Author: Anna

  • 1 Corinthians 1:18

    “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” — 1 Corinthians 1:18

    When we share the gospel of LORD Jesus Christ, many people mock us or reject the message. Some say, “It’s not true,” or “I don’t need someone to save me, I can save myself.” Others insist there are many ways to be saved, not only through LORD Jesus Christ. Some even ask, “Why did LORD Jesus Christ have to die for us? Who asked Him to?” Some go as far as to joke that we’ll have a party in hell.

    The same kind of attitude we face today also existed in the Church of Corinth. Many sought to understand the wisdom behind the cross, yet the ways of God cannot be fully grasped by human reasoning. Paul spoke of this in his letter, saying, “We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory; which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:7–8). The cross was the hidden wisdom of God, a divine plan that satan could not comprehend it. satan believed that by crucifying the LORD Jesus Christ, he could end His mission. He thought that the death of Christ would stop the light from spreading and silence the voice that cast him out of those he had bound.

    From the moment the LORD Jesus Christ began His ministry the kingdom of satan started to tremble and fall. LORD Jesus Christ healed every sickness and diseases. Those who were bound by the devil were set free. He opened blind eyes, made the lame walk, and restored those who were broken in spirit. Every healing and every deliverance declared that the kingdom of God had come and that the power of darkness was being overthrown. Wherever the LORD Jesus Christ went, restoration followed. Miracles happened. Lives were transformed, chains were broken, and hope was restored. He cast out demons and stripped them of authority over mankind. He rebuked the winds and the waves, showing His dominion over all creation. satan despised this. He hated that the LORD Jesus Christ walked in authority, purity and holiness, showing us how we were meant to live as God originally created us before the fall. Unable to overcome Him in temptation or power, Satan entered the heart of Judas Iscariot to betray Him. He thought that by having LORD Jesus Christ beaten, spat upon, scourged, stripped naked and crucified on the cross, and counted among the notorious criminals, everything would return to his control. Yet what Satan meant for victory became his eternal defeat. The cross that Satan used as a weapon became the altar of his fall.

    In the time of the LORD Jesus Christ, the idea of a crucified Savior was not something people wanted to hear. Crucifixion was the most shameful and painful form of punishment, reserved only for the worst and most notorious criminals. To say that the God whom they served and followed had been crucified was unthinkable. To them, it sounded foolish and disgraceful. They said in their hearts, “You mean to tell me that the LORD Jesus Christ, who was crucified and counted as a criminal, is able to save me? How can He save others if He could not save Himself from the cross? You want me to follow Him and be treated as one of the condemned?”

    To the world, the cross was a symbol of defeat and shame. But to those who truly understand the message of the cross, it is the power of God to those who believe and are saved by it (1 Corinthians 1:18).

    The LORD Jesus Christ said that through the cross He would strip satan of his power and cast him out. “Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Myself” (John 12:31–32). When the LORD Jesus Christ was lifted up on the cross, this prophecy was fulfilled. Satan’s power over humanity was broken. His authority to accuse and condemn was taken away. Through the LORD Jesus Christ death on the cross would draw every people’s heart to Him.

    Why are we drawn to Him? The apostle Peter declares, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). Upon that cross the LORD Jesus Christ carried the full weight of our sin and guilt. He took the record of our transgressions and nailed them there. As Paul wrote, “Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us, He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:14–15). Before the cross, every sin stood recorded in the book of judgment in heaven. Each offense cried out for justice, and the law condemned us to death. Yet the LORD Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God took our place. The wrath that was due to us fell upon Him. The sentence that condemned us to hell was satisfied by His sacrifice. He bore our guilt and paid our debt in full. At that cross, the LORD Jesus Christ did not only remove our sin. He also stripped authority of darkness. All of satan’s accusations, every piece of evidence he held against us, all condemnation, even the curse of the law, and every legal right the enemy claimed over our lives were completely disarmed at the cross. The accuser of the brethren was silenced. The cross became a public display of his defeat. The cross became the courtroom of Heaven where the verdict was declared once and for all, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).  Through His death, the LORD Jesus Christ destroyed the one who held the power of death. As it is written, “That through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14).

    When the LORD Jesus Christ cried out, “It is finished,” the work of redemption was complete. The debt of sin for all mankind was paid in full. The record of our transgressions was blotted out, the evidence of our guilt destroyed. Sin could no longer hold its claim over us. The righteous wrath of God was satisfied. At that moment, the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom, signifying that the separation between God and man was removed. Access to the Holy of Holies was opened, and through the blood of Jesus we received forgiveness and reconciliation the greatest gift of all.

    The blood of the LORD Jesus Christ, shed upon the cross and falling to the earth, speaks better things than the blood of Abel. It does not cry out for judgment, it proclaims reconciliation, forgiveness, restoration, and grace to all who believe.

    The LORD Jesus Christ endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him, knowing that through His sacrifice we would be redeemed and drawn back to Himself. He despised the shame, seeing beyond the suffering to the glory that would follow (Hebrews 12:2). To Him, the cross was not a mark of disgrace but the perfect demonstration of His great love for us.

    That cross stands as the immutable evidence of the love of the LORD Jesus Christ that transcends time, space and matter. His greatest love that no power in heaven nor on earth can separate us from. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? …Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 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 ‭8:35, 37-39‬)

    No wonder Paul declared his unwavering faith to the Corinthians, saying, “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). And to the Galatians he wrote, “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14). To those who are perishing, the message of the cross holds no value. They see it only through the eyes of the world, as something shameful, disgraceful, and foolish. But to Paul, and to all who believe, the cross is the greatest expression of God’s love. It is through the cross that the LORD Jesus Christ poured out His grace upon all humanity. What the world calls foolishness, God calls salvation. 


  • 1 Corinthians 1:9

    God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” — 1 Corinthians 1:9

    Most of the time, I get so caught up trying to be faithful to what God has called me to do. I give my best to accomplish and finish the work He has placed in my hands. But sometimes, in the midst of all that effort, I find myself drifting away from the truth that God alone is truly faithful. The main purpose of His calling is not just for us to complete the tasks He assigns, but to walk in fellowship with Him. Like the church in Ephesus, it’s easy to become so focused on doing the work of God that we slowly drift from our first love 

    When Paul wrote that “God is faithful”, he was speaking to a church that was far from perfect. The believers in Corinth were struggling. There were arguments and divisions among them, pride over spiritual gifts, confusion in worship, and even moral sin that had been ignored. The church was broken and needed correction. But before Paul said anything about their failures, he reminded them of who God is. In verse 8, he told them that it is God who will sustain them to the end, confirming them so that they will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, even though they were struggling, God would not abandon them. He would continue the work He had begun in them.

    We can understand the struggles of the Corinthians, for they didn’t have the entire Word of God within their reach to instruct and guide them in their walk with God as we do today. Yet now, we have the entire Word of God within our reach, in our homes, and on our phones but still, not everyone takes the time to read it. This often becomes the reason why many continue to struggle in life and drift spiritually. Even I, who read my Bible every day, still find myself struggling to live in full obedience to God. That’s why Paul reminded the believers in Corinth and all of us, that only God is truly faithful, and only He can help us in our weakness. The Word of God says in Lamentations 3:22–23 says, “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

    We are now acceptable to God, not because of anything good we have done, for we have all sinned and fallen short of His glory. On our own, we cannot produce anything truly righteous or pleasing to Him. But in His great mercy and faithfulness that we are not all consumed because God made a way for us to be reconciled to Himself. He stepped down from His throne and took on flesh, declared to be the Son of God. The Lord Jesus was beaten, mocked, and spat upon. He was scourged and crucified, hanging on a cross, stripped of His garments, and shamed before men. He endured all of this for our transgressions and was bruised for our iniquities. The punishment that we all deserved was laid upon Him, and through the shedding of His blood we have been brought near to the throne of God. Through His death and resurrection, He conquered sin and death so that we might be restored to fellowship with the Father and never again be separated from His presence. By His precious blood, our sins are washed away, and eternal life in His Kingdom is freely given to all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

    Through the faithfulness of God, we have obtained reconciliation by our Lord Jesus Christ. This is why Paul reminded the Corinthians that they were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Paul’s confidence in them was not based on their strength or understanding but on the unfailing faithfulness of God, who alone has the power to transform hearts.

    Paul himself was a living testimony of this transforming grace. Once a persecutor of the church, he encountered the LORD Jesus on the road to Damascus, and his life was forever changed. Instead of being consumed by the judgment he deserved, Paul received the mercy of God. From that moment,
    Paul walked in fellowship with the LORD Jesus Christ, being taught by the LORD Himself and strengthened by His Spirit. The one who had brought terror to believers now became a mighty vessel of God’s proclaiming the gospel and had built so many churches of God he once tried to destroy.

    Though Paul had been trained in the law from his youth and was well-versed in the Scriptures, he confessed that he had not truly known God until he came to know LORD Jesus Christ. If such transformation was possible for Paul. Once a blasphemer and persecutor, how much more could the same God work in the hearts of the Corinthians who were newly brought out of idolatry and ignorance of the truth? 

    What Paul is speaking of here comes from his own experience that our salvation, our reconciliation with God, and even the gift of the Holy Spirit are all the result of God’s faithfulness. Through his encounter with LORD Jesus Christ, he came to understand that the greatest calling in life is not only to believe in LORD Jesus Christ but to walk in a intimate fellowship with Him. Belief is the beginning, but fellowship is the journey. We are not merely called to acknowledge the gift of salvation offered of the LORD Jesus Christ. We are called to know Him deeply, to walk with Him daily, and to grow in communion with His Spirit.

    It is only through our fellowship with the Lord Jesus that true transformation begins not by our own strength or effort. Were we not reconciled so that we might be with God? To dwell in His kingdom, where He abides in the midst of His people? Our calling is not only to accomplish the work He has given us but to walk with Him as we do it. We are not meant to labor apart from Him, but to labor with Him in fellowship.

    Whenever I read about Joshua and the Israelites as they went forth to possess the Promised Land, I am reminded that our fellowship with God is not only in times of peace and blessing but also in times of battle. There are moments when the Lord calls us to be still and watch His deliverance, yet there are also moments when He commands us to rise up, to fight, and to take back what the enemy has tried to steal. The Lord was not distant nor merely watching from the heavens. He was with His people, fighting together with them. As the Israelites faced their enemies, the Lord Himself cast down great hailstones from heaven, and the Scripture says that more were killed by the hail than by the sword of Israel. 
    I often imagine that scene and wish I had the skill to paint it, the LORD of hosts moving among His people, mighty in power, fighting together with them for the promise He had given.

  • Habakkuk 2:3

    “For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” — Habakkuk 2:3

    When we read the book of Habakkuk, we see that the prophet does not tell us which tribe he came from or who his father was, unlike many other prophets who mentioned their family line. Habakkuk’s book also does not begin with a command from God to speak to the people. Instead, it is a personal conversation between Habakkuk and God. The prophet speaks to God with an groaning heart. Habakkuk seeks the presence of God and asks why the Lord allows evil to prosper and why He seems silent when the wicked oppress the righteous and God responds with an answer that he did not expect. The LORD tells him that He will send the Babylonians to judge His people, and that His will shall be done in its appointed time. This reveals the heart of a righteous man living among a wicked generation.

    When God says, “For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie” (Habakkuk 2:3). We must first understand the character of God. God is not quick to destroy or eager to judge. That is not His nature. The Lord Himself declares, “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?” (Ezekiel 18:23). God never takes pleasure in the death of the wicked, because to die in sin is to be eternally separated from Him. For unrighteousness cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That is why the Lord calls, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7). Through repentance, we receive mercy from God. God hates sin because it separates us from Him and it grieves His heart. He is a righteous Judge, and because He is holy, He cannot overlook sin. His law declares, “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, life for life” (Exodus 21:24), and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

    Yet in His great mercy and lovingkindness, God Himself stepped down from His throne and was manifested in the flesh, declared to be the Son of God (1 Timothy 3:16). He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:8). He was despised and rejected of men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3). He was beaten, mocked, spat upon, scourged, and crucified. He hung upon the cross, stripped and shamed, bearing our griefs and carrying our sorrows. He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). Jesus who knew no sin was counted among the transgressors and bore the sin of many (Isaiah 53:12). He took upon Himself the punishment we all deserved, for “the wages of sin is death” . Yet on the third day, He rose again in glory and power, conquering sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:4–57), that we might be reconciled to God and no longer separated from His presence. Through His precious blood, our sins are washed away, and eternal life is granted to all who believe in His Name (John 3:16; Revelation 1:5). That makes us understand that if living in sin were right in the sight of God, then Jesus would not have needed to die on the cross. 

    God appointed a day of judgment, because He is a righteous and just God. Though His heart is grieved, that day is already set for those who reject His salvation, a day of eternal separation from His presence. Just as God raised up the Babylonians to judge Judah and the Assyrians to judge Israel, so will He once again rise to judge the whole world at His appointed time. As the Apostle Paul declared in Athens, “because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man [that Man is Jesus Christ] whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”(Acts 17:31) Therefore, if anyone does not have Jesus Christ in their life, they stand condemned already. On the great day of judgment at the Great White Throne all who reject Him will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11–15). Just as Judah was judged for its sin, so will all the earth face God’s final judgment.

    Yet, until that day, His mercy still calls out, “…Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts‬ ‭2:38‬). ‭

    When God says, Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” He assures Habakkuk that whatever He has appointed will surely come to pass not in our time, but in His perfect time. For God is gracious and full of mercy, giving every person the opportunity to repent. You and I are living proofs of God’s forbearance and longsuffering, for He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

    As the righteous living in a wicked generation, we can feel what Habakkuk felt, the heavy burden of seeing evil increase everywhere. We see how our loved ones are being affected by the wickedness of this world. The food we eat has become poison to our bodies because people are driven by greed for money. Lawmakers have lost all fear of God, creating laws that go against His Word. Having sex outside of marriage has become normal, and killing the innocent unborn has become a business and called “woman’s right” while the child in her womb has no right to live. We don’t need birth control!! we need self-control. The Word of God says we must “deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world” (Titus 2:12). Children are now being taught to question who they are, even to identify as animals. As confusion spreads like wildfire. They are being robbed of truth and left to wander in darkness. The world is drowning in lies because it has rejected its Creator.

    Even the earth itself groans under the weight of sin. As the Scripture says, “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Romans 8:22). The blood of the innocent cries out from the ground, just as it did in the days of Abel. Corruption, violence, and pride fill the earth once again, just as in the days of Noah.

    Yet in the midst of this darkness, God’s command remains the same, wait. Just as He told Habakkuk to wait, He tells us to wait upon Him. The apostle James exhorts us, “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth… Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh” (James 5:7–8). The world we are living in already has an appointed day to be judged and destroyed. God has set the time and it will surely come. That is why He is preparing a new heaven and a new earth for all who belong to Him. As it is written, “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13). That is what we should be longing and looking for, not to this world appointed to be destroyed. As Paul reminds Titus and us, we should look for “that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). This world is not our home. Our permanent dwelling is not here on earth but in the Kingdom of God. We are not citizens of this world. We are citizens of Heaven (Philippians 3:20). We are ambassadors of Christ.

    So do not set your heart on the things of this world, for all of it will soon pass away. Instead, fix your eyes on the things above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1–2). Set your mind on what God has called and assigned you to do fulfill the work He has entrusted to your hands so that His purpose in you may be finished and accomplished. For soon, the trumpet will sound, and King Jesus will return in power and great glory. He will make war against the devil, defeat him, and cast him into the lake of fire. Then those who belong to the LORD Jesus Christ, the faithful and redeemed will reign with Him forever and ever 


  • Romans 2:11

    “For there is no partiality with God.” — Romans 2:11

    This verse silences those who believe they are more accepted by God because of their background, position, or gender. 

    Salvation is not only for certain ethnics or backgrounds. It is for everyone.

    In this passage, Paul is speaking to the Jews, who were confident that being descendants of Abraham made them righteous in God’s sight. However, Paul explains that salvation does not come through the Law of Moses or by being Israelites, but through faith in Jesus Christ alone. John the Baptist also warned them against this false confidence when he said that God could raise up children for Abraham from the very stones (Matthew 3:9).

    Their belief contained a portion of truth, for God did choose Israel to receive His covenant. As Paul writes in Romans, “They are beloved for the fathers’ sakes” (Romans 11:28). And again, “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob” (Romans 11:25–26). Yes, through their fathers they obtained favor from God, but confidence in their ancestry and the Law cannot bring them into God’s Kingdom. They must still repent and believe in LORD Jesus Christ to be saved.

    Their repentance will come one day when all Israel will finally recognize the LORD Jesus as their true Messiah, they had been waiting for. Yet what they were expecting to see in His first coming will actually take place in His second coming. Zechariah foretold this moment, saying, “They shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn” (Zechariah 12:10). On that day, they will look upon the LORD Jesus and finally believe that He is truly the Messiah they have long awaited. They will weep in deep sorrow, showing repentance for what they did to Him and for failing to recognize Him because of their hardened hearts. But this reveals to us that they, too, must go through the same process as we all do, they must repent and believe in the LORD Jesus Christ to be saved.

    Jesus made this truth clear when He spoke with Nicodemus. When He said, “For God so loved the world,” those words were radical. To Nicodemus, a Pharisee and teacher of the Law this was shocking because the Jews had long believed that God’s love and salvation were reserved only for them. Yet Jesus revealed that God’s love extends to all humanity. Every person has fallen short, every person has sinned, and all stand condemned, for “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Therefore, everyone whether Jew or Gentile must believe in Jesus Christ and be born again of the Spirit and of water to enter the Kingdom of God. We understand that salvation is found only through Jesus Christ. There is no other way, no other name, and no other person through whom we can be saved. As Jesus Himself declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

    Why does God show no partiality to anyone?

    Isn’t it we are all created in His image and in His likeness? Because in the sight of God every person has equal worth and value. As the book of Job says, “He shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor; for they are all the work of His hands” (Job 34:19). God does not look at our wealth, position, or power. Whether rich or poor, strong or weak, every one of us was formed by His hands, and even the breath we breathe is borrowed from Him. Everything we have and everything we are comes from God.

    The apostle Paul also spoke about this truth. During a time when slavery and social divisions were common, he instructed masters to treat their servants with kindness and respect, saying, “And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him” (Ephesians 6:9). Paul was teaching that no one should treat others as less than human, regardless of their position or status in life. In this world, people are often divided by class, wealth, and power, but these distinctions hold no value in the sight of God. Before Him, all people are equal. The one who leads and the one who serves are both created in the image of God, and both are precious in His sight. One day, everyone will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Each person will give an account of their life to God (Romans 14:12). On that day, it will not matter how much wealth, power, or fame anyone had on earth. What will matter is whether we believed in Jesus Christ and walked in obedience to His Word.

    Many people say that women should not be pastors, leaders, or hold positions of authority in the church simply because they are women. But isn’t that also partiality? The Word of God clearly teaches that He shows no favoritism. So, if God is impartial when it comes to race and status, would He then show partiality when it comes to gender? Of course not.

    Many men quote Paul’s words, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man” (1 Timothy 2:12), and use them as propaganda to discriminate against women. But they often forget that Paul also spoke highly of many faithful women who served God in leadership and ministry. For example, he commended Phoebe, a servant (deacon) of the church in Cenchrea (Romans 16:1–2), and Priscilla, who, together with her husband Aquila, taught Apollos more accurately in the Word of God (Acts 18:26). He also praised Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis, women who “labored much in the Lord” (Romans 16:12). Paul greeted Mary, who also “bestowed much labor on us” (Romans 16:6), and Junia, who was “of note among the apostles” (Romans 16:7), meaning she was respected and recognized as a fellow laborer in spreading the Gospel. He also mentioned Chloe, whose household was strong in faith and leadership within the church of Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:11). Euodia and Syntyche were two women Paul called his “fellow laborers in the gospel” (Philippians 4:2–3). These were women who ministered, taught, and served alongside Paul in the work of the Lord.

    So when people use one verse to silence all women or any ethnic group, they twist the Word of God out of context and ignore the full picture of Scripture. Paul never denied women their calling; he simply taught order and godly conduct in worship, not gender-based exclusion. Even Paul said, “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him” (Romans 10:12). Because in the sight of God each one of us is precious in His sight, It does not say “Jew” or “Roman,” but “His saints.” What matters to God is an individual who believes, follows, and obeys His Word.

    When Christ came, He revealed this in His conversation with Nicodemus, saying in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world” means that salvation is offered to all who believe in Him it does not matter where ethnic background they belong. Paul expand more this in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” He clearly says in God’s sight, there is no distinction of class, status, wealth, or position. We are all equal in value because we are all created in His image and likeness. Paul further explained this balance between man and woman, saying, “Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God” (1 Corinthians 11:11–12). All of Paul’s instructions were never meant to divide but to maintain order within the body of Christ. As a woman serving in the church and in leadership, I do not seek recognition for my position or title, because at the end of the day, God will not commend me for the rank I held, but for the obedience I showed that I fulfilled His will for my life and completed the work He called me to do.

    When it says, “For there is no partiality with God,” it reminds us that every one of us is equal in His sight. The Word of God was never given to divide or to put others down, but to unite us and bring order among His people. Its purpose is to edify, correct, and equip us so that we may grow in faith and draw closer to God. Let us never twist the Word of God for our own agenda or personal gain. Instead, let the Word of God lead us closer to Jesus, shaping our hearts to reflect His love, His humility, and His character.

  • Acts 28:3,5

    “But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. …But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.” Acts‬ ‭28:3, 5‬ ‭

    The Apostle Paul was on his way to Rome to stand before Caesar and present his case, for he had been falsely accused. While traveling by ship under Roman custody, Paul warned the sailors that danger lay ahead and that they should not continue the voyage. However, they did not listen to him. Soon after, a great storm arose and raged for many days, leaving the ship and all aboard in peril. But in the midst of the storm, God sent an angel to Paul with a message of assurance and protection, saying that no lives would be lost. Just as the Lord had promised, the ship was wrecked, but every person on board survived and the storm brought them safely to the island of Malta. Yet, the natives of the island showed them unusual kindness.

    The Apostle Paul didn’t just sit by the fire resting after the shipwreck. Even though he had gone through so much hardship, he still chose to serve. Instead of expecting others to help him, he picked up sticks to help keep the fire going to helped those around him. Paul lived out what the LORD Jesus taught, that He “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45) so we must all do. We all want to be great, then we must be servant of all.

    As Paul gathered the wood, a venomous snake, a viper, suddenly fastened onto his hand and the people of the island saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said among themselves that this man must be a murderer, whom though he had escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. But Paul shook off the snake into the fire and felt no harm and continued on.

    That moment when Paul shook off the viper into the fire teaches us about the power and authority that Jesus Christ has given to all believers. Through His name, we have been given the ability to overcome and shake off the attacks of the enemy. No matter how strong the serpent’s venom may seem, or how deep its bite, it cannot harm those who are redeemed and covered by the blood of the Lamb. Jesus said, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19, KJV).

    When Jesus died upon the cross, He conquered death once and for all. For as it is written, “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23, KJV). Death entered the world because of sin, through the disobedience of Adam and Eve. For it is written, Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14, KJV). In the beginning, mankind was created in the image and likeness of God, not only bearing His nature and attributes, but also possessing the gift of eternal life. Yet through transgression, sin awakened death and brought separation between man and God. Humanity, once destined for eternal fellowship, became subject to mortality, and sin separate us from the presence of God.

    Blessed be the Lord our God, who is rich in mercy and abundant in goodness. He humbled Himself and came down from His throne of glory, being declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:4). The Lord Jesus came to preach, to teach, and to show us how to live as sons and daughters of the Most High. Every word He spoke, every work He performed, was a pattern or a blueprint for His church to follow.

    When Jesus began to cast out devils, He revealed the authority that God had given to man from the very beginning. For it is written, “The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men” (Psalm 115:16, KJV). The earth was not given to evil spirits nor to fallen angels—they have no inheritance among mankind. Therefore, they must be dispossessed and cast out. As the Scripture declares, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).

    Our Lord gave no place to the enemy, neither permitted them to speak, for they were subject unto Him and by His authority, they are also subject unto us. That same authority He has now given to His church. The Lord said, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19).

    Therefore, when Paul shook off the viper into the fire, it became a living testimony of this divine truth: “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper” (Isaiah 54:17, KJV). This moment also reminds us that being a child of God does not mean we are exempt from trials, struggles, or attacks. The serpent waited for its moment to strike, just as the enemy looks for opportunities to drift us way from our faith. Yet, like Paul, we can shake off every attack of the adversary. Though the serpent may strike, his venom shall not prevail. As the Lord sent His angel to stand beside Paul during the night. The angel spoke, bringing comfort and assurance, saying, “Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee” (Acts 27:24). Paul suffered no harm because the purpose of God for his life was not yet fulfilled that he must stand before Caesar and bear witness of Christ even in the courts of Rome. The will of the Lord shall always stand, and none can overturn it. For “the counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations” (Psalm 33:11).

    The blood of the LORD Jesus Christ is our covering, our protection, and our victory. As it is written, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Revelation 12:11). They say that even when a venomous snake bites a sheep, the sheep does not die. Though the fangs pierce its flesh and the blood flows, the sheep lives for within its blood there is something that neutralizes the poison.  The serpent’s bite could not stop Paul, and the enemy’s attacks cannot stop those who walk in the will of God. Because through the blood of Jesus, no weapon formed against us shall prosper, for His blood is our defense, our covering, and our everlasting victory. To understand how powerful the blood of Jesus truly is, we must look at what it has accomplished for us. Through His blood, we have received redemption and the forgiveness of our sins. By His blood, we are justified and declared righteous before God. Through His blood, we are brought near to the Father and restored to fellowship with Him. We have obtained eternal redemption, not by our own works, but by His perfect sacrifice. Because of His blood, we can now come boldly before the throne of grace, standing in the very presence of God. His blood purifies us and makes us worthy to stand before Him, clothed in His righteousness. Lastly, His precious blood gives us victory over Satan and every power of darkness.

    Lastly, as Paul shook off the serpent into the fire, so also we, by the authority given unto us in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, shall cast down Satan and all his works. That moment was a foreshadowing of what is to come, when the devil and all his minions shall be cast into the lake of fire, as it is written, “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone… and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever” (Revelation 20:10). The same fire that brought warmth and light to Paul and to all who were with him is the very fire that consumed the viper. So it is with the power of God’s presence what the enemy meant for harm, God turns for victory. For our God is “a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29, KJV), and in His presence, every work of darkness is destroyed.

    And what greater assurance do we have, that the Holy Spirit Himself now dwells within us. The same Spirit who raised up Jesus from the dead, and the very same Spirit who strengthened and worked mightily through Paul. For it is written, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Romans 8:11). That same Holy Spirit continues to strengthen, guide, and empower us to walk in victory, to endure every trial, and to fulfill the will of God upon the earth.

    So you should never feel defeated, nor think that you are overcome, for the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you. Paul continued to stand firm because he knew what the blood of Christ had done for him, and he trusted in the Holy Spirit who lived within him. Because of that assurance, he did not give in to self-pity or despair. He understood that the power of God within him was greater than the trials around him. We, too, must remember that our circumstances do not limit God’s power. They become the very platform for His glory to be revealed. The hardships we face are not signs of defeat but opportunities for the Kingdom of God to expand on earth. Just as Paul and Silas, though bound in chains, lifted their voices and worshiped the Lord in the midnight hour, and “suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken” (Acts 16:26), so can our praise in the midst of trials shake the heavens and bring freedom to others.

    Therefore, do not be moved by what you see, nor silenced by what you suffer. The blood of Jesus has redeemed you, and the Spirit of God empowers you. What seems like bondage to the world can become a pulpit for God’s glory a place where His power is made known, and His presence is revealed.

  • Acts 28:8

    “And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.” — Acts 28:8

    Paul and 275 other crew members and passengers of an Alexandrian ship had just survived a two-week storm on the Mediterranean Sea. The violent tempest destroyed their ship, yet not one life was lost exactly as God had promised Paul. When they finally reached the island of Malta, cold, exhausted, and hungry. The native people received them with unusual kindness, building fires and showing compassion to strangers who had washed ashore. That word unusual is significant. It’s the same word used in Acts 19:11, where it says that “God did unusual miracles by the hands of Paul.” Even later, when Paul testified before King Agrippa, he declared that the same God who worked in unusual ways to help him was still at work here on Malta. The Lord never left nor forsook Paul.

    When God sent His angel to bring a message to Paul that not a single person on the ship would perish. The very presence of that angel not only to deliver a message but also a assurance of God’s protection. Throughout Scripture, whenever angels appear, they come with two purposes: to speak God’s word and to guard God’s people.

    Then Publius, the chief man of the island who had shown Paul and all the people with him great kindness, had a father who was lying in bed, sick with fever and dysentery. Dysentery is a serious intestinal infection that causes recurring fever and weakness, leaving a person bedridden and frail.

    When Paul heard about the man’s condition after being welcomed into the home, he went in to minister to him. Notice what Paul did first. Before laying his hands on him, he prayed to God.

    There are two things the Lord would have us learn from this passage.

    First, we see a man who had gone through more trials than most people could ever bear. Paul was beaten, falsely accused, imprisoned, shipwrecked, and even bitten by a venomous snake. Yet through all of this, he never allowed his suffering to silence his service. Instead of becoming bitter, he became better. Even after enduring so much pain and exhaustion, Paul still had the strength to minister to others. He went in to see Publius’s father, sought the Lord in prayer before him, and God healed the man. Soon after, all the sick people of Malta were brought to Paul, and they too were healed.

    Even though Luke does not mention Paul preaching directly, knowing Paul’s heart, we can be sure he proclaimed the gospel to the people of Malta. Paul knew that “the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Romans 1:16). He understood that the greatest miracle he could offer these people was not just physical healing, but the message that could save their souls. Wherever the gospel is preached, miracles and healings follow as signs just as Jesus instructed His disciples, “And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:7–8)

    Paul did not complain or cry out about what he had gone through. He remained immovable and persevered. While he could have chosen to sit down and let others serve him, Paul instead chose to serve. He gathered sticks for the fire, ministered to those around him, and showed appreciation for the people’s kindness. Paul shows us that God’s power and mercy are never limited by circumstance because he did not allow circumstance to dictate the outcome. His condition did not determine his calling, nor did hardship define his ability to serve. True servants of God don’t stop serving because of hardship; they keep going because the Holy Spirit is within them, comforting, strengthening, and working through them. When our strength runs out, God’s strength takes over. As Paul himself said, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

    The very storm that seemed to bring chaos into Paul’s life was the same storm that brought him to Malta. Through that storm, God led him to the people who needed to hear the gospel. And God demonstrated His loving hand through Paul’s healing ministry among them. The Kingdom of God had come to that island, and healing and restoration began to flow.

    Sometimes the hardships and difficulties we face discourage us, weaken our faith, or make us think that God is punishing us. But Jesus said, “It is finished.” He already paid the price for our sins. Our struggles are not signs of God’s wrath, but opportunities for His glory to be revealed through us.

    Second, we see the people of Malta, whom Luke describes as barbarians. This means they did not speak Greek or Latin; they were strangers to the Roman and Greek world. Yet their manner of life and worship was the same as other heathen nations, for they were idolaters and had no knowledge of the one true and living God. When they saw the viper fasten itself upon Paul’s hand, they immediately supposed that vengeance or divine justice had overtaken him, believing he was a murderer who had escaped the sea but could not escape judgment. But when Paul shook off the serpent into the fire and suffered no harm, their thoughts were turned, and they said among themselves that he was a god.

    This reveals that these people had no understanding of the God Paul served. Like many who live without truth, they interpreted divine power through superstition. In their spiritual blindness, they could not distinguish between the Creator and His servant. But Paul, being wise and discerning, was careful in how he responded.  Paul understood the mindset of these people, for he had already encountered this kind of heathen thinking before. When he and Barnabas were at Lystra, the Lord used them mightily to demonstrate His power by healing a man who had been lame from birth. When the people saw the miracle, they lifted up their voices, saying, “The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.” They called Barnabas, Jupiter, and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. But when Paul and Barnabas heard this, they rent their clothes and ran in among the people, crying out and saying, “Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein” (Acts 14:11–15).

    So when Paul entered into the house of Publius and found his father sick with fever and dysentery, he prayed before them all; the chief men of the island, the household, and those who stood by to witness it. Then he laid his hands upon the man, and the Lord raised him up. By this, Paul made it known that the healing virtue came not from man, but from God alone, who is rich in mercy and mighty to save. In that moment, Paul taught them how to seek the Lord for every need whether for healing of the body, strength in weakness, or deliverance from bondage.

    These people knew not the true God, for darkness had long covered their hearts. Paul understood that words alone could not persuade them; the gospel must be both proclaimed and proven. His actions preached louder than his voice. Through his conduct and compassion, he showed them what it means to serve the living God. Thus was fulfilled the word of our Lord Jesus, who said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:–16).

    And now this same truth is set before us. Let not your circumstances hinder you from serving the Lord or ministering to others. The trials you face may well become the very platform upon which the glory of God shall be revealed. Our calling is not only to preach or to teach the Word of God, but to live it, to manifest it through our deeds, compassion, and holiness of life. For men are often drawn to God not by the eloquence of our speech, but by the evidence of our faith.

  • Habakkuk‬ ‭1:2

    “O Lord, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, “Violence!” And You will not save.” — Habakkuk‬ ‭1:2

    In the book of Habakkuk, we are not told whose son he was or what family or tribe he came from. Unlike many other prophets whose lineage was often mentioned, Habakkuk’s background is left unknown. Instead of beginning with genealogy, the book opens what he felt about the situation in Israel. Habakkuk is different from the other prophets because he does not deliver God’s message to the people. Rather, his book records how he turns directly to God, expressing his pain, confusion, and deep concern about the injustice and wickedness around him. Because Habakkuk is living the final decades of Judah’s, just before the Babylonian invasion. It was a time filled with corruption, violence, and widespread idolatry. As he looked around, he saw moral decay spreading throughout the nation and evil going unpunished, which deeply troubled his soul. He pleads with God for understanding and asks Him to intervene and execute His justice against unrighteousness. Also,

    When Habakkuk says, “O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? Even cry out to You, ‘Violence! And You will not save.” he expresses the deep pain of a man who feels unheard in the face of overwhelming evil. Why was Habakkuk lamenting? His heart was broken because of the sin and wickedness he saw around him. Just as the psalmist said, “I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word” (Psalm 119:158). Habakkuk grieved because the Israelites had been given the law of God. And what was that law for? It was to teach them how to live righteously and peacefully with one another yet they turned away from it. Even Peter used a similar expression when he spoke of Lot, saying that he was “vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked… For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds” (2 Peter 2:7–8).

    When we try to live right and do what is pleasing to the Lord, sometimes unfortunate things happen. It can feel unfair, and we may even feel neglected by God. Look at Elijah, he was doing exactly what God told him to do, yet he had to run for his life from Jezebel, the wicked wife of King Ahab and ruler of the land. Many of the prophets who served God were killed by her hands. But just as God used Babylon to execute His judgment on Judah, He also brought judgment upon Jezebel in His own time. There is an appointed time for everything, for God is rich in mercy and goodness. He gives people time to repent and turn back to Him before He brings judgment.

    Today, we can truly relate to what Habakkuk was going through because the world we live in is still filled with corruption, violence, and wickedness. We often hear people cry out with the same complaint against God. Many blame Him for the pain and suffering that fill the world. They blame God for the children who are abused and mistreated, for the children who suffer from sickness and diseases such as cancer. They blame God for natural disasters that destroy homes and lives, for wars that kill the helpless and innocent, and for injustice that seems to rule the earth. Some question God for allowing their families to be broken. Everything that is not pleasing in their sight leads them to ask the same question as Habakkuk: “Why, Lord?”

    But the difference between Habakkuk and many people today is that Habakkuk grieved. He did not blame God nor accuse Him. Habakkuk knew God, he knew His Word and His nature, and he understood that only God could save them from their situation. His heart was broken because the people of Judah were turning away from God, and he knew their rebellion would lead to destruction. Habakkuk understood that sin never affects just one person; it spreads and brings suffering to everyone around it.

    He was grieving because the wrong choices of his nation were also affecting his own life. Eventually, all of Judah both the righteous and the unrighteous would be taken captive to Babylon. The consequences of sin would touch everyone. In the same way, today, every time I share the gospel with someone and they turn away from it, it grieves me even more. I know that I cannot force anyone to believe, because God has given each person free will yet it still breaks my heart. God has already shown His great love for us when He stepped down from His throne, was declared to be the Son of God, died for us on the cross, and rose again to restore us to Himself. He did all of this because He wants us to spend eternity with Him. Yet, even after such a great act of love and sacrifice, many still choose to reject the salvation that God freely offers.

    In the book of Habakkuk, we also see that if we ask God with humility and sincerely seek His help, He will respond. God answered Habakkuk and gave him understanding about what was going to happen next. In the same way, if we turn to God and express our burdens before Him, He will hear us just as His Word says, “Cast all your care upon Him, for He careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7) and “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6). If we seek God with humility and sincerity, He will not only answer us but also give us wisdom and instruction on what we should do. God desires to guide His people, just as He guided Habakkuk but it begins when we approach Him with a humble heart, trusting that His ways are higher than ours.

  • Psalm 122:1

    “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’” — Psalm 122:1

    When the psalmist declares, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord,’” he is recalling the deep joy he felt when the Israelites journeying to Jerusalem invited him to join them on their way to God’s sanctuary. This verse paints a beautiful picture of a people filled with gladness as they encouraged one another to come together and worship the Lord at His tabernacle in Jerusalem. For them, going to the house of God was never a burden or a lifeless routine, it was a privilege and a blessing, a joyful celebration of God’s presence dwelling among His people.

    Today, this verse seems almost the opposite of what we see in many people’s lives. So many are hesitant, wounded, disheartened, or simply uninterested in coming to church anymore. For unbelievers, that may be understandable but when this weariness comes from believers themselves, it becomes especially heartbreaking and discouraging.

    Jesus mentions seven churches in the book of Revelation, yet only two were found walking rightly with Him. The others had fallen into compromise, pride, or spiritual apathy. That shows us how even in the early church so close to the time of the apostles, not every congregation lived in full obedience.

    There was a season when I was deeply hurt within the church. I no longer felt glad to attend; instead, it became a burden. One day, I opened up to my pastor about what I was feeling, and he shared something that stayed with me ever since. He said there are five stages of offense that every believer must overcome in order to grow into spiritual maturity:

    1. Offense toward yourself
    2. Offense toward your family
    3. Offense toward your church brethren
    4. Offense toward your pastor
    5. Offense toward God

    I’ll share more about these stages another time, but it led me to ask a question: Why does offense happen inside the house of the Lord?

    When we read Revelation chapters 2 and 3, we see that out of the seven churches, five were rebuked by Jesus for things He had against them. This means that not all churches are consistently walking in His will or faithfully representing Him. Yet did you notice that Jesus never said they were not His church. Even those struggling with sin, compromise, or spiritual deadness were still His. Their failures did not erase their identity in Christ. Paul echoes this truth in 1 Corinthians 1:2 .

    Paul still called the Corinthians “the church of God” even though their background and behavior were far from perfect. Their immaturity, divisions, and moral struggles did not disqualify them from being God’s people. So why does offense happen in the church? Because every one of us is “in progress.” We are all being transformed into the character of Christ, but none of us have arrived yet. We still wrestle with pride, misunderstanding, hurt, and weakness. The church is not a gathering of perfect people. It’s a place where imperfect hearts are learning to be healed, forgiven, and changed by grace.

    We are commanded and expected to be gather together.

    We are not only encouraged but commanded and expected by the Lord to gather together. Jesus Himself promised that whenever we come together whether we are few or many. He is present among us.

    “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” — Matthew 18:20

    When Jesus instituted the breaking of bread, He gave a clear command to His disciples:

    “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” — Luke 22:19–20

    The Lord expects His people to gather and remember Him through communion. He said, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” From that moment, the disciples never stopped gathering together. They met continually to love one another, praying together, and rejoicing in fellowship.

    “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.… And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” — Acts 2:42, 46–47

    The Apostle Paul also reaffirmed the Lord’s command when he wrote to the Corinthians:

    “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.… For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” — 1 Corinthians 11:23–26

    Finally, the writer of Hebrews reminds us of the importance of gathering together:

    “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” — Hebrews 10:25


    Even in the time when the book of Hebrews was written, there were already believers who had begun to forsake gathering together. That is why the writer strongly emphasized the importance of assembling with other believers. We are all commanded and expected to gather, because we are the Body of Christ. A body cannot live if it is separated from itself. Likewise, when believers isolate themselves from fellowship, their spiritual strength begins to fade. Gathering together keeps the body alive, united, and growing in the presence of Jesus, who promised to be in our midst.

    We are commanded to love one another.

    Jesus did not give us a suggestion to love other, but as a command.

    “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” — John 13:34–35; 15:12, 17

    Even when we were lost in sin and had completely forgotten about God, Jesus never forgot about us. He chose to die for us and rise again so that we could be reconciled to the Father. His love reached us at our lowest point even when we were undeserving, broken, and far away. Yet He loved us still.

    When Jesus said, “As I have loved you,” He was saying, “Love others the same way I loved you when you were at your worst.” His love is not earned by our goodness or perfection, it flows from His very nature. He loves because that is who He is. And so, His command to us is to love others in that same way not only when they are easy to love, but even when they hurt us, misunderstand us, or fail us. Because that is exactly what we did to Him, yet He never stopped loving. When Jesus hung on the cross, He looked beyond the pain and saw the joy set before Him, the joy of seeing us restored, forgiven, and reunited with Him forever. That is the kind of love He calls us to give.

    The Apostle Paul and Peter repeated this truth in his letter to the Romans:

    “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” — Romans 13:8

    “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.” — 1 Peter 3:8

    “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” — 1 Peter 4:8

    Paul and Peter both urge believers to love fervently with compassion, mercy, and gentleness. Love is the fulfillment of the law. When we truly love our brethren in Christ we will not harm them through gossip, bitterness, or any action that causes pain. We will not covet what belongs to them, nor allow envy to take root in our hearts. Love naturally keeps us from sin because it seeks the good of others above ourselves. True love also knows how to overlook offense. It means choosing to love rather than to hate, to show mercy instead of judgment, and to seek peace instead of conflict. 

    And the Apostle John beautifully reminds us that love is not just an action, it is a reflection of God Himself.

    “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” — 1 John 4:7

    To love one another is to live like Jesus. It is the true mark that shows who we belong to. When we walk in love, we reveal that we are children of God, reflecting the very nature of our Father. Jesus said, “I do what I see My Father doing.” In the same way, when we love others, we are mirroring the heart of our Father in heaven. God is love, and when His love flows through us, the world sees Him living in us.

    We are commanded to forgive one another.

    Jesus made it clear that forgiveness is not optional, it’s a command for every believer. He said:

    “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” — Matthew 6:14–15; Mark 11:25; Luke 6:37

    Then Jesus became even more specific about how we should deal with those who wrong us:

    “Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.” — Luke 17:3–4

    Jesus teaches that forgiveness must be continual and sincere. We forgive not because people deserve it, but because we ourselves have been forgiven.

    I challenge you to think about how many times a day you fall short before the Lord. How many times you seek His mercy and expect Him to forgive you. If God forgives us every time we repent, how can we withhold forgiveness from our brothers and sisters when they hurt us?

    We often sin against God intentionally or through carelessness, yet He still receives us when we come to Him in repentance. Shouldn’t we, then, show that same mercy to others? Whether their apology seems sincere or not, our responsibility remains the same to forgive. As we have received forgiveness from God, we are also expected to extend forgiveness to others.

    The Apostle Paul also reminds us of this truth:

    “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” — Ephesians 4:31–32

    Paul urged the believers in Ephesus to put away every form of bitterness and replace it with kindness and tenderheartedness. Sadly, many today forget this instruction. I often see on social media people venting their pain and anger about how they were hurt or offended by their church. My heart breaks when I read those posts, because the church, no matter how imperfect is still the body of Christ, purchased by His own blood. None of us are perfect. When failures happen in the church, we must remember that even those within ministry leadership are human and in need of grace.

    I was especially heartbroken when I saw what happened to the Hillsong Church.
    What happens when people do this? when they attack or speak harshly against the church? How can we tell if those actions are from God or from the devil?

    It’s simple. Look at the result. Do their actions lead people to repentance and bring them closer to Jesus? Or do they bring destruction, shame, and division?
    Anything that kills, steals, or destroys comes from the enemy. But everything that gives life, heals, and restores comes from Jesus. God’s heart is never to tear down His church, it is always to build it up and bring His people back to Him.

    None of us are without flaws or struggles. When we speak harshly against others, especially those in the body of Christ, who are we really shaming, the people, or the name of Jesus, whom we serve?

    When we attack the church, we are wounding the very bride that Jesus purchased with His own blood. That is not how the love of Christ behaves. Love corrects, but it also covers. Love restores, it doesn’t destroy. There is always a better way to handle these matters, a way that reflects the heart of Jesus for His church.

    Paul writes to the Galatians:

    “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:1–2

    And to the Thessalonians, he said:

    “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:14–15

    To the Philippian church, the most encouraging of all his letters. Paul wrote:

    “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” — Philippians 2:3–4

    All these passages remind us that we are all a work in progress. We each have weaknesses and imperfections that God is still working on. The answer is not to tear one another down, but to forgive, restore, and bear each other’s burdens in love.

    The Church Is A Source of Comfort and Strength.

    Look at what Paul says about how the church became a source of encouragement, strength, and goodness in his life. In 2 Corinthians 7:5–7, Paul was deeply troubled:

    For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

    God comforted Paul through the arrival and encouragement of Titus. This shows us that God often uses people, our brothers and sisters in the church to strengthen, uplift, and help us in times of need.

    Paul also during his imprisonment wrote about Onesiphorus, a faithful believer who brought him comfort and courage when others had abandoned him:

    “The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.” — 2 Timothy 1:16–17

    Paul also expressed gratitude to the Philippian church for their faithful support:

    But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. – Philippians 4:10, 14–16

    The church is the assembly of the people of God. Have you ever wondered why the Israelites were so excited, enthusiastic, and filled with joy when they gathered together in Jerusalem? It wasn’t only because of tradition or festival. It was because their gathering carried prophetic meaning. The Jewish people had been taught that one day they would all be gathered together in the Kingdom of God. Every time they went up to Jerusalem to worship, they were not only celebrating what God had done, they were practicing for what was to come. Their gatherings were a prophetic picture of the future, when all of God’s people would be united in His eternal presence.

    If the church didn’t matter, then why would Jesus die for us? Why would He tell Peter,

    In our time, we too gather in the church and there is deep purpose in that. We gather because it is in the church that we hear and are taught the Word of God. It is in the church that we receive encouragement, grow in our walk with Jesus, and learn to live out the commandments we’ve been given to love, forgive, and serve one another. It is in the church that we are cared for by faithful pastors who watch over our souls.

    But more than that, every time we gather together, we are prophetically declaring our future. The church on earth is a reflection of the church in heaven, God’s people gathered before His throne, worshiping Him day and night. When we come together in worship, we are rehearsing for eternity.

    “Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” — Matthew 16:18

    If the church were not essential, why would Jesus promise to build it and why would the apostles dedicate their entire lives to planting, teaching, and strengthening it? Why would they continually encourage believers to assemble together if gathering wasn’t vital to our faith?

    So if you no longer feel glad about going to church, pray and ask God to touch your heart again. That feeling does not come from Him. God’s Word never tells us to turn away from His house. It calls us to come together in faith and obedience. Not attending the gathering of God’s people based on emotion or offense is not biblical, it goes against His commands and His design for His people.

  • Romans 2:4

    Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” — Romans 2:4

    Paul is addressing those who believe themselves righteous and look down on others for their sins. They think they are exempt from the condemnation described in Romans 1, because of their ethnic background, traditions or moral way of life. Yet, Paul speak the truth that no one is innocent before God. All are accountable for sin, and all stand in need of His mercy.

    Many Christians today twist the Scriptures for their own gain, using the Word of God to justify selfish desires or to build their own image instead of glorifying Him. But this is not a new tactic. If we look back to Scripture, we see the very first one who twisted God’s Word was Satan himself. In the garden, he twisted what God said to ensnare Eve, and ever since, his strategy has been the same, distorting truth to bring confusion and separation from God. The reason many people fall for these deceptions is a lack of knowledge about the nature of God. When we don’t truly know who God is, we become vulnerable to lies that sound spiritual but are far from the truth. That’s why Scripture tells us, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6).

    As children of God, we are called not just to know His Word, but to reflect His character. The Scripture says, “Be imitators of God, as dear children” (Ephesians 5:1). Our lives show to the world who we belong to. The way we speak, the way we walk, the way we respond in love and truth, all of it declares our true identity.

    When Paul says, do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering. Let’s break each one down carefully, like breaking bread, so that we can fully digest the Word of God. Just as Jesus said, “Eat My flesh,” His words remind us that The Word of God is not meant only to be read or heard, it must be received, chewed on, and allowed to nourish our spirit. The Word of God is food for the soul. When we meditate on it, we are feeding our inner being. Just as physical food gives strength to the body, the Word gives life and health to our entire being. If food is not eaten, it cannot nourish; in the same way, if God’s Word is not absorbed, it cannot transform us. 

    The first word Paul mentions is goodness. In Greek, it is chrēstotēs, which means moral goodness, integrity, benignity, and kindness. Paul calls it “the riches of His goodness,” because God’s goodness is not poor or limited, it is overflowing and abundant. The goodness of God is not just about His righteousness; it is an expression of His great love that draws us closer to Him. God said to Jeremiah, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, with lovingkindness I have drawn you” (Jeremiah 31:3). His goodness is not just about doing good things, but about a love so faithful and steadfast that it reaches even those who turn away. His goodness gives rain to both the righteous and the wicked. It reveals a God whose mercy extends beyond what we deserve.

    God’s goodness also shows in His foreknowledge and mercy. He knew that Adam would transgress, yet He still gave him the freedom to choose. He knew David would fall into adultery, yet He still called him a man after His own heart. He knew Samson would be overcome by pride and deceived by Delilah, yet He still anointed him with strength and purpose. God sees our failures long before they happen, yet He keeps giving grace and making a way back.

    Even more, God knew that every one of us would fall short, deserving the penalty of sin and death. Yet in His rich goodness, He stepped down from His throne, took on human flesh as the Son of God, and died on the cross for our redemption. Then He rose again to bring us back to Himself. That is the true measure of His goodness, a love so great that it keeps reaching out even when we turn away. This is what Paul meant when he spoke of the riches of His goodness. God never stops making a way for us. Even when our hearts wander, His Spirit continues to tug, gently calling us back home. His goodness is not just something He does, it is who He is!. God love never fails, His mercy never runs dry, and His goodness calling us to return to Him.

    The next word Paul uses is forbearance, which comes from the Greek word anochē. It means toleration, restraint, a holding back, or delaying. Forbearance is the act of refraining from taking action against someone, choosing mercy when justice could be enforced, withholding what is deserved in order to give room for grace.


    This character of God has been retold throughout Scripture. From the very beginning, we see a God who patiently holds back judgment and extends mercy instead. In Genesis, when humanity became filled with wickedness and violence, God said He regretted creating man. Yet He did not bring judgment immediately. Instead, He waited many years, allowing Noah to preach righteousness and warn people before the flood came.

    We see the same heart of forbearance in God’s dealings with Israel. Time after time, they turned away from Him to follow idols, yet He continued to send prophets to call them back. God spoke through Ezekiel revealing His heart, saying, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” His patience was not passive, it was an active expression of love, giving people opportunity after opportunity to repent.

    Even Jonah was familiar with this nature of God, and it was the very thing that made him angry and caused him to run away. He wanted God to judge the Assyrians, not forgive them. When the Lord sent him to warn the people of Nineveh, Jonah resisted because he already knew the nature of God he served. He understood that if the people repented, God would show them mercy. After Nineveh turned from its wickedness and God withheld His judgment, Jonah said to the Lord, “I knew that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.” Jonah wasn’t surprised by God’s mercy, he expected it. He knew that God would rather forgive than destroy, that His compassion always makes room for repentance. Even though Jonah struggled to accept it, God’s heart remained the same full of grace, ready to pardon, and eager to show mercy to all who turn back to Him.

    In the New Testament, Peter reminds believers who were growing impatient for Christ’s return that God’s timing is not like ours. He wrote, “Beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” What we often see as delay is actually God’s mercy in action, His loving patience giving humanity time to come home. We grow impatient easily, but praise God that He is not like us. His forbearance reveals a love beyond measure. A love that waits, that restrains, and that keeps the door of grace open just a little longer, hoping that hearts will finally return to Him.

    But this gracious forbearance of God has a purpose—it is never meant to be taken advantage of. God’s patience is not permission to continue in sin; it is an opportunity to repent. What makes this truth terrifying is when people know that God is gracious, yet continue to live the same way. They presume upon His mercy, thinking they still have time because God is waiting.

    Remember the parable of the ten virgins. All of them fell asleep while waiting for the bridegroom, but only five were wise enough to bring extra oil. The other five were foolish, they were unprepared when the bridegroom arrived. The waiting period was given to all, but only half used it wisely. In the same way, God’s forbearance is the time He gives us to return to Him, not to indulge in our own pleasures. His patience is not weakness; it is grace extended for a season. One day, the door will close, and those who wasted their time will realize too late that His waiting was mercy calling them home

    God’s forbearance is a reflection of His deep mercy and His desire for relationship, not judgment. He restrains His anger, gives space for repentance, and shows a patience beyond human comprehension. His forbearance is His love holding back justice so that grace can have its chance. It is the love of a Father waiting with open arms for His children to come home.

    The third word Paul uses is longsuffering, from the Greek word makrothymia, which means patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, and perseverance. Longsuffering is the ability to endure difficulties, offenses, or suffering for a long time without giving up or growing angry. We know how deeply God hates sin, not because He hates people, but because sin corrupts us that He created in His image and separates us from His presence.

    Throughout the Scriptures, God continually reveals this longsuffering nature. From the very beginning, we see hearts turning away from God who created us in love. Adam chose to transgress God’s command rather than face separation from Eve. That one decision opened the door for sin to enter the world, and since then, mankind has continued to choose creation over the Creator.

    Israel, God’s chosen people, reflected this same rebellion. Though He delivered them from Egypt with mighty power, parted the Red Sea before their eyes, and fed them in the wilderness, they continually turned to idols. They exchanged the glory of the living God for lifeless images made by their own hands.

    During the time of Samuel, when the people of Israel rejected God as their King and demanded a man to rule over them, Samuel was grieved. But how much more must God have been grieved? He who created us fearfully and wonderfully, only to see them choose human leadership over Him?

    God Himself expressed this pain through the prophets. He said through Ezekiel, “I was crushed by their adulterous heart which has departed from Me.” Through Hosea, we hear Him cry, “My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred.” And through Micah, His broken heart pleads with His people, “O My people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me. For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, I redeemed you from the house of bondage.” (Micah 6:3–4).

    Even today, humanity continues to grieve God’s heart. Yet in His longsuffering love, He still chose to leave His throne, take on human flesh as the Son of God, and die for the very sins that wounded Him. Then He rose again, offering forgiveness and calling us back into His loving arms.

    And yet Paul says, “Do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering?” How could we despise a God who has done nothing but love us? who reaches out to us again and again, even when we turn away? What greater sin could there be than to ignore such love? We are commanded not to grieve or quench the Holy Spirit, for He is the very presence of God dwelling within us.

    Now we truly understand Paul’s words: “not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance.” The goodness of God’s character draws us near and satisfies our souls. His goodness is not an approval of sin but a revelation of His desire to see our lives transformed. When we grasp the depth of His patience, mercy, and love, the only response worthy of Him is worship, repentance, and gratitude. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:2

    “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.”

    The city of Corinth was one of the great cities of the ancient world. A thriving, prosperous, and fast-growing community. It was home to a rich mix of people from many nations and served as a major center for sports, government, the military, and business. Every two years, thousands of people gathered at the temple of Poseidon for the Isthmian Games, a massive festival of athletic competition second only to the Olympic Games and were a celebration of athletic skill, endurance, and discipline. The games were deeply woven into Corinthian culture, and the people took great pride in them. The Apostle Paul understood the deep passion the Corinthians had for sports. He used that same enthusiasm to help them clearly grasp and visualize the message he was teaching, comparing the Christian life to running a race. When Paul spoke of “running the race” and striving for the prize (1 Corinthians 9:24–27), his words instantly connected with them. The Corinthians knew what it took to train hard, to stay disciplined, and to give everything for the sake of victory. Paul drew on that familiar image to show that following Christ requires the same determination, focus, and endurance. Yet unlike the athletes who competed for a temporary reward, believers run for a prize that is incorruptible, far greater than anything this world can offer.

    Corinth was also filled with temples dedicated to various gods and goddesses such as Athena, Apollo, Poseidon, Hermes, Isis, Serapis, and Asclepius. Most prominent of all was the worship of the Corinthian Aphrodite, the goddess of love, whose temple was served by more than thousand “hierodouloi“, women who worked as prostitutes and priestesses. This kind of worship wasn’t new, it only changed the names and the places If you look back at the Old Testament, the worship of Baal and Ashtoreth was the same thing. Sexual acts were part of their rituals and were seen as worship. Even in Ephesus, people practiced similar things to honor their gods. For the Corinthians, this way of living—partying, drinking, and sexual immorality was completely normal. It was what defined their city. And the truth is, the same sin that ruled Corinth still rules many hearts today. Sin runs deep in human nature and continues to manifest itself in every generation.

    When Paul says, “To the church of God which is at Corinth. He was addressing the assembly of God’s in a city filled with idolatry and immoral practices. What makes this so radical is what the Lord Jesus told Paul in Acts 18:9–10, “Do not be afraid, but speak, for I have many people in this city.” Corinth was a place filled with corruption, idolatry, and immorality, yet God declared that He had many people there. Let that sink in for a moment.

    Many people still hold an unbiblical expectation that the church should be full of perfect people—those who always smile, act politely, and do everything right. But that mindset completely misses the heart of the gospel. The Corinthian church, the very one where Jesus said, “I have many people in this city,” was full of issues. They struggled with moral failure, false teaching, divisions in leadership, misuse of spiritual gifts, disorder in worship, and rebellion against authority. Yet despite all their flaws, they were still called the church of God. Jesus came for sinners, that’s the heart of His gospel. Salvation is for anyone who recognizes their need for a Savior, anyone willing to turn from their sinful nature and come into the kingdom of God. Jesus never waits for us to be perfect, and He doesn’t expect us to have it all together. His grace meets us right where we are, in the middle of our brokenness and mess. That’s what He did for the Corinthians, and that’s exactly what He’s still doing for us today.

    Then Paul affirmed the Corinthians with these words: “To those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints” Notice the words to be are inserted by translators. The Corinthians were called saints, not called to be saints despite all their corruption, and sin. Paul wasn’t blind to their struggles and fall short, but he wanted the Corinthians to remember who they were in Christ. They were sanctified, set apart for God’s purpose. The Greek word hagiazō means “to sanctify,”, “to separate from profane things or dedicate to God.” It also carries the idea of being made holy and freed from the guilt of sin.

    But how could people with such a broken past be called sanctified? The answer is found in the book of Hebrews 10:10. “By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all”. Our sanctification doesn’t come from our own good works, because as Scripture says, “There is none who does good, no, not one” (Romans 3:12). It comes from what Christ accomplished on the cross. Paul reaffirmed this truth to the Corinthians when he wrote, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). Paul wanted them to understand that their new identity was not defined by who they used to be, but by what Christ had done for them.

    There is no one in this world who can truly transform our life in a way that pleases God apart from Christ. We have all sinned and fallen short of His glory. So if you think Jesus expects you to come to Him already clean, think again. Do you think Jesus would have died on the cross to pay for all our sins, if He were unaware of our transgressions and uncleanness before God? Of course not. He knew exactly our spiritual conditions. What He desires is not perfection but repentance.

    To repent means to change our mind, to turn away from sin, and to turn toward Him. It’s a willingness to be changed by His power. A humble heart that submits to His will and purpose for our lives. All Jesus wants is for us to come to Him, just as the Corinthians did, and follow Him. As Paul wrote, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). He is the one who cleanses, sanctifies, and makes us new and our job is to believe and follow Him.

    Then Paul continues, “with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours” (1 Corinthians 1:2,). Paul corrects their mindset by reminding them that they were called saints not because of their own goodworks, status or spiritual achievements, but because they believed in and confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord. He made it clear that this calling was not exclusive to them, it included everyone who calls on the name of the Lord in everywhere.

    What made some of the Corinthians think they were the only true saints was their abundance of spiritual gifts. They had prophets, spoke in tongues, and experienced many manifestations of the Holy Spirit. But this caused pride to creep in. Some began to believe that their gifts made them more spiritual or superior to others. Have you ever met Christians who look down on others because they don’t speak in tongues or don’t show the same spiritual experiences? That same attitude existed in Corinth.

    Paul wanted them to understand that spiritual gifts are not a measure of maturity or superiority. Speaking in tongues doesn’t make someone greater than another believer. Paul addressed this directly when he said that love is what truly builds up the church and that every gift has its proper place and limit (1 Corinthians 13:1–13). He reminded them that the grace of God was not confined to their church or their abilities. The same grace that saved and worked through them was the same grace extended to all who believe in Jesus Christ.

    The epistles of Paul to the church in Corinth are one of my favorites because they reveal the true spiritual condition of humanity. Paul’s letters to the Corinthians are filled with correction and that’s what we all need. We need preaching that convicts the heart and draws us closer to Jesus. This is why prosperity preaching often makes people spiritually asleep and comfortable in sin.

    Corinth stands as living proof that Jesus never called anyone to be perfect. He calls us to repentance. He knows our weaknesses, and that’s why the only thing He asks of us is to believe in Him and follow Him. When you truly believe in someone, you act on what they say. If someone told you that broccoli could heal a disease, you’d probably start eating broccoli. It’s the same with Jesus. When you believe in Jesus and hear His words, “Go and sin no more,” your heart begins to change. You no longer want to live in sin. And the more you walk with Him, the more you understand His great love for you. That agape love that transforms you from the inside out until you begin to hate sin not out of fear, but out of love because you understand, it was sin that crucified Christ on the cross and you never want to see Him crucified again.