Category: Thoughts and Meditations

“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 10:32-33

There isn’t much that needs to be said about this very stark warning from Jesus!!! Many signs indicate that we’re entering a time in history in which being a Christian who seeks to obey all Jesus commanded (especially making disciples) and practice the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints will become increasingly unpopular, uncomfortable, and indeed costly (at least socially). Too bad!

While we can lament the times in which God has placed us, that’s ultimately pointless. We must stand firmly in our faith and be bold in professing Christ, seeking to live like Christ, and working to love people like Christ. We must not hide our Lord and Savior, we must share our hope in Him. We must not compromise our faith, we must explain the beauty of it. A faith that we will not acknowledge before other people is not a faith that will save us from our sin.

“But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore;” – Matthew 10:30-31a

While hair numbering is admittedly an easier task for some heads than others, what a remarkable statement this is about God’s comprehensive knowledge, attention, and care for each of us! Jesus tells us that God knows us so well that He literally knows how many hairs are on our head. God cares so deeply about us that He knows and understands every detail, challenge, and struggle in our life.

As a result of this, Jesus says we shouldn’t fear. Period. We shouldn’t fear that God doesn’t understand, doesn’t know, or doesn’t care. He absolutely does. We shouldn’t fear that God isn’t present or listening when we cry out to Him. He absolutely is. We shouldn’t fear that we’re alone in our suffering or our service to Him. We absolutely aren’t.

Likewise, when we pray, there’s no need to pretend we’re OK when we aren’t. We can and should be honest in expressing our needs, praises, and sorrows. Because God already knows and invites us to speak honestly with Him. There’s nothing we can’t raise up to Him in prayer, because He already knows, cares, and wants to bring things together for our good. Fear not!

“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?”
– Psalm 8:3-4

What a glorious truth that the Creator of the universe, Who spoke all things into existence deeply cares about you personally! Almighty, all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever-present, God cares about the triumphs and tragedies of mankind and of each individual person!

This is nearly unimaginable. As humans it might seem impossible that a God Who must hold the universe together also has time and interest to hear our prayers, bear our anxieties and fears, and comfort us in our tears. Nonetheless, He does!

God loves and cares for us more deeply than we can possibly understand. God sent His Son into the world to die for our sins, to redeem and reconcile us to Him by grace through faith. He makes clear that through the death and resurrection of our Savior, we now have a Lord Who understands our suffering better than we do ourselves. Because of Christ, God welcomes us into His throne room, inviting us to boldly approach His throne in prayer, casting our anxieties, fears, prayers, and praises upon Him, as He listens with caring and concern. The Almighty God of the Universe hears and answers our prayers!

At a time when so many things seem to be spinning out of control, be comforted that it’s all under the meticulous and mindful care of our loving Father in Heaven!

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.” – Matthew 7:15-17

Jesus warned us! We’re currently in an era where many are claiming to be receiving prophetic words or visions and publishing or proclaiming them from platforms in the name of Jesus. As followers of Jesus, we must ALWAYS be discerning about the teaching, preaching, and messages we consume from those claiming to be Christian leaders, pastors, preachers, prophets, or experts.

God will never contradict Himself or His nature. Any Christian teaching or claim, no matter how amazing it sounds needs to first be evaluated against Scripture. If the message isn’t consistent with God’s Word or His revealed nature, will, and plan for the world, that prophecy is false and so is that prophet.

Second, if a prophet, preacher, or teacher’s lifestyle, character, or behavior is inconsistent with that of Jesus, then he or she is a false prophet, teacher, or preacher. Even if he or she was once an excellent teacher, if we don’t presently see the increasing fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) we must be extremely cautious. If we see qualities of behavior, fruit of character, or fruit of ministry that are inconsistent with the teaching, preaching, and example of our Lord Jesus Christ, we must reject that messenger.

Christian, the Bible devotes enormous amounts of space toward the danger of false teachers, preachers, and prophets. We have always needed to be discerning, but here in these troubled times, we must redouble our guard and filter every word against God’s Word, God’s nature, God’s will, and God’s Son!

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:43-45a

Christians, by the power of the Holy Spirit in us, we must deprogram every natural instinct and all our cultural training and instead learn to love and pray for our enemies and those opposed to Christ, to the church, and to us. When persecuted or humiliated, our answer can’t be thoughts of revenge. When slandered, our response can’t be more lies. Our actions, words, and even our innermost thoughts need to be Christ-like, not human.

This is unbelievably important. Note well those last few words, that we must love our enemies and pray for them, “so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.” Do you understand the profound significance of what Jesus is saying here???

To be a son of God is to be saved. If we aren’t being conformed and transformed into the likeness of Jesus Who absolutely loved and prayed for His enemies, then it means we aren’t saved. Loving and praying for our enemies won’t save us, but if we’re saved, we should be growing in our capacity to love our enemies. Period.

Take time to reflect on your own heart. Do you truly love your enemies? Do you faithfully pray for your them? Are you harboring deep anger, bitterness, rage, contempt, or hatred for others? If you are, you need to confess that to God and then battle every day to kill those sinful feelings. Refusing to fight this battle indicates a deep soul sickness that must be dealt with before it’s too late.