Tag Archive | Believe

Got The Time?

Mar16

Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to  awaken from sleep; for now  salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. — Romans 13:11

“Do this” refers back to Romans 13:8-10 (yesterday’s devotion) to love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus loved us so much He gave His life up on a cross so we could have salvation from sin and He rose so we could have eternal life. Hallelujah!!!! And to think that each passing moment we are closer to that reality then we have ever been when we shall see Jesus in all His glory!!!

Knowing that the time is coming how can we love one another more than to share the gospel message? It is time for the Christian to wake up:
“Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. (Matthew 24:42)
Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. (1 Corinthians 15:34)

If you say you are a “Christian” you represent Jesus in all you say and do. Are you willing to share Him so that others may know the hope found in Him? People need Jesus!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Be Not Haughty

Mar8

do not be haughty in mind, but  associate* with the lowly. — Romans 12:16b

*accommodate yourself to lowly things

I remember a time in my life when I would covet my neighbor’s things. Before I owned a house I would envy those who had one. The old junker we were driving paled to the brand new cars on the block. And my mother’s wisdom ringing in my ear, “as long as it gets you from point A to point B”.

“The one who dies with the biggest toys wins”. Remember that bumper sticker? Many want to be judged by what they own, by their position in the workplace, how intelligent they appear and think it below themselves to be seen anywhere but amongst the well-to-do.

The song, “No One Knows What Goes On Behind Closed Doors” reminds me that the outward appearance doesn’t always tell the whole story. The haughty on the outside is probably broken on the inside. Their need is to be recognized. Jesus is not attracted by our status in society. He is concerned with the humble heart who can accept that He is God and take the salvation He has to offer. Jesus was not too proud to associate with the lowly. He went to those who were not distracted by the things of this world, the lowly, to bring a greater gift than anything this world could give.

Are you too proud to accept God’s forgiveness through Jesus Christ? If you have accepted the gift, are you too proud to associate with everyone, including the lowly, who need Christ?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Feet

Feb22

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” — Romans 10:14-15

Feet are definitely not my favorite part of the body. Anybody’s body. But here they are referred to as beautiful.

If I rewind into the past when this was written I see feet that are dirty, calloused, possibly with blisters depending on the length of travel, and bloody spots due to rocks or other debris they come across. Not so beautiful. The sacrifice to spread the good news is what makes those feet beautiful.

I look at Jesus as He went to the cross. Bloody. Scarred. Dirt embedded in every crevice. Possibly blisters. Not a pretty picture and yet a beautiful sacrifice because He brought good news!!! He brought reconciliation, salvation, eternity.

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News!!!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Confess

Feb21

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. — Romans 10:9-10

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Convinced?

Feb20

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? — Romans 8:35

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Romans 8:38-39

Do you believe that Jesus is God? Do you trust Him as your Lord? Then nothing can separate you from the love of God.

God’s love for mankind was and is so great that He sent Jesus, His only Son to be crucified so that through Him we may be reconciled to God. Don’t miss what is written, that nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. You are already separated from God if you don’t know Jesus as Savior and Lord. But the good news is that after you are reconciled to God, nothing can separate you from the love of God.

Do you believe what is written?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

The Big “If”

Feb15

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. — Romans 8:14-17

Lots of blessings and assurance in these verses, but what about the “if”? “If indeed we suffer with Him”?

Lately my heart has been so burdened for the”lost”. I have shed tears for family, friends, neighbors, people living in the USA and around the world. As I watch the news, read posts on Facebook and interact with the world around me I see such a great need. There is only one answer — Jesus Christ. Are you seeking peace? Jesus is the Prince of peace. I could go on and on about all the answers to questions that can be answered in the Word of God but they ultimately all lead to Jesus.

The real issue here is are you suffering with Christ in your daily walk? Are you stepping out of your comfort zone to share the gospel with a neighbor, co-worker etc.? Are you willing to pray for your government leaders instead of posting their dirty laundry? Are you willing to stand up and be heard for the sake of Christ and His purpose in the world — to be glorified and bring salvation to all mankind? Does the Way, the Truth and the Life flow from your mouth with life saving scripture despite the ridicule that may come?

I am convicted as I write these words. Am I suffering with Him for His glory and the hope of mankind? What “if” I did?

My soul, my soul! I am in anguish! Oh, my heart!
My heart is pounding in me;
I cannot be silent,
Because you have heard, O my soul,
The sound of the trumpet,
The alarm of war.
20 Disaster on disaster is proclaimed,
For the whole land is devastated;
Suddenly my tents are devastated,
My curtains in an instant.
21 How long must I see the standard
And hear the sound of the trumpet?
22 “For My people are foolish,
They know Me not;
They are stupid children
And have no understanding.
They are shrewd to do evil,
But to do good they do not know.” — Jeremiah 4:19-22

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

God’s Love

Feb9

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. — Romans 5:8-11

Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. — Hebrews 7:25

Justified (to declare innocent or guiltless; absolve; acquit) by Jesus’ shed blood.

Saved from the wrath of God through Jesus. No one but Jesus.

Reconciled (to reconsecrate, to restore) by Jesus’ death.

Saved by Jesus’ resurrection.

Draw near to the One who made salvation, reconciliation and justification possible. He is the only way!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

For The Sake Of All

Feb8

Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification. — Romans 4:23-25

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. — Romans 5:1-2

Not only for Abraham only but for all who believe in God. The God who raised Jesus from the dead. The Jesus who sacrificed His life for all that all may have peace, reconciliation with the Creator of all. By Jesus’ sacrifice, we are justified by simply believing (faith).

Are you standing in His grace, exulting in hope of the glory of God? If yes, then go praise and exalt our God for the things He has done for us through Jesus His Son. Let the world know He is your Lord.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Simply Believe?

Feb5

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered.

“Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.” — Romans 4:1-8

Believe. Really? That’s all I have to do?

If it were easy to simply believe wouldn’t more people be doing it? It’s a choice that does not come easy. Why?

Because the only part we play in it is “believe”. Well that is too easy and there has to be more. . .

 Let me relay a little story. In the early 1980s, while working at a hospital, I had the privilege of learning the computer system that was being installed in the hospital. In return for learning I was to instruct all the new nurses that were assigned to the floor that I worked on. At that time computers were pretty archaic. There were basically two keys that you would use and all you had to do was remember the functionality of those two keys. Simple, right?

Out of all the nurses I trained over the next 10 years, I would have to say that over 90% heard these words from my mouth, “You’re making it harder than it is”. They were over thinking it because it “should be harder than it looks”.

Are you making the decision to believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God — who died on a cross, bearing your sin, and 3 days later arose from the grave — more complicated than it has to be?

Your salvation and eternal life with God does not depend on anything you “do”. It depends on what God has already done and on whether you believe.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

“It”

Jan25

for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. — Romans 1:16b

“It”. The gospel. “It”. Jesus Christ. “It”. Power.

Trust in “It” to save you by believing. Trust in “It” to save others by telling.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon