Sacrificial Love

Apr6

This past weekend many celebrated Easter. Some celebrated with the Easter Bunny, hunting eggs, eating lots of candy, and fellowship with family and friends. Many attended church services to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

On the subject of Jesus and His resurrection meant that He died. Why did He die?

Jesus Christ chose to die out of His love for a dying world of sinners who had no hope of eternity. But the good news is, He rose from the dead, and because of His sacrifice of love, we as believers have the Holy Spirit living in us. We also have the hope of a peaceful eternity.

His love made all the difference. Now we have been called to love as Jesus loved. Sacrificially. Jesus loved all of humanity. Jesus died for all humanity. All of God’s created beings.

A Pharisee asked Jesus, prior to His crucifixion,
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”
And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

This is the great and foremost commandment.
Matthew 22:36-38 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.22.36-38.NASB1995

The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:39-40 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.22.39-40.NASB1995

🌹As Jesus loved His creation, you and I, we are to love others.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

He’s Alive

Apr5

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him. . .
Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. And he *said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him.
Mark 16:1, 5-6 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mrk.16.1-6.NASB1995

🙌 Happy Resurrection Day!! 🙌

Continually Seeking Him,

🌹Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

It Is Finished

Apr3

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”
John 10:11, 17-18 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.10.13-18.NASB1995

🌹Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
John 19:30 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.19.30.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Belief vs Faith

Apr2

Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it.  For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.
Hebrews 4:1-2 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/heb.4.1-2.NASB1995

For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.
Hebrews 2:1 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/heb.2.1.NASB1995

Belief is not enough. Faith with obedience to God’s word, that turns to action, is the difference.

🌹You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.
James 2:19 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.2.19.NASB1995

Recommended reading:
James 2:14-26 is about faith and works.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

The Source of Eternity

Apr1

In the days of His flesh (during Christ’s earthly life), He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.
Hebrews 5:7 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/heb.5.7.NASB1995

And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.”
Mark 14:36 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mrk.14.36.NASB1995

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.
Hebrews 5:8 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/heb.5.8.NASB1995

Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:8 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/php.2.8.NASB1995

And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,
Hebrews 5:9 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/heb.5.9.NASB1995

Have you met the Savior Jesus Christ?
His extreme love for humanity and love of the Father brought Him to earth. Jesus willingly gave His life as a sacrifice for you so you could have eternal salvation. Knowing God and walking with Jesus is assurance for life eternal. Trust Him today. Surrender your heart, your will, your way and Jesus will show you His will, His way, His truth as He leads you on the road to the promised land. Eternity with God. The choice is yours. The alternative is eternal Hell.

🙏 Lord, my heart breaks for the lost soul. I ask that You will open eyes, soften hearts, bring understanding and wisdom to the ones reading this who do not know You. I pray for the ones who do know you that their hearts would be broken for the lost and that you would give us opportunities to share especially as many celebrate Easter. Help us to bring the true meaning of Easter into the lives of our neighbors. For Your glory and in the name of Jesus, our Savior, I pray. Amen.

Continually Seeking Him,

🌹Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Living Water

Mar31

but whoever drinks of the water that I (Jesus) will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
John 4:14 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.4.14.NASB1995

He who believes in Me (Jesus), as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ”
John 7:38 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.7.38.NASB1995

🌹Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord And whose trust is the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/jer.17.7-8.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Lord, My Shield

Mar30

But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head.
Psalms 3:3 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.3.3.NASB1995

Down in the dumps?
Nothing going right?
Frustrated with the day to day struggles of survival?
“Does anything ever go right for me”?

You’ve been there, haven’t you?
Where do you go from that point?

I have to go to the Lord. For He alone is a shield around me. He is my glory. He is the One who lifts my head. He is my confidence to push forward.

🙏Lord God, I pray for the one who is struggling in their life circumstances today. The one who is facing difficult decisions. Tough roads. Feeling of loss. No direction. Put Your shield of protection around them. Lift their head high in assurance as they lean on You to guide them.
In the name of Jesus and for Your glory I pray, amen.

🌹Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Isaiah 41:10 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/isa.41.10.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Prayer of A Surrendered Heart

Mar27

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
Psalms 51:15-17 MEV
https://bible.com/bible/1171/psa.51.15-17.MEV

🌹O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise.
Psalm 51:15 MEV
https://bible.com/bible/1171/psa.51.15.MEV

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Prayer of Calling

Mar26

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You.
Psalms 51:12-13 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.51.12-13.NASB1995

It is by the power of God that we are able to proclaim Jesus to others. It is by knowing God and a relationship with Him that ignites a desire to speak truth to others. To know Him is to love Him and who can stay silent when the joy of the Lord flows from within you. It’s like young love — you want to shout it from the hilltops.

Saul, known later as Paul, went blind on the Road to Damascus after an encounter with God. God spoke to Saul, calling him to proclaim the gospel. God restored his eyesight and after spending several days with the disciples in Damascas Saul immediately began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”
¹Acts 9:1-20 NASB1995

🙏Lord God, I pray asking for the zeal of Paul in proclaiming the gospel. Give me a love for the lost. May Your love cast out all fear as I encounter opportunities to speak of Your saving grace. “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.” This I pray in Your Holy Name and for Your glory, amen. 🙏

Continually Seeking Him,

🌹Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

¹https://bible.com/bible/100/act.9.1-20.NASB1995

Prayer of Renewal

Mar25

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your willing spirit.
Psalms 51:10-12 MEV
https://bible.com/bible/1171/psa.51.10-12.MEV

🙏Father, I am Your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which You, God, prepared for me that I would walk in them. Renew and sustain me with a steadfast spirit. I need Your Holy Spirit to reside in me. I trust in Your lovingkindness; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation!! In the name of Jesus I pray.  Amen ✝️🙌
Paraphrased ¹Ephesians 2:10, ²Psalms 13:5, Psalm 51:12

🌹“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Matthew 5:8 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.5.8.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

¹https://bible.com/bible/100/eph.2.10.NASB1995

²https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.13.5.NASB1995