1 Corinthians 13:2 (KJV)
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
It's sad to see so many people caught up on "prophecy" and "gifts". When we read the bible we can see the heart of God through Paul who wrote 14 epistles.
Paul emphasizes the supreme importance of "charity," which is often translated as love.
He declares that even if someone possesses great spiritual gifts—such as prophecy, knowledge, or faith powerful enough to move mountains—without love, it all amounts to nothing. The core message is the gospel: the love of Jesus Christ, which is the foundation of our salvation. It is the greatest gift we receive. Charity or love is not about good deeds, obedience, or faith, it is about Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus is the embodiment of God’s love for us.
It's not about our deeds, it's about his!
Jesus is uncoditional love in action expressed through God. He came to earth, lived a perfect life, and willingly died on the cross because of His immense love for us.
It is crucial to understand that Jesus did not come to save us because of our merits, our works, or our accolades. God’s love for us is not based on what we can do for Him but what he did for us. Salvation is a gift given out of love, not earned by our own efforts. God the Father and Jesus both sacrificed for us because they love us, not because we are deserving.
It truly sets us free. When we place our faith in Jesus, we receive His righteousness, and we are made perfect in the eyes of God. It is not our obedience, our ability to follow the law, or our spiritual accomplishments that make us righteous. It is solely the love of Jesus, poured out on the cross, that justifies us and brings us into a right relationship with God.
Many believers today are caught up in the pursuit of spiritual gifts, desiring prophecy, miracles, tongues, and other manifestations. While these gifts were present in the early church, Paul makes it clear that they are not the most important thing. In 1 Corinthians 13, he explains that gifts will pass away, but love—true charity—will remain forever. The greatest gift we must focus on is the love of Jesus expressed through the gospel. It is the love that saves, redeems, and transforms us not the gifts.
To truly live in the love of Jesus means to accept the gospel, rest in His finished work, and share this love with others.
It means recognizing that our worth and righteousness come from His love, not from anything we do.
The love of Jesus calls us to let go of our efforts to earn God’s favor and to simply rest in the grace He has provided. This love should be the central focus of our lives and the message we proclaim to the world.Are you focusing more on gifts and accomplishments, or are you centered on the love of Jesus that has saved you? Recenter your heart on the gospel and the profound love of Jesus Christ. Remember that you are perfect and righteous in God’s eyes because of His love, not because of anything you have done. Share this message of love and salvation with those around you, letting them know that it is the greatest gift of all.
Amen!
Romans 6:11 (KJV)
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We often find ourselves in a battle with the flesh. We have trouble getting rid of those old desires and habits that pull us away from God. It can be discouraging when we stumble or when the temptations of the flesh seem overwhelming. But there is a profound truth that we must always remember.
In the eyes of the Lord, we are already perfect because of Jesus Christ. Our struggles with the flesh do not define our identity. The gospel of Jesus Christ defines who we truly are. Romans 6:11 tells us to "reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." This verse is a powerful reminder that our old sinful nature has been crucified with Christ. When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the penalty for all our sins—past, present, and future.
Because of His sacrifice, we are no longer slaves to sin. We are dead to sin and alive to God.
We cannot just understand and take this as some sort of theological concept. It is a fact and we must live out the this truth daily. In Christ, we are made perfect. God sees us as holy and righteous forever. Our perfection is not based on our performance or ability to resist temptation; it is based entirely on what Jesus has done for us. This is the gospel that set us free from the power of sin and made us perfect in Christ.
It is easy to get caught up in our struggles with the flesh and to focus on our shortcomings. But God calls us to shift our focus away from the flesh and onto the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The more we focus on the truth of the gospel, the less power the flesh will have over us.
When we fix our eyes on Jesus and the finished work of the cross, we find the strength to live in the freedom He has given us. This message of freedom is not just for us; it is for the whole world. We are called to preach the gospel to those around us, to share the good news that Jesus has set us free from sin and made us perfect in Him.
This is the message that the world desperately needs to hear. I hope starting from today we can focus only on the gospel and turn away from our flesh since it's already dead in the eyes of God. Amen!
John 16:33 (KJV)
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world
Often we find ourselves struggling with problems such as trauma, lust, anger, and depression. That is because we are still living in a corrupted world and trapped in time/space. Jesus offers a powerful assurance to us however.
He acknowledges that in this world, we will face tribulation, challenges, and hardships. However, He immediately follows this with a promise that should fill us with hope and confidence: "but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Jesus’ victory over sin, death, and all the forces of evil is complete and final. This victory is not just for Him alone, it's something he has shared with us 🥹.
The key to experiencing this victory in our own lives is not found in our own strength or efforts but in leaning entirely on Jesus. It is through faith in Him that we are made righteous and secure as citizens of heaven.
When we place our trust in Jesus, we are united with Him in victory.
This means that, no matter what we face in this life, we can rest in the knowledge that Jesus has already overcome it all on our behalf. God has made us righteous not because of our own works, but through faith in His Son. This righteousness is a gift, imputed to us because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. Even when we struggle, fail, or feel unworthy, God sees us as righteous because of our faith in Jesus. This righteousness is not something we earn; it’s something we receive by believing in Christ.
As believers, we are already citizens of heaven, even if we don’t always feel or see it in our day-to-day lives.Our citizenship is secure because of Jesus’ victory. This world, with all its troubles, is not our final home. We are destined for an eternal home with God, where all things are made right.
There are times when our circumstances may make it difficult to see or feel the reality of our righteousness and heavenly citizenship. In these moments, we are called to live by faith, not by sight. Faith is trusting in God’s promises, even when we can’t see the full picture. It’s believing that God has already overcome all things through Jesus and that our victory is secure in Him.Because of Jesus’ victory, we can experience peace in the midst of life’s challenges. This peace is not based on our circumstances but on the unshakable truth that Jesus has already won the battle. When we lean on Him, trusting in His power and grace, we are filled with a peace that transcends understanding. It’s a peace that comes from knowing that our lives are secure in God’s hands and that nothing can separate us from His love.
Are you feeling defeated or overwhelmed? This is a reminder of the truth that Jesus has already overcome all things on your behalf. All we need to do is believe. Amen? Amen!
Exodus 28:1 (KJV)
1 And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.
Many people struggle with fnding their purpose or calling in life. Are we just supposed to go to church and share the love of God? Do we have to all become ministers, elders, deacons, and pastors otherwise we don't love God? Do we need to love our neighbors and love our enemies?
There's so much confusion in the world about our calling and purpose.
The first part of Exodus 28:1, "And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him," emphasizes the divine selection of Aaron and his sons for the priesthood. This was not a role that one could simply choose for oneself, God had to ordain them through Moses.
Just as Aaron was chosen from among the people, so are we as believers chosen by God to serve Him. Aaron, the first high priest of Israel, serves as a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, our eternal High Priest.
The name Aaron (אַהֲרֹן) means bringer of light and exalted in Hebrew. He is foreshadowing Jesus who is the true light of the world. As Aaron brought the light of God’s presence into the Tabernacle, Christ brings the light of God’s glory into our lives. Aaron’s role was to mediate or interceed between God and Israel through offering sacrifices and prayers on behalf of the people. This points to Christ’s ultimate role as the mediator between God and humanity offering himself as the eternal sacrifice for our sins.
The verse continues, "that he may minister unto me in the priest's office," highlighting the purpose of Aaron’s calling.
The primary role of the priest was to minister to God. This ministry involved offering sacrifices, burning incense, and interceding on behalf of the people. The Hebrew word for minister, kohen (כֹּהֵן), which means service or serving. As high priest, Aaron was the spiritual leader of Israel. He taught the word, lead worship, and was a representative of God for the people. This is all foreshadowing our purpose in life. We too are called a royal priesthood in 1 Peter 2:9. This means that all Christians are called to minister the gospel of Jesus Christ.
God wanted us to focus only on the gospel and his sacrifice which was the blood of the lamb that washed away all our sins. So in all this that you do, we must focus only on the blood. Whether you're a barber, doctor, lawyer, janitor, or any other career choice, I hope we can all preach the gospel and be representatives of Christ.
We are a chosen people unto a royal priesthood called to serve the gospel to everyone. Do not be ashamed and do not be forceful. Strike up conversations and believe that God has called you to minister to everyone around you. We are all Mini-Aarons and Mini-Jesus' in our time. Please move with this heart boldly and preach the gospel to all that you know.
Amen!
P.S: this is just verse 1.
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