Category: Faith & life

You are My disciples

October 6, 2025

In a number of places in the Book of John, Jesus tells His disciples about things that show the world they are His followers.

In today’s post I want to share three.

1. Your love for one another

John 13:35 – Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.”

2. You produce much fruit

John 15:8 – When you produce much fruit, you are My true disciples. This brings great glory to My Father.

3. Remain faithful to My teachings

John 8:31 – Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, “You are truly My disciples if you remain faithful to My teachings.

These three things show us what it takes to be considered a true disciple of Christ in His eyes. This is a good reminder for us and something to aim for.

Four things to remember when we sin

October 5, 2025

As Christians we all sin. No matter how hard we try to live right we all stumble at times. We are all human and we live in a world that is harassed by sin.

However there are four things that help me when I sin. I have shared these in my sermons over the last few weeks and I thought I would share them here.

1. God looked for man when he sinned in the Garden of Eden – Genesis 3:8 tells us God called out to man to find him. Even after the first sin, God pursued Adam.

2. Jesus died for our sins – Romans 5:8 says that Jesus died for us while we were still sinners. He paid the price for our sin.

3. God gave us a way to get right with Him – 1 John 1:9 tells us that God provided confession as a way to get right with Him when we fall short.

4. We have an Advocate in heaven – 1 John 2:1 reminds us that when we sin Jesus pleads our case before the Father in Heaven.

These things help me to remember that God is on my side. He knows I will fall short at times and He has provided ways for us to be right with Him.

It started after the first sin with Adam and Even, it continued with Jesus death on the cross and when we confess it continues with our Advocate in heaven pleading on our behalf.

These four things give me comfort knowing that when I sin forgiveness and restoration is just a prayer of confession away.

God Bless,
Dave

Keep on going…

September 30, 2025

I really enjoyed this devotion from Word for Today…

Get back up and keep going! (1)

September 30, 2025

‘We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.’ 2 Corinthians 4:9 TLB

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania tell us that a key predictor of success isn’t talent, title, wealth, or good looks. It’s the ability to work hard for a prolonged period of time toward a focused goal; to keep moving forward despite challenges, obstacles, and failures.

Paul writes: ‘We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going’ (vv. 8–9 TLB). Here are some famous people who got knocked down but kept on going. A memo issued after Fred Astaire’s first screen test said, ‘Can’t act…slightly bald…can dance a little.’ Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor for lack of ideas. He also went bankrupt several times before he built Disneyland. Albert Einstein didn’t speak until he was four and didn’t write until he was seven. His teacher described him as ‘mentally slow, unsociable and adrift forever in foolish dreams.’ F. W. Woolworth’s employers at the dry goods store said he hadn’t enough sense to wait on customers. Winston Churchill failed at junior school. He didn’t become Prime Minister of Great Britain until he was sixty-six, after a lifetime of defeats and setbacks. He made his greatest contribution as a senior citizen. Abraham Lincoln once said, ‘Bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.’ So when life knocks you down, get back up and keep going.

Jesus’ power over death

September 29, 2025
Image: freebibleimages.org

In the Bible we see that Jesus had the power over death. He raised at least three people from the dead and He Himself was raised to life.

  1. Lazarus – in John 11:38-44 we see Jesus raised Lazarus to life. He had been dead and buried for four days, but Jesus brought him back.
  2. Jairus’ daughter – in Matthew 9:18-26 Jesus raised the officials daughter after she died. The man came and asked Jesus to heal her, but she died while he was away. Jesus raised her to life.
  3. Widows only son – in Luke 7:11-15 Jesus came across a funeral procession. He told the young man to get up and he was raised to life. Jesus then gave him back to his mother.

As I read these three stories afresh they gave me a great hope. Hope that nothing is impossible to Jesus in this life. He even has the power over death!

As Christian we know that when we die we will be raised to life to be with Jesus. We will meet Him in heaven first and we will come back with Him when He calls time on this world.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 NLT
[15] We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. [16] For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. [17] Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. [18] So encourage each other with these words.

Knowing that Jesus has the power over death means that nothing is impossible for Him in this life. Knowing that when this life is over we will spend eternity with Him gives me hope.

Today I want to encourage you with this great hope – nothing is impossible for Jesus. He can raise the dead and He can give us eternal life as we put our hope and trust in Him.

If you have not trusted Jesus for your salvation, I would encourage you to visit my finding salvation page.