John 16:33   I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Jesus was about to go to the cross.  He told His disciples that their sorrow would turn to joy.  The reason?  He has already overcome the world.  His death and resurrection gave Him victory over sin and the grave.

Jesus has overcome your world, too.  He has already overcome that thing in your life that you struggle with.  Live in His strength, and He will give you the victory you need.

1 Peter 4:10   As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace

Once you realize that you don't own anything, but that God who made you and who lets you use His things, owns everything, you begin to understand that what you are given is to be used to honor and glorify Him.  How do we do that?

1 Peter 4:11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.

​All that we are, all that we have, and all that we do are all for His glory.  When we live that way, He rewards us as His children.  Peter concluded this verse by praising God:

To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Romans 8:9   You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

What is the evidence of Jesus in your life?  Do you see the Holy Spirit working in your life?  Do others see Him in you?  Paul wrote in Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 

Do you have the Spirit working in you?  Do you belong to Jesus?

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17    For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

Matthew 24:36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

​Are You Ready?

Matthew 24:35   Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Environmentalists are concerned about preserving the earth.  It's good to do our best to care for the "garden" that God has given to us, but saving the earth is a losing battle.  There will come a day when the earth will be no more.

The same is true of heaven.  What we think of as heaven, as in "he died and went to heaven", is actually Paradise.  That is where Jesus promised to meet the thief on the cross.  Some day Paradise will be obsolete.

John wrote in Revelation 21:1   Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

But even though earth and even heaven will pass away, the words of Jesus will live forever.  We all want something from our lives to carry into the next generations.  We are content to know we will be remembered by our grandkids.

Jesus' words will last forever.  Throughout eternity we will be praising God for the way Jesus taught us.  His words tell us how to be saved, so we can live with Him always.

We don't need to hang onto this earth, or the things of earth.  Instead, let's hang onto every word that Jesus spoke.  They will never grow old.

2 Corinthians 8:1-5   We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints-- and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

Isn't it interesting that Paul said they were under "a severe test of affliction", and yet they had an abundance of joy even in their extreme poverty?  What was the result?  It all overflowed in a wealth of generosity.  So much so that they begged to give.  When is the last time you begged to give to someone in need, or you begged to give in the offering plate?
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How should we give to those in need?  Not as you might expect.  Instead of deciding how much you can afford to give, do what the Macedonians did.  First, give yourself to the Lord.  And then give as He directs you.  Give yourself to those in need “by the will of God”.

John 14:23    … “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Do you want to know God?  Wouldn't you like to "be at home" with God?  Love Jesus, and keep His words.  Then you will know the fellowship of the Father and the Son living in you.

Psalm 118:22-23   The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.  This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

Jesus spoke these well-known words to the religious leaders of His day.  What they didn't realize was that Jesus is the cornerstone, rejected by them but exalted by His Father.

It is the Lord's doing; is it marvelous in your eyes?

Is Jesus the cornerstone of your life?

Acts 11:25-26   So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

But wait, wasn't that the same Saul who created the persecution of the church?  Wasn't he the one that was "breathing murderous threats" against the believers?

Yes.  He's the same man.  But you have to understand.  He's not the same man.  The Saul that wanted to kill all the Christians because he saw them as a threat to the religion of Judaism met Jesus.  And he was never the same.

How about you?  Have you met Jesus?  Has He changed your life?  Trust Him.  Live for Him.  You will never be the same.