Category: Spiritual

1 Corinthians 15:58

My fellow brothers and sisters in Christ generations may have changed, but God’s desire for believers to be in a steadfast relationship of love with Him hasn’t. No matter what trials and tribulations we experience we are commanded to love Him totally. That’s how we demonstrate our trust in Him. Apostle Paul reminds us that “these little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing” (2 Corinthians 4:17, CEV). The King James Version calls it “light affliction” that last “for a moment.” Yes, we will suffer, but James 1:12 says that the one who does not submit to wrong doing when tempted is blessed and will receive the crown of life God has promised to those who love Him. Keep in mind that His timing is not ours, but His time is the right time. He is an on time God for the accomplishment of His will so that He will get all the glory.

What are we to do? We are to remain steadfast, trusting Him to bring us through any situation. We are rooted and grounded in the Lord and are not to allow our circumstances to shake our faith and move us to turn from the hope of salvation. We must remain loyal to Him, always excelling and continuously giving ourselves to His work. We have the promise that our labor in the Lord is never in vain or without purpose (1 Corinthians 15:58, Amp). “May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and into the patient waiting for Christ” (2 Thessalonians 3:5).

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

After having wandered forty years in the wilderness, we have here a new generation of Israelites, and God commanded Moses to repeat the words of the Sinai covenant that God had made with them. This covenant was not made with their ancestors, but with them, who were all now alive that day. It began with “Hear O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone” (Deuteronomy 6:4). Israel is reminded that their God is not polytheistic. He is unique in nature. They don’t have a different god for different aspects of life. He is the one true and living God, the Creator, Who sustains and governs all things.

God wanted His people to reciprocate a steadfast relationship of love with Him. He chose Israel as His people and never left them or forsook them. No matter how often they failed Him, He had steadfastly proved His love as their God, their provider, and protector. He miraculously sustained them both physically and spiritually as He rained manna down from heaven six days a week as they journeyed through the wilderness. What God did then for His children He is doing today – making a way out of what is impossible to man but possible only with God Almighty.

He commanded them to “love Him with all their heart, their soul, and with all their might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). This may seem as if it’s impossible for people who had been disobedient and fallen short of God’s glory many times just as we do today. Because God is merciful and forgiving, He still wanted their steadfast love – their total unbroken, unchanging love. He wants yours too. Will you commit to a steadfast love relationship with Him today? You have the promise of receiving His blessing.

Luke 24:1-12   

There were certain women disciples of Jesus of whom He had healed of evil spirits and sicknesses and cast out demons, and there were many others who provided for Him from their possessions (8:2-3). They came with Jesus from Galilee; they witnessed His crucifixion (23:44-49) and burial (23:50-55). They went back home, prepared spices and ointments for His body, and observed the Sabbath day as commanded.

Luke 24 verses 1-8 show the faithfulness of these women even though they were perplexed because they did not find the Lord Jesus’ body. They, and certain other women, came to the sepulcher the first day of the week, very early in the morning, bringing spices which they had prepared to finish the anointing of the Lord Jesus’ body. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; they went in, and found it empty. While they were pondering about the situation, they received an angelic testimony of Jesus’ resurrection. The angels asked them, “Why are you looking for the living among the dead” (v.5)? “He is not here, but is risen (v.6)!” They were challenged to recall that when He was still in Galilee, the Lord Jesus had prophesied to them that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and on the third day rise from death to life. How wonderful it is to remember the Master’s words in the time of uncertainty!

Recalling His words (v.8), these faithful women: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, the mother of James, and the other women with them, left the tomb and delivered the resurrection message. It was to the apostles. How did the apostles respond?  The women’s words seemed like idle tales to the apostles. “The Gr. leros, means silly nonsense.” It’s a medical term for delirium and used only here in this context. They did not believe the women. They thought them to be delirious. Peter, however, heard the message. He arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened (v.12). Today is a great day for you to believe the resurrection message – Jesus is alive!

Romans 8:9-11

Paul declares that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:1). In the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:11-14) the Pharisee prayed within himself, glorifying himself. On the other hand, the tax collector stood way off, refusing to look up to heaven, hit his chest, and said, “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13). He prayed openly to God, and Jesus declared that the tax collector was justified rather than the Pharisee. When we humble ourselves and accept the Lord, the Spirit of God will come to live in us. His Spirit of righteousness empowers us to live as children of God.

Romans chapter 8:9 says that “we are not living in the flesh but in the Spirit. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” Those of us who live in the Spirit “are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God” (1Corinthians 6:11). “If Christ lives in you, though your body is  dead because of sin, your spirit is alive because of righteousness” (v.10). We have heard the phrase “Sin is a mean thing,” or we may even have used it. Why do we use that expression? Sin is a killer, and it kills our physical body. The Spirit provides righteousness, giving life to the soul of the believer. “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead lives in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead will also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that lives in you”(v.11). How blessed we are to have the Holy Spirit who sanctified our souls to live in us that we might live eternally! For that same Spirit that resurrected Jesus from the dead in three days, is that same Spirit that will quicken our mortal bodies by his Spirit that lives in us.

Acts 12:12-17

How many of us have prayed for a situation to change, and when it did, we were astonished? Your prayer could have been personal, an intercessory prayer on behalf of a fellow brother or sister in Christ, for an end to a global pandemic such as COVID-19, or other.  What is most comforting about prayer is that it is our direct line of communication with God through His Son Jesus Christ. Believers have always prayed. James declares that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (James 5:16b, NIV). If the righteous didn’t pray, this world would be more chaotic than ever.

In the early days of the church at Antioch, King Herod had Peter arrested, and the church prayed for their brother without ceasing (v.5). When their prayer was answered, the church responded in astonishment. We dare not judge them; it happened then, and it happens now.

Peter was bound with two chains, asleep between two soldiers, and two others guarded the door when he was delivered from the shackles of chains by an angel of God. The angel led him safely outside and left him. When he came to himself, he went to the house where many believers had been gathered in prayer all night (v.12). Peter knocked at the door, Rhoda answered (v.13), and recognizing his voice, she ran off joyfully without opening the door to tell the others their prayer had been answered; Peter was at the door (v.14). They didn’t believe their prayer had been answered. Rhoda kept insisting that he was at the door (v.15), and Peter kept knocking. How astonished the believers were when they opened the door and saw him (v.16)! Let’s not forget that somebody prayed for us. So the next time we pray let’s believe that He is a prayer-answering God. Give Him glory!

 

Acts 12:12-17