Category: Jesus Christ

Saved By Works

~ A Prayer Life ~ 4 Comments

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”

~ Matthew 5:17

I wonder if my title grabbed your attention? Bible-believing Christians know that we are saved by grace through faith, not by our works. Yet, the catch is, I’m not talking about our works – I’m speaking to the perfect work of the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s right. It is by believing in His works we are saved. I hope you understand beloved how important, how imperative, how essential it is we affirm, as followers of Christ, salvation by works. Again, not by our own worthless works, but by the perfect work of Jesus Christ in fulfilling the Law of God. That Christ did what we cannot do. He kept the high standard of God’s holy law, something Adam nor any of his descendants did or can do in our own strength. Jesus did not run from the Law of God. He did not try to minimize the Law. He did not try to plead ignorance to the Law. No. Jesus boldly embraced, obeyed and perfectly fulfilled the Law of God on the behalf of His people. Praise His name!

~ apl

To Join Together

~ A Prayer Life ~ 2 Comments

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”.

~ Romans 5:1

Conflict has become a part of mankind’s nature. Conflict is a result of man’s original fall from grace and that a state of peace and bliss into which he was created – only to fall into a condition of depravity, dejection and despair. Since the time when Cain slew Abel, mankind has suffered under the curse of this kind of conflict that is conceived and born from sin darkened hearts filled with lust, greed envy and all manner of sin and disobedience.

Yet, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. It is through faith, faith in Christ, who He is and what He has done that any one will ever have peace with God. It’s interesting the word Paul uses here in Romans 5:1 that we translate “peace” is the Greek noun “eirḗnē” which is derived from the Greek verb “eiro” which literally means “to join together”. As sin has separated us from God and caused His great displeasure to befall us, and separate us from God’s blessing and favor, so through Christ we can be joined together, we can be “eirḗnē” that is, at peace with our Maker once more.

~ apl

Spirit & Truth

~ A Prayer Life ~ Leave a comment

“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

~ John 4:24

Our Heavenly Father eagerly desires His people to come before Him to worship in spirit & truth. So how do we do that? I believe first of all, to worship God in spirit means to come to Him with the right attitude of heart. It refers to the “mind,” the “soul,” the “heart.” When we worship in spirit, we come before the Lord prepared in our heart & mind to meet the living God. We should with reverence, yet joyfully, offer our sacrifice of worship to our Maker.

We’re also to worship in spirit and in truth. This means we come not only with the right heart, but also according to truth – that is – according to the Word of God. Jesus says in John 17:17, “Thy Word is truth”. Likewise Jesus is the Incarnate Word (Jn 1:1). Jesus is the Way, the truth and the life and that no one comes to the Father but by Him. The true way of direct access to God is through Jesus Christ. This is to worship Him in spirit and truth.

~ apl

Don’t Settle In Egypt!

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“Now the Israelites settled in Egypt…”

~ Genesis 47:27

If Israel is representative of God’s people, certainly Egypt represents bondage, suffering and sin. For 400 years God’s people languished in Egypt under the heavy hand of Pharaoh’s rule. It was there God’s people began to worship evil idols and false gods. And it wasn’t until God sent His deliverer that His people were set free. May Christians today never settle in their sins. May we never grow comfortable in the chains of iniquity. But may we always look in faith to our freedom from sin in Jesus Christ, our hope and Deliverer.

~ apl

A Hereafter

~ A Prayer Life ~ 1 Comment

“For surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off.”

~ Proverbs 23:18

As sure as the Bible teaches there is a God, a Savior and a need for salvation, the Scriptures teach there is a hereafter. This present world is not all there is. There is another place, another time, which spans all eternity. Each person has an appointment with the hereafter. The Bible describes the hereafter as one of two places: heaven or hell, paradise or perdition, eternal joy or everlasting justice. Where will you be? For those trusting in Jesus Christ, your hope will not be cut off.

~ apl

The Bible, The Believer’s Ship

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The Bible could be likened to the Believer’s ship:

It’s cover is like the hull which contains the whole.

It’s binder then is like the mast which holds it upright and together.

It’s pages are like the sails which catch the Spirit’s blowing.

It’s words are like our rudder which guide us to peaceful seas.

It’s Author, our Compass who shows us the way.

It’s Christ, our Captain who steers us to glory.

~ apl

All or None!

~ A Prayer Life ~ 6 Comments

“It is either all of Christ or none of Christ! I believe we need to preach again a whole Christ to the world – a Christ who does not need our apologies, a Christ who will not be divided, a Christ who will either be Lord of all or will not be Lord at all!”

~ A.W. Tozer

“For I am determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

~ 1 Corinthians 2:2

Prayer Life Pause: Heavenly Father, help make Your Son, my Savior, my all in all. May nothing hinder my love, gratitude and devotion to Christ! In Jesus. name, amen.

Do Not Grow Weary

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“We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.”

~ Brother Lawrence

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

~ Galatians 6:9

Prayer Life Pause: Dear Jesus, may I seek out little ways each day to display my love and devotion to You. In Your name, amen.

Inasmuch As You Do

~ A Prayer Life ~ 2 Comments

“Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me”

~ Matthew 25:40b

Jesus teaches His followers a very valuable lesson in these few words taken from Matthew’s Gospel. His lesson is this: The love, mercy and compassion we show to the least of those in this world who belong to Him, His brethren, is as if we are doing it unto Jesus Himself. Our Lord so identifies with us, that we when we serve one another, it is as if we are personally serving Him. Do we look at our charity, compassion and care for our fellow saints in this light? Does the knowledge that loving and serving the Body of Christ is as if we are loving and serving Him increase your motivation to labor in His kingdom? My prayer is the least of these know Christ’s love because it is seen and felt through you. Amen.

~ apl

Give Him Thanks

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“Jesus has many who love his kingdom in heaven, but few who bear his cross. He has many who desire comfort, but few who desire suffering. He finds many to share his feast, but few his fasting. All desire to rejoice with him, but few are willing to suffer for his sake. Many follow Jesus to the breaking of bread, but few to the drinking of the cup of his passion. Many admire the miracles but few follow him to the humiliation of his cross. Many love Jesus as long as no hardship touches them… They who love Jesus for His own sake, and not for the sake of the comfort for themselves, bless Him in every trial and anguish of heart, no less than in the greatest joy. And were He never willing to bestow comfort on them, they would still always praise Him and give Him thanks.”

~ Thomas a’ Kempis