Colossians 1:21-23 Holman Christian Standard Bible
21 Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds because of your evil actions. 22 But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before Him— 23 if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become a servant of it.
Psalm 144:5-8 Holman Christian Standard Bible
5 Lord, part Your heavens and come down.
Touch the mountains, and they will smoke.
6 Flash Your lightning and scatter the foe;
shoot Your arrows and rout them.
7 Reach down from heaven;
rescue me from deep water, and set me free
from the grasp of foreigners
8 whose mouths speak lies,
whose right hands are deceptive.
Proverbs 16:19 Holman Christian Standard Bible
19 Better to be lowly of spirit with the humble
than to divide plunder with the proud.
Amos 5:24 Holman Christian Standard Bible
24 But let justice flow like water,
and righteousness, like an unfailing stream.
Hebrews 10:5-10 Holman Christian Standard Bible
5 Therefore, as He was coming into the world, He said:
You did not want sacrifice and offering,
but You prepared a body for Me.
6 You did not delight
in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings.
7 Then I said, “See—
it is written about Me
in the volume of the scroll—
I have come to do Your will, God!”
8 After He says above, You did not want or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law), 9 He then says, See, I have come to do Your will. He takes away the first to establish the second. 10 By this will of God, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all.
Psalm 144:3-4 Holman Christian Standard Bible
3 Lord, what is man, that You care for him,
the son of man, that You think of him?
4 Man is like a breath;
his days are like a passing shadow.
The noted scientist and inventor, Thomas Edison, once said, “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”
The sign of true genius is the ability to take a thought or concept, develop it and then create something of extreme value. It is not enough to tell the world that you are a genius unless you are able to show a tangible example of what you’re capable of. You can say anything you want about your IQ and how smart you are, but you have to be able to back up those words.
Our Christian lives are the same way. It is not enough to say we are Christian. We must work hard at our faith and be able to show the world that we truly believe what we say. It takes a lot of effort and dedication to be a Christian. It is more than just saying you believe. It requires that you put a lot of effort into your new life.
The author of the Book of Hebrews wrote, “Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.”
As Christians, our lives are devoted to working in the Kingdom and doing, what we often refer to, God’s work. In the Kingdom, no one ever retires. We work tirelessly for the Lord and do what we are commanded to do. All the things we do are for the glory of the Lord. Nothing comes easy for Christians. Everything requires us to work. We work for peace and we work at living a life dedicated to righteousness. Our reward for doing what we are commanded to do is eternal life with the Father in a place where there will be no more tears, death, sorrow or pain. All of those things will be gone forever.
The other thing about our work is that we have chosen this path for ourselves. God has provided us the gift of salvation, but we must choose to accept it. Before accepting that gift, we already know what is required of us. There is no fine print or disclaimers when it comes to the Lord’s promises. We must toil in the fields to bring in the harvest. There are people who live in darkness and need to hear the Word of God. That is the work we must devote our lives to.
Paul, in chapter three of his epistle to the Colossians, writes, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.”
As we work our daily jobs, we must do them as if we are doing them for the Lord. In the minds of some, there is work and then there are our private lives. In one, we are followers of Christ Jesus and in the other, we are just trying to make a living. When it comes to living as a Christian, there is no separation between the two. Our lives must reflect all that we have learned and accepted as truth.
You cannot worship God only on the Sabbath and then worship money on the rest of the days. You cannot profess your love for God and others and then on the other days cheat people and say that it is only business. That is not what we are to do as Christians.
Our lives must always reflect the glory and light of God back into the world and, at the same time, all the glory and recognition we receive must be given back to God. He is the one who has given us the talents and abilities to do extraordinary things.
In chapter two of his epistle to the Ephesians, Paul tells them and us, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
As His masterpiece of creation, we are not to squander the talents He has given us. Since the beginning of time, God had planned our lives and given us great talents and the ability to serve not only Him but also others. If we fail to live up to His plans, then we are wasting our lives and taking those God-given talents for granted.
Think about this. There are those who can teach others. Others can preach. Others can do other things that bring glory to God. All of these things come from God. They are gifts from Him and we are to use them in the best and most righteous way possible.
James, in chapter one of his book, writes, “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.”
Every single “good and perfect” gift comes directly to each of us. He intends for us to use them not for our own benefit but for the benefit of others and for the glory of God. He has never nor will ever lie or cast a shifting shadow with us. His words and promises are true and will always remain that way. Those wonderful and good gifts must be used in only one way, for the good as they were intended to be.
When we use them for our own personal gain or telling people that what they received from God came from their own hard work, we are dishonoring God. This is the way of this fallen world. By doing that, they push God out of their lives and only work to bring glory to themselves. That approach to life will only bring destruction to themselves and all those who decide to follow their example.
We should always use the talents we have received from the Lord for good and bring honor to Him. But, it is not enough to just have the talents, we must work hard at whatever we put our hand to. By living our lives in that way, we tell the world that there is hope and that there is a light that pierces the darkness that can guide them to a life full of joy and meaning. That life is a gift from God. Once we accept that gift, we are to work hard and devote ourselves to all the work in the Kingdom. When we work for others, we should do everything as if we are working for our Master, Christ Jesus. Living that way is the only way for us to stand firm in His grace.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Proverbs 16:18 Holman Christian Standard Bible
18 Pride comes before destruction,
and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
Matthew 20:20-28 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Suffering and Service
20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons approached Him with her sons. She knelt down to ask Him for something. 21 “What do you want?” He asked her.
“Promise,” she said to Him, “that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right and the other on Your left, in Your kingdom.”
22 But Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?”
“We are able,” they said to Him.
23 He told them, “You will indeed drink My cup. But to sit at My right and left is not Mine to give; instead, it belongs to those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.” 24 When the 10 disciples heard this, they became indignant with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and the men of high position exercise power over them. 26 It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life—a ransom for many.”
Revelation 21:9-14 Holman Christian Standard Bible
The New Jerusalem
9 Then one of the seven angels, who had held the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues, came and spoke with me: “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 He then carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 arrayed with God’s glory. Her radiance was like a very precious stone, like a jasper stone, bright as crystal. 12 The city had a massive high wall, with 12 gates. Twelve angels were at the gates; the names of the 12 tribes of Israel’s sons were inscribed on the gates. 13 There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. 14 The city wall had 12 foundations, and the 12 names of the Lamb’s 12 apostles were on the foundations.
Psalm 144:1-2 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Psalm 144
A King’s Prayer
Davidic.
1 May the Lord, my rock, be praised,
who trains my hands for battle
and my fingers for warfare.
2 He is my faithful love and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer.
He is my shield, and I take refuge in Him;
He subdues my people under me.
Proverbs 16:17 Holman Christian Standard Bible
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
the one who guards his way protects his life.
James 1:5 Holman Christian Standard Bible
5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.
Matthew 5:17-20 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Christ Fulfills the Law
17 “Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For I assure you: Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all things are accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches people to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Psalm 143:11-12 Holman Christian Standard Bible
11 Because of Your name, Yahweh,
let me live.
In Your righteousness deliver me from trouble,
12 and in Your faithful love destroy my enemies.
Wipe out all those who attack me,
for I am Your servant.
Proverbs 16:16 Holman Christian Standard Bible
16 Get wisdom—
how much better it is than gold!
And get understanding—
it is preferable to silver.
Romans 2:5-11 Holman Christian Standard Bible
5 But because of your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed. 6 He will repay each one according to his works: 7 eternal life to those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but wrath and indignation to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth but are obeying unrighteousness; 9 affliction and distress for every human being who does evil, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 11 There is no favoritism with God.
Matthew 7:7-12 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Keep Asking, Searching, Knocking
7 “Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! 12 Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them—this is the Law and the Prophets.
Psalm 143:7-10 Holman Christian Standard Bible
7 Answer me quickly, Lord;
my spirit fails.
Don’t hide Your face from me,
or I will be like those
going down to the Pit.
8 Let me experience
Your faithful love in the morning,
for I trust in You.
Reveal to me the way I should go
because I long for You.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord;
I come to You for protection.
10 Teach me to do Your will,
for You are my God.
May Your gracious Spirit
lead me on level ground.
Proverbs 16:15 Holman Christian Standard Bible
15 When a king’s face lights up, there is life;
his favor is like a cloud with spring rain.
1 John 5:1-5 Holman Christian Standard Bible
1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him. 2 This is how we know that we love God’s children when we love God and obey His commands. 3 For this is what love for God is: to keep His commands. Now His commands are not a burden, 4 because whatever has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith. 5 And who is the one who conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Matthew 20:29-34 Holman Christian Standard Bible
Two Blind Men Healed
29 As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. 30 There were two blind men sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 31 The crowd told them to keep quiet, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”
32 Jesus stopped, called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
33 “Lord,” they said to Him, “open our eyes!” 34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they could see, and they followed Him.
Psalm 143:5-6 Holman Christian Standard Bible
5 I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all You have done;
I reflect on the work of Your hands.
6 I spread out my hands to You;
I am like parched land before You. Selah
"A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgement day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you." Matthew 12:35-37 (NLT)
Words. By placing one after another we can compose the most beautiful songs ever heard or horrific curses that can cause fear and trembling. The "great American novel" can be written or we can bring those around us to their knees.
From the time our children are born we look forward to their first word. What will they say first? Every parent longs to hear either "mama" or "dada". As they grow they learn the power of language from their parents and siblings, or, from the television that may be on all day.
My daughter loved nature shows and she was a little human sponge, soaking up knowledge of animals and the facts about them. In first grade, when the teacher was teaching about prefixes, she was asking the students to think of words they knew that began with the "re" prefix. Words such as "reward", "redo" and "return" were mentioned. But when my little one had her turn, her word was "regurgitate." She then began to tell her classmates just what that meant. Needless to say, she had a large vocabulary at an early age.
We use our words to express ourselves and relate to one another. We use them for educational purposes and in prayer. It is how we convey our thoughts and feelings and how we share encouragement. love, rudeness or hate.
However we speak, whatever we choose to say, we are responsible for. Whether in public or private, our words matter. We may think no one will ever know what we have said, but God knows. If we carefully choose our words while we are around other people but use racial slurs or curses in the privacy of our homes, it matters. Our words reveal the condition of our hearts.
In all things, we should glorify the Lord. If we are struggling with our thoughts or words, we need to ask Him to change our hearts so that all we say and do will be a blessing to others, whether they can hear us or not. Hateful words cannot be unsaid and we can never know when they might be overheard and cause pain. Aside from hurting others, they are damaging to ourselves because we are sinning against the Lover of our Souls.
Life can be very discouraging and we face so many things that are upsetting or angering. If we ask our Father to help us take every thought captive and to help us control what comes out of our mouths, He will do so. By exposing ourselves more to His Word and spending more time with Him, we can begin to think first and avoid speaking things that we shouldn't. When we make inappropriate choices we need to catch ourselves and repent. As we do so, we will reinforce what we are learning and real changes will take place.
I wish you all a peaceful week and I pray for Him to guide us all as we navigate the paths set before us. God Bless!
Proverbs 16:14 Holman Christian Standard Bible
14 A king’s fury is a messenger of death,
but a wise man appeases it.
Romans 7:21-25 Holman Christian Standard Bible
21 So I discover this principle: When I want to do what is good, evil is with me. 22 For in my inner self I joyfully agree with God’s law. 23 But I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this dying body? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh, to the law of sin.
James 2:12-13 Holman Christian Standard Bible
12 Speak and act as those who will be judged by the law of freedom. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who hasn’t shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Psalm 143:3-4 Holman Christian Standard Bible
3 For the enemy has pursued me,
crushing me to the ground,
making me live in darkness
like those long dead.
4 My spirit is weak within me;
my heart is overcome with dismay.
Proverbs 16:13 Holman Christian Standard Bible
13 Righteous lips are a king’s delight,
and he loves one who speaks honestly.
Ephesians 6:11 Holman Christian Standard Bible
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil.
Romans 13:8-10 Holman Christian Standard Bible
8 Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments:
Do not commit adultery;
do not murder;
do not steal;
do not covet;
and whatever other commandment—all are summed up by this: Love your neighbor as yourself.
10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law.
Psalm 143:1-2 Holman Christian Standard Bible
1 Lord, hear my prayer.
In Your faithfulness listen to my plea,
and in Your righteousness answer me.
2 Do not bring Your servant into judgment,
for no one alive is righteous in Your sight.
Proverbs 16:12 Holman Christian Standard Bible
12 Wicked behavior is detestable to kings,
since a throne is established through righteousness.
John 1:15-18 Holman Christian Standard Bible
15 (John testified concerning Him and exclaimed,
“This was the One of whom I said,
‘The One coming after me has surpassed me,
because He existed before me.’”)
16 Indeed, we have all received grace after grace
from His fullness,
17 for the law was given through Moses,
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God.
The One and Only Son—
the One who is at the Father’s side—
He has revealed Him.
Ephesians 1:11-12 Holman Christian Standard Bible
11 We have also received an inheritance in Him, predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will, 12 so that we who had already put our hope in the Messiah might bring praise to His glory.
Psalm 142:5-7 Holman Christian Standard Bible
5 I cry to You, Lord;
I say, “You are my shelter,
my portion in the land of the living.”
6 Listen to my cry,
for I am very weak.
Rescue me from those who pursue me,
for they are too strong for me.
7 Free me from prison
so that I can praise Your name.
The righteous will gather around me
because You deal generously with me.
Our social lives are always following the same path. Instead of meeting at coffee shops or diners for a cup and a chat, people engage on social media platforms to share and interact. Once again, gone are the days of just being able to meet for a chat. People don’t even use telephones anymore. Most just fire off short text messages to one another. The language now reflects our need for speed by being reduced to acronyms and emoticons.
Everything has changed. In some cases, it is a good thing. People don’t have a lot of time for shopping and want to spend time with others. That is a noble and good thing to do. So, technology has helped in that respect. However, there is a darker side to all of this wonderful world of being connected.
It is so easy for people to connect themselves with individuals and groups of like-minded individuals who are bent on doing questionable or bad things. Many of the social media platforms have been used to exploit individuals who are vulnerable to new ideas and are willing to participate in questionable activities. I don’t have to go into great details about this. Just suffice it to say, that some groups use social media to ensnare and brainwash others into doing things that are illegal and may cause harm to others. Technology is wonderful, but it all depends on how it is used. Like with anything else, it can be used for good or for evil.
As Christians, we have to be on guard all the time. It is so easy for the world to seduce us back into darkness. Think about all of the things that are available by simply searching and clicking. There are so many evil things that have found their ways into our homes, schools and even our churches. Many are seduced by the evil that they see and end up addicted to the things they see. In time, that addiction leads to more and more things and they go deeper into the darkness.
I know that there are people who are struggling with this. You have fallen prey to what the world offers. I can tell you this. It may seem harmless at first, but, like a snowball, it just continues to build and build. There are people who will act as friends and they will drag you further and further into a world of sin and damnation. It doesn’t take much for people to fall prey to what they see and hear. Like the old adage tells us, curiosity will sometimes get the best of us and satisfaction will continue to pull us deeper and deeper into that dark world.
Paul, in chapter twelve of his letter to the Romans, writes, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
When you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, you were transformed into a new person whose thoughts were not focused on the things of this world. God became the center of your life and your focus. You began to follow the example and teachings of Jesus and began a daily walk of righteousness. You were baptized as a public profession of your faith and each day became a joy to live.
However, Satan and his demons are not going to give you up that easily. He tempts you daily and whispers that no one will ever know what you are doing as you begin to embrace things of this world. He continues to tell you not only that no one will ever know but also that it won’t hurt anyone. You begin to accept his word as “truth” and begin to wander off the righteous path that God has laid out before you. You keep telling yourself the same “truth” over and over. As you do, you continue to go deeper and deeper and seek out others who believe in the “truth” that Satan has given you. As you go deeper, you seek out others who are like-minded. For some, it is the beginning of the end. The end of the line leads to spiritual death and damnation.
But, it’s not too late. Stop and realize what you have been given when you accept the gift of salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus and through the shedding of his precious blood. When you begin to refocus on God and turn away from those who will continue to lead you astray and from the things of this world, you will once again be on the righteous path and walking with God daily.
In chapter four of the Gospel of Mark, Jesus tells the parable of the farmer scattering seeds. In one of the examples, Jesus tells us about the seed that lands in the midst of thorns. As the seed begins to grow, it is slowly choked out by the thorns.
Jesus tells us the meaning of this particular situation, “The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.”
The message can easily be crowded out if we allow it to be. Don’t allow the things of this world to gain a foothold in your life. Don’t follow the crowd whose aim is nothing more than worldly indulgence and sin. Stay focused on the Lord and He will lead you away from temptation and guide you along the path of righteousness.
In chapter six of his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes, “Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.”
Living in this world is very challenging for Christians. It is so easy for anyone to fall prey to the things that we see and hear. There are those around us who will tell you that it won’t hurt anyone to try it and they will lead you astray. Don’t listen to them. Come out from the unbelievers and separate yourself from them. Be a living sacrifice and devote yourself to righteous living and walking with the Lord daily and don’t copy the ways of this world. When you remain devoted to the Lord, He will remain devoted to you. As His child, you will always stand firm in His grace.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Proverbs 16:11 Holman Christian Standard Bible
11 Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;
all the weights in the bag are His concern.
Colossians 1:15-20 Holman Christian Standard Bible
15 He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn over all creation.
16 For everything was created by Him,
in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities—
all things have been created through Him and for Him.
17 He is before all things,
and by Him all things hold together.
18 He is also the head of the body, the church;
He is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead,
so that He might come to have
first place in everything.
19 For God was pleased to have
all His fullness dwell in Him,
20 and through Him to reconcile
everything to Himself
by making peace
through the blood of His cross—
whether things on earth or things in heaven.
John 15:2 Holman Christian Standard Bible
2 Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit.
Psalm 142:4 Holman Christian Standard Bible
4 Look to the right and see:
no one stands up for me;
there is no refuge for me;
no one cares about me.
Proverbs 16:10 Holman Christian Standard Bible
10 God’s verdict is on the lips of a king;
his mouth should not give an unfair judgment.
Hebrews 9:15 Holman Christian Standard Bible
15 Therefore, He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
1 John 4:13-16 Holman Christian Standard Bible
13 This is how we know that we remain in Him and He in us: He has given assurance to us from His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent His Son as the world’s Savior. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God—God remains in him and he in God. 16 And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.
Psalm 142:1-3 Holman Christian Standard Bible
1 I cry aloud to the Lord;
I plead aloud to the Lord for mercy.
2 I pour out my complaint before Him;
I reveal my trouble to Him.
3 Although my spirit is weak within me,
You know my way.
Along this path I travel
they have hidden a trap for me.
Proverbs 16:9 Holman Christian Standard Bible
9 A man’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord determines his steps.
Revelation 21:1-4 Holman Christian Standard Bible
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed. 2 I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne:
Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity,
and He will live with them.
They will be His people,
and God Himself will be with them
and be their God.
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Death will no longer exist;
grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer,
because the previous things have passed away.
Nahum 1:7-8 Holman Christian Standard Bible
7 The Lord is good,
a stronghold in a day of distress;
He cares for those who take refuge in Him.
8 But He will completely destroy Nineveh
with an overwhelming flood,
and He will chase His enemies into darkness.
Psalm 141:8-10 Holman Christian Standard Bible
8 But my eyes look to You, Lord God.
I seek refuge in You; do not let me die.
9 Protect me from the trap they have set for me,
and from the snares of evildoers.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
while I pass by safely.
Proverbs 16:8 Holman Christian Standard Bible
8 Better a little with righteousness
than great income with injustice.
Micah 5:4 Holman Christian Standard Bible
4 He will stand and shepherd them
in the strength of Yahweh,
in the majestic name of Yahweh His God.
They will live securely,
for then His greatness will extend
to the ends of the earth.
Malachi 3:16-18 Holman Christian Standard Bible
16 At that time those who feared the Lord spoke to one another. The Lord took notice and listened. So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who feared Yahweh and had high regard for His name. 17 “They will be Mine,” says the Lord of Hosts, “a special possession on the day I am preparing. I will have compassion on them as a man has compassion on his son who serves him. 18 So you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.
Psalm 141:7 Holman Christian Standard Bible
7 As when one plows and breaks up the soil,
turning up rocks,
so our bones have been scattered
at the mouth of Sheol.
"Can a woman forget her nursing child And have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. 'Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;'" Isaiah 49:15-16a (NASB)
I was the child in our family that never forgot anything. My parents took advantage of that and would tell me whatever they didn't want forgotten so that they would have a reminder should they forget something themselves. It served me well in my education and in my employment. I wish I could say that it was still a trait that I possessed. But, age has changed a lot of things in my life, and that is sadly one of the casualties.Proverbs 16:7 Holman Christian Standard Bible
7 When a man’s ways please the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Luke 10:25-37 Holman Christian Standard Bible
25 Just then an expert in the law stood up to test Him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the law?” He asked him. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.
28 “You’ve answered correctly,” He told him. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 Jesus took up the question and said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. 34 He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.’
36 “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”
37 “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said.
Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”
Matthew 25:31-46 Holman Christian Standard Bible
31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 For I was hungry
and you gave Me something to eat;
I was thirsty
and you gave Me something to drink;
I was a stranger and you took Me in;
36 I was naked and you clothed Me;
I was sick and you took care of Me;
I was in prison and you visited Me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?’
40 “And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’ 41 Then He will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!
42 For I was hungry
and you gave Me nothing to eat;
I was thirsty
and you gave Me nothing to drink;
43 I was a stranger
and you didn’t take Me in;
I was naked
and you didn’t clothe Me,
sick and in prison
and you didn’t take care of Me.’
44 “Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help You?’
45 “Then He will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me either.’
46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Psalm 141:3-6 Holman Christian Standard Bible
3 Lord, set up a guard for my mouth;
keep watch at the door of my lips.
4 Do not let my heart turn to any evil thing
or perform wicked acts
with men who commit sin.
Do not let me feast on their delicacies.
5 Let the righteous one strike me—
it is an act of faithful love;
let him rebuke me—
it is oil for my head;
let me not refuse it.
Even now my prayer is against
the evil acts of the wicked.
6 When their rulers will be thrown off
the sides of a cliff,
the people will listen to my words,
for they are pleasing.
Proverbs 16:6 Holman Christian Standard Bible
6 Wickedness is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness,
and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord.
Colossians 3:15-17 Holman Christian Standard Bible
15 And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful. 16 Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Romans 8:31-39 Holman Christian Standard Bible
31 What then are we to say about these things?
If God is for us, who is against us?
32 He did not even spare His own Son
but offered Him up for us all;
how will He not also with Him grant us everything?
33 Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect?
God is the One who justifies.
34 Who is the one who condemns?
Christ Jesus is the One who died,
but even more, has been raised;
He also is at the right hand of God
and intercedes for us.
35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ?
Can affliction or anguish or persecution
or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
36 As it is written:
Because of You
we are being put to death all day long;
we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.
37 No, in all these things we are more than victorious
through Him who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded that not even death or life,
angels or rulers,
things present or things to come, hostile powers,
39 height or depth, or any other created thing
will have the power to separate us
from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!
Psalm 141:1-2 Holman Christian Standard Bible
1 Lord, I call on You; hurry to help me.
Listen to my voice when I call on You.
2 May my prayer be set before You as incense,
the raising of my hands as the evening offering.
Proverbs 16:5 Holman Christian Standard Bible
5 Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord;
be assured, he will not go unpunished.
Jonah 3:1-5 Holman Christian Standard Bible
3 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach the message that I tell you.” 3 So Jonah got up and went to Nineveh according to the Lord’s command.
Now Nineveh was an extremely large city, a three-day walk. 4 Jonah set out on the first day of his walk in the city and proclaimed, “In 40 days Nineveh will be demolished!” 5 The men of Nineveh believed in God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth—from the greatest of them to the least.
Ephesians 5:15-21 Holman Christian Standard Bible
15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit:
19 speaking to one another
in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,
singing and making music
from your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for everything
to God the Father
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another
in the fear of Christ.
Psalm 140:12-13 Holman Christian Standard Bible
12 I know that the Lord upholds
the just cause of the poor,
justice for the needy.
13 Surely the righteous will praise Your name;
the upright will live in Your presence.
As you grow as a Christian, you learn that it is not enough to just say you are a Christian. It is your responsibility and job in God’s kingdom to do your best all the time. You are to be an example of the virtues of leading a godly life and to not only follow the teaching of Jesus but also put his teaching to work each day. You cannot be mediocre in your faith and pretend to be a Christian. Your example of faith brings glory to the Lord and your life becomes a testimony to those who are lacking that one thing in their lives that will complete them.
The apostle Paul, in chapter fifteen of his first letter to the Corinthians, writes, “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”
When you are doing the Lord’s work, you should always be enthusiastic. Everything that you do brings glory to the Lord. Nothing is ever wasted or found to be useless in the Kingdom. You may not see the value of your work immediately, but I can guarantee you that the Lord sees all that you do and will reward your efforts in accordance with His will and time. There were times when I did things that the Lord directed me to do and I didn’t see the immediate value in it. I did what I was led to do with enthusiasm and without question, but, I didn’t see the value. All I knew was what Paul had said, “nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless”. In time, I was blessed with the understanding of the value of my work. But, sometimes we may not see it. It takes time for things to click into place. Once they do, you will be witness to a miracle.
Those miracles come in various sizes. Some of them benefit a great many people while others may only bless one person. No matter the size, the work and effort put into the situation is magnified and is rewarded by the Father. Just being part of a miracle is a blessing in and of itself.
In one of my favorite “Twilight Zone” episodes, “The Night of the Meek”, the character, Henry Corwin, played by the great Art Carney, said enthusiastically about the Santa Claus bag that he carried that produced gifts for everyone, “As long as it’s putting out, I’m putting in.”
As Christians, we can, without reservation or doubt, say that Father God “puts out” daily for His children. We are blessed every single day. Each breath and heartbeat are a gift from the Father. Each need that is met comes from His bountiful hand. He doesn’t do all those things just because He has to. He does those things and so much more because He loves us. He loves us far beyond our understanding of the word love. His greatest gift to all was the gift of His son, Jesus.
Jesus came to teach us and show us God’s unconditional love for us. By acting as our atonement sacrifice, he “put in” what we couldn’t. There was no possible way for us to repay our debt of sin. Our disobedience had led us astray and God’s plan of salvation gave us a way back to Him. That way back is through Jesus.
So, as God “puts out” for us daily, we need to be “putting in” daily. We should show our undying gratitude and love for the Father and also serve our brothers and sisters. By working enthusiastically in God’s kingdom, we profess our faith and love and act as an example to others. As the world witnesses our work, some will see the light and follow the teachings and example of Jesus and accept him as their personal Savior and Lord.
When we see others accepting God’s gift of salvation, then we see immediately the value of our work. It is through our labors that others will come to know the joy that we have in our hearts as we continue to work tirelessly for the Lord.
In chapter nine of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells us, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
As others see our labors, some will decide that they need to “put in” as well. In time, more will join the family to not only serve the Father but also serve His children. When we “put in”, God showers us with blessings and continues to give us opportunities to “put in” even more.
The work is hard and no one ever retires from the Kingdom. We must dedicate our lives to “putting in” enthusiastically daily. As we continue the work of the Father, one day we will see the value of what we have done.
In chapter four of the Gospel of John, Jesus tells us what we are to expect when the work is done, “The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!”
When you go out into the fields to plant and harvest, do it daily with enthusiasm and know that everything that you do has value in the eyes of the Lord. Your work will be rewarded with the gift of eternal life with the Father. So, as the Lord continues to “put out” for you by showering you with blessings, you need to “put in” for Him. When you do, you can confidently stand firm in His grace.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Proverbs 16:4 Holman Christian Standard Bible
4 The Lord has prepared everything for His purpose—
even the wicked for the day of disaster.
Amos 5:14-15 Holman Christian Standard Bible
14 Seek good and not evil
so that you may live,
and the Lord, the God of Hosts,
will be with you,
as you have claimed.
15 Hate evil and love good;
establish justice in the gate.
Perhaps the Lord, the God of Hosts, will be gracious
to the remnant of Joseph.
Galatians 5:13-15 Holman Christian Standard Bible
13 For you were called to be free, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.
Psalm 140:9-11 Holman Christian Standard Bible
9 When those who surround me rise up,
may the trouble their lips cause overwhelm them.
10 Let hot coals fall on them.
Let them be thrown into the fire,
into the abyss, never again to rise.
11 Do not let a slanderer stay in the land.
Let evil relentlessly hunt down a violent man.
Proverbs 16:3 Holman Christian Standard Bible
3 Commit your activities to the Lord,
and your plans will be achieved.
Romans 6:20-23 Holman Christian Standard Bible
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from allegiance to righteousness. 21 So what fruit was produced then from the things you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now, since you have been liberated from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification—and the end is eternal life! 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Philippians 1:3-7 Holman Christian Standard Bible
3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, 4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and establishment of the gospel.
Psalm 140:6-8 Holman Christian Standard Bible
6 I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”
Listen, Lord, to my cry for help.
7 Lord God, my strong Savior,
You shield my head on the day of battle.
8 Lord, do not grant the desires of the wicked;
do not let them achieve their goals.
Otherwise, they will become proud. Selah
Proverbs 16:2 Holman Christian Standard Bible
2 All a man’s ways seem right to him,
but the Lord evaluates the motives.
Galatians 1:10 Holman Christian Standard Bible
10 For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.
Isaiah 40:3-5 Holman Christian Standard Bible
3 A voice of one crying out:
Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness;
make a straight highway for our God in the desert.
4 Every valley will be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill will be leveled;
the uneven ground will become smooth
and the rough places, a plain.
5 And the glory of the Lord will appear,
and all humanity together will see it,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Psalm 140:4-5 Holman Christian Standard Bible
4 Protect me, Lord,
from the clutches of the wicked.
Keep me safe from violent men
who plan to make me stumble.
5 The proud hide a trap with ropes for me;
they spread a net along the path
and set snares for me. Selah
Proverbs 16:1 Holman Christian Standard Bible
1 The reflections of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
Matthew 4:1-11 Holman Christian Standard Bible
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. 2 After He had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, He was hungry. 3 Then the tempter approached Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 But He answered, “It is written:
Man must not live on bread alone
but on every word that comes
from the mouth of God.”
5 Then the Devil took Him to the holy city, had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:
He will give His angels orders concerning you,
and they will support you with their hands
so that you will not strike
your foot against a stone.”
7 Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.”
8 Again, the Devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 And he said to Him, “I will give You all these things if You will fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written:
Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only Him.”
11 Then the Devil left Him, and immediately angels came and began to serve Him.
