Category: Forgiveness

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What’s The Commotion?

For April 13, 2025
It was Sunday when travelers from all over the world gathered in Jerusalem to commemorate the Passover, the mighty act of God when He delivered His people from Egyptian bondage. The city was filled with crowds, as this was one of the three appointed times when every Jewish man was required to come before the Lord “in a place which the Lord shall choose.”

Then, it happened. A ripple of commotion spread through the city, growing louder by the second. What began as a distant murmur soon became a chant that echoed through the streets: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the Highest!”

It was unmistakable—royalty had come to town! In our day, royalty ride in limousines with their insignias proudly displayed. But two thousand years ago, conquering kings rode horses to show their power and authority over their subjects. But Jesus—our King—chose a different path. In a profound display of humility, He rode on a colt, the foal of a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9 (NIV),

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.

In His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, Jesus chose the path of peace, as the “Prince of Peace” as foretold in Isaiah 9:6. The crowds laid down their garments and palm branches before Him, while others waved their palm branches and shouted in celebration.

Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, had arrived. And “the whole world has gone after Him!” (John 12:19)

It’s beyond comprehension that the eternal, holy God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, chose to take on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. What’s even more remarkable is that, though He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, He chose to enter Jerusalem in the humblest way possible. He could have arrived in royal procession, commanding the respect due to His glory. But He did not.

Why did Jesus, the King of Glory decide to take such a humble approach? Perhaps we can find the answer in His own words in Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV),

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Jesus didn’t come to rule as a worldly monarch. He came to reconcile us to God by offering us salvation through His sacrifice at Calvary. His entry into Jerusalem wasn’t just celebrity fanfare. It was the beginning of the most important week in history—the redemption of the human race!

Truly, He was our Conquering King who presented Himself as the Humble Servant, offering Himself for our sins. The King of Kings would humble Himself to death on a cross, enduring insults, mockery, and humiliation all because He loves us more than we could ever know.

So, what’s the commotion? The King is coming—not just to Jerusalem, but to our hearts today. And He is still accessible through faith, repentance, and surrender. Jesus is calling. Won’t you come to Him and experience rest for your weary soul, and know the life-changing power found only in Him?

What a Wonderful Savior!

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Truly a New Year!

For January 1, 2025
Around the world, people gather each New Year to celebrate with dazzling fireworks, breathtaking light shows, and joyful festivities. From the iconic Times Square Ball drop in New York to the stunning displays at Sydney’s Harbour Bridge and the shores of Copacabana Beach in Rio, these celebrations capture our universal longing for hope and new beginnings.

But what if the renewal we long for goes deeper than resolutions and celebrations? What if the true promise of the New Year lies not in turning the page of a calendar, but in experiencing the life-changing power of spiritual rebirth through Jesus Christ?

Every New Year reminds us of how we mark time itself: the years are numbered since the birth of Jesus Christ, the most important person in human history.

His birth was so significant it became the dividing line of history, ushering in what we call Anno Domini or “the Year of our Lord.” Although scholars place Jesus’ actual birth around 4 B.C., today we commemorate 2,025 years since His coming into the world.

His advent isn’t just a historical footnote; it’s a moment for reflection. Jesus didn’t come merely to split history into before and after. He came to transform sin-broken, human lives, by offering us a fresh start that only He can provide, as He promises in John 3:3 (NLT):

I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.

What does it mean to be born again? It’s not just a metaphor. It’s a complete spiritual transformation. Through Christ, we become new persons—literally. Because He takes away our sin, and gives us a new, holy beginning, as 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) declares:

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun.

While many approach the New Year by setting resolutions; seeking wealth, fame, or success; Jesus offers us something far greater: eternal life, hope, peace, and a relationship with God that satisfies the deepest longings of our hearts. Because external success will never fully satisfy us; only Jesus Christ can transform us from the inside out and give us the joy, purpose, and fulfillment God created us to experience.

This is the heart of the Gospel message: God’s love for us. In John 3:16-17 (NLT), Jesus declares:

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. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

This incredible gift of salvation is freely offered to you today. When you hear the Gospel and understand that God loves you and longs for a relationship with you, everything changes.

By turning from sin and turning to Christ by faith as your Lord and Savior, you can receive the new and abundant life He promises. Moreover, His Spirit will live in you, preserving, guiding, and empowering you to live the life He created you to live … one day at a time closer to His glorious return!

This new life doesn’t guarantee wealth or fame, but it brings something far greater: a complete renewal of the heart. When Jesus transforms you, the old life, with all its guilt, shame, and brokenness, is replaced by a new life filled with peace, joy, and purpose.

It’s a transformation the world cannot offer but that God promises to everyone who believes in Him.

As we embark on this New Year 2025, I pray that you will know the love of God and the new life found in Christ. Won’t you trust Him today and let this mark the start of your new life? The new beginning you’ve been searching for is found in Jesus.

What a Wonderful Savior!

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Remembering Jesus on His Birthday

For December 25, 2024
As social creatures, nearness to our loved ones is a dominant human characteristic we express particularly around the holidays. Over the Thanksgiving Holiday last year, the Transportation Security Administration reported over 2.9 million travelers screened on November 26, 2023, which was the busiest day of the year in the US, to illustrate this longing.1

In the same way we yearn to be with our loved ones, God also desires to have a personal relationship with each of us. Immediately after Creation, God demonstrated His longing for our companionship by walking with Adam and Eve in the tranquil Garden of Eden.

Although sin broke our bond with God, His love for us has remained unchanged. However, it extended beyond mere emotional feelings as He actively sought to restore our vital connection and recover a lost humanity personally.

Our Holy God, in an act of unimaginable grace, bridged the vastness of a  universe so enormous as NASA describes,

Based on the deepest images obtained so far, it’s one of about 2 trillion galaxies in the observable universe. Groups of them are bound into clusters of galaxies, and these into superclusters; the superclusters are arranged in immense sheets stretching across the universe, interspersed with dark voids and lending the whole a kind of spiderweb structure. Our galaxy probably contains 100 to 400 billion stars, and is about 100,000 light-years across.2

Yet He set His heart on reaching you and me, by entering our world as a human being. The Gospel of Luke records this magnificent event in Luke 2:8-14 (NKJV):

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’

Beneath a wide expanse of stars, the love of God came to a serene Bethlehem stable. Imagine those shepherds, men working in the fields, unaccustomed to visions and miracles, watching the night sky as the heavens open above them, with angels proclaiming the birth of our Savior. Their world was changed forever that night, just as yours can be as well.

There lay Jesus, God in human flesh, on a bed of straw, offered as a precious gift for every one of us.

You’ve Been Invited to New Life
Beyond a mere historical event, Jesus birth symbolized the start of a new era that invites all of humanity to come to God. Before Christ, access to God’s promises was attained through rituals, laws, prophets, and priests.

Now, through faith in Christ, God’s love and forgiveness are accessible to everyone, regardless of their past.

Choosing the Lord Jesus as our Savior opens the door to a life of purpose, hope. Yet it also restores our personal, direct relationship with our loving God; a connection that transforms our lives in profound ways, unlike anything else we could ever experience in this world, as Revelation 3:20 (NKJV) declares:

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

Come and experience God’s forgiveness, peace, and the joy that derives from  His presence. Philippians 2:5-11 (NKJV) describes what the Lord did for us:

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 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, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

A Personal Choice with Eternal Implications
There will be a day when all knees will bow and all tongues will confess Jesus Christ as Lord. The choice we make out of love rather than compulsion makes a tremendous difference.

By accepting Jesus as our Savior, we begin a heart-changing relationship with God that fills us with His love, hope, and peace. Each day there is a reason to live because we have the the assurance of eternal life with Him.

This Christmas, don’t just honor the story, welcome the opportunity. Welcome the Savior, who was born to save you and me, who walked on this earth and gave His life for us, and who is now eager to bring us into a close connection with God forever.

Open your heart and let this season be a time to discover the love,  peace, and joy that can only come from knowing the true meaning of Christmas: Jesus Christ. Won’t you welcome Him into your life today and make this Christmas a celebration of new beginnings and everlasting hope?

Happy Birthday Jesus.

What a Wonderful Savior!

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Much to be Thankful For

For November 28, 2024
Thanksgiving is a time when we can reflect on all the things we’re grateful for. This includes the right to practice our faith freely and openly, the right to speak our minds without fear of retribution, and the ability to gather with friends and loved ones for Thanksgiving.

There are those who might assert a claim to these comforts and freedoms as a matter of entitlement. However, no individual can claim entitlement to it. We should be incredibly grateful for these privileges and want to express our sincere appreciation to God for them.

We should never discredit God’s goodness, but with gratitude, acknowledge His precious gifts of love and compassion given to us each day without fail. Our gratitude and reverence should mirror those of the man in Luke 17:11-17 (NIV), who expressed a profound appreciation for the Lord’s miraculous intervention.

While on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus encountered ten lepers who desperately needed healing for their severe skin disease, a condition that brought both physical pain and social isolation.

There’s no mention in Scripture of the length of their separation from their families or the extent of their loneliness. But it does record how as Jesus came closer, they yelled out together in desperation, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

Jesus looked at intently and told them to go and present themselves to the priests. They followed obediently, and as they walked, their skin cleared miraculously; their bodies healed, and the pain of their affliction was lifted miraculously.

One out of the ten, upon realizing he was cured, and filled with joy and thankfulness, turned back. Running to Jesus, he fell at His feet, and thanked the Lord with his whole heart. Ironically, this man was a Samaritan, a despised foreigner to the Jews—yet he alone returned.

Jesus looked at him with compassion and asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then He said to him, “Rise and go. Your faith has made you well.”

The man underwent a complete internal and external transformation. His faith in Christ created a new spiritual connection with God, allowing him to experience the depth of God’s grace, kindness, and mercy in ways he’d never experienced before.

Nevertheless, his physical recovery led to the reconciliation of his family and community ties. Though his physical recovery was remarkable, his return to everyday life was something beyond his greatest expectations.

Even today, our extraordinary God continues to shower us with love and care by recognizing each one of us as unique individuals yearning for his  personal touch. Yet, like the nine lepers who were healed and didn’t acknowledge their Healer, we often take for granted our Caregiver and the blessings He gives us daily.

Here, we downplay the importance of maintaining fellowship with God through prayer, reading the Word, regular church attendance, sharing our faith, and Christian service. Not just the clergy are called to formal service. We all are called to “occupy until He comes” (Luke 19:13) as we anticipate the glorious return of is Son who will give us “a crown of righteousness.” as Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 4:8 (NIV).

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but  to all who have longed for his appearing.

God made it possible for us to receive the gift of everlasting life. By repenting of our sin and placing our faith in Jesus Christ a Savior and Lord, we invite God’s grace and peace into our lives forever.

So as we celebrate this day of Thanksgiving, let us be inspired by the Samaritan leper who returned to the Lord, expressing praise and gratitude to the One True God, the source of blessings that are far more than we deserve. Could today be the day you decide to give Him your heart?

What a Wonderful Savior!

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For March 31, 2024
Calling Jesus Christ a mere teacher or miracle worker significantly undermines His true nature. While on earth, He went beyond being a kind person who dedicated Himself to improving the human condition by feeding the hungry, healing the sick, raising the dead, and restoring hope to the hopeless.

Seven-hundred years before His birth, the Prophet Isaiah predicted we would acknowledge Jesus Christ as “Immanuel,” meaning God with us. (Isaiah 7:14) The resurrection of Jesus Christ is what sets Him apart from any other historical figure while also making the Easter Celebration distinctive.

Almost two-thousand years ago, the Roman government executed Jesus and guarded His tomb with armed soldiers. Today, we have ample records of His death and burial, yet the only plausible explanation for the absence of His body is the resurrection.

The empty tomb is that silent testimony to the resurrection of Christ, which has never been refuted. The Romans and Jews could not produce Christ’s body or explain where it went, but nonetheless, they refused to believe. Not because of the insufficiency of evidence but in spite of its sufficiency do men still reject the resurrection.[1]

Unlike anyone else in history, Jesus not only predicted his death but also predicted His rising from the grave as well.

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep … No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. John 10:11, 18 (NLT)

His resurrection wasn’t simply resuscitation to His earthly existence, similar to those whom He brought back to life; as He would have eventually died of old age Himself. On the contrary, His resurrection serves as evidence that God accepted His perfect sacrifice for our benefit.

As a result, He became the “first fruits” of all those who have faith in Him for their eternal destiny, including us. (1 Corinthians 15:20-23) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and we have everything to gain in Him as our hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27, Hebrews 13:8)

Amen and Hallelujah!

Moreover, because of His impeccable ministry and teachings, He is our Divine Prophet, (Deuteronomy 18:15 ff.), molding our moral and spiritual course even today. Furthermore, He reigns as the “Prince of the Kings of the Earth,” (Revelation 1:5), through His Holy Spirit and His written Word, the Bible.

Apart from these wonderful attributes, He is our Great High Priest, through whom we receive forgiveness for our sins and peace with God.

But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come … Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:11-12. (NKJV)

Jesus’ perfect sacrifice covers our sin as the Lamb of God (John 1:29), who is fully capable to save “to the uttermost” all who come to God by Him, seeing He lives forever to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25).

Only through Jesus Christ can we find righteousness and reconciliation with a holy God. By repentance and faith in Him, we receive instant forgiveness and restored fellowship with God.

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. John 1:12-13 (NIV)

Through the shedding of Jesus Christ’s blood at Calvary, we now have the privilege of approaching God boldly and can confidently expect His approval as He substitutes our imperfect life with Jesus’ sinless one. Now when God looks at us, He sees no trace of sin and condemnation. Instead, He sees the pure heart and clean hands of Jesus Christ, and that we are suitable for His eternal fellowship.

We are finally free from the overwhelming weight of sin, guilt, and shame. His Word and Spirit remind us that we can let go of our sinful past and live an abundant life as new creations, forgiven by God and covered by His blood. (John 10:10, 2 Corinthians 5:17)

It’s like being brought before Jesus, like that woman in John 8:1-11. Despite our condemnation, we stand alone in the presence of our Savior and Redeemer, who asks, “Where are your accusers?” “They are gone, Lord,” we reply. “Neither do I,” Jesus tells us, “Go and sin no more!”

Our Dear Friend is our Constant Companion, never leaving us even in our darkest hours. No matter the circumstances we face, whether positive or negative, He is always present to support us. He will wipe away our tears and defend us in our struggles, filling our hearts with His joy and peace. He supplies us with all the resources, both spiritual and material; to live a life that pleases Him.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Our enduring Christian faith lies in our Resurrected Lord as we look forward to a magnificent eternal life beyond this earthly existence. Won’t you give your life to Christ today and forever enjoy His blessed life?

What a Wonderful Savior!

[1]Josh McDowell, “The Resurrection – Hoax or History,” Evidence that Demands a Verdict: Historical Evidences for the Christian Faith, rev. ed., vol. I, (San Bernardino: Here’s Life Publishers, Inc., 1979) 226.

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