The Great Commission as we read in Matthew 28:18-20 ~ Go out and make disciples of all nations!

Making disciples... start simple, start at home, start with family. God created male and female, he said that a man shall leave his mother and father and joins to his wife ~ Ephesians 5:31. In this way, they become one...and they become a family.  You see, God created the family, He represents 'family' in His triune nature - Father/Son/Holy Spirit and along with the created angelic beings He commands (Nehemiah 9:6, 2 Kings 19:15, Isaiah 37:16). As the body of Christ We are family. God does not want to lose any of His family.

In the fallen world, though saved... we need to be discipled and make disciples. Go out into all the world, Yes but that does not mean you have to go afar to Timbuktu or Tahiti or Shanghi or Siberia... Your own home, your own family is the place to get started and from there your community/church.

Mothers/wives, disciple your family by a display of love in serving them, caring for them by cooking (preparing a meal/setting a nice table), by cleaning the house, washing their clothes, ironing, reading the Word to them, and shopping wisely for essentials etc. ~ Proverbs 31 Wives submit to your husbands as they treat you as their own body/church. Ephesians 5:22

Dads/husbands, disciple your family by a display of love in serving them by caring and showing mercy. Dad's especially administer the serving of mercy: forgiving when you want to punish harshly for disobedience. Not that children won't be punished but not harshly... its your holding back that displays mercy to them and they will not forget it. Ephesians 6:4

Husbands love your wives as your own body, as the church. Ephesians 5:25 This godly behavior, as put forward in the Bible for mother/wife-dad/husband, is Christian discipleship in the family.

A mature disciple (reads scripture, prays fervent yet reverent and devotional but certainly not mechanically/ritually, sings praise that loves and worships God, fasts, demonstrates acts of caring and mercy) and even more than that. Its about joyfully loving God above all else!

You may demonstrate acts of caring and mercy, but even the secular world can do that much. So, how can we as born again in Christ do that (be caring and merciful) and be different from the world? Because, we can do more, greater is He in you than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 

Its about who we give credit to and who we glorify - Jesus Christ. Mature discipling Christians do not behave as the world does; and that means they are not 'showman'... looking for applause. They do more privately, behind closed doors in their prayer closets ...

And, mature disciples share in other's suffering... they are not afraid to go into the place of suffering where they find someone in need of saving/discipling. 

For many Americans, sharing in someone else's suffering is avoided. I have people say, who wants to be around sick people, poor people, ignorant people etc. Yet they are in need of salvation and discipleship.Yes ours is the great commission! Why? Because, God so loved the world. And, we partake in that love!

 

Galatians 2:20 ~ I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 ~ And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope ~ New Living Translation.

We make disciples because God so loved the world He sent His Son to deliver us from the curse of sin and death in order that we have eternal life ~ John 3:16.

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God ~ A Psalm of David.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. Without speech or language, without a sound to be heard, their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun like a bridegroom emerging from his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and runs its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple.The precepts of the LORD are right bringing joy to the heart;the commandments of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true, being altogether righteous.They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

By them indeed Your servant is warned; in keeping them is great reward. Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults. Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.

Then I will be blameless and cleansed of great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight,O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. ~ Psalm 19, BSB

Yes, indeed, how can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer ! Psalm 19: 12-14.

Psalm 18 ~ THe Lord is my Rock!

Berean Study Bible

Par ▾

The LORD is My Rock
(2 Samuel 22:1-51)

For the choirmaster. Of David the servant of the LORD, who sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: I love You, O LORD, my strength. 

The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies. The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me. The cords of Sheol entangled me;  the snares of death confronted me.In my distress I called upon the LORD and I cried to my God for help. 

From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for His help reached His ears. Then the earth shook and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger. Smoke rose from His nostrils, and consuming fire came from His mouth; glowing coals flamed forth. He parted the heavens and came down with dark clouds was under His feet. He mounted a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind. He made darkness His hiding place,

and storm clouds a canopy around Him. 

From the brightness of His presence, His clouds advanced—hailstones and coals of fire. The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded— hailstones and coals of fire. He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; He hurled lightning and routed them. The channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were exposed,at Your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils. He reached from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy and from foes too mighty for me. 

They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into the open; He rescued me because He delighted in me. The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; He has repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands. For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all His ordinances are before me; I have not disregarded His statutes. And I have been blameless before Him and kept myself from all iniquity. 

So the LORD has repaid me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight. To the faithful You show Yourself faithful, to the blameless You show Yourself blameless, to the pure You show Yourself pure, but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd. For You save an afflicted people, but You humble those with haughty eyes. For You, O LORD, light my lamp; my God enlightens my darkness. For in You I can charge an army, and with my God I can scale a wall. 

As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way blameless. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer and stations me upon the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me Your shield of salvation; Your right hand upholds me, and Your gentleness exalts me. You broaden the path beneath me so that my ankles do not give way. I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back until they were consumed. 

I crushed them so they could not rise; they have fallen under my feet. You have armed me with strength for battle; You have subdued my foes beneath me. You have made my enemies retreat before me; I put an end to those who hated me. They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—to the LORD, but He did not answer. I ground them as dust in the face of the wind; I trampled them like mud in the streets.You have delivered me from the strife of the people. You have made me the head of nations; a people I had not known shall serve me. 

When they hear me, they obey me; foreigners cower before me. Foreigners lose heart and come trembling from their strongholds. The LORD lives! Blessed be my rock! And may the God of my salvation be exalted—the God who avenges me and subdues nations beneath me, who delivers me from my enemies.You exalt me above my foes; You rescue me from violent men. 

Therefore I will praise You, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to Your name! He brings great salvation to His king. He shows loving devotion to His anointed, to David and his descendants forever.

Psalm 103

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all His kind deeds...

He who forgives all your iniquities, and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, and crowns you with loving devotion and compassion, who satisfies you with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel.  

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion.  He will not always accuse us, nor harbor His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

For He knows our frame; He is mindful that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass— he blooms like a flower of the field; when the wind has passed over, it vanishes, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the LORD extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children’s children— to those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts. 

The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. Bless the LORD, all His angels mighty in strength, who do His word, who hearken to the voice of His command. Bless the LORD, all His hosts, you servants who do His will. Bless the LORD, all His works in all places of His dominion.

Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Proverbs 3 ~ Trust in the LORD!

...Let your heart keep my commandments; for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life. Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 

Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil. 

This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones. Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not loathe His reproof; for the LORD disciplines those He loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. 

 

The Blessings of Wisdom

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding, for she is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.

She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed. The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding. By His knowledge the watery depths were broken open, and the clouds dripped with dew. My son, do not lose sight of this: Preserve sound judgment and discernment. They will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.  

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet. Do not fear sudden danger or the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from the snare. Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is within your power to act. 

Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow, I will provide when you have the means.” Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he trustfully dwells beside you. Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm. Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways; for the LORD detests the perverse, but He is a friend to the upright. The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous. He mocks those who mock, but gives grace to the humble. The wise will inherit honor, but fools are held up to shame.

~ Berean Study Bible

Blessed Assurance ~ Jesus is Mine!

So many Christians struggle with - why do bad things happen to good people and or why do some get healed and others don't. Here is the answer. There are two kinds of people in this fallen world: those saved and those unsaved. Those who are saved will and do suffer and some get healed while others do not; but, they know why and what for. Those unsaved just suffer and haven't a clue why or what for. In their view, if/when someone is healed or is unhurt...its just dumb luck or a good doctor.

You see, the saved differ from others, God's grace alone makes them differ. In this preventing, effectual, distinguishing grace, he acts as a benefactor, whose grace is his own. None have deserved it; so that those who are saved, must thank God only; and those who perish, must blame themselves only, Hos 13:9. God is bound no further than he has been pleased to bind himself by his own covenant and promise, which is his revealed will. And this is, that he will receive, and not cast out, those that come to Christ.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Try being still this year... know that He is God!

In Western culture, its all about 'doing' rather than just being. People always ask, "So, what do you do"? Now, if you said, I worship the Lord but most of the time I am still knowing that He is God...would you have answered their question? No! Its too bad that we don't apply scripture, the Word of God, in our lives... ~ Be Still and know that I am God ~ Psalm 46:10.

New Living Translation
"Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world."
English Standard Version
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Berean Study Bible
“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted over the earth.”
New American Standard Bible
"Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
King James Bible
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Christian Standard Bible
"Stop your fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth."
Contemporary English Version
Our God says, "Calm down, and learn that I am God! All nations on earth will honor me."

The Message of the Cross

Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe ~ 1 COR 1:20-21.

Questioning ourselves is of great use in every part of the holy life. Let us be more frequent in this, and in every thing take occasion to discourse with our souls. As places of worship cannot be built or maintained without expense, it may be proper that those who contribute thereto should be accommodated accordingly; but were all persons more spiritually-minded, the poor would be treated with more attention that usually is the case in worshiping congregations. 

A lowly state is most favorable for inward peace and for growth in holiness. God would give to all believers riches and honors of this world, if these would do them good, seeing that he has chosen them to be rich in faith, and made them heirs of his kingdom, which he promised to bestow on all who love him. Consider how often riches lead to vice and mischief, and what great reproaches are thrown upon God and religion, by men of wealth, power, and worldly greatness; and it will make this sin appear very sinful and foolish. The Scripture gives as a law, to love our neighbor as ourselves. 

This law is a royal law, it comes from the King of kings; and if Christians act unjustly, they are convicted by the law as transgressors. To think that our good deeds will atone for our bad deeds, plainly puts us upon looking for another atonement. According to the covenant of works, one breach of any one command brings a man under condemnation, from which no obedience, past, present, or future, can deliver him. This shows us the happiness of those that are in Christ. ~ A Mathew Henry Commentary

Carry each other's burden...

Brothers/sisters, if someone is caught in a trespass/sin, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry one and other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the Law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives him/herself ~ Galatians 6:1-3. 

Yes, Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. 

This is truly the biggest problem for Christians especially here in America. We want to be liked and so when someone appears to 'not be' liked, we stay away. We don't want to associate with the 'wrong crowd'. We think that those people are not and should not be liked because they did something wrong - they sinned. Its not us, but them. 

We are liked and saved because we are righteous, right? Of course, we don't sin/do wrong. In that false assumption, we fail as Christians... we fail to recognize our fallen state and we fail to be Christians as we refuse to carry one and other's burdens. We need to confess our sin to each other and help each other get back onto the right path - in relationship with Jesus Christ.