God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. —John 3:16
The Washington Post newspaper published an article under the title “Death Challenge: The Latest Project of the Tech Titans.” In it, journalist Ariana Cha talks about the great attempts of Peter Tlie and other tycoons to increase the length of human life to infinity. They were ready to spend billions of dollars on this project.
But they were a little late. Death has long been defeated! Jesus said: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25-26).
However, it is necessary to clarify something: our bodies will die – and nothing will change that. But that part of our being that thinks, reasons, remembers, loves will never die. It is about the most important component of our nature – what we call “I”.
And now the most important thing: such a life is God’s gift! All that is needed to receive this gift is simply to accept the salvation that Jesus offers. Clive Lewis, thinking about this spiritual truth, compares the gift of salvation with “laughter in the dark”, that is, with something that is very easy to respond to. “It’s too simple,” someone will say. That’s right. God loved us very much before we were born and wants us to be with Him forever.
Dear Jesus, I believe that You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I want to accept You as my Lord and Savior – and follow You. Please forgive my sins and help me, starting from this moment, to live a life pleasing to You.
Christ replaced the black door of death with a shining gate of life.
Author: David Roper
Think back to a time when you were worried. How did you deal with it? Maybe you tried to distract yourself or maybe you let your mind run over your problems. It is natural to want to respond to our worries this way, but God shows us the best way to respond.
Shortly before Jesus went to the cross, He told His disciples that He was leaving them. Worried about life without Him, the disciples wanted answers. But instead of giving them the answer they hoped for, Jesus told His disciples to be in the world and not let their hearts be troubled.
Imagine how this must have disappointed His followers. They felt that Jesus was coming, but they tried to reconcile what He was saying with their ideas about the future.
They questioned His words because they could not understand them.
Likewise, we can quickly try to find solutions to our problems when we are worried. We can allow our understanding of current events to cloud our thinking and affect our conversations with God. But God’s purposes are beyond what we can see and understand.
Коли Ісус сказав учням бути в спокої і не хвилюватися, Ісус бачив за хрестом Його воскресіння, Його повернення на небеса і пришестя Божого Святого Духа.
Likewise, He sees beyond our situations.
Because we live in an imperfect world, we will face disappointments and difficulties, but because we serve a good God, He sees beyond the bad things we go through. He sees our future full of hope.
Jesus told His disciples to be still because He wanted them to trust Him. Likewise, God wants us to be at peace in any situation as we trust Him to work things out for our good and His glory.
So take some time today to think about some of the situations that cause you anxiety. Then take a moment to tell God that you trust Him in each of these circumstances. Imagine that you give Him every anxiety and allow Him to give you His peace in return.
We are busy people.
Між роботою та домом, сім’єю та друзями, насиченими розкладами та нескінченними завданнями виникає спокуса поспішати крізь наші дні, навіть не зупиняючись, щоб підняти очі.
But God, speaking through the psalmist, said:
“Enough of the struggle,” He says, “know that I am your God.” I am the conqueror of nations, then I am the Lord of the earth.”
Psalms 46:10
When was the last time you were intentionally still (not just when you were sleeping)? When was your body and mind still enough to recognize that God is God?
Contrary to the past, what will you choose today? You can close this app, check “Time with God” on your to-do list, and go about your business as usual. Or you can let the knowledge and truth of God bring peace to your troubled heart.
There is something about silence that makes us go beyond ourselves. There is something in silence that heightens our awareness and need for God.
It’s one thing to acknowledge God with our words, but it’s another thing to put Him above all the good, the bad, and the unattractive in our lives—to live in such a way as to honor and magnify Him.
The day will come when, whether we are ready or not, God will reveal Himself fully. The day will come when, whether we like it or not, every secret will be revealed. The day will come when, like it or not, He will be exalted above the nations and honored throughout the world.
But you don’t have to wait to worship Him. You don’t have to wait to call Him your God. You don’t have to wait to make Him Lord and King of your life.
You can rest easy right now and know that He is God.
Think of a situation you would like to change, and imagine what the apostle Paul must have been going through in 2 Corinthians 12.
Paul was suffering and therefore constantly begged God to relieve him of his pain. But God does not change Paul’s situation. Instead, God tells Paul that His grace is sufficient for him.
The ancient Greek word charis, which means grace, reflects the favor that God expressed to mankind when He sent Jesus to earth for us.
Before Jesus, people could not approach God on their own. But Jesus paved the way that allows each of us to experience closeness to God. A relationship with God cannot be earned, it is a free gift we receive when we accept that Jesus died for us and rose from the dead.
So when God tells Paul that His “grace is sufficient,” He is essentially saying, “I am sufficient for you.”
God could meet Paul’s need because God was the only thing Paul needed, and God was with him. Paul was influential only because God chose to demonstrate His power through him.
God said: “Out of darkness light shines.” It shone in our hearts to enrich us with the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, which shines in the person of Jesus Christ. But we, like clay jars, who hold this treasure, to show that this supreme power belongs to God, and not to us.
2 Corinthians 4:6-7
We are similar to “clay jugs” – simple and not so exceptional. But by submitting our lives to God, we become vessels that demonstrate His power.
Then, like Paul, we can boast of our own weakness, so that everything good that happens to us is due to God.
Our situation may remain the same, but our cry often changes from “God, please deliver me from this suffering!” to “God, when I suffer, show me how You use this suffering for Your glory and for my good!”
So no matter what you are going through, know that God is there. He sees you and loves you. Take time today to ask God to show you how He empowers you. Draw close to Him and let Him strengthen you.
No matter how much the world around us tries to push us toward self-reliance, God created us for each other. For the community. For life not alone.
The author of Proverbs said:
“A friend is always a friend, and a brother is born to share misfortune.”
Proverbs 17:17 UMT
We all face hard times—sometimes when we least expect it. But the sincere care of a friend can mean everything, the unconditional love of a brother or sister cannot be replaced, and the practical help of a neighbor is invaluable.
We need each other more than we realize: emotionally, practically, and spiritually.
If you’re going through a tough time, where you’ve inadvertently neglected your true friends or been too busy for your family, now is the time to change your priorities.
Якщо є невирішений конфлікт із другом або членом родини, і це повільно погіршує стосунки, зараз настав час відкинути свою гордість і вирішити все виправити.
If you are silently struggling alone, now is the time to let someone in. Call them, send a text or show up at their door. If you can’t be honest and sensitive, it will be difficult for you to get help.
Not only do you need people, but these people also need you.
You have strengths, abilities, talents, and personalities that are unique to you and beneficial to them, and vice versa. Why bury them in the ground in the name of autonomy when they can benefit others?
Sometimes we need to ask for help, and sometimes we need to help ourselves.
Do you need help or can you offer it? Could you help, or do you have extra time, money, advice or expertise?
If you are tempted to isolate yourself, don’t forget: we are meant to live together.
When we plant an apple tree seed, we expect the apple tree to grow. It is the seeds and roots that decide which tree grows in the soil.
Similarly, when we belong to God, we expect goodness and righteousness to increase in our lives. It is the fruit of our actions that tells us what kind of seed we have sown.
One way to determine God’s work in our lives is to observe the fruit we bear. The sign of a growing and godly life is a heart that wants to live and act according to God’s Word. Only one who has spent time with God will do such an action in his life.
John warns us to remember the fruits of our lives. When we truly belong to God and spend time with Him, our lives will naturally produce goodness and right existence.
The goal is not to be proud of how many good things we do, but instead to develop a heart that wants to selflessly do good to others in the name of Jesus. We may not be perfect, but our hearts must desire to follow God.
Take a moment to reflect on your thoughts and actions over the past week. Do they reflect a heart that was intimate with God? Consider a few steps you can take to create a regular rhythm of spending time with God.
Because we walk by faith, not by sight. — 2 Corinthians 5:7
I like to admire the cloudless blue sky. The sky is one of the masterpieces of our great Creator, given to us for joy. Pilots use different expressions to describe the best sky conditions for flying. But I like the next one the most: “Such a clear sky that you can see “tomorrow”!”
Seeing your “tomorrow” is something that is actually beyond the scope of our vision. Sometimes it is difficult for us to see the meaning of what life sends us even today. “You do not know what will happen tomorrow, what is your life? Because it is a couple that appears for a moment and then disappears!” (James 4:14).
But our inability to see our “tomorrow” is not a reason for despair. On the contrary: we have a good reason to trust God, who has perfect vision and sees our future. He knows all that we need to overcome the trials that await us ahead. The apostle Paul understood this well. That is why he encourages us with the following encouraging words: “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7).
If we trust God in both the present day, which we can see, and the day to come, which we cannot see, then we can not worry about what life has in store for us ahead. We walk through life with the One who knows all that will befall us and has the strength and wisdom to handle all that may come our way.
Lord, I know that I can entrust You with my “today” and my “tomorrow”, because You are a good, kind, loving, wise and almighty God. Teach me not to worry too much.
God sees our life journey from beginning to end.
Author: Bill Crowder
After Jesus healed a man who had been paralyzed for nearly four decades, the religious Jews became angry with Him. It may seem strange because healing is a good thing, but Jesus performed this miracle on the Sabbath, a day of rest. In the Old Testament, God gave believers a long list of rules to follow in order to remain in harmony with Him, and these rules included keeping the Sabbath.
But in the New Testament, Jesus was sent to change our relationship with the Father. By sacrificing Himself on the cross, He gave us access to a relationship with God, so a long list of rules is no longer necessary. Throughout his life, Jesus shows people the nature of new relationships. But because it was not in line with what the religious circles believed, they were angry with Him.
In John 5, Jesus justifies these changes by revealing His true authority. By calling God His Father, He shared that He is equal to God. This angered religious Jews, but it allows us to look deeper into the relationship between the Father and the Son.
Jesus tells us that the Father and the Son are united in love. The Son does not “work” for the Father—no, They work together, and the work Jesus does perfectly reflects His Father’s will.
This relationship shows that Jesus has the power to give us eternal life with Him.
“I tell you the truth: whoever hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life. He will not be condemned, because he has passed from death to life.”
John 5:24
When we hear God’s Word and believe in Jesus, we have access to a relationship with Him that will last forever. Unlike the Jews in the Old Testament before this New Testament, we do not have to perfectly follow strict laws to be saved.
All we have to do is accept the gift that Jesus has given us by His authority.
Did you know that thoughts can actually make you more anxious, happy, scared, or satisfied? And what you spend time thinking about can affect your emotions, your actions, and ultimately your character? Your thoughts are some of the most powerful things about you.
The Scriptures can tell us a lot about our thoughts because God knows the power of our minds. Isaiah 26:3 says that God will keep our hearts in perfect peace if we keep our minds focused on Him.
Can you imagine that? Perfect peace.
The more time we spend focusing our thoughts on God and His Word, the more peace we will have in our hearts. This is a powerful thought, especially in a world that is constantly striving for peace and unity.
The starting point of this peace is trust in God. We must come to Him trusting in Who He is and believing in what He has done for us. We know that God is good and just. So if we have faith in Him, we know that He accepts us and loves us. And those who trust in God gain access to Him and His presence.
Perfect peace is available to those who continually trust in God and focus their thoughts on Him.
How much of your thoughts are given to things pertaining to God? Do you focus your mind on Him when you feel anxious or stressed? What are some simple ways you can remind yourself to think about God throughout the day?
Spend some time thinking about the power of your thoughts and the access you have to God through the Scriptures. Try to develop the habit of focusing your thoughts on God so that you can experience His perfect peace.
At the table, at Jesus’ bosom, there was one of His disciples whom Jesus loved. — John 13:23
Sometimes, when I lay my head on the pillow at night and pray, I imagine leaning on Jesus. As I do this, I always remember what the Word of God tells us about the apostle John. The apostle himself describes how he sat next to Jesus during the Last Supper: “At the table, at Jesus’ bosom, there was one of His disciples whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23).
The apostle John uses the phrase “whom Jesus loved” to refer to himself, without mentioning his name. It also depicts a typical meal in first-century Israel, when tables were much lower than today’s, at knee level. Therefore, the “semi-reclining” position was common for those who gathered at the table. So Ivan was half-lying next to the Lord. And when he turned to Him with a question, he literally “clung to the bosom of Jesus” (John 13:25).
Such closeness of the apostle John to Jesus at that moment gives us a useful illustration for our life with Christ today. We do not have the opportunity to bow to Jesus physically, but we can give Him the heaviest burdens of our lives – whatever they may be. He said, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest!” (Matthew 11:28). What a happiness it is to have such a Savior, Whom you can always trust, Who shows His faithfulness in any circumstances of our life! Have you “leaned in” to Him today?
Lord Jesus, help me today to lean on You with my soul so that I can trust You as a source of strength and hope. I entrust all my worries to You, knowing that You are always faithful.
Only Jesus gives the peace we so need!
Author: John Blaze
