Posts with the tag “heaven”

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ." - Philippians 3:20 Your identity in Christ includes citizenship in God's kingdom. While you live in this world, you belong to another kingdom with different values, different priorities, and a different King. This dual citizenship shapes how you live in the present while anticipating the future.Pau...  Read More

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" - 1 John 3:1 On this Father's Day, we celebrate not just earthly fathers but the perfect love of our Heavenly Father. For some, this day brings joy as they remember loving fathers who shaped their lives. For others, it brings pain as they remember absent, abusive, or inadequate f...  Read More

“He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.” – Ephesians 1:9-10 One of the greatest gifts God has given His people is understanding. Before Christ came, the full picture of God’s plan was hidden. People knew pieces of His...  Read More

“In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for...  Read More

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth" - Colossians 3:1-2 There is an important truth I want you to understand today. That is: Your mind leads your life. Before your feet ever move, your focus decides where you are going. That is why this p...  Read More

"But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you" - Matthew 6:3-4 One of the greatest truths Jesus reveals in Matthew 6 is that God notices what others overlook. He sees what happens in private, and He weighs not only our actions but also our intentions. This means...  Read More

"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward with your Father in heaven." - Matthew 6:1 Jesus warns His followers about something that can quietly creep into our hearts. It is the temptation to do the right thing for the wrong reason. The Pharisees of His day were experts at this. They prayed, gave, and fasted in ways that were...  Read More

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven." – Matthew 6:1 Jesus does not just care about what you do. He cares deeply about why you do it. In His sermon, He warns us to be careful not to live out our faith for the sake of attention. The Pharisees were experts at looking holy. They pra...  Read More

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible… and in him all things hold together.” - Colossians 1:15-17 Most people read about Jesus and picture Him walking through dusty villages, healing the sick, and teaching the crowds. That’s true, but it's only part of who He is. Colossians makes it cl...  Read More

“For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:20 When Jesus said what He said in Matthew 5:20 out loud, jaws would’ve hit the ground. The crowd had been raised to believe the scribes and Pharisees were the pinnacle of righteousness. If anyone was getting into Heaven, it was those guys. So for Jesus to ...  Read More

“Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:19 According to Jesus, the way we treat God’s Word matters not just now, but forever. He tells us plainly that one day, God will evaluate our lives based ...  Read More

"Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And they all ate and were satisfied." - Luke 9:16-17 One of the most incredible miracles in the Gospels began with a little boy’s lunch. That is all it was. Five loaves and two fish. Not enough to feed a small family, much le...  Read More

"Then I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God." – Revelation 21:3 It is hard to wrap our minds around how different heaven will be from this world. We are so used to brokenness, sorrow, and pain that the idea of a world without them feels almost ...  Read More

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." – Philippians 3:20 I once heard a story about two babies, still in the womb, having a conversation. One baby asked the other, “Do you believe in life after birth?” The second baby laughed it off, saying, “Of course not, this is all there is. We live in the dark, we are fed through this cord, and that’s the en...  Read More

"For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is God’s gift, not from works, so that no one can boast." – Ephesians 2:8-9 We live in a world that loves rewards. We chase promotions at work, trophies in sports, and recognition from people around us. But Scripture points us to rewards that are so much better than anything this world can offer. The New Testament makes...  Read More

"Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and with justice he judges and makes war." – Revelation 19:11 A few years ago, I stood on the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem, realizing I was standing on the very ground where Jesus once stood with His disciples before He ascended into heaven. As I read Acts 1 and pictured the moment Jesus rose in...  Read More

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life 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 When Jesus saved you, everything about your being changed. You became a new person with new life, new forgiveness, and new hope. The moment you said yes to Jesus, He stepped into y...  Read More

“I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” - Revelation 3:11   Jesus promises His church, "I am coming soon." Other translations say, "I am coming quickly," which captures the essence of the original Greek word used here. This word refers to the speed of His return, not the timing. It’s where we get our English word “tachometer,” which measures the rapidity o...  Read More

“The one who conquers will be clothed the same way, in white garments, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, but will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.” - Revelation 3:5    Picture the scene: standing before God in heaven, and Jesus Himself speaks your name. This is the third promise Jesus makes to those who remain faithful: “I will acknowledge his name befo...  Read More

"He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him." — Ephesians 1:9-10   In Old Testament times, God's plans and goals weren’t as clear as they are today. We have clarity now regarding God’s purpose and the “mystery of His will”...  Read More

"Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ." - Ephesians 1:3    The Apostle Paul provides a powerful and concise answer to our questions about our identity: if you have been saved, your identity has been transformed. You are now in Christ. Paul also tells us that as followers of Jesus, we are considered saints ...  Read More

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” – Philippians 3:20 When you see yourself as a citizen of this world, your goals are naturally focused on making the most of this life. You strive to make more money, have more fun, become more popular, and accumulate more things. Your identity and priorities are shaped by earthly achievements and p...  Read More

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" - John 14:6  God, in His boundless love, has paved the way for every soul to find redemption and dwell in the eternal embrace of heaven. The promise in 2 Peter 3:9 echoes through the ages, declaring that the Lord is patient, desiring none to perish but all to come to repentance. The prof...  Read More

"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live." - Deuteronomy 30:19  In the grand scheme of eternity, two diverging roads stretch before us—one leading to destruction, the other to life. The weight of this choice reverberates through time, as many find themselves unkn...  Read More

"Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it." - Matthew 7:13-14   In a world where skepticism and doubt often clash with faith, I’m reminded of a story I once heard of a brave woman on an airplane. This story serves as a remi...  Read More

In a world that offers countless paths, Jesus stands out as the singular way to salvation and eternal life. It’s not about restriction; it’s about a clear, unswerving path to the Father. So, next time the question arises, “Why Jesus?” remember, in the grand journey to eternity, His is the only route that leads home.  Read More

Now, let’s take a moment to consider a different perspective. In John 14:6, Jesus himself boldly declares, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” It’s a powerful statement, challenging us to grapple with the exclusivity of Jesus as the sole path to God.  Read More

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16 Matthew 5:16 reminds us of the power of our actions in making a difference: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Here are reflections on how we can collective...  Read More

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’” – Matthew 7:21-23...  Read More

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” – Colossians 3:2 Yesterday we explored the profound truth that as followers of Christ, our ultimate citizenship is in heaven. This perspective has the power to transform how we approach life on Earth, leading us to live a life of purpose that extends far beyond the present moment. Living a life of purpose means setting our min...  Read More

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” – Philippians 3:20 Have you ever felt like a traveler passing through a foreign land? This world we have inhabited is undeniably beautiful, but as followers of Christ, we are reminded that this world is not our ultimate home. In Philippians 3:20, the apostle Paul tells us that our ci...  Read More

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:19-21 When you hear the phrase “the good life,” what comes...  Read More

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” – Psalm 121:1-2 In a world filled with uncertainties and trials, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and ask, “Where does my help come from?” We may look to various sources for assistance, but the psalmist reminds us that our ultimate help comes from the Lord, t...  Read More

Those who exalt themselves will be humbled. Discover why humility is the safest place to stand before God.  Read More

Some paths look right but lead to ruin. Learn why striving in our own strength isn't the answer — grace is.  Read More

God's ways rarely match our plans — and that's good news. Learn to trust Him when He works in unexpected ways.  Read More

Paul went from persecutor to apostle by God's will alone. Discover the God who changes lives completely.  Read More

Earthly treasure rusts and fades. Discover the lasting riches we have in Christ that no thief can touch.  Read More

What does God actually want from us? His ways are higher than ours — and better than we could imagine.  Read More

Generosity becomes second nature in the kingdom. Discover the new normal of an open-handed life.  Read More