Tag: christianity

Challenges in Sharing God’s Truth

by Ms. Rita's Minute

John 12:37

“Even after Jesus had performed many signs in their presence, they still would not believe him.”

This must have been a frustrating time for Jesus. People had heard about Him raising Lazarus from the dead, and a huge crowd came not only to see Jesus, but also to see Lazarus. Many Jews were going to Jesus and believing in Him, which caused the chief priests to want to kill Lazarus as well.

Later, Jesus came to Jerusalem, and people welcomed Him with palm branches and shouts of blessings. However, because of all the attention from Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, the Pharisees talked about how things were getting out of hand, as it appeared to them that the whole world had gone after Jesus.

Jesus spoke, “Father, glorify your name.” “Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.’ The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to Him.” (John 12:28-29)

At this time, “even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe Him” (John 12:37). Yet the scriptures stated that this was to fulfill the prophet Isaiah’s word that said they could not believe because the Lord had blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so that they couldn’t see or understand, or He would heal them.

However, at the same time, many even among the leaders believed in Jesus, but because of the Pharisees, they would not boldly confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue. The Bible says, “for they loved human praise more than praise from God” (John 12:43).

Jesus had asked, back in John 5:44, “How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from only God?” It is revealed to us in these events how we can sometimes allow others’ perceptions or truths to influence our beliefs over God’s.

In John 9, after Jesus had healed a man who had been blind from birth, the Pharisees were questioning the blind man’s parents. His parents told them to ask the man, and he’d speak for himself. The Bible tells us the blind man’s parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue.

I love how the blind man responded: “Whether He is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see” (John 9:25)! It’s quite simple. It was what it was, whether or not anyone else could explain or understand what had happened.

In these events, the unbelief was more about what a person wants, versus what a person knows. John 12:37 is a powerful statement about the human tendency to reject spiritual truth despite overwhelming evidence of God’s power.

As was the case with Jesus, there will be times when people will not believe what you have to say about the Bible and may even start to disrespect you personally in some way. Every person we encounter is different and has come from a different experience in life. We should pray that we would not be offended.

1 Corinthians 10:3-5 describes how the ancient Israelites experienced spiritual provisions in the wilderness, like “spiritual food” from the manna and “spiritual drink” from a rock, identifying this rock as Christ. Despite these shared spiritual experiences and privileges, God was not pleased with most of the Israelites, who were overcome by sin and perished in the desert.

Hebrews 3:12 tells us to “See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” The sin of unbelief is a stubborn, willful rejection of God’s truth and His saving work through Jesus Christ, rather than just intellectual doubt. Jesus, in John 12:44, stated that “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.” Not to mention, “The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.”

Sometimes, we as humans can be skeptical or just plain afraid. After Jesus was seized and arrested just before the time of his crucifixion, we see in Matthew 50:56, “But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.โ€ย “Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.” Remarkably, even the Son of God, after all he had done, was abandoned by His closest friends.

Again, we should be aware that there may be times when people will be offended by the things we say or do, regarding Jesus’ teachings. Though we should be wise to be as respectful as possible when communicating with others, we should expect that not everyone will receive what God has given us to share. Some may even become angry and hateful. Yet we should never resort to foolish arguments, though a healthy exchange is not wrong. We should also be mindful that some who may even profess to be Christians may not agree with us, but whatever we speak, we should do with an attitude of love.

When others don’t appreciate the Bible, it does not take away from its validity. We should not take it personally, but bless them should they refuse our sharing. Nor should we let it stop us from communicating further with those who are open to listening.

It is a good practice to pray before sharing anything about the Lord. Then, we want to spend quality time in Bible study to know we are sharing the truth of what is actually in the Bible and not simply what someone told us. Next, we want to be in the will of God as to what to share with a particular person or people at that specific time. Further, we must depend upon the Holy Spirit and have confidence in Him to lead us in our conversations, not depending upon our own intellect alone.

If You’re Happy and You Know It, Enjoy It!

by Ms. Rita's Minute

Psalm 68:3

“But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they beย happyย and joyful.“

If you have children, consider them for a moment. Don’t you want the best for them? Don’t you want them to be happy? Synonyms for happy are delighted, glad, satisfied, and pleased, among many others. Don’t you want this for your children or other people you love? Then why wouldn’t your Father in heaven desire this for you?

I’d like to submit to you that it makes good sense to reject any idea that suggests that God does not want you to be happy or that your happiness is not valid. God created happiness. The Bible more frequently uses terms like “blessed,” “glad,” and “joy” to describe a state of well-being and contentment that aligns with God’s will.

Happiness does not always come from the receipt of gifts, though often giving can produce happiness. We should keep in mind the generosity of our heavenly Father and how He has brought us joy in our lives. Matthew 7:11 tells us, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

Most of us can probably testify that we’ve received good gifts from the Lord without even asking. So, clearly, he is pleased to see us happy. Psalm 35:27 tells us “โ€ฆ the Lord delights in the well-being of his servant.” This means wonderful things for us.

No doubt there are things we might not always find enjoyable that the Lord expects us to do in obedience to Him and for our own good. These things only cause us to reap the blessings from our agreement and action. Nevertheless, when our hearts are right, but we fall short, that does not stop our Father from blessing us with happiness, without harm. I would define this to be allowing some undeserved blessing that does not bring harm to us or others. God does this all the time, if we’re honest.

Feel free to rejoice in the Lord and his kindness and lavishness toward you and your family. If you read your bible, you will find it is His way to be generous. Not to mention, He’d like us to be this way, too.

Don’t allow people to influence you with false attributes that aren’t of God’s character, but may sound good or spiritual. He came that we might have life and life more abundantly. This has to do with eternal life and God’s life now in the spirit in general. Walking by the spirit allows things to go well with us.

Aren’t you glad God wants you to be happy? The wellness of God encourages happiness. In specific terms, we may desire different things. Yet God takes care of supplying those things as well, never giving us anything that will hurt us. However, sometimes we may insist and learn lessons of desiring the wrong things, or the right things at the wrong time.

Just imagine the pleasures of heaven, and the fact that Jesus told us to pray that his Kingdom would come on earth as it is in heaven. Of course, there are many things to relate to his Kingdom rule. However, any of them would inspire happiness. So, as citizens of heaven, we should welcome the happiness of the Lord. Therefore, “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise (James 5:13).”

True happiness comes when we pursue God and His kingdom first, so patience is necessary. But don’t think God won’t shower you with blessings in various surprises that spark happiness throughout your life. So, don’t worry, be unapologetically happy!

_________________________________

More blessings to savor:

You make known to me the path of life;  you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalm 16:11)

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. (John 15:11)

Who’s Blessed?

by Ms. Rita's Minute

Psalm 128:1-2 (NIV)

“Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.”

I love this passage. It shows us who the blessed are and their reward. We may have many personal definitions of blessed, but the Hebrew word, in this context, is aลกrรช and indicates happiness, joy, and favor.

This is promised to all, not just some, but all who fear the Lord. Fear, as written here, is a reverential awe and respect for God, rather than a feeling of terror, leading to obedience. The blessings of obedience come from aligning one’s life with God’s will and promises.

In these blessings of obedience, we eat the fruit of our labor and receive from the work or effort of our hands. With this comes prosperity: “Youย shall be happy, and it shall be well with you” (Psalm 128:2 KJV). The Hebrew word for prosperity here is tov, which signifies a state of flourishing and positive outcomes resulting from one’s work.

Thankfully, we have the Bible to aid us in knowing what God’s will and ways are as we move in reverential fear of him. However, sometimes God’s will for us personally, in various practical parts of our lives, may not look like what we, or others, think it should.

That’s why it’s not wise to be hasty, but seek the Lord in prayer as to His desires for us in our decision-making. He’ll be faithful to give us the signposts to follow, so that we’ll stay on his blessed pathway. All we need to do is sincerely ask and wait for His answer, remembering the Lord sees our honor and respect for Him.

Transformation Travel

by Ms. Rita's Minute

Romans 12:2
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what Godโ€™s will isโ€”his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Are there things about you that you know just aren’t good? You know, those things you don’t like about yourself that you know need to change, but you’ve so far been unsuccessful? Well, there’s good news for all of us!

God has given us instructions on how we can be transformed: by the renewing of our minds. This is how we change. The consistent reading of the Bible is just that powerful. It’s a process by which we persistently take in the scriptures to learn the principles and patterns of God’s love, works, and ways. We learn what he desires of us and those actions and disciplines we need to set in place in our journeys toward change.

How seriously we embrace His instructions determines the time or pace at which we experience successful change. With our various upbringings, environments, jobs, hobbies, leaders, friends, etc., the rate of change will differ. However, given the Bible, God’s Holy Spirit, our commitments, and other resources the Lord uses specifically in our lives, we will experience change.

Most of all, recognition of our need for change and the willingness to do it are huge factors in successful transformation. Not to mention, that miraculous supernatural thing God does, while “we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

What’s really comforting is Philippians 1:6 assures us that we can be confident that he who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. We aren’t abandoned to try to figure everything out on our own. God has given us the Holy Spirit as a helper to guide us into all the truth we need to mature in the faith.

The Holy Spirit empowers believers to resist temptation and live a life of holiness, overcoming sinful patterns and developing godly character. This includes cultivating virtues like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, often referred to as the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23). The Holy Spirit faithfully assists to make us more like Christ.

Our transformation involves a change of heart and mind, leading to a new identity and a desire to live according to God’s will. It’s a process of spiritual formation that is initiated and enabled by God but also requires our active participation and cooperation. 

One might simply list the things we’d like to change and then pray earnestly about those things, seeking God’s truth on the matter. He’s so creative and helps us in many unique ways to modify our behavior in order to bring about positive results. I’ve found the Lord to be a masterful teacher using many life lessons in various forms to get me to see his necessary points. Yet we are responsible to check the condition of our behaviors to assess if we are learning and doing what God says.

The Bible says, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in youโ€”unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5) We must be humble enough to submit our weaknesses to the Lord with a repentant and intentional attitude to do better by the grace of His presence within us and the strength of discipline that he provides.

Moreover, we can move bravely knowing that God has said in Hebrews 13:5 that He will never leave or forsake us and in John 14:18, he would not leave us as orphans but would come to us.

Questioning Pursuit

by Ms. Rita's Minute

Matthew 6:33

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

As human beings we all have desires, interests, and our own personal ways of doing and being. We have our own definitions of success and how to obtain it. We seek happiness and contentment in various ways and pursue those things that we think will fulfill our souls.

However, do we ever consider what God wants us to pursue? What are His desires for each of us and what truly fulfills those personal longings we possess? I ponder this often as sometimes I can get distracted but find joy in the answers God has given.

1 Timothy 6:11 provides those things God wants us to pursue. These things are of utmost importance that spill over into everything else in our lives: “โ€ฆ pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” 2 Timothy 2:22 adds “peace” to the list. To look a little closely to each of these traits:

  1. Pursuing righteousness we seek being morally right or justifiable, decent, just, principled and virtuous among other things. As the Body of Christ, we’ve already spiritually received God’s gift of righteousness. However, our proof of repentance and living for Christ include the aforementioned characteristics.
  2. Godliness is living a life that reflects the character and will of God. We are told in 1 Timothy 6:6 that righteousness along with contentment is great gain.
  3. The Bible also teaches us in Hebrews 11:6 that faith is the confidence, or substance of things we hope for, the assurance, or evidence of things we can’t see.
  4. 1 Corinthians 13 is an entire chapter that defines the attributes of love, a wonderful state encompassing patience, kindness, and selflessness. 1 John 4:8 and 4:16 tell us that God is love.
  5. Endurance is the ability to sustain a prolonged stressful effort or activity, or to withstand hardship or adversity.
  6. We display gentleness when we are kind, tender and mild-mannered. It also involves humility, patience and empathy.
  7. When we pursue peace, we pursue harmony and tranquility; freedom from emotional distress, worry, or public disturbance.

The traits listed in 1 Timothy 6:11 are preceded by Paul’s warning on how the love of money is the root of all evil and how people so eager for it have caused themselves many griefs and wandered from the faith because of it. He encourages his son in the faith, Timothy, to flee from those things and to fight the good fight of faith.

This, of course, is also a warning to all believers in Christ. Fleeing involves running away to escape danger; to move quickly and with urgency.

There’s nothing wrong with having dreams, goals, ideas or visions for our lives, but we must keep in close contact with our Wonderful Counselor, Peleh Yoetz (in Hebrew), to make sure our desires align with his. “Grinding” to achieve success is not always healthy or safe, especially when it moves us away from God’s ideals.

We don’t want to add any more weights to our lives than that with which we already have to contend. The Lord knows the best ways for us to do anything to achieve success. We need only ask for his wisdom which he’ll provide generously without finding fault according to James 1:5.

In our pursuits of happiness, contentment or whatever it is we desire in life, keeping our focus first and foremost on heavenly goals leads to joy and fulfillment for God’s children. Steering away from distractions can sometimes prove difficult, but doable.

We have the Spirit of the living God on the inside of us and this is marvelous. Now may we continue to fight the good fight of faith in our endeavors to do his will.

Reborn

by Ms. Rita's Minute

John 3:3
Jesus replied, โ€œVery truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.โ€

Isn’t it an awe-inspiring fact that one can become reborn? When I think of the awesomeness of natural birth and its wonderful process, the thought of actually being reborn can be even more mindboggling.

The curious Pharisee, Nicodemus, one who apparently knew of, or observed some works that Jesus had done, wondered how this could be. He questioned the Lord: “How can someone be born when they are old?” “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their motherโ€™s womb to be born” (John 3:4)! Jesus responded telling him that “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit to spirit” (John 3:6).

The magnificent Holy Spirit is the one who gives this new birth to our spirits! In as much as we have believed on the Lord Jesus as the Son of God and repented of our sins, we are not the same people. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “โ€ฆ if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Not only that, but we have been “โ€ฆ born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Peter 1:23).

Of all the millions of people on the earth, the Lord has created the standard that “โ€ฆno one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spiritโ€ฆโ€˜You must be born again.โ€™ (John 3:5-7) Hence, we must come into this new existence in Christ, in order to enter His Kingdom. As stated in the Bible, this can only be done by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and accepting Him as Lord, God’s only begotten son.

How refreshing to know that no matter what we may have experienced that we wish to forget in our pasts, before knowing Christ, it’s as good as gone when we have been reborn. It’s stated to be under the blood of Jesus, through the atonement of His death on our behalf, and we are given the gift of a new life, eternal life.

So I highlight this fact today so that we don’t forget that in being reborn, we should not see ourselves as the same as before this amazing supernatural act. “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” (Colossians 1:13).

In addition, according to 2 Corinthians 3:18, “โ€ฆ we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lordโ€™s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

It is a wonderful act of God’s grace that He “chose us as first fruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13).

Hence, we should not see ourselves as the persons we were, slaves to the same old habits, laden with the generational strongholds, addictions and maladies of old, never changing. Our old selves were crucified with Christ. We now walk in newness of life in Christ, in the Holy Spirit.

Moreover, Jesus himself said we are now the “…salt of the earth, the light of the world…” (Matthew 5:13-16). So, now we may rejoice that we have an awesome birthright: “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are Godโ€™s possessionโ€”to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14)

Biblically, a Christian’s inheritance contains both present and future realities. We can count on blessings in this life, such as forgiveness of our sins through Christ, adoption into God’s family, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. It also includes eternal life with God in heaven, and a new heaven and new earth. This inheritance is secured by faith in Jesus Christ and is a gift from God. So, let’s praise the Lord today that we’ve been reborn!

Getting Along

by Ms. Rita's Minute

Romans 12:18, NIV

 “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.“

Do you increasingly find it difficult to get along well with others? Observing all of the arguing, misunderstandings and frustrations among those around us, and perhaps within ourselves, we could all use some tips on how to communicate.

It appears everybody is mad at somebody. Yet there are ways we can get along so much better and let me be the first in line to take notes on how to do so.

Here are some biblical instructions to help us in relating to others:

  1. “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12, NIV). This involves imagining yourself as the other person or people, showing empathy, considering another person’s feelings, experiences, and emotions. How would you feel, and what would you do, if the shoe were on the other foot?
  2. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32, NIV). In behaving this way, we are considerate, thoughtful, friendly and caring. We remember how we’ve needed God’s forgiveness. So, we extend forgiveness to others who have offended us. The Bible even goes so far as to show how what we do, determines how we’ll be treated. In other words, Matthew 6:14-15: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
  3. “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called โ€œToday,โ€ so that none of you may be hardened by sinโ€™s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13, NIV). This means we inspire one another with support, hope, and uplifting interaction, using words that edify one another. One can become cynical and feel hopeless, leading to bitterness, when they are consistently barraged with deception and wrongdoing. An encouraging word can make one’s day.
  4. “Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16, NIV). This is a very important part of getting along. It shows our need for, and trust in, God’s help toward others’ lives as well as ours. It shows humility to pray good things for someone else, as well as confess where we’ve missed the mark, especially when that person has hurt us.
  5. “Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body” (Ephesians 4:25, NIV). Consistently being honest with one another is a great way for trust to grow in our relationships. While our trust should be first and foremost in God, there is an element of trust we place in accepting and relying on someone as a true friend.
  6. “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19, NIV). Sometimes, we can be so focused on what we want to say or how we will reply to someone, that we miss what the other person is actually saying in a conversation. This involves us sharpening our listening and attention skills, for the love of whoever we’re speaking with, listening closely to what they are communicating, so that we understand them well. We don’t want to be those quick to anger or dismissive of what is spoken.

The Bible shows us many ways of relating to one another successfully, but it takes much practice, humility and boldness to form good habits of communication, fellowship and friendship. It really is possible for us to get along with everyone, if we’ll just show one another grace in whatever our connections may be. God has masterfully provided us the scriptural information necessary to get along well. We must now ask for the power of God’s Holy Spirit to help us to do it.

Many Parts, Same Body

by Ms. Rita's Minute

1 Corinthians 12:21-25

“The eye cannot say to the hand, โ€œI donโ€™t need you!โ€ And the head cannot say to the feet, โ€œI donโ€™t need you!โ€ On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.”

The Bible refers to those who have truly believed on Jesus Christ as the Son of God and accepted his death and resurrection as atonement for our sins, as the Body of Christ and the Church. “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way” (Ephesians 1:22-23). As such, one’s origin of birth, current residence, skin color, size, or economic status does not matter. Each believing individual is defined as the Body of Christ.

The Body of Christ consists of many members of local churches (those buildings used for gathering together to worship Christ among other things) in many places throughout the earth. Also included, are those who may not yet have a local church home, meet in homes, in person or over the Internet, but nevertheless, are believers.

In 1 Corinthians 12 where the Body of Christ is equated to a human body, this chapter speaks of the functions of various parts of the body and their necessity to one another.

It is no doubt common that some people may think they are not needed in the Body, or others, that they don’t need the Body. Yet there are many parts of the Body, and they are all important. Verse 24 tells us that while our presentable parts need no special treatment, God composed the Body, giving greater honor to the part that lacks it, that there wouldn’t be any division in the Body, but that the members would have the same care for one another.

As with a human body, some parts are more presentable to the public and don’t need special attention. While others, are kept clothed and covered, they are no less important to the body as a whole. These parts of the body are what some might consider “less honorable,” in that we don’t want them to be exposed or seen. They’re also parts we don’t want treated harshly or injured.

Yet, God gives greater honor to the parts which lack it, which may be seen as the weaker, less honorable, and unpresentable members of the Body, seeking the benefit of the whole body.

One might notice the Body’s different types of giftings or rich and poor persons of greater and lesser abilities. Nevertheless, they all have a role to fulfill.

There is room for variety in God’s great big, magnificent Body. Through prayer and various biblical resources of wisdom, we just need to know our gifts, find God’s best community fit for us, and remember to respect and honor one another despite our gifts or differences. As well we should appreciate our own unique abilities no matter how great or less they may appear to us.

We are not all the same, but we’ve been made a part of Christ’s Body, so we are family and should love and honor one another as we do Christ, the head. May God’s Holy Spirit, help us all in this endeavor.

Beloved Ambassadors of Reconciliation

by Ms. Rita's Minute

2 Corinthians 5:20

“We are therefore Christโ€™s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christโ€™s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

What an honorable responsibility to be an ambassador for Christ. As such we have the exciting assignment to encourage reconciliation to God. As ambassadors, we are representatives. The Greek word, presbeuรณ, indicates those who represent Christ and speak for Him. We are authorized by Christ to act as diplomats speaking on his behalf.

Reconciliation is the restoration of friendly relations, with the key word here being restoration. When we restore something, we reinstitute or bring it back. We repair or renovate it returning it to its original condition. Merriam-Webster’s definition of “reconciliation” refers to the process of restoring friendship or harmony after a disagreement, settling a dispute, or making conflicting ideas or things consistent. This is what Christ has done for us. He has made a way of restoration to our place in God before man’s fall through sin.

Accepting the Father’s son, Jesus, as Lord and Savior, we become one with Him as his Body and He is the head. We recognize God’s kingdom instructions as those principles we choose to live and love by.

When we think of representing Christ, we endeavor to show the utmost behavior encompassing love, compassion and humility toward others. To represent someone well, also entails speaking on their behalf effectively and accurately. This includes understanding their position, communicating their needs, and advocating for their interests while maintaining integrity and respect.

With the propensity to err and encounter our personal insecurities and weaknesses, God still chooses to grace us with the posture of 1 Peter 2:9: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Moreover, the fact of the matter is the wonderful message of how we are reconciled. Romans 5:8-11 tells us that “…God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from Godโ€™s wrath through him! For if, while we were Godโ€™s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

In giving us this amazing position in Christ, He has provided us with additional heavenly help as His ambassadors: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earthโ€ (Acts 1:8).

My prayer is that we will all represent the Lord well, wherever we find ourselves in life.

Slay It!

by Ms. Rita's Minute

2 Corinthians 7:1

“Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”

A fly has somehow entered my presence at this moment. With the pretty, pink and flowered, fly swatter in hand, I hate to destroy anything. So, I’m telling it where to go: “The air conditioning vents, under the door; just get out of here!” I’m experiencing it can be especially hard to put to death anything that is living, even when it is harassing me needlessly.

Nevertheless, the Bible tells us to put to death some harmful things that may be living within in us. These are things that seek to kill us, grieve God’s Holy Spirit, and hinder us from moving forward freely in our God-given purpose or enjoying a confident relationship with Christ.

As Christ has paid the price for our eternal life, we are now to kill those things within us that are clearly of Satan’s kingdom and replace them with those things of Christ’s.

Furthermore, though the Lord’s sanctification process is ongoing in our lives, the Bible clearly tells us that we are to do this ruining of certain things; making an effort to do the killing and not just expect God to do it for us. Thankfully, he’s given us the authority and tools to carry it out.

Colossians 3:5 tells us to “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Therefore, at some point, we’ve got to take a serious look, specifically at what each of these things are, with an aim to recognize them when they surface from within us and put an end to them.

Therefore, we can start by realizing that God has given us weapons. One, I’ll highlight here, is the “sword of the spirit” which the Bible defines as the Word of God. ย “Forย the Word of God is living andย active,ย sharper than anyย two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, andย discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

When our human reasoning or excuses to behave in ungodly ways moves us closer toward sin, we must remember that “theย weapons ofย our warfare are not of the flesh but haveย divine powerย to destroy strongholds.ย We destroy arguments andย every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive toย obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

Though we’re instructed to kill those things within us that are harmful to us and others, God has graciously given us some things to put on. Colossians 3:12 tells us, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”

These things make life beautiful for us and those we encounter. These things bring God glory. They are the things that speak loudly that we are of the Lord’s kingdom, one where there is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Interestingly, as I reach the end of my minutes with you, my annoying visitor is no longer buzzing. Quietly, it left without my killing it, for which I am truly grateful. Yet, any bad habits we’ve been allowing in our lives, won’t just go away on their own, but must be put to death. So, I’m so appreciative that we can ask our heavenly father, who gives wisdom liberally, to show us specifically how to successfully remove anything that he hates from our lives. We can rest confident his tools of weaponry for us work, and he is certainly faithful to do his part in these matters.