7.22.2010

Run with endurance: Hebrews 12:1-2

"Let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish." Hebrews 12 verses 1 & 2.

7.07.2010

The Daily Verse: Influence

Thus says the Lord of hosts, 'Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another,' Zechariah 7:9

Be reminded that showing kindness and mercy is not only vital, but it is a command.

Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis

Boyd Bailey: Who is Jesus?

“But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Matthew 16:15-16

There will always be those who deny the deity of Christ. They try to dilute His status as Savior by relegating Him as just a healer—like a medical practitioner of today, with no supernatural intervention. Or, other skeptics seek to coral Christ into a group of good moral teachers who had good things to say, but certainly He was not the Son of God.

However, God reveals to those who believe that the Son of man was also the Son of God. John the Baptist was humble and bold, but only a man. Elijah was a prophet called by the Lord, but a man nonetheless. Jeremiah was full of passion and love for his people, but he was a man and not the Messiah Christ, who was to come. Jesus is the Son of the living God. When ask if He was the One: Jesus did not stutter, He offered evidence for this fact:

“The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me” (John 10:24-25).

Faith is the first step to accepting the fact of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, who died on the cross for your sins and rose from the dead to give you life eternal. Because you base your belief on the historical knowledge of Christ’s claim to be God, you are in good company with the thousands of His contemporaries, who also believed based on His words and deeds. Facts become understanding when you apply faith and trust in Jesus.

Therefore, do not allow the diversity of opinions to cause you to doubt Christ’s claims. He is either Lord of your life—or not. He is either the Savior of your soul—or not. He is Creator of all celestial beauty, planet earth’s: mountains, oceans, animals, plants and your body, mind and soul—or not. Settle today who Jesus is and do not sway from your belief.

“We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them” (Acts 14:15b).

He is the living Lord who knows our every thought, action and motivation. God is nowhere close to being dead; He is only dead to those whose faith has died. We serve a living Savior who is on the move to expand His kingdom on earth. Jesus is alive!

When you walk closely with Christ, you confess with conviction that He is the Son of the living God. You are blessed when you are bold in your belief, because you bolster the faith of others in Jesus. Don’t be shy about your Savior, when people ask, “Who is Jesus?” tell them that He is the way to God, the truth of God and the life of God:

“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Can Christ count on me to give a clear account of who He is and what He expects?

Related Readings: Isaiah 53:1-12; Jeremiah 10:10; John 1:29; Hebrews 3:12-13

Source: Wisdom Hunters by Boyd Bailey

The Daily Verse: Fullness

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14,17-19

Let this be our heart and our prayer for one another.

Source: The Daily Verse by Kat Davis