A Scribe on the Wall

Several years ago now, I believe that God gave me a message, He would be telling me things and it was up to me to tell others. To me, it's much like the Watchman on the Wall as described in the Old Testament. The Watchman was told that it was on him to warn others about any approaching dangers. God's apparently gifted me with being able to type and write. So I put the old definition of a writer along with the concept of a watchman together. Jesus is coming soon...are you ready?

Thursday, May 21, 2026

More Than Meets the Eyes

by David Brenneman

"Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against...spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12.

When we begin to see circumstance the way God sees them, we realize that everything in our lives flows from the spiritual dimension. In fact, all that we do in the physical, relational, mental, and emotional realms has a spiritual component it.

Unfortunately, when we think about the adversity in our lives,

our natural tendency is to look only on the surface the relational

or physical pain we experience --rather than the underlying spiritual realities. But in times of brokenness, we should always consider: What is happening in my spiritual life? What might God want to change in my relationship with Him? How is the Redeemer working through this time of trial to restore, renew, and remake me? How might the Father be leading me to greater wholeness through this season of difficulty?

These questions bring us back to God's ultimate purpose of developing our faith in Him so He can work in us as Christlike people, strong in Spirit, completely obedient to Him, and utterly dependent on His supernatural wisdom and power.

Jesus, give me spiritual cyes so I can always recognize recognize how You are working. Amen.

-Trusting God with Today, Dr. Charles Stanley.

Situations, not problems. A definition by Merriam Webster's website says that a problem is a intricate unsettled question, a source of perplexity, distress or vexation. Likewise with its definition of situation, it says that it is a position with respect to conditions and circumstances.

This morning we woke up to a situation, while it could be a problem, we choose to see it as a situation the same way as Jesus does.

The situation is that yet again we have a power loss in parts of the house. A differentiator is that this time I am fairly certain where to look first.

While it's an inconvenience, it's not going to be a source of distress or distraction. Why would such an event happen today? I don't pretend to know the why's behind what my Savior allows, I am just responsible for how I react to those things.

You too may face situations, in fact it's a guarantee in the life of a Believer. The overarching thing is that they're there to grow us in Christ. To be a sign to either ourselves of God's provision and promises or someone who's watching our lives to spur them on to ask eternity altering questions.

Problems tend to get us to just run around trying to figure out what to do, how to do it and to figure out how to resolve it. It can be a source of anxiety, of worry, of all sorts of things that are not going to help. We tend to look at all of these in the wrong light.

Situations are different enough to be life-changing. Situations are far more emotionally detached in scope.

Jesus, in every Gospel, never once faced a problem. Jesus always took care of situations. Jesus saw through the apparent physically seen things and saw right through to the underlying spiritual realities.

So in my case what is the underlying spiritual reality? I have appointments today that are important. I have customer devices to fix that mean something to those to whom they belong. Devices that might be the pathway for them unto salvation in Christ Jesus. A problem would leave me severely distracted. A situation is not in my hands but my Savior's.

I have a knowledge of what to do and much later today will check it out. No stress or anxiety attached.

We likewise do our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ a serious disservice by getting unduly upset, being irrational, getting angry, raging at the incident, crying and bemoaning our state of affairs rather than to just come to Him in prayer first and see what He's doing or will have us to do.

All situations, all allowed sufferings, are meant to grow us in Christ. To become more like Jesus Christ to this lost world. To think anything other than that is to attribute our lives to something other than what Jesus said we are to be: lights in this world, revealing the light of Jesus Christ to fallen man and woman.

The workmanship we are in Christ isn't to make us a better human being. It's to transform us into the character of Christ. Not to necessarily make us the best of whatever profession we are in.

What we face physically impacts our growth spiritually, it's all to do with our sanctification in Christ Jesus.

We either show Christ to our world or we show ourselves to our world.

So praying without ceasing, without grumbling, without all the things that it shouldn't be as well as those things it should be...should be what helps to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

A great example was Jesus's first miracle of the water into wine. His mother had a situation, and wasn't calling it a problem. She brought it to Jesus for Him to take care of it.

Take your burdens to Jesus and ask Him to show you a still better way.

Take yourself out of the mindset that you're on your own in a problem or problems.

You should be remembering that Jesus was in your today before you got here and already knows what to do. Pray because He already has the situation well in hand.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Not Overcome

by David Brenneman

"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13.

"And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." Matthew 6:13.

"All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify." 1 Corinthians 10:23.

"But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death." James 1:14-15.

"Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall." 1 Corinthians 10:12.

We, in this life we live, will face all kinds, all sorts, of temptations. Part of these are spiritual in nature other parts are physical. But in all of these we're not to allow them mastery over us.

We are not powerless before that which tempts us so. We can call out to our God in Heaven and seek His help in time of need.

Joseph ran when faced with the temptation of Potiphar's wife. In other places in the Scriptures we're instructed to flee youthful lusts.

No one who has difficulties with addictions should keep a well stocked pantry of what it is that causes them to stumble because a fall would be inevitable.

Someone once said that you don't have to attend every argument that you are invited to. I would encourage you to consider it well that you don't have to give in to every temptation that entices you either.

Just because you can do something doesn't mean that you must do that thing.

Don't pretend you're strong enough when historically you haven't been. That's just you lying to yourself.

Seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness means to put what He says about our relationship with the world in its proper perspective.

Our world doesn't want people to stop and consider the consequences of impulsive decisions. Doesn't want people considering consequences of any kind.

We choose but we also are responsible for more than what our choices bring to ourselves. We are likely going to impact others by our selfish choices and decisions.

What are you doing about these things that are reigning in your life that shouldn't be there?

No one is helpless before temptation. We read that first of all today.

We must stand firm in the Lord.

We can stand firm in the Lord when we are intentional about seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness.

When we put how would Jesus feel about it in the equation it does tend to change our thinking.

We cannot use the excuse that we thought we could handle it when we know ourselves well enough to know better.

I face food temptations in many places that I go. Some days are better than others at resisting. There's other temptations for me as well in regards to how I relax. What occupies my mind during those times determines the outcome later on.

It's sadly scary to see what consumes people in just my Facebook newsfeed. It's equally scary to read through various news stories.

It's going to take time and intentionality to get a more fortified stance in the face of temptation.

Nobody who is saved in Christ is a victim of their circumstances. Which is Dr. Charles Stanley's Life Principle #18, "As children of a sovereign God, we are never a victim of our circumstances."

"Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:2-8.

Sometimes fleeing is just getting out of the area. Sometimes it's intentionally changing directions. Sometimes it's just taking a stand in prayer. Sometimes it's running sometimes it's carefully walking.

But, my Dear Reader, we aren't prisoners to temptations. If we're saved then we do have the resurrection power of Jesus Christ at our disposal. I and we would do well to remember that.

Pray when you know it's coming.

Pray when it feels 'safe'.

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe." Proverbs 18:10.

Pray for me as I pray for you in these things.

"But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." Romans 8:37.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Reality of Our Lives in Christ

by David Brenneman

"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:12-16.

There's nothing we have or ever will experience, consider, desire, dream about, or any such thing, that our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ hasn't already been through. There's just nothing unique to our lives.

He is our God of complete understanding, full of all the wisdom and knowledge of everything, who can and does sympathize with our lives.

So why do we tend to believe the lie that we can't possibly pray about this or that?

There's no degree of uncertainty, of sorrow, of pain, of anything that Jesus can't relate to.

So why do we persist in believing that lie?

So many professing Believers are still stumbling through their lives all because of falling for that untruth.

Jesus is patiently waiting for us to just trust Him in these things.

How have we trusted Him with our eternal life and yet struggle to in our daily lives?

Think about that...hard.

Think about that when you're foolish enough to run to books or speakers or anything else before you simply come to the feet of Jesus and finally just pour out your heart to Him.

How can anyone claim to trust Jesus for eternal life yet live a life that even the world can see isn't one of obedience to God? "May that never be!" As Paul wrote.

We put up pretenses in front of those in our lives and quite often attempt to do so with our prayers or in many cases lack of prayers to our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

He examines our hearts, Dear Reader. There's not a square inch of us that He's not intimately aware of and acquainted with.

Our motive should to live a life approved by Jesus Christ. Not a life of a mix of a slim amount of what He desires and heavy on what all we want.

We will never experience the righteous life that God desires for us until we present our everything to Him to do with as He sees fit.

Aside from our opening passage, we have this: "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

We have a date, set by the Father’s own authority, to stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives before Him.

What will your life reveal of how much and how well you trusted in Jesus? How will your relationship with Jesus be seen? How obedient to your calling in Christ will your life display?

Take a good look at your heart and life. Should you not be making every effort to stand firm in the Lord as your Bible teaches you? Shouldn't you be looking forward to time with Jesus every morning, afternoon and evening?

"Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light And your judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing." Psalms 37:4-8.

What is David saying here? When the desire of your heart is the Lord Jesus Christ you'll get more of Him because that's the desire of your heart. Not that you'll get all that you want in life.

Moving on..."But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:33-34.

And upon these is this: "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. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’" Matthew 22:37-39.

Without this as your firm foundation you're going to look for answers elsewhere.

You're going to fear bringing everything to Jesus in prayer.

You're going to try your way before His way. You're going to struggle through life.

Collecting possessions, accolades, certificates, diplomas, titles, outside the will of God for you in Christ Jesus will always turn to ashes.

Gaining them when you are living a life in Christ Jesus will mean something completely different. They will be yours but won't really matter in light of your real relationship with Jesus.

Jesus is waiting patiently for all to come to repentance. Waiting for those who have to lead lives in Christ that He approves.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Monday, May 18, 2026

A Break and Then a Purpose

by David Brenneman

After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses...in the

desert...Then the Lord said to him, "...Now come, I will send

you back to Egypt." (Acts 7:30, 33-34)

Often the Lord calls us aside from our work for a season and asks us us to be still and learn before we go out again to minister. And the hours spent waiting are not lost time.

An ancient knight once realized, as he was fleeing from his enemies, that his horse needed a shoe replaced. The prudent course of action seemed to be to hurry on without delay. Yet higher wisdom told him to stop for a few minutes at the blacksmith's along the road. Although he heard the galloping hooves of the enemies' horses close behind, he waited until his steed was reshod before continuing his escape. Just as the enemy

appeared, only a hundred yards away, he jumped into the saddle and dashed away with the swiftness of the wind. Then he knew his stopping had actually hastened his escape.

Quite often God will ask us to wait before we go, so we may fully recover from our last mission before entering the next stage of our journey and work. (from Days of Heaven upon Earth.)

Waiting! Yes, patiently waiting!

Till next steps made plain will be;

To hear, with the inner hearing,

The Voice that will call for me.

Waiting! Yes, hopefully waiting!

With hope that need not grow dim;

The Master is pledged to guide me,

And my eyes are unto Him.

Waiting! Expectantly waiting!

Perhaps it may be today

The Master will quickly open

The gate to my future way.

Waiting! Yes, waiting! still waiting!

I know, though I've waited long,

That, while He withholds His purpose,

His waiting cannot be wrong.

Waiting! Yes, waiting! still waiting!

The Master will not be late:

Since He knows that I am waiting

For Him to unlatch the gate.

J. Danson Smith

-Streams in the Desert

In reading this last night I was given to look back over the 10 months of unemployment that I had been through...and realized this was it. I put a copy of it in my journal as well.

Waiting in the Lord isn't a bad thing nor should it be an anxious or nervous thing. Ours is to make our requests known unto God and trust that He knows what's best to do with them. Ours also is to keep on keeping on in our obedience regardless of the size of what He brings us to be doing next. I can recall telling many people that while I can apply to this place or that place, I can only go through the door that the Lord says is mine to go through. He holds all the keys to everyone's future.

Stop and think about that. We shouldn't really be deciding what our future should fully be without going to our Father in Heaven, our Savior Jesus Christ and only in the power of the Spirit of God.

We will be surprised by what it is that He has in mind. I am at times overwhelmed by the blessings that they've brought our way. Certainly my God has brought more than we ever could have asked for or thought possible. Someone once said that God gives His best to those who leave the choice to Him.

We, if we're truly embracing it...believing it...trusting in it...are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them. That may be things we're familiar with and it may not. It's on us to obey and do those things that we were created in Christ Jesus to be doing.

Ours is to be a life modeled after our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Living, thinking, doing,speaking in the character of Christ.

We are to see less of us and more of Jesus. We should see our wants and desires shift towards those things that are important to our God.

This world is not our home, we're only passing through. We're being transformed into the character of Christ as we walk with Jesus.

We really do become more like whomever we spend the most time with in life.

You and I are to look for whatever opportunities that the Spirit presents us to participate in. We would do well to think of this world as temporary until we set foot into our home in Heaven.

Our times of suffering and distress won't last forever and as the devotional points out...our times of serving might get broken up in order to prepare us for something greater.

What we went through wouldn't have been possible had we not been brought through lesser things by our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6.

In this isn't a promise of full understanding. Just a call to trust in the Lord and what He says He will do when we do.

So who do you spend the most of your time with? A person? A phone or computer? Jesus?

Are you prepared for the Spirit to change your direction and to obey in what you're called to be doing?

Do you see your desires being changed to what your Savior and Lord desires? If not, start by getting on your knees in prayer to ask what does He need you to change.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Sunday, May 17, 2026

Praying for Crumbs?

by David Brenneman

"Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." John 14:13-15.

"What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you." James 4:1-10

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21

It's rather interesting what our Bible says about asking God about things in our lives and the lives of people He deems to cross paths with us.

It really hit me this past week how often I was merely praying for a good day. How often that I was only praying for the bare minimum to get by or for someone to get through what they're experiencing.

Prayer is our God-given grace inspired, grace filled opportunity to talk with our Savior, Lord, most intimate friend of our lives...and we get all guilty about asking for the real and try to sound like we're ok with the generic answer if it's not too much trouble.

We then are asking for crumbs and not the dinner!

After having 10 months of reminders of the goodness of Jesus my Savior brought to mind in both my then present situation as well as being reminded over and over of past times He answered not in crumbs but in the whole...it brought me nearly to tears.

My current job certainly is one that has been beyond anything I could have asked for or considered possible. This opportunity isn't just to get paid or even paid well. On my first day and throughout the last 5 weeks...the Spirit has shown me that this is my mission field.

Do the job to the best of my ability as unto the Lord and keep my spiritual ears open and spiritual eyes looking for opportunities to be Jesus to those around me.

That is why I was so blessed to be brought there...not by my strength nor by my ability but by the work of God in Christ Jesus in me to reach others.

As the most excellent book "90 Minutes in Heaven" by Don Piper showed...God often orchestrates our lives and has allowed particular adversities in our lives...to prepare us to minister to unique individuals who will be touched no other way.

My life, your life in Christ, isn't for us to get every comfort our hearts desire. Life in Christ is imparted to us to be a witness to our personal Jerusalem, our personal Judea and our path to the uttermost parts of the world.

Our prayers should align with the work of God that He invites us to participate in. Pray small get small answers. Pray big with our mission in mind and be ready for big results.

I am overwhelmed at times by God's blessings. There's been days when they've almost been too much.

Yet these and more are awaiting our prayers for them in Christ Jesus if we're praying with right priorities and right motives.

There's no way to exhaust the warehouses of Heaven. Yet we live at times like we think they will or that we're unworthy to ask.

Jesus desires to see Himself in us and His workmanship in us is to achieve that.

I am learning to pray for great days not just good days. Learning to pray for His provision for bigger in life rather than to just not and be self-defeated before ever seeing if His answer might be yes.

As someone once said, sometimes our prayers require us to pick up a shovel before His answer will come.

Yesterday I worked on laying out railroad ties in preparation for what I am praying for. I don't know where the money will come from I only know that my God never runs out and He can make my request happen. He has already proven that time and time again.

What are you who are among the saved in Christ Jesus refusing to pray for because you deem yourself unworthy to ask? Why are you answering no to something before you ever see what His answer will be?

Do you ask for crumbs from your Master's table rather that take the seat He's offered you at His table to feast with Him?

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Saturday, May 16, 2026

To Be Revealed in Us

by David Brenneman

"For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings." Hebrews 2:10 NASB1995.

Pastor Alistair Begg's notes 2:10 "Perfect through sufferings." Christ could not be a perfect sympathizer unless he bore our suffering. He did not look at sin from the distance of heaven, but he walked and lived in the midst of it. He knows all shapes of suffering: disease, sickness, poverty, need, friendlessness, hopelessness, desertion. You cannot cast human suffering into any shape that is new to Christ. In Him there is every pang that tears the heart, every grief that forces tears from the eyes. Everything that is inevitable to flesh and blood, to hearts that break, and spirits that are depressed, Jesus knows."

We are going to go through sufferings since Jesus did. We're not going to be transformed, as Paul wrote of in Romans at the Spirit’s direction, without going through the valley of sufferings.

No human body that undergoes surgery ever does so without the ramifications of an invasive procedure, the body doesn't care to be cut into, poked, etc.

Yet our desire of our hearts still ought to be what God wants for us...to become more like Jesus Christ.

Nobody just puts on a number and wins a triathlon just because it was there to do without intense preparation.

No untrained person just walks off the street into a recruiting office and then goes out the back door all ready for combat.

Nobody just gets into a car without any training and becomes a successful judge.

We have times in which we go through colleges, universities, community colleges, technical institutions in order to learn to be more than we were in order to become more than we used to be. It's a strenuous process. Loss of sleep, hard work, much sacrifice in order to get that diploma or accreditation. Then we reap what we sowed much more than we sowed and hopefully more than we sowed in doing so. We suffered through it.

So how much more will we go through in the school lead by the Spirit of God to become conformed to the image of Jesus Christ?

There's many lessons that we might get a grasp on what it is that the Spirit is teaching. Other times we just have to trust the promise and process that He's taking us through.

We can see much of that process in the Gospels concerning Jesus's life on the Earth. Can we really be foolish enough to not expect trials and tribulations, sufferings, to not be a part of our lives until either He calls us home or the Rapture of the Church occurs?

If we are not going through such things we ought to be concerned.

Great and mighty trees only get to be that way by weathering the storms that made them.

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you." 2 Corinthians 4:7-12.

"Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead," Philippians 3:12-13.

And "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans 8:18.

We can and should expect to go through some rough patches in life if our desire is what He desires for us...to become more like Jesus Christ.

We can and should expect many battles in our minds over what path to take to lead a righteous life that God desires for us.

We should also note what exactly the schemes of the devil are and strive to avoid them.

We can't know what we need to know without being in prayer and the Word of God daily.

The Spirit of God is our teacher bringing to remembrance all that Jesus commanded and taught.

It's on us to submit to His plans and purpose for us, not for us to dictate what we want our lives to look like.

Nobody enters Heaven's gates without traveling the road of suffering to get there.

"And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:3-5.

"Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10.

"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions." Colossians 1:24.

We cannot see what Jesus sees is becoming of us by His hands as they do their work in us. For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them.

Makes you look at that great hymn "Trust and Obey" a little bit differently doesn't it?

A student must trust their teacher if they're going to be taught.

We must travel this same road that our Savior and Lord traveled if we're going to reach the same destination.

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans 8:18.

Think hard about this passage since it in fact applies or should apply to us.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Friday, May 15, 2026

Be One He Loves

by David Brenneman

"The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But He loves one who pursues righteousness." Proverbs 15:9.

Paul spoke of running the race set before him. Here we read of pursuing righteousness. Paul spoke of running in such a way as to win the prize. Here's the prize.

The chief lesson to remember about the schemes of the devil is that he will try everything he's allowed in order to cause us to stumble or to fall.

To pursue righteousness is something pleasing to God. As we have been exhorted in the Word of God so should we be encouraged in the Lord to get in the game and run with the aim of Godly success in this.

Most don't recognize the schemes of the devil due to being so busy with worldly things. Pursuing success as the world defines it. Pursuing peace, love, joy, as the world defines it. Pursuing money because of thinking that's a badge of success. Spending on a whim rather that being satisfied with what one has. Not being organized enough to prepare for what comes in life. We have not because we ask with wrong intentions only planning to spend it on ourselves. We lack the spiritual eyes to see the work of God in Christ Jesus in ourselves and those He put in our lives. We lack the spiritual vision of His purpose for us and those whom we were meant to minister to.

Do you pursue righteousness? Do you rather pursue things of the world?

Where your treasure is there your heart will be also. If you're working towards worldly values you're going to miss Godly values.

What we do in Christ is what will survive the fires of His Truth on the day we stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives.

Yes this is a repeated subject and with good reason. Look even back at the early Church. Much was written in our Bibles of being found ready for the return of Jesus Christ for His Church.

I've never met, nor even seen in television or movies, where anyone was truly overjoyed at being caught unawares when someone important came to not visit but to evaluate their lives.

At the point of the Rapture of the Church...the first to be raptured will be the dead in Christ. Those who have already physically died. They have nothing to be immediately surprised about concerning this taking place. Those who are alive and remain will be right in the middle of life. Right in the middle of work, of driving vehicles, of relationship issues, of medical treatments, of everything happening right now in the world. Some will certainly be caught flat-footed.

Will you be found to be running the race set before you or will you be caught on the bench, on the ground, on anything but running the race to reach for righteousness?

Will you be found with the mind of Christ because you lived a life putting whatever the Spirit taught you as first place in your life? Will you be found in a shameful situation?

The word of God says that we do not know the day nor the hour of Jesus's return. We ARE to seriously consider that if the owner of the house had known what time he was going to be robbed that he would have prepared for the robber.

Lesson being that we should always be prepared for that moment we step into eternity.

Be "Rapture Ready" and while being that, being on our spiritual feet running the race set before us. Pleasing the Lord that we are pursuing righteousness found only in Christ Jesus.

It's never going to matter what accolades we achieve in this world in light of eternity.

It's never going to matter what places we went to, spending thousands to go see and experience.

It's not going to matter what famous people we met if those people aren't going to be an encouragement in Christ to us and others.

It's not going to matter how nice a house, how nice a car or anything we can accumulate.

It's not going to matter how much we sacrificed for our kids to give them everything except the teaching to pursue the Lord with their everything.

Pursue righteousness. Pursue what pleases our Lord Jesus Christ. Bring Him joy in our pursuit of what pleases Him.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org