2 Timothy

All Things Working Together - Romans 8:28

11:00 AM


Romans 8:28

This world, ruled by Satan, is filled with evil. And each day grows darker than the one before. That’s why every fiber of my being cries out for the return of Jesus. Oh how I long for my glorified body, and to dwell with the Lord forever. Because let’s face it. This side of heaven is a tough place to be. 


Jesus Himself promised rocky times for His followers dwelling on earth. (2Tim. 3:12) And there’s not a single one of us who hasn’t been touched by suffering or faced trials. But the apostle Paul also gives us another promise. Everything we go through, God will use for good for those who love Him.


Still, it can be hard trying to see the good in a bad situation. But our eyes are not God’s. And where we are blind, He sees everything from start to finish. All God asks, is that we trust in the uniquely wonderful plan He has for each of us. In patience, to continue loving, obeying, and praising Him, in good times and bad. Remembering that while we wait for Jesus, neither a smile nor a tear is wasted. 


As a home cook, I love the analogy of all things in our lives, good and bad, compared to a recipe. Each experience we go through is an important ingredient needed to produce a delicious outcome. God is our Master Chef. And He knows the perfect combination of events which will lead to amazing results beyond our imagining! A perfect helping of blessings, paired with a heaping side of love, joy, and peace!


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2 Corinthians

Be Gracious To Me O Lord {Psalm 31:7-10}

12:00 AM



Monday Nov. 4, Psalm 31:7-10

“We were promised sufferings. They were part of the program. We were even told, 'Blessed are they that mourn,' and I accept it.” (C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed)  

Suffering and grief go hand in hand with living in a fallen world; and Jesus tells us that no one, not even Christians, are exempt. (John 16:33) David knew this well. Feeling humiliated and grieved to the point of physical pain he laments, “My eye is wasted away from grief, my soul and my body also.” (vs. 9) I can relate to that kind of pain. For I too have felt such grief that not only did I feel mentally sick, but physically as well. My heart literally ached and I felt as though I couldn’t breathe, or take another step. It hurt so much, that I couldn’t even get on my knees to pray. It was all I could do to cry out, “Be gracious to me O Lord!”

Throughout the ages people have asked how a loving God could allow suffering in the world. And in the depths of my despair I too have asked that same question. How could my Father let me, His child, become broken, in pain, and filled with sorrow? But time, hindsight, and prayer have taught me that instead of asking why, trust that no matter the suffering I endure, God always has a purpose for my pain.

“For whom the LORD loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.” (Prov. 3:12) Sometimes my anguish is a result of my own doing and God lets me suffer the consequences of my actions. Other times God uses my suffering to polish away the junk and impurities polluting my heart, in order to make me into a shining example of Him in my life. “See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” (Is. 48:10) And more often than not, just like He did with Paul, God uses my sorrows to show me how completely helpless I am without Him, strengthening my dependence upon Him alone. “We were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself … But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” (2 Cor. 1:8-9)

As long as there is sin, there will be suffering. And whether or not we know the reason behind God letting it in our lives, of this we can be certain; He will never make us suffer alone for, “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart” (Ps. 34:18) Not a single tear we cry goes unnoticed by our Father in heaven, who collects each and every one in His bottle. (Ps. 56:8) And if we let Him, He will be there each step of the way lovingly seeing us through the pain; ready, willing, and able to fill our aching hearts with peace and gladness. So no matter the suffering, trust in His perfect wisdom. Believe in His plans to use all things both good and bad for our benefit. (Rom. 8:28). Have confidence in His purpose for our sorrows and His ability to show His glory through them. And finally, cling to the beautiful promise of God to, “Comfort all who mourn, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting, so they will be called oaks of righteousness.” (Is. 61:3) 


1 Corinthians

The Body is the Lord’s {1 Cor. 6:12-20}

11:00 PM



Monday Oct. 7,  1 Cor. 6:12-20

Because they were no longer bound by the constraints of the law, the members of the Corinthian church mistakenly believed that grace gave them a free pass to do whatever they liked with their bodies; a freedom to eat and drink what they wished, and to have sexual relations with whomever they wanted. But Paul tells them to hold up. Time for some self discipline here. Just because they could do it doesn’t mean they should do it. And being under grace isn’t a license to sin. (Rom. 6:15) Those bodies of theirs needed to be treated right. Why? Because our bodies are not our own. They belong to God. And as His stewards there are some things to need to consider.

“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” (vs. 12) Paul isn’t telling us to practice self discipline because he’s a party pooper, rather he understands the destruction that comes from being slaves to the desires of the flesh. Whether it be gluttony, alcoholism, or sexual addiction, these sins put us right back into the bondage that Jesus died to free us from.

“Flee immorality. Every other sin a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.” (vs. 18) Sexual immorality not only effects the body physically, but also morally and spiritually. It open us up to disease, hurts others, destroys families, and separates us from God. Sexual immorality damages our character and our testimonies. It pollutes the gift given by God to be enjoyed in marriage between husband and wife.

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” (vs. 19) The Jewish temple where the Spirit of God dwelled on earth was a holy, sacred place. And the moment we receive Jesus as our Savior, that same Spirit comes to dwell within us. The Levitical priests practiced great self discipline when it came to obeying the rules of God pertaining to serving in His temple. Shouldn’t we do the same knowing we have the Lord living inside of us? 

“For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” (vs. 20) “No one owns his or her body. It either belongs to God or is enslaved to sin. (Rom. 6:6,16-19). If you are a believer, Jesus redeemed you through His death on the Cross. He wants to free you from the sins that entangle you and prevent you from being all that He has created you to be.”...Dr. Charles Stanley 
When I think of the price Jesus paid for me, how can I do anything less than use my body to glorify Him!

Your body was a willing horse when it was in the service of the devil, let it not be a sluggish hack now that it draws the chariot of Christ." (Spurgeon) Each one of us is born with a sin nature that would rather practice self indulgence than self discipline. And when the flesh wants something, the hardest word to hear is “no”. But as followers of Christ, Paul reminds us that, “God did not give us a Spirit of timidity, but a Spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline” (2 Tim. 1:7) If we truly love Jesus, we should strive to honor Him in all things; including being good caretakers of our bodies. For they are given to us by God to whom they belong. And God promises that one day those very same bodies will be resurrected and forever glorified! 



Confession

Confession: A Prerequisite For Salvation? {Romans 10:5-13}

11:00 PM




Monday Sept. 23 Romans 10:5-13

I have many fond memories of my Grandmother, and one of my favorites is sitting snuggled up next to her on the couch as she read the Bible. I loved listening to her voice and watching her eyes twinkle as she read aloud the verses. She found great joy in reading God’s Word, and the book of Romans was one she treasured most. I remember her often quoting  verse 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved.” After she would say, “It doesn’t get much simpler than that. The Gospel in a nutshell.” I’m sure it would surprise her to know that as easy as she found Paul’s words, others find just as troubling. Why? All because of the word “and”.

In Ephesians 2:8-9 Paul tells us, “For by grace you have been saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” The Apostle makes it clear that there are no works we could ever do to earn salvation. It is a gift that God so graciously offers to all who believe and receive Messiah Jesus as their Savior. Yet here in Romans Paul says we that we must believe and confess that Jesus is Lord. But how can that be? Doesn’t making confession mandatory fall in the category of works? Is Paul adding conditions the Lord never intended? 

The truth is, Paul was never saying that confession was a requirement to be saved. Instead, he meant confession to be evidence of being saved. When Paul wrote his letter to the Romans, it was a tumultuous time for Christians. It was one thing to be a follower of Jesus, or confess Him as Savior behind closed doors. But to confess Him as your Savior publicly, meant certain persecution and possibly death. Paul himself was beaten, imprisoned, and eventually beheaded for his faith. He knew full well the weight of a public confession. He also knew that those who were truly saved, would not only believe in their hearts, but confess it with their mouths for the world to hear; no matter the consequences.

Sadly, the times we live in are not that different then the times of the early church. Everyday, Christians around the world are being persecuted and killed for their faith. No follower of Jesus is exempt, yet we are called to confess just the same. After all, how can we walk in obedience to God spreading the Gospel throughout the land without confessing Jesus as our Savior. And although we may experience mistreatment or worse, we can find comfort knowing as Paul did that, “the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us”! (Rom. 8:18) And better yet, when we are faithful in our confession of Jesus as Lord, He promises, “Everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 10:34) 



God's perspective

A Mind Set On The Spirit {Romans 8}

12:30 AM


Monday May 13

Romans 8

I’ve always been a bit of a daydreamer and as such have been told a time or two, “Get your head out of the clouds and come back to earth!” But earthly thinking isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. The Apostle Paul tells us that as Christians, instead of on the things of the world, our minds should be set on the things of the Spirit. “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” (vs. 5) 

Once we were in chains, slaves to our sin and burdened under the Law of God which we were unable to obey. But Jesus died to free us from bondage. He became the perfect fulfillment of that Law, and because of His sacrifice not only are we reconciled to God and declared righteous, no longer do we have to lead lives driven by the sinful desires of the flesh. “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.” (vs. 1) The moment we receive Jesus as our Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside us. And through the power and strength the Spirit provides, we can take captive earthly desires, urges, and thoughts that keep our focus from where it belongs, on God. 

Having minds set on the Spirit allows us to have the spiritual mindset of God Himself, and to concentrate on the things which are pleasing to Him. Things like love, fellowship, praise, worship, and obedience. And once our minds our set, our bodies will soon follow. For, “whatever the mind is minding, that is what we will walk after. If the mind is minding the flesh, we will walk according to the flesh; if the mind is minding the Spirit, we will walk according to the spirit.”...Watchman Nee

Why should our perspective on life be one of maintaining a spiritual focus? Because as vs. 6 tells us, “the mind set on the spirit is life and peace.” Not only do we have the assurance of eternal life, but also life in the sense of one filled with the love, hope, and joy that comes with having a close, personal relationship with the Lord. And once hostile to God, unable to please Him, we can now have peace. No longer His enemies, forgiven through the blood of Jesus, we have “received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!"(vs. 15) Matthew tells us that it’s impossible to serve to masters. (Matt. 6:24) We can either have a mind set on the flesh which leads to death, or a mind set on the Spirit which leads to life. Which will you choose?

We need to continually rid ourselves
Of every lofty thought
And everything that sets itself up
Against Jesus Christ, our Lord

For if we don't, we can't move on
To where God wants us to be
And walk in Jesus' love and grace
And to truly be set free

Satan comes and attacks our minds
To stop what God wants to do,
We shouldn't listen to his constant lies,
For in him, there is no truth

Our thoughts should be on the things of God
That builds us up in our faith,
Singing His praises and worshipping Him
And upon His word, meditate

For this is how we can actively take
Every thought captive to Christ,
By filling our minds with the things of God
And to do what we know is right

Despite what the world around us says,
We need to guard our minds
And refuse to give in to its worldly ways,
Nor allow it the chance to bind

For Christ did come to set us free
From the way we lived before,
So we may always walk in that freedom
With our faith and trust in the Lord.
                 .......lM.S.Lowndes


God's grace

Reflections From Roxanna~God's Grace and Mercy

6:00 AM


“The Lord is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works.” (Ps. 145:9)

The Bible tells us that God is good, true, and His mercy great and everlasting. And in His goodness He is, "Compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin" (Ex. 34:6-7) Romans 2:4 instructs us that such goodness and mercy should lead us to have hearts of repentance. “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” (Rom. 2:4)

What does it mean that God is merciful? Augustus Hopkins Strong is quoted as saying, “Mercy is that eternal principle which leads Him to seek the temporal good and eternal salvation of those who have opposed themselves to His will, even at the cost of the infinite self-sacrifice.”

In His goodness, God not only shows mercy, but He bestows upon us His many forms of grace. they include:

Saving Grace- the supernatural gift of the undeserved and unmerited favor of God given to believers through Christ by Faith 

Living Grace- the supernatural ability to live each day in God's will, allowing us to both endure and conquer sin

Suffering Grace- the the supernatural strength provided by God to endure any and all suffering.

Giving Grace- the supernatural desire to share what God has given to you with his Church  and his people.

Dying Grace- the supernatural comfort that God gives to His saints

The One true God is good, and great are His mercies!

Blessings, 
Roxanna

God's Grace and Mercy

From Wretched To Beloved {Romans 5}

12:30 AM



Monday March 25


“God's mercy is so great that you may sooner drain the sea of its water, or deprive the sun of its light, or make space too narrow, than diminish the great mercy of God.”...Charles Spurgeon 

I’ve said it before that Romans is my absolute favorite book in the Bible, and chapter 5 is one of the reasons why. To me it sums up the message of the gospel beautifully. Once helpless, dead in spirit, and enemies of God, through the grace and mercy of the Lord, not only can we have peace with God, but we can rejoice in the hope of knowing that one day we will spend eternity with Him. (vs. 1,2) And as of late, peace and hope are two words I find myself clinging to more and more.

It seems that the attacks of the Enemy have been coming at me fast and furious. Whether it’s in the form of a dissolving friendship, a destructive temptation, or a disparaging remark from a loved one, Satan has been working overtime putting to the test my thoughts, my tongue, and my actions. And although there are times when I pass the test with flying colors, more often than not I fail miserably. But you know what? It doesn’t matter to God. Because His love for me isn’t based on anything I do but instead on everything He does. Whether I win or lose God’s love never waivers. 

And so when I’m feeling particularly discouraged, I read the words of Paul who tells me, “Newsflash! God knows your failings and loves you anyway!” The Lord knew from the beginning how man would fall; how we would rebel, reject, and disappoint Him. He knew how Adam would sin in the garden of Eden and the consequences that would follow. And so what did God do? Far from doling out the punishment of death that we all deserve, He gives to us a most precious gift. The gift of His unmerited grace and mercy. “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” (vs. 6) Sparing no expense, not even His only begotten Son, God Himself provides the path of reconciliation to Him, declaring us justified through faith in Jesus.

What does this mean? This means that even though I am a sinner and fail daily, God wants me. All of me; the good, the bad, and the ugly. And not because of my great love for Him, but because of His great love for me. “God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (vs. 5:8) Every sin I have committed, past, present, and future, Jesus paid the price for, allowing me to be declared righteous in the eyes of God. So does this give me carte blanche to live my life in purposeful sin knowing the bill has already been paid? Absolutely not! Knowing the sacrifice the Lord made and all He endured to give me eternal life, gives me a heart that wants to lead a life pleasing to Him; hence my great discouragement when I fail.

Richard Sibbes is quoted as saying, “there is more mercy in Christ than sin in us.” As I continue to have good and bad days, successes and failures, I will be forever grateful for God’s grace and mercy that no matter what will remain the same. And when trials come my way I will remember Paul who tells me, “Rejoice in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character; hope, and hope does not disappoint,  because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (vs. 3-5) Most of all, I will rejoice in God’s amazing grace that saved a wretch like me!


God's Grace and Mercy

Humility- What Becomes Of Our Boasting {Romans 3}

1:00 AM


Monday Feb. 25, Humility- Romans 3

While reflecting on writing about humility, the Lord brought to my mind the time He used a simple loving gesture to teach me a powerful life lesson. A couple of years ago a family conversation started about King David. Opinions differed, with strong feelings on all sides. When I noticed that the ones participating didn’t know what God’s Word had to say, I was quick to jump in. I quoted verses, offered my own commentary, and handed out suggestions of picking up their Bibles more often. I was on a roll! I remember riding home that night feeling pretty proud of myself, and I couldn’t wait to boast to my husband. After all didn’t I show everyone that I was the better Christian? Surely my actions impressed God and made me just a little more special in His eyes. 

A short time later a dear friend of mine sent me a random text message full of silly heart and love emojis to which I jokingly replied, “What did I do to earn such affection?” My friend answered, “It’s like grace and mercy, not earned just given.” She went on to say that she hadn’t reached out because of anything I had done, but simply because she loved me. Now little did she know at the time, but boy did her words tear at my heart. The conviction I instantly felt let me know that God was far from impressed with me. Feelings of humility, and sorrow swirled inside as my eyes welled with tears. Filled with shame, I prayed for forgiveness, and for a heart change. A heart that would never again forget that it is only by God’s saving grace that I can be reconciled to Him. A heart that has no room for boasting knowing the Jesus paid my sin debt with His precious blood. And a heart of thankfulness that the same love God offers me, He so generously offers to all. 

“Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith.” (vs. 27) The lesson God taught me, was the same lesson Paul was trying to teach in his letter to the Jews in Rome. Feeling an air of superiority for being God’s chosen people, they weren’t thrilled with Paul’s teaching that all, both Jew and Gentile, are equally guilty in the eyes of the Lord; “There is none righteous, not even one.” “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (vs. 10, 23) They scoffed at his declaration of justification through grace alone; not by the works of the Law. And their prideful hearts found it hard to accept that God sent His Son not just to save Israel, but to save the world. 

It’s been said that humility doesn’t mean thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. And there’s no better example of this than Christ. From start to finish Jesus, in humility and obedience, always put the will of the Father before His own. Never once seeking His own glory, His joy was found in serving God and others. He endured much and sacrificed unto death to give us eternal life. Just like the love of my friend, His grace and mercy not earned, just given. Knowing this, I can honestly say there is nothing in me worth boasting about. And so I continue to  pray for a humble heart, to live for God’s glory, and to remember that love, “does not boast, it is not proud.” (1 Cor. 13:4) 

“Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call ‘humble’ nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all. If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realise that one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.”...C.S. Lewis

To read more about humility click on the following link:


Angie Benjamin

The Balance between pleasing God and Pleasing People {Romans 14-16}

3:02 PM



Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me. 

Romans 15:2-3

Romans 15:2,3 teaches us to make a practice of pleasing our neighbors but we clearly need to find some balance.

After all we are called to be God-pleasers, not self-pleasers nor people-pleasers.

Through the experiences we go through in life we learn that if we don't make an effort to please people then they will not approve of us, but reject us.

The apostle Paul said in Galatians that he didn't seek to be popular with people yet in 1 Corinthians he said that he tried to please people and accommodate himself to their opinions and desires in order that they might be saved.

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. - Galatians 1:10

Even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.- 1 Corinthians 10:33




Even though these verses may seem to contradict each other, it is important that we understand Paul's motives or his heart behind them.

What Paul meant by pleasing people is to maintain a good relationship with them in order to them to accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour BUT at the same time and most importantly, while pleasing God in order to fulfil the calling on his life.

It's all about balance.

I Have lived in a foreign country for almost 8 years, and I have had to accommodate to many things that I was never taught in my own culture. Some things have not been easy or comfortable...yet I have had to do so in order to show the locals Christ's love. 

On the other hand, this culture (as all others) also offers things that are not Scriptural...or actually contradict God's Word.

It's about pleasing people as long as it does not cause us to displease the Lord.

The Bible is very clear in this aspect. Acts 5:29 says that we must obey God rather than Men.

We cannot please people at the cost of compromising our consciences to do so.

We cannot please people based on the fear of rejection judgement or on what people may think. 

Instead we should be grace- based God pleased who strive to follow God with all of our hearts while seeking to serve and minister others without compromising our consciences.



Jesus

Does Jesus Need to be Both Lord and Savior of Our Life?” {Romans 8:18-10:21}

12:00 AM

Years ago, just as I began to teach women Bible studies, I thought it would be a great idea to open with a question that would invite the women to share their knowledge, or opinions and there-by help the group to get to know one another better and feel more comfortable in the group. That was until I asked the question one day, “Does Jesus need to be both Lord and Savior of your life?”

I honestly thought World War III was about to break out in my livingroom that day! There were strong opinions on both sides of the issue, and we finally had to end the discussion by agreeing to disagree! Both sides seemed to have valid points and neither side seemed interested in changing or accepting the other side’s view.

That was the last time I ever opened a study with a question like that until today!

Since that day, I’ve often thought about whether Jesus needed to be both our Savior and Lord, and I believe this passage speaks directly on this subject, so I thought it was time to finally answer the question!

Paul begins chapter 10 sharing a bit of his heart for the Jews,

Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.  For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.  For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.-Romans 10:1-3

In other words, though they had a zeal, they didn’t get it. But Paul continues in assuring us that God’s salvation really isn’t that difficult!

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);  because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.- Romans 10:8-10

Now hold still one moment, for some have said this passage means we must confess with our mouth to be saved but that’s not what this passage is saying.

It might be better if we could understand Greek. The passage is talking about what is in our heart and in our mind. The Greek word for “confess” is HOMOLEGO. It means “to say the same thing”- to admit with our mouth what we know to be already true in our heart.

And here in the Book of Romans is not the only place Scripture talks about confession with our mouth:

  • And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man shall confess him also before the angels of God.  Luke 12:8

  • Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.  1 Timothy 6:12

  • Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.  1 John 4:15

  • Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.- 1 Cor 12:3

Each of these passages testifies that a Christian’s words will reveal what he or she believes in his/her heart. But not only our words!

Jesus, Himself told us in John 14:14-17,

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 
 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

The real question we need to ask ourselves is, “Does my mouth and actions reveal what I honestly believe in my heart about Jesus – that He is Lord of my life?”


One last thing that’s important for us to understand and that is God the Father has made Jesus Lord, not only over our lives, but over all of creation. The Father has highly exalted the Son by giving Him the name that is above every other name (Philippians 2:9).

As the apostle Paul states in Colossians 1:15–20, "He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."


All authorities, whether earthly or spiritual, are subject to the lordship of Jesus Christ. Therefore He must also be preeminent in our lives as well.