“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16; KJV).

We associate this scripture with Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, paying the penalty for our sins. But it is also important to remember that Jesus came to this earth born of a woman under the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35). He is not a distant deity that cannot identify with our earthly, fleshly, struggles. He surrendered his deity to become a man on earth with flesh and blood just like us (Heb 2:14). The word says he had to made like us so that he could minister to us in our earthly state (Heb 2:17). He was tempted in every way but without sin (Heb 2:18; Heb 4:15). To minister on this earth, he had to be filled with Holy Spirit, just like us (Luke 3:22).

Isn’t it encouraging that Jesus knows what we go though in our lives; He knows our struggles, God is quick to forgive (1 John 1:9) and is always there to help. He calls us to be holy, godly and perfect as God is perfect (1 Peter 1:16; 1 Tim 6:11; Matt 5:48). This may seem a tall order to keep. However, he gave us his word to guide and enable us and the power of the Holy Spirit to reveal his word to us and to achieve that perfection (John 14:26). He never left us alone, he is always with us and in us and nothing will ever separate us from his love (Rom 8:39). Remember, not even Paul the apostle claimed perfection (Phil 3:12); it is a process of growth that we will still be involved in to the day we depart this earth. Be encouraged today, we can do all things though Christ who strengthens us (Phil 4:13).

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“Ye doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Phil 3:8; KJV). Paul concluded that everything in his previous experience paled, seamed insignificant, in comparison to the wonder and glory of knowing Christ.

All of his previous ambitions and goals were laid aside willingly to focus on his Savior. Before he became a Christian, the apostle Paul was a Jewish Pharisee, trained under Gamaliel the famous Jewish leader and teacher (Acts 22:3). Paul even persecuted the early Christian church before he came to know Jesus as savior and Lord (Acts 22:4). Notice Paul was quite graphic in looking back at his old life referring to it as dung.

Paul’s life was made new and turned completely right side up by knowing Jesus and he pressed in to know him more each day (Phil 3:12). Paul’s heart cry was to know Jesus: “That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” (Phil 3:10).

Although we have temporal things to take care of each day our focus should also be to know Christ; this takes work. We need to spend time in his presence, in his word and prayer. The rewards are amazing. As we press in to him, we will become like him (2 Cor 3:18).

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Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.

"Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee" (Rom 11:18; KJV). The root bears us; a simple verse which we can read without even noticing.  So, what do we know about roots? We know that Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would be the: "Root of Jesse" (Isa 11:10). In Revelations 22:16 Jesus himself said: "I am the root and the offspring of David".

With regard to roots in the natural world we understand that the roots supply a plant or tree with water and nourishment to cause it to grow, mature and bear fruit. The roots also support and give strength to the tree; they hold it steady during storms. Likewise, with us in our spiritual life. The apostle Paul taught us that we need to be "rooted and grounded in love." (Eph. 3:17). The tense of the verb rooted shows that this means an ongoing form of the verb; in other words, we should continually be rooted in love. In Colossians 2:7 we reed that we are to be: "rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith." If we are to be rooted and grounded in Jesus (who is love) then we need to spend time meditating on what the Bible teaches us about Jesus and love and spending time with him in prayer and fellowship. The more we do that the more we will mature and grow supported and nurtured by Jesus our root.

Please pass this on. All rights reserved.

Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.