Christian - forgiven - grateful

Welcome! My name is Richard Templin Hancock and I am a senior citizen who has found great peace in his old age in the forgiveness that Jesus Christ offers to sinners. I enjoy reading my Bible and recording short Devotional podcasts with the aim to encourage us all to have faith in God and follow His Son Jesus Christ every day.
I hope the following blog posts will be an encouragement to you:

The Highway of the Upright

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 Highway of the Upright.

Proverbs 16:17  The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.

In the book of Proverbs, chapter sixteen, verse seventeen, we are given a powerful architectural vision for our spiritual lives. It tells us that the highway of the upright is to depart from evil, and he who keeps his way preserves his soul. When we think of a highway, we think of a path designed for progress, for movement, and for elevation above the tangled brush of the lowlands. This is the Jesus highway of holiness—a path that isn't paved by our own strength or perfect behavior, but by the finished work of Christ. It is an invitation to step up and out of the shadows of our past mistakes and into a higher way of living.

To depart from evil sounds like a daunting command when we feel the pull of our own weaknesses, but we must remember that we do not walk this road alone. Jesus is the one who lifts us up high. He places our feet on this elevated ground and provides the very power we need to turn away from the things that seek to pull us back down. On this highway, departing from evil isn't just about saying "no" to the wrong things; it’s about saying "yes" to the victory that Jesus has already won for us. He is our navigator and our strength, ensuring that as we move forward, we are shedding the weight of everything that hinders our growth.

There will be moments when the road ahead looks steep or the fog of life makes it hard to see the next step. In those times, the enemy of our souls wants us to believe that we’ve lost our way or that we should simply give up and despair. But the promise of God stands firm: he who keeps his way preserves his soul. This isn't a call to reach perfection by tomorrow morning; it is a call to persistence. It is a promise that as you keep your heart set on Him, God is actively preserving you. He is the guardian of your soul, keeping you safe through the curves and the climbs of life’s journey.

Never let despair have the final word in your story. If you feel you’ve wandered off the path, remember that the Jesus highway is always accessible through a simple turn of the heart. Jesus is ready to lift you up, to give you the victory over those persistent habits, and to breathe fresh life into your weary spirit. As you go about your day, walk with your head held high, knowing that you are traveling on a path of preservation and peace. God is watching over your every step, and He is faithful to lead you all the way home.

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. Until next time, stay blessed and keep walking on that highway of holiness. Amen.

He Gives Eternal Life

He Gives Eternal Life

This is Follow Jesus Radio encouraging you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow him daily. The title of this devotional thought is: He Gives Eternal Life.

Our foundation today comes from John 17:2:
"As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him."

The Authority of the Son
In these words, we hear Jesus speaking to the Father, revealing a profound truth: Jesus Christ has been granted absolute power over all humanity. This authority isn't for personal gain, but for a divine purpose—to be the Giver of eternal life. It is a gift held in His hand, ready for those the Father has drawn to Him.

The Desire of the Savior
In John 17:24, we see the heart of Christ. He prays: "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory." Eternal life is not just a duration of time; it is a location and a relationship. It is the joy of being where Jesus is and seeing Him in the full, unshielded glory He possessed before the world began. He doesn't just want to save you; He wants you to be with Him.

The Satisfaction of the Soul
How does this life affect us right now? In John 4:14, Jesus promises that whoever drinks of the water He gives will never thirst. This life becomes a "well of water springing up" within the believer. It is a spiritual satisfaction that the world cannot provide and cannot take away.

The Proper Focus
Finally, in John 6:27, Jesus gives us a command: "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life." We spend so much of our energy working for things that rot, break, or fade. But Christ calls us to labor for what truly lasts—the spiritual nourishment that the Son of Man gives. Look to Jesus right now for your spiritual nourishment. Look to Jesus for eternal life.

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 New Jeruslem

This is Follow Jesus Radio encouraging  you to have faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him daily. Today’s devotional thought is titled: The New Jerusalem.

Our focus is on Revelation 21:27:

"But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

The Standard of Holiness
The New Jerusalem is not merely a restored city; it is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. It is the eternal dwelling place where God lives with His people. However, this verse draws a bold, immovable line: nothing unclean will ever enter it.

Because God is perfectly holy, sin cannot dwell in His presence. The New Jerusalem will not be a morally mixed society. In that city, there will be:

No corruption or hidden sin.

No deception or rebellion.

No trace of the ancient curse.

While the standard is high, the verse does not end in condemnation. It concludes with a profound hope: “Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”

The "Lamb" is Jesus Christ. He lived the perfect life we could not and bore the weight of the sin we committed. Salvation is not a reward for moral reform; it is a gift of sovereign grace. Names are written in this book not because of human merit, but through the redeeming blood of Christ.

Entry into the New Jerusalem is not earned—it is secured.

If your confidence rests in your own efforts, the gates remain closed.

If your confidence rests in Christ, your name is written in His Book.

Have you turned from sin and trusted in Christ alone for your righteousness? If not, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ right now. The New Jerusalem will be perfectly pure, and the Lamb who was slain is the only one who can make you clean enough to enter.

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 Greatest Inheritance

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 Greatest Inheritance.

John 17:26 (WEB)  "I made known to them your name, and will make it known; that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them."

In the final moments before the cross, Jesus’ focus was entirely on the future of His followers. When He speaks of "them," He is defining the family of believers—those who have placed their trust in Him. He isn't just reciting a closing statement; He is revealing the ultimate goal of His mission.

Jesus didn't come simply to provide a set of rules or a distant hope. He came to give us an identity. By making the Father’s "name" known, He was introducing us to the character, the authority, and the heart of God. He moved us from being strangers to being heirs, ensuring we see the Father not as a distant judge, but as the source of a love that defines our existence.

Jesus said He has made the name known and will continue to make it known. Our relationship with God isn't a one-time transaction; it’s a lifelong, deepening discovery. Every day is an opportunity for Jesus to reveal more of the Father’s heart to us.

The most staggering part of this verse is the quality of the love promised to us. Jesus asks that the exact same love the Father has for the Son would reside within us. You are not loved with a "secondary" version of God's affection; you are cherished with the same infinite delight that the Father has for Jesus.

Jesus concludes with the promise of His own indwelling: "and I in them." We are never left to navigate life’s struggles in our own strength. Christ Himself provides the power and the peace from within, making His home in the hearts of those who believe.

Let us pray. Lord Jesus, thank You for bringing me into the family of God and revealing the Father’s heart to me. I ask that Your Spirit would help me grasp the depth of this love—a love that doesn't fluctuate based on my performance. Thank You for living in me and being my strength today. 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.