When Abraham’s and Lot’s cattle became too many for them to live together, Abraham gave Lot the first choice of the direction he wanted to go. Lot looked toward the greener grass of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Abraham looked to God for guidance and He revealed that all the land around him would one day be his – and his ancestors. Abraham was looking to God for direction and God blessed him.

Lot had little spiritual insight and soon lost all he had except for his two daughters. He left Sodom later only with the clothes on his back, his wife and two daughters. As they left the city, his wife turned back and turned into a pillar of salt.

Abraham was not looking just for greener grass, but for a city whose Maker and builder is God. This is where our eyes need to be. He often built altars and worshipped God frequently.

People without Christ in their lives, as well as Christians not serving God, will also find that one day they will lose all the material possessions they ever had. Believers cannot lose salvation, but many will not have any rewards – and probably not a mansion, either.

The Bible tells us not to be a friend of the world (I Jn. 2:15), but to seek first the kingdom of God – like Abraham. Because he did, God richly blessed him.

Many Christians are living a nearly joyless Christian life because they believe that their salvation depends on their enduring to the end. They may be working hard to resist some sins but also know that other ones may be present.

Their lives could be changed by understanding that we are saved by faith in what Jesus Christ did for us on the Cross. It is not based on what we have done or do now. He died for us because we could not pay the price for our sin and still escape the fires of Hell. What a wonderful gift of salvation we have received.

What Jesus did on the Cross puts the believer into the family of God. When Jesus cried from the Cross: “It is finished,” He meant that everything necessary to give us a full and complete salvation was accomplished.

As Christians, we could not begin to merit anything from God – nor can we ever keep ourselves saved. Sin is still present with us. Jesus one-time death on the Cross and resurrection is forever sufficient for any need you or I will ever have. He not only saves us, but our text verse shows that He also keeps us.

We cannot consistently hold onto Him, so He holds onto us – and we cannot escape out of His hands – or His Father’s (John 10:28,29). Because of His power to hold us in salvation and give us eternal security – we can have joy and sleep well at night. Praise His Name!

There is a lot of confusion in the world about Jesus Christ. The biggest question of all is Who is Jesus Christ?

Sadly, even among professing believers there are considerable answers to this question. The biggest reason for this ignorance is a lack of understanding the Bible.

Paul makes the argument in the verses above that the Gospel – that which can save the soul from Hell – is hid from those who need it. The Gospel consists of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for sinners, which is how He paid for our sins and can save the soul. Paul also explains who needs it – “the lost.” That is, those who do not know Christ as their Savior yet.

The “god of this world” is the evil one – Satan. He and his evil cohorts are constantly busy seeking to prevent people from understanding the Gospel, as well as making it so that they never hear it. One of the ways he does this is by keeping people too busy to think about their eternity.

In these two verses, the Apostle also explains that Jesus is God and He wants to give them “light” – which means truth and understanding of the truth.

Have you believed on Jesus Christ yet to be your personal Savior? Or, are you one of the ones that the wicked one has blinded, making you think you have another day – when you may not?

Not long ago, the business world discovered that daily meditation has some benefits. Several leaders encourage others to engage in it regularly.

Christian meditation is different. It involves focusing on principles of the Word of God or on God Himself. It can mean thinking about a particular verse or doctrine, and more.

The promise of success is clear. God promises to give “good success” and prosperity in your life. It does not necessarily mean riches or fame. It will involve satisfaction in knowing that you are pleasing to God.

In order to have the success God wants to give you – you must first surrender to His will for you. Then, notice that there are two conditions in the text verse. The first is to meditate daily on His Word. The second is to be deliberate in doing all that you read in His Word. 

Along with knowing that you are doing His will, you will discover the joy He gives. You can also experience a life without regrets. Although God never promises a trouble-free life, it certainly is one worth living – and He will help and guide you all along the way!

There is a real difference between what the world calls happiness and Biblical joy. Some Christians think they are the same thing.

Happiness is largely based on circumstances. When everything seems to be going right, most people are happy. Their happiness can quickly end when the good circumstances change. This is not at all what the Bible talks about when it speaks about joy.

When your “happiness” depends solely on your circumstances, it will cause you to have a wavering Christian life. It also means that you are looking to the wrong things to make you happy.

Instead, Christian joy is not based on circumstances. Because of this difference, you can have joy much of the time – regardless of what is happening. Paul even talked about having joy while in a Roman prison – which certainly was not a pleasant place to be.

Biblical joy is given by the Holy Spirit – it is one of His fruits. When a believer is in tune with the Spirit (surrendered to do His will), all of the fruit of the Spirit will naturally be present.

Before He left to go back to Heaven, our Lord told us that He wants His people to have the same joy that He enjoys. It is part of His prayer in John 17, verse 13: “And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”

Notice also that the text verse says: “in thy presence is fulness of joy.” It means that by spending more time in the Word and in the prayer closet, you can enjoy more of His joy in your life. And remember that “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10) – which makes it easier to serve our Lord.

Christian, is your prayer closet only collecting dust?

In the Old Testament, Moses gave very strict commands about maintaining the pure worship of God. Behind those rules are the Ten Commandments – especially the first two.

He warned Israel, just a little while before he died, to watch out for those who would attempt to get people to turn from the principles and laws God had already given to Israel. He said that there will come some people, calling themselves prophets and other things, suggesting that their new message was from God – or another god.

God may permit false prophets to rise up occasionally (more so now) to test (“prove”) His people. He wants them to see (He already knows) their own hearts as to whether or not they will stay faithful to God and His Word.

Their intent is to distract God’s people from the truth of God’s Word and from the righteous worship of God. The warning especially needs to be heeded today. Many modern-day so-called prophets, preachers, apostles, and priests, etc., think nothing of delivering messages that are contrary to God’s infallible and eternal Word.

They are everywhere on TV, the Internet, radio, in print, and elsewhere. Things that God forbids, they say are OK. Methods that God does not approve of – they say are now permitted. They condemn anyone who contradicts them – even criticizing the Word of God – which God has promised to preserve forever.

Christian, evaluate what you hear and see by the Word of God – and you cannot go wrong. The Bible tells us that when our Lord will judge – it will be based on the Word (“the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”) – not on some man’s word who contradicts what God said. I would hate to be found guilty of contradicting what God plainly said on that Day! Remember that it is His Word that was given “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (II Timothy 3:17).

The Bible is the source of truth for every Christian. It repeatedly speaks of Christ’s resurrection from the dead and then declares that He gave them many “infallible proofs” (Acts 1:3) of His resurrection during the next forty days.

Everything the Christian believes depends on the fact of the resurrection. The Bible records it accurately in each of the Gospels, with each one bearing slightly different testimony as each witness saw it. Identical accounts would point to collusion.

The text verse for today says the Bible can be believed. You trusted it for your salvation – now trust it to guide your life. The promises are yours to claim – once it is seen who they are for and any conditions that might apply. They are all there to enable believers to trust Him and to get victory.

God is looking for overcomers with His help. With God’s armor and the promises, you can do His will and run your course. Remember His promise: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).

Years ago, early on this Easter morning, the women arrived first at the tomb, thinking that they would have to get someone to help them move the stone away. The stone served as both a covering for the tomb and a seal.

There was also a guard of Roman soldiers at the tomb and they were ordered to keep it secure. A “guard” would normally consist of 24 Roman soldiers, which would take part in shifts. The unexpected appearance of the angel whose face was “like lightning” (vs. 4) had them terrified and frozen with fear. He moved the stone away – not to let Christ out, but to let others in to see that He was already gone.

While none of the 11 remaining Apostles, or any other disciples, were expecting a resurrection despite Jesus repeatedly telling them about it, the heavenly messenger delivered the shocking news to these women. The message was short and simple. He told them: “he is risen from the dead.”

If Jesus had stayed in the grave, we would never have known if God had forgiven our sins or not. He would have had to pay for them in Hell. His resurrection proves that all that Jesus said about salvation and eternal life is true. In Him is life, and simply trusting in Him to save us will result in a real pardon from God with eternal life in Heaven – all at the expense of Christ for us.

Since He arose from the dead – and He is the only religious leader to have done so – we can be certain of Who He was (the Son of God) and that His words truly are from God. In John 5:24, He said: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

He is risen indeed!, and all who truly know Him know very well that He is alive – with power!

It needs to be remembered on this Good Friday, that the crucifixion was not an accident or unforeseen event in God’s plan. It was the main part of it.

To the Jews, the Scriptures seemed to present two irreconcilable views of the Savior (Messiah). One pictured Him as a reigning King Who would reign forever, the other picture revealed One Who would suffer and die.

Even though Jesus told His disciples multiple times that it would happen, it did not fit with their understanding of the coming of Christ. This resulted in great disillusionment when it happened. The day came when it was fulfilled. Jesus was put on a Cross between two thieves – as it was prophesied hundreds of years before.

Even the details about His clothes were fulfilled and they cast lots (dice) for His clothes (Psalm 22:18). It was also prophesied that they would give Him gall and vinegar to drink (Psalm 69:21).

Jesus’ crucifixion was the focal point of God’s redemption of the human race. He died to take our place so that no one must go to Hell. Since the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), Jesus died to take our place – the Spotless One for the guilty.

By believing on His death as your Substitute and His resurrection, you can be saved. Call on Him today to forgive and save you. Do not wait, for time is limited.

Near the end of His earthly life, when the leaders of Israel were determined to put Jesus to death, He spoke these words. Because of the impossibility, they are words that no mere human can utter.

Considering Who Jesus was, He had great power to do miracles. He commanded the wind and the waves and even death was no match for Him. Earlier, the Bible tells us that the Son of God was the One Who created all things, as seen in John 1:3: “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” It is also seen in Colossians 1:16: “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.”

Without a doubt, there was no force on earth – or outside of it, that could overpower the Creator. The only way Jesus could ever die was for Him to permit it to happen. Even if He did not do it, He still had power over the angels, and they could have prevented it – if He wanted them to.

In John 10:15, Jesus prophesied that He would die for His sheep (disciples). He said: “As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.” In this same verse, He also prophesied that He would come back to life – by His power.

Jesus soon coming crucifixion, burial, and resurrection were all planned before the earth was created. God would show His love for the world through what Jesus would do for us on the Cross and coming back to life – with a new and immortal Body.

You only have one chance to get God’s forgiveness. If you miss it and die without getting saved, there is no second chance. Trust God’s willingness to forgive and love for you and make Him your Savior today.