The Father's Love

Ordinary People — Acts | Part 1
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Have you ever felt unqualified to share God's love?
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Maybe you think you're not eloquent enough, or knowledgeable enough, or just not "good" enough. If so, you're not alone. But here's a liberating truth — none of us are qualified. And that's exactly the point.
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The story of Pentecost shows us how God takes ordinary people and empowers them to do extraordinary things. It's not about our qualifications. It's about His power working through us.
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✝ Jerusalem, Fifty Days After the Resurrection
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Picture Jerusalem during the feast of Pentecost. The city is packed with pilgrims from all corners of the known world. The air is thick with anticipation, though no one realises they're about to witness an event that will change everything.
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Just weeks earlier, Jesus had ascended to heaven after spending 40 days with His disciples post-resurrection. Before He left, He gave them a promise: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
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The disciples must have felt overwhelmed. Take the gospel to the ends of the earth? How could a small group of ordinary individuals possibly accomplish such a monumental task?
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But here's the beautiful thing about our God — He doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies the called.
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✝ The Sound of a Rushing Wind
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One hundred and twenty believers gathered together, waiting as Jesus had instructed. And then, in an instant, everything changed.
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"When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:1–4).
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Can you imagine the scene? The rush of wind. The appearance of fire. And then — languages. Not just any languages, but the native tongues of all the pilgrims in Jerusalem.
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It was a miracle that reversed the confusion of Babel. Where once language divided, now it united under the banner of God's love and grace.
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✝ A Message for Everyone
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This wasn't just an impressive display of supernatural power. This was God's way of declaring, "My message of love and redemption is for everyone, regardless of language or culture."
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In that moment, God's kingdom expanded beyond borders and cultures, inviting all to come and taste His goodness.
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Peter, empowered by the Holy Spirit, stood up and addressed the crowd. He explained how this miraculous event was the fulfilment of prophecy and proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ.
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"Repent, and let every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call" (Acts 2:38–39).
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✝ The Same Spirit Is Available Today
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But why is this ancient event so crucial for us today?
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Because the same Spirit that filled those believers at Pentecost is available to us today.
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Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:8–9, "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."
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Our salvation, our ability to serve God, our very purpose — it all stems from God's grace, not our own merit.
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The kingdom of God isn't built by mighty armies or clever strategies. It's built by ordinary people like you and me, empowered by an extraordinary God. It grows not through force, but through love. Not through condemnation, but through invitation.
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✝ From Small Beginnings
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Jesus illustrated this truth when He said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches" (Matthew 13:31–32).
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From the smallest beginnings — a group of 120 believers in an upper room — the message of God's love has spread across the globe.
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And you are part of this incredible story.
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The same power that turned a group of scared disciples into world-changers is available to you today.
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✝ Every Believer Is a Minister of Grace
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You might be thinking, "How does this apply to me? I'm not a preacher or a missionary."
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But here's something wonderful — every believer is a minister of God's grace.
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Peter tells us, "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Peter 4:10).
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Your unique experiences, talents, and even your struggles can become a platform for sharing God's love.
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You don't need to have all the answers. You don't need to speak in tongues or perform miracles. You just need to be willing to share the love and grace you've experienced.
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Sometimes, the most powerful testimony is simply your story of how God has worked in your life.
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✝ Love Is the Universal Language
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As we go about our days, let's carry the spirit of Pentecost with us. Let's break down barriers, build bridges, and share the good news in whatever "language" those around us can understand.
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Because at the end of the day, love is the universal language, and grace is the message we're called to share.
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✝ Don't Let Fear Hold You Back
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Don't let feelings of inadequacy hold you back. Don't let fear silence your voice.
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Remember, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).
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You have been equipped by the Holy Spirit to be a witness for Christ right where you are.
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Whether you're a student, a parent, a worker, or a retiree — you have a unique sphere of influence. Your kindness, your integrity, your willingness to listen and to love — these are all powerful ways to witness to the transforming power of God's grace.
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Friends, the kingdom of God is here, and you're a vital part of it.
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Look for opportunities to be a bearer of God's love this week. It might be through a word of encouragement, an act of service, or simply being present for someone in need.
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Be blessed today, my friends.
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Be bold. Be loving. Be filled with the Spirit. And watch as God does amazing things through your willingness to be His witness. After all, that's what Pentecost is all about — ordinary people empowered to do extraordinary things for God's glory.
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#Jesus #OrdinaryPeople #Empowered

5 hours ago | [YT] | 5

The Father's Love

Eternally Secure

Have you ever felt like you’re on a spiritual roller coaster — constantly struggling to maintain your faith and wondering if you’re truly secure in God’s love?

If so, you’re not alone. I lived that way for 22 years as a Christian under religious instruction and legalistic teaching. But the truth is far better than the uncertainty so many believers live under.

Our security in Christ isn’t about our performance or our ability to hold on tight. It’s all about God’s unwavering commitment to us.

As the writer of Hebrews tells us, “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). Christ’s one-time sacrifice on the cross has secured our eternal redemption.

✝ Grounded in the Nature of God

Our security isn’t just based on a single act. It’s grounded in the very nature of God Himself.

We have the entire Trinity working on our behalf — the Father, who chose us before the foundation of the world; the Son, who died for us and now intercedes for us; and the Holy Spirit, who seals us for the day of redemption.

Our Heavenly Father’s love for us isn’t fickle or conditional — it’s steadfast and unchanging. As the prophet Isaiah beautifully puts it, “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you” (Isaiah 49:15).

Our Father’s love goes beyond even the strongest human bonds we can imagine.

✝ United to Christ

Jesus isn’t just holding on to us — He’s made us a part of Himself.

Paul tells us, “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Corinthians 12:27). We’re so closely united with Christ that to lose us would be like Him losing a part of His own body.

That’s security.

✝ Sealed by the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit Himself has put His seal on us.

Paul explains, “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:13–14).

God has placed His divine stamp of approval on us, guaranteeing our place in His family.

✝ Not Based on Performance

But what about when we mess up? What about when we sin or doubt?

Here’s the beautiful thing — our security isn’t based on our performance, but on Christ’s finished work. Romans 8:1 declares, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.”

No condemnation. Not now. Not ever.

Think of it this way: if God saved us when we were His enemies, how much more will He keep us now that we’re His children?

As Paul reasons in Romans 5:8–10:
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

✝ Tethered by an Unbreakable Bond

There’s a story about a little boy flying a kite on a windy day. The kite soared so high it disappeared into the clouds. A passer-by asked, “How do you know the kite is still there?”

The boy replied confidently, “I can feel it tugging on the string!”

In the same way, even when we can’t see or feel God’s presence, we can be sure He’s still holding on to us because we’re tethered to Him by an unbreakable bond of love and grace.

We are adopted.
We are grafted in.
We are born again.

✝ Freedom to Live Boldly

This security we have in Christ isn’t just a comforting thought — it’s a life-changing reality that should transform how we live each day.

When we truly grasp that our salvation is secure, it frees us from fear and allows us to live boldly for God. We no longer need to constantly question our standing with Him or worry about losing our salvation. Instead, we can focus on growing in relationship and serving others out of gratitude for what He’s done.

How would your life be different if you really believed, deep in your heart, that nothing could separate you from God’s love?

Would you be more willing to step out in faith?
More eager to share the gospel?
More at peace in the face of life’s challenges?

✝ Secure Through Every Storm

Our eternal security in Christ doesn’t mean we won’t face difficulties or struggles in this life. We still live in a fallen world, and we’re still growing and being sanctified.

But it does mean we can face those challenges with confidence, knowing our ultimate destiny is secure.

As Paul triumphantly declares,
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38–39).

✝ Rest, Don’t Strive

So what does all this mean for us?

It means we can rest. We can breathe easy. We can stop trying to earn God’s love or maintain our salvation through our own efforts.

Instead, we live from a place of security — confident in our Father’s love and Christ’s finished work.

Does this mean we can live however we want? Of course not. But our motivation for holy living flows from gratitude and love, not fear of losing our salvation. We’re free to serve God joyfully, knowing nothing can separate us from His love.

Friends, you are eternally secure in Christ — not because of your own goodness or strength, but because of God’s faithfulness and Christ’s perfect sacrifice.

Let this reality fuel your worship, your service, and your love for others.

Over time, as you settle into the truth of being eternally secure, you’ll find a deeper sense of peace and rest in Him. The spiritual ups and downs will level out within the unforced rhythms of His grace.

Life is a challenging, often interesting and even exciting journey. Stay rested in Him, for you are strapped in tight by the grace of God — and the ride ends in glory.

Be blessed today, my friends.

You’re on an incredible journey with the most faithful Guide. There may be ups and downs, twists and turns, but your destination is secure. Walk in freedom, live in joy, and rest in the unshakeable love of your Heavenly Father.

#Jesus #EternallySecure #RestInHim

3 days ago | [YT] | 167

The Father's Love

Love That Transforms

What do you really believe about God’s love for you?

One of the most significant struggles I’ve faced in life has been receiving love. From family, from friends, from people in general. Early childhood trauma and a bit of Asperger’s wiring have likely played a role. For a long time, love felt foreign — something I understood intellectually but struggled to experience personally.

Yet over time, the love of God has gently melted much of that resistance. It hasn’t happened overnight. It’s been season upon season. Looking back, I can see how my capacity to receive love has grown — especially as I’ve spent time soaking in His Word and abiding in His presence. That actually makes sense, doesn’t it? Love deepens with proximity. Time spent with someone changes how safe we feel with them.

Which leads to an important question.

What truly shapes your relationship with God?
At the most foundational level, it isn’t just believing that He exists, or even spending time with Him. It’s what you believe about His nature and character. Your perception of God quietly determines whether you draw near with confidence or hold back behind a haze of fear and uncertainty. God hasn’t moved — He lives within you — but your experience of intimacy can be deeply affected by how you see Him.

So today, let’s explore how understanding God’s love doesn’t just comfort us — it transforms us.

✝ Fear Shapes the Relationship We Expect
Imagine being convinced that God is constantly watching, waiting for you to slip up so He can respond with judgment. How would that shape your relationship with Him?

You’d likely approach life cautiously, spiritually tiptoeing, afraid of doing or saying the wrong thing. Prayer would feel tense. Failure would feel dangerous. And intimacy would feel risky.

But that isn’t the God revealed in Scripture.

The apostle John tells us something that confronts fear head-on:
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love” (1 John 4:18).

Fear thrives where punishment is expected. Love flourishes where punishment has been removed. This verse doesn’t say fear is cast out by effort or discipline — it’s cast out by love being believed and received.

✝ Jesus Reveals the Father’s Heart
John had a unique relationship with Jesus. Scripture says that Jesus loved His disciples “to the end” — to the fullest extent, without limit (John 13:1). This wasn’t momentary affection. It was enduring, unwavering love.

And Jesus made it clear that this love didn’t originate with Him alone. It flowed directly from the Father.

“Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).

The disciples weren’t just watching a good teacher or prophet. They were seeing God’s heart on display. Compassion. Patience. Faithfulness. Love that didn’t withdraw when people failed.

✝ Learning Love Through Failure
Not all the disciples grasped this immediately.

John seemed to embrace it, often referring to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Peter, on the other hand, had to learn it through failure. Confident in his devotion, Peter insisted he would never deny Jesus — yet when pressure came, he denied Him three times.

But Jesus didn’t discard Peter.

After the resurrection, Jesus restored him — not by lecturing him about his failure, but by reaffirming relationship (John 21:15–17). Peter learned something crucial that day: the relationship was anchored in Jesus’ love, not Peter’s performance.

That raises a question worth sitting with.

Where do you see yourself?
Resting in God’s love — or still trying to earn confidence through effort?

✝ Rooted and Grounded in Love
Paul prayed that believers would be “rooted and grounded in love” and able to comprehend “the breadth and length and height and depth” of Christ’s love (Ephesians 3:17–18).

This isn’t shallow knowledge. It’s experiential. Transformational.

Romans 5:5 tells us that God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. But here’s the key — it’s not enough to know about God’s love. We must believe it.

“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us” (1 John 4:16).

Belief is what allows love to take root. And when it does, fear loses its grip.

✝ Love Changes How We Live
When we truly grasp that God’s love is unconditional, everything shifts.

We stop trying to earn favour and start living from acceptance. We realise there is nothing we can do to make God love us more — and nothing we can do to make Him love us less.

Even God’s holiness begins to look different. Holiness isn’t driven by fear of sin; it’s an expression of love. God isn’t holy because He’s distant — He’s holy because He is love. And transformation in us doesn’t come through striving or fear-based obedience, but through abiding in that love.

✝ Love Shapes Our Daily Experience
This understanding touches everyday life.

When you wake up, do you face the day worried about meeting God’s expectations — or confident that His mercies are new every morning? (Lamentations 3:22–23)

When you pray, do you come hesitantly — or do you approach the throne of grace with confidence, knowing you are welcomed and loved? (Hebrews 4:16)

When you interact with others, are you trying to prove your worth — or are you free to love generously because you already know you are accepted?

“We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

✝ Love Reframes Failure and Struggle
This revelation also transforms how we view our failures.

Struggles are no longer evidence of God’s disappointment or abandonment. They’re moments where His love remains steady and present.

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life… nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38–39).

Nothing. Not failure. Not weakness. Not doubt.

✝ Growing in the Revelation of Love
If you’re wondering how to truly believe and experience this love, it begins simply — spending time in God’s Word, allowing truth to soak in. Meditating on Scriptures that speak of His affection. Sitting in His presence without pressure. Letting Him love you.

This is a journey. Just as it was for the disciples, it unfolds over time. Be patient with yourself. Choose to believe what God says about His love, even when feelings lag behind.

Friends, take a moment today to reflect on your view of God. Are you living from love — or from fear?

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty One who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you by His love, He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17).

What a picture of our Father.

Be blessed today, my friends.

May a fresh revelation of God’s love settle deeply in your heart. May fear lose its voice as love takes its rightful place. And may your faith grow stronger as you rest — not striving to earn God’s favour, but daily discovering the depth of the love He has always had for you.

#Jesus #LoveThatTransforms #GodIsLove

1 week ago | [YT] | 87

The Father's Love

Faith to Faith

Have you ever felt like you’re on a spiritual treadmill — constantly running but never quite reaching your destination?

It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that we need to do more, be more, or somehow earn God’s favour. But that’s not what the Christian life is about. Over the past few posts, we’ve explored what it means to be sons and daughters of God, secure in our identity as new creations through the finished work of the cross.

Today, we’re looking at what that means when the rubber hits the road. What does it look like to put on the new man each day according to the grace of God, and how does that grace empower us to live lives worthy of our calling?

✝ Grace Is the Master Key

Think of grace like a master key. Imagine standing in front of a massive mansion with countless locked doors. Each door represents an area of your life — relationships, work, personal growth. You could spend your whole life trying to pick each lock individually, straining and struggling.

But here’s the beautiful thing: God’s grace is that master key that unlocks every single door effortlessly. He has access to all areas, and His grace is more than enough to be made manifest in each one.

✝ Walking Worthy of Your Calling

Paul urged the Ephesians to “walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” (Ephesians 4:1).

Before you hear that as another to-do list, let’s pause. What does it mean to walk worthy? It’s not about striving or earning. It’s about living in a way that’s fitting to who we already are in Christ.

Think about it this way: if you were adopted into a royal family, you wouldn’t need to earn your place there. You’d already belong. But you might begin learning how to carry yourself like royalty.

It’s the same with us. Through Christ, we’ve been adopted into God’s family. We’re already holy, beloved, and complete in Him. Our role isn’t to earn that status, but to live it out.

✝ You’re Not Lacking Anything

There are some strange teachings out there about how to live the Christian life. Some will tell you that you’re deficient — that God only gave you part of what you need for life and godliness, like a starter pack, with more to be added later. They say you need more faith, more anointing, more breakthrough, more… something.

But that’s not true.

Peter tells us that God’s “divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3).

Did you catch that? All things. Not some things. Not most things. All things. You’re not lacking anything in Christ.

✝ Holiness Isn’t Something You Achieve

Then there are those who preach legalism, insisting that holiness is something we achieve through our own efforts. They treat godliness like a product we can manufacture if we just try hard enough.

But here’s the thing — we can’t train our flesh to behave. It’s like trying to teach a cat to bark. Our holiness isn’t something we attain. It’s something we already possess in Christ.

On the other hand, some teach a kind of passive Christianity — “just let go and let God.” While there’s truth in surrendering to God, this approach can leave us feeling powerless and disconnected from the vibrant life God intends for us.

Paul’s letters are full of practical exhortations about how to live because he knew we’ve been empowered to live as children of light.

✝ Doctrine and Exhortation — Two Blades of the Scissors

Paul’s teachings are like a pair of scissors. You need both blades for the scissors to work.

The first blade is doctrine — understanding what Christ has done for us and given to us. This is our identity in Christ, sealed through our baptism into His death, burial, and resurrection.

The second blade is exhortation — the call to live out who we already are in Christ.

Both are essential.

✝ Putting On the Lord Jesus Christ

We’re called to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14).

It’s like getting dressed in the morning. You don’t struggle to become clothes. You simply put them on. In the same way, we put on the character of Christ that’s already ours. We’re working out what God has already worked in.

This happens by faith. Paul declared, “The life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

It’s a journey from “faith to faith” (Romans 1:17). As we put on Christ by faith, we naturally make less room for old fleshly habits.

✝ Walking in the Spirit

This isn’t about focusing on all the things we shouldn’t do. It’s about walking in the Spirit. When we do that, we won’t fulfil the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).

It’s like filling a glass with water — there’s no room left for air. When our daily walk is full of the Spirit, there’s less room for the flesh to operate.

Our obedience isn’t powered by our own strength. It’s “by the Spirit” that we put to death the deeds of the body (Romans 8:13). The Holy Spirit is our divine Enabler, empowering us to live out the reality of who we are in Christ.

✝ What This Looks Like in Everyday Life

When you face temptation, instead of trying to resist in your own strength, remind yourself of your identity in Christ: “I am dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11).

When you feel inadequate, lean on the truth: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

When relationships are challenging, draw on the love of God that has been poured out in your heart by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).

This way of living isn’t about perfection, but direction. It’s about progress, not flawlessness. We’re on a journey of becoming more like Christ, and every step is covered by grace.

As John reminds us, “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

Friends, you are complete in Christ. You have everything you need for life and godliness. Your calling isn’t to strive for perfection, but to rest in your identity and let the Holy Spirit work through you.

Live from a place of grace, not for it. And as you do, you’ll find yourself naturally walking worthy of your calling, shining as a beacon of God’s incredible love and grace to the world around you.

Be blessed today, my friends.

May you be overwhelmed by the Father’s love, transformed by the Son’s sacrifice, and empowered by the Spirit’s presence. Go forth and live as the beloved children of God you truly are, knowing His grace is sufficient and His love eternal.

#Jesus #FaithToFaith #WalkingInTheSpirit

1 week ago | [YT] | 256

The Father's Love

Knowing Who You Are

What if who you are isn’t defined by what you do?

For most believers, identity and behaviour feel inseparable. When we sin, we feel like sinners. When we succeed, we feel righteous. Our sense of self rises and falls depending on how we’ve been doing lately. But that’s not how Scripture describes our identity in Christ.

The Bible speaks about our nature in two distinct ways. First, there’s the old nature — the one we inherited from Adam at birth. Ephesians describes it bluntly: we were dead in trespasses and sins, walking according to the course of this world, fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and by nature children of wrath (Ephesians 2:1–3).

But when we’re born again, something radical happens. We receive a brand new nature. We become, as 2 Peter 1:4 says, “partakers of the divine nature.”

This isn’t just improvement. It’s transformation.

✝ You Are a New Creation

Paul says it plainly: “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’re not a slightly better version of your old self. You’re an entirely new creation. God didn’t patch up what was broken. He made something completely new.

You’ve been grafted into Christ, joined with Him in an unbreakable spiritual union. As 1 Corinthians 6:17 puts it, “He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”

This new nature is radically different from the old one. Where we were once spiritually dead, now we’re alive in Christ. Where we were once darkness, Ephesians 5:8 tells us we are now light in the Lord.

It’s a complete reversal of our spiritual condition.

✝ Your New Nature Cannot Sin

Here’s where it gets mind-blowing. This new creation — the real you in Christ — cannot sin and doesn’t even want to.

John makes this clear: “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God” (1 John 3:9).

If that’s true, why do we still struggle with sin?

It’s a crucial question, and it leads us to an essential distinction: the difference between our identity and our behaviour.

✝ Identity vs. Behaviour

Our identity is who we are in Christ, in our spirit. It’s perfect, sinless, and incorruptible. The writer of Hebrews even describes us as “the spirits of just men made perfect” (Hebrews 12:23). This is our true self — our core identity that can never be tainted by sin.

Our behaviour, on the other hand, takes place in the realm of the flesh. This is where the residue of sin still dwells, and it’s why we can still be tempted and sometimes fall.

When this happens, it creates an internal conflict. Our new nature, which is aligned with God’s heart, hates the sin. Meanwhile, our flesh wars against our spirit.

Paul describes this beautifully: “For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members” (Romans 7:22–23).

✝ Don’t Let Behaviour Define Identity

In the midst of this struggle, Satan often tries to trick us into basing our identity on our behaviour. But we must resist this deception.

Our identity is not determined by what we do. It’s determined by what Christ has done for us.

Our behaviour doesn’t define us — Jesus’ work on the cross does.

✝ The Mirror of God’s Word

So how do we navigate this tension between our perfect identity in Christ and our imperfect behaviour?

The key is to continually look to God’s Word as a mirror that reflects our true identity. James says, “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was” (James 1:23–24).

When we forget who we truly are in Christ, it becomes much harder to live as we should. But as we behold our true identity in the mirror of God’s Word, something happens. We begin to be transformed, our behaviour gradually aligning with our true identity in Christ.

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

This transformation isn’t about striving or trying harder in our own strength. It’s about allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us, bringing our outer life into alignment with our inner reality.

✝ Living From Identity, Not For It

Think about it this way: if you believed, deep in your core, that you were royalty, wouldn’t it change the way you carried yourself? The way you spoke? The choices you made?

In the same way, when we truly grasp our identity as new creations in Christ, it profoundly impacts every aspect of our lives.

This truth changes how we deal with sin and temptation. When we’re tempted, we don’t have to rely on willpower alone. Instead, we can remind ourselves, “This isn’t who I am anymore. I’m a new creation in Christ. Sin has no claim on me.”

It also changes how we approach spiritual growth. Instead of focusing on behaviour modification or trying to clean up our act, we can focus on getting to know who we already are in Christ. As we do this, our behaviour will naturally begin to align with our true identity.

✝ The Key to Christian Growth

This is the key to Christian growth — not striving in our own strength, but continually beholding who we already are in Christ. As we do this, the Holy Spirit works in us, bringing our outer life into alignment with our inner reality.

You can’t truly be who you are until you know who you are.

Friends, take a good, long look in the mirror of God’s Word. See yourself as God sees you — perfect, righteous, and holy in Christ. Let this truth sink deep into your heart.

You are a glorious new creation, dearly loved and fully accepted by your Heavenly Father. You are complete in Him, lacking nothing. You are seated with Christ in heavenly places, far above all principality and power.

Be blessed today, my friends.

May you walk in the fullness of your identity in Christ. May it fuel your worship, empower your prayers, and shape your interactions with others. You are a new creation — and that changes everything.

#Jesus #NewCreation #Identity

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 254

The Father's Love

The Father’s Love

What does it mean to be a child of God?

For many believers, it’s a comforting idea but not a lived reality. We know the language. We’ve heard the sermons. But deep down, many of us still relate to God more like servants than sons — always performing, always proving, always uncertain whether we’ve done enough.

But that’s not the new covenant.

Under the old covenant, God’s people were positioned more like servants under the watchful eye of the law. But through the cross, we’ve been granted the privileged status of beloved children, adopted into God’s forever family.

This isn’t poetic language. It’s the very essence of what Christ accomplished.

✝ From Servants to Sons

In Galatians 4, Paul explains how ancient inheritance worked. Children were kept under the strict oversight of tutors and guardians until they reached maturity and could receive their inheritance as full-fledged heirs.

“Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all” (Galatians 4:1).

This system depicted the old covenant era, when God’s people were “kept under guard by the law” (Galatians 3:23) — like underage heirs, not yet possessing the liberties of mature sonship.

But everything changed at the cross.

“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).

Do you hear what that’s saying? The cross wasn’t just about forgiveness. It marked the moment when we were permanently repositioned from servants under law to sons and daughters enjoying full relationship with our heavenly Father.

✝ No Longer Under a Tutor

Under this new covenant of grace, we are no longer bound to law-keeping. Paul says it plainly: “After faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor” (Galatians 3:25).

The strict pedagogue of rules and regulations has been dismissed. We’ve been ushered into a new era of being “led by the Spirit” rather than by outward codes (Galatians 5:18).

No longer constrained like household servants, we now experience the joyous liberty of full-grown sons relating freely with our Father.

Romans 8:15 describes it beautifully: “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’”

Under the new covenant, the Holy Spirit Himself lives within us, giving us revelation of who we truly are in Christ. He awakens our spiritual senses to experience God — not as a harsh taskmaster, but as our infinitely compassionate Abba, the Aramaic term expressing a tender father’s affection for his children.

This is the intimate relationship we’ve been graced to enjoy.

✝ A Son’s Place Is Permanent

Jesus highlighted this truth when speaking to the Pharisees: “A slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever” (John 8:35).

A servant, no matter how dutiful, remains insecure in his position, always fearful of being cast out. But a son’s place in the family is irrevocable — founded on the unbreakable realities of love and relationship, not fickle performance.

That’s you. That’s me.

We have been brought into God’s permanent, forever family through the new birth. We are adopted as beloved children just as Christ is the Beloved Son. Our place is secure. Not tentative. Not conditional. Secure.

✝ This Changes Everything

This identity as God’s sons and daughters radically redefines how we relate to our Father.

No longer through the lens of laws. No longer fearful of disappointing a harsh Judge. By the Spirit’s enabling, we “have received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’” (Romans 8:15).

What freedom this brings. We get to engage with God as intimate sons and daughters — accepted and cherished simply for who we are in Christ, apart from what we do or don’t do.

The enemy wars fiercely against this revelation because it demolishes the power of guilt, shame, and condemnation. Religious legalists despise it too, because people who have tasted the freedom of sonship won’t remain locked under dead, stifling regulations.

This is why Paul rebuked the Galatians so sharply when they started entertaining a works-based version of the gospel:

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Galatians 3:1–2).

✝ Don’t Go Back to the Orphan Spirit

We must refuse to be bullied back into orphan thinking — the mindset that says we’re just hired hands bound by rules and checklists to maintain favour with God.

John 1:12 says it clearly: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”

To reinstate the law’s reign as our tutor is spiritual treason against the finished work that birthed us into sonship. It’s a rejection of what our heavenly Father has done — looking upon us with infinite delight, cherishing our place in His family.

✝ Living From Sonship

When doubts come, when religious fear tactics try to pull you back into the orphan mindset, cast them down with the truth of the cross.

Jesus broke the law’s power over you. You are free from that ruthless tutor. You have been fully adopted as a child of the Most High, and you’ve been ushered into a new era of intimacy and acceptance.

This is not something you’re working toward. It’s something that has already happened.

Friends, your Heavenly Father looks at you with infinite tenderness. You can freely approach Him in any situation without fear of rejection or punishment.

You are celebrated as His treasured, irreplaceable child. This is the experience He longs for you to enjoy each day.

You are living and abiding in His house forever, safe in the everlasting embrace of your perfect and loving Abba Father.

Be blessed today, my friends.

May the Spirit continually open the eyes of your heart to experience God according to your true identity. May you rest in your eternal, unshakable position as a beloved son or daughter. And may you live each day knowing that your place in His family is secure — not because of what you’ve done, but because of what He has done.

#Jesus #TheFathersLove #Sonship

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 67

The Father's Love

Children of Promise

What covenant are you living under?

It’s not a question most Christians think about, but it’s one of the most important questions we can ask. Because the covenant we’re living under determines how we relate to God, how we understand righteousness, and whether we’re living in freedom or bondage.

Our God is a covenant-making, covenant-keeping God. Throughout Scripture, He establishes solemn agreements that reveal His unwavering commitment to redeem humanity. At the centre of it all stands the Promise Covenant made with Abraham — the very covenant that gave birth to the New Covenant we now live under through the blood of Christ.

✝ The Promise Came Before the Law

In Galatians 3, Paul asks the believers a crucial question: “Does He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Galatians 3:5).

The answer is obvious. Faith.

It has always been through faith that blessing flows — not through human striving or religious effort. The true sons of Abraham, Paul says, are “those who are of faith” — not those attempting to earn righteousness through law-keeping (Galatians 3:7).

The Promise Covenant established with Abraham pointed directly toward Jesus Christ as the Seed through whom all nations would be blessed (Galatians 3:8, 16). This was the foundation on which the New Covenant would be built. Both covenants exalt the same truth: righteousness comes by faith alone, not by works.

The only difference is that we now have the privilege of receiving the promise’s fulfilment through the crucified and risen Saviour. The New Covenant is between the Father and His Son, Jesus. And because we are in Christ, we are the beneficiaries of that covenant.

✝ So Why Was the Law Given?

If the Promise Covenant came first and was based on faith, why was the Law of Moses given centuries later? Did it conflict with or nullify the promise?

Paul answers firmly: Absolutely not (Galatians 3:15–17).

The Mosaic Covenant, with all its laws and regulations, could never modify or cancel the unconditional Promise authored by God Himself. Once ratified, a divine covenant stands firm. It cannot be tweaked or discarded by human decisions.

The Law was never intended to be an alternative path to righteousness. Paul is clear: “For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise” (Galatians 3:18).

If righteousness could have come through law-keeping, then it would have (Galatians 3:21). But no such law exists. Only the life-giving promise received through faith in Christ can make us righteous.

✝ The Purpose of the Law

So what was the Law’s purpose?

Paul explains that it was an interim measure, given “because of transgressions” to mark out Israel as God’s distinct covenant people (Galatians 3:19). The Law served to guard and support the Promise until the Messiah arrived (Galatians 3:23–25).

But even in this role, the Law could only imprison and condemn. It lacked the power to impart true spiritual life and freedom.

This is the crucial contrast between the two covenants: the Mosaic system led to curse and bondage, while the New Covenant through Christ leads to blessing and liberty.

✝ Christ Became a Curse to Set Us Free

Under the Law’s terms, even the smallest infraction resulted in a curse. “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them” (Galatians 3:10).

No one could keep the whole Law. That meant everyone stood condemned.

But through the cross, Jesus Himself became a curse on our behalf so that we could receive Abraham’s promised blessing of righteousness by faith (Galatians 3:13–14).

Christ’s death exposed Him to the Law’s most severe condemnation. As Deuteronomy 21:23 declared, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.” Yet our Lord willingly endured that curse-laden death to exhaust the Law’s demands over us forever.

When He cried, “It is finished,” both the Law and its curse were satisfied in full (Colossians 2:14). Now, liberated from its reign, we inherit the blessed abundance of a New Covenant — not based on our flawed obedience, but established by Christ’s flawless obedience alone.

✝ Two Women, Two Covenants

Paul illustrates this contrast powerfully through the story of Sarah and Hagar, the two women in Abraham’s household (Galatians 4:21–31).

Hagar, the bondwoman, represented the old covenant of law originating from Mount Sinai. Her son Ishmael was born through human striving — “born according to the flesh.”

Sarah, the freewoman, represented the New Covenant of grace and promise. Through her miraculous womb, Isaac was supernaturally born as a “child of promise.”

Paul’s question to the Galatians is pointed: Who is your mother? Are you children of the slave woman or the free woman?

His answer is clear: We, like Isaac, are children of promise, born of grace through faith in Christ.

Any attempt to revert back to law-based living is like returning to Hagar’s enslaved status. Paul’s command is direct: “Cast out the bondwoman and her son!” (Galatians 4:30). Separate yourself from what breeds spiritual slavery. Wear the glorious garment of liberty, not the tattered rags of religious bondage.

✝ Stand Firm in Freedom

Paul’s cry echoes through the ages: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1).

We cannot afford to drift back into the futile cycle of trying to earn righteousness through human effort and law-keeping. That approach leads only to bondage — the very bondage from which Christ bled to deliver us.

We are called to walk by the Spirit and receive our righteousness as an outright gift through faith in the finished work of our Redeemer (Galatians 5:16, 18).

Friends, as we fix our gaze on Christ, our status as children of the Promise and heirs of the New Covenant is gloriously settled.

You are not under law. You are under grace.
You are not a slave. You are free.
You are not working to become something. You already are a child of promise.

Be blessed today, my friends.

Let this truth become the settled joy of your heart — you are an irreversible son or daughter of the free woman, forever embraced in the promise-keeping love of your Heavenly Father. Stand firm in that freedom, and never go back.

#Jesus #NewCovenant #ChildrenOfPromise

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 55

The Father's Love

Living by Faith, Not Works

What does it actually mean to live by faith?

It’s one of the most talked-about topics in Christian teaching, but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. Too often, faith gets redefined as something we do to qualify ourselves before God — another work we must perform to earn His approval. But that’s not faith. That’s religion dressed up in spiritual language.

The gospel reveals a righteousness that comes by faith from start to finish — no works required (Romans 1:17). Any teaching that tries to mix human effort with faith for righteousness is a distortion of the gospel. And yet it happens constantly, even in circles that claim to preach grace.

Faith and grace are meant to work together, not in opposition. Grace is what God has lavishly provided in Christ — unmerited favour, total acceptance, complete righteousness given as a free gift. Faith is simply our willing response to receive what He’s offering.

Romans 5:2 says it clearly: “We have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”

Faith doesn’t earn the gift. It receives it.

✝ Faith Alone, From Start to Finish

This is where many believers get confused.

They begin rightly — trusting in Christ alone by faith. But then someone comes along with a more performance-based version of Christianity, and suddenly they start thinking they need to add their own effort to what Christ has already finished.

Paul confronted this exact problem in Galatia: “Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3).

If we began by faith, we continue by faith. If righteousness came as a gift, it remains a gift. Trying to supplement Christ’s work with our own effort doesn’t strengthen the foundation — it undermines it entirely.

✝ The Object of Faith Matters

Faith is only as strong as its object.

Some people try to have “faith in faith” — as though believing hard enough will produce results. But that kind of faith has no solid ground to stand on. It’s wishful thinking, not biblical faith.

True faith must have a reliable object. And there is no greater object for our faith than Jesus Christ Himself.

This is why faith is rarely mentioned in the Old Testament (only about 15 times) but appears constantly in the New Testament (around 150 times). The difference isn’t the concept — it’s the arrival of the One faith points to. Once Jesus stepped into history, faith became the means of receiving everything God offers. Not faith plus works. Not faith plus effort. Just faith in Christ alone.

✝ Christ Is the Focus, Not the Bible Alone

The Bible reveals Christ, but it’s not the ultimate object of faith — He is.

The Pharisees knew Scripture inside and out. They could recite it, debate it, and apply it with precision. But Jesus told them plainly: “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life” (John 5:39–40).

It’s possible to know the Bible backwards and forwards and still miss the One it points to.

True biblical faith always directs our gaze toward Christ. The more we behold Him — His sufficiency, His finished work, His unchanging love — the more our faith is strengthened. As 1 Peter 2:7 says, “To you who believe, He is precious.”

✝ Faith Isn’t Forced — It Flows From Beholding Christ

Faith is not something we conjure up by gritting our teeth and trying harder. It’s not a spiritual force we generate through willpower.

True faith arises from beholding Christ in all His beauty and sufficiency.

As we fill our hearts and minds with the reality of who He is and what He’s accomplished, faith naturally awakens. It’s the humble, restful response to seeing that He truly is enough — that He has accomplished everything required for our righteousness, acceptance, and life.

When our eyes are on Him, doubts subside — not because we’ve worked ourselves into confidence, but because we’ve seen that He is trustworthy.

✝ The Language of Faith Is Thanksgiving

One of the clearest signs of living by faith is a thankful heart.

Murmuring and grumbling are obstacles to faith. They shift our focus away from what Christ has done and onto what we think is lacking. But the language of faith is gratitude — hearts overflowing with thanks for the finished work of Christ that has made us completely righteous and lacking nothing in Him.

Hebrews 13:15 says, “Let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”

Jesus perfectly modelled this. Before feeding the five thousand, He gave thanks. Before raising Lazarus, He gave thanks. In both situations, His gratitude flowed from unwavering trust in the Father’s provision and power.

We’re called to the same: “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Not just for past blessings, but for what God has already supplied according to His riches in Christ (Philippians 4:19). We give thanks because we are already complete in Him — already perfect, already lacking nothing (Colossians 2:10).

That’s why Scripture encourages us to bring our requests with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6) and to be “continuing steadfastly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2).

A lifestyle of faith-filled gratitude is simply the natural response to God’s lavish grace toward His beloved children.

✝ Faith Brings Rest, Not Pressure

When faith is rightly understood, it removes pressure rather than adding to it.

Our adequacy doesn’t come from our efforts. It comes from our union with Christ. Our righteousness isn’t something we’re working toward. It’s something we’ve already received.

Faith is what allows us to stop striving and start resting — to stop trying to become something and start living from who we already are in Him.

Friends, let’s reject the man-made, law-based distortions that pollute the pure gospel. The true good news reveals a righteousness that is by faith from start to finish — no works required.

Our only responsibility is to place our trust in Christ and what He has already perfectly finished on the cross. Then, with thankful hearts, we get to enjoy all the blessings that flow freely from His grace.

Our adequacy doesn’t come from our efforts. It comes from our union with the all-sufficient, all-glorious Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Be blessed today, my friends.

Fix your gaze on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith. Give Him thanks for His completed work on your behalf. And rest in the simple, unencumbered, faith-filled life He’s called you to enjoy.

#Jesus #LivingByFaith #Righteousness

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 126

The Father's Love

Anchored in Grace

What if the Christian life was never meant to be about what you bring to the table?

Grace gets mentioned often in Christian circles, but it’s rarely allowed to stand on its own. More often than not, it gets mixed with law, softened by conditions, or balanced with performance metrics. The result is a distorted version of the gospel — one that sounds spiritual but functions like religion.

The sad reality is that much of the church still operates from an old covenant mindset. Even when grace is preached, law often sneaks in through the back door — subtly reintroducing the idea that our behaviour, our effort, or our spiritual discipline is what qualifies us for God’s acceptance and blessing.

But that’s not the new covenant.

Grace is how God relates to us now. It’s not a supplement to law. It’s not a safety net for when we fail. Grace is the foundation, the atmosphere, and the power through which God relates to His people. And when grace is truly understood, everything changes.

✝ Grace and Law Cannot Be Mixed

One of the most common misconceptions is that we need balance — a little grace to cover our failures, a little law to keep us on track. But Scripture doesn’t teach balance. It teaches replacement.

Paul makes this clear: “If by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace” (Romans 11:6). The moment works enter the equation, grace is nullified. Not reduced. Nullified.

Why? Because grace and law operate on completely different foundations. Law says, “Do this and live.” Grace says, “It is finished.” Law depends on human effort. Grace depends on Christ’s finished work. Law focuses on what we can do. Grace focuses on what He has already done.

Trying to mix the two doesn’t create balance — it creates confusion.

✝ The Law Was Never Meant to Empower

Another common belief is that the law helps us live better. That if we have clear rules and standards, we’ll be more motivated to live righteously.

But Paul dismantles this idea completely. He explains that the law actually arouses sinful desires within us and ultimately produces death, because it relies entirely on the flesh — and the flesh is weak (Romans 7:5, 8, 11; 8:3).

Legalists have the will to do what’s right, but not the ability (Romans 7:18). The law shows us what we should do, but it doesn’t give us the power to do it. That’s why no one was ever made righteous by keeping the law. It was never designed for that.

The law exposes need. Grace meets it.

✝ Grace Doesn’t Encourage Sin — It Defeats It

One of the most persistent objections to grace is the fear that it will lead to lawlessness. If there are no rules, won’t people just do whatever they want?

But this objection misunderstands how grace works.

Grace doesn’t give permission to sin. It breaks sin’s power. Paul says it plainly: “Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14).

Law stirs up sin. Grace defeats it.

Grace doesn’t just forgive — it transforms. It trains us “to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:11–12). Not through pressure or fear, but through the power of a new nature and a new identity in Christ.

✝ Our Part Is Simply to Believe

Some still insist that while grace is real, we must do our part. But what is our part?

Jesus answered this directly: “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent” (John 6:29).

Believing is not a work we do to earn something. It’s the posture through which we receive what has already been given. The just live by faith — not by trying harder, not by balancing grace with effort, but by trusting fully in Christ and His finished work (Galatians 2:20).

✝ Grace Reigns Through Righteousness

Here’s where it all comes together.

Grace doesn’t just forgive us and leave us to figure out the rest. Grace reigns through righteousness (Romans 5:21). That means our standing before God has nothing to do with our behaviour and everything to do with being joined to Christ.

When we were in Adam, we were made sinners. But now that we’re in Christ, He is our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30). This isn’t something we’re working toward. It’s something that has already happened.

That’s why under grace, we’re not forever trying to establish our own righteousness through ritual and rules. Christ is our righteousness. That frees us to simply believe and receive everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).

Religion wants us focused on our insufficiency — always striving to make up the shortfall through duties and devotions. But grace has us focused on Christ’s unlimited sufficiency. In Him, we lack no good thing (Psalm 34:10). In Him, we are complete (Colossians 2:10).

✝ Abiding, Not Striving

Jesus used the picture of a vine and branches to describe this reality (John 15:5). As long as we remain connected to the Vine, life flows. Fruit comes naturally — not because we’re trying to produce it, but because we’re connected to the source.

The branch doesn’t strain to bear fruit. It simply abides. The life of the Vine flows through it, and fruit appears.

When we disconnect through unbelief — when we start thinking we have to produce fruit through our own efforts — we wither spiritually. Not because God cuts us off, but because we’ve shifted from receiving to striving.

Our call is to abide. To remain in Him. To let His resurrection life flow through us continually. It’s His life we’re living, not our own.

Friends, too many Christians are weighed down by burdens Christ never intended them to bear. Guilt, shame, inadequacy — these are symptoms of being under law rather than resting securely in grace.

You don’t need to strive to become something more. You already are everything He died to make you. You are loved. You are accepted. You are complete in Christ.

When you embrace this grace reality, genuine good works and fruitfulness will naturally overflow — not from a sense of duty or desperation, but from rest. Not by your efforts, but by His grace working within you (Philippians 2:13).

Be blessed today, my friends.

May you increasingly understand the breadth, length, height, and depth of God’s love for you in Christ. May the Lord open your eyes to see more clearly the abundance of His grace and the gift of righteousness you have received. And may His grace reign through righteousness in your life — today and always.

#Jesus #GraceNotLaw #RestNotReligion #NoMoreStriving #FreedomInChrist

4 weeks ago | [YT] | 181

The Father's Love

Guilt-Free Living

What would change if guilt no longer had a voice in your relationship with God?

For many believers, guilt is constant background noise. It speaks up after every mistake, questions every motive, and keeps intimacy with God at arm’s length. We know we’re forgiven in theory, but living free from guilt feels like something reserved for better Christians — people who pray more, stumble less, and seem to have figured out what we’re still struggling with.

But Scripture tells a different story.

The writer of Hebrews explains that under the old covenant, the tabernacle system symbolised something important — the way into God’s presence was not yet fully open (Hebrews 9:7–8). The veil stood as a constant reminder that something was still in the way. Priests could enter the outer courts, sacrifices could be offered daily, but the Holy of Holies remained off-limits except for one man, once a year, under very specific conditions.

That barrier wasn’t God’s unwillingness to be close. It was unresolved sin-consciousness.

✝ Dead Works Never Cleanse the Conscience

Humanity has tried every possible way to deal with guilt. We hide, blame, deny, rationalise, punish ourselves, or promise to try harder next time. Some of us withdraw from God entirely, assuming distance is safer than rejection. Others double down on religious activity, hoping that if we serve enough, give enough, or pray enough, the guilt will finally lift.

But the most common response is to earn forgiveness through effort — what Hebrews calls “dead works” (Hebrews 9:14).

These efforts might look spiritual. They might even be encouraged in some circles. But they never bring rest. They keep us busy, but they never cleanse the conscience. At best, they offer temporary relief. At worst, they reinforce the very problem they’re trying to solve — the belief that our standing with God depends on our performance.

God’s answer was never improved behaviour. It was blood.

“How much more shall the blood of Christ… cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14)

The blood of Jesus doesn’t just forgive sins — it cleanses the conscience. It removes the internal sense of separation that keeps people at a distance from God. This is why understanding righteousness isn’t optional. It’s foundational. Those who remain focused on their failures are described in Hebrews as “infants” — “unskilled in the word of righteousness” (Hebrews 5:13). Not as an insult, but as a diagnosis.

✝ Two Realities That Must Be Settled

For intimacy with God to flourish, two things have to become rock-solid in our thinking.

First, we must be convinced that God is no longer conscious of our sins.
Second, we must allow our own sin-consciousness to be replaced with righteousness-consciousness.

These aren’t abstract theological ideas. They’re the difference between striving and resting, between fear and confidence, between religion and relationship.

✝ God Is No Longer Conscious of Your Sins

The new covenant is built on better promises (Hebrews 8:6). One of the most staggering is this:

“I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and lawless deeds I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:12)

That’s covenant language. God has chosen not to remember — not because He’s trying to overlook things, but because the cross settled them completely. When Scripture says God “remembers no more,” it’s not describing forgetfulness — it’s describing a deliberate, covenant decision to relate to us apart from sin.

Hebrews goes even further — heaven itself has been cleansed of any record of our sins through the sacrifice of Christ (Hebrews 9:23–26). When Jesus appears again, it will be “apart from sin” — no reference, no remembrance, no condemnation (Hebrews 9:28).

God will never, ever bring up what has been dealt with at the cross.

✝ We Must Learn to Be Conscious of Righteousness

Our conscience speaks, but it must be trained by truth.

The blood of Jesus “speaks better things” than the blood of Abel (Hebrews 12:24). Abel’s blood cried out for justice. Jesus’ blood speaks of mercy, forgiveness, and righteousness. But if our conscience is still being shaped by religion rather than the gospel, we’ll hear accusation instead of assurance.

Religion constantly reminds people of sin (Hebrews 10:3). The gospel removes it.

“By one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14)

That word “perfected” doesn’t mean sinless behaviour. It means brought to completion — fully accepted, fully qualified, fully positioned in Christ. It’s a done deal.

The Holy Spirit does not come to rehearse failures. He comes to bear witness to righteousness. He reminds us that we are sons and daughters, not slaves (Romans 8:15–16). His role is to open our eyes to what has already been given, not what is still lacking (1 Corinthians 2:9–12).

✝ When It Is Finished, It Is Finished

When Jesus cried out “It is finished” on the cross, He meant it.

Our sin problem — permanently solved.
Our guilt and shame — nailed to the cross.
Our righteousness, acceptance, and worth before God — secured eternally by His sacrifice.

This is why grace is called grace. It’s not earned. It’s not maintained by effort. It’s received by faith and kept by the faithfulness of Christ.

We still stumble. We still miss the mark. That’s why we have an Advocate (1 John 2:1). But our position as beloved children, our seat at the Father’s table, our inheritance in Christ — it’s settled.

No more striving to become something we already are.

✝ Intimacy Grows Where Rest Is Allowed

Guilt always creates distance. It makes us second-guess whether we’re really welcome, whether God is truly pleased, whether we’ve done enough to stay in His favour.

But righteousness-consciousness removes that barrier. When we know where we stand — not because of what we’ve done, but because of what Christ has done — relationship becomes natural. We draw near not because we’ve performed well, but because we belong.

This is the intimacy God has always wanted. Not a people kept at arm’s length by guilt, but sons and daughters secure in His love.

Friends, if you’ve been stuck in cycles of guilt and sin-consciousness — always aware of what’s wrong, always unsure where you stand — Hebrews invites you to something better.

You are righteous.
You are forgiven.
You are holy.

God is not holding anything against you. He isn’t keeping a record. When He looks at you, He sees the righteousness of His Son.

Be blessed today, my friends.

May righteousness-consciousness become your new normal. May intimacy with your Father deepen as rest replaces striving. And may you live from the settled place of knowing that the work is finished, the veil is torn, and you are fully welcome in His presence — always.

#Jesus #GuiltFreeLiving #RighteousnessConsciousness

1 month ago | [YT] | 331