We are encouraged to run to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. 

Pr 18:10

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Isa 40:31

…but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

Mk 10:49b-50

So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.”Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

As we run from sin, let’s run to Jesus!

1 Cor 6:18

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.

1 Tim 6:10b-11

Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance & gentleness.

Sin is anything Jesus wouldn’t do so let’s run to Jesus and live!

Often as believers we think unbelievers should act like they know Christ. The problem is they can’t because their hearts haven’t been transformed by the Spirit. 

1 Cor 2:14

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

That’s why we bring the Good News of Jesus with the Spirit’s help and with respect. 

1 Peter 3:15

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…

Let’s continually seek for opportunities to make Jesus look good. If we pray for opportunities God will answer. Let’s help people encounter God’s amazing love and His good plans for them. 

Col 4:6

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Overcoming trials builds perseverance. Perseverance keeps going forward despite challenges, obstacles, or discouragement. It’s that “no quit” attitude that keeps us going when the going gets tough because we love people more than our mortal life.

Jm 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James wants us to view trials as opportunities for growth. Instead of being discouraged by difficult circumstances, James urges us to consider trials a reason for joy.

To look at trials as joy and mature spiritually, let’s love God and people before thinking of ourselves. Let’s grow stronger for our neighbors need us.

Rom 5:3-4
…but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

An expert in Law asked Jesus about inheriting eternal life. In answering, Jesus asked him what was written in the Law.

He quoted the Great Commandment. Jesus commended him for the answer but further explained the concept of neighbor.

Jesus gives an illustration of a man who was robbed and beaten. He needed help. Two religious folks, a priest and a Levite, saw him and ignored the needy man. But someone who wasn’t considered right with God stopped and helped the wounded man and spent money to aid in his recovery.

Lk 10:36-37
Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

So anyone we see who is in need is our neighbor. As followers of Christ, we must help those who are hurting. We must help those who are lost.

Let’s be good neighbors!

Lk 19:10
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.

At OCF we are very familiar with this verse:

Jn 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

We know that satan’s schemes to ruin our life are based on his lies. He presents us with various options to life which seem desirable, like ways to live the “good life” by thinking of ourself first. He did this with Eve.

Gen 3:6a
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.

But Jesus, Who came to give us abundant life, said we must lose our life to find it.

Mt 16:25
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

We live by putting Jesus first and putting others before ourselves. We live to serve.

Mt 20:28
…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Let’s serve to live!

For sure, we all want to become like Jesus. We want to love and share God’s goodness with our family, friends, and co-workers. We want to hear the Savior say to us, “Well done!”

Then why do we often fail to obey Christ and make disciples? I think it’s because we are conditioned by our culture to think of ourselves first. Paul says we should think of others as better than ourselves.

Phil 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

When we think of others as better than ourselves we are like Jesus. We die so others can live. Let’s pray for strength to serve others so they can see God. When we read the Bible, let’s read to point others to the truth. When we serve, let’s not look for accolades but for people to see Jesus in us. When we give, let’s pray someone else gets blessed.

Phil 2:5, 7a
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…(Who) made himself nothing.

Let’s die to live!

In the face of unimaginable suffering, Job demonstrated unwavering faith. His story reminds us that even during our darkest hours, we can trust in God’s plan.

Job 13:15a
Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.

This declaration encapsulates the essence of faithfulness during trials.

Let’s consider Hagar the servant of Sarai, who faced mistreatment and abandonment. However, Hagar's cries were heard by God.

Gen 21:17a
God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid.”

Both stories illuminate that struggles do not go unseen by God.

Let’s pray knowing trials are temporary. Unwavering faith strengthens our resolve to follow Jesus, no matter what! Let’s remember Job’s unwavering commitment to trust God, who gives peace beyond all understanding. Faithfulness during trials shapes us and reveals God’s grace and gives Him much glory.

As children of God we used to be dead in our sins but now because of Jesus we are alive with love and hope and access to an abundant life.

Rom 5:1-2
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

We also live in the fear of the Lord. We are not afraid of Him but know if we don’t obey His wonderful commands we will miss out on His good plans.

2 Cor 5:11a
Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men.

We want to tell others what Jesus did for us because, like Jesus, we hate sin but love sinners. We want people to experience forgiveness and the love of God. We want them to know the hope we have.

Let’s love sinners and God by obeying His commands. Like Jesus, let’s rescue the perishing.

Gal 1:4a
(Jesus) gave himself for our sins to rescue us!

As followers of Christ our desire is to become like Jesus. We want to live a life of love. We want to serve Him and others with love and forgiveness. However, sin derails us from our goal of Christlikeness.

Ps 19:13
Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

We must arm ourselves to win the battle against sin by daily asking for help to overcome lies. So we begin our day with prayer and immersing ourselves in His Word.

Psalms 19:9b-11
The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold…
they are sweeter than honey…
By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

By God’s grace let’s live a life of love like Jesus. Let’s follow His ways and live a full life, a life with no regrets.

Ps 19:14
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

One of my favorite verses is the wonder of the Spirit enabling us to confess Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Rom 10:9
That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

To confess is to simply agree with God by openly acknowledging and declaring belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It involves a sincere and public declaration of faith in Jesus, recognizing Him as the Son of God who died for our sins and was raised from the dead.

Rom 10:10
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Our heart is the center of our mind, emotion, and will. It represents the core of our being and is the core of belief and decision-making. Our hearts go beyond mere consent to a deep conviction of faith and trust in Jesus as Lord.

I’m looking forward to amazing worship with all the Saints singing, “Worthy is the Lamb!”

What a privilege we have to talk to the Creator of the universe anytime we want. He loves us so much and wants to be called Father.

Mt 7:7-8
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Still “some” prayers go unanswered because sin separates us from His Presence. He doesn’t answer because being in a right relationship with Him is paramount. He only has good plans for us!

Ps 66:18-19
If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer.

Let’s live abundantly by living fully surrendered to Jesus. All sin leads to heartache and unanswered prayer. Let’s keep the communication line open with our Father!

Rom 13:14
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Even Jesus’s disciples asked Him to increase their faith.

Lk 17:5-6
The apostles said, "Increase our faith!" Jesus replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you."

Faith grows as we believe God keeps His promises. He'll do what we ask according to His will:

1 Jn 5:14-15
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know He hears us — whatever we ask— we know we have what we asked.

In Mt 9:29, blind men trusted Jesus could do anything and He healed them. “According to your faith will it be done to you."

Faith isn't about having answers; it's simply trusting Jesus. Have past issues dimmed our faith? Let's dare to believe, bringing our hopes and hurts to Jesus. Our faith unlocks His power. He seeks trust, not perfection, meeting us with love right where we are.

In Genesis 15, God makes a covenant with Abraham, promising him descendants as numerous as the stars.

Gen 15:5
(God) said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars – if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

Even though Abram and Sarah were old and childless, God kept His promise and Isaac was born. We see that God's promises are sure, even when circumstances seem impossible.

Gen 15:4
Then the word of the LORD came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.”

Let’s remember that God's timing is always perfect. His promises never fail! Whatever you’re waiting on, trust that God is working behind the scenes because He who promised is faithful.

2 Cor 1:20a
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.