Walking With Jesus

Who Is Jesus? (Part 3)

“The Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord…” (Luke 2:11a NLT)

Let’s begin today where we left off yesterday. Jesus is our…

Proven Provider

Jesus can be trusted to provide everything you need, now and forever. He said in Matthew 6:33: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.” (NLT) Notice it says “He” will give you everything you need. Seeking Jesus is a life-long process that pays eternal dividends.

Narrow Way

Most people choose the wide path that leads to destruction and eternal separation from Jesus and His loving provision, not because they don’t want it or wouldn’t benefit from it, but because they’re too earthly focused. Because of our sin nature we want what we want when we want it. But that’s not how Jesus works. He’s willing to give us what’s best if we leave the decision to Him. “But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” (Matthew 7:14 NLT) Jesus IS the narrow way, but I can tell you, based on nearly 60 years of following Him, I literally have everything I could ever want, and more.

Way and Truth and Life

You may be thinking, “I’d love to find the narrow way of following Jesus, but I’m just not sure how to find Him.” His Spirit is ever-present, which means He can be everyplace at the same time. He promises that if we seek Him, we’ll find Him. Find a quiet place, void of distractions, and speak to Him. Ask Him to make Himself known to you. Tell Him you’re sorry for your sins and ask Him to forgive you and to come into your life. He IS the embodiment of Truth, and He alone is the source of eternal life. He doesn’t lie. You can trust Him.

Sacrificial Savior

Jesus is the perfect and sinless Lamb of God who takes away our sin when we ask Him. When He died on the Cross, He was taking our place. We deserved to die for our sin, and that’s exactly what happens to us if we don’t put our trust in Jesus. We suffer for all eternity trying to pay a sin debt we can never pay. He alone has paid our debt and can give us the faith we need to follow Him. Jesus doesn’t want you to be separated from Him, that’s why He died for you.

Innocent Intercessor

Because He was completely innocent when He was murdered on the Cross, God raised Him from the dead to verify the acceptance of His sacrifice on our behalf. For forty days after His resurrection, He walked the earth to verify that He was alive and had defeated hell, death and the grave, not only for Himself, but for all those who would put their trust in Him for their eternal life. And He now sits at the right hand of God interceding for us. He’s praying for you even as you’re reading these words. Hebrews 7:25b (NLT) says: “He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.“

There are many, many other attributes, and characteristics I could share, but let that suffice for now. Just know that regardless of where you are, in the world and in your life, Jesus loves you beyond what words can adequately express. He’s waiting with open arms to receive you. Open your heart to Jesus and invite Him to become Savior and Lord (guide and protector) of your life.

As long as you’re breathing you have hope. But one day, if you keep postponing your decision, it will be too late. In Romans 14:11, Paul reminds us: “For the Scriptures say, ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bend to Me, and every tongue confess and give praise to God.'” Then in verse 12: “Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.”

Now you have a choice to bow and confess. Then it will be too late.

It’s not the words of your mouth alone, but the desire of your heart to know Him and learn to love and serve Him that matters. May I close this post with this prayer for you:

Lord Jesus, eternal Savior and Friend, thank You for giving us another opportunity to come to You and willingly acknowledge our love and dependence upon You. If there is even one reader who needs to open their heart to You, please give them courage and boldness to say “YES” to You. In Your holy and perfect Name I pray. Amen.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Who Is Jesus? (Part 2)

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…” (Luke 4:18a NLT)

Every claim the Bible ever made about who Jesus is has been validated through His life, death, resurrection, and ascension. (See What Are the Odds – posted on 11-13-21)

Consider these attributes/characteristics of Jesus. He is …

Master Designer, Creator and Sustainer of all of life

The more carefully you look at your personality, your body, your mind, every detail of who you are at the core of your being, everything that’s good about you, these are the fingerprints of Jesus on your life. The Psalmist wrote: “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – how well I know it.” (Psalm 139:13-14 NLT) If you want to catch a glimpse of what being sustained by Jesus means, put your hand in front of you palm up. Then place something unbreakable (😊) in your open hand. Your hand is “sustaining” whatever you have in your hand. Now, pull your hand out from under whatever you’re holding and see what happens. That’s what would happen to you without Jesus’ hand sustaining you. Jesus is the Sustainer of all of life.

Giver of every good and perfect gift

We tend to be very quick to take credit for whatever good comes into our lives and blame God or someone else for what’s not so good. James 1:17 says: “Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God…” (NLT)

Our ever-present Friend

Jesus doesn’t walk out because we have a bad day or do something stupid. He’s not a fickle friend who abandons us when the going gets tough. He’s the friend who sticks closer than a brother; the One who will never leave you or forsake you. Hebrews 13:5 (NLT) says: “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

Our Unlimited Lover

No one will ever love you like Jesus loves you. How do I know that? When Jesus died for you, He paid the penalty for your sins, past, present and future (Pastor Vance at Hope Church is fond of saying: “When Jesus died for you, ALL of your sins were future.” 😊). By the shedding of His blood on your behalf, He bridged the gap between Heaven and earth to give you access to all that Heaven offers – now and forever. To understand this better click on this link and watch a brief video by Ron Hutchcraft https://hutchcraft.com/bridge-to-god Jesus said in John 15:13: “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (NLT) That’s exactly what He did for you and me on the Cross.

Our Forever Forgiver

Our earthly friends often forgive us on a conditional basis (i.e. “if” or “when”). When Jesus forgives you, He casts your sin into the sea of forgetfulness, never to be remembered against you again. If God could forget, He wouldn’t be perfect. He doesn’t forget, He chooses to not remember our sins. Big difference! No other friend can do that. Micah 7:19b says: “You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!” (NLT)

Our Fear Reliever

Fear can be crippling. When we let our fears control us, we live a debilitating existence. There are at least 365 references in the Bible telling us to not fear (one for each day 😊). There was a point in my life I thought I’d lost everything – my wife, custody of my kids, job, house, car, all gone. I was whining to God about losing everything and He said to me: “You haven’t lost everything because you haven’t lost Me, and I’m all you need!” That was the day I stopped being afraid. Jesus said: “And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid…” (Luke 12:7 NLT)

I’m going to stop here for today. I’ll share a few more tomorrow. Until you understand that what Jesus did, and even who He is, is all about His love and compassion for you, you’ll never recognize your need of Him to meet every need you’ll ever have.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Who Is Jesus? (Part 1)

“…the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.” John 151b (NLT)

Recently, my friend, Tim West, shared a true story about Elvis Presley. In Tim’s words: “Elvis used to frequent the Lil Thompson’s Steakhouse in Tennessee. He was good friends with the owner who would give him free food before he was famous. One night when he was at the height of his fame, the Steakhouse held the ultimate Elvis Presley impersonator contest. A large crowd arrived, including Elvis Presley himself. Elvis decided to take part and sat quietly at the back.

Elvis said confidently, ‘I’m going to mash this.’ Lil was worried the place would go crazy when everyone realized it was Elvis. There was no need. He sang ‘Love Me Tender’ to polite applause and came in third place in the contest!” Yes, you read it correctly! The judges failed to recognize the real Elvis.

As difficult as that may be for some to believe, from the time Jesus was born to our present day, billions of people have failed to recognize Jesus for the real “…Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.”

What does the Bible say about Jesus? What does Jesus say about Himself? You may doubt the integrity of the Bible, but ultimately you must come to terms with who Jesus is and what and who He claims to be. You can believe it or not, but you need to know the facts, because what you believe about Jesus will determine where you’ll spend eternity.

The opening words of the Gospel of John say: “in the beginning the Word (Jesus) already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him (Jesus), and nothing was created except through Him (Jesus). The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” (John 1:1-5 NLT) Verses 10-11 continue by saying: “He (Jesus) came into the very world He created, but the world didn’t recognize Him. He came to His own people (the Jews), and even they rejected Him.” But here is where the miracles can begin, in verse 12: “But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn – not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.”

What can we learn from these few verses about who Jesus is?

God, the pre-existent and eternal Spirit, poured Himself into human flesh, was born as the child of a virgin mother named Mary (see Luke 1:27) in Bethlehem and made His home on planet earth. Why would He do that? In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus answers that question when He said He “came to seek and to save those who are lost.” (Luke 19:10 NLT) (note that being lost was the subject of yesterday’s post) Even Jesus’ name has significance, as it means “The Lord saves” (see Matthew 1:21)

My conviction is, most people today who reject Jesus, do so because they have never read the Bible and, thus, have no foundation upon which to judge who He really is.

Tomorrow we’ll begin to dig a little deeper. I just don’t want anyone to come to a wrong conclusion without having more information upon which to base their decision.

Blessings, Ed 😊

What Does It Mean to Be Lost?

“…it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones perish.” (Matthew 18:14 NLT)

Have you ever been lost? A few weeks ago, my car got “lost.” I met a friend for lunch in a large shopping area to which I’d never been. I turned into the first parking garage I saw, parked, then hurried to our agreed upon location. After lunch I followed the signs back to the parking garage, but I couldn’t find my car. Turns out, I’d parked in the garage right next to the restaurant, but being unfamiliar with the complex, I’d walked all the way around to go to the restaurant that was next door to where I parked.

That experience caused me to think of a quote from a book I read many years ago. I don’t remember the exact quote, but it had reference to the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 and said something to the effect: “He walked around the whole world to find what he could only find in the very place he left.” What’s the implication? We sometimes get lost looking for things we can only find at “home.”

The difference between the sheep referenced in Matthew’s quote above, and the Prodigal Son is, one wandered away and couldn’t find his way home. The other left home with no intention of ever returning. Where do you find yourself today? Have you wandered away or are you running away?

Being lost can be confusing. At first, like me, you may not even realize you’re lost, or what you’re seeking is lost. Many people in the world today go through their daily routines never realizing what they’re missing; never understanding that in a spiritual sense, they are “lost,” without a clue as to what horrific consequences their lack of knowledge may hold. They don’t know what they don’t know.

Being “lost” in the Biblical sense, means living our lives separated from God. But the truth is, many may not even realize that they are “lost.” Billions of people across the world live their lives without regard to the spiritual laws that will one day hold every person who has ever lived, accountable. And the tragic thing to me is, they don’t even know. No one has ever made the effort to tell them. Or they’ve not listened to the ones who have tried.

People often believe their personal “goodness,” their religious beliefs, their ethical or moral convictions should be good enough to please whatever god they’re seeking to please. Perhaps a god of their own creation. Or worse, they don’t even care. Their search is for self-satisfaction, self-actualization, self-fulfillment. In their mind, “If there is a God, He certainly wants nothing to do with me.” The reality is nothing could be further from the truth. The God of Heaven, the God of the Bible, has a personal investment and interest in every person who has ever lived or ever will live. And He went to great lengths to prove it.

Jesus asked the Pharisees, the strictest sect of the Jewish religion, “How will you escape the judgment of hell?” (Matthew 23:33 NLT) What’s my point? The Pharisees were very strict in their adherence to the laws of their religion, just like many who cling to their respective religious convictions and codes of personal behavior today. The Pharisees believed by keeping the rules they would satisfy God.

The problem is, keeping rules or codes of conduct, without personally knowing, loving and being committed to the God of the Bible, is a death sentence. It’s to essentially say to God: “I don’t need the sacrifice Your Son Jesus made for me. I can earn my own place in Heaven.” But the Bible clearly says, “For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12-13 NLT)

Being lost means being separated from your only Source of hope, forgiveness, meaning, purpose, and an eternal life in Heaven with Him. That’s why it’s so vitally important to understand who Jesus is? We’ll begin to look at that tomorrow.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

“However, no one knows the day or hour…” (Matthew 24:36a NLT)

Edward Panosian said: “When a man knows he may breakfast on earth and take supper in heaven, temptations must lose much of their power.”

For a Jesus follower, that’s the reality with which we live, or should live, every day. Let’s think about that for a few moments. Why should it matter when our life ends or when Jesus returns, if we’re living for Jesus? I suppose it depends on how you define “living for Jesus.” The above quote implies something I believe is critical if we’re serious about our walk with Jesus.

If our focus is Jesus, temptations MUST lose their grip. But if our focus is on the things of this world or the sin that so easily drags us down and away from the Lord, then we’re going to have issues walking faithfully.

There’s a chorus to an old hymn written by Helen Lemmel that sums up the need of every believer, every day. As we open our eyes each morning, we should follow the directives of this chorus: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.”

I researched the origin of this hymn and learned the inspiration came from a young, aspiring artist who chose to go to Africa as a missionary, rather than pursue a career as an artist. Her name is Lilias Trotter. I will draw from her story, but if you want to read it for yourself, in its entirety, which I highly recommend you do, just click on this link: https://jenmiskov.com/blog/turnyoureyesuponjesus Jennifer A. Miskov is the author of the article and the person’s website to whom you’ll be directed when you click the link above. The quotes I’ll share today are from her story. If I could summarize what she wrote, to me it would be – TOTALLY FOCUSED ON JESUS!

Lilias Trotter – Click above link for source of photo

Lilias wrote: “And Satan knows well the power of concentration, if a soul is likely to get under the sway of the inspiration, ‘this one thing I do,’ he will turn all his energies to bring in side-interests that will shatter the gathering intensity.” Adrian Rogers wrote: “If Satan can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.” It matters little how much we talk about our love for Jesus, if it’s not reflected in how we order our lives, does it really matter?

If you were asked, “What is the single most important focal point of your life?” what would you say? When you wake up, what’s the first thing to which your mind is drawn? Is it your possessions? Family? Hobbies? Vacations? Church? What keeps you busy? And please understand, those are all valid and, on some levels, very good activities. But the question with which I’m wrestling in my own life is: “Who is at the center of those activities? Why am I doing them? Who am I seeking to please the most? Me, others, or Jesus? Who gets the honor if I attain the things I’m pursuing?”

Lilias wrote: “Turn full your soul’s vision to Jesus, and look and look at Him, and a strange dimness will come over all that is apart from Him, and the Divine “attrait” (attraction) by which God’s saints are made, even in this 20th century (she died in 1928), will lay hold of you. For ‘He is worthy’ to have all there is to be had in the heart that He has died to win.”

The verses to the song are: 1. O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There’s light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free! 2. Thro’ death into life everlasting, He passed, and we follow Him there; O’er us sin no more hath dominion–For more than conqu’rors we are! 3. His Word shall not fail you–He promised; Believe Him, and all will be well: Then go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell!

That’s what I want in my life. How about you?

Blessings, Ed 😊

What Does New Life in Christ Look Like?

“For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.” (Philippians 1:21 NLT)

The Apostle Paul’s words above challenge us, but no one can live a Christ-like life without Jesus. Being yoked (partnered) with Him and being filled with His Holy Spirit is the ONLY way anyone can begin to walk in the newness of life that Christ alone can give. We can’t live a righteous and holy life without being filled and enabled by God’s Spirit. What does that mean?

“Righteous” essentially means living in a manner pleasing to the Lord. “Holy” means “set apart for sacred use.” To live a holy and righteous life means to allow the Holy Spirit, who is the presence of Jesus living in our heart and mind, to give direction to our lives. How does He do that? A large part of that is through the Bible, His written instruction manual. Another part is through prayer, which is simply conversation with God. How do we learn about the Bible and prayer?

The first step is to make sure you’ve opened your life to Jesus. That you’ve been forgiven, and the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in your heart and life. The Psalmist David said: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” (Psalm 139:23-24 NLT)

Photo by u0418u0440u0438u043du0430 u0414u0435u043cu044cu044fu043du043eu0432u0441u043au0438u0445 on Pexels.com

Can you point to a time in your life when you invited Jesus to become your Savior and Lord? If not, you probably haven’t. In some respects, it’s like asking someone if they’re married. “Hmmm, let’s see. Umm, I’m not sure.” I can tell you the date I made a lifelong commitment to my wife. There’s no question in my mind that I’m married. I can also point to the Sunday night in April of 1963 when I knelt and gave my life to Jesus. I’ve failed Him, but He’s never failed me, and there’s never been a single moment when I’ve regretted that decision. So, make certain Jesus is Lord of your life.

Jesus loves sinners like you, and me. Open your life to Him today, right now. Why would you wait another second to be forgiven and given a new life? Click the link below and let Ron Hutchcraft walk you through a brief video message, so you’ll know exactly what to do and why. https://hutchcraft.com/the-bridge-to-god

Then, after you’re certain you’ve begun your walk with Jesus, the best and most effective way to move forward with Him is by finding another believer(s) to walk with you on your journey. It’s vital that you share with someone you can trust that you’ve opened your heart to Jesus and asked Him to come into your life. If you don’t know anyone, you can email me at walkingwithjesus09@gmail.com and I will do my best to guide you.

If you’re not familiar with the Bible, start reading in the book of John. That’s in the New Testament. Read through John, then go back to the beginning of the New Testament book of Matthew, then just read straight through to the end of the New Testament, including reading the Gospel of John again. Initially, set a goal of reading a minimum of one chapter a day. If you don’t have access to a physical Bible, google it and you will find many options online. The translation I suggest is either The Living Bible or The New Living Translation.

Read with a pen and paper nearby. When you see a word or idea you don’t understand, or something you read isn’t clear, write it down so you can ask a friend, who is also a Christ-follower, what it means. Also, write things down that DO make sense, that are speaking to you, that you don’t want to forget. Put a date on the notes, so you can look back from a later perspective and see how much you’re growing.

Then spend time every day, throughout your day, praying. What is prayer? It’s conversation with God. He speaks to us primarily through His Word, the Bible, but also through godly Pastors and friends who know Him. Then you speak to Him, similarly as you would speak with any other person you care about. We don’t have to use special language or be in a certain posture. You can talk with the Lord all through the day. I’m speaking with Him even as I’m typing these words. He will guide your thoughts and give you insights into how He wants you to invest the time He’s given you into His Kingdom. The longer you walk with Him, the easier it will become to discern His voice and follow Him ever more closely.

I’m never sure who is reading these articles, so if ever you have questions or concerns, please let me know. The safest way to contact me is to copy and paste the email address above or type it in.

Blessings, Ed 😊

What Jesus’ Death Means for You

“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:46b NLT)

The nails didn’t hold Jesus on the Cross. Love did!

Jesus experienced our Hell when He took upon Himself our sin, so you and I wouldn’t have to. He paid the penalty for the sin of every person who would ever voluntarily kneel before Him in humble submission, seeking His forgiveness and cleansing. It’s not just about “receiving Christ into your life,” it’s about finally understanding that without Jesus we have no life. He BECOMES our life.

By His Spirit, upon our invitation (John 1:12) Jesus takes up residence in our heart and life. Similarly, as a pilot of an aircraft “controls” the plane, Jesus takes command of our life and walks in our shoes, giving us instruction and direction. A few days ago, we talked about what it might look like to be yoked with Jesus.

When I was first in ministry, I met an elderly woman who told me every Sunday she had the same conversation with her body. She said: “When I wake up, I tell my body, ‘It’s time to get up and get ready for church.’ To which my body responds, ‘You’re going to have to go without me, ‘cause I’m staying in bed.’ She said they’d go back and forth for a while, then she’d say: ‘Look, body, I’m going to church and you’re the only way I have to get there. So, get up and get movin’!’”

In my mind’s eye, I can see a similar conversation between our spirit and God’s Spirit as He’s seeking to give us instruction from day to day. What we fail to understand is, Jesus’ death on the Cross purchased on our behalf a place with Him in Heaven, that even if we had all of eternity, we could never find any other way for ourselves.

Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:18-19 (NLT): “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom He paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” The word that Peter uses that’s translated “precious” literally means “priceless.” It means of incalculable worth; you can’t set a value on it.

Because of the Cross, you can be redeemed (bought back) from the death grip satan has on you. You’re invited to become a new person (2 Corinthians 5:17) in Christ Jesus. The word Paul uses to describe what happens to us when we’re born again of the Spirit, is the word from which comes our English word “metamorphosis,” and it paints the picture of the process of a potentially beautiful butterfly, breaking out of the cocoon. It means “a brand-new species of being, one that has never existed before.”

In light of what Jesus did for us on the Cross, we can’t live in both worlds, the world of sin and death and the world of forgiveness and new life. We must decide: “Am I going to live for Jesus and walk in newness of life?” or “Am I going to ignore what Jesus did for me and keep living the same old life I’ve been living?”

Peter wrote: “So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk, so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.”

We’ll dig a little deeper into this tomorrow.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Jesus, Friend of Sinners

“…a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!” (Matthew 11:19b)

In the Bible, the word we translate in our English Bibles as “sin,” literally means “to miss the mark.” If you’ve ever played darts, or you go to the shooting range, you know there is a large, often, round target with a series of smaller circles within the larger circle, the center, smallest circle, being the most valuable if you’re able to hit it.

Sin refers to “missing the mark” of Christ’s perfection and is God’s “standard” for goodness. That’s why trying to earn God’s favor by being “good enough,” is a losing battle. In Romans 3 the Apostle Paul writes: “No one is righteous – not even one.” And he goes on to say that every human being who has ever lived or ever will live, except Jesus, lives under the power of sin. Everyone is a sinner, because no one can live up to the standard of perfection that Jesus lived.

“Used by permission, © Ray Majoran, GlimpseOfInfinity.com”

However, in the period of Jesus’ life on earth, “sinners” were, as Strong’s Concordance defines the word, someone who was: “devoted to sin; pre-eminently sinful, especially wicked. Specifically of men stained with certain vices or crimes.” And the Concordance used for examples: “tax collectors, heathen.” Today we might include murderers, rapists, child molesters, etc. as “sinners.” But the fact remains, EVERYONE who has ever lived was born with a natural inclination to sin. It’s our nature, it’s what we, as human beings, do.

Why am I going into such detail? Because the religious leaders of Jesus’ day “labeled” Jesus as a friend of “sinners.” Not just anyone who sins, but those who have defined themselves by their sinful behavior. The Pharisees, who were the strictest sect of the Jewish faith, asked Jesus’ disciples: “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” (Matthew 9:11b NLT) Who were they talking about? Me! And you!

“Wait a minute! I’m a decent human being! I’ve never murdered anyone. I pay my taxes. I love my children. I resent being referred to as ‘scum.’ I’m actually quite a good person!” Yeh, I get it. That’s how I felt too, until I met Jesus.

Compared to Jesus, we’re all “notorious sinners.” Sin is sin. Here’s the point – Regardless of how far we’ve strayed. Irrespective of the “degree” of sin into which we’ve delved, from the least to the most horrific of sinners, Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sin, so we, too, could be called His “friend.” How could that even be possible?

From the Cross, when darkness fell across the whole land, Jesus cried out with a loud voice: “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” It’s easy for us to read that verse and assume that Jesus was complaining to God, asking Him to “Explain Yourself! Why are you making me suffer like this?” But to think that is to miss the point. Jesus needed no explanation. He knew before He made the choice to leave Heaven EXACTLY why He was coming to earth. He knew what it would entail – every horrifying, agonizing, torturous second.

That’s why Jesus was in such agony of Spirit while praying in the Garden before He was arrested. He wasn’t asking His Father for an explanation. Jesus was asking Him to make it clear to all who would witness or later learn of His execution, then, and for as long as time would allow, what His sacrifice means to others. YOU and ME, and every other sinner who would ever be born on this planet. So, what did Jesus’ sacrificial death on the Cross mean?

Volumes have been written to explain in infinite detail, but let me give you the proverbial “Cliff Notes.” We’ll pick it up here tomorrow 😊.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Would You Die for a Lie?

“If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it.” (Matthew 16:25a NLT)

A popular church marquis asked a sobering question: “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

One of the strongest arguments to me, that Jesus’ words recorded in the Bible are true, is the fate of His original Disciples. The Bible itself reveals the deaths of only two of the original twelve – James, John’s brother, who died by the sword (see Acts 12:1-2) and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus and hung himself (Matthew 27:5). All the others, except John, who died of natural causes, were murdered for their faith.

If you professed belief in a cause and were threatened to be killed if you didn’t recant, what would you do? I realize that’s a tricky question on some levels, but if you knew for a fact that the whole story behind what you believed was a lie, would you die to protect it? I can tell you what I’d do. You could color me gone! No way would I die to protect a lie.

I will concede that there, no doubt, have been people throughout history who have been brainwashed and under the delusion that something was true, that in fact wasn’t, have died for a lie. But I cannot believe that ten men who walked with Jesus and lived with Him for three years, would willingly lay down their lives if they had a shred of doubt that Jesus was anyone except God’s Son, their Savior.

Matthew 16:24-25 (NLT) says: “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it…’” In light of Jesus’ words, consider the fate of the remaining ten disciples:

christian-man-reading-bible-prayer-hands

Peter – was crucified upside down because he didn’t feel worthy to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord
Andrew – was crucified with ropes, not nails, so he hung alive for two days, continuing to preach Jesus to those who passed by
John – the only one of Jesus’ original disciples to die of natural causes. He was exiled to the Isle of Patmos, where he wrote the Revelation. Some accounts say he was released after many years and continued to preach until his death at age 100
Bartholomew (Nathaniel) – some accounts say he was skinned alive, then beheaded; others say he was whipped until the flesh was torn from his body, then beheaded
Philip – crucified
Thomas – stabbed with a spear
Matthew (tax collector) – impaled to the earth with spears, then beheaded
James (not John’s brother) – murdered then his body was sawed in pieces
Jude (not to be confused with Judas Iscariot) – crucified and shot with arrows
Simon (not Peter) – crucified

*The source of much of this information was https://www.csmedia1.com/thexenaproject.org/week-01-how-the-disciples-died.pdf It also includes the deaths of some of the other New Testament writers.

Do you understand, the criteria for following Jesus haven’t changed? The words of Jesus to His original twelve are still the words He speaks to you and me. Will following Jesus cost us our lives? Yes, it will! In life or in death, Jesus demands all of us, all the time.

There are more people dying for their faith in Jesus today than any other time in history, and the truth is, it’s likely going to get a whole lot worse for believers in Jesus, before it gets better. Whether I live or die is immaterial, I belong to Jesus. I almost wrote: “’til death do us part,” but even death can’t separate me from my Savior. Can I hear a HALLELUJAH!

The only thing that can keep you from Jesus is unbelief. That, in a nutshell, is the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit – failure to believe He has the power to deliver you from your sin, so you never ask.

Please open your mind and heart to Jesus today. Don’t believe the lies of satan that Jesus isn’t the Savior, the Only way to heaven. Trust Jesus today. Time is literally running out.

Blessings, Ed 😊

It Gets Better As We Go

“For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:30 NLT)

Realizing the articles I’ve posted the last few days have been a little heavy, let me shift my focus to something that will, hopefully, lighten your load as a believer. As I’ve shared with you before, I’ve walked with the Lord for a long time, but I’m finding in my later years, there’s a sweetness in my communion with God that is peaceful, restful, and quite enjoyable.

There’s a sense in which the longer we walk with Jesus, the more child-like we should become. Now, notice I didn’t say “childish,” but “child-like.” What might that look like? When my daughter was small, she would sometimes get tired on our family walks. She would make her way around so she could be in front of me. She’d focus her beautiful eyes right into mine, and say: “Carry me, daddy.” Of course, I’d scoop her up and set her on my shoulders without hesitation.

She never gave me “20-questions” about – Are you strong enough to lift me? Are you going to stumble and drop me? Do you really exist? Etc. She fully trusted me to do what she asked me to do, without fear of any kind. Why would she do that? Because I was her daddy, and she knew I loved her and wouldn’t intentionally hurt her in any way. I hated it when my kids were in pain (still do ☹) and would do anything in my power to help them feel better.

That’s essentially the attitude behind Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT): “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

If you’re weary or burdened, please pay special attention to what Jesus is inviting you to do. Notice, first, He says: “Come to Me, ALL of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens,” Aren’t you glad Jesus has no favorites! Jesus loves each of us equally, as though we were the only one on the planet for Him to love. Jesus alone knows the depths of your weariness, sorrows, pains. He alone has exactly the kind of rest and relief you need for exactly what you’re feeling and experiencing.

Next, notice He invites you to “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Yokes in Jesus’ day were specifically fitted for the two animals who would be wearing it. If you’ve ever looked carefully at a yoke, each side of it is designed with the specific ox or animal by whom it would be worn. God’s heart can “see” your heart and knows how tiring what you’re going through has been. He has a “yoke” specifically fitted for you that, when you’re partnered with Jesus, will fit you perfectly and will allow you to be restored.

Jesus wants to teach you how to relax and let Him pull the weight of your burden. That’s why He said: “For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” If you’ve ever been in a three-legged race, when one of your legs is tied to the leg of the person with whom you’re partnered, the harder you “fight” your partner, the more likely it will be that you’ll fall. But when you’re walking in sync with your partner, it’s not hard at all, it’s quite fun.

Being yoked with Jesus is liberating, rather than restrictive; it’s enjoyable, rather than being a burden; it’s instructive, rather than demanding, because the One who knows you best, and loves you most, wants to see you thrive in this difficult season you’re experiencing, not simply survive.

In this final season of my life, I have “burdens.” I’ve lost a significant amount of hearing in my left ear. I have a very good memory, it’s just not very long 😊. My get up and go seems to have gotten up and gone. I’m having increased difficulty driving at night, due to the brightness of the lights of oncoming cars. But my spirit, being yoked with my Savior and Friend, the Lord Jesus Christ, is light, free, and unencumbered. I’m able to sense the Lord’s presence nearly every moment of my day, feeling His strong arms undergirding me and often carrying me. I’m learning in this season that my life is actually getting better and better.

Whatever your burden today, bring it to Jesus. He loves you! He’s for you! He sees you and He’s inviting you to be “yoked” (partnered) with Him, in order that you might enjoy life in ways you never imagined possible. He’s done all the “work,” you just need to come to Him and let Him give you the soul rest you’ve been trying to find in all the wrong places.

Blessings, Ed 😊