Stay Faithful To God

5 All who are victorious (who overcome/conquerors) will be clothed in white. I (Jesus) will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before My Father and His angels that they are Mine.  Revelation 3:5 (NLT).

One of the main themes of the Holy Bible is God’s call to persevere and remain faithful to Him because He is faithful (see e.g., Isaiah 49:7; Psalm 36:5; 1 Corinthians 1:9). God never promised that life would be easy. However, God promised to be with us and never leave us (Isaiah 43:2-4; Hebrews 13:5-6). God through His Holy Spirit gives faithful believers the help, power, and strength to overcome any obstacle they may face (Psalm 118:5-9).

As a reward for their faithfulness, the names of all faithful believers of God (God the Father, God the Son-Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit) are listed in the Book of Life. This Book represents God's record of those who have humbly remained faithful, dependent, and obedient to Him, despite the many ups and downs of this life.  All faithful believers of God are guaranteed a listing in the Book of Life (see also Luke 10:20; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 20:12, 15). Even more, God promises faithful believers a new clothing (“clothed in white”) as a sign of their victory, loyalty, and purity with God.

Just A Dab Will Do!

20 Jesus answered, “Because your faith is too small (little). I tell you the truth, if your faith is as big as a (small, tiny) mustard seed (kernel, poppy seed), you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. All things will be possible for you.”

Matthew 17:20 (NCV).

God wants us to trust in Him!  Even a small dab of faith in God can move mountains and accomplish great things (Habakkuk 2:4; Matthew 21:21). God is all-powerful, and He can overcome any challenge we face. Even more, we must never put faith in human strength and human effort, but in God’s power alone.  So, if you are facing a mountain that seems so big and un-moveable, turn your heart to God and trust in Him to move your mountain!

5 This is what the Lord says: “A curse is placed on those who trust other people, who depend on humans for strength, who have stopped trusting the Lord. 6 They are like a bush in a desert that grows in a land where no one lives, a hot and dry land with bad soil. They don’t know about the good things God can give. 7 But the person who trusts in the Lord will be blessed. The Lord will show him that He can be trusted. 8 He will be strong, like a tree planted near water that sends its roots by a stream. It is not afraid when the days are hot; its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year when no rain comes; it always produces fruit.” Jeremiah 17:5-8 (NCV).

Reference:
 The New Student Bible. Zondervan Publishing Company, 1992.
 Life Application Study Bible. Tyndale House Publishers, 2005.
 Our Daily Bread. RBC Ministries 2012.

Obey God

Moses:  5 Look, I have taught you the laws and rules the Lord my God commanded me. Now you can obey the laws in the land you are entering, in the land you will take. 6 Obey these laws carefully, in order to show the other nations that you have wisdom and understanding. When they hear about these laws, they will say, “This great nation of Israel is wise and understanding.” 7 No other nation is as great as we are. Their gods do not come near them, but the Lord our God comes near when we pray (call) to Him. 8 And no other nation has such good teachings and commands as those I am giving to you today. Deuteronomy 4:5-8 (NCV).

As the people of Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land, Moses reminded the people of the importance of trusting, loving, and obeying God's laws (e.g., Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Deuteronomy 8:1-20; Deuteronomy 10:12-13). However, many people today question if these Old Testament laws still applies to followers of Jesus Christ (also called Christians).

God gave Israel these laws to guide and direct the people toward healthy, happy, and devoted lives to Him. Moreover, God gave these laws to Israel so they would serve as an example or witness to the surrounding nations of God’s righteousness, mercy, compassion, wisdom, and understanding (see also Psalms 145:8-9; Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 9:10; Proverbs 15:33). Similarly, Jesus Christ teaches His followers to be the light to the world of God’s righteous and wisdom (see Matthews 5:14–16).

The Ten Commandments are the heart of the Old Testament laws and they still apply to Christians today (Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21; Matthew 19:16-19). These Commandments form a central core of ethics and goodness. The phrase “Judeo-Christian ethics,” often spoken in U.S. courtrooms and Congress, refer to the principles taken from the Ten Commandments.  Like Moses, Jesus commanded that we must allow these Commandments to penetrate our hearts and inner being for a balanced, fulfilled, and joyous life (see Matthew 22:34-40).

Reference:
The New Student Bible. Zondervan Publishing Company, 1992.
Life Application Study Bible. Tyndale House Publishers, 2005.

Life’s Questions

Life is filled with questions. Troubled by what he saw in the world, the Prophet Habakkuk was a man who sought answers from God. Habakkuk saw a dying, hurting, and unjust world, and it broke his heart (Habakkuk 1:2-4). At the time, violence and injustice described Judah from the evil reign of King Manasseh (697–642 BC) to the fall of Jerusalem (586 BC). So, Habakkuk took his questions directly to God, in prayer.

Then God spoke to Habakkuk, telling the prophet to write His answer plainly so that the people would see and understand. God revealed to Habakkuk a vision of His glory (Habakkuk 2:14) that brought the prophet to solid faith (Habakkuk 2:4) and joyful praise (Habakkuk 3:16-19). God told Habakkuk that evil and injustice will not win, but eventually evil doers will be judged, and God’s goodness, power, and love will triumph.

Like the Prophet Habakkuk, we can also bring our questions and complaints to God. God wants us to come to Him with our struggles, problems, and doubts, as well as our joys, praises, and love. God is real and working in this world. Even more, God wants a personal relationship with us. We can trust God!

The teachings of Habakkuk gives everyone sound reasons to exercise faith and commitment to the supreme, holy, and just God (God the Father, God the Son – Jesus Christ, God the Spirit). Habakkuk 2:2-20 reminds us that the living God is not an absentee god. God is living, breathing and in control (Psalm 47:9; Acts 17:24-28; Colossians 1:15-20). On the surface, God’s power is not always visible, but God controls every situation and circumstance. Even more, God will ultimately bring justice to His world (see Habakkuk 2:2-3, 14). Judgment may not come quickly, but God’s judgment of evil and sin will come. God is still in control of this world and He will not overlook sin.

So let us all seek God’s high standards of faith and morality (e.g., see Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:1-21; Psalm 15; Amos 5:4; Habakkuk 1:12; Micah 6:8; Habakkuk 2:4). Those who love, trust, and obey God will find joy and happiness in Him (Habakkuk 3:18; Philippians 4:4) and live victoriously under any circumstances (Habakkuk 2:20; Habakkuk 3:16-19). The book Habakkuk begins with a complaint, but ends with one of the most beautiful songs in the Bible.

I'm singing joyful praise to God. I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God. Counting on God's Rule to prevail, I take heart and gain strength. I run like a deer. I feel like I'm king of the mountain! Habakkuk 3:18-19 (The Message Bible).

The Story of Jonah: God Saves!

1 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish: 2 "In my great trouble I cried to the Lord and He answered me; from the depths of death I called, and Lord, You heard me! . . . 7 "When I had lost all hope, I turned my thoughts once more to the Lord. And my earnest prayer went to you in Your holy Temple. . . . 9 "I will never worship anyone but You! For how can I thank you enough for all You have done? I will surely fulfill my promises. For my deliverance (salvation, victory, real help) comes from the Lord alone." 10 And the Lord ordered the fish to spit up Jonah on the beach, and it did. Jonah 2:1-2, 7, 8-10 (The Living Bible), see also Psalm 3:8; Isaiah 12:2; Revelation 7:10.

God told the Prophet Jonah to take the message of His love, grace, and forgiveness to some sinful people, the Assyrians, and give the Assyrians an opportunity to repent. The Assyrians were a great but evil and cruel nation and Israel’s enemies (Jonah 1:1-2).  However, when Jonah heard God tell him to go tell the Assyrians to turn from their sins and worship God (repentance), Jonah disobeyed God and went in the opposite direction (Jonah 1:3). Eventually, Jonah’s disobedience led him into the stomach of a great fish – buried alive (Jonah 1:17; see also Hebrews 12:6). But inside the depths of sadness, Jonah came to his sense and called upon God for help. Even from inside the fish, God heard Jonah's prayer (Jonah 2).

Like Jonah, we can call-out to God for help from anyplace, anywhere, and anytime and God will hear us (Psalm 139:7-12; Jeremiah 23:23-24). No sin or disobedience can separate us from God’s rescue, if we genuinely turn away from sin and turn to Him for help (see also Luke 15:11-24). Calling out to God in prayer is God’s life line to His people. William Law said, "He who has learned to pray, has learned the greatest secret of a holy and happy life."

The story of Jonah reveals that God’s love and compassion is for ALL people – Jews and non-Jews, religious and non-religious, saint and sinner.  The living God is willing to help and save anyone who will repent, turn from their sins, and call upon Him in genuine trust and belief. So, commit daily and fully to God with all your heart, mind, and soul. A wholehearted commitment, allegiance and devotion to God create in you a solid foundation of God’s full and never ending mercy, grace, and love.

 Reference: 
Life Application Study Bible. Tyndale House Publishers, 2005.
NLT Study Bible. Tyndale House Publishers, 2008.
Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary.  Victor Books, 1989.

Jesus’ Longest Prayer

1 After Jesus said these things, He (Jesus) looked toward heaven and prayed, “Father, the time has come. Give glory to Your Son so that the Son can give glory to You. 2 You gave the Son power (authority) over all people so that the Son could give eternal life to all those You gave Him. 3 And this is eternal life: that people know You, the only true God, and that they know Jesus Christ, the One You sent. 4 Having finished the work You gave Me to do, I brought You glory on earth. 5 And now, Father, give Me glory with You; give Me the glory I had with You before the world was made. John 17:1-5 (NCV).

John 17 records Jesus' longest prayer. This prayer is the true “Lord’s Prayer” and is often called “the High Priestly Prayer of Christ” or “the Lord’s High Priestly Prayer” (in contrast to the “Model Prayer” of Matthew 6:9–13; Luke 11:2–4). In many aspects, this prayer it is a model prayer for all Christians. First, Jesus’ eyes looked toward heaven and prayed to God the Father for His help and need. Lifting one’s eyes to God was a common practice when one prayed in the Holy Scriptures. Also, Jesus prayed for others by praying for His followers (John 17:6-19), including those of us who follow Him in the future (unborn believers) (John 17:20-26). However, Jesus began His prayer by praying for Himself (John 17:1-5), but in praying for Himself, Jesus was also praying for us, our holiness, and our unity. Dr. R.A. Torrey wrote, "A prayer for self is not by any means necessarily a selfish prayer." Jesus’ prayer focused on giving glory and honor to God and help for His followers. Like Jesus, our daily lives and efforts must focus on bring glory, love, and honor to God first and foremost to the watching world (Deuteronomy 4:6; Matthew 6:9). In essences, this prayer reveals Jesus’ spiritual priorities: (1) glorifying and honoring God the Father, (2) the holiness, sanctity and unity of the church, and (3) the winning of a lost and hurting world. This should be every Christians’ priorities too in life!

Reference: 
King James Version Study Bible. Thomas Nelson, 1988.
Spirit Filled Life Study Bible. Thomas Nelson, 1991.
Life Application Study Bible. Tyndale House Publishers, 2005.
NLT Study Bible. Tyndale House Publishers, 2008.
Believer's Study Bible. Thomas Nelson, 1995.
KJV Bible Commentary. Thomas Nelson, 1994.
Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary.  Victor Books, 1989.

Return Your Heart To God!

22 “My wayward children,” says the Lord, “come back to Me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.” Jeremiah 3:22 (NLT).

 

1 “O Israel,” says the Lord, “if you wanted to return to Me, you could. You could throw away your detestable idols and stray away no more. 2 Then when you swear by My Name, saying, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’ you could do so with truth, justice, and righteousness. Then you would be a blessing to the nations of the world, and all people would come and praise My Name.” 3 This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: “Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Do not waste your good seed among thorns. 4 O people of Judah and Jerusalem, surrender your pride and power. Change your hearts before the Lord, or My anger will burn like an unquenchable fire because of all your sins. … 14 O Jerusalem, cleanse your heart that you may be saved. How long will you harbor your evil thoughts? Jeremiah 4:1-4, 14 (NLT).

 

God sent the Prophet Jeremiah to tell the people to turn their hearts back to God and stop seeking evil. Their hearts had become hardened and cynical to God's will. The Prophet Jeremiah instructed the people to turn from sin so the good seeds of God's Holy Word could take root and grow in their lives. However, the people continued to worship their idols (e.g., wealth, competition, position, sexual pleasure, and possessions) in secret. So, God announced through the Prophet Jeremiah that if the people continued in sin, He would bring disaster on their land (see 2 Chronicles 36). This punishment would continue until the people turn from their sin and turn their whole hearts to God.

God is true and faithful, and He wants His people to be true and faithful to Him. Even more, God is kind, merciful, and true. In His mercy, God is always willing to welcome you back with open arms (Luke 15). However, God wants you to confess and turn away from every sin and turn your whole heart to Him. So, do not let sin enter your hearts. Instead, find the lasting joy, peace, and love found in God!