Daily Bread

"Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth"

We should praise the Lord. There is no prerequisite for this. God deserves praise no matter what He does or who we are. We always should have praise ready to give Him.

Mental Health

God cares about your mental state.

vs. 13 “because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who’s not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

You have to have mercy and compassion for everyone. Because no one is better than us and no one is worse than us. We have all fallen short (Romans 3:23-24). And when the day of judgement comes, the amount of times we’ve shown anyone mercy that mercy will be added to our account.

Vs. 17 “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

One aspect in believing in god is believing that He is all powerful and that not is impossible for Him. And we should act accordingly, with faith in know that He is able to do what you’ve asked him to do. If you believe He is able to give you the big house don’t just pray… go put down an offer. If you believe He will help you pass the test don’t just pray… go study. Faith with works is doing your best and letting God do the rest. Sometimes it may seem crazy like Noah building an ark with no natural sign of anywhere. But God is faithful so you should have faith in His promises.

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The Ugly Truth...

Vs. 12 “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

Being a Christian never meant being liked by everyone. As a matter of fact, because you are Christlike in a fallen world, you will be an outcast. Your mission is not to fit in but to stick out. To make the world feel uncomfortable in their sin while they are around you. You have to be the light for those in darkness. At times it will be hard and lonely, but God has a special reward for those of us to run the course and stay true to Him and His Word without giving up. 

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Instructions to Your New Life...

vs. “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.”

In today’s reading we are faced with a lot of the “don’ts” that people tend to dislike. They do not like being told that they are doing something wrong. However as we have previously read, God is Holy and in order to be with God we have to strive to be Holy alongside Him. That means to get rid of all of our unholy ways (either they feel “right” and “natural.”) Because we were born sinners our innate behavior is to sin and be sinful but now with a new life given to us by Jesus Christ, we our no longer bound (slaves) to our former selves. We have now been transformed and can obtain a life of holiness as long as we follow boundaries that God has places in our lives.

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Adopted...

Vs. 14 “ For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”

We go from being "slaves to sins” to “children of God.” On the cross Jesus did not only pay for our forgiveness but He also paid for our freedom. What we were once tied and chained to we are now free from because of Jesus. We longer have to deal with our sin and the guilty feeling that comes with it. We no longer have to chase a bottle, drugs, sex to feel anything, because God will feel that void. We no longer have to lie, because God is truth. No longer have to be greedy because God, our new father, owns everything. Also you are no longer your sin, He will not condemn you for what you have done in the past.

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Be Holy...

Vs 16 “for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

God is telling us to be holy because He is holy because as a holy being He can not be around unholiness. It is not so much of a demand bu more so as a standard. We all have non-negotiable when entering a relationship so don’t expect anything less from God. His main non-negotiable is to be holy. He will not compromise Himself for anyone one (and neither should you!) We are made holy through His Son Jesus Christ. Under the grace that His death has offered as well as following His example that showed while living on earth.

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Wages of Sin...

Vs. 23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Too often, we forget that sin leads to spiritual death. But because of the blood of Christ and the grace that comes with it, we continue to sin as though we are not facing eternal damnation each time. This chapter illustrates it beautifully. Why would you go continually go back to a terrible master when Jesus has set you free? Why put yourself back in debt when Jesus already paid it off for you? Now that you are debt free, do everything in your power to stay that way. Do not try and collect more debt knowing that there is grace for you. Because God is a God of grace, but He is also Holy and Sovereign and will not be toyed with. And also, your breaths are limited.

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New Life...

Now that Jesus has died on the cross and risen from the dead, we can be made righteous with God through Him. This means that every sin that you have committed is no longer on your record. You now have a fresh new record through Jesus Christ. Because Jesus took all the sins you've committed and all the sins you are going to commit on the cross with Him and left them there. But that does not mean you can go around sinning whenever you want; instead, live your lives as ambassadors for Christ. Tell people the good news that we are no longer our sins but that Jesus' blood washes us clean.

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Plot Twist...

Jesus did die on the cross for us; however, the most powerful part of this phenomenon. He did not stay dead. Jesus died and went to take the keys of death, giving us our freedom. Now in the Bible, there are many stories of people being raised from the dead, so Jesus was not the first to wake from death. However, He was the only one to do it on His own. As God Himself, He needed no prayers, laying of the hands, a command, or spirit-filled bones to touch for him to wake up, but instead, he did it on His own after three days, just as He said He would. And secondly, unlike everyone else who died and rose again, He did not die again. He rose, spent a few days with His people, then went back home to Heaven to be with the Father.

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Final Words...

For context, as we all know, Jesus died on the cross. We were told it was painful, especially with the nails being hammered through His wrist/hands and feet. It was also excruciating to even breathe. To pull Himself up just to catch a breath. And yet Jesus took the time to say a few last things. So whatever He said must hold some great value. Here are 3 of Jesus' 7 last words:

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Matthew 27:46. At the moment, Jesus took up our sins. All the sims of everyone existing at that time and every that had and has yet to exist! That's a lot of sin. So the Father, being holy, turned away from all that sin. Which is what he would've done to us if Jesus didn't take our place.

"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34. Our High Priest and Sacrifice at the same time. Now whenever we sin & repent (which isn't just apologizing but also turning away from that very sin), Jesus then goes to the Father on our behalf. He reminds Him of the price that He paid for your freedom and the sin that He took and left on that cross.

"It is finished!" John 19:30 translated to "Tetelestai," meaning "paid in full" and "work complete" Jesus has paid for our sins in full. There are no more killing lambs. No one hiding from shame. No more condemnation. Jesus has come down for the sole purpose of saving us from our damnation, and He has completed it.

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Sacrificial Lamb...

The prophecy and reality of Jesus' arrest, crucifixion, and burial. Jesus' death was not one to envy. Imagine doing someone a favor, and that same person is the one that stabs you in the back. Jesus did nothing to deserve the humiliation and pain that He endured. Yet he did it with no protest in the midst of it. He did it all, knowing that most people would not even appreciate the sacrifice. He endured because that was the only we would be able to be with him. We messed up so many times that God made a way that did not require us to be perfect but to thrive for holiness.

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Prepare the way...

What an introduction! John cared more about making sure Jesus had the perfect entrance than he cared about anything else. He shouted boldly, and because of that, he saved about of people. He did not have anything, not even a place to call his home, yet he made a big difference in the world. God does not require much from you to be able to use you. Just a heart ready to serve boldly.

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From the Beginning...

The promise that a baby will be born to save the world from the fall (Genesis 3). New information about this chosen savior was given that He will be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7). Then we see that promise fulfilled when Mary, a virgin, gives birth to a baby (Matthew 1). Jesus' birth, although a complete surprise to Mary, was no surprise to God. He had this all planned from the very beginning. God knows we are only human and will mess up from time to time, so your slip-ups are no surprise to Him. He is already prepared to help you.

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The Barren Gives Barren

Vs 3 “The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, ‘You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son.’”

In all of the scriptures we read this week, to deliver His people God used the ones who no one would’ve given a second thought about. Everything God does is intentional. Whatever you might think is your greatest flaw or something holding you back from being using by God might just be the thing that attracts you more to Him. God has formed you, and had plans for you even before you ever existed; pretty sure He counted in your “shortcomings.”

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