Jesus Is Our Special Nourishment

"Christ is the meat, the bread, the food of our souls. Nothing is in him of a higher spiritual nourishment than his love, which we should always desire."  -John Owen

We receive nourishment from many different types of foods. If you stop and think about it, in reality, there are two different yet vital types of foods, or nourishment. There is the physical type, which consists of the common edibles which we consume daily. These, of course, are necessary for physical growth, health, and good condition.

The other type of nourishment is very important, too: spiritual nourishment. Though we can't cook it up on a stove, or order it in a restaurant, it is equally important for our growth, health, and good condition spiritually. Spiritual growth is essential in that it feeds the spirit and fills our lives with plentifulness that surpasses anything in the physical sense.

When one is lacking in physical sustenance, whether by a diet or illness, it shows in the way we perform and in our appearance. We can definitely see the outward results of such changes, as they tend to occur quite rapidly. But, when our spiritual store is running low, this is not the case. We could be starving spiritually and not even realize it!

Since it happens so slowly, and is less obvious physically, it can be going on for quite a while before there are any external symptoms. This is what makes spiritual malnutrition, or weakness difficult to recognize. When we're hungry our bodies let us know. If we don't eat we can become weak, irritable, and even ill, depending on the circumstances.

When our spirit is malnourished, or in a weakened and compromised state, sin can creep in. Sin usually brings some bad company along for the ride, such as: irritability, depression, anger, bitterness, hatred, hopeless, envy, addictions, vanity and, well... you get the picture. Any way you cut it, it's not pretty!

Jesus demonstrated how important spiritual nourishment is if we are to strengthen ourselves against the constant onslaught of Satan, who preys on the spiritually weak. If you recall, while out in the wilderness, Jesus battled Satan by quoting scripture (Matthew 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3). He demonstrated how powerful the Word is against the adversary's attacks.

Israel, too, found out the importance of spiritual well-being (nourishment) during their travails while out in the desert. The daily supply of manna clearly indicated to them the importance of daily refreshment of spiritual nourishment. Without which, they would have surely perished (John 6:49-50).

We eat food because it is necessary for our physical survival. Similarly, our spiritual survival will be severely jeopardized without the Word of God. The Bible reminds us of this in 1 Peter 2:2, "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation..."

So, the next time you head for the fridge to grab a snack, or sit down to have a nice meal, pause for a moment, and think: "Did I feed my spirit today?" Though these items may not be found on any menu; prayer, study, meditation, and obedience are essential to your spiritual well-being. This is one meal you surely can't afford, to skip!

Scripture: John 6:45; Romans 6:9; 2 Timothy 3:16; Romans 6:14; Ephesians 2:8-9

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I pray today for replenishment of my spirit; feed me with your mercy and grace, that I may be rejuvenated and strengthened in both, heart and soul. Amen

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey

Friday Faith Check-up: Faith In God Isn't Complicated

"Don't ever think that there are many ways to the Divine. Jesus is the one qualified mediator, the only qualified sacrifice, and the only qualified savior."  - Erwin Lutze

A  problem with today's world is that we are inundated with far too many options. Whether it's purchasing an automobile, choosing health coverage, or deciding what we want to watch on T.V., we are presented with a profusion of choices.

Maybe, these are just the rantings of someone from another generation, but what happened to simplicity? Is it wrong to request plainness? Or to long for a little more understandability? Besides appliances, food, and insurance plans, we can ask the same questions about our faith.

I think that most would agree that simple but genuine trust in God is the essence of true religion. No bells and whistles, or razzle-dazzle. It's uncomplicated and straight-forward. The keys to a good, rock-solid, relationship with God are: having faith in, and dependence on Him.

The apostle Paul put it well when he told the Christians in Galatia that, "a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ" (Galatians 2:16). Plain and simple. We become the children of God as a result of faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26), and are not overwhelmed with a range of possibilities.

Faith in God, as he has graciously revealed to us in His Son Jesus Christ, is the grounds on which we let God enter our lives. Furthermore, it is through faith that we let God do wonderous things in us, to us, and through us.

Since we are talking about simplicity in faith, it might not be a bad idea take genuine faith and whittle it down a little more, making it even more clear. Proverbs 3:5-6 is a good starting point. Here, we not only find encouragement for our faith, but are given an excellent explanation of the fundamental qualities of our walk of faith.

We should also be alert for anything that might make us lean toward self-righteousness. Those of us who put faith in God would do well not to walk with the arrogant stride of a know-it-all. Rather, we should leave ourselves accessible to divine direction, and strive daily to do God's will.

It's not a stretch to say that our world has become more complicated, and will probably continue to do so. In our quest to make our lives easier and less-complicated, we have either consciously, or unconsciously added a certain degree of complexity to it. I understand that some of it is good, and even necessary, but some aspects of it, not so much.

Fortunately, there is one thing that hasn't changed hasn't changed over the course of time. Jesus Christ did not come to us in order to complicate things. His message of faith, love, hope, and salvation is quite simple, and still applies. Any confusion has been our own doing, and not God's.

In closing, God's love for the world was why he did what He did for us. For Him, it was a no-brainer. Sacrificing His Only Son Jesus Christ, in our place, He provided a way for us to be forgiven of our sins (John 3:16; 1 Peter 2:24). Through His selfless action, our salvation is secured by our faith in Him (Acts 10:43). And, I ask you, what could be more simple than that?

Scripture: Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:6; 1 Corinthians 13:13; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Ephesians 2:8

Prayer: Dear Lord, by Your grace and forgiveness, I have been saved; may my faith always remain strong and true; and my heart filled with Your love. Amen

Have a blessed weekend!

Kaye

The Offer of Salvation Never Expires!

"Since no man is excluded from calling upon God the gate of salvation is open to all. There is nothing else to hinder us from entering, but our own unbelief."  - John Calvin

The other day, I decided it was time to go through my refrigerator and purge whatever had long since passed its date of freshness; otherwise known as the "expiration date." I started with the obvious. I went straight to the vegetables and produce.

After some agonizing moments of tossing the wilted, shredded, decaying, and that of "unknown origin," I wiped, scrubbed, and cleaned the bins. Now, it was time to tackle the jars and containers. Of course, there was that solitary, jar with two olives, that was shoved way in the back behind the small can of mandarin orange slices, which expired in 2012!

Some more tossing, scrubbing, wiping up, and the job was done! Other than a few odds and ends, it really wasn't too bad.  Subsequently, as I was staring at my full trash bag, "expiration dates" kept bouncing around in my head.

I started to think how this might apply to Jesus Christ and our salvation. I know that his offer of salvation is a gift and is absolutely free. That's right, free! Additionally, salvation is the true gift of God in Christ, received by our faith in Him (John 1:12; 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9).

This is wonderful because we could never do enough good things to earn salvation on our own. That is, there are no "good works" that will save us. There are some who might argue this with you. Even the apostles Paul and James had slightly different perspectives on this subject.

Paul said: "salvation is by faith alone" (Ephesians 2:8-9), while James added a little variation to it: "salvation is by faith plus works (James 2:17-18)." The former stressed "faith alone," while the latter emphasized "good works were produced as the result of genuine faith in Christ" (James 2:14, 17, 20, 26).

Both gentlemen agreed, however, that when we are saved by Christ, we have been made new again. And being "new" in Christ, we want to do, or produce good works because of our acceptance of him into our lives (Ephesians 2:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

An important point to mention here is that salvation is eternal. As a matter of fact, there are several scriptures that bring this to our attention: John 10:27-29; Romans 8:35, 38-39; Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 1:4-5. God is eternal and unchangeable. The God of today is the same as yesterday, and will be tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8).

So, does the offer of salvation ever expire, or have an "expiration date?" Not, per se, but it's a good idea to accept it while you are still alive to do so! Don't let another day go by. Admit you are a sinner, that you need a Savior, believe that Jesus died for you, and accept his gift of forgiveness. Do it today!

Scripture: Philippians 3:4-11; Isaiah 57:12; Luke 3:8; Revelation 22:17; Romans 10:9-10

Prayer: Dear Jesus, my salvation is Your gift to me; it is not by anything that I have done; I have been saved because of my faith in You. Amen

May God bless you always!

Kasey

Video - Beth Moore: You Are Free

In this video message, Bible teacher and speaker Beth Moore emphasizes Christ's desire to set you free from all spiritual bondage. Amen to that!  ~Eve

True Joy in Christ Makes the Difference!

"The very nature of Joy makes nonsense of our common distinction between having and wanting." -C.S. Lewis

Here's a great question for you: "What makes you truly happy?" Paula Francis, a woman from Vermont is trying to find out. She is currently walking across the U.S. asking people along the way what happiness means to them. She began doing this in 2012 with short walks that grew into longer ones.

Why is she doing this? It all began when a friend visited the small Himalayan country Bhutan. While there, she learned about a term Gross National Happiness, or GNH, which was coined by the king there in 1972. Just as the Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, measures a country's economy, the GNH measures the happiness of the country's poplace.

After visiting Bhutan herself, Paula started the non-profit organization Gross National Happiness, USA. The focus of the group has gradually changed its focus onto measuring the things that truly matter, omitting wealth and financial status. The challenge in this is that the source of happiness differs between individuals.

Happiness can be defined as: the state of being happy. The Bible uses both "happy" and "happiness" about 30 times, depending on the translation. Another similar word "joy," or "rejoice" pops up over 300 times. Understandably, we may sometimes confuse "happy" with "joy." But there is a definite difference as they pertain to our relationship with Jesus Christ.

The thing about happiness is that it can be fleeting, or temporary. Temporal, or earthly factors such as circumstances, or other people can affect it. Things like job promotions, buying a new car, following a diet, even friendships are good examples of this.

On the other hand, joy provides a sturdier foundation. Consider joy as true contentment that is derived from internal, or inner factors such as our faith in Christ. True joy is not short-term, nor is it dependent on situations or conditions.

Need to see this in action, you say? Check out the Book of Philippians for an excellent study in the difference between joy and happiness. Paul wrote this book while being held as a prisoner in Rome. It instructs us on how to possess true contentment in Jesus Christ, no matter what our state of affairs may be (Philippians 1:12-24; 4:13; 4:19).

Ms. Francis' journey to find out what makes people "happy" has taken her many places, and many miles. But, as we have discussed, happiness can be brief, and is dependent on situations outside of our influence.

Although, happiness and joy, may appear similar in how they apply to our faith, there is a distinct difference. What separates the two is that joy is solidly, founded in both our relationship, and dependence on Jesus Christ. And, no other special method or measurement is required to learn more about this than your Bible.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:12; Philippians 4:4; Proverbs 16:20; James 1:2; Galatians 5:22

Prayer: Dear Lord, in Your presence I find fullness of joy and peace. Make clear to me the path of life; and strengthen me always in Your glory. Amen

Have a blessed Tuesday!

Hailey

"In God" Our Leaders Must Trust

"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way." - John C. Maxwell

For the past year or so, the American people have been transfixed, entranced, and at times, even dumb-founded as we attempt to elect a new president. Regardless of who may win, the qualities of a competent leader have not changed over time.

Qualities such as goodness, steady-handedness, fair-mindedness, and being principled, among others. have always been important traits. But, does a leader need to be perfect? To help with this question, one need only look back to the past.

Throughout history there have been good, great, and excellent leaders However, none were perfect by any stretch. Even King David, the great leader of Israel who was hand-picked by God to lead His people, was far from perfect; notably 2 Samuel 11.

What lesson(s) can any leader take away from King David's life and experience as king? In 2 Samuel 23-24, we find David reflecting on his life at the end of his kingly career. He holds himself up to the description of leadership which God had given to him, and finds that he is not even close (2 Samuel 23:3-4).

Righteousness towards others and reverence to God are a "must" in a king, or leader of men. The lack of either, or both has caused leaders to be curses rather than blessings, oppression, and the ruination of kingdoms. These same essential traits apply to the normal, everyday person, as well.

Conversely, where God's authority has been acknowledged, and the respect of people's rights have not been ignored; you will find flourishing nations with leaders who strike fear into the hearts of those who seek to cause evil, and serve as beacons of hope and strength to those who seek to do good.

These essential fundamentals, as they apply to the governance of people, sometimes get pushed aside in the rush to prove who is right and who is wrong. Fortunately, our leaders have God's Word as the means by which to lead; not by the seat of one's pants, but by His timeless guidance.

As for the rest of us, we can do our part by praying to God for leaders who exemplify his template for leadership. The standards as set by God are lofty, but would you want or expect anything less in a leader? Does this require perfection? Of course not. Just a genuine love and respect for God.

The kind, gracious, and favorable influence of a ruler who is righteous, and God-fearing is laid out in the bright light for all to see within the pages of Scripture. It is the playbook for exceptional leadership. We need leaders who will "...be as the light of the morning..." (2 Samuel 23:4).

Scripture: Philippians 2:3; Jeremiah 23:1; Exodus 18:21; 2 Timothy 2:2; Proverbs 25:28

Prayer: Dear Lord, I pray for leaders who follow Your principles and example. May You also provide us with leaders who ask for Your wisdom, and guidance; and put it into action.  Amen

May your day be blessed!

Charlene

Friday Faith Check-up: We Have No Ability to Offer...We Can Only Obey!

"God does not will He should follow what man has initiated. Other than following God's direction, we have no right to direct Him. We have no ability to offer save to obey God's guidance." - Watchman Nee

All children, at some point, will dare to question an adult's authority. We, as mature and reasonably intelligent adults, sometimes do the same thing with God. Of course, we know the outcome of this, but allow me to elaborate for a moment.

It is our self-will and rebelliousness that encourages us to fracture our right and good relationship with God. We alone are responsible for the broken peace between ourselves and Our Heavenly Father. Fortunately, God is more than capable of restoring it (Isaiah 27:5).

Our bond with God relies on our submission and obedience. In order for peace to be maintained, we as God's children,  must observe obedience. Furthermore, we are God's servants. As such, peace depends on serving our Master, or doing His will. Hold fast that the essence, or intrinsic nature of sin is willfulness.

Some might say, "What's the big deal? All that God has to do is snap His fingers and all will be well again." Though this might be true, God long had a plan in mind, a plan of peace-making, if you will, that He conceived and put into action. In fact, He accomplished this Himself, as the atonement through His Son (John 3:16).

Thus, God graciously offers to fix, or restore the broken peace between us. He calls for us to let Him strengthen us, and invites us to reconcile with Him. God even grieves, over our hesitancy, saying, "Why Will ye die, O house of Israel? why will ye die" (Ezekiel 18:31; 33:11)? God has offered us, no, better yet, He has given us"eternal life, and this life is in his Son" (1 John 5:11).

Although God can make everything right again, we must do our part, too. If we truly seek to mend our broken relationship, or make peace, with God we must approach Him with the right disposition or temperament. There's no room for bargaining here. Either you're all in, or all out, as they say.

What does this appropriate mentality consist of? How about: humility?; an awareness of sin?; repentance or sorrow for sin?; showing that you are serious about renouncing sin?; abandoning any pridefulness?; displaying a passion for God?; and last, but not least, a sincere, enthusiastic intention of making this all come about?

God tells us in Jeremiah 29:13, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Even though a child may be disobedient from time to time, when it's all said and done, a parent's love is strong enough to overcome this snag. Thus it is with God. His love for us is eternal and merciful (Deuteronomy 31:8; Hebrews 13:5).

Scripture: John 14:15; Romans 6:16; Matthew 7:21; James 1:22; John 14:23

Prayer: Dear Jesus, You who were made perfect are the source of my eternal salvation; may I always honor and obey You. Amen

Have a blessed weekend!

Kaye