First Things First

Nearer still, we pursue His presence, His voice, His ways, ever seeking more and more the likeness of our first love, Jesus! May the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us. And may His love within us be so evident and bright that others are compelled to accept God’s gift of life everlasting.

Jesus was asked, “What shall we do that we might work the works of God?” Jesus replied, “This is the work of God, that you believe on him whom he has sent.” John 6:29

There are many religions, but God is not a religion. The fullness of God awaits those who know the love of Christ. We come to know God’s love and Christ’s love more deeply as we draw near, pursuing the things of God through His word, His presence, and His ways. And, Jesus said, “He that follows me shall not walk in darkness.” To follow Jesus Christ is to follow his examples. What we study and know becomes familiar. What is familiar

It is here where we discover who we were created to be and the eternal joy, peace, and assurance that is ours through our faith in Christ. As we learn to abide in God, we become vessels of habitation for God through the Spirit. God does not dwell in graven images or in anything created by human hands. He reserves His presence for his own creation – the heart of man.

Flawed in our flesh, we so oftentimes do not represent the love that dwells within us. But God’s faithfulness was to draw his creation near to Him again knowing we are imperfect. And so he did, through His Son, Jesus. If you have not considered the obedience and sacrifice of Jesus and if you do not understand what is to be lost or gained by denying or receiving His invitation to be made right with God, may I encourage you to give yourself the opportunity to examine this for yourself? (Romans 3:21-26)

Understandably, many turn their backs on God based on the experiences of various levels of disappointments and at times, harm, received at the hands of others, some who profess to be Christ followers. Please, please give yourself the opportunity to make a decision based on your own pursuit to meet and know Jesus. Jesus came to remove the barrier of sin that marks every soul since Adam and Eve fell for Satan’s ploy. But God had a plan to retrieve us back to Him – Jesus. All that we have experienced by the mistreatment of another person, whether by a Christian or anyone else – these are places that await healing. I can share about my own healing journey as one who has been healed from the trauma of emotional pain and suffering. And I can tell you of the nearness of God’s Spirit, of Jesus’ healing touch, and of life since.

God sent Jesus to all of mankind to remove sin and provide a way back to Himself again. But there is more! If Jesus carried a business card, it may have said this, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord,“ Luke 4:18-19 This absolutely describes Jesus as mentioned in Luke 4:18-19.

If you do not have a bible, it would be my joy to send you one to keep and read. It is truly ‘a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.’ No other book in the history of creation compares to the living word of God.