Category: Devotionals

These days, there is a push to be “green,” meaning to be eco-friendly. Perhaps we should strive to be “Biblically green,” that is to be more Bible-friendly! In honor of the day (and the thought), I share these “green” verses with you.

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” Psalm 23:2

• God always meets our needs.

“The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.” Song of Solomon 2:13

• God causes us to flourish in our walk with Him.

“For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” Jeremiah 17:8

• God enables us to grow in Him and reach others for Him.

“And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.” Genesis 1:30

• God provides for us.

“Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.” Genesis 9:3

• God gives us dominion over all the earth.

“But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.” Psalm 52:8

• God is merciful to us.

“And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.” Revelation 9:4

• God preserves His own.

How wonderful that we do not have to depend upon luck, but rather we depend upon the Lord!

“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

There is a green hill far away,
Without a city wall,
Where the dear Lord was crucified,
Who died to save us all.

Oh, dearly, dearly has he loved!
And we must love him too,
And trust in his redeeming blood,
And try his works to do.

(from “There is a Green Hill Far Away” by Cecil Frances Alexander)

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17

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“May the grace of God’s protection and His great love abide
Within your home-within the hearts of all who dwell inside.” – old Irish blessing

“And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:15-16

This morning, my pastor, Tim Campbell, shared a devotional via Facebook Live. It was such an encouragement to me that I wanted to share a few thoughts about it with you.

The book of James was written by Jesus’ half-brother. He wrote to help people in the early church overcome their fears. Many of the early Christians were fearful for their lives. James reminded them that they always have the ability to pray to God, and He is faithful to hear and help. He especially wanted them to remember to trust God in times of sickness. He encouraged the people to pray for the sick, to lift one another up in prayer to God, and He reminded them that the prayers of a faithful person were very effective.

Today, many people are fearful of the coronavirus. Precautions are being taken globally to stop the spread of covid-19, and those precautions have generated great fears in the people. We need to help alleviate those fears. How do we do that?

First, we must remind people that they can trust God. The Lord has not turned His back on us, in fact, it is just the opposite. He desires for each of us to be “casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) He wants us to come boldly before His throne with whatever is on our hearts.(Hebrews 4:16)

Secondly, we must pray for those who are sick as well as for the families of those who have died from this virus. We need to pray for the health professionals that work with in the urgent care facilities, the hospitals, and the emergency response teams. We need to pray for one another, asking God for protection, for help, for strength, and for good health.

Thirdly, we need to encourage others in this difficult time. As believers, we have a reason to smile even when times are hard and frightening. Why? Because we know God controls it all, and we have 24/7 access to Him! God will take care of us all. He always has; He always will. We must share that with everyone for with God, there is hope!

For the complete devotional, please visit https://www.facebook.com/341062775868/videos/527131797993127/

Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.

God will take care of you,
Through every day, o’er all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.

(from “God Will Take Care of You” by Civilla D. Martin)

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

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When you are in the palm of God’s hand, you have nothing to fear.

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” James 4:8

When the media first began reporting on the coronavirus, I didn’t really think it would impact my life very much. After all, it was far away in China. I thought it was just a “bad flu” that would eventually run its course, and that would be that.

Now I know that the coronavirus is much more than just a “bad flu.” Classified by the WHO as a pandemic, covid-19 (the virus identifier), is responsible for more than 6,500 deaths worldwide. Our state is taking unprecedented precautions with the temporary closures of schools, libraries, government offices, and other public places. Grocery stores are selling out of goods as people are stockpiling in the event of necessary quarantine. Churches are shifting from actual worship services to virtual services via livestreaming.

Through all of this, social media bombards us with a plethora of posts about the coronavirus. (If you haven’t seen any, you are a rare individual indeed!) There are all sorts of warnings about the virus coming soon to every neighborhood, who is high-risk (and many of us are!), and recommendations of how to keep ourselves safe.

Since covid-19 is “caught” by introducing the virus to the body via direct contact, handwashing is one of the most important ways we can protect ourselves. Handwashing helps remove the germs from our hands and keep us from transferring them to our noses or mouths. Because of this, the CDC recommends the following:

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

Did you know the Bible talks about handwashing as well? It’s not in regards to the coronavirus, but it is connected to another life-threatening element in our lives – sin. Sin can wreck havoc on each of us by destroying our lives, ruining our families, and separating us from God.

1. Sin enslaves us.
   1. “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” John 8:34
2. Sin corrupts us.
   1. “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption...” Galatians 6:8
3. Sin separates us from God.
   1. “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2
4. Sin causes death.
   1. “For the wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23
5. Sin leads to eternal punishment.
   1. “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment…” Matthew 25:46

Unlike the coronavirus, there is a cure for sin. Even though we are continually surrounded by sin, the Bible tells us there is a remedy that is available to everyone. It is the blood of Christ that can wash away (forgive) all sin and make us pure and righteous in the sight of God. 1 John 1:7 tells us, “…and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

When we ask Christ to forgive us of our sins, He does so immediately. We are no longer held captive by sin’s power; we are saved from eternal separation from God as the last part of Romans 6:23 states. Our sins, which once infiltrated our lives has been eradicated by the work Jesus did for us on the cross of Calvary. “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:31) Once we accept Christ’s forgiveness, we are no longer “infected” by sin. Instead, we have been made spiritually whole.

When we accept Jesus as our Saviour, we no longer need to fear the power of sin over us. We must be vigilant to keep ourselves protected against sin’s enticements. The Bible reminds us to “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22) Additionally, we must “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:22) Like a strong virus, it takes time to make changes in your life, but with God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)

The Bible states, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” (2 Corinthians 6:17) As we isolate ourselves from the coronavirus, so should we isolate ourselves from the sins that threaten our Christianity. We must still be wise in caring for ourselves both physically and spiritually.

As the fears of the coronavirus escalate, people begin to be more proactive (as the empty toilet paper shelves can attest). As they learn more about covid-19, they do everything they can to protect themselves against it. Sin is just as deadly. It will kill your soul. Learn everything you can about it from the Word of God, and then do everything you can to protect yourself from it.

Handwashing is one way to stave off the coronavirus. For sin, Jesus Christ is the way… the only way…and the truth… and the life! (John 14:6)

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless?
Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

(from “Are You Washed in the Blood?” by E. A. Hoffman)

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7

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You may be quarantined from the world, but you are never isolated from God!

“I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies.” 2 Samuel 22:4

I’ve faced lots of “stuff” in my life that have been difficult to get through. If I were to list these “giants”, I’m sure a lot of what I’ve been through would be on the lists of others as well. Sometimes, I had a really good hold of my faith and other times, my faith seemed so small, it was almost nonexistent. But no matter what befell me, God always saw me through it. He was faithful as He said He would be. He was comforting as He said He would be. He held me in His arms as He said He would do. He whispered words of encouragement as He said He would do. He never left me nor forsook me, and He was with me always as He said He would be.

I’ve faced financial problems and career setbacks. I’ve faced medical challenges such as cancer and chronic respiratory disease. I’ve faced the death of loved ones, saved and unsaved. I’ve endured unbearable sorrow and great heartbreak as a child and an adult. Yet, through all of these and more, God has never left my side. He has saved me from all of these “giants” in my life even when I didn’t have the faith to throw one single stone.

Sometimes, He has given me strength from others, sometimes from His presence alone, sometimes through music, and sometimes solely through His Word. Sometimes He has delivered me immediately, but most of the time, He has led me through each trial by the hand.

To say He is worthy of my praise is such an understatement, yet I will continue to praise His name for He truly is worthy. Not because of what He’s done for me, but for who He is. It is incomprehensible to me that He cares so much for me, but I am so glad He does!

I don’t know when the next “giant” in my life will loom its ugly head, but I know it will happen, and when it does, I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I know I will be saved from my enemies!

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.

Standing, standing, Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing, I’m standing on the promises of God.

(from “Standing on the Promises” by R. Kelso Carter)

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

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God is bigger than any virus!

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12

There are so many American men and women that are fighting around the world today for our freedom. Every day, they face unknown dangers, and many of our brave military personnel pay the ultimate price.

God has an army, too. There are two parts to it. One part is the special forces unit. Those in this group fight those battles for us that take place in the heavenly realms. Their battles are not against flesh and blood, but rather “…against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

The second division consists of the troops here on earth. You may have heard of some of God’s soldiers who never wavered from their stand for Christ, even giving their lives for Him. People like William Tyndale, Jim Elliott, John Bunyan, and so many others. There are also many in the Bible who were killed for their faith. (Hebrews 11:36-37)

Paul writes to Timothy that he should “fight the good fight of faith.” No matter what, Timothy should stand up for Christ despite the temptations of the world that seek to destroy the Christian. Timothy is reminded that things like lust, love of money, pride, inerrant teachings must also be fought against to preserve the faith.

I realize that I, too, must fight to preserve my faith. There are factions in this world that seek to destroy everything that my faith in Jesus represents. I cannot be a passive Christian. I have to take my stand just like those who fought so hard to protect it long ago. What can I do? First, I must be sure of what I believe and why. 2 Peter 2:1 warns “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”

Christians should always compare what they are taught against what is actually written in the Word of God. We are to be as the Bereans in Acts 17 because “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Part of my fight to preserve my faith is to be sure I am receiving the true Word of God.

My pastor always has Scripture references throughout the messages he brings to us. This enables us to check what he says against what God has recorded in the Bible. We are reminded that we should have our Bibles with us in church, and we should make it a practice to read it daily. It is part of the armor of God, and like any good soldier, we must be fully equipped for the battles we are sure to face. In Ephesians 6:17, we are told the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. No one goes into a fight unarmed. We must be prepared because we are in the fight of our lives! It is our very practice of faith and worship that is on the line!

While it is true that God will not be defeated, that doesn’t mean we are to be complacent in our Christian life. I know Revelation records that in the end God is the victor, and I know the “battle belongs to the Lord,” but that does not mean we are to be passive in our Christianity. Quite the contrary, in Ephesians 6, we are instructed to be ready for battle!

If we choose to be on the sidelines, we will lose so much. For example, if we do not vote for individuals who uphold godly principles, the result will be a nation that will embrace everything wicked and evil, while criminalizing Christianity. We’ve already seen that happen in other countries around the world.

Maybe you’re thinking, “How can I fight for my faith?” Well, for starters, use the things of the world to your advantage. Use social media to share the gospel, to make known your positions on certain issues. Invite people you know to church; share your testimony of how Jesus changed your life; support causes that promote Biblical godliness. Learn about issues that impact our practice of faith and worship. Be a voice for Christ, but be a voice that is bathed in love. Words of anger and hatred will not further the cause of Christ. Ephesians 4:15 tells us “But speaking the truth in love…” While it may be cliché to use this phrase, I try to ask myself, “What would Jesus say or do in this situation?” Then I try to act accordingly.

Is it easy? Nope. I make lots of mistakes. But like a faithful soldier, I cannot quit. I have to get my act together and continue the fight. I am not called to be a general in the Lord’s army. I am called to be a foot soldier. I must follow my orders and uphold my code of conduct. Both are found in the Bible. I must obey my commanding officer, and that is Jesus. I am to obey and follow Him to the front lines and beyond.

Our ability to practice what we believe is at stake. We must all take a stand and “fight the good fight of faith” or one day there will be nothing left in this country for us to stand up and defend. If that happens, what kind of world will our children and grandchildren face in their lives? One without God? May it never be!

Stand up, stand up for Jesus! ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss:
From vict’ry unto vict’ry, His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.

(from “Stand Up For Jesus” by George Duffield, Jr.)

“And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S…” 1 Samuel 17:47

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God’s army is all volunteer. Will you join?

“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” Psalm 56:3

I’m afraid of a lot of things. At the top of my list is spiders, but the list is long after them. Here are some of the things of which I am fearful.

• late night phone calls that only mean one thing
• fire ants (allergic to these monsters!)
• creaks and groans from my house when I am alone
• medical test results (especially the cancer-related ones)
• hurting someone’s feelings with my words (happens way too often)
• my pride

If I trust God, He will take care of them all. I often forget that, and when I do, that’s when fear creeps in. And when fear replaces trust, it’s… well, it’s pretty scary. The feeling of being alone with overwhelming fears is terrifying!

So what do I do? I go to the Bible. Why? Because it speaks truth to me. In addtion to Psalm 56:3, there are several other verses that I cling to in times of fear. Jesus said, “…I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:20) When I remember that God is with me in that very moment, the fear lessens. A sense of peace begins to calm my trembling heart when I trust God and take Him at His word. Isaiah 43:1-2 states, “… Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

Isaiah 41:13 tells me, “For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” I remember as a little girl holding on to my father’s hand. His large fingers would tightly curl around mine, and I would be safe and protected. Nothing could harm me when my dad was with me! That’s how it is with my heavenly Father! He is holding on to my hand always, and He promises to help me in every situation! I am safe in His hands and nothing can pluck me out! (John 10:29)

Fear can be crippling, but if I remember that God is always with me, helping and protecting me, I can face my fears. It’s not always easy to overcome them, but it is possible. The Bible reminds me, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1:37) and that “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)

In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face
While the storm howls above me, and there’s no hiding place
‘Mid the crash of the thunder, Precious Lord, hear my cry
Keep me safe till the storm passes by

Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more
Till the clouds roll forever from the sky
Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand
Keep me safe till the storm passes by

(from “Till the Storm Passes By” by Mosie Lister)

“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.” Joshua 1:9

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If I am following after Jesus and not running ahead of Him, I never will run into my fears alone.

“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:12

Lately, I’ve heard a lot about the corona virus. I’ve read about the rapid spread of the disease, and how people are in a frenzy trying to buy everything they might need to prepare for its onslaught here in America. Stores are running out of face masks, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and anything else deemed necessary for survival. There’s a worldwide movement to be prepared because it’s coming… we just don’t know when!

Too bad there isn’t that same type of passion to get ready for the coming of Jesus. We all know it’s going to happen, and by the looks of things, His coming may be very soon, but I haven’t seen a lot of people getting ready for that, certainly not at the magnitude in which they are preparing for the corona virus. Imagine if we knew for a fact that Jesus was coming tomorrow. What would we be doing today?

I know what I would be doing. I would be telling everyone I knew that Jesus was coming! I would be praying that my lost friends and family would be open to the gospel! I would be begging God to open their eyes to the truth of who Jesus is and why they need Him. I would be praying for their salvation! I would be doing so much more than I am doing right now. Wouldn’t you?

Mommy, won’t you come and hear what I learned in church today?
They told me about a man who could wash my sins away!
She said something ‘bout the healing of a man who had been blind,
I smiled and told her sweetly that I did not have the time.

Mommy, won’t you come with me to Sunday school this week?
They said there’d be a missionary coming there to speak.
She looked at me again and asked if I would like to go
But I had dirty clothes to wash and so I told her no.

I wish I took the time to hear the things she had to say
I wish that I had knelt with her at night to hear her pray
She tried so hard to tell me of the love that God had shown
I know I would have listened if I had only known.

Mommy, did you know that Jesus said He’d come again
To take us all o heaven where we’ll be with Him,
And then she ran off singing something about the glory land
I watcher her go then shook my head ‘cause I did not understand.

One day while we were walking in the park, her hand in mine,
She shouted as she pointed to the sky
Mommy, see the angels there! I tried, but couldn’t see,
I looked at her, then she was gone… in the twinkling of an eye

I wish I took the time to hear the things she had to say
I wish that I had knelt with her at night to hear her pray
She tried so hard to tell me but I never took the time
And now my little girl is gone, and I’ve been left behind.

(from “Mommy, Did You Know” by J. Lawson)

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:52

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I wonder what I’m going to do today…

“He who gains Wisdom loves his own life; he who keeps understanding shall prosper and find good.” Proverbs 19:8

If something is mentioned only once in the Bible, is it important to know? Of course, it is! The entire Bible is the Word of God. Every single thing in the Scriptures is given to us for a purpose… to open our eyes to our own depravity and draw us near to God through His redemptive plan. There is nothing we can arbitrarily throw out of the Bible. It’s critical to remember that even If something is only made manifest to us in one verse, it is still vitally important in our relationship with God.

What about something that has more than 200 occasions where it is mentioned in the Bible? I would consider that something of which God really wants me to take notice. According to the Christian Bible Reference site, the word “wisdom” is written 234 times in the KJV Bible! Clearly, this is something to which I need to pay attention.

Psalm 111:10 tells us that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…” Understanding who God is, having a reverential awe in regards to the Lord, is the start of attaining wisdom. When we understand that we are the creation and He is the Creator, our journey toward wisdom begins. Proverbs 9:10 confirms this. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”

Why should we desire wisdom? Here are just a few reasons mentioned in the Bible.

• Wisdom makes us happy.
  • “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.” Proverbs 3:13
• Wisdom helps us remain humble.
  • “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.” James 3:13
• Wisdom helps us obey the Lord.
  • “The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.” Proverbs 10:8
• Wisdom helps us know God better.
  • “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:” Ephesians 1:17
• Wisdom will protect us.
  • “Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.” Proverbs 4:6-7
• Wisdom enables us to listen and receive godly advice.
  • “Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.” Proverbs 19:20

How do we get wisdom? First, we pray and ask God for it. James 1:5 states, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” From beginning to end, the Bible is filled with God’s wisdom that He readily makes available to us.

Second, we seek godly instruction for our daily lives. Proverbs 8:33 tell us to “Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.” We receive Biblical instruction from Sunday school classes, worship services, godly devotionals, and of course, from God’s Holy Spirit as we read the Scriptures ourselves. Colossians 3:16 states, “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.”

Wisdom is more precious than gold and better than rubies (Proverbs 16:16, 8:11). It is also available to each of us, but it is not acquired passively. It is a conscious choice we make to obtain it. “So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;” (Proverbs 2:2).

Choose wisely.

Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.

(from “Be Thou My Vision” as translated by Mary E. Byrne)

“And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” Job 28:28

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Is your house built upon the solid rock?

“…If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Matthew 17:20

Have you ever seen a mustard seed? It’s very small, only about 1-2 mm in diameter. If conditions are right, that tiny seed will grow into a huge bush that could be anywhere from 6-20 feet tall and 20 feet wide!. It will be large enough for birds to nest in its branches, and in addition to the seeds that are ground into mustard, it will yield a bounty of bright yellow flowers.

It was this little seed that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 17. For the longest time, I read this parable as a chastisement from the Lord, but lately I’ve seen His words in a different light. He did state that it would take only a small amount of faith to do great things, and He used the impossible task of moving a mountain to compare what we could do with a small amount of faith. Moving a mountain would require an enormous amount of effort, more than humanly possible, but He went on to say that just a small amount of faith could result in the greatest of difficulties being overcome.

God knew we would face huge trials in our lives, and these trials would surely test our faith. I know that when I have faced hard times in my past, it was so hard to hold on to what my heart knew was true. When I couldn’t see God working, I admit my faith wavered, but I still had a sliver of hope. When I cried until no more tears could come, when I saw no possible way for my prayers to be answered, when I felt utterly defeated, I could still cry out to God because I had the tiniest seed of faith that refused to die.

I learned that when times are hardest, and my faith is weakest, and I am only holding on to a tiny little thread of my faith, it can “move mountains.” I don’t have to have the faith of Daniel or Paul; I can have the smallest flicker of faith, and it can still do wonders through the power and grace of God!

As I nourish my faith with the richness of God’s Word, my faith, like the mustard plant, will grow more and more! The more my faith grows, the more trust I will have in God, and that will influence my prayer life, making it stronger also. Remember, prayer is not an exercise in futility. It’s the way we touch the heart of God. When God’s heart is touched, He moves, and when He moves, mountains crumble!

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

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

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

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

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10

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“Faith is not knowing God can, it’s knowing God will.”

“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Acts 16:31

Becoming saved, that is having your sins forgiven by Jesus, is pretty easy to do. In fact, it is so simple that people have trouble accepting that, so they sometimes make it extremely difficult for a person to accept Christ as their personal Saviour.

I’ve been told that there were certain words that must be said or certain things that must be done in order to be saved, but I have not been able to find anything mandated for us to say or do to earn our salvation. In fact, the Bible says just the opposite.

The Bible states that to be saved the only requirement is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Who is He? Jesus is the Son of God. He was born of a virgin as was prophesied in Isaiah 7:14. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Jesus lived as a man without sin for about 33 years preaching and teaching people about the need to repent from sin and follow God. Eventually, He was crucified and then buried in a tomb. Three days later, He rose from the grave, victorious over death and sin, fulfilling God’s plan to redeem us. Jesus proved that He is the Saviour of the world, and only He can forgive sin and give us eternal life. All we have to do is ask Him!

That’s it. Once you determine in your heart that what the Bible states is true, and you believe it, you simply need to call upon the name of Jesus for salvation, and He will forgive you of all your sins, past, present, and future. You then become a child of God, and your future in heaven is secure.

Nothing else will save you. Not anything you can do, for the Bible tells us that our works are as filthy rags. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6) Baptism doesn’t save you; church attendance doesn’t save you; tithing doesn’t save you. Works will never save you. Jesus said the only way was through Him. John 14:6 records the words of our Saviour. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

In fact, the Bible specifically says that we are saved through His grace alone. Ephesians 2:8,9 states, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” It is God who gifts us with salvation if we but believe in the work of His Son, Jesus. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,” (Titus 2:13)

It also doesn’t matter where you are when you get saved. You can be in a church, your home, your workplace. I even know a person who got saved while sitting in a deer tree stand! Remember the thief on the cross who asked Christ to remember him? Jesus forgave him on the spot, and that thief had never done any works for his salvation. He simply believed that Jesus was who He said He was (Luke 23:43). Salvation is a free gift from God to all who choose to believe in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Another thing that is irrelevant is your age. Children can get saved; teenagers can get saved; young adults can get saved, and the elderly can get saved. Jesus even said we were to come to him with the faith of a child! Matthew 16:3 records Jesus’ words. “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” When a person understands that his or her sins need to be forgiven, they are able to ask for Jesus’ forgiveness no matter what their age.

If you want to be forgiven of your sins, all you need to do is believe in Jesus and ask Him to save you. When you do that, He will forgive you and become your Lord and Saviour forever! From that point on, He will always be with you, and His Spirit will help you grow as a Christian through the Word of God.

Accepting God’s gift of salvation is the most important thing you’ll ever do! It’ll change your life forever, and you’ll never regret it!

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

(from “Nothing But the Blood” by Robert Lowry)

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

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If you have questions about salvation, feel free to leave me a note. I would be happy to answer them (or find out the answers if I don’t know them!).