Tag: Christianity

The Great I AM

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A name that God called himself is I AM (YHWH). The Israelites so revered the name of God that they used YHWH when referring to Him as it has no vowels and cannot be pronounced. They felt God’s name was so sacred that they should not utter it. God used the term I AM in reference to himself in Exodus 3:14. God was going to send Moses to confront Pharoah so the people would be released from slavery. Moses was hesitant and one of the problems he foresaw was that the people, the Israelite slaves, would not know him and not believe that he had come to be God’s instrument of release. Exodus 3:14 “God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God was proclaiming that He was the self-existent God, God Almighty, the God of their fathers.

Prior to this encounter, scripture refers calling upon the name of the Lord. The patriarchs knew God and worshipped Him and called on Him often. Genesis 4:26 “To Seth (the third son of Adam and Eve) also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.” From that time on, the believers called upon the name of the Lord. Genesis 12:8 Abraham called upon the name of the Lord, “From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord.” Isaac called upon God, Genesis 26:25 “ So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the Lord and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac’s servants dug a well.” The Israelites were familiar with the patriarchs calling upon the name of the Lord and would have recognized God’s name.

In the New Testament, Jesus uses the “I AM” to let us know facets of His character. He tells us He is the bread of life in John 6:35 “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” The door, John 10:9 “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” The connection to the Father, John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” The source of God’s light to the world, John 8:12 “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” The direction in which you can find God, John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. The caretaker of all believers, John 10:14 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” The source of resurrection power and life eternal, John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,” Lastly, Jesus himself identifies with the name I AM from His heavenly Father in John 8:58 “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, our triune God, existed before the creation of the world and are eternal. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can know the great I AM personally and call upon His name in worship and prayer!

Linda

3rd Sunday of Lent, Set aside Worry

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Has worry crept into your week? Are you frustrated by the state of the world and are things taking your focus off God? I totally understand how easy it is to get sidetracked and/or distracted. When I face times like that, I enjoy reading Psalm 37. In these first 6 verses we see the Lord’s answer to our worried and frustrated soul. As you read these verses, let your mind focus on what God is promising and telling you about the world. His truth is eternal and His will cannot be thwarted, trust in Him alone.

Psalm 37:1-6

Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
    be not envious of wrongdoers!
2 For they will soon fade like the grass God’s perspective- evil will soon be gone.
    and wither like the green herb.

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
    dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord, God’s perspective-trust, do good, immerse yourself in Him.
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him, and he will act. God’s perspective-commit to Him and let Him be in control.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
    and your justice as the noonday.

Remember God is Sovereign and always in control. He wants us to trust Him and leave the troubles to Him. By focusing on Him and His power, might and love. This week we saw God as Truth, Jehovah Shalom- Peace, our Hiding Place, Jehovah Nissi-our Banner, our Abba Father and Jehovah Jireh -the Lord who will Provide. God is bigger than anything or anyone we will face and sovereign over all the happenings in the world. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can live worry free by focusing on Sovereign God, our Savior.

Have a blessed Sunday.

Linda

The Wonders of Having an Abba, Father

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“Abba” is the precious name we have for our beloved heavenly Father. It is like daddy, familiar and endearing to both father and son/daughter. Jesus used the term when praying to God at his hour of deepest need in the garden of Gethsemane. Mark 14:36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Later in Romans and Galatian the Apostle Paul uses the term “Abba, Father” for God in reference to our relationship with Him. Because we are believers and adopted into His family through our faith in Jesus, we can claim God as our Abba Father. Romans 8:14-16 “ For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,” He also references this in Galatians 4:6 “And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

So what difference does this name of God make to you and me? It establishes a close family tie between us and our heavenly father. He is our loving, eternal father who has provided for us in Jesus a way to be reconciled and redeemed. He has indwelt us with His Holy Spirit and provided for us freedom from the slavery of sin and a perfect and protected inheritance kept in heaven for us. Ephesians 1:13 tells us we are sealed by His Holy Spirit, “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,” He has provided eternal protection for us and I claim the truth of John 10:28 “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” whenever I am in doubt about my salvation. He has me and won’t let me go!

Whatever you earthly father was like- good, bad, indifferent or even cruel, your heavenly father is totally, pure, holy, just, righteous, open, and filled with steadfast eternal love for you! Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can claim God as my Abba Father along with Jesus as we are family! Lean into God with Jesus and claim Him as your loving heavenly father, too!

Linda

The Perfect Hiding Place

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Do you think of God as your hiding place? God’s Word describes God as our hiding place. It is a name of comfort for us as we strive to exist in this hostile world filled with sin and all its temptations. When does one need a hiding place? It is not a place where you bury your head in the sand and ignore the world. It is not a place to dwell constantly as if secreting yourself away from the world and its temptations. No, a hiding place in my mind is a place of refuge where I can go in times of need or trouble. God does not want me living there permanently, but He is there if and whenever I need it. Someday we will be with him always and His hiding place will be our home residence in heaven.

Psalm 32:7 describes the hiding place of God when in troubled times “You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.” What a comfort to know we have this place with God available 24/7.

Psalm 119:114 describes the hiding place God provides in His Word, “You are my hiding place and my shield;  I hope in your word.” We can always go to God’s Word for encouragement and solace and He will provide us with cover, compassion, grace and mercy.

Isaiah 32:1-2 speaks of a time in the future that Jesus will be reign. “Behold, a king will reign in righteousness,  and princes will rule in justice.
2 Each will be like a hiding place from the wind,
    a shelter from the storm,
like streams of water in a dry place,
    like the shade of a great rock in a weary land. This assures us that being with Jesus in His kingdom will be the perfect hiding place for eternity!

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can be assured of a hiding place with God that is available to me 24/7, is filled with His grace and mercy and awaiting me as my final home in heaven.

Be sure to encourage someone else today with the knowledge of God as our hiding place! There is Hope in Him always.

Linda

God is all Truth in All Things

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One of the qualities we can always depend upon from God or about God is that He is TRUTH. God is truthful as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I love John 15:26 which describes God as the Spirit of Truth. “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.” Jesus wanted to reassure the disciples that he was not leaving them alone, but that His Spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit, would remain with them after he was gone. As believers we too can take heart in this as once we believe, God’s Holy Spirit comes to indwell us. Romans 8:9a reassures us of His presences with us, “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you.” This indwelt state is where all believers find themselves! Praise God!

God the Father is filled with truth, as we see in John 4:24 “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” Any worship of God must be done truthfully, God does not honor insincerity. He questioned the returning Israelites as to their sincerity of their worship practices in Zechariah 7:5-6 “Say to all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted? 6 And when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves?” God did not want them worshipping Him without their whole hearts being involved. Rote worship is not really worship and God sees it as untruthful.

Jesus is associated with truth in so many passages. John 1:14 describes him, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Jesus was the embodiment of God’s truth which He came to earth to show us. In John 14:6 Jesus describes himself,  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus was and is the truthful way to God, only in Him can we be reconciled to the Father. In John 17:17 Jesus prays for us that God would sanctify or consecrate us in His truth, “ Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

Jesus is also referred to as the Word in many passages. His Word stands for truth and is without error. Psalm 119:160 “The sum of your word is truth,  and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” Not only was Jesus the way and truth but by believing in Him and His Word, He promises that we would be set free, John 8:31-32“ So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” The truth of the freedom of believing in Jesus speaks of our freedom from the burden of guilt brought on by sin, freedom from God’s wrath over sin and freedom of Spirit when we have His Spirit within us! Paul tells us in Galatians 5:1 “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” We need to guard our freedom and stay steadfastly connected to Jesus, walking with Him, studying the Word and fellowshipping with other believers.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I am pure from sin in Christ, filled with His Holy Spirit and free to live for Him, a life that will glorify Him each day. Knowing this, how does this motivate you to live pure and holy lives? We can take direction many places in scripture about godliness but I love this passage from Romans 12:9-13. It gives us a lot to aim for in our daily walk. “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.“

Have a blessed day as you seek to walk in His truth.

Linda

Second Sunday of Lent, Trust God for Answers

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We have seen such wonderful names of God this first full week of Lent. Rewarder, Forgiver, Promise Keeper, Light, Righteousness and Everlasting, each of these give us hope, thoughts to bring to God in prayer and repentance. Here is a continuation of the Psalm we started last Sunday, 103:11-19.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; How big is your God’s love?
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Do you trust Him to thoroughly remove your sins?
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. Do you allow God to show you compassion?
14 For he knows our frame;
    he remembers that we are dust. Do you trust Him to number your days justly?

15 As for man, his days are like grass;
    he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, God knows were are fleeting.
    and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
    and his righteousness to children’s children, God covers us with his Love and righteousness.
18 to those who keep his covenant
    and remember to do his commandments.
19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, God wins and has an eternal home for us.
    and his kingdom rules over all.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can know all things are Yes in Jesus and I can trust Him with all my questions. May your prayers be rich today and lead you to a deeper relationship with Him.

Linda

Everlasting God

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Today’s name for God is a big one and used often in the Old Testament, El OLAM (Hebrew) or in English The Everlasting God. This name is used often in the Bible as it specifically refers to the eternal quality of God. He is unending. He has no beginning and has no end. He has always existed and no one or nothing created God. It is a name filled with wonder and assurance.

Isaiah 40:28-31 describes this Everlasting God. “Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    his understanding is unsearchable. He is indefatigable and deep.
29 He gives power to the faint,
    and to him who has no might he increases strength. He strengthens his people.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
    and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; He renews.
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary; He gives power to continue on.
    they shall walk and not faint.

We are recipients of our Everlasting Father’s power and it changes the quality and durability of our lives.

In Genesis 21:32-33 Abraham made a covenant agreement with the Philistine commander. He planted a tree of remembrance.  “So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army rose up and returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called there on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God.  He asked God to bless the agreement by calling upon Him by name.

Most of the time, scriptures uses the everlasting part to describe the etnality of God and yet, praises His name too.

Psalm 90:2 “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”

Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” This was the description given to Jesus by Isaiah as he prophesied his coming and the majesty of His name and power.

Jeremiah 10:10 “But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation.” God’s kingdom is eternal for our Everlasting God!

What does this name of God, Everlasting God, means to you? Do you look forward to the eternity to come with our Everlasting God? Are you awed by the everlasting qualities God gives to us when you are out of energy and He uplifts you or when you lack courage and strength and He provides? Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can accept the everlasting love, energy and strength provided by my Everlasting God. When your own well has run dry, lean into Jesus and He will provide as your everlasting God, as He never runs dry or gives up. Thank you Jesus.

Linda

Lord Our Righteousness

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Today’s name of God was given in Jeremiah 23:5-6, The Lord Our Righteousness which is Jehovah Tsidkeu in Hebrew. God revealed to Jeremiah the prophet that from David’s line would come one who was righteous, a king who we would claim as our righteousness. Jeremiah 23:5-6“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

This is such a wonderful prophecy about our Lord Jesus as the New Testament proclaims we receive our rightousness from Him. Paul states in Romans 3:21-22 “ But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction.” We can have the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus the Son.

We believe Jesus is the Son of God and that he came to earth to be an atonement for our sins allowing himself to die on the cross knowing He would conquer death and be raised to life. The power of His atoning blood and the power of His resurrection is how He imputes His righteousness to us through faith. 1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” We were healed by his death and now when God looks at us He sees the blood of Jesus covering our sins!

There are many wonderful verses about Jesus’ righteousness that He imparted to us. Here are a few to ponder as you marvel at God’s amazing love:

The power of righteousness in our lives. Romans 1:16-17 “ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

The cost of Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden and Jesus’ gift to us. Romans 5:17 “For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.”

Our hearts should be humbled by Jesus’ sacrifice. 1 Corinthians 1:29-30 “ so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,”

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can be clean and pure before God as I’m covered in Jesus’ blood and righteousness. He is our righteous God.

What are your thoughts about Jesus’ righteousness? Do you take it for granted or assume you can have forgiveness and rightness with God without repentance? During this Lenten season, try to keep short accounts with God, going to Him often with your sin and seeking His forgiveness. He will cover you with Jesus’ righteousness just as He promised.

Linda

How does His Light affect me and you?

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The New Testament gives us several names of God from the words of Jesus. Today I want to focus on God as the Light of the World. John 1:4-5 speaks of Jesus, “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” The properties of this light from God brings life, enlightenment, hope, clarity from darkness both physical and spiritual and a promise that no darkness- no matter how evil- will not overcome it. I find incredible hope in that promise.

In John 8:12 Jesus specifically calls himself the light of the world, “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” This verse continues the promise of light meant for all the world and His light brings life without fear.

Light has been a beacon for mankind and a symbol of hope from God throughout the ages. He used a pillar of fire to lead the Israelites as described in Exodus 13:21 “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.” God was going to provide for them in the night, times of darkness. David saw God’s light in his life so many times. Psalm 18:28 “For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness.” Psalm 27:1“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” He also saw light in God’s Word, Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Daniel’s prayer of praise in Daniel 2:22-23, names God as light. “He changes times and seasons;
    he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
    and knowledge to those who have understanding;
22 he reveals deep and hidden things;
    he knows what is in the darkness,
    and the light dwells with him.“

In Ephesian 5:7-9 Paul encourages us to emulate Jesus and walk in His light as His children. “Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),” 1 John 1:5 tells us the God is light, “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” John also gives us reason to follow Jesus in 1 John 5:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

We can trust that God is light and that His light was shown to all the world without reservations when Jesus came as our Savior. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can know God’s light in my life, walk with Him and have no fear of darkness. God promised to overcome the world through Jesus. John 16:33b ” I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Take heart in His light as you walk with Him today!

Linda

His Sacrifice Leads to My Rewards Through Faith

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Have you ever thought of God as a rewarder? Genesis 15:1 describes him this way, “After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” This was just prior to Abraham questioning God. He wanted to know how this could be as he did not even have a descendent. God had promised Abraham countless descendants in Genesis 12. Here God reiterates his promises to Abraham in verses 5-6, “And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” Abraham believed God totally. His faith had been counted to him as right ness before God.

Hebrews 11:6, one of my verses for the year, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Here we see that without faith in who He is, we cannot please God and that faith in Him we will be rewarded.

What kind of reward is implied here? God was promising Abraham a line of descendants when he physically did not have children. Amazingly, Abraham believed God! His faith was rewarded as he continued to seek God and walk with him. He did indeed have Isaac the child of promise in his old age. How else was Abraham rewarded by God? He was provided righteousness through his faith. We too can experience this righteousness when we believe in Jesus. Through faith, believing in Jesus, God provides us with eternal life, hope in the future and salvation. God desires to shower us with blessings both material and spiritual as we walk with Him each day. How often do we only look at what God provides or does not provide in the big things? How about the sunset, sunrise, growth of plants in our yard, a smile from a neighbor all of these can be counted as God’s provision too. God is in the details of life. Looking for Him in the ordinary will show you extraordinary things about God and His provision.

Here are a few more verses about God’s rewards:

James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” Being steadfast during those everyday trials will bring rewards now and assuredly in the future. Luke 6:23 “Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.”

Paul’s idea of God’s reward to him, 1 Corinthians 9:18 “What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.” Being able to tell others about Jesus Paul considered a privilege and a reward! Do we?

Colossians 3:22-23 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” Knowing that God is watching over us and seeing what we do for Him reminds us that He deems it important enough to reward us for it.

Acts 4:12– salvation given by Christ is definitely a great reward. “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

John 17:3, eternal life, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.“

Having the fruits of the Holy Spirit indwelling us, Galatians 5:23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

As you can see, scriptures is rich in descriptions of the benefits and rewards provided through faith in Jesus. I will leave you with one of my favorites Romans 6:23 “ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

God is indeed generous with His reward towards those who believe! Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can be the recipient of the many blessings and rewards my Father God has provided though faith in His son. Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice for me.

Linda