If you are like me, you love the sound of music. Music speaks to us. It speaks to the heart of people. It tells stories of love, loss, as well as many other emotions or events.
If you watch American idol, or America’s got talent, you may even hear some say that music has saved their life. Well, I don’t mean to be harsh or critical but music didn’t save their life, it gave them purpose. We mustn’t forget who is behind the music. Jesus created all things, yes, even music. Music is the tool he used to give purpose to those in destitute. Careful we don’t worship the tool instead of the one who created the tool.
Let us make note of this scripture in Psalms and remember it is of the old covenant and of Old Testament law however, important to know that the Lord enjoys music as well. Many times in the Old Testament scripture refers to music with instruments.
On the other hand, New Testament scriptures never make mention of any kind of instrument in worship or otherwise. This should make clear of what worship should look like when worshiping our Lord.
“speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,” Ephesians 5:19 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/eph.5.19.NIV
Being truthful and honest with myself has been the fear and having to face who I really am. We all know the truth is never kind. Who enjoys people telling them every negative thing they are, past, present or future? The truth hurts and we most times don’t want to look the ugly truth in the face. Especially if it is pasted on our foreheads.
Knowing the truth, living truthful lives, and spreading the Lords truth in the word is the most fruitful way to live as I see.
The more we seek God out, the more we find out about ourselves. Self examination will reveal the questions we often ask ourselves. Why people react negatively toward us or why was I wronged in a certain manner. If we want to be the best we can be for ourselves and others, seeking God and his word, the truth and the life is the way.
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/jhn.14.6.NIV
Modern theology says that a person can be saved without being baptized into Christ. This clearly is not what Jesus taught. Jesus is perfect and came to earth and knew no sin yet he was baptized by John in the Jordan river, as an example for us to follow.
Through human arrogance we often want to judge and be the judge of others and what we think people should or shouldn’t do. Fact is, it isn’t up to us to save someone. Jesus does the saving. It’s up to the individual if they want it or not. Free will agent. It is however up to us to maintain a right standing with Jesus and to tell others the good news, hence why I am writing to you!! I am not good with crowds, never have been, but I can write it down and tell all about Jesus!
Without baptism we cannot have remission of sin. God remembers our sin and is condemning us up to this point. If we are baptized in the name of Jesus we are in the family of God. We are his sheep, accounted for, and though we stumble, we can fall into the arms of Jesus, the living God.
People want to believe and say they have salvation without being baptized. They justify this in saying that “Jesus dying on the cross was enough”, and yes, without Jesus dying and being resurrected, there is no hope of salvation. I have heard it said we can be saved by faith only.
“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:14-24, 26 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/jas.2.26.NIV
Do we ever stop and wonder what we would do without family?Family is probably the most important thing we have in this life whether it is biological family, church family, or best friends that we call family who are like family.
God loved family so much that he gave Eve to Adam so they could have children and have a family of their own.
“So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”” Genesis 2:20-23 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/gen.2.21-23.NIV
On the other hand our enemy, the devil awaits the opportunity to destroy our families and their futures. He is so crafty and sneaky, you never even know he is there until he shows his ugly face and then is some cases, it is discovered too late. He attacks the mind, the mind of you, your spouse, or the minds of your children, who at early ages are so very impressionable.
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/1pe.5.8.NIV
So what is baptism? Baptism comes from the Greek word baptizo which means to immerse. Jesus commanded to go to all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.
When someone is baptized they are symbolizing the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. That person is saying I follow Jesus and I believe he is the son of God. That person is saying I will serve Jesus. The Bible says angels sing when one is Baptized. The heavens open.
“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”” Luke 15:10 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/luk.15.10.NIV
Baptism is not what saves you, Jesus does! But refusing baptism says something powerful about the state of your relationship with Jesus.
Romans 6:3-7 says, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Reverting back to Old Testament scripture, we read and look at Sodom and Gomorrah when God rained burning sulfur on the cities and destroyed them. The Lord baptized with fire and removed all sin with fire. I find this to be parallel with (Matthew 3:11). God presenting himself from the skies once again trying to get the people’s attention, saying look at what you are doing. These people were deep in sin separating themselves from God. God was losing fellowship with his supreme creation and was angry.
“Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous”
We can take another look at baptism through the flood. He baptized the earth and washed all sin from it once again. Do you see a pattern here like I do? Sin separates. God reconciles mankind unto himself. God found one righteous man and his family and spared them with the ark. Many don’t believe any of this happened. I do because of the evidence that has been found on Mt. Ararat, this was the place that the ark landed as soon as the flood waters receded. Petrified wood of the actual ark and where it landed are found there. If that isn’t evidence enough for conviction, then people are just being stubborn and hardheaded and just don’t want to believe. Just like people don’t want to believe that it didn’t rain sulfur on the two cities. Large amounts of sulfur are still in the ground over the cities even today.
These events were Gods attempt to reach a non-repentant people.
Now we can look at the same God with the New Testament. Along came John.
“Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.””
Evidently John had gone all over the place baptizing people for repentance. This repentance just means turning from sin. It wasn’t for the remission of sin, because John didn’t have that power and John knew it. John wanted to make it clear that the people didn’t look toward him for salvation. He was merely being a servant of the Lord and bringing people on the right path to salvation, through baptism of repentance.
“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Jesus himself was baptized and he never sinned. People ask me “why was Jesus baptized if it isn’t a salvation issue?” IT IS A SALVATION ISSUE or Jesus would not have done it. If we refuse to follow Jesus in baptism, then we are refusing him as savior and salvation isn’t attainable at that point. Everything Jesus did laid the ground for the Church, for the people, to save mankind of our sinful nature and condition.
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”” Matthew 3:13-17 NIV https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.3.13-17.NIV
Jesus said it was proper for him to do this, so that gives a perfect explanation of what we are to do!!
Who is acceptable for baptism? The competent, those who know and understand their sinful nature, who have heard the gospel and believe the gospel and repent of sin, and then are baptized so that they shall be saved.
I had just graduated high school before the Internet explosion. I grew up on Stretch Armstrong, rotary phones, as well as pay phones. The giant apple computer with lime green print!!😂
The new world of internet innovation awaited. This life that could be a blessing can also be a curse!! A new life of strict self discipline and self control was just around the corner. Little to my knowledge was leading me closer to Jesus Christ than I ever imagined.
Diving into the dark tunnel of the web, I felt like Wiley coyote sliding off the ledge in mid air wanting desperately for either someone to catch me or a centrifugal force to guide me to safety…..do I ever remember the days before internet!!
It was such a more personal time. The internet took the interpersonal relationship out of talking face to face to texting!
I can’t speak for people around my age but I do believe we are living on the flip side of the coin.
One of the things I value most in a friend is loyalty. Loyalty is telling that person I have your back, and I am here for you. There is occasions and opportunities that arise that will allow that person to prove themselves and prove their loyalty.
The heartbreaking side of this is when that person you thought was your friend didn’t come through for you then and only then you know the truth and that person isn’t really your friend or a friend that a friend would like to have.
John chapter 15 verse 13, says “greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends“ verse from bible.com
Someone that would lay down their life for you, is a friend beyond friends. That is a love for a person that is true, deep and everlasting.
Life is full of ups and downs. Everyone needs someone to be that person. The one they run to not only when time are rough, but when the great moments in life come around as well. Being there for someone else is not self-seeking. It is one of the noblest things a person can do.
There isn’t anything more satisfying than sitting around the table with family .
With the hustle and bustle of today’s life, families are finding it harder and harder to come together even at least once a week to sit down and have a meal together. Families must be purposeful in making plans and having dinner together at least once or twice a week or families will continue to drift apart. 
I hope everyone reading this hears the words” I love you” on a regular basis or has a significant other who speaks love words to them regularly.
God made us to long for that loving relationship not only with him but for others in our lives as well. As humans we need love in our lives. I am not talking about merely physical intimacy with a significant other but an intellectual connection that will test the mind and hearts of people. To care enough to carry out any of the five love languages to the ones we care about.
Jesus cared enough to die for us. This kind of love speaks beyond words. Agape love, the Bible tells us. He loves us in spite of ourselves and who we are. Unconditional love. As long as we will come to him in full obedience, not just spreading a little Jesus here and there.
Self examination is frightening when we delve into our character and examine every thought that randomly enters our brain. This takes a lot of awareness. To be able to catch ourselves when thoughts arrive and ask ourselves those burning questions of why those thoughts appear. Only then will a person start to change and develop life in the heart.
Christian discussion 