)

Jesus will return again, and by the looks of things, it won’t be long. I can hardly wait to see Him!

Sing the wondrous love of Jesus
Sing his mercy and his grace
In the mansions bright and blessed
He’ll prepare for us a place

When we all get to heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be
When we all see Jesus
We’ll sing and shout the victory

(from “When We All Get to Heaven” by Emily D. Wilson and E.E. Hewitt)

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

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No longer do I look for the signs of Jesus’ coming; now, I listen for the trumpet!!

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7

Every once in a while, I go fishing. I don’t catch a lot, but I keep trying. At first, I am excited. I put the bait on my line and cast it as hard as I can to get it far out into the water. Then I wait… and wait… until finally, I reel the line back in, just in case there is a fish on the hook that I didn’t feel. Never is, so I check the bait and recast. Out goes the line, and the baited hook drops into the lake once more. A little bit later, I reel it back in. No fish. The cycle continues. Cast it out, reel it in. Cast it out, reel it in.

Kind of reminds me of what I do with spiritual burdens. The Bible tells me to cast my cares upon the Lord. I do that quite easily. The challenges of life often bring me to my knees, and I readily cast all my concerns and worries to Him, but just like when I’m fishing, I reel those problems right back to me, shoulder them, and head off into my daily activities with this massive burden on my back. It makes it difficult to do anything else because I am so weighed down with those same cares and woes I had previously brought to God!

The dictionary defines the word “cast” as “to throw something forcefully in a specified direction.” Notice the definition never refers to retrieving what is thrown. That which is cast is to go in one direction, and that’s it. See my problem? I take my burdens to the cross, but often before I leave, I pick them right back up again and then go on to the rest of my day.

I need to cast my cares upon the Lord, period. Give them to Him. I know He can handle them all much better than I can. He’s proven that again and again in Scripture. Truly casting my cares upon Him is an act of faith on my part. When I take my burdens back, I am demonstrating a lack of belief that God will handle them, and I am doubting His Word. I need to not be a “double minded man” (James 1:8), but instead I need to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6) to protect myself against the attacks of the enemy and fortify myself with prayer and the Word of God.

When worries creep into my mind, I need to pray immediately, casting ALL my cares upon Him, then run to the Word of God as quickly as I can and read it for assurance that God’s got it covered. Jesus told us “…with God, all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26). There is nothing God cannot handle. I must allow His truth to replace the lies that threaten to overwhelm me. In that way, I can “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Philippians 4:6)

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?

Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?

Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.

(from “Does Jesus Care?” by Frank E. Graeff)

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28

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Got worries? Give them to God! Time to be “care-free” in Jesus!

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” – 1 Corinthians 14:33

I do not like confusion. When things or situations bewilder me, I am very uncomfortable, and at times, that discomfort borders on fear. The uncertainty of today’s world can be extremely confusing! One day, the CDC and the WHO say one thing, and the next day, they say the opposite. We have a Constitution that guarantees certain rights to this country’s citizens, but more and more of those rights are taken away by the very people voted in to uphold them. Now, we have legal tender that is not being accepted in certain places of business. I’ve even heard people wonder as to why God is allowing these things to happen. When clarity of purpose is missing, confusion quickly moves in to fill the void.

However, we must remember that confusion NEVER comes from God. As today’s verse states, “…God is not the author of confusion…” In fact, He is just the opposite. Isaiah 45:4 states, “They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.” Confusion comes when our focus is not upon God, but upon circumstances and outcomes. Uncertainty comes when we depend upon man for guidance and wisdom, when our dependence should be upon the Lord. “Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.” (Isaiah 41:29)

What is the solution? How do we find clarity in the world around us when it seems that chaos reigns supreme? We turn to the Lord. Psalm 71:1 explains how to do this. “In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.” The ways of God are so much higher than the ways of man. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9) When I choose to place my trust in God, I also must realize that by doing so, I still may not understand certain things or situations, but I know who controls them all, and I purpose to anchor my faith in Him. Proverbs 3:5 reminds me to “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” I know God has a plan and purpose… it’s written out in Scripture. I know that He uses governments, rulers, individuals, and seemingly  insane situations to accomplish His will.

When I trust God, I choose to follow in His footsteps, knowing He will never lead me astray. He will always take care of me, and He will forever be in control of EVERYTHING! So, no matter how mixed up this world seems, I know God’s got it covered. Nothing takes Him by surprise… the word “oops” is not in His vocabulary, therefore He is the solution to my confusion today and forever!

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
And to take him at his word;
Just to rest upon his promise,
And to know, “Thus saith the Lord.”

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!

(from “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” by Louisa Stead and William Kirkpatrick)

“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” – Psalm 118:8

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The first defense against confusion is the helmet of salvation! Do you have yours?

“O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.” – Psalm 95:1

I love to sing! I love singing at home while listening to music. I love to sing at church with the entire congregation, and I love singing with the choir. I just love to make music to the Lord!

God loves to hear us sing! In fact, our songs are used by God to point others to Himself! “And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.” (Psalm 40:3)

There are so many reasons for us to lift our voices in song to Him. Here are a few of the reasons I sing.

• Psalm 13:6 – “I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.”
• Psalm 95:1 – “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.”
• Zephaniah 3:17 – “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.”
• Hebrews 2:12 – “Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.”
• Psalm 71:23 – “My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.”
• Psalm 101:1 – “I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.”
• Colossians 3:16 – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

There are so many other verses that explain why we should sing unto the Lord, but perhaps the best reason to sing to God is because of who He is. “Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:” (Psalm 68:32)

Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! Hail Him! Highest archangels in glory;
Strength and honor give to His holy Name!
Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children,
In His arms He carries them all day long.

Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
For our sins He suffered, and bled, and died.
He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
Hail Him! Hail Him! Jesus the Crucified.
Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows,
Love unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong.

Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Heav’nly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever;
Crown Him! Crown Him! Prophet, and Priest, and King!
Christ is coming! over the world victorious,
Pow’r and glory unto the Lord belong.

Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness;
Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song!

(from “Praise Him, Praise Him” by Fanny Crosby)

“Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.” – Psalm 147:1

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How can you praise the Lord in song today?

“He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.” – Jeremiah 10:12

Chaos is defined as complete disorder and confusion. Sure seems like that’s the way of the world these days. There’s a hint of orderliness in our society that I remember, but it’s been a long time since peace and harmony was the law of the land.

Today’s current events can easily tie my stomach in knots as I see zero unity in our government, no support for law enforcement, racial divisions, rising hatred for anything that remotely resembles Christianity, unstable economics, and a seemingly uncontrollable virus that has redefined what is normal for all of us.

It is only when I remember that God still reigns, that the knots unravel and the sinking feeling within me disappears. In Joshua 1:9, the Bible reminds me, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Knowing that my Father in heaven has everything under control gives me peace and assurance that all will work toward His good, according to His plan (Romans 8:28). All I need to do is trust Him, and then rest in Him.

How sweet it is to be loved by God!

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul

It is well, (it is well)
With my soul, (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul

(from “It is Well With My Soul” by Horatio Spafford)

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

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Worries keeping you awake at night? Give them to God, and get a good night’s sleep!

“My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.” – Psalm 62:5

Sometimes things don’t work out the way we expect. There have been a lot of different ways I have responded in the past when this happens to me, but today I was overwhelmed, and my reactions were a bit different.

Last night, I was trying to help out two friends. I had tried to do my best, but everything I was doing hit a wall. Nothing was falling into place, and I was getting very frustrated… for them and for me. Unable to resolve the situations, I went to bed, but my stomach was in knots. I prayed, hoping for sleep, and God in His goodness gave me a good night’s rest.

When I awoke, my first thoughts were about the previous night and my problems. Again, turmoil was within me, and I felt the anxiety increasing once more. I said a quick prayer, asking God for help, but to also give me the strength to “cast all my cares upon Him” (1 Peter 5:7).

I knew it was time for me to listen to what God had to say.

I opened the Bible and began to read. The two passages for today were in Job and Psalms, and both focused on the omniscience and omnipotence of God. Of course, I had fallen into the trap of believing that everything was in my control, but I was reminded that it is God who is in control. It is God who delivers. “Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.” (Psalm 107:6). My prayer was a little different this time. I surrendered my problems to the Lord, and chose to trust Him for the outcomes. My anxieties subsided, and His Spirit filled me with His peace.

Oh, by the way, everything ended up working out just fine. It took a little work on my part, but realizing that God had it covered, I chose to do what I needed to do and left the rest up to Him, trusting God for successful results. He did exactly as His Word said He would do. He delivered me out of my distresses!

Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,
Jesus, I come! Jesus, I come!
Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee!
Out of my sickness into Thy health,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee!

Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come.
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm,
Out of life’s storms and into Thy calm,
Out of distress into jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

(from “Jesus, I Come” by William Sleeper and George Stebbins)

“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” – Psalm 18:2

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How has God delivered you lately?

“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:”- Isaiah 55:6

It’s kind of odd to think that there will come a time when God will not be near for us to call upon Him, but it will come. Right now, God abides with us. He indwells every believer in the person of the Holy Spirit, but one day soon, Jesus will return to take Christians back to heaven with Him. Currently, He is preparing a place for us there, and when that is completed, God the Father will send His Son to claim His bride… the Church. “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:2-3) This event, known as the Rapture of the Church, is recorded in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

When the Rapture happens and all the Christians leave this world, the Holy Spirit, who dwells within each believer, will also be removed from the earth at that time. No longer will the Spirit of God be here. How will this impact life on earth? To understand the impact, it’s important to know that one of the jobs of the Holy Spirit is to restrain sin (2 Thessalonians 2:7). He does this by convicting the world of sin which restrains evil from being worse than it is. In regard to the Holy Spirit, Jesus said, “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:” (John 16:8). When the Christians, whose bodies are the temple of the indwelling Spirit of God, are no longer here, neither is the Holy Spirit.

Once He is gone, there will be no restrainer of sin, and evil and wickedness will be loosed upon this world as never before… well, except maybe in the days of Noah. Jesus said “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matthew 24:37-39). In those days, mankind grieved God so much that He finally exercised His judgment upon the earth. He will do the same after the Rapture of the Church.

So, what does this mean for Christians? It means that we need to be sharing the gospel with those around us. Time is truly short. We can see the signs of Jesus’ coming everywhere! Maybe you’re thinking, “I wouldn’t know what to say…” Just tell people what Jesus has done for you. That’s the best testimony because it’s real! God will do the rest! Remember, He wants everyone to come to Him with a penitent heart and accept salvation through His Son. 2 Peter 3:9 reminds us, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Tonight a man is somewhere proclaiming the good news
Winning families to Jesus all around his neighborhood
He tells them that God is able to make their house a home
He wants to win his world for Christ, but he can’t do it alone

The message is unchanging, go ye into all the world
And share the love of Jesus far away or door to door
You see, just like somebody told you that Jesus loves you so
You must tell someone, who will tell someone
Until the whole world knows

But each one can reach one
As we follow after Christ, we all can lead one
We can lead one to the Savior
And together we can tell the world that Jesus is the way
If we each one reach one

(from “Each One, Reach One” by Babbie Mason)

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” – Proverbs 11:30

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Instead of looking for the signs, we need to be listening for the trumpet!

“The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” – Proverbs 11:25

Every now and then, I just have to allow yourself a little chuckle. As I read today’s verse, my amused mind immediately thought of my current weight loss program. I thought, “Good thing I’m a conservative!” I just couldn’t help it!!

On a more serious note, when we choose to selflessly minister to others, whether spiritually or physically, God will bless us. How can we minister to someone? Jesus gave us the “Great Commission” in Mark 16:15, instructing us to share the gospel with the world. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” When we share Christ with others, we minister to their souls. Our lives should reflect Jesus at all times, so others can see Him in us and hopefully respond to the gospel message. This is the ultimate service for God!

Here are a few other ways we can minister to others.

• Pray for others – “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;” (1 Timothy 2:1)
• Give to the poor – “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” (Proverbs 19:17
• Share the burdens of others – “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)
• Be willing to share when there is a need – “Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” (Matthew 5:42)
• Use your talents for God – “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1 Peter 4:10)
• Be kind to others – “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
• Forgive others – “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” (Colossians 3:13)

When we minister to others out of our love for God, He blesses the work and the servant. The blessing may be in that moment or years later. Hebrews 6:10 states “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” He always knows what we do in His name, and He will reward us for honoring Him through our service. Jesus said, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” (Luke 6:38) Our reward may be here on earth or in our heavenly home, but either way, God will bless!

When we serve from the heart, God is glorified. In serving the Lord generously and freely, we honor Him and bring glory to His name. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 (Corinthians 10:31) I may just pass out a tract or two this week. My soul could use a little fattening up!

Lord let me serve, Lord let me follow
Give me a place and a purpose to fill
Teach me to serve, teach me to follow
Use me to do Your will.

People are longing to learn of the Savior
Children are growing not knowing He cares
Lord, let me tell them about Your compassion
Lord, where can I be used?

Lord let me serve wherever You need me
Make me a vessel thro’ which You can flow
Give me a mission a place of fulfillment
Lord, where can I be used?

Ready and willing to give You my talent
Show me the task and I’ll serve You today
Give me a passion to work for Your glory
Lord, where can I be used?

(from “Lord, Let Me Serve” by Linda Lee Johnson and Thomas E. Fettke)

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” – Colossians 3:17

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Serving God reaps blessings unimaginable!

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” – Matthew 7:12

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” That’s the Golden Rule. I remember hearing that as a young girl from my parents and teachers. What they were telling me was to act toward other people as I wanted them to act toward me. This tenet comes from the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus spoke those words to the multitude gathered around Him. He stated that this directive was found in the law of God and the teachings of the prophets, and that it was meant for those in His presence then as well as for us today.

The world could use a little more of the Golden Rule these days. It’s easy to point a finger at the insane situations and the actions of those who seem anything but charitable, but in actuality, this philosophy needs to begin with each of us. I need to practice more of the Golden Rule. For example, when someone cuts me off on the freeway, how do I react? How would I want the other driver to react if I had been the one cutting him off? What about when I have an opinion that differs from my husband? Do I want him to be unyielding and abrupt with me as I have found myself doing in the past? Or should I listen to his side and then discuss our options together? What about moments when I speak about someone else behind their back? Would I want myself to be the target of someone else’s gossip?

I can even apply the Golden Rule to my spiritual life. How do I respond when someone hurts my feelings? Am I quick to forgive or do I harbor anger and bitterness. Would I want someone to be that way toward me? I know I want God to forgive me each time I sin, but am I willing to readily forgive others when they sin against me?

What about my relationship with God? I wonder how I would feel if He only paid attention to me for a few minutes at mealtime or just before bed. If I desire His presence with me all day long, shouldn’t I also do my part to cultivate a continuous communion with Him throughout the day? Thankfully, I can see where God constantly employs the Golden Rule with me. He loves me with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). I know He wants me to love Him and make Him a priority in  my life for His Word says in Matthew 22:37, “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” Have I? God has blessed me time and time again. Do I reciprocate? What do I give to God that blesses Him or His holy name?

There are a lot of ways to apply the Golden Rule to my life. I just need to look for them, and then remember Jesus’ words. If I strive to be a little kinder and considerate to others, it’ll help make this world a better place. After all, every journey begins with one small step.  So today, I am going to try to apply Matthew 7:12 to my life on a more regular basis. Maybe it is just a small step, but if each one of us takes a tiny step forward, imagine what could happen! We could all reflect Jesus to a world that so desperately needs it. Isn’t that what we’ve been called to do?

It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing;
That’s how it is with God’s Love,
Once you’ve experienced it,
Your spread His love to everyone
You want to pass it on.

(from “Pass It On” by Kurt Kaiser)

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:32

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It’s so much easier to love than to hate…

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:2

Who is Jesus? He is known as the Son of God, Emmanuel, and the Blessed Redeemer. He has been called the Good Shepherd, the Lion of Judah, the Prince of Peace, and the Bread of Life. Most of His names are easy to understand the reason behind them, but sometimes there is much more to the name than meets the eye.

Author and Finisher – “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)

• The Word of God begins with Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” It ends with Revelation 22:21, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” The author of the Bible is Jesus Christ, which is stated in John 1:1 and 1:14. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” This makes Jesus the writer, or author, of the Scriptures, who began the Word of God, then finished it with His work on the cross, providing salvation for all mankind. Thus, He is the author and finisher of our faith.

Alpha and Omega – “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)

• Jewish writers often used the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet to denote something that was wholly complete. Here the words Alpha and the Omega respectively are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet and refer to the same. These words refer to the completeness of God, who is the Alpha and Omega, and everything that is in between. Jesus is God over all.

Beginning and the End – “And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” (Revelation 21:6)

• God knows no beginning or ending for He is from everlasting to everlasting. However, He is our beginning… our Creator, who made man in His own image, and thus mankind’s relationship with Him began on the 6^th day of Creation. When Adam and Eve severed their connection with God through their sin, God chose to restore it. He ended that separation by providing redemption through the blood of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus ended the power of sin and death forever. Thus, He is the beginning and the end.

First and the Last – “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:” (Revelation 1:17)

• Jesus is the first and the last. He is the fulfillment law (the first), which was given to Moses, and He is the manifestation of the “good news,” the gospel (the last). Jesus gave us the law to make us aware of our sin, which separated us from God, and then Jesus became the Saviour who would sacrifice Himself to reconcile humanity with God. He was first the Judge, then lastly, He became the Saviour.

When Jesus calls me to heaven, I will finally see Him as He is. He will be all of these names and so much more. Perhaps for me, the most precious name by which I will call Him will be “my Saviour,” and I will spend eternity praising His name…

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus; there’s just something about that name
Master, Savior, Jesus, like the fragrance after the rain;
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, let all Heaven and earth proclaim
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away
But there’s something about that name

(from “There’s Something About That Name” by Bill and Gloria Gaither)

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6

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Praise the name of Jesus!