Why didn’t the apostles use philosophy or theology to prove the gospel? And why didn’t the Sanhedrin use philosophical or theological arguments to stop its spread?

The reason, is that the gospel was not based on philosophy or theological arguments, but on a real event in time and space: the death, burial and resurrection of Messiah. This central truth of the risen Messiah makes the gospel unique among the faiths of the world because it is a real event, a historical fact.

Similarly, the primary evidence of the gospel in your life cannot be based on philosophy, theology or imagination, but on a real event — the change that takes place in you because of the gospel and your faith in the Word. Just as Messiah was raised from the dead by the power of God, so too has that same power raised you to new life. It’s a historical fact.

So share your testimony in Messiah. Let others hear about the changes that have taken place in your life. Let them see your good works. This is the miracle of God through flesh and blood faith.

Scripture: Romans 1:16

TODAY’S MISSION – Let people around you see the God that lives inside you; love more, forgive more, help more and shine for Him in all that you do today.

In Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. — Ephesians 1:7

Forgiveness! What a sweet and precious gift. What we were powerless to fix, make up or pay for, God did for us in Jesus. With him, each day is a fresh start and rebirth of Springtime. But my, such a terrible cost he paid to give it to us!

My Prayer…

Thank you, Father, for your anguish and cost to forgive my sins by the blood of your Son. I refuse to take lightly the cost of my sin and will live for your glory in appreciation of your grace. In the name of him who sacrificed all for my salvation I pray. Amen.

Monday, January 24, 2022

Shaul or Paul was on Damascus Road when he had the vision from God; a very dramatic way that salvation came for Paul. But it didn’t end on Damascus Road. It led Paul to Straight Street. In other words, salvation must lead to a straight walk. Every encounter, every experience with God has to lead to Straight Street, a daily straight path. True change isn’t a high or an experience, but a changed life. The very experience of God leads to righteousness because experience isn’t good in itself if God isn’t in it. God’s presence is for nothing if it doesn’t change your life. Take the blessings of God in your life and turn them into a new way of life. Take the experience and feeling of love and turn it into a straight path of love. Take that experience of victory and turn it into a straight path of victory. Take that experience of the Holy Presence of God and turn it into a straight street of holiness, because the experience is only the beginning. The victory is the changed life. Damascus Road always leads to Straight Street.

Scripture: Acts 9:1-20

TODAY’S MISSION – Today, claim the victory that you have through Yeshua. Live a transformed life of holiness; for you have been forever changed by His glory.

You might be saying you don’t have enough. I don’t have enough in my life: I don’t have enough money, time, and affection and never have enough anything. You have a lot of lack and you sometimes complain; you’re not satisfied.

What does the Bible say? The Lord’s Prayer says, “Give us this day our daily bread”. Do you have daily bread? Go to your kitchen; do you have bread for the day? Chances are you do; and not only that you’ve got more than that because you have weekly bread. You have enough for the week or even longer. And yet the Bible says to pray just for daily bread. So if daily bread is sufficient in your life, then weekly bread is extra. Consider yourself blessed! If you’ve got daily bread, that’s blessing itself. Many people don’t have that, but you’ve got bread beyond the day. Do you want to be blessed? Start giving thanks for what you have. You got saved, you’re blessed; you got daily bread, and you’re blessed! You’re saved from hell, you’re blessed. Give thanks for all the blessings and you’ll have more than enough.

Today’s Verse:
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39

Sometimes during life’s struggles, it’s tempting to focus solely on what we lack and compare ourselves to others who are more fortunate. We complain to God that if only he had blessed us with more resources like money, favor, or power, our life would be better. Times of suffering can induce sad thoughts of self-pity and self-doubt but remember that life is never perfect. Life regularly brings a mixed bag of highs and lows, but dwelling more on the negativities such as pain, failure, and rejection, we might think that we will never measure up to God’s standards.

Apostle Paul wrote in short that nothing can separate us from the love of God. So always remember that whatever is going on in our life, God loves us, and in His grace, we are whole and enough! – Commentary by Mark Natividad

Today’s Prayer:
Our Heavenly Father, thank You for Your unconditional love for me! Please forgive me for entertaining thoughts of self-pity and self-doubt. Please remove them from my heart and help me to let go of all bitterness, resentment, and discontentment. Lord, I now welcome Your love, peace, and mercy in my life. In Jesus’ mighty name, I pray Amen.

A snake slithers into a nest of eggs, contorts its mouth around the egg, then swallows it whole.

Here’s a principle: the serpent represents a spiritual reality…the enemy. Its tactics are the tactics of the enemy. As the serpent swallows the egg, so the enemy seeks to destroy life before it emerges, crush God’s plans at the very beginning while still incubating. He seeks to destroy your life before you get saved, your calling before it’s fulfilled, and your ministry while still just a promise.

Here’s the encouragement… if you find yourself being attacked by the enemy… it’s a good sign; something good is on the way. Persevere all the more because God has a plan for you, a blessing waiting to happen. When the enemy tries to discourage you, turn it upside down. Take it as encouragement. It’s revealing that God has something good if you just persevere.

So press on my friend be encouraged. For the snake is an egg swallower trying to stop the blessing. If he’s giving you a hard time, press through all the more, for how big is the egg and how great the blessing that awaits you.

TODAY’S MISSION – If you’re living in God’s will, take any setback and attack as encouragement on the greatness of what God has ahead.

Today’s Verse:
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. – Romans 8:18 

The apostle Paul in this statement gives us the idea of how to deal with suffering. We have to compare it with the glory that is about to be revealed to us. If it encourages him, most assuredly, it will also do the same for us. All our wounds, scars, and pains will be healed on the day of our Lord’s return. Therefore, we are heartened not to mind these things in this present time, instead, we fix our eyes on what is about to come. This is what we eagerly await here on earth, that the author and the finisher of our faith would soon make his return. Do not be discouraged in living for His glory, for when the time is due, you will receive the crown of glory which He promised to those who endure until the end. Enlarge your vision, overlook the pain and suffering as it is temporary and be encouraged while you consider the coming glory! – Commentary by Dionivie M. Tacder

Today’s Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for asking the Father for what’s best for me here on earth. Thank you for the blessings and for putting everything in place for my future. Enable me to use these blessings for Your glory alone. Amen!

Research from Purdue University revealed that the number of people who report excellent health is nearly 50% higher for those who attend church regularly over those who don’t.

Research from John Hopkins revealed that regular attendance in worship services yielded benefits to the attenders in everything from heart disease, tuberculosis, cervical cancer, chronic bronchitis, cirrhosis of the liver, suicides, and fatal one-car automobile accidents. How much is that worth in medical bills, treatment, surgery?

In the Bible, it is written, ‘Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together…’ That was written 2,000 years ago. Only in the past few years has it been discovered that this is also good for your health. You don’t have to understand everything God says. You don’t even have to agree with it. Just do it and you’ll be blessed. If God said so, then it’s right and you’ll also end up being blessed in the end. Go worship, fellowship, and do those other things that the Word of God says and that you know you need to do because it’s true. God is good and all good is for you.

TODAY’S MISSION – Sign up today for the good health benefits that you’ll receive by not neglecting to worship and fellowship with others. Believe God and be blessed.

Today’s Verse:
But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. – Jeremiah 31: 33

The Old Testament can be referred to as the old covenant or the law. The New Testament can be referred to as the new covenant or when the law was written on our hearts. How cool is it that in the Old Testament, God declared that in the future His law would be put within us and written on our hearts? He knew Jesus would be coming and be the savior of all before we did. This is such a testament to how God is always working even when we don’t see it, when it feels like He’s left, and when it feels impossible. God is always working. He always sees us and He never forgets about us. God knew a relationship and a connection with our hearts would be the thing to save us, so He made it happen. – Commentary by Kristina Taylor

Today’s Prayer:
God, I pray that we walk in our relationship more with You every day. Help us remember to prioritize You in our lives and carve out intentional time to spend with You. Thank You for knowing us and what we need. Amen.

In Biblical times, people didn’t have any last names. They had to come up with ways of identifying them. One of the ways was by the place of their origin like Joseph of Arimathea, Simon the Cyrene, and Mary Magdalene, whose last name is the name of a town, Miryam of Magdala. There were many people who went through their lives identified, marked, and labeled by the place they resided and by their past.

Likewise, we’re marked and defined by where we’ve originated from and by our past. But, in Messiah comes the power to break the past; break out of the old and into the new. Messiah was called “Yeshua min N’tzeret,” “Jesus of Nazareth.” His first followers were called “the Nazarenes.” They were “Sam the Nazarene,” “Rebekkah the Nazarene,” and “James the Nazarene.” In other words, they were no longer known by the place of their origin, but by the place Yeshua, where Jesus came from. When you live in Messiah, you are no longer marked or bound by your past or your circumstance. Your past belongs to Messiah. And His name belongs to you.

TODAY’S MISSION – Today, imagine if instead of having your past, you had the past of Messiah,full of God’s love – how would that change how you live and act? In the atonement, His perfect past is yours – live it.