Facebook Cover - Galatians 5:22-23

To download image:

1. Click on the image to enlarge.

2. Then right-click on the image.

3. Choose Save Image As.

Prince Died but the King Lives

My Facebook feed was crammed with news about Prince's death. I was sad that he had died because I had listened to his music as a teen in the 80s. He was an outrageous performer and a gifted musician and entertainer. His music brings back wistful rose-colored memories of high school and good times with friends. But that was a lifetime ago, and by God's grace I am not the same person that I was in high school.

Some years ago, I'd heard that Prince had become a Jehovah's Witness. An article in People magazine, "Purple Faith: Prince's Life as a Jehovah's Witness ", discusses Prince and his faith. The fact that he was a Jehovah's Witness makes me doubly sad. Jehovah's Witnesses have aberrant beliefs about Jesus and the plan of salvation; they preach another gospel, which is no gospel at all. Sadly, their message does not save.

     Further reading from GotQuestions.org, "Who are the Jehovah's Witnesses and what are their beliefs?"

Friends, Prince was only 57 years old when he died. None of us has a guarantee that we will die of old age. None of us knows the day or the hour when we will leave this earth and face our Creator, our Lord, our King, our God. So why wait? Don't delay. Get to know the real Jesus, who was fully God and fully man, who paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross. Jesus, who rose victoriously from the grave three days later. Jesus, our Savior and our King. Get to know the real Jesus today. Today is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2)

     Further reading from GotQuestions.org, "What is the gospel?"

Psalm 27:1

God Doesn't Need to Prove Anything

"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." - Romans 3:23

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:23

I see so many things on Facebook. Some of it is good, some of it is not, and then there are things like this:

I don't want to take issue with Compassion International; neither is my intent to slam Shaun Groves who is a Christian musician. But I do want to take issue with one-liners that seem to express a Biblical truth. I want to encourage others and remind myself that all things must be tested against Scripture. Christians must be diligent and accurate in expressing the "mission of God", which is the Gospel, by the way. We need to think before we speak. We need to be diligent about presenting the whole Gospel, not just spout one-liners to grab attention. The world does need to know about God; the people of the world also need to know a few things about themselves.

First, God doesn't need to prove anything. Second, although God is good and He can be trusted, He is also holy and righteous. God demonstrates that He is God and we are not, He is holy and we are not, and that He should be obeyed and loved and trusted by us. However, because of our sinful nature we do not obey Him let alone love Him or trust Him. Third, the mission of God was to destroy the devil's work of introducing sin into the world. (1 John 3:8) My friends, the Good News is that God did destroy the devil's work and this was accomplished through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and his victorious resurrection.

If there is anything that needs to be proven it is this: We are sinners. We have rebelled and turned away from our holy, loving, righteous, and good God who is our creator. Because of our rebellion, we deserve God's wrath and eternal damnation. BUT, because God is good, and just, and kind, and gracious, and loving, and merciful, He has provided a way for us to escape our well-deserved punishment:

"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished - he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." - Romans 3:23-26

This is what needs to be preached to the world: We are sinners who deserve God's wrath. But because of God's great love for us (John 3:16), we can trust that God has given us a gift that we could never earn and certainly don't deserve - God sent His son, Jesus, who paid the full price for our sins by dying on the cross, and that he rose again on the third day. We can trust that our Savior lives and that we will one day be with him in paradise. The reverse however, is also true. We can trust that God will do what He says to those who reject Jesus, which is send them to their deserved eternal damnation. Friends, don't settle for one-liners. Be diligent. Preach the gospel. With words. Because the world so desperately needs to hear the Good News.

Facebook Cover - Romans 10:17

Or as the King James says: "So then, faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." We need to preach the gospel - with words - so that others can hear it.

To download image:

1. Click on the image to enlarge.

2. Then right-click on the image.

3. Choose Save Image As.

Facebook Cover - John 17:3

A friend of mine asked for prayers for an older, unbelieving family member who is nearing the end of life. Each of us should be praying daily for our unbelieving family members and friends. Pray that they come to know God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent. Pray for opportunities to share the gospel; if we have already shared the gospel with them, then pray that God continues to water that seed that's been planted.

To download image:

1. Click on the image to enlarge.

2. Then right-click on the image.

3. Choose Save Image As.

Facebook Cover - Philippians 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord always!

To download image:

1. Click on the image to enlarge.

2. Then right-click on the image.

3. Choose Save Image As.

Facebook Cover - Colossians 1:13-14

If you are in Christ then you have been rescued, redeemed, and forgiven.

To download image:

1. Click on the image to enlarge.

2. Then right-click on the image.

3. Choose Save Image As.

Facebook Cover - Galatians 2:21

We are completely dependent upon the grace of God. We cannot work for nor earn our salvation; if we could earn our salvation, then Christ's sacrificial death on the cross was all in vain. If you are trusting in yourself and not Jesus, you are still dead in your sins. Trust in Jesus today.

To download image:

1. Click on the image to enlarge.

2. Then right-click on the image.

3. Choose Save Image As.