Dying ready is not about trying hard to do more and be better so God will accept you into heaven when this life is over. Instead, it’s about trusting in Jesus and the work He has finished on your behalf and, in response, finishing the work that Jesus has entrusted to you. We don’t work for our salvation; we work out our salvation. We don’t pay Him back. We love Him back. With our hope in Him, we journey homeward in loving obedience (though imperfectly executed) knowing that the death we once feared is actually the doorway to full and lasting joy with Him. Death is not the end; it is just the beginning.
Living Fully
Living fully is not about having the most fun, experiencing the greatest pleasure, and doing the biggest good in this world as if this place is all there is. Instead, it’s about the eternal ripple that your life can make when you use it for Jesus. That doesn’t mean you leave happiness and helpfulness behind; it means you find it in a more meaningful way. We are to be faithful witnesses for God in the everyday things of life that we’re already doing on earth (from cookouts to workouts to hangouts) in such a way that we’ll be glad we did when we get to heaven. Enjoy blessings. Do good. Glorify God. Live this life in light of the one to come.
Live Fully. Die Ready.
We don’t like to think about it. We don’t like to talk about it. But death is coming for us all. We may not be certain of the time of its arrival, but the certainty of its arrival is never in doubt. Instead of ignoring, downplaying, or fearing it, we should let its reality accomplish two essential and monumental things in our lives: be purposeful to experience life before death, and be prepared to experience life after death. Jesus makes both of these possible when we entrust ourselves to Him. He gives us grace so we can give ourselves to the things that matter most. In every step of faith, let us rely on Him to help us… Live fully. Die ready.
My Grace Is Sufficient For You
No matter who you are. No matter what you’ve done. No matter how big your need. There is grace for you! God’s grace is sufficient for every situation, every location, every imperfection, and every opposition. It. Will. Never. Run. Out. Even though there are moments when your sin, your struggles and your situation may get the best of you, if you are trusting in Jesus, it is simply impossible for you to out-sin, out-run, out-last, out-need, or out-hope God’s grace. You will never find yourself in a place where God has not already plastered, “My grace is sufficient for you.”
Things Will Look Much Different
Remember this as you follow Jesus in faith: it’s not what happens to us that is of greatest importance, but rather the result of what happens to us. Things often won’t go as we plan, things often won’t work out like we hope, and things often won’t be as simple or easy or comfy as we would like. But in the hands and plans of God, our struggles are not setbacks. They are stepping stones to the good result He has in mind. So… Don’t stop believing. Don’t stop proceeding. Something good is coming even if you don’t yet see it. Take heart! Things would look much better if we could see them not as they are, but as they will be.
To Put Us On The Right Path
God sees what we cannot. While delays, detours and dead-ends can bring about disappointment and frustration, they may be God’s way of blocking us from something He doesn’t mean for us to do or have because it is not good for us or others in the end. Let us rejoice when this happens, for when God says “No” to our plans, He is saying “Yes” to something He has planned that is far better. Costly mistakes are avoided, and wonderful blessings are gained when He steps in to order our steps. Remember: when God graciously reroutes the lives of those who are trusting in Jesus, it is always to put us on the right path.
The Nourishing Word Of God
For genuine, growing Christians, our relationship with Jesus increasingly influences how we live. As we turn to the Bible and turn its pages, we learn of His good plans for us, His gracious promises to us, and His guiding presence with us. Only when we regularly read and respond to the Bible can we be who we were made to be and do what we were made to do. That’s why it is essential that we… Read it. Pray it. Live it. Share it. If your ultimate aim in life is to be as happy as you can and bring as much honor to God as you can, there is no substitute for the nourishing, encouraging, strengthening, transforming Scriptures.
Because Of Their Relationship With You
God has divinely positioned you so that your life intersects with family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and teammates so you can help them take the next step in their spiritual journey. These people that He will bring into your path today desperately need to know what you know about Jesus. God has sent you to tell them about the riches of His grace, and the only message about Jesus that He can’t use is the one you don’t share. One of the greatest aims of your life should be that the people in your life grow in their relationship with Jesus because of their relationship with you.
God Is After His Honor And Our Happiness
God wants us to be happy. When He tells us in the Bible to do, say, correct, believe, feel, think or share something, it is not to take away our happiness, but rather it is to take away the things that are in the way of our full and lasting happiness. We must trust that God is after our happiness, that He knows best how to bring about our happiness, and that what He tells us in the Bible is designed to lead us into happiness. Doing what God tells us is not always easy, popular or instantly gratifying. But it is always for good, always better in the end than sin, and always the best option for making us truly, ultimately, and eternally happy. When God speaks… He does not want our begrudging submission; He wants our joyful adoration.
The Loudest Voice In Your Life
You can talk yourself into just about anything. Other people will try to talk you into something. Only God will talk to you truthfully about everything. There are many voices that speak into our lives such as family and friends, news and social media, advertising and entertainment, and especially ourselves … but the loudest (most influential) should be God. We are being shaped by influences all around us which is why it is essential that each day we read God-breathed words in the Bible and listen to God-sent voices who speak His truth to us. When we listen to Him… He won’t just tickle our ears; He will delight our souls.
The Prayer That Never Fails
There are many things that are true about prayer. One of them is this: prayer involves seeking what we need to do what God wants. We don’t talk to God in order to secure what we need to build our own kingdoms; we talk to God to request what we need to live for His kingdom. Prayer is not a hotline to heaven we use to override His will so He will give us what we think will make us happy; it is a lifeline to heaven we use to ask Him to show us His will and make us happy with what He gives us. This is the prayer that never fails: Your will be done in my life as it is in heaven.
The Four Basic Steps Of Walking With Jesus
Followers of Jesus take steps of faith in our day-by-day “walk” with Him. Wherever He leads, we follow in the same direction, one step at a time. In loving obedience. With humble dependance. For a blessed experience. While there are many places we will go and things we will do, there are four basic steps that every Christian never stop taking until they follow Jesus all the way home: Pray. Read the Bible. Respond to what tells you. Help others do the same. This is how God is honored in us and we are happy in Him. Certainly we will take mis-steps along the way; but Jesus will never let us permanently lose our way.
Time Is Precious
Time. Is. Precious. It’s precious because it’s short, we don’t know how much more of it remains, it is gone forever once we use it, and there are staggering implications for how we use it. There is only One Who knows how to best use the time that remains for you and me, so let’s not leave Jesus out of our plans today or any day. Remember this: we can spend our time any way we choose, but we can only spend it once. As we live by grace, in dependence upon the presence and power and purposes of Jesus, He will help us give less priority to the things that really don’t matter and more priority to the things that do.
Biggest Thrills And Best Prizes (With No Regrets I …
Temptation often invites us to sin in two ways. The first is like a carny barking at us to “Step right up” for a chance to have a thrilling experience or win a desirable prize that is never worth it in the end. The second is like a boat at sea gently rocking us back and forth until we have drifted to sleep in indifference to God’s better ways. Whether it shouts or whispers, temptation is ever beckoning us to look away from Jesus, love something more than Jesus, and live for a substitute for Jesus. By grace, we can resist by reminding ourselves that the biggest thrills and the best prizes are enjoyed by those who are anchored to Him.
Set Your Sights On Eternity
One of the enemy’s biggest lies is convincing us to live as if this life is all there is. He wants us to prioritize and pursue things that won’t matter for long over things that will matter forever. But everything looks different when you look past the temporary to eternity. This place isn’t our home; we’re heading home. This life won’t last forever; the next life will. This treasure trove will fade away; the ones laid up in heaven have an everlasting shine. Yes, let us enjoy our time on earth and the things of earth as God means for us to do. But, even more, let us think, feel, speak and act as people who have set their sights on eternity.
I Can Do All Things … Through Christ Who Giv …
Self-help. Personal achievement. Human ingenuity. Man-made creations. We often think too highly of ourselves, talk too much about ourselves, and turn too much to ourselves as if God is not there and as if we do not need Him even if He is. But the truth is… The only reason we turn to self-help is because we’ve made a mess that we’re trying to fix. We achieve only what God has given us capabilities to do. The discoveries we’ve made are just that, things that God has known all along. Man-made lakes are filled with God-made water on God-made land. Let us remember: There is a big difference between “I can do all things” and “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
Joy That Can Never Be Taken Away
Our joy will always be at risk if it is dependent upon things that we look to instead of Jesus because we are always at risk of losing them. The thrill fades away. The moment is over. The thing breaks. The experience disappoints. The person leaves. But Jesus has promised to give us a joy that doesn’t burn out, fade out, check out or sell out so we don’t have to miss out on real and lasting happiness that is only found in Him. Though every other form of happiness will inevitably leave or forsake us, He never will. In Jesus, we are offered a joy that can never be taken from us no matter what else is.
Blessed To Be A Blessing
God has not blessed us with time just so we can use it binge-watching Netflix. He has not blessed us with money just so we can spend it on more comforts. He has not blessed us with abilities and skills just so we can serve our own interests and passions. The generosity of God has been extended to us with blessings of time, talent and treasure that we might both enjoy them ourselves and extend them to bless others. Those of us who are trusting in Jesus have been entrusted with showing the world His heart for them by being His hands and feet and mouth to them. You have been blessed; now go be a blessing.
The Day After Christmas
‘Twas the day after Christmas, and all thru the place
Everyone began going back to their old, normal pace.
The tree and the decorations were all neatly put away,
‘Til this time next year, tucked in the closet they’d stay.
My son was enjoying his new videos and things,
Me with my electronics and mom with her new rings.
Still way too stuffed with all of the food that we ate,
We forgot all about yesterday’s all-important date.
When out on the porch, there arose such a clatter,
I dropped the remote & ran to see what was the matter.
Away to the window, I looked out for a quick view
I peeped around the curtains as I oftentimes do.
The sun was brightly shining; just another new day,
The wonder of Christmas had already slipped away.
When what to my wondering eyes was in store,
But a man with a Bible standing at my front door.
The man was friendly and smiling as Christians will do,
“I wonder if I might have a quick word with you?”
With an outstretched hand, I soon welcomed him in.
He didn’t waste time getting to the point in my den.
With Scripture and great kindness, He pointed it out
The good news of Jesus is what Christmas is about.
And that should never be forgotten after the holiday.
It should not be packed with the boxes to stay.
His reminder seemed to strike a chord in my heart
And I knew in that moment I needed a fresh start.
“God, help me to know Jesus and love Him more dear.”
“God, help me to proclaim Him all through the year.”
Oh, just give me the words to speak with my voice,
Let my own heart daily come alive and rejoice.
For God has given us this gift of His Son to adore,
Eternal life for us and glory to God forevermore.
The man’s eyes twinkled, his work was almost done.
He had reminded me of the beauty and worth of God’s Son.
And then he challenged me, he challenged me still.
So lively and quick, his encouragement was a thrill.
“Now Matthew, now Mark, now Luke and John,
Peter, Andrew, and Paul – disciples every one.
Barnabas and Silas, their testimonies are true.
Well, Jimmy D. Brown, you’re a disciple too!”
He banged on the coffee table, and it gave me a shock.
“To the ends of the earth! To the homes on your block!
Say it and show it, spring – summer – winter and fall.
Tell them about Jesus – Now go ye, go ye, go ye all!”
And with that, he headed out the door onto the stoop,
He whistled and smiled and gave a loud whoop!
He sprang to his car, and he drove down the street,
There were many other homes and people to greet.
Then I heard him exclaim with great holiday cheer,
“Let’s celebrate Jesus EVERY day of the year!”
Christmas Is About Grace
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16
We will often fail to live out our faith in Jesus and stumble in our walk with Him. We won’t always love Him most, love others best, and love rightly all the rest. Instead, we will make ourselves the center of our lives, make self-serving decisions as we plan our lives, and ultimately make a mess out of our lives. That. Is. Why. There. Is. Christmas. Christmas is about a gift of God’s Son, a gift of forgiveness, a gift of transformation, a gift of eternal life, a gift of happiness in God. Christmas is about grace… Forgiveness for when we have said “yes” to sins committed, freedom to say “no” to sins not yet committed, and favor to experience eternal pleasure where no sin will ever be committed again. There is grace for us. God’s grace. Grace that is greater than all our sin.
