No Scar

Hast thou no scar?

No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand?

I hear thee sung as mighty in the land,

I hear them hail thy bright ascendant star,

Hast thou no scar?

Hast thou no wound?

Yet I was wounded by the archers, spent,

Leaned Me against a tree to die; and rent

By ravening beasts that compassed Me, I swooned:

Hast thou no wound?

No wound, no scar?

Yet, as the Master shall the servant be,

And, pierced are the feet that follow Me;

But thine are whole: can he have followed far

Who has no wound nor scar?

*** Written by: Amy Carmichael ***

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Life, Not Religion

Text: Jeremiah 9:1-11

Key Verse: “Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the Lord” (Jeremiah 9:6)

Israel had been a backslidden nation. Several years back, a righteous king, Josiah, had arrived the stage with sweeping reforms to restore righteousness in the land. He enthroned true worship by removing the idolatrous priest who had been burning incense in high places at the instance of the past kings of Judah.

He broke in pieces the images of idol and drove away the workers with familiar spirits and wizards to enable the people return to the true God and His worship. Sadly, at the death of King Josiah, the people returned to their old ways.

In the text above, Prophet Jeremiah itemized the abominations prevalent in Israel for which God was not pleased. The prophet said that the people were “all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men” (Verse 2).

Today, our society is in the same lamentable situation Israel was at that time. There is corruption in high and low places, idolatry of all kinds, and immorality is at its peak. The values that were held sacrosanct years ago have been thrown overboard. Even in unlikely places, worship centers, evil abound. These things that made Jeremiah shed tears are also the concern of genuine men of God today who labour day and night to draw men from the scourge of sin.

The redeemed of the Lord must warn sinners of the imminent judgment of God as did Jeremiah. The purity of one’s Christian faith should be seen by doing what is right; loving others and ceasing from sin. So, the practice of the Christian faith must not be limited to a mere church attendance. Our changed lives must be righteous and holy, as sure signpost for others to take after.

Thought For You: The reality of man’s religion is evident in his character

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Greed - The Cause For A Miserable Life

Text: Proverbs 15:27; Luke 12:15; 1 Timothy 6:10-11

"Greed is the root cause for all sorrows" said Gouthama Buddha. All humans have desires, physical and emotional. But any desire overwhelms or overrates beyond the acceptable levels, it becomes 'greed'. Now the following is an ancient moral story how the greed makes man's life miserable.

Once there were two neighbors, one was rich and another poor. The poor was a farmer with very meager farmland of 1 hectare and the rich had all the properties and wealth with many servants. The rich could not be Happy or content as he was always in the worry of improving his wealth and protecting the exist.

On the contrary the farmer toils throughout the day in his farm and get yields which give sustenance to his family. At the end of the day the farmer comes to home, play with his children, share the things with the wife and sleeps with peace. The rich was so amazed about his fellow neighbor's happy life and inquired with his counsel accountant what was the secret behind this.

The counsel said the rich, it is the contentment of the individual with whatever comes out of our hard work and performance would give rise to pleasant and peaceful life. The rich could not be convinced. The counsel requested his boss to allow some experiment to be done with the farmer to prove his argument.

The counsel the next day buried one gold coin in the place where farmer usually digs for his luggage to be tied up, without any one notice. So the farmer got surprised and he took away gold coin and kept in a hidden compartment of his house. He did not reveal the surprise to any of his family members lest they spread the news all over the village.

The counsel continued the same with another gold coin for second day in another prominent place of farm land where the farmer digs. Again surprise for the farmer. The second was also kept in safe custody in the compartment. This process continued for 99 days and the farmer got 99 gold coins in his possession. The farmer was about to get 100th gold coin for his dream to be fulfilled because he could buy another nearby farm land with 100 gold coins. But to his astonishment the counsel stopped burying gold coins with 99.

Afterward the farmer became mad to get hundredth gold coin, he kept on digging fanatic all over his farm land and he ignored totally the usual farming which give sustenance to his family with food grains. He kept on counting the 99 gold coins in the hidden compartment through out night without sleep and he was in a deep state of distress for not getting the hundredth. He left his children without looking after their well being. He got the habit of frowning at his wife when come to ask what happened to him.

The whole episode was being watched by the rich and his counsel amusingly and finally they came to the farmer and revealed the experiment they made with him. The rich later extended the hundredth gold coin and other farm land which the farmer desired to buy as a compensation to the farmer for the mental agony he has undergone due to this experiment. At Last both lived happily.

The inference of the above story can be derived as "the human life would become miserable when we aspire for the materials or wealth income which do not match to our hard work and performance". If we become content with our possession be it money or property, we can lead a very peaceful life. We can rejoice whatever comes in our way naturally and we can appreciate all the natural boons bestowed upon us by the Almighty.

In fact we can be very happy and peaceful as long as when we don't compare our wealth or life styles with others who are at higher range.

We can have desires those can be fulfilled with easy efforts, but greed which could not be satiated within our capacity leads to miserable life.

*** Culled from www.changeinnerself.com ***

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Come Over

Text: Psalm 15; Acts 3:19; James 4:8

There’s a land of peace and plenty,

and its gates are open wide;

And the pure in heart and

holy in its shelter may abide,

It is not through gates of glory

that a soul must enter in;

But all who would find entrance

there must leave the ways of sin.

Come over, come over,

to the land of corn and wine,

There is nothing can compare with the many

holy pleasures there,

Come over, come over, leave the

desert plain below and come away,

Away, come o…ver.

There is bread of heaven growing,

in its fair and fertile fields,

And the wine of love its

vineyard to the thirsting mortal yields;

There are mountain heights of

glory that awaits the traveler’s rod,

And blest retreats where

empty souls draw nearer unto God.

Who would stay without its borders,

in the desert dark and drear,

When the luscious grapes of

eschol are so very, very, near?

Enter in then with rejoicing,

for the Lord is on your side,

And in His glorious presence

ever more you shall abide.

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On The Other Side

Text: John 14:1-4; Rev. 22:12; Titus 2:13

A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."

Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."

"You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?"

The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side of which came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing...I know my Master is there and that is enough."

*** Author unknown | culled from www.sunnyskyz.com ***

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Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Text: Hebrews 12:2; Acts 4:12, 16:31; Matthew 11:28-30

O soul, are you weary and troubled?

No light in the darkness you say?

There’s light for a look at the Saviour,

And life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace

Through death into life everlasting

He passed, and we follow Him there;

Over us sin no more has dominion –

For more than conquerors we are!

His word shall not fail you – He promised;

Believe Him and all will be well;

Then go to a world that is dying,

His perfect salvation to tell!

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Recipe For Happiness

Text: 1 Timothy 6:6-8; Hebrews 13:5; Luke 12:15

I learned a long time ago that life is not always fair. One child gets born in a poverty stricken nation while another gets born to Hollywood millionaires. I have seen God-fearing believers struggle to make ends meet while the leaders of organized crime and casino owners make millions of dollars each and every week. Whenever God is approached about this seemingly unfairness His answer is always the same. “Be content,” He says, “with such things as you have” (Heb. 13:5).

To be content means to have an uncomplaining acceptance of one’s position in life and if you are content you will not worry, murmur, envy, or be overcome with greed. Contentment is necessary because your happiness is based on how content you are. The Message Bible records in Phil. 4:11, 12 these words of the apostle Paul, “I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty.” The only cause of sadness in one’s life is the lack of contentment; therefore, we must strive to be content at all times.

Contentment is a vital necessity that needs to be in full bloom in order for faith to work. If you’re not content then you’ll gripe and complain about your current circumstances and negative words of doubt and unbelief will flow out of your mouth. This, of course, will hinder your faith from bringing the blessings of God into manifestation in your life. People who complain are not content, thus they are never happy.

Remember, Paul calls contentment the “recipe for happiness.” When was the last time you heard a happy person speak negatively? A joyful Christian knows that their suffering is the stepping stone to better things to come and this is why all you’ll hear out of them are positive faith-filled words. To be happy you must be content and this comes by accepting your position in life without complaining about it. There is no other way. Besides, complaining never changed anything anyway.

The pursuit of a better life always begins with contentment but it doesn’t end there. Consider what Paul says in Phil. 3:12, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have already perfected; but I press on that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.” Paul is telling us to always be content but never be satisfied. To be content we must always be growing and pressing on.

The word “grow” means to ‘increase’ and 1 Tim. 6:6 says “godliness with contentment is great gain.” Growth is what keeps your contentment alive and it is easy to be content if you know increase is on the way. At a new job, for instance, a worker should be content and thankful for the starting wage (Luke 3:14) but nobody wants to work at the same company for several years and get paid the same amount as the day they started. No, for the worker to be content then increase must take place. Likewise, the employer expects from the new hire increase in effort and productivity. When enough companies do not grow they close their doors and often times this lead the nation into an economic tailspin. The same will happen to us mentally, physically, and spiritually if growth is not a major factor in our lives.

The greatest hindrance to growth is satisfaction. This causes you to accept things as they are and creates in you a “whatever will be will be” mentality. In truth, satisfaction is the birthmark of laziness. Those who are lazy will not work at all nor do those things that are required for growth to happen because they simply do not care about the important things in life. They are willing to sit back and watch the world pass them by yet they’ll be the first ones to complain when hardships prevent them from enjoying the finer things in life.

The secret to overcoming the spirit of laziness and to enter into a state of contentment is to grow hungry for the things of God. Hunger is the result of not being satisfied and it makes a demand on growth.

If you’re satisfied with where you’re in life then you won’t push yourself to climb to the next level of spiritual development and maturity. This attitude prevents growth from happening. 2 Peter 3:18a says, “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Growth is a command from God and is what contentment feeds on. The very first command given to Adam and Eve was “be fruitful and multiply” (Gen. 1:22).

In the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30) the unfruitful servant was condemned and sent away into eternal torment. As you can see, growth is very important to God. He is the God of increase and He wants and expects you to grow. Therefore, if your life is not yet filled to capacity with the things of God, then allow dissatisfaction to create in you a craving for more of the benefits that come as a result of being a follower of Christ. In other words, become a seeker of God.

It stands to reason that the quality of one’s life is in direct proportion to the quality of their search for God. Jer. 29:12, 13 says, “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” We cannot seek God and pursue Him half-heartedly and expect to find Him. He deserves greater honor than that. We are in a season where God is telling us to turn our eyes back upon Him.

Today graven images are taking the place in the lives of many believers. A graven image does not have to be a statue like the golden calf built while Moses was on the mountaintop meeting with God. No, a graven image is anything we have our eyes on that takes the place of God. Do you play golf with your friends on Sunday instead of taking your family to church? If so, then your golf game has become a graven image. Is the TV set on when you should be having a family Bible study? More times than not there is no greater damaging idol than the television set and the video store.

Do you live for the “almighty dollar”? Does money consume your thoughts? Do you work overtime and spend time away from your family and church when it really isn’t necessary? Is the accumulation of “things” the only motive you have for living? If so, then you are an idol worshipper. We are told in Matt. 6:33 to “seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.”

The problem today is that too many believers are seeking the “things” and hoping that God will be added to their lives. This ought not to be. Anything in your life that you prioritize before God is a graven image no matter how good the “thing” may be in and of itself.

The quest for a better life will always lead to the throne room of God and we must not let “things” take the place of God in our lives. Besides, when you seek God and find Him you’ll have everything you’ll ever need. When Jesus becomes your “all in all” contentment will flood over you like a mighty river. In His presence is “fullness of joy” (Ps. 16:11). Truly, that is the recipe for happiness.

*** Written by Randall Brewer ***

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The Continuing Struggle

Text: Romans 7:7-25

Key Verse: “For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it” (Romans 7:18-20)

Paul says that as a Christian, redeemed by the grace of God, there is now something within him that wants to do good, that agrees with the Law (because the Law describes God's holy nature), that says that the Law is right. There is something within that says what the Law tells me to do is right, and I want to do it. But also, there is something else in me that rises up and says No! Even though I determine not to do what is bad, I suddenly find myself in such circumstances that my determination melts away, my resolve is gone, and I end up doing what I had sworn I would not do.

So, what has gone wrong? Paul's explanation is, It is no longer I who do it; it is sin living in me. Isn't that strange? There is a division within our humanity. There is the I that wants to do what God wants, but there is also the sin which dwells in me. Human beings are complicated creatures. We have within us a spirit, a soul, and a body. These are distinct. Paul is suggesting here that the redeemed spirit never wants to do what God has prohibited. It agrees with the Law that it is good. And yet there is an alien power, a force that he calls sin, a great beast that is lying still within us until touched by the commandment of the Law. Then it springs to life, and we do what we do not want to do.

This is what we all struggle with. The cry of the heart at that moment is: What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? (Romans 7:24) Right here you arrive at where the Lord Jesus began the Sermon on the Mount: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3). Blessed is the man who comes to the end of himself. Blessed is the man who understands his own spiritual bankruptcy. Because this is the point — the only point — where God's help is given.

This is what we need to learn. If we think that we have got something in ourselves that we can work out our problems with, if we think that our wills are strong enough, that we can control evil in our lives by simply determining to do so, then we have not come to the end of ourselves yet. The Spirit of God simply folds his arms to wait and lets us go ahead and try it on that basis. And we fail, and fail miserably — until, at last, out of our failures, we cry, O wretched man that I am! Sin has deceived us, and the Law, as our friend, has come in and exposed sin for what it is. When we see how wretched it makes us, then we are ready for the answer, which comes immediately in verse 25: Thanks be to God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Who will deliver me from this body of death? The Lord Jesus has already done it. We are to respond to the feelings of wretchedness and failure, to which the Law has brought us because of sin in us, by reminding ourselves immediately of the facts that are true of us in Jesus Christ. We are no longer bound to our sinful flesh by the Law. We are married to Christ, Christ risen from the dead. We must no longer think, I am a poor, struggling, bewildered disciple, left alone to wrestle against these powerful urges. We must now think, I am a free son of God. I am dead to sin, and dead to the Law, because I am married to Christ. His power is mine, right at this moment. Though I may not feel a thing, I have the power to say, No! and walk away and be free, in Jesus Christ.

*** From Ray Stedman Ministries | www.raystedman.org ***

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He Meets All Needs

Text: Mark 8:5-9

Key Verse: “So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets” (Mark 8:8)

A global increase in population, especially in developing nations with rising prices of goods, is a serious threat to survival. Severe drought in numerous nations of Africa has made many families to go hungry or at least compromised their diets. In the midst of hunger and scarcity, God has always provided for those who trust His ability to change difficult situations and provide their needs.

The text above focuses on the compassionate nature of Christ to always find enduring solution to the plight of those who come to Him. The preceding chapter captures different categories of people with diverse ailment and challenges who were healed and delivered. They were astonished beyond measure “saying, He hath done all things well: He maketh both the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak” (Mark 7:37). Christ provided food for the hungry and fainting people, to support them and to sustain the spiritual blessings they had received.

Sometimes, we ignore the physical needs of others in pursuit of the spiritual alone. Yet, the two are necessary. Although the multitude did not complain or tell Jesus of their hunger, He nevertheless, recognized the need and supplied food. Sometimes, we are too slow to recognize people’s needs, and even when we do, nothing is done about it.

Are there hungry people in your local church? You may not be able to heal the sick but you can provide something for somebody in your local assembly. Identify a needy person today and allow the compassion of God to move you to meet their needs and lighten their burden. On that score, you will be a true follower of Christ.

God cares for every minute detail of our lives. He is not too busy with important matters alone; He is also interested in every minor or major area of our lives. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

Though for You: Christ will supply all your needs, if you trust Him.

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Go, Labour On

Text: John 13:15; 1 Peter 2:21; Matthew 12:50

Go, labour on, spend and be spent.

Thy joy to do the Father's will;

It is the way the Master went,

Should not the servant tread it still?

Go, labour on; it's not for nought,

Thy earthly loss is heavenly gain.

Men heed thee, love thee, praise thee not,

The Master praises, what are men?

Men die in darkness at your side,

Without a hope to cheer the tomb:

Take up the torch, and wave it wide,

The torch that lights time's thickest gloom

Toil on, and in thy toil rejoice,

For toil comes rest, for exile home;

Soon shall thou hear the Bridegroom's voice,

The midnight peal, "Behold, I come!"

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Did He Hang For Me?

Text: Rev. 2:11, John 8:36; Deuteronomy 30:19

So you say He hung on the tree,

That I might be set free?

But I was never shackled.

I walked free, speak unheckled

The one that is in chains knows not,

Still a slave, though his freedom’s bought

So you say He willingly bled,

That I might not to hell be led?

Was it I that paved the path to hell

Or designed its flaming cells?

Before all is life and death to choose

Choose hell and heaven you lose

So you say He bore my sins?

Enough! You paint such torrid scenes!

But He died thousands of years ago!

Yet, this death, you link to me?

His blameless blood was split that the lost

Be redeemed. He alone could pay the cost

Ah, did He die for me on that cross?

Did He bleed to save me, save us

From unseen fetters of sin;

Tethers that eyes have not seen?

He that has ears let him hear,

For the day of reckoning is near!

*** Written by Kukogho Iruesiri Samson ***

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When Life Seems Unfair

Text: Job 20-21; Isaiah 55:9

Key Verse: Have you never questioned those who travel? Have you paid no regard to their accounts – that the evil man is spared from the day of calamity that he is delivered from the day of wrath? (Job 21:29-30)

Life seems to be unfair. There appears to be a basic unfairness at the root of things, and this is what causes many people to be troubled by Christians' claims about a loving, faithful, just, and holy God. You often hear the question raised, If there is a good God, why does He let this kind of thing happen? Job is raising the same question. He says to these pious, respectable friends, your arguments do not square with the facts.

You say God always visits wrath upon the wicked. What about these wicked people who live without a touch? God never does a thing to them. What about the fact that He seems to treat people very unfairly? Folks who seem to deserve nothing but the grace of God, who are a loving, gentle, kind people, have endless problems and die forsaken. And some who are selfish and cruel and self-centered are the ones who seem to be able to live without struggle. What about this?

Job tells his friends, if you'll just inquire among those who travel, the people who get around and see life, you'll find that they support what I'm saying. The wicked often escape the day of calamity. It's not just true around here; this is true everywhere. The wicked live above the law, and nobody tells them that they're doing wrong. They get by with it. They die highly honored in their death, their graves are adorned and guarded, and God does nothing about that. So he says at last in verse 34: So how can you console me with your nonsense? Nothing is left of your answers but falsehood!

If you intend to argue with Job, you had better get your arguments well in hand. This man is able to see through the error of logic in these people's position. They have a theology that does not square with experience, and that is where the problem lies.

These friends represent people – and there are many around today – who have placed God in a box. They have what they think is a clear understanding of all the ways of God, and they can predict how He is going to act, but when He acts in a way that they do not understand and do not expect, they have no way of handling it because it is their creed they have faith in, and not in God Himself.

This is what Job is learning. His creed has been demolished by his experiences. He has had to file his theology in the wastebasket because it did not fit what he was going through. Someone has well said that a person with a true experience is never at the mercy of a person with an argument. Job's friends are unable to answer him because his experience rings true.

*** From Ray Stedman's Ministries | www.raystedman.org ***

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If God Be For Us

Text: Romans 8:31-32

Rejoice in the Lord! oh, let His mercy cheer;

He sunders the bands that enthrall;

Redeemed by His blood why should we ever fear

Since Jesus is our "all in all"?

"If God be for us, If God be for us,

If God be for us, who can be against us?

Who? Who? Who?

Who can be against us, against us?"

Be strong in the Lord! Rejoice in His might,

Be loyal and true day by day;

When evil assail, be valiant for the right,

And He will be our strength and stay

Confide in His word - His promises so sure;

In Christ they are "yea and amen";

Though earth pass away, they ever shall endure,

It's written over and over again

Abide in the Lord: secure in His control,

It's life everlasting begun;

To pluck from His hand the weakest, trembling soul -

It never, never can be done!

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9 Ways To Break God's Heart - Part 2

Remember, we earlier discussed that God has a heart, and that it can be broken. He has a heart with emotions like you and I.

*** Please click: "HERE" to read '9 Ways to Break God's Heart 1' ***

These, however, in no way indicate weakness on the part of God (as in the case of man). He is Almighty and none there is beside Him. He forever remains the same but like us, He has a heart and it can be broken. Here is the continuation from where we stopped.

Don't break God's heart.

6. Believing in God less. It is better explained as believing in yourself more and in God less. Who wouldn’t buy the motivational tip-off that you have to believe in yourself to succeed in life? But here do we forget that:

a. “…For by strength shall no man prevail.” (1 Samuel 2:9)

b. “It depends not on one’s own willingness nor on his strenuous exertion as in running a race, but on God’s having mercy on him.” (Romans 9:16)

c. “…The race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong, neither is bread to the wise nor riches to men of intelligence and understanding nor favour to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:11); also check Psalm 33:16-19.

We allow motivational speakers cloud our thoughts with the “I can” spirit and place less emphasis on the “God can” spirit. It’s not wrong for one to believe in one’s self and abilities but it should be done to please God. Read what Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 and understand better the position true believers should take in this regard. Also check (John 15:5-8; Proverbs 3:5-7; 16:3).

7. Denying Christ as the Saviour and Son of God. Arguments have gone viral as regards the person and identity of Jesus Christ. Recently, I read an article saying the Bible is false and that Christ was but a prophet like Jeremiah, Ezekiel and others. Some even doubt the miracles Jesus did, but then, everyone has a right to his or her own opinions.

True believers know better and can distinguish between Christ and Caesar. The entirety of the Bible centres of Jesus Christ as the Saviour and clearly tells of His person. However, due to controversies and my dearth of knowledge on this topic, I would crave your pardon to speak less on this but urge you study these Bible references with godly understanding (Isaiah 9:6; 40:9-11; 53:1-12; Luke 2:11; John 1:1-5; 10:7-42; Acts 4:12; Zechariah 6:12-13; and too many to mention). May the Holy Spirit guide you as you study and meditate on the truth of the Word.

8. Deceiving people about resurrection. Don’t be deceived; heaven and hell are real and disregard anyone telling you otherwise. Take not lightly the Gospel according to Luke account on this topic, though the book of Revelation says more that should convince you.

“And it occurred that the man begging died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom.

“And he cried out and said, Father Abraham, have pity and mercy on me … for I am in anguish in this flame.” (Luke 16:22-24). Have you ever wondered what happens when your soul and spirit leaves the body? Where do you go after this life?

If in doubt whether you are a triune being or not – a spirit created in the image of God with a soul and dwelling in a body of clay – check 1 Thessalonians 5:23. And for further information on this, send us a message via the truth media and let’s encourage one another. We would love to hear from you.

9. Backsliding. Lastly, what can also break God’s heart is backsliding. “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32; Genesis 19:26). The plan of our adversary, the devil, is to make us turn back from following Christ. His plan is to kill, steal and destroy and to make believers lose their salvation and grace by faith in Christ.

No wonder our Master, Jesus Christ, has urged us to watch and pray (Mark 14:38). The devil prowls like a roaring lion, seeking someone to seize upon and devour. (1 Peter 5:8-9). His targets are not those who dwell in sin-they are already his property till they accept God’s grace by faith in Christ- but Christians whom have given up the life of sin for a life of salvation, grace, peace and triumph in Christ.

In your walk with God, don’t stop trailing the narrow way. Though it’s hard and tiring, continue; though it’s filled with thorns and spikes, continue and don’t stop until you have truly won Christ like Apostle Paul (Philippians 3:7-14).

“Press on towards the goal to win the prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us, all true believers in Christ, to attain (Philippians 3:14), and do not forget that “it is only those who endure till the end that will be saved. (Matthew 10:22; 24:13).

Why should you die my friend? If you are yet to know Jesus Christ, you are breaking God’s heart. And until you do, you really have no life in you. Come to Jesus and find rest for your soul and life eternal (Matthew 11:28; Romans 6:23).

To all my brothers and sisters in Christ, run with patience and perseverance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2). Don’t be conformed to this world or the things in it; don’t yield to the flesh anymore, for you have been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:18-20).

Hold on to the Saviour, Jesus; cast all your cares and burdens on Him and let not these words stop ringing in your head that: “No one who puts his hands to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62).

Examine and be true to yourself now and determine whether your life has been breaking God’s heart, or you have been applauding those who wallow in sin. “The end of all things has now come near…” (1 Peter 4:7). Is your life pleasing to the Lord?

Remember, “…each of us shall give an account of himself or herself to God” (Romans 14:12; 2:6; 2 Corinthians 5:10). It is my prayer that you reading this piece make it to heaven eventually, for that’s where I am headed and shall attain by His grace. Don’t break God’s heart!

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit be with you brethren. Amen.

*** Written by: Jacobs Adewale  (Admin) ***

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