Rev. 2 [The Message]

The Lord declared to John that He searches the reins and hearts, the mind and emotions and motives of every heart. God doesn’t let deceivers get away with their heresy. Because He X-rays every motive, we should put a priority upon achieving and maintaining pure motives.

Years ago when I was in deep spiritual training to become a worship leader, I became very sensitive to the motives behind singers and their songs. Many were in it for ego, or lust, or money. It’s the sad truth that many motives were and are out-of-bounds. This is all the more reason to seek purity of motive in all we do. We don’t just do the right thing … we do it for the right reason.

Rev. 2 [The Message]

As Christians we often complain about the most minor irritations of life as if we are above them. This is wrong thinking. Christ Jesus rather encourages endurance and perseverance rather than presumptive charismatic escapism. Why? Because Jesus is focused upon providing your reward … a glowing Crown of Eternal Life.

High School Football provides young men with an opportunity to learn to work hard, prepare strategies for success, and endure the hardships of a pounding, physical battle. They labor so hard for a mere letter of the alphabet … a “W.” Can’t we as the inheritors of Heaven and an Eternal Life with God put up with some transient irritations and challenges? Christ promised to us the strength and patience to endure and get the BIG “W!” [1 Cor. 10:13]

Revelation 1 [The Message]

John was “In the Spirit, praying,” when this massive revelation of Christ and the End of Times was revealed. This should motivate us to likewise spend time “In the Spirit, praying.” We never know what great blessing God may have in store for us.

You know how it begins … God’s Spirit quietly whispers, “Now would be a good time to spend in prayer.” Hence, we are Spirit prompted to transition from dealing with life with our own strength to calling upon God’s help to face the challenges of living. Whatever the current challenge is and whomever is being faced with it, we pray.

My son is dealing with neck issues – my granddaughter’s brakes nearly went out – my grandson’s teaching job is really STRESSING him – my daughter is in the beginning stages of “empty nest” grief – these are all issues I tackle with prayer and I REFUSE to allow them to take us under. As I pray, I believe for miracles.

3 John [The Message]

Gaius was commended for making his faith visible by extending hospitality to traveling strangers on their way, He obviously went out of his way to be good to people he didn’t even know. He gave to them.

Nothing given in the name of Christ is wasted. Everything given in the name of Jesus will be replaced and with a blessing. You cannot outgive God. What’s more, God gives back to you in ways that are much more valuable than you deserve. He gives back to you in the lives of those you love.

2 Peter 3 [The Message]

It’s so easy to play God and become incensed over the injustices we see around us. Actually, it is a GOOD THING that we aren’t God … because we will not have had the patience to see those in error repent and be restored to God.

God is not ultimately willing that ANY perish. We’d like to see some people burn … but not God. He sill loves them and is giving them time and space to turn around. It’s His wise restraint that keeps giving them chances to make things right by the cleansing blood of Jesus.

We should pray and act accordingly.

2 Peter 1 [The Message]

Can you imagine how it was for Peter and the early disciples to have walked and lived with Jesus, the miracle-working young man from Nazareth? Christ revealed His divinity through His miracles, having the Voice of God The Father speak out of the heavens on the mount of transfiguration etc. And yet, God’s plan was to send His Son in the flesh to suffer like we do and rise triumphant over the grave.

Peter assuredly declared, “We couldn’t be more sure that this was the Messiah.” The garden tomb was EMPTY!

1 Pet. 5 [The Message]

My mentor, Moses Vegh, used to say,”God doesn’t always pay on Fridays, but HE ALWAYS PAYS.” He was referring to God’s deferred payment process. Actually, we should be ultra glad that God doesn’t operate on an immediate payment basis. If He did, we’d ALL be wiped out.

Christians have rewards awaiting them in heaven. Jesus was constantly preaching, “Lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven.” It’s healthy to be generous because God is, but living a generous life is a blast. We get rewarded here with the satisfaction of helping others, and then we have a reward stowed away in heaven.

Payday’s coming.

1 Peter 3 [The Message]

Everything we can see now is merely temporal. The earthly beauty that wives have now can fade, but their character and inner comportment is only getting going. One test … ask her children what they admire about her. You will get answers that refer to her qualities rather than her appearance. Don’t get me wrong. We men appreciate what women do to remain attractive, but the beauty we see with our eyes means little when the meals stink, the house is trashy, and every conversation is an argument.

Ladies, love God and His Word and your inner beauty will brightly emanate from your soul.

1 Peter 2 [The Message]

Governments come and go. God remains. His principles of relating to government are consistent .. respect it and pray for it.

I am occasionally guilty of being critical of contemporary government policies and trends. I am not helping by so doing. To be an active part of the solution, I resolve to pray and not criticize.

There you have it. Hold me to it.

James 5 [The Message]

Scripture uses farming analogies to illustrate the needed patience to understand God’s timetable for results. Our lives can be compared to a crop being planted and the way results are proportionate to soil preparation, rain, weather conditions etc. It takes time. Farmers cannot afford to be impatient. They wait.

Our lives are an adventure in agriculture. We plant, water, fertilize, and cultivate our lives and those of our offspring with hopes that we will reap favorably. Then, we wait for the harvest.