Father, I want to produce good fruit in my life, fruit which pleases you. Help me to cultivate my connection to Jesus every day. Help me to love my fellow believers and all whom I contact according to the standards of the Bible. I understand you have chosen me, and I submit to your pruning. In the Name of Jesus, the True Vine, Amen.
Jesus spent his time on earth revealing the truth of God’s love and grace for us. He didn’t say to stop following the rules. He shined a light on the rules so man could see the heart behind them. He came to show us that God desires obedience in love and relationship. We move from darkness to light when we put our trust in God rather than our ability to follow rules.
Jesus chose to walk through hell so that we could experience heaven. He knew the price it would cost and willful laid down his life in oder for humanity to discover what life truly is.
God isn’t asking me to be perfect in order to receive salvation and relationship with him.
The text says that the only work required of us is to believe.
Understanding we are spiritual creations first helps realign our perspective to God’s perspective. This profound truth encourages us to pray more, seek God’s presence more, have times of fasting, be more generous, and most of all, love and view people the way that He views them.
We had come together, like so many times before, to mourn tragic and senseless loss. I stood there singing words I desperately wanted to be true. I wanted to believe that God loves us so.
I see the unattractive exterior, but my children see visions of something more grand in these toy soldiers.
I want to see the beauty and the romance, and I want to believe in the strength and the fight.