Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Respect Cannot Be Forced
Amen, we cannot force anyone to respect us, but we can always live with dignity even if no one treats us with regard. One Person we always have who will love us is Jesus Christ Who lives in us.
Too often, we worry about what others think of us more than we praise God for His love for us. The people don't matter in terms of how they treat us, but Jesus Christ is everything.
There is no reason to complain when we know Christ has our back and everything we go through, He not only sees but has a purpose for us and possibly others.
Romans 8:28 "28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose."
Hallelujah!!!!! Christ is everything and everything else is a lesson for Spiritual growth.
Too often, we worry about what others think of us more than we praise God for His love for us. The people don't matter in terms of how they treat us, but Jesus Christ is everything.
There is no reason to complain when we know Christ has our back and everything we go through, He not only sees but has a purpose for us and possibly others.
Romans 8:28 "28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose."
Hallelujah!!!!! Christ is everything and everything else is a lesson for Spiritual growth.
Surviving the Culture as we Walk with Christ
When a society and a government demand that they handle their own affairs without Christ, He will turn them over to their own governance, take his help and hands off, and let them have what they want, which will destroy them.
I know there are those who want to "get America back" as it was 100 years ago, but what they forget is that God will not help a rebellious nation to achieve the preservation of their pleasures and spiritually wasteful lifestyle.
Ask almost any "Christian" today what they want to preserve about America, and the answers will sound a little like this;
Save our borders, our economy, our freedom, eliminating abortion, staving off some immorality, but not all of it. You will not hear anything about individuals repenting and almost nothing about the gospel of Christ. Everything is based on personal safety and freedom without Spiritual lessons and dedication to Christ.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."
When speaking with many Christians today, I see the dedication to their rituals, their holidays, and their personal freedom more than anything else. Very little conversation based on personal introspection to expunge from their lives any sinful desires they may have, even if they do not act them out.
1 Timothy 4:1-2 "Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, / influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron."
There is a form of Christianity in our churches that speaks lots of swelling words but has little if any devotion to Jesus Christ. They develop their own "religious ideas" and tack Christ on the end as though He was the author merely because they declared His name.
Titus 1:10-11 "For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced. For the sake of dishonorable gain, they undermine entire households and teach things they should not."
Romans 16:17-18 "Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery, they deceive the hearts of the naive."
The challenges of today, as we navigate through superficial Christianity, are to remain staunch in the mind of Christ so that we are not sucked into the familiar ways and speech we hear regularly all the time.
Sometimes it's easier to become like those around us, so we don't have to deal with the disrespect and isolation that occurs when we do not think like the culture.
When we become comfortable with not being supported or accepted is the day our freedom and wisdom grow. We love the people but only those who walk with us in faith and truth will be those who will understand.
May the Lord give us strength during these times of leanness of friends, and may the Lord Jesus Christ in us be enough to sustain us. Hallelujah!!!!
I know there are those who want to "get America back" as it was 100 years ago, but what they forget is that God will not help a rebellious nation to achieve the preservation of their pleasures and spiritually wasteful lifestyle.
Ask almost any "Christian" today what they want to preserve about America, and the answers will sound a little like this;
Save our borders, our economy, our freedom, eliminating abortion, staving off some immorality, but not all of it. You will not hear anything about individuals repenting and almost nothing about the gospel of Christ. Everything is based on personal safety and freedom without Spiritual lessons and dedication to Christ.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 "…2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."
When speaking with many Christians today, I see the dedication to their rituals, their holidays, and their personal freedom more than anything else. Very little conversation based on personal introspection to expunge from their lives any sinful desires they may have, even if they do not act them out.
1 Timothy 4:1-2 "Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, / influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron."
There is a form of Christianity in our churches that speaks lots of swelling words but has little if any devotion to Jesus Christ. They develop their own "religious ideas" and tack Christ on the end as though He was the author merely because they declared His name.
Titus 1:10-11 "For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced. For the sake of dishonorable gain, they undermine entire households and teach things they should not."
Romans 16:17-18 "Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery, they deceive the hearts of the naive."
The challenges of today, as we navigate through superficial Christianity, are to remain staunch in the mind of Christ so that we are not sucked into the familiar ways and speech we hear regularly all the time.
Sometimes it's easier to become like those around us, so we don't have to deal with the disrespect and isolation that occurs when we do not think like the culture.
When we become comfortable with not being supported or accepted is the day our freedom and wisdom grow. We love the people but only those who walk with us in faith and truth will be those who will understand.
May the Lord give us strength during these times of leanness of friends, and may the Lord Jesus Christ in us be enough to sustain us. Hallelujah!!!!
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
God is all about Interpersonal Relationships
We are living in days when it is very hard to find godly Christians who love to speak of things of the Lord. I am noticing the lack of enthusiasm in discussion has to do with the desire to keep everything superficial to get along and to remain unencumbered with conviction of sin.
Whenever we discuss important matters of the heart, there will always be conviction, realization of a need for Spiritual and emotional growth.
We live in a world that is more concerned about getting a job done than it is in connection in a deeper way.
Romans 12:14-15 "14 Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited."
1 Corinthians 12:26 "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."
1 Peter 3:8 "Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble."
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."
Philippians 2:4 "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."
One might ask why I write so much about interpersonal relationships. The reason is that everything we experience every day involves human relationships.
Jesus Christ is all about relationships, the way we treat one another, the love of Christ that compels us to do what we do, and say what we say.
Superficial interaction is happy and fun from time to time, but when that is all we do, we are of no help to one another. The greatest blessing of a friendship is when we can help one another think more deeply about Spiritual principles. This will grow us in holiness as well as correct our minds to be like the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:15-16 "…15 The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment. 16“For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ."
When we think with the mind of Christ, we can be confident that our interactions with people will be loving and Christlike.
Philippians 2:5 "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:"
When we think with the mind of Christ, we will not think like most people, and they will not understand the ways of God that motivate us. In fact, they will see us as fanatical and embarrassing.
Acts of service are wonderful, and we can be grateful for them; however, the greatest love is interest in the person, how they think, and what interests them, and the spiritual progression that leads to a closer walk with God.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 "11 Therefore, [a]encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing."
Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Praise God for His Holy Spirit, Who helps us in our weaknesses and encourages us in His way, that we may progress in our spirit more and more as we maneuver through this life.
Whenever we discuss important matters of the heart, there will always be conviction, realization of a need for Spiritual and emotional growth.
We live in a world that is more concerned about getting a job done than it is in connection in a deeper way.
Romans 12:14-15 "14 Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited."
1 Corinthians 12:26 "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."
1 Peter 3:8 "Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble."
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."
Philippians 2:4 "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."
One might ask why I write so much about interpersonal relationships. The reason is that everything we experience every day involves human relationships.
Jesus Christ is all about relationships, the way we treat one another, the love of Christ that compels us to do what we do, and say what we say.
Superficial interaction is happy and fun from time to time, but when that is all we do, we are of no help to one another. The greatest blessing of a friendship is when we can help one another think more deeply about Spiritual principles. This will grow us in holiness as well as correct our minds to be like the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:15-16 "…15 The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment. 16“For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ."
When we think with the mind of Christ, we can be confident that our interactions with people will be loving and Christlike.
Philippians 2:5 "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:"
When we think with the mind of Christ, we will not think like most people, and they will not understand the ways of God that motivate us. In fact, they will see us as fanatical and embarrassing.
Acts of service are wonderful, and we can be grateful for them; however, the greatest love is interest in the person, how they think, and what interests them, and the spiritual progression that leads to a closer walk with God.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 "11 Therefore, [a]encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing."
Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Praise God for His Holy Spirit, Who helps us in our weaknesses and encourages us in His way, that we may progress in our spirit more and more as we maneuver through this life.
Saturday, April 4, 2026
Transformed by Christ
Christ comes into those who have trusted in Him to transform them. Even the person who lived a socially perfect life in the eyes of the community is still lost and going to hell if they do not trust in Christ. Anyone trusting in themselves and their own good deeds will not be saved.
I once heard an arrogant Christian express that he was irritated at those people who had big bad stories about how terrible they were before they were born again.
He expressed that he never had a story like that and those who did were just showing off.
This told me that the prideful man who didn't have a big bad story to tell about himself was perhaps convicted that he didn't find anything bad enough in himself to repent from. In fact I never heard this man tell about his own sinful heart.
Everyone has a big, bad story to tell about their own willfulness before Christ transformed them. It is not possible to be repentant when you don't think you did anything bad enough to go to hell.
Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"
No one is without a sinful heart, no one is "doing well enough" to be saved because they were so good.
Mark 7:21-23 "For from within, out of your heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly."
Christ made it clear that our thoughts alone condemn us even if we never commit the sin outwardly.
Those who are truly broken over their own sin will have compassion for the broken heart of another person who is repenting. Those who think they are above others with no sin are the ones who are the harshest toward someone who has repented.
Galatians 6:1 "Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well."
Those who obey the Bible love to see someone who has repented, because we know we had to repent to be transformed by Christ.
I once heard an arrogant Christian express that he was irritated at those people who had big bad stories about how terrible they were before they were born again.
He expressed that he never had a story like that and those who did were just showing off.
This told me that the prideful man who didn't have a big bad story to tell about himself was perhaps convicted that he didn't find anything bad enough in himself to repent from. In fact I never heard this man tell about his own sinful heart.
Everyone has a big, bad story to tell about their own willfulness before Christ transformed them. It is not possible to be repentant when you don't think you did anything bad enough to go to hell.
Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"
No one is without a sinful heart, no one is "doing well enough" to be saved because they were so good.
Mark 7:21-23 "For from within, out of your heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly."
Christ made it clear that our thoughts alone condemn us even if we never commit the sin outwardly.
Those who are truly broken over their own sin will have compassion for the broken heart of another person who is repenting. Those who think they are above others with no sin are the ones who are the harshest toward someone who has repented.
Galatians 6:1 "Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well."
Those who obey the Bible love to see someone who has repented, because we know we had to repent to be transformed by Christ.
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