Come Boldly

{Daily Selah}

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). 

Sometimes, to express empathy to another person who is going through something we've experienced somewhere along the way, we might say, "I understand. I've been there."

(continue reading below the picture)

According to Hebrews 4:15, Jesus knows everything we go through, not just because He is God and knows everything, but also because He's been there. 

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

No matter what we face in this life, Jesus says to us, "I understand. I've been there."

Right now as I write this, my 76 year old father is in the hospital with a severe case of pneumonia, my son is having an MRI for a knee injury in a few days and my car is broken, not to mention other spiritual battles going on in my family. 

Jesus knows. He's been there. 

When Jesus died on the cross, the curtain in the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom, signifying the free access we now have through Him to the throne of grace. 

Because of Jesus, we can not just come, but come boldly. We can "come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

Why would we worry, when we have direct access to our God, through His Son? We can't change our circumstances by worrying. We need help and that help is found in only one place, the throne of grace. 

Psalm 121:2 says, "My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth."

Need healing? Need strength? Need peace? Need provision? Need Divine intervention? 

Jesus knows. He's been there. 

So, come boldly. 


{Daily Selah} is a mini-devotional, a pause to ponder about the Lord and how He wants us to live.

The Glory of Holiness

{Daily Selah}

In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah was given a amazing glimpse of the Lord upon His throne. He saw seraphims with 3 pairs of wings, flying around the throne, proclaiming the character of our God.

Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory (Isaiah 6:3). 


It is interesting that the seraphim paired holiness and glory together in such a way. There are 2 completely different concepts, right? Or, are they?

Holiness is absolute moral purity. God's holiness is so pure, He cannot allow sin in His presence, which is why, when he saw God's throne high and lifted up, Isaiah cried, "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips... for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts (Isaiah 6:6). The holiness of God is more than simply the absence of impurity. Deuteronomy 32:4 gives us a little more insight into the absolute purity of God's character...

He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

God's work is perfect, His ways are just, He is true and completely righteous in all His ways. But, what does that have to do with glory?

At first glance, one might think that glory and holiness have nothing to do with one another. Think about all that God has done, is doing and will do. He, our holy God, created the world in absolute perfection. When man sinned, the world became corrupt. Adam and Eve were evicted from the perfect garden God had placed them in because of disobedience. Their decision brought the curse of sin upon ever generation to follow. 

In Noah's day, "God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5). 

The Bible gives us a glimpse into God's holy character in relating His judgement upon the world in Noah's day, later in Sodom and Gomorrah and upon the enemies of His chosen people. 

A price must be paid for sin. You and I are sinners fully deserving of hell. If God didn't demand sin to be atoned for He would cease to be holy. When we think of God sending His Son to die for the sins of the world, we tend to relate that sacrifice with grace, mercy and love, which are also very important aspects of God's character. At Calvary, when the blood of Christ poured out upon the earth, God's holiness was also manifested. 

The seraphim declared, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory (Isaiah 6:3). Very few people in this world give God the glory He deserves. God's glory, however, is not affected by the attitudes of human beings. His glory is expressed in His nature and character and in the ways He has, does and will deal with people throughout the ages.  The earth is filled with His glory because God has made the holiness of His character known in all the earth. 

God's glory and holiness are inseparable. His glory is the essence of His purity. His purity is the essence of His glory. God says, "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God" (Leviticus 20:7). Why does God require His people to be holy? Because we were created in His image to give Him glory. 

Ephesians 5:1 says, "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children..." The chapter goes on to list sinful behaviors we are to avoid, as the followers and children of God. We can sometimes try to excuse ourselves by saying, "Well, I have to battle with my flesh. I won't be perfect this side of heaven." No, we won't, but is that an excuse? I don't think so. Take a look at how Paul dealt with his flesh...

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20). 

As we grow and mature in our faith in Christ, we are changed "from glory to glory" (2 Corinthians 3:18). Changed from one degree of glory to another, some translations render it, as we become more and more holy, as He is holy. This glory is not ours. The glory belongs to our God, Whose ways are "true and righteous altogether" (Psalm 19:9). 

God, who is holy in all His ways, has told us to be holy because He is holy. His glory rests upon His holiness. His holiness is wrapped His glory. As we follow Him in holiness, His glory is revealed and proclaimed though us. 

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's (1 Corinthians 6:20). 

The glory of holiness.  



{Daily Selah} is a mini-devotional, a pause to ponder about the Lord and how He wants us to live.

Are we listening?

{Daily Selah}

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye (Psalm 32:8).

Coming back to Wisconsin after a vacation in Georgia several years ago, my children and I started the climb up the Appalachian Mountains just as an unexpected storm hit. High winds were pushing my van all over the road. It was raining so hard and a mist was rising, reducing visibility to about 20 or 30 feet. 

Once you're in those mountains, there is literally nowhere to stop; nowhere to pull off to the side of the road. I just gripped the steering wheel and prayed, asking God to lead the way and keep us safe. When we finally came out of the mountains and were on fairly flat roads, the wind got even worse and it was getting darker. Again, I asked the Lord to direct us to safety. 

We came to a truck stop somewhere near the Kentucky state line and stopped. Right after we got there, we were pelted with golf ball sized hail. I prayed again and it seemed the Lord was impressing upon me to stay right where we were. We really wanted to keep going and get home but then we went inside the diner area of the truck stop and saw the weather on the TV. All around us, there were violent storms, producing high winds, flooding, hail and the possibility of tornadoes. The storms were expected to last all night. 

There was no hotel anywhere near there, so I asked permission to stay parked under the overhang by the gas pumps for the night to protect the van from the hail. We slept in the van, knowing there was nowhere else to go, hearing the howl of the wind, the deluge of rain  and the hail beating down overhead for many hours.

In the morning, we learned that a bridge had been washed out a few miles ahead. If we had kept driving in those conditions, we never would have seen it until it was too late. We would have also driven straight into a line of tornadoes.  As we heard reports of all the devastation and loss of life that had taken place during the night, we knew God had led us to the only safe place for over 150 miles in either direction. Although what should have been a 13 hour trip turned into more than double the time, I still praise God for guiding us to that truck stop that night. 

God does guide and direct His children and He has given us His Word to teach us which way to go. The reason God gave us His Word, His commandments and His instruction is not to hamper our sense of freedom but to guide us into to truth, safety and His best for us, which results in real freedom.

God has ruled against things like rebellion and adultery is to keep us from harm. All sin is a destructive force that can destroy individual lives and tear families apart. Following God's ways results in real freedom - freedom from sin and freedom to worship and serve Him. 

God loves us. He wants to keep us from danger and bring us to a place of blessing. That's why He says...

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye (Psalm 32:8). 

The question is, are we listening to His instruction, allowing Him to teach us and following His lead? 

Are we listening? 


{Daily Selah} is a mini-devotional, a pause to ponder about the Lord and how He wants us to live.

Keep the Word

{Daily Selah}

Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it (Luke 11:28).


The word "keep" is used in a variety of ways in the English language. For example, we keep promises, keep the faith, keep going, keep something in mind,  keep watch, keep our eye on the ball, keep some things away and keep other things close.


In Luke 11:28, Jesus said, "Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it."


According to Vine's Expository Dictionary, the Greek word translated keep in that verse is phulasso. That word carries with it several meanings. Phulasso means...

- to guard - to watch- to keep watch - to keep by way of protection - 

- to keep or observe a law or precept - to keep oneself from something -

So what was Jesus saying when He said, "blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it"? To answer that, we need a little background into the spiritual terrain at the time.

In Jesus' day, the Pharisees had complete and total dominance over the spiritual lives of the people. Many of the Pharisees had a very distorted view of what it means to follow the Lord God of Israel. Their extreme form of legalism promoted dead religion, rather than true faith in the living God. In Matthew 3:7, 12:34, 23:33 and again in Luke 3:7, Jesus called them a "generation of vipers." One has to wonder if this was a reference back to the Garden of Eden when the Word of God was twisted the first time through a serpent.

Jesus had even more to say of the religious abuses of the Pharisees...

For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments... (Matthew 23:4-5).

The phylacteries (little boxes of scripture tied to their forehead and left arm) God instructed the men of Israel to wear during times of prayer were given as a reminder (Deuteronomy 6:8) and He later told them,

Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes (Deuteronomy 11:18). 

All 3 members of the Trinity are actively concerned with the purity of the Word in our hearts and lives. The Father said, '"lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul."  The Son said, "blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.." The Holy Spirit's job is to "guide you into all truth" (John 16:13). 

We need to know God's Word if we are ever going to keep it. The blessed man of Psalm 1 strived to keep the Word and to keep himself from sin. What was his secret?

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night (Psalm 1:2). 

Moses said, "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law" (Deuteronomy 29:29). 

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia reveals that the Hebrew word translated "law" in our English Bibles is the word "torah", which means direction or teaching. If that word had been appropriately translated, many Christians today would certainly have a very different view of the portion of the Bible we call the Old Testament. 

ALL of God's Word is relevant, important for believers today and in any age. Take a look at 2 Timothy 3:16:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness...

No exceptions are made. God says ALL and means ALL. 

The Psalm 1 man filled his mind and his thoughts with all of the Word of God he had available to him at that time.  Paul said, "For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). It is not enough to simply know what the Word says, nor can we simply pick and choose the passages we like and throw out the ones we don't. 

David wrote, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Psalm 119:11). David allowed the Word of God to change his thinking, change his heart, and change his life. That's what it means to keep the Word. 

Keep the Word. 




{Daily Selah} is a mini-devotional, a pause to ponder about the Lord and how He wants us to live.

The Eternal Word

{Daily Selah}

Yesterday, we looked at Hebrews 13:5 and the blessed truth that our Savior has not changed, does not change, and will not ever change. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. 

Just as our The Living Word of God, Jesus, does not change, His written Word is also unchanging and will stand forever. 

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever (Isaiah 40:8). 

(Continue reading below the picture...)

The Word of God does not change with time, seasons or culture. It does not change based on our circumstances or feelings. Our God means what He says and says what He means. Let's take a brief look at 3 aspects of His eternal, unchanging Word...


God's perspective is eternal. 
There are those who will look at a particular passage of scripture and say, "Well, that was then." God may deal differently with human beings based on the New Covenant but His attitude toward sin has not and will never change. 

Romans chapter 1 just one example of a passage of God's Word that many in our culture tend to ignore and refuse to accept. Read Romans 1 for yourself. You may be quite surprised at God's perspective of what many now say is normal. 

Since God Himself is the one true, eternal, unchanging God, why do we ever think what He has declared, decreed and promised would ever change?


God's promises are eternal.
I am very thankful that God's unchanging Word abides forever. That means all that He has promised us will not ever change. Our God has promised to love us with an everlasting love, to bring us home to heaven with Him some day, to supply all our needs, to give us peace, to strengthen us, and to help us. He will always keep His Word to us.

Take a look at what the apostle Paul had to say about God's eternal Word...

But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts (2 Corinthians 1:18-22). 

Did you notice the "yea" and "amen"? God never wavers in what He says. As we noted above, He says what He means and means what He says. Not only did He make eternal, unchanging promises to us in His eternal, unchanging Word, God also left us with proof that He will fulfill His Word in the person of the eternal, unchanging Holy Spirit who dwells within us to testify to us that these things are true and that we are secure in our position in Christ. 


Our position is eternal. 
Ephesians 1 & 2, as part of God's unchanging, eternal Word, reveal who and what we have become because of the blood of Christ. Here are just a few highlights of our blessed position in Christ...

• Chosen
• Adopted
• Accepted
• Redeemed
• Forgiven

If you have placed your faith in Christ alone for salvation, your position in Christ is eternally unchanging, just as the Word of God that reveals that position is eternally unchanging.

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever (Isaiah 40:8). 

Remember, our God means what He says and says what He means. His Word does not change with times, seasons or culture. His Word does not change based on our feelings or human reasoning. His Word is always "yea" and "amen." 

If we say we trust in the eternal, unchanging God, we must also trust in His eternal, unchanging Word. God's perspective is eternal, His promises are eternal and our position in Christ is eternal. 


Father, thank You for Your eternal, unchanging Word to us. Help us to live in light of Your eternal perspective, Your eternal promises and our eternal position in Christ, for Your glory. In Jesus' Name, Amen. 




{Daily Selah} is a mini-devotional, a pause to ponder about the Lord and how He wants us to live.

Forever the Same

{Daily Selah}

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever (Hebrews 13:5). 

Some is good. Some not so good. Change comes to our lives whether we like it or not. 

Think about all that has changed in your life in the last year and in the last decade. 

As we approach the new year, more change will come. We may make plans for the future, but none of us knows with absolute certainty what will happen tomorrow, next week or in the coming year. 

There is something we can hold on to with absolute certainty. That is, that Jesus Christ will ever change. He is the same today as He was yesterday and He will be the same tomorrow as He is today. He is the great I AM, the unchanging God. 

His love for you will never change. His promises to you will never change. His faithfulness and mercy will never change. His grace and peace will never change. 

No matter what changes may come in our lives, we can be assured of this one constant: Jesus will never change. He is forever the same. 




{Daily Selah} is a mini-devotional, a pause to ponder about the Lord and how He wants us to live.

For Unto You

{Daily Selah}

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11). 


As we gather today to celebrate with family and friends, let's not forget these 2 very important truths... 



1. HE CAME
The promise God made many years before to send the Messiah, the Savior of the world, was fulfilled one starry night in a manger. There are those who debate the timing of the birth of Christ. While there is some evidence to suggest He was not born on December 25th, the Bible tells us Jesus came at exactly the right time - the Father's appointed time. 

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law (Galatians 4:4). 

But, why did He come?



2. HE CAME FOR YOU AND ME
It is very interesting to note that when the angels announced the Messiah's birth to the shepherds, they didn't say, "Hey, guys! A baby was born tonight." They personalized His entrance into the world, saying, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). 

Jesus wasn't merely born that night. He was born for us. He came for you and me. Jesus said He came "...to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). 

In other words, He came into this world with one goal in mind. He came looking for you and for me. He came to find us and save us. 


Whatever you might do to celebrate on this very special day, remember that Jesus came and that He came for you and for me. 

For unto you...



{Daily Selah} is a mini-devotional, a pause to ponder about the Lord and how He wants us to live.

The Treasures of the Snow

{Daily Selah}

My teenagers weren't home. The dog wan't going to do it. So, yesterday after work, I spent about an hour shoveling heavy, wet snow from our driveway and sidewalk. 

As I was looking at all of the snow that needed to be moved, Job 38:22 came to mind. 

Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? 

That question is just one of many God had for Job, as recorded for us in Job 38-39.  

God asks him, "Where were you when...? Do you know...? Have you seen...? Who can...?"

Of course God knew the answers to all of His questions. He knew Job was not present when the foundations of the earth were laid. He knew Job was not able to make rain fall upon the earth or do any of these things God was asking.

The point God was making to Job seems to much the same as the point He made through Isaiah the prophet.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).

There is so much more to God than you and I could possibly imagine.  No matter how long we have known Him, no matter how long we have studied His Word and no matter how much we may think we know, God is so much greater than we will ever know here on this earth. 

But, the wonderful thing is, our amazing God Who is so much more than we could possibly imagine wants us to know Him and His ways as much as our human limitations will allow. In His Word, He tells us, "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you" and "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye"  (James 4:8, Psalm 32:8).


Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow?, God asks.

That question makes us realize how much we fall short and how much we need Him every day. This awesome God, the all-powerful Creator of the universe has made Himself available to mere human beings like you and me. 

God wants us to know Him. He wants to share His knowledge and wisdom with us. And, by the presence of the Holy Spirit within us, He wants His power working in us and through us. 

Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow?



{Daily Selah} is a mini-devotional, a pause to ponder about the Lord and how He wants us to live.

God is thinking about YOU

{Daily Selah}

The Almighty God. The Creator of all that is. 

He looks down from His throne and takes notice.  

What has His attention?

You. And me.

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? (Psalm 8:3-4). 


Why would One so much greater care be mindful of us? Why would He spend His time thinking about us? There is only one answer.

Love. 

It was love that caused Him to promise a Redeemer. It was love that held our Redeemer to the cross. It was love that tore the curtain in the temple and love that draws us to repentance for salvation. It is love that says, "I will never leave the nor forsake thee" and promises to "supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus"  (Hebrews 13:5, Philippians 4:19).

Who am I? I am nothing in comparison to God. 

Yet, He's thinking of me because He loves me. 

No matter what life brings your way today, remember this: you are on God's mind. He's thinking about you because He loves you. He will be with you and take care of you. 

God is thinking about YOU.



{Daily Selah} is a mini-devotional, a pause to ponder about the Lord and how He wants us to live.

Constant Communion

{Daily Selah}

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice (Psalm 55:17).

Many of David's Psalms speak of his devotion to prayer. In Psalm 55, he said he would pray in the evening, in the morning and at noon.

We could read that and think, "Well, my prayer life must be okay. I do that. I pray over every meal - evening, morning and at noon."


I don't think David was referring to set times. In several other places, he speaks of continually praising the Lord. In Psalm 34:1, he says...

I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

When he said he would pray in the evening, morning and at noon, it seems that David meant his intent was to be in constant communion with God - all morning, all afternoon and all evening. All day long.

As believers in Christ, we have an advantage to prayer David did not have. We have the Holy Spirit living inside us. He reminds us to pray, guides us in prayer and makes intercession for us. 

You might think, "I can't pray while I'm at work."  Perhaps not out loud, but we can pray on the job, regardless of what we do. God knows our every thought. He hears even those prayers that are not verbalized. 

My oldest son lives about an hour away. Because of his work schedule and mine, we don't get to talk very often. Yesterday he came for a visit, which made my day. No matter how old your children get, any parent still wants to hear their voices and spend time with them. 

Our Father in heaven also enjoys hearing His children's voices and He wants to spend time with us. Think about that. The Almighty, holy God wants to spend time with me. He wants to spend time with you. 

God's desire is that we will be in a state of constant communion with Him. That's one of the reasons He sent His Spirit. How will we know His voice, hear His guidance and be assured of His care if we don't take time to talk with Him?

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice (Psalm 55:17).

{Daily Selah} is a mini-devotional, a pause to ponder about the Lord and how He wants us to live.

Who Have We Told?

{Daily Selah}

Yesterday morning, I had the privilege of taking my elderly parents out for breakfast. That may seem like a small thing to some people, but it is not something I have enjoyed often. For over 15 years, the Atlantic Ocean separated us. When they moved back to the U.S., they were nearby for a short time and then moved over 1,000 miles away several years ago. They recently moved again and now live within walking distance of my home, which is a huge blessing.

The awesome thing about my relationship with my parents is that we have a double bond. Not only are they my Mom and Dad, who love me and raised me, they are also my brother and sister in Christ. Our bond goes beyond an earthly family connection. We are one in Christ, and members of God's family. 

The words of 1 John 1:3 take on a special significance for me and my family.That which my parents saw and heard, they declared to me. It was through them that I first heard the message of the gospel and God's amazing grace many years ago.  

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ (1John 1:3). 


The fellowship we have with one another as believers isn't made possible because of who we are.  Our fellowship is only made possible through the Lord Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice on our behalf granted us access to the Father and to fellowship with Him. 

The fellowship we are privileged to have with the Father is also only because of Christ. Jesus made a way for us, tearing the veil in two, allowing us free access to the throne of grace. The fellowship we have with Jesus is only possible because the Father, in His grace, mercy and love, sent His Son. 

No matter who you are, where you've been, or where you're going, if you know Christ as your Savior, you have fellowship with Him, fellowship with the Father, and fellowship with every other child of God. 

Matthew Henry writes, "This communion of believers with the Father and the Son, is begun and kept up by the influences of the Holy Spirit. The benefits Christ bestows, are not like the scanty possessions of the world, causing jealousies in others; but the joy and happiness of communion with God is all-sufficient, so that any number may partake of it; and all who are warranted to say, that truly their fellowship is with the Father, will desire to lead others to partake of the same blessedness" (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary).

The apostles declared what they had seen and heard with others. They didn't keep Jesus to themselves. They wanted the whole world to know so that others could share in the same blessed fellowship they enjoyed with the Father and with His Son. In other words, they were sharing their fellowship.

They saw. They heard. And, they told. 

As believers in Christ, we have seen what He has done in our lives. We've heard His voice. We know the blessings of fellowship with Him and with the Father. 

We've seen. We've heard. 

Who have we told? 


That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ (1John 1:3). 




{Daily Selah} is a mini-devotional, a pause to ponder about the Lord and how He wants us to live.

This is why He came...

{Daily Selah}

Jesus didn't come to give us a reason to celebrate once a year. He didn't come to give us a reason to give one another gifts. And, He didn't come to give us an excuse for extravagance.

He came "... to give his life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). 

The moment Jesus died, something amazing happened that would benefit all mankind if they simply chose to accept it. Take a look at Matthew's account of one of the greatest events in all of history...

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent... (Matthew 27:50-51).

This was no ordinary curtain like the curtains we hang in our homes. This curtain was designed to keep people from entering the holy of holies. It was 60 feet long, 30 feet wide and 4 inches thick. One commentator estimates that it weighed 2 tons. A barrier to prevent sin entering the holy place, this massive curtain served as a reminder that sin separates us from God. 

At the very moment Jesus died, this enormous barrier was torn in 2, from top to bottom, signifying what Jesus had done. The writer to the Hebrew describes the benefits for you and me...

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)  (Hebrews 10"19-23).

The benefit is that you and I, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, now have access to the holy place - the presence of God -through the blood of Jesus. Jesus paid the penalty you and I deserve so we could be forgiven and free. No longer does our sin have to keep us from God. If you know Jesus as your Savior, His blood has washed you and made you clean and righteous in God's sight. 

We have direct access to the presence of the Most High God! We have no reason to doubt, fear or waver. That's a reason to celebrate each and every day and a reason to hold fast.

This is why He came!



{Daily Selah} is a mini-devotional, a pause to ponder about the Lord and how He wants us to live.

Go... Tell What You Know

{Daily Selah}

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life (John 4:14).

One day, Jesus was traveling with His disciples through the region of Samaria. Jesus was tired and sat by the side of a well to rest while His friends went into town to buy some food. 


[continue reading below the picture]

A woman comes along to get some water from the well. 

     Whoa! There's a Jew at my well! What's He doing here?

Now, He speaks to her. 

     Jews don't like Samaritans, so why is He talking to me?

He tells her about living water only He can give her so she'll never thirst again. 

     What's He saying? Never thirsty again? That would be nice.

Then, He tells her things about her life He could not have known unless... unless...

     Oh! He IS the Messiah! I have to go and tell everybody!


She rushed to share this wonderful news with her neighbors. They came to see the Messiah for themselves and testified, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world (John 4:42).

Evangelism isn't as complicated as we sometimes try to make it. A good witness doesn't need a script. All we need to do is to tell others what we know - what Jesus has said to us and done for us, just like this woman did. 

Have you heard Jesus for yourself? Has your thirst been quenched by living water? Do you have assurance of eternal life in Christ? Jesus said, "Go ye..." 

Go... Tell what you know. 




Don't know Him yet? Visit PeaceWithGod.net to learn more about Jesus.  




{Daily Selah} is a mini-devotional, a pause to ponder about the Lord and how He wants us to live.

What are you looking for?

{Daily Selah}

Jesus stepped on to the scene in a way that was unexpected.  The people of Israel were well acquainted with the testimony of the prophets, yet His arrival in the manger, His earthly ministry and His death were not what the average person hoped to see in their Messiah. 

Many enjoyed the blessing of the miracles He performed, but still they wanted something other that what He presented Himself to be. They were looking for a conquering king, someone to free them from Roman rule, not for someone to set them free from sin. 

A few understood that He came in the brightness of the Father's glory (Hebrews 1:3) and as a Light to shine in darkness (John 1:5). One such person was Simeon, an old and faithful man of God. This man had such a close walk with God, the Holy Spirit had blessed him with a promise that he would see the Messiah before he died (Luke 2:26). 

When Jesus was 8 days old, Joseph and Mary brought Him to the temple to be circumcised. Simeon saw Him and knew immediately he was seeing the fulfillment of the promises of God to his people and the promise God had made to him personally. 

Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. (Luke 2:28-32)

Simeon was filled with joy and responded in a way that surprised Joseph and Mary. They knew what the angels and the scriptures said of this Child but "marvelled at those things which were spoken of him" (Luke 2:33). 

When Jesus steps on to the scene of an individual's life today, He still comes in a way that is unexpected. The question is, do we accept Him as the Light, glory and salvation of God, or continue to look for someone or something else? 

What are you looking for? 



Want to know more about Jesus? Visit peacewithgod.net



{Daily Selah} is a mini-devotional, a pause to ponder about the Lord and how He wants us to live.

Great Joy

{Daily Selah}

Joy. Sometimes it seems a rare and  elusive thing, doesn't it? In the grocery store, at work and even in church, real joy is seldom seen. 

As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we many reasons for joy. 

Our reason for joy began the night angels visited some shepherds on a hillside near Bethlehem. 

They revealed the intimate, present expression of the glory of God and then sang of His eternal, exalted glory.

"...behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

There is only one Source of real, lasting joy: the Savior, Messiah and Lord. Jesus. 

Our joy is not based on our present condition on earth, but on our eternal position in Christ. In other words, we should never allow our circumstances to steal our joy. Joy isn't found in the things of this world. Joy is only found in our Savior, Christ the Lord. 

Isaiah declared, "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation..." (Isaiah 62:10).

Did you know that you and I have even greater reason to rejoice than Isaiah ever did? Isaiah knew God and His promises but we have something Isaiah didn't have - a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, our Savior. We know Him as "the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises" (Hebrews 8:6).

The "good tidings of great joy" the angels proclaimed that night on a hillside near Bethlehem are a part of our lives each and every day. We know Jesus and He has filled our hearts with the joy of salvation. 

"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation..." (Isaiah 62:10).

Great Joy. 

___________________________________________________________

{Daily Selah} is a mini-devotional, a pause to ponder about the Lord and how He wants us to live.

___________________________________________________________