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?

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

The Time is Near...Always

by David Brenneman

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near." Revelation 1:1-3.

Throughout many of the books that we read in the New Testament are the teachings that tell us that we are to live each day as if today were the day Jesus will return.

To live life as if today could be that day would certainly change how a great many people view their lives.

As odd as life is depicted in Hollywood and the other places these types of scenes are filmed...they do quite often get this aspect right. The aspect that in potential world ending events people's priorities abruptly change. Most everything gets tossed out the window that isn't about the direct need of the moment for which they are facing.

Yet all too many professing Believers in Jesus Christ aren't at all living life as if His promise to return for them is a high priority for them.

Part of how we live our lives isn't just to live in the character of Christ, but also to live as though we fully embrace His promised return.

We are to allow the grace poured out upon us to others. We are to show mercy as we have been shown mercy from on high by God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are also supposed to do what we do as unto the Lord with one hand and be ready to stand before Jesus with the other. Just as Nehemiah had those who returned to Jerusalem with him do.

We cannot, as professing Christians, live lives as if we can just go live life however we please. We are still here to further the gospel. We are still here to live transformed lives. We are still here because of His purposes for us. We aren't to live as though we have a ticket to go to Heaven so anything else doesn't matter.

We aren't here to bring glory to ourselves. Scripture explicitly states that we're to live lives in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. We are to be students of God's Word for our entire life. We are not promised health, wealth or prosperity. We are promised a new life in Christ that will bring honor and glory to God.

How are you doing in being prepared for Jesus to return for you?

Make sure that you read that statement again and make it intensely personal.

How honestly selfish have you been living your life for you more than you have for your calling in Christ?

We all do it in all kinds of ways and don't really see it that way.

We can often treat prayer to our living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as optional and attach an self-justified excuse to it.

We can often treat meeting with Jesus daily in our Bibles as optional and attach another self-justified excuse to it.

We can often excuse our behavior towards others with a good self-justified excuse.

Notice the pattern? Self-justification is a cancerous weed in our lives. We are to be dying to ourselves daily and living for Jesus daily.

We are to take the Word of God as commands and not suggestions.

I've done it, I am certain you've done it too.

We need to be ready for Jesus.

We need to be aware of what our spiritual gifts are and to be sure we're using them to glorify God in Christ Jesus.

We need to do more self-examination to be sure we're not allowing selfish decisions, selfish desires, to be growing in our lives.

Jesus IS coming. Will you be. among the excited or among the ashamed? Among those looking forward to what He might say about how you lived your life or among those who will be ashamed at not having done what you were called to be doing for Him?

Right now, in this here this now, you can do something about it. You cannot change your past but you can change your present.

Because...the time is near.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Temptation and Persecution Aren't the Same, Some are Situations

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.

"Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 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 12:7-10.

In too many circles there's Christian people who are believing that God won't give you more than you can bear in this life.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort. For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many." 2 Corinthians 1:3-11.

What is happening are Believers mixing these two pieces up.

Being tempted and being in difficult situations aren't the same thing.

Our hearts and minds are where temptations run amuck. Situations, persecutions, are what we find ourselves in. Temptations will be those things that attempt to steer us away from the righteous life that God desires for us. Situations, persecutions, are either due to our attempts to live life without following the Word of God or of our Savior bringing about our sanctification.

Never are the things that we face in our day-to-day life 'problems' to Almighty God. They are merely situations.

Some situations are there to grow us in Christ. Some have come about because we failed to seek the Lord Jesus Christ when they came up.

Persecutions are called as such because they are the result of Godly living. Of doing life in the way that honors God, honors our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father.

Situations can be persecutions but not necessarily. When faced with something significant and we don't pray about it in that moment we create a situation that isn't necessarily a persecution although it might turn into one.

Temptations are about sin and about enticing us to permit something that is not going to grow us in Christ. Something that will potentially become a practiced sin that Paul wrote extensively about avoiding and not participating in.

Scripture says that in Christ we overwhelmingly conquer through Him over sin. This agrees with the passage that we read about no temptation overtaking us that isn't common to man.

Throughout Church history we see countless people who were persecuted to the point of death. Death, for only the Believer in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, is merely changing addresses to their home in Heaven.

If historical information is accurate all but one Apostle was persecuted unto death. The Apostle John is perhaps the only exception. A Roman Emporer tried to kill him and he wasn't able to so John was banished to the island of Patmos.

You will go through this life with countless attempts by Satan's minions to tempt you. Standing firm in Christ you can defeat every single one.

You may go through this life encountering persecutions...while possibly complex or difficult...in Christ you will get through them to the glory of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

You will face situations every single day. How you choose to look at them is how well and how far you've come in your walk with Jesus and a testament towards how much you've grown in Christ.

As a Believer look at your life through the lense of the Word of God. Don't trust your eyes or ears.

Look at life the way that Jesus did and wants you to do as well.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Monday, June 15, 2026

Love Even Those You Think Are Undeserving

by David Brenneman

"You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:43-48.

"You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord." Leviticus 19:18.

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Watching the evil and the good." Proverbs 15:3.

Our world teaches that our dealings with others should be direct and should be blunt and forceful. Some go as far as to certainly embrace the whole eye for an eye mentality.

The Lord Jesus Christ certainly doesn't adhere to any of these trains of thought let alone any others that are different from what He's said.

Ours is to love as He loved. Love as He loved us. To not take revenge but leave room for the wrath of God. It's not for us to do nor should it be something we ruminate on as well. Does not the Scriptures say "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay."?

We do not show Christ to this fallen world when our hearts are being lead astray towards anger, bitterness and wrath.

Ours is to follow Christ's example. Jesus had many and plenty of opportunities to take up wrath against those whom did Him wrong during His time on the Earth, especially during His crucifixion.

Yet we read in His prayer to His, our Father in Heaven, not His will but rather the will of the Father be done.

We see countless movies, television shows, novels written, where people have used these platforms to espouse revenge in all kinds of ways upon those 'evil' people in their stories.

The way of Jesus Christ says "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit. Love your neighbor as yourself."

There's no room, or should be no room, in our hearts for anything but the grace and mercy shown to us that we should give this to others as Christ gave us.

This was something that God began teaching me long ago. I can recount many many times where part of me wanted to use my imagination to pour out my idea of vengeance and wrath upon others. Yet my God spoke louder in my heart and His words prevailed. Later, I saw what the Lord had done concerning these people and it was beyond whatever I had in mind.

When I get out of His way in these things, He does always deal with these types of people.

My Dear Reader...the Scriptures are plain...we aren't to seek revenge, we are to pray for those who persecute us. We aren't to scheme for payback but to pray for God to deal with them in however He sees fit.

Who knows, my Dear Reader, if the person or people doing such things is going to eventually come to Christ for salvation and maybe even be that last person who is to be saved before Jesus returns?

Add to this, we don't know what Jesus is doing in these moments in the lives of others.

We are not suggested to pray, we are commanded to pray.

Ours isn't to rip people on Facebook, Instagram, X, in person or on other websites. Ours is to truly only take the matter to the Lord in prayer and leave it there.

Ours is to obey Christ Jesus in all things. Ours is to live our lives in Christ in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. Ours isn't to play God.

What we deem as being justice may not come in our lifetime but rest assured nobody escapes the notice of our Lord Jesus Christ. Scripture says that He never slumbers nor sleeps. That He is always watching the whole Earth. He knows every aspect of every situation of every single man, woman, and child on this Earth.

So what if we have people coming down on us for this, that, or the other.

For anyone to get to us they must go through Jesus first.

If Jesus has allowed someone to impact our lives in adverse ways, then seek the Lord to understand why and what you should do in such things. Don't assume. Don't presume.

Several in the Old Testament had no idea why their lives were as they were. Yet we read of how God dealt with each in ways they never would have guessed.

Pray for those who persecute you.

Bless and do not curse.

Lastly...remember:

"Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:8-11.

"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Disguised Bitterness, Revealed Grace

by David Brenneman

As defined by many, God's grace is "God's Riches At Christ's Expense".

As Biblically defined its God's unmerited favor poured out upon those who've come to Christ for salvation.

For more than quite a few people there seems to be a forgetting of the grace that was poured out on them in that they aren't extending it to others, and their disobedience in this has been disguised as bitterness towards others. A lack of looking at the world through Christ's understanding eyes, Christ's understanding heart.

What's supposed to happen in the lives of all Believers is that the grace of God is supposed to flow from Jesus to us then from us to the world.

We are too easily embittered towards people in the world and aren't trying hard enough to be understanding or forgiving.

People do have bad days. Both the believing and the unbelieving alike.

People are, again both groups, are prone to allow a bit or more than a bit of selfishness creep in where it shouldn't be when we deal with others.

We aren't aware that we're setting standards that aren't God's standards when it comes to our relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ as well as those in the world in which we live.

We do all this and neglect to remember that we are supposed to be representing Christ to the world. We are supposed to be living lives in Christ in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.

We really ought to do more, do better, at getting this vital aspect of living life because my Dear Reader, who knows if that person who's before you is the last person who will be saved before Jesus returns?

What if our feelings are getting in the way of being the light of Jesus Christ that we are supposed to be?

Paul said "For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win." 1 Corinthians 9:19-24.

Jesus always presented grace to people. Sometimes it was received well other times people threw it back at Him but it never stopped Him from doing it.

Proclaiming what we will or won't do because of how we were treated...is going to cause us to withhold the grace we are commanded to give to all.

Jesus was obedient even to the point of death, death on a cross.

Grace still came from My Jesus to a thief on another cross who had in moments just before had been cussing Him out with the second thief on another cross.

We are also commanded to guard our hearts. This kind of situation is a very big reason why.

We won't be showing Christ to the world while we withhold His grace.

Consider your thoughts and actions. Consider whether you're more interested in personal justice rather than obeying as your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did regardless of His circumstances.

Consider whether or not you are being motivated by anything else that's causing you to justify your bitterness.

We live in a world where words get redefined at a breakneck pace.

For generations people both in and outside of the Church don't consider what they do, say or think, is exactly what the Bible says is idolatry. Yet that's what it is.

Holding a grudge, whether big or small, against people is still a root of bitterness.

The Bible is written for our instruction not for us to twist it to satisfy our way of thinking.

Bitterness is bitterness. No matter how the world wants to redefine it.

We are further warning in the Scriptures to never let any root of bitterness spring up within us.

We read directly from Jesus that if we don't forgive we won't be forgiven.

Ours in Christ is to take that grace we have been given and to give it to others just as we were once given it. To totally unworthy people just as we are unworthy to receive what we were given. Yet in Christ we are worthy because of the salvation we were given.

I do not think that all too many Believers truly look at others with the thought that the person in front of them just might be the last person who will be saved before Jesus returns.

This is what is meant by our hastening the return of Jesus Christ...our obedience in showing Christ to a lost world...that grace we were given...give it to others.

Show some grace and mercy to others as your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ did and daily does with...you.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Saturday, June 13, 2026

The Unexpected

by David Brenneman

Was a year ago two things happened in my life. Two things that had the same answer from the Lord Jesus Christ.

I had known for the several years that I was at my former employer that I wasn't meant to stay there. That place was a stepping stone, a means to an end, to support us in our move up to our new hometown.

While I had been actively looking for a new job, and had plans for a much different type of exit from there, God had a much different plan in mind for me.

A friend of mine and I share a similar belief when it comes to life and our seasons at employers. We will stay at a place until God makes it impossible to remain there.

Most decidedly this time last year Jesus made it impossible to stay.

What I also know from my faith history is that when Jesus is doing something His size, keep my fingers out of it. He will deal with those whom serve up injustice.

So while this time last year was unexpected as to the timing it was in God's timing for me.

I was reviewing my journal entries for those first several days this morning. It's interesting and amazing at the same time to see that perhaps yes, growth in Christ had been happening in me. My reactions to this experience were not like they were in days gone by. I can remember sitting in my truck praying. I was seriously going to trust in my Savior to save me, save us, again.

Looking back over the days since it's an incredible tapestry of things of blessings of even more learning about my faith and my Savior Jesus Christ.

The truth of God for us in Christ Jesus is there ARE NO UNEXPECTED THINGS in His mindset.

While we are the sheep being lead, He is the all-powerful, all-wise, all-knowing, all-everything who is never surprised by anything. No

Satan didn't get away with anything concerning me. My Savior chose at that time to lead me down a different path. The road less traveled by many because they are wanting to avoid the trials and tribulations that are coming.

My Dear Reader, don't ask God to take away what He's doing in your life to become more like Jesus.

Essentially that's what we do when we're thrown into adversity that's by His hand.

When adversity is by our own hand that's a different matter.

But when you're being lead to green pastures, when you're being made to lie down, when you're being lead even through the valley of the shadow of death, do not fear because your Great Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, is right there in it with you.

A year ago seems almost like forever ago.

In this moment I am blessed beyond my understanding. I am getting paid to learn how to help people by fixing their speech devices. I get to work with some really good people.

The journey to get here was absolutely wonderful and worth it...when there's the right perspective of being in it.

We can easily miss what the Spirit is doing, is teaching, when all we're doing is complaining about what we're in the middle of.

My Dear Reader...when the unexpected to you happens...rather than run to complain...run to ask what it is He's wanting to do in your life. Because no circumstances that you will ever face will be enough to thwart the plans that God has for you.

Ask God to show you what it is He's doing and continue to give of your best, as unto the Lord, while He does it.

"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.

This, my Dear Reader, is for all who are in Christ: "For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Friday, June 12, 2026

Asking Him for More

by David Brenneman

"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid." Proverbs 12:1.

Probably most don't like the idea of discipline. It's rules. It's not being allowed to do this or that.

Yet we all learned the discipline of learning. Learning to communicate with the world. Learning how to move about in our world. Some discipline was more tailored towards special needs. Some cannot speak yet learned how to talk with devices such as those that I work on.

The discipline of the Lord is the perfected version of the discipline we had as children from our parents or guardians.

We had those over us to teach us the things we would need to know to get on with living a life in our future in the world.

The similarities continue. Likely we have times when we don't understand the lessons being taught and ask questions. In the Lord we ask questions because of what we're going through isn't making much sense. .

To fight the discipline of the Lord is what's stupid. Fight what is absolutely going to be for our benefit?

Yet there are Believers out there who are doing just that. They aren't going to Church because of some incident that happened to them or others.

They aren't going for_______. Fill in the blank.

Excuses. No excuse will cut it when we stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives before Him.

That's just the truth about His promise of the discipline that's for our benefit.

There's no excuse that we might give that will be ok with Jesus for disobedience.

If God leads you to something He will lead you through it.

That theme is throughout the Bible.

Sometimes the things He wants us to do are incredibly difficult and we have no control over or context to relate to. Look at Peter and his learning to accept the Gentiles.

Our struggles are not against flesh and blood but rather against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

The disciplines we learn and absolutely do need to learn are for the spiritual battles that we will engage in.

We need to learn how to accurately identify our enemies. We need to learn how to lay hold of the promises of God in Christ Jesus. We need to go through the discipline of the Spirit’s Basic Training Course to know how to be a soldier in the armies of God. We have to learn how to walk with Jesus. How to not fall behind or get ahead of Him. We need to learn the aspect of building up endurance in that so that we can truly run the race set before us.

Realize there IS a race set before you.

You need the disciplines taught by the Spirit of God to build up your endurance to do so. You need to learn how to pace yourself with Jesus.

Paul wrote of a transformed life. This is the life that eagerly received the discipline of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ask for more. As odd as that sounds. Ask for more because of what you and I know of Psalms 23.

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalms 23:1-6.

This is the will of God for us...our sanctification. Our transformation into being like Jesus. Our discipline, our learning in the Lord.

We should always want what God our Father wants for us. It's going to take us down roads that are going to be difficult at times and different.

"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.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Thursday, June 11, 2026

Safeguard Your Time With Jesus

by David Brenneman

"Job...was blameless, upright, fearing God" Job 1:1

Job knew what it meant to be caught off guard by disaster. He

lost family, property, and wealth all in a matter of moments. Yet somehow he managed to honor God with affirmations of trust.

How? We know that Job was a godly and upright man and that he

made sacrifices to the Lord. But here is the key to why Job was able

to endure: "This was Job's regular practice" (Job 1:5 NLT).

Certainly, Job had questions about his losses, but ultimately,

he trusted in God's goodness and sovereignty to the end because

he had a solid relationship with the Lord in the day-to-day. In this we see a valuable principle: never underestimate the value of a

God-honoring routine. Our daily times alone with the Father build

strength within us that sustains us when we're thrown headlong

into adversity.

So don't wait until times of trouble hit to get ready spiritually-

that only leads to a more difficult battle. Train for those seasons

now by safeguarding your quiet times with the Lord. Because every

day that you enjoy His presence, delve into His Word, and pray

about what concerns you, He strengthens your soul. You may not

see the benefits immediately, but when the trials come, you`ll be

surprised at how He's prepared you.

Jesus, I love meeting with You daily. Thank You for strengthening my soul. Amen.

-Trusting God with Today. Dr. Charles Stanley.

One sure thing caught my attention in reading this last night.

A year ago tomorrow marks a time in my life where the unexpected happened. But in reading this: "So don't wait until times of trouble hit to get ready spiritually-

that only leads to a more difficult battle. Train for those seasons

now by safeguarding your quiet times with the Lord. Because every

day that you enjoy His presence, delve into His Word, and pray

about what concerns you, He strengthens your soul. You may not

see the benefits immediately, but when the trials come, you`ll be

surprised at how He's prepared you." I have a greater appreciation for these valley's and mountain tops that Jesus lead me through.

He taught me to safeguard my quiet times with Him. He taught me to run to Him first, not after trying other things.

I still remember being outside the building sitting in my truck wondering what in the world was going on. Reviewing everything, every word spoken, every choice, every decision. Not seeing anything amiss. So prayer began because I certainly needed my Savior to save once again.

It's been my practice to daily be spending time in my Bible every morning and every evening. Even if I lost some sleep in doing so.

My Dear Reader you too must guard, safeguard, your time with Jesus. There's nothing that will satisfy when things aren't going the way you're expecting than knowing you've got Jesus in your corner.

All too often people sacrifice this precious time with Jesus and long ago that was me.

How can we live lives that are full of grace and truth if we don't even know what God means by it?

Everything you have, have had, or ever will have or experience, is a fleeting vapor in time. All will become a memory either for you or those whom you know. All physical things will be consumed by the fires that will eventually come to this universe at the end of the thousand year reign of Jesus Christ.

What survives is what we know and have come to learn about our Savior Jesus Christ. What survives is our transformed life in Christ. What lives on in eternity after the final judgment at the end of that thousand year reign of Jesus Christ is the lives of those who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.

All these things we spend, or rather expend, money on to keep or restore or to possess for a season are all going to turn to ashes.

What we do, what we learn, what we have in Christ is the only thing that's worth protecting. Job's integrity stayed intact during his tribulation. He lost practically everything in his life and clung to His Savior and Lord.

As Dr. Stanley pointed out, "as was his practice". Fast forward to Daniel. Those who died for their attempt to kill Daniel knew of his practice of prayer 3 times a day no matter what was going on in his life. It was his practice.

We have things that are our practice that by no means should be a part of our lives because Jesus is not honored in them. We follow the world in many practices that we should not. Excusing such things by referring to them by other names.

Protect your time with Jesus.

Safeguard your heart in Christ Jesus.

"Give of your best to the Master, give of your best to the King." as a line from a hymn says.

Jesus is ready to return to call His own to Himself. Will He find you as a very close friend or will He find you as one who really didn't try all that hard to get to know Him?

How you live your life shows your answer.

How well you guard your time with Jesus speaks volumes.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org