The Day Cometh

The Day Cometh

English church leader Richard Baxter wrote:

"Life is short, death is certain, judgment is final! Repent while the door of mercy is open!"

The prophet Malachi reminds us in Malachi 4:1–2 (KJV):

"For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall."

Jesus said in John 3:36:

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

This is a sober warning: eternal life belongs to those who believe in and obey the Son; apart from Christ, God’s righteous wrath remains. The remedy is not self-reform, but repentance and faith in Jesus Christ (Mark 1:15).

If you have not done so already, turn from your sin and come to Jesus Christ today. Trust in Him alone for forgiveness and eternal life, for He alone delivers sinners from the wrath to come (John 3:36; 1 Thessalonians 1:10).

And if you have had your sins washed away by the Lamb of God, then rejoice that your future is bright with your Savior.

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ

Romans 13:14 says:

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

And Galatians 3:27 says:

“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

As I think about those words, “put on the Lord Jesus Christ,” I picture getting spiritually dressed for the day.

But how do we put on Jesus?

First, we put our faith in Jesus alone and follow Him alone. We don't want to put on the values of this world, worldly philosophies, or false religion. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

As we seek Jesus in prayer and devote ourselves to His teachings in the New Testament, His character and His ways begin to shape how we live.

And we don't do this in our own strength. The Holy Spirit works in us, helping us become more like Jesus.

So, let's get spiritually dressed today. Let's seek Jesus in prayer and ask Him to help us live in a way that brings glory to His name.

Focus On Jesus

Focus On Jesus

Isaiah 26:3–4 (KJV)

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:"

As I thought about this Bible verse, I was reminded that keeping our minds focused on Jesus is our daily calling.

Whether we're waking up and having that first cup of coffee, heading off to work, or facing the challenges that come with each day, we can keep our minds focused on Jesus, trusting our God to provide and guide us as He sees fit.

And speaking of perfect peace, let's remember what it says in Philippians 4:6–7:

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

I believe that peace comes from trusting that we love and serve a sovereign God—the One who is, and who was, and who is to come; the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God who sent us Messiah Jesus.

Consider this: If God loved us so much that He sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to take the punishment for our sins, die, and rise from the dead, assuring believers of eternal life with Him in paradise, then we can trust Him with the details of today and with our entire lives.

May our hearts look heavenward and our minds be stayed on our Creator this day.

Our Wonderful Counselor

Our Wonderful Counselor

Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

A lot of us have had counselors at one time or another. In school, a guidance counselor is there for students. There are counselors at summer camp, licensed professional counselors for mental health, marriage and family counselors, substance abuse counselors, rehabilitation counselors, and the list goes on.

But think about this: believers in Jesus have the ultimate, best Counselor in the universe!

Jesus, our Counselor, speaks to us through His Word in the Bible, where we find counsel for all of life's challenges. He speaks to our hearts. He makes His presence known to us.

And our Counselor does something really neat. He is with us 24 hours a day. He never leaves us or forsakes us. Today, we can trust His guidance as we live as His followers.

Let's look to our Wonderful Counselor right now.