Author: Jayne Lawson

“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

The other day, someone asked me where I lived. I knew they were not asking for my street address, but rather a generalization with regard to where we were at the moment. I explained I lived “out in the country,” north of where we were.

I don’t usually give much thought to where I live physically. I just know I love it! Being in the country allows me to wake up to birds singing, to listen to the wind in the trees, and to see an occasional deer, opossum, or fox in the woods near my house. Similarly, I’ve never really thought about where I live spiritually. I don’t mean the church I attend, but rather, where does my heart live spiritually? There are really only three possible answers. I either live in the past, the present, or the future.

The past is the largest part of my life if you were to count it in years. Reminiscing about certain events, like birthdays, graduations, or holidays, can really bring a smile to my heart. I remember gloriously happy days when I was a newlywed. I easily recall the blessings of raising my children. Moving into my first home was another highlight as was buying my first car. I loved being in high school and hanging out with my friends. I think we all believed we could do anything in those days!

I also remember the day I accepted Christ as my Saviour. It was the best day of my life! I was so excited, and as a 12-year-old, my mission was to share Christ with everyone. It was challenging to share Him with my mother, but Fridays was always our day to spend special time together, and that is when we had our best talks about God. It took years before my mom finally was free of her Shintoist past and became a child of God. I still remember that day as if it were yesterday!

However, I should not focus my entire being on my yesterdays. The Bible says, “Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.” (Ecclesiastes 7:10) Living in the past can be quite joyful, but it can also be detrimental to my well-being. If I remember a time when I had a better job, better health, more money in my bank account, or less weight on this body, it can cause me to focus on the ‘if onlys’ and ruin my today! Comparing what was to what is can be disheartening! Dwelling in the “I remember when…” times can be nonproductive and a bad testimony to others. The Bible says in Isaiah 43:18 “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.”

Living in the past can be emotionally painful as it can also remind me of my former sins. When these thoughts consume me, guilt and shame resurface, and I become an ineffective witness for Christ. I forget that I have been forgiven. Psalm 103:12 states, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” God doesn’t revisit my past sins, and neither should I, but when I live in the past, I forget that He has forgiven my sins and will “remember them no more” (Hebrews 10:17). I soon become enveloped by the “old me,” and my life is deprived of the joy of my salvation! The only way to escape the past is to remember that “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1).

If not in the past, then perhaps living in the future is the better choice. First of all, there is no sin there to haunt me. I am looking ahead at a clean slate, so to speak. But there is worry. Short-term worries can be overwhelming. “Will I have enough money to buy new tires for my car?” “Is this lump a sign of cancer?” “Will I remember the words of this song when I sing it in church?” Long-term worries are equally as concerning. “Will I have enough money to sustain myself through retirement?” “Will I be healthy enough to take care of myself, or will I become a burden to my family?” “Will so-and-so ever get saved?” The Bible tells me “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself…” Matthew 6:34.

Clearly, the third option is the best. Living in the here and now. I cannot control tomorrow, nor can I erase the past. I can only impact today. “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth,” records Proverbs 27:1. There are a plethora of things in my life today that need my attention. God tells me to focus on the tasks at hand in Proverbs 16:3. “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.” If I spend all my time wishing I could change things of the past or worrying about things in the future, I completely miss the opportunities of today! Matthew 6:25 reminds me to “…Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?”

It is important for me to listen to God today! Hebrews 3:7 says, “Wherefore as the Holy Ghost saith, Today if ye will hear his voice…” It doesn’t say ‘yesterday’ or ‘tomorrow.’ The verse says ‘today’! And then, the Scripture goes on to say, “While it is said, today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.” (Hebrews 3:15)

The past is gone, and tomorrow will take care of itself. I need to be living in the present. Why? Because God has work for me to do, and today is the day that I must do it! He’ll let me know about tomorrow when it comes, and when it does, it will again be ‘today’! I don’t need to worry about it. God’s got it covered!

I don’t know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day
I don’t borrow from its sunshine for its skies may turn to gray
I don’t worry o’er the future for I know what Jesus said
And today I’ll walk beside Him for He knows what is ahead
Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand

(from “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow” by Ira Stanphill)

“But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13

**********

Never let yesterday use up too much of today. – Will Rogers

“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.” Mark 4:37

Rain! Rain! Rain! This morning I awoke to pounding rain, lightning, and thunder, accompanied by tornado and flash flood warnings! Yikes! It was still dark, and even with the occasional flashes of light to illuminate the sky, I wondered how I would ever see a funnel cloud approaching! While I like thunderstorms, I am not a fan of flash floods or tornadoes, so I kept an eye on the weather reports.

Sometimes troubles come into our lives, and they are just like storms. They can be scary just like a tornado warning, even to the point where you desperately seek refuge from them. Many years ago, I experienced a health crisis in my life. I definitely was overwhelmed, scared, and needed reassurance that all would be fine. It was hard to believe things would eventually be back to normal, but I had the support of my family and dearest friends to encourage me . However, now when I look back, I can see from whom I drew my greatest support.

God was and is always with me. Once I became a Christian, I became a recipient of all of God’s promises, including this one. Psalm 46:1 records that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” and He has shown Himself faithful to this promise throughout the Bible.

• God was there when the Israelites had no way to escape the Egyptian army.
  • “And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.” Exodus 14:21
• God was there when Daniel was thrown into a den of lions.
  • “He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Daniel 3:25
• God was there to help the disciples on the Sea of Galilee during a violent storm.
  • “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39
• God was there when Peter was in prison.
  • “And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.” Acts 12:11

To know that I will always be held firmly in the hand of God is what reassures me in times of trouble. There is nothing that can happen that my God cannot handle. The Bible tells me “…with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). Because of this assurance, I can say, like the Psalmist, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8).

So let the storms rage high, the dark clouds rise
They don’t worry me, for I’m sheltered safe within the arms of God
He walks with me and naught of earth shall harm me
For I’m sheltered in the arms of God

(from “Sheltered in the Arms of God” by Dottie Rambo)

“For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat…” Isaiah 25:4

**********

The God of the storm is also the God of the rainbow!

“Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:” Psalm 148:8

Just a few days ago, we received conflicting weather reports from two very well-known forecasters. One predicted six more weeks of winter, and the other insisted that spring was just around the corner! Of course, I am referring to Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney Phil and Georgia’s own General Beauregard Lee, two of the most famous groundhog meteorologists in our nation.

Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring, something he doesn’t do very often. He has only been correct 39% of the time, according to StormFax Almanac, so you may not want to stow your winter coats just yet. On the other hand, Gen. Lee did see his shadow, and as a result predicted six more weeks of winter. According to Politifact, the General has a 60% accuracy rate in his predictions, so maybe the cold is here to stay a bit longer. It seems the only thing predictable about the weather is its unpredictability!

I’m so glad the Word of God is not like the weather! When it comes to dependability, there is nothing that can compare to the Bible. There is nothing in the Bible that is questionable; nothing that is conflicting; nothing that leaves any doubt. It definitely is the “solid rock upon which I stand”! Here are a few verses that explain why I love and trust the Bible.

• “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” Psalm 119:160
• “For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.” Psalm 33:4
• “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” John 17:17
• “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” 2 Timothy 3:16
• “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” Psalm 19:7

Not only are the words of Scripture true, but I have the best teacher to help me understand them… God’s Holy Spirit! It only makes sense to have the actual author explain His work, so that is who God gave us to illuminate His Word. Here are a few verses that explain the work of the Holy Spirit.

• “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26
• “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” John 16:13
• “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:10

With the words of truth and the Spirit of truth, there can be absolutely no doubt as to the truth of God’s Word!

The Bible stands like a rock undaunted
‘Mid the raging storms of time;
Its pages burn with the truth eternal,
And they glow with a light sublime.

The Bible stands tho’ the hills may tumble,
It will firmly stand when the earth shall crumble;
I will plant my feet on its firm foundation,
For the Bible stands!

(from “The Bible Stands” by Haldor Lillenas)

“Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.” Psalm 119:140

**********

One sweet day, I’ll be living on the mountain underneath a cloudless sky! Heaven’s weather will be absolutely perfect! I hope to see you there!

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.” Colossians 3:12

I am one of “the elect of God,” which means that I am the object of God’s grace and mercy. I have been set apart for eternal life in heaven. I am a child of God!

How did this happen? For me, it happened in 1968. The Bible told me that “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Because of the sin in my life, originally imputed to me through Adam and Eve’s sin, I could not measure up to God’s perfect standard of holiness. Romans 6:23 records the penalty of sin. “For the wages of sin is death…” Although physical death did begin when sin entered the world, this verse really refers to a spiritual death. I could not have fellowship with God because of my sin, and therefore I was condemned to an eternity without Him.

However, the last part of Romans 6:23 offered me hope. “… but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” God’s only Son, Jesus, came to earth and sacrificed His life on a cross, shedding His precious blood to atone for my sins (and yours!). When I chose to believe in Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross and accept Him as my Lord and Saviour, my relationship with God was restored, and I was assured I had eternal life in heaven forever. It was at that moment that I became one of God’s elect. I became a person who was now chosen by God to receive all the benefits associated with being His child! From that time forward, I was a new creation in Christ Jesus!

As a new creation in Christ, God now views me as “holy” through my identification with His Son. I will never be holy like God, but because of Jesus, my sins have been forgiven and forgotten (Psalm 103:12), and I am able to stand before a just and holy God, presentable to Him because of my relationship with His Son.

In addtion to being holy in God’s sight, I am also His beloved. The Bible has so many verses that profess God’s love for me. Two of my favorites are Jeremiah 31:3 “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee,” and John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” It is truly wonderful to know that God loves me just as I am, and He will love me forever!!

Knowing God loves me as He does makes me want to align my life to His will and way. Titus 2:11-12 states, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” Colossians 3:12 gives me a few more specifics about how my life should be now that I am beloved of God.

First, I should have “bowels of mercies.” During the 1600s, when the KJV was written, people often referred to the bowels as the seat of one’s emotions (“gut-wrenching,” isn’t it?). This phrase actually means that I should be “moved with compassion” for others. Compassion is being concerned about the sufferings of others, which is reinforced by Galatians 6:2. “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

In addition to being compassionate, I should be kind to others. Ephesians 4:32 reiterates this. “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Kindness involves a number of things, including forgiveness and understanding.

I should also demonstrate humility. Not only should I not be prideful in my own self, but more importantly, I should have a deep sense of my own unworthiness in the sight of God. Without Him, I am nothing. It is only through Him that I am lifted up! “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:10.

As one of God’s elect, I should also have a temperament that is gentle and mild, void of uncontrolled outbursts of anger. I should not be easily provoked or irritated, but rather I should have a meek and gentle spirit that forbears under difficult circumstances. God promises that He will lead and teach those who are meek in spirit (Psalm 25:9).

Lastly, I should be longsuffering, which goes hand-in-hand with meekness. Patience helps me endure all circumstances, good or bad. Ephesians 4:2 states, “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.” Patience with others is one way I can manifest God’s love because His love is longsuffering (1 Corinthians 13:4). As my faith grows, I learn more patience (James 1:3), and I become more Christ-like in my spiritual life, which then gives more credibility to my witness for Him.

There are many more characteristics enumerated in Scripture that I need to incorporate into my life, but this is a great start!

Be like Jesus – this my song,
In the home and in the throng;
Be like Jesus, all day long,
I would be like Jesus.

(from “I Would Be Like Jesus” by James Rowe)

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13

**********

It’s important to remember that I may be the only Jesus that some people will ever see. I need to represent Him accurately to the world.

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22

I love my church. It has been a church for more than 185 years. It has a rich heritage founded on the Word of God, and it has been pastored by men who loved the Lord more than anything else in their lives. One of its ministries is a Christian school where children from pre-K to 12^th grade can learn academics along with the Bible. My family and friends attend this church, and together with them, I serve the Lord in several ministries. I cannot imagine my church not being there, and I cannot imagine not being a part of it.

Do you love your church like I love mine? What would you say if someone told you that your church was in danger of closing in the next year? It could happen! This Sunday I heard some startling statistics. Only 10% of independent fundamental churches are growing, and only 10% are maintaining. That means 80% are at risk for closing in the next year! Why? Because believers are not being proactive in regards to protecting their church because most don’t believe closure could happen to them.

Is there a way that we can help move our churches to be in the 10% that are growing? Here is what I learned this Sunday in the first day of our annual missions conference.

In order to grow our churches, we must…

1. Pray for our pastor.
2. Pray for the protection of our church.
3. Have a passion for lost souls.

First, we have to pray for our pastor. The Bible reminds us to “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.” (Hebrews 13:7) Churches without a shepherd are like sheep without a fence. They will wander to their doom without someone to care for them. When a church loses its pastor, who is the shepherd of the local church, the body of believers, like sheep, have no one to lead them. (1 Peter 5:2-3) Without the preaching and teaching of the Word of God, men, women, families, teens begin to wander from their faith and eventually leave the church. As more leave, the church eventually will be unable to sustain itself, and it will close.

Praying for the pastor strengthens him, encourages him, and empowers him in his service to God. I do not know all that a pastor does, but I do know it’s a 24/7 job. My pastor preaches, teaches, counsels, takes phone calls at all hours, visits the sick in hospitals, visits homes in the neighborhood, works when needed at the Christian school, mentors young men who have been called to preach, and manages the affairs of the church. There is undoubtedly so much more that he does in his work, and I have no doubt he is a man who needs to be enveloped with the prayers of his “flock” continually. In addition, we must also remember to pray for our associate and youth pastors as well.

Second, we have to pray for the protection of our church. These days many churches have security teams due to the violence that is so prevalent in today’s world. It is difficult to go more than a few days without hearing of gun violence in a public place. Most of us think it won’t happen to us, but that is exactly what others whom we read about thought as well. Praying for God to surround His people with divine protection is prudent (Luke 11:21). But while we are protecting ourselves against possible outside intruders, we often forget about the destructive forces that can be within our churches.

Gossip, cliques, or “roasting the pastor” over Sunday lunch can be just as deadly to a church as an intruder with a gun. Likewise, inappropriate music, disrespectful dress, or ungodly activities can be an insidious invader that can result in the complete disintegration of the church. We cannot drop our guard; our worship must be Christ-centered in every aspect! The Bible tell us that we should abstain from the very appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22), and that we should be separate from the world (2 Corinthians 6:17). When no difference can be seen between us and the culture in which we live, our church is dying.

Thirdly, we must have a passion for the souls of men. If we do not care about evangelism, missions, or Sunday school, it shows that we do not care about the eternal lives of people. Remember, everyone has eternal life. The difference is where you spend it. Those who have accepted the free gift of salvation from God reside in heaven forever. Those who reject Christ and his forgiveness will spend eternity in hell. If we don’t care about that, we have lost the essence of the church, and it will die. Without a focus on evangelism in our community through visitation programs and missions, our church will fade away.

Sharing the gospel with those that live around us and those that are beyond our immediate surroundings is the work to which Christ has called us. The Bible says in Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” If we do not embrace that, we are helping tear down His church brick by brick.

I challenge you (and myself) with these questions.

1. When was the last time you prayed for your pastor?

• “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” 1 Timothy 2:1-2

2. When was the last time you prayed for your church or involved yourself in its ministries?

• “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” Isaiah 54:17

3. When was the last time you shared the gospel with someone who needed to know that Jesus loved them and sacrificed his own life so that he or she could have forgiveness of their sins and eternal life in heaven with God forever?

• “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” John 20:21

If we do not keep these three things foremost in our hearts and practice them in our lives, our churches have the potential of being part of the 80% that could close their doors in the next twelve months. If you love the Lord and His church, pray for your pastor, your church’s safety, and those who are lost and need Jesus. Then go out and make a difference for Christ!

The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord;
She is His new creation by water and the Word:
From heav’n He came and sought her to be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her, and for her life He died.

(from “The Church’s One Foundation” by S. J. Slone)

“And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.” Acts 16:5

**********

“Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan.” – John Bunyan

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans12:2

Many years ago, I remember when a particular television show shocked the country when it became the first program to show the back view of an unclothed man. For days before the program aired, the show was denounced as immoral and wicked, and again and again, viewers were warned not to watch it. Once it aired, the backlash was quick and fierce, but that soon faded.

I remember when the first homosexual event happened on a television program. Once again, there was a public outcry against it. Boycott the network! Boycott its sponsors! People were once again shocked and repulsed, but that soon faded.

I remember when music became more sinful and more violent, incorporating much more than a truck, a beer, and the loss of a good woman. The lyrics now promoted drugs, rape, anarchy, and murder. The public protested such atrocities in the songs that young people were listening to, but that soon faded away.

I remember when marijuana was illegal, and people fought against its legalization, but sadly, those voices also faded away.

Our minds have gradually become desensitized to the sin and depravity of our culture. Today, it is nearly impossible to find programming that doesn’t include some kind of egregious sin. Even so-called family programming on television includes “alternative lifestyles” in its movies and weekly shows. Likewise, much of today’s music continues to promote behaviors that once were considered inappropriate, immoral, and even illegal.

How has this happened? Our thinking has been reprogrammed to view these atrocities as normal because today’s culture has indoctrinated us into a passive acceptability. In order for us to fight it, we must “renew” our minds… reset them to align with what is right and good in the sight of the Lord. It’s kind of like when a computer is not working properly and has to be reset to its original factory settings. We have to do the same with our thinking processes.

The only way to do this is through the Word of God. It is the only absolute truth defining right and wrong. We have to purge our minds of sinful thinking and replace it with holy thinking. That only comes from the Bible, which enables us to identify sin, reject it, and then receive the righteous thoughts with which God desires to fill us.

Renewing our minds is not a one-time occurrence. Satan attacks us non-stop, and he is relentless. We must be equally diligent in renewing our minds. The only way to keep a protective barrier around our thought processes is by immersing ourselves continually in the only weapon we have… the Word of God.

We are in a war for the souls of men, and we must not be passive warriors. Do not allow Satan to find a home in your head. Renew your mind daily by reading and meditating on God’s Word. It is only by doing so that you will be able to “stand against the wiles of the devil,” (Ephesians 6:11) and go forward for Christ.

Renew me, O eternal Light, and let my heart and soul be bright,
Illumined with the light of grace that issues from Your holy face.

Remove the pow’r of sin from me and cleanse all my impurity
That I may have the strength and will temptations of the flesh to still.

Create in me a new heart, Lord, that gladly I obey Your Word.
Let what You will be my desire, and with new life my soul inspire.

Grant that I only You may love and seek those things which are above
Till I behold You face to face, O Light eternal, through Your grace.

(From “Renew Me, O Eternal Light” by Johann Friedrich Ruopp)

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

**********

I’d love to read some of the verses that have renewed your mind! Please feel free to send them to me!

“Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.” 2 Corinthians 3:3

What do you see when you look into a mirror? You should see you! The mirrored glass will reflect whatever is placed in front of it. But there is so much more to each one of us than the image we see. We have an inner being that is also seen by people when they look at you or me. Because of this, I wonder what does my “spiritual mirror” reflect?

According to 2 Corinthians 3:3, I am an “epistle of Christ.” This means that the gospel of Christ should not only be secure in my heart, but it should be outwardly visible to others. When people look at me, they should see Jesus.

As a Christian,  the Holy Spirit works in my life to make me more like Jesus every day. It is by His power that my life is changed spiritually. “And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” (Ezekiel 36:27) I become more and more Christ-like as I grow in my faith, and this change should be evident to others.

Through studying the Bible, exercising my prayer life, fellowshipping with other Christians, I develop a stronger resemblance to Jesus. When will it be finished? Not until Jesus takes me to heaven, but it is ongoing while I am here on earth. “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Philippians 1:6) I am a work in progress! Therefore, as time goes on and people look at me, they should see less of me, and more of Jesus!

Earthly pleasures vainly call me;
I would be like Jesus;
Nothing worldly shall enthrall me,
I would be like Jesus. 

Be like Jesus – this my song,
In the home and in the throng;
Be like Jesus, all day long,
I would be like Jesus.

(from “I Would Be Like Jesus” by James Rowe)

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” Ephesians 3:20

**********

Lord, help me to always reflect Christ in my thoughts, my words, and my actions.

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2

Have you ever been driving and suddenly you realize you are at a certain place on the road, but you don’t remember passing the old familiar landmarks along the way? How about the people you saw in church this past week. If you were asked what a person you spoke with had been wearing, could you describe the outfit? Sometimes we miss the details of things we’re looking at because we are not really seeing in depth.

What do you “see” when you “look” at the Lord Jesus Christ?

When I look at Jesus, I see the Son of God, the Saviour of the world who died for me. However, when I take the time to really look, what do I really see in Him? Do I see Jesus willingly sacrificing Himself so that I could have forgiveness of sins? Do I see the betrayal? The beatings? The mockery of a trial? The unbelievable cries to release a rebellious murderer instead of the innocent Son of God? Do I see the hammer striking the nails that penetrated His hands and feet? Do I see Him dying for me? Do I see His victory over death and sin at the resurrection? Do I see the One who is currently preparing a place for me in heaven to live with Him forever? Inow need to see Jesus as my Creator and our Redeemer!

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29

What do you “see” when you “look” at your walk with the Lord?

If I “look” at my relationship with Christ, I can easily say I am doing God’s will. I pray; I read the Bible; I go to church. However, when I look deeply, I can see the details of my relationship. How often do I pray? When I read the Bible, is it to mark it off my checklist or am I reading for depth and understanding? When do I attend church? Every time the doors are open or just on Sunday mornings? Am I serving God in any capacity? If I have the ability to teach, am I working in Sunday school or AWANA? What do I really see if I search for the details of my relationship? I need to be a living sacrifice to God, serving Him with my life.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1

What do you “see” when you “look” for the return of Christ?

When I think of the return of Christ, do I look forward to a time when Jesus will return for His church? Do I “see” the signs of the rapture around me? Do I see myself urgently sharing Christ with those who are not yet saved so they won’t be left behind when He comes? Do I “see” the prophetic events in Scripture that have already been fulfilled now pointing to this next event happening in the very near future, or do I merely “look” at the prophesies in Scripture as happening who-knows-when? I need to be diligently looking for the imminent  coming of my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

It’s time for me to take a good, long look at Jesus, my service to Him, and my future with Him. I know one day I “shall see Him as He is“, but until then I want to see my faith grow and my walk with Jesus become closer.

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13

Life is offered unto you, hallelujah!
Eternal life thy soul shall have,
If you’ll only look to Him, hallelujah!
Look to Jesus who alone can save.

“Look and live,” my brother, live,
Look to Jesus now, and live;
’Tis recorded in His word, hallelujah!
It is only that you “look and live.”

(from “Look and Live” by William Ogden)

“And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:17

**********

Open my eyes, Lord, that I may see more closely than ever before!

“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” 2 Corinthians 2:14

Who doesn’t like to win? I sure do! I don’t think of myself as competitive, but I must confess I do like to win. When I considered today’s verse, it took several times of reading it before I realized something. I noticed two very interesting words in the first part of this verse: “always” and “causeth.”

As I pondered these, I realized that this verse tells me that I don’t sometimes win my spiritual battles, but rather I always win because God “always causeth us to triumph in Christ!” The significance of this is knowing that when I am in a spiritual battle, as long as I am standing with Christ, I’m going to be victorious! ALWAYS! It may not be in the time frame for which I hoped or the way that I had anticipated, but I will win!

Additionally, the victories that God has given me will be made known to those around me as His victories, not mine. How? By my life’s testimony. Not through vain, prideful boasting on what I accomplished, but by a humble acknowledgement of what God did for me to bring me through the trial. When I reflect on Christians I’ve known who have come through great tribulations, their testimonies show that God brought them through every one by His grace, His power, and His love.

Whenever you or I go through periods of trouble or testing, rest assured that people are watching us and how we react, especially if they are not believers. Going through those difficult circumstances with an understanding that God is still with us, in control, and faithful to His promises to us, fills our hearts with thanksgiving, and our living testimony speaks more than our words ever could.

I am never going to lose when I am following in Jesus and God’s will. Never!

I heard an old, old story, how a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary to save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning, of His precious blood’s atoning,
Then I repented of my sins, and won the victory.

O victory in Jesus, My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory, beneath the cleansing flood.

(from “Victory in Jesus” by Eugene Bartlett)

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4

**********

“The greatest faith is born in the hour of despair. When we can see no hope and no way out, then faith rises and brings the victory.” – Lee Roberson

“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22

Have you ever tried to walk on a balance beam? I have, and I found out that I do not have a very good sense of balance. It would only take a teeny push with a finger to knock me off balance, and down I would go. I also know I would definitely fail one of those roadside “walk the line” tests. Not because of being inebriated, but simply because I cannot walk a straight line!

In life, it’s easy for troubles to offset us. In our Christian life, we struggle to walk the straight and narrow path that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 7:14, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” I know that when I am consumed by problems, uncertainties, worries, etc., my walk in faith seems to meander. My burdens make me lose my footing, and I stumble through life often ending up far away from the Lord. How do I get back to the path of righteousness and stay on it?

I must remember that I have a light that guides my way. John 8:12 states, “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” When I focus on Him, I have the light of His Word to guide me and help me stay on the path, but what do I do about those burdens? They can cast such dark shadows along my life’s pathway, that I can easily be knocked off the strait and narrow way.

The Bible tells me that Jesus wants me to give Him all of my burdens. 1 Peter 5:7 states, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” This is so important, yet I am often very reluctant to do so. I don’t know why I want to hold on to them, but I do! Even when I “give” my burdens to God, I try and take them back! Sometimes, I cast them toward God, but there’s a long string attached, and I find myself pulling them back toward me! Their heaviness threatens to drag me off the way I should go, and when I refuse to let go, I am yanked off that path of righteousness. If I truly give my problems to Jesus, He promises to take them completely and give me His peace and rest! (Matthew 11:28).

So, my responsibility is to give God everything that I worry about, everything that might hinder my walk with Christ; anything that might take my eyes of His glorious light or weigh me down in my Christian life. Then I must choose to trust that God will sustain me. While I may not see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, I must believe that God will uphold me and keep me from the way that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13). I must remember that He will not allow me to be moved from his paths of righteousness when I depend upon Him. “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:6

I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

(from “Just a Closer Walk With Thee,” author unknown)

“He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3

**********

“Just as Christian came up to the Cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders, fell from off his back, and began to tumble down the hill, and so it continued to do till it came to the mouth of the sepulchre. There it fell in, and I saw it no more!” ― John Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress