joy – The Scriptural Truth

Thoughts From 1 John 5:4

Good Morning! It’s Sunday and the beginning of a new week. We don’t know what this week will bring, but what whatever the world can throw at us, we already have VICTORY! 1st John 5:4 says, “For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.” Folks, Jesus never promised that obeying Him would be easy. But the hard work and self-discipline of serving Him won’t be a burden to those who love Him. Even if your load starts to feel heavy, you can always trust Jesus to help you bear it. Have a great week!

Thoughts From Isaiah 24:16

“I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.”
Isaiah 42:16 NKJV

God will turn the darkness into light. Have you ever been in a situation that felt dark? Maybe you didn’t know what to do next. Maybe you were scared, frustrated, anxious or angry. You know what….God was there with you. He uses the difficult situations in our own lives for our own good. God does turn the darkness into light. He also guides the blind “by ways they have not known.” We may not feel like we’re blind, but compared to what God sees, our sight is limited. If we will take His hand, He will guide us along paths that we didn’t even know existed.

Folks, God will never leave you or forsake you. He will calm the seas. He will make the rough places smooth. He will turn the darkness into light. All you have to do is accept that He can. All you have to do is trust Him.

Thoughts From Romans 8:21

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. [2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”
Romans 8:1-2 NKJV

We are told that we are forgiven for our sins. But sometimes we don’t really “feel” forgiven. We still carry some of that old guilt around.

Thoughts From Matthew 7:21

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Matthew 7:21

God didn’t create heaven as a club for people who say the right password. Many people think they can do a few good deeds and get into heaven. Their goal is to get into heaven by the skin of their teeth and figure heaven is the reward for their efforts.

Folks, that is not how God figures it, though. It’s not easy to follow God’s will in this world. We have to resist sins that other people enjoy. We might have to put up with people making fun of us and accusing us of being narrow minded and unloving. We sometimes live as foreigners in a place where other people feel at home.

Remember, God understands our difficulties. He’s with us every step of the way. He knows what we go through and He’s here to help us. He rewards us with His presence, grace and forgiveness in this life, and we look forward to heaven in the next. When you think about it, that’s an unbeatable deal.

Enjoy your week and “keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.”

Thoughts From Matthew 7:21

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Matthew 7:21 NKJV

God did not create heaven as a club for people who say the right password. Many people think they can do a few good deeds and get into heaven. Their goal is to get into heaven by the skin of their teeth. They figure heaven is the reward for their efforts.