Tag: Jesus

Heavenly Promises Guaranteed by the Holy Spirit

nofearlindaLeave a comment

I am greatly encouraged by the ‘put on’ passage we have today. How many times have you thought about your heavenly body to come? I know I look forward to no aches and pains, no worry or stress, no concerns about what to eat and the calories the food contains, etc. We don’t want to rush into our heavenly bodies as that would mean we are no longer living on earth, yet we long for the presence of the Lord as we weary of the pressures of life on earth. Our passage is from 2 Corinthians 5:1-8.

 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. 6 So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. 7 For we live by believing and not by seeing. 8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.

Here are some lessons and truths from this passage- be encouraged as we wait to put on our heavenly bodies: *Once we leave our earthly body we will have a heavenly one (vs1)

*Our heavenly body is made by God (not man made like our present one) (vs1)

*Our new bodies will be free of weariness and clothed by God not a free floating spirit with a body (vs 3)

*The Holy Spirit is our guarantee within us that we will have a heavenly body just as God has promised (vs5)

*We live by faith not by sight (vs7)

*Being here on earth means we are not with the Lord in person yet (8)

*We can live confident that we have a home in heaven with the Lord! (8)

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can live knowing life after death means a new body, a new home in a place with the Lord as guaranteed by the Holy Spirit who dwells within me right now! What glorious promises from our promise-keeping God! Savor this joy today and spend time communing with the Holy Spirit. Thank Him for His confirming guarantee.

Linda

Stretching Out for Jesus

nofearlindaLeave a comment

Today’s passage comes from Luke 5 but is also found in Matthew 9. Jesus was speaking in parables to help the disciples and crowds to understand biblical concepts. First, Jesus started with the idea of patching clothes with using new cloth to mend and old garment. They would not match and be out of place. Next, Jesus talked about the custom of putting new wine into new wineskins. The reason you did not want to put new wine into old previously used wineskins was that when the wine fermented it expanded. Old wineskins are not as flexible as they were when new and are already stretched to their limit. New wine in them would cause them to burst as the wine fermented and expanded.

Here are Jesus’ words from Luke 5:36-39: Then Jesus gave them this illustration: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and uses it to patch an old garment. For then the new garment would be ruined, and the new patch wouldn’t even match the old garment. 37 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the new wine would burst the wineskins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. 38 New wine must be stored in new wineskins. 39 But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is just fine,’ they say.”

What biblical concept was Jesus trying to convey? Why would they need to know about putting on new patches or using new wineskins? The religious leaders of the day were not open to the light of truth Jesus was bringing to the world. They wanted things to stay the ‘same’ and for all things religious to be under their control. They had so perverted the laws and requirements that it had become burdensome for living and had strayed away from the truths of God. They rejected Jesus as they did not want to give up their control over the people. Jesus was trying to tell his disciples that His was a new way, a new wineskin, a new patch, and needed to be presented and used in a new way. The old way was not ‘just fine’ like the religious leaders wanted. Jesus repeatedly said He was a new way. Jesus’ new way would lead them to eternal life and light in Him. John 8:12  “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 17:3  “And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.” Jesus wanted them to see a new way that would lead to a new life. As his parable illustrated it could not be done using the old or comfortable ways.

What truth do we learn from this for our lives? Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can be new in Him shedding the baggage of my old self and be ready to expand and live productively for Jesus. Is it easy? No, with new ways come stretching and growth, but Jesus promises to be with us and in us all the way. Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Don’t be afraid to stretch out for Him, He is always with you!

Linda

New Life is Awesome! I can’t say enough.

nofearlindaLeave a comment

Today’s ‘put on’ verse comes from Hebrews 8:10-13. The author of Hebrews is talking about the ‘new covenant’ that God made with those who believe in Him through Christ. I love the images and words used in these verses- let them sink into your heart and soul.

This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel
    after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
    and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.
11 No longer will they teach their neighbor,
    or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
    from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will forgive their wickedness
    and will remember their sins no more.”

13 By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.

God and his covenant with his people has not changed because God does not change. He promised to be our God and we will be His people. That applied to the ancient Hebrew people and new believers who accepted Christ as their savior. The thing that changed was the scope and method of knowing God. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can know God and have His ways written on my heart through the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit. Praise God! We can now know and experience God and His love intimately through Christ. We can be assured of our salvation, our relationship with Him is one of Father and child, we are adopted into His forever family and we will dwell with Him for eternity. Our relationship with Christ begins at the moment we accept Jesus as savior and take His gift of faith, and it fills our life from then on.

Praise God! We can live a new life in Christ!

Linda

Night to Day, that is You in Christ!

nofearlindaLeave a comment

This has been a few stress filled days as I traveled to Los Angeles to attend and speak at the Celebration of Life for my dearest friend Joan. I am home now looking at our picture on my desk, remembering her smile of encouragement, her faith and her being family to me. She encourages me to write and keep speaking out about our beloved Savior.

In today’s passage, Romans 13:12-14 Paul is speaking to the Roman Christians about their behavior. Since they belong to Christ, much is expected because they no longer walk in darkness and have been given the fortitude by Jesus to meet the new high standards He has set for all of us. “The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

The Roman Christians had just come out of idolatry and the worship of pagan idols. They were asked to give up those practices that focused on the fleshly nature of man and live morally upright lives based on love for one another in Christ. It was a tall order then, and is today too. There are many ‘idols’ that pull us away from focusing on Jesus and, they seek to occupy our time, talents and monies. Paul exhorts the Roman Christians to put on the armor of light. What is the armor of light? I have been pondering this and I feel it is God’s character that was shown to mankind in Jesus. In verse 14, Paul tells them to ‘put on the Lord Jesus Christ’. Both of these phrases, suggest we need to put on the godly character of Jesus in place of our old nature. His godly character has support, armor and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirt that makes it tough enough to withstand than anything we can ever face.

How do we put on this armor of light? First, we need to be committed to Jesus and firmly believe Hebrews 11:6 “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.” We need to believe in Jesus and His saving work on the cross on our behalf.

Second, we need to spend time in God’s Word getting to know who He is, what He has done, what He will do and how we are to live lives for Him. Psalm 119:105 “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Secondly,(again) we need to spend time in prayer talking with God- Adoring Him for who He is, Thanking Him for all He does or has done, Confessing what you know and He reveals to you as sin and seeking His help by asking Him to intervene in the circumstances of your life. Psalm 46:10 ““Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Thirdly, we need to seek the fellowship of other believers so as to encourage and strengthen each other in Christ.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can put on Christ’s armor of light to successfully live each day. With His armor of light, you will be as different as night is from day in your new life in Him!

Linda

A True Homegoing

nofearlinda1 Comment

My dear friend Joan recently passed and is now in heaven with her Savior. As I speak at her celebration of life today, I’ve chosen 2 scriptures to highlight in memory of her. She was a friend like no other. Our example in scripture of true friends is Jonathan and David. They had each other’s backs, could see good when evil was present, kept their focus on what was right in spite of dangers and loved each other. 1 Samuel 20:42 “Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city. Today as I think about bidding my friend good-bye, I know that we will be reunited forever and for now I am to go in peace filled with the knowledge that she is with Jesus. We are and will be forever friends. She was a true friend to me like David and Jonathan.

The second scripture I chose was James 5:16-17 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.” My friend was a prayer warrior. I could call her anytime and ask her to pray and she would. She upheld me before God and covered me with His comfort and love. She would always hold my confidence and I never had to worry that she would speak to others about me. Like Elijah, she was a woman of prayer and prayed fervently for others. She prayed believing all things were within God’s power. What a true gem.

I know my friend Joan loved Jesus. She sought to follow Him, intercede with Him, study about Him in the Word, speak out about Him and worship Him. Now she is rejoicing in heaven, singing praise to her God. I was mightily blessed to have her in my life.

Thanks you Jesus for the gifts of love and hope she brought into my life. I am truly richer for having known her.

Because Christ died and rose from the dead, I can rejoice in the homegoing of my dear friend.

Linda

Bad Hairdo…not to worry!

nofearlinda2 Comments

I had a wake up call today from this scripture found in Matthew 6:25. It is a familiar passage. “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? My best friend passed away just last week. The family has asked me to speak at the celebration of life on Saturday. I was fretting as I had a hair appointment for Friday to get my hair trimmed as it was looking shaggy. We are flying out on Friday- hence no haircut. I was distressed so I made an appointment with a friend’s hairdresser and went this afternoon. I received a haircut, but it is shorter than I envisioned. Then I read this scripture and felt a jolt of heavenly reality. I am worried about something inconsequential. My presence and speaking at the memorial is way more important than if my hair is too short.

I see the wisdom in the verses and those small things that make us anxious are not worry worthy and we need to release them. God does not want me spending my time fretting about my hair. I need to focus on being compassionate and bringing God’s presence with me as I go. It made me wonder how much time I waste each week on needless worry. I don’t think I’m a worrier but guess I am. The lesson and truth contained in this verse is: Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can live a life focused on serving Jesus and not be anxious and fretful about each day.

I pray that I can move forward with this lesson in tow and get on with being Christ’s witness right where I am- regardless of my hairdo.

Linda

Set your mind on Christ = Victorious Living

nofearlinda1 Comment

Today’s scripture begins a section in Colossians titled “Putting on the New Self.” I know the titles are not in the original scriptures but they help us to center on the point the writer is making. Here are verses that follow that title. Colossians 3:1-4

Put On the New Self

3 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Paul was seeking to reassure the Colossians Christians that their lives were changed forever when the came to know Jesus. If they had accepted Jesus as their savior, then He is their master and His kingdom is most important. Their perspectives on earthly things are not the most important any more. He encourages them to ‘set their minds’ on things above. This means to make a conscience choice to follow Jesus, to walk in His light and obey His commandments. Their lives as believers in Jesus are protected and sealed by the Holy Spirit. They have new lives in Christ! As an added bonus, Paul reminds them that they will see Jesus again in heaven and will appear with Him in glory. That hope of eternity with Jesus was a blessed hope they could know and cling to.

What does this mean to you and me? We too need to put off the worldly goals and attitudes that surround us and focus on living for Jesus. Keeping His commandment to love those around us with His love and walk in faith with Him each day. The idea of ‘setting our minds’ on things above is essential for us as believers too. Otherwise, we will get bogged down in the worries, turmoil and selfishness of our world. Cling to the hope of Jesus’ return and being with Him in glory. That is an image worth holding on to and waiting for.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can have hope for living each day with His mindset which is heavenly and eternal, not worldly. Cling to hope and let Jesus clear your mind. Lean into Him and He will lead you. He will give you victory!

Linda

Are you clothed in His Righteousness?

nofearlindaLeave a comment

I am starting my “Put it on me please, Lord Jesus” Lenten journey in Isaiah 61. At the beginning of this chapter Jesus is speaking of himself, veses1-2, and then the text begins to describe believers and how they will reflect God’s glory in heaven. Isaiah 61:3 To all who mourn in Israel,
    he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
    festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
    that the Lord has planted for his own glory. I love the thought that God has designed and intended for me to be covered in His righteousness and to be a great oak bringing Him glory.

In verse 10, God describes the joyousness of my salvation. “I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God!     For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation  and draped me in a robe of righteousness.
I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding
    or a bride with her jewels.”

How thankful are you for your salvation? Your hope of eternal life with Him is secured by the Holy Spirit and begins the day you accept His gracious gift of salvation through faith in Jesus. Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, I am clothed in His righteousness, pure and holy before God. Faith in Jesus assures me of the proper clothing when I stand before God. Thank you Jesus!

Take time today to thank Jesus for his sacrifice on the cross that makes your salvation possible so that you are covered in His righteousness. Without Jesus we are lost. Jesus accomplished this for us, for all time. Hebrews 10:10 “For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.” 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 are healed and freed from the bondage of sin through Jesus’ death on the cross. Believe and be freed in Jesus.

Linda

Happy Valentine’s Day!

nofearlinda1 Comment
john 3 16

I love this Valentine and keep sending it each year as the message is timeless and the graphics so true.

The cynic might say Valentine’s Day is the day for florists, candy and card makers to earn a great deal of money.  I walked into a local supermarket yesterday, and I was overwhelmed by the amount of flowers, cards and candy that were on display.   On the love side, Valentine’s Day is a day when we can express our love for one another freely and not be thought of as sentimental or mushy.  How about God?  How does God express His love for us?   Here is a familiar verse that gets right to the heart of God.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that who ever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For He did not sent his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”  John 3:16-17  

How much more love could God show towards us than sacrificing His only Son on our behalf?  He loved us that much.   He sent Him so that through faith in Jesus we could be saved and not condemned.  Only sinless Jesus could erase our sin and present us whole and perfectly clean before our Holy God.

valentine

When you say ‘thank you’ today for a Valentine gift you receive, a card, note, flowers or someone simply saying ‘Happy Valentine’s Day’, think about thanking God too.  Thank Him for sending Jesus.  Thank Him for making a way for your salvation and eternal life with Him.   That is the best Valentine I can think of that is filled with all of God’s love for now throughout eternity.

Blessings on this Valentine’s Day.

Linda

After Advent…Epiphany, Wise Men’s Obedience Speaks to Us

nofearlindaLeave a comment

Each year Western Christians celebrate January 6 as Epiphany. It commemorates the arrival of the Magi to worship Jesus. For the last several days I have been blogging on the arrival of the Magi and what their story has to say to us today.

The heart of their visit to Jesus’ family was one of worship and obedience. Obedience brought protection for Mary, Joseph, Jesus and the Magi against the evil intent that God knew was in Herod’s heart. The Magi were obedient to follow the message in their dream to not return to Herod. Joseph was again visited by an angel and told to take Mary and baby Jesus and go to Egypt. He was obedient and packed them up and left immediately. The Magi returning home and Joseph took his young family to Egypt and eventually to Nazareth after Herod’s death. This shows God’s omniscient power over current threatening events and prophecies given hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth.

Matthew 2:12-15 “And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. 13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

Where is God calling you to be obedient? Is He directing you to share, give, comfort, lend a helping hand, provide care or listen with a loving heart? Our obedience is important and loved by God. It is an attribute God desires for our lives and shows our love and respect for Him in a very real and tangible way. When I think on the priority God places on obedience, my thoughts go to 1 Samuel 15:22. “And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,  and to listen than the fat of rams.” God desires that we are obedient and with that obedience comes blessing. The Magi were blessed with seeing the child and not giving further help to the evil of Herod. Mary and Joseph were blessed by continued protection from harm and provision through the gifts of the Magi. All of their acts of obedience brought glory to God and His plan for mankind.

Have you ever considered how your obedience is a tool for God to use in the lives of others? Your obedience, like that of Joseph, Mary and the Wise Men can and will be used by God to bless others. Meditate today on the effects of your obedience to God and His Word. 1 John 5:3-4 gives us a guide by which we can frame our obedience. It is specific and direct- not always easy but true. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” Walk in faithful obedience to God’s Word and His Son and see how God blesses and multiplies your effect upon others for Him.

Linda