Category: Christian living (Page 1 of 6)

Faith Hope (crossed out) Love (Circled with arrows pointing to heaven)

Only Love Abides for Eternity

November 14, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

“Faith and Hope” will become History – “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; faith and hope, however, will no longer be needed in their present form—they will be fulfilled.

In 1 Corinthians 13 Paul contrasts temporary miraculous gifts (prophecy, tongues, and partial knowledge) that would cease when the completed revelation of the New Testament arrived, with the permanent excellence of love. Faith and hope also belong to this present age in which we “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). When we see Him face to face and know fully even as we are fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 22:4), faith as the conviction of things not seen and hope as expectation of what is still future will be realized. Only love remains forever, because God is love (1 John 4:8, 16).

In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man is still concerned for his family even in torment. He cares for them, yet that love does not change the destiny fixed by the choices he made in this life (Luke 16:19–31).

When Jesus returns, faith and hope will not be relative but fulfilled. At that point our past choices to follow Christ according to God’s will, not our own, will determine our eternal destiny. We will appear before Him and hear either “welcome into the kingdom” or “depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (see: Matthew 7:21–23).

Our choice is now!

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24–26)

Reverences: 1 Corinthians 13:8–13; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:1; Romans 8:24–25; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 22:4; 1 John 4:8, 16; Luke 16:19–31; Matthew 7:21–23; Matthew 16:24–26; Matthew 25:34

God First!

Feeling Spark Action But Are Not Salvation

Feelings Spark Action — But Are Not Salvation

November 13, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

God does not tell us anywhere that our feelings or emotions will get us to heaven. With God, it takes our actions to accept His grace through belief, faith, and keeping Jesus’ commandments (doing God’s will).

With God we have stability, reliability, and absolute Truth. Feelings, on the other hand, can be overwhelmingly happy or sad, wholesome or wicked. They can spark and ignite actions, make our hair stand on end, bring goosebumps, and distract us. One of the most important things to remember is that feelings are fleeting. They come and go; they change with every truth or lie we see or hear.

Scripture tells us, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). We must then believe. We must repent (change direction). We must confess the name of Christ as our Lord and Savior. We must be baptized (immersed) to wash away our sins, and then walk in newness of life. We must take action.

Don’t take my word for it. Read it in God’s Word—then take God’s Word for it.

See: Romans 10:17; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:16; Acts 17:30-31; Luke 24:47; Acts 2:37-38; Matthew 10:32-33; Romans 10:8-10; Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12; Acts 22:16; Romans 1:5

God First!

Work Produces a Harvest No Work, No Crop No Work, No Food

No Work, No Crop: Don’t Be a Sluggard

November 12, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

Believers in God don’t sit around waiting on God to provide everything for them!
No, that would be sluggishness (laziness), and it 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 do for God!

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

Working toward righteous goals often requires much patience. We may never see the full results of our efforts in this life. Even so, through ongoing, consistent, and unrelenting effort, we can be confident that working for good will reap a harvest in due time; if we do not 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!

See: Genesis 2:15; Matthew 25:24–30; Galatians 6:9; Proverbs 18:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:10; Proverbs 26:14; Proverbs 26:16; Proverbs 24:30–31; Mark 16:15–16; Proverbs 6:6–11; Proverbs 10:4; Proverbs 21:25; Ephesians 4:28; Colossians 3:23; 1 Corinthians 15:58.

(Several proverbs address sluggards.)

God First!

Even in Death, Stephen Was Teaching

November 11, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

As Christians, we should strive to follow Stephen’s example by teaching God’s Word from the beginning to the end of this worldly life.

Even in death, Stephen was teaching!

“Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” (Acts 7:58–60)

Note verse 59: “And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’”

Here, Stephen’s words exemplify what faith, trust, and commitment entail. He did not keep these words only in his heart; he loudly called them out. Stephen did not beg them to stop or try to take back his words. Instead, he demonstrated his belief in and trust in God by his example. With a loud voice, Stephen teaches them and us as he identifies their action as sin.

Saul (later Paul) was present for all of this (verse 58). Whether the men stoning Stephen recognized it in the moment or only later, their actions were not justice but sin. Among his last words, Stephen called them out on this. Certainly this did not escape Paul as he later grew in understanding.

In his death, Stephen also teaches forgiveness. In verse 60, he asks God not to hold this sin against them. This teaches us that Stephen did not leave this world with a grudge or hating those who were taking his life. Rather, he left demonstrating compassion for their ignorance and love for the souls of his murderers, appealing to God for their forgiveness of this sin.

It is reasonable to imagine how Paul may have reflected on these memories later in life. How they may have burned in his heart, knowing he could not change what he had been part of, yet these memories likely became fuel that drove him to teach and share Jesus no matter what the worldly consequences might be.

Paul later stated: “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display His perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in Him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:15–17)

Stephen teaches us that the message does not stop when life is threatened. We are called to speak the truth and extend forgiveness even when it costs us. May we follow his example by teaching God’s Word from the beginning to the end of this worldly life.

For reference: Acts 7:58–60; 1 Timothy 1:15–17; Colossians 3:13; 1 John 2:15–17; Hebrews 13:14–16; Matthew 6:21; Mark 16:15; Luke 23:34, 46; Acts 8:1; Philippians 1:21; Romans 12:14, 21; 2 Timothy 4:7–8.

God First!

Satan’s Easiest Targets: Who Are They?

November 8, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

Satan’s easiest targets are those ill-prepared to fight.

When we don’t know what we have or how to use it, it’s like taking a water hose to a house fire and telling the firefighters we have it under control.

Satan has been honing his skills; enticing, tempting, and deceiving us to the point that many no longer recognize sin and call evil good and good evil.

Being prepared does not come by osmosis; it takes action on our part. God’s Word is our spiritual armor—our sword, shield, and protection. It leads us to victory and salvation over evil. But what good is the sword, shield, helmet, and breastplate if we don’t put them on and use them correctly?

Taking time to hear, study, and practice God’s Word is how we learn to use the equipment He has provided. It’s how we protect our souls and help our children, friends, and others protect theirs.

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

Satan is real, but we don’t have to be easy targets. Let’s pick up our sword (the Bible) and take action.

Scripture References
Ephesians 6:13-20
2 Timothy 3:16
2 Timothy 2:15
Romans 10:17
Isaiah 5:20
Romans 1:18–32
1 Timothy 4:1-4
2 Timothy 3:1-7

See also: James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8–9; Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 119:105; 2 Corinthians 2:11; 1 John 4:4; Matthew 4:4, 7, 10

God First!

The Narrow Path of Contentment and Forgiveness

The Narrow Path That Avoids Lifelong Regret

November 7, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

We all make mistakes, I view mine as lessons learned and they contribute to what I write today. These lessons fuel a burning desire to help others find the narrow path of contentment so often missed or ignored. It’s God’s path, and if we follow Jesus, doing God’s will, this path leads to our forgiveness and an eternal home with Jesus. On God’s path, we avoid lifelong regrets.

God forgives and forgets; if we do God’s will, we can “know” we are forgiven. But We, as in you and me, don’t forget.

To obtain forgiveness, we have a great example in the Apostle Paul, who came to believe on the road to Damascus and, after his 3 days of blindness, was asked why do you wait? Confess Jesus as Lord, and he was immediately baptized for the forgiveness of his sins. (Acts 9:18, 22:16, 1 Peter 3:21)

“However, though Paul knew he was forgiven, he did not forget his mistakes. In my discernment, he carried those times with him. When he reflected on them, they made him feel like the foremost of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). To me this is a form of regret; yet those same memories also acted as fuel for his passion in sharing Christ.”

The more we study and adapt God’s will as our standard, foundation, and rock, the closer we draw to God and the closer God draws to us. (James 4:8)

With all this understanding comes better discernment. (Philippians 1:9-10)

Regret is avoidable!

We have so much to gain by following Christ according to His Will.

Acts 9:18; Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21; 1 Timothy 1:15; James 4:8; Philippians 1:9-10; Hebrews 8:12; Hebrews 10:17; Jeremiah 31:34; Psalm 103:12; Micah 7:19; Matthew 7:13-14; Philippians 3:13-14; 1 John 1:7-9; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:27.

God First!

Wipe that smirk off his face!

November 6, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 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 did you know there is a way to wipe that smirk right off Satan’s face? It happens when we focus on God’s Word, do God’s will, and live as the Christians were taught to live in the New Testament. It happens when we humble ourselves to the will of our Heavenly Father rather than our own will.

The smirk fades when we overcome temptations, depression, anger, and the like—when we focus on good things and study that which is perfect, God’s Holy Word. It disappears when we apply the teachings of Christ to our daily lives, share them with others, and help make this world a better place.

This is how 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.

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

God is love. God First!

My King and My Father: Approaching God with Both Reverence and Confidence

November 5, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

When we approach God’s throne in prayer, we often bow our heads, close our eyes, and kneel. I love doing these gestures because they signify respect, honor, and glory to God. They also help focus our attention solely on the prayer and can be great examples in teaching our children to pray and respect our Heavenly Father.

One thoughtful response to this point put it well: we often bow our heads and hide our faces and eyes out of respect, honor, and submission to Him—especially in times when we need forgiveness, confidence, or assurance—because He is our King. Most of the time, however, we can come confidently and unashamed. We are assured of our place with Him through His Son, and we simply want or need a Father to talk to: a Father who listens, hears, cares, and possesses unending wisdom. He is the Father who is infinite love, who allows us our choices (even the bad ones) and still says, “I’m here. I’m listening. I still love you.” We can share our best days and our worst days with Him, talk about the beauty of creation, or wrestle with hard questions, because He is both our King and our Father.

This said, prayer has no limits! We can pray anywhere at any time in any situation or environment. We don’t pray to impress those around us; we pray to have time with our Creator, say thank you, or ask for help. God is family, and no one loves us the way God loves us, and no one has the ability to help us more than God does. So we can pray out loud or in our mind without a single word spoken, with our eyes wide open, driving down the road, cutting grass, fishing, hunting, cooking, walking the dog, or holding the baby.

God has given each of us the avenue of direct prayer through the name of Jesus, His only begotten Son, so why not take advantage of this incredible opportunity and pray often? God wants to hear from us!

Hebrews 4:14-16; Matthew 6:9; Psalm 47:7; Isaiah 33:22; Isaiah 63:16; John 20:17; Romans 8:15-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Ephesians 6:18; James 5:13; Romans 12:12; Matthew 6:5-7; 1 John 5:14-15; Luke 15:10; 1 John 3:1; 1 John 4:8; Romans 8:1; 1 Corinthians 1:25.

God First!

Finding Sunshine When Gloom Settles In

November 4, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

Sometimes I get a little gloomy inside. When this happens, I try to focus on the sunshine. There is a lot of it in our lives if we take a moment to notice the light rather than focus on the darkness.

For me, I find sunshine in:

My knowledge of God’s love
My knowledge of His Word
My wife (whom I call Sunshine)
My son and his family
My brother and his family
My church family
Neighborhood friends, Business-friends, lifelong friends, and Facebook friends
My grandchildren, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws, and all our relatives

I reach out to many on my sunshine list each year to try to keep in touch and say hello. I want each of you to know that I’m grateful for every single one of you. If I’ve not reached out recently, please feel free to pick up the phone and call me.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34).
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort…” (2 Corinthians 1:3-11).

See: John 13:34; 2 Corinthians 1:3-11; Philippians 4:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Colossians 3:15-17

God First!

Don’t Treat God’s Word Like Junk Mail

October 31, 2026 / Wayne Johnson / 0 Comments

When I wrote this, I had just read what I usually dismiss as “junk mail.” It was from a natural gas competitor to the company I’ve used for years. Normally I throw such advertisements away, but this one caught my attention. I realized I had no idea what I was paying per therm. I pulled out my last bill and thought I must have misread it, so I called my gas company to check.

I was shocked. Because our contract had expired long ago, we had been automatically switched to a monthly rate that was almost double the locked-in contract rate. I had been paying hundreds of dollars more than necessary simply because I never took the time to sign a new fixed-rate contract.

As I thought about it, I realized it was my fault—not the gas company’s. Notices had almost certainly gone out. The option to lock in a better rate had always been available. I simply paid little attention and eventually forgot. I paid a high price for failing to understand how the system worked.

I have since taken a little time to learn the details and locked in a 24-month contract at roughly half the rate I had been paying.

Although God’s Word is not “junk mail,” it often lies on tables, bookshelves, and cabinets untouched and forgotten by many, as if it were.

As someone who once neglected Scripture but now studies it, I see clear similarities between my gas-bill experience and the way many of us treat the Word of God. We set it aside instead of opening it.

Through God’s Word we can know:

His love and desires for our well-being
His creative work, past plans, and future purposes
That nothing He does is accidental—everything is part of a plan to offer eternal life to those who accept His terms
The Son of God, who was with the Father in the beginning and shared in creation
That Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection make eternal life available to all through God’s grace
What obedient faith looks like and how to receive that grace
How to discern true teaching from false teaching

The list is endless. Yet if we never take the time to learn what God has actually said, we will miss the offer—just as I missed the lower gas rate.

It is never too late for anyone still on this earth to begin studying and responding to God’s invitation. His offer of eternal life is unmatched, and it is not as complicated as many assume. Spend time in the one book that leads to life with Him. As you do, you will want to act on what you discover.

Whose fault will it be if you ignore God’s offer by failing to learn what He requires?

Hear the gospel.
Believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
Repent of your sins.
Confess Jesus as Lord.
Be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Live faithfully until you leave this earth for eternal life with God and His people.

Supporting Scriptures

Grace: Ephesians 2:8; Romans 3:24; Titus 2:11; Acts 15:11
Hearing the Gospel: Romans 10:17; John 8:32
Belief/Faith: Hebrews 11:1; John 8:24; Romans 10:17; Acts 3:19; Matthew 16:16
Repentance: 2 Corinthians 7:9-10; Luke 13:3-5; Acts 17:30
Confession: Romans 10:9-10; Matthew 10:32-33; Luke 12:8-9; Matthew 16:16
Baptism (for the forgiveness of sins): 1 Peter 3:21; Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; John 3:5; Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:5; Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12; Acts 8:36-39; Mark 1:9-10; John 3:23; Acts 22:16
Live Faithfully: Revelation 2:10; Philippians 2:12
Study and Act: 2 Timothy 2:15; James 1:22; Acts 17:11

God First!

Category: Christian living (Page 1 of 6)

Only Love Abides for Eternity

Feelings Spark Action — But Are Not Salvation

No Work, No Crop: Don’t Be a Sluggard

Even in Death, Stephen Was Teaching

Satan’s Easiest Targets: Who Are They?

The Narrow Path That Avoids Lifelong Regret

Wipe that smirk off his face!

My King and My Father: Approaching God with Both Reverence and Confidence

Finding Sunshine When Gloom Settles In

Don’t Treat God’s Word Like Junk Mail

Supporting Scriptures

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Categories

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

ADVOCATE FOR CHRIST

Archives

Contact us:

Supporting Scriptures

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Categories

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

ADVOCATE FOR CHRIST

Sign up now

Archives

Contact us: