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Gaining entrance into heaven cannot be earned by our own efforts or goodness. We become part of God’s kingdom only when we recognize and admit that we are totally bankrupt spiritually, and that we are utterly dependent upon God’s mercy and grace to save us. Being poor in spirit is not a quality the world admires, but everyone who humbles themselves in this way and receives the forgiveness of the cross is blessed by God with the promise of eternal life.
At some point in life, every believer will go through seasons when they feel bruised and beaten down by trials. During those times, discouragement can cause our spiritual fire to dwindle and almost burn out. How wonderful to know that Christ has promised He will never break a bruised reed or snuff out a smoldering wick! He comes to the weakest of us with mercy and grace, gently lifts us up, and lovingly restores us to himself again.
We spend our entire lives trying to keep death at a distance, but still, death is coming for all of us. And death isn’t even the worst news, because after death comes the judgment! So what hope do we have in the face of such frightening events? When Jesus died on the cross and rose to life again, He conquered sin and death, and everyone who trusts in Him will be forgiven of their sins and given eternal life. They will then be able to face death and judgment without fear! Have you trusted in Christ to save you?
Prayer… Christians talk about it, preach about it and write books about it, but how much time do we actually spend praying? We have so many resources at our disposal that prayer has become a last resort. The early church prayed like their lives depended on it, and as a result, God moved in powerful ways! The church today has lots of activity, but very little power, and we will never have that power until we get back on our knees.
Whether we ever think about it or not, there is a fierce spiritual battle being waged against us, and if we do not fight this war with the tools God has given us, we will give in to temptation and become victims of Satan’s attacks. Our enemy is powerful, and we cannot possibly stand against him in our own strength. But although he is strong, our heavenly Father is stronger, and we must look to Him for protection and victory. So, are you winning or losing this battle?
There’s a lot of debt collecting taking place in the world, and not just the financial kind. When someone hurts us, we tend to hold that person in debt, convinced that they owe us something, and demanding that they pay us back for the wrong they’ve done. But Jesus says we must release others and forgive them, just as our heavenly Father has canceled our debt and forgiven us. So, are you a debt collector or a debt releaser?
When our refrigerators are stocked with food, our closets are full of clothes, and we receive a steady paycheck, it’s hard for us to believe that we are totally dependent on God to provide our daily needs. But the Bible reminds us that everything we have comes from Him. Remembering this is vital to maintaining a healthy dependence on Him and being content with what we have.
The next time you see a toddler throwing a tantrum because he doesn’t want to obey his parents, just remember that we all come into the world demanding our own way. None of us really want to submit to anyone else. We sometimes even try to get God to agree to our plans rather than surrendering to His plans. But when we can pray “Your will be done” and truly mean it, we will begin to discover God’s very best for our life.
We’ve all heard the phrase “Your kingdom come” since we were little kids, and it might mean nothing more to us than just words in a prayer. But it is much more than words. It is a life to be lived. How do people see and experience God’s Kingdom? They do so through us. When we live each day surrendered to the rule and reign of God as our King, others will be touched by His truth and love, and the kingdom will continue to expand.
How do you come to God in prayer? Do you see Him as a distant being who probably has little or no personal interest in you, or perhaps as a stern boss you are reluctant to approach? The opening line of the Lord’s Prayer teaches us the correct view we must have of God. He is our loving Father, but He is also the holy God of heaven, and in that, we find both the comfort and the confidence we need to pray.
Life is short and the world is filled with trouble as a result of man’s sin, and we all feel the impact of that. Is there somewhere we can turn to find true, lasting love and satisfaction that can actually make us rejoice and be glad regardless of what is going on around us? The world promises satisfaction, but it never lasts. Only the Bible has the answer. Have you found it yet?
The Bible tells us repeatedly that our lives are very short, and it urges us to live out our brief days wisely. In view of that reality, the looming question is, what are we doing to guarantee that our time on this earth will matter for all eternity? We begin this new year by looking at the extraordinary wisdom found in Psalm 90, and we learn how to count our days so that we can make sure our days will count.
