Author: Anna

John‬ ‭1:11‬

“He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” — John‬ ‭1:11

Today is the day before Christmas, and this is the verse came to my mind. We know that the LORD Jesus already came in the flesh. (John 1:14). He walked on the very earth He created. He stood among what He spoke into existence. The Creator entered His own creation. And yet, the world He made had no place prepared for Him. As it is written, “And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke‬ ‭2:7‬ ‭ From the very moment He was born, the world made no room for Him within their homes. All they could offer Him was a cave, outside their doors. And this hard truth mirrors our own hearts today even as Christians, we still leave Him outside.

But even this was not without meaning. Jesus was born in the place where lambs were brought forth. Where sacrificial animals were born and prepared. This was no accident. This was God already pointing toward the purpose of His coming. As it is written, “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) He was born among lambs because He came as the Lamb. And one day, that Lamb would be brought to Jerusalem to be offered.

When John says,, “He came to His own”, he is revealing a truth that carries multiple layers of meaning.

First, we must begin with the context—the promises and prophecies of God given through Israel. God had promised Abraham that through his seed the entire world would be blessed (Genesis 22:18). Jesus came in the flesh as the fulfillment of that promise. He came through Israel, born under the Law, to the people who had the covenants, the prophets, and the Scriptures. If anyone should have welcomed Him, it should be them. Yet they did not receive Him. Many who were waiting for the Messiah were the same ones who later cried out for His death (Luke 23:21). He came to His own people, and His own rejected Him.

But John’s meaning does not stop there.

Unlike the Gospel of Matthew, which is written primarily for a Jewish audience, the Gospel of John is written for the world. This is why John begins not with genealogy or Abraham, but with creation itself: “In the beginning was the Word (Logos)” (John 1:1). By starting at creation, John is telling us that Jesus is not only Israel’s Messiah—He is the Creator of all.

All humanity was created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). In that sense, we are all His own. And yet, like the Israelites, we do not receive Him.

This is why Jesus’ words to Nicodemus were so radical. Nicodemus was a Pharisee, taught that Israel alone was the object of God’s love. But Jesus declares, “For God so loved the world” (John 3:16). Not one nation. Not one people. The world. God sent His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him may be saved.

John the Baptist understood this truth. When he saw Jesus, he cried out to all who would listen, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). As one from priestly lineage, John was declaring that this Lamb was not offered for a specific group, but for the entire world.

The apostle John confirms this again later, leaving no room for confusion, “He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).

Now it is clear to all of us that Jesus truly came to His own. Israel did not receive Him, but instead cried out for His death. And even now, the world continues to struggle to receive Him.

This same response followed the message of Christ as it spread beyond Israel. When Paul preached Jesus to the Gentiles, many mocked the message. They called it foolish. They were ashamed of a God who would die on a cross. As it is written, “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness.” ( 1 Corinthians 1:23) In the Roman world, crucifixion was reserved for the worst criminals. To proclaim a crucified Savior sounded absurd. How could a God who saves the world die the death of a notorious criminal?

This is why Paul boldly declares, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation.” (Romans 1:16) Paul understood the offense of the cross. He knew why people rejected and hesitated to it. Yet he also knew that what the world mocked was the very means God chose to save. As it is written, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” ( 1 Corinthians 1:18) Without the Spirit of God, the cross makes no sense. Our hearts remain blind to its meaning. We question it, mock it, or dismiss it because we do not understand why Jesus had to be crucified in this way.

But Jesus did not die as a criminal for His own sins. He died in our place. He took our shame. He carried our guilt. He bore the punishment that belonged to us. As it is written, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:8)‬ ‭

God already expressed His great love toward us when He put on human flesh. He already came and died for us on the cross and rose again. And even today, Jesus is still standing at the door, knocking on every human heart.

This is my challenge to you on the day before Christmas: pause and reflect.

Is it possible to celebrate His birth and still miss Him? Because Christmas reminds us that God already came. But it also invites us to respond.

Will you let Him in? Or will you keep Him waiting outside?

December 24, 2025
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:14‬

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” – Romans‬ ‭12:14‬ ‭

Paul is not introducing a new command, but reminding the church of what the LORD Jesus Christ already taught. “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,” (Matthew‬ ‭5:44)‬. This command from God is not easy to obey, especially when people ridicule you, mock you, make fun of you, treat you rudely, or intentionally try to make life harder for you. To live by this word becomes even more difficult when the wounds are personal and the pain runs deep. Yet the Word of God has always called us to respond differently than the world.

Think about the Lord Jesus on the cross. As He was being mocked, beaten, and crucified, He cried out to God, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Instead of cursing those who harmed Him, He prayed blessing and forgiveness over them. Stephen followed that same example. While being stoned to death, he prayed, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge” (Acts 7:60).

Even Job, after losing everything and being wounded by the words of his friends, prayed for them and the Lord restored him (Job 42:10). Moses endured constant criticism, complaints, and rejection from the people he was called to lead. Yet he cried out to God on their behalf, saying, “Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written” (Exodus 32:32).

All of these men prayed for those who hurt them. They blessed those who made their lives difficult. But the question is, how did they do this? What gave them the strength to respond this way? Was it simply kindness, or was it something deeper working within them?

How can we bless those who persecute us instead of cursing them? First, we must examine how we see ourselves before God. Ask yourself this question: did you receive God’s mercy because you were good, or because you were undeserving? When we fail to see that God showed us mercy while we were unworthy, it becomes difficult to extend that same mercy to others. We begin to think mercy is something we earned rather than a gift freely given. As it is written, “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10), and again, “There is none that doeth good” (Romans 3:12). Even the Lord Jesus said, “There is none good but one, that is, God” (Mark 10:18). When we truly understand that the grace and mercy we received came despite our sin and brokenness. Forgiveness becomes possible, blessing replaces cursing, and prayer flows instead of bitterness. We are able to bless others because we first received mercy from God.

Second, this kind of heart is formed through a deep and intimate fellowship with God. When we are grounded and rooted in His Word and abiding in His presence that we begin to truly see people the way God sees them. We come to understand His nature and His will not only toward His people, but even toward those who do not yet believe. Every people were created in the image and likeness of God. God’s heart for sinners is not that they would end in hell, but that they would repent and return to Him. As it is written, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live” (Ezekiel 33:11).

God never desired that anyone should perish, but that all would be saved and be with Him. Scripture declares, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise… but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). If God desired the destruction of humanity, He would not have come down from His throne, taken the form of a servant, humbled Himself, and become obedient unto death—even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:6–8). Jesus did not die for a few, but for all mankind (John 3:16).

Even the Lord Jesus endured the cross with joy in Him, “for the joy that was set before him” (Hebrews 12:2). That joy came from knowing the purpose of His suffering that through the cross, we would be reconciled to God. He saw beyond the pain, beyond the nails, beyond the blood that was shed. He saw redemption, restoration, and souls being brought back to the Father. In the same way, we are called to carry that joy, even when our own crosses are heavy. Even when it feels as though we are being nailed, wounded, and broken, we look beyond the suffering.

When we begin to carry the same heart as God, cursing others no longer feels possible. Even when we are wounded, we remember that they are the same precious souls as we do as the LORD Jesus died for them too. They are not our enemies; they are precious souls who need to be won. We do not rejoice when anyone walks toward hell, joining satan in eternal suffering and pain. That is not the heart of God, and it should not be ours either. Instead, love rises within us, prayer replaces bitterness, and blessing flows from a heart shaped by God’s compassion. Just as God desires all people to be saved and to dwell with Him (1 Timothy 2:4), we too long to see every soul turn to Christ. So we bless, not curse because if God wants them with Him, then so do we.

Lastly, concerning our brethren especially the leaders within the church there are times when some may act in ways that wound us, hurt us, or deeply offend us. Even in such moments, we are not called to curse them, to speak evil of them, or to backbite. For as it is written, “If ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” We must remember that both they and we who believe have been bought and redeemed not with corruptible things, but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. For as it is written, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18–19). We have all been purchased with a price the very life of our LORD Jesus Christ. As the apostle Paul reminds the leaders in Ephesus those who oversee the flock, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20:28).

Knowing all of this, we choose to bless rather than to curse. For we are not called to a ministry of cursing, but to a ministry of blessing. As our Lord Himself has commanded us, “Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Luke 6:28). Again, He teaches us, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).

We understand that such individuals are not wrestling against us personally, but are acting under another influence. As it is written, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world” (Ephesians 6:12). Therefore, we do not overcome evil with evil, but with prayer and intercession, standing upon the Word of God. For it is written, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). We set our hearts and take our stand, not to destroy, but to win souls and trusting that God is able to reach even these also.

December 22, 2025
‭‭I Chronicles‬ ‭14:2‬

“So David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, for his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel.” – ‭‭I Chronicles‬ ‭14:2‬

When the word of God says, So David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel. David truly understood where his position came from. He recognized that the LORD was the One behind all his victories, accomplishments, and success. David did not see the throne as something he achieved on his own, but as something God established.

This challenges us today. How many Christians truly have this kind of heart, one that fully perceives that it is God who is at work in our lives? So many believers fail to recognize the hand of God over everything they have and everything they do. We forget that all we possess comes from Him.

This is often why giving, especially tithing, becomes difficult for many. When we see money as something we own rather than something God has entrusted to us, our hearts struggle to release it. As it is written, “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth…” (Deuteronomy 8:18). It is God who supplies the strength, the ability, and the resources that enable us to reach any measure of financial success. King David understood this deeply and fully recognized the presence of God over his life, knowing it was the LORD at work in him and in everything around him. In the same way, we are called to live with a clear and humble awareness that every blessing, every opportunity, and every provision flows from the hand of the LORD.

But how did David have the awareness to recognize that God was the One who established his throne. It was because his story did not begin with a crown, but with a field. As it is written, “Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. “And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth”(II Samuel‬ ‭7:8‬). ‭ Before David was called by God to rule a kingdom, he faithfully served as a shepherd. Before he wore a royal robe, he wore the rugged clothing of a shepherd, stained by dust and sweat. His hands were trained with a staff long before they ever held a scepter.

Those fields became God’s training ground for David. It was there that David developed a intimate fellowship with the Lord. In the fields, he learned patience before he ever received power, and responsibility before authority was placed on his shoulders. David faithfully carried his role as a shepherd, and he testified to this himself when he said to Saul, “ “But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it (1 Samuel 17:34–35). David did not only tend the sheep and help them grow, but he also learned how to protect and guard them from predators.

King David always gave God the glory. Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine…”(1 Samuel 17:37). Through his life in the fields as he cared for his sheep, David was often exposed to danger and the risk of losing his life while protecting and guarding them from predators. In those moments, David became familiar with the hand of God that was always upon him, preserving and strengthening him. As it is written, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7). Those unseen battles in the field prepared David for what was ahead. That is why David was able to stand confidently before Goliath, not trusting in his own strength, but in the power of God who had been with him all along. David said, “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied” (1 Samuel 17:45). David never forgot his beginnings. God met him as a shepherd boy whom no one paid attention to, spending his days in a dangerous and secluded places. When Samuel came to anoint the next king, David was not even considered at first, and Samuel had to ask for him to be brought in from the field. Even after David became king, he knew that it was God who sought him, chose him, anointed him, and established him as ruler.

Then now we understand why his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel.” David not only knew that God was the One who established his kingdom, but he also understood why God established it. His kingdom was not given for his own benefit, but for the people God entrusted to him. David knew that God had placed him as king to care for, lead, and protect God’s people from the enemies around them. We also see David’s heart when many people died because of his sin. Instead of protecting himself, David cried out to God and asked, “… “Surely I have sinned, and I have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, be against me and against my father’s house”” (2 Samuel 24:17). Throughout all the trials in David’s life, even when he sinned with Bathsheba, we see that his heart was never set on power, wealth, or even preserving his own life. His heart was always after God’s own heart. When David sinned and saw the people suffering because of it, he did not cling to his position as king. Instead, he was willing to lay down his own life so that the people of God might be spared. Again and again, we see that whether David was walking in obedience or had fallen into sin, he remained a humble man who loved God deeply. Even in his failures, David continued to seek God for forgiveness, longing to be reconciled to Him. More than anything else, David desired the presence of God and to remain close to Him above all things. As it is written, “One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple.” (Psalms‬ ‭27:4‬) ‭

If we desire to be part of leadership, our hearts must first be after God. When our hearts are not aligned with Him, how can we lead God’s people to Him if God is not leading our own lives. This is why it is so important for us to first love and serve God in hidden and quiet places, where intimate fellowship with Him can grow. It is in those places that we learn to recognize His voice, to trust His leading, and to understand what God truly desires for our lives.

We see this clearly in David’s life. David never said, “I want to be king of Israel.” Even when he had the opportunity to kill Saul twice, he refused, saying, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD’S anointed” (1 Samuel 24:6; 26:11). David trusted God’s timing and God’s hand to move in his life. He understood that if it was God’s will for him to be in a position of leadership, God Himself would establish it and would open the door for him. When God opens a door, no one can shut it (Revelation 3:7).

David focused on building his relationship with God, not building his own future. As he walked closely with God, he became familiar with God’s ways and learned to recognize His hand at work in his life. When the heart was ready, God established David, not only in position, but in purpose. Scripture says, “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep” (Acts 13:36). This reminds us that leadership is not about ambition, but about serving God’s purpose in our generation, just as David did.

December 20, 2025
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:1‬

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” – ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:1‬

Every time we receive a gift from someone we love, and we see the care and effort they put into it, our hearts are filled with joy. It is not the material thing itself that moves us, but the willingness and love behind it, the desire to bring us joy.

As Christians, we sometimes forget that Jesus did not call us only to believe in Him. He called us to follow Him. When He said, “If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me (Matthew 16:24).” He was calling us for a life of submission to Him. Paul is making that same appeal here. He is calling us beyond belief alone into a life willingly laid down before God.

Many of us assume that serving God is more important than fellowshipping with Him. We become eager to do things for God before we have learned to lay down our entire being before Him. Yet Scripture shows us a different order. When Jesus walked the earth, “He called unto Himself His twelve disciples.” Before He sent them out, He first called them to Himself. The Lord Jesus desired intimacy before activity. He wanted them to be with Him to learn from Him, to walk with Him, and to be formed by His presence. Only after they had remained with Him did He release them into ministry. The Word of God says that He then gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Their authority flowed out of relationship, not ambition. We know how fully these men later presented their bodies to the Lord Jesus. Every one of them laid down his life for Him. But notice the pattern before they served others, they stayed in God’s presence. Before they were sent out, they were first called in.

This is where we often misunderstand our calling. Doing things for God is good, it is necessary but it is not the most important thing. The most important thing is that our heart has already been given to the Lord. If we do not understand this order, then we will not understand what Paul is pleading for. God is not first asking for our service; He is asking for us.

When Paul pleads with us and says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren,” he is speaking to people who have already received Jesus into their lives. He is not addressing unbelievers, but believers those who have already heard and believed the gospel. In the previous chapters before this appeal, Paul has carefully explained the salvation of God, the unfailing love of Christ from which we cannot be separated, and the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. Then, Paul urges us to willingly place our lives before God.

When he says, “by the mercies of God.” Every one of us who has received salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ has received mercy. We have all been redeemed by His blood. We have escaped the wrath of God not because we deserved it, but because God was merciful. If God were not merciful, He would never have come down and died in our place. But many of us are deeply interested in the blessings of God upon our lives, yet far fewer desire to lay down our lives before Him. That is why Paul must plead with us. He calls us to consider the mercy we have received, the salvation that rescued us and spared us from judgment and to respond rightly to it.

Paul urges us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. This language reminds us of how priests presented sacrifices before the Lord. Yet sacrifice in the Old Testament was not only about the forgiveness of sins. There were burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings, and first-fruit offerings. Each had a different purpose, but they all shared one common requirement: the offering had to be given willingly by the people, and the ministry of presenting it had to be done willingly by the priest. Above all, every sacrifice had to be holy in order to be acceptable to God.

These offerings were a foreshadowing of what God now desires from all of us. Through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, we have been made holy. His blood has cleansed us and made us acceptable to God. As the Scripture says, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19). Again it is written, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Now that God has made us holy and acceptable through Jesus Christ, He invites us to respond. He calls us to willingly offer ourselves to Him as a living sacrifice, just as Jesus offered Himself. This is what Paul is pleading for. He is calling us to lay down our whole lives before God. From the very beginning, God has not been most interested in what we do for Him. His desire has always been intimate fellowship with us. He longs for us to offer our lives to Him willingly, not by force. God is sovereign not a tyrant. God desires that we love Him freely with all our heart, all our mind, all our soul, and all our strength. And when we love Him in this way, God Himself gives us the ability to do what He calls us to do.

We cannot truly live out God’s will for our lives until we first understand what He desires, and that understanding is born out of an intimate relationship with Him. That relationship begins when we willingly lay down our lives before God and confidently declare, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Galatians 2:20). And from that place of submission, our lives take on a new purpose. “So now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death” (Philippians 1:20). Our greatest desire was not self-preservation, but that Jesus Christ would be clearly seen and glorified through our life.

When we truly understand this and make it our confession, we begin to see what God has called us to. Jesus said, “Whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it” (Luke 9:24). Real life begins when we willingly give our lives to God. This is where we can understand what Paul meant when he say, “which is your reasonable service.” We cannot serve God rightly unless we first lay down our lives before Him. When our lives are first given to God, our service flows naturally from that place. Obedience then becomes an expression of love, not obligation.

The Lord Jesus Himself set this pattern for us. He first submitted to the Father by laying down His life for us on the cross. This was the will of God for Him, that through His sacrifice we might be saved. Jesus said, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38). The clearest evidence of Jesus’ submission to God is found in the work of the cross. As it is written, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). His life, laid down on the cross, was a perfect, holy, and acceptable sacrifice to God. In the same way, we are called to follow His example. As it is written, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16). This is where we see the pattern clearly: without willingly laying down our lives to God, we cannot fully walk in His will for our lives. And if we are unwilling to lay down our lives before Him, God cannot truly work in us, because we are still holding ownership of our own lives.

December 19, 2025
I Chronicles‬ ‭4:9-10‬ ‭

“Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.” I Chronicles‬ ‭4:9-10‬ ‭

What is the meaning of your name? Many of us were named for different reasons. My mother named me simply because she liked a celebrity name, it’s funny how parents sometimes choose our names.

What is interesting about this passage is that it appears in the middle of the genealogy of God’s people. In the midst of a long list of names, Scripture pauses and says, “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers.” We are not told how he became more honorable, nor are we given details of his deeds. The Bible does not explain it but when the Word of God declares a man honorable, then honorable he is!

What makes this even more interesting is how the Bible contrasts the way God described Jabez with the way his mother named him. His mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” At that time, naming a child based on circumstances was common. Esau was named because he was born red. Jacob was named because he grasped his brother’s heel. Many people carried names tied to the moment of their birth.

Jabez may have been given a name that meant sorrow, but heaven carried a different opinion of him. Though his name spoke of pain, God called him honorable. And that is what matters most not what circumstances name us, not what people call us, but what God says about us. God’s word over a life is greater than any label ever placed upon it.

Then Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed.” When Jabez prayed this, he didn’t focus on the name his mother had given him or on what others may have seen in him. He looked to God. Jabez understood that God was the One who could bless him and change his life. Jabez knew God’s pattern. God changed Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, and Jacob whose name meant supplanter or deceiver to Israel, meaning one who struggles with God. Every time God changed a name, He also changed a future. God didn’t just bless His people; He redefined them.

Now we understand the heart behind Jabez’s prayer, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed.” He was asking God to bless him the same way He had blessed Abraham, Sarah, and Jacob. From there, his next request makes even more sense,“and enlarge my territory.”

We know how God enlarged Abraham’s territory. Scripture tells us that “Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold” (Genesis 13:2), and that the Lord said to him, “Lift up now thine eyes… for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it” (Genesis 13:14–15). God’s blessing over Abraham was visible, abundant, and expansive.

Sarah’s story shows us another kind of enlargement. Though she was barren, “the LORD visited Sarah as he had said… and Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age” (Genesis 21:1–2). What was impossible in the natural became possible because God was with her.

Jacob’s life tells the same story. God promised him, “thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east” (Genesis 28:14). What began as one man fleeing his past became a nation of many sons.

Jabez stood on land God had already promised to His people. When he asked God to enlarge his territory, he wasn’t asking blindly. He knew the stories. He knew what God had done before. He was asking God to expand his life materially, spiritually, and generationally just as He had done for Abraham, Sarah, and Jacob.

Then we can understand deeper what he meant when he says, “that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil.” Jabez knew exactly what he was asking for. He was asking for the same hand Moses spoke about the hand that brought Israel out of Egypt, fought their battles, provided their daily bread, and protected them from evil.

“So it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you shall say to him, ‘By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” – Exodus 13:14

“the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs and the wonders, the mighty hand and the outstretched arm, by which the Lord your God brought you out. So shall the Lord your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid.” – Deuteronomy‬ ‭7:19‬

The people of Israel had been commanded to teach their children about God’s redemption from generation to generation. God made it clear that His works were not to be forgotten, but to be told again and again.

Moses instructed the people saying:

““When your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments which the Lord our God has commanded you?’ then you shall say to your son: ‘We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand; and the Lord showed signs and wonders before our eyes, great and severe, against Egypt, Pharaoh, and all his household. Then He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in, to give us the land of which He swore to our fathers.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6:20-23‬ ‭

God commanded His people to teach their children and their children’s children that it was His hand not their strength that brought them into the Promised Land. Moses also warned Israel about what could happen once they became established and prosperous:

““Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock; who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end— then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” Deuteronomy‬ ‭8:11-18‬ ‭

That is why, even many years later, when Gideon spoke to the angel of the LORD, his question revealed what they had been taught all along,

“Gideon said to Him, “O my Lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.”” Judges‬ ‭6:13‬ ‭

Jabez was not speaking vaguely when he prayed. He knew exactly what the hand of the LORD meant. He understood that they were standing in the Promised Land not because of their own strength or ability, but because God had gone before them. Their success had never been about their capability, it had always been about God’s presence.

The name his mother gave him was tied to pain, and that likely stayed with him as he grew up. He may have wondered if his life would always be marked by that as if he would somehow bring pain to others just by being who he was. But Jabez didn’t stay stuck there. He had heard and taught about the God who rescued Israel from slavery and led them out of suffering into a land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:8). He knew God wasn’t just a God of the past, He was a God who still redeems, restores, and blesses.

That is why Jabez prayed the way he did. And that is what we should be doing as well. This world may call us names and define us by our circumstances, but we are called to know God deeply. When we truly know Him, we learn that with God, nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37).

No matter what our circumstances look like, our eyes are to remain fixed on Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). He is the One who can turn the tables, change the story, and transform sorrow into joy. And He is still doing it today. The same Jesus who worked then is still at work now. As it is written, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

As His word says:

“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,” Psalms‬ ‭30:11‬

““Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, And the young men and the old, together; For I will turn their mourning to joy, Will comfort them, And make them rejoice rather than sorrow.” Jeremiah‬ ‭31:13‬ ‭

That means the God who turned sorrow into joy, who changed names and rewrote stories, hasn’t changed. What He did for Jabez, He can still do today for you. What He did for Israel, He can still do in our lives. Circumstances may change, seasons may shift, but Jesus remains the same. He still faithful, powerful, and able to transform any story.

And He is the hope we hold onto.

December 16, 2025
James 3:13

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. – James 3:13

At the beginning of James chapter three, he addresses teachers, and those who desire to be teachers among the brethren. He reminds them that teaching is not merely a position of honor, but a position of accountability. Those who teach will be judged more strictly, because words carry great weight.

In the middle of the chapter, James turns to the subject of the tongue, showing that no man is able to fully tame it, nor has anyone completely learned how to hold his mouth. This is especially serious for teachers, whose words shape and influence others. Careless speech can cause great harm, particularly when it contradicts the life being lived. As it is written, In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise. (Proverbs 10:19)

James had already warned us in the previous chapter that we are not to be hearers of the word only, but doers of the word. Therefore, those who teach must first live the very things they teach. A life that does not match the message undermines the truth being spoken. Yet this call is not limited to teachers alone. While teachers bear greater responsibility, every believer is called to walk in the discipline of restraining the tongue. As it is written, For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned (Matthew 12:37). What we speak will either bear witness in our favor or stand as evidence against us.

When James asks, “Who is wise and understanding among you?” he is confronting a common problem among believers. Many Christians claim to be wise and full of understanding, yet their words often do not agree with the way they live. Scripture teaches us that wisdom is not proven by confession alone, but by conduct.

Godly wisdom is not defined the way the world defines being “smart.” The world equates wisdom with intelligence, education, and eloquence. A person may be academically gifted, yet fail to apply what they have learned when it truly matters. Many graduate with honors, yet the decisions they make with their lives do not honor God. Even among Christians, some possess successful careers and impressive achievements, yet live burdened by debt or neglect their health because they lack wisdom in managing what God has entrusted to them. No wonder James urges all of us to ask God for wisdom. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him (James 1:5) Because Intelligence helps us gain knowledge, but wisdom helps us know how to use that knowledge in a way that honors God. Intelligence informs the mind, but wisdom directs the life.

To be wise is revealed in how one makes decisions. Wisdom is a way of living. It governs our choices, our responses, and our priorities because it is a life shaped by reverence for God. As it is written, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” Godly wisdom begins with submission to God’s authority and a heart that deeply honors the Word of God. Wisdom is never defined merely as intelligence or the ability to speak well. It is not measured by how much we know about God, but by how much we honor and love Him. When godly fear governs our lives, it directs our decisions, shapes our responses, and orders our priorities in ways that please God. As it is written, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)

Understanding is not gained quickly. Understanding is formed through experience, and experience comes through time. Just as skill in any profession or craft takes years to develop, spiritual understanding is gained through walking with God over time. Wisdom teaches us how to walk with God in humility, and that understanding grows as we read, meditate on, and apply His Word to our lives. Knowledge alone does not produce understanding, it is obedience to what we know that forms it. As it is written, “The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” To know God is not simply to read a few chapters of the Bible and claim that we know Him. Rather, it is to take what we read and begin to live it out as we walk with Him daily. This is the beginning of true understanding in our lives. 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. (1 John 2:3–4) To know God is proven by obedience, not by words alone. True understanding is revealed in a life that submits to God’s commands and walks in love.

Therefore, those who are truly wise and understanding in the LORD Jesus are not identified by how well they speak, how much they teach, or how impressive their words sound. They are known by how they live, how they speak to others, and how they treat those around them. True wisdom is seen not in many words, but in a life that reflects the fear of the Lord. As it written, By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:35).

This helps us understand what James means when he says, “Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.” True wisdom does not need to announce itself. It is revealed through a life of obedience, humility, and love. I once attended a math tutoring class while pursuing my goal of becoming an educator. Math was a real struggle for me, and during the session, a tutor mocked me and said, “How can you be a teacher if you struggle with math?” I was offended by his words, yet I chose not to retaliate. Instead, I responded with meekness and said, “With your help, I will be able to reach my goal of becoming a teacher.” That moment taught me something important. Having expertise in a certain area does not give us the right to put others down. This is exactly what James is addressing when he speaks of works being done in the meekness of wisdom. We are all gifted differently, and knowledge or achievement should never produce pride but to humble us before God and make us servants to those around us.

Good conduct is the evidence of wisdom, and meekness is the manner in which that wisdom is displayed. What we live speaks louder than what we say, and a life shaped by reverence for God quietly proves who is truly wise and understanding.

December 14, 2025
Hebrews 12:17

“For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.” – Hebrews 12:17

I recommend that you read my blog on Hebrews 12:16, where I explain why Esau, even though he later regretted his decision, was never accepted.

When the passage says, “For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected…” it points back to the moment when Esau exchanged his birthright for a single meal. The birthright was not only about the inheritance he would receive from his father Isaac. It represented something far greater being part of God’s plan of salvation for all people. God had promised Abraham that through his seed all nations would be blessed, and this promise was closely tied to the birthright.

What Esau traded away was not just a family privilege, but the greater promise of God. For the sake of one meal, he gave up his place in the covenant line and handed it over to Jacob. Later, when Esau came to receive the blessing from his father, he was rejected. Isaac had already spoken the blessing over Jacob, and he understood that the words he had spoken could not be taken back. Once the blessing was given, it could not be undone, something Esau failed to consider when he casually gave away his birthright.

Although Jacob received the blessing through deception, the truth remains that the birthright had already been transferred when Esau made his choice. By his own decision, Esau had surrendered his right to the blessing. The blessing was not taken from him; it was something he had already given away. This serves as a warning for all of us. We must be careful with the words that come from our mouths and mindful of how we value the promises of God in our lives. Esau despised his birthright and exchanged it for a single meal. Because he treated what was holy as unimportant, he was later rejected.

When the passage says, “for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears”, it shows that even though Esau regretted his decision to exchange his birthright, what he had done could not be undone. His tears did not change the choice he had already made. Over time, it became clear that Esau did not truly understand what he had rejected. Instead of humbling himself before God and taking responsibility for his decision, Scripture tells us that he planned to kill his brother Jacob (Genesis 27:41). This response revealed not a repentant heart, but a heart filled with pride, anger and bitterness. Esau blamed Jacob, believing that his blessing had been stolen, when in truth he had already surrendered his birthright and the blessing tied to it by his own choice.

Esau’s pattern of disregard continued in other areas of his life. Scripture later shows that he married outside the faith, without regard for his parents or for what God had taught his family (Genesis 26:34–35). Isaac and Rebekah were grieved by these marriages because Esau did not value the godly instruction and covenant example passed down to him. He knew that his mother was not from the land and that God had called his family to live differently, yet he chose his own way.

Esau’s actions teach us how seriously God takes our words and our decisions. We are called to be accountable for what we speak and for the choices we make. Jesus warned us plainly, “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:37). We know that salvation is closely connected to confession that reflects what we truly believe. Scripture says, “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10). Because of this, we are warned not to speak carelessly or act hastily, knowing that every word matters before God and carries eternal weight.

What Esau ultimately rejected was the salvation of God that was tied to the covenant promise. From the beginning, God’s desire has been life, not destruction. Jesus Himself declared the will of God, saying, “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life” (John 6:40). The blessing of salvation was not withheld from Esau, just as it is not withheld from any man. It is freely offered to all who will receive it. As it is written, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live” (Ezekiel 33:11). God does not delight in judgment, but calls sinners to repentance and life. Jesus said, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10), and again, “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).

Just as Esau chose to satisfy his own appetite instead of valuing the salvation of God, many people today do the same. Many refuse to believe in Jesus and receive Him for eternal life, choosing instead the pleasures of this world over God’s promise. Esau rejected the blessing and the blessing was later rejected him. In the same way, those who refuse to believe in the Lord Jesus place themselves under judgment. Jesus warned clearly, “…he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36). Anyone who refuse Him will be cast into a place “where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:42). Esau later sought the blessing with tears, but it was not granted to him. In the same way, these people who refuse to believe in the Lord Jesus will one day wailing in regret, sorrowful over the decision they made, yet unable to undo it. Just like Esau, they did not value what God offered. They treated God’s salvation as unimportant and chose something else instead. What was lost was not taken from them by God; it was rejected by their own choice.

This is the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many are like Esau. They do not value God’s salvation, and they treat it as unimportant. Their hearts are blinded by pride, an unrepentant spirit, and unbelief. Because of this, they refuse to believe from the Lord Jesus. He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life” (John 5:24). Only through Jesus Christ alone are we saved from the wrath of God. He is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).

Today is the day of salvation. Do not harden your heart as Esau did. The Lord Jesus is calling you even now. He is waiting for you to believe in Him and to receive Him as your Lord and Savior.

December 12, 2025
Hebrews 12:16

“Lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. ” – Hebrews 12:16

Esau was the firstborn son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the twin brother of Jacob. Even before the twins were born, the Lord spoke to Rebekah and told her, “Two nations are in your womb… and the older shall serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23). When Esau was born, he came out red and hairy, so he was given the names Esau, which means “red” (Genesis 25:25, 30). As Esau grew up, he became a strong and skillful hunter who spent much of his time in the open fields. Jacob, on the other hand, was quiet and stayed among the tents (Genesis 25:27). Isaac favored Esau because he enjoyed the food Esau brought home (Genesis 25:28).

One day, Esau returned from the field extremely tired and hungry. He saw that Jacob had cooked a stew, and he asked for some. Jacob told him, “Sell me your birthright today” (Genesis 25:31). In his hunger and impatience, Esau replied, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” (Genesis 25:32). So Jacob gave him the bowl of stew in exchange for his birthright. The Scripture says, “And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright” (Genesis 25:34). In the end, Esau sold his birthright because he despised it.

Now we can understand what the Word of God means when it says, “Lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau.” The Greek word for fornicator is pornos, from which we get the word pornography. It refers to a man who prostitutes his body to another’s lust for hire, a male prostitute, or anyone who indulges in unlawful sexual intercourse. A prostitute sells his body in exchange for money. He gives away his dignity, treating himself as something cheap rather than valuing honor and worth. Likewise, a person who indulges in unlawful sexual intercourse shows that he does not value marriage, which is sacred in the sight of God. In the same way, Esau treated his own birthright with no value. He exchanged something sacred for a simple meal, selling what was precious for something that satisfied only a moment.

The Greek word for profane is bebelos, which means common, unhallowed, or ungodly. It describes a person who treats holy things as ordinary and has no regard for the spiritual. This is how Esau lived, he was a man who cared only for the physical and immediate, and he placed no worth on the things of God.

Then the Word of God says that Esau, “for one morsel of food sold his birthright”. Food has always been one of the enemy’s tactics to deceive humanity. The serpent tempted Eve with the fruit that God had forbidden, and through that disobedience, sin entered the world (Genesis 3:1–6). When the Lord Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, food was the first thing the devil used and he began by urging the LORD Jesus to turn stones into bread (Matthew 4:1–4). In the same way, Esau allowed his physical hunger to rule over him, and he exchanged his birthright for a simple meal (Genesis 25:29–34). Just as Eve traded the blessing of eternal life for something that offered only temporary pleasure and resulted in death, Esau also surrendered something eternal for something that satisfied only a moment.

Now let us understand the value of the birthright and why it was so sacred. God had made a covenant with Abraham, saying, “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 22:18). This promise pointed to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Seed (Galatians 3:16). The LORD Jesus is the one who will brought salvation to the world. The birthright carried the honor of being in the covenant line through which the Messiah would come. It was so sacred because it was connected to God’s promise of salvation. By giving it away, Esau exchanged the blessing of the coming Christ for a mere bowl of food.

Esau despised this blessing (Genesis 25:34). He treated the birthright, the very promise of God as if it were nothing special. The birthright was not simply an inheritance of land or possessions. It was tied to the covenant God made with Abraham, where God said, “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed”. This promise pointed forward to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Seed through whom salvation would come to the whole world. To hold the birthright meant to stand in the line of God’s redemptive plan and to be part of this was an honor far greater than riches, position, or earthly blessing.

Esau’s life stands as a solemn warning to us all, the danger of trading God’s great plan of salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ, for the fleeting pleasures of this world. Many ask why God said that He hated Esau, and the answer is neither hidden nor complex. Esau rejected the holy promise of God and turned his heart away from the gift of salvation. He loved what was temporary more than what was eternal, choosing the passing comforts of this life over the blessing of God.

Why would God set His favor upon one who refuses His salvation? The Word of God speaks plainly: “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36). God so loved the world that He gave His only Son (John 3:16). He has already provided the way of salvation for all of us and that way is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone, and in nothing else. To believe in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only way to receive life. But to refuse Him, to turn away from God’s provision, is to remain under judgment. Those who reject the Son do not escape judgement, they bear the wrath of God, not because salvation was withheld, but because it was refused.

Esau’s heart was filled with unbelief toward the promise God made to Abraham and later confirmed to his father Isaac. Isaac himself was proof of God’s faithfulness, for Abraham and Sarah waited many years in faith until the child of promise was born. That long wait taught Abraham that God’s promise may seem delayed, but it will surely come at the appointed time.

Through this promise, God revealed the coming Seed through whom the whole world would be blessed and we now know that this promise was fulfilled. Yet Esau did not hold on to it. The blessing was not withheld from him; he refused it. Even when he later sought it with tears, he could not reclaim what he had willingly given up.

What Esau failed to see stands as a warning for all of us. Salvation is offered to everyone and is never withheld from anyone. Jesus Himself commanded that the gospel be preached to the whole world. This is a testimony of God’s goodness and faithfulness He offers salvation freely to everyone who believes and receives His Son. Yet each person must choose whether to receive it.

And for those who do receive it, they must hold fast to it and never turn away from it.

December 11, 2025

Matthew 4:3

Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread. – Matthew 4:3

How many of us are easily tempted by food? I have noticed something interesting every time I set my heart to fast, suddenly people start offering me food or inviting me out to eat for free. Is that just coincidence? or is it temptation? And to be honest, there have been moments when I have given in and completely forgotten that I was fasting until the Holy Spirit reminded me. Have you experienced the same thing? How weak we can be when it comes to food!

When the Scriptures say, “when the tempter came to Him,” notice that word “when,” not “if.” When speaks of certainty. It tells us that temptation is not a possibility but a matter of time. It will come, the only unknown is the timing. as it is written,“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” The devil is not passive. he is not sleeping. he is always watching, always seeking, always waiting for the moment to tempt for he is a tempter that his identity.

But if speaks only of possibility something that may or may not happen. And to imagine that we might live untouched by temptation is to believe a lie. As Spurgeon said, “God had one Son without sin, but He never had a son without temptation.” If Jesus was tempted, we will be tempted. Temptation is certain for every child of God. As Peter also warns us, to be sober and be vigilant. For the enemy is always seeking an open door. Therefore we must not be filled with dissipation, but filled with the Holy Spirit, for only the Spirit of God can truly sober our minds. And to be vigilant means we cannot afford to slumber or sleep, we must stay awake, watchful, and alert. This is why the Lord Jesus taught us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” He calls us to pray to God at all times, because He knows how weak our flesh can be, even when the spirit within us is willing.

When the Scripture says, “If You are the Son of God,” we understand that the word if speaks of possibility or condition, not certainty. This reveals one of the enemy’s first tactics to stir unbelief within us. We see this same pattern in the garden. The serpent said to Eve, “Has God indeed said…?” (Genesis 3:1), planting doubt in her heart. Then he followed with a direct contradiction of God’s Word: “You will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). And the Words of God warns us again and again about the danger of unbelief. The Israelites could not enter the Promised Land “because of unbelief” (Hebrews 3:19). Even in Revelation, the Lord lists the unbelieving among those who will have no part in His Kingdom: “But the cowardly, unbelieving… shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone” (Revelation 21:8).

This is why satan so often attacks us with doubt because if he can get us to doubt the Word of God, it becomes easy for him to lead us astray. That is exactly what happened to Eve, and the result was the fall of all humanity. The enemy has not changed his tactics, he still seeks to shake our assurance in what God has spoken over us. satan loves to target our identity. If he can confuse who we are, he can influence how we live. But our identity does not come from feelings, circumstances, failures, culture, or even our family background. Our identity comes from God alone. And when you know who you are in Him, the lies of the enemy lose their power.

And this is why Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4). Jesus teaching us how extremely important for every Christian to be filled with the Word of God. Physical food keeps our bodies alive, however spiritual food, which is the Word of God, keeps our spirit strong and alive. As Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). This is why we must continually feed on God’s Word, because it shapes our thoughts, strengthens our faith, and keeps our hearts aligned with His truth.

satan says	GOD says
“You are worthless.”	“Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you…”— Isaiah 43:4
“You are ugly.”	“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.”— Psalm 139:14 “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”— Genesis 1:27
“Your identity is whatever you feel.”	“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”— Genesis 1:27
“You are a failure. “ “You will never change.”	“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:11
“God is done with you.”	“…He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”— Philippians 1:6
“You are unforgivable.”	“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”— Romans 8:1
“You are alone. No one cares.”	“For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”— Hebrews 13:5
“You will always live in fear.”	“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”— 2 Timothy 1:7
“You cannot overcome temptation.”	“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”— 1 Corinthians 10:13
“You are not really God’s child.”	“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!”— 1 John 3:1

The Word of God is not only His commandments showing us how to live rightly. It is also filled with His love for us and His adoration toward His children. It is filled with His promises, His plans, and His purposes for our lives. The Scriptures reveal God’s heart and His faithfulness, and they declare who we are in Him. When we continually feed on God’s Word, we grow strong, we become firmly rooted, and we walk in the truth of our identity as God’s people.

When the Scriptures say, “Command that these stones become bread,” we see that satan has moved from questioning Jesus’ identity to attacking His dependence on the Father’s will. First the enemy said, “If You are the Son of God,” attempting to stir doubt about who Jesus is. Now he challenges Jesus to act outside of God’s timing and God’s direction. This is the same tactic he used with Eve. The serpent said, “You will not surely die,” directly attacking what God had spoken. His goal was not only to plant doubt in Eve’s heart but also to push her to act independently of God’s will which she did. satan always targets God’s Word and God’s will, because once he gets a christian to question what God has said, it becomes easier for him to lead that believer into disobedience.

At first glance, this temptation does not sound like an invitation to sin. Bread is good, fruit is good, and God created food to satisfy our hunger. Food itself is not evil. However, living for food is wrong. Many Christians today struggle in this area. Surveys even show that many christians are overweight, yet we often forget that when we received the LORD Jesus into our lives, Scripture teaches that it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in us. We also forget that our bodies are the temple of God. It is not about what we think is good, but about what God says.

On the surface, there seems to be nothing sinful about turning stones into bread. Many Christians think the same way about food. Yet this is part of the devil’s deceptions. satan told to the LORD Jesus to turn stones into loaves of bread if He was the Son of God. satan was not only targeting the LORD Jesus’ identity as the Son of God. He was attempting something far deeper and far more dangerous. He was daring the LORD Jesus to step outside the will of the Father and use His divine power to satisfy His hunger without God’s direction. In other words, Satan tempted the LORD Jesus to act independently from the Father. His message was subtle but deadly, “Since You are the Son of God, You deserve this. You should do as You please, when You please, especially if it is something good and harmless like food.” How often do we think the same way? We say, “I deserve this,” even though our blood sugar is rising, our cholesterol is climbing, and our blood pressure is out of control. We justify our cravings rather than submit them to God.

Scripture teaches us that even a child is subject to the Father. Being children of God does not give us permission to live outside His will. Our lives must reflect the will of our Heavenly Father. Jesus Himself modeled this for us when He said, “The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do” (John 5:19). And again, Scripture says, “Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28). Jesus demonstrated to us that a true child of God walks in complete dependence and obedience to the Father. This is why Paul writes, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:14). We are called to be led by God, not to drive our own lives. A child does not guide the Father; the Father guides the child. And in the same way, our lives must be submitted to His leading in every area.

The LORD Jesus also knew that the will of the Father led Him into the wilderness. He understood it was the will of the Father for Him to face this temptation in a moment of extreme weakness after fasting for forty days and forty nights (Hebrews 2:17–18). The LORD Jesus fully understood that His mission on earth was not to do whatever He chose. Do we have this same mindset? Paul did. He said, “But none of these things move me, nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:24). Paul understood what The LORD Jesus understood, it is not about us anymore. It is about the will of God for our lives. We are commanded to set our minds on things above, not on things on the earth.

Even when something appears reasonable, or good, or harmless, if it is not directed by the Father, it is still disobedience. Scripture makes this truth unmistakably clear. King Saul practiced partial obedience, and God rejected him as king. The Israelites, when they were possessing the Promised Land, also repeatedly walked in partial obedience and suffered the consequences. Even Ananias and Sapphira in the book of Acts faced judgment because they pretended to obey God while holding back what they had promised in the presence of God. We are commanded to live and walk in the Holy Spirit, because where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is life and liberty. As it is written, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12). And again, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify” (1 Corinthians 10:23).

The mission of The LORD Jesus was to do only what the Father commanded, only what the Father revealed, and only what pleased the Father’s heart. This temptation was never truly about bread. It was about obedience. It was about dependence. It was about whether we would live by our Father’s will or by our own will.

And The LORD Jesus demonstrated that true life, true strength, and true victory do not come from meeting physical needs first. They come from submitting to every word that comes from the mouth of God. This is how we are called to live. We are commanded to love the Lord our God with all our heart, meaning every desire should be to please God; with all our mind, meaning our plans should align with His plans; with all our strength, meaning everything we do should be for His glory; and with all our soul, meaning our deepest longing is to spend eternity with Him. God must always be first.

December 9, 2025

Matthew 4:1
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” – Matthew 4:1

The idea that Jesus was intentionally led by the Spirit of God into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil is one of the most profound and and thought-provoking moments in all of Scripture. It stretches our understanding because we see God intentionally guiding His beloved Son into a place where temptation would confront Him. Right after the Father publicly declared, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,” the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness

When the Scripture says, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil,” the Spirit here is the Holy Spirit. He intentionally leads Jesus into a place of barrenness the very opposite of the environment where Adam was tempted. Adam fell in a garden — a beautiful, fruitful, watered, perfect place that God Himself planted.

Adam had every advantage: perfect surroundings, perfect fellowship with God, no hunger, no pain, no dryness. Yet he fell.

Jesus had every disadvantage in the natural: hunger after forty days, isolation, a place without life or fruit. But Jesus stood where Adam fell.

This contrast is not accidental. When Adam was tempted, that moment became the beginning of sin entering humanity. But when Jesus was tempted and conquered it, that moment marked the ending of sin’s power in every human life who believes in Him.

And notice where Jesus is led into the wilderness. That wilderness is more than a physical location, it represents our spiritual condition without God. Because of sin, we became dry, barren, fruitless, and isolated. Sin separates us from God and leaves the soul empty, thirsty, and without life.

But after facing and defeating temptation, look at what Jesus offers to us:
- “Come to Me… I will give you rest.”
- “I am the Living Water” — He brings life to our dryness.
- “I am the Resurrection and the Life” — He restores what sin has killed.
- “I am the Good Shepherd” — He brings fellowship to the isolated.
- “I am the Bread of Life” — He sustains the hungry soul.
- “I am the Door” — He gives us access into the kingdom of God, if we believe and receive Him.
He went into our wilderness were sin and satan trapped all of us so He could lead us out of it. He entered our barrenness so He could bring us into His life. He stepped into our isolation so He could restore our fellowship with God.

Here we understand why the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. He was leading Jesus to restore everything we have lost. When God leads a testing, we do not lose, because God is faithful. He never allows a test that will destroy us. He uses it to strengthen us. We see this in the lives of Abraham and Job, both tested by God yet upheld by His faithfulness as the scriptures says, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it”. God-led testing never leads to defeat.

But this time, I need you to pay attention to how the Holy Spirit moves. Because the Spirit we have is not the spirit of fear but the Spirit of power. The Spirit did not lead Jesus into temptation so He would be defeated. He led Him there so He would win, conquer, and take back dominion that Adam surrendered.

I was once taught by a man of God something I will never forget: “God never plays defense like what we see in sports. God is always in attack mode.” Scripture says that God “prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies” (Psalm 23:5). That means God chooses the battlefield. God chooses the timing. God chooses the outcome. So when the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness, God Himself was choosing the battleground where Jesus would defeat the enemy. God did not tempt Jesus (James 1:13), He positioned Jesus to conquer Satan.

Throughout Scripture, when God calls someone, He rarely calls them to sit still or remain where they are. God often uses the word “Go” as a command for them to move forward, believe in Him, and exercise the authority He has given them. This helps us understand how God works, for He is King and LORD. God always advances His kingdom, takes territory, confronts darkness, and accomplishes His purposes through people who are willing to work together with Him. “Go” is a military term for command to pursue, take dominion, obey, and move forward.
- Abraham — God commanded him to leave his land and go to the place He would show him (Genesis 12:1).
- Moses — God told him to go to Pharaoh and deliver Israel from bondage (Exodus 3:10).
- Joshua — God told him to go and take dominion over the promised land (Joshua 1:2–3).
- Gideon — God commanded him to go and save Israel from the Midianites (Judges 6:14).
- Elijah — God sent him to go confront King Ahab and call Israel to repentance (1 Kings 18:1).
- Jonah — God told him to go to Nineveh and preach His judgment (Jonah 1:2).
- The Apostles and all believers — Jesus commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel (Mark 16:15).
Even when Elijah hid in a cave, God asked him, “What are you doing here?” (1 Kings 19:9). There is no place in Scripture where God calls His people to cowardice, retreat, or passivity. Even Revelation 21:8 says that the cowardly have no place in the kingdom of God.

The Holy Spirit led Him there because the wilderness was not set up to defeat Jesus; it was the place God prepared for Jesus to win His victory over Satan (Matthew 4:1). He was not led there to make Him fall, but to confront the enemy and to begin restoring what Adam lost. When Adam knew that Eve had disobeyed, he did not confront the serpent who tempted his wife. Instead, he let his affection for Eve override his obedience to God, and he blamed her for what happened. Through that fall, he handed the dominion of the earth over to Satan, for sin entered the world through one man (Romans 5:12). But Jesus entered the wilderness to confront the enemy directly. Adam failed the temptation, but Jesus was “tempted in all points like we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

Later, Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” (Matthew 28:18). Have you wondered why Jesus said this? It tells us that after His confrontation in the wilderness and through His death and resurrection He openly claimed the authority Adam surrendered. Through His death, He conquered death, for “through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14). Now Satan is totally defeated. His authority has been taken away, just as Jesus said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10:18).

And this passage teaches us two things: authority was given to them, and to us, for Jesus said, “Behold, I give you authority… over all the power of the enemy” (Luke 10:19). This means that Satan has no authority over us. We have authority over him through Jesus Christ. Remember, we are not given a spirit of fear, but “of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). We are not called to stay where we are, but to go and conquer in His name, and to declare the salvation of the LORD Jesus so that everyone may be saved.
December 7, 2025