What about a relationship with Jesus Christ?Is that too good to be true? Matthew 19:26 NKJV says “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Let’s consider a few benefits of believing Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Truth Revealed

God’s Word is alive and it renews us day by day.The more we read, the more He reveals Himself and our sinful nature.If we choose, we can respond the way God anticipates which is to agree with Him about our sin.When we do, we allow His Word to renew our minds, changing the way we think.For some this may mean a once prideful person has been transformed into a humble one.For others who were critical and judgmental it may mean their stony hearts are transplanted with a new tender heart of love.God’s Word reveals the truth and when we accept His truth wonderful things happen.Please don’t take this as once we become a Christian all our problems go away.Oh no, that is definitely not what’s being conveyed.But rather wonderful changes within occur when truth is allowed to penetrate our inner beings.

Sins Forgiven

Psalm 103:12 NKJV says “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Jesus Christ took on our sin, paid the penalty for us by dying on the cross.Even better news than that is Jesus rose again.Death was not the end of Him, only the beginning of a new life.With His resurrection we are given a new life too.Romans 10:9 NKJV says “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”So the free gift of salvation God offers is as easy as believing and you will be saved.Romans 6:23 says “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” To further this wonderful benefit, Romans 8:1 also tells us there is no condemnation in Christ when we walk according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh.

Rewards Here

Psalm 37:4 NKJV says “Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”Choose to follow Him, read His Word, and apply His truths in your life.Allow His Word to become real to you by living it out.When you do He rewards you.I’m not saying we come to the Lord simply for the benefits He offers.But I am saying if you are diligent to seek Him and serious about pursuing Him, He will bring blessings into your life.His word straightens us out and plants our feet on a firm foundation.He directs us on the pathway of righteousness.He leads us by His Spirit which He gave us as a guarantee of our salvation.He changes the way we think, which improves our attitudes.He enables us to love, forgive, and consider others above our self.He provides everything we need to live a godly life here and now while we wait for the return of Christ.He restores broken relationships.He breaks the chains that bind us to our addictions.He sets us free from sin.The rewards He gives are unending and this is only speaking of here on earth.There are far more blessings in the eternal sense, where no eye has seen, nor ear have heard, nor any mind can imagine what treasures await those who love God.

Is a relationship with Christ too good to be true?While it does seem too good to be true, I want to reassure you all these things do exist.There is no end to how good God can make it.For me, I have found my relationship with Christ to be more rewarding, exciting, intimate, loving and honoring than I ever dreamed was possible.I have experienced a new mind, new attitude, forgiveness of my sin, acceptance by the Father, a renewed love, a restored marriage and blessings of a second child.I could go on, but I won’t.I do encourage you to think about your life and count your blessings from knowing Christ.It will revitalize your walk.

Lord Jesus, thank you for your willingness to die to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and make us right with the Father.Thank you for the many rewards from our relationship with you.Thank you for giving us eternal life in you.In your precious name we pray. Amen.

© ThinkOnIt Bible Ministries Inc is a 501(c) (3) Public Charity helping you grow in knowledge and understanding of God’s Word.

Read 1 Samuel 1-3

All through these chapters we see the contrast between good and evil.  God’s Word is full of examples outlining the consequences of godly behavior, as well as what happens to the wicked.  This section of scripture is no different.  The table below outlines a few examples of the different types of behavior and how it is rewarded.

Please notice the good side is represented by purity of heart and obedience.  Also note, the evil side is represented by self-centered willfulness and disobedience.

Eli, the priest and his two sons perpetrated evil on a regular basis.   This is set up in contrast to the purity of Hannah’s request for a child and Samuel the answer to her prayers.  Notice each time the deeds of Eli’s sons were mentioned, the next statement is about Samuel: “But Samuel ministered before the Lord”.   

Eli, the priest failed as a parent to teach his own children about the Lord.  Then as if to show Eli his error, God sends Samuel to live with him.  Samuel coming from the purity of Hannah remains pure while living with Eli and the wicked sons.  Samuel ministers to the Lord, without even knowing the Lord yet.

The time comes when the Lord calls Samuel, but he doesn’t recognize the call and thinks it is Eli calling him.  Three times the Lord calls Samuel and three times he runs to Eli saying “Here I am”.  Finally, Eli discerns it is the Lord calling Samuel and instructs him to listen / respond to the Lord.  Eli was not right with God because of the evil he allowed to continue in the house of God.  The fact it took Eli three times to figure it out the Lord was calling says Eli was not attuned to the Lord.   He should have been able to recognize it sooner.

Eli didn’t teach his own sons, so he probably didn’t teach Samuel either.  Notice how Samuel is right before God in the same environment as Eli’s wicked sons.   What was the difference?  One difference is Samuel had a praying mother, Hannah.  She was so grateful the Lord answered her prayers, she probably prayed for Samuel everyday. 

What can we draw from the examples today?  We each have a choice to follow God or not.  Our environment is not to be blamed for whether we or not we choose God.  As we see Samuel being raised in a wicked environment still chose to follow God.  We can to.

 Lord thank you for your clear instructions.  Enable us to turn to you in obedience.  Cast away from us any selfish, rebellious thoughts and deeds and equip us for godly living until Christ returns.  In Jesus’ name Amen. © Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.  For more articles, devotions and book reviews, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.

We learned in 1:28 Hannah lent Samuel back to the Lord, which was her offering to the awesome God who had given him to her in the first place.   Hannah had the right perspective.  She knew all things, babies included, belonged to the Lord.  In Chapter 2 we see Hannah’s exuberant and praiseful prayer to God for answering her pleads for a child. 

In verse 2:11 we see Hannah and her husband went home, but the child ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest.  

How does a small child minister before the Lord?  Could it be, as he goes about being a child, living out of who he is God is honored?  How interesting. 

Next we’re introduced to Eli’s sons, who are not so godly.  They defiled them selves and the people who came to worship.  God is not pleased.  Amidst of this we see Samuel ministering to the Lord, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod. 

God blesses Hannah and she ends up having three sons and two daughters, because she honored her vow to lend Samuel to the Lord.  Here’s more evidence the faithful are answered.  Meanwhile, Samuel grew before the Lord.

In verses 2:22–25 we see Eli’s half-hearted attempt to confront his sons over they evil and wicked behavior but they would not heed their father’s voice.  Verse 26 then says:  “And the child Samuel grew in stature and in favor both with the Lord and men.” A man of God came to Eli and told him of God’s wrath to come upon them because of the sins of his sons.  Now the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. 

In Chapter 3 we see Samuel being called by God, but he had not recognized it was the Lord until the forth attempt.   Verse 3:7 says “(Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.)”

All through Samuel’s life so far, he is mentioned as ministering to the Lord but he never really knew the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord revealed to him yet.  This shows us people can appear to be godly, doing all the “right” outwardly things but still not know the Lord.  It’s not fault of the Samuel for not knowing the Lord.  The Lord simply hadn’t revealed Himself to him yet. 

After Eli explains to Samuel the Lord was calling him, Samuel waited to hear from the Lord.  The Word of the Lord came to Samuel.  He listened to what the Lord said and the next morning, he fearfully told Eli everything. Read verses 3:11-21 to see what the Lord told him.  Believe me if you were Samuel you might be timid about conveying this particular message.  This is a beautiful picture of a faithful servant.  He hears from the Lord, remembers the message and shares the message as soon as possible regardless of how the message might be received.  We should be so faithful.

The result of being faithful was two fold for Samuel.  First, Samuel grew and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.  How cool is that?  The Lord was with Samuel causing all of his words to be effective.  The second result was the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the Word of the Lord.  The Lord reveals Himself to the faithful.  What could be better than seeing more of the Lord?

Lord God Almighty may you be with us as you were with Samuel.  Let none of our words fall to the ground but instead be used to further your kingdom.  Reveal yourself to us Lord by your Word.  Lead us into a deeper relationship with you.  In Jesus’ name Amen.

 © Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions and has a heart for encouraging others with God’s Word.  For more articles, devotions and book reviews, visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com today.

Read 1 Samuel 1-3.

The Lord is good.  The Lord is kind.  The Lord is just.  The Lord rewards those who are faithful.  Just look at Hannah’s story in 1 Samuel 1.  She is distressed because she has no children.  He husband’s other wives had plenty of children and were very cruel towards Hannah’s barrenness. 

Every year Hannah would go to the Lord’s House to worship.  She prayed, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the afflictions of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.” 

Later we see, her petition is granted.  1 Samuel 1:20 says “So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and his name Samuel, saying “Because I have asked for him from the Lord.””  The story doesn’t end there.  No.  Hannah had promised to give the child back to the Lord.  And so, we see in 1 Samuel 1:24-28 Hannah fulfilled her promise to the Lord.  After Samuel was weaned, she brought him back to the house of the Lord, so he would live with Eli, the priest. 

This is one example of how the faithful are answered.  Tomorrow we will dive deeper into these chapters. 

 Lord thank you for your faithfulness to hear our heartfelt prayers.  Thank you when our prayers are aligned with your will, you answer.  Thank you for the mercy shown to Hannah relieving her sorrow of barrenness.  In Jesus’ name Amen.  

© ThinkOnIt Bible Ministries Inc is a 501(c) (3) Public Charity helping you grow in knowledge and understanding of God’s Word.

© ThinkOnIt Bible Ministries Inc is a 501(c) (3) Public Charity helping you grow in knowledge and understanding of God’s Word.  Visit us at http://www.ThinkOnIt.org today.

Thinking about faith one day, I wrote out this list of confessions.  What would you add to this list? Share your thoughts below.  Please add the Scripture address so others can look it up. Look forward to hearing from you.

© ThinkOnIt Bible Ministries Inc is a 501(c) (3) Public Charity helping you grow in God’s Word. Visit us at http://www.ThinkOnIt.org today.

Let’s a take a look at an example from Psalm 19:7:

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul:

The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;

Now using a Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and Bible Dictionary we research the following words: law, perfect, converting, soul, testimony, sure, wise, and simple.

• Law – H8451 “tora” means a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch, the law.
• Perfect – H8599 “tamim” means entire, integrity, truth, without blemish, complete, full, sincerely, sound, without spot, undefiled, upright, whole.
• Converting – H7725 “sub” means to turn back, generally retreat, again bring back, cause to answer, come again, deliver, go home, recover, refresh, relieve, render, rescue, restore, retrieve, return, reward, cause to turn, and turn self again.
• Soul – H5315 “nepes” means a breathing creature, vitality, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, dead, deadly, desire, discontented, fish, ghost, greedy, heart, life, lust, man, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure self and will.
• Testimony – H5715 “edut” means feminine testimony, witness
• Sure – H539 “dman” means properly to build up or support, to foster as a parent or nurse, to render firm or faithful, to trust or believer, to be permanent or quiet, morally true or certain, assurance, establish, be steadfast, verified, put trust, nursing father.
• Wise – H2499 “hakam” means to be wise (in mind, word, act), exceeding, teach wisdom, be wise, make self wise, shew self, deal wisely, never so wisely, make wiser.
• Simple – H6612 “peti” means silly, foolish, simple, simplicity, simple one

Now that you have read the additional meaning of these eight words, I want you to re-read Psalm 19:7. When you come to one of these words, substitute a word from the meaning’s list.  For example,

The ___ of the Lord is _____, _______ the _____.    You might read it like this: The precept of the Lord is complete, refreshing the heart. You also might read the verses a few times, each time substituting a new words from the definitions.

The study of words back to their Hebrew or Greek roots is a fascinating study approach. As the Bible was originally written in these languages and then translated to English for our benefit. It behooves us to investigate the root word’s original meaning. There are times the English word cannot do justice to the full meaning the author intended. Only a careful, thorough study or root words guided by the Holy Spirit reveals the proper interpretation.

I encourage you to try this research technique. Allow God’s Word to speak to you through the original meaning. Listen to the Holy Spirit as you read Scripture and the additional meaning. Then let the meaning sink deep within your soul and be refreshed, enlightened, and wise.

When you have come to the place of certainty about God’s Word do not stop there. Help others get there too! Share the treasure you discovered. Tell your friends how they can find the wealth of God’s wisdom. In this manner, you might find yourself partnering with the Holy Spirit to become a soul winner, saving the lost before your very own eyes!

What could be more rewarding than that?

© ThinkOnIt Bible Ministries Inc is a 501(c) (3) Public Charity helping you grow in God’s Word. Visit us at http://www.ThinkOnIt.org today.

Being still is a skill that develops over time. Not just being still through ordinary passing of time though. Rather this kind of being still occurs during trials and tribulations.  As the stress of life rains on us, depending on how we personally handle it, the outward self may appear still but the mind is anything but still.

The mind tries to comprehend why. Why is this happening? Why me, Lord? The mind tries to manipulate the situation to change the outcome to no avail.  It tries to be better, to think more godly thoughts but it fails.

The Bible tells us God loves us. Nothing can separate us from His love. God is with us, even in us in the form of His Spirit. It tells us all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. These things are true.

But if we haven’t fully grasped them as true for us they remain elusive. God is a personal being. He made each person different from all the others. Each creation is unique. That means each person has a unique path to God. Now don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying there are multiple ways to get to heaven. No. There’s one way through faith in Jesus. What I am saying is since we are all unique, then the way in which we fully grasp God and truth is unique too.  The circumstances, situations, the struggles all work to move us closer to God. With each difficulty brings an opportunity to trust.  Trust God more with each new problem. As we see His deliverance, His help, His provision we believe all of the more.

The more chances we have believed God is who He said He is, the more our faith grows.  Along with believing God, comes a peace that is beyond human understanding.  This peace brings a stillness that allows us to stand firm knowing who it is that creates the “be still” part from today’s verse.

The walls could be crashing down around you. Yet you are at peace in divine stillness because you know in whose hands you are in.

Have you experienced this kind of stillness yet? Don’t give up hope. It will come. Perhaps you need a few more opportunities to trust God first. Don’t worry. God knows what He’s doing. Your safe in His hands.

God, thank you for loving us and providing everything we need to understand your love for us. Reveal yourself to us and draw us to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

© ThinkOnIt Bible Ministries Inc is a 501(c) (3) Public Charity helping you grow in God’s Word.  Visit us at http://www.ThinkOnIt.org today.

Read Genesis 22:1-13

God ask Abraham to do something similar with his beloved son, Isaac.  Because Abraham willing did what God asked, he was considered righteous.  You see God never intended to have Abraham kill his son. It was a test to see if Abraham trusted God.

Why must trust be tested?

If you were quick to obey, it means you value and trust that person more than the object you placed in the trash can. This is a sign of an authentic relationship. But if you did not place the object in the trash can, it means you don’t trust the person who asked you to do this.

God is asking each of us “do you trust me?” Our response determines how much we trust Him.

At the end of Abraham’s test, Isaac remained.  He was not taken from Abraham at all.  Notice Abraham’s test was to offer Isaac as a burnt offering.  This was all God told Abraham. Now think about this for a minute.  God gave Abraham only one step of His plan.  God did not reveal the whole picture upfront.  If the whole thing was revealed up front there would be no reason for trust. Abraham would have known how it worked out and he would have just gone through the motions without any internal struggle.

God wants us to trust Him.  He will ask us to do something we don’t want to do.  When He does it is like Him asking, “do you trust me?” We won’t know how it works out, but we are asked to believe it will.  God loves us and wants what’s best for us.

Without the internal struggle to decide to trust, we would not be drawn closer to God afterward.  You see, when we obey, we are testing God to see if He is real.  When we obey, the end result proves God’s intentions towards us are pure, right, and true.  But if we never obey, we miss the opportunity to find out how pure, honorable, right, and true God is.

So what has God asked you to do lately? What is your response? Are you willing to trust Him?

Take courage! Though the watery trials may get you wet, He is with you and won’t allow those trials to overflow you.

Lord, thank you for the trials and tests. Thank you for your love and patience.  Help us to trust in you more with each trial.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

© ThinkOnIt Bible Ministries Inc is a 501(c) (3) Public Charity helping you grow in God’s Word. Visit us at http://www.ThinkOnIt.org today.

Jesus said, “You can do nothing apart from Me.” He means it.  All our efforts to love, our self-will and determination will fail.

Only God’s love lasts forever, unchanged.  Even when the object of His love turns their back on Him, God still loves them.  For the Bible tells us nothing can ever separate us from the love of God.  Hell can’t, heaven can’t, our fears can’t, and even our mistakes can’t.  God is love, therefore, His love remains forever.

If we crave more love in our life the answer is found in Jesus Christ.  First John 4:15 says, “whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God.” As long as we abide in God, we can love others.  First John 4:4 says, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” Jesus said in John 15:10, “If you keep My commandments you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”  First John 4:16 says, “And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.”

As a result of abiding in God, and He in us, we will love one another because it is His Spirit in us doing the loving.  John 3:6 tells us we must be born again to receive this Spirit. When He comes to live in us He is responsible for guiding us in all truth, convicting us of sin, of righteousness and of judgment to come, which helps us stay on track with God’s commandments.

Then the fruit appears.  Galatians 5:22 tells us the first fruit of the Spirit is love.  Everything the Spirit of God does is loving.  Once we accept Jesus Christ into our life, God gives us His Spirit which empowers and equips us to desire and do what is pleasing to Him.  That means we have the ability to love others as our self and love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.

Just because we have received God’s Spirit doesn’t mean we automatically love all the time.  For God designed us each with free-will.  We can choose to walk by the Spirit of by our old worldly ways.  The Bible calls this walking by the flesh.

God gives us every opportunity to love.  He has equipped us to love, but the choice is still ours.  Next time we are tempted to ________________________, (you fill in the blank), S.T.O.P. Before you react, respond or rehearse how you might react, think of this acrostic.

S eek God’s perspective

T urn to God’s Word

O pen your heart to truth

P ray for God’s leading

Hiding God’s word in your heart and mind is a great way to guard against temptation.  You may be tempted to become easily angered, be rude, be selfish or any number of other ungodly things.  Whatever your temptation God always provides a way out.  Seek Him before, during and after the trying time and you will have peace that surpasses all understanding.

Thank you, God, for helping us to love as you have loved us. Thank you for your Holy Spirit to guide us along the pathway of life and righteousness. Thank you for making us right in your sight by the gift of Jesus Christ. In His name we pray. Amen.

© ThinkOnIt Bible Ministries Inc is a 501(c) (3) Public Charity helping you grow in knowledge and understanding of God’s Word.  Visit us at http://www.ThinkOnIt.org today.

How to grow through discipling in small groups. Read more at http://thinkonitbibledevotions.com/Disciple_in_Small_Groups.aspx