Lest We Forget...

Lest We Forget...

by David Brenneman 

Who are you?  Not really a question most people ask themselves.  For those in Christ, daily they ought to remind themselves if only to better fortify their minds in the day of battle. 

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!

Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;

Redeemed through His infinite mercy,

His child, and forever, I am.

Redeemed, redeemed,

Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!

His child, and forever, I am.

I think of my blessed Redeemer,

I think of Him all the day long;

I sing, for I cannot be silent;

His love is the theme of my song.

Redeemed, redeemed,

Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!

His child, and forever, I am.

I know I shall see in His beauty

The King in whose law I delight,

Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps,

And giveth me songs in the night. Redeemed, redeemed,

Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!

His child, and forever, I am.

-1882 Fanny Crosby "Redeemed"

When we get up, my Dear Reader, we are entering the battlefield. We aren't just entering the world. Satan's been up all night long. His minions are ready.  We cannot afford to go into battle unarmed and ill prepared. 

Remembering who you are is critical. Remembering your history of success in Christ is critical.

Satan's schemes revolve around what he can get you to believe about yourself and around what he can get you to NOT believe about Jesus.  We look at the Garden of Eden..."Did God really say...".   In the days He was tempted...Satan's schemes hadn't changed...he tried twisting what God did say. 

Your identity isn't in the mirror. 

You are who Jesus says you are.  

You are either saved, sealed in the Spirit, redeemed, forgiven, or you are not.  In the day of judgment to come, Jesus will separate people only on that basis, never once asking any questions about it.

We need to indeed stimulate one another to love and good deeds as the Scriptures say that we ought to be doing.  We need to keep reminding others of who they are in Christ when the battles are raging.  To not give up, to not lose heart.  This life isn't the end.  It's just the beginning.  

Lauren Daigle had a song out that is a great reminder "You Say"

I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I'm not enough
Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up

Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low
Remind me once again just who I am because I need to know
Ooh-oh

You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
And you say I am held when I am falling short
And when I don't belong, oh You say I am Yours
And I believe (I)
Oh, I believe (I)
What You say of me (I)
I believe

The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me
In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity

The fight is always going to be more than we can handle...if we're being truthful with ourselves.  We need to rely, daily, on the hand of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to keep us moving towards our destination...and everyone has a destination.  It's either Heaven by way of the Son of God who loved you, died and rose again 3 days later for you or its by way of rejection of Him and the next stop is Hell.  There's no half-hearted lives in between.

Remind yourself of who you are. Child of God. Heirs to the promise of God. Joint heirs with Christ Jesus.  Beloved of God.  Imputed with His righteousness.  Sealed in the Spirit. Forgiven not forsaken.  

Don't listen to nor be afraid of the voices of this world. It says in the book of John that people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil...they don't want to hear that their way leads to death and separation from God. 

My Jesus I love Thee, I know Thou art mine

For Thee all the follies of sin I resign

My gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art Thou

If ever I loved Thee my Jesus 'tis now

I love Thee because Thou has first loved me

And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree

I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow

If ever I loved Thee my Jesus 'tis now

You're likely going to wake up to some fierce fighting.  Jesus is still Jesus. Still the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Still your Savior and Lord. Still the promise keeper.  

Go, take some time to be with Jesus and be thankful for His promises and His presence in your life.  Blowhard's come and go, but the word of God stands forever. 

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.

Always Fruit Season

Always Fruit Season

by David Brenneman 

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’" Matthew‬ ‭7:15‭-‬23

Many many times, Jesus taught His Disciples to be on the alert. To be watchful. In turn, they were to teach future generations to be on the alert.  He taught, they learned, they taught and so on. 

Do you know what to be on the alert about?  Have you read your Bible to begin to know?  Is what Jesus said to be looking for important to you?  Are you getting the point yet?

Jesus never taught good suggestions. 

Jesus never said anything just to hear Himself speak.  Nor did He say things only to make people feel less offended.  

If Jesus taught something and that something was written down in the Bible...we're to take it to heart.  Take it to the bank.  Remember it forever.  Forget what your eyes see or ears hear.  Whatever Jesus has said is truth IS truth. 

We are going to know people by their fruits.  He said so, and it is so.  Plain and simple. 

He said there are going to be people who have claimed to have done many things in His name...and that will exactly be the case.  There is absolutely nothing that will not transpire that He said is going to happen.  Good thoughts, good vibrations, good anything isn't going to change the definition of the truth of God's word. 

People are sin cursed beings from birth. 

The circumstances of this world are because of sin.  They aren't because of anything else.  These are truths of God's word.  

People are going to Heaven and to Hell every single second...all because they either chose salvation in Christ Jesus or they didn't.  That is another inescapable truth.  Jesus said it and that's what it is.

Jesus said that the world would hate those who are His...and it is so.  Truth.

Jesus said to still live each day as unto Him...and it should be that way for all who believe.  

Jesus said that he who knows the good he ought to be doing and does not do it, sins.

Until you die or the Rapture of the Church happens...we have inescapable truths of God's word that we need to be taking seriously...taking care to observe.  

If anyone lacks wisdom they are to ask of God who gives it freely to all.  Do you ask Him?  

We're not to put people above obedience to God's Word...do we do that?  Regardless of what we say...what does the evidence say?  

We aren't to put careers, possessions, thoughts or feelings, opinions even, above what the Spirit is trying to teach us to make important.  Taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ takes both time and practice.  A marksman only becomes one through intense practice.  A skilled musician only becomes one through years of practice.  A soldier only distinguishes himself or herself through intense training to get there. 

Your fruits, the fruits of others, are the simplest forms of knowing where you and others stand before Jesus.  

You don't knowingly buy, intentionally purchase, bad fruit, inedible fruit to consume do you?  You test what you are wanting to buy before doing so.  Who cares who's potentially offended by you putting down bad fruit.  

When Jesus speaks to you, do you listen?  Don't ever think He isn't.  If you're saved, then it's a guaranteed thing that He speaks to you. Are you always talking to Him rather than listening to Him?   

Here's your thought for the day...He's always aware of YOUR fruits.  

He taught the Disciples to look at the fruits of others.   He wouldn't teach what He isn't doing Himself.  The Master was to teach, the Disciple was to do in like manner. 

Get ready because the world isn't going to get it.  They will accuse you of judging others.  Saying you shouldn't judge.  Take them to the Scriptures and show them the truth.  There's no need to have an argument that Jesus already settled. 

Pray today for yourself to have eyes that see and ears that hear what the Spirit says to you.  If you're allowing anyone or anything to be more important than that...my Dear Reader...you have a problem. 

"Because so-and-so said..." is not going to be a defense when Jesus's responds with "But what did I say?".

When you go about your life...consider exactly that. Jesus talking to you...asking you "But what did I say?".

We have His Word.  We have His Spirit.  We are to be obedient sons and daughters of God.  Even if it's not popular.  Even if people get offended.  It is a far far better thing to stand with Jesus and be judged by the world than to stand with the world and be judged by God. Trust Jesus, believe Jesus, leave the consequences to Him. 

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.

Devotion isn't a Resolution

Devotion isn't a Resolution 

by David Brenneman 

Is Jesus the Leader of your life?

Are you a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ?  

Is growing in popularity more important to you than growing in Christ? 

Are you one of those New Year's resolution makers who dump them a few days or weeks into the new year because you failed at them?

Why not return to your commitment instead?   Your commitment to following Jesus is to be far and away more important than yourself.  Deny yourself, take up your own cross each day and follow Me.  Extremely little confusion there on what that can and does mean.

How much time do you put into recreation that honestly belongs to Jesus that should return to Jesus?  There's a time and place for recreation, but all too often we go overboard and do not consider it as such. 

Are you at all trying to grow in Christ?  It's not that complicated a question. 

Are you storing up treasure in Heaven?  What treasure gets stored in Heaven?  People.  The first life we impact is our own for Christ, the second is family and friends, third being everyone else.   These are the treasures of Heaven.  People are the only creatures from this world that enter into Heaven. Spirit beings after we die either as believers go to Heaven immediately or as unbelievers who go to Hell immediately.  There are no store rooms in Heaven for earthly wares.  No closets of favorite clothes.  No garages for favorite cars.

Our impact on ourselves and others for Christ are what we give an account of before Jesus.  

If you place anything of this world higher than your relationship with Jesus...it will be removed.   The Bible says that He is a jealous God.  One of His names is Jealous.  Adam and Eve had an unhindered, unobstructed, relationship with Jesus before the fall.  That short period of time was the only time a taste of Heaven appeared on Earth.  No shame, no wrath, was ever on the table.  No committed sins ever needing atonement.  Pure, unobstructed, joy and peace between God and Man.

Your relationship with Jesus should be growing.  You should be always more interested in what Jesus has to say, and has for you to do, than your own self interests.  

Personally, I am at a place in my life where I have lost track of how many times I have read through my Bible.  I can't seem to memorize Scripture, but I still keep at reading it.  When needed, somehow the Spirit brings it to mind. Reputable men of God should be of great importance to us.  

They certainly are to me.  My local Pastor is one, several others are as well.  

Jesus does have a great plan for each and every single Believer.   The temptation is to rewrite the play book after He’s only shown us what we need to know in this moment.  Jesus isn't going to show you your entire life ahead of time because, quite frankly, you can't handle the truth.  You're not ready, not able, not mature enough, to handle it yet.  It's not your physical age that's the issue, it's where you are spiritually.  Your stage of spiritual growth. 

Devoted followers of Christ are simply intentional about the things that the Spirit says are important.  Being devoted to Jesus is going to have highs and lows. Going to have peaks and valleys. Going to have joyous times and times that are indeed the valley of the shadow of death to us.  The point being He leads, we follow.  Our hand is in His, not His hand in ours. 

So you fell down in your attempt at devotion to Jesus.  Ask for His forgiveness, He will set you back on your feet, clean you up, and you're back on your way with Jesus again.  It happens. We read of Paul talking about his struggles with his sin nature.  Paul, Peter, all the Apostles had daily struggles with temptation and sin.  We're certainly in good company. 

Start small, but stay committed to reading your Bible.  It's God's love letters to you.  We know enough about love letters from those we care about to take in everything about them.  We do so because it's important to the relationship. 

Help books, online or in person sermons, are absolutely no replacement for your Bible.  It won't matter if you've read hundreds in your lifetime, what WILL matter is if you have read the only one Jesus left for you to read and were being resolute in trying to follow it.

365 day Bible plans are everywhere.  None are cumbersome.  All give you an amount to read each day.  Your Bible is the only book you will ever read where the Author is always present when you read it. So ask questions.  He loves it when we do. 

Take whatever is in the way of you following Jesus as you should and cast it aside before it's taken from your life.  The One who lived and died for you ought to always be more important than any person, place or thing.

Don't get discouraged by your view of life.  Jesus sees the whole picture of you, not just the view you have now.  He’s got much better plans for you than your mind can handle.  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.

It's time...

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.

Mental Rent Free Living Not For Us

Mental Rent Free Living Not For Us

by David Brenneman 

"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? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew‬ ‭5:44‭-‬46‬.

A very good sign that you're struggling with forgiving others is when you're preoccupied with them in your heart and mind.  Some refer to this as living rent free in your head.  

We are indeed to learn from encounters with others, and to balance that with knowing them by their fruits, but we are to always forgive them. 

"For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:14‭-‬15‬.

We are often filled with attempts at creating exceptions to the rules.  Trying to justify our stance before ourselves and before God.   

Lest we forget...Jesus, at the Great Commission, said what?  "Go, therefore and make disciples, teaching them all that I have commanded you.".

So many people are in self created mental prisons because they refuse to forgive as Christ forgave them.  So many people do not let go of the past.  So many are living in bitterness because of not doing what Jesus said to be doing.  They've lived with it for so long that they don't even see the bitterness themselves. 

As all our troubles in this world are as a result of the original sin of Adam and Eve, and with it came broken relationships, we are all going to have relationship issues.  

The only perfect relationship that we will ever see is when Believers are with Jesus. 

There will be no misunderstandings. 

There will be no need for therapy or help in areas of anything with Jesus when people are with Him face-to-face. 

In this life, however, His guidelines are His commands.  We have a mission in His plans for us to accomplish.  We can and will be easily distracted from that plan and purpose.  Both our sin nature, which is at its root selfish, and the enemy of God do not want us successful at the righteous life that God desires for us. 

As many have taken to saying about our sin nature and the new nature in Christ Jesus, whichever we feed, that's the one who grows within each of us. 

The Scriptures teach us to be dead to the sin nature.  To put on Christ Jesus.  It's impossible to put on both and not have troubles. 

Comedians, actors and actresses, have shown the ludicrous results of situations where people wear several layers of clothing and try to function normally.  

Forgiveness is a command.  It matters not what our feelings are on the matter.  When we aren't forgiving, it means we aren't trusting God with what's necessary and needed in our lives and the offending party.

So many people live with layers of bitterness towards others and do not realize it.  Yes, they might have hurt you, but the command from Jesus is firm.

People crucified Him and He forgave them.

"And when they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:33-34.

There's nothing harsher than being crucified for the sins of all humanity and yet Jesus forgave them.

We cannot live the righteous life that God desires for us if we harbor a lack of forgiveness in our hearts.  

This isn't to say we forget what caused the need to forgive.  We indeed must know people by their fruits.  So many want to couple judging others with justifying their own behavior.  They won't forgive or forget anything and the result is more bitterness. 

Being right before Jesus is far more important than being right before ourselves. 

As one of my favorite shirts says "I would rather stand with God and be judged by the world than stand with the world and be judged by God".

There's tremendous freedom in true forgiveness.  It's so freeing that to describe it doesn't do it justice.

We don't need to carry around imaginary conversations that have never taken place.   Never have to have mental arguments that never happened with these offending people.  

Forgiveness releases bitterness.  Leave the work of doling out justice to the Righteous Judge.  It's not our place to do His job.

You who are Believer's...don't you remember or realize that when all that went down to cause you to react how you did and they did...that Jesus was right there too?  That, as the Bible says, He searches the hearts of mankind for every thought and intention?  He knows what the truth is.  

Truth is we are to represent Jesus.  

It's indeed something to be learned, forgiveness.  Because the Disciples had to be taught, we need to be taught.  

You do not know how far your forgiveness will go in bringing others to Christ for salvation.  Isn't that beyond more important than whatever the perceived problem is?

Forgive as you have been forgiven by Jesus.  Don't you want His full forgiveness for yourself?  Don't you want others to receive the same?

Start eviction steps for the people who have taken up residence in your heart and mind.  Forgiveness is the first step.  Forgive and show those mental apparitions the door.   Keep your eyes on Jesus and ask Him to deal with the people in your life as He sees fit.  Jesus is the Author and the Perfector of our faith.  

You're only going to be spinning your wheels in mudd until you learn to forgive. 

Bitterness robs so many people of so much.  

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.

No One Good, Not One

No One Good, Not One

by David Brenneman 

"What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave, With their tongues they keep deceiving,” “The poison of asps is under their lips”; “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”;  “Their feet are swift to shed blood, Destruction and misery are in their paths, And the path of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin." Romans‬ ‭3:9‭-‬20‬.

Our thoughts and feelings, ideas and perceptions on good and evil aren't what's true about what we see, hear, do, and find in the world.  It's everything that God's said in His word that it is. 

We're honestly too lenient, to accommodating towards everything, the good, the bad and the ugly of life.  

I can be as peaceable, kind, generous, loving, forgiving as most anyone else. 

I can also be the most evil person you've ever seen or met.  As has been coined in several places with great knowledge comes great responsibility.  Another is that there's a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.

All human beings that have breathed air, the only exception being Jesus, have the ability to be the most evil person who ever lived under the right circumstances.  

No, there are no 'good' people in this world.   Christians are forgiven, but are far from perfect.  The Spirit is at work in the lives of those who believe and have asked Jesus to be the forgiver of their sins and the Lord of their lives.  It's a lifelong process.  I am not the same person today as I was 23 and a half years ago when I first moved from my hometown.  That person doesn't exist anymore.  Even that person was different than the boy who came to Jesus decades earlier.  The work of God is ongoing until we breathe our last.

We need those daily reminders and daily pursuits of being with Jesus.  It is the Spirit of God that empowers the Believer to overcome sin in daily living.  There is no such thing as being good enough outside of salvation through Jesus Christ alone.  

Countless millions of people will stand before Jesus someday and be in shock and horrified to learn that truth.  That their good was never good enough.  That all they pursued in life to help others, to do anything for mankind that they did...was all for naught. Worthless...because their names were not written down in the book of Life.  These people will shriek and cry out in the presence of Jesus on that judgment day, just as many trillions of others are right now in Hell who thought the same.  

Jesus is the only way to Truth.

The only way to salvation. 

Jesus will only accept the testimony of the Spirit who testifies to the validity of someone being saved.  The Spirit seals the deal and writes a person's name in the Book of Life in the blood of Jesus Christ. 

My Dear Reader, please don't overlook all of this.  It is imperative to be right with Jesus now, before He returns.  All the horrors of all the wars and disasters of all human history will not compare with what judgments will be revealed against all mankind after the Rapture of the Church and the rest of the book of Revelation occurs.

Your worst nightmare won't compare to what's coming.  It's that bad.

Jesus said that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through Him.  You're not going to see the Father, not going to see Heaven, by trying to get there without going through the requirement of salvation through Jesus Christ alone.  

Being a good person won't cut it. 

Being a nice person won't cut it. 

Being a wonderful contributor to the world won't cut it.

There is no one good, not one.  For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  Romans 3:23.

Life can probably feel great to you right now without Jesus in it.  But deep down you know in your heart of hearts that something is wrong.  Something is missing.  You're filling your life with all kinds of things and you still feel empty.

Don't let another moment go by without you getting right with Jesus.  He's waiting just now for you.  With open arms.  Ready to forgive your sins and to cleanse you from all your sins, past, present and future.  

It's not going to go away, that need to be saved.  If you die without salvation in Christ Jesus, your going to be eternally separated from God...in torment..paying for your sins.  Jesus said He would wash away your sins, take your punishment upon Himself.  Make you right with God. If only you would come and ask for His free gift of salvation.  The choice is yours as well as the consequences. 

Jesus is knocking on the door to your heart.  

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.

Let it Shine

Let it Shine 

by David Brenneman 

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew‬ ‭5:16‬.

When we go out into the world, it's not to get people to notice our greatness, our glory, rather it's for the world to see Jesus in us.  We come to Christ for salvation, He takes up residence in us. His Spirit begins His sanctifying work in us. It's these things that both draw and irritate the world.  It's not you personally.

Matthew 5, Jesus was completing the lesson on what's called the Beatitudes.  

‬‬“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.  “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;  nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.  Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:13‭-‬20‬.

There are thousands and thousands of people if not in the millions, who only think they are shining in this world for God.  They are counting on what they see as their own righteousness.  That last warning from Jesus applies to them.  

In your daily life, you are to be just as much about the Father’s business as Jesus was when He walked this Earth.  Jesus passed that on to His Disciples, then charged them to do the same.  Go, make disciples, teaching them all that He commanded. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  To live life in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. 

That's life.  It isn't what titles we get, it isn't what games are won, it isn't anything this world has to offer.  It's not anything that man can contrive.  Nothing we can do in and of ourselves.  The Light of Jesus Christ changes people, not our good looks, charm, peaceable nature.  Nothing of us personally is offensive to those still in the dark because they are in that darkness as our sin nature is.  

Your day begins and ends with Jesus guiding you, if indeed you are saved.  

One of Charley Pride's last songs before he died, had a line in it "I'm always standing in my way".  We do this a lot more than we know.  We are often grabbing onto things best left alone.  We don't want to accept what the Spirit says is of the darkness and should be shunned.  We redefine everything to make it an acceptable part of our lives.  We do this because our sin nature wants control. 

Start your day in prayer.  Admit that you are not going to see what you NEED to see today.  That you aren't going to BELIEVE what you need to understand about life on your own today.  

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 isn't some suggestion for feeling better. 

What Jesus said in Matthew wasn't some good suggestions.  Jesus didn't make suggestions that were disposable concerning life.  Jesus taught how to live life in an acceptable way for His Father in Heaven.  

We stress about so much whether acknowledged or not, we do.  We are not to be in control of our lives, the Spirit is. 

We keep pace with Jesus, not the other way around.  His aim for us is the finish line of our lives. When we reach that end, that our lives were what He wanted them to be. 

When we hold onto the past, hold onto things that do not do anything to grow us in Christ, we slow down growing in Christ. 

Take a few minutes to look at what you find the most enjoyment in.  Would it be what Jesus does?  Would Jesus say that person, place or thing brings Him glory?  The standard is holiness.  The glory of Jesus is the Light that the world has a problem with.  

The lives of everyone we read in what is called the Faith Chapter in Hebrews would have been radically different had they lived for themselves more than they submitted to the Lord.  

We all learn differently, God taught me that decades ago when I first was beginning to teach new employees.  We learn differently but whatever is to be learned in Christ is going to work on everyone who submits to the Lord. Pray for His help in finding those teachers who teach in the way you learn. 

The plan of salvation was made simple enough for a child to understand it.  The life to be living in Christ is likewise made simple enough for those who are in Christ to understand it.  As we grow in Christ the brighter the light of Jesus Christ gets.  

"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31. 

Pray before setting foot to go out into the world.  Ask for His help in keeping pace with Him.  He is the Teacher, we are the Learner.  We may not understand nor personally like the lessons but they are for us to learn and do. 

Let your light shine before men in such a way that people see your good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. 

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.

Every Detail of You

Every Detail of You 

by David Brenneman 

Several thoughts began wrapping up within me yesterday.  Not necessarily of 2023, but of the journey through the Bible that I had been on for the last year.

Have you considered what the lineages shown in the Gospels as well as the talk that Jesus had with a few Disciples mean?  Jesus showed those few all about Himself as written in the Old Testament from Moses onward.  In several Gospels we have the lineage for both Mary's side of the family as well as Joseph's.  All the way back to Adam and Eve. 

We read in Psalms where we know that before we were born Jesus knew us as we were being knitted together in our mother's womb. 

We know that we were born in this here and this now for His reasons and not some other place and time.  

Put it and other thoughts together like the truth that we read of His never leaving us or forsaking us.  That it is He who searches the hearts of mankind.

Keep putting it together. 

Now...consider all that has happened in human history that brought about...you.

All the work that Jesus has gone through to give you the best life possible for you. 

Consider well...now...to 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.  He's had human centuries to work in the lived of trillions and trillions of people.  

You are uniquely you in the eyes of God to a specific point.  You are loved by Jesus unlike anyone you have ever known or will know.   His truths about life are for you. 

He knows every single person in human history from Adam to you who lived in order to make you possible. 

Your 2024 isn't yours anymore than your 2023 was.  It's not about personal betterment.  It's not about pushing yourself to see successes that the world will laud you for.  It's not about your life being all that you want it to be.  A life in Christ is one that is growing in Christ to be like Christ...and to be the next person in human history to impact the lives that will come after you until Jesus returns. 

Your life in 2024 needs a renewed sense of purpose to grow in Christ if you indeed want to see it be better than 2023.  

When we accept the truth that God's will for us is our sanctification...what comes to mind?  The Disciples had to learn...daily...to let go of self in order to see this happen in their lives. 

As the Hymn goes "When we walk with the Lord in the light of His word, what a glory He sheds on our way. While we do His good will, He abides with us still. Never fear only trust and obey. Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."

Letting go of self justification and self gratification in what we do and why we do it isn't easy.  Look at what we know of the temptations that Jesus faced with Satan.  

So pray about your days, weeks, months that are before you for 2024.  As a friend pointed out again Saturday...make it your goal to keep pace with Jesus.  In a race, He will always win.  In succeeding in life as the Spirit says success is...we need to keep up with Jesus in what He's doing.  

We aren't to sit or get complacent.  When we don't understand, trust and obey.  When we think it makes sense, trust and obey.  

Trust God and leave the consequences to Him.  Drop whatever is in your life that isn't helping you in what Jesus is doing with you. 

Follow King David's example.  Pour out your heart before Jesus.  Hold nothing back.  Jesus wants all of you, so lay it all out before Him and ask Him for all the help you know you desperately need from Him to succeed as He's desiring for you. 

Every detail of my life and yours is known by Him.  Every insinuation towards or against sinful behaviors and practices.  He knows because He’s right there with you. 

My hopes for 2024 are still to pray for those people who's names He's not letting me forget.  He's given me several books to go with my Bible reading to help me grow in Christ.  To be honest and wholeheartedly truthful...I do not miss the things that the Spirit has convinced me to get rid of.  

Life is much more than we can ever imagine when we keep pace with Jesus and don't quit when He’s encouraging our need to be persistent. 

Pray on, pray over and pray through 2024. 

This very well could be the year that Jesus Christ returns.  Jesus said to be on the alert for you know not when your Savior is going to appear.  There ARE wars and rumors of wars.  There ARE earthquakes and famines in various places.  People ARE lovers of self, disrespectful, disobedient to parents...and all the rest that Timothy was told would be evidences.  

Make your life right before Jesus...be ready to see Him.  To be found by Him doing that which He's called you to be doing.   Every detail matters.  

We know our Redeemer lives. 

We know His promises. 

We are guided to set our minds on the things above and not on the things that are of this world. 

We are to be holy as He is Holy. That is...separated, set apart, for the will of God for us in Christ Jesus. 

Every detail of your life and mine is ever on His mind because it matters to Him.  Live 2024 like that matters to you too.

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.