Christian - forgiven - grateful

Welcome. My name is Richard Templin Hancock and I’m here to encourage you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily. I'm glad you're here—let's walk this path together.

In Whom We Have Redemption

This is Follow Jesus Radio encouraging you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow him daily. The title of this devotional thought is: In Whom We Have Redemption.

Colossians 1:14 states, "in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." This powerful verse reminds us of the central role of Jesus in our lives. Through Him, we find not only redemption but also the profound gift of forgiveness.

Redemption means being bought back from the bondage of sin. Jesus paid the ultimate price with His life, offering us freedom and a new beginning. In Ephesians 1:7, we read, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace." This grace is abundant and available to all who believe.

As we reflect on this truth, let’s remember that our past does not define us. In Christ, we are made new (2 Corinthians 5:17). The weight of our sins is lifted, and we are invited into a relationship with our Savior.

This redemption is available right now, this hour. Do you need this? Then seek out Jesus in prayer and ask for His forgiveness.

For those reading this devotional who have experienced the joy of redemption in Jesus Christ, I would like to share some of the most powerful, majestic anthems of praise in the entire Bible from the book of Revelation. These are wonderful for praising the Lord for His redemption. While much of the book deals with intense prophecy, it is frequently interrupted by the "heavenly choir" erupting into worship. You may want to read these to the Lord as praise from your heart to His.

1. The Song of Worthiness (Revelation 5:9–10)

In this vision, only Jesus is found worthy to open the scrolls of destiny because of His sacrificial death.

"And they sang a new song, saying: 'You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.'"

2. The Sevenfold Praise of the Lamb (Revelation 5:12)

Immediately following, countless angels encircle the throne to shout a massive crescendo of praise, listing seven attributes that belong to Jesus.

"In a loud voice they were saying: 'Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!'"

3. Universal Praise to the Father and the Son (Revelation 5:13)

The worship expands until every creature in heaven, on earth, and under the earth joins in a  declaration of praise to both God the Father and Jesus.

"Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!'"

4. Praise for Salvation and Victory (Revelation 7:9–10)

John sees a vast multitude from every nation standing before the throne and before Jesus, wearing white robes and holding palm branches (a symbol of victory).

"And they cried out in a loud voice: 'Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.'"

5. The Kingdom Has Come (Revelation 11:15)

When the seventh angel sounds his trumpet, loud voices in heaven celebrate the ultimate triumph of God and Jesus over the world's kingdoms.

"The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.'"

6. The Song of the Bride (Revelation 19:6–7)

Near the end of the book, a roar like a rushing waterfall celebrates the final, joyous union between Jesus and His people (the Church), framed as a wedding feast.

"Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: 'Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.'"

A Key Theme: Notice how consistently Jesus is praised as "the Lamb." In Revelation, His supreme authority and majesty aren't separated from His humility and sacrifice; His greatest glory is that He gave His life to redeem humanity.

That's it for this podcast. Follow Jesus Radio is here 24 hours a day to encourage you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily. Remember, Jesus loves you and is just a prayer away.

We are called to witness

This is Follow Jesus Radio encouraging you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow him daily. The title of this devotional thought is:  We are called to witness.

Proverbs 10:5 tells us, "He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during the harvest is a son who causes shame." This verse highlights the importance of being diligent and proactive, especially during times of opportunity.

In our walk of faith, we are called to be witnesses for Christ. Just as a wise son gathers during the summer, we too must seize the opportunities to share the Gospel when the "harvest" is ripe. Jesus said in John 4:35, "Do you not say, 'There are still four months until harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!"

When we neglect to witness, we miss out on the chance to bring others to Christ. Let us be vigilant and active in sharing our faith, recognizing that every moment is a chance to gather souls for the Kingdom.

As we go about our day, let’s ask God for opportunities to witness and the courage to act. Remember, the harvest is plentiful, and we are called to be wise sons and daughters, gathering in the summer!

That's it for this podcast. Follow Jesus Radio is here 24 hours a day to encourage you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily. Remember, Jesus loves you and is just a prayer away.

The Ultimate Catch

This is Follow Jesus Radio encouraging you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow him daily. The title of this devotional thought is: The Ultimate Catch: Becoming Fishers of Men.

When Jesus walked along the Sea of Galilee, He didn’t look for the most polished or the most scholarly. He looked for people who knew how to wait, how to work, and how to cast a net. To Simon and Andrew, the invitation was simple: "Come ye after me." He wasn’t asking them to change their skillset; He was asking them to change their target.

We often think of "fishing for men" as a heavy duty, but there is a profound joy in it that outshines even the best day on the water. Here is why the "Great Catch" is so rewarding:

Eternal Returns: A physical fish is a trophy today and dinner tomorrow. But a soul? That is a "catch" that lasts for eternity. There is no "catch and release" in the Kingdom; once someone encounters the grace of Christ, the impact is permanent.

The Transformation: When you catch a fish, it ends. When you "catch" a person for Christ, they truly begin to live. Seeing a friend or neighbor find hope and purpose is a joy that no record-breaking bass can provide.

The Partnership: In ordinary fishing, it’s often you against the elements. In this calling, Jesus says, "I will make you." You aren't responsible for the outcome; you are only responsible for the "cast." The Holy Spirit does the heavy lifting.

Today, consider your "fishing gear." Your conversations, your kindness, or a simple encouraging word to a friend are all ways to cast a net. You don’t need to be an expert theologian to be a fisherman; you just need to be willing to follow the One who knows where the fish are.

Closing prayer: Lord, thank You for calling me just as I am. Help me to follow You so closely that I naturally become a fisher of men. Open my eyes to the people around me today who are looking for hope. Amen.

That's it for this podcast. Follow Jesus Radio is here 24 hours a day to encourage you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily. Remember, Jesus loves you and is just a prayer away.

Famous quotes on fishing for men

This is Follow Jesus Radio encouraging you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow him daily. The title of this devotional thought is: Famous quotes on fishing for men.

The phrase “fishers of men” comes directly from Christ Himself. Matthew 4:19: "‘Come, follow Me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’"

St. Augustine: "The world is a sea, and the Church is a net; the net is cast into the sea, and it gathers fish of every kind."

Charles Haddon Spurgeon:  “If you are not fishing for men, you are not following Christ.

Another Spurgeon quote: "To be a fisher of men, you must have a sharp eye for the fish, a strong hand for the net, and a heart that is full of love for the work."

R.C. Sproul: “Evangelism is not salesmanship. It is the faithful proclamation of the gospel, leaving the results to God.

Billy Graham:  "It is the Holy Spirit's job to convict, God's job to judge, and our job to love. We are called to be fishers of men, not inspectors of fish."

Someone once said: "You don't have to clean the fish before you catch them; you catch them, and God cleans them."

That's it for this podcast. Follow Jesus Radio is here 24 hours a day to encourage you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily. Remember, Jesus loves you and is just a prayer away.