Advocate for Christ

The best life is a God First life

Author: Wayne Johnson (Page 18 of 19)

Why cheat yourself like that?

It is one of the best spiritual questions I’ve ever been asked…

February 8, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Why would you want to cheat yourself like that?

As I pondered this question, I realized that not taking advantage of Bible classes and Worship at every opportunity is cheating myself. This question prompted a positive change in my life. It led me, to pursue a stronger conviction of my priorities to truly, put God First. Not just through words but action.

God’s word is so powerful, we have so much to gain by hearing it, studying it, adopting it, and applying it to our lives and we cheat ourselves when we don’t.

It’s my hope you will also ponder this question because it’s not just you that’s affected. It’s those who know you and see your example. Your family and friends. It’s all who hear the truth you learned rather than recollections and speculation of things you’ve heard but don’t fully grasp.

When we engage in understanding the whole truth that is spoken in “God-breathed” scripture, when we actualu study and apply what we learn from our Heavenly Father we stop cheating ourselves and we stop cheating others. We became part of a grand solution.

Don’t cheat yourself!

Take advantage of every opportunity you can to learn more of what God, wants for us.

God First

Rooted in Scripture

Foundations of love

February 6, 2021 / / 0 Comments
When our foundation is genuinely rooted in God’s Holy Word, Our roots will weave in and out of every word absorbing living water that never ends. Our lives will glorify God by our every action. The closer we draw to God, the closer he draws to us, and if God is with us, who can be against us?

”But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  

(Matthew 6:33)
  • John 4:13-15 (living water)
  • James 4:8 (God draws closer)
  • Romans 8:31(God with us)
  • Matthew 16:13-20(upon this rock)
  • 1 Peter 2:1-10

God First!

Before Time God is God, and God is Love and After Time. ALWAYS

God is Love, God is Good

February 5, 2021 / / 0 Comments

So good that he can not be tempted with evil.

“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.”

‭‭James‬ ‭1:13‬

“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.“

1 JOHN 4:16

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
    for his steadfast love endures forever!“

PSALMS 107:1

God First!

Change is possible

GLUTTON FREE!

February 4, 2021 / / 2 Comments

(Yes, it’s spelled right)

After a life-threatening huge push at the beginning of 2019, I embarked on the challenge of eating better so I could live longer, so I could do my part to be here for my wife and family as a contributor. I was 60lbs overweight, with sugar levels of 465 and an A1C of 11.6 (the chart ends at 12)

I realized that my life as a glutton must end, so I made two critical changes immediately.

1. Portion control

While in the hospital, I was given one scoop of three different items, and this is where I took my cue. (It looked like a snack). Once home, no matter how much was made, these small portions were all I ate. In the beginning, I had no snacks between meals.

2. Eliminate most sugar

a) I stopped all soft drinks. I drink water, unsweet tea, unsweetened hot tea, and black coffee.

b) I stopped all white bread. ( it turns to sugar quickly) if I had bread at all, it was not more than 1 piece for the day.

c) If I fix pasta it was whole wheat.

In 6 months, I lost 60 pounds.

In the evenings, while watching TV, I would get urges to eat something, so I took one cinnamon graham cracker, added more cinnamon, and probably took 20 minutes to eat it, trying to savor and extend the moment.

I learned to be glutton-free, and It’s an ongoing battle.

To reach my goals, I replaced many habits with new, better habits. It’s much easier to replace habits than to break habits. It’s now 2021. It’s been a little over 2 years since this all started. The struggle not to overeat or eat sweets continues to be a challenge.

I have also found there’s an eerie similarity between sinful actions and bad eating choices. Just like with wrongdoing, the more I give into glutton temptations, the less guilty I feel the next time the temptation arises.

Over the last 18 months, I have found myself little by little loosening the self-imposed restrictions. Telling myself that larger portions of healthy foods with occasional sweet treats are ok. While there is some truth to this thought, I don’t think I want to lose those feelings of guilt when I break my own rules because the farther I get from my original commitments, the closer I get to those old bad habits. So, I embrace the feelings of guilt that help me stay true to my commitment.

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.

1 cORINTHIANS 6:12

Clarity is found in Jesus.

February 2, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Doing what’s right is not always the easiest thing to do, but it’s always the best thing to do. If you’re not certain if something is right or wrong, you have your answer!

Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself!

Choose wisely to avoids regrets.

God First!

Lies are heavy Weight

Lies are Heavy Weights that limit Happiness and Joy.

February 1, 2021 / / 0 Comments

When we carry the weight of sin in our minds, are we not allowing Satan to dwell there? For example, We lie or deceive a loved one over an important matter (maybe a spouse).

We then carry the burden of that lie with us, and it haunts us from time to time. Conversations arise that remind us of our lie or cause us to repeat or expand the lie to avoid revealing the truth. Yet still, rather than confess, we tell ourselves things like ”no real harm done,” “it’s better if they don’t know.” ”Why hurt them with the truth”?

As a result, we may carry the unnecessary weight of that guilt (that God knows) in our hearts and minds for years, maybe even, to our death. 

By doing so, are we not offering Satan permanent residence in that part of our mind?
Are we not limiting our relationship with that person from being all it can be?

However, if we fess up to God, that person, ask forgiveness, and repent, are we not simultaneously kicking Satan to the curb? Kicking him out of that permanent home that we’ve furnished him in our mind. Are we not mending our hearts and minds by removing that permanent dwelling of sin?

The above thoughts bring to my mind the following scripture.

1. James 5:16 – confess

2. Matthew 12:43-45  unclean spirits

3. Philippians 4:8-9 rethink

4. Romans 1:28-32

The Sacrifice of Christ

Loving God

January 31, 2021 / / 0 Comments

No wonder Jesus was sweating blood; I would imagine, to Jesus, the separation from His Father may have been worse than the betrayal, beatings, and torture He knew was coming His way; after all, He was with God from the beginning of time as we understand it. (John 1)

In preparation, Jesus prayed, “Not mine, but your will, be done!”

At every moment, Christ had the power to say: Enough! Nope, not doing this, but instead, Christ adhered to His Father’s plan.

Obviously, God’s plan was the only way all people could be saved. Only through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection could we be graced with the opportunity to follow Jesus, keep His commands, and receive the promise of eternal life with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Jesus’s sacrifice revealed His immeasurable love for God, for God’s will, and His love for us.

I can’t phantom the emptiness, loneliness, and pain Christ must’ve felt when He cried out, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani,” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

A Hymn says: “I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou giv’n for Me?”

Rhetorically, What do we give of ourselves to God?

Do we set aside time daily for prayer, thanking God for all the continuous blessings seen and unseen? How about the hardships that help us learn to be better disciples of Christ?

Do we respect God’s love enough to do as Christ commanded and remember Him on the first day of every week by reflecting on the Cross, partaking in the bread and fruit of the vine, which represents the body and blood of Christ that was shed for us?

Do we look forward to gathering and worshiping with fellow believers as often as possible, to being with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and being lifted up by their presence as we study and grow together in our understanding of God’s will and plan for us?

Scripture tells us that baptized believers are those who are “In Christ,” and when we are “In Christ,” God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit work in and through us.

Christ told us if we love Him, we will keep His commandments, and He gives us a New Commandment. ‘That we love others as He loved us.’

I love the love that surrounds us all in the Lord.

God First!

Related Scriptures:

Galatians 3:23-29, Philippians 2:13, John 13:34–35, John 17:23, 2nd Corinthians 13:5, Romans 8:10-11, Galatians 5:22-26, Acts 2:38, John 1:1, Matthew 27:46, Acts 20:7, Luke 22:17-20

Our Hearts

Our Hearts

January 29, 2021 / / 0 Comments

So many of us try to protect our hearts by hiding them and shielding them behind tough exteriors. Yet, when we actually take the risk by extending our hearts and sharing them with others, we really make a difference, not just in the lives of others but in our own lives.

The risk is worth the effort.

God’s Word tells us to Love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Love our neighbor as ourselves and not hide the light of our hearts under a bushel; let it shine!

I am very grateful to those who take the risks. Your compassionate and giving attitude of love lights up the lives of others and makes the world a better place. You are a needed encouragement.

Thank you!

  • Mark 12:30–31
  • Mark 4:21-25

God First!

God Bless America

God and Country

January 28, 2021 / / 0 Comments

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

When we say the pledge of allegiance, we promise loyalty and support to each other.

The Merriam dictionary defines “Republic” as:

“a government in which supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible to them and governing according to the law.”

So we, the people of the United States of America, are “the republic,” and our flag represents our unity of power. In 1954, the pledge of allegiance was modified one last time with the most important words of all added: “One Nation under God.” These four words acknowledge our nation as being under God. In other words, God First!

These words demonstrate that the majority of “We the People” recognize our nation’s strength is beholden to God, and we are thankful to God for his incredible blessings.

The pledge also states: “indivisible with liberty and justice for all.”

The concept here is that we will not allow ourselves to be divided and that the power of the people is to be used to pursue liberty and justice for all.

Some believe Christians should abstain from politics and set the example of not voting because they don’t like the choices, pointing out that heaven is the only true Christian nation.

I understand and agree that God should be first in all our lives. And for true Christians, Heaven is their final home.

However, I don’t believe that speaking up for the values and principles of Christianity in our country or against destructive policies in this worldly government somehow, someway, means we have pledged our loyalty to the Country instead of to Christ and His Kingdom.

To me, Such statements encourage silence and apathy and discourage speaking up and taking a stand for good. When we stand for good, we stand for God and promote the message of Christ as God is Good.

Our example and words in and out of politics should encourage others to want to know the reason for the hope that is in us. 1 Peter 3:15

I appreciate that our “Pledge of Allegiance” includes: “One Nation Under God.”

I am both an Advocate for Christ and part of “We The People”; I speak with my vote and voice.

When I speak against evil and against unjust actions, and when I speak for liberty, I am NOT excluding God. I am taking a stand for God. I am doing my part to ensure that “We, the people,” continue to acknowledge God at the Helm. I vote with those I believe best align with God’s Word.

“A Country without God is a Country lost; a Country with God is a Country Blessed.”

In my opinion, WRJ

Eternal Confidence

Eternal Confidence

January 27, 2021 / / 0 Comments

The main goal of a disciple of Christ is to advocate for Christ, not to go to Heaven.

Why?

The true disciple is someone who, out of love and gratitude, acts to accept the grace of God by following the commandments of Jesus, one who puts on and lives for Christ, as defined in scripture.

For them, Heaven is a promise, so their focus is not only on their eternal salvation; it’s on helping others share in that promise and the confidence found therein: Eternal salvation.

“And being made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,”

Hebrews‬ ‭5‬:‭9‬
  • Hebrews 10:35-36
  • 1 John 4:17
  • Mark 16:15-16
  • Galatians 3:26-27
  • 2 Corinthians 5:17–19
  • Acts 2:37-42
  • Romans 6:4, 8:31-33
  • 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
  • Isaiah 41:10
  • Philippians 4:6-7
  • 1 John 2:22-25
  • Ephesians 3:12

God First!

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