From Fear to Faith

Say to those who are fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you." (Isaiah 35:4)

• Fear ruins Christian's life. Fear causes us to focus on our physical needs rather than tapping into our heavenly inheritance given by God the Father. Fear cripples us from entering into all the great things that God has for us. Fear makes us uptight, thankless, uninvolved, complaining, defeated Christians. Extreme fear even brings us to the point of denying Jesus Christ!


• But God says, "Be strong, do not fear!" God wants us to trust in Him and His strength to take care of our problems; God wants us to trust in Him to save us!


• Fear is the greatest tool of the enemy. His power has been defeated and he cannot master a Christian life. So he fills our minds with fear to stop us from doing what God wants us to do.


• The greatest detriment to faith is fear. When we are consumed by fear, we are rendered ineffective in our Christian walk and our battle against the enemy.


• Let us stop agreeing with the lies of the enemy and start agreeing with the truth that God speaks. God is our protector and He will come with vengeance to defeat our enemy. This is the truth!


• When we understand and believe it, we will be set free from the entrapment of fear. So be strong! Do not fear! Trust in God and receive His overcoming power. Do this, and fear cannot reign in your life.
  

Rich in God

And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." (Luke 12:15)

• When we become preoccupied with obtaining material goods, we lose focus.


• We are distracted from recognizing that God's kingdom is a divine gift that is best appreciated by those economically poor.


• The poor is rich in God. He is rich because he is united with Christ. And God loves and cares for him.


• Jesus challenged us: “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses”.


• He then told us a parable about a man who laid up treasure for himself, but was not concerned about his relationship with God.


• It is time we learn to be content with what we have and not be consumed with amassing more.


• Oh Lord, teach us not to be obsessed with collecting more and more material goods. Teach us what it means to be rich toward You.


• To be rich in God is far better than being rich without Him. We should look forward to our eternal future with Him, and not dwell on material things in this world, because we can never take them away with us.

A Fuller Life is to Serve Others

And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. (Mark 10:44)

• James and John, two disciples of Jesus, asked to be at His right and left hand in His kingdom. The other 10 disciples were greatly displeased with them for asking, possibly because they wanted that kind of position too! The disciples were struggling for supremacy and greatness; they wanted the highest positions in the kingdom.


• But Jesus used the opportunity to teach them about another kind of life, one of serving others. He said, “Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all”.


• It appears that service for others is God’s design for us. Even Jesus, the Son of God, did not come to be served, but to serve.


• As we look at Christ’s example and depend on the Holy Spirit’s help, we too can be servants and will create a fulfilling life.


• The most direct way to experience a fuller life is to serve God and help people.

Be Good, and Do Good

And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. (Luke 6:31)

• In Luke 6:27-36, Jesus urged us to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who spitefully use us. He also said that generosity and a lack of retaliation should characterize our reaction to unreasonable treatment. Then He concluded, “Just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise”.


• It is impossible to love our enemies. But we are commanded to do!


• It is impossible to forgive our enemies, do good to them, and pray for them, if we rely on our own strength and resolve. The strength must come from the Spirit of God. And that is what we must do. We must remember how God has treated us when we sinned against Him, and then act likewise. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful; be compassionate, just as God is compassionate; be kind, patient, and forgiving, just as the Lord is with us. Christianity is not just Christ in us, but Christ living His life through us. Let us be light and salt, be leaven, and share Christ who is our Only Treasure.


• Love our neighbor as ourselves. And do to others what we want them to do to us.

Focus on Jesus

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

• As we run the Christian race, we become easily tired and exhausted.


• The book of Hebrews encourages us to run with endurance the race that is set before us. We must lay aside the sin that stands in our way; we must shed the weights that hold us back; and we must press on even through persecution.


• To prevent weariness and discouragement in our souls, we must focus on Christ. He is running alongside us, supporting us when we stumble, and encouraging us with His example. Keeping our eyes on the author and finisher of our faith will help us stay close to the source of our strength and remain faithful to the finish.


• Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace. We can finish strong when we focus on Christ.

When God Calls

Then the LORD called yet again, "Samuel!" So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." He answered, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." (1 Samuel 3:6)

• A young boy named Samuel heard his name being called.
  
  
• He did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.
  
  
• So the temple priest Eli had to help him understand who was calling him.
  
  
• God then revealed His plan for Samuel’s life.
  
  
• The Lord has a plan for us as well.
  
  
• And He calls to our hearts: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).
  
  
• That is God’s call to us to receive the gift of His salvation, rest, and peace.
  
  
• The Savior is calling us to come to Him.
  
  
• The Lord Jesus Christ calls the restless ones to find their rest in Him.
  
  

Seek Love

Love cannot be measured by material things. People who are measuring feelings based on objects are superficial and empty inside. Love cannot be measured by flowers, chocolates, rings, gifts, text messages...

Love cannot be measured by how long you wait. It is always about how well you understand why you are waiting. Be patience and don't grumble in your waiting. Be forgiving and don't be bitter.

Love cannot be measured by how long you know one another. It is always about how you feel the love for the person regardless of time and space.

Love cannot be measured by the head. It is always measured by the feelings felt with the heart. Don't give childish reasons and whine. Take a deep breath, and say “Okay.” It is alright to wait a little.

Love cannot be measured by the theories of science. You don't have to do thousands of experiments. Don't test love simply. it can be a feeling so confusing, and it hurts and can tear people apart.

Love is so amazing and truly beyond measure!

Share your love and be a family of love.

Love heals, changes and harmonizes everything,

Seek love. The world has enough hatred and prejudice.