Author: Anna

  • Psalms‬ ‭63:3‬ ‭

    “Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.” Psalms‬ ‭63:3‬ ‭

    Have you ever felt the love of God penetrate so deeply into your heart that tears begin to fall without you even realizing it?

    For us to understand what David meant when he said, “Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,” we must first understand that the love of God is so deep that it cannot be taught. Words alone are not enough to express the love of God. No one can fully explain how to feel God’s love unless that love has been personally encountered. As it is written, “to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge” (Ephesians 3:19). This tells us that the love of God cannot be learned from letters alone. It is not something the mind grasps first, but something the heart encounters. To feel the love of God is something we must experience for ourselves. This is why David could say that life itself cannot compare to the lovingkindness of God. He had encountered a love so deep that even life on this earth could not surpass it.

    God speaks of this love when He says in Jeremiah, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” His words tell us that His love is everlasting. It never ends. It does not change with time, failure, or circumstance. Unlike our shallow and conditional love, the love of God is deep, deeper than the oceans, and it lasts forever. This helps us understand the Hebrew word David uses for lovingkindness, “ḥeseḏ.” It means steadfast love, mercy, goodness, kindness, and faithfulness. God’s love is constant and unchanging. It is unconditional, not based on our performance or our faithfulness, but rooted in who God is. As it is written, “God demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Even when we are unfaithful, God remains faithful.

    If you have ever been deeply betrayed by someone you truly loved and gave everything to, then you understand how painful that road is. You know how difficult it is to trust again and how hard it is to give that person another chance. That experience gives us a bit of understanding of what God feels.

    We have all betrayed God; not just once, but generation after generation has turned away from Him, often without any desire to know Him. Yet God does not turn away from us. Instead, He continually pursues us with His love. As He declares, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). God’s love is always giving, even when we do not deserve His goodness. His love is willing to give chances, to forgive, to reconcile, to restore, and to offer salvation, even though many still neglect it today.

    This kind of love goes beyond our goodness and beyond our understanding, not even close. As it is written, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38–39). This is why the love of God is better than life. Life can easily be taken. Everything we have in this world can be lost. But nothing in this life or in the life to come, not even death itself, can separate us from the love of God.

    Do you understand how deeply God loves us? His love for us was so great that He was willing to take on the form of a man, come down, teach us His truth, live among us, suffer as we suffer, and die on the cross, paying a debt we could never pay. The salvation we have received was not without cost. It is offered to us freely, yet it cost the life of Jesus, who is God manifested in the flesh. He rose again, conquering death by His death, so that we might live with Him forever in His everlasting kingdom. This is the greatest expression of the love of God. He chose to die for us rather than be separated from us forever. He gave His life so that we could have life.

    The love of God brings such deep peace in our heart and in our mind that it becomes our greatest assurance. It completes us in a way nothing in this world ever could. When that love fills the void in our heart, we no longer chase the things of this life to replace it. We no longer need validation for what we feel or think, because we know deep inside that the love of God is greater than anything this world can offer.

    If you pay close attention to the lyrics of secular music, the stories in novels, the messages in movies, and even the lives of the people around you, you will notice a common longing. They are all searching for a love that goes beyond conditions, a love that reaches deeper, a love that completes the person, a love that is better than this life, a love that cannot be priced, and a love that lasts forever. Yet this kind of love cannot be found in the world. It is found only in the LORD Jesus Christ, and only His love can fill the longing they are searching for.

    The lovingkindness of God is better than life because breathing does not always mean truly living when the love of God feels absent. This is why many wealthy people are still depressed. If the riches of this world were truly satisfying, why do some still feel that life is not worth living? Nothing in this world can fully fill the void within us.

    If we seek the love of God in the things of this world, we will never find it there. The love we are truly longing for is found only in our Creator and His name is Jesus Christ. Truly, His lovingkindness alone can make us whole and enable us to truly live with peace in our minds and hearts and with joy that sustains our lives.

    When we truly encounter the great love of God, something begins to change deep within our hearts. That inner transformation soon becomes visible in our lives, and all we can offer to Him in return is praise and thanksgiving.

  • Psalms‬ ‭28:1‬

    “To You I will cry, O Lord my Rock: Do not be silent to me, Lest, if You are silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit.” – ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭28:1‬ ‭

    I have been deeply enjoying reading the life of King David and his journey of faith toward God’s purpose over his life. After reading his story, I find myself turning to the book of Psalms, and the Psalms become easier to understand when we know why God called David “a man after His own heart.” If we do not understand this, we will never fully go deeper into the book of Psalms.

    The Psalms are filled with David’s adoration and devotion to God. They are his love letters to the LORD. How could a man so imperfect have a heart and a mind that constantly ran back to the LORD? It is because David did not live for perfection. He lived for God, and his entire life revolved around Him.

    David understood that being called king was not about position or power. It was about a God-given purpose over his life. God did not raise David to a higher position to glorify David. He called David for His own purpose, and David was fully aware of it. David ruled not for himself, but to lead God’s people back to God, to protect them, guide them, and point them to the LORD God. This is why we must be careful and examine our hearts. Are we chasing a higher position, or are we walking in a position that brings us closer to God? How do we know if we are in the place God has assigned to us? It will always draw us nearer to Him.

    King David was given a high position and experienced many victories, yet none of these things lifted his heart above God. We know this because when David sinned, his greatest fear was not losing the throne, the crown, or his victories, but being separated from the presence of God (Psalm 51:11). For David, God mattered more than anything else. That is why his life and ministry continually pointed him back to God in every situation. And when his life became heavy and the weight pressed in on him, he did not turn to people. He did not run to comfort or escape. He cried out to God, saying, “To You I will cry, O LORD my Rock.”

    When David called God “my Rock,” he was declaring that God was the One who upheld him, the One who made him unmovable. No one could shake him because God was his foundation. As it is written, Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock (Matthew 7:24–25). ” A wise man who lives for God and relies upon Him builds his house upon the rock. When the storms come and calamity strikes, that house will not be moved. This is exactly what David meant. No matter the situation, the circumstances, the hardship, or the difficulty that came upon his life, God remained his Rock. God was the One who sustained him, protected him, defended him, and delivered him.

    Then David continues in his prayer and cries out, Do not be silent to me, Lest, if You are silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit.” Do you understand that God voice is the expression of the Word of God? All that exists was created because God spoke.

    Scripture declares,

    In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said… – Genesis 1

    By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. – Psalm 33:6

    … even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. – Romans 4:17

    “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” – Hebrews‬ ‭11:3‬

    This is why the silence of God is so serious. If God were silent with no intention of helping us, if He were to shut Himself off from us, we would all be in danger. When God is silent, the pit is already opening, because the very Word that gives life to all things would no longer be heard.

    David knew that the Word of God is light for our path ahead. As he says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105) God’s Word gives us direction, discernment, and wisdom for every step. Without it, we begin to lose our way. We do not stand still. Our steps drift toward darkness, and the path begins to lead toward the pit.

    This is why David said that if God were silent, he would become like those who go down to the pit, like those who are dying. Apart from the Word of God, there is only death. Jesus Himself said, …the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63) When many disciples turned away from Jesus and followed Him no more, He asked the twelve if they would also leave. Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68) Life was found only in the Word of God.

    David knew that the silence of God’s Word was more dangerous than any enemy he would ever face. Saul could not destroy him. Goliath could not defeat him. Armies could not overthrow him. But separation from the presence and the voice of God would lead him straight to the pit, because it was the Word of God that guided him in every step of his life.

    But God is not silent now. God is crying out to the world through His Word and through His people, “and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”” (Mark‬ ‭1:15‬)

    God is calling us to repent and believe in Jesus! Because life is only found in Jesus [The Word of God who become flesh]

    “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” — (John 3:36)

    God is speaking through our mouths as His Church to preach the gospel so that all may live and not die.

    “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:17)

    Yet Scripture also warns us that a time of God’s silence is coming. The Word tells us that there will be days when people will seek to hear from God, but His voice will no longer be heard. God Himself says,

    ““Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God, “That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord, But shall not find it.” – Amos‬ ‭8:11-12‬ ‭

    That is why now matters! This is why today matters! While God’s Word is still being preached and His voice is still calling, we are invited to respond. The Word of God says, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)

    Do not ignore His voice today, because the silence that comes later will not lead to life. Choose the Word that gives life now. Choose Jesus while His voice can still be heard. Open the door to Him while He is still knocking. If God does not answer, there is nowhere else to turn.


  • Colossians‬ ‭3:13

    “bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” Colossians‬ ‭3:13‬ ‭

    Every new year, many of us begin by setting our plans and goals for the year ahead. Today marks the first day of 2026, and God led me to this verse. There is no greater goal this year than becoming the person God is calling us to be, and that is to love Him with all our being. When our love for God is genuine, it is reflected in how we love our neighbor. This year should not revolve around ourselves but around His will and His purpose for our lives.

    When Paul wrote to the believers in Colossae, he began by reminding them of who they were in God. He called them “the elect of God, holy and beloved (Colossians‬ ‭3:12‬).” Before correcting behavior, Paul first affirmed their identity in Christ. Only after that did he tell them how they should live and treat one another. Then, Paul urged them to “put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, and longsuffering” (Colossians 3:12). These qualities reflect the very character of God. As followers of the LORD Jesus Christ, we are called to walk the way He walks—full of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

    The verse we are focusing on continues with Paul continues with this instruction, “bearing with one another.” The Greek word used here is “anechō,” which means to endure, to bear, or to suffer patiently. This reminds us that loving others sometimes requires patience, especially when relationships are difficult.

    Many Christians today openly express frustration about their church or their experiences with other believers. While those feelings may be real, we must remember this truth, just as others may be difficult to us, we can also be difficult to others. None of us are perfect. We are all still growing, and God is still working in each of us.

    To bear with one another does not mean we excuse their wrong behavior. Instead, it means we choose patience, kindness, and understanding, even when it is hard. We extend to others the same grace God has shown to us. Just as the LORD Jesus has been patient and kind with us, we are called to show that same patience and kindness to one another.

    This is why Paul continues by saying, “and forgiving one another.” He understood how challenging this can be. It is not easy to remain patient with someone who claims to follow Christ but does not always reflect His character. Their actions can wound us, offend us, and cause real pain. Yet forgiveness is not optional for us believers; it is a command from God. As it is written, ““For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew‬ ‭6:14-15)‬

    Have you ever considered how powerful forgiveness truly is? This is why Paul continues by saying, “If anyone has a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” The truth is, we all have complaints against one another, against ourselves, and even within our own families. We are imperfect people, wounded and still healing, all in process as God works to release us from past pain and trauma. There is so much happening in our hearts and minds, and sometimes the pain we carry overflows into our relationships. Yet, Paul expands God’s command to love our neighbor by giving us deeper instruction. He reminds us that forgiveness is not based on how others treat us, but on how the LORD Jesus Christ has treated us. “Forgiving one another, even as Christ also forgave you.” Think about that for a moment. We are all broken in different ways, yet God did not turn away from us.

    When you read the Gospels, you can see that Jesus truly understood our weakness. He didn’t pretend it wasn’t hard. He even said, “How long shall I bear with you?” (Matthew 17:17). Jesus felt the same frustration and pain we feel when people disappoint us, offend us, or wound us deeply. As it is written, “He sighed deeply in His spirit” (Mark 8:12). That deep sigh reveals the weight Jesus carried in His heart. Imagine God putting on human flesh, walking among His own creation, and declaring Himself to be the Son of God, yet even His closest disciples, who saw Him, heard Him, and touched Him, still struggled to believe in Him. That pain was real. As it is written, “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” (John‬ ‭1:11‬)‭

    And yet Jesus chose to bear with them. He chose to bear with us. He did not walk away when people failed Him. He did not give up when they doubted, misunderstood, or offended Him. Instead, Jesus carried our sins to the cross so that we could be forgiven and brought back to the Father. “For the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). That joy was not the pain of the cross, it was the forgiveness He would extend to us. The cross is the clearest proof of God’s deep and powerful forgiveness. God placed our sins upon the LORD Jesus Christ so that we could be reconciled to Him. This forgiveness was not earned. We did not deserve it. Yet God gave it freely because He loves us deeply. Instead of giving us the wrath we deserved, He chose mercy. Instead of pushing us away, He chose reconciliation.

    This is why forgiveness is so powerful. It brings us back to God and frees us from guilt and shame. And when we choose to forgive others, it frees us too. Forgiveness breaks the hold of bitterness, anger, and hatred the very chains the enemy uses to keep our hearts bound. Forgiveness does more than release us; it changes us. It produces love, peace, and joy within us. It opens the door to healing, restored relationships, and reconciliation. It allows God’s grace to move freely in our lives and reveals His character through us—merciful, patient, and full of love. As it is written, “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar” (1 John 4:20). Forgiveness is not just something God gives, it is the evidence that His love is truly at work in us.

    Today, on the first day of this new year, my prayer for you is this, ask God to give you a deeper understanding of His great love for you and His great forgiveness toward us all. As you grow in that understanding, may He also give you the grace to forgive those who have hurt you, just as Christ has forgiven you.

  • II Chronicles‬ ‭1:7

    “On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask! What shall I give you?”” — II Chronicles‬ ‭1:7

    Before King David died, he gathered the leaders and people of Israel for one final address. David made it clear that God Himself had chosen Solomon to be the next king of Israel.

    David also addresses his deep desire to build a house for the Lord, but the task was not appointed to him. God had appointed his Son to build the temple for His name. David was a man of war who had shed much blood, and because of this, the LORD chose Solomon, his son, for that great work.

    When God spoke of His Son building a house for His name, we understand that Solomon’s calling becomes a foreshadowing of God’s greater plan, a glimpse of the redemption God would accomplish for the entire world through our LORD Jesus Christ. As it is written, 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 )

    Solomon took his father’s words to his heart and fully committed himself to the task entrusted to him. Before he ever began building the temple, Solomon went to Gibeon, where the tabernacle of the LORD God was located. There, he offered a thousand burnt offerings before God to express his gratitude and thanksgiving.

    That very night, Solomon encountered God in a dream. And God said to him, “Ask! What shall I give you?”

    Many of us long to hear those words from God. Imagine the LORD God coming to us and asking what we desire. In Solomon’s case, there were no stated conditions placed on God’s invitation. The Lord simply said, “Ask.” The Word of God later confirms that Solomon could have asked for many things. God Himself said, ““...Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king—” ‭‭(II Chronicles‬ ‭1:11)‬. This tells us if Solomon had asked for long life, the defeat of his enemies, or great wealth, the LORD would have granted it.

    This verse has become a dream for many people, including Christians, who desire God to appear and ask them what they want, almost as if God were a genie granting wishes. But before we claim the promise, we must look carefully at the context.

    Solomon was chosen not just to rule over another nation but to lead the very people of God. Along with the crown, he was given a divine assignment to build the temple of the LORD. Solomon was willing and determined to complete this work, using the materials his father, David, had already prepared. For those who are willing and determined to walk in what God has called them to do, God is faithful to respond. As Scripture says, “Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

    This is the God we serve. We cannot outlove Him, outserve Him, or outgive Him. Whatever we place in His hands, He is able to return far more than we could ever offer.

    Abraham was willing to trust and obey God, even when it meant leaving everything familiar behind. He believed God, and God counted his faith as righteousness, blessing him and making him the father of faith and a blessing to all nations.

    David, the father of Solomon, began his journey as a shepherd, yet God raised him up to become the ruler of Israel.

    Isaac was willing to walk in the promise given to his father. Even during a time of famine, he remained obedient, and God blessed him abundantly.

    Joseph stayed faithful through seasons of suffering, choosing to trust God rather than grow bitter. In due time, God exalted him and used him to preserve entire nations.

    Moses, though he felt inadequate and unqualified, obeyed God’s call. God used him to deliver Israel from bondage and spoke with him face-to-face, showing to us that God works powerfully through those who are willing to follow Him.

    Have you noticed that Jesus says this to His disciples repeatedly? Again and again, He tells them, “Ask, and it shall be given to you.” (Matthew 7:7; Luke 11:9; John 16:24). When Jesus spoke these words, He was not speaking casually or addressing the crowds at random. He spoke them to those who were walking with Him, learning from Him, and being prepared for the work He would later entrust to them. His invitation to ask was directed toward disciples whose hearts were being shaped to align with God’s will and purpose.

    Now, we must not misunderstand this. God desires everyone to ask Him, to depend on Him, and to rely on Him fully. Yet the focus here is not merely on what we are asking but on the fact that God Himself invites His people to ask. When we truly walk with God and live in His presence, we often find that we ask for less, not because we lack need, but because our hearts are at rest. In His presence, there is peace, trust, and confidence that God will take care of us. Our prayers become filled with thanksgiving and praise.

    Yet the LORD Jesus still calls us to bring our desires before Him, “that our joy may be full.” (John 16:24). Those who love Jesus deeply and abide in Him will not ask for things that would turn their hearts away from His presence. Rather, their requests are shaped by fellowship with Him, and their desires are formed by walking in His will. We see this clearly in the life of King David. In his moments of greatest failure, what terrified him most was not the loss of power, wealth, or position, but the thought of being separated from the presence of God. He cried out, “Take not thy holy spirit from me.” (Psalm 51:11) This is the heart of those who truly walk with God not a heart that demands, but a heart that longs to remain in His presence above all else.

    In other words, God’s invitation was not about self-centered desires but about partnership with His mission. Jesus made this clear when He taught His disciples about abiding in Him. He said, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” (John‬ ‭15:7‬)‭ Every Christian who walks closely with Jesus can be assured that God hears their prayers. I want to share my personal testimony. This past week had been filled with rain, which is common during December in California. Yet about six months before my son’s birthday celebration, I prayed and asked God for a bright and clear day. By God’s grace, that Saturday turned out to be a beautiful, shining day, and there was no sign of rain at all. My prayer had nothing to do with church ministry. It was simply the prayer of a daughter speaking to her Father in heaven. Our Father God does not forbid us, His children, from enjoying life here on Earth. Instead, He wants us to enjoy His blessings in ways that draw us closer to Him rather than lead us away.

    Even before Solomon asked, God already knew what was in his heart, for the Lord declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). He knew that Solomon would ask for wisdom so that he could serve God’s people, and this request pleased Him.

    When we come to God not seeking to please ourselves but to honor Him, He delights in answering our prayers in ways that draw us closer to His presence, not farther from it. The Word of God also helps us to understand why some prayers seem unanswered. As it is written, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James ‭4:3‬). Some prayers go unanswered not because God is unwilling, but because what we are asking for could become a stumbling block that might slowly turn our hearts away from Him. Let us keep this in mind and guard our hearts carefully. God’s responses to our prayers are always guided by His love and His desire to keep us abiding in Him.


  • Psalms‬ ‭60:11

    “Give us help from trouble, For the help of man is useless.”

    What is interesting about this verse is what King David must have felt while he was in battle against his enemies. We can read the historical accounts in 2 Samuel 8 and 1 Chronicles 18, but those passages mainly record David’s victories and triumphs. They do not fully describe his struggles, his fears, or the emotions he experienced in the midst of war.

    “David also defeated Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his territory at the River Euphrates. David took from him one thousand chariots, seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Also David hamstrung all the chariot horses, except that he spared enough of them for one hundred chariots. When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians. Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became David’s servants, and brought tribute. So the Lord preserved David wherever he went.” II Samuel‬ ‭8:3-6‬ ‭

    Psalm 60 gives us a picture of the heart of King David during the battles, before the victories and before the celebration. Instead of focusing on triumph, King David speaks about the opposition, resistance, difficulties, and challenges he faced while the battle was still ongoing.

    When we read about the victories of King David over his enemies, we may think that God did everything for David. While God is the source of victory, scripture also shows us that David still had a part to play. God works in us and for us, yet He did not create us to do nothing. He created us with purpose, in His own likeness, to walk in obedience and faith. God desires to work in us, but He also desires intimate fellowship with us. Throughout Scripture, we see that God works together with His people, not apart from them. One of my favorite examples of this is the battle of Jericho and the entry into the Promised Land. God was with Joshua and the people of Israel, fighting alongside them to drive out the giants and the nations of Canaan.

    For God to bring victory and success to King David, David walked a path filled with long hours of preparation, seasons of testing, moments of struggle, and times when the outcome was uncertain. Faith did not remove the battle; it shaped how David walked through it. Also, victory did not come without effort, faith, and endurance.

    Yet this does not mean that God left David on his own. Scripture clearly tells us, “…And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went” (2 Samuel 8:14). God was present in every step, guarding him through every challenge.

    We understand this truth in our own lives, especially in our work. Our coworkers have their own weaknesses. Under heavy pressure, mistakes happen. Misunderstandings arise. Things become messy. Sometimes people choose not to help because of personal reasons. In moments like these, we are reminded that human help can fall short. This is true in every area of life. Doctors can help us, but they cannot fully heal us. Therapists can guide us, but they cannot completely fill the emptiness inside. Even our husbands and wives can love us and support us, yet they too have limits.

    King David declared that without God, even the strongest help is empty. This truth is powerful when we consider how the Bible describes the men who fought alongside him. David’s army was not weak or untrained. Scripture calls them mighty men of valor, warriors known for courage, strength, and skill in battle.

    The Bible describes these men not as ordinary men, but as mighty men who fought alongside King David. (2 Samuel 23:8)

    One of them is Josheb-basshebeth, is described as a man who “…lifted up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.” (2 Samuel 23:8)

    Another, Eleazar, stood his ground when others fled, “And he arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword…” (2 Samuel 23:9–10,)

    Then there was Shammah, who defended a field when “… the people fled from the Philistines. But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines…” (2 Samuel 23:11–12)

    The Scriptures also tell us about Abishai, the brother of Joab, who was chief of another group of three. He lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name among these three.” (II Samuel‬ ‭23:11-12, 18‬)

    There were many more warriors like these. All of them are described by Scripture as “Mighty men of valour, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear…” (1 Chronicles 12:8)

    Yet King David’s words remind us that while God may use people to help us, even the strongest human help has limits. Our ultimate help comes only from the LORD God. When human strength reaches its end, God’s strength remains.

    We may trust the people around us but the truth is this, only Jesus can fully help us with every trouble we face or find ourselves in. People can support us, but they cannot heal every wound, fill every emptiness, or carry every burden. Only God can do that. Because the people around us have their own limits, their own weaknesses, and their own struggles. They may want to help, but they cannot do everything.

    Like David, we can cry out to Him and say, “Give me help from all the trouble I am facing, for the help of man is useless.” LORD Jesus, You alone can fill the void and emptiness inside me. You alone can transform my life. You alone can touch people’s hearts. You alone can change lives. You alone can make a way, and You alone can lift my head high. You alone give me strength when I am weak and hope when I am weary. You alone see my struggles before I speak them. You alone go before me in every battle and remain with me in every storm. When I have no answers and no strength left, You remain faithful.

    You alone, LORD Jesus, are our greatest Helper —the One who died on the cross for us, rose again, and loves us deeply. He is our refuge and our deliverer. In every season of trouble and in every moment of need, You are enough. Our very present help in times of troubles. Amen!

  • ‭‭I Peter‬ ‭5:6‬ ‭

    “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,” – I Peter‬ ‭5:6‬ ‭

    This verse was written by a man who once lived impulsively and often acted before thinking and before understanding. On the night before Jesus was betrayed, Peter confidently said to the Lord, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” ...” (Matthew 26:35), and yet later that same night he denied Jesus three times (Luke 22:61). That same night, when Jesus was arrested, Peter cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant. By harming the servant of the priest, Peter could have been judged and faced severe punishment, even death. But the Lord Jesus healed the servant, removing the evidence of Peter’s sin, just as He has done for all of us.

    But this same Peter was transformed by the grace of God and filled with the Holy Ghost. God used him to teach the early church, and through his words, He still teaches us today, saying, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God”. Yes, Peter was impulsive, but his love for God was genuine.

    And if we are honest, we see ourselves in him. We live in this flesh, and too often it pulls us into sin and away from the will of God. When fear took hold of Peter, he denied the LORD Jesus. There was no excuse for what he did, just as there is no excuse for our own failures. Yet God, who is rich in mercy and grace, always reaches out to us. He gives us what we do not deserve and offers us another chance to make things right, just as He did for Peter.

    Peter came to understand what he once lacked and what many of us still struggle with today, and that is humility before God. Humility does not come naturally to us. We are born in the flesh, and the flesh produces death. It is filled with pride which leads to sin, chaos, and a broken life. From a young age, we learn to compare ourselves with others, to compete, and to prove our worth. We chase brands, status, and appearances because we think that make us look wealthy successful and important, believing they will somehow give us value.

    Pride reaches far deeper than what we wear or what we own. Families are broken because of pride. Jesus said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.” (Matthew 19:8). Divorce was never God’s desire. It was permitted because hardened hearts refused humility. Many people argue about the grounds for divorce, especially sexual immorality. But if we are honest before God, we must admit that all of us have been unfaithful in one way or another. From the beginning, humanity has chosen disobedience. Adam chose Eve over obedience to God. Israel repeatedly chose idols over faithfulness to the Lord. Time and time again, God’s people turned away from Him.

    By our sin, we all deserved separation from God. Divorce means separation, and God had every right to separate Himself from us. Yet look at how God responded. He did not respond with pride, as we often do. He did not say, “You failed, so I am done.” Instead of choosing judgment, He humbled Himself and put on human flesh. He was declared as the Son of God, Jesus Christ. He went to the cross, died for our sins, and rose again so that we could be reconciled to Him. This is humility.

    Humility brings reconciliation. Pride brings separation. When we choose humility, we choose people over pride, restoration over being right, and love over judgment. In the same way God chose us over judgment.

    Humility is very important before God. There is no true repentance without genuine humility. It is the moment we kneel before Him and honestly say, “LORD Jesus, I am wrong. I am a sinner, and I need You to save me from the mess I have made.”

    Humility is also an open door in many ways. As we have learned, it opens the door to reconciliation, forgiveness, and salvation. Humility is yielding to God, relying on Him, and depending on Him at all times. It is acknowledging that God is God in our lives, not us. This is where we begin to understand why Peter says, “that He may exalt you in due time.” When God truly sits on the throne of our lives, in our minds, our hearts, and our souls, He is faithful to bless us in ways only He can. As it is written, By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life (Proverbs 22:4) and Before honour is humility (Proverbs 15:33) .

    When we walk in meekness before God, we learn not to lean on our own understanding but to trust in Him. We begin to acknowledge Him before we act, before we speak, and before we decide. This shows a willing heart. God will not force Himself on anyone, because He honors the free will He has given us. He works with those who are willing to walk with Him. And as His Word promises, God will direct our paths, because a humble heart is always willing to walk and work with Him.

    If you desire to be exalted by chasing pride and the approval of this world, it may make you look successful and wealthy on the outside, but inside you will still feel empty. You can have the titles, the money, and the applause, yet your soul will remain unsatisfied because pride promises fulfillment but never delivers.

    But when you humble yourself before God, something changes in a deeper way. God opens doors you never knew were there and He lifts you in ways no one else can. He gives honor that does not fade along with riches that cannot be taken away and a fulfillment that reaches the deepest places of your heart.

    Peter learned this truth firsthand. Though he was known for his impulsiveness, through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit and through intimate fellowship with the LORD Jesus, Peter was exalted by God. He became a pillar of the church not by his own strength or ability but through the power and grace of God working in his life.


  • 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?

  • ‭‭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.


  • ‭‭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.

  • ‭‭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.