There are a number of people, including this writer {once upon a time}, who feel like we are unworthy of His love. But that is what makes His love so amazing, so refreshing, so contagious!

1. God is LOVE! (1 John 4:8; 3:1-3) – “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”

(1 John 4:20) “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”

Remember, real LOVE for the God of the Bible is going to SHOW (John 15:13).
In addition, it will GROW (2 Cor. 5:14).

Speaking to those in the Church of Corinth as well as to us today, Paul writes: “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese

Through the mighty cross of Jesus Christ, our old self can be rendered inoperative. Because of the substitutionary death of a perfect sacrifice—namely Jesus—our sins are forgiven as we trust Him. Besides that, His blood alone has redeeming, cleansing, and purifying power for every believer. Plus, the great EXCHANGE between our death to self and His resurrected life produces a life that brings forth spiritual fruit.

The believer’s biggest dilemma is how to “get out of the way” and let the Holy Spirit “get in the way”! Do you have the same difficulty that most do? However, once the big “I” goes to the cross, the big “S”—Spirit—can fill.

By the way, being Spirit-filled is ongoing, meaning it is not a once-and-for-all thing. The text suggests—go on being filled.

While we read the Word, it reads us! The Holy Spirit turns on the RED light to stop, the GREEN light to go, and the YELLOW light to slow.

4. The Christian life is an ENLARGED life! (James 4:2; Matt. 7:7-8; Eph. 3:20) – “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”

Through the vehicle called Prayer, a Christian can discover God’s will.

Remember:

• If the request is wrong, He says NO!
• If the timing is off, He says SLOW!
• But if both of those are right, He says GO!

Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese

Introduction: How would you complete this sentence? “For to me to live is ____”?

After being a persecutor of the Church and a self-righteous Pharisee, Saul—who later became Paul—discovered life’s most important Treasure: Jesus Christ!

Have you found that Pearl of great price, the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star, the One who was and is and is to come, the Firstborn of the dead, the Lover of our soul, the Creator of heaven and earth, the Rock of Ages, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, the King of Glory, the Chief Cornerstone, the Light of the world, the Word of God, and finally, the One who will come again as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords?!!

By the way, what did he mean when he said, “To die is gain”?

How would many people finish this sentence?

“For to me to live is ____ to make money? To be happy? To have a bigger house? A fancier car? To have another spouse? To fix my children or grandchildren? To get a better job? To not be depressed or discouraged? To live my dreams? To have fun? To travel places? To not have to put up with others? To retire? To be forgiven? To have a better family?”

On and on…

Well, keep in mind, the man who was inspired to write this was incarcerated in Rome while waiting to die. Circumstances did not look good. No doubt, the words of Jesus concerning his suffering probably echoed in his heart.

After his conversion, he was instructed to go to a house where Ananias lived. As he arrived, Ananias questioned our Lord’s will for this persecutor of the Church named Paul. But here was God’s response:

“But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” (Acts 9:15-16)

Suffering is on God’s agenda. Jesus Christ suffered for us; actually, He was crucified for the payment of our sins! Peter wrote to clarify that believers and followers of Jesus will face the same (1 Pet. 2:21-24).

Think about this: Since Jesus Christ bought us with a costly price—His redeeming blood (1 Cor. 6:19-20)—does it not make sense that our life should focus on His will for us?

If we believe that, then we, along with Paul, can say with a clear conscience, “For to me to live is CHRIST!”

Gain what? How about gaining a better body? Truthfully, our bodies are wearing out! But the good news is one day we will have a brand-new body!

How wonderful will it be to have no more hurts, no pain, no sorrow, and no more death?

Besides that, according to the last chapters in the book of Revelation, we will have a brand-new home called the New Jerusalem. Won’t that be wonderful?!

Conclusion: So we can now honestly say, “For to me to live is CHRIST, and to die is gain.”

You know, that makes life worth the living!

Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese

What was God’s reasoning for bringing judgment and chastisement? The answer is found in their apostasy—politically, religiously, and nationally. When a nation depends upon and boasts of its wealth and intellectual achievements without giving God credit, know this: they are headed for a fall.

After all, it is the Almighty who gives man the ability to gain wealth, along with reason and understanding. The prophet Daniel confirms this truth: “Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.” (Daniel 2:20-21)

Furthermore, the Psalmist spoke about man’s riches: “And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.” (Psalm 73:11-12)

Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, reveals the danger of not giving God glory because of greed: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:6-10)

Conclusion: Eventually, the nation of Israel learned this lesson. After seventy years of captivity, they returned to their homeland. Yet, in the providence of God, they were overtaken once again in 70 A.D. by the Romans and scattered abroad. However, they returned as a nation on May 14, 1948.

Until this day, they are being blessed, but not without struggles. Futuristically, Israel will be overpowered by the Man of Sin—Antichrist—until Jesus Christ comes in His Second Coming, inaugurating His kingdom, and there shall be no end. Although blinded now, many will look upon their Messiah for their salvation.

The word “salvation” is σωτηρία (so-tay-ree’-ah), which means deliverance. Was Paul talking about deliverance from prison or this life into heaven? Most believe the latter—heaven. Perhaps he knew he would never be released from prison. But he also believed heaven was in the picture, as he makes mention of it in the following verses.

I love the meaning of the phrase “earnest expectation.” It is the word ἀποκαραδοκία, which means an earnest longing. At the same time, it pictures a person straining their neck with all their might to catch a glimpse of something that is ahead.

In other words, Paul was looking ahead to when he would stand before Jesus at the Judgment Seat. More specifically, that he would be ready. And God forbid that he should be ashamed.

Both his goal, as well as ours, should be that Jesus Christ is glorified in our life and death.

Check out the word “despise.” Do you know what it means? Here is the word: καταφρονέω. It means to dislike, or it can even have to do with scorning or looking down upon. The Lord is saying, do not let anyone look down upon you, Timothy, because of your age or experience. Conversely, he was urged to show others by his lifestyle. In other words, his “walk” and “talk” would be on display for others to see, which should point them to the GRACE of God, the LOVE of Jesus, and the POWER of the Holy Spirit.

What was meant by the phrase “attendance to reading”? In the context of this letter, the phrase ἀνάγνωσις meant recognition. It also had to do with public reading, more specifically the Law and the Prophets in the synagogue or church.

Next, what does “exhortation” mean? Technically, it means to comfort or encourage.

Conclusion: If we are going to use our influence for the glory of the Lord, then we must not only teach the right thing but also live the right life.

Introduction: As a Christian, do you need encouragement? Try reading this passage while letting its truth sink in! Take a moment out of your busyness to build up your spiritual batteries. If these verses do not recharge your heart, something is wrong.

Writing to the Church of Colossae under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, the deity of Jesus Christ was on the forefront. Why? Because of the misinformation—false teaching—which had infiltrated the Church. However, as a skilled soldier of the cross, the flaming missionary Paul, who was incarcerated at the time, totally debunks the false teaching.

The Bible teaches that every human is born with a sin nature (Rom 5:12). Yet, at the same time, a sinner who is born “dead in trespasses and sin” (Eph. 2:1-4), he or she can be “quickened together” with Jesus. By the way, the word “quickened” is συζωοποιέω, which literally means to make alive. That is, once regenerated or quickened by the Holy Spirit, an exchange takes place. He comes inside of the believer to bring life to the one who was spiritually dead.

What does the word “blotting out” indicate? The word is ἐξαλείφω, and it means to wipe out or to blot out. It can mean to erase or even to obliterate.

Do you get the picture? Through the cross of Christ, including His cleansing blood, the believer’s sins are wiped away, removed, forgotten, forgiven, released, blotted out. Think about it. All the sins that you have ever committed are erased in the eyes of the God of the Bible.

3. Once was dominated by satanic influences but now overcomers through Jesus Christ! (Col 2:15) – “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

The word “triumphing” is θριαμβεύω, which pictures One leading in triumphal procession. That One was Jesus Christ. Since He is victorious over the satanic influences, then we too can be overcomers in Him!

Conclusion: These threefold works of Jesus should both motivate us and cause us to evaluate the “gift” of knowing Him and letting Him be known. This is great news in a bad news world!