Category: devotional

  • You Must Be

    A mountain stream superimposed with "You Must Be"

    Yesterday morning, I was blessed to have an MRI. I had been waiting three months and expected a wait of several more when a cancellation occurred. I jumped at the opportunity.

    When you are lying in a small, enclosed metal pipe, with nothing to do but listen for commands through your headset, there is plenty of opportunity to think, or in my case, simply mind wander.

    My thoughts briefly crossed a familiar passage of Scripture, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3 KJV.

    It’s a verse I remember in the KJV, although I primarily read other translations.

    Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” ESV

    Jesus replied, “With all the earnestness I possess I tell you this: Unless you are born again, you can never get into the Kingdom of God. TLB

    Jesus responded and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” NASB

    Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” NIV

    Jesus makes the importance of being born again abundantly clear in the same conversation with Nicodemus. You must be…

    Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again. John 3:7

    Jesus leaves us no wiggle room and no loopholes. “Must” is a powerful little word that implies there are no options or alternatives. Jesus way is the only way. To see the kingdom, we must do it according to His rules.

    If you are a Christian, you have been born again. There is, by Jesus’ definition, no other type of believer.

    Being born again carries a lot of baggage in our culture and is often used in a pejorative way. To be a “born-again Christian” is often used to mean that someone is ignorant, bigoted, and socially unaware.

    Now, I have met some professing Christians who fit that caricature, so I can’t deny they are out there. But it is a label that does not apply to most believers.

    Are you born again? If not, you need a heart change, or you will not enter the kingdom. That’s not my rule; it’s Jesus’ requirement.

    Hallelu Yah (Praise God)

    Be blessed, 

    Kevin

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  • A Prescription For Blessing

    Prescription pad from Dr Jesus - Prescription for blessing

    I’ve never met a person who didn’t want to be blessed in one  way or another. Did you know that there is a clear-cut prescription for how to be have that in the Bible?

    You are likely familiar with the Beatitudes (the blessed be’s) found in Matthew 5:3-12 in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. That’s a summary of sorts of what the Bible teaches about the topic. The Bible has a lot more to say on..

    Now, we need to be careful when speaking of being blessed or blessing, as the term is often misused. There is a form of pseudo-Christianity out there that teaches God wants you to have whatever you want in this life. That’s a heretical lie

    God is more concerned about our holiness than our temporary earthly happiness.Now to be clear it isn’t that God wants us unhappy, it’s just that He has a longer term, bigger pcicture in mind.

    To be blessed is to find peace, hope, and joy in the Lord regardless of what is happening in our earthly circumstances. The things of the kingdom are far more valuable than any earthly treasure or temproary emotion/corcumstance.

    Here is a sampling of what the Bible teaches about the topic.

    And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 28:1-2

    Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. Jeremiah 17:7

    Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

    How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord. Psalm 119:1

    I could carry on and list dozens of verses. From Genesis to Revelation, the Word speaks of the blessing of the Lord resting on those who are His.

    Jesus is the prescription for blessing. His way is narrow and not always easy, but it is the only pathway to true hope, peace, love, joy, and blessing.

    Turn to Him. Know Him. Trust Him. Put Him first and follow Him.

    Hallelu Yah,

    Be blessed,

    Kevin

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