Daily Focus

We must change. We cannot succeed in Christ if there is no change in our lives. We were never meant to be stagnant. We were never meant to stay the same after baptism. We are in a constant state of transformation. We must lay down our wants and desires. We must be willing to die daily for Christ. We have to follow Him. He will make us become true children of God. That takes more than just showing up for services. That takes more than weekly blowing the dust of your bible. That takes more than praying only in bad times. It takes a daily willingness to change to be the best you can be in Christ. Our lives are the cost. In return we attain eternal life in Heaven just like Christ.  Are you paying it in full or in installments? “Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”” Luke 9:23 “ And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:27 “So likewise, whoever...

Everything that we do must be in the name of Jesus. The phrase “in the name of” identifies by whose authority. Everything we do we must do in and by the authority of Christ. We cannot quit because Christ is with us. Jesus made it clear if we do His commands He is with us tell the end of the age. We must work and operate within His authority and by His authority.   Success outside of this parameter is not godly success but worldly achievement. Therefore, it is nothing more than sin. In order to never quit and have an attitude of success only we must remain in Christ authority. The right growth, maturity, success rate, and prize in only found in Christ. Everything else is only an illusion of what could be.   Keep working in the name of Jesus. ““Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; ”” Acts 2:38 “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through...

When we look back we stop moving forward. Looking back encompasses several thoughts. Looking back means we lose our focus. Looking back means we lose our commitment. Looking back means we miss sin. Looking back means we would rather serve our self. Looking back means the narrow way is not our desire. Looking back is how we get led a stray. Looking back is not always a statement of peering into the past. It can easily mean we desire things that are not of God. If we look back, we cannot get into Heaven. We must keep our focus on Christ. There is no going back once we start in the Lord.. “But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”” Luke 9:62 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin , that grace may abound?” Rom. 6:1 “  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. ”   2 Pet...

Christians we need to know what it takes. It takes more than just me and you. We are not fighting against flesh and bone. The war we have been called to fight is against evil. We fight against the rulers of darkness of this age. We battle against spiritual hosts of wickedness. We must understand to fight the spiritual it takes the spiritual. Those of God get out of the way. We let God be in control. We are waging war the way He commanded. We must exemplify the fruits of the Spirit. We must embody the armor of God. We must have the heart of a warrior. We must obtain the soul of child of God. We must have the mind of Christ. It takes all that makes up you. Do you have what it takes? Get it, grow in it, and keep it. Souls are depending on our fighting ability. “Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’” Matt. 22:37 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against pow...

The end goal is always our main focus in life.  Whether the end goal is tomorrow or a life time away it remains our pursuit. Paul just wanted to be pleasing to God and receive the crown of eternal life. That is the reason Paul pressed on through this life. He strove every day to reach the high calling.  Paul’s motivation in this life was the end goal we all hope for in Christ. God beckons us on and upward toward Himself in Christ Jesus. The result and effectiveness of that call in our lives is up to us. Reaching that heavenly calling must be our only aim in life. The convergence of all that we say, do, hear, believe, act on, and work for with the will of God is our one true desire.  We want to be just like Christ to get what He got. He never took His eyes of the end prize. Push with all your might every day to reach that one and only goal in life, Heaven. “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:14 “Finally, there is ...

When we know who we believe in everything changes. We know know who we fight for, live for, and die for. When that is in perspective we then know where we stand. That stance is the most important place to figure out. You are either on the right side or the wrong side of the battle field. If you truly believe you will be down in the trenches and fox holes of this world fighting for your Savior and His cause. When we discover who we believe in we find out who we are. That first step is the hardest but the most significant.  We must believe in Jesus Christ.  Sometimes we believe in ourselves so much there is no Christ in our life. Who do you believe in? "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me." John 5:30 "He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he sai...

Bear Bryant said it best “Never Quit. It is the easiest cop-out in the world. Set a goal and don’t quit until you attain it. When you do attain it, set another goal, and don’t quit until you reach it. Never Quit.” That is one powerful statement. Christ teaches us the same thing. Christ exemplified this thought all the way to the resurrection. We have to have five things set in order to never quit in Christ.  Here they are.      1. We must know in whom we have believed. "For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” 2 Tim. 1:12 2. We must know what it takes. “Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’” Matt. 22:37 3. We cannot look back. “But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit...

We are given a new mind, a new destiny, a new standard, a new goal, and a new way in Christ.  We have to keep those about us. We have to keep Christ on. We have put Him on in baptism. At that very moment everything became new. We have been freed from sin by the Lord of our lives. We need to walk in Him. We need to stay in the new way. We cannot use this freedom we have obtain as an opportunity to sin. If we do, we are simply tossing pearls before swine. Use this new freedom as an opportunity too final live. Live free of worry, care, burden, sin, and the world. Truly see the potential of this freedom by doing the word of God. Live free! “ For he who has died has been freed from sin.” Rom. 6:7 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Cor. 5:17 “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Gal. 5...

The center of all things is life.  Our lives can be run by our selfish ambitions or the life that Christ gives. That decision rest in your hands. If your life revolves around you and what you want, then you will be rewarded accordingly. However, if your life revolves around Christ there is a crown of life awaiting you. Who has to get out of the way for this to happen? You do. You have to crucify yourself. You must say “It is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me!”  We must enthrone Christ in our lives. Make your life Christ centered.  Start today. “But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:  that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” Eph. 4:20-24 "I ha...

Sin and the world are very crafty at sucking souls in. When we get ourselves in to a death spin we are in serious danger.  When we allow ourselves to be drawn away from God into sin we are walking a very slippery slope.  The only thing we can do to get out of it is to pray and seek God. We have to simply let go and let God. Too often we continue in the downward spiral of sin because we cannot let God take over. The only way out has always been the same. God is our rescuer. Let Him get you out of that dangerous place. Today self-reflect and take note of where you are in Christ. Make the changes you need to make to get back on track. If you are on track keep plugging away. “Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.” Luke 8:14 “for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica— “  2 Tim. 4:10 “B...

As followers of Christ we seek Him. We seek Him in every aspect of our lives. Jesus simply said “Follow me” when He called the first disciples.  Christ makes it clear that we are to follow Him. We follow Him by denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Him.  We are meant to do as He did and said for us to do. To follow Jesus, we must serve Him. If we do not God will not honor us. We must crucify ourselves, put on Christ, have a servant’s mentality, and make Christ the center of our lives. Following Christ means we must change to be like Him.  Follow Christ today. Serve Jesus today.  “ If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.” John 12:26 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” John 16:24  “ He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He wa...

What messes up our spiritual equilibrium? Sin and this world will through you out of spiritual balance every time. We have to be careful. We have to be vigilant. We have to be aware at all times. It does not take much. It has always amazed me how a small inner ear problem can make it so difficult to walk. The same goes for our  spiritual walk. It can be the smallest invisible thing that can make it difficult to walk in the light. The teachings of the world, things that sound good, things that are pleasing, and things that seem harmless can nock us off the narrow way with out us even knowing it. Be careful that your spiritual equilibrium stays true even in the roughest of times. If you do not the results are catastrophic. “Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word,and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” Mark 4:18-19 “for Demas has forsak...

Every day is a blessed day to be alive. Today think about a graveyard spiral. A death spin is entered when a pilot loses sense of equilibrium do to a lack of proficiency in instrument flight . If you cannot recover you will die. Life is just the same. Sin and the world messes with our spiritual equilibrium. If we choose live carefree without careful observance of our lives, we will enter a graveyard spiral. If we abstain from and are vigilant of such things we will be able to avoid it all together. Do not let the world mess with your spiritual equilibrium. Stay vigilant in all things.   “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life .” John 12:25 “and the cares of this world , the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”   Mark 14:9 “for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world , and has departed for Thessal...

Be the sower that is sowing the seed. Those in the dark need us to call out so they can find their way home. We let things in this world take over. We let things like eating, work, pleasure, and sleep get to much of our lives. (Psalm 22:26; Mk.6:30-32; 2 Tim. 3:2-4; Prv. 6:9) Moderation is elemental to our faith. Temperance is best defined as having moderation in action, thought, or feeling.  We must be self-controlled in our lives. It is a work of the Spirit. We must be careful to adhere to a strict standard of moderation. If we do not the world will take over our lives. When that happens we forget about those wondering in the darkness. We begin to drift from shore into the storm forgetting God. Strong qualities as temperance being taught caused Felix to tremble. The world is afraid of such things. Self-control opposes the world and its teachings. Christians have moderation in all things as we strive for an imperishable crown. “gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no...

It is a wonderful Wednesday today. The little things in life make all the difference. Waking up five minutes earlier in the morning will make your day that much better. Sometimes a little word of encouragement makes you feel like you can climb mountains. The little habits in life  can determine whether we are successful or we fail.  As Christians those little things or those little habits make all the difference. Focus on the little things today.  " Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing,   in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  Do not quench the Spirit.  Do not despise prophecies.  Test all things; hold fast what is good.    Abstain from every form of evil." 1 Thess. 5:16-22 Make the little things about God everyday. Keep working hard. :)  Gal. 1:3-5

         Tuesday has come very quickly this week. As we grow tired we tend to let things go. Many times we let tired or being wore out be an untold excuse to sin. It is hard to stay on your game when you are tired. Those moments are when we need to be the most vigilant. The lion does not seek the strongest but the weakest. When we get tired we tend to worry. We worry a lot because we do not feel like we can do it. Things of this world begin to way us down. Then we tend to turn to worldly things to relieve that stress. Life then begins to look like a bath tub drain in use. Do not worry about what you will eat, wear, drink, and or sleep tonight. Do not let the cares of this world deceive you. Do not let the world make you think that it has any stress relief. Do not let the world lead you to believe that more worldly things will make it easy on you.   We will have tired times and easy times. In both rely on the Lord. Be strong today. The Lord i...

Monday has made its way around again. I am so glad that we get to start our week off with the Lords day. The Lords day makes Mondays a cake walk.   Perseverance is a must to be a successful Christian. We must keep our flams lit and our fires high for God. It must be added to our faith. We have to have it to make it to heaven. It is not easy. Perseverance is when the rubber hits the road. When you have spiritual sweet running down your brow, your knuckles are busted from fighting the fight, your legs have grown weary from running the race, and your exhausted from your service to the Lord perseverance is what keeps you going. Those very times will increase our perseverance. Persevere in doing good today! “to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,” 2 Pet. 1:6 “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;” Rom.5:3 “eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing goo...

        It is a wonderful Lords day. Let us enjoy the blessing of worshiping  God today!  Let your words be filled with kindness and encouragement. Let them be the words of the wise that bring refreshment or healing to another. Speak with gentleness and in a manner that comforts others. Words matter. Be careful to not just babble without thought or reflection.  That type of speech can be dangerous and cause a great deal of harm. This type of speech is reserved for the foolish.  From the inmost man comes our words and thoughts. Let them not defile us. Let us glorify God by our speech and our speech be out of holiness. “ There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.” Proverbs 12:18 " So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding?    Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out o...

It is going to be an awesome Saturday. Sin is not only wrong doing, it is also a failure in right doing, failing to do good.    We cannot forget that goodness is a positive quality. It is not merely the absence of what is bad. We must do more than just hear. We must act. We must strive for goodness. As Christians striving for goodness should be on the forefront of our mind. A moment that is not spent in useful employment is an act of sin. Jesus tells us that condemnation at judgement will be passed out to those who do not do the good He asks of us. We know what God desires of us. We know what He wants us to do. We sin in doing that which we feel uncertain is appropriate before God. We sin in knowing what we should do and not doing it. Sin is much more than just staying away from the “big nasty” ones. The one talent man was called wicked for not acting. Be very careful that in knowing how little you do for the Lord that you are not willing to pretend to be...

Friday is here! It has been an awesome week! There is no such thing as a do-nothing real Christian. The life that springs forth from within us forces itself out in holy words and actions. We will not only bear fruit but we will bear much fruit and good fruit. We must be in Christ in order to bear such wonderful fruits. If we are not in Him we lose our life, wither away, die, and are of no use but to be cast out. Those branches are gathered up and burned. Those that are in Him have His words abiding in them. His word molds us, controls our lives, and forms our character. Being in Him gives us the opportunity to ask for things according to the will of God and He will grant what we ask.  It is impossible for Christians who are in vital union with Christ to be fruitless. There is no room except for success in this situation. Take full advantage of such a blessing of success in Christ. Work doing the will of God.  Work as Christ worked. Work giving your all, all the time. What doe...

            It is a wonderful Thursday. Every day is wonderful in the Lord. For Christians knowledge is half the battle. We can know all about God’s word. We could have read the bible ten times over. We can master bible trivia.  What good is it if we do not act on it? Obtaining and keeping the knowledge of the truth is half the battle. The other half is doing it. Without action knowledge has no value. What good is having the knowledge a bridge it out, seeing warning signs that the bridge is out, and watching others suffer from the bridge being out if it does not cause you to act? Your fate will be the same as all the others who had knowledge but did not act. Only those who act will be blessed. How much action/work are putting forth in the Lord? How much of yourself are you giving? We must fight the other half of the battle. That other half is the life we have been blessed by God to live on this earth.  Go work in Christ t...

Wednesday is at hand! It has been an awesome week. False teachers and teachings are everywhere. We must be careful lest we are lead astray. We must grow in knowledge. Growing in knowledge is a command and is necessary for our salvation. Without this growth we may develop a heart of unbelief and walk away from God. We must love the truth lest we love the world. We must grow in knowledge to be more like Christ. We need to know whom we have believed. The Holy Spirit did not guide the apostles into all truth for nothing. They were inspired to write so that we may know. Do not take for granite the wealth of knowledge that lay at your fingertips. That knowledge is the key. Know the truth and be established in it. Study and grow in knowledge today. “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;” Heb.3:12  “You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led a...

        It is a Tuesday/Monday day for us. We have had a blessed weekend! Let us add to our faith today. Let us add virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. We need to bring these in by the side of what God does.  God’s part is done only on the condition that we do ours.  This list is something that does not get added to our faith like you add a sack of potatoes to your grocery bill. It takes effort. It takes focus and diligence to add these to your faith. Although they are very small and insignificant compared with what God does for us we must add them. Every child of God must hasten to add them to our faith so that we may avail in the promises and blessings of our Father. Do not lack in them being shortsighted, even to blindness, forgetting you are cleansed for your old sins. We must add and abound in these things alongside what God does so that we may be fruitful in the knowledge of Christ. C...

Labor Day, the holiday that celebrates our labor for our country by not making us work. Labor Day is all about the labor we put forth. We know about labor as Christians. We labor for Christ daily. With no rest, no break, and no complaining. The work is so big but yet there are few of us. We labor in a daunting glorious task of seeking to save the world.   It is labor that lacks glamor, prestige, respect, and honor in the worlds eyes. Our labor causes us to be homeless, beaten, persecuted, lonely, and reviled. It also causes us to be blessed. Our labor allows us to reach the promise of salvation. When we labor as Christ did we walk as He did. We get to be heirs because of our laboring. When we labor our faith grows, God is with us, we mature, we hold on to truth, and we hold on to promise. God put us to work and gave us the tools. He goes with us and strengthens us. Labor in Christ.   “Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labor ers are ...

Be strong and steadfast. Don't let your feelings and anger rule you. Be careful to keep your wrath from pouring from your mouth. Such things have no business controlling your life. It damages others. It damages you even more! Process your emotions and stay self-controlled.  Glorify God in all you do! :) (Col. 3:17) "A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back." Proverbs 29:11 "So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God." James 1:19-20 Keep up all the good work! Look for opportunities to serve and spread the Word. Encourage a brother or sister today. :) Gal. 1:3-5

       Labor Day is Monday. You know what that means, a three-day weekend. There are no holidays, weekends, breaks, or clock out times in Christianity. We are to always be growing in Christ.  The knowledge of God and our Lord Jesus Christ multiplies our grace and peace. We have everything that pertains to life and godliness through the knowledge of Jesus. When we grow in Him we can be partakers of Jesus’ divine nature. We have to escape the corruption of the world in order to grow in Christ. When we seek Him and the knowledge of Him we grow in Him. If we grow in Christ we can have the same faith as the apostles. We are to always be growing, multiplying, maturing and working in Christ. Grow in Christ today. “Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lo...