Getting Ready: Using Our Talents

As we discussed in my last post, God’s word tells us to watch and be ready for the Day of the Lord when Christ returns.  We do not know when.  We do not know exactly the sequence of events that will take place.  Will God’s people be taken up (the rapture)before the Great Tribulation or after?  What will happen right before?  There is much debate about this and a lot of writings on this.  We won’t go into all of that.  I will leave that for the experts.  But, how are we to be ready?  What can we do to prepare?  Many believe we need to stock up on food and survival necessities, perhaps even build a bunker.  But that is not where we are going today.  How do we prepare our heart?  What are we doing with the gifts and talents God has given us?  How are we living and where is our heart?  Are we looking forward to and anticipating Jesus’ return?

Here we will focus on the parable of the talents and that we must use those things God has given us to further His kingdom. Continue reading “Getting Ready: Using Our Talents”

Watch and Be Ready

In my last post, we discussed the Day of the Lord and what it is.  Jesus will return one day.  No one knows when, but when He comes, He will come quickly.  Many will not be prepared.  We need to watch for it with anticipation and be ready for His coming.  Many want to be prepared for the tribulation by storing food and other survival essentials, but I want to focus on being spiritually prepared for Christ Himself.  The Bible talks about the church, the body of believers, is the bride of Christ.  Are we pure and clean and ready for the groom to come and take us in?  The wedding feast is prepared.  He invites us to the feast.  He is coming for His bride on that glorious day. Continue reading “Watch and Be Ready”

The Day of the Lord

With all the things going on the world and this country, I think it is important we see what God’s word says about the last days.  But, in this series, I want to focus more on Jesus’ return and how we should be preparing for it.  There is so much out there on  the signs of the end times and how today’s events point to it.  There are a lot of theories and it takes a lot of time to weed through them and discern what may be true.  Most of it is someone’s opinions that may make sense, but, do we really know?  In this series I will go into a little of that (less on today’s daily events and more on what God’s word says), but you can read Revelation about the seals, trumpets and bowls, Matthew 24, Daniel (especially chapters 9 and 12), Joel, Zechariah, Ezekiel about the signs of things to come as we draw nearer to the end times and the Day of the Lord.  This is a time that can be both scary and exciting and I believe it is getting close.  I am not sure exactly what direction to go, but I pray the Lord will lead me in this and it will be clear to you and it will be a blessing.

What is the Day of the Lord?  What can we expect?  What should we be doing?  What should we look for?  As we study God’s word we can answer these questions and learn together. Continue reading “The Day of the Lord”

Blessed Assurance…Encouragement from God’s Word

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I am grateful for God’s promises.  He always keeps His promises and I am especially thankful that He promised me eternal life.  He promised that He will never leave me or forsake me.  He promised me that the Holy Spirit indwells in me to guide me, convict me and pray for me.  He promised to work in me to grow.  He promised me understanding of God’s Word.  He promised me that He would answer my prayers and provide my needs.  As we read through the Bible, it is full of promises from God.  There are many words of encouragement for the believer.  We can learn of God’s character and who we are in Christ.  We can learn how to live.  I hope these scriptures give you encouragement this day and I hope you will be strengthened and inspired to follow Him wherever He leads you and to overcome any doubt or distraction, weakness or temptation that comes to you. Continue reading “Blessed Assurance…Encouragement from God’s Word”

Encouragement from Hebrews

I am going through a great study in Hebrews right now and I realize there are so many words of encouragement to believers that we can have confidence and hope.  God always keeps His promises.  Jesus is our Savior, but He is much more.  Jesus, the Son of God, perfect in every way because He IS God, gave His life for us.  With His blood sacrifice, we now have access to the Father.  He is the Priest-King, who is our Intercessor and Redeemer, who offered Himself as a sacrifice, the prefect blood offering once for all.  It is the perfect sacrifice because He is perfect, no flaw, no sin, and He lives forever, giving eternal salvation to those who believe.

The book of Hebrews is written to the Jews of the early Christian church.  Many were true believers and some were seeking.  But the Jews from outside the church (and perhaps some from within) were trying to turn them from faith in Jesus Christ or draw them back to the Law.  The writer explains how the Law had been fulfilled by Christ and that there is a new, much better covenant that God had given all of us through His Son.  This covenant was promised through Abraham and all things throughout the Old Testament point to Jesus Christ.  The Law showed us our sin and the need for blood sacrifice, and the New covenant shows us God’s mercy and grace, that through Jesus, our sins are forgiven once and for all.  We are saved by faith in Him and our salvation is based on what Christ did for us, not on ourselves.  Thanks God for that, because all of us fall short!  I encourage you to read through the entire book of Hebrews to fully understand the reason for the law, the blood, the sacrifice and how Jesus fulfilled all of it and became our High Priest to be our sin offering. It also reminds us of His promise of eternal salvation and to encourage us to not lose hope, but to have boldness and confidence, trusting in Jesus Christ our Lord, living for Him, serving Him and others. Continue reading “Encouragement from Hebrews”