Author: HDA

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Temporary

Scriptural Readings: Matthew 13:49; 24:3,14; Genesis 3:3; Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; II Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1.

Matthew 13:49

King James Version

V.49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,

New Living Translation

V.49 That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous,

King James Version

Matthew 24:3

V.3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? And what [shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

New Living Translation

V.3 Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?

King James Version

V.14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

New Living Translation

V.14 And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world so that all nations[c] will hear it; and then the end will come.

Is everything temporary? If so, have we ever given serious thought to what happens when the impermanent is over? How sure are we not having the same dilemma again? What lies ahead? Are we going to love it? But what if it is not, and what we are right now is what we are? Then we are going to wish for the better, Right?

God has a plan. We live in a world that will end, and humanity has to go through with it. Everything must come to pass. If there are going to be rumors of war, there will be rumors of war. If there will be a war, then there will be a war. It will not change. It is going to be final.

What is new?

When we accept what Jesus did on the cross, it precedes salvation. There is no other way of salvation but to receive the cross for redemption, the gospel of Jesus Christ! What God wants us to understand is that salvation is at hand. While we worry a lot, we never give a critical thought to what salvation is all about.

Salvation is more than our name written in the Lamb’s book of life. Sometimes we think that salvation is just salvation. Salvation is the start of a new spiritual life. Being saved, God linked to us things that we needed to live a different life. An appealing life that will define what Christianity is all about. A new journey entirely different from what we had before. A new life with God-given power, wisdom, sense, and filled with purpose living until the end.

King James Version

Genesis3:3

V.3 But of the fruit of the tree which [is] in the midst of the garden, God hath said,1 Ye shall not eat4 of it, neither shall ye touch4 it, lest ye die.4

New Living Translation

V.3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”

The tree

In the bible, the tree helps us to realize and appreciate a lot of things. If Adam and Eve chose the tree of life instead of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, then it’s a different scenario today. What is miserable is that we continue to fight to preserve the consciousness of what is good, but we comfortably submit to what evil provides. This tree continues to grow in our hearts. If this is not true then, we will not have conflicts with each other. With the manner we live our lives, we always choose hatred rather than forgiveness. Instead of seeking the kingdom of God, some people today attempt to disprove God’s existence. We cannot seek the kingdom of God if hatred is a way of living. It will be impossible for our Father to add all the things He promised us. Simply impossible. Living in a world full of deception, hostilities, and many other things that pull us down, we have to be empowered by God’s wisdom.

King James Version

Luke 6:44

V.44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

New Living Translation

Luke 6:44

V.44 A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes.

The fruit

What is in the plan is when Jesus saved us, the Father guaranteed us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit transformed us from our old selves, making us a new creation in Christ. How are we going to know this? By the fruit. How are we going to identify a tree? Of course, by its fruits! In the same method, we bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit as we go through sanctification because the Holy Spirit lives in us. And as we permanently listen for His instructions, the fruit becomes true in us. These are distinguishing hallmarks sealed to us Christians, making us disciples of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 65:17

King James Version

V.17 For, behold, I create6 new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered,11 nor come4 into mind.

New Living Translation

V.17 “Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore.

Isaiah 66:22

King James Version

V.22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make,6 shall remain6 before me, saith7 the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.4

New Living Translation

V.22 “As surely as my new heavens and earth will remain,

so will you always be my people,

with a name that will never disappear,”

says the Lord.

II Peter 3:13

King James Version

V.13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

New Living Translation

V.13 But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

Revelation 21:1

King James Version

V.1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

New Living Translation

V.1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.

Yes, all of us live in a temporary world. As Christians, we are looking forward to what is everlasting, including our spiritual lives. Let us not go blind by the ongoing gloomy circumstances happening today that presently lie, convincing us to believe in desperation. For some of us, living in the darkest moment in our lives imprisoned in hopelessness, anguishing the unendurable agony going through the day, there is hope. We indeed undergo these things, but we are heading to a place where happiness and joy are exceptional in our expectations, which no words can ever describe. Alleluia!

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Afraid of Something?

Scriptural Readings: I John 4:16-18, Proverbs 9:10, I Corinthians 15:56

It is terrifying what is currently happening today, right? Fear grips us, and as we deal with it, it grows stronger and weakens us spiritually.

Do we fear confronting something? While most of us do, we still have more to face. There are a lot of things that we have to understand with this word called fear. We feel it, but we barely explain it. One thing for sure is that we haven’t come even closer to its meaning. 

Fear is only one of the many things a lot of Christians face. But how do we see and deal with it? For some, it is a burden on them, and for some, it is an adventure. Through our efforts, as usual, a lot of options, of course, will give us now and then on how to confront these fearful situations haunting us. Again, having our way will always result in limited and unreliable outcomes.

I John 4:16-18

King James Version

V.16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

V.17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

V.18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

New Living Translation

V.16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.

V.17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

V. 18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.

Fear

Having a grade of an F is the reason students fear the subject they hate, right? Some students hate math because they fear confronting numbers. But the truth of the matter is that actually, the consequences of failure are the culprit. Failure teaches us a lot of things. A second chance is always available. However, there are damages and sometimes are irreversible. 

Why are some people scared of heights? Spiders? Etc. Sometimes we see people working on top of tall buildings, aren’t we the ones who are more frightened of them falling? For some, just the mere mention of the word spider is a spine-chilling moment. Fear is a dreaded word for us. It creates terror within us, forcing us to make poor and powerless decisions in our lives. Fear is just like a virus that creeps into our system and destroys us.

Proverbs 9:10

King James Version

V.10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

New Living Translation

V.10Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

Godly fear

We all have fears within us. A variety of these fears immobilize us from accomplishing what God wants for us and for us to do. However, there is another kind of fear which is the opposite of human fear. Godly fear. We need godly fear ensuing victoriously in all our fearfulness in life. We look for many things to triumph over every fear in our lives, only to find out that we need only one fear, the fear of God! Fascinating, right?

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. In this passage, the meaning of fear is reverence. Fear in Hebrew is ‘yare’ is a primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere. Reverence in noun form tells us a deep respect for someone or something. Its verb meaning is to regard or treat with deep respect. To give reverence, exalt, or think highly of is to fear the Lord. The reason Jesus taught us to pray in a manner of saying, “Holy be your name”! As we revere and exalt Him, we also fear Him. It will produce a relationship between a father and his children. It was the original relationship we had until we rebelled against Him. This relationship will give us knowledge (understanding) of the will of our Father for us.

 I Corinthians 15:56

King James Version

V.56 The sting of death [is] sin; and the strength of sin [is] the law.

New Living Translation

V.56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 

Death

There is an old saying that goes, “scares me to death.” We have our meaning, belief, or definition of death. Would one consider that death to be the most mysterious word? There are more things to comprehend behind this word. But if we are going to examine carefully, we might consider that death is not the cause of fear but its consequences.

Yes, death is the culprit. According to the bible, death has its sting (sin). Whether we are in a pandemic, war, or under any circumstances, we tie up ourselves with all kinds of fear. We might not see the actual picture, but the sting (sin) is where the pain is. The bee is just the carrier of the pain. If we think of a venomous snake, the idea of death in a matter of minutes scares us, but the venom containing the toxin these are the materials that will kill us. 

No matter whatever fear we are having, the sting of death will haunt us. Do we have to blame a pandemic, war, or anything that threatens our lives? One day, the fear of death will catch up with us, and its consequences will face us. The real question that we have to ask ourselves is, “When I die, is it heaven or hell?” There are only two things, to be with our Father in Heaven or everlasting life in hell. Even those who want to commit suicide want death to escape the miseries in their lives. Sin is our crime, and it sentenced us to death and a penalty of everlasting damnation in hell. 

We all know it didn’t end here. It was also a death that gave us our salvation. What happened in Calvary reconciled us with our father in heaven. The implications of our Lord Jesus Christ’s death brought about a lot of things for us. It changed everything. We are now a new creation in Christ Jesus. 

As Christians, we must change our point of view of death. We have to focus on the spiritual essence. The spiritual touches entirely our being, yielding with no options left, but that which is right in the sight of our God. Let us now fear who can destroy both our bodies and souls. The meaning of fear becomes different from the fear we know and suffer. From the fear God requires us to do, and that is to revere and exalt Him. Then, and only then, will we come into a full knowledge of what fear and love are all about… “But perfect love casteth out fear.” If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.

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It’s All Grace And Mercy

Scriptural Readings: Hebrews 11:6;  I Corinthians 12:9;  II Corinthian 15:10; Ephesians 2:5;  II Corinthian 15:10; I Peter 1:3-4; Ephesians 2:4-5 Ecclesiastes 2:26.

Hebrews 11:6

King James Version

But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

New Living Translation

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Have we ever had second thoughts about our faith in God? Although most of the time we say no, actually, sometimes we do. One of the many scenarios we face is when problems are insurmountable, our faith sees a window of doubt and looks through it. We find options not to believe God cannot help us in the meantime, ending with the question of why? Right?

There is no way we can connect with God without faith. If we do not have faith in God, we will have failures, and that’s all in it. For some, failure is part of life, and we have accepted this premise. However, this also gives us miseries, and miseries are sufferings. Sufferings are the things we want to get rid of.  

One thing that matters is the way that we live in this world. We cannot get rid of living without asking a lot of questions. We are spiritually dead. This is the answer to why. Morality does not work well. There is no way we can save ourselves. We need salvation. The only way that we can live right in this world is to acknowledge, recognize and put our trust in the power of the cross of Jesus Christ. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the foundation of our faith has to be the strongest. 

Isn’t that we are living in the state of the art and sophisticated world today? We are confident in having the answers to problems. But did we ever notice that we are still dealing with the same problem? Let us be honest with ourselves. We have reached nothing! We think that we have gone a long way now and progressed because of our achievements, but the truth, we are still dealing with the same old problems only God can solve! If we cannot see it in ourselves, then we should start looking around us. And if one would still disagree, then wait for what is going to happen next. We will go back to square one, and we cannot make it on our own. We are imperfect creations. We have to be reminded at all times that we cannot be what we intended to be. We need God’s grace and mercy!

“Give us this day our daily bread…”.

We have to understand and put into our minds that we live by His grace and mercy. Currently, we are under a pandemic, and we cannot stop it. Not even the brightest scientists in this world can. If the African swine flu and avian bird flu become a pandemic, what will we do? If wildfires continue to burn agricultural lands, what is next? If flash floods continue flooding us, where are we going to go? The possibility of food becoming scarce is real. We do all know that in some parts of this globe, people are hungry. Even if we have money and there are no commodities, what is the use of it? Everything in this world can be gone with just a wink of an eye. The reason Jesus taught us a prayer that includes “Give us this day our daily bread…”. We need grace and mercy from God! 

God listens and hears our prayers. Approaching the throne of grace, we magnify our God! Even our Father commanded us that we have to earn by the sweat of our brow, He will still provide!  In this way, He shows that He is still our Father, and we are His children. The relationship He wanted in the first place. We can never be the children God wants us to be unless we acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, making us a co-heir with Him, and it is all because of His grace and mercy!

Grace

I Corinthian 15:10; Ephesians 2:5; II Corinthians 12:9

I Corinthian 15:10

King James Version

V.10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which [was bestowed] upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

New Living Translation

V.10 But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.

 

Ephesians 2:5

King James Version

V.5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

New Living Translation

V.5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

II Corinthians 12:9 

King James Version

V.9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

New Living Translation

V.9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ can work through me. 

It is plain and simple. God created this world, and He is in total control of everything. Not us! We do not have an iota of what we are going and are supposed to do. We are going to lack something sooner or later. We are going to need a thing or things beyond our capacity to have. Whatever these things are, we will need God’s grace. What is happening right now around the globe is one thing that no one cannot deny that we need God’s grace. No person or any group can say we have the solution to all our catastrophic problems, and if there is one, that person should show up and save this world. Our time in this world is limited. Nobody wants to end their lives shorter and senseless. Our Christian life has a divine purpose, and only God’s grace can accomplish it. He is glorified when we acknowledge our weakness and imperfection.

I Peter 1:3-4

King James Version

V.3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

V.4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

New Living Translation

V.3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation,

V.4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.

Mercy

God sees everything, but we see the other way around. God can alter anything. Yes, that is true, but forcing us to change, He will not do it because of our free will. God will never force us to do anything. We need a change from what we are to God’s divine perspective.

Our Father heaven wants us to know the real meaning of forgiveness because Hatred is in us. We remain to have enemies because we refuse to forgive. We must learn how to forgive, and to learn forgiveness is to have mercy. Forgiveness is the miracle we refuse to accept and do. Since we cannot save ourselves, God sent His son for our salvation. He forgave us because of His mercy.  Salvation is a miracle for us. 

Ecclesiastes 2:26

King James Version

V.26 For [God] giveth to a man that [is] good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give2 to [him that is] good before God. This also [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

New Living Translation

V.26 God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

Humanity is no doubt an absolute example of imperfection. We can never be wrong about this. We are inevitably going to be in need. The fact is, we continue to live and survive only because of God’s grace and mercy.  Everything that we lack, God gives. The future now depends on how we stand on our faith in God. Our relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit is the key and gives us full access to what is beyond our expectations in our mortal and spiritual lives.

Amazing grace . . . Alleluia!

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Will, Want, and Wisdom.

Scriptural Readings: Luke 18:22-24; I Samuel 16:7; James 1:5

Are we still struggling to know between God’s will and what we want? Why are we confused and uncertain about this matter? A question perhaps most Christians have. If the answer is yes, then we need a lot of things to seek from God. We have lost the precious time given just for Him, and we have to make up for it as soon as possible and fast. 

Luke 18:22-24

King James Version

v.22  Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

v.23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

v.24  And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

New Living translation

v.22 When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

v.23 But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.

v.24  When Jesus saw this, he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

Want

Thinking ahead is saying to God I know what to do, and if something goes wrong, this is the time we ask Him for help. Isn’t an old habit? We might know this or not, but we are trying to persevere and justify our wants rather than God’s will for us, and this is what exactly we want. The attitude of my will is foremost than God’s will. Most of our wants would likely be ending up in worldly pleasures. That is why we must be sure what is God’s will and not ours. For the love of money is the root of all evil (I timothy 6:10).

God does not hate rich people. God warns rich people. God gives us riches in life for one reason, and that is for His disposal. Once our love for God is transferred to the material things, this is where troubles come in. For sure, this will slow down, or otherwise, stunted spiritual growth. We have to get rid of this thing. We came nothing in this world, and when we die, we will leave everything in this world. 

It will all start within our minds, making decisions. God supplies everything, the things we lack, maintain the things we have or increase because God has something for us to do, and sometimes we have many things we do not need and are not happy with them. We have the choice of having a little of something, or perhaps, enough of anything, and maybe, so much of everything because of our free will. Remember, there are only 2 options: either we choose the right thing or the wrong thing. To glorify God is the right thing, and to continue with our ways is wrong.

I Samuel 16:7

King James Version

v.7  But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth;4 for man looketh4 on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

New Living translation

v.7  But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Will

God sees us from top to bottom and from the inside out. He perceives exactly the things to do with all our concerns. The first thing to do is to ask Him what things we need and what we don’t. We always ask amiss. We must not worry. Remember that God supplies all our needs through Jesus Christ. However, it does not mean what we want now will not be needed in the future. God will always tell us what we need and what we must do precisely and in order. His will for us is always divine. This is His will and should be done.

James 1:5

King James Version

v.5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

New Living translation

v.5  If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 

Wisdom

Still, having difficulties with will and want? We need God’s wisdom. God’s wisdom ends our confusion. His wisdom connects His will into ours, completely changing our wants into His will ending our selfishness and ungodly desires resulting in the satisfaction we need and God’s glorification. For most of us, we spend more time with human ways and endeavor to make things better for us. We seek wisdom in books written by human authors giving us limited results. God’s wisdom is infinite. And we can have it only by approaching the throne of grace. Once we start putting our trust and faith in God through Jesus Christ, wisdom becomes a part f our lives.

Yes, there will be difficulties, but in the end, we will have a divine answer. The important thing is that we have seen the difference between our want and God’s will. All the hidden lies within our wants are exposed. We can eliminate one by one the things that are not needed, no more confusion, only confirmation, revealing what is right and true, God’s will! It can never be a lost cause. 

We have to bear in mind that our God is not the author of confusion. Jesus Christ is the truth. We have to trust what He did in Calvary. This is the only way we would know the truth. The more that we trust Jesus, the more He will reveal the truth and God’s will. There is no other option in finding God’s will but to believe in the power of the cross and the Holy Spirit.

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A Chance and Patience . . .

Scriptural Readings:  Matthew 13 24-30, Jeremiah 29:11, Galatians 6:9

How do we see and gauge our patience? Are we struggling with it? If yes, then perhaps, one of the reasons is we are not giving ourselves more chances or time to build more. And if we have no chance, what is next? More struggles. That is for sure. Patience is only one of the many things we need to have a lot in our spiritual lives. We still have kindness, and the list goes on. We are looking forward to developing these things in us, but we feel that the chance of having more time is just another thing that we need to work on.

Because of our imperfection and self-centeredness, we must learn how to deal with patience and impatience. The divine essence has become a mystery for us because we do not have the patience to accept our Father’s messages, or sometimes, we miss it deliberately.

If we look carefully between patience and impatience, these two things should be dealt with separately. They are opposites, and this is why we have to go deeper into comprehending each of them. Most of us would like to have perfect patience, and at the same time, to get rid of impatience in an instant. We can never have patience if we continue having an attitude of impatience. And if impatience rules, then patience becomes history. Remember, we cannot serve 2 masters at the same time. Either we are going to hate the other, or we will love the other. 

Matthew 13 24-30, 

King James Version

V.24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

V.25  But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

V.26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

V.27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

V.28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

V.29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

V.30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

New Living Translation

V.24 Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. 

V.25 But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. 

V.26 When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.

V.27 “The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?

V.28  “‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed. “‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.

V.29 “‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do.

V.30  Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’”

Just like the wheat and the tares, patience represents the wheat, and the tares represent impatience. Both are present in our lives, and one might outgrow the other, and unless we get rid of what hinders our spiritual growth, we will never grow spiritually. We simply have to give ourselves chance to work on our patience. Uncertainties are not strange and new to us. What we do not know is to deal patiently with these issues. So, we must give time to work on our patience, and God would do His part. After all, I Corinthians chapter thirteen starts with love is patience. There is no way that God will not grant us the patience that we need more. Love is patience, and love is God.

The question now is, how do we know how to deal with these two first? Which is the best time for us to be patient and not fall into impatience? For instance, we must have patience in waiting for the stop signal to go green. We know that it will turn sooner or later, otherwise, we become impatient by beating the red light. In a situation wherein we are eagerly waiting for a result, most of the time, we are practicing impatience. In this scenario, patience is behind impatience. We speculate and talk a lot about the outcome, a sign of impatience. We very seldom keep quiet and patiently wait for the results. We wait patiently for fruit to ripen, but because of our impatience, assuming it is already ripe, we pick them only to find out it is sour. We know we have patience, but, most of the time, impatience dictates.

Jeremiah 29:11

King James Version

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

New Living Translation

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 

One of the many situations that we must practice patience is when we reach the point of hopelessness. This is the best time to be silent in the presence of God and wait patiently for definite answers. We should not give impatience space. Why? Because we know that God answers prayers! We just have to wait patiently and not impatiently. This is where our faith works against impatience. Our faith in Jesus Christ overpowers our weakest emotions. We have to defeat the evils of impatience by patiently waiting for God’s empowering in us.

Galatians 6:9

King James Version

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

New Living Translation

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

God usually gives answers through intuition. We must be aware of the things happening around us, which God uses, for us to know the answers. However, we have to be very careful because emotions can easily fool us. In this case, patience is in full swing. Problems and uncertainties will come and go, but God will make us strong through our patience by trusting more in Jesus Christ. Learning patience is trusting Jesus Christ alone. The way to have patience is to trust Jesus. This is the divine progress we are looking for in our spiritual lives. W will harvest spiritual blessings!

Our God gives us the chance to make our lives better, including patience. We read many things about patience in the Bible, but it seems that it is not working for us. Patience is the one we always lose, making us impatient. We have patience. However, we keep losing it because we also lose our trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus. The Lord is patient with us, and so must we. We should increase our patience through prayers approaching the throne of grace of our Father in heaven.

If we continue to trust the Lord, we will experience tremendous patience. This is why a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is needed. Accepting Him as Lord and Savior, we were born again, entering into the kingdom of our Father in heaven, making us a co-heir with Jesus. 

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So Far . . . No Further.

Scriptural Readings: John, 9:1-7, 5:5-9, Mark 5:25-29

If we think that so far, we are still defeated in life with anxieties and uncertainties, and a feeling our prayers seem to be unheard of, then something is missing. Anxieties and uncertainties place us depending on someone or something. Whether we like it or not, aware or unaware at all, our emotions and thoughts agree together, telling us that we are not well from inside or outside our well-being. Our conscience and intellectual properties are working together, finding ways to eliminate these things that bother us, putting us back where we were doing our best. These things will indeed come and go, but the big question is, are we learning from our experiences?

John, 9:1-7

King James Version

V.1 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth.

V.2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

V.3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

V.4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

V.5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

V.6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

V.7 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

New Living translation

V.1 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 

V.2 “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”

V.3 “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. 

V.4 We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.

V.5 But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”

V.6 Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes.

V.7 He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!

This fellow was blind from birth, and to make money, he is begging for it. Can we say that he never regretted his situation even once? Was he also hoping that his situation would not go further? We can speculate. But for most of us who freely move, are we blind to the truth? Are we lost, hopeless and helpless? When God plans something, it has to be accomplished because he sets a time frame. There is a boundary.

It was not a coincidence that Jesus was there. It was all planned. His faith ended his misery. We can be spiritually blind, or the only thing we see is a vast ocean of helplessness and hopelessness, resorting to daily complaints. We must see with our spiritual eyes, or we will not see, the meaning of truth in our spiritual lives.

John 5:5-9

King James Version

V.5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

V.6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time [in that case], he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

V.7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

V.8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

V.9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

New Living translation

V.5 One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years.

V.6 When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?”

V.7  “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”

V.8 Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”

V.9 Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath,

Here is another guy who has the same situation with no assurance of development, and with all odds against him, he never raised the white flag. He could be stuck in that same spot in his lifetime, but his faith and spirit move. And so did God make His move, making him whole. Are we still in the same spot? Remember, faith moves mountains. We might be thinking that we are in the most difficult situation in life, and there is no hope. God is asking us, “Would you like to get well?”  What would be our response? Let us not give excuses.  

Mark 5:25-29

King James Version

V.25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

V.26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

V.27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

V.28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

V.29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in [her] body that she was healed of that plague.

New Living translation

V.25 A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding.

V.26 She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse.

V.27 She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe.

V.28 For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.”

V.29  Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition.

This woman’s hopelessness and helplessness are not different from today. The only thing left is a miracle. There are two things that we can see here; faith and perseverance. Do we have these two? One may say yes, but are we serious about it, or are we still overtaken by our fear and distrust in Jesus? The answer lies in ourselves. God touches lives. He lets us know through small things, however, we remain unappreciative. But when we cannot handle our problems anymore, this is the only time we come to His throne of grace, and this time, we should touch Him!

Anxieties and uncertainties will never end. They will come, and they will go. But God sets boundaries in all our hopelessness and heartaches. He will not let them go any further. Whatever the worst things that so far are enslaving us will always come to an end. Faith in God makes us understand Him in the best way. It is a lot easier to believe in movies we have seen, heard, and read twisting stories in books that have given us hope, but it seems to be impossible as we pray daily to believe in what our God can do for us. 
So far, many of us are still suffering. The unbearable pain blinds us to the truth about what God can do. We are lame because we do not have enough courage to stand up for our faith and approach God in His throne of grace. If we think so far we are still defeated in life with anxieties and uncertainties, God had set boundaries on these issues. It will go no further. We will be free. When Jesus said, “It is finished” He ended everything, including our hopelessness and helplessness. He gave us an overcoming and victorious life. Alleluia!

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A Divine Future


Scriptural Readings: Philippians 3:12, I Corinthians 15:58, Galatians 1:15, Romans 8:28


Philippians 3:12


King James Version

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.


New Living translation

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.


Motivations are a necessity in our lives to move us forward. Every one of us looks forward to achieving something we planned. It is the same in our spiritual lives. The moment we accepted Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord, we are now His follower. We have to press on. God has given us a divine future, and we have to make sure that we will fix our spiritual eyes on it. Our spiritual lives are far more crucial than our mortal lives. In the spiritual realm, God never takes time out to motivate us. We have to put in our minds the reality of the ultimate reason why we have to pursue a holy life, which is our divine life.



I Corinthians 15:58


King James Version

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.


New Living translation

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.


As we survive our daily lives, God continues to refine and redesign us for the best. It will be a thrill, getting to know more about our Lord and Savior Jesus. Pressing on will give us more victory in Jesus Christ. He is now holding us, but WE HAVE TO HOLD ON TO HIM! His love and His presence will no doubt motivate us to continue to do His will. We have to press on. Our spiritual lives are far more essential than what our mortal lives can offer. The moment that we work together with our Lord, it can never be useless. It is of utmost importance that we must be having our un-divided time for His instructions through prayers and meditations. These are the defining moments where we see our faith and spiritual lives grow.

Galatians 1:15


King James Version

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called [me] by his grace,


New Living translation

But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him


There might be ups and downs, but God’s work never stops. We are going to have thrilling moments with our God. The tiniest things that we work on for His glorification are essential parts of a much bigger picture. We are a part of something huge that we might not see in the meantime but, for sure, we are completing what God has for us in the future. Once God gives life starting from the mother’s womb, it will be a part of God’s plan. All the things that God instructs us to do now are a part of the future. The sad part is that most of us fail to see our significance to our God. We are good at measuring things happening to us. We are always at our best in judging others, and this is why we have shortcomings. God loves each one of us. One day, God will reveal to us things that we never knew coming, and the reason is it has pleased Him that we have to do His will. His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We are a part of His will.

Romans 8:28


King James Version

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.


New Living translation

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.


All Christians are looking forward to God’s instructions for us. There is a divine purpose for us to accomplish. Make no mistake about it. Fulfilling God’s will is the ultimate meaning of Christianity. We know that sooner or later, God will be calling us to do our part, and the moment we engage in the task God requires us to do, we will experience God’s power. All our endeavors will be taken care of by God Himself. There will be failures, difficulties, and more on our part, this is true, but then again, all things will work together who loves God. The only thing that will stop us from accomplishing our divine purpose is ourselves deciding not to do it. There is no one nor anything to blame but us. We complain and ask God why are we living miserably? Should we always ask ourselves why? The answer lies in us. God never fails to give us the best, and most of the time, we turn it down.

God did not spare Jesus, His only Son. His purpose is to save us, a divine purpose to bring us back to Him. If we are not to accept Him, eternal damnation in the future is our journey. There are only 2. Salvation and damnation. We have to ask ourselves. What is our future? A divine or not.

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Go, Went, Gone, I’ll be back.

Scriptural Readings: Isaiah 7:14, John 14:3-4, Matthew 24:35

The word go is a sentence. It expresses a complete idea and a commandment. To be more productive in our work, we should not be disturbed, but commandments are inevitable. For some of us, though, commandments are burdening. There can be no way that we can work without moving to find help. It all boils down to how we feel about these commandments.

Isaiah 7:14

King James Version

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

New Living Translation

All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).

When there is a fire, we have to extinguish it. When we are hungry, we go and look for something to eat to nourish our bodies. We do not need any commandment to do these things. In this world we live in, we do not like something or someone forcing us to do. We have our right to impose. For most of us, we live and die for our rights. And to have rights, we have to make laws, and having more laws means we force ourselves to follow. Are these rights enough? Are the present laws helping us?

Think of a computer. When something is wrong, we need a button to clean everything. There is a Delete button, and it is always there to overhaul everything. Just like the Delete button, Jesus is always there for us. The Son of God became flesh and humbled Himself, dying on the cross. He went here on earth to love, heal, and forgive, as we were all taught. From the start, Jesus committed to be the propitiation for our sin the moment the first sin is committed. He never thought of being equal to our Father in heaven. He submitted without any commandment. He went to earth to fulfill a promise. All of these are a part of the future. 

John 14:3-4

King James Version

V.3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.

V.4  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

New Living Translation

V.3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

V.4 And you know the way to where I am going.”

Now that our Lord has gone back to heaven, what is next? The future. Yes, the future. What is for us in the future? We are more concerned with the present and having difficulties moving out from our past for many of us. Isn’t that we sweat our brow for the future? Then why are we more occupied with our worries about the present and the past holding us back from the future? This robs us of all the promises God has already given to us. Jesus Christ worked out our future. 

This divine future, for many of us, may have been taken for granted. Our attitude is not spiritual but more earthly. We are scared and pushed back with our fear. We must not be in this place of despair. The minute we wake up, we seldom give more spiritual insights into the future. We spend time forgetting about the past that cannot be changed and looking towards a grueling and burdened day. This is a reality happening daily.

For Christians, we indeed have to go through with the past and present, but for some of us, we have forgotten the true meaning of why we have to look forward to our divine future, our eternal life with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 

Matthew 24:35

King James Version

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

New Living Translation

Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

The Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Omnipotent God is true to His promises. We can feel His presence and power. It is thrilling having our faith and must not be confused with our feelings. We have to listen and believe what our eyes are telling us. Our faith confirms so much evil around us. We need the Son of God.

He will be coming back, and it is imminent. Our salvation is just around the corner. The signs are crystal clear. Misunderstanding is a foundation and a pillar of our efforts to have peace. Our so-called intelligence is no match against a continuing pandemic, putting to a halt to almost everything we have accomplished and planning. Good times do not last long. Having uncertainties is now a way of living. We need our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Period! Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

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From . . . To . . . Onwards

Scriptural Readings: Ephesians 1:3-6; Ephesians 3:16-20

Why do we say we have gone astray? At some point in time, we perfectly admit that we are not living what life should be. Why are we saying we are not living the proper way and there is something wrong? Does this mean to say we are on the perfect pathway and suddenly we lose track of it? Or are we still looking for the right path? Have we started asking the questions, is life worth living?

You might have asked questions like these before, and one way or the other, behind our minds, we are continually puzzled, looking for justification and fulfillment. We always have this inkling to know almost about everything. 

Ephesians 1:3-6

King James Version

V.3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ:

V.4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

V.5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

V.6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

New Living Translation Version

V.3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.

V.4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

V.5  God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

V.6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.

A train moves only on its track. Engines operate on different kinds of fuels. It was the same thing when God designed us. God did not conceive us without a plan. As humans, we recognize that it is impossible to travel on a journey with no destination. And so God has given us a pathway that we should not leave. And this pathway is furnished with all spiritual blessings. Blessings just for us because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross in Calvary. We are to be children of God, and Him, our Father in heaven.

As we go through our lives, God has provided us with spiritual blessings to resist the things which the materialistic world enslaves and continues to blindfold us. We can gain them because God structured it Himself! Just like airplanes have made it possible to travel by air and ships to move on water.

The reality is not what the world currently shows us but what God can reveal about what is happening in the world for us. God wants to see the spiritual essence of what is happening around us. What happens is that our pride is always our cream of the crop. Lies are blinding us from these wonderful divine truths. We see the temporal, not the divine. We always welcome the earthly and make excuses for the sacred.

Ephesians 3:16-20

King James Version

V.16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

V.17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

V.18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what [is] the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

V.19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

V.20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

New Living Translation Version

V.16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 

V.17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.

V.18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

V.19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

V.20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

From the beginning, God has already blessed our lives in our journeys and undertakings. This is a sealed promise of God. But for some, this amazing sacred life God gives us has become an option. They have chosen to live a life of their own, missing what God has already given them in their spiritual lives in the first place. When we become Christians, we have to believe and claim the promises God has given us. This power sets us up to live the Christ-life way onwards, not backward nor being worthless.

There might be things that cannot be changed or removed in our lives that will hurt us. Untoward things are unavoidable, but God created us to withstand storms in our lives. God guarantees us that we can take the beating. He has equipped us already to face life here on earth. Jesus Himself will dwell in us with the Holy Spirit. First, he will strengthen our inner man, our spirit with His Spirit. What happens next is that he will dwell or make His home in our hearts by faith, being rooted and grounded in love. These roots will grow down in God’s love, making and keeping us strong, enabling us to understand how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. What is now clear is through his mighty power at work within us can accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. We have to make a difference for the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and this is to remain a Christ-life way of living. Apart from Him, we are nothing.

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Unshaken

Scriptural Readings: I Thessalonians 5:2-24; II Thessalonians 2:2-3, 14



I Thessalonians 5:2-4


King James Version

V.2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

V.3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

V.4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.




New Living Translation

V.2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.

V.3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.

V.4 But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.


As we go through our day-to-day lives, we experience troublesome or carefree challenges. There are things tolerable for us that otherwise disturb our whole being in the physical realm or spiritual realm, presenting us with choices. Whatever the outcomes, they have consequences for us. Rust eats metals, putting a once-mighty type of metal into a hill of useless sands of rust. Molds develop, extending their roots on our bread, making it impossible for us to eat it, resulting in waste and world hunger. Are we living in a pre-apocalyptic scenario? Repercussions must be our concern. Are we ready for anything that will come our way? For sure, there are no exemptions, and for humanity, uncertainties are always a welcome party.


I Thessalonians 5:5-8



King James Version

V.5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

V.6 Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober.

V.7 For them that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

V.8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.




New Living Translation

V.5 For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.

V.6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.

V.7 Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk.

V.8 But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

What should be our attitude? Of what is presently developing today, this is the time to contemplate our lives seriously. We have to be more cautious of what is happening and give more time to foreknow further and brace for what is about to happen. Insights and conclusions will play a considerable part for all of us. Summing up all these things, there must be something more essential and meaningful for our lives. Important that our body, soul, and spirit must deal with seriousness.

What are we made of at this present time? We have to be left unshaken as Christians. The foundation has to be strong. We should be having a thankful attitude because God will equip us with all the necessary things we need. We have no one or anything to blame but ourselves. We get into trouble because of wrong assumptions and decisions giving us the pressures. We assume we can handle any failure, but when it gets out of hand, we have assorted reasons to present, including ourselves, why we are suffering.

I Thessalonians 5:9-24



King James Version

V.9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

V.10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

V.11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

V.12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

V.13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. [And] be at peace among yourselves.

V.14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all [men].

V.15 See that none render evil for evil unto any [man]; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all [men].
V.16 Rejoice evermore.
V.17 Pray without ceasing.
V.18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
V.19 Quench not the Spirit.
V.20 Despise not prophesyings.
V.21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
V.22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
V.23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
V.24 Faithful [is] he that calleth you, who also will do [it].



New Living Translation


V.9 For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.

V.10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.

V.11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

V.12 Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance.

V.13 Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.

V.14 Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

V.15 See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and all people.

V.16 Always be joyful.

V.17 Never stop praying.

V.18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

V.19 Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.

V.20 Do not scoff at prophecies,

V.21 but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.

V.22 Stay away from every kind of evil.

V.23 Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

V.24 God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.



Are we seeing a connection between now and the future? We have to be unshaken and, to be in this stage, we have to have divine life. It may seem impossible, but the truth is for God, nothing is impossible. Let us not fear. Let the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit continue to work on us. He can reconstruct our unstable lives into reliable lives, getting through different kinds of trials. God never lies. God will make this happen if we are going to be faithful and unshaken. He has provided everything we need, and all we have to do is step on the plate, wait for the right time, and swing the bat. We have to keep in mind that God is always in control, and we have to remain unshaken.


And finally. . .

II Thessalonians 2:2-3


King James Version

V.2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

V.3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;


New Living Translation

V.2 Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us.

V.3 Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the one who brings destruction.


As we see something unfolds before our eyes, let’s stand firm and remained unshaken. The truth will be revealed, and lies will be exposed. Many will fall away and be shaken by what is happening and about to happen. We must focus our lives on Jesus alone! Jesus promised that He will not leave us nor forsake us. A day will come when we will all be taken, and to be with Him forever sharing all His glory. Alleluia!