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We don’t have to defend ourselves, we have an advocate in heaven, Jesus. All we have to worry about is how to love the world around us, really love them, not simply make them feel good, like us, or leave us alone. We are to love the world, the people, but not the world’s culture or the things it purports to offer us. The things of the world are against Jesus. Be a child of God, not a child of the wickedness of the world. If we are, we’ll love one another, that’s the genuine mark of the believer. Don’t just believe whatever message sounds good, test what is said by God’s word. If it’s true, it will line up with what God has already said, and it will be loving. The Bible helps us to see the truth, because it is the truth, we have something to compare it to. Don’t imitate the evil of the world, but imitate the light of God’s word. Make sure we follow the actual word of God, not fake teachers or false prophets. Remain true to the Bible. Remain true to God, the living God, Jesus Christ. The one who has the sharp two-edged sword. Don’t abandon your first love, Jesus. Don’t fear what you have to endure, you’ll come out stronger on the other side. Don’t tolerate false teachers in the church. Don’t tolerate divisive wicked people who don’t advance the mission of the church who try to take charge, they are Jezebel. Wake up, and lead from your strengths. Remain patient, wait on the Lord, he’s worth it, because he is the Lord! He is “Holy holy holy!” and worthy of our praise. He’s the only one who matters.

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Not only do you need to live up to what you say, you also need to be careful what you say. Nothing is harder to correct than something we’ve said that we wish we could get back. When we speak God’s words, we’re safe… when we say whatever pops into our heads, we’re on shaky ground. Our lives should be marked by heaven, not our own selfish desires. We are not ultimately in control of our lives. We can’t say for sure what tomorrow will be like. We make plans, we are good stewards of the time we are given, but we recognize that it is a gift. We can’t trust in our own riches or self-sufficiency, everything could change in an instant. Death, sickness, war, poverty… these can happen at any time. Healing, peace, riches… at any moment we could receive these blessings. Our job is to work for God’s kingdom and leave the results up to him. We patiently wait through suffering because we know our faith will be stronger on the other side. We pray, God answers. He doesn’t just give us what we want, but we have faith he always gives us what’s best. Jesus gives us hope. He has brought us salvation. Because of all he’s done for us, shouldn’t we live for him? Do our lives reflect his character or our own selfishness? Are we holy? We are meant to be. He is building something special, the church, his kingdom, and he is using us to do it. We are not meant to be individual super-humans who are above everyone else, we’re meant to be humble saved people who display God’s goodness in the world. We don’t stand up for our own individual rights, but we fight for the advancement of God’s agenda. At work, in our community, even in our own homes, it’s not about us, it’s about Jesus. We’re willing to suffer anything as long as it makes God look good. We are interested with the Lord’s message of grace, and it’s for all people. We endure suffering so that all might see the gospel is real. This truth is so important, and we need constant reminding. We must keep on preaching to fellow believers and to the world. If we are genuine believers, we’ll remain faithful. There will always be those who claim to know Jesus, but their lives just don’t ring true, don’t follow them. Jesus will return one day. Judgment day will happen. Don’t find yourself on that day having followed a fake Jesus you’ve invented in your own mind, follow the God of the Bible through the only Jesus Christ. He is the word of life. Follow him by walking in the light, not hiding in the darkness. Are you following him? It’s your choice today.

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There is only one way to communicate with God, though Jesus. He is the only one able to go before a perfect and holy God because he is without sin. He is our great high priest. In the past, there were all kinds of rituals and regulations for the people to show their faith in God. Killing animals and other sacrifices were able to make one temporarily able to speak to God, but this only lasted a short time. A priest would have to prepare himself for an extended period of time simply to go before God and ask forgiveness. Now, we have redemption through Jesus’ blood. He is the perfect sacrifice, not a temporary one, but a permanent solution to man’s problem, and not just for a few, but for everyone. That means anyone who accepts this sacrifice can take advantage of it’s benefits. We no longer need to worry about when the blood will run out, or how much sin our sacrifice covers. Jesus’ blood covers it all and forever. We receive it by faith, just as Abraham believed God, we believe in Jesus. He is the foundation of all of our faith and he is the one who does all the work. We need not feel exhausted because the burden is his, not ours. He will never pass away and he cannot be destroyed. We simply live out our lives as followers of Jesus, loving one another, functioning within the community of faith called the church, and doing the work of God’s mission on the earth. It is not easy, our faith will be regularly tested, but it’s only a tested faith that proves to be true. If we never faced any hardships, we’d never know if we really believed. It’s not enough to simply say you believe in Jesus, you have to actually believe. The only way to know that is if you end up living as through it’s true. If you say one thing, but do another, then you make yourself to be a lier. Worst of all, you’re lying to yourself. Just because you pray a prayer and say some words, that’s not what saves you. Faith saves you. Say the words, but mean them… how you live will reveal what you really believe. 

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God has interested gifts to you. He has deposited potential within you for his kingdom. You’re meant to use it. We are not in a physical battle, but a spiritual one. We are called on to fight the good fight as solders for Christ. We really are in the Lord’s army. We need to work hard for the kingdom, not so that we can earn our place, but that we can show God to be good. So many people turn away from God, there are very few who are in the middle anymore. But we have God’s word. Always pointing us to the truth. Like a compass, aiming at our goal, Jesus Christ. It’s a message the world needs to hear. We must tell people about Jesus. It also matters how you live. God has designed the church to function with a common vision, in unity. To accomplish this, we set aside called men to lead. These men need to be above reproach, a tangible example to look to for the people of God to become more like Christ. We must stay true to God’s word. We need pastors who preach sound doctrine. We all need to be ready for every moment to serve God’s kingdom. When we have the opportunity to help a brother or sister in Christ, we need to take it. Not by way of forcing someone to act this way or that, but by convincing them of the truth of right action. We, as Christians, don’t live as we can, but as we should. Jesus is better than anything else. We follow him, not simply because of lack of options, but because he is the highest imaginable good. May we not take our salvation for granted and thus squander our opportunity to do what we were made to do. Everything in our lives should be about Jesus, he is our everything, the greatest there ever has been. We can rest in him, he is our link between us and God and he cleanses us from any wrongdoing. Don’t think that we are automatically fine just because at one time we were religious. Salvation is real and it doesn’t fade away. Real Christians remain true, let your faith be genuine. Follow Jesus, for real. It’s not a game, it’s life… eternal life!

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It is always encouraging to hear of Christians who are living out their faith. May we all strive to be an example for others. We don’t seek our own glory, but that the mission and ministry of God be more effective because of our service. We love the church, and we care for them. Our work is a joy, not a burden, to see people come to know God through Jesus Christ as Lord. That’s a life which is pleasing to God and a person who can look forward to the return of the Lord. We don’t know when that will be, but we know that he will bring the dead in Christ with him and we’ll all be together. All the world will see the truth when Jesus returns, we need not worry about being vindicated here on earth, it will be obvious. Even though governments fall and the whole world may appear to be going wrong, it’s all in God’s plan, we need not worry, we should stand firm, never wavering and never giving up, constant in prayer. Don’t fall for the latest fad or tickling of ears that false teachers love to proclaim. Jesus Christ came to save sinners. We should pray for all people and remain steadfast, looking to our leaders as examples. Leaders of the church need to live a life above reproach. We must hold the line and only allow qualified and sold-out people to hold positions of authority in the church. Some will fall away, but we must remain faithful, as good servants of Christ. Day-to-day, how we live matters, with honor and integrity honoring those who preach the word. False teachers and fake theology will always be present, we must pursue righteousness. It’s hard, but it’s worth it!

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