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For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.... And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1: 18; 30-31 "Ignorance of Scripture is the most dangerous self-inflicted wound." – Dale Partridge. "Satan’s greatest weapon is man’s ignorance of God’s Word." – A.W. Tozer. Ignorance Versus Wisdom The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Proverbs 9:10). Fear in this context means reverence and awe. Ignorance is defined as lacking the correct knowledge or proper understanding of something. Individuals who are ignorant are uninformed or unaware. Sometimes, our ignorance stems from not realizing there is something we need to know. Other times, it may be a deliberate choice to remain ignorant. This is known as willful ignorance. What does the Bible say about ignorance versus wisdom? First, the Lord mercifully cautions us against ignorance: "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you" (Hosea 4:6). This goes beyond having a simple lack of information; it is a deliberate refusal of the valuable knowledge God has given to us in His Word. It represents a sinful ignorance that comes by choice because of our own pride. While ignorance about earthly matters might be excusable and be of little consequence, willful ignorance regarding spiritual matters is a tragedy and carries eternal consequences. When we refuse or reject the knowledge offered to us in the Bible, namely the Gospel message, we ultimately reject God Himself. We lead to our own eternal demise because of willful ignorance. Now what does the Bible say about wisdom? Wisdom stands in stark contrast to ignorance, and our main pursuit should be to seek wisdom above all things (Prov 3:13-18). By delving into God's Word, we can exchange our ignorance for wisdom, discernment, and understanding. God offers wisdom to everyone and generously gives it to everyone who asks for it (James 1:5). The Scriptures freely provide us with all we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3) . Through faith in Jesus Christ, Scripture equips us with the knowledge and wisdom necessary to lead a meaningful and abundant life of true purpose that leads to eternal life. The Lord does not withhold anything we need to know for this life or the next. It's all right there for us. All we have to do is open the Scriptures for ourselves and believe what God is telling us. Now is The Right Time! God's patience on this side of eternity is evident through His long-suffering nature, granting us the valuable gift of time as part of His common grace. This time allows us to turn away from our sins, embrace Jesus as our Savior, and receive salvation, escaping eternal destruction. Despite mankind’s reluctance to seek Him in the Scriptures, the Lord generously provides us with numerous chances, some more than others. As Paul states, God extended mercy to him even when he was acting in ignorance and unbelief (1 Tim 1:13). The Lord's patience and mercy endure, even in our willful ignorance, as He desires all to repent and turn to Him. He doesn’t want anyone to perish but everyone to come to a saving knowledge of the truth (2 Peter 3:9). Very sadly, many will still die in their sins due to their stubbornness and deliberate ignorance, and on the Day of Judgment, they won’t be able to blame anyone but themselves. But still, many will repent and turn to Jesus and be saved, all by His grace. Hallelujah! It is comforting and hopeful to know that Jesus is always available to us on this side of eternity, being long-suffering and extending His mercy and grace to us every day. However, we must not take His patience and mercy for granted. The Lord urges us to seek Him without delay, as Scripture states that today is the day of salvation; now is the right time. As it is written, He says that now is the day of salvation. For He says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation (2 Cor 6:2). Since we don't know how much time we have left on this earth, we shouldn't put off our salvation, as we could die in our sins at any moment. When confronted with the Gospel truth, we must not harden our hearts to it (Heb 3:8) but embrace it wholeheartedly. Ignoring the truth or putting it off (saying we will submit to it later or when we’re “ready”) will only make it harder to accept in the future. We cannot ever assume that we will have another opportunity to embrace the truth in Jesus and be saved; thus, now is the right time to repent and believe in Him. Calling Everyone, Everywhere When Scripture commands us to listen, it presents another valuable opportunity to exchange our ignorance for wisdom. In Proverbs Chapter One, wisdom is portrayed as a woman calling out in the streets, urging everyone to seek knowledge and wisdom. She warns about the dire consequences for those who reject her. Her message is passionate, repetitive, and clear. She invites all to seek her while there is still time. She can be found in plain sight and is accessible to all those who genuinely seek her. While sinful temptations are secretive and covert, wisdom is openly available for all to find. In Proverbs 1:20-33, wisdom is personified as someone we can become acquainted with. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul explains that Jesus embodies wisdom from God. "And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption," (1 Cor 1:30). True wisdom is attained through having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, by grace through faith. Jesus is the highest, purest form of wisdom that exists. He encompasses it all: He is our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Cor 1:30) and the only One who offers us eternal life. Knowing Jesus intimately as our Lord and Savior is possessing genuine wisdom; the highest, purest wisdom there is! ​ True Wisdom The wisdom discovered in the Scriptures surpasses all the wealth in the world (Prov 3:15-17) as it directs us to Jesus, the only way of salvation and our only source of hope. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6). The Gospel is true wisdom. To those who do not believe or ignore it, the Gospel is foolish, but to believers, it is the wisdom and power of God (1 Cor 1:18-25). The message of Jesus Christ's Crucifixion and Resurrection embodies the highest wisdom there is, as the Gospel itself is the power to eternally redeem all who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ alone. (Rom 1:16) The Gospel Message Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born of the Virgin Mary and took on human form as the God-man; fully man and fully God. Jesus lived a sinless life, perfectly obeying His Father's will, even to the point of death on a cross (Phil 2:8). He died as our perfect substitute and the propitiation for our sins, satisfying the judgment and wrath of God, and ultimately conquering death. Jesus' final words were, "It is finished" (John 19:30), signifying the completion of His sacrifice for the sins of all who would ever come to believe in Him. By shedding His blood on the cross for us, Jesus paid our debt in full (Eph 1:7). As believers, He wiped away all our sins (past, present, and future) by nailing them to the cross (Col 2:14). After His death and burial, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, offering eternal life to all those who believe in Him. Jesus' resurrection serves as the supreme proof of His divinity, as only God could perform such a miraculous act. God's Hidden Wisdom But as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Cor 2:9).   The verse is often mistakenly thought to be about the marvels of heaven, but it actually pertains to the wisdom that God has revealed to those who believe in Jesus. Essentially, God's truth cannot be understood through sight or hearing (objective or empirical proof), nor can it be comprehended through emotions, thoughts, or human intellect (subjective or rational deductions). Divine wisdom is concealed and can only be uncovered and comprehended by those who put their faith in Jesus. This 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). True wisdom, given by the Holy Spirit, is only granted to those who believe in Jesus. Salvation and all its accompanying blessings (including wisdom) are entirely bestowed by grace. It’s all a gift. Neither salvation nor divine wisdom can be earned or sought after by our own human efforts. These are gifts and can only be given to us from the Lord Himself. For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.  Prov 2:6. For those who have received repentance, faith, wisdom, and ultimately salvation in Jesus, it is entirely a gift without any opportunity for self-congratulation. Salvation is not by works but by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. As believers, the only One we can boast in is the Lord. Even our faith is a gift by His grace. And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Cor 1:30-31   For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,   but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Cor 1:22-23 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, Rom 1:16 Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path . Psalm 119:105 She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. Prov 3:15-17 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Tim 3:15

The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18 "Sands" 48"x36" Acrylic on Canvas • Edward Herbeck • herbeckart.com What is True Wisdom? What does it mean to be wise? What is true wisdom? The world tells us that wisdom comes from old age or life experience, and yes, sometimes it does. But the Bible tells us that true wisdom only begins with faith in Jesus. The Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 9:10 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 19  As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise     and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.” 20  So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. 21  Since God in His wisdom saw to it that the world would never know Him through human wisdom, He has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. 22  It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. 23  So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. 24  But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18-24 No Secret About It The message of the cross is true wisdom. Believing the gospel is what makes one truly wise. To the “ worldly wise and intelligent” who are headed for destruction, the gospel is foolish. But to us who are being saved, the gospel is true wisdom and the very power of God (1 Cor 1:18-25). The message of the cross is the highest wisdom one could ever attain, as the gospel itself is the power of God to redeem all sinners who repent and believe on His Son, Jesus (Rom 1:16).   When the Word of God commands us to listen, the Lord presents an invaluable opportunity to exchange our ignorance for true wisdom. In Proverbs One, wisdom is portrayed as a woman sitting at the gates and calling out into the streets, urging everyone passing by to seek wisdom; to gain knowledge, understanding, and good judgment. She earnestly invites all to seek her while there is still time and warns about the dire consequences for those who reject her. Her message is clear, caring, and repetitive, and she can be found in plain sight. While sinful temptations are secretive and covert, true wisdom is openly available for all to find. The Bible is the biggest selling book of all time! There’s no secret about it!   Knowing and Following Jesus Proverbs 1:20-33 personifies wisdom as someone we can get to know. In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he explains that Jesus is the embodiment of wisdom from God. "And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption," (1 Cor 1:30). Jesus is the highest form of wisdom that exists, as He’s the Only One who offers us redemption and eternal life, by grace through faith in Him. As our wisdom, Jesus encompasses it all: our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. True wisdom is not found in mere life experiences, man-made religion, or this passing world. True wisdom comes only from knowing and following Jesus. It comes from having a personal relationship with Him that will surpass this world and last forever. So even if you're a young Christian, you are truly wise. Or maybe you're an old geezer and recently gave your life to Christ. Maybe cuttin' it a bit close there buddy ;) , but that's the wisest thing you could ever do! And it's all by His grace. True wisdom is a gift.   Wonderful Counselor In Scripture, Jesus is referred to as, "Wonderful Counselor" (Isaiah 9:6) As our Wonderful Counselor, Jesus always councils and guides us to follow the right path and do what is right. Since Jesus is sound wisdom and perfect insight, He knows what’s best for us. He shows us the way we should go and works out everything for our good, as we become more like Him in the process. (Isaiah 30:21, Romans 8:28-30).   So, you can rest in Jesus. Even when trials and troubles come, you can still sit back and relax on His comfy couch. You can trust in His perfect wisdom, insight, and guidance through every problem, knowing He solved your biggest problem 2,000 years ago on the cross. Thank Him, praise Him, and then give Him all your burdens and anxieties because He cares for you. He’s your Wonderful Counselor who always has your best interest. Jesus will help you and give you the wisdom you need,and make the way clear one step at a time. Just ask Him and then wait in hopeful expectation. Hope in Jesus is such a strong feeling because it's a reality! Thank you for your encouragement, Mom ;) The Message of the Cross Jesus lived a perfect life. He died for you on the cross, saving you from your sins. After His death and burial, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, offering eternal life to all those who believe in Him. Jesus' resurrection serves as the supreme evidence that He truly is God, as only God Himself could perform such a miracle. So now whoever believes in Jesus shall not be headed for destruction but have the gift of eternal life. Salvation is not by works or "being a good person." It is only by grace through faith in Jesus that you are saved. Eternal life is a free gift by His grace. Jesus is our true wisdom. Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path. Psalm 119:105

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His Word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord . Psalm 130:5-6 Hope for the Best To wait on the Lord means to hope in Him. To hope in the Lord means to trust in His goodness and expect a positive outcome, in His perfect timing. It means to hope for the best since we know that Jesus knows best. This hopeful expectation is rooted in our knowledge and faith in Jesus. To be able to wait on the Lord, we must first believe the Gospel and find our ultimate hope in Him. We must believe who God is and what Jesus has accomplished through His perfect life, death on the cross, and resurrection: our salvation! What a grand hope we have in Jesus! We must also believe that the Lord is able to accomplish far beyond what we could ever ask or think (Eph 3:20). So, if Jesus is your Savior, you can always hope for the best! Because Jesus always knows what's best. Confident Prayers To wait on the Lord means to be confident in our prayers, not doubting His goodness, timing, or plan. It means to be confident that He hears us.  This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us  (1 John 5:14). It means to be confident that He will supply our every need, give us the wisdom we ask for, and make our paths straight (Phil 4:19, James 1:5, Prov 3:6). Active Patience To wait on the Lord, means to be patient. This doesn't mean that we sit around and wait passively or in idleness. Rather, we are to wait actively on Him. Active waiting is making good use of our time while we're in God's waiting room. Active waiting means trusting Him, seeking Him in His Word, and praying to Him. When we actively wait, the Lord strengthens our faith and brings peace and stability to our hearts (Phil 4:7, Ps 27:4). When we actively wait, the Lord renews our strength (Is 40:31). “I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in Him” (Psalm 40:1-3). This passage also illustrates that waiting on the Lord also serves as a testimony to others. Waiting on the Lord points others to Jesus when they see that our hope is in Him. And as a result, they may be more inclined to believe the Gospel and find their ultimate hope in Jesus too. Wait on the LORD! At times, we may feel as if the Lord doesn't hear our cries or prayers. Regardless of our ever-changing feelings, we can still place our full confidence and hope in Jesus, who never changes. For we know who Jesus is and what He's done for us already! He’s gifted us with eternal life, by grace through faith. Therefore, we can always wait on the Lord with eager anticipation, knowing that He is always near us, He always hears us, and He is always in control. We can wait on the Lord knowing He will fulfill His promises, deliver us, and save us just like He says (Jer 15:21, Ps 50:15). We can wait on the Lord knowing He is working all things together for His glory and our benefit, even when we can't perceive it. Remember, we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7) Therefore, trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). Since our hope is in Jesus Christ alone, we can learn to wait on the Lord with a peaceful heart and joyful confidence, knowing that at the right time, He will make it happen! (Isaiah 60:22). Jesus is our ultimate hope. Jesus knows what's best for us. So we can always hope for the best! At the right time, I the LORD will make it happen. Isaiah 60:22 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! Psalm 27:14 Yet those who wait on the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:31

My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.   I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand, John 10:27-28 I Know the One Who Knows I don't always know, but I know the One who knows. I know Jesus, and He knows me. He helps me walk through every valley. He helps me overcome every trouble along my path. He helps me not fear the unknown in the distance. I don't always know. But I know there's nothing to fear because I know the One who knows. I listen to His voice, and I follow Him. I am His sheep, and He is my Shepherd. I know He is always with me. I know Jesus is always with me because He tells me so (Mat 28:20). And Scripture says that Jesus dwells in my heart through faith (Eph 3:17). I carry Him in my heart because He is the One who carries me in His hand, where no one can snatch me away. He gives me eternal life, and I will never perish (John 10:28). Jesus is The Shepherd of my soul. I don’t ever have to rely on myself since I don't always know. But I can always rely on the One who knows everything: Jesus, The Shepherd of my soul. He gives me everything I need and makes everything beautiful in its time (Ecc 3:11). He gives me rest in green pastures and leads me beside still waters (Ps 23:2). He restores my soul and leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. (v 3). He walks with me and comforts me through every valley (v. 4). He gives me refreshment from His living waters (John 7:37-38). He gives me earthly bread for my body and heavenly bread for my soul (John 6:51). Jesus gives me life itself since He is The Life (John 14:6). Jesus gives me everything I need, even His own life on the cross. Through simple faith in Jesus, He gives me the gift of eternal life (John 3:16). What more could I want? (Psalm 23:1) I know the One who knows, but more importantly, Jesus knows me, loves me, died for me, and is always with me. I listen to His voice, and I follow Him.     Dear Heavenly Father,   I praise You for who You are. I thank you for being so gentle and patient with me and teaching me to trust in Jesus more every day. I know Jesus is always with me, and I know that You work all things together for my good. Today, will You help me to not fear or be anxious about the unknown? Help me to trust in You with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding. Keep me from running ahead with that illusion of control I think I might have over the small things. Help me to trust in Your sovereignty alone, over everything, including those small things. Help me to trust in Your plan, Your timing, and Your goodness over my life, both big and small. For I know You make everything beautiful in its own time.   Today, will You make the way clear for me and instruct me in the way I should go? Will You give me wisdom and make it plain to me? If I need to search it out even more, will You help me do that? Or if I need to simply wait on You, will You help me be patient and wait in hope? Lord, please show me the way and make my path straight for me. Most importantly, help me to rejoice in You always, remembering the Good News that Jesus died for me and rose again so that I may have eternal life. I always feel Your peace when I remember the Good News. I always feel Your peace when I remember that Jesus loves me that much. I always feel Your peace when I remember that Your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. In Jesus' name I pray, amen. Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. James 1:2-8 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,   for those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold   of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1   Have No Fear A Christian is a soldier. It's a battle to take up our cross every day. It's a battle to be both a sinner and a saint (Rom 7:14-25). It's a battle to exercise faith over fear. But have no fear, Christian. Remember, we’re never alone in the battle. We have a Savior who won the war. We have a Heavenly Father who is patient and gentle. We have a Helper, the Holy Spirit. Our Lord & Savior, Jesus To be a Christian is to have a Savior. So have no fear, Christian. Jesus Christ lived the sinless and perfect life we couldn’t ever live. Jesus was so obedient to His Father's will that He willingly went to the cross (Phil 2:6). There on that cross, He suffered and died for our sins - past, present, and future. He died the death we deserved. He took all of God's wrath against our sins and satisfied God's justice completely. Jesus was our perfect, once and for all Substitute (1 Pet 3:18, Heb 9:28). He took our punishment in full. He paid off our massive debt we owed to God. He triumphed over sin, Satan, and death. To top it all off, three days later Jesus rose again from the dead, with over 500 first-hand witnesses recorded of His resurrection. So now, whoever believes in Jesus shall not die in their sins but have the gift of eternal life (John 3:16). God's love for us is best displayed when we look to the cross, His Son. Jesus is our Light and our Salvation. He is the Stronghold of our life (Psalm 27:1) So, have no fear, Christian. Look at what Jesus did for you. Look at how much God loves you. Now that is Good News! The key is remembering the Good News in the midst of the battle. It's the king of all perspectives to have but not always easy to keep. But it's always available to us to believe, ponder, and cherish. This is where real peace comes from (See John 14:27). So don't let the battle rule over you. Instead, believe, ponder, and cherish Jesus our Savior, and let the peace of Christ rule your heart (Col 3:15).   Our Patient & Gentle Father To be a Christian is to have a patient and gentle Father. So have no fear, Christian. We don't ever need to be afraid of our Heavenly Father. He wants us to come to Him with everything; just as a small child comes to his Mom or Dad - humble, trusting, and obedient, even when he doesn't understand, or even when he's in trouble. Our Heavenly Father doesn’t ever demand anything hard or unreasonable from His children. He's compassionate. He knows our weaknesses. Therefore, He's patient and gentle. While temptations can overwhelm us and repentance can be hard, Jesus reminds us that His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Mat 11:30), and the truth sets us free (John 8:32). Even so, our Heavenly Father will still allow trials to come. But in those trials, His discipline is always loving. Trials are there to prove our faith, not to God because He already knows our faith, but to ourselves. Seeing evidence of our own faith gives us assurance of our own salvation. In that is real joy and peace to know we truly are God's children. Trials are also there to strengthen our faith and make us more like Jesus (Rom 8:28-29). This is the main goal of the Christian life...to become more Christlike, little by little, until our Heavenly Father calls us Home to be with Him.   Our Helper, The Holy Spirit To be a Christian is to have a Helper. So have no fear, Christian. We have The Holy Spirit who gently convicts us of sin, comforts and encourages us, guides and teaches us. He gives us wisdom, discernment, and true understanding of God's Word. He guides us away from lies, error, and false teaching and into sound doctrine and His truth in all matters of life. We have the Best Helper to live out our Christian life...and to help us experience real victory along the way. God's grace is always sufficient in every battle, and Jesus reminds us that the Holy Spirit will be with us forever (John 14:16). How comforting and encouraging that is!   Run with Endurance, Solider! To be a Christian soldier is to live a life that is full of courage, victory, joy, peace, and purpose, even in the midst of our suffering and trials. Therefore, have no fear Christian. Jesus is our Light and Salvation, the Stronghold of our life. He won the war for you and for me! Of whom shall we be afraid?…No one and nothing. Now go and be strong in the strength of His might, and take up the full armor of God today, Christian soldier! (See Ephesians 6:10-20). Cast off every weight that slows you down, especially the sin that so easily trips you up. And may you run with endurance the race God has set before you, soldier. Me too. Let's do this by encouraging each other to keep our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith (See Hebrews 12:12) . “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid. John 14:27 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12   Jesus Saves She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins. Matthew 1:21 The name Jesus comes from the Hebrew name  Joshua  or  Jehoshua,  which means  “Jehovah will save.”  In this verse, the angel tells Joseph that Mary’s baby will be the very incarnation of God's salvation, and He is to be named Jesus. The tiny baby laying in the manger is God Himself, and He is the One who will save His people from their sins. Isn't it interesting how Christmas is celebrated throughout the entire world? Christmas is such a "magical" time that other religions and even athiests come together to celebrate it! As Christians, we've been given the immense privilege to know the true reason for the season, and that's Jesus. Let's get together to celebrate Him! Jesus saves. He's saved us from our sins and given us eternal life!   Only One Way After Jesus’ resurrection, Peter talks about the importance of Jesus' name.  There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved ( Acts 4:12). Only in Jesus do we have life and salvation. Tragically, the masses believe the lie that many roads lead to Heaven. As Christians, we know the Truth. There is only One Way, and that’s Jesus Christ, Lord over everyone and Savior to everyone who believes.  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”  (John 14:6). The stunning fact that God provided  even one way  for us to live forever shows just how gracious He is.   Faith in What? From the moment we first believe in Jesus, God energizes our faith and continues to preserve it until He brings us home to Heaven. The work God begins in a person's heart, He always finishes. (Phil 1:6). It’s not faith that saves us, but it’s the object of our faith that saves us, and that’s Jesus. Even if I have a weak faith; I know that I am saved by a strong Savior who won’t ever let me go (John 10:27-28). My Christian faith isn't in faith itself but in Christ alone. "It is not great faith, but true faith that saves; and the salvation lies not in the faith, but in the Christ in whom faith trusts." Charles Spurgeon   The believer’s continued faith in Jesus is evidence of God’s keeping power (1 Pet 1:5), not our own. I am not saying we don't have human responsibility. There are two truths that run parallel: God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. How those two truths operate together, we don’t know on this side of eternity. But we do know that both are true. We know both the person and the Holy Spirit live the Christian life. We know we rely on God's grace, not our own strength to live the Christian life.   True saving faith in Jesus may waver or fail at times, but it’s permanent in that it never dies. It's a true faith. A true believer could never stop believing nor could he ever completely turn away from the faith that was once handed to him. Because God is the One who keeps us, not ourselves. We can never lose our salvation because it’s His grace that saves us, helps us walk in His ways, and keeps us forever. What a reason to celebrate, not just around Christmas but every single day!  And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at His birth, (Luke 1:14). "It's not your hold of Christ that saves you but His hold of you." Charles Spurgeon   Dear Heavenly Father,   It's Christmas, and I praise You for the greatest gift ever: Jesus is my Savior. Jesus lived the perfect life for me, suffered and died on the cross for me, and three days later He rose from the grave. Jesus saved me from my sins and gave me eternal life, by grace through faith in Him. Even my repentance and faith in Jesus is a gift from You (Eph 2:8-9). Lord, help me to talk about Jesus and not shy away when the opportunity arises. Help me to not just say “I have faith.” Help me to communicate clearly what and more importantly WHO my faith is IN. Help me to boldly and gently say Jesus’ name when talking about my faith, my hope, and my joy. Help me to point everyone to the real reason we celebrate Christmas. And that's Jesus, the tiny baby lying in the manger who created Heaven and Earth, the Savior of the world, and the reason for the Christmas season, every season, and life itself. Praise the Lord! Jesus saves!    All glory belongs to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In His name, I pray amen!   Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25  to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 1:24-25 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.  Philippians 1:6 I am the light of the world and whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness but have the light of life. John 8:12

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Grumbling to Gratitude Dear Heavenly Father,   I praise You for choosing me before the foundation of the world to belong to Jesus (Eph 1:4-5,11). I praise You for giving me a new and thankful heart through faith in Jesus (Eze 36:26). Today, help me to walk in that newness of life You've given me (Eph 4:24). Today, the only thing I want to be filled with is Your Holy Spirit. For whatever fills my heart guides my steps. Today, I don't want to be guided by my feelings or the push and pull of the world. Today, I only want to be guided by Your Holy Spirit, resting in Jesus while I work and go about my day.  Today, when I start being discontent in my heart or complaining out loud, help me to see my sin for what it is and turn away from such nonsense….because I have everything to be thankful for! Jesus is my Savior! As a child of God, I have no reason to grumble about anything or anyone, even though I am often tempted to at times. Today, help me not give into that temptation. Help me to resist the devil, and he will flee. Help me to come near to You instead (James 4:7-8). Grumbling only grieves the Holy Spirit, and I don't want to do that to Him. Today, I want to thank Him and be joyful in Him. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief (Mark 9:24)! For I know all of my sins can be overcome by simple faith in God's Word (See Mark 9:23). I know the perfect cure for grumbling is gratitude for the hope I've been given in Jesus. The Locomotive Truth Regardless of my earthly circumstances, help me to turn to Jesus in thankfulness for my eternal circumstances. And what magnificent circumstances I've been dealt! The Royal Flush! I am saved by grace, empowered by grace, sealed for Heaven, and kept by Your power forever. I am in Christ. I belong to Jesus! Lord, today will you help me keep that eternal perspective in my thoughts? Even when I can’t always rejoice in my earthly circumstances, help me to rejoice in the Lord always (Phil 4:4), knowing that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 3:8). May my feelings be all the boxcars and the caboose to the locomotive Truth in Jesus. Today, may my feelings be hooked up to the the Truth of Your Word....transporting feelings of love, joy, and peace, patience, goodness, and faithfulness, kindness, gentleness, and self control. What precious cargo!   Bold Enough to be Gentle Help me go about my day by today being reminded who Jesus is and what Jesus did for me. Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Jesus died on the cross for my sins, was buried, and three days later He rose again…so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Lord, today help me keep the Gospel Truth in the forefront of my mind. May my heart overflow with thankfulness that sends praise upwards and spills outwards into blessings for others.    Today, help me to tell someone about Jesus. Lord, help me to be bold enough to be gentle in my approach and confident in my delivery…with the words that You give me at the time. Even if I fumble over my words, I know it's only Your power that brings a person to Jesus (1 Corinth 2:1-5). Help me to be bold enough to be gentle and leave the results up to You. I know that Salvation belongs to You, Lord. (Ps 3:8, 62:1, Rev 7:10, Jonah 2:9). And I am Your vessel. Help me to be empty of myself so that Your power has all the room to flow through me, boldly and gently. (2 Corinth 4:7, 2 Corinth 12:9-10). Today, help me to grow in gratitude for the grace that You've given me through faith in Jesus. He gets all the glory! In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen! Always be joyful. 17  Never stop praying. 18  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 19  Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. 20  Do not scoff at prophecies, 21  but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. 22  Stay away from every kind of evil. 23  Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 24  God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:36 I was a tomboy growing up. I didn't like wearing dresses. When I was little I wished I was a boy. But I never told anyone that because even as a child I knew that was wrong. God made me to be a girl! And now because of Jesus, I love the woman I've become through faith in Him. I am thankful to be a girl and created in His image. Most of all, I am thankful my Mom, my Dad, and my brother Matthew believe in Jesus. That's what gives me a light heart. That's what brings me the most peace and joy in my life. Jesus loves my family. And He loves me too. Heaven is our Home. I’m thankful for... Jesus. my faith in Jesus. my family and their faith in Jesus. the life He’s given us now, and the gift of eternal life He’s promised us. I’m thankful for the forgiveness of my sins. being saved by His grace.   I’m thankful for... the Lord’s sovereignty. His perfect will. His timing and seasons. His goodness and faithfulness. His mercy and grace. His patience and gentleness with me. I’m thankful for... God’s written Word. His wisdom, discernment, and understanding He grants me through the gift of The Holy Spirit.   I’m thankful for... being able to come to my Heavenly Father at any time. the privilege of prayer and communion with Him. knowing Jesus is with me throughout my whole day, every day, and every night. I'm thankful for... the Lord's beauty, creativity, and sense of humor shown through my joyful dog, Monkee and everything He has made.   I’m thankful for... my dog, Monkee and every good and perfect gift from Above, as well as every trial that God works together for my good to make me more like Jesus and prepare me for eternity.   I’m thankful... that I can share all my joys with Him as well as my sorrows. Jesus hears. Jesus cares.   I’m thankful... because Jesus knows me, chose me, died for me, rose again, saved me by grace through faith, and loves me forever. I'm thankful to... Jesus for Him and for everything. for it is all from Him, through Him and to Him. To Him be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:36 "It's all about Jesus." - Charlie Kirk But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, 5  even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— 6  and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7  so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9  not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:4-10

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  John 8:31-32 Truly His Jesus' true disciples know the Truth. We know that Jesus is God (John 1:1). We know that Jesus is who He claims to be as The Messiah (John 4:25-26). We know that Jesus is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25). Therefore, we believe everything that Jesus says, and we continue in His Word by His grace. We are truly His. He Keeps You Even true disciples though will have far from perfect faith and obedience. So, do not be discouraged, Christian. It's not about your pefection or performance in your walk with Jesus. It's about your secured position in Him and your direction toward Heaven. Even though true disciples may stumble at times, Jesus keeps you from ever falling away (Jude 1:24). Jesus is the One who keeps you in the palm of His hand (John 10:28). Jesus is the One who guides you on paths of righteousness (Psalm 23:3). Jesus is the One who upholds you with His righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:11). Scripture says that He even broadens the path so your feet don't slip (Psalm 18:36). Yes, true disciples will often battle against sin and temptation and struggle to obey at times. But, true disciples will look to Jesus through every trial and make a practice of righteousness rather than sin (Rom 6:16-18). Jesus will always teach you the right way to go and forever keep you as truly His, Christian. From The Heart It's not about the strength of your faith or how well or big you perform in the Christian life. What matters is the Object of your faith and that you believe Jesus from the heart. And when you truly believe in Jesus, you will desire to obey Him from the heart! What you believe in your heart will be evident in what you produce in your life. Jesus tells His disciples that "you will know someone by their fruit" (Matthew 7:15-20). You won’t just profess "Jesus is Lord" and sing "Christ is King" and then continue in unrepentant sin as if He wasn't Lord and King (Titus 1:16). As truly His, you will show the evidence of God’s grace working in your heart and the sovereign, transforming power of the Holy Spirit in your life. Furthermore, you will will not only know the Truth, but your eyes will be opened to a greater understanding of it (1 John 5:20), as you continue in His Word, growing in His grace and knowledge.  Freedom From Sin True disciples not only know the Truth but find freedom in the Truth because Jesus says,  “And the truth will set you free”  (v 32). During Jesus' time, the Jews were living under the oppression of the Roman government, but Jesus was not talking about earthly or political freedom. In verse 34, Jesus clarifies by saying,  “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.” Being a slave to sin represents the ultimate form of slavery. Jesus was talking about the bondage deep in the human heart; the will of a person. Through the new birth, you've been set free from the bondage of sin and welcomed as a member into God's own family. Because you've been given a new heart through saving faith, you now live under God's grace where you want to obey Jesus . You are now willing and free to obey Jesus from the heart! You can only do this by His power through the faith that He gives to you by His grace. The grace that has the power to save you from your sins is the same grace that has the power to help you walk in His ways. Before you came into a saving relationship with Jesus, whether you knew it or not, you were unwilling to obey Him because you were willing to obey another master: sin/self. And Jesus says that no one can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). As a believer, now your only Master you want to serve is Jesus. Christian, you don't have to obey sin anymore and be ruled by it. You owe Satan nothing. Yes, believers may struggle with sin, but what true believers really want to do is obey Jesus from the heart. And God gives them the grace to be able to. What freedom! (For understanding on the battle against sin for the believer, read Romans 7) Scripture says that as believers, they are now obedient from the heart and wholeheartedly committed to the teachings of Jesus. Believers have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God and righteousness instead (Rom 6:17-18). This is true freedom, which only the Christian knows. To want to obey Jesus and be able to is a gift. The Great Commission Jesus died for your sins on the cross and rose again, so that by grace through faith alone in Him, you may have eternal life. Believing in Jesus brings ultimate freedom — freedom from sin, the tyranny of the Law, and working for your salvation through your own efforts. It's freedom from God’s righteous judgment and wrath against sin, condemnation, and ultimately from death itself (Romans 6:22, 8:1-2). Jesus did all the work for you through his perfect life, death, and resurrection. Eternal life is a gift . Through the new birth, you are a new creation in Christ (John 3:3-7, 2 Corinth 5:17). Now you have become a member of God’s family, a child of God, and Jesus' true disciple. You know the Truth, and the Truth has set you free by His grace. And it's also by His grace you continue in His Word, learning and growing in Christ. As truly His, we love to learn from Jesus and obey Him. Jesus gives all His true disciples The Great Commission: telling others about Jesus and making more disciples! Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them all that I commanded you (Matthew 28:19-20a). Today, let's tell someone about the Good News and the freedom we have in Jesus so they may become truly His too, by His grace. All glory belongs to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. “So if the Son sets you free you'll be free indeed.”   John 8:36

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 The Truth is Simple But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’ The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’ But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’'  Luke 16:29-31 In Luke 16:19–31, Jesus tells the story of the rich man and Lazarus to the Pharisees. A poor beggar named Lazarus dies and is taken away to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet, while a rich man dies and ends up in a place of torment (v 22,23). The rich man pleads with Abraham to send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and cool his tongue, for he is "in anguish in these flames" (v 24). The rich man then begs Abraham to send Lazarus back to warn his five brothers so they could repent. Abraham first assures the rich man that there is a "great chasm fixed" so that neither Lazarus nor the rich man can cross over to the other side. He then assures him that his brothers have already received enough warning since they have Moses and the Prophets, meaning Scripture. In this story, Jesus gives us a few lessons: 1.  Our attitude toward money and what we do with it often reflects our attitude and devotion toward Jesus. There's nothing wrong with money itself, as it's a blessing from the Lord. There's nothing wrong with being rich either. But Scripture tells us that the love money is the root of many kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). To love money doesn't mean to have a happy, fuzzy feeling toward it. The love of money is evidenced through our behavior, actions, and how it dictates our lives. To love money means to serve it and allow it to rule our lives. To love money means to follow it, be controlled by it, be devoted to it. Rather, as Christians we are to follow Jesus, be controlled by the Holy Spirit, and be devoted to God and His will, as we trust in Him to rule our lives and provide everything we need. 2.       Once a person dies, his or her destiny is fixed for all eternity. There's no trading places. That's a hopeless and terrifying place for the one in torment and a secure and joyful place for the one in Heaven. 3.      If the Pharisees can't recognize Jesus in the Mosaic law and the Prophets, they won't recognize Him as their Promised Messiah through any miraculous signs either. Even if someone were to rise from the dead, they still wouldn't recognize and believe in Jesus! Unwilling All the miracles, signs, and proof in the world will not make the slightest difference to someone committed to their unbelief. The Truth is simple. When someone doesn't believe the Truth, it's not because they're intellectually challenged by it or don't understand it. It's because they do, and it's offensive. They don't believe it simply because they won't. And since they won't believe it, they can't believe it! They can't believe because they're unwilling. They don't want to. All the evidence is there, but those who are unwilling to believe cannot ever grasp the Truth. Jesus will not waste His time giving more evidence to those who have no interest in the Truth, nor should we. If someone is unwilling to believe Scripture, they won't be convinced of the Truth even if someone rises from the dead! Jesus rose Lazarus (a different Lazarus than this story) from the dead. Many still didn't believe Jesus to be God then either! Then Jesus Christ rose Himself from the dead, and still , most people in the history of all mankind won't believe in Jesus. Even with all the insurmountable signs and miracles of Jesus and all the historical evidence and first-hand witnesses of His ressurrection, people still won't believe in Jesus! As a believer, sometimes it's so hard to understand why people don't believe! (I won't go into it here, but John 8.42-47 explains why). The Pharisees needed to choose to believe what their Scriptures said about their coming Messiah and the fact that He was right under their noses. Today, we need to believe what Scripture tells us about Jesus too, which is also right under our noses. The Truth is simple. God doesn't make it hard to find or understand. What He's revealed in His Word, He wants us to know. All the way from Genesis to Revelation, the only way of salvation through Christ, is plainly written for us to know and understand. On the other side of eternity, we will have no excuse to say we weren't warned or that we didn't understand the message. The Truth is simple, and Scripture is sufficient. The Pharisees needed to believe what their Scriptures revealed about the Messiah. Today, we all must do the same, but still, most won't believe what the Lord has graciously revealed to us in His Word, namely that God so loved the world that He sent us His one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins and rise again. So now, whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). And for those who do believe, may we find ourselves one day sitting at the heavenly banquet with Lazarus, Abraham, and Jesus. If someone doesn't believe in God's written Word, it's highly unlikely they'll believe if they were given even more miracles or signs (Matthew 12:38–39). Unless we choose to believe the truth about Jesus that's clearly and repetitively written to us throughout Scripture, we'll find ourselves like the rich man in torment, our consciences fully informed of how we ended up there. And we'd only have ourselves to blame. Willing As believers we know the Truth is so simple that a child can understand it, and Scripture is all we need. Therefore, we believe the saving message of the Gospel. We believe what we read in the Scriptures, which all point to Jesus Christ alone for our salvation. We understand that eternal life is a free gift. We didn't do any good works to earn it or keep it, and we can't pride ourselves that we were wise enough to choose salvation on our own. As believers, we give all the glory to God for our salvation because we know that salvation belongs to the Lord (Psalm 3:8). All glory to God for choosing us before the foundation of world and gifting us with our repentance and faith in Jesus. It's only by the grace of God that we are willing to believe in Jesus, therefore we do! Amen!