Yesterday evening, part of the lesson I heard dealt with the three "R's" of Scripture; they are:  remember, repent, and return.

Christians need to remember why Jesus came and what He did for all people - if they choose to follow Him. We need to remember that we go to church/worship to honor Him. And we should never expect other Christians to be "perfect" human beings and flawless.

Christians should recognize God for who He is. God has standards of how Christians should behave and live. Sadly, even the most dedicated faulter.  We need to be a people who repent.  Repenting is a turning toward God and away from our wrong deeds and/or poor lifestyle choices.

Those of us who have been backsliding from our relationship with other Christians, studying Scripture, and/or God Himself need to return.  How easy is it to say I'll just sleep in Sunday morning and find yourself eventually not going to church at all?  How easy is it for someone to hurt your feelings and then become too proud to "deal" with those people anymore?  How many of us have gone through traumatic experiences only to disown God for His, seemingly, lack of protection?  We need to return to Him and know that eternity is eternal and that this earthly life is just a vapor.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves

"Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews" (Nehemiah 4:1).

Have you ever been around those who were jeolous?  Jeolous, or angry people, who live a life of frustration, seek to frustrate others.  This reality is exactly what the Jews were facing when they were building walls of protection. 

"When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work" (Nehemiah 4:15).

It can be scary when unruly people attempt to demoralize and destroy the plans of others.  This behaviour is evident, even today, within societies all around the world.  Yet, when God is on your side and your plans are good and godly, know that God will be there to see His people through any ordeal.

"From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, who were building on the wall . . ." (Nehemiah 4:16-17a).

Seek God through Jesus.  Let God lead your life.  Be prepared for battle.  Keep you eye on your task and stand firm by being ready to defend yourself.  If God is on your side, and He is if you are living for Jesus, then He will take care to ensure His plan will be realized.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves

Mosab (Author of The Son of Hamas)

What an awesome opportunity for you to continue to grow in Christ. Our biggest example of sacrifice, Jesus, wasn’t excited about His death on the cross.

It was shameful to Him.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted” (Hebrews 12:1-3).

He wanted the suffering to pass.

“And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will’” Matthew 26:39).

I don’t have all the answers myself but God does. Continue to reach for the strength that is not your own.

“If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again” (2 Corinthians 1:6-10).

The Lord’s humbled . . . Who prays for you.
John A. Reeves

"Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.  Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.  And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also" (Acts 12:1-3).

The church that is referred to in this passage is the "people" who follow the teachings of the apostles of Christ (cf. John 17:20-21).  When the "church" lives as it should it truly is inspiring to see.  However, those who oppose the teachings of Christ find the "church" very adversarial and contentious.  Why?  Because they (people who oppose God) like not to be exposed by the light of Christ (cf. 1 John 1:5-10).

Thank God for James who stood his ground for Christ and was delivered a physical death blow.  Thank God for John who continued on in Christ even after the death of his brother.  Thank God for the "people" who solidified their faith in Christ and continued to spread the word of God even in the face of immediate persecution.  Thank God for Jesus, the Messiah, who promised grace to those who believed in Him through the apostle's word

May the Lord see you as a representation of Him.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves

"But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree.  And he asked that he might die, saying, 'It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.'  And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, 'Arise and eat.'  And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again.  And the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, 'Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you'" (1 Kings 19:4-7).

It's time to get some good food and proper sleep when you're tired and depressed.  It's all about seeing clearly whatever life situation you are in.  Food and rest help a person reenergize their body and reorganize their mind.

We live in a society that is constantly on the go.  We live in a world with a lot of stressors.  Please take the opportunity to relax and refress yourself so you can continue to face life's evil headon.

The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves 

"Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war" (Revelation 19:11).

I have been reading the book called "The Pacific".  It comes out this month on HBO as a miniseries.  It will be similar to the miniseries called "Band of Brothers".

"The Pacific" recalls actual events by certain people that experienced war with the Japanese during WWII.  War is horrible.  Their are visuals I'm sure every person would not like to have seen or been a part of.

Spiritual warfare is no-less different.  It has a distructive power that can affect a person's eternity.  That is much more impacting than a person's physical loss of life.  Christians are in a war of truth.  We need to know the message of Christ, believe the message of Christ, and live the message of Christ.  We need to be ready to speak against falsehood and remain in truth.

"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete" (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).