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  • John‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬

    “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. ‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭13

    Have you heard the saying, man wants to become God, but there is one true God who became a Man.

    When Jesus said, “No one has ascended into heaven,” He was declaring that no human being has gone up into heaven by his own strength. No flesh has made its way into the presence of God by its own authority and power. The word He used, anabainō, means “to go up” or “to went up”. The Word of God record only two men who did not see death, Enoch and Elijah. Yet even of them it cannot be said that they ascended by their own authority. They did not went up to heaven because they possessed divine nature. They did not step into God’s domain by their own will. God took them (Genesis 5:24). It was the LORD who carried them. It was His will that brought them into His presence.

    And even when prophets were given visions of heaven, or were caught up in the Spirit, they did not enter by their own choosing. They were carried by the Spirit of God. They were permitted to see only what God allowed them to see. It was by His Spirit that they were brought into His domain, into His Kingdom. Never was it by human effort.

    So the words of LORD Jesus is absolute truth. No human being has independently entered heaven without the permission of God. Heaven is the LORD’s domain (Psalm 115:16). It belongs to Him. No one enters without His will, and no one abides there apart from His righteousness. As it is written, “knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (II Peter‬ ‭1:20-21‬). All that we know of God has been revealed by Him. None of His prophets climbed into heaven to gather knowledge and then returned to teach it. None brought back truth by their own discovery. What they spoke was given. What they saw was shown. What they declared was revealed.

    Heaven is not a place that human hands can reach, nor is it seen by natural eyes. It is not found by exploration, nor measured by science, nor discovered by the wisdom of this world. The natural eye cannot behold it, for it belongs to another realm.

    Because it belongs to another realm, the LORD Jesus spoke plainly to Nicodemus. If a man desires to enter the kingdom of God, there is a requirement. The King Himself has declared it. ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’” (John 3:3) The LORD Jesus has declared before us a requirement to enter into His Kingdom.

    Consider an earthly nation that allows only those who are born within it to dwell there. It would not matter if we took a common name from that nation. It would not matter if we spoke its language fluently. It would not matter if we dressed like its people, observed its customs, practiced its traditions, or even had family born there. None of these things would make us a native citizen. Only one question would matter: Was I born there?

    Just as earthly nations have laws concerning citizenship, so the Kingdom of God has its decree. Yet God’s requirement is not language, wealth, culture, outward appearance, nor our own righteousness. It is to be born again, born from above, born of God. As it is written, “For our citizenship is in heaven,… (Philippians 3:20). The moment we are born from above, our identity changes. Our allegiance changes. Our home changes. The moment we receive the Holy Spirit, we are adopted as sons and daughters. The Spirit within us testifies that we belong to God. As it is written, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” (Romans 8:16)

    That is why Nicodemus stood astonished and said, “How can these things be?” The words of the LORD Jesus had unsettled him. He was a teacher of Israel, a ruler among the people, a man learned in the Law. And yet before him stood a requirement he could not reason through. He desired to understand the mystery of the Kingdom of God. He desired to enter the Kingdom of God. But how can a man be born again so he can enter into a heavenly Kingdom? How can he be part of that realm? By human reasoning, it is impossible!

    And this is where the weight of Jesus words presses upon us, no one has ascended into heaven. The LORD Jesus shuts down every confidence we have in the flesh. Every boast of man falls silent. Nothing in our flesh can lift us into His Kingdom. No strength, no wisdom, no righteousness of our own can raise us to that realm. For it is written, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 15:50). If flesh and blood cannot inherit it, then surely flesh and blood cannot ascend into it. If we are to enter, it must be by God’s doing and not our own. As it is written, ““For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians‬ ‭2:8-9)‬. It is impossible for us to ascend into God’s domain by our own strength. No man can enter into the Kingdom of God by effort, merit, or religious performance.

    And here we can bear to understand the next words of the LORD Jesus,“but He who came down from heaven. The LORD Jesus speaks of His incarnation. Man could not ascend to God, so God descended to man.

    In our fallen state, it was impossible for any of us to save ourselves from the wrath that is coming. We were dead in trespasses and sins, blinded and unaware of the judgment ahead, not knowing how to enter His Kingdom, nor did we have the power to do so.. Scripture declares that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), and that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). God is righteous and cannot overlook sin. His holiness demands justice.

    Therefore God stepped down. The Creator entered His creation. He did not send a mere message. He came Himself. “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4–5). He was declared to be the Son of God for the very purpose of redeeming us and restoring what we had lost, our sonship before Him  (John 1:12, Romans 1:4, 1 John 3:8). Because man had sinned, man must bear the punishment. Yet in His great love, God took that condemnation upon Himself. The Son humbled Himself and took on our flesh so that He might bear our sins in His own body. He carried our judgment and made a way for us to be born again and enter His Kingdom (Philippians 2:6–8). “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17).

    In His great love toward us, He came down and walked among us. The eternal Word who was in the bosom of the Father entered our world and revealed the way of the Kingdom. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). The disciples bore witness that God Himself had dwelt among them. They beheld His glory and received His grace and truth.

    When Jesus says, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven, many understand this in light of Daniel’s prophecy, where the Son of Man comes with the clouds of heaven and receives everlasting dominion (Daniel 7:13–14). That vision speaks of glory and kingdom. Yet before we enter into that glorious scene, the matter of sin had to be resolved. Without shedding of love there is no remission of sins. Many in that time stood condemned because they did not believe in the LORD Jesus (John 3:18). Sin separated us from God and forbid us to come into His presence.

    When Jesus spoke of the Son of Man, He was pointing to what Isaiah had already foretold, that the Messiah must suffer. He would not first come as the conquering King of glory, but as the Servant who is well pleasing to God. Isaiah says,

    ““Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.” (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53:1-12‬)

    The first coming of the Son of Man was in humility. He came to bear our sins in His own body and to justify many before God. At the cross, what seemed like defeat became our greatest triumph, and the enemy’s greatest loss. While Jesus was hanging on the cross and dying, He was winning the victory. “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:15).

    That is why, after speaking these words, Jesus said that the Son of Man must be lifted up, just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness (John 3:14; Numbers 21:8–9). He was pointing to the cross. For when He was lifted up, the power of the enemy was broken. As it is written, “… Through death He destroyed him who had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14). The ancient serpent who poisoned mankind with sin and brought death was stripped of his power. Jesus silenced the accusation of sin, broke the grip of death, and disarmed satan. Most of all, He removed the enmity that separated us from the Father saying, “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.” (Ephesians‬ ‭2:14-16)‬

    Today, ascending to heaven is no longer impossible. What we could never do on our own has been made possible through our LORD Jesus Christ, who descended for us so that we might one day be with Him. He came down from heaven in order to ascend us to God. Through Him we are born again. As it is written, “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.” (1 John 5:1) And again, ““Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are not made new by our works, but by His grace.

    Now we can enter His kingdom not because of what we have done, but because of what Jesus finished on the cross. It is His completed work, His sacrifice, and His righteousness that opens the way for us to be with the Father.

    February 12, 2026

  • John‬ ‭3:1-3

    “There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him. Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John‬ ‭3:1-3

    Are you aware that anyone who does not believe and receive the LORD Jesus Christ is spiritually dead having inherited that death from Adam?

    Nicodemus came to the LORD Jesus at night because he was genuinely seeking the truth about how to enter the kingdom of God. We can see this in the way he addressed Jesus. He called Him “Rabbi,” which means teacher. By calling Jesus his Rabbi, Nicodemus was acknowledging Him as a teacher of the Word of God. What makes this remarkable is that Jesus had not spent His life within the formal system of the scribes and Pharisees. He had not been trained in their schools or recognized by their religious institutions. Many people who had seen Jesus grow up, including the Pharisees are astonished and marveled questioning themselves where did Jesus received His wisdom and authority. saying,

    “When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?”” Matthew‬ ‭13:54-56‬

    “Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?”” John‬ ‭7:14-15‬ ‭

    They were all amazed and astonished at the LORD Jesus teaching and Nicodemus himself had seen and heard His teaching. The people viewed the LORD Jesus as uneducated and without formal training, yet God wisdom and authority that dwell in Him could not be denied. Nicodemus, however, was the complete opposite in background. He was a Pharisee and a rabbi. He had been taught the Scriptures from childhood and was deeply trained in the law. He was also a ruler of the Jews and a teacher in Israel (John 3:1, John 3:10). In today’s terms, Nicodemus was a man who had spent many years in seminary studying the things of God.

    Yet this man came to someone with no formal seminary background and acknowledged Him as his teacher. This was radical. In our time, many people question a pastor’s authority simply because he has not attended seminary, assuming that formal training alone qualifies someone to teach the Word of God. Nicodemus did not think that way. Despite his background and position, Nicodemus had a heart that was not centered on his credentials, but on God. He was willing to set his status aside and humble himself in order to seek the truth. He acknowledged that the LORD Jesus was sent and led by God, saying, ‘ …We know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him’ (John 3:2).

    This is where we should all learn from Nicodemus. He used what he had learned from the Scriptures to discern whether the teaching he was hearing truly came from God. As a man trained in the Word, he examined both the signs and the teaching, and he recognized that God was at work through the LORD Jesus. Nicodemus did not come to Jesus to argue or to defend his position. Unlike many of the Pharisees, scribes, and Sadducees, who questioned Jesus in order to test Him and justify their own traditions, Nicodemus came with a humble heart. He came to verify, to understand, and to seek the truth about the kingdom of God. That is what all of us should be doing.

    We are called to search the Scriptures to test whether what we are being taught is true. We should never place our confidence in our credentials, our education, or our position. These things should never lift us up or cause us to think that we already know everything. That mindset is often the very thing that keeps us from learning. The Scriptures warn us about relying on our own knowledge or confidence, saying,“And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. (1 Corinthians 8:2). Nicodemus did not come to Jesus thinking he already had all the answers. Even with all his training, he came humbly, willing to learn, willing to be corrected, and willing to seek the truth. That posture is what allows God to teach us. As it is written, … God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (James 4:6)

    When Nicodemus says, for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him. I want you to be aware also that signs can be deceiving, especially when a person does not have a deep and grounded familiarity with the Word of God. When someone does not have a genuine relationship with God, that person lacks the discernment that comes from Him. Because of a lack of knowledge of God and His Word, many are unable to rightly discern whether something is truly a sign from God or not. Scripture warns us clearly, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). This is why signs alone are never enough. Discernment comes from knowing God and knowing His Word. However, the miracles of the LORD Jesus were different. They could not be imitated by devils. His works were continuous, powerful, and unmistakable. When Jesus appeared, evil spirits begged, cried out, and fell before Him, because the presence of God flowed from Him with divine power and authority (Mark 1:23–26; Luke 4:33–35).

    The works of Jesus were so many and so profound that they could not be fully recorded. John testifies to this when he writes, “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written” (John 21:25). Even when John the Baptist found himself in a moment of doubt and sent his disciples to ask if Jesus was truly the Messiah, the LORD did not answer with arguments or explanations. Instead, He pointed to His works that manifest the power and authority of the kingdom of God. Jesus said, “Go and tell John the things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them” (Matthew 11:4–5, Luke 7:22). These were not deceptive signs, but clear demonstrations of the kingdom of God.

    Beyond the miracles, the teaching of the Lord Jesus was unlike that of anyone else. His teaching was centered on God and grounded in absolute truth. He spoke with divine authority. Scripture says, “And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matthew 7:28–29).

    Nicodemus was deeply interested in the truth about entering the kingdom of God. We understand this by the way the Lord Jesus responded to him. Jesus did not answer Nicodemus with general teaching or surface explanations. Instead, He spoke directly to the very thing Nicodemus was seeking. Nicodemus came to Jesus acknowledging Him as Rabbi and recognizing that God was with Him. He understood that the signs and works Jesus performed were not ordinary, but were manifestations of the promises and prophecies concerning the Messiah that they had long studied. That is why Jesus spoke directly to what Nicodemus truly wanted to know, for the LORD knows what is in man (John 2:24-25). He knew that this man was not testing Him, but genuinely searching for understanding.

    This is what made Nicodemus different from the rest of the Pharisees. He humbled himself and came to examine whether what he had learned was truly leading him into the kingdom of God. He did not rest in his position, his training, or his religious knowledge. Instead, he sought the presence of Jesus to know whether the truth he had been taught was truly from God. This should be the character of every Christian. We should continually seek the presence of the LORD Jesus and ask Him whether what we have received truly comes from God and whether it is truly leading us to Him and to His kingdom. Scripture exhorts us to examine our spiritual condition: “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

    We are also warned not to accept teaching blindly, but to test what we hear saying, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). When this humility is missing, many Christians become confident in what they have been indoctrinated with rather than remaining dependent on God. Knowledge replaces relationship, and tradition takes the place of truth. The apostle Paul gives a sober warning about this danger, saying, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Colossians 2:8).

    At that time, it was widely taught among the Jews that because they were descendants of Abraham, they were automatically assured of heaven. John the Baptist confronted this false confidence when the Pharisees came to him to be baptized. He warned them clearly not to trust in their lineage, saying,

    “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.” Matthew‬ ‭3:7-9‬ ‭

    Here we learn from John the Baptist that being a Jew and coming from the lineage of Abraham according to the flesh was not enough to enter the kingdom of God. If that was not enough for them, how much more is it not enough for us who are Gentiles, who were outside of God’s covenant?

    Now we are ready to look at the response of the Lord Jesus to Nicodemus. He begins by saying, ‘Most assuredly,’ which in the Greek is ‘amen, amen.’ The Lord Jesus used two amens to emphasize the importance and certainty of what He was about to say. By using this phrase, He was asserting His authority and the absolute truthfulness of His words. It showed that what followed was not an opinion, a debate, or a tradition of men, but a foundational truth that must be received as it is spoken.

    Then the LORD Jesus says, “I say to you, unless one is born again.” The word again comes from the Greek word anōthen, which means “from above.” Jesus was speaking not about a second physical birth but about a spiritual rebirth that comes from God. John uses this same word to describe what comes from above when he says, “He that cometh from above is above all” (John 3:31). The requirement is clear. For us to be born again means we all need to be born from above. This spiritual rebirth only we can receive is through the Spirit of God.

    But the question is, why must we be born again?

    The answer goes back to Adam. When Adam sinned, death entered the world. As it is written, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” (Romans 5:12).
    Death was the direct result of sin saying, “For the wages of sin is death …(Romans 6:23). From the moment Adam sinned, death took hold of him. Although he continued to live physically, he died spiritually. That fallen condition was passed on to all his descendants. We inherited not only a sinful nature, but a state of spiritual death. This is why every person is born physically alive, yet spiritually dead.

    Paul emphasized the importance of understanding our condition before Christ. In his letters to the Ephesians and the Colossians, he taught that our trespasses brought spiritual death to us. We were dead and unable to give ourselves life. As Jesus says, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” (John‬ ‭3:6-7‬)

    But how can a person be born again? Jesus answered this question when speaking to Nicodemus. He took Nicodemus back to Israel’s history, to a moment recorded in the wilderness. The people of Israel had been bitten by fiery serpents, and the poison was bringing death to them. God instructed Moses to lift up a serpent of brass, and anyone who looked upon it in faith would live. Jesus explained that this event pointed directly to Him. He said,

    “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John‬ ‭3:14-16‬)

    In the same way that the Israelites were dying from the poison of the serpent, all humanity was dying from the poison of sin and the deception of Satan, that old serpent. But when Jesus finished the work on the cross, He paid for our sins in full. When He rose from the dead, He conquered both sin and death. Therefore, all who believe in Him receive life. Just as the Israelites lived by looking in faith, we are born again by believing in the Son of Man who was lifted up for us. This is how God brings the spiritually dead to life.

    Paul continues to help us understand that only through Jesus Christ can we escape the condition of spiritual death. No one else can give life. Only Christ has the power to make the dead live, saying, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). He repeats the same message later, saying, “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved” (Ephesians 2:5).

    Paul emphasizes this same truth again when writing to the Colossians, because it is vital for all of us wither Christians or not to understanding how anyone enters the kingdom of God. He says, “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses” (Colossians 2:13). We are made alive only through believing in the LORD Jesus Christ. This new birth is possible because of our union with Him. When Christ died, we died with Him. When He rose from the dead, we rose with Him. As it is written, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).

    We cannot obtain this new life without the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. This is why Jesus instructed and commanded His disciples to wait for the promise of the Father. After Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, He did not tell them to go immediately, but to wait. He commanded “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). This word of the LORD is the fulfillment of what God promised long ago through the prophet Ezekile when He said, And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). We must receive the Holy Spirit, because only the Spirit of God produces spiritual life within us. Without the Spirit, there is no new birth, no spiritual understanding, and no power to walk in God’s ways. That is why Jesus said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”

    The importance of the Holy Spirit to every believer cannot be overstated. Without the Spirit of God, we cannot truly know God. As it is written, “the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10). How can anyone know God apart from His Spirit? It is the Spirit who reveals who God is and opens our understanding to His truth. This is why God promised through the prophet Ezekiel that when His Spirit dwells within us, we would be able to walk in His ways. God does not only give us strength to walk in His statutes and commandments, but He also gives us understanding. Through the Holy Spirit, we learn why we must walk in His ways and how to live in obedience to Him. This is because it is the Spirit who gives life within us. Jesus said, ““It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63).

    The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead now gives life to us as well. Scripture declares, “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). This is why we must first believe in Jesus Christ. What Jesus accomplished on the cross paid for all our sins. He bore them, nailed them to the cross, forgave us, and conquered both sin and death. Through His finished work, the barrier that separated us from God was removed, making it possible for us to be born again as children of God and to cry out, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15).

    After we believe in Christ and are united with Him, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit brings reconciliation, restores fellowship with the Father, and produces His fruit in our lives, fruit against which there is no law (Galatians 5:22–23). This is why every one of us must believe in Jesus Christ and be born again. Without the new birth, spiritual life never begins within us. Without spiritual life, we cannot truly understand God, and we have no entrance into the kingdom of God. Jesus made this truth clear when He said, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

    Think about this for a moment. How can you, or anyone you are witnessing to, hear the word of God, see His truth, sense His presence, or enter into the kingdom of God if you are spiritually dead? A dead person cannot hear, see, or respond. In the same way, a person who is spiritually dead cannot perceive spiritual truth.

    If we cannot truly see or understand the Word of God, which teaches us how to enter His kingdom, how could we ever enter it? How would we know what God requires of us? How would we recognize His truth or respond to His call? This is why Jesus said so plainly, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Before a person can enter the kingdom, they must first be able to see it. And spiritual sight only comes through spiritual life.

    The apostle Paul helps us to grasp this reality when he writes, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14). Without spiritual life, there is no spiritual understanding.

    If we cannot spiritually see or understand God’s truth, how can we ever walk toward His kingdom? Scripture is clear that there is no unrighteousness in the kingdom of God. As it is written, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?” (1 Corinthians 6:9). Apart from Jesus Christ, all men are unrighteous and stand condemned before God. As it is written, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already” (John 3:18).

    How can anyone enter a kingdom they do not know, do not understand, and do not even desire? How can a person live in a place where they have no knowledge of God, no love for His truth, and no relationship with Him?

    This is why being born again is not optional. It is an absolute requirement.

    Only through a willing heart that comes to Jesus and asks, “Lord, give me new life,” can anyone be changed. Jesus alone is the only One who can baptizes us with the Holy Spirit. As it is written, “He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire” (Matthew 3:11). Only Jesus can give spiritual life, spiritual sight, and spiritual understanding. He alone can give us a new heart that is able to hear His Word, respond to His truth, and desire His presence. This is the work of God, not the work of man. Through this new birth, we are finally able to truly know God, walk in His righteousness, and move toward His kingdom. This is why the LORD Jesus spoke so plainly, simply, and directly to Nicodemus. He did not soften the truth or make it complicated.

    And this is why He speaks the same truth to all of us today. If we want to see the kingdom of God and enter into it, we must be born again.

    This new birth only comes through believing in Jesus Christ. Scripture says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).

    February 5, 2026

  • Luke 10:2

    Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. – Luke 10:2

    Many Christians today are stepping back from evangelism, especially street evangelism. One reason is simple: evangelism often comes with resistance. When we look at Scripture, we see that the disciples faced opposition everywhere they went. They were mocked, beaten, imprisoned, and persecuted. Yet in the midst of danger and suffering, they did not stop preaching the gospel. Because they all knew that winning a soul was the very heartbeat of God.

    God expresses his displeasure in the death of the wicked. “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live” (Ezekiel 33:11). Why is this so? Because when the wicked die without repentance and believe in Him, their death does not lead them to God but to eternal separation from Him. Yet the Word of God speaks very differently about the death of those who belong to Him. “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” (Psalm 116:15). Why is it precious? Because they are coming home. Their death is not a loss, but a gain. They leave this world to be forever with the LORD, in His presence and in His glory.

    Here we begin to understand what is truly precious in the sight of God and what He loves most. It is the human soul. God values the soul more than all the riches of this world. Jesus Himself said, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” and again, “Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36–37). A human soul is worth more than any wealth this world can offer. Even if all the riches of the earth were gathered together, they could never compare to the value of one soul. Your soul and my soul are precious in the sight of God. When we truly understand this, it changes the way we see people. We no longer see them as just human beings passing through life but as precious souls with eternal value.

    Now that we understand the seriousness and the importance of evangelism for every Christian, we also understand that this is not something we can skip or avoid. Before our main verse, we see that the LORD Jesus sent out the seventy to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God. But before He sent them, He first taught, trained, and prepared them. He gave them power and authority over evil spirits and authority to heal the sick. He did not send them out in their own strength, but in His power, with His authority, and with His purpose.

    When Jesus says, “The harvest truly is great,” He is talking about the people souls waiting to be gathered. He is saying that their hearts are ready to receive God and His great salvation. After being separated from God for thousands of years, the souls of people have grown dry and weary. People are thirsting for meaning, for life, for light, and for the presence of God, who alone is the source of all these things. Now, the LORD Jesus speaks to all of us with urgency that the field of the harvest is ready. It is full and overflowing, yet only there were too few who were willing to work. Gathering a harvest requires effort. It means standing under the heat of the sun, bending the knees, and laboring throughout the day.

    The LORD Jesus knows this reality that many Christians see evangelism as a tedious task rather than a privilege and a blessing. For some, evangelism feels uncomfortable. It interrupts their routines and challenges their comforts. For others, it brings opposition and resistance such as mocking, offense, rejection, and even hatred.

    Yet Jesus speaks these words to awaken us. He calls our attention to something far more precious than comfort and far more important than avoiding opposition. He calls us to see the urgency of the harvest. The problem is not that the harvest is small, but that our focus is often misplaced. Too often, we are still living for ourselves instead of for God. Our eyes remain fixed on our own desires rather than on His heart. We labor to satisfy our own pleasures instead of seeking what is pleasing in the sight of God.

    The LORD Jesus is calling us to refocus our attention and realign our priorities. We have become caught up in the things of this world and distracted by the enemy from our greatest calling.

    “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” Matthew‬ ‭28:19-20‬ ‭

    We are called to go out, to preach the gospel, and to labor willingly in the work of God, without murmuring and without complaining.

    This is why the Word of God praises the feet of those who bring good news. God honors those who are willing to go, to carry the message of peace, and to proclaim salvation. As it is written, “How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”” (Isaiah‬ ‭52:7)‬ ‭and the Christians who loves to win souls for God are counted wise, As it is written, “… And he who wins souls is wise.” (Proverbs‬ ‭11:30‬). When you truly love Jesus, you will begin to love those whom Jesus loves. And when Jesus becomes precious to you, the souls that are precious to Him will also become precious to you. This is the true heart of evangelism.

    Now that our hearts are ready and prepared, we can better understand the next words of the LORD Jesus saying, therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Jesus reminds us that He Himself is the LORD of the harvest. He is the One in charge. Long before we ever step into the field, God has already begun the work. Scripture makes this clear. Paul says, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6). God is the One who brings growth. Our role is to plant and to water, but it is God who causes hearts to respond and lives to change. Salvation does not come by human effort alone. God is the One who touches the mind and softens the heart. Jesus said, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him” (John 6:44).

    The Word of God tells us that the LORD searches the hearts and minds of people. “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins” (Jeremiah 17:10). He knows the condition of every soul and the thoughts of every heart. He sees and hears the cries of those who long to be free from the power of sin and death, for “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth” (Psalm 34:17). Often, God answers those cries by sending us His laborers into His harvest. Yet many times, in our ignorance especially in our first encounters, we may resist them or oppose them. We fail to recognize that through them that God is reaching out to us through them. God is answering the cry of our own souls. As Scripture says, “How shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?” (Romans 10:14–15). This is why we must remember that the harvest does not begin with our effort; it begins with God. God who is the LORD of the harvest is already at work. He is simply calling for laborers who are willing to respond, willing to obey, and willing to join Him in the work He has already begun.

    Now we understand what is precious in the sight of God, and that is the human soul. We understand that people are ready and prepared to receive the gospel of the LORD Jesus Christ, the gospel that brings salvation, life, and freedom to all who believe and receive it. We also recognize the great shortage of laborers needed to carry out this work. The need is great, the harvest is ready, and the time is now. Jesus calls us to pray, but not with distant or passive hearts. This prayer is not only about asking God to send others into the harvest. It is also a prayer that our own hearts would be willing. It is a prayer that we would begin to see, hear, and feel the cry of dying souls. These are the people searching for deliverance, healing, and freedom from the power of darkness.

    God desires to shape our hearts so that they beat like His. He longs to give us a heart that carries His burden. It is a heart that is ready to go, ready to testify, and ready to witness to the goodness of God in our own lives and to His plans for the lives of others. This is how we become part of His great harvest. As we step into this calling together, we come to understand something important. Whether we are those being reached or those laboring in the harvest, we all need God. We all depend on Him. For this reason, we all called to continue to pray for willing hearts, for more laborers, and for God to do what only He can do in us and through us.

    February 2, 2026

  • Colossians‬ ‭2:15

    “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” Colossians‬ ‭2:15‬

    This is one of the most powerful Scripture that every Christian should not only understand, but also lived out. However, before we go deeper into this verse, I encourage you to first read Colossians 2:13 and Colossians 2:14.

    When Paul says that the LORD Jesus Christ “disarmed” the principalities and powers, the Greek word he uses is apekdyomai. This word means to strip off completely, to disarm completely, or to despoil for one’s own advantage. It was commonly used to describe a defeated enemy being stripped of their weapons, armor, and authority after a decisive victory. The Word of God is not telling us that the LORD Jesus merely weakened satan’s power over us. It is declaring that the LORD Jesus Christ completely stripped the powers of satan and his minions they relied on to hold against us.

    In verse 13, it describes our spiritual conditions. We were dead in our trespasses and in our dead state, satan took advantage of us. he deceived us, influenced us, and used our separation from God to make sin appear good, desirable, and harmless As it is written, “that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world” (Revelation 12:9). Sin felt pleasurable, but it was slowly destroying us and leading us toward death. At the same time, Scripture is clear that satan’s influence does not remove our responsibility. Just as a friend can influence us to make a wrong choice, we are still the ones who choose. We could say no, but often we do not, because sin appeals to our flesh. As it is written,

    “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.” James‬ ‭1:13-16‬

    That is why we are accountable for our own decisions and actions before God. Scripture reminds us, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12). Though we were deceived, we were not forced. Though influenced, the decision was still ours to make.

    The first thing Jesus disarmed for all of us was the power of sin and death over our lives. When Jesus died for us on the cross, He conquered the sin that separated us from God and brought death into our lives. Scripture tells us, “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). When Jesus rose from the dead, we rose with Him. We who were once dead were made alive in Christ. As it is written, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Through His resurrection, new life was given to us.

    Jesus also conquered death through His own death. Scripture says, “That through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14). Because of this victory, sin and death no longer have dominion over those who are in Christ. Their power has been stripped away. What once ruled over us no longer has dominion over us nor does it hold us in bondage.

    Then in verse 14, God is holy, and His statutes and commandments stood as witnesses against us. The law exposed our sin and testified to our guilt, bringing death upon us. As Scripture says, “And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death” (Romans 7:10). But when Jesus shed His blood on the cross, everything changed. The Scripture tells us, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). When the LORD Jesus Christ poured out His blood, He wiped out the record of charges that stood against us.

    These is the second things Jesus disarmed for us. Every accusation, every charge, every demand of the law was nailed to the cross with Him. Jesus took all of it upon Himself and fulfilled the law completely. As He Himself said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” (Matthew 5:17) Because of this, we now receive righteousness in Him, not by our works, but by His finished work. As it is written, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) And through Christ, we are able to enter the kingdom of God and receive the Holy Spirit.

    Since the day Jesus died on the cross and rose again, everything that satan and his forces once used to stand against us and accuse us has been stripped away. The LORD Jesus did not leave them wounded or partially defeated. They walked away empty-handed. As it is written,

    “So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians‬ ‭15:54-57‬ ‭

    Their power, their authority, and their accusations were taken from them completely.

    Throughout the Gospels, every time the LORD Jesus encountered evil spirits, they trembled before Him and begged Him. They recognized His authority, because He was without sin. Unlike us, He walked perfectly before God, fulfilling all the statutes and commandments of the Father. Because there was no sin in Him, the enemy had no claim on Him.

    When Jesus rose from the dead and ascended back to heaven, everything changed. What was lost was restored. Victory was secured. After His resurrection, Jesus came and spoke to His disciples, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (Matthew‬ ‭28:18)‬ ‭ Through His finished work on the cross, Jesus took back everything that gave the enemy power and triumphed over them completely. Sin was judged, death was defeated, and the powers of darkness were stripped of their authority. Then He shared that authority with us. Jesus said, “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke‬ ‭10:19)‬ ‭Now, Jesus has taught us that the power of darkness has no authority over any part of our lives, nor over the people we love. He has given us authority over satan and his forces, and Jesus has shown us how to walk in that authority.

    Then Paul says, “made a public spectacle of them.” What appeared to be His humiliation was actually their defeat. They believed that by stripping Him of His clothes, exposing Him, and nailing His hands and feet to the cross before all people, they were triumphing over Him. The religious leaders believed that by crucifying Jesus, everything would return to the way it was before. They thought His death would silence Him and end His work. But Scripture tells us otherwise. As it is written, “Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:8).

    What they intended for defeat became the very means of victory. As Scripture says, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good” (Genesis 50:20). What looked like defeat in the hands of men was always part of God’s redemptive plan. The very method they used to disgrace the LORD Jesus became the instrument through which God poured out His grace on all who believe. The cross, which appeared foolish and weak to them, became the power of God unto salvation. As it is written, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

    At the cross, sin was paid in full, death was defeated, and the powers of darkness were exposed and stripped of their authority. This is what Paul means when he says that the LORD Jesus Christ triumphed over them in it. From their generation and even to ours, what the Lord Jesus did on the cross was always mocked. They saw it as shameful, foolish, and weak. But God looked at the cross and declared victory. As it is written, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14).

    Have you ever wondered why the apostle Paul said, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14)? Paul had many things he could have boasted in. He could have boasted in his education, his background, or his ministry. Yet he chose to boast only in the cross. Paul knew that what Jesus finished on the cross disarmed all the power of satan over us. The cross stripped the enemy of his weapons which were sin, accusation, and death. What satan once used to condemn and enslave humanity was taken away completely through the LORD Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. That is why the book of Revelation declares our victory. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony” (Revelation 12:11). Our testimony is not about ourselves or our accomplishment. Our testimony is about what Jesus declared on the cross when He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). The work is complete. The debt is paid. The enemy is defeated. And because of the cross, we stand in victory, not in what we have done, but in what the LORD Jesus Christ has already done for all of us.

    I want to remind you that the earth was never given to evil spirits or angels. It was give to us. Scripture tells us, “The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men” (Psalm 115:16,). The LORD Jesus demonstrated how we are to stand against satan and his forces. We were never meant to live under oppression or fear. They are trespassers with no rightful claim. Just as the Israelites, under God’s command, dispossessed the giants and nations from the Promised Land, we are called to dispossess the enemy from what God has given us.

    If the enemy was already disarmed two thousand years ago, why do so many Christians still live under oppression from Satan and his forces? The victory has been won, yet many believers are not walking in it.

    First, many are still blinded by the pleasures of sin and the riches of this world. Scripture reminds us that the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life will all pass away. What feels satisfying for a moment slowly steals our peace and freedom.

    Second, many do not pray or consistently read the Word of God. God Himself says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” When we are not rooted in the truth, we become vulnerable to lies and deception.

    Third, we often focus more on ourselves than on what the Lord Jesus has already accomplished on the cross. Instead of standing in His finished work, we try to fight battles in our own strength, which only leads to exhaustion and defeat.

    But this is not the end of the story. God’s mercy is new every morning. There is always an invitation to repent, to turn back to Him, and to realign our hearts with His truth. God is always willing to reach out His hands to us. He is patient, faithful, and ready to restore anyone who comes back to Him.

    The victory is already won. The call now is to walk in it.

    January 31, 2026

  • Colossians‬ ‭2:14

    “having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” Colossians‬ ‭2:14

    Before you read and study this passage, I encourage you to first read Colossians 2:13, where I discusses and explains why we were dead in our trespasses and why we are called “the uncircumcision of our flesh.” Understanding this is essential, because it helps us grasp what Paul means in this passage.

    Here in the United States, credit cards and credit history play an essential role in everyday life. A credit score is commonly required to purchase a home, buy a car, obtain a personal loan, or even rent an apartment. While credit cards can help build credit, they also carry significant risks. When used without discipline and control, they can lead to overwhelming debt. Many Americans eventually file for bankruptcy, which remains on a credit report for up to seven years. During that time, individuals often struggle to qualify for loans, purchase a home or vehicle, or secure housing. Because of these long-term consequences, many people try to avoid filing for bankruptcy. However, they often become trapped in debt not only through credit cards but also through multiple types of loans.

    Now imagine carrying a debt so large that you have no idea how it could ever be repaid. Then imagine receiving a letter stating that the entire balance has been paid in full and permanently removed from the system because an anonymous person paid it for you. In that moment, you are given the opportunity to start life over again without the heavy burden of debt and without being stuck in a cycle that once felt never-ending.

    Even in situations like this, there is still hope. We know that some Americans are able to get back on their feet, even after carrying a heavy financial burden on their shoulders. But the debt we owe to God is different.

    When Adam fell, death entered into all of us. As it is written, “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). And how can a dead person pay a debt? I am not talking about physical death here as we all knew that Adam continued to live physically, but he became spiritually dead, and the same condition passed on to all of us.

    Since Adam fell, we have all been separated from God because of our iniquities. This separation unable us to remember, know, or seek God on our own. We alienated to His truth. The Scriptures say, “For in death there is no remembrance of You” (Psalm 6:5). This is why, when we receive the LORD Jesus Christ, everything feels new, unfamiliar, and different.

    Our situation was truly hopeless. We were spiritually dead, unable to understand our own condition, unaware of our danger, and ignorant of the God who alone could save us. We did not know we were lost. We did not even know there was a God to cry out to. And how can a dead person ask to be rescued? How can someone call for help when they do not even know help exists?

    We knew nothing of God at all. Even the disciples born and raised within God’s covenant failed to recognize Him when He stood right in front of them. They asked Jesus, “Who then can be saved?” If the rich man, who claimed to have kept all the commandments, could not enter the kingdom of God because he would not let go of his possessions, what hope was there for anyone?

    Jesus gave an answer that reveals the our true condition, saying,“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). It is impossible for us to save ourselves and but not with God. This is why God knew we would never reach out to Him on our own—our sin had separated us, and our spiritual death left us blind and powerless. That is why Scripture says, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). When it says “while we were still sinners,” it means this: while we were dead, unaware, and walking straight toward judgment, God made a way where there was no way. Jesus stepped into our hopelessness. He opened the door of escape from the condemnation we all deserved. Salvation did not begin with us choosing God. It began with God choosing to love us.

    This helps us understand what Paul means when he says that God “wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us.” If the Lord Jesus had not come and given His life for us, we would have no hope at all. We would stand condemned, unable to escape judgment, because we could never fulfill the law.

    The law demands perfection, beginning with the very first commandment. How can we love God when we do not truly know Him or are not even aware of Him? Scripture tells us plainly, “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in His sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20). No one has ever been able to justify themselves by the law, and no one has ever been able to keep it fully. Only Jesus did.

    He did not only fulfill the law, but through Him we also receive righteousness. Every accusation of the law, with all its charges and demands that once condemned us to death, was placed upon Him. He carried it all and paid for it with His own life. Scripture reminds us, “Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins” (Hebrews 9:22). On the cross, Jesus completed the work of salvation when He declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30).

    This helps us understand what Paul means when he says, “And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” Everything that once stood against us was removed and nailed to the cross with Christ. The sin that condemned us and the death that separated us from God were dealt with fully through His sacrifice. By His death, Jesus abolished the enmity that stood between us and God. What once kept us far away has been removed. As it is written, “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, … ‭‭(Ephesians‬ ‭2:14-15‬). ‭

    Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). There is no longer a wall standing between us and God. What once separated us has been torn down, and we are no longer kept at a distance from His presence (Ephesians 2:14). Through Jesus, we are free to draw near to God with confidence because His blood has opened the way for us, and because His sacrifice has made us clean.  (Hebrews 10:19–22).

    You are no longer dead, lost, or unaware of God. You are no longer without hope. Scripture tells us that we were once dead in our trespasses and sins, but God made us alive together with Christ (Colossians‬ ‭2:13). You are no longer in debt, because Jesus paid for all your sins. The debt has been wiped out. You are now debt free. You are no longer defined as a sinner, but you are righteous in Christ through faith. There is no condemnation over you anymore, because you are no longer bound by sin. You are also no longer a stranger or an outsider to God. Through Jesus, you have been given the right to become a child of God. You belong to Him, and you are welcomed into His presence. But greater than all of this is the promise of eternal life with our Father. A life no longer bound by time or space, where we will worship Him in the beauty of His holiness and dwell with Him forever.

    January 28, 2026

  • Colossians‬ ‭2:13

    “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,” – Colossians‬ ‭2:13

    Before we believed in Jesus, we were exactly like a dead person before God. Just as a dead person cannot hear, cannot see, and cannot respond, in the same way we could not hear God’s voice, we could not see His truth, and we could not respond to His calling. We lived our lives far away from God, so much so that we became alienated from Him. We led our lives according to our own understanding, our own plans, and our own desires, without realizing that God exists—that He is living, that He is watching us from His throne, that He hears every thought of our heart and mind, even though we never cared about Him.

    He was calling us again and again, yet there was no response from us. And all this while, He was still ruling and sustaining His entire creation.

    Even when we were aware that there is a God, we did not truly know anything about Him. We did not know who He is, how He works, or what He desires. We were so distant from God, our lives were so unclear, and God was never related to our daily lives.

    This helps us understand what the Scripture means when it says, “And you, being dead.” but how did we become dead? Scripture gives us the answer by saying, “in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh.” Our sins set us apart from God. And when we are separated from the source of life, we begin to wither, and eventually we die. This is why the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Sin cuts us off from God’s presence (Isaiah 59:2), and apart from Him there is no life. Jesus said, “…He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). This is not a prideful statement, it is truth. Life cannot exist apart from its source and God is the source of everything we need to live.

    That is why, in the beginning, the earth was described as “without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep” (Genesis 1:2). But when God spoke and brought forth light, then came water, order, and life. Step by step, God began to form and perfect all kinds of living things, and finally He created us. Life flourished because God was present and active.

    But when our father Adam fell into sin, sin separated us from God (Romans 5:12). And when we were separated from the source of life then death awakened—not only did our physical life become temporal, but we also lost eternal life. For Scripture declares, “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

    Then Scripture says about “the uncircumcision of your flesh,” he is saying that we were not part of God’s covenant people. In the Old Testament, circumcision was the sign that identified the children of Abraham as God’s people. It marked them as those who belonged to God through the covenant He made with Abraham (Genesis 17). Those who were uncircumcised were considered outside the covenant, strangers to the promises of God, and not counted among His people. This is why Scripture says:

    “Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” (Ephesians 2:11–12).

    Paul is explaining that before Christ, we were outside of God’s covenant that
    we did not belong to God’s covenant people.

    Yet now, God has made us alive together with Him. God made us alive through our LORD Jesus Christ. Jesus did not only pay for all our sins when He nailed them to the cross and buried them in His death, but we were also united with Him in His resurrection. When He rose from the dead, we rose with Him into new life. This is what Paul means when he speaks about the power of Christ’s resurrection. Death and sin no longer have power over us, because when Jesus rose again, He conquered them once and for all. As Scripture says,

    “Knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him” (Romans 6:9).

    And because we are in Him, death and sin no longer rule over us either.

    “For sin shall not have dominion over you…” (Romans 6:14).

    Jesus conquered sin and death for us, and He gives us victory through Himself.

    “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

    This victory is not only for eternal life in the future, but also for abundant life now. Jesus said,

    “…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

    That life is revealed as Christ produces the fruit of the Holy Spirit in us.

    “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23).

    And this new life leads all the way into eternity. As it is written,

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

    You are no longer who you used to be. You are no longer dead. When Jesus rose from the dead, He made you alive with Him. His resurrection became your resurrection. As it is written,

    “For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection” (Romans 6:5).

    The life that conquered the grave now lives in you. Sin and death no longer define you, because Jesus Christ has given you new life. You now live, not by your old self, but by the power of His risen life.

    Now, walk according to the newness of life Christ has given you, for He has forgiven all your trespasses. The iniquities that once separated you from Him have been completely forgiven. The cross stands as the evidence that nothing remains between you and God.

    “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7).

    What is so overwhelmingly good is that before you and I ever believe and receive Him, Jesus already chose the cross for us. He did not wait for us to become worthy. He forgave us by giving His life for us, and the scriptures tells us that this sacrifice was not a burden to Him, but a joy. Our redemption brought joy to His heart.

    “…Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross…” (Hebrews 12:2).

    So do not let the words of Satan deceive you. Do not believe the lie that you are not loved, that you have no chance to come close to God, or that you can never be forgiven.

    The cross is the proof that you are forgiven.

    The cross is the proof that you are loved.

    The cross is the proof that God desired reconciliation with you.

    So do not hesitate to believe. Do not hesitate to receive Jesus. He is good. And in Him, you are complete.

    January 24, 2026

  • Matthew‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭

    “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”” Matthew‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭

    Water baptism is not a newly imposed church tradition or a cultural practice created by modern Christianity. Its roots reach deep into the Old Testament. John the Baptist, a descendant of the priestly line, fully understood the importance of purification and sanctification. The priests were instructed on how to cleanse themselves before the the LORD Jesus, and John was divinely appointed as “the voice crying in the wilderness, preparing the way of the Lord.”

    By immersing people in water, John was calling them to repentance. “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:1–2). The act of going down into the water symbolized acknowledging impurity and uncleanness and the need to be washed clean. As it is written, “John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins” (Mark 1:4-5). Baptism was a public confession: I was unclean, and I needed cleansing. It was not merely about water but about a repentant heart turning back to God.

    This practice was well understood by Israel. Before coming into the presence of God, the people were required to cleanse themselves. “And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes” (Exodus 19:10). These outward washings reflected inward preparation to stand before a holy God. In the same way, John’s baptism prepared the people for the coming of the LORD Jesus Christ not through water alone, but through repentance and obedience.

    Jesus came to John to be baptized at about thirty years of age, not as an infant, but as a man fully aware and absolutely knowing His actions. He understood right from wrong, and His baptism was a deliberate and conscious act of obedience. How can an infant, with no awareness of sin or uncleanness, recognize impurity, confess wrongdoing, or choose obedience on their own? Repentance is not automatic, and obedience is not inherited. Confession, repentance, and obedience all require understanding and a willing response of the heart something an infant is not yet able to do.

    Yet Jesus, who knew no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), and John were fully aware of this truth. Because of this understanding, John hesitated and tried to to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”” (Matthew 3:14). John fully understood that Jesus had no need to repent or to be cleansed. Yet Jesus answered, “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). Jesus was baptized not because He needed cleansing, but because obedience fulfills righteousness. Through this act, the LORD Jesus demonstrates to all of us what true obedience looks like. Even when obedience does not make sense to human understanding, we are still called to obey God (Proverbs 3:5).

    Baptism does not offer salvation to everyone who believes, yet that does not mean it is optional for those who truly believe. Everyone who genuinely believes in the Lord Jesus Christ is commanded to be baptized. Salvation is by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, but obedience to His commandments is the evidence of true belief. Jesus Himself commanded it by saying, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…” (Matthew 28:19). He did not only call us to make disciples; He commanded that those disciples must be baptized.

    When the Holy Ghost was poured out and the gospel was first preached, baptism was immediately preached alongside repentance. Peter declared, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). Baptism is an act of repentance and preparation. It shows a willing heart that desires cleansing and submission before the LORD Jesus.

    Throughout Scripture, every person who believed was baptized. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized” (Acts 2:41. “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women” (Acts 8:12). “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord” (Acts 10:48). The only recorded exception is the thief on the cross. His hands and feet were bound, and he had no opportunity to obey this command, yet he was saved by his faith. His situation cannot be used as an excuse to refuse baptism.

    To reject baptism when one is able is disobedience to the word of God. Where is the willingness to obey God? If a person refuses to obey a simple command, how will they obey in greater matters? For those of us who are free, able, and alive, there is no excuse to delay obedience. Jesus said plainly, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). True belief produces obedience. If baptism were not important, Jesus Himself would not have been baptized. He submitted to baptism to fulfill all righteousness. And Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). If you desire to follow the LORD Jesus Christ and to fulfill all righteousness, you will not hesitate to be baptized.

    Here we see in this passage the response of heaven to water baptism for every believer. When Jesus came up out of the water, the very first thing that happened was that the heavens were opened.

    First, I want to be clear, because many people twist the Scriptures to fit personal preference, which is terrifying. Everything the LORD Jesus did was not random or symbolic only for Himself. He lived as an example for us to follow. His life was a pattern set before us who believe in Him. When Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, He said plainly, ““For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” (John‬ ‭13:15‬). The LORD Jesus did not merely teach us with words. He showed us the steps we are called to walk in. This includes water baptism. Scripture tells us, “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked” (1 John 2:6). We cannot claim to abide in the Lord Jesus Christ while refusing to follow His example.

    Our love for the Lord Jesus is not proven by confession alone but by obedience. Our words may declare our devotion to Him, but it is our actions that reveal the truth. As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. The apostle Peter makes this clear when he writes, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:” (1 Peter 2:21). To say we love Jesus while rejecting His example is a contradiction. If He obeyed the Father in baptism, and if He commands His followers to walk as He walked, then water baptism is not optional for the believer who truly desires to follow Jesus Christ.

    Here we can understand that after the LORD Jesus was baptized, the heavens were opened. This shows us that when we believe in Jesus, our sins are washed away, and our willingness to be immersed in water is a declaration to our Father God that we are not only confessing with our mouths, but also submitting our hearts to His will and choosing to follow His commands. The heavens do not open because of water itself, but because of a heart that is willing to turn away from sin, be cleansed, and walk in obedience to God.

    Here we see clearly that obedience to God’s commandments opened the heavens. when Moses spoke to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land and said, “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God: …The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, …” (Deuteronomy‬ ‭28:1-2, 12)‬. Heaven did not open because of words alone, but because of obedience to the voice of the LORD.

    If we truly consider this, Jesus did not need to be cleansed. He could have rightly said, I have no sin, I am clean, and I have no need of baptism. Scripture clearly testifies that He “knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Yet Jesus chose submission over self-justification. He yielded Himself to the word of God and obeyed, declaring that it was necessary “to fulfil all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). In this, the LORD Jesus shows to all of us who believe that heaven responds to humility and obedience. Heaven did not open to us because water had the power to cleanse us, but because we chose to humble ourselves and to obey the will of the Father. As it is written, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). This is the pattern set before us. If Jesus, who was without sin, submitted to God’s command, how much more are we called to do the same? If we desire the heavens to be opened, then obedience to God’s word is required.

    After the heavens were opened, the Spirit of God descended upon Jesus. This order is important. First came obedience, then the heaven opened, and then the outpouring of the Spirit.

    When we look back to the Old Testament, we see that only a few were given the Holy Spirit, and even then, the Spirit came upon them temporarily. God did not dwell permanently among the people because He is holy and cannot dwell in uncleanness. Scripture tells us that sin separates man from God (Isaiah 59:2). Because of this, the LORD God repeatedly removed His presence from Israel when they persisted in sin and rebellion.

    However, under the new covenant, through the blood of Jesus, which remits our sins, everything changed. Scripture declares, “Without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). Through the blood of Jesus, we are cleansed from all sin, for it is written, “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

    When we repent from our wickedness, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and willingly submit ourselves to God, the promise of the Father follows. The LORD Jesus Himself said, And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). In obedience to His word, the disciples gathered together in the upper room, and there they received the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:1–4). After this outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Peter stood and preached the gospel for the first time. His message was clear and direct “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). This shows us the same pattern that repentance comes first. A humble heart must acknowledge sin and turn away from wickedness. Then comes water baptism, which is the public confession of faith in the LORD Jesus Christ. In baptism, we are identified with the LORD Jesus Christ, for we are buried with Him. As it is written, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death” (Romans 6:4).

    God knew that without His Spirit we could not be able to overcome over our fleshly desires. The Word of God makes this clear: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6). Only through the Holy Spirit are we given power to overcome fleshly desires, for “If ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Romans 8:13).

    Only through the Holy Spirit brings us into real intimate fellowship with God and understanding His Word. Jesus said, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost… he shall teach you all things” (John 14:26,). And again, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit reveals to us God’s nature, His character, His ways, and what He loves and hates. Scripture says, “The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10).

    Finally, it is only through the Holy Spirit that we are transformed into the image of God’s Son. As it is written, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29).

    Then the Father spoke: “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” This declaration of restored identity came immediately after Jesus was baptized. At that moment, the LORD Jesus had not yet preached to the crowds, He had not yet won souls, He had not yet fasted in the wilderness, and He had not yet begun His public ministry. The Father’s affirmation came before the works. This is important, because many who believe hesitate at the very first step of obedience, which is baptism. Yet Jesus willingly submitted Himself to get baptized, even though He did not need cleansing. He chose obedience to God’s command. After His obedience, the heavens were opened, and the Spirit of God descended upon Him.

    Through this the LORD Jesus reveals God’s pattern that every believer is called to follow. Obedience comes before public ministry. Submission comes before empowerment. Identity is declared before assignment. Jesus walked through every step humbly and willingly, without murmuring, complaining, or justifying Himself. In doing so, He revealed what God intends for all who believe. What the Father spoke over the LORD Jesus shows what God desires to speak over every believer who humbly obeys His word.

    Above all, the most significant truth is that it is not water baptism itself that brings heaven’s opening. Water cleansing existed even in the Old Testament, yet the heavens were not opened, the Holy Spirit was not poured out upon all, and there was no full restoration of status and identity. All of this became possible only because our LORD Jesus Christ came down from heaven, took on flesh, and willingly died on the cross on our behalf. Jesus paid for our sins, which once separated us from the Father. As it is written, “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God” (Isaiah 59:2). Yet through Jesus, that separation was removed. “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13). His blood speaks better things for us, “the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel” (Hebrews 12:24). Through His death, burial, and resurrection, heaven was opened, the Spirit was given, and our identity as children of God was restored. Everything we receive flows from what Jesus accomplished, not from the act itself, but from His finished work.

    The blood of Jesus destroyed the enmity that stood between us and God and reconciled us back to the Father. As Scripture says, “Having slain the enmity thereby” (Ephesians 2:16). Because of this reconciliation, Jesus gives us a new identity. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). This is why it was necessary for Jesus to be openly declared the Son of God. The Bible never says that God is three separate persons. Instead, Scripture reveals that God manifested Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. There is one God. As it is written, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit” (1 Timothy 3:16).

    Jesus was declared the Son of God in order to restore what was lost through Adam. In the genealogy recorded in the Gospel of Luke, Adam is called “the son of God” (Luke 3:38). Through Adam’s fall, that identity was lost because of sin. But through Jesus Christ, God has restored what was lost. We are now begotten again through Him. As Scripture declares, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).

    God put on human flesh and was declared as the Son so that He could redeem humanity and restore us to our true identity as His children. As Scripture declares, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14), and again, “God was manifest in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16). Through His incarnation, God entered humanity in order to redeem it, for “the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Through what the LORD Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross, our true status and identity are restored. “In whom we have redemption through his blood” (Ephesians 1:7), and “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law” (Galatians 3:13). Because of His finished work, we are no longer strangers, but restored into God’s family. As it is written, “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19).

    That is why we are given the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is God’s witness within us, confirming our restored identity. Scripture says, “Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts” (Galatians 4:6). And again, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God” (Romans 8:16).

    Therefore, everyone who believes in the LORD Jesus Christ and walks in the pattern He set is a son or a daughter, well pleasing to the Father. As Scripture declares, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26). And again, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” a declaration that now echoes over all who are found in the LORD Jesus Christ.

    January 20, 2026

  • Psalms‬ ‭62:8‬ ‭

    “Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah” – Psalms‬ ‭62:8‬ ‭

    What distinguishes the Word of God from every other book in the world is that it speaks truth with absolute precision, revealing what is happening within us in a way no other book can. This alone proves to us that the Bible is not written by man, but by God. The Word of God exposes the hidden issues of the heart, the very things that shape our decisions, influence the condition of our lives, and affect the people around us. The Word of God does not merely inform us. It confronts us, convicts us, searches us, corrects us, and comforts us, securing our hearts not in the things of this world, but in God Himself.

    Have you ever been aware that our life here on earth is filled with uncertainty? One moment everything feels stable, and the next moment it all changes. You were talking in the morning about the person you love the most, and by evening you received a message that they are gone. A business you poured your heart into was thriving and seemed unstoppable, then suddenly it collapsed. You ate healthy, lived carefully, did everything right, and still you are told you have an incurable disease. You raised a child with love, prayer, and discipline, yet they choose a path you never imagined. You gave everything to someone you loved, only to be replaced by another. You are living what looks like your best life, yet deep inside it still feels like it is not enough.

    In moments like these, the Word of God has already spoken. As it is written, “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:

    A time to be born, And a time to die;

    A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;

    A time to kill, And a time to heal;

    A time to break down, And a time to build up;

    A time to weep, And a time to laugh;

    A time to mourn, And a time to dance;

    A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones;

    A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;

    A time to gain, And a time to lose;

    A time to keep, And a time to throw away;

    A time to tear, And a time to sew;

    A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;

    A time to love, And a time to hate;

    A time of war, And a time of peace.” – Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:1-8‬ ‭

    The Word of God reminds us that our life here on Earth is marked by changing seasons. Nothing in this world is steady enough to hold on to, and nothing here is guaranteed. Seasons change, and so do we.

    That is why the psalmist calls out to all people and declares, “Trust in God at all times, ye people” (Psalm 62:8). Our lives are like a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow, as Scripture says, “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). There is no certainty that everything will go well every single day of our lives. The LORD Jesus Himself made this clear when He said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Peter echoes this truth, saying, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you” (1 Peter 4:12).

    David understood this reality, and with that understanding, he encouraged all of us. He did not call us to a seasonal or situational faith. He called us to a continuous and consistent trust in God, regardless of circumstances, whether good or bad. We trust God because He alone is unchanging. As the LORD declares, “For I am the LORD, I do not change” (Malachi 3:6). He is not bound by time, seasons, or death. God is present in every circumstance we walk through, and His presence in our lives is our absolute certainty. We can rest in Him because God is good, faithful, and merciful, and He has promised those who place their confidence in Him, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

    As Christians, we are not exempt from trouble. The apostle Paul testified to this plainly as a man who gave his life fully to the LORD Jesus Christ. He wrote,  “Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.” (II Corinthians‬ ‭11:23-28‬) Paul’s life makes it clear that suffering is not evidence of weak faith, nor is it proof that God has abandoned us.

    And that is why the psalmist goes on to say, “Pour out your heart before Him” (Psalm 62:8). God invites us to bring our deepest emotions, burdens, and questions before Him, holding nothing back. To pour out the heart is to pray with vulnerability and sincerity. We see this lived out in the life of Hannah. She was grieving deeply because she could not bear a child. Her husband took another wife, and that woman continually mocked and provoked her. In her pain, Hannah came before the LORD so broken and so intense in prayer that Eli thought she was drunk. But she answered him, saying, “I have poured out my soul before the LORD” (1 Samuel 1:15).

    Hannah’s prayer shows us that God is not offended by genuine sorrow, nor does He reject a heart that comes before Him broken and empty. When Hannah stood before the LORD in her grief, Scripture says she was “in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish.” (1 Samuel 1:10). Yet instead of turning her away, God heard her cry. Her prayer teaches us that the LORD welcomes the desperate and the sincere pleas. He does not ask us to hide our pain but to bring it sincerely before Him. This same invitation is spoken by our LORD Jesus Christ saying, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). When we pour out our hearts before Him, we are not speaking to a god who does not hear. We are crying out to a God who hears, who cares, and who remains faithful to those weighed down by sorrow, burden, and weariness. Scripture also exhorts us, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7). The LORD Jesus is mindful of everything we go through. In every season of life. He is not distant from our suffering. He is closest when we are most broken. As it is written, “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18). 

    Then the psalmist ends by declaring, “God is a refuge for us.” The Hebrew word for refuge is maḥăsê, which means a shelter, a place of safety, or a covering from danger. We see this heart of God in the Old Testament, when He commanded the Israelites to build cities of refuge for those who had accidentally caused the death of another person. This shows how deeply God cares for His people. He made a way of protection for those who were weary, afraid, and facing consequences they never intended. God understood that life is filled with uncertainty and that one mistake could change everything.

    A refuge is a place you can run to when the weight of life becomes too heavy to carry. It is like coming home after a long and exhausting day, when everything outside has drained you. You step into a place where you are loved, where you are known, and where you are cared for. In that place, your heart begins to rest, your fears slowly ease, and your worries lose their grip because you know you are safe. And that refuge is God. There is no other place and no other human being where our souls can truly be at ease. Only God can give rest to our weary souls, and when the world overwhelms us, He is the place we run to. As Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you” (John 14:27). In Him, our restless hearts find peace, and our weary spirits find security. And as it is written, “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:2).

    January 18, 2026

  • ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭59:2‬

    “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.” – Isaiah‬ ‭59:2‬ ‭

    Have you ever felt that every time you commit a sin, you grow farther away from God? As if each sin creates an even greater distance between you and Him. Then we begin to wonder whether God still wants to hear our prayers, because we feel undeserving of His grace and unworthy of His love. And in that place, we feel so ashamed to come into His presence.

    When Isaiah spoke to the people of Israel, he declared, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God.” The Word of God is very clear that God did not separate Himself from us, rather, our iniquity caused us to withdraw from His presence. As it is written, “For my iniquities have gone over my head; Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me” (Psalms‬ ‭38:4)‬. Our iniquity overwhelms us with shame and guilt. That is why Adam and Eve were naked and felt no shame before sin entered the world. Once sin came, shame and guilt followed. These heavy feelings hinder us from drawing near to God and from reconciliation, and they make us feel unworthy to stand in His presence.

    Their iniquity did not remove God from the garden, for the LORD was still present and seeking them, saying, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). Rather, iniquity brought forth a heavy burden of shame and guilt within Adam and Eve, and because of it they hid themselves from the presence of the LORD instead of walking with Him (Genesis 3:7–10).

    The same is true for all of us. When we are overwhelmed by guilt and shame, we also hide from God. We begin to make excuses, and some even say they no longer believe, not because God has left, but because they want to escape the heavy burden they feel inside. Over time, these feelings harden their hearts and turn them away, not because God has departed, but because sin has deceived them (Hebrews 3:13).

    When we choose our iniquity rather than God, we choose to separate ourselves from the very source of life. God Himself says, “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.” (Jeremiah 2:13). God is very clear. To live in iniquity is to forsake Him, and to turn away from God is to turn away from the only source that can truly satisfy the soul. When we are separated from Him, we become like those broken cisterns that are unable to hold water that makes our souls grow dry and thirsty.

    In that dryness and thirst, we attempt to cover the emptiness with the pleasures of sin. We are reminded of the woman at the well, who had five husbands, and the man she was living with was not her husband (John 4:18). She searched for satisfaction in relationships, yet remained empty. Jesus revealed to her that He is the living water, saying that whoever drinks of the water He gives will never thirst (John 4:14).

    In our brokenness, we also reach for what feels good for a moment, hoping it will quiet the pain within us. Many turn to vices such as drugs, alcohol, pornography, and even food to fill what only God can heal. Yet the Word of God is clear that the pleasures of sin are only for a season (Hebrews 11:25). What begins as comfort ends in bondage, for Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.” (John 8:34).

    Isaiah did not only make it clear that our iniquities separate us from God, but he also declared, “And your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” It is important to understand this truth. God hides His face not from us, but from our sin. Again, not from us, but from our sin.

    God does not reject the sinner who seeks Him, but He cannot have fellowship with iniquity. As it is written, “For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with You” (Psalms‬ ‭5:4). But throughout the Bible, whenever a man humbles himself before God, the LORD hears. Each time Israel repented and confessed their sins, God heard their prayers. Even Manasseh, who committed grievous sins and led God’s people into evil, was not rejected when he humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. When he prayed, the LORD heard his prayer and restored him (2 Chronicles 33:12–13). For God Himself declares, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). Now, it is very clear that iniquity separates us from God, who is the source of all life and all that we need.  God did not hide His face from us as people, but from our sin. That is why the Word of God assures us that when we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive us and to hear our prayers. As it is written, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). 

    I want you to understand how serious God is about sin. If sin were not serious to God, He would not have humbled Himself and taken on human form. Scripture tells us that our LORD Jesus Christ, “being in the form of God… made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:6–7). He borrowed a virgin womb to live among us, taught us, suffered, bled, and was crucified, for “without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22). He then rose again, having defeated sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). All of this was done to deal fully with the sin that separated us from God and caused His face to be hidden from us. The cross stands as the greatest evidence of how seriously God takes sin and how deeply He desires to restore us to Himself.

    Jesus paid for our sins not so that we might continue living in them, but to deliver us from them. Scripture says, “He gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity” (Titus 2:14), and again, “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:2). Jesus did not only forgive and deliver us from our sins. He also gives us the power to walk away from them and live a new life.

    This is why many of us struggle to understand the Word of God. We read the Bible again and again, yet it still feels difficult to grasp. Even when someone explains it to us clearly, it can seem confusing or hard to take in. We may try harder, listen longer, and still feel like something is missing.

    Sin separated us from God, and because of that separation, we became strangers to Him. We did not truly know God, not because we were incapable of understanding, but because sin had cut us off from Him and from His Word, which alone reveals who God is. As it is written, “You, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works” (Colossians 1:21) Our sin made us fully alienated from God, leaving us without true knowledge of Him.

    That is why, when we first come to Him, everything feels new and unfamiliar. God’s ways feel different, His Word feels new, and walking with Him can feel strange at first. It is not because something is wrong, but because we are beginning a restored relationship that was once broken by sin.

    But now that sin has been dealt with through our LORD Jesus Christ, that separation has been removed. We are reconciled to the Father. As it is written, “Now all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:18).

    What then are you waiting for? Repent from your sins. Turn away from them. Believe in the LORD Jesus Christ, and be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). And you shall Received the gift of the holy Spirit

    Our reconciliation with God comes only through the blood of Jesus Christ. His blood has opened the way for us to come to God. As Scripture declares, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19). His blood removes shame and guilt that once kept us from God’s presence. Now we are invited to come boldly to the throne of grace, where we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). Most importantly, Jesus did not only remove the sin that separated us from the Father, but He also brought us near to Him. As it is written, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13).

    January 17, 2026

  • Colossians‬ ‭2:6‬ ‭

    “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,” – Colossians‬ ‭2:6‬ ‭

    Paul admonishes the Christians living in Colossae to walk in the LORD Jesus Christ just as they had received Him. What’s interesting is that these Colossian believers had never met Paul in person. They had heard the gospel and were likely taught by a man named Epaphras, who later spoke to Paul about the concerns within the church at Colossae.

    For us to understand Paul’s words, “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord,” we must be honest, transparent, and take a moment for reflection. Whether you have been with the Lord for many years, for a short time, or even since yesterday—did you fully understand the gospel when you first received the Lord Jesus? Did we truly understand the depth of the gospel of Jesus Christ at the beginning? We don’t! because receiving the LORD Jesus Christ is only the beginning.

    Before I was baptized, someone sat with me and explained the gospel and what the LORD Jesus had done. But because this was my first time hearing and learning about the Kingdom of God and His goodnews through our LORD Jesus Christ, much of it was hard for me to understand. The Word of God tells us that sin separates us from God, and that separation made us strangers to Him and unfamiliar with His ways.

    When we first respond to God’s call, we do not understand everything, and that is normal. There is nothing wrong with not knowing, because the truth is that we have been separated from God for generations. Darkness was all we knew. That is why sin came naturally to us. All we knew was how to sin, and we could not stop ourselves from doing it. Sin was our way of life. Then, when we received the LORD Jesus, everything felt unfamiliar and new. Because we did not yet have the Word of God to teach us who God is—His nature, His ways, what He loves, and what He does not love. 

    In our condition of being separated from God, we could not truly understand the things of God. At the beginning of our faith, what we most needed was the truth that Jesus loves us, He died for our sins, and through Him we can enter heaven. This foundational understanding is not shallow; it is exactly what we need at that stage of our faith. Only the love of God gives us the courage and strength to step out of darkness. The first step for all of us is to leave that darkness and receive the LORD Jesus Christ.

    The believers in Colossae were not mature Christians; they were new believers. Even Paul himself was once a new believer, though he was ahead of them in learning, teaching, and walking with the LORD Jesus. Also, God had a greater purpose for Paul’s life, as He gave him wisdom, understanding, and knowledge to preach the gospel and to care for the churches.

    Consider Paul’s background. He was raised in Israel and was a Pharisee. This means he grew up learning about God and studying the Scriptures. Yet even with all that knowledge, Paul could not truly discern who God was until the LORD Jesus encountered him on the road to Damascus. His life shows us that even they who think they have knowledge about the Word of God are all alienated from God unless God Himself reveals the truth to us.

    This is why Paul prayed for the Colossians: saying, “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding (Colossians 1:9). Paul was asking God to give the Colossians understanding, because that is exactly what God did for him. Only God can reveal Himself to us. As Jesus said, “I will love him and manifest myself to him” (John 14:21). When God gives us understanding of who He is and of His Word, then we are able to ... walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;” (Colossians‬ ‭1:9-11‬)

    Paul understood that what a new believer needs most is God Himself. He also knew that no one can truly understand spiritual things unless God gives them an understanding. As it is written, “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:13–14). Anything about God and His truth can only be taught by the Holy Spirit. That is why we need to receive the Holy Spirit. Only He can give us true understanding about God, not human wisdom. A natural person cannot understand the things of God, because spiritual things must be spiritually discerned. This helps us understand why walking with Jesus is so important. If we want to know God more deeply and understand His Word, we must walk with Jesus.

    After Jesus’ resurrection, He walked with His disciples who were struggling to believe that He had risen from the dead. As they walked together, He explained the Scriptures to them, beginning with Moses and the Prophets, and showed how all the Scriptures pointed to Him (Luke 24:27). As Jesus was teaching them while walking, their hearts were stirred. As it is written, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32). Salvation begins when we receive Christ, but transformation happens when we walk in Him. This is why walking with Jesus matters. This is where our knowledge increases, because He is the One who opens the Scriptures to us. He is the One who stirs our hearts, because His words are life, and His words that produce life begin to work in us. Transformation does not happen instantly at one moment but gradually, little by little.

    The Word of God teaches us that we are not only called to believe in Jesus but also to follow Him. As it is written, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” Many Christians have believed for a long time, yet their lives remain the same because they do not walk with Jesus. As Scripture says, “You have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus” (Ephesians 4:20–21). This is the reason many Christians have been believers for a long time, yet their lives remain the same because they do not walk with Jesus.

    Only through walking with Jesus do transformation and true life begin. Walking with Jesus brings us closer and deeper into fellowship with Him. As we walk with Him, He shares with us His heart, His thoughts, His will, His ways, and His nature. He teaches us what He loves and what He does not love. He reveals His Kingdom and His future plans. This close fellowship with Jesus is a beautiful and life-changing relationship. As our fellowship with Him deepens, our lives begin to change, and our purpose becomes clearer. Scripture says, “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). We begin to talk like Jesus, think like Jesus, and love like Jesus. Through this walk, we become children of light. The Bible says, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8).

    January 14, 2026
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