Category: Spiritual

Matthew 8:23-25

Throughout Galilee, large crowds followed Jesus as news spread about His teachings and miracles of healing (Matt. 4:23-25). In Matthew 8:18 a large crowd surrounded Him, and He commanded his disciples to go to the other side of the sea.

Here Jesus entered a ship, and his disciples followed him (v.23). “And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep” (v.24). Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words says tempest comes from the Gr. seismos, a shaking, a shock, translated earthquake. When we hear earthquake, fear coupled with confusion usually grip us. I imagine when that powerful storm arose and the waves covered the ship, beating furiously against its deck, Jesus’ disciples were frantic. They knew there was trouble in the water, and danger surrounded them and Jesus. They were disciples fearful while Jesus was peacefully sleeping. This signified that as Lord over all of creation, we should trust Him to provide what we need when we need it. We trust Him to rule over and calm storms of nature because we live by faith. This is the same reason we must trust Him in our daily lives, calming storms that arise, causing fears, challenges, heartaches and pains, and so on. 

Jesus’ disciples awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish (v.25). They were fearful of the danger and possible outcome of the storm, but they knew to call Him in the time of trouble. The disciples awoke Him with an urgency; they recognized His Lordship and pleaded for Him to save them from dying.

Today, trust the Lord to calm the storms of your life. Give Him glory!

Genesis 1:26-28

On day six of the creation of the world, God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth” (v.26). “So, God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (v.27). “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (v.28).

Recall that God is purposeful in all His doings, and He had a purpose for creating man. He wanted a people to be in a committed relationship with Him. So, He created them male and female in His image, after His likeness. God blessed them, and commanded them to be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. He has a holy nature, and He commanded that the crown jewel of His creation be holy. “Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy” (Lev.19:2). He entrusted them to represent Him spiritually in this earthly realm and gave them charge of everything He made, putting all things under their authority (Ps. 8:6 NLT). 

Today, will you accept that you are created in God’s image and promise to love and obey Himand live a transformed life that glorifies Him?

Lift your voice and shout, “Glory!”

Hebrews 10:26-27

Believers are in a relationship with God through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. In this relationship it is important for believers to have knowledge of who He is. “For there is [only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and mankind, the Man Christ Jesus” (1Tim. 2:5 AMP). In John 14:6 He says: “I am the truth. No man can come to the Father except through Me”. Having received “the knowledge of the truth” means having a deep understanding of God’s purpose and being fully committed to a life of obedience.

The Hebrew writer says: “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice [to atone] for our sins” (v.26), “but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries” (v.27).Believers are not to continue sinning deliberately; this does not please God even though He is forgiving. “And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own [has put his seal on you], guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption” (Eph. 4:30 NLT). You are no longer His enemies so sinning deliberately is to reject Christ’s work on the cross and His salvation. Those who rebel, failing to persevere and obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ, endanger their souls. They put themselves in a certain fearful expectation of God’s eternal judgment and fervent anger which will consume the adversaries. 

Today, I urge you to hold to God’s unchanging hand. Shout, “Glory!”                         

1 John 2:15-17

If anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in him. The love of the world separates us from “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ” (Eph.1:3).

Christians must not lose sight that God has chosen them out of the world and set them apart as peculiar people to live transformed lives of holiness. James 4:4b said: “… whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” When we choose to love the world, we choose to form an alliance with Satan, “the thief who comes only to steal, to kill, and to destroy.” If we choose to love God, we accept His Son Jesus who “came that we might have life and have it more abundantly.”

John said that there are three classes of the world system that are not of the Father but of the world: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is vain boasting. These evil cravings put the ways of man in conflict with the ways of God. It is fruitless to love the world: “The world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (v.17). Apostle John stated that the fallen world system and its lust that defy the holiness of God won’t last. But the love of God is fruitful and promises everlasting life to those who obey the will of God. 

Lift your voice and shout “Glory!

1 John 2:15-17

In this world that is rebellious against God, His children are called “strangers and pilgrims” according to 1 Pet. 2:11. “If you belonged to the world, the world would love [you as] its own and would treat you with affection. But you are not of the world [you no longer belong to it], but I have chosen you out of the world. And because of this the world hates you” (John 15:19 AMP). Kingdom children have been chosen out of the world; therefore, they are not to love the world. They are to “live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God” (Col. 1:10 NIV).

When believers do the will of God instead of loving the world, their faithful living manifests their love and loyalty to Him, reflecting that they are sanctified – completely set apart to God and His service. Even though believers are residents of this world, when Jesus prayed for his disciples in John 17, he said that they are not of the world, even as He is not of the world. God has a plan and purpose for His people, and in order to fulfill them, Christians are urged not to love this world nor the things that are in it. They are to be spiritually changed by the renewing of their minds. This change will result in Christian living that aligns with “what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2b).

Lift your voice and shout, “Glory!”