This Is Not a Complicated Religion
I was reading in Matthew 16:21-23, where it says:
From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.
Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord! This will never be done to You.”
But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.”
What caught my attention was what Jesus said next, which demonstrated to me what God wants our minds to be set on:
Matthew 16:24-27:
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for My sake will find it.
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will render to everyone according to his deeds.’”
Our calling as believers is to desire to follow Jesus, deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him.
This is not a complicated religion. We love God and follow His Son, Jesus Christ.
Let's encourage each other this hour to stay faithful to Jesus and His teachings. There is a blessing in doing so.
Richard Templin Hancock
Encouraging you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily.
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.
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Help For Fallen Believers
Help For Fallen Believers
Listen to what Jesus says in Matthew 18:12–14 CSB:
"What do you think? If someone has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, won't he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go and search for the stray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over that sheep more than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones perish."
Sadly, some of us have drifted away from the Lord and experienced familiar pitfalls in life. That should make us more sensitive to the believer who has stopped following Christ and has been deceived by our enemy, the devil.
But the Lord Jesus reminds us that our Heavenly Father seeks out those who have wandered away from fellowship with Christ. If you find yourself in this situation, be encouraged: your Heavenly Father is seeking you and wants you back in fellowship with Him.
The enemy loves to tell us that we have failed God and that we cannot live the Christian life. That is a lie. We may have lost a battle, but God will grant us the victory.
Proverbs 21:31 CSB says:
"...victory comes from the LORD."
A fallen believer can have a happy ending to their journey. They can be restored, refreshed, and refocused as they continue following Jesus, our Lord.
Remember God's words of comfort in James 4:8: Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you...."
Listen to what Jesus says in Matthew 18:12–14 CSB:
"What do you think? If someone has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, won't he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go and search for the stray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over that sheep more than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones perish."
Sadly, some of us have drifted away from the Lord and experienced familiar pitfalls in life. That should make us more sensitive to the believer who has stopped following Christ and has been deceived by our enemy, the devil.
But the Lord Jesus reminds us that our Heavenly Father seeks out those who have wandered away from fellowship with Christ. If you find yourself in this situation, be encouraged: your Heavenly Father is seeking you and wants you back in fellowship with Him.
The enemy loves to tell us that we have failed God and that we cannot live the Christian life. That is a lie. We may have lost a battle, but God will grant us the victory.
Proverbs 21:31 CSB says:
"...victory comes from the LORD."
A fallen believer can have a happy ending to their journey. They can be restored, refreshed, and refocused as they continue following Jesus, our Lord.
Remember God's words of comfort in James 4:8: Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you...."
Open The Door
Open The Door
Revelation 3:20
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.”
Let's open the door to Jesus this very moment. Let's invite Him in, fresh and anew, to lead us on the wonderful path of following Jesus. Let's open the door to new adventures in faith—new opportunities to walk and talk with Jesus.
Possibly, we have shut the door through rebellion against His teaching. Or, through weakness, we have given in to temptation. Let us open the door for Jesus to come back in and fill us afresh and anew with His love, mercy, forgiveness, and renewed purpose in life.
I encourage you to open the door and pray to the LORD right now.
Revelation 3:20
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.”
Let's open the door to Jesus this very moment. Let's invite Him in, fresh and anew, to lead us on the wonderful path of following Jesus. Let's open the door to new adventures in faith—new opportunities to walk and talk with Jesus.
Possibly, we have shut the door through rebellion against His teaching. Or, through weakness, we have given in to temptation. Let us open the door for Jesus to come back in and fill us afresh and anew with His love, mercy, forgiveness, and renewed purpose in life.
I encourage you to open the door and pray to the LORD right now.
The Pure In Heart
The Pure In Heart
Matthew 5:8 NKJV
Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
As I read this Bible passage, I was reminded that it is our Heavenly Father who gives us a pure heart so that we can see Him. It reads in Deuteronomy 30:6:
And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.
And this circumcision is by Jesus Christ our Lord. Colossians 2:11 says:
In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
What a happy day when we think of God's love, so great that He purified our hearts to see Him and walk with Him!
Matthew 5:8 NKJV
Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
As I read this Bible passage, I was reminded that it is our Heavenly Father who gives us a pure heart so that we can see Him. It reads in Deuteronomy 30:6:
And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.
And this circumcision is by Jesus Christ our Lord. Colossians 2:11 says:
In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
What a happy day when we think of God's love, so great that He purified our hearts to see Him and walk with Him!
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