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True disciples, that is, followers of Christ, will want to follow him. But it’s not  merely an issue of do’s and don’ts.. it’s a matter of the heart and who is Lord and Master of your heart.

When we choose to live as Christ lived, it will give us great joy, peace and happiness to love as he loved and serve as he served. Jesus’s sermon on the Mount is more than a list of rules or laws, but the inner qualities and characteristics of those who choose to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him.

The beatitudes represent the mind of Christ and the way he lived and modeled for people who choose to follow Him. This will be their attitude as he cultivates His life in them; as He lives in and through them, filled with and walking in the Spirit.

As we choose to follow Him in this way, we become the salt of the earth and light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16) reflecting his life and light, as he transforms us by the renewing of our minds.  This is how his love spreads from person to person. This is the fulfillment of the great commandment, to live God with all of our being, and our neighbors as ourselves.

Matthew 5:1-12 NKJV
[1] And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. [2] Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: [3] “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [4] Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. [5] Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. [6] Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. [7] Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. [8] Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. [9] Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. [10] Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [11] “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. [12] Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.5.1-12.NKJV

We delight to do God’s commandments. It means that, when we read God’s word, including His commandments, the inclination to do them is engraved or inscribed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. The living power of His word is activated as we are filled with the Spirit and walking in Him and in His will and purpose for our lives. Our conscience is awakened to His presence and guided by His influence; by His mighty hand and His still small voice.

God’s word, when written on our hearts, like an inner light, illuminates the path  before us. His word is a lamp to our feet and a light upon our path. This is the path of righteousness. His word, written on our hearts, gives us the wisdom to faithfully obey His commands, his truths, His precepts and instructions. All of this is provided by the Living God, to help, comfort, teach and counsel those who seek Him and His kingdom and righteousness.


‭2 Corinthians 3:2-3 NLT‬
[2] The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. [3] Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.


https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.3.2-3.NLT

‭Jeremiah 31:31-33 NLT‬
[31] “The day is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. [32] This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the Lord. [33] “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 

https://bible.com/bible/116/jer.31.31-33.NLT

‭Hebrews 8:6-13 NLT‬
[6] But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises. [7] If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it. [8] But when God found fault with the people, he said: “The day is coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. [9] This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt. They did not remain faithful to my covenant, so I turned my back on them, says the Lord. [10] But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. [11] And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already. [12] And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” [13] When God speaks of a “new” covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear.

https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.8.6-13.NLT

In spiritual contexts, “guilt, shame, and fear” are often described as “weapons of the enemy” because they are powerful emotions that can be used to manipulate and control us, causing us to feel isolated, unworthy, and unable to approach God or others for help, effectively hindering our spiritual growth and wellbeing; essentially, the “enemy” (often representing negative forces or the devil) uses these emotions to create a sense of separation and distance from positive influences.


How to combat these “weapons”:
Confession and repentance:
Acknowledging one’s mistakes and seeking forgiveness from God and others can help to alleviate guilt and shame.

Scripture study:
Reading and meditating on Bible verses that speak to God’s love and forgiveness can provide reassurance and counter negative thoughts.

Community support:
Sharing struggles with trusted friends or spiritual leaders can provide encouragement and a sense of belonging.

Developing a healthy self-image:
Recognizing one’s inherent worth and value as a child of God can combat the lies of shame and self-deprecation.

Isaiah 54:17 NKJV
[17] No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.

https://bible.com/bible/114/isa.54.17.NKJV

Psalm 65:2 ESV
[2] O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come.

https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.65.2.ESV

Romans 14:11 NKJV
[11] For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.”

https://bible.com/bible/114/rom.14.11.NKJV

Philippians 2:10-11 NKJV
[10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, [11] and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

https://bible.com/bible/114/php.2.10-11.NKJV

Isaiah 66:23 NKJV
[23] And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the Lord.

https://bible.com/bible/114/isa.66.23.NKJV

Psalm 86:9 ESV
[9]  All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.

https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.86.9.ESV

At some point in every person’s life, they will come to that place within where they question their existence and purpose; the meaning of it all.

Why am I here? How did I get here? Is there more to life than what I see on the surface?

On the inside, in our hearts, there is this instinctive sense of something deeper; a connection with God our Creator. Some people come to this inner awareness and knowledge of God’s presence early in life, while for others, it may take longer. But eventually, as life proceeds, everyone is plagued with these life probing questions and a deeper sense of curiosity. The great mysteries of life and faith pique our interest and become attainable as we seek to know God personally and more intimately, and to follow Him and learn of His plan for our lives.

Many of us come to Him following traumatic life events and experiences; when great trials, tribulations, and turbulent times turn our lives upside down.

Many times we will turn to others for comfort, guidance and support. It is in such times, as we come along side of people who are going through painful and trying times that they are more open, receptive and vulnerable to God on the inside, and the light of God that exists in every one of us is brightened and we become more aware of His love, grace and mercy, and His abiding and guiding presence.

At some point in life, every knee will bow at His presence as we are  brought to the end of ourselves, to that place where we’ve run out of answers and life seems like a far off mystery, where life seems to be getting the best of us, and our energy is greatly diminished.  

In the midst of our darkness, His light comes shining through, and our soul becomes illuminated, and we see Him where He is, was and always will be. He never leaves nor forsakes us. He is always just a prayer away.

No matter how far and deeply you may feel you have fallen from Him, remember that place of humility and surrender, where your own knee will bow, to the glory of God in heaven, who lives and reigns within the heart of those who are bowed to Him.

So give Him your anger and bitterness, your anxieties and frustration, your pain and everything that is attempting to rob you of inner peace and joy and happiness. The only place to do this is in that place where every knee will bow!

Romans 5:8 NKJV
[8] But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

https://bible.com/bible/114/rom.5.8.NKJV

IN CONTEXT

Romans 5:6-11 NKJV
[6] For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. [7] For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. [8] But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [9] Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. [10] 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. [11] And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

https://bible.com/bible/114/rom.5.6-11.NKJV

John 3:16 NLT
[16]  “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.3.16.NLT

John 15:13 NLT
[13] There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.15.13.NLT

Romans 8:38-39 NIV
[38] For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, [39] neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

https://bible.com/bible/111/rom.8.38-39.NIV

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us…

Psalms 32:1-5 NLT
[1] Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! [2] Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! [3] When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. [4] Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Interlude [5] Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude

https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.32.1-5.NLT

David often prayed in the Psalms for his sins and transgressions. He took great comfort in knowing that our God is a loving and forgiving God, ready and able to forgive those who turn to Him in repentance and believe on His matchless and glorious Name.

When we repent and believe, humbling ourselves before Him, He ministers to us, His children, as a loving and devoted father would for his own biological children, but much more so. 

When we repent and believe in the Gospel, His great love sweeps through our soul, our inner being, and exposes the darkness of our sinful hearts that hides behind guilt, shame and fear. His love and His light exposes our darkness, and the truth of God’s word sets us free as we confess our sins, pleading on the blood of Jesus Christ. When we become aware of how great and effective His great love is in forgiving and redeeming us, we are humbled and draw near to Him as He draws near to us, and we see how poor and naked we are before a holy and righteous God.

We will see ourselves as the sinners we are before God. We will no longer blame others or hide behind our guilt, shame and fear. Because, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. There isn’t anything we can do, in and of ourselves, to pay for our sin debt. The truth of the matter is, we don’t have to keep trying to please God by trying to do better, to be on our best behavior; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

From Adam’s fall in the garden of Eden, until the day our Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross at Calvary, as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, the state of fallen man was awaiting the day when the fullness of the time had come, and God sent forth His only begotten Son, born of a woman, born under the law, so that He might redeem those who are born under the law.(Galatians 4:4&5)

Jesus Parable of Ten Bridesmaids

Matthew 25:1-13 NLT
[1]  “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. [2] Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. [3] The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, [4] but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. [5] When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. [6]  “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ [7]  “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. [8] Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ [9]  “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ [10]  “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. [11] Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ [12]  “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ [13]  “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.25.1-13.NLT

Keeping oil in our lamps means being filled with the Spirit. The presence of the Holy Spirit testifies that you belong to Him. The Holy Spirit is the promise to those who believe in His name; who repent and believe in the Gospel, the good news.

The parable of ten virgins. Five were foolish and weren’t paying attention. They were preoccupied with this world and its ways. They were busy partying and living the good life. They weren’t prepared or paying attention to the bridegroom. He wasn’t their first priority. So often we think we have forever, and the thought of Christ returning doesn’t seem to have a major effect on how we live our lives.

Having our lamps filled with oil, with our flasks filled as well, means we’re ready and waiting, because he could return at any moment. No person knows the day or the hour. But when he does return, how will he find those who belong to Him? By the state of their “lamp.”

You are the light of the world, sitting on a lampstand for all to see. Others won’t see a lamp that is slowly fading. Lamps fade unless they are properly trimmed and there is a constant supply of oil to fuel them. Don’t let your flame flicker, fade, or burn out. God will supply the oil we need, as we continue to make him our first and foremost priority over everything else. (Matthew 6:33)

The five wise virgins were prepared. Their lamps have plenty of oil to last them until the bridegroom returns. Are they being greedy and selfish by refusing to share their resources? No they’re not. We all must be prepared for the bridegroom’s return. Others can’t save us, we must have our own oil; our own filling of the Holy Spirit. God has provided all of heaven’s resources for us to remain in Him and He in us. We cannot ride into his kingdom on the coattails of others. We must have our own garment and our own lamp filled with oil.

Matthew 7:22-23 NLT
[22] On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ [23] But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.7.22-23.NLT

Psalms 5:4-5 NLT
[4] O God, you take no pleasure in wickedness; you cannot tolerate the sins of the wicked. [5] Therefore, the proud may not stand in your presence, for you hate all who do evil.

https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.5.4-5.NLT

Our first “works” is to remain in His word, to be filled with the Spirit. Then we’ll be properly prepared to do every good deed. Doing good deeds alone, without His Holy Spirit guiding us is merely works without faith. Faith and works must be simultaneous. Faith without works is a dead faith. Works alone without faith is the equivalent of serving religion. Many people go to church, donate their time, money and resources, but so often it’s for the recognition or the personal benefits of being benevolent and philanthropic.

Those who have a Kingdom mentality, who serve God and others through their good works, do it because of their faith, love and obedience to God, in response to His grace and mercy, and His great love for them. Those who have experienced His love firsthand will respond by seeking His Kingdom and His righteousness first and foremost.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 NLT
[3] We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. [4] We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. [5] We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. [6] And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.

https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.10.3-6.NLT

Our battle is not with our flesh, but with every thought that enters our heart in an effort to take up space in our minds and attempting to control our actions, making us do whatever the flesh and human nature want. The flesh wants what it wants, but I’m no longer a slave to my flesh with its lusts and desires, because I’m filled with and walking in the spirit. If I belong to Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me through the Holy Spirit. He loves me and gave His life for me. Now my fitting response is to offer myself; heart, mind, soul and strength, to Him as a living sacrifice. Daily denying myself, taking up my cross and following Him.

Taking every thought captive; bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. My sinful thoughts need not control me. In Christ, it’s the other way around. Walking in the Spirit, I have the authority to tell my thoughts what to do. When a thought  comes my way, in an effort to give birth to temptation, and eventually sin, I don’t have to obey it. Wisdom, discernment and discipline are God given gifts. I will know the truth and reality of what comes next. His light in me allows me to see the dark corners in my soul, and to expose and extinguish those fiery darts aimed at my soul. The enemy’s efforts to take me down from the inside is where it starts. Before the actions of sin are completed, the thoughts were conceived and gave birth. We often don’t even think much in our sinful nature. We just act on impulse. But with the living power of God’s word within us, we come to know the truth that sets us free from the wiles of the enemy, Satan, the master of deception and trickery.

When we walk in the Spirit, we are able to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ within us. He gives us a spirit of wisdom, of understanding and knowledge, to know and obey His word, the scriptures, as Christ, the living and eternal Word of God lives in and through us, and we yield daily to His abiding presence.

The shield of faith is our weapon against the fiery darts of the enemy, along with the full armor of God, with which we are able to stand firm. Walk in the Spirit and you will not carry out the lusts of your flesh. (Galatians 5:16-18) This way you can truly live your life as a living sacrifice to God, honoring Him who loves you and gave His life for you .

You didn’t choose to be born imperfect, or even to be conceived or born at all. You are the product of someone else’s choice, a mom and dad, and the will of God. (Psalms 139)  But now you do have a choice, freewill, to repent and believe in the good news, or not. But God ultimately wins and has won, once for all time!

Choosing to love and worship God is a hard choice because we can’t see him. However, we can see His love through other people, as well as through the heavens (Psalms 19) and through the works of His hands.

Adam is the only man created without sin, except for Jesus Christ. We know the story in Genesis ch.3 regarding creation and the fall of man and the fall out from there. One of the most frequently asked questions about all of this is:

Did God intend for that to happen from the beginning or was it simply a matter of freewill and the propensity of man to rebel against God and commit sin?

Was it intentional on God’s part? Was this some sort of test of the prototype of mankind?

The answers to these deep probing questions have never been answered by religion or by any particular man, except for in Jesus Christ the second Adam (Romans 5). In Christ we have redemption and reconciliation.

I suspect that you may have heard all of this, but still question, or perhaps misunderstand God’s motives and purpose in allowing things to go the way they did in the garden of Eden, with that slippery serpent filled with deception and trickery and the fall of man, and the first promise and prophecy of redemption, grace and forgiveness in Genesis ch 3.

Repent and believe in the good news, aka the Gospel. Is it a blind faith? Or is it a deeper, heart probing issue between God and man, on a personal, one on one, Mano e Mano level?

One thing we can know and start with is the written word of God as recorded in the Bible, the holy scriptures, inspired by God, written by men as God has appointed.

The end of the matter, for me anyway, is just that; God’s word, through which we come to know the true, eternal Word of God, who took on flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:1-14). True faith is not a blind faith, but the inner willingness to believe in a God we cannot see with our eyes, but like so many people in the Bible, we’ve experienced His grace, mercy and blessings on the inside of our hearts, at the core of our being.

The deep, probing questions that many of us ask are answered in Christ. But there are still great mysteries that remain .

One of my favorite verses in the Bible sums it up:

Deuteronomy 29:29 NLT
[29] “The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.

https://bible.com/bible/116/deu.29.29.NLT