Don't Eat the Nails 11-3-25
Photo
by Anne Kruse:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/3-flat-head-nails-close-up-photography-190101/
I am thankful that our two year old daughter is not allergic to peanuts. She loves the little treat. I keep a jar of them in my office and she knows right where they are at. She cannot yet open the lid herself, but she will go get it and hold it up to me. She knows that I will give her some.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his followers: “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7) Jesus is the King of the kingdom and he is saying that we can approach him with our needs just like my daughter comes to me wanting some peanuts.
So why can't I just pray and ask for a fancy new side by side 4 wheeler? Perhaps he could throw in a snowmobile and a pontoon. We need to remember that this verse is in the context of him telling us to pray for our daily bread and to pray according to the will of God. (see the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6:9-13). It is also in the context of him providing the necessities of food and clothes for his people. (Matthew 6:25-33).
The point is that Jesus knows what we need and he wants us to have what is best. He asked, "Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?” (Matthew 7:9-10)
When I finish eating my peanuts, the jars work great for storing things. I think I might have some nails in a similar jar.
Imagine that my little daughter comes into my office carrying a peanut jar labeled “nails.” She cannot read yet and cannot open the lid herself. She simply wants a snack as she holds up the jar. As a loving father, I will not open it and give her nails. Instead I would set that jar aside and grab a different jar- one that actually has peanuts. But understanding that she is a two year old, I would not be surprised if she got upset with me for not opening the first jar she brought me.
Often when we pray, we ask for things that are not in our best interest. God loves us enough to give us what we actually need instead of what we think we want. He will not give us a rock when we need bread, just like I will not give my daughter nails when she needs peanuts.
We might question why God gives us something different than we asked for, but understand he is not going to give us a snake when we ask for a fish. He does often give us something better than what we asked for though. My daughter will not complain if I give her peanut MM's instead of regular peanuts. We need to trust no matter what God gives us. Whatever he does is best.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:11, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”
Jesus is not a genie to make our wishes come true. Instead he is a loving father who makes sure we get what is best in the long run. He is good and we can trust him. He is King and Creator, so he has both the power to give and the power to give what is best.
Hope for the Hated 10-20-25
Photo by Vlad Alexandru Popa: https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-and-orange-official-league-baseball-on-black-textile-1480965/
Philadelphia is supposed to symbolize brotherly love, yet the actions of a woman who claimed a ball did not seem loving. Further, the reactions towards her have shown us how much hate there still is in this world.
A father retrieved the home run ball and gave it to his son. The woman claimed it belonged to her, so the father took the ball from his son and gave it to the woman. Other spectators of the game saw what happened and booed the woman showing that they believed the ball was not hers to claim. Her response was to gesture with her raised middle finger, further showing a lack of grace.
Thus, the woman became one of the most vilified people in recent history.
Each and every one of us has done things we should not have done. Most of us have felt regret afterwords. Sadly, there are psychopaths who feel no regret, but they are not the norm. People have working consciences and most have not yet been seared.
With that truth in mind, I begin to ponder what I would do if I ended up doing something wrong that was so public and so well known. Although I am not going to defend the woman's behavior, I cannot help but ache for how much her life has been turned upside down. No doubt she caused it herself, but that does not change that her life will never be the same again.
She is not the first person to have something like this happen to her. In II Samuel 11, we read that King David decided to have sex with his neighbor's wife while the neighbor was off at war. We are told in vs 4 that the king sent out his deputies to take her and bring her to him. It doesn't look like she had much choice in the matter. Then when she got pregnant, he had her husband killed.
We know about this even though the events happened about 3000 years ago. I doubt the woman who took the ball will be remembered even 30 years from now. But like the woman who was booed and had memes made about her, David was also confronted for his behavior.
David however was not the first king of Israel to be confronted for doing something wrong. King Saul was confronted by the prophet Samuel for how he dealt with the Amalekites and the spoils of war. Rather than taking responsibility for his actions, Saul blamed others. In contrast, David admitted his sin and was ready and willing to take the consequences for his behavior.
Both kings sinned. Saul lost the right to be king after he blamed others for his sinful behavior. Not only did David get to remain king, but he was commended by God, David took responsibility, admitted his sin, and was willing to take whatever consequences God gave him.
I would hope that if any of us were like the woman at the Phillies game, that we would simply admit that we did wrong and then take responsibility for it. We should then say that we deserve whatever consequences come our way. If that woman were to come out publicly and do that, then I hope that people would show grace and forgive her.
The reality is, we all need forgiveness because we have all done wrong. That is why Jesus came to die for our sins. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). “And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.” (I Corinthians 6:11)
As the woman held up her middle finger when confronted for her behavior, she acted more like Saul than like David. I pray that her heart softens and that she finds grace. With Jesus we can all find grace. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9) If we do not find that forgiveness by trusting him, we will face his wrath.
Don't be a Hypocrite 10-6-25
Unsplash.com photo by Riccardo Werder
Imagine you claim to be a Vikings fan. You wear the purple and gold. You drive with their bumper stickers. You tell people that you root for the Vikings.
In the mean time, you are watching the Packers and are hoping the Packer's win the Super Bowl. You actually think the dark green looks better than the purple, but because you live so close to Minnesota, you are afraid that you might get some backlash if people knew you supported the Packers. So when others say how wonderful the Vikings are, you agree.
I feel like a Minnesotan when I talk to people about Christ. Most of them agree that he is wonderful, but when I watch them and how they live their lives, they are like people who claim to be Vikings fans, but they are wearing cheese hats. Jesus says, that by their fruits you shall know them, but they never go to church. They get drunk all the time. They tell lies.
Jesus quoted from Isaiah 29:13 when he said, “THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.” (Matthew 15:8) He makes a point in Matthew 7:16-17, "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 makes it clear that we are saved from hell by the grace of God as we come to faith in Jesus Christ. We are not saved by our works. But then verse 10 shows that we are saved in order to do good works. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
The greatest command of all is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Jesus is God and said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) 1 John 5:3 says, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.”
I wish people would quit pretending they are Christians when they do not even care about Jesus and loving him. A lot of people in the Corinthian church were living far from God while going through the motions of Christianity. In fact, one of them was even sleeping with his father's wife. The apostle Paul told then to stop ignoring such sin. In fact he warns them, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (I Corinthians 6:9-10)
God's standards are high and we should take them seriously. Paul also warned , “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2) After challenging the Corinthians about their lifestyle he then reminds them, “And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.” (I Corinthians 6:11)
We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God and the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. When we come to Jesus we are cleansed, but when we come to Jesus we must desire to keep his commandments and to remember he is God with authority over our lives.
If you nod and agree that Jesus is God and that we should follow him, do not just go through the motions of pretending to be Christian. Love Jesus and obey him. If you ignore his commandments, look at Hebrews 10:29, “How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?” Do not insult God with your actions. Live like a Christian and love Jesus.
Do Not Take Vengeance 9-22-25
It is frustrating when what we say is misrepresented. It is even worse when we are totally lied about. Charlie Kirk had to face that. He would interact with people who disagreed with him. He would listen to them and try to answer their concerns about his positions. Sometimes he would get frustrated, but most of the time he would show grace even when those who disagreed with him did not.
Partly because of the lies and slander that were told, hatred toward him continued to grow. Many of those who hated him most had a distorted view of the man. He was killed without a trial. After his death it was shown that many of the criticisms directed toward him were untrue. Further he was killed simply for words, not for a crime.
This sad situation shows us how dangerous it is for us to take matters into our own hands when it comes to executing justice. Romans 13, tells us that God has appointed governments to bear the sword in order to restrain evil.
Thankfully we live in a country where an accused person is able to present evidence and put up a defense. Although the system is not perfect, there is an opportunity to show that a person is innocent of the charges. A classic western movie called “The Ox-Bow Incident” showed what happened when vigilantes ended up hanging the wrong men.
We are warned in Romans 12:19, “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord.”
God knows who is guilty and who is innocent. By stepping aside and letting him handle it instead of taking matters into our own hands, we are giving him room to pour out his wrath. If a person had been saying evil sinful things that were bad but not illegal, then we should let God deal with vengeance. If the person does not repent and turn to Christ, the vengeance will be poured out in the lake of fire after the final judgment.
There is a place to expose evil behavior. Ephesians 5:11 tells us, “And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;”. Some have lost jobs once people realized how evil they were. Thus, by simply exposing evil, you leave room for God to bring consequences into people's lives. But make sure that as you expose evil, you are telling the truth and not slandering a fellow human being by taking things out of context.
Further in situations where the laws are broken, evil must be exposed. This allows for evidence to be shared so that justice can be achieved. “For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil.” (Romans 13:3-4)
In the example of Charlie Kirk's killer, a suspect has been arrested. Evidence has been gathered and a case is being built to prove that the the crime was committed by a specific individual. Others are also being investigated, but no one should be charged without evidence. Further, none of us should take matters into our own hands since we do not have all the information.
As sad as the tragedy is, we must not take vengeance and react with violence. Instead we should pray for peace and trust the justice of God and of those who he has allowed to be in power in our government.
Charlie Kirk's widow, Erika, set a wonderful example when through tears she forgave the man who killed her husband. By forgiving she is letting go of her power to bring revenge upon him and letting God and government bring about the just consequences for his actions. Let us do the same.
Follow The Good King 9-8-25
Photo by TREEDEO.ST : https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-shirt-sleeping-after-drinking-whiskey-16926054/
Imagine you lived 1000 years ago and two kings were competing for control over the area you lived in. One of them comes to your village and plunders it. He roughs up the people and takes what he wants. Then he gives out an offer. If anyone will join him, he will give them all the free beer and whiskey they can drink. Some take the offer, but you have heard that although his followers get free beer, he treats them cruelly and takes advantage of them just like when he plundered your village. Further, those who drink the beer and whiskey end up sick. So you refuse his offer and stay behind with little left.
Eventually the other king rides into your village with his followers. He sees the devastation and you notice a tear in his eye. He sees a little kid hiding behind a rock and he reaches in his bag and offers the kid some food. The child is too scared to take it, so he leaves it and walks away. The kid quickly runs and takes it. The king then notices an old lady struggling to carry some wood. He quickly runs and helps her. A man limps by with an open wound on his leg. The king sees that and has the man sit down. He carefully cleans the wound and puts medicine on it.
This king sticks around for days helping the people of your village. He shows kindness and compassion. Then one of the men who had joined with the other king comes back. He is mistreating people in your village. The good king sees this, pulls that man aside and punishes him.
The man who had been doing evil is upset. He asks why the good king had been so nice to others but is being mean to him. The good king states that there is nothing mean about bringing justice.
Then the good king asks the people of the village if they will follow him. He wants them to believe in him- to believe that he has the authority and goodness to rule over them. Many quickly agree to follow him- even if it costs them their lives. Others say that they will not follow him because they do not want anyone to rule over them.
Then the evil king returns. The good king defends those who agreed to follow him, but steps back when the evil king comes for those who refused the good king. Those people end up being slaves to that evil king even though that was not what they signed up for. He then gives them free beer realizing that it is just another way for him to control them.
This imaginary scenario is so similar to the choices people make today. Jesus Christ is the good king. Those who follow him are blessed. Those who chose to follow the devil may get many of their lusts satisfied, but they do not have true freedom. Others do not want to follow the devil, but because they refuse Christ, they become the devil's slaves anyway.
Romans 6:16 asks, “Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?” Knowing Jesus is the good king, I want to be his servant. If I do not become his faithful follower, I will end up being a slave to sin and used by the devil. No doubt there are opportunities to indulge in all kinds of pleasures when you chose not to follow Jesus, but those pleasures bring misery.
Follow Jesus. He is the good king who holds people accountable for wrongdoing, but who also shows care and compassion.
Leaving the Family Business 8-25-25
Unsplash.com Photo Pratik Patil asvisual_narrator
Imagine that your dad is a well known businessman. Perhaps one day you could take over the family business. This was likely the situations with James and John who become disciples of Jesus Christ. Their father's name was Zebedee and the gospel accounts refer to him as if he was a well known man in that region. When James and John were called to follow Jesus, they were in a boat with their father mending nets because he was a fisherman. Although we are not told that the boat was his, we are later told in Luke chapter 5, that James and John were in a partnership with another fisherman named Simon Peter who also became a disciple of Jesus. Further, Mark 1:20 tells us that when James and John followed Jesus, they left Zebedee with the servants.
Thus it is not a stretch to believe that James and John would have continued in the family business along with their father and Peter if they had not followed Jesus. Although it was an honor to study under a Rabbi in that day, there was likely an even better reason for them to follow Christ.
Jesus had already taught in the synagogues and had already done the miraculous. Further John the Baptist had been telling people to repent for the kingdom of heaven was at hand. He was getting people ready for the coming king. Besides that, hundreds of years earlier, Daniel had prophesied about the timing of when that king would come and they were only 3 years away from that date. Finally, when Jesus was teaching, he had publicly stated that he was the one that they were waiting for.
In Luke 4:16-19, Jesus goes into the synagogue in Nazareth and reads from Isaiah about the coming Messiah. Luke 4:20-21 says, “And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”
When Jesus called James and John to follow him, he was more than just a Rabbi. He was the promised king- the savior- the prophesied Messiah. Therefore, James and John were leaving the family business in order to be part of Jesus' kingdom.
By the time we come to Mark 10:37, there is no doubt that they understand Jesus is the king. Notice what they say, “Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.” As fishermen entrepreneurs, they were likely quite driven to be successful and they want to be successful in the kingdom of Jesus as well.
But the answer Jesus gives shows them that we should measure success much differently as we serve the king. 'And calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, "You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. "But it is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.” ( Mark 10:42-44).
We can find some valuable lessons from James and John. Following Jesus is more important than building a business. Also, following Jesus is about making other people important, not about magnifying ourselves. Jesus is just as much a king today. Make following him your priority as you love him with your all. Then realize that the best way to show your love for him is to serve others.
Fulfilling Righteousness 8-11-25
photo
by Silvan
Schuppisser
unsplash.com
Imagine being John the Baptist. He was about the same age as Jesus and they were close relatives. John was able to observe Jesus and to know that he was a godly righteous person. As John baptized people, he was telling the people to repent because the king was coming. As the religious Pharisees and Sadducees showed up, he called them a brood of vipers. He knew that they were not living like God expected them to live.
But when Jesus showed up to be baptized, John's reply was, “I need to be baptized by you and do you come to me?” Just as John recognized that others were evil, he understood that Jesus was righteous. This was actually before he even knew that Jesus was the King- the promised savior.
When John the Baptist was sent out to minister his job was to call people to repentance, baptize them, and announce the coming king. When he was called to that ministry, he was not told who that king would be. Instead he was told in John 1:33, “He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.”
When Jesus asked John to baptize him, Jesus stated in Matthew 3:15, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill righteousness.” John already recognized that Jesus was more righteous than he was. It was even better than that though- Jesus is God and he never sinned. Thus he had nothing to repent of. Jesus was already righteous, so he was not baptized for his own righteousness but rather as part of the process to fulfill our righteousness as he paid for our sins. II Corinthians 5:21 says, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
After John understood that Jesus was the one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit, he called him the “Lamb of God.” In the old testament, lambs were sacrificed as an atonement for sin. Jesus became our lamb to take away the sins of the world. Exodus 29:17-18 tells us that when a ram was brought as a burnt offering to the Lord, it was washed before being offered upon the altar. John the Baptist was a of the priestly line of Aaron and just as a priest washed a ram to offer to God, John was able to wash Jesus who would become the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.
This was all part of the process of fulfilling righteousness. Exodus 29:18 speaks of that washed ram being a sweet smelling offering to God. Yet, Proverbs 21:27 says, “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, How much more when he brings it with evil intent!” If Jesus were like those that John the Baptist called a brood of vipers, then he would not have been accepted. Instead we read in Matthew 3:16-17, “And after being baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased."
God the Father was pleased with Jesus. He was worthy to fulfill all righteousness and as the Holy Spirit came upon him like a dove, John the Baptist knew that he was the one he had been waiting for. John already understood that Jesus was living a life that was even more righteous than his own and now he knew that Jesus was the one he had been waiting for. If you have not yet trusted Jesus, wait no longer. He is the one who fulfills all righteousness and who paid for your sins when he died on the cross. That payment was acceptable and well pleasing. Accept that payment and have your sins washed as white as snow as your receive his Holy Spirit to comfort you.
Heaven is About Jesus 7-15-25
I recently asked a group of people where they went on their honeymoon. Living in South Dakota, a common destinations has been the Black Hills. One of the couples, however had been to St. John's Island. This sounded like a beautiful place and once I saw the pictures I realized that it really was. White sand beaches framed with luscious vegetation and sunny skies made for a postcard image.
As I asked the question, one of the men had his face light up when he heard about St. John's Island. He quickly acknowledged that he would like to go there if he had the chance. The problem, however, is that he could not take his wife with him because she had already passed away.
Not far away was a set of outdoor school bleachers overlooking a softball field. I asked the man, “If you had a choice between going to St. John's Island by yourself or sitting on those bleachers with your wife, which would you choose?” Without a moment's hesitation he pointed to the bleachers.
As wonderful as an island paradise would be, what really makes a place special is who is there. Revelation 21 describes the paradise that we call heaven. It sounds even more beautiful than St. John's Island. “And the material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.”
(Revelation 21:18) The next verse gives even more detail and talks of streets of pure gold. Chapter 22 then talks of flowing water bright as crystal flowing down the street. Then it tells of the tree of life with 12 fruits.
As wonderful as this place is, I would not want to live there if I had to live there alone. Thankfully others will be there too, but best of all Jesus will be there. Not only did he create you and me, but he created this new heaven and new earth with all its beauty. He created the tree of life and the streets of gold. He created all that is in our world today including the white sand beaches.
Although he created everything, he decided to become a man and even be born just like any other man. He did that to show his love. He showed his love in spite of the sinfulness of the rest of mankind. Not only was he born to show his love, but he died to show his love. Romans 5:8 tells us, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Jesus died so that our sins could be forgiven. Our sin deserves death, but Jesus died so that he could extend a peace offer to us. All we have to do is surrender to him and he gives us peace as we are reminded that when he died he paid for our sins. Knowing he loved me that much and wants to care for me, I want to be where he is for eternity. Jesus is what makes the heavenly paradise special, not the streets of gold.
In John 14:2 Jesus tells us he is preparing something special for us. “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” That place has many rooms so there is a place for you if you will just come to Jesus. But you must come to him in order to be with him. He then says, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:3)
Even better than knowing he is preparing a place for me, is knowing that if I believe in him as King of kings and Lord of lords, then I get to be where he is at. I get to be with him in paradise- with him as my perfect king.
Guilty & Pardoned by God 6-30-25
Imagine that two brothers broke the laws of the state of South Dakota. There were many witnesses who saw them break the law. Not only were the police there to see it, but several people pulled out their phones and recorded the event. The brothers were immediately arrested and taken into custody. They knew that once the trial came, they would be found guilty and sentenced for their crimes.
The older brother showed no remorse. The younger brother however admitted what he did was wrong and wished that he could just start over and redo that day so that the outcome would be different. He did not want to live a life of crime any longer. The governor felt sorry for him and thus granted him a full pardon. That meant he did not even have to face trial and did not have to worry about sentencing. The older brother however had to face both, and it was obvious that he would be found guilty.
This fictitious scenario reminds me of the very real situation that will one day take place at the Great White Throne Judgment. Revelation 20:12 tells us that the dead will stand before God to be judged for the things they had done. Those who had followed Christ will already be alive, so they are not included in this judgment. They are the ones who had been pardoned by Jesus when they followed him. His payment on the cross insured their pardon so they did not have to face the White Throne Judgment.
But those who refused to confess their sins and repent had to face God. The power of God on that throne is shown when Revelation 20:11 says, “And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.” If heaven and earth cannot hide from God and are forced to flee from him, that means no one can escape his judgment.
Further Romans 3:10 says that none are righteous, no not one. And Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. That means that whoever stands before the Great White Throne Judgment will be found guilty. Revelation 20:12 tells us, “And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.” There will be books there that have all the evidence in order to get a guilty verdict.
Not only will all be found guilty, but the sentence is serious. “And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15).
Anyone who has to stand before that judgment will be found guilty because all of us have sinned. That is why it is so important that we have a pardon from God. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
We get our pardon when we believe on Jesus Christ and agree with him about our sin. Then 1 John 2:1 assures us, “My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;”.
Jesus is both the judge at the White Throne and the defense attorney for the Christians. If you have come to Christ, then you do not have to worry about him being overruled when he defends you. In fact, he was the one who pardoned you. If you have not yet come to Jesus, do so now, so you do not have to be found guilty and sentenced at the Great White Throne Judgment.
Follow the King of Kings 6-16-25
Imagine that two countries were at war. One country had all the power, but the other country refused to surrender. The king of the powerful country had the ability to wipe out all the leaders and all the citizens of the weaker country. In fact, all he had to do is just say the word and they would be gone and then he could have all their land and possessions.
For a while, the weaker country had thought that they might be able to get the upper hand. In fact, they had even killed the king of the powerful country. But then they realized what they were up against. The king that they killed did not stay dead. Three days later he was alive and walking among them and they could do nothing to stop him. He even went around their land for 40 days without being harmed.
Eventually he went back to his own land, but kept asking the weaker country to surrender. Many of it's citizens did surrender to him. They decided that it made more sense to follow him than to perish. They had been told that when he walked among them, he had showed kindness and compassion. Their own leaders had shown only selfishness.
Further, those who followed him the most closely found out that although they had to serve the powerful king, his expectations were not unreasonable. In fact, they reminded others that he had promised that his yoke would be easy and his burden would be light. They had found that to be true.
Many joined them and dedicated themselves to the king. Most, however did not. Some of them mocked those who served the great king. Some even killed them. Many just didn't seem to care at all.
Those who served the king got old and passed away. Many others were born and heard about the king and also trusted him. They were reminded that the king had died and had come alive again and that he had the power to give them eternal life as well. They understood that when they died they would get to be with the king.
Meanwhile the king had promised that he would eventually come back. He knew that when he came back, he would have to destroy his enemies. But he wanted to show love and grace. He wanted to keep extending his offer of peace as long as he could. Through those who had already surrendered to him, he kept spreading the word of the peace he had offered. In fact, he was able to show them that the reason he died was so that he could show how serious he was about making peace with them.
The powerful king was more than just a king. He was God in the flesh. His followers were able to relay his promise that whoever comes to him, will not be cast out. They were able to say that he loved them and if they believe on him, he will give them eternal life. They were able to tell people that the King is Jesus Christ.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” When you believe in Jesus, you should believe in him like you believe in a powerful king. You should believe that he has the power and authority to rule. You should believe that he is a good king who deserves your allegiance. You should then follow him and trust him as one of his faithful subjects, knowing he will reward you for your faithfulness.
Jesus is the powerful king and it makes no sense to resist him. It does however make perfect sense to follow him. He is good. He is loving. He is all powerful.
Escape God's Wrath 6-2-25
/www.freepik.com/free-ai-image/good-friday-celebration-with-crown-thorns_157466523.htm#fromView=search&page=2&position=31&uuid=37cf4b22-af5a-4574-b007-983a8009a40f&query=God%27s+wrat
I watched our 2 year old little girl playing with another toddler when suddenly a little 4 year old ran into her with a bike. Kids are clumsy and although the other little girl barely bumped her, our daughter fell down and bumped her head. When we see our children hurt, there is often a desire to be able to take their place so that they do not have to suffer. Thankfully the tears lasted less than a minute and our daughter was fine.
Our heavenly father has a desire to spare us from suffering as well. In fact, he loved us so much, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. Jesus willingly went to the cross to bear the punishment for sin that we deserved.
I better grasped what Jesus did for us as I studied the book of Revelation. As we come to chapter 16, we see God's wrath poured out upon the earth. “And I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth."
(Revelation 16:1) Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death. Sin has consequences and if sin is not paid for then the consequence for sin is the wrath of God.
In Revelation we read about the Apocalypse/ The Great Tribulation. During that Apocalypse, God's wrath will be poured out of 7 bowls. Each bowl has a different consequence. Summarized in order we find 1) sores on people, 2) sea water turned to blood, 3) fresh water turned to blood, 4) severe heat from the sun, 5) darkness, 6) a river dried up so kings can gather for the battle of Armageddon , and 7) a great earthquake.
This is the wrath that mankind deserves for sin and this is the wrath that will be poured out in the last days. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, so we all deserve his wrath, yet God loves us. In fact he loves us so much, that he took the wrath upon himself.
As we look at those 7 bowels, we can be reminded of the cross. Jesus took sores upon his own body. He also shed his blood as shown in the second and third bowels of wrath. Although I cannot be dogmatic about Jesus enduring heat as he hung on the cross, John 19:28 tells us that he said he thirsted. The 5th bowel speaks of darkness, and Matthew, Mark, and Luke all tell of darkness as Jesus hung on the cross. The 6th bowel speaks of a river drying up and kings coming against God for the battle of Armageddon. Jesus on the cross was definitely the result of human rulers going against God. Finally, the 7th bowel has an earthquake. Matthew 27:54 records an earthquake as Jesus died on the cross.
I Thessalonians 5:9 tells Christians, “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,” Without Jesus people will be appointed to wrath. We are warned, in Matthew 25:41, "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;” Without Jesus, we can expect the wrath of God, but if we put our trust in Jesus as we follow him, then we escape God's wrath because Jesus already took it upon himself for us. Romans 6:23 says it so beautifully, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Trust Jesus, knowing that he died on the cross so you would not have to face the wrath of God. Reject Jesus and know you will have to face God's wrath yourself. Without Jesus, God's wrath will last for eternity and you will not escape it.
/
The Witness of The Warning 5-19-20
You never know what you might hit when you dig a hole. It could be a large rock, or it could be something much more dangerous.
I do some excavating work as a side job. We are meticulous about calling before we dig. Each spring, South Dakota 811 holds their damage prevention safety meetings. I recall going to one of those meetings and they showed a picture of a natural gas line that had been hit by heavy equipment. When it was hit, a spark happened and there was a huge explosion. The picture showed the charred remains of tractors and trucks. It was complete devastation. The presenter then solemnly told us that there had been people there and they had all perished.
Throughout the room some earnestly gazed at the picture. Some looked away. Others closed their eyes. Some prayed. We all grasped the importance of the warning. We knew why we should call 811 to locate any utilities before we dig. The representative from South Dakota 811 was witnessing to us about the importance of making that call 48 hours before we dig and of the dangers of digging over the location of the marked spot.
Although the picture showed a disaster of Biblical proportions, it pales in comparison to what we read about in Revelation. Chapter 12 shows us that during a time of great tribulation, two witnesses will be upon the earth. Anyone who tries to harm them will be consumed with fire. In other words, they will receive a similar fate as those who hit the gas line. Each time they do this, they will be a witness to the warning that they bring. They are showing the danger of ignoring the warning.
These witnesses will be on earth during a time when people have rejected God in spite of living through the sorts of trials that should cause them to call on God for help. “And the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk;” (Revelation 9:20) There are consequences for ignoring danger. There are consequences for ignoring God.
As I witness for Jesus Christ, I like to tell about his love and to quote John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” It is important that we understand God's love, grace, and care for us, but we must also be aware of his warnings and of what will happen if we do not listen to him. This is also part of the witness concerning Jesus: “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Matthew 25:41). That everlasting fire will be worse than a natural gas explosion.
As we attended the South Dakota 811 meeting, they made it clear that they cared about us and our safety. They also made it clear that they were giving the warning about potential destruction and death because they cared about us and those around us. In a similar way, we should be witnesses to give God's warnings. Some people will not turn to God to glorify him until such a warning. Once they do turn to him, they are finally prepared to live under the loving rule and authority of Jesus Christ.
Stay Calm and Loving 5-5-25
Freepik.com image
I was upset when I looked at my bill. Not only was it twice as much as I had expected, but I had been given a late payment service charge. I did not understand how I could have had a late payment since this was a monthly bill that was set up for direct payment from my credit card. The previous month's bill had not been paid, I had been charged a late fee, and then both month's bills had later been charged to the credit card.
I found the phone number to call the company and to let them know how unhappy I was that they had made such a mistake. As I was reflecting on my frustration, I considered how I should approach the conversation. I realized that it would not be fair to the person who answered the phone if I came across with an angry tone. Whoever had made the mistake, it was not that person, so there was no reason to take out my frustration on an innocent individual. Romans 12:18 tells us, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”
Once the lady answered the phone, she kindly asked me for more information about my account. After she figured out which account I was calling about, she very professionally asked what she could help with. I calmly explained that I had a direct deposit account and could not figure out why the previous month had not been paid and why I had a service charge for the late payment.
She was able to find more information on her end and informed me that during the previous month, my credit card had been rejected so the payment had not been made. I have had this credit card for years and I pay it off each month, so it never occurred to me that it might have been rejected.
I was so thankful that I had remained calm, because suddenly I realized what had happened. The previous month we had a large bill come due that maxed out our credit card. The reason I put such a large payments on the card, was so we would get reward points. The bill needed to be paid anyway, and we had the funds in our checking account. Since the card was maxed out, I then made an early payment on the credit card before the monthly billing cycle so that I could keep using the card. Evidently, the direct deposit for the other bill had come during that time and since the credit card was maxed out for just a short period, it got rejected.
I immediately told the customer service representative that I knew what had happened and that it was totally my own fault and thanked her for her time. I then thanked the Lord that I had not gotten angry with her over MY mistake.
As we follow Christ, he tells us in Matthew 11:29 to, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and YOU SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.” Knowing Jesus is meek and lowly, we should set aside our own arrogance and approach those who we think have wronged us with gentleness as well. As we listen to them, we might find out that they really had not done anything wrong.
Ephesians 4:31 tells us, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.” I wish I could say that I knew to be calm and gentle as I called because I have always been that way. Instead I have to say that it took time, and through the years I learned from my mistakes.
The more I learn about the grace of Jesus and his love, the more I want to be like him. I know I will not be perfect like he is, but that makes me even more thankful for his payment for my sins and that motivates me to love my neighbor as myself.