All tagged Jesus

As Christians, how do we speak of our faith in Jesus? Who do we envision Him to be? Do we see Him as a miracle child born of the Virgin Mary? Do we witness Him as a young boy discussing scripture in the temple? Do we see Him as the man who calls out to others to become His apostles? Do we call Him a miracle worker who turns water into wine and walks on water, or do we simply see Him as a great rabbi who teaches powerful truths? Are any of these remembrances at the heart of our expressed faith in Jesus? ___ These are all things that Jesus was... but in our faith He should be much more. We should not only see the risen Christ as crucified... but we should follow Him onto the cross, into the resurrection, and during the ascension. In all these things, which began on Calvary, we will find our life, and by them we can take our next breath in eternity.

What is your name; what are you called? On physical earth we have a sir name, but what is our spiritual name, our name of faith? Are we called Godly, Christian, Catholic, Anglican, Protestant, Orthodox, Pastor, Reverend, Father, Bishop, Saint, or some other name of faith, or are we simply unknown? Let’s shorten this question... are you called by the name of God, or not? Names can indicate someone’s nationality, race, tribe, or family, but eventually they give an indication as to who our father is. So, who is your spiritual father?

Do you believe that adhering to the commandments of God and Jesus Christ might be too difficult for you? When you read that Jesus said, “Go and sin no more.” did His words frighten you? Were they more than you felt you could accomplish? Well, my friend, if we were to attempt these things alone, then they surely would be too much for us, and we would be right to be frightened and concerned, but in God all of this and more are possible. 

We serve the one true God, the creator of the universe, and we wait on Him in prayer today, and the return of His Son Jesus Christ, just as Abraham and Moses waited on Him, and the first coming of the Messiah in their own lives? Do we pray and wait for Him, knowing that He will answer our prayers? Do we faithfully expect His presence to be known not only in our lifetimes, but in our daily lives? Can we hear Him calling to us, and knocking at our doors even now? Brothers, this is the moment of our faithfulness, and the promise which thrills us. This is the day that the Lord has made; of our Father to whom Jesus prayed, and the Great I Am to whom Jesus taught us to pray. He desires a relationship with us, all of us, right now.

The rift that was formed between God and man when Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil has been closed for us. Jesus gave himself in sacrifice to make that happen. What an incredible gift of grace we have received, a gift of forgiveness, and yet we are like children who have been given a gift but refuse to play with it because we can’t believe it is really ours or that we might break it. Well, brothers and sisters, it is time that we opened the present which has been handed to us, and thrill at its contents.

With lifestyles and medical care improving, our lifespans are also increasing, but a long life doesn’t necessarily mean a good life. Some reach their older years and look back with regret, some look at the lives they are living now and ask why they are sick, or dying, and others are even tempted by Satan to abandon their faith and enjoy worldly pleasures in the years they have. But what does God want for us, and what does the Bible say about aging?

Do we weep in our prayer closets and ask for a certain thing day, after day, after day? Does our heart break while in the midst of our supplication, and yet we still have faith in God to answer? Are our prayers lifted up yet again, and the tears run down our faces once more? Do those around us say “stop praying, it isn’t going to happen”, but we continue to cling to hope, and trust in God? This is what Jesus taught us to do. This is the true evidence of our faith.

Love is central to our faith as Christians, and not just our agape love for God nor a personal love that is limited to family, friends, and self, but a love that flows into all the world, and beyond. The love we exhibit is meant to be so profound that it is witnessed and considered a spectacle in heaven itself! Are we living such a life of love today? Has our love become spiritual and heavenly?

Do you count yourself as insufficient when it comes to saving the many lost souls? When God asks you to accomplish something huge do you answer back, “I can’t, Father! I am just one man!” Is this your justification for being disobedient too?  Well, that used to be my excuse, but this morning I read Romans 5:12-21 and it convicted me, so I will never again say “But Father I am just one man!” I will be obedient in the face of the great challenges He sets before me.

We wait on God for those things we ask of Him in our prayers, the healing, the provision, the protection, and sundry other requests, but even more than those, are we waiting on Him to reveal and return His Son Jesus Christ to claim us? Do we pray every day, throughout the day, for the return of Christ, or are we perfectly satisfied in this earthly life? Certainly, we have daily needs in this world to pray for, but none greater than the homecoming of our Lord Jesus.

Are you in sync with God’s will? Do you ever hear His voice giving you something to do, and then ask Him if He is certain that you should be doing whatever it is? On occasion the Lord can ask us to do things that seem so bizarre, and as a matter of fact appear to defy logic. Why was Jesus asked to tarry until Lazarus had died before He went to Him? Wouldn’t it have been much easier and made more sense to heal Him before he died? God has a purpose and a plan for us, and although it might appear impossible to us, or even unwise, in the end it makes perfect sense.

08/16/2026

 

Do we realize that the fullness of God is available to us? Has anyone ever prayed for us and asked that we be granted spiritual power? Have they asked in prayer that Jesus dwell within us and that we be filled with the fullness of God? Well, if we are to follow the example set by the Apostle Paul then we should be praying and receiving that prayer, because this is precisely what he prayed for all those at the church in Ephesus. Fellow Saints, Pastors, Priests, Reverends, and Deacons, you should pray in this way for your fellow believers, parishioners, members, and churches today! Let’s listen to the apostle Paul…

How great is our dependence on Jesus Christ? Is He the source of everything in our life; spiritual and physical sustenance, a firm foundation amidst the storms, the basis of emotional and mental wellbeing, and our guide to eternity with God? We should look to God for all things, and to Jesus, His Son and our intercessor, to bring us, and each of our prayers, before the Father. Do we do that in every aspect of our lives, or do we envision ourselves to be like a self-sufficient plant that is growing alongside Him?

Before we come to the point in our faith at which we understand that our relationship with God and Jesus Christ is what is of paramount importance, we seek the ancillary things pertaining to the promises in God’s Word. We search for such mysterious ingredients as knowledge, wisdom, eternal life, power, joy, and peace, but in doing so we are like any child who prefers eating the icing over enjoying the cake. We see those things that are the fruits of an intimate relationship and mistake them for its purpose.