Look Unto Jesus!

‘Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God’(Hebrews 12:2)

The Amplified translation of the above verse says: ‘looking away (from all that will distract) to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith (giving the first incentive for our belief) and is also its Finisher..’ Jesus is our prime focus in our daily life.  Looking at our circumstances weakens our faith.  In the Bible we read about Abraham who faced the same problem as we are today.

Go with me to Gen 15: 1-6, ‘After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.’ 

Abraham received promise after promise but nothing happened.  Finally, he said, ‘look God you have not given me a child as you promised’.  Abraham showed God his barrenness but God showed him where to focus.  God said, ‘look NOW toward the heavens and count the stars – if you are able to number them’.   God reminded Abraham to focus on Him who is able to do the impossible’. 

Look away from all your distractions and  look unto Jesus!  It may be temptations, or hopeless situations or financial needs.  But NOW LOOK UNTO JESUS!  In the book of Psalm 121:1-2 says, ‘I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.’  Are you wondering who is going to help you?!  Have you forgotten your True Resource of your life? Look unto Jesus in your prayer from where your help comes from. He is the One who supplies Your ALL needs.

Are you feeling guilty that you have failed God?  No! you are looking at the wrong things;  your flaws, failures and short-comings.  Look at the One who called you, separated you from this world, foreordained you and called you by your name.  He is faithful regardless of your unfaithfulness!  He is perfect who is perfecting you and will bring it to completion till His return.  So cheer up my friend!  He will never fail you or forsake you!  He will never let you down!  You can trust Him and look to Him.

Now Pray with me:

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your Son Jesus Christ who is my life, the author and the finisher of my faith. He is my true source and all I need.   I place my trust in Him!  My help, support and supplies comes from You alone!  Thank You.  In Jesus Name. Amen.

Further Study:  Hebrews 12:1-2; Rom 4:17-22

Righteous Through Faith In Christ!

‘as it is written, ‘there is none righteous, no not one’ (Romans 3:10).

To the world’s stand-point, a righteous is one who does right or good things.  The Bible says, ‘…let God be true and every man be a liar..’(Rom 3:4).  Also in the Gospel book Luke 16:15 says, ‘and He (Jesus) said to them, you are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts.  For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.’ 

God gave the commandments to the Israelite to obey them.  But the Law could not justify anybody but brought the knowledge of sin.  Rom 3:20-21 says, ‘therefore by the deeds of the Law no flesh will be justified by the Law in His sight, for by the Law is the knowledge of sin.  But NOW the righteousness of God apart from the Law is revealed..’  Right living is the outcome of the righteousness in you according to God.  Righteousness of God in you gives you the ability to live right.  So how can you obtain this righteousness?

Romans 3: 22-24 give us the answer for that question.  ‘even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe, for there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified FREELY by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.’  It is rather accepted by God than men; it is rather approved by God than men.  This ‘righteousness of God  is imputed in your spirit when you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and receive Him in your heart.  you don’t earn this righteousness because it is THE GIFT OF GOD as it is written in Rom 5:17, ‘but if by one man’s (Adam’s) offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of Grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.’  God gives His righteousness as a gift to all those who believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God. You then become the righteousness of God in Christ.  What a privileged life it is! Thank You Father for Your gift of righteousness.

CONFESSION:

I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus; I have the rightness of God working in me to live right.  And my prayer (prayer of the righteous) avails much,  Thank You For the great privilege to live right. 

The Vine & The Branch Relationship

‘I am The (True) Vine; you are the branches.  Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit.  However, apart from Me (cut off from vital union with Me) you can do nothing’ (John 15:5 AMP).

Our relationship with Christ is like ‘Vine & The Branch’.  This shows our union and fellowship with Christ.  Paul wrote in 1 Cor 6: 17, ‘but he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.’  We are one spirit with Him! Awesome! Jesus said in Mat 12:33, ‘either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.’ 

Our relationship with Him is a living and abiding relationship to be fruitful.  We become the partakers of His Life.  As Jesus said in the parable about the prodigal son’s story, ‘and he said to him, ‘Son you are ALWAYS with me, and all that I HAVE IS YOURS’ (Luke 15:31).  All that Christ has is ours! We are partakers of All that He has.

In Rom 11: 16 says, ‘for if the first-fruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.’ As branches we enjoy the fatness of the Vine.  We are holy because the root is holy!  We are partakers of the Divine Life!

Just be a branch in the abiding relationship with Christ.  Continue in His Word, the sound doctrines of Christ.  We are fruitful and productive because we share the richness of the Vine. Richness of the Vine is seen in the fruit the branch produce.  What a privilege to be a branch in the True Vine Jesus Christ!

Don’t strive or struggle, just abide in Him!

Confession:  I am energized and nourished to be productive and be fruitful in my union with Christ. 

Further Study:  John 15: 1-8; Colossians 2: 3,6,9,10; 2 Pet 1: 3,4

No Condemnation In Christ!

‘therefore, (there is) now, no condemnation who are in Christ  (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live (and) walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.’ (Rom 8:1 AMP)

Jesus was condemned in our place.  You may ask how? The Bible says in Romans 8: 3, ‘for God has done what the Law could not do, (its power) being weakened by the flesh (the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit). Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as and offering for sin. (God) condemned sin in the flesh (subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice)’ (AMP). Jesus took our sin on His body and thus condemned sin in the flesh.

2 Corinthians 5:21 says, ‘for our sake He made Christ (virtually) to be sin who knew no sin so that in and through Him we might become (endued with, viewed as being in and examples of) the righteousness of God (what we out to be approved and acceptable and right relationship with Him, by His goodness) (AMP).’

The one who condemns you is the devil.  Refuse to walk in condemnation and guilt.  Confess your sins to Jesus and be washed by His blood if you have committed sin.  His blood is sufficient to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. 

1 John 1:9 says, ‘if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from All unrighteousness.’  Cheer up my friend!  Don’t  allow thoughts of condemnation in your heart.  Guard your heart from the lies of satan. 

Walk in the assurance of His love for you is so deeper, unfailing and unconditional!  The Bibles says, ‘When we were yet sinners Christ died for us’ (Romans 5:8).

Walk in the light of this Truth!

Further study: Rom 5:18; Rev 12: 10; Mat 7: 1-2