by lighthouse | May 16, 2025 | Uncategorized
Colossians 1:22-23a “But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.” Because of our Savior you and I are forgiven when we confess we need forgiveness and become faith filled loved adopted children of God. The difficult to understand truth happens–we become perfect before God and are heirs to eternal life. Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection become wonderful celebrations. Santa Claus and the Easter bunny only become distractions from the real meaning of Christmas and Easter. Have a great weekend.
by lighthouse | May 14, 2025 | Uncategorized
Colossians 1:10b-11 “…bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience.,” Our obligation to our loving God is to do good works. Our obligation is to study His Word and gain knowledge. Our God is the One who gives each of us endurance and patience so that perseverance becomes our middle name. What a privilege it is to honor and serve our Magnificent God.
by lighthouse | May 13, 2025 | Uncategorized
Colossians 1:9-10p “…We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you might live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way…” Our author wrote a prayer which could apply to all of us. We are all to live lives serving God and asking ourselves–are we doing the will of our God or serving our own will. Unfortunately, you and i need to be constantly reminded who to serve. We should always seek the knowledge and wisdom only God can provide. Contentedness comes from our God. Peace and wisdom come from God. Every Christian desires all 3.
by lighthouse | May 12, 2025 | Uncategorized
Colossians 1:5-6parts “…faith…about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world…” A belief and total trust in God with zero doubt is a definition of faith as a Christian sees faith and as God describes faith should be. The people described in Colossians had such a faith. You and I should have the same. That faith allows us to enjoy the Gospel story. We therefore enjoy studying Scripture for therein lies the sweet Gospel story. We always want to learn what our God has to teach.
by lighthouse | May 9, 2025 | Uncategorized
Colossians 1:3 “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people” You and I have to ask ourselves — could this verse apply to us? The people being referred to had to be faith filled. They gave our God what He wants—their hearts. We ask ourselves—Are we giving God what He says matters to Him–our hearts? He has given us His—now you and I give Him ours. Have a great weekend.
by lighthouse | May 8, 2025 | Uncategorized
Colossians 1:2b “…Grace and peace to you from God our Father.” You and I possess a lot. We have been blessed tremendously. We have family. We have possessions. We have an abundance of food. What we have been blessed with is endless. But, what if we were told we could have only 2 blessings. Would we be wise enough to choose grace and peace? Grace–so we can live with a firm foundation which only our Heavenly Father can provide–knowing we live as repentant, forgiven, loved, adopted children of God; and peace–so that we can live with no anxiety or depression or any negative mentality, but rather–relax, breath easily and enjoy all of God’s creation. Would you say grace and peace would be 2 excellent choices?
by lighthouse | May 7, 2025 | Uncategorized
Acts 28:31 “He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with boldness and without hindrance!” Paul’s courageous manner is an example for all of us. We call ourselves Christians and as such we represent our God on this earth. In all we do we represent our Savior. Always humble. Always honest. Always sincere. We are never to act any other way. We are His loved and adopted children. What an honor that is for all of us.
by lighthouse | May 6, 2025 | Uncategorized
Acts 23:12-13 “The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. More than forty men were involved in this plot.” How could a group of mature men be so evil they would lie and conspire against the truths Paul was preaching to people in regard to eternal truths? These men were united. They were sincere. It appears they were willing to die rather than letting God’s grace be known. You and I have to carefully study our Bible so we are not fooled by seemingly united, sincere and desperate liars. Always we have to ask—what does God really say? What is truly truth? Without studying Scripture we also can be easily fooled.
by lighthouse | May 5, 2025 | Uncategorized
Acts 23:21 “The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, ‘Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.'” God never changes. You and I have a hard time understanding that because we constantly experience change. God knows you and I always need His encouragement. We are often afraid to express our faith. As God spoke to Paul He speaks to you and me—take courage and tell others about Me–I am with you! We are never to be afraid of telling others the good news of our loving Savior.
by lighthouse | May 2, 2025 | Uncategorized
Acts 21:13 “Then Paul answered, ‘why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound. but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”‘ Paul’s faith is an excellent example for all of us to follow. He would never desert his best Friend. He had a relationship with his Savior that under no circumstance would he desert. He was willing to not only suffer, but to die rather that desert his relationship with Jesus. Why would God include this thought in His Bible? Could it be He wanted to teach you and me how faithful we should be? Could it be you and I are to live and teach this same faithfulness to our children, grandchildren, friends all those we care about? I think so–don’t you? Have a great weekend.
by lighthouse | Apr 30, 2025 | Uncategorized
Acts 20:24 “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” In today’s terminology we would conclude Paul was focused. A major difference between Paul’s focus and today’s worldly focus is: Paul was focused on the saving grace of His Savior, while the world is focused totally on their own pleasure and success. Paul’s focus was eternal while man’s focus is very temporary. We have to ask the obvious question: Where is your and my focus?
by lighthouse | Apr 29, 2025 | Uncategorized
Acts 18:28 “For he (Apollos) vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.” Sometimes the mind of man is very strange. The Creator of the Universe, the Savior of the world, our Advocate before our Heavenly Father, the One who lived, died and rose, the second person of the Triune God finds Himself involved in a debate between Apollos and Jews. Imagine–a debate to prove our Messiah is our Messiah. The world should be so humbly recognizing the magnificence of God that such a debate is totally unnecessary. You and I must be so humbly appreciative and faith filled that we live in awe of the wonders of our Messiah.
