Eternal Life

December 19th – 1 john 5:11

1 John 5:11

When Moses gave Israel God’s Law, he told them of the grave punishment for bearing false witness against another. If the testimony given was untrue, the liar received the punishment intended for the one they falsely accused. When witnesses testify in court they’re sworn to to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. Yet unfortunately we know that people and their promises can’t always be trusted. But that’s never the case with God. We can trust that He is always true, honest, and faithful to keep His word. Throughout the Old Testament we read the glorious testimony given by God. Promises about a Messiah who would come to save the world. Which came true with the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Who is the Savior God sent to redeem the world. In His unmerited love, God has provided the way to eternal life through His only begotten Son. This is true, and this is life!

 

December 19th – 1 john 5:11 Read More »

November 25th – Proverbs 17:17

Proverbs 17:17

I’m thankful for the Friend we have in Jesus

Who doesn’t want a friend who loves you at all times? Not just through the good ones, but especially through the bad ones. Jesus is that friend. He accepts, shelters, loves, and died for us. Fully knowing the betrayal, brutality, and rejection He would face, Jesus willingly left His glorious throne in heaven to ransom His life. Matthew 26:53 tells us that with one word Jesus could have summoned more than twelve legions of angels for His rescue. Instead He bore our burdens and much more for the sake of our salvation. This sacrificial act of love and friendship demonstrated by Jesus is one which we do not deserve. We fail Him daily. We are selfish, self-centered, and bent on our own needs and wants. Yet despite all of this, God wants a close personal relationship with us. He asks nothing in return, and instead offers us His friendship and gift of eternal life!

November 25th – Proverbs 17:17 Read More »

November 24th – 1 Peter 2:24

1 Peter 2:24

I am thankful Jesus paid the sin debt of every person who has ever lived 

Knowing full well the agony He would endure, the Lord willingly and lovingly left His glorious place at the Father’s side. All to pay a debt He did not owe, and to give us a gift we do not deserve. And it is only through His great love and sacrifice that we can have eternal life. I love the quote by D.A. Carson which says, “It was not nails that held Jesus to that wretched cross; it was His unqualified resolution, out of love for his Father, to do his Father’s will—and it was His love for sinners like me.” Jesus suffered for us. He suffered for you, for me, and for all who receive Him as their Savior. He was beaten, flogged, spit upon, ridiculed, and nailed to a Cross to die an excruciating death. And It is by those wounds, that shed precious blood, in which we are healed. On this day of thanksgiving, may we praise the Lord above, who died to give us life, and who removed the penalty of our sins forevermore!

November 24th – 1 Peter 2:24 Read More »

November 22nd – Romans 5:8

Romans 5:8 

I’m thankful that even though I’m a sinner, Jesus died for me

Romans is my absolute favorite book in the Bible, and chapter 5 is one of the reasons why. To me it sums up the message of the gospel beautifully. Once we were helpless, dead in spirit, and enemies of God. But through the grace and mercy of the Lord, not only can we have peace with our Heavenly Father, we can rejoice in hope. Hope that one day we will spend eternity with Him. Once we lived in darkness, eternally separated by sin from God. But because of His great love, God refused to leave us in that hopeless condition. So He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to provide reconciliation. Now, because of Christ’s death on the Cross, we are declared innocent and righteous before God. And through the blood of the Lamb, we become adopted sons and daughters in God’s family and heirs to His wonderful promises. And all of this is only possible through the amazing love God has for each and every one of us!

November 22nd – Romans 5:8 Read More »

November 21st – Hebrews 2:17

Hebrews 2:17

I am thankful Jesus understands everything we suffer

This side of heaven we will all face challenges. Jesus too faced many challenges when He walked this earth. Why? The purpose wasn’t for His benefit but for ours. Because now any temptation we face, Jesus knows. Any pain we suffer, Jesus knows. And any trial we experience, Jesus knows. Because He knows, there is no one better to intercede for us before God. I love how Dr. Charles Stanley says, “Jesus left heaven and became a man not only to become a sacrifice for our sins but also to experience what we feel and to know exactly what it’s like to be one of us. That’s what makes Him our perfect representative on the throne of grace.” Jesus now stands at the the right hand of the Father as our High Priest. Everyday He intercedes to the Father on our behalf. (Rom. 8:34) Christ was made flesh to suffer and die for us. And how thankful we are for His love and sacrifice!

November 21st – Hebrews 2:17 Read More »

November 19th – Romans 6:23

Romans 6:23

I am grateful that Jesus paid my debt in full!

As we swing into holiday mode, people get into the gift giving spirit. And one of my favorite are the stories about good Samaritans paying off the debts of others. We too have a Good Samaritan. One who will provide us with the best gift we could ever receive. And that gift bearer is Jesus Christ. We all have a sin debt owing. And the penalty of that debt is death, which has to be paid one way or the other. So God in His great love, sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, as a perfect sin offering. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus wipes away all of our sin. And when we trust in Christ and receive Him as our Savior, God credits our account. Because of the blood payment of Jesus, our sin is paid in full, and we are declared debt free! And in return, we get the awesome privilege of spending eternity with the Lord and sharing in His glory!

November 19th – Romans 6:23 Read More »

November 17th – Revelation 14:6

Revelation14:6

I am thankful Thant God gives everyone an opportunity to receive the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ 

One of the most loving things God does is not give up on us. For He is the God of second, third, and fourth chances. So much so, He gives us ample opportunity to hear and receive the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. You’d think after the rapture, when believers are taken from the earth, God would say, “That’s it. You had a chance. Now suffer the consequences.” But our Heavenly Father wishes for none to perish. And so even during the tribulation, God sends an angel to proclaim the Good News. Everyone on the earth will hear the only message that provides eternal life. Because of His great love, God gives every person one last opportunity to choose life over death. To turn to the Lord and experience a peace, joy, and perfect love for eternity. Afterwards, there will be no more excuses other than a hardened heart. But sadly, because they love sin more than God, some will still reject the gospel, choosing death and destruction.

November 17th – Revelation 14:6 Read More »

November 11th – Acts 4:12

Acts 4:12

I am thankful for name of Jesus Christ by which I am offered salvation

When the apostle Peter healed a lame man, he was asked what power he used to perform this miracle. In response Peter said he did it through the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The only name that has the power to save. The word salvation comes from the the Greek word, sōtēria. It means “deliverance and preservation.” To be rescued from enemies, or spiritual rescue. And that’s exactly what Jesus does. From His unmerited love and grace, He reaches down to pull us up from death and destruction. The only begotten Son of God, Jesus took the form of a man to pay a debt that we owed. And it is by His glorious name alone, can we have the gift of eternal life. Satan and his minions try to tell us there are many paths to God, and many ways to be saved. But he is father of lies. Christ who was born without sin and lived a sinless life, sacrificed His precious blood to save us. And there is no other that can offer us salvation than our perfect Savior!

November 11th – Acts 4:12 Read More »

November 6th – John 14:6

John 14:6

I am thankful for the way, the truth, and the life 

Today’s world is lacking in absolute truths, being replaced instead with “ my truth.” Meaning whether it be true or not, we are encouraged to believe our own reality. But truth is defined as the state or character of being true. And the One who perfectly fits that description is Jesus Christ. He is the only begotten Son of God, the light, goodness, and love. The promised Messiah and Redeemer of the world, Jesus is the one and only way to God. False religions deceitfully say there are many paths to heaven. But the way, truth, and life, comes through Jesus alone. Nothing, absolutely nothing else can provide eternal life. Because only the Lamb of God lived a sinless life dedicated to obeying His will. And it is His precious blood that provides the path to an eternity spent with God. So whoever rejects the Son, seeking another path, will be rejected by the Father.

November 6th – John 14:6 Read More »

November 1st – Romans 1:16

Romans 1:16

I’m thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ

When the apostle Paul was in Rome, he boldly, and publicly declared how he wasn’t ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And even bolder still, he wasn’t afraid to share that gospel with others. Because not only is it a privilege to carry on the work of Jesus and share His message, as the only one true gospel it has the power to save lives. So how about you? Are you ashamed of the gospel? Before you answer, let me ask you this? I once read to live unashamed of the gospel means we proclaim it, but we also show our belief in it through our actions and how we live our life. We cannot talk the talk and not walk the walk. For that makes our testimony useless and us no better than a Pharisee. Paul’s life choices supported his message. He did not preach one thing and live another. Instead he lived a life of obedience and represented God with bravery and enthusiasm. And out of thankfulness for sacrifice of Jesus, we should do the same!

November 1st – Romans 1:16 Read More »