“Man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes form the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4)

One of the greatest needs of Christians today is the daily intake of God’s word in our lives. For far too many, the only exposure to God’s word is on Sunday mornings.

Imagine living on one meal a week? How would one do? Not only is such a person not doing well, they are dying!

When it comes to the necessity of God’s word in the Christian’s life, the Bible is crystal clear. The Bible is the bread of life. Eat of this bread and you shall live, you shall thrive!

God tells us, “Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in rich food” (Isaiah 55:1-2).

Friends, I don’t know how else to encourage you regarding the need for a daily reading of God’s word in your life. There needs to be a daily intake of God’s truth to combat the lies that fill our world.

Fill your mind with God’s word and you will have no room for Satan’s lies.

If you’ve never been a reader of the Bible, don’t feel bad. Let’s change that today. Let’s get started today with a Bible reading plan.

The best resource is free and it is online at www.youversion.com. There you will find all kinds of daily devotionals and Bible reading plans that fit your needs.

When we are able to meet together in person again as a congregation, I want to see you strong and mature. The only way to get there is through a daily intake of God’s truth through his word.

You got this! God’s given us everything we need to thrive. Let’s make that happen!

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sister, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2).

Just be yourself.

Ever hear that before?

Please, don’t. For your sake and for the sake of everyone around you.

This is terrible advice for Christians. Here’s why. At my best, I am selfish. Even at my best, I am still a sinner. And that’s at my absolute best!!!

So, then, what is the alternative?

Be something better. In fact, be the version of you that Jesus died to create. Be the you that the Holy Spirit is making you. Be the you that Jesus died for and rose again from the dead for. Be the you that God will use to be a blessing to everyone around you. That you, that me, now that’s worth becoming!

Please. Don’t be yourself. Be someone better. Be the you that Jesus died to create.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

Christians aren’t perfect. Christians are forgiven.

There is a huge difference.

Even after accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, every one of us continues to struggle with sin. In our corporate confession of sins I remind our congregation that we are not merely sinners, but that we are repeat sinners!

The devil will use this to make us feel shame.

The Holy Spirit uses this to make us more like Christ. Of course we are repeat sinners, but God’s grace and forgiveness is greater than our sins. That we struggle with sin is a good thing. That we struggle with sin is a sign that the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives. It’s when we stop struggling with the sin in our life that we are in trouble.

The reason why we have total confidence in our salvation is not because of our deeds and misdeeds. The reason why we have total confidence in our salvation is because of all that God has done in his Son, Jesus Christ.

Charles Spurgeon writes, “You stand before God as if you were Christ, because Christ stood before God as if he were you.”

Christ bore our sins in his body and paid the debt of sin by dying on the cross and descending into hell on our behalf.

But he rose again! He rose again and because of Christ, we are able to stand before God with confidence that our sins have been forgiven. Because of what God has done in his Son Jesus Christ, when God sees us, he cannot see us apart from seeing us through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

That is the reason why repeat sinners are forgiven.

Amen! Amen! Amen! Thank you Jesus!!!