Spiritual Warfare; September 24, 2025


John 9:33 “If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

I have always loved this story of the man born blind. That he was totally uneducated goes without saying, given his physical handicap. However, there was nothing wrong with his mind! You could say he had the advantage of not having had legalism drilled into him, the way the Pharisees had. Totally uneducated, he completely demolishes the arguments of the Pharisees, based on simple logic. I am naturally reminded of Charlie Kirk, who never attended college, but made a career of going to colleges, talking with students and faculty, and demolishing their mistaken ideas with logic and, frankly, the truth of God. Because the Left couldn’t overcome him with words, they killed him with a bullet, whereas this man was banished from the synagogue. Those in opposition to God and His truth do all sorts of bad things, but we need to remember what John said in his 1st letter: “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) This man born blind was put out of the synagogue, and experienced who knows however much other social consequences, but he met the Messiah, and was able to worship Him in person. Charlie Kirk was assassinated, but he went directly before his Lord in heaven, and his ministry, his life work, has exploded, and looks to change the nation and the world. As Jesus repeatedly cautioned His disciples, we will encounter opposition of all sorts, but when we are anchored in Him, we have nothing to be afraid of. Nothing can overcome God!

I have commented repeatedly that I sometimes wonder how closely I am walking with God, because I don’t feel I have encountered very much direct opposition. However, God is my Judge, and I don’t even judge myself. (1 Corinthians 4:3-4) Reading the Frank Viola book on the New Testament Church, I have a much better grasp of all the opposition Paul faced, and I’ve had it easy! I am to remember that it is the devil who doesn’t want Japan turning to Christ, and so be unrelenting in my spiritual warfare against him. I should be on offense, not defense! There are people to whom I’m ministering at this point who seem close to opening their hearts, and I’ll see two of them today. They are in no way my enemies, but I must be strong on their behalf against the enemy who has trapped their minds and hearts to this point, so that they may receive God’s truth and be set free indeed, for their salvation and God’s glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the powerful impact Charlie Kirk has had on countless people, breaking the chains that have held them back from being bold for You. May we indeed rise up, a mighty army, just as in Ezekiel’s vision, (Ezekiel 37:1-14) to bring in Your great harvest, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sowing and Reaping; September 23, 2025


John 3:36 “Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.”

There is joy in sowing, and joy in reaping. In terms of evangelism, we tend to focus on the joy of reaping, but there can be no reaping without sowing, and there is joy there as well. However, going to the agricultural source of the metaphor, both of those can be hard work! It’s interesting that Jesus here speaks of both wages and joy. In many places the Bible assures us that we will be rewarded for our labors, but on top of that we get the joy and satisfaction of having done the work of God and of His kingdom. And we must not forget that all of this is in relation to eternal life. Our perspective is always limited. We basically see just what is in front of our noses, if we even see that accurately! God invites us to lift our eyes and see things as He does. (He’s explicit about that in verse 35.) We aren’t to ignore the things that are in front of us, but we need to realize that there’s always far more to any situation than what we can see. When we have that understanding, we can rejoice whatever the immediate task might be, trusting that God will work it all out for our blessing and His glory. (Romans 8:28)

Just recently the Lord has been showing me more and more joy in sowing. I have wanted to be a reaper, gathering in the harvest, but the timing of that is God’s business. God has been showing me the joy of expressing His love in various ways, preparing people’s hearts to receive the seed of the Gospel, and then scattering that seed in countless ways. Harvest is indeed exciting, but every step of the process is important, and the better I understand that, the more joy and satisfaction I will have. The Lord has brought people to me that I wasn’t seeking, and that is a reminder that salvation is His business. I’m not to be so Calvinist that I think I have nothing to do with it, but I’m never to think that I can save anyone on my own. He is the source of eternal life! I am to be faithful and diligent at the tasks He gives me, taking joy in the privilege of serving Him, and remember that payday is coming!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for opening my eyes more to the joy of sowing, and even of tilling and weeding. Keep me from giving up in any way, but rather help me to rest, relax, and rejoice in You, just as You have told me to do, so that the results may be exactly what You intend, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

God’s Supply; September 22, 2025


John 3:34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.

This was written specifically about Jesus, but it actually applies to everyone whom God sends. Problems in ministry are never because of God’s supply, but only from our capacity to receive and apply all that God supplies. It’s not clear whether this verse is something John the Baptist said, or something John the Apostle wrote in commentary. Either way, it’s the Word of God, and evidence of the truth of this verse. How’s that for circular reasoning? We get all involved in the people God uses, to the point that we tend to forget that it’s God who is actually saying and doing the things we admire. Charlie Kirk is an excellent case in point. He was totally committed and submitted to God, and God used him accordingly, accomplishing more through him in 31 years than most people see happen in twice or even three times that span. It’s like Paul said, “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7) He also demonstrated this verse, speaking the words of God and allowing God’s Spirit to work through him. We can do the same! I keep coming back to the awareness that any weakness in the Church, and in individual believers, comes from a misplaced focus on the temporal rather than the eternal, the terrestrial rather than the heavenly. We are accountable for our stewardship of every resource, every opportunity God gives us, and we aren’t to treat them lightly. However, we have got to remember that those things are never more than tools to use in accomplishing God’s will. I recently heard three men talking about how men in particular can be enamored of tools of various sorts, whether a car or a drill or an airplane or whatever. That isn’t necessarily bad, but it can quickly veer into idolatry, and that’s very bad. We need reliable tools, but our real reliance must be in the One who provided them, and nothing less.

I’ve certainly tangled with this issue. I have relied on my intellect and skills more times than I like to think about, and I still get great satisfaction from a new computer. Recognizing that, I have great hesitation in making such purchases, but with the upcoming end of support for Windows 10, I just ordered a replacement for the computer I’m using at this moment. I have the fairly unusual need for multiple bays for optical drives, since I produce the CD recordings of our services, and such cases are no longer common. I didn’t want to go to the headache of buying a motherboard and rebuilding everything, but at just the right moment, God showed me a listing for a refurbished computer, and it will arrive this week. I still have the headache of getting all the necessary software installed, but God will get me through that, and I’m mildly excited. Of far more importance is the progress I’m seeing in someone the Lord is drawing to Himself. That man came to the service yesterday, and I’ll see him again this morning. God has sent me to him, so I’m to speak God’s words to him by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit within me, knowing that God will do what needs to be done.

Father, thank You indeed for Your supply. Help me be the steward You want me to be, accomplishing Your will for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Understanding the Bible; September 21, 2025


Luke 24:45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

Just as He had done with Cleopas and his friend during the walk to Emmaus, recorded just before this, Jesus opened the hearts/minds of His apostles as well. That’s something we all need, on a regular basis! On at least one level the Bible is easy to understand, but at the same time, it is infinitely deep, because it is a book by and about God, who is infinite. To use an expression Bill Whittle likes, we don’t have the “mental horsepower” to understand it all on our own, so we need God to reveal it to our hearts and minds. Incidentally, most English translations say “minds” here, while the Japanese says “hearts.” I think that’s significant, because academic knowledge of the Bible is never enough. I doesn’t hurt to know the original languages, certainly, and knowledge of the cultural context and the like can be very helpful, but it ultimately comes down to the Holy Spirit speaking His Word into us, for us to really grasp it. Here again the Japanese is helpful, because English translations just say “understand,” where the Japanese says “satoru,” the verb form of the Buddhist satori, enlightenment. This is far more than understanding that two plus two equals four. Human understanding is very dark, as in, “dim-witted.” There are countless Scriptures that refer to God in terms of light. It is only when He shines on and in us that we are able to grasp fully what He has said and is saying to us.

I have had academic knowledge of the Bible from childhood, having read the Bible through by the time I was 10. However, I was clear proof of what Paul said: “Knowledge puffs up while love builds up.” (1 Corinthians 8:1) I became a textbook example of spiritual conceit, and it wasn’t pretty in the least. He dealt with that in principle in a very dramatic encounter when I was 24, but He has had to give me “refresher lessons” from time to time ever since. That’s why I come to the Lord and His Word every morning, asking Him to open it to me and me to it, so that it may have its full work in me. (Isaiah 55:11) I delight to share what God has shown me, so times like this morning, when I’m letting someone else preach, are a growing exercise for me. However, God has given me fresh revelation through this sister, so I look forward to interpreting for her. With my teacher gifting, I’ve got to remember that the Holy Spirit is the ultimate Teacher, (John 14:26) and listen to Him as well as allow Him to speak through me. Thankfully, the Bible is readily available to all with whom I come into contact, so I can share God’s Word in printed form as well as verbally.

Father, thank You for Your Word, on so many levels. Help me be a faithful conduit, receiving and obeying it myself even as I share it, so that Your name may be acknowledged as holy and Your rule and reign be established as Your will is done, in holy perfection, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Arrival of Messiah; September 20, 2025


Luke 19:27-38 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

This is of course the famous scene of what we now call Palm Sunday. It just occurred to me exactly why the disciples got so excited. They had probably never seen Jesus ride anything, much less a donkey colt, and some of them probably remembered the prophecy, “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king  comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9) They had been hoping that Jesus was the promised Messiah, particularly considering all the miracles He had performed, and here He was, explicitly fulfilling a prophecy that was universally recognized as Messianic. I would have gotten excited, too! Jesus had acknowledged a few times that He was the Messiah, but never publicly like this, and this particular prophecy explicitly says “king,” which put Him into direct competition with Rome. No wonder the Pharisees were upset! (verse 39) Even the ones who were inclined to believe in Jesus didn’t want Rome coming down on them like a ton of bricks! That ties in perfectly with the discussions that were held after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. “If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” (John 11:48) They had no faith to believe that this itinerant preacher from Galilee was greater and mightier than all of Rome. They preferred their current, comfortable (for them) situation of being subject to Rome, to all the turmoil they rightly saw would come from being seen as in opposition to Rome. Indeed, that’s exactly what happened to the early Church, which refused to say, “Caesar is Lord,” but instead insisted that Jesus was Lord, even over Rome. We are quick to judge the Pharisees, but I wonder if we would have done any better in their place. The level of faith required to recognize that global politics are no match for the plans of God is frankly not that common even today.

I am personally challenged by this. God has graciously given me faith, but that faith is challenged regularly by what my senses and my intellect tell me. The world is a mess, and in this Information Age I know more about that mess than anyone could have even just a few years ago. Many, many people are increasingly convinced that we are indeed in the Last Days, and I have no reason to doubt them. That said, it still comes down to daily, moment-by-moment faithfulness and obedience. I will be thrilled whenever the Lord returns, but I’m not to just sit around waiting for that to happen. The Lord has things for me to do, as He does for every one of His children, (Ephesians 2:10) so I’m to seek to discern them and do them, with all the strength He gives me. I can’t do anything right on my own, but He can do anything at all, even using me, so I’m to yield myself to Him in full obedience, for His glory.

Father, I didn’t expect this. Thank You. Thank You for all I see You doing, and for all You are doing that I don’t recognize, or have no idea of in the first place. You have told me to rest, relax, and rejoice in You, but I’m not very good at that. Help me keep growing in obedient faith, not backing off from any task You assign to me, so that Your will may be done on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jesus’ Mission; September 19, 2025


Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

This is a famous verse, and the story of Zacchaeus is famous, but I don’t know that we necessarily connect them in our minds. The story of Zacchaeus is particularly significant in light of what Jesus said in relation to the rich young ruler who came to Him: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:25) It is stated clearly that Zacchaeus was rich, but he certainly got saved, by repentance through faith. As Jesus told His disciples, when they were amazed at His response to the rich young ruler, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) You could say that Jesus’ mission, as expressed in this verse, was an impossible one, but thankfully, it’s not impossible for God. On the face of it, it is impossible for sinful mankind to be received and accepted by holy God, but God accomplished the impossible by sending His Son to die, taking the penalty for the sins of mankind so that, like Zacchaeus, we can be saved by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9) This verse indicates a very essential requirement for salvation: we have to recognize that we need it, that we are indeed lost. This is where many people hang up, and so condemn themselves to hell. Sadly, that includes many “fine, upstanding” people, because they trust in their own goodness rather than in the grace of God. It is only when we recognize that we are hopeless that we can receive the true hope of eternal life.

I’ve experienced this full blast. From the outside, I looked pretty good, having been raised in a strongly Christian home, baptized at seven, very familiar with the Bible, and a married father and church member – even a member of the choir! However, God in His mercy showed me the state of my soul, for just an instant, and I collapsed in repentance, crying out, “My Lord and my God.” I am eternally grateful not only that He did that, but that He enabled me to respond that way. I have debated in my mind whether I was saved before that, but I have absolutely no question that I am saved now, even though I still slip up at times. Now, my mission is an extension of that of Jesus, seeking the lost so that He can save them. I certainly can’t save anyone on my own! I’ll be seeing someone this morning who seems very close to opening his heart to Jesus, and it’s exciting. I not only want to see him saved, I want every believer in this church to have the experience of introducing people to Jesus so they can be saved. The experience is addictive! The number of lost people with whom we are surrounded is virtually unlimited, so it’s open season!

Father, thank You for this reminder. I do ask You to guide my lips and my actions, not just this morning but all the time, so that many, many more people may be brought into Your family, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Joy of Evangelism; September 18, 2025


Luke 15:10 “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Jesus told these two parables in response to the Pharisees’ objections to His associating with “unsavory” people, and they are justly famous. I’d like to focus on the joy that is generated when someone repents. American’s tend to focus on the individual, but everyone has a circle of influence, whether they recognize it or not. Some people’s circle is very large, as witness all the people who were impacted, in one way or another, by Charlie Kirk’s assassination. However, even if someone has no human connections, (a virtual impossibility) angels are paying attention. The fact of the matter is, someone repenting of their previous rebellion against God and turning to Him to receive forgiveness and cleansing is a joyful thing, any way you look at it. Every human being is incredibly valuable, so their being rescued from eternal destruction is joyful indeed! This is something we tend to overlook, because we live among so many distractions. However, once you’ve tasted the joy of someone you care about joining the family of God, it’s not something you will forget. Part of the problem is that, frankly, we just don’t care that much about most of the people we encounter. That’s something we need to repent of! We need to ask and allow the Lord to lift us out of our self-centered bubbles so that we can genuinely see, and care about, the people around us. If that happens, one of those people coming to Christ will give us an incredible level of joy that can be had no other way.

I have long insisted that I was not gifted as an evangelist, and I still think that is largely true, but I have discovered the joy of evangelism nonetheless. I have discovered that if I will allow Him to, the Holy Spirit will guide my conversations to spiritual things, with just about anybody. What I have to be careful about is not slipping into preaching! Since my Teacher gifting is so strong, I tend to dump information on people to the point they’re swamped, and running away is a natural reaction to that. The Lord is helping me grow in that area, and just this week He has given me some conversations for which I am deeply grateful. I have also seen indications that one person, about whom I care deeply, may well be about to make a full commitment to Christ. That’s exciting! I truly want to rejoice with the angels over the salvation of many, so I need to keep myself available for however the Lord wants to use me.

Father, thank You indeed for the joy of sharing Your Gospel. Help me do that more and more faithfully, more and more effectively, so that more and more people may be brought into Your family, for their eternal salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Martyrdom; September 17, 2025


Luke 13:17 When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

I can’t help but notice the many parallels between Jesus and Charlie Kirk. There is considerable risk in idolizing Charlie, but the points of comparison are still striking. Jesus was attacked physically because his opponents couldn’t win against Him logically, and that was precisely the case with Charlie. In this particular instance, the leader of the synagogue didn’t feel brave enough to attack Jesus directly for healing the woman on the Sabbath, so he essentially attacked the people for coming to Jesus on the Sabbath. Jesus’ response was so clear and logical that those who opposed Him were embarrassed, and that was what they couldn’t forgive. That was precisely why Charlie Kirk was shot. Was that fair? Not at all, but that’s how the devil operates. That’s why Jesus told His disciples, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” (John 15:18) Charlie was about as blameless a person as you could hope to run into, “doing everything right,” so to speak. That actually added to the hatred for him, because those who disagreed with him couldn’t find a valid angle of attack. Now, the reactions to his death are clearly dividing people into two camps, which is actually helpful, because it shows us who can be trusted. Charlie is a magnificent example of both how to stand up for faith and righteousness, and also what risks we incur when we do so. We aren’t to seek martyrdom, but we aren’t to live in fear of it either. In this particular instance, we are to keep praying for Erika and the children, as well as for the widows and orphans that were left in the very recent massacre in Niger. These things have been happening for 2000 years, and we could well be next. The point is to stay true to Christ, and leave the results up to Him.

I have never been particularly afraid of martyrdom, but then, I’m not sure I’ve done much that would arouse the devil’s forces that much. I have no love of suffering, but death itself holds absolutely no terrors for me. On that score, I can’t help but notice that Charlie was killed in the middle of doing what he did best, and he loved to do, and his death was probably very nearly painless for him. That in no way diminishes the pain and devastation for his wife and children, but it’s something for us to be grateful for. I don’t know how the Lord will take me to Himself, and it’s entirely possible that He will return before my physical death, but the point for me is to be totally committed and obedient to Him, whatever the consequences. Omura has a history of martyrs, people who clung to Jesus more than to life, and I am to follow their example. As Charlie said, I want my legacy to be the courage of my faith, and the resulting faithfulness.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for how people all over the world seem to be waking up to what’s going on, because of what happened to Charlie. May the number of people genuinely committed to Christ grow exponentially, just as the requests for Turning Point chapters have done, so that as many people as possible may be led from death to life, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Victory; September 16, 2025


Luke 10:19 “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”

This is a wonderful, encouraging promise, but it seems to be contradicted by experience. After all, the vast majority of the people Jesus was talking to at the time were martyred! That leaves open the possibility that martyrdom, though on the surface certainly a work of the enemy, is actually an act of God. When you think about the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Himself, this certainly seems to be a very real possibility. As Paul said, “No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:7-8) Jesus’ suffering was to atone for our sins, and such was an act of God, even though the devil and those serving him rejoiced in it. I am certainly reminded of the recent martyrdom of Charlie Kirk. On the surface, it seems like a pure work of evil, and those involved in perpetrating it certainly deserve the legal punishment they will receive. However, we are already seeing marvelous results from it, with people rising up across the world, saying, “Enough is enough,” and American churches starting to overflow with young people. Several things about that martyrdom have struck me. In the first place, Charlie probably experienced very little pain, other than the initial shock of impact, because he passed out from loss of blood very quickly. In the second place, had he known all God was going to work through this, he would have volunteered. I’m sure countless people have been moved by his statement during an interview just days before, when he said he wanted to be remembered for the courage of his faith. He certainly didn’t expect to be martyred, as you can tell from his genuine surprise at the question, but his love for God was absolutely his first priority, as much as he loved his wife, children, and country. What we can take from Jesus’ words in this verse is that absolutely nothing can touch us that He hasn’t expressly allowed. That doesn’t mean we won’t have trouble, as He famously cautioned us, (John 16:33) but it means that nothing can happen to us that is outside of God’s perfect plan. We, frankly, don’t understand that plan, as Erica Kirk has already said on camera, naturally enough. This is roughest on her and their children, and countless people around the world are in shock because of it. We need to lift up Erica and their children in prayer, but otherwise trust God and pray that all of His purposes for allowing this to happen will be fulfilled, doing massive damage to the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) and bringing many to salvation, for the glory of God.

I am reminded of my first response to the news that my father had graduated to heaven just days after his 64th birthday: “He won’t have to retire.” He too had a very easy passage, going directly from surgical anesthesia to glory, but it was indeed rough on my mother in particular, as well as on us his children. I just had my 77th birthday, which means that God still has work for me to do. My only concern would be for those I will leave behind, to the point that I pray that Cathy will go before I do, as much as I don’t look forward to that. I know that God is truly omnipotent, and His plans are perfect, so I choose to leave everything in His hands, for Him to use me however He knows is best, for the sake of His kingdom and His glory.

Father, thank You for all You are doing in the world. Thank You for how the light gets brighter, even as the dark gets darker. I pray for the people who are rejoicing at Charlie Kirk’s death, that You would bring them to repentance, showing them the state of their souls, so that they too may be saved, coming to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:4) Thank You. Praise God!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Message of Salvation; September 15, 2025


Luke 2:10-11 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Reading this enormously familiar passage, the particular turn of phrase in the Japanese struck me: “I declare great joy.” Prepositions aren’t much of a thing in Japanese, so writing it out the way the English does would get very cumbersome, but it still struck me. It should be great joy to hear that we have a Savior! Sadly, that response isn’t universal. Far too many people don’t want to acknowledge that they need a Savior in the first place. Yesterday’s passage prompted meditation on just what salvation is, but by any definition, pride is the greatest hinderance to people admitting they need salvation. Men in particular are bad about this. One of the surest ways to make a man angry is to persistently offer him help when he’s doing something he thinks he can do on his own. With some things that can even be amusing, but when it comes to saving your soul, it’s tragic! The Jews at the time were under the thumb of the Romans, so they were more than ready for a Savior from Rome, but when Jesus turned out not to be that kind of Savior, many turned against Him. However, the angel’s pronouncement was for all the people, whether they received it or not. Even today, God’s offer of salvation by grace through faith is extended to all mankind, but only a fraction receive it. That is the greatest tragedy. There are many tragedies in the world, just as Jesus warned us there would be, (John 16:33) but they are temporal, and thus momentary on the scale of eternity. Accepting or refusing God’s offer of salvation through Jesus Christ is a matter of eternal consequence, so hearing it should be one of the greatest joys.

I grew up knowing of God’s salvation, so it wasn’t “news” to me. I think that blunted my appreciation of it, but whether that was a factor or not, I certainly descended into pride, even after I committed myself to Christ at seven. Human pride is so stupid! God very graciously led me to repentance, and now I am committed to sharing essentially the same news the angel did: a Savior is available. That’s not an easily understood message in Japan, particularly since Buddhism doesn’t even have the concept of “salvation,” but some indeed do receive the message, and that makes it all worth the effort. I am never to give up, but keep sharing, in all humility, that God loved each of us so much that He sent His Son to die for us, so that by faith in Him we might have eternal life.

Father, thank You for Your salvation. Help me never be satisfied with having received it myself, but always keep sharing with everyone who will listen, so that as many as possible may come from death to life for all eternity, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

Posted in Christian, encouragement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment