Good morning Saints!

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.

Good morning Saints!

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!

Good morning Saints!

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!

Good morning Saints!

As children of God we were 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!

Good morning Saints!

What a privilege we have to talk to the Creator of the universe anytime we want. He loves us so much. We can call Him 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 of the utmost importance. 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 God!

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.

Good morning Saints!

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 the Spirit to help us 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. Let’s follow the ways of Jesus and live 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.

Good morning Saints!

I pray we keep our spiritual eyes on Jesus today. It’s so easy to look instead at all the pressing issues: politics, hurricanes, personal and professional challenges, ever increasing ungodliness, finances, family, friends, and health.

But we must constantly keep in our mind and spirit that Jesus is the Prince of Peace!

Isa 9:6b-7
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Let’s by the Spirit receive - in the midst of turmoil - the peace that passes all understanding. Let’s not be anxious. Let’s breathe in peace and exhale victory!

Phil 4:7
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Good morning Saints!

God is a giver! He wants us to ask for good things so we can be a blessing to others!

Mt 7:7
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

God is faithful, too! If we ask according to His loving and perfect will, we know we will receive!

1 Jn 5:14-15
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us–whatever we ask–we know that we have what we asked of him.

Let’s develop the habit of asking for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Let’s ask to develop His heart in us for the lost. Let’s ask for America to receive a new heart for God. Let’s ask for Christ’s character to be seen in us. Let’s ask to do the things Jesus did! Let’s ask to love God and others!

Mt 7:11
If you…know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Good morning Saints!

Do you ever wonder why God had to guard the Garden of Eden after the Fall?

Gen 3:24
After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

It’s because of the tree of life. Sinful man cannot live forever because of the unimaginable evil he will practice and promote. Man must be redeemed with a nature that does not sin. We’re studying how that comes about in Revelation.

Rom 8:7-8
The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

God blessed Eve with two sons, but Cain tragically murderer His brother Abel.

Gen 4:10
The LORD said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.

Sin always brings death and robs us of abundant life. We must choose the way of life through Jesus! Now we may eat from the tree of life and live!

Good morning Saints!

According to Hebrews, if we are to live a life pleasing to God we must believe! Belief and faith come from the same Koine Greek word, “pistis,” and can be used interchangeably.

Heb 11:6a
And without faith it is impossible to please God.

So the question we must ask ourselves is, “Do we believe God? Do we believe Him by giving? By obeying? By praying? By serving others? By witnessing? By living set apart for God’s purposes (holiness)? Do we hold firmly to the promises of God during trials?

Do we believe God when things are just going well or does our faith grow stronger during the trials?

Let’s grow our faith! Let’s ask the Spirit to see things from God’s perspective! Let’s have childlike faith and believe all things are possible. We will see our lives reflect God’s glory!

2 Cor 3:18
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is

"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible."
— St. Thomas Aquinas

Good morning Saints!

I hope you had an awesome start to your day! If it seems challenging, know God is for you and all trials are meant to sharpen you for His purposes.

Remember the story of the tree that developed a deep root system, allowing it to withstand fierce storms because, as a sapling, surface water was scarce.

Speaking of trees, let’s be like the tree planted near the stream. In other words, let’s walk with the Spirit today and listen and act according to His wisdom.

Ps 1:3
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

So whether in good times or bad, let’s praise the Lord because in all things, God is working for our good! Let’s thank Him for strengthening us in good times and in bad!

Isa 40:31a
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.

Oh by the way, Jesus is coming soon and His reward is with Him!

Good morning, Saints!

I hope you had an awesome start to your day! If it seems challenging, know God is for you and all trials are meant to sharpen you for His purposes.

Remember the story of the tree that developed a deep root system, allowing it to withstand fierce storms because, as a sapling, surface water was scarce.

Speaking of trees, let’s be like the tree planted near the stream. In other words, let’s walk with the Spirit today and listen and act according to His wisdom.

Ps 1:3
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

So whether in good times or bad, let’s praise the Lord because in all things, God is working for our good! Let’s thank Him for strengthening us in good times and in bad!

Isa 40:31a
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.

Oh by the way, Jesus is coming soon and His reward is with Him!

Good morning Saints!

God is a giver! He only gives good things. He gave His Son to save us from our sins!

James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Likewise as we take on the character of Christ, we too become givers. We give not only our money in the form of tithes and offerings; we give away our time and our gratitude. In short, we constantly look to bless God and other people by giving. Paul likened giving to planting seed.

2 Cor 9:10-11
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Let’s get in the habit of sowing seeds of blessings and enlarge our righteous harvest. Let’s be rich towards God!