Category: Love (Page 6 of 10)

If you love me, you will keep my commandments ~ Jesus

Injustice, Anger, and Control

August 11, 2021 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

Sometimes controlling anger to injustice can be a real challenge, and exercising control is not what we want to do; it’s like we’re choosing to absorb pain rather than do something to stop it. The pain can seem unbearable at times, but all things are possible with God, and it’s worth it to stay the course and follow the example of Christ.

Jesus exercised ultimate control; He could have called 10,000 angels at any moment. At any moment, Christ could have and stopped absorbing all the pain He suffered. However, Christ’s love for God and mankind proved greater than any temptation to lose control.

All that love for His Fathers Will and all of us had a tremendously positive effect. The trickle-down effect of Christ absorbing all that pain was our salvation. The life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus demonstrate God’s love for us. Every soul now has the opportunity and promise of eternal life when we accept God’s grace by our obedient faith; Heaven is our home.

Jesus could have gotten angry and lashed out the way many of us might respond, He could have ended all of us at any moment, but instead, Jesus was consumed with love and compassion and exercised control.

Jesus had experienced pain and rejection before, but He knew; what He was about to suffer was far beyond all those previous experiences combined. This knowledge of what was to come had Jesus sweating blood on the Mount of Olives. He prayed for a different solution, but if not, he wanted to submit to God’s will, not his own.

“And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. ⁴⁰And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” ⁴¹And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, ⁴²saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” ⁴³And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. ⁴⁴And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”
Luke 22:39-44

Jesus exercised submission to God’s will, but rather than show anger; He demonstrated love and constraint; Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. I admit this is difficult sometimes, but if it were not for our betterment, Jesus would not have told us to do so. Also, keep in mind what Jesus says in Romans 12:14-21 and trust Him.

Matthew 26:53 (12 legions of angels)
Matthew 19:26 (all things possible)
Luke 1:37 (nothing’s impossible)
Philippians 4:13 (christ who strengthens me)
Matthew 5:39-44 (love your enemys)
Matthew 22:37-40 (All encompasing)
Romans 12:14-21 (I will repay, says the Lord)

God First!

We are defined not by our challenges but how we handle them

Pathway of Redemption and Salvation

August 9, 2021 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

My journey from a young adult to now has involved many turns, curves, pains, peaks, and valleys. Many of my early choices were enough to make bystanders dizzy. I would strongly recommend against anyone following the highways to nowhere that crosses our straight and narrow path.

I was taught and contentedly set out on that narrow path. However, as a youthful adult, I began testing the exit ramps on those wide-open highways that appeared so fun and fast. Many highways cross the narrow pathway toward heaven, and those on them seem to be having a great time.

In those early years, the narrow path felt slow, lonely, and dull; the highway travelers were going so fast that they did not appear to have time for loneliness, which looked appealing in those moments.

Although I was not hitchhiking, highway travelers would occasionally stop with big smiles on their faces and exuberantly offer highway rides.

At first, I accepted short rides and quickly missed the peace, comfort, contentment, and safety that the straight and narrow path offers; however, the highway rush enticed me, so I occasionally accepted those thrills.

After a while, those highway rides became longer and faster; my adrenaline surged! Eventually, I was navigating those highways, rapidly going nowhere fast, almost wholly losing sight of that straight and narrow path I once cherished.

Quickly, I became one of those highway drivers, with big smiles in my speedy convertible, offering rides to those traveling that straight and narrow path. I spent years with the wind blowing through my hair on highways to nowhere, looking like I was going somewhere fast; occasionally, however, I would miss the peace and comfort I once knew. Sometimes, I felt trapped. I’d remember that narrow pathway, but if I found myself thinking too profoundly, I would stop reflecting and floor the gas pedal.

Periodically, I’d offer rides to someone on the path I once traveled, and with words of wisdom, they would decline even the shortest ride, reminding me of my early years. Their words piqued my curiosity and helped me realize how confused and lost I had become. I found myself admiring their rejection of my offer. After a while, the highway became less intriguing; I longed for the peace, comfort, tranquility, and surety I once had on that narrow pathway.

Finally, I realized getting off those entangled spaghetti highways was necessary; the loneliness was still there, but coupled with emptiness. This would mean a dramatic change on my part, but I knew it was the right choice and began my departure from the highway.

I started my departure with a commitment to change direction, to exit those highways to nowhere and never look back, to return to that narrow path to heaven again. I then studied and learned more about that narrow path and what it was all about. The more I learned, the more I questioned why I had ever allowed myself to accept that first highway ride.

I have great admiration for those few who have said no to those Highway offers and stayed true to that narrow path for most, if not all, of their lives.

My choices taught me that my example and everyone’s examples have tremendous trickle-down effects that influence others.

If we care about family, friends, or others, we need to be mindful of our influence and do our best to serve God as Christ-like examples so that anyone following our lead will realize we are going somewhere. We are on a path that leads to a heavenly home with our creator, where there are no tears, sickness, or sorrow. And that Highway, well, the highway eventually ends in eternal darkness with no hope. Utter darkness!

I am thankful for God’s grace and the path he set for us to follow. For it is by God’s grace, through our obedient faith, that we can be redeemed, or for those not yet IN Christ to become faithful followers of Christ as we hear, believe, repent, confess, and are baptized for the forgiveness of our sins, and begin walking that eternal pathway toward eternal life with Jesus.

Proverbs 3:5-7
Proverbs 4:26-27
Matthew 3:3
John 14:1–31
Revelation, 21:4
Matthew 7:13-14

God First!

Want to Save America?

August 7, 2021 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

I would love to see America saved from the direction it’s currently headed. Hope is not lost if we each take action to change direction.

Scripture tells us in James 4:8: “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you…” It stands to reason that the opposite is also true; the further we are from God, the further He is from us.

We must embrace and share the Goodness and Love of God found in Scripture. We must learn to be and teach others to be as Christlike as possible. It sounds too simple to be the answer but putting God First really is The Answer!

A Country without God is a Country lost; a country with God is a Country Blessed!

God First!

Hurting God, Hurts us

August 5, 2021 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

In many ways, I am the prodigal son, not in how I treated my earthly father, but in how I treated my Heavenly Father.

For a long time, I abused the grace and blessings our Heavenly Father gave me. I understood His love for me and attempted to take advantage of it. I treated God as if His Will for me was unimportant. I wanted what I wanted, even though I knew it went against God’s will.

I wonder how many others currently find themselves doing the same.

I decided to ignore my understanding of God’s intent, God’s will. Instead, I willfully ignored God and foolishly hoped for the best if I died. I mistakenly banked on a thought that I could plead ignorance, that God would forgive my purposeful attempt at ignorance because I was a “good person.” God, however, is not a respecter of persons.

Therefore, along with everyone else, I am equally responsible and accountable for learning, studying, and following Christ according to God’s Will—in fact, even more so, as I was a baptized believer. We are each responsible for our own salvation.

During these years, I stupidly gambled with the eternity of my soul. It was never meant to be a conscientious rejection of God; however, in retrospect, it’s clear my faith at that time was built on sand. I allowed myself to slowly get caught up in my misconceptions of the good life to the point that God was barely a thought. It was not a gamble; my soul would’ve been lost.

I had turned my back on God and did not realize or even consider the depth of how my choices would trickle down into the lives of all those I love. I did not realize the importance of missed opportunities. Opportunities to be an example to those around me as a person who puts God First!

I realize now that I hurt God. Rejection hurts. God knows what’s best for me and what’s best for all of us, so much so that Jesus gave His life for me and for all of us! My selfish choices had consequences. I had slowly rejected God’s sacrifice and love. I eventually realized I was pursuing nonsense (Vanity) in my desires, costing me significantly.

By the time I realized how broken and lost I was, my fun-filled actions were riddled with regrets. It was then that I returned to my only real hope, and just like the prodigal son’s father, our Heavenly Father was there with wide-open arms, willing to forgive, willing to forget how lost I had become. According to Scripture, I was dead, and now I’m alive; I was lost, but now, I have been found, and heaven rejoiced! Luke 15:7–10

I wonder how many other prodigal sons or daughters are out there ignoring our Heavenly Father as I once did. Jesus’s arms are always outstretched to embrace the repentant heart and offer eternal life for those who will change direction, follow Christ according to God’s will, and keep His commandments. The God of all comfort wants us to repent and come home.

If you realize, upon reflection, that you have drifted away, won’t you change direction and come home?

When we truly live according to God’s will, there’s nothing to regret.

Philippians 2:12–13 (your own salvation)
Romans 2:11–16 (respecter of persons)
Hebrews 10:26–31 (willful sin)
Luke 15:11-32 (prodigal son)
John 3:16 (God so loved…)
Luke 15:32 (Lost but found)
2nd Corinthians 1:3-5 (God of all comfort)
James 4:8 (Draw close to God and He will draw close to you)

God First!

Improving on Gods ways

August 4, 2021 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

When we worship according to God’s word, we don’t offer strange fire. In other words, we don’t try to improve on the Lord’s commands no matter how well-intended and innocent we believe our hearts and minds to be. Doing God’s will is what pleases God! Scripture is riddled with examples of this point. Jesus says, “if you love me, you will keep My commandments.” Jesus does NOT SAY: if you love me, you will attempt to improve on my commandments.

If we are truly honest with ourselves, we should realize that attempting to glorify God in any way other than what God laid out before us by command and example in New Testament scripture is really an attempt to glorify ourselves. No matter how unwittingly.

Does anyone really believe their ideas are better than God’s? To me, attempting to conform scripture to today’s culture is foolish and backward thinking. It’s also dangerous thinking that puts souls at risk.

Instead, we should be doing all we can to show our love and respect for God, By making sure we are not ourselves doing as Nadab and Abihu did in doing their own thing rather than what God asked.

STRANGE FIRE(unauthorized)

‭‭“Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.'” And Aaron held his peace.”
Leviticus‬ ‭10:1-3‬ ‭ESV

Let’s diligently work to spread God’s word according to God’s Word and help our families, culture, and society understand and want to conform to God’s ways remembering that heaven is the ultimate goal and available for all who will follow Jesus and keep His Commandments.

God First!

We either stand with Jesus or we stand against God.

August 2, 2021 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

Jesus is the Word and part of the Godhead. (see: John 1:1-18)

In 2 Timothy 3:16, we are told that all scripture is breathed out by God so when we elect to disbelieve or discount any part of scripture we are discounting and disbelieving God. To do so is to call God a liar.

I WILL NOT, call God a liar! Nothing about God’s Word has changed. Our societies, our culture and the acceptance of sin may have changed but only for those who do NOT use God’s Word, as a standard; Nothing of God‘s word has changed. So; if we call ourselves Christians but feel we are on the fence of any issue, consider this: When we Tolerate Everything, We Stand for Nothing. We must stand for the truth which God gave us. “God’s Holy Word” should be our standard not our feelings or pressure from society. We should remember Christ’s very own words in Revelation 3:16 and Matthew 12:30

I often pray as I study that I will share God’s word according to God’s Word and I pray we will all put God First in our lives.

God First!

What’s depression look like?

July 31, 2021 / Wayne Johnson / 1 Comment

It’s not always the person that looks depressed that needs a listening ear; it could very well be the one with the biggest smile.

Scripture tells us to carry each other’s burdens. To encourage one another and build each other up. If you’re dealing with a difficult struggle, you don’t need to carry it alone. In fact, let me encourage you to share it with a trusted brother or sister in Christ. They love you! So, let them share your burdens, listen to you, pray with you, let them be there for you. Jesus Command’s us to love one another as Christ loved us. In this and many other scriptures, Jesus wants us to be there for one another; on the other hand, Satan works to make us feel alone and bring us down. Christ wants us to be prepared with the whole armor of God, That we may fight the internal spiritual fight against the unseen enemy and win.

Scripture tells us,

“humble ourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you,”
“… If God is with us, who can be against us!“
” And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him — a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
James 4:10, Romans 8:31, Ecclesiastes 4:12

Galatians 6:2 (Share burdens)
1st Thessalonians 5:11 (encourage/build-up)
John 15:12 (Command to love)
1st Peter 5:8 (satan)
Ephesians 6:10-20 (armor of God)

God First!

Advocate for Christ!

July 30, 2021 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

To be clear to my new friends who are reading my post. Some have made assumptions. I am not a pulpit, preacher; I am not affiliated with any denomination. I am simply a Christian, an Advocate for Christ. I worship and study weekly with my brothers and sisters in Christ at the Buford Church of Christ congregation in Buford, Ga. The use of ”God First!” as my profile or to end many writings is because I believe God should be first in our lives. I believe that with God at the helm those ”In Christ” have God’s promise for eternity in heaven. Comfort and joy are ours to have from the “God of all Comfort,” even during the horrendously sad and difficult stuff.

Many people wear spirit wear to depict their favorite teams, school, sport, etc. My idea of ”spirit wear”- is the term God First! (seen on many of my clothes) Sometimes its presence sparks a conversation and probably curtails language I’d prefer not to hear. While it’s true that I do sell items with “God First!” It’s not for personal gain but rather to help those who love God share that love with the world. I started using the term “God First” because I believe putting God First adds significant Joy to our lives. I care about myself, my family, and others, so why would I not want to share such a message? A message that makes life better for all who choose to live by it, a message that offers the promise of everlasting life with our loving creator.

God has given us every reason to love Him as He first loved us; I am extremely grateful for all of God’s creation and sacrifices that we might have an eternal home with Him. Eternity is a serious matter, and loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength is a natural response to those with an understanding of God’s love for us.

I once heard this from Brother Don Blackwell – ”The Lords Church is not a country club for saints; it’s a hospital for sinners.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-9
Mark 12:28-34
2 Timothy 2:15
1 John 4:19

God First!

Learning how to please God

July 20, 2021 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

To become proficient in our professions, we study and practice to be Doctors, Nurses, Accountants, Engineers, Firefighters, Carpenters, bricklayers, etc. Learning and skill are not developed by osmosis. To do our profession to the best of our ability, one must be studious and committed to learning every aspect possible about our endeavor. Shouldn’t we put even more effort into getting to know God and keeping his commandments? The less we know of God’s Word and the message of Christ, the less we know of God; Yet, our soul’s eternity depends on our submitting to God’s will in accordance with God’s will, not ours. How can we do what we do not know? we should be making ongoing efforts to grow in our understanding.

Still today, many in our world are deprived of access to Bibles and would love to have scripture to study, yet in our country (America), most homes have more than one. So for us, there is really no excuse for choosing ignorance when God’s Word is so readily available. Understanding comes through study, and there is no better time to begin study than right now. Why not grab your closest bible or download a bible app and read it daily starting now?

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15)

God First!

The most valuable time of the day is the time we take to pray!

Include God; He offers so much!

July 19, 2021 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

We know from Scripture we are made in the image of God; we also know from God’s Word that God has feelings. For example, that God hates sin, God loves, God is righteously jealous, etc. so; I have a few questions for us to ponder:

How do we feel when the only time someone thinks of us is when they need or want something?

How do you think God feels when we treat him that way?

Why treat him this way?

It’s obvious from Scripture; God wants to be included in our lives; He wants us to love Him as He loves us. This said, Why would we not want to include God in all that we do?. After all, Jesus told us to: ask, seek, and knock.

Our very breath is dependent on our creator! By embracing God’s love and keeping his commandments, we secure God’s promise of eternal life. Thus, we can obtain the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding that will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. If we are truly In Christ, our hearts are filled with joy and the comfort of God. Therefore, it seems kind of stupid to me to exclude God when he offers so much life both in this world and for eternity.

Ephesians 6:18 – pray often
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 – God of all comfort
James 5 – prayers of the righteous
Matthew 7:7-11 – Ask, Seek, Knock
Philippians 4:7 – Peace beyond understanding
John 15:1-16 – Joy

Category: Love (Page 6 of 10)

Injustice, Anger, and Control

Pathway of Redemption and Salvation

Hurting God, Hurts us

We either stand with Jesus or we stand against God.

What’s depression look like?

Learning how to please God

Include God; He offers so much!

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