Be the Good :: By Holly Spate

Love.

Be kind.

Be respectful.

Encourage.

Help.

Care.

Be selfless.

Do good.

If everyone in our world practiced these things, how much more calm and beautiful would the world (and your little corner of it) be?

People’s inability to put away pride, treat others the way they wish to be treated, show respect and kindness, are just some of what robs from joy and tarnishes good. It can make one feel hopeless, discouraged, ungrateful. It can drive one to disregard others or set one up for narcissistic selfishness.

It’s heartbreaking to see so much discord in our world today. It’s frustrating to see the world spinning out of control. Everyone has within them the capacity to do good. Everyone has the choice to choose how they will respond, how they will conduct themselves.

Isn’t it interesting that no one has to take a class to learn how to be selfish? Our own carnality and sinful nature drives our selfishness. And that selfishness is just one of many things that tarnishes the good if we don’t learn to get things under control.

As we look around at the world around us, many may not see much hope today. For many, hope is fading because they’ve placed their hope in things that cannot save: government, money, status, people, or themselves. Many try to change their own hearts with self-help books, classes, mantras, etc. Yet none of these truly change hearts. Even those that do their best to be good people fall short because of sin.

For those who may be reading this today… those who feel hopeless and dissatisfied, I have GREAT NEWS!

There is hope.

JESUS!

Jesus is the only one who can bring hope, change hearts, transform lives, alter perspectives, and provide a new path. He is the only one who can provide a secure foundation. His death on the cross paid for all sin – past, present, future. All who believe in Him and ask Him into their hearts will be saved.

He brings peace in the midst of circumstances, hope in the darkest of times, and joy along the journey. His presence enables His children to have the ability to be more forgiving, kind-hearted, grateful, less selfish.

Jesus is the only way to a better, brighter today, tomorrow, and eternity.

The world is quickly being stripped of sanity and decency. Like a roaring fire, the sins of man are being stoked while the flames and smoke rise higher. Sin is darkening the world, but thankfully the SON has never left. He is always there, shining bright no matter how dark the darkness gets. He is pure, holy, perfect. He is the light and is all that is good. He is the world’s greatest need and only hope. And He stands waiting to welcome the wandering home.

If you are a believer, be thankful today for all of God’s promises and all that awaits you. If you have not asked Jesus into your heart, ask Him today. He loves you and is wanting to be the Lord and Savior of your life. Accepting Jesus into your heart will be the best and most important decision you will ever make in your life…that’s a promise.

Our world needs love.

God is perfect love.

Our world needs hope.

Jesus is our only hope.

Because we each need encouragement today, find comfort in the verses that follow. And remember: Every day is a gift. Every breath taken is a moment to be thankful. Each decision is a choice, and you can choose to do right and be joyful. Whatever your blessings, be thankful for them and mindful of them. And as you journey, let Jesus walk with you and shine through you so you can be the good that the world so desperately needs.

Have a great and blessed week!

Encouragement….

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9).

“He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord” (Psalm 33:5).

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” (Psalm 34:8).

“For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting” (Psalm 100:5).

“Hear me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is good; turn to me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies” (Psalm 69:16).

“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him” (Nahum 1:7).

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever” (1 Chronicles 16:34).

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6).

“The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works” (Psalm 145:9).

“No one is good but One, that is, God” (Mark 10:18).

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11).

“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13).

“I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works. Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, and I will declare Your greatness. They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, and shall sing of Your righteousness” (Psalm 145:5-7).

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:1-2).

spate.holly@gmail.com

Jesus Saves – Satan Kills :: By Dennis Huebshman

Joel 2:32; “And it shall come to pass, that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Acts 2:21; “And it shall come to pass, that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Romans 10:13; “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Please note, when the Father says anything in His word to us, it’s important. Further, if something is repeated, especially three or more times, it’s an absolute Holy Guarantee. There are literally hundreds of verses throughout the Bible that tells us the Lord Saves. (all emphasis mine)

Romans 8:1; “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” For everyone who has received and accepted Jesus as their Savior, Redeemer, Messiah, and absolute best Friend, it doesn’t matter what race they are or where in the world they reside; they can absolutely become a part of His flock. Some do so at the very cost of their lives.

There are reports from Africa, China, Muslim nations in the Middle East, and other places of people being persecuted and even martyred for proclaiming their belief in Jesus as being their Savior. Some may say, “If they are being killed, how can we say Jesus saved them?”

Paul says in Philippians 1:20-21; “as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be ashamed, but that with full courage now as always, Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” When we die on this earth, we will immediately be either with Jesus or in a pre-torment state. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus is the best evidence for this (Luke 16:19-31). It should be noted, there is no one in the actual Lake of Fire yet. That comes later.

This life is a brief moment in our eternity, yet what we do here will be with us forever. We can have Jesus as our Savior, and we are assured we will be with Him forever. There is no other way, no other so-called god that can save us. John 14:6; “Jesus said I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by Me.” Acts 4:12; “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved.”

Remember Romans 8:1 given earlier; add Romans 5:8; “but God shows His love for us, in that while we were (and are) still sinners, Christ died for us [For Me!].” Before someone gets all pious and says, “I’m not a sinner,” read Romans 3:23; “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, declared in Mark 1:7-8; “And he preached saying, after me comes He who is mightier than I; the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

For those who wish to read further, Matthew 11:28-29; John 1:12; John 3:16-18; Acts 16:30-31; Romans 8:38-39; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Titus 3:5-7 are just a few to let us know Jesus Saves! There are many many more.

Before anyone gets the idea that we can earn or buy our salvation, please consider Ephesians 2:8-9; “For by Grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not our own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one can boast.”

On the opposing side is Lucifer, Satan, the devil, prince of darkness, and many other negative names. He fancies himself as being equal to God, yet he is a created being, made by God. This is to say, he was made by Jesus as John 10:30 states, “I and the Father are One.” Being part of the Holy Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – Jesus has always been there. We don’t know when Satan was created, but it was some time before the creation of the earth.

His first murderous act against humans was in the Garden of Eden, when he caused Adam and Eve to sin against God’s will (Genesis 3). Up to that time, humans had been created to be immortal; yet death came to earth because of their sin against the Creator. Also, from that moment on, humans are born with a sin nature instilled within us, so that we could never provide any sacrifice to the Father to atone for our sins. That’s why Jesus became our only perfect sacrifice that the Father could accept. If we do not receive and accept Jesus, we cannot be saved.

Going to Isaiah 14:12-14; “How you are fallen from Heaven, O daystar, son of dawn. How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid [and is still doing so] the nations low. You said in our heart, ‘I will ascend to Heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the Mount of Assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High,’” This is destructive self-pride at its finest.

Then Ezekiel 28:14-17; “You were an anointed guardian cherub [angel]. I placed you on the Holy Mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, until unrighteousness was found in you. In the abundance of your trade, you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the Mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings to feast their eyes on you.”

The Father has not totally taken Satan out yet, but his day will come at the end of the Millennial reign of Jesus (Revelation 20:10). Revelation 12:4-9 speaks of the angels who were influenced by Satan, and they were cast out with him. They became the demons spoken of in the Bible, and are with us today. They will also end up in the Lake of Fire.

Peter warns us in 1 Peter 5:8; “Be sober minded; be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

It’s amazing that so many people today are openly worshiping Satan, and even have “churches of Satan.” It’s not as if they never heard the word of God; they chose to follow Satan and what he supposedly offers. This appears better to them than eternity with the Lord. The master deceiver is well-versed and skilled at tempting humans, and he even tried to tempt our Lord and Savior while He was on the earth. Jesus remained strong, even though He was fully human at the time. Had Jesus sinned even once, we would all be hopelessly lost.

Jesus knew more would follow Satan than Himself as stated in Matthew 7:13-14. This is one reason that all who call on Him will become a part of His Holy Flock, and is available to everyone worldwide (John 10:16).

The only time it will be too late to repent and be saved is when a person takes their last breath on this earth. There is no forgiveness after that. It’s not real wise to think you have all the time in the world to call on Him, as we don’t have the guarantee of even the next hour.

Have the “Blessed Assurance” that you belong to the Holy Shepherd who is willing to receive your confession right now (Romans 10:9-13). We will not be perfect as long as we’re in these corrupt human bodies, but you can be forgiven of all sin – except for rejecting Him to the end. God gave us 1 John 1:8-10 as a remedy for when (not if) we do slip and sin.

Your choice; join the worldly forces and be a servant of Satan all the way into Hell. Or, call out to the Savior, and have an eternity with Him in paradise, bought and paid for completely by His precious blood.

Doesn’t sound like a hard choice, but Satan will do anything and everything he and his demons can to pull us away from Jesus. Just remember, Satan hates you – Jesus loves you. There is no other eternal option. God doesn’t send anyone to Hell; the choice of Heaven or Hell is made by each individual.

Come, Lord Jesus! We Long to Be with You!

huebshman46@gmail.com