Tag Archives: Christians

Serve The Lord

Dear Christian, are you serving the Lord? Are you willing to serve through your local church and your daily life? What often separates service from non-service is a willing heart in the life of the believer. God will use us for His glory if we are willing to serve.

The Word of God reveals several important truths in regards to service for the Christ-follower. Let us examine a few today.

The Bible encourages us to serve. We are commanded to serve the LORD with gladness in Psalm 100:2 and in other passages. Christians are exhorted to serve as Jesus did. (Matthew 20:28)

Believers are equipped to serve as well. Paul tells us that we are all given spiritual gifts that are to be used in service to the church. (1 Corinthians 12:11) Are you seeking to discover and use your gifts to build up the body of Christ?

 God enables Christians to serve as He works in and through us. The Scriptures tell us for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13) There is a measure of mystery to how God works in our lives. We will not comprehend all that God is doing at times. But, we can rest assured that He will enable us to serve in our local context.

We are encouraged to serve. God has equipped us to serve. And the Lord has enabled us to serve. May we commit to serving Christ the rest of lives!

Tony French

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Live Wisely

2 While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not return after the rain; 3 In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, And the strong men bow down; When the grinders cease because they are few, And those that look through the windows grow dim; 4 When the doors are shut in the streets, And the sound of grinding is low; When one rises up at the sound of a bird, And all the daughters of music are brought low; 5 Also they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way; When the almond tree blossoms, The grasshopper is a burden, And desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets. 6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well. 7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it. 8 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “All is vanity.”

Ecclesiastes 12:2-8

The Preacher warns us one last time to live wisely because death will come to us all. These verses are filled with metaphors that detail the brevity and sure end of life……

In the day when the keepers of the house tremble,

And the strong men bow down;

When the grinders cease because they are few,

When the doors are shut in the streets, And the sound of grinding is low;

For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets.

Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed,

Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well.

Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it.

These metaphors represent fading human vitality and life’s end.  Youth fades, bodies break down, spirits fail, and death comes to all.

Thanks be to God for our salvation. These events will transpire in our lives. We possess everlasting life and a place in heaven.  Death will not be the end for us. Rather, it will be the fulfillment of all that God has promised us. Death awaits, but Christ will be with us every step of the way and will lead us home.

Tony French

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God’s Justice

God is just. His justice is spoken of frequently in Scripture. There is coming a day when Christ will judge the world in holiness and righteousness. In that day, every wrong will be made right. On the Day of Judgment, every injustice will be corrected. Here are a few thoughts about God’s justice.

Psalm 33:5 He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.

Psalm 37:28 For the LORD loves justice And does not forsake His godly ones; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.

Psalm 101: 1 I will sing of lovingkindness and justice, To You, O LORD, I will sing praises.

Luke 18:7 Now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?

Let us be thankful for our God who will is just and pure. Thank you for reading this post. May God bless you all!

Tony French

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The Christ

What does Jesus do for us? How does our Christianity impact our daily lives? I would encourage with these thoughts today.

Christ saves us……………….

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.

Christ secures us…………….

Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Christ sustains us……………..

Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Christ strengthens us………………

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

May God richly bless you.

Tony French

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Judgement

9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; Walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment. 10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, And put away evil from your flesh, For childhood and youth are vanity.

Ecclesiastes 11:9-10

This section concludes with a final warning. We will all be judged. The New Testament tells us that all will be judged by God. Both believers and non-believers will ultimately appear before Him.

Believers will give an account for how they have spent their lives. Though our salvation is secure, we will appear before Christ to answer for our works. Christian, live in light of this judgement.

Unbelievers will be judged for their rejection of God. All who refuse to believe, will be cast into the lake of fire to remain for all eternity (Revelation 21).

Our task is to share the gospel with lost people so that they may come to the knowledge of truth and be saved. Let us live in a way that honors God and draws persons to the cross. We only have one life to live. We should dedicate our lives to serving the Savior.

Tony French

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Our Shield

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

Romans 15:4

In a world full of spiritual dangers, the Bible acts as our shield and armor. Psalm 119:11 declares, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” When we internalize Scripture, it becomes a protective force against temptation and sin.

The Bible provides us with clear guidelines on right and wrong, helping us discern truth from falsehood. It warns us of the deceitfulness of our own hearts and the subtle traps of the enemy. By staying rooted in God’s Word, we arm ourselves against the schemes of the evil one and the allure of worldly temptations.

Given the tremendous impact of God’s Word in our lives, it’s crucial that we make engaging with Scripture a daily priority. Here are a few practical suggestions:

** Set aside a specific time and place for Bible reading and prayer each day.

**Create a reading plan to help you systematically work through the Bible.

**Meditate on what you read, asking God to reveal its application to your life.

**Memorize key verses that speak to your current circumstances or struggles.

**Join a Bible study group to gain insights from others and stay accountable.

Remember, the goal isn’t just to gain information, but to experience transformation. As James 1:22 exhorts us, we must be “doers of the word, and not hearers only.”

Tony French

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Brevity Of Life

Life is short. We have heard that saying before and perhaps we have uttered that statement ourselves. The saying itself is so common as to border on cliché. Yet, we know there is much truth in this statement. Our time on earth is limited and it passes so quickly.

As Christians, perhaps we should take stock of our lives from time to time. What are doing that is going to last? Are we using our time wisely? Or, are we wasting our lives on foolish pursuits that we will never amount to anything?

Paul tells us “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16)  It is vital that we make good use of our time. We only have one life to live. May we live it for the glory of God.

How can we accomplish this? One way is to continue in God’s Word. Frequent Bible study will keep us focused on the eternal so we will not get caught up in the temporary.

Another way to redeem the time is through worship. Worship keeps our hearts tuned in to Christ and helps us to remember to live as wise ones instead of fools. Worship helps our thinking to remain strong and centers us upon the things God—the only things that will last.

Sharing our faith will encourage us to make the most of every opportunity.  As we share the gospel regularly, we will are reminded that our ultimate home is heaven and not earth. Witnessing will direct us to a greater cause than simply getting through the day. Seeing someone come to know Christ is a great way to “seize the day.”

My prayer, is that we would examine ourselves and that God would reveal areas that need to change. May we live with Godly wisdom as our guide. Let us redeem the time and make good use of the incredible gift of life we have received from God.

Tony French

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Life Without God

1 For I considered all this in my heart, so that I could declare it all: that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God. People know neither love nor hatred by anything they see before them. 2 All things come alike to all: One event happens to the righteous and the wicked; To the good, the clean, and the unclean; To him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath. 3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. 4 But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5 For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 9:1-6

Life “under the sun” seldom makes sense to us. It can be maddening to try and find order and meaning in the randomness of life. Life is full of monotony, but it is also replete with contradictions and paradoxes that boggle the mind.

How can these problems be addressed?  Solomon gives us some help. Follow along with this week’s post and let us learn these truths about life on this planet.

The complexities of life are on full display here. The same fate seems await all when life is viewed without God. The categories that the preacher uses are stark and stunning. Consider from an earthly perspective the following……

*The same fate awaits the righteous and the wicked.

*The same fate awaits the clean and the unclean.

*The same fate awaits the religious and the irreligious.

*The same fate awaits the good and the sinner.

All will die and be forgotten. Their achievements and emotions will perish. Their rewards perish with them and lead to ultimate meaninglessness.

I’m thankful that we have purpose and meaning through Christ. Aren’t you grateful for the fact that we do not have to live this life apart from God? He calls on all to be saved (Romans 10:9-13).  And His desire is relationship with you. Trust Him today!

Tony French

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Helping

19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

James 5:19-20

The Book of James ends with a simple and timely reminder for the church. Christians should be willing to help other Christians who are falling into sin. This task is not easy and simple, but, it is an important part of fellowship within the Body of Christ.

Every Believer has a tendency to stray from the truth. When that takes place, other Believers ought to stand in the gap and help turn that brother or sister from the error and back to the Word of God. Doing this will save the Christian from a multitude of bad choices, sleepless nights, and awful consequences.

Let us realize that when we confront others a great deal of humility is needed. We are all just and at the same time we are all sinners. Every Child of God is vulnerable to the attacks of the evil one. Every attempt to help a wayward Believer ought to be done out of love and kindness. This task is can be complex and arduous. But, it is worth the cost.

Tony French

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Hear

“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

This portion of Scripture was called the Shema by the Jewish rabbis. It was often quoted by Jewish worshipers in the synagogue meetings. The lessons it teaches are universal and important for Christian believers in our day. What are those lessons?

**There is only one God.

The great truth of this passage tells us that there is only one true, authentic God. In a society that trumpeted a multitude of gods and goddesses, Moses declares that the only true God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

We would do well to remember this truth in our time. Many idols still vie for our attention. Yet, for the Christian, there is only one God revealed in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

**We must pass the Christian faith on to the young.

The Hebrew people were commanded to continually teach the precepts and principles of the Law. They were to pass on their faith to the next generation. Failure to transfer these principles from God’s Word resulted in much pain and heartache for the nation of Israel. The people of God were to continue to faithfully teach the Word of God so that future generations would not forget the miracles, blessings, and provisions that God had provided for His people.

This principle still has great import for today’s Christian. If we don’t teach the truths of Scripture through word and deed to our children and young people, who will? The world system is contrary to the truths of the Scriptures. Therefore, we must teach the truth, preach it, and live it so that our children may grow in the faith.

**We must teach the truths of the Bible by utilizing every opportunity.

The Jewish people were commanded to teach the truths of the Law in the morning, throughout the day, and in the evening. The point was this; use every teachable moment to pass along the ways of God, the truth of God, and the greatness of God to the young.

As Christians today, our command and call is exactly the same. We should be taking advantage of every occasion we are given to teach the plain truths of Scripture. Let us point out God’s blessing and goodness. May we remind our children that God is with us at all times. Let us teach them of Christ’s died and rose again for the salvation of souls.  Let us not hold onto our faith, let’s pass it on.

Tony French

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