Looking to God

Before Jesus returned to heaven, He instructed His disciples to preach the gospel into all the world. What better way today to preach the gospel than to show others how Jesus has changed us. By being a light, others will see God’s glory through the darkness.

“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true).”

(Ephesians 5:6-9)

One of the greatest testimonies anyone could preach is to show how Jesus changed one’s life. Through acts of kindness and doing God’s will, which is keeping His commandments, the world will have no excuse in not seeing God. For through us, and our acts, all will see God.

How do we preach the gospel to the world? Show kindness to everyone longing for answers. Impart knowledge to those seeking God. Proclaim the name of Jesus. Give to the poor. Comfort the sick. Bless all.

Let us remember, in all that we do, we are glorifying God. For whatever trial others may be going through, our hope in Jesus may one day also visit them. Therefore, preach the gospel into all the world and let your light shine.

God sent Jesus, His Son, into the world so that we might know the fullness of His love for us, for He had given Him as a sacrifice for our sins. We no longer bear the burden of our guilt, as Christ bore it for us on the cross. He died so that we might live.

“And he asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Christ.’”

(Mark 8:29)

Jesus gave sight to the blind, gave voice to the mute and gave hearing to the deaf. The lame walked in His presence, the dead rose by His command and demons scattered at His appearance. He is the Christ with whom God is well pleased.

Christ died on the cross, and after three days and three nights, He rose again. He appeared to the apostles, who recorded His appearances so that others would believe. The gospels are a proclamation, which testify, without a doubt, that Jesus is God’s Son.

There is no one like Jesus. By His name, we do great works. We heal the sick, feed the poor and give joy to the sorrowful. No other being that lived, and is living now at the right hand of the Father, is more important to us. He is Christ Jesus.

All authority in heaven and on earth belongs to Christ Jesus our Lord. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, and the author and finisher of our faith. Under no other name can anyone claim mercy, grace and salvation. He is God’s Son and the Chosen One.

“This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

(Acts 4:11-12)

Jesus is all we need. No longer do the shackles of iniquity bind us. Through His death and resurrection, we have life everlasting. The devil does not have a claim over our lives. Jesus redeemed us from the slavery of sin. We are now His and salvation is now ours.

Jesus loved us so much that He was willing to give up His life for us. Through Him, we have meaning. Through Him, we have purpose. He counts us as brothers and sisters. The darkness no longer surrounds us, for the light of God lives in us through Jesus, who lives in us.

All other gods are chaff. Great is our God. His love endures forever. He crowned His son Jesus with all power and all glory to sit at His right hand and rule forever. Great is the name of Jesus, for salvation comes by no other name.

If God can create a small creature to thrive in the deepest ocean, if He can separate the light from the darkness so that we can see, and if He can say to the wind, “No further will you go,” then why should we fear? Fear not, for there is nothing God cannot do.

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

(Psalms 46:1-3)

In all that God has promised us, He will not allow us to suffer more than we can bear. His hand will guide us to safety. Whatever manner of trial comes upon us, God, and no one else, will provide our way of escape.

God gave His Son Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins. We do not have to bear the penalty ourselves. He did that for us. No other event in history is more important, more meaningful and more loving than for Jesus to have given Himself for us. We live because He died for us.

Should we fear those who might harm us? Should we feel weak when those who are strong threaten us? Should we lose faith if the earth were to collapse before us? Fear not! There is no one like Him. He is our refuge and strength.

A day will come when God will judge all the earth and give life to those who believed Christ Jesus is Lord. For some of us, He has already done so. He will cleanse our iniquities and remember sin no more; for He is God and His plan will not fail.

“And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

(Jeremiah 31:34)

Take comfort in God, for He is good. Repent and bear your sorrows to the One who created the heavens and the earth. Give heed to the Lord. He will give us life everlasting. He will not fail us. His patience is long and wide as the sea is from shore to shore.

All joy belongs to God, therefore come to Him you sad of heart. He waits on those who love Him. His joy will pour into them, and He will comfort the brokenhearted. No manner of sin is too great for the Lord, for His forgiveness lasts forever.

Love the Lord your God. Bless His holy name. Give all to Him who gives life. Doubt not His power or His Love. He will save those who believe. He will comfort those who love. His mercies are eternal. God will remember our sins no more.

God has blessed us with His Word. Through His Word, God has given us hope for a resurrection to life, reigning with Him in eternity. This world’s riches will wither away, but God’s riches in heaven will never wither away. We will inherit all things through Christ Jesus.

“Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

(Matthew 6:20-21)

We are dust and to dust we shall return. None of what we gain in this world can we take to the grave. Therefore, why strive for perishable items as the rich do, when the imperishable is what we ought to desire? God has provided a way of escape through His Son Jesus.

No manner of riches will save us from death. Likewise, wealth will not save the rich from the grave. Gaining the whole world will not spare us from God’s judgment. Yet, our salvation rests in God, who will raise us from the dead and reward us with everlasting life.

What manner of person shall we be, knowing that all things in this world will perish? We ought to love God and love others as we would ourselves. True wealth comes from things unseen. Be kind always. Be patient always, for our reward is in heaven.

Is anything too hard for the Lord our God? If we can give of ourselves fully to our neighbor, how much more has God given of Himself fully to us by sacrificing His Son Jesus for the remission of our sins?

“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.”

(Leviticus 19:17-18)

Jesus said that no greater love could someone have for another than to lay down one’s life for a friend. As God had done with Christ, so ought we to do for our neighbor. For there is no injury when we love; God makes all things work together for good.

How should we show our love toward our neighbor? We show them love by being patient and kind. We do not envy or boast. We are not arrogant or rude. We do not insist on our own way. We are not irritable or resentful. We do not rejoice in evil.

If we have God’s love living inside us then we will bear all things, believe all things, hope all things and endure all things, for love is ceaseless. In the same way that nothing is too hard for the Lord, we shall love our neighbor.