Author: Anna

  • Acts‬ ‭9:6‬

    “So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”” Acts‬ ‭9:6‬ ‭

    I would encourage you to read Acts 9:5 first. It will help you to understand this part because we cannot do what God wants us to do without first knowing Him personally.

    Apostle Paul spent his youth seeking to know God. He diligently searched the Scriptures, memorized the Law, and was trained under the respected rabbi Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) to become a respected Pharisee. Yet when the God he had devoted his life to, who stood before him on the road to Damascus, Saul (Paul) failed to recognize God by asking, “Who are you, Lord?”

    The following phrase describes Paul’s response after he encountered the LORD Jesus and was confronted with the sins he had justified through his zeal for God: “So he, trembling and astonished…”

    For us to understand Paul’s response after the lies he believed crumbled before him, we first need to understand what drove him to persecute the church.

    Saul was so zealous for God that he was willing to imprison and even kill those whom he believed were opposing God. As a Pharisee, he was well acquainted with God’s Law. He understood that under the Old Testament, anyone who led Israel to follow another god was to be put to death (Deuteronomy 13:5). In Saul’s mind, the LORD Jesus was a false god, and His followers were leading God’s people astray. Everything Saul did was according to the deception he believed was faithfulness to God, just as many Christians have done in the past and even continue to do today. Their indoctrination becomes more important than sincerely desiring and asking the LORD Jesus to know Him more personally and intimately.

    Yet when the absolute truth of God was manifold before Saul, he became blind to this world, yet for the first time, he began to truly see God (John 9:35-41). So when the lies he had believed crumbled before him, Saul began to experience what God had spoken through the prophet Ezekiel:

    “Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations.” Ezekiel‬ ‭36:31‬ ‭

    Saul was trembling because he realized the great sins he had committed before God and could not believe what he had done against God Himself. The Greek word translated “trembling” is “tremō,” which means “to fear” or “to be afraid.” Paul is a man who is deeply familiar with God’s Word and devoted his life to serving Him with great zeal. He also knew that those who oppose God bring judgment upon themselves. The one who believed he understood God’s will discovered that he had been fighting against God all along. He knew the judgment he deserved (1 Timothy 1:12-16). He realized that everything he had been doing was terribly wrong before the very God to whom he decided to commit his life.

    This is the natural response that every Christian should have when the Spirit of the LORD convicts us of our sin. We acknowledge our wrongdoing and repent of it.

    When we begin to comprehend the greatness of God’s love, our first response is not naturally to rejoice but to loathe ourselves for what we have done. We realize that it was our sins that nailed the LORD Jesus Christ to the cross. Only after we recognize the depth of our sin can we truly appreciate the depth of His grace and mercy. Paul understood this truth, as he later wrote:

    “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians‬ ‭2:20‬ ‭

    I also want to share some pastor interpretations of Paul’s first response. They suggest that Saul was trembling because of the heavenly vision itself. Throughout Scripture, many people responded with fear when they encountered God’s glorious presence. Remember when the Israelites behold God’s glory, they all tremble, and when they heard the voice of God at Mount Sinai, they were so terrified that they pleaded with Moses, “… You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die” (Exodus 20:19).

    The second emotion Saul felt was that he was astonished. The Greek word translated “astonished” is “thambēō,” which means “to be astonished” or “to be amazed.” Many people in the Bible experienced the same astonishment when they encountered God’s presence. Moses was astonished when God called him from the burning bush that was not consumed (Exodus 3:2-6). Ezekiel was so overwhelmed by his encounter with the glory of God that he sat astonished among the captives for seven days (Ezekiel 3:15).

    Likewise, Saul was astonished because he could not fathom that God had manifested Himself to him and was speaking directly to him. Many rabbis of Paul believed that because God had been silent for centuries, He no longer spoke directly to people as He had spoken to the prophets in the Scriptures.

    Paul was awed because the very God who had spoken to the people he had spent his entire life reading about and studying was now speaking directly to him. What Saul had only read about in the Scriptures had now become his own testimony. Throughout the book of Acts, Paul repeatedly recounted his encounter with the risen LORD Jesus (Acts 22:6–16; Acts 26:12–18), boldly declaring that the tomb is empty and that Jesus is risen! As he later wrote to Corinthians,

    “Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.” I Corinthians‬ ‭15:8‬ ‭

    It is encouraging and inspiring to hear other believers’ testimonies of how God has moved in their lives, but it is far greater when we ourselves ask the LORD Jesus to let us experience Him personally. Our encounter with the LORD Jesus becomes our identity that no one can refute.

    I want to encourage you with the life of the apostle Paul. He persecuted the church of God, yet despite his great sins, God still chose to reveal Himself to him. If God was willing to reveal Himself to a man who had opposed Him so fiercely, how much more will He reveals Himself to those who sincerely seek Him with all their heart? Isn’t Jesus saying,

    “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”” John‬ ‭14:21‬ ‭

    Now our personal encounter with the LORD Jesus marked the beginning of our walk with God. It was the beginning of knowing God Himself personally. God knows that we cannot become effective witnesses until we first see, hear, and know Him. How can we faithfully testify about someone we do not know? How can we speak convincingly about what we have never personally experienced?

    This is why the LORD Jesus first manifested Himself to Paul before sending him to preach. Paul’s message is not based on what he had studied or learned from his rabbis. It is based on his personal encounter with the LORD Jesus Christ. As it is written,

    “But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:11-12‬

    All the apostles and disciples, and even many Christians to this day, were willing to die as martyrs because their personal encounter and relationship with the LORD Jesus had become an absolute truth that they could neither renounce nor deny. Even death was not something they feared because they knew Whom they believed and they personally encountered the LORD Jesus Whom they proclaimed.

    This is the second most important question that every Christian should ask after they have known the LORD Jesus: “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

    The conversion of the apostle Paul is, in my opinion, one of the greatest miracles recorded in Scripture. I can personally testify that it took me years before I asked God the same questions that Paul asked. Yet immediately after encountering the LORD Jesus, Paul not only desired to know who the LORD is, but he also desired to know the LORD’s will for his life at the same time.

    Paul’s response is like Isaiah’s response: “Here am I! Send me” (Isaiah 6:8). David embraced God’s calling over his life (1 Samuel 16:12-13), and Nehemiah willingly left his position to accomplish God’s purpose for Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1-5). They did not resist God’s calling but embrace it with willingness.

    When a Christian asks God, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” It reveals the heart of a child of God. Children naturally desire to imitate the one they love. Studies have shown that when children see their parents passionately love their work, they often develop the same passion and even pursue the same vocation. Just as children often inherit the passions of their parents, we begin to inherit the desires of our heavenly Father. Because we love the LORD Jesus, we want to join Him in His work. Our prayer becomes, “Father, what can I do to be part of Your plan and expand Your Kingdom here on earth?”

    This is exactly what the LORD Jesus said,

    “Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.” John‬ ‭5:19-20‬ ‭

    How can your heart not be stirred to be part of your heavenly Father’s work when you see how greatly He loves His marvelous works? As we abide in Him, we begin to know His heart and share in His passion. His passion becomes contagious, stirring our own hearts. The more we know Him, the more we desire to join Him in what He is doing.

    A Christian who lives only to pursue his own desires reveals that he has little concern for his Father’s heart. They may be believers, but they live no differently than what James says.

    “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” James‬ ‭2:19‬ ‭

    They believe, yet there is no intimate relationship with the Father. A true child of God desires to know the Father’s heart, shares in His passions, and longs to be part of His purposes. As it is written:

    “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” I John‬ ‭2:3-6‬ ‭

    How can we claim that we believe in God or truly know Him if we do not walk in His commandments? 

    It is impossible for a Christian who is continually abiding in the LORD Jesus for his heart’s desires not to change.

    The longer we abide in Christ, the more our desires become aligned with His. God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29). As we continually remain in His presence, He gradually consumes our selfish desires and realigns our hearts’ posture to become like His. As we experience His goodness and faithfulness, we willingly lay down our own will to Him.

    For some Christians, the transformation of the heart happens in a single day, just as it did with Paul. Just like what happened to my pastor when he gave his life to Christ and testified that he asked God to give him a burden to win souls, and God answered that prayer overnight, and God has greatly used this godly man to lead many souls to Christ.

    For others, the transformation is more gradual. Moses initially hesitated and made excuses when God called him (4:10-13). Yet later, the same Moses was testified by God as “faithful in all His house” (Numbers 12:7; Hebrews 3:2, 5). Moses eventually embraced God’s calling over his life and remained faithful to it.

    Whether our hearts are transformed immediately like Paul or gradually like Moses, the evidence of someone who truly knows God is that their heart begins to realign to God’s heart. They no longer live for themselves but for God, giving their lives to fulfill His will and purpose over them (2 Corinthians 5:15).

    Then the LORD Jesus gave him three directions. The LORD Jesus responded to Paul by saying,

    “Arise,

    and go into the city,

    and you will be told what you must do.

    These three directions from the LORD Jesus reveal a pattern that God often uses before entrusting us with His work. They are God’s preparation to shape our character before He establishes us in the position He has called us to do.

    Joshua served under Moses for many years before God appointed him to lead Israel (Exodus 24:13, Numbers 27:18-23, Deuteronomy 31:14, 23). David was anointed as king long before he was crowned (1 Samuel 16:13; 2 Samuel 5:3).

    God often works the same way in our lives. He directs us one step at a time rather than revealing His entire plan all at once.

    When Jesus instructed Paul to “Arise,” that is what he needed the most. The Greek word translated “arise” is “anistēmi,” which means “to rise up,” “to raise up from lying down” (Matthew 9:5-6), and “to stand up” (John 14:31) and raised from the dead (Mark 5:41). Throughout the Gospels, this is a word the LORD often used when commanding His servants and those whom He miraculously healed to get up and walk.

    This one-word instruction was exactly what Paul needed to hear. Throughout his epistles and testimonies, Paul never hid how deeply he regretted his former conduct. He repeatedly reminded the churches that he had persecuted the church of God (Acts 22:4-5; Acts 26:9-11; Galatians 1:13; 1 Corinthians 15:9; 1 Timothy 1:13-15). Although he rejoiced in God’s grace, he never forgot the seriousness of what he had done.

    Let me put it this way. For many of us who come to the LORD Jesus after living a very sinful life before our conversion, it is often easier to forgive those who caused us pain and suffering than it is to forgive ourselves.

    Apostle Peter wept bitterly after denying the LORD Jesus three times. The LORD Jesus after His resurrection, reaffirmed Peter’s love by asking him three times, “Do you love Me?” to restore him, strengthen him, and recommission Peter to the work He had entrusted to him (John 21:15–17). In the same way, the LORD did with the apostle Paul. Paul loved God, and he is God’s chosen vessel to bear His name (Acts 9:15). The LORD Jesus knew the burden Paul carried, just as He knew Peter’s sorrow after denying Him. Before Paul could fulfill God’s purpose for his life, he first had to arise from the guilt and shame that came from realizing what he had done. He could not remain on the ground condemning himself.

    As Paul later wrote,

    “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” II Corinthians‬ ‭5:17-21‬ ‭

    I want to encourage you to do what Paul learned to do: ”…forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.” (Philippians 3:13) God did not save us so that we would remain imprisoned by guilt and shame. Shame is one of the enemy’s greatest weapons. He uses guilt to keep us trapped in our past so that we never walk in God’s calling over our lives.

    God says that He remembers our sins no more (Hebrews 8:12; 10:17). So, if God no longer remembers your sins, why do you continue to remember what God has already chosen to forget?

    Arise from your sin. Arise from your guilt. Arise from your shame. Arise from your past. Walk in the newness of life that Christ has given you, and fulfill the calling. He has prepared for you. So, Arise!!

    Then, LORD Jesus’s second instruction to Paul is to go into the city. I find this instruction very interesting and, perhaps, uncomfortable not only for Paul but also for the brethren who lived in that city. The LORD Jesus often directs His people to accomplish His purposes, but He frequently leads them down a path they never expected.

    Paul had no idea how he would be received by the very people he had come to persecute and destroy. Likewise, when the LORD instructed Ananias to go to Paul, he was hesitant because he had heard of all the harm Paul had done to the saints in Jerusalem (Acts 9:13–15). The fear and uncertainty were not only on Paul’s side but also among the brethren.

    Yet it is amazing how God works. The very city Paul intended to destroy became the place God used as his refuge. It became the place where God began to realign Paul’s thoughts and his will with His own. It also became the place where God introduced Paul to His real household. The people Paul thought were his enemies became his new family. The brethren he intended to imprison and kill became the very people the LORD Jesus used to recommit his life to God. Later, those same brethren whom Paul had sought to destroy became the very people who risked their own lives to save him from those trying to kill him because of his conversion (Acts 9:23–25).

    Only the people of God could fulfill the LORD’s third instruction to Paul: “you will be told what you must do.” God chose His church to declare to Paul concerning His will for his life, to strengthen him, and to prepare him for the work. He had called him to do so. We see this when God sent Ananias to Paul. Through Ananias, God restored Paul’s sight, declared His will concerning Paul’s calling, baptized him, and to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17–18; Acts 22:12–16).

    The third instruction is where many Christians struggle the most.

    We love hearing God speak directly to us regarding His purpose for our lives, but when our pastors, elders, or faithful and respected brethren tell us what we must do, we often do not like it. We do not like to submit. We do not like to wait. We do not like to be corrected or called out. We often prefer to do things our own way. Yet this is where our patience is tested. This is where our character is shaped to fit the position God has called us to. Every calling requires a certain kind of character. For example, if God calls someone to be a pastor, the knowledge of Scripture alone is not enough. Because knowledge puffs up but love edifies (1 Corinthians 8:1). He must also possess the character that God requires of a shepherd (1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9). When it came to the knowledge of the Scriptures, Paul was already well trained. But his character still needed to be established because the very people he was going to minister to were just like him. They were people who needed God’s mercy, grace, and a second chance. Before Paul and Peter could preach God’s mercy, he first had to experience it himself.

    I want to conclude with this thought.

    Why are so many Christians no longer going to church? What is the true purpose of the church?

    “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews‬ ‭10:24-25‬

    Many Christians come to church expecting to be served. But the LORD Jesus taught us the opposite.

    “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”” Mark‬ ‭10:45‬ ‭

    If we are following Christ, then we are also called to serve, not to be served.

    When will we become God-centered instead of self-centered? When will we stop asking, “What can the church do for me?” and begin asking, “Lord, what do You want me to do? and “Lord, how can You use me to serve Your body?”

    To God be all the glory!

  • Acts‬ ‭9:5

    “And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.””

    The Apostle Paul is one of the greatest examples of a servant of the LORD Jesus. His life leaves us with no excuse to be complacent, lukewarm, or merely “balanced” Christians who give God only part of their lives. Paul gave everything to LORD Jesus Christ.

    Before his conversion, Paul was a highly respected Pharisee and an expert in the Jewish Law. The high priest and the elders trusted him to arrest and persecute the disciples after the LORD Jesus resurrection (Acts 9:1–2). Paul himself testified that he was “a Pharisee” (Philippians 3:5) and that he had advanced in Judaism beyond many of his contemporaries because of his zeal for the traditions of his fathers (Galatians 1:13–14).

    As a Pharisee, Paul received rigorous training in the Scriptures from an early age. He studied under the renowned teacher Gamaliel (Acts 22:3), learning and mastering the book of the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) as well as the rest of the Jewish scriptures.

    Yet when Paul encountered the LORD Jesus on the road to Damascus, he did not recognize Him. This is interesting. Paul had devoted his entire life to studying the Scriptures to become familiar with God and His ways. Imagine from the time he was a young boy, he was trained in the Law and became one of the most respected Pharisees of his day. Yet when the LORD Jesus stood before him on the road to Damascus, Paul did not recognize Him and asked, “Who are You, Lord?” How can this be possible?

    Before this verse, it tells us that “a light from heaven shone around him” (Acts 9:3). This phrase from the verse carries deeper revelations because we are talking about a man who had devoted his entire life to studying the Scriptures since he was a young boy. He knew that throughout the Old Testament, light from heaven was associated with God’s presence and glory (Psalm 27:1; Psalm 104:2; Isaiah 60:19). Yet even after seeing the heavenly light, he still asked, “Who are You, Lord?”

    That should make every one of us pause.

    Is it possible to know the Scriptures, grow up in a Christian home, attend church every week, and faithfully follow religious routines without truly knowing Jesus? Paul was living proof that it is. He was raised in a household familiar with and rich in God’s Word. He was passionately devoted to what he believed was serving God, even to the point of persecuting and killing those who opposed what he believed, as he testified in Acts 22. But everything changed when Paul personally encountered the LORD Jesus.

    Everyone around us can tell us about God and how He has worked in their lives. But a personal encounter with the LORD Jesus is very important for every Christian, whether you grew up in church or have known the Bible since you were a child. When that encounter happens, what you have believed becomes a living testimony of God’s work in your own life. It is no longer just something you heard from someone else or learned in church, it becomes your own testimony. And once you have truly encountered Jesus, no one can take that away from you.

    When Paul asked, “Who are You, Lord?” it was actually a good thing. He didn’t let his religious background, education, or traditions keep him from truly knowing God, unlike many of his fellow Pharisees. They were not interested in knowing Jesus because they believed they already knew God.

    The same thing is happening to many Christians today. We can become so consumed with what we have been doctrinated that we stop pursuing God for ourselves. What we have learned can become more important than asking, “Who are You, Lord?” Yet that question reveals the true desire of Paul’s heart. His heart was always after God. That is why, after encountering Jesus, he counted all his achievements as “rubbish or dung” compared to knowing Christ. He said,

    “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ” Philippians‬ ‭3:8‬ ‭

    And He continued,

    “and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,” Philippians‬ ‭3:9-10‬ ‭

    Paul’s greatest desire was the surpassing excellence of knowing God through a personal relationship with Him. His desire was to be found in the LORD Jesus Christ and to know Him personally, not through knowledge he gained or religious tradition he accustomed, but because God Himself revealed Himself to him and God Himself declared to him all things he must need to know about God.

    Desire God, delight yourself unto Him and ask Him to reveal Himself to you. Jesus never turns away those who genuinely seek Him. In fact, He promised,

    “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”” John‬ ‭14:21‬ ‭

    Only God can explicitly and accurately reveal who He is to us. No amount of teaching, tradition, or human knowledge can replace God’s own revelation of Himself toward us who believe. Like the LORD Jesus did with Paul, He answered Him, saying, “I am Jesus.”

    You know what’s even more ironic? God loves us and He delights in revealing Himself to us, yet many of us have little desire to truly know Him. We spend so much time pursuing other things while the LORD Jesus is left outside the door, continually knocking for us to open it so He can dine with us (Revelations 3:20). Or should I say, He is inviting us into a personal relationship with Him. Yet many of us are too caught up with everything else here in this world that we have little desire to truly know Him.

    Here’s the hard part. After the LORD Jesus revealed Himself to Paul, He said, “Whom you are persecuting.” Paul thought that everything he was doing was service to God, but in reality, he was working against God. The words of the LORD Jesus revealed to Paul that any attack against His people and the work God has entrusted to them is an attack against Him. Paul claimed to serve God, yet he had become an enemy of the very God he thought he was devoting his life to.

    This is exactly what the LORD Jesus meant when He said:

    “He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”” Luke‬ ‭10:16‬ ‭

    Having a personal encounter with the LORD Jesus begins a transformation. The LORD will convict us of our sins. He will dismantle the lies we have believed and expose the deception of the enemy. He will lead us into all truth. The acknowledgment of our sins is the beginning of taking responsibility for our wrongdoing. That is what leads us to repentance, the forgiveness of our sins, and the transformation of our lives, because from that moment on, we no longer live for ourselves or what we have been indoctrinated into. We begin to live for God because we have personally known Him, and He declares to us what needs to be acknowledged, and He will do the rest.

    I also want to emphasize this. Those who speak against the disciples of the LORD Jesus ultimately speak against Christ Himself. Those who mock Christians mock the LORD Jesus Christ. Those who humiliate Christians humiliate the LORD Jesus Christ. Those who strike Christians strike the LORD Jesus Christ. Those who reject Christians reject the LORD Jesus Christ. Those who take advantage of Christians take advantage of the LORD Jesus Christ.

    So let me ask you this before we go outside of faith: have you ever done any of these things to another believer? The Word of God says, “But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!” (Galatians‬ ‭5:15)‬. We are all one body in Christ!

    Then the LORD Jesus revealed to Paul what was impossible for him to accomplish and what would only lead to his own destruction: “It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” There are many deeper commentaries and explanations of this phrase that go into great detail. But to keep it simple, Jesus was saying to Paul and to all of us, “You’re only hurting yourself, as we continually resist His will.”

    The idea of this phrase is a picture of a stubborn ox being guided by its master with a sharp stick called a goad. Instead of following its master’s direction, the ox keeps kicking against the goad. But every kick doesn’t hurt the master; it only hurts the ox itself. The more it resists, the deeper the pain it causes itself. This is the condition of every sinner who continues to resist God.

    Paul’s greatest desire was to know God and to live for Him. But how can we truly know God without first knowing Him personally? How can we say we are serving God when we have never sought His will?

    The LORD Jesus Christ reveals Himself in many ways: through His Word, dreams, visions, and even circumstances. But we can only know God deeply through Him, and we can only truly serve God when we obey His leading.

    This is the reason why the world is in a state of chaos. Because the world is resisting God and His will. Just think about your own life before you truly encountered the LORD Jesus. Wasn’t it filled with darkness, pain, confusion, suffering, and hopelessness? Resisting God has never brought anyone lasting good. It only leads us further away from the very One who gives life and hope.

    Again, resisting God has never brought anyone anything good. Those who reject Jesus, where do they all end up? Hell, an eternal separation from God.

    That is what the LORD Jesus meant when He said, “It is hard for everyone of us to kick against the goads.”

    Knowing God deeply creates assurance and peace within us. When you know someone is trustworthy with your time, strength, and resources, you won’t hesitate to invest in that person. The same is true with God.

    The main point of this verse is whenever we doubt God or struggle to let go of the very things (sins) that are hurting us, just like the ox kicking against the goads, it reveals the condition of our hearts. It reveals that we don’t truly know God as deeply as we think we do.

    This is why Paul’s next question was, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” (Acts 9:6). Paul was familiar with God’s Word and knew God’s character through the Scriptures, but what he lacked was a personal encounter with Him that is assurance that no one can refute everything he knew. And now that he had met Him, he clung to Him so tightly that even dying for Christ he called “gain.”

    As it is written,

    “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:21‬ ‭

  • Jeremiah‬ ‭1:7‬

    “But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak.” – Jeremiah‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭

    In my walk with Jesus, I have learned that His requirement for serving Him is not that we first become highly skilled, eloquent, capable, or highly experienced. What God desires is a heart that is willing to obey and follow Him. The work He begins and invites us to take part in is not based on our own ideas, preferences, or ideology. It is centered on His will. We are servants in His work, not the masters of it. Always remember this, the work we are doing is for Him. Serve faithfully with One audience in mind.

    Why do I begin with this? Because it helps us understand this passage. Before this verse, God had already declared the calling and assignment He had for Jeremiah’s life here on earth. God appointed Jeremiah to be “a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). Looking back now, we can testify that God’s word came to pass. Jeremiah did become the prophet God said he would be.

    Remember this: when God declares something about us, His declaration is not based on what we can do, but on what He can do through us. As it is written, God “calls those things which do not exist as though they did” (Romans 4:17). God’s calling is rooted in His purpose and His power to accomplish His will. The real question is not whether God can accomplish His purpose through us, but how we will respond to His call and our willingness to fulfill it. Will we refuse it because we are focused on our limitations, or will we embrace it by trusting God?

    So when God says to Jeremiah, “But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth.” His response was gentle and encouraging, giving Jeremiah exactly what he needed. Jeremiah did not see himself as capable of carrying such a great responsibility. He simply felt inadequate. That is why God’s response was not a rebuke but an encouragement. We also know that Jeremiah was raised in a priestly household (Jeremiah 1:1). He grew up surrounded by the Scriptures and was familiar with the lives of prophets and priests who chose to serve God faithfully. Like many children who are raised in Christian homes today, Jeremiah knew the stories of God’s prophets. He knew their victories, but he also knew their suffering, rejection, persecution, and sacrifice. He understood God’s calling and its cost.

    Our age, our condition, our circumstances, and even the season of life we are in do not limit God. He is omnipotent! That is why God said to Jeremiah, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth.” Jeremiah’s youth was not an obstacle to God’s purpose. God does not allow Jeremiah to dwell on his inadequacy. God knew that Jeremiah was familiar with the Scriptures. Jeremiah knew that God had called Samuel while he was still a boy (1 Samuel 3:1–10). He knew that David was anointed king while he was still young (1 Samuel 16:11–13) and that God gave him victory over Goliath in his youth (1 Samuel 17:32–50). Jeremiah was also living during the reign of King Josiah, who began seeking the LORD God while he was still young (2 Chronicles 34:3). Jeremiah understood that God had used young people throughout Israel’s history. Unlike Moses, who eventually asked God to send someone else (Exodus 4:13), Jeremiah did not continue arguing with God.

    Then God said, “For you shall go to all to whom I send you.” Notice that God’s instruction was not based on Jeremiah’s age, abilities, skills, or experience. It was based on Jeremiah’s obedience. The Hebrew word translated “you shall go” is “yalak” which means to walk (literally or figuratively); to go, to come, and to carry. This is the calling of God: to everyone who believes in Him, it is to walk with God and to go wherever He sends us. God called Abraham to leave his homeland and go to a place he did not know (Genesis 12:1; Hebrews 11:8). Before God sends us, He first calls us to come to Him, to dwell in His presence, and then to carry out His will wherever He leads.

    Remember, Jesus first called His disciples to Himself (John 15:4–5) before He sent them out. How can they, and how can we, declare God’s character and nature without first knowing Him? How can we make God known to others if we do not truly know Him ourselves? That is why it is so important we first cultivate an intimate fellowship with Jesus. Because it is in His presence that we learn His truth and experience His love, grace, and mercy. How can we share His love when our hearts are empty? How can we declare His will when we are uncertain of His will for our own lives? How can we testify of His goodness if we have never experienced it firsthand? How can we say that we know God if we do not read His Word and set aside time to meet with Him in prayer?

    Before God sends us to people, He first calls us to Himself. We cannot faithfully represent our LORD Jesus Christ until we first know Him. We cannot give what we have not first received from Him. Neither can we go unless He sends us. We need His direction and His instruction about where to go and whom He wants us to serve. We must first become familiar with His voice, and that comes through an intimate relationship with Him and familiarity with His Words. As Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). If you want to become familiar with God’s voice and His leading, you must first become familiar with His Word. The Scriptures are the foundation for discerning His voice. Our minds are constantly filled with many voices—our own thoughts, the opinions of others, and even the enemy’s lies. How, then, can we discern God’s voice? By becoming deeply familiar with His Word. God’s voice will never contradict His Words. The more we know His Word, the more we will recognize His voice and follow His leading (2 Timothy 3:16–17).

    God continues by saying, “And whatever I command you, you shall speak.” This is exactly why I started by explaining about the work of God, in which He allows us to participate, is not based on our own ideas, preferences, or ideology. It is centered on His will. We are His servants working in the field He has assigned to us. We do not choose our own assignment or redefine the work according to our preference. The Master determines the work, and the servant faithfully obeys. After all, the work we are doing is for Him, not for ourselves.

    Although God specifically commanded Jeremiah to speak His Word, the principle applies to every one of us who believes. Whatever God commands us to do or to say, our response should be simple, “obey”. Delayed obedience, partial obedience, or selective obedience is still disobedience. This is where many of us have failed. Esau traded God’s promise of salvation to all mankind for a red stew (Genesis 25:29–34; Hebrews 12:16–17). King Saul lost his kingdom because he chose partial obedience instead of complete obedience to God’s command (1 Samuel 15:22–23). Obedience to God’s calling is highly important. When we refuse to fully carry out what God has entrusted to us because we prefer our own way, we risk missing the very purpose for which He called us. God is looking for faithful servants who will obey His voice and carry out His will, not our own.

    God’s work will never stop because of one person’s disobedience. God chose Jacob despite his weaknesses. God raised up David despite his youth. God called Jeremiah despite his inexperience. In every generation, God has shown that His calling is not based on our strength or qualifications but on His sovereign purpose and grace. So if we refuse to faithfully carry out the assignment God has given to us, God can entrust that work to someone else who is willing to obey. How tragic it is for anyone to miss the privilege of serving God and participating in what He is doing because we chose our own way over His. 

    Take this to your heart: our calling is not to negotiate with God’s commands but to faithfully obey them.

    Whatever He commands us to do, we should do!

    Whatever He commands us to speak, we should speak!

    I want to share with you this wisdom I have learned and gained. Anything that exalts us above what God has called us to be is pride, and anything that lowers us below what God says about us is false humility. 

    So, if you still feel inadequate because of your age, remember that age has never limited God. Jesus called John (the beloved), while he was still a young man, and Peter, who was one of the older apostles. God entrusted ministry to Timothy while he was still young (1 Timothy 4:12). God’s calling is not centered on our age, gender, experience, skills, or present circumstances. It is centered on His will and His purpose. God desires always partnership. He is inviting us to take part in what He is already doing.

    Keep this truth in your mind and in your heart, it is our privilege to be chosen and appointed by God. What an honor that He would give each one of us the opportunity to participate in His wonderful work and witness His mighty works through our lives. 

  • Jeremiah‬ ‭1:6‬

    “Then said I: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”” – Jeremiah‬ ‭1:6‬

    The story of the prophet Jeremiah is very encouraging to me as a young maidservant of the LORD Jesus. He served God with perseverance and faithfulness despite the little visible from his ministry. He was called by God to warn the people of Judah about the coming judgment because of their idolatry. He also witnessed the destruction and siege of Jerusalem as he watched the people of Judah taken into exile in Babylon. Despite the great discouragement, opposition, and small results, Jeremiah remained faithful and obedient to God.

    The prophet Jeremiah became a great encouragement to all of us. There are moments of discouragement when the results are not what we hoped to see, even after pouring out our heart, strength, and talents into the work God has given us. It can be discouraging when we see little or no visible fruit from our labor. Yet Jeremiah remained faithful and obedient to God until the end of his life. 

    Why did I begin with this? Because when God told Jeremiah that he would be a prophet to the nations, God was not speaking empty or vain words over his future. When God calls you to something, that is who He has called you to be. For God declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). Before we took our first breath, God already knew the day we would take our last. When God called Jeremiah, He already saw the faithful and obedient prophet Jeremiah would become. He was the right person for the assignment God had given him. In the same way, when God calls us, He has already chosen us for the work He knew we are able to fulfilled.

    The verse we are going to dive into is Jeremiah’s response when God called him. He did not respond with excitement by saying, “Yes, Lord! Let’s do it!” Instead, he said, “Ah, Lord God!” is an expression of deep emotion of reluctance or a sense of inadequacy to the role God will entrust Him with.

    Have you ever been in a situation where the people around you encouraged you to step into a position or a role because they saw your ability to be able to fulfill the role, but your first response was, “Oh no! I am not that good …”? That expression is similar to Jeremiah’s response.

    Jeremiah was raised in a priestly household (Jeremiah 1:1) just like some men and women who were raised in a Christian household. His family was familiar with the Scriptures, and conversations about the prophets and the lives of the priests who came before them were likely common at their table. Jeremiah knew that God’s calling came with a cost. He knew about Samuel, who anointed King David (1 Samuel 16:13). He knew about Elijah, who boldly confronted kings and declared that there would be no rain by God’s word and later he prayed for God to send the rain again (1 Kings 17–18; James 5:17–18). He also knew about Isaiah, whom God commanded to walk naked and barefoot as a sign of coming judgment (Isaiah 20:2–4). Jeremiah also knew that many of God’s prophets had been rejected, persecuted, and some were even killed by their own people. He fully understood that being God’s prophet was not an easy calling.

    Jeremiah’s background helped him understand the cost of God’s calling. When he said, Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” His response was not a refusal. He was stating his present condition as a young and inexperienced man. When we desire to serve God, we become deeply aware of our shortcomings. Moses was called by God at the age of eighty, yet even at his age he felt hesitant, inadequate, and reluctant to accept God’s calling on his life (Exodus 3–4). Moses was so reluctant that he even asked God to send someone else instead of him. “He said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send” (Exodus 4:13). We often think that before we can serve God, we must first become highly intelligent, capable, eloquent, and fully prepared. After all, we are serving God, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Absolutely, we should serve Him with reverence and highest honor. But it is a worldly mindset to believe that we must first qualify ourselves before God can use us.

    Remember this: anything that exalts us above what God has called us to be is pride, and anything that lowers us below what God says about us is false humility. 

    The first qualification for serving God is obedience. When God calls us to a specific assignment, it requires wholehearted obedience because He gives specific instructions for the work He wants us to do. Our responsibility is to carry out His will according to His purpose, not our own ideas. Have you noticed how detailed God’s instructions were to Noah when He commanded him to build the ark (Genesis 6:14–16)? Another example is the tabernacle, which God instructed Moses to build according to His exact pattern (Exodus 25:8–9, 40). God is God of order. God is intentional in everything He does. He gives precise instructions because every detail serves His perfect purpose. God’s work must be carried out according to His will, not our preferences. This is where King Saul failed. God did not reject Saul because he lacked ability or leadership skills. He rejected him because he chose to disobey God’s command (1 Samuel 15:22-29). God does not call only those who are qualified; He qualifies those whom He calls. Because they follow God wholeheartedly.

    As a young minister myself, I am aware of my own incapability to accomplish the assignments God has entrusted to me. Due to my lack of experience, I have made many mistakes and have sometimes offended others. I truly understand Jeremiah’s hesitation as a young servant of God. Yet, his hesitation was not a refusal. Remember the parable of the LORD Jesus about the two sons. One son said, “I will not,” but afterward changed his mind and went to work in his father’s vineyard. The other said, “I go, sir,” but never went (Matthew 21:28–31). In the end, it was not the son’s first response that mattered most, but his obedience. Likewise, Jeremiah’s response was hesitation, but he obeyed God’s calling and faithfully fulfilled the assignment God had given him.

    Reluctance to do the work and refusal to do the work are two different responses.

    Reluctance is not the same as saying “no.” A reluctant person carefully considers the situation before stepping into it. They count the cost. They evaluate whether they have the strength, abilities, time, and commitment to carry out the responsibility before them. Refusal, on the other hand, is a decision not to obey. It comes from an unwillingness to do what God has asked. Jeremiah’s reluctance was not a sign of weakness but a reflection of how seriously he took God’s calling. He understood the weight of the task God was about to entrust to him. He knew that God’s calling would require faithfulness in the midst of discouragement, rejection, persecution, suffering, and even when there was little or no visible result despite years of faithful labor. Remember the teaching of the LORD Jesus about the importance of counting the cost before accepting the task without evaluating the situation (Luke 14:27–33).

    When God calls you to do something, He already knows your shortcomings, limitations, and weaknesses. Nothing about you surprises Him. He calls you because He knows your heart. Abilities can be developed, skills can be learned, and experience can be gained. But a willing and obedient heart cannot be manufactured. God has given every one of us the gift of free will. He gives us the choice to believe in Him, to follow Him, and to submit to His will.

    Remember this: skills can be taught, abilities can be developed, and experience can be gained, but no one can force a heart to willingly love and obey God. That choice is a gift given to each one of us. So our response should be like Mary, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word” … (Luke 1:38). We may not understand everything, and that is okay. We may not feel qualified, and that is okay, because God equips those whom He calls. We may even struggle to trust Him at times, and that is okay. As we continue to dive into God’s response to Jeremiah’s response to His calling, we see that God encourages Jeremiah. Rather than dwelling on Jeremiah’s limitations, God reassures him of His presence with him at all times.

    As I said earlier, God already knows everything about us. Nothing is hidden from Him. As it is written, “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews‬ ‭4:13‬ ‭

    If you are willing to give this world a chance, how much more should you give God a chance? If you are willing to trust people who can fail you, how much more should you trust the God who never fails?

  • Malachi‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭

    “You offer defiled food on My altar, But say, ‘In what way have we defiled You?’ By saying, ‘The table of the Lord is contemptible.’” Malachi‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭

    I would encourage you to read Malachi 1:6 first. The previous passage tells us whom God is addressing here. The book of Malachi is written as a dialogue between God and His people, Israel. God is speaking directly to the priests.

    If you type the word “minister” into Bible apps you are familiar with, you will be directed to passages about priests. God’s message in Malachi is not only for the priests of Israel but for us as well because Jesus has made us also priests to God (Revelation 1:6).

    God says, “You offer defiled food on My altar.” As you continue reading the rest of the chapter, you will see that the priests were offering blind, lame, and sick animals as sacrifices to God (Malachi 1:8, 13). This was directly against God’s commands, which required sacrifices to be without defect (Leviticus 22:20-22; Deuteronomy 15:21).

    Today, we are no longer required to bring animals or grain offerings to an altar because the LORD Jesus Christ has already fulfilled what was needed for the forgiveness of our sins through His sacrifice on the cross (Hebrews 10:10-14). However, let us not forget that we are still priests before God (1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 1:6) As His priests, we have been entrusted and commanded to care for His people (Mathew 28:19-20). We are called to serve, care for, and build up the church that He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28).

    So what does “defiled food” look like today?

    We are God’s temple. The Holy Spirit dwells in us (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Therefore, anything that corrupts or defiles His temple also defiles His altar.

    Defiling sacrifices often begins with a lack of intimacy with God. We neglect prayer. We stop reading His Word daily. Little by little, we drift away from Him. Without the Word of God, we begin to lose sight of who He is, His character, His will, what He loves, what He hates, and what He commands. Defiled food begins when we no longer value the knowledge of God. As the LORD said:

    • Hosea‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭– “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. ‭‭
    • Malachi‬ ‭2:7‬ – “For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.”
    • Ephesians‬ ‭4:20‬ ‭ – “But you have not so learned Christ,” ‭‭

    How can we faithfully execute the work God has commanded us to do if we do not know or have forgotten His instructions? We may be carrying out the task, but we could be doing it according to our own understanding and our standard rather than according to His will and His standard.

    Another form of defiled food that we offer to God is serving Him with second-rate service and giving Him our leftovers instead of our best. We give our time, talents, and attention to everything else first and then offer God whatever remains. It can also look like serving God only when it fits our schedule, convenience, and comfort. We are willing to serve as long as it does not cost us too much.

    Sometimes we treat ministry as a burden rather than a privilege. We serve out of obligation, complaining and grumbling about the very work God has entrusted to us. Instead of rejoicing that we have the opportunity to serve the great King, our LORD Jesus Christ, we see His work as an inconvenience.

    Defiled food can also be serving with selfish motives. We pursue ministries that match our own preferences, talents, or ambitions rather than seeking what God is actually calling us to do. We ask, “What do I want?” instead of, “LORD Jesus, what do You want?”

    Serve Him with an outward devotion while our hearts are far from Him. We may attend church, serve in ministry, sing worship songs, and appear faithful on the outside, while our hearts have grown cold toward God (Matthew 15:8, Revelation 3:15-16, Matthew 24:12).

    It can also be pleasing people rather than pleasing God. We compromise God’s Word to avoid offending others or to make Christianity more comfortable and appealing. We shorten prayer meetings because people are not interested in prayer. We water down biblical teaching to keep people entertained. Little by little, the fear of man replaces the fear of God.

    The forms may be different from the blind, lame, and sick sacrifices offered in Malachi’s day, but the principle remains the same.

    Now, the altar is the place where we meet with God. It is where worship and fellowship with God take place. It is where the transaction happens between God and His people.

    Remember the words of Jesus:

    “Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” … But He was speaking of the temple of His body.” John‬ ‭2:19, 21‬

    Today, we can only encounter God through Jesus Christ. As Jesus said,

    “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John‬ ‭14:6‬ ‭

    We no longer have a physical altar as they did in the Old Testament, something we will discuss further as we continue through this passage.

    Today, every transaction between God and man takes place through our LORD Jesus Christ. Jesus is our Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5). Through His death and resurrection. Jesus opened the way for us to come to the Father (Hebrews 10:19-22). No earthly priest, sacrifice, or altar can bring us into God’s presence. Only Jesus Christ can do that. Through His own blood, He made a way for sinners to approach a holy God (Hebrews 4:14-16; 9:11-15). You have probably heard the preaching that there is only one way to God and to His kingdom, and that is only through Jesus Christ!

    This was the response of the priests when God confronted their halfhearted worship: But say, ‘In what way have we defiled You?’ Their response is terrifying! Instead of humbling themselves before God, they questioned Him. Do you think God would call us out if we were doing everything right? You may also be wondering, “In what way did they defile God?” This is getting more interesting.

    When God corrects us, rebukes us, or exposes sin in our lives, our response should not be to argue with Him or defend ourselves. We should respond as David did when confronted by the prophet Nathan:

    “I have sinned against the LORD …” (2 Samuel 12:13).

    Sadly, many Christians today respond differently. Have you ever heard someone excuse their complacency, negligence, or lack of devotion by saying, “Well, I’m not perfect”? I want to challenge that way of thinking. Can you find a servant of God in Scripture who used that same excuse when confronted with sin or failure?

    The men and women of God did not make excuses. We repented. We confessed our shortcomings and sought God’s mercy. We do not give God excuses. We ask Him for forgiveness. We acknowledge where we have fallen short and ask Him to change us.

    These priests had become so accustomed to their disobedience that they no longer recognized it. They become reprobates (Romans 1:28, 2 Timothy 3:8)! Their hearts had grown dull to God’s correction. Many of us associate a reprobate mind only with obvious sins of the flesh. But there is also a danger in willfully neglecting what God has entrusted to us. When we repeatedly ignore God’s standards, the holy things of God can become common in our eyes. When we knowingly give God less than our best, when we continue in complacency without repentance, and when we treat sacred things as ordinary, our hearts become hardened.

    This is the danger of overfamiliarity with God. We become so used to His grace, His Word, His presence, and His work that we stop treating them with reverence.

    Their response did not stop there. They also said, By saying, ‘The table of the Lord is contemptible.’” What is interesting about us as human beings is that we often forget that we are completely naked before God (Hebrews 4:13). In His sight, nothing is hidden. He sees our hearts, our thoughts, our motives, and our intentions. The Israelites in the days of Moses learned this lesson many times. When the people complained in the wilderness, God heard it and they all get punished (Numbers 11:1). We may be able to fool people, but we cannot fool God. That is why it is pointless to make excuses or deny God’s accusations when He corrects us. 

    The “table of the LORD” was the place where sacrifices and offerings were presented before God. For the priests, it represented the sacred work God had entrusted to them. In a similar way, we all have a “table of the LORD” today. It may be the ministry God has given us, whether as a pastor, teacher, evangelist, elder, or servant in the church. It can also include our daily work, career, being a parent, and other responsibilities because these are places where we serve God and offer our lives to Him. Even caring for the poor, feeding the hungry, visiting sick people in the hospital, rescuing abducted women and children, serving in the church, or helping those in need can become acts of worship offered to the LORD.

    Yet the priests looked at the table of the LORD and called it “contemptible”. The word “contemptible” means something treated as worthless, disgraceful, shameful, or of little value. They continued performing their duties, but they no longer valued the privilege of serving God. What was once sacred had become routine. What was once an honor had become a burden or worthless. They had lost the joy of serving the LORD God. The real problem was not the table itself. The problem was their attitude toward it. They no longer saw God’s work as a privilege. They saw it as something common, something tiresome, and something of little value.

    Can the same thing happen to us today?

    Absolutely! As I always say, if a preacher is preaching for a long time or someone is praying for a long time and you become bored and start complaining that it should be shortened, the problem is not with the preacher or the person praying. The problem is us!

    Our boredom reveals that we have lost our hunger and thirst for the presence of God and the things of God.

    Serving God is not something common, something tiresome, and something of little value. It is a privilege. The King of kings and LORD of lords has chosen us and appointed us to participate in His work, and it is an honor to serve Him!

    If you see yourself in these priests, do not make excuses. Humble yourself before God. Ask Him for forgiveness and ask Him to redirect your path. Run the race, beloved. Do not grow weary, and do not harden your heart when God corrects you. As long as God is speaking to you, there is still an opportunity to change. Seek His face while He may be found. Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you (James 4:8). Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart (Hebrews 3:15). Instead, respond like David: “I have sinned against the LORD” (2 Samuel 12:13), and allow God to restore your heart, renew your passion, and lead you back into wholehearted devotion to Him!

  • Malachi‬ ‭1:6

    ““A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the Lord of hosts. To you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’” Malachi‬ ‭1:6‬ ‭

    How is your relationship with your father? Do you have a healthy and respectful relationship with your parents? How about your relationship with your boss or those in authority over you? Are you faithfully carrying out the responsibilities and duties entrusted to you?

    Why am I asking this? Because if we cannot build a good relationship with our parents or with those in authority over us, and if we are lacking in the duties entrusted to us, then how can we truly love and serve God with fear, honor, and high reverence?

    When the LORD says, “A son honors his father, And a servant his master,” the LORD is speaking about the expectation within family and societal relationships. We know that one of the greatest commandments after loving God is to honor our father and mother, and this command comes with a promise (Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:2–3). This commandment is so serious that in the Old Testament, anyone who cursed or struck their parents faced severe judgment (Exodus 21:15, 17). That shows how heavy this command is before God. If we cannot honor our earthly parent, how much more should we honor God, our Heavenly Father?

    In the same way, as servants honor their masters, we are also called to respect those in authority over us and to carry out our work diligently and faithfully (Colossians 3:22–23). If we cannot faithfully do the work entrusted to us here on earth, how much more can we be faithful in the work God has entrusted to us for His kingdom?

    Then the LORD says, If then I am the Father, Where is My honor?” When I first read this, it broke my heart because I am so convicted. The LORD proclaimed that He is the Father of Israel and also our Father. Because when we believe in the LORD Jesus Christ, we become children of God, and God becomes our Heavenly Father (John 1:12). Is not the Holy Spirit also bearing witness with our spirit, crying, “Abba, Father”? (Romans 8:15–16). Let me give you a simple yet crucial example of how many of us dishonor God. The root cause is our lack of intimate fellowship with our Father. Many of our brethren nowadays neglect spending time in God’s Word. They are illiterate! We know that only through His words did we come to understand His heart, His will, and His character. How can we truly know our Father if we do not spend time listening to Him through His Word?

    What is even more unfortunate is that many of us boldly proclaim Jesus as their LORD and Savior while unknowingly bringing shame instead of honor to His name because they neglect spending time in His Word. A child who truly loves and reveres their father listens carefully to his words and values what he says. Yet look how many Christians support and tolerate things that clearly go against their Father’s word, such as supporting same-sex marriage and abortion?

    I am not speaking this to condemn anyone. I am speaking truth with boldness because great and holy is the name of our LORD Jesus Christ. His name deserves reverence, honor, and glory. Yet many of us, through our ignorance, compromise, and negligence, bring shame instead of honor to His name. Just like the Israelites, God declared that wherever they went, they profaned His name among the nations (Ezekiel 36:20–23).

    Then the LORD continues and says, “And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence?” The Hebrew word for “reverence” here is môrā’, which carries the meaning of fear, reverence, and something awe-inspiring. But the word “reverence” used here is not as strong compared to the word Moses used when he gave his final charge to Israel before they entered the Promised Land, yet these two prophets strongly emphasize the importance of giving God the highest reverence and fear. Why? Because our God is the LORD of lords and the King of kings. He is the Almighty God, the Most High above all. The day will come when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is LORD (Philippians 2:10–11). As it is written,

    “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?” Deuteronomy‬ ‭10:12-13‬ ‭

    Did you notice that the very first thing God required from them was to fear Him? The Hebrew word used here is “yārē’,” which means to fear, to stand in awe, to tremble, to be fearful, to be dreadful, to be astonished, and to deeply revere. This is a very strong word because God is holy!

    Throughout the Bible, when prophets such as Daniel, Ezekiel, and John encountered the glory and presence of God, they fell facedown before Him. Daniel said that no strength remained in him (Daniel 10:8–9). Ezekiel fell on his face when he saw the likeness of the glory of the LORD (Ezekiel 1:28). John also fell at His feet as though dead when he saw the glorified Christ (Revelation 1:17). Their bodies responded to the overwhelming holiness, majesty, and power of God. This helps us understand the seriousness and the great importance of giving our highest reverence to God, because we are standing before the absolute and sovereign Being, the living Almighty God.

    As our LORD Jesus Christ said,

    And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” — Matthew 10:28

    Even Hebrews declares:

    “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” — Hebrews 10:31

    So just as the priests and the Israelites failed to give God the reverence due to His name, many of us today are doing the same. Why do so many professing believers no longer walk in the fear and reverence of God? Why do many continue bringing shame to His holy name and crucify Him again through continual rebellion and willful sin (Hebrews 6:6), choosing sin over God again and again? We know that sin separates us from fellowship with Him (Isaiah 59:2), yet many still cling to the very things that grieve His heart.

    Isn’t that what the LORD Jesus said:

    “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” Luke‬ ‭6:46‬ ‭

    If we genuinely love and reverence Jesus as our LORD, then we would hate the very things He hates and flees from the sins that dishonor Him.

    And when the Scripture says, “Says the LORD of hosts,” God is emphasizing His absolute sovereignty, authority, and dominion over every power, kingdom, force, and realm. The title LORD of hosts means that God is the LORD of heaven’s armies. He is the chief commander! He is in charge! These angels are mighty and powerful servants of God. Scripture tells us that just one angel struck down 185,000 Assyrians in one night by the command of God (2 Kings 19:35). Yet this same God is the One whom many of us continue to dishonor and rebel against.

    Then the LORD directly addresses the ones who committed this impudent act against Him. He says, “To you priests who despise My name.” The book of Leviticus can give you detailed instructions concerning the duties and responsibilities of the priests. They were appointed by God to minister before Him, maintain the holiness of the Temple, offer sacrifices according to His commandments, discern between what is holy and unholy, and teach Israel the commandments and statutes of God. Yet God declared that these very priests failed to give Him the honor and reverence due to Him, which eventually led them into despising His name. 

    A little context here: Malachi prophesied during the period when the Temple in Jerusalem had already been rebuilt under Zerubbabel (Malachi likely ministered around the same era as Ezra and Nehemiah). The Temple in Jerusalem had already been rebuilt after the exile. The priestly service was restored, sacrifices resumed, and temple activities continued. But the hearts of the priests and the people were not right before God. The priests failed to consecrate themselves and neglected the sacred responsibilities entrusted to them (Ezra 9:1–2; Nehemiah 13:28–29). As Malachi later reveals, they were offering polluted sacrifices to God such as lame, sick, and blind animals upon the altar (Malachi 1:7–8). They were never supposed to offer such corrupted sacrifices because the God they served is holy. God had already given clear instructions in the Law that offerings presented to Him must be without blemish (Leviticus 22). Yet the priests profaned the very sacrifices that were meant to sanctify themselves, the Temple, and the people of Israel before the LORD.

    They no longer placed value on the holy things God entrusted to them. What was sacred became common in their eyes. Is this not also happening today among us? Scripture says that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19) and that we are a royal priesthood before God (1 Peter 2:9). Yet many of us continue to corrupt and defile the very temple where God chooses to dwell, treating our bodies casually instead of honoring them as the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Just like this priest, no longer treat holy things with reverence and fear before God. Instead of presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God (Romans 12:1), many have become contemptuous toward the sacred calling entrusted to us. We no longer place high value upon what the LORD Jesus Christ has done for us through the cross.

    That is why Scripture commands us:

    “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” — 1 Corinthians 6:20

    This is truly terrifying. What makes it even more fearful is that the priests seemed completely unaware of the seriousness of what they had done.

    When God rebuked them, they responded by saying, Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’ They were unable to recognize their own sin and dishonor before Him. This is frightening because it reveals how hardened and spiritually blind a heart can become. Their consciences had become dull, and what was holy no longer convicted them. Their minds become corrupted and reprobate because of the deceitfulness of their sins and as they continually reject the truth (Romans 1:28). Is this not also happening to many of our brethren today? As they all continue living in sin, compromise, and rebellion against God while justifying themselves, unable to see their own transgressions before a holy God. Their minds become reprobate!

    A reprobate or hardened heart is terrifying because a person can reach a point where they no longer feel conviction over sin. What once grieved the heart now feels normal. What God calls evil, people begin to justify. Instead of trembling before the Word of God and repenting before God. Many now use Scripture itself to justify their wrongdoing while still claiming they belong to Jesus, yet their actions do not reflect the character of God. We must remember that we are called children of God (1 John 3:1). If God is truly our Father, then our lives should reflect the character of our Heavenly Father. We are called to walk in holiness, righteousness, love, truth, and obedience just as Christ walked (1 Peter 1:15–16; 1 John 2:6).

    To remain in this spiritual condition is a terrifying thing because a hardened heart can reach the point where a person no longer even feels the need to repent and ask God for forgiveness of sins. Remember that the LORD Jesus commanded the church in Thyatira to repent because they were tolerating sin and corruption among them (Revelation 2:20–22). A hardened heart slowly loses sensitivity to conviction, repentance, and reverence before God (Ephesians 4:18–19). This is the dangerous point where a person can unknowingly begin drifting away and turning away from the salvation Jesus freely offered through His sacrifice (Hebrews 2:1–3).

    Remember, no one can take away the salvation God freely gives to us because it is a gift of grace (Ephesians 2:8–9; John 10:28–29). Yet Scripture also warns believers not to depart from the living God through unbelief and the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:12–13). We still have the choice to reject, abandon, or turn away from that gift through continual rebellion, unbelief, and refusal to repent before God (2 Peter 2:20–22; Hebrews 10:26–29).

    But here is the good news: God spoke these rebukes not to condemn the priests but to reach their hearts and call them back to Him. He is also doing the same for us today. God’s correction is an act of His mercy and love, because He desires repentance rather than destruction. As it is written, Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings …” (Jeremiah 3:22) and “Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be blotted out …” (Acts 3:19)

    Therefore, repent and return to the LORD while your heart is still sensitive to His voice!

    Ask God to create in you a new heart of flesh, a heart that truly seeks after Him (Psalm 51:10 & Ezekiel 36:26).

  • Ephesians‬ ‭2:14

    “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,” Ephesians‬ ‭2:14‬ ‭

    When you hear about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, what is the first word that comes to your mind?

    If you say “salvation,” and you are either an unbeliever or still a baby in the LORD, that is understandable. However, if you have been walking with the LORD for more than five years, your understanding of the Gospel should have grown beyond that. Why? Because by now, after reading the Scriptures from cover to cover, you should realize that the Gospel of Jesus Christ does not only offer salvation.

    Salvation deals with the problem of sin, the wall that separated us from God. But Jesus already dealt with sin through His death on the cross. He conquered sin once and for all. Yet the greater purpose of His sacrifice was reconciliation with the Father. As it is written, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). Through our LORD Jesus Christ, we have now been given access to the presence of God. As the Scriptures declare, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13). That means you are not far from God anymore. Jesus took your sins away and buried them through His death. His sacrifice was complete and sufficient once and for all.

    That is why the Scripture says:

    “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12).

    And again:

    “Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin” (Hebrews 10:18).

    Now, He wants you and I to walk in the access He endured and purchased for all of us, which is genuine intimacy and fellowship with the Father (1 John 1:3). Because when we remain in the presence of God, we are slowly transformed into His image. As it is written:

    “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” II Corinthians‬ ‭3:18‬ ‭

    Sadly, many Christians, just like the church of Ephesus, remain stuck in the mindset of “salvation” alone. Many are still trying to earn salvation by their own efforts, and the moment they sin or fall short according to the standard they have in their minds, they immediately think they have lost their salvation. But the moment you received Jesus Christ, you became a new creation.

    As it is written,

    “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

    Our relationship with the Father was not established by our works but by the finished work of our LORD Jesus Christ.

    You will never have an issue living a life well pleasing to the Father when you truly begin to walk with Him daily. Many of us have this anxiety about losing our salvation because we know more about our mistakes than what God has already spoken concerning us through Jesus Christ. Instead of being rooted in the truth of God’s Word. That is why the Scriptures say, “But you have not so learned Christ” (Ephesians 4:20). Sadly, many Christians today are illiterate concerning the Word of God. They know church culture, opinions, and their favorite social influencer, yet they do not truly know what God has spoken through the Scriptures. The Bible says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). No wonder many Christians live defeated lives, not because God has failed them, but because of their lack of knowledge concerning the Word of God. It is similar to someone being deceived or taken advantage of in certain areas of life simply because they are unfamiliar with their legal rights. The rights may already belong to them, yet they live as though they do not have them because they do not know what has been given to them. In the same way, many believers do not know what Jesus Christ has already accomplished for them through the cross. 

    Yet God said to Israel, who was constantly rebelling against Him, “Return to Me, and I will return to you” (Malachi 3:7). The God desire has always been restoration and fellowship. Abiding in Jesus is what truly matters!

    Remember the parable of the vine. Jesus said, “He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

    Fruit is not produced by striving in the flesh but by abiding in the LORD Jesus Christ.

    So why do many lives remain unchanged? Because many have never pressed into genuine intimacy and fellowship with Jesus Christ.

    That is why Hebrews 6 exhorts us, saying:

    “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.” Hebrews‬ ‭6:1-2‬ ‭

    All of this listed here is centered on the teaching of salvation. But when you begin to understand reconciliation, you move forward beyond only seeing the wall that once separated you from God. You no longer see division through skin color, ethnicity, or background, because that is exactly what Paul was teaching before this verse. The Gentiles, who were once far from the presence of God, have now become fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God because of what Jesus Christ did for all of us.

    We now begin to give God thanks, praise, and worship because through our LORD Jesus Christ, we now have access into our heavenly Father’s presence.

    Through His blood, Jesus removed the separation and gave all of us access to the Father. No matter who we are or where we come from, through Him we have become children of God. As it is written, “Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1).

    So when Paul says who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation. He is showing us that in Christ it no longer matters whether you are Jew or Gentile, male or female, because all of us were separated from God by sin regardless of our ethnicity or background. That is why, through Jesus Christ, both Jew and Gentile now have access to the Father. The wall has been removed. As Paul also says,

    “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians‬ ‭3:28-29‬ ‭

    We are all one in Christ Jesus.

    Have you studied the woman who bled for twelve years? According to the Levitical law, the moment she entered the crowd and touched people, she would have made everyone around her ceremonially unclean. Yet in the sight of God, everyone in that crowd was already unclean because of sin. There was only One who was truly clean there, and that was the LORD Jesus Christ.

    Some would say, “Then did that make Jesus unclean?” Absolutely not! Instead, Jesus took upon Himself our uncleanness, our sins, and our transgressions so that we might receive His righteousness.

    As it is written,

    “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.” 1 Peter ‭2:24‬ ‭

    And again,

    “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

    The woman’s uncleanness did not corrupt Jesus. Rather, His righteousness overcame her condition. The power of God flowed from Him and made her whole. That is why the woman touched Jesus’ hem, because she knew what the hem represented. Jews knew the hem represented identity and righteousness. She said within herself by faith, not by works, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well” (Mark 5:28). In other words, she believed that if she could touch His righteousness, she would be made whole. As it is written, “And by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). In Him we are complete because His righteousness is enough to make us whole (Colossians 2:10).

    The moment that woman believed in Jesus, everything changed instantly. She was healed and made whole. Jesus took away the uncleanness that separated her from the people and from God. For twelve years she lived rejected and unclean, but one touch by faith changed her identity completely. Again, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

    What is beautiful in her story is that after Jesus delivered her from the infirmity that separated her, He restored her identity. That infirmity is a picture of our sins. Sin is like an infirmity within us. It slowly destroys us, and in the end it leads to death (James 1:15) because we are separated from the Source of life, which is God Himself.

    Yet after Jesus healed her, He called her “daughter” (Mark 5:34). “Daughter” is a title of relationship, acceptance, and restoration. The moment she believed in Him, she was no longer identified by her infirmity, but she was restored to relationship and acceptance. Jesus restored her identity immediately after healing her. As it is written, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:” (John‬ ‭1:12). ‭

    Through faith in Jesus, she became a member of the household of God. Then lastly Jesus said to her, “Go in peace” (Mark 5:34). Just as Paul says, “For He Himself is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14).

    That is why our walk with God should not be filled with constant fear and anxiety about salvation. Jesus already finished the work! He said, “It is finished!”

    Our background no longer matters. Whether Jew or Gentile, male or female, all have sinned before God. But through Jesus Christ, all who believe are brought near and become members of the household of God.

    What matters now is this: do you believe in Jesus Christ? Do you walk with Him? Do you abide in Him?

    And if you truly abide in Jesus, the Prince of Peace, His peace will begin to rule your heart. As He said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you…” (John 14:27). The world cannot give this peace because the world itself is filled with fear, uncertainty, and division.

    But anyone who truly receives Jesus as LORD and Savior becomes like this woman: restored, made whole, accepted, and at peace with God.

    “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” Romans‬ ‭5:10-11‬ ‭

    I wanna end to this verse.

    Do not try to earn your salvation, because you never could!

    That is exactly why Jesus came and died for all of us, to freely give what we could never obtain by our own works.

    Now be at peace, because Jesus has already “broken down the middle wall of separation. ” The separation between you and the Father has been removed through His blood. So enter the presence of God not with shame, fear, or condemnation but with boldness!

    Have fellowship with God, your heavenly Father! For you are no longer a stranger or a foreigner but now His child!

  • Matthew‬ ‭6:20‬

    “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” — Matthew‬ ‭6:20‬

    From verse 19, we come to understand that the LORD Jesus made it clear that we were not created to be ruled by earthly things, but rather to have dominion over them. The things of this world were never meant to master us. As He says, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24). We are created to be ruled by God, not to be ruled by the things of this world.

    We also understand that building wealth is not an easy task. It requires our strength, our time, our talents, and even our resources. Because of this, whatever costs us the most often becomes what we value the most. Instead of us ruling over these things, these things begin to rule over us. We become servants to what we have built, instead of being ruled by God in righteousness. Look at a man who is ruled by money. We can see it in how he lives. Their mind is set on gaining more. They will do whatever it takes. Even if it means walking in something crooked and wicked. What they own begins to own them.

    That is why the LORD Jesus commanded us His disciples, saying, “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” For the Greek word for “treasures” is “thēsauros,” which speaks of a place where good and precious things are gathered and stored. It is like a treasury, a storehouse, a repository where valuables are laid up and kept. The LORD Jesus desires us to store all the good and precious things we gathered in His Kingdom in a place where we are meant to live forever.

    The LORD Jesus is not saying that we should have no possessions or money at all. We need a place to live, a roof over our heads, and money for the things we need. Jesus said, “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things” (Luke 12:29–30). No one in this entire universe wants what is good for us more than our Father in heaven. It was He who made Abraham very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold (Genesis 13:2). Isaac sowed and reaped a hundredfold, and the Lord blessed him (Genesis 26:12–13). Job also had his latter days blessed more than his beginning (Job 42:12). Our Father in heaven knows that we all need things here on earth. That is why He created the trees, so we can build our houses. He created gold and silver and many other things for our provision. The Father already knew our needs before we even thought of them.

    And above all, Jesus died for us. If He did not come, everything we have accumulated would be destined for destruction. We were all on our way to perish in the lake of fire. As it is written, ““For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John‬ ‭3:17‬)‭ Yet the LORD Jesus came and said, “… I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Because He desires that all of us would live, not just have life, but live with abundant life. He does not want all our hard labor to be destroyed, “where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.” Even the treasures we work for, He wants to preserve. He wants them to be laid up where they cannot be destroyed not taken away from us.

    Have you understood that everything we build here is going to be wasted? All the ornaments of your house are appointed to be burned. All your wealth, all your accomplishments, can pass away. As it is written, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10).

    Have you ever wondered why the Apostle Paul said, ““Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ” (Philippians‬ ‭3:8)‬? For how can we gain Christ if we are caught up in the things of this world? We can’t walk with Jesus if our hearts and minds are on worldly things. As it is written, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). If our mind and heart are set on the things of this world, then Jesus is no longer at the center of our lives. He is pushed aside while other things take His place. If you use your time, talents, strength, and resources for God, your treasures are stored in His eternal Kingdom. As it is written, “…And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17). The LORD Jesus cannot fill us with Himself if we are still full of ourselves.

    I hope you begin to notice this as you begin to do the will of God. When the things of this world no longer have a hold on you, you are no longer bound by them but free, walking with God, and ruling over the things that once tried to rule over you. Nothing in this world can threaten you anymore, because your treasures are not found here but in heaven. Even your life is in Him.

    Doing the work for God is not always something great in the eyes of men. Many think it must be something big and grand. Yet Jesus said, “And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:42). Even in the smallest act we do, we are already laying up treasures in heaven. For God sees what men often overlook. And what is done for Him, no matter how small, is never wasted but stored up in His Kingdom.

    You are here on earth not to accumulate wealth, but to do the work God has given you. And after that assignment is finished, you return home to your Father in heaven, where your true home is and where your treasures are stored. As it is written, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (I John‬ ‭2:15-17‬) ‭

    So you must know your priority. Put God first. As it is written, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew‬ ‭6:33)‬ ‭

  • Matthew‬ ‭6:19

    ““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;” – Matthew‬ ‭6:19

    The sermon of the LORD Jesus on the mount, when we look at it carefully. He exposes all the issues that are dwelling within our hearts. It is very opposite to the ways and teachings of the Pharisees of His time and even to the ways of the world today.

    The LORD Jesus speaks of the blessings of those who are poor in spirit, are pure in heart, and are meek. He teaches that murder and adultery begin in the heart. He also teaches that giving to others should be done in secret, not to be seen by men. Praying to God should be done in secret, not for display. Fasting should not be outward and for attention but inward before God.

    Then the LORD Jesus turns to the matter of money. He says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth” Laying up treasures or building wealth is not careless work. It requires focus and careful planning. It requires vision and wisdom to carry out that vision. It demands strategy, patience, strength, and determination. A person must devote much of their time and talent in order to gather and build wealth.

    Wealthy people often appear to live easy and comfortable lives now. As it is written, “The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem.” (Proverbs‬ ‭18:11‬) What we see today is the fruit of their labor. But in the beginning of their journey for many years, they walked through a difficult and uncomfortable path. They labored with focus, gave up comfort, and endured much in order to build what they now have. Even after the business is established, they do not cease from their efforts. They set their minds to expand it and to increase it further. Their time and their talent remain centered on it. Because of this, they guard what they have built. They protect their treasures by securing them and insuring them. That’s why wealthy people are obsessed with all kinds of insurance, for they fear losing what they have been pouring out their time and talent for.

    This kind of life is not only for the wealthy but for us also. How many of us are consumed with work just to pay for our house, our cars, and our many bills? Even we give our time and strength to maintain what we have built. And like them, we also seek to protect it. We insure what we have, and we try to secure our lives against loss. Because the more a person treasures something that can be lost, the more their heart will be troubled by the thought of losing it. And without knowing it, our hearts become tied to these things.

    When something costs us years of our life and strength, it becomes very precious to us, and it begins to bind us. That is why it is so hard to let go of the things we have gathered. We become servants of what we have created and stored up. We become servants of things where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.

    In the time of the LORD Jesus, wealth was measured differently than it is today. Abraham and Job were considered very wealthy because they had many flocks and herds (Genesis 13:2; Job 1:3). People stored garments or produce that could be eaten by moths, and the currency they used, such as silver and gold, could also corrode. They can also be stolen. Even the places we trust to protect it are not without risk.

    How many of us trust in banks, yet those same banks use the money we entrusted to them to lend to others. Sadly, throughout history, there have been times when banks have failed, and people have not been able to recover what they had stored.

    The message of the LORD Jesus for us is very simple. Do not spend our lives building something that is subject to decay, loss and that binds us. I want to remind you of God’s purpose for mankind when He decided to create us. As it is written, “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion… (Genesis 1:26). We were created to have dominion over possessions, not for possessions to have dominion over us. For when possessions rule over us, we have lost the very purpose for which we were created.

    Let us build something that abides forever. For all these things of the world are temporary and passing away. As it is written,

    “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (I John‬ ‭2:15-17)‬ ‭

    And it’s appointed to be burned. As it is written,

    “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10)

    Neither can these things help us in the day of judgment. For it is written,

    “Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.” – Proverbs‬ ‭11:4‬ ‭

    “Neither their silver nor their gold Shall be able to deliver them In the day of the Lord’s wrath; But the whole land shall be devoured By the fire of His jealousy, For He will make speedy riddance Of all those who dwell in the land.” – Zephaniah‬ ‭1:18‬ ‭

    The LORD Jesus says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) So the call of the LORD Jesus fos us is not to chase after possessions but to seek God first. For when God is first, everything else finds its proper place.

    So why should we spend our lives on what will not remain and trust in what cannot save?

  • Mark‬ ‭5:26

    “And had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.” Mark‬ ‭5:26‬ ‭

    To fully understand this passage, I encourage you to first read Matthew 9:20,21–22. I have taken time to explain each verse because it is important that when we read and study the Scriptures, we go word by word so that we may truly internalize the Word of God.

    We know that this woman had been suffering from bleeding for twelve years. Just imagining it makes me feel exhausted already. For more than a decade she endured this condition without relief. If you understand how distressing a few days of menstruation can be, you can only imagine how unbearable this period was for her. Day after day, she lived with the continual flow of blood. She did not have the conveniences we have today. She had to wash her garments again and again, carrying both the physical burden and the constant reminder of her condition. Also, according to the law, she was considered unclean. Because of this, she was separated from her family and her community. Anything she touched became unclean, and anyone who came near her would also be made unclean. So she lived in isolation. She was avoided, cut off, and likely rejected by many. 

    Her condition made her desperate to find healing. As the scriptures say, had suffered many things from many physicians. This passage reminds us of how desperation can lead a person to places that do not bring healing. Desperation can make us vulnerable to those who take advantage of us, causing more harm than good. In her desperation, she endured many painful and perhaps unusual treatments, yet none could restore her.

    Desperation can lead us into even more terrifying situations, as many of us have seen in our own lives. When desperation leads us, we often end up suffering instead of finding relief. In that vulnerable condition, we lose clarity and become driven by our circumstances, which leads to us suffering even more. As it is written, “the heart is deceitful above all things” (Jeremiah 17:9), and “there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12). In this state, we are blinded by our circumstances, so it is easy for us to reach for anything that promises help yet only brings more harm. But desperation can become beneficial when it leads us to God. For the LORD God does not take advantage of our weakness or our condition. As it is written, “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.” (Psalms‬ ‭34:18‬). ‭The moment we place our desperation into the hands of God, it is no longer a place of danger but a place where restoration begins. As it is written, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.” (Psalms‬ ‭51:17)‬. The reality is that many will choose to run to worldly sources but hesitate to come to the LORD Jesus. Yet He invites us, saying, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

    So here we see how the Scripture gives us a deeper picture of her desperation that reflects many of our own lives: “She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.” How many of us have followed the same path?

    How many have given everything, yet instead of getting better, only became worse?

    How many have poured out their love on someone, only to receive pain and heartbreak in return? (Micah 7:5–7)

    How many have spent their lives building wealth, pouring out their strength and years, only to reach the end and realize that all must be left behind, and they must face death alone? As it is written, “He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 5:10)

    How many of us have traded our God-given identity for the identity of this world, believing it would make us better, yet finding ourselves becoming worse? As it is written, “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves” (‭‭Romans‬ ‭1:24). ‭

    How many have spent their lives pursuing pleasures, only to find themselves
    only to end up worn down in their bodies and sell their souls to the devil. For it is written, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).

    I could go on and on with these things. But God speaks of our true condition, saying, “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.” (Jeremiah 2:13). We are all broken cisterns, and nothing in this world can restore, repair, or fill what is broken within us. Nothing in this world can satisfy the longing within us. For the soul was made for God. As it is written, “Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel‬ ‭18:4)‬ ‭and apart from Him, it will always thirst. As it is written, “My soul thirsts for You” (Psalm 63:1). And also Jesus said, “but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John‬ ‭4:14)‬ ‭

    Have you ever considered that when this woman encountered Jesus, He did not accuse her of making others unclean? Instead, He received her. The deeper truth of our condition is that it was not she who made the crowd unclean; the whole crowd was already unclean. For all were under sin (Romans 5:12). And in the midst of them all, only One was clean. As it is written, Jesus is “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners” (Hebrews 7:26). He alone is without sin. He alone is pure. He alone can make us all clean. As it is written, “… By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. … And He bore the sin of many, …” (Isaiah‬ ‭53:11-12)‬ ‭ and “… the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Jesus restored what this woman had lost: her identity, her health, and her freedom. Only Jesus could restore her and heal her brokenness, and this is the same for all of us.

    The wisest decision this woman made was to believe in Jesus and come into His presence. She turned to the One who could restore her and heal her brokenness. For it is written, “when she heard about Jesus, she came…” (Mark 5:27). And this is the same call for you. Do not let your desperation lead you to things that only make your condition worse. Instead, come to Jesus. For He says, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (‭‭John‬ ‭10:10‬). Jesus came so that you might have life, and not just life, but life in abundance.

    This woman did not receive her healing the moment she first came into the presence of Jesus. Her healing had already begun when she first heard about Him and chose to step out of her darkness, believing that only Jesus could bring her out of her situation. The action of her faith was seen when she pressed through the crowd to come to Him. In this, we see why Jesus calls us to believe and then to follow, as these two actions are interconnected. How can we show or demonstrate our faith? By our actions. For faith is not only something we say but also something we live. As it is written, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (II Corinthians‬ ‭5:7‬) ‭Did you notice the word “walk”? “Walk” is an action word, not a passive one. It speaks of movement, progress, and stepping forward. Faith is not something that remains still. It moves. It acts. It follows. That is why it is also written, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17).

    When a person chooses to step out of the darkness or bondage they were in, that step is evidence of their faith. Faith is shown by action (James 2:17-18). And it is in that step that healing, restoration, transformation, and deliverance begin. As Jesus said, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well” (Matthew 9:22). So we understand that the moment any person chooses to step out of darkness and draw near to God, As it is written, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. …” (James‬ ‭4:8)‬. When you are in the presence of God, that is where healing, restoration, transformation, and deliverance begin. For in His presence is the fullness of life (Psalm 16:11).