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Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?”“Or who has given a gift to Him that he might be repaid?” For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:33-36 Lord, Your Ways are Mysterious "God never condescends to make things very plain to His creatures. He always does what is right and just; and therefore, He wants His people always to believe by faith that He only does what is right and just. But if He showed them that He did so, there would be no room for their faith. Turn your eye along the page of history, and see how mysterious God’s dealings have been. Who would conceive that Joseph sold into Egypt would be the means of redeeming a whole people from famine? Who would suppose that when an enemy would invade the land, it would be the means of bringing glory to God? Who could imagine that a harlot’s blood should mingle with the genealogy from which came the great Messiah, the King of Israel? Who could have guessed much less could have understood the mighty plan of God? Providence has always been a hidden thing. 'Deep in unfathomable mines, of never failing skill, He treasures up His bright designs, And works his sovereign will.' - Lyrics by William Cowper And yet, beloved, you and I always want to know what God is doing. There is a great war taking place somewhere on the earth. We have experienced some great disasters, and we are reading the accounts in the news and saying, “What is God doing there?” What did He do in the last war? What was the benefit of it? We see that even Napoleon was the means of doing good, for he broke down the aristocracy and made all subsequent monarchs respect the power, and the rights of the people. We see what the result was even of that dreaded hurricane, that it swept away a pestilence which would have devoured many more than the storm did. But we ask, “What is God doing with this world?” We want to know what will be the consequences. Suppose we should humble Russia, where would it end? Can Turkey be maintained as a separate kingdom? And ten thousand other questions arise. Beloved, I always think of what the prophet Isaiah tells us in 45:9, that mankind is nothing but clay pots—and as a good old friend of mine says—let them crack themselves, too, if they like. We will not interfere. If the clay pots want to smash one another, well, then they must. We pray that our country may come off the safest of them all. But we are not much concerned to know the result. We believe that war, as well as everything else, will have a beneficial tendency. We cannot see in history that this world ever went a step backwards. God is ever moving it in its orbit; and it has always progressed even when it seemed to be moving backward." - Charles H Spurgeon Excerpt from "Do Not Fear Disasters" by Charles H Spurgeon Dear Heavenly Father, I praise You for the depth of Your riches and wisdom and knowledge. I praise You for Your unsearchable judgments and inscrutable ways. I praise You for Your sovereign plan, even when it is difficult to accept or understand. All things are from You, through You, and to You. You are to be praised at all times for who You are. You are good, kind, patient, and rich in mercy, and Your plan is always a good plan. All the glory belongs to You forever. Lord, You Are in Complete Control There isn't a single disobedient molecule in the universe. Lord, You are in complete control over everything, including the uncontrollable wildfires in California. Lord, if it is Your will, I ask for You to have mercy on everyone. I ask that You calm the winds and send a heavy rain to extinguish all the fires. Please, Lord, send Your help quickly! Yet, not my will, but Your will be done, and may Your good purposes prevail. Lord, even amidst all this horror and destruction, You remain entirely in control and are perfectly just, good, and merciful...with Your plan always being a good plan. I praise You for Your sovereignty and for Your mysterious ways. Lord, You are Our Savior Lord, may these devastating fires serve as a great reminder that the only unshakeable foundation is Jesus Christ. While this world and everything in it is like sinking sand, Jesus is The Cornerstone, our Rock, our Refuge, our Ever-Present Help in trouble (Psalm 46:1), our Savior. May these fires remind us all, both rich and poor, that everything we own can be lost in an instant. That's why we all need Jesus. Jesus died on the cross for our sins, paying our debt in full, and in three days, He rose from the grave, ultimately triumphing over sin, Satan, and death. Jesus lives and reigns forever. He is eternal. He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb 13:5), and He never changes (Heb 13:8). May our hope not be in this world but in the one to come. May we have the hope of Heaven, where Christ is seated. Lord, I pray for the Gospel to Be Heard What Satan meant for evil, You mean for good (Gen 50:20). May these horrible fires be a catalyst for the gospel and that many come to a saving faith, in California and across our nation. Father, for those in California who have not yet put their faith in Jesus, I ask that You send my brothers and sisters to share the Gospel with them. And I ask that You protect, strengthen, comfort, and provide for them in doing so. I ask that You prepare people's broken hearts to receive the Good News of the Gospel and respond in faith. May the loss of their earthly possessions transform into the true hope of eternal riches—riches in Christ that could never be consumed by flames, looted, or stolen. Lord, I pray for You to Have Mercy Lord, I pray for You to have mercy on the people in California. I pray for all those experiencing immense loss, grief, and devastation to their homes, neighborhoods, businesses, and towns. I pray for the safety of all the brave firefighters, first responders, and all the people of California.  If it is Your will, I pray for there to be an end in sight and for final relief to come very soon. Finally, because of these wildfires, I pray that You find Your lost sheep and lose none of them. (John 6:39) Lord Jesus, this is Your will; that all that the Father gives to You will come to You, and everyone who comes to You, You will not drive away (see John 6:37-40 below). You will gather up every one of Your sheep into Your loving arms and keep them forever, by Your saving grace. I pray for Your will to be done. All glory belongs to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, I pray Amen. "The Gospel breaks hard hearts and heals broken hearts" Charles H Spurgeon The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:15-18 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.   For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.   And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.   For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:37-40 Mercy triumphs over judgment  (James 1:19).

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 Timothy 2:1 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control . 2 Timothy 1:7 True Confidence Confidence is a big topic these days. The world tells says to be confident, believe in yourself, and live boldly. Our society puts great emphasis on self-confidence and "thinking positive thoughts" about oneself. Does the Bible align with this "positive thinking" approach about self? If the Bible advocates for confidence, what or Who should we place our confidence in? For starters, the Bible tells us not to put our confidence in certain things. Scripture says, Have no confidence in the flesh (Philippians 3:3). Paul wrote this to challenge those who believed they were acceptable to God due to their background, education, or religious zeal. God does not show favoritism (Acts 10:34), and our backgrounds and lineages hold little significance to Him. Next, Scripture says that a righteous person avoids evil, while a fool is reckless in his self-confidence (Proverbs 14:16). Essentially, believing that sin carries no consequences is an arrogant and foolish type of confidence. If we are to be confident in anything, Psalm 118:8, 9 tells us where it should be: It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.  Those who put their confidence in the government, other people, or themselves will ultimately be disappointed. On the other hand, those who put their confidence in the Lord will never be put to shame (Romans 10:11). Psalm 16 is a great example of confidence in God. David doesn't take any credit for his own righteousness, (v 2) talents, or abilities. Instead, he attributes every good thing to the Lord (v 6), and all his hopes are grounded in God's goodness and unchanging nature (v 1). Since Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), David can always walk with true confidence because his soul is eternally secure in the Lord (v 8-9), regardless of the many challenges he faces in life. He Works All Things Together... True confidence does not come from our own intelligence or abilities, nor does it come from our earthly status, finances, appearance, background, or achievements. These things are all gifts. They are given in certain measures, to certain people, at certain times, by God’s grace and for His glory, purposes, and for our benefit. Ultimately, true confidence comes from having a right relationship with God, by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. When we first come to believe in Jesus, our lives take on a whole new sense of purpose, stability, focus, and confidence. Through faith, we surrender our lives to God in loving obedience, and our confidence now flows from Jesus being our Savior. Humility is key to experiencing true confidence. The biggest enemy of true confidence is pride and the focus of self. Humbly trusting the Lord dispels all pride, the fear of man, and self-doubt, defined here as  the state of uncertainty about the truth of anything . With pride being the root, all these sins become intertwined and feed off each other in a vicious cycle. When I am humble and trust in Jesus with childlike faith, I can confidently obey Him wherever He leads me. I can be confident in what He thinks of me rather than care about the opinions of others. I can be confident in knowing that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life because the Bible tells me so(John 14:6). Finally, I can be confident that Jesus knows what is best for me. He knows exactly what I need, when I need it, and in the right measure for me. I can be confident in all things because Scripture says,  God works all things together for good for those who love Him, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son,   (Romans 8:28-29). God works the good, the bad, and the ugly all together for my good. I can be confident that no matter what trials I face, rest assured, the Lord is conforming me into the image of Christ, the main goal and sum of the Christian life. As a believer, I can confidently depend on God's word, wisdom, and power. I can confidently trust His plan, even when it’s painful or I don't understand it. According to Scripture, nothing that the Lord allows to happen to me is truly bad since He works all things together for my good. That truth ought to give me great confidence in every trial that comes my way. He Who Began a Good Work in Me... Having a clear conscience also boosts my confidence, leaving me with nothing to hide or fear. I can live boldly when I turn away from sin and look to Jesus.  The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are as bold as a lion  (Proverbs 28:1). True confidence comes from loving and obeying my Lord Jesus, in which He often blesses me in my obedience and also gives me assurance of my salvation (1 John 2:3). What greater confidence is there than to know I am eternally secure in Jesus? Knowing I get to live forever should give me immense confidence in everything in life!!! Being confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ  (Philippians 1:6). The Bible says that the Lord will complete in me the good work He began. Unlike myself, God always finishes what He starts. The Lord will work His divine grace in my heart to continue conforming me to the image of Jesus, and one day He will call me Home, where I will finally be like Jesus because I will see Him as He is (1 John 3:2). To know the Holy Spirit is working in my heart every day ought to give me lots of confidence in everything I do! I have the Best Helper ever! Jesus is my Savior I can be confident in my Heavenly Father’s promises to me. I can be confident in His provision, protection, and plan, namely that He loved me and chose me before the foundation of the world to be saved and set apart (See Ephesians 1:3-14). In His glorious plan of redemption, the Father sent His Son Jesus into the world to save me from my sins and gift me with eternal life, by grace through faith. I can be confident in Jesus’ perfect life and finished work on the cross through His death and resurrection. I can be confident that Jesus is my Savior. I can be confident that Jesus paid my debt for me. I can be confident that all my sins are forgiven, and I am clothed in Jesus' perfect robe of righteousness. I can be confident that eternal life is a free gift, and Jesus gave it to me. Furthermore, I can be confident knowing that Jesus never changes. He will always be with me (Matthew 28:20). He will never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). He will never cast me out (John 6:37). And no one can snatch me out of His hand (John 10:28). Now that kind of confidence ought to flow from everything I do in life! True confidence comes from knowing that Jesus is my Savior. I shouldn’t ever put my confidence in myself or in the abilities God has gifted me with. Rather, I will have true confidence in Jesus, who created me, died for me, called me, saved me, keeps me, helps me, knows what's best for me, and one day will call me Home to live and reign with Him forever in perfect joy, peace, and love. True Confidence My confidence is not in myself. My confidence is this: I am saved by grace. I am in Christ. All my sins are forgiven. I have eternal life. I am confident because Jesus is changing me to become more like Him every single day. I belong not just anywhere; I belong to Jesus who is my Creator & Lord of Heaven and Earth. I am confident because Jesus is my Savior. Jesus loves me. My confidence is in Him. All glory belongs to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure (confident!) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,   nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 (emphasis added) God is within her, she will not be shaken; God will help her when morning dawns. Psalm 46:5

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (I recommend listening to this song while reading this post) Who I am Not My identity is not in the temporary. My identity is not in my career, in degrees, titles, or achievements, or in my talents and skills. My identity is not in my marital, economic, or social status. My identity is not how I look, how I talk, or how old I am. My identity is not where I’m from, where I live, what I drive, or how much stuff I own. My identity is not my personal preferences, quirks, habits, or behavior. These things are temporary. They are given to me along with the fleeting time I have on this Earth . They are given to me as gifts to be thankful for. They are given to me so that I may turn to God in faith. They are given to me to use as a good steward and to the glory of God. These things are given to me, but these things are not who I am. All these things can shift, change, or be taken away at any moment, and they are all passing away in the next 50 or 60 years at best. Who I am My identity is in the eternal.  I believe in Jesus. I am saved by grace.  I am in Christ. My identity and value are found in Jesus. Jesus is Lord of Heaven and Earth, and He is my Savior. Jesus never changes. He will never be taken away. He always has been. He always will be. Jesus is eternal. Jesus is the One and Only, “I AM.”   (John 6:35, 8:12, 10:9,11, 11:25-26, 14:6, 15:5, 8:58). Jesus will always be with me, and I will always be in Him. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8). I am not my own. I was bought with a price. ( 1 Cor 6:19-20) My identity is in my Creator, Lord, and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am in Christ. I am a believer. I am a follower and disciple of Jesus. I am a child of God. I am saved by grace. That’s who I am, and it’s only because of Jesus I am who I am. Therefore, the only thing I could ever boast in is in the Lord and His amazing grace (1 Cor 1:31). Dear Heavenly Father , I praise You for loving me and choosing me before the foundation of the world, that my name is written in Your Lamb’s Book of Life. I praise You for sending Your beloved Son Jesus to suffer and die on the cross for the multitude of my flagrant and secret sins, past, present, and future. Jesus paid my tremendous debt for me. Jesus saved me from an eternity in hell where I would’ve had to pay for my sins myself, justly. But God had mercy on me. Jesus loved me so much that He died on the cross to save me from my sins. In three days, Jesus rose again from the dead, and He valiantly triumphed over sin, Satan, and death. Oh death where is your sting? Oh death where is your victory?..But thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 15:55-57). Jesus Christ is Lord over everything, including death itself. Jesus is the Light of the world, and whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life (John 8:12). I am eternally free and secure because I am saved by grace. I am saved by the blood of Jesus. I am in Christ. I am who I am for all eternity only because of Jesus. He is my Creator, Lord of my life, and Savior of my soul. An eternity of love, joy, peace, purpose, and new discovery awaits me because I am in Christ. I am saved by His grace alone. The best is always yet to come because I am who I am. I am in Christ. All glory belongs to my Great Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. In Jesus’ name, I pray amen.   But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:30-31 The world is passing away and also its desires; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever. 2 John 5:17 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” John 8:58

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 13:14 Two Men on a Plane I'd like to share something a bit different with you this week. This is a lesson written by Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron from the Online Biblical Evangelism Course at Living Waters. It's a fantastic illustration involving two men on a plane who are given parachutes. I just had to share this with you all on my blog! “The trouble with people who are not seeking for a Savior, and for salvation, is that they do not understand the nature of sin. It is the peculiar function of the Law to bring such an understanding to a man’s mind and conscience. That is why great evangelical preachers 300 years ago in the time of the Puritans, and 200 years ago in the time of Whitefield and others, always engaged in what they called a preliminary ‘Law work.’” – Martyn Lloyd-Jones Kirk Cameron's directions:"Give some deep thought to this lesson, because the essence of the entire School of Biblical Evangelism pivots on the illustration given in this chapter. It exposes the motive of the sinner and reveals the pit­falls of the modern gospel message." The Tragedy of the Modern Gospel "As I began to look at church growth records from around the country, I found to my horror that 80 to 90 percent of those making a decision for Christ were falling away from the faith. That is, modern evangelism was creating 80 to 90 of what we commonly call backsliders for every hundred decisions for Christ. For example, in 1991, a major U.S. denomination was able to obtain 294,000 decisions for Christ. Unfortunately, they could find only 14,000 in fellowship, which means they couldn’t account for 280,000 of their decisions—and this is a normal, modern evangelical result. The tragedy of modern evangelism is that, around the turn of the twentieth century, the church forsook the Law in its capacity to convert the soul and drive sinners to Christ. Modern evangelism therefore had to find another reason for sinners to respond to the gospel, and the reason it chose was the issue of “life enhancement.” The gospel degenerated into “Jesus Christ will give you peace, joy, love, fulfillment, and lasting happiness.” Something like this is usually said, “You will never find true happiness until you come to the Lord. You have a ‘God-shaped vacuum’ in your heart that only He can fill. God will heal your marriage and take away that addiction problem. He’ll get you out of financial difficulty and be your best friend.” The following anecdote will illustrate the unscriptural nature of this very popular teaching. First Man on the Plane Two men are seated on a plane. The first is given a parachute and told to put it on, as it would improve his flight. He’s a little skeptical at first, since he can’t see how wearing a parachute on a plane could possibly improve his flight. He decides to experiment and see if the claims are true. As he puts it on, he notices the weight of it upon his shoulders and he finds he has difficulty in sitting upright. However, he consoles himself with the fact he was told that the parachute would improve his flight. So he decides to give it a little time. As he waits he notices that some of the other passengers are laughing at him for wearing a parachute on a plane. He begins to feel somewhat humiliated. As they continue to point and laugh at him, he can stand it no longer. He slinks in his seat, unstraps the parachute, and throws it to the floor. Disillusionment and bitterness fill his heart, because as far as he was concerned he was told an outright lie. Second Man on the Plane The second man is given a parachute, but listen to what he is told . He’s told to put it on because at any moment he’ll be jumping 25,000 feet out of the plane. He gratefully puts the parachute on. He doesn’t notice the weight of it upon his shoulders, nor that he can’t sit upright. His mind is consumed with the thought of what would happen to him if he jumped without the parachute. Let’s now analyze the motive and the result of each passenger’s experience. The first man’s motive for putting the parachute on was solely to improve his flight. The result of his experience was that he was humiliated by the passengers, disillusioned, and somewhat embittered against those who gave him the parachute. As far as he’s concerned, it will be a long time before anyone gets one of those things on his back again. The second man put the parachute on solely to escape the jump to come. And because of his knowledge of what would happen to him if he jumped without it, he has a deep-rooted joy and peace in his heart knowing that he’s saved from sure death. This knowledge gives him the ability to withstand the mockery of the other passengers. His attitude toward those who gave him the parachute is one of heartfelt gratitude. "Jesus Will Improve Your Flight" Now listen to what the modern gospel says: “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. He’ll give you love, joy, peace, fulfillment, and lasting happiness.” In other words, Jesus will improve your flight. The sinner responds, and in an experimental fashion puts on the Savior to see if the claims are true. And what does he get? The promised temptation, tribulation, and persecution—the other “passengers” mock him. So what does he do? He takes off the Lord Jesus Christ; he’s offended for the Word’s sake; he’s disillusioned and somewhat embittered…and quite rightly so. He was promised peace, joy, love, and fulfillment, and all he got were trials and humiliation. His bitterness is directed at those who gave him the so-called “good news.” His latter end becomes worse than the first, and he’s another inoculated and bitter “backslider.” Warn Sinners About the Jump Instead of preaching that Jesus improves the flight, we should be warning sinners that they have to jump out of the plane—that it’s appointed for man to die once and then face judgment ( Hebrews 9:27 ). When a sinner understands the horrific consequences of breaking the Law of God, he will flee to the Savior, solely to escape the wrath that is to come. If we are true and faithful witnesses, that’s what we’ll be preaching —that there is wrath to come—that God “commands all men every where to repent: because he has appointed a day, in which he will judge the world in righteousness” ( Acts 17:30 , 31 ). The issue isn’t one of life enhancement, but one of righteousness. It doesn’t matter how happy a sinner is, or how much he is enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season; without the righteousness of Christ, he will perish on the day of wrath. Proverbs 11:4 says, “Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivers from death.” Peace and joy are legitimate fruits of salvation, but it’s not legitimate to use these fruits as a drawing card for salvation. If we continue to do so, the sinner will respond with an impure motive, lacking repentance. Can you remember why the second passenger had joy and peace in his heart? It was because he knew that the parachute was going to save him from sure death. In the same way, as believers we have “joy and peace in believing” ( Romans 15:13 ) because we know that the righteousness of Christ is going to deliver us from the wrath to come. Flee from the Wrath to Come With that thought in mind, let’s take a close look at an incident aboard the plane. We have a brand-new flight attendant. It’s her first day. She’s carrying a tray of boiling hot coffee. She wants to leave an impression on the passengers, and she certainly does! As she’s walking down the aisle, she trips over someone’s foot and slops the hot coffee all over the lap of our second passenger. What’s his reaction as that boiling liquid hits his tender flesh? Does he say, “Man, that hurt!”? Yes, he does. But then does he rip the parachute from his shoulders, throw it to the floor, and say, “The stupid parachute!”? No; why should he? He didn’t put the parachute on for a better flight. He put it on to save him from the jump to come. If anything, the hot coffee incident causes him to cling tighter to the parachute and even look forward to the jump. If we have put on the Lord Jesus Christ for the right motive—to flee from the wrath to come—then when tribulation strikes, when the flight gets bumpy, we won’t get angry at God, and we won’t lose our joy and peace. Why should we? We didn’t come to Christ for a better lifestyle, but to flee from the wrath to come. If anything, tribulation drives the true believer closer to the Savior. Sadly, we have multitudes of professing Christians who lose their joy and peace when the flight gets bumpy. Why? They are the product of a man-centered gospel. They came lacking repentance, without which they cannot be saved." - Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron Closing Thoughts “I’m doing fine. I don’t need God.” Many people feel this way because of the modern gospel message. It says that Jesus will help their marriage, remove their drug problem, fill the emptiness in their heart, give them peace and joy, etc. In doing so, it restricts the gospel’s field of influence. If the message of the cross is for people who have bad marriages, are lonely, and have problems, then those who are happy won’t see their need for the Savior. In truth, the forgiveness of God in Jesus Christ is for people with bad marriages and people with good marriages. It is for the happy and the sad. It is for people with problems and those without problems. It is for those who are miserable in their sins, as well as those who are enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season. Those who think they are doing fine need to be confronted with a holy Law that they have violated a multitude of times. Then they will see themselves through the eyes of the Judge of the Universe and will flee to the Savior. Even if you could do far better than you are doing now, you still can’t do well enough because you don’t please God by being good ( Galatians 2:21 ), but by trusting Jesus ( John 1:12 ). Also, sincerity is not the way to heaven. What if you are sincerely wrong? (Remember  John 14:6 ?) If you are relying on your sincerity, then you are saying that because you are sincere, you are good enough on your own to be with God. To appeal to your sincerity is to appeal to pride, because you are appealing to something that is in you, and not to God, for your reason to go to heaven. You must have faith in Jesus. - Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron

Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Psalm 85:10 A Good Hug Psalm 85:10 beautifully illustrates the harmony between righteousness and peace. Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. As much as love belongs with faithfulness, so does righteousness belong with peace. When the two meet, they kiss. And where you find a real kiss, you find a good hug too. To me, I think a good hug fixes a real lot. There's something about a good hug that is just so nice and can make everything feel "all better." "Shalom" Peace goes well beyond just the absence of conflict. Peace comes through God’s righteousness, which unites both parties in love. When one Jew wishes another "Shalom," they are not simply wishing for the absence of conflict but for the fullness of God's righteousness. Shalom is to wish one’s neighbor the highest goodness. It aims to replace conflict with God's righteousness. True peacemakers don't just cease conflict but actively work to replace it with the goodness and righteousness of God. Peacemakers strive for genuine reconciliation (if possible), expressing an aggressive pursuit of good, by grace through faith in Jesus. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.  Romans 12:18 Truce Versus Peace Peace is not the absence of something but the presence of it. As a truce is the absence of conflict, peace is the presence of God's righteousness. A truce simply means putting down our weapons and refraining from shooting for a while. The world’s definition of peace is more like a temporary lull, while everyone reloads to shoot again. In reality, the world’s peace is only a truce. On the contrary, God’s peace, true peace , is when the truth is acknowledged, the matter is resolved, and the two parties come together in harmony, kissing and hugging one another. Now that's real peace! Many people believe that peace simply means ceasing fire to eliminate all conflict. However, this approach only causes tension to grow beneath the surface. What comes from a mere truce is essentially a cold war, which is still a form of conflict. By attempting to suppress conflicts in the name of peace, we might create a situation far worse than if we had allowed the conflict to play out naturally. A truce is simply an unresolved conflict that is likely to fester, blow up, or cause something chronic or even deadly to both sides. A truce is a silent, yet brewing divide. A mere truce gives us a heavy heart, but God’s peace grants us a light heart. First Pure Then Peaceable According to James, true wisdom is characterized by purity and peace. But the wisdom from above is first pure then peaceable (James 3:17). The wisdom that comes from God leads to peace only through purity. In other words, true peace cannot be pursued at the expense of God's righteousness. True peace is only achieved when people recognize and admit their own sinful ways, humbly acknowledge the truth of the matter, and earnestly seek reconciliation before God. Hebrews 12:14 emphasizes the importance of pursuing peace accompanied by holiness. 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 . Peace, holiness, purity, and righteousness are all interwoven and inseparable. They are all required for resolving conflict. Peace is a result of holiness, purity, and righteousness.  True Peacemakers Walking away from an argument or taking some space to think can be beneficial. However, when two people are fighting or arguing, the solution is not to keep them apart for long, but rather to unite them. This way they can address the issue in truth, reconcile, and hug one another to make things right, achieving real peace together and in the quietness of their own hearts. Scripture says this is what people who believe in Jesus practice; they practice peacemaking. In the Beatitudes, Jesus tells us that true believers will be characterized by peacemaking. They will exhibit a habit and pattern of peacemaking in their life for all to see. Peacemaking is evidence of being Sons of God. “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called Sons of God” (Mat 5:8). The Greatest Peace As peacemakers, the greatest peace we could ever bring to someone is sharing the Gospel with them, since faith in Jesus is peace with God (Rom 5:1), the greatest form of peace that exists. When we have peace with God, we have eternal peace in our souls. The meeting of love and faithfulness and the kissing of righteousness and peace are perfectly demonstrated in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the cross. By grace through faith in Jesus, we are given the ultimate peace; peace with God (Rom 5:1). We receive total forgiveness for our sins and are reconciled to God through the death of His Son (Rom 5:10). Jesus’ love and mercy offer us the gift of eternal life through His sacrifice and resurrection from the dead (Rom 10:9-11). The ultimate kiss and hug of righteousness and peace in Jesus Christ brings us reconciliation with God, gifting us with eternal peace in our souls. Jesus gives us a real good hug through His perfect righteousness that brings us perfect peace. Jesus gives the best hug ever! All glory belongs to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Therefore, having been justified through faith in Christ, we have peace with God . Romans 5:1 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.  James 3:18 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy. Proverbs 12:20 Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 1 Peter 3:11 Part of Devotion inspired by “Happy are the Peacemakers” by John MacArthur (I recommend listening).

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry out, and He will say, 'Here I am.'   Isaiah 58:9 A Good Cry A good cry can feel good, but crying out to the Lord makes us feel better. So, if you want to have a really good cry, cry out to the Lord. We serve a God who hears and cares. We have a Father in Heaven who listens to His children when we cry out to Him. Unlike the gods of false religions, our God is not indifferent to His people's needs or cries for help. Jesus is attuned to our every sigh and tear. He understands all our weaknesses (Heb 4:15) and shares in the deepest depths of our grief. When we call, the Lord will answer. When we cry out to Him, He will say, “Here I am” (Isaiah 58:9). Jesus will be there to deliver us from all our troubles because He promises to always be with us. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 “Because he holds fast to Me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows My name. When he calls to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation” (Psalm 91:14-16). To Cry Out To cry out  is to express oneself loudly in a state of distress or desperation. To cry out is to direct our needs to the Lord. He is the Master Recipient of our cries. When we lift our voices to Him we can trust that He hears us with clarity and compassion. (See 1 Samuel 7:8; Psalm 107:6,13, 19,28). When Peter found himself sinking in the water, he cried out to Jesus for help, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him (Matthew 14:30–31). Jesus heard Peter's cry for help and immediately took hold of him. He does the same for you and me when we cry out to Him. He will come to our rescue and say, “Here I am.” Crying out doesn’t always mean expressing oneself vocally. Sometimes our cries to the Lord are silent. In times of distress when no words come out, God still hears the cries of our hearts. Just as Hannah prayed silently in distress, as “her voice was not heard” since she was “praying in her heart” (1 Samuel 1:10, 13), God was there, listening to Hannah’s unspoken pleas. In our most silent moments of angst or sorrow, when no one else can hear, Jesus always does. He hears the silent cries of our hearts loud and clear, and He says, “Here I am.” Crying out to the Lord is not just an act of desperation, but a demonstration of our faith in Jesus and total dependence on Him. Through our tears or anxieties, we not only recognize our sins, shortcomings, and failures but also our limitations and the impossibility of taking on life's struggles in our own strength. Our cries are not just a plea for our Heavenly Father to intervene on our behalf but evidence of true saving faith and confidence in His ability to do so. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons and daughters, by whom we cry out, “Abba! Father!”  Romans 8:15 Two Prayed, One was Heard Scripture says that God does not listen to the prayers of unbelievers; people who are self-righteous, who pride themselves in their “goodness,” and feel no need for repentance. We know that God does not listen to sinners; but if someone is God-fearing and does His will, He listens to him (John 9:31). But God always listens to the cries of a repentant sinner who recognizes his own sinfulness and pleads for forgiveness. In the parable of two men praying, one is proud while the other is humble and repentant. Jesus tells us how two prayed but only one was heard. “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:10-14    The corrupt tax collector came to God with a contrite and broken heart. He was burdened with sin and guilt and cried out to the Lord to have mercy on him. In contrast, the Pharisee, a respected religious figure in the community, prided himself on being an example of goodness and righteousness. He was blind to his own sinfulness and didn’t recognize his pitiful state like the tax collector did. Even though both men prayed to the Lord, it was only the tax collector's prayer that reached God's ears, as he was the only one who genuinely cried out to the Lord. One exalted himself and was ignored, and the other humbled himself and was received. The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears toward their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.  Psalm 34:15-18 Jesus Died for Me. Jesus Cares. Scripture makes it clear that self-reliance is not a quality of a true follower of Jesus; only complete dependence is. As believers, we are to never rely on our own strength. Instead, we must always turn to Jesus, especially in our trials. We must continually remind ourselves of the greatest truth and love there is: that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again from the dead, so that by grace through faith in Him, we may have eternal life! So knowing this, why wouldn’t we always want to cry out to Jesus, for everything ? Jesus solved the biggest problem we’ll ever have 2,000 years ago on a cross: our sin problem that separated us from God. Will Jesus not solve all the comparably little problems too? Of course He will! All in His perfect ways and timing. Jesus died for me. Jesus cares. Jesus is compassionate, patient, and loving toward us in all our trials, big and small. He takes pleasure in helping us when we are in need, which is always! There is never a time when we don't need Jesus, whether in a tough trial or on "easy street." The beauty in trials is that it drives us to cry out to Jesus way more than when life is going smoothly for us. Trials test our faith and produce endurance (James 1:2-3). Trials give us a precious opportunity to prove the authenticity of our faith in Jesus, which gives us assurance of our salvation. And assurance of our salvation is one of the greatest blessings from God and joys we can experience in this life! When setbacks happen and troubles arise, when we find ourselves caught in a sin cycle, when people are mean to us, when life throws a curveball or seems to fall apart, just have yourself a good cry by crying out to the Lord. Only in Him do we find our help, relief, comfort, and mercy. Whether we cry out to the Lord loudly or silently, we can trust that Jesus hears our cries. We can trust that Jesus cares. We can trust that Jesus will always say, “Here I am.” And we can trust that crying out to the Lord will always make us feel much, much better! Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.  Psalm 107:6, 13, 19, 28 “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me” Psalm 50:15 I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble. Psalm 142:1-2 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. Psalm 34:6 Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Matthew 5:3

The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." Mark 2:27–28 What About the Sabbath? What does Jesus say about Christians keeping the Sabbath? In Mark 2:27, Jesus said, The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Jesus pointed out that the Sabbath was created for the benefit of man, rather than man being created to serve the Sabbath. Jesus made this statement in response to the Pharisees criticizing His disciples for "breaking the Sabbath law" by picking grain as they walked through the fields (refer to Mark 2:23–28; Mat 12:1–8; Luke 6:1–5). Furthermore, Jesus pointed the Pharisees to the OT Scriptures for understanding. He brought up the time when King David was hungry and in need of food. He was given consecrated bread, which technically was only lawful for the priests to eat (1 Sam 21:1-6). However, this sacred bread met the practical needs of David and his followers. This was just like in Jesus' situation when picking the grain in the fields met the practical needs of Jesus and His followers. David and his men did not commit any sin by eating the consecrated bread, just as Jesus' disciples did not commit any sin by picking heads of grain on the Sabbath. Jesus affirms this by saying, The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27–28). The Sabbath was Made for Man Jesus' response to the Pharisees conveys two significant lessons. The first lesson is that the Sabbath was originally designed to benefit people with rest rather than weigh them down. Jesus had to remind and/or teach the Pharisees of the original purpose of keeping the Sabbath. It was to rest from their work and worship and honor God. Unlike the relentless labor the Israelites endured as slaves in Egypt, they were instructed by God to observe a complete day of rest once a week, according to the Mosaic Law. But over time, the Pharisees twisted this beautiful purpose of the Sabbath and transformed it into a burdensome obligation. They imposed additional man-made restrictions beyond what was specified in God's Law. The simple act of plucking and eating a head of grain while casually walking through a field should not be deemed as "working" or "harvesting" as the Pharisees insisted. The disciples did not sin or violate God's Law in any way; they simply did not comply with the Pharisees' strict and obsessive demands of it. In Mark 3:1–6 (also Matthew 12:9–14; Luke 6:6–11), Jesus gives another example when He heals a man on the Sabbath. The Pharisees sought to accuse Jesus and observed His interaction with a man with a withered hand. “Jesus asked them, ‘Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?’ But they remained silent (Mark 3:4). The Sabbath was meant to alleviate burdens, not create them. Prohibiting acts of kindness and compassion on the Sabbath goes against everything that is good and right. Jesus did what was good and right. Lord Even of the Sabbath The second lesson is that Jesus is Lord even of the Sabbath. In other words, Jesus is the Ultimate Authority over the Sabbath. Being God incarnate, He is the One who created the Sabbath day. Since He is the Author of the Law, Jesus naturally has the authority to determine how the Law should be upheld. The Pharisees had elevated their own human additions and rules to the status of God's Divine Law, laying heavy burdens on people, which led to them criticizing the Lawgiver Himself. Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath because the Sabbath symbolizes the rest that Jesus offers, by grace through faith in Him. Jesus is our ultimate rest as He completed all the necessary work for our redemption (Hebrews 4). He accomplished the requirements of the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17). Christ is the culmination of the Law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes (Romans 10:4). Jesus is Our Sabbath Rest As the Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus possessed the authority and power to regulate it however He wanted. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus became the total fulfillment of our “Sabbath rest.” The salvation we receive through Jesus has rendered the old Sabbath-keeping law unnecessary and no longer obligatory. When Jesus proclaimed, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27), He affirmed that just as the Sabbath was established to offer mankind rest from weekly labor, Jesus came to offer mankind eternal rest from working for our salvation through our own efforts. Through Jesus’ perfect life, finished work on the cross, and resurrection, we can now rest from our efforts to earn God’s favor and earn our salvation. Instead, we find complete rest for our eternal souls in God’s great mercy and saving grace through His Son, Jesus. As believers, we are free in Christ and free to obey Him. We are not judged by whether or not we keep the Sabbath day (Colossians 2:16). Instead, we follow and obey the Lord of the Sabbath Himself, Jesus Christ, our Great God and Savior. Our rest is found solely in Jesus, and every single day of the week is dedicated to worshipping Him, forever and ever. Small Note: The Sabbath was Saturdays for the Jews. Sunday for Christians is called "The Lord's Day." Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. Colossians 2:16 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. Romans 14:5-6

The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.” John 3:8 The Wind Blows The phrase "born of God" is mainly found in the book of First John. 1 John 5:1 says, Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of Him. Other mentions of this phrase can be found in 1 John 2:29, 3:9, 4:7, 5:4, and 5:18. In John 3:3, Jesus says a similar phrase. He tells Nicodemus that in order to see the Kingdom of Heaven, one must be born again. The phrase born of God is closely connected with being born again, born from above, and born of the Spirit. Nicodemus responded the way many of us would. He asked, “How can someone be born when they are old?” (v 4) Jesus responded with an interesting analogy. He said, The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit” (v 8). Unpredictable Why did Jesus use the analogy of the wind to explain the concept of being born again? The Greek term for "wind" is pneuma, which is also used to refer to "spirit." Just like the wind, the Holy Spirit is unseen but His effects are visible. The wind's path itself cannot be seen. The wind cannot be predicted, captured, or controlled, yet it has the power to bring about change wherever it goes. The effects of the wind can be seen through the bending of trees, the rustling of leaves, and the sensation on our faces. Similarly, the Holy Spirit is unpredictable to us, but He brings about a spiritual rebirth that is evident in the life and behavior of a person. Just like we couldn’t cause our physical birth, we couldn’t cause our spiritual birth either. Being born again is not achieved through human efforts, good works, persuasive speech, or intellectual understanding, but only through the work of the Holy Spirit in a repentant and contrite heart (Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38). It's all of God's grace. A New Creature To understand what it means to be born again or born of God, one must follow the analogy of an earthly birth to explain a spiritual concept. Just as a newborn baby emerges as a completely new creature, those who are born of God emerge as a completely new creature as well. When a baby is born, a new life comes into existence that never existed before. The baby is a completely new creature who gradually starts to resemble his or her parents. Likewise, a kitten matures into a cat, a puppy into a dog, a lamb into a sheep, and so also, an infant into an adult human. This analogy also applies to those who are born of God. Those who are born of God take on His qualities and then slowly but surely grow mature in Him, reflecting His likeness more and more. To be born of God is to experience an inner transformation through faith in Jesus and begin to resemble our Heavenly Father in an outward way. As stated in 2 Corinthians 5:17, being in Christ makes someone a "new creature" where the "old has passed away and the new has come." In John 3, Jesus elaborates on how one can be born of God: Whoever believes in the Son shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). By God’s grace through faith in Jesus, we are born again into His family, and a major internal transformation takes place. By being born of God and becoming a child of God (John 1:12), we will naturally grow to look and act more like our Father. Pleasing our Father 1 John 3:9 describes a person who has been born of God: “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot keep on sinning because they have been born of God.”  Continue to sin in this context means living a life of sin; continuing in unbroken patterns of sin and fleshly, selfish living. To one degree or another, it’s the life we all lived before we were born again (Eph 2:2-3). Our Heavenly Father is holy, and He commands His children to be holy like Him (1 Peter 1:15–16). Scripture also says that "without holiness no man shall see the Lord" (Heb 12:14). When we are born of God (repent of our sins and put our trust in Jesus alone for salvation), we receive a new heart that desires to please Him (Ezekiel 36:26; 2 Cor 5:9; Col 1:10), and He puts His Spirit in us the very moment we come to saving faith in Jesus, sealing us forever as His own (Eph 1:13-14). Pleasing our Father is not achieved through mere good intentions or white-knuckling it, rather it's by yielding to His Holy Spirit whom He's given us. By the Holy Spirit who lives in us and helps us live out our Christian life, we simply desire to please our Father. It's a big part of our new nature to want to please Him. It's God’s grace that causes us to be born again, and it's God's grace that allows us to be like Him, through the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the One who teaches us, guides us, picks us up when we fall, and helps us live out the Christian life victoriously. The Holy Spirit is the One who transforms our hearts, natures, desires, affections, and will to align with God’s will (Rom 8:29; Phil 2:13) and want to please our Father in heaven as His child. What grace! Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.” John 3:3-8

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17 Our Number One Helper When you and I first repented of our sins and believed in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God the Father sent the Holy Spirit to make His permanent home in our hearts. He is our Number One Helper in living out our Christian life (John 14:16-17, 26, 15:26). One of the major roles of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers is to help us be what we already are: Christians and children of the Most-High God. The Holy Spirit aids us in our prayers (Jude 1:20) and He "intercedes for God’s people in accordance with God's will" (Rom 8:26–27), meaning He prays for us! He brings comfort, courage, strength, fellowship, and joy to us as we go through a hostile world (1 Thess 1:6; 2 Co 13:14). He is our Teacher and Guide. He leads us into all truth and protects us from false teachers, false doctrine, and lies in a post-truth world (1 John 2:26-27). He fills believers with "all joy and peace" as we trust in Jesus, causing us to "overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Rom 15:13). The Holy Spirit is a giver of spiritual gifts as well. He helps us use our gifts to help our brothers and sisters. "There are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them" (1 Corinthians 12:4). The spiritual gifts that believers have are bestowed by the Holy Spirit according to His wisdom (1 Cor 11). Our Pledge of Guarantee The Holy Spirit is the One who secures the salvation of everyone He indwells and seals us for the day of redemption (Eph 1:13-14). He is given to us as our Pledge of Guarantee of our future heavenly inheritance (2 Cor 1:22). Essentially, the Holy Spirit is the down payment of our salvation. Once we are given the Holy Spirit, by grace alone through faith alone, we are permanently sealed and can never lose our salvation (John 10:28). Scripture says that all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God (Rom 8:14). We know we are children of God because the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we belong to Him (Rom 8:16). Furthermore, Scripture says we have received the Spirit of adoption as children because we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Rom 8:15). Abba is an Aramaic word that means Father. It’s a common term used to express affection, confidence, and trust. Abba represents the deep, intimate bond between a father and his child, along with the innocent trust that a young child has in his "daddy." A believer cries out to God His Heavenly Father like a small, needy child does to His Dad. Our Sanctifier Sanctification is a process guided by the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. The Spirit leads the believer away from old sinful pleasures and the desires of the flesh and guides us towards righteousness and the lovely, pure, true things of God (Gal 5:16–18). The Holy Spirit works through God's Word as we read it on a daily basis; He sanctifies us by the truth. (John 17:17). As a result, the works of the flesh and the power of sin decrease in our lives, while the manifestations of the Spirit become more and more evident (Gal 5:19–26). Believers are instructed to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18), meaning that we should submit ourselves fully to the Spirit's leading in our lives. God commands us to no longer live according to the flesh but to "put to death the deeds of the body" by the Spirit (Rom 8:12-13). Through the Holy Spirit's power, believers now have the ability to obey God's Word from the heart. What grace! The Greatest Influencer The Holy Spirit takes up permanent residence only in the believer's heart, but it's also an active influence even among those who do not believe. He is the Greatest Influencer the world will ever experience because He influences people to turn from their sins, believe in Jesus, and be saved. Jesus had promised His disciples that He'd send the Holy Spirit to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). The Spirit bears witness to the truth in Jesus (John 15:26), influencing and guiding people to His saving grace. Additionally, the Holy Spirit currently restrains sin and opposes the "mystery of lawlessness" in the world, preventing the emergence of the Antichrist (2 Thess 2:6–10). He Helps Us Understand The Holy Spirit has another major important role, and that is to give believers wisdom by which we can understand the things of God. “These are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Cor 2:10–11). As believers, because we have received the amazing gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, we are able to comprehend the mind of God as revealed to us in the Scriptures. The Spirit enables us to understand God's hidden wisdom. This is divine wisdom, not worldly wisdom. No amount of human understanding or reason could ever replace the teaching and the guiding of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 2:12–13). Divine wisdom is kept hidden by God and only revealed to His children. His wisdom can only be uncovered and comprehended by those who put their trust in Jesus. The wisdom from God is often foolish and even offensive to unbelievers. That's because without the presence of the Holy Spirit within, God's wisdom cannot be fully comprehended, trusted, or cherished (1 Cor 2:14). Dear Heavenly Father, You chose me and planned my salvation before the foundation of the world. Jesus provided the way for me by dying on the cross for my sins. On the third day, He rose again from the grave so that by grace through faith alone, I may have eternal life and be given the gift of the Holy Spirit, who is my Pledge of Guarantee and my Number One Helper in living out my Christian life. What mercy and grace! All glory belongs to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit! May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him. 1 John 2:27

"Judge not, that you be not judged. Matthew 7:1 The Most Abused Verse in the Bible ​ ​​"Jugde Not" (Matthew 7:1). This verse is frequently misinterpreted to justify one's actions and attitudes. It is commonly used as a shield when confronted about wrongdoing, revealing a reluctance to accept criticism. Such individuals, driven by pride, reject guidance and misuse the phrase "Judge not" to evade responsibility. Many resist correction because they prefer darkness over light, as stated in John 3:19-20. They shun truth to conceal their sins and avoid exposure of their dark deeds, distorting the meaning of 'Judge not' to seek validation (and even praise) for their sinful ways (Philippians 3:19). ​ "Judge Not" Out of Context Misinterpreting this verse is often used as a way to avoid accountability for someone's words or actions. Some individuals use this verse to manipulate others by accusing them of being judgmental. Ironically, the offended party can end up being the one passing judgment by hypocritically criticizing the other person whom they perceive as judgmental. The Scriptures teach that a wise and righteous person welcomes correction and rebuke, while a rebellious individual reacts with hostility. The passage warns against trying to correct a mocker, as it will only lead to abuse, but advises that reproving a wise person will be appreciated. Teaching a wise individual will increase their wisdom, and instructing a righteous person will enhance their knowledge (Prov 9:7-9). ​ The saying 'Judge not' is frequently accompanied by the popular expression, "Only God can judge." Indeed, only God has the ability to assess someone's intentions as He alone can discern the depths of the heart. Additionally, being a holy God, He abhors sin. While the notion that only God can judge is commonly accepted, what many fail to grasp is the dreadful prospect of facing judgment from God. As stated in Hebrews 10:31, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Although only God can judge the intentions of the heart, believers are instructed by Scripture to make righteous judgments based on a person's actions that are observable. The Bible directs us to discern the spirits to determine if they are of God (1 John 4:1). Jesus cautions us to be cautious of false prophets who appear as harmless as sheep but are actually like wolves (Mat 7:15-20), and He indicates that we can identify them by their actions or fruits. Therefore, exercising theological discernment and making righteous judgments are essential according to these teachings. "Judge Not" In Context In order to interpret 'Judge not' correctly and responsibly, it is essential to consider its proper context within the Bible and view it as part of the complete Scripture. Simply focusing on one verse and disregarding the surrounding text will not lead to a full understanding of God's intended message, which constitutes His revelation. Without grasping the true meaning intended by God, we will lack the divine guidance necessary for our spiritual well-being. When interpreting Scripture, our only entitlement is to interpret it responsibly, as instructed by the Scriptures themselves (2 Tim 2:15). Therefore, to interpret 'Judge not' responsibly, it is crucial to examine the entirety of Matthew 7 and reference other parts of the Bible as well. Jesus says, "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you." (Matthew 7:1-6). Nowhere in this passage does Jesus explicitly state that we should refrain from making any form of judgment. In fact, if that were the case, we would be unable to address someone's errors, missteps, or misconceptions. Guiding individuals towards the correct path, aiding in their comprehension, learning, and fostering wisdom would all be unattainable. Moreover, teaching the truth itself would be impossible without the ability to make judgments, as all these actions necessitate discernment. Truth Told in Love In this passage, Jesus does not forbid us from judging others entirely. Instead, He advises us to address our own sins first. This implies that we should reflect on our own wrongdoings before criticizing others for theirs, so that we avoid hypocrisy. By removing the log from our eye, we can then help our fellow believers by addressing the speck in their eye. Jesus teaches us the importance of righteous judgment, emphasizing the proper approach, motives, and attitude required to help others. According to Scripture, we are instructed to address others about their sins with truth spoken in a spirit of love. This means that we should approach others with gentleness and compassion when discussing their sins. Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently (Galatians 6:1). Speaking the truth in love is the most caring action we can take. It is our responsibility to discern and uphold what is good, right, and true, while also demonstrating love by sharing the truth, even in moments of discomfort. Prioritizing our own comfort or reputation over the truth would be selfish and unloving. Placing our comfort and reputation above the truth would go against the very essence of love. The ultimate goal is to guide people towards the Truth, which is embodied in Jesus (Eph 4:21). Jesus represents the highest, purest, and truest form of wisdom, because He alone saves us from our sins and offers us the free gift of salvation through His finished work on the cross and His resurrection. Only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ do we have eternal life. If we are not supposed to judge anyone at all, then we would not be able to address behaviors like lying, stealing, cheating, blaspheming, committing adultery, or murder, or even telling someone they cannot judge. In reality, all of these situations require us to exercise our judgment. Therefore, Jesus is not instructing us to refrain from judging entirely. Instead, he is guiding us on how to judge, emphasizing the importance of having the right attitude, pure motives, and a gentle spirit. Do Not Give Dogs What is Holy In verse 6, Jesus instructs us not to give valuable teachings to those who show no respect or appreciation for them. This means we should not persist in sharing the message of eternal life with individuals who are resistant, dismissive, or hostile towards it. We are not to keep preaching the gospel to those who disrespect sacred things and even attack us for it. Following this command requires us to use our judgment. When encountering such individuals while sharing the gospel, Jesus advises us to be wise, shake off the dust from our feet, and move on from that place. "If the house is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet." (Matthew 10:13-14) It's not about avoiding arguments for our own benefit, but rather out of consideration for the other person. It can be an act of mercy to refrain from sharing biblical truths with someone who is openly hostile towards them. Persisting in sharing the truth with a stubborn individual may lead them to accumulate more wrath for themselves on the Day of Judgment (Romans 2:5). Choosing to reject the good news of the gospel despite hearing it repeatedly is essentially a way of suppressing the truth, ultimately leading to a harsher judgment. As stated in Luke 12:48, those who acted without knowledge will face a lighter punishment, while those who had more understanding will be held to a higher standard. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more (Luke 12:48). Judge with Righteous Judgement In essence, Jesus instructs us not to judge in a hypocritical, unfair, or condescending manner, especially when it comes to trivial matters. Instead, He encourages us to judge with righteousness, either to assist others or to protect ourselves. Jesus emphasizes the importance of discerning rightly, advising, "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment" (John 7:24). While Jesus cautions against prideful or harsh judgment rooted in self-righteousness, He urges us to exercise moral and theological discernment when evaluating someone's actions, speech, behavior, and public lifestyle - essentially, the fruit they bear. As stated in Luke 6:45, "The good person brings forth good from the good stored up in their heart, while the evil person brings forth evil from the evil stored up in their heart, for out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks." Here Jesus warns us about false prophets and how we will recognize them: 15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, you will recognize them by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-20). Testing the Spirits Jesus warns us about false prophets and instructs us to test the spirits rather than believing every spirit. This requires us to exercise discernment. In 1 John 4:1-6, it emphasizes the need to discern spirits, as not all are from God due to the presence of many false prophets in the world. It is crucial to evaluate individuals not just by their words but also by their actions, as some may claim to know Jesus but their deeds contradict their profession of faith in Him (Titus 1:16). By observing the fruit of their lives (what they produce through observable evidence), we can discern the authenticity of their faith. Christians are encouraged to be cautious without being overly suspicious, avoiding blind trust and instead assessing others based on their consistent actions. Jesus' warning to be vigilant is relevant as false prophets are not always easily identifiable. John warns that many false prophets exist, even within the church community, seeking to deceive believers and lead them astray. Test Like the Bereans Just like the Bereans, we are expected to evaluate the spirits. The Bereans, inhabitants of Berea in Macedonia during Paul's time, were known for their diligent examination of everything in light of Scripture. Their understanding of the Word of God led them to scrutinize teachings and actions against the backdrop of God's truth. The key to making righteous judgments, distinguishing truth from falsehood, and recognizing the difference between right and nearly right, lies in accurately interpreting God's Word. The Bereans serve as an admirable example of how we should respond scripturally to teachings, presentations, or messages from people claiming to believe in Jesus. Ending With the Gospel My goal is always to incorporate the gospel into everything I write. I will conclude this piece with the gospel message: Salvation comes solely by grace, through faith in Christ alone. We must repent of our sins (even embrace the correction of our sins, as those who gently correct us are the ones who care about us). Remember, those who speak the most truth to us are the ones who love us the most. We must believe in the person and finished work of Jesus Christ alone for salvation. Salvation is not by works; it is a free gift (Eph 2:8-9). We cannot save ourselves or earn salvation by our own good works; Jesus has already accomplished salvation for us through His perfect life, death on the cross, and resurrection. All we have to do is repent (turn away from our sins) and put our total trust in Jesus Christ alone. Genuine faith in Christ will naturally result in good deeds (Eph 2:10), and we will be identified as Children of God by our words, actions, conduct, and a transformed life through the power of the Gospel. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15