Tag Archive | faith

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

Proclaiming Christ

Jan23

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. 9 For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you, 10 always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; 12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine. — Romans 1:8-12

Do you get excited about God’s work? Do you get excited watching Christians grow in their faith? Do you desire to help and encourage other believers in their walk with Christ? Do you get encouraged to walk the straight and narrow by the testimony of the saints? Paul not only wanted to feed others but longed to be fed also.

We need more testimony of God’s movement in the lives of His saints. How is God moving in your life right now? If you can’t see, ask Him to reveal it to you and then share it! If you can see it, who can you encourage today by sharing it?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Persuaded

Jan20

Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.” And Paul said, “I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains.” — Acts 26:28-29

Should it not be the wish (hope) of all believers? Who in your life is being persuaded by your words?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Narrow Gate/Wide Gate

Jan7

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. — Matthew 7:13-14

The realization of Jesus’ words here really hit home for me last night at Small Group Bible Study. “How Can I Know” by Robert Jeffress.

The way is broad that leads to destruction. And there are MANY who enter through it. Statistics say there are seven billion people in the world. Of those seven billion 25% are classified as Christians. That means there are literally billions of people headed to Hell. And of those 25% classified to be Christians, how many really are?

God Himself says many are headed to destruction. There are only two destinations for all mankind. Only one narrow path to God and that is through Jesus Christ and Him alone.  What gate are you headed to? Your eternal life depends upon it.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Psalm 146

Jan2

Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
2 I will praise the Lord while I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
3 Do not trust in princes,
In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.
4 His spirit departs, he returns to the earth;
In that very day his thoughts perish.
5 How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
Whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6 Who made heaven and earth,
The sea and all that is in them;
Who keeps faith forever;
7 Who executes justice for the oppressed;
Who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free.

8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind;
The Lord raises up those who are bowed down;
The Lord loves the righteous;
9 The Lord protects the strangers;
He supports the fatherless and the widow,
But He thwarts the way of the wicked.
10 The Lord will reign forever,
Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord! — Psalm 146

Enter His Gates

Nov24

Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations. — Psalm 100:4-5

Let’s enter Thanksgiving with the focus on the One who truly deserves our thankfulness. Without God creating us we would not be here to enjoy Thanksgiving. Without our God we would have nothing to be thankful for as all good things come from Him.*

Be thankful not just now but everyday for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Be thankful because of His faithfulness to all generations. He can be trusted. He is peace. He is love. He is all we need.

Thankful for God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit — three in One.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

 

 

*James 1:17

Word Of God

Nov21

The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith. — Acts 6:7

The Word is for everyone. The Word makes disciples. The Word reveals truth drawing even those who thought they knew the truth.

The Word is powerful! Read it. Know it. Share it.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Worthy To Suffer

Nov20

They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. 41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. — Acts 5:40-41

Wow. . . Rejoice? . . Really? After a whip beating? Here are apostles rejoicing over being beaten because they suffered shame for the name above all names, the name of Jesus. They rejoiced over being considered worthy to suffer? How real was their faith? So real they were willing to suffer for it.

I wonder. . . How real is my faith? Am I willing to suffer shame for the sake of my families salvation, my neighbors, my co-workers, etc.? Am I willing to suffer for the glory of the Lord? He was willing to suffer for me.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Existence

Oct19

yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. — 1 Corinthians 8:6

One God. All things exist because of One God. We exist FOR the Father. We live, do, have, are blessed, provided for, loved FOR the Father. But . . .

We exist through Jesus in whom are all things. We are unable to live for the Father without existing in the Son, Jesus. For it is impossible to please the Father without faith in the Son.

Do you know Jesus personally? Do you live through Jesus for the Father? You can’t have one without the other because they are One God.

You also can abide with them by believing that Jesus is the Son of God; that He came in the form of a man to die on a cross to pay the price for the sin of all mankind; that He was buried (placed in a tomb) and was gloriously raised by the Father from death to life.

But it doesn’t end there. You must seek Him continually and love Him with all your heart. In doing that you should be desiring to know Jesus better by reading His Word, the Bible, and praying continuously (as if He is with you always, which He is).

This is really living (participating) through Jesus for the Father.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Children of Light

Oct17

for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord — Ephesians 5:8-10

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. — Hebrews 11:6

If you are one who walks in the Light of the Lord then you understand that you once walked in darkness. You understand the blessing of being rescued from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of Jesus in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sin. (Colossians 1:13-14).

As children of Light we walk in goodness, righteousness, and truth. As children of the Light we seek to know what pleases the Lord. One thing that pleases the Lord is our faith in Jesus. Are you seeking and searching the Scriptures to know how to please your Lord?

How bright is your light shining? Bright enough to see the truth and the way to please your God? I hope so. He is deserving and worthy.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon