Advocate for Christ

The best life is a God First life

Category: Choosing (Page 3 of 9)

What is the only gift we can give God that God Wants?

December 7, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Jesus tells us; the greatest “commandment” is to love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. In other words, we are to love God with all of our beings, with everything we have to offer. Jesus goes on to tell us the 2nd greatest “command” is to love others as ourselves. Jesus added a new command “…Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

Did you notice these are not request?

They are commands. Why are they commands? One thought is because they are good for us. God does not force us to love Him or others. He leaves that to our choice. However, God has given us overwhelming incentives and reasons to love Him and absolutely no reason not to love Him.

Jesus tells us, “if you love me, you will keep my commandments.” So this is our opportunity to show our love and gratitude by doing our best to keep His commands.

“IF we love him…” The word “Love” is so loosely defined in our cultures today, it’s often confused with all sorts of selfish temporal feelings, desires, wants, and infatuations. Jesus’s command to love is not a pill we take for temporary uplifts; no, It’s the kind of love God has demonstrated to us, one that never ends. It’s unchanging and committed. It’s lifelong. In fact, it is never-ending, eternity long.

God first loved us and gave His son for us. So why would we hesitate not to do our best to show our love for Jesus in return by keeping his commandments?

I can think of only one thing we have to offer God that God cannot give himself; what would that one thing be? _ _ _ _

  • Mark 12: 30-31 (Greatest commands)
  • John 14:15 (keep His commands)
  • John 13:34-35 (new command)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.[a] From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

John 14:6-7

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30 ESV

God First!

We NEED TO “ARM OUR CHILDREN!”

December 2, 2021 / / 0 Comments

We need to arm our children; We need to arm them with the teachings of Jesus Christ so that they may learn love, strength, honor, respect, compassion, humility, forgiveness, and thankfulness.

As our children and we grow in the knowledge of God’s love, it creates a natural zeal to love and serve our creator. To keep His commandments with all their Hearts, Souls, Minds, and Strength, and love others as Christ loved us.

We need to Arm our children with the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, the Word of God. It’s the best way to help our children protect themselves.

As parents, we strive to protect our children, teach them right from wrong, caution, and self-control, and how to be strong yet humble so they can achieve success in life’s challenges.

There is no better foundation to provide them than the foundation of God.

Loving God and having His Word in their hearts as their guide provides our children with the knowledge they need to make better choices throughout life. It helps them know where to turn to find answers and how to seek help from Scripture and through prayers.

In addition, God’s Word helps them make the right choice when they encounter situations where bad choices may have lifelong negative impacts.

Our children need to see the adults around them demonstrate how to love one another as Christ loved us in all our actions. They need to see us show respect for authority, respect for others, love, and compassion.

Our children need to understand that actions have consequences; if we want good consequences, we need to input Good actions. We need to take note of this ourselves.

  • 3 John 1:4
  • Ephesians 6:17
  • Proverbs 22:6
  • Ephesians 6:4
  • Isaiah 54:13
  • Deuteronomy 6:7
  • Psalm 78:6
  • Romans 9:8
  • Matthew 22:37
  • John 13:34

God First!

The prayer that changed my life

November 18, 2021 / / 1 Comment

Life can be tough sometimes, and when we live by our own standards, we are ill-equipped to deal with all the hardships. I lived by my own standards for many years. Yes, as a baptized believer, my standards had been influenced by the teachings of God, but instead of submitting to God’s standards, I strayed and created my own, which DID NOT include putting God first.

Instead, I was wise in my own eyes, putting worldly desires, goals, satisfactions, family fun, sports, TV, etc., before God and His will. Eventually, I found myself in several situations where my standards were inadequate. I had no real answers; my solutions were Band-Aids, not fixes. I found the foundation of “my standards” was rooted in sand, leaving me feeling like a leaf floating in the wind. Fortunately, I knew where to turn as I was introduced to God and his standards when I was younger.

Not only could I pray for God’s help, but I could choose to “CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF MY LIFE” (repent) and follow the standards of life God set before us through Jesus and in His perfect and complete Holy Word. (The Bible) 1 Cor. 13:8-10

I found myself humbled through turmoil beyond my control. Turmoil, I wanted to control, I had to realize that God was the only answer; That ONLY GOD can help in all situations, so I asked myself, if I were gone, who would want to help more than me, and there was only one answer.

So that night, I prayed, I started my change with probably the deepest, heartfelt, and tearful prayer of my life, and as tears flowed, I turned my troubles over to the Lord. I wanted to be a true disciple of Christ. I wanted to pursue righteousness beyond” My Standards.”

I had read in the book of James that: “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” And I wanted my prayers to have great power. I wanted God’s help like never before.

That night, I did not give up on any of my concerns; instead, I sought the most powerful help available to mankind by turning to our Creator.

The changes I have made in my life since that night have helped me grow healthy, strong roots in the nutritious soil of God’s Word. As my understanding of God’s intent for all of us has increased, God’s standards have become my standards, and I have found that the best life is a God First life!

Hardships are indeed like rain that falls on the just and the unjust; having God in the forefront of our lives gives us reason and strength to face it all and count it all joy!

There really is a peace beyond understanding that is attainable when we decide to deny ourselves and follow Christ.

I now use “God First” to end many of my writings and wear them on clothing as “Spirit-wear” because I realize that living a God First life is the most crucial decision one can make, and I want to encourage others to do the same.

There’s a reason why loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength is The Greatest Commandment.

  • James 5:16
  • Isaiah 41:10
  • Psalm 34:17
  • 2 Corinthians 12:9
  • Proverbs 3:5-6
  • Psalm 55:22
  • 1 Peter 5-7
  • Philippian’s 4:6-7
  • Hebrews 11:6
  • Romans 12:2

God First!

When “Faith and Hope” are history

November 12, 2021 / / 0 Comments

“But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13)

When this world is over and Jesus returns, we will “love” for eternity, but “faith and hope” will no longer be needed. Even in the story of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man was concerned for his family, showing the love he still had in torment.

When this world is over; We will find ourselves in the moment of truth fulfilled. Then, “Faith and Hope” will no longer be relative.

At this point; The choices we make to follow Christ today according to God’s will, and Not ours, will determine our eternal destiny as we appear before Christ in the reality of our judgment to hear him say: Welcome my loved one or Depart from me, I never knew you.

  • Isaiah 26:9
  • James 4:12
  • John 3:17-18
  • Matthew 12:36
  • Matthew 7:19-29
  • Proverbs 21:2
  • Revelation 20:12-13
  • John 5:30
  • Luke 16:19-31
  • Romans 6:23
  • 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Why?

November 11, 2021 / / 0 Comments

In the book of Job; Who brought all the calamity to Job? It was NOT God. Who blamed God? It was NOT Job. Who believed Job would NOT turn from God? It was NOT Satan.

Job’s friends were wise, and much of their logic was sound. Their problem was that they misapplied their wisdom by trying to force it into Job’s situation, making assumptions, and leaning on their own understanding. They tried to deduce answers and assign blame, which made God angry with them.

When we lean on our own understanding and try to force it into God’s Word, we find ourselves missing out on the wisdom and love found in God’s Words. We miss out on the understanding and peace that can only come from listening and applying the Words of God rather than applying our own.

Scripture tells us to study. It tells us how to become” In Christ.” Jesus said: if you love me, you will keep my commandments. God’s Word is the way to wisdom, understanding, and peace.

God is Love, God is Good; Satan is the evil one!

  • Proverbs 3:5-6
  • 2 Timothy 3:1-17
  • Acts 2:38
  • Romans 6:1-23
  • 1 Corinthians 15:22
  • Job 1:1-42

God First!

Doing our part – takes work!

November 10, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Believers in God don’t sit around waiting on God to provide everything for them!

No, that would be sluggishness (laziness) and is not the role we find endorsed by God in Scripture; God expects us to work! It would be misrepresentative of scripture to believe it’s all about what God can do for us when so much is about what we can; Go and Do!

God expects us to do our part in providing physical and spiritual nourishment. God has given mankind a working role since the beginning. (Gen.2:15) Throughout Scripture, we find being a sluggard has been condemned while effort has been rewarded. (Matt.25:24-30)

Working towards righteous goals may take much patience; on our part, and we should be mindful of that fact that seeing the full results of our efforts may never happen; even so, in our ongoing, consistent unrelenting effort, we can know that working for good; will reap good in time if we don’t quit.

How can we know this? Because God tells us so.

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for, in due season, we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Galatians 6:9

If we do our part, God will always do His!

  • Proverbs 18:9
  • 2 Thessalonians 3:10
  • Proverbs 26:14
  • Proverbs 26:16
  • Proverbs 24:30–31
  • Mark 16:15-16

(Several proverbs address sluggards)

God First!

Be Prepared to Protect and Fight!

November 4, 2021 / / 0 Comments

If we don’t know what tools we have or how to use them, It’s like taking a water hose to a house fire and telling a fireman you have it under control.

Satan’s easiest targets are those ill-prepared to fight. Satan has been honing his skills, enticing, tempting, and deceiving us to the point that many don’t even recognize sin, but call evil good and good evil. Being prepared does not come by osmosis; it takes action on our part. God’s Word is our tool, sword, and shield of armor against the evil one.

Taking time to hear the gospel of Christ and practice it in our daily lives is how we build our faith. It’s how we help our children, friends, and families and build our country towards a better tomorrow.

Faith comes by hearing, which leads to understanding and increases our desire to do God’s will in every way. When we have God’s will in our hearts, souls, and minds, we will have every desire to love God with all of our strength and keep his commandments.

We DON’T have to be easy targets for Satan if we will pick up our sword (The Bible) and take action for good, one day at a time. In doing so, we learn how to apply the defenses of God’s love to our lives and be examples that will help others do the same.

Small ants carry tiny pieces of dirt, and by themselves, this could seem so daunting and pointless, yet in time as more ants carry, they build large mounds of protection for the colony. Knowing God’s Word is our protection; let’s learn and share piece by piece helping to protect ourselves and those we love.

  • Isaiah 5:20
  • Ephesians 6:13-20
  • 2 Timothy 3:16
  • 2 Timothy 2:15
  • Romans 10:1

God First!

Wipe that smirk off his face!

November 2, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Have you ever wanted to wipe the smirk right off of someone’s face? You both know they did you wrong, and they think it’s funny; they think they got away with it. (So they grin)

This grin or smirk is what I imagine is on Satan’s face when he thinks he’s winning. 

But, I know there is a way to wipe that smirk right off his face. That’s when We focus on God’s Word. When We do God’s Will; when We live as the Christians were taught to live in the New Testament. When We humble ourselves to the Will of Our Heavenly Father rather than our own will.

When WE overcome temptations, depression, anger, etc., by focusing on good things and studying that which is perfect, “God’s Holy Word,” applying the teachings within to our daily lives, sharing them with others, making this world a better place.

This is when We wipe that smirk right off satan’s face with the most powerful weapon ever known.

——- LOVE ——-

God’s love for us and our love for God united with the blood of Jesus

  • 2nd Timothy 2
  • Philippians 4:8-9
  • 1st Corinthians 13
  • 1st John 4:8

God is love, God First!

Learning from “Junk Mail.”

October 26, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Today I read what I normally dismiss as “junk mail.” It was from a natural gas competitor to the company I’ve been using for years. Typically, I throw such advertisements in the trash; however, this promotional from “Walton Gas” sparked my interest. I realized I had no idea what I was paying per therm. So, I got out my last bill and quickly came to the conclusion I must be misreading it. Hence, I called “Consolation Gas” for clarification of the statement.

I was shocked and frustrated that we were put on a monthly rate by default since our contract expired sometime back. A rate within two cents of being double the contract rate. This means I have been paying hundreds more for gas than was necessary simply because we did not sign up for a two-year obligation that locks us into a fixed rate.

As I thought about this, I realized It’s My Fault, not the gas companies. I did not take the time to learn or understand how it works. We probably received notices letting us know the contract was expiring, and I paid little attention or put it off until I forgot about it. The offer to lock into a new contract at better rates has always been available to me; however, I paid dearly because I failed to spend time and effort understanding how it works!

I have now invested a little time to learn how it works and took action by locking into a 24-month contract at a rate that was pretty much half what I was paying.

Although God’s Word is not “Junk Mail” as with my gas company experience, it often lays on tables, in bookshelves, and in cabinets untouched and forgotten by many, as if it were.

As someone who once didn’t but now does; study God’s Word, I find numerous similarities between my experience above and how I and others often approach the Word of God by casting it to the side.

For example:

  • Over thousands of years our creator has given mankind the opportunity to know His love and desires for our well being. But, we must study and act.
  • God has given us insite to know His creations, past plans, some future plans, actions and sacrifices for us. But, we must study and act.
  • Through God’s Word we can know and understand that nothing done by God is an accident but rather part of a plan to give us eternal life should we accept God’s offer and commit to do His will above ours. But, we must study and act.
  • Through God’s Word we can know the Son of God who was with God in the beginning and part of the world’s creation. But, we must study and act.
  • Through God’s Word we learn that Jesus’s life, death and resurrection offers eternal life to all mankind through God’s grace and sacrifice. But, we must study and act.
  • Through God’s Word we find out how to embrace God’s grace and offer of eternal life and how through our study we can know what obedient faith entails. But, we must study and act.
  • Through God’s Word we find out how to discern what is true and what is false teaching. But, we must study and act.

The list of things we can know and understand from God’s Holy Word is without measure; however, if we never take the time to learn the details as I did with the Gas companies offer, we will miss out. It’s never too late for anyone on this earth to start learning, studying, and taking advantage of God’s incredible offer.

God’s offer of eternal life is unmatched and not nearly as difficult as the unlearned; unknowing often assume it to be. So I implore you, spend time studying the one book that leads you to eternal life in heaven. As you do, you will find you want to act on your discoveries. Who’s fault will it be if you ignore God’s offer by failing to learn how to accept it, What it entails and how to submit to God’s loving will for us.

Hear, believe, repent, confess Jesus as the Son of God, be baptized for the forgiveness of our sins in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and live faithfully till we leave this earth for eternal life with the Godhead and our co-disciples of Christ.

Below are some scriptures to consider…

God First!

If the Truth was vanilla ice cream

October 21, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Suppose “The Truth” was vanilla ice cream. When you add different toppings, the ice cream still has the same base but is no longer “just” vanilla ice cream. It doesn’t taste the same!

God’s word should taste the same to everyone; it’s God’s Word. Unity in Christ is not achieved by applying different toppings to God’s Word. Only by consuming it the way God gave it can we truly savor and appreciate God’s creation, God’s sacrifice, God’s will for us, and do so according to God.

When God’s Word is changed by adding different toppings to attract more people, by offering additional flavors that appeal to the lives some want to live rather than a life in pursuit of being Christlike; and doing God’s will above our own, it is no longer the Lord’s Church; it’s mankind’s church.

You can not teach variances of truth and have it still be the truth. When you add or take away from perfection, you make perfect; imperfect.

“God’s Word” cannot be followed by choosing the flavor of the month or a sprinkle of crunch.

That’s not what our creator gave us to follow. In Fact, God severely warns us not to add or take away from scripture. However; In the pursuit to gain followers many lose sight of sound doctrine and, don’t realize they themselves have become exactly what scripture tells us about when we read: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”‭‭ (John‬ ‭14:6)‬ ‭

According to scripture, there is only one way to be with God the Father, and that is through Jesus. Let us do all we can to pursue the teachings of Christ and avoid the temptations to add flavor to God’s Word.

  • 2 Timothy 4:3 (tickling ears)
  • Revelation 22:18-19 (warning)
  • Deuteronomy 4:1-2 (warning)
  • Deuteronomy 12:32 (command)
  • Malachi 3:6 (unchanging)
  • 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (All Scripture)
  • John 1:1, 14 (Jesus was with God from the beginning)

God First!

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