Learning from Lot’s wife

 "Remember Lot's wife." Luke 17:32

Why did Jesus command us to remember Lot's wife? Her end was extraordinary and teaches us many lessons. She hosted the angels, believed their message, and left the city of the wicked, but unfortunately, she left her heart in Sodom. She did not perish in Sodom, but rather after fleeing from it, because she looked back. She escaped the fire but became a pillar of salt. Her story serves as a warning for us. It is perilous to disregard details when it comes to God's commandments. They were instructed not only to flee from Sodom but also not to look back.

We must be vigilant, for even if we overcome one temptation, there remains the danger of succumbing to another temptation and being overcome. The fate of Lot's wife is a warning for those who prioritize material possessions, for those who falter between two opinions, and for those who are ensnared by worldly pursuits.

From my diary,

February 29,   2024

Heaven's Table: Answering the Divine Call

 "Come, for everything is now ready.’’ (Luke 14:17)

God makes everything ready, and all we have to do is go and enjoy what He has prepared. The divine provision is complete; behold, the sumptuous banquet awaits our presence.He does not say, "Almost everything is ready. Join Me in the final preparations. Come, help Me to prepare the rest.’’ He prepared everything Himself, leaving nothing for the guests to do. Everything is ready at the throne of grace; I will go to pray and receive an answer to my prayer. Everything is ready in the treasury of God's promises; I will go and seek their fulfillment with unwavering faith. God's power is ready to deliver us, to strengthen us; I will go to access that power. Everything is ready for growth in holiness; I will go for perfect sanctification. Everything is ready for true joy; I will rejoice in Him. Everything is ready on the table of God’s Word; I will go to taste from that table with reverence and delight. He does not say, "Are you worthy to enjoy what I have prepared?" Instead, He informs what He has done: "Everything is ready" and says what He expects us to do: "Come!"

From my diary,

February 28,   2024

Sisters of Bethany

 "But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:42)

Imagine seeing two sisters: one setting the table and the other sitting. At first glance, it might seem that one is diligent and skilled in housework while the other appears idle. But Jesus said that one sister is worried about many things, and the other has chosen the good portion. Martha wanted to prepare very delicious food for Jesus. Mary wanted to receive food from Jesus. Martha was running around, Mary was sitting quietly. Martha was complaining, and Mary was silent. Martha was in panic, Mary was in peace.

Jesus praised Mary's choice to listen to Jesus' Word. Mary chose it, not because she was forced, not because she avoided work, not because she was lazy, but because she made a conscious choice. It was the best choice.

Our choices often reveal our desires and priorities. Mary's decision reflects her longing for the Word of God and her love for Jesus' presence.

In our own lives, may we also choose the better part – to prioritize time with the Lord, to sit at His feet, and to listen attentively to His voice.

Mary’s choice

At the feet of Jesus, Mary sits,

In stillness, finding heavenly bliss.

While Martha frets with worldly care,

Mary's heart is peaceful in prayer.

With open ears and a ready heart

She treasures His Word - the better part,

In the sea of His divine grace,

She finds her true and rightful place.

So let us learn from Mary's choice,

To silence the world's distracting voice.

And at the feet of Jesus, we'll find,

The peace and joy of heart and mind.

From my diary,

February 27,   2024

Prayers for progress

 ’’Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more… ’’ (1 Thessalonians 4:1)

Apostle Paul's prayer and wish for the Thessalonians is a prayer topic for me and other children of God.  The progress is necessary  while we are on this earth. I want to go further along the narrow path of the Lord. I want to have a better and more fervent prayer life, more effort in serving God, more desire for holiness, more love for God and His children, more hatred for sin, more victories in spiritual warfare, more strength to run in the race of faith,  more joy in the Lord..  I want to find more wonders  in the word of God, I want my inner self  to be renewed and strengthened day by day. Progress in spiritual life should never stop. As long as I am on earth, I have room to grow and progress. I want my progress in spiritual life to be not year by year but day by day.

From my diary,

February 26,   2024

Be thankful

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." - Colossians 3:15

The Lord has given us innumerable blessings, both spiritual and material, and He gives them every day. If we do not see them, then we do not have a thankful heart. An ungrateful heart affects spiritual vision, and a person cannot see the mercies bestowed by God.

There are spoiled children who, no matter how many toys and gifts you give them, they will be displeased; they will say, "I wanted another gift. This toy is not good. I wanted a different hat; I don't like these shoes." God's children should not be spoiled but be thankful for every gift, blessing, and good thing that God has given. Our heavenly Father never gives bad quality and tasteless gifts.

Let us ask for a grateful heart to see and rejoice in so many blessings. When there is a grateful heart, there will be peace, joy, praise; there will be no murmuring, unbelief, or discontent.

To have a grateful heart requires humility. A proud person cannot be thankful. He will think that he earned the blessings he has, and he deserves them. When you know that all you have is by God’s grace alone, and without Him, you would have neither spiritual nor material blessings, you will be thankful.

From my diary,

February 25,   2024

Sincerity is necessary

"… that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ." – Philippians 1:10

The apostle Paul's prayer subject for the Philippian Christians is a prayer subject for all of us. A sincere person is not double-minded; he does not hold conflicting beliefs about the Word of God. Instead, he accepts it without doubt and prays for what he truly desires. His words and deeds align, and he remains steadfast in his convictions, which are rooted in the teachings of the Bible. A sincere person is consistent in character, showing the same integrity both inside and outside the church.

Furthermore, a sincere person is not double-tongued; he does not praise God and curse people with the same mouth (James 3:9). God's children hate hypocrisy.

Such sincerity prompts self-examination, as one asks the Lord to scrutinize them and use His Word as a detector to identify anything contrary to His Word.

I want to be perfectly sincere— to believe sincerely in God's Word, sincerely seek His glory, sincerely fulfill His will, sincerely engage in His work, and sincerely share His Word.

From my diary,

February 24 sc,   2024

The greatest commandments

"And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”" - Mark 12:30, 31

To love God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves; there is no greater commandment than these.

Since there is no commandment greater than these, may I have no greater desire than the desire to fulfill these commandments. May there be no more important prayer topic in my prayer journal than this: to love God with all my heart.

Let my greatest efforts be directed to the fulfillment of the . There is no greater love than the love of God; let me have no greater goal than this, to love Him and love like Him.

 From my diary,

February 23,   2024

Two dinner invitations: sister Wisdom vs. the Foolish Woman

"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here! As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him." - Proverbs 9:4, 16

In Proverbs chapter 9, it's interesting to see the same invitation given by both Wisdom and a foolish woman without wisdom, using the same words. Both have houses, both call from high places in the city, both invite to dinner. But those who accept the invitation of Wisdom have life and walk in the way of understanding, and those who respond to the invitation of the foolish woman are in the depths of hell.

Wisdom invites to partake of God's table, while the foolish woman offers stolen bread and water, making them seem sweet. In Proverbs 7:4, God's Word commands us to call Wisdom our sister. This wonderful sister keeps away from sin, teaches to live in the fear of God and keep God's commandments. In this chapter she says: "Forsake foolishness and live; go in the way of understanding" (Proverbs 9:6).

Sister Wisdom invites us to taste the goodness of God's Word, while the foolish woman advertises stolen food trying to make it seem pleasant.

They who accept the invitation of Wisdom have life.

From my diary,

February 22,   2024

 

Rest in the Lord

 "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him." (Psalm 37:7)

For those of us who tend to worry unnecessarily and panic too quickly, God's Word reminds us today: "Rest." It also mentions where we should rest. There is only one place to rest—in the Lord.

How can I rest in that wonderful Refuge? I find the answer in the verses preceding and following this verse: Trust in the Lord, delight yourself in the Lord, commit your way to the Lord, wait patiently for Him, do not fret.

If I have trusted in the Lord, I will not be disappointed. If I delight in the Lord, the desires of my heart have already been granted because the one who delights in the Lord wants nothing but Him. If I have committed my way to the Lord, I will not worry about the difficulties and obstacles encountered on my way.

I have to stop panicking, erase the unnecessary questions from my mind, and go to rest in my safe haven—in the Lord.

From my diary,

February 21,   2024

Faithfulness Over Talent Quantity

 ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’’ – Matthew 25:21

In the parable of the talents, the emphasis is on faithfulness, not the number of talents received or the ability to use them, but faithfulness. The Lord praised the servants for faithfulness, and rebuked the servant who did not use his talent for laziness. The Lord called good and faithful those who increased talents, and He called wicked and slothful the one who hid his talent. Laziness is unfaithfulness. A faithful person understands the duty given to him, strives to fulfill it, and nothing will stop him from completing it; he will ignore the difficulties and fulfill the task given to him.

Talents are not given to us as ornaments, but as tools; therefore we should use them for God’s work. They are given to us as a gift; therefore, we should be humble and thankful. They are given to us as an investment; therefore, we must use them faithfully.

Work done faithfully is praised by the Lord.

From my diary,

February 20,   2024

Transformed by Grace

 "'But by the grace of God I am what I am" - 1 Corinthians 15:10

The same grace that transformed a persecutor into an apostle also liberated us, once captive to sin, and made us God's children. As His children, we now abhor sin, overcome its grip, pursue holiness, seek heavenly things, and live by God’s Word.

We can all resonate with Paul's words. The source of all goodness in our lives is the grace of God. It is this grace that guides us along the narrow path to the end.

Understanding that every good thing in us comes from God's grace releases us from pride, complaint, and unbelief. If salvation, victory over sin, and holiness are not earned but freely given, why should we boast? If we have received everything as a gift, how can we be ungrateful and complain? And witnessing the work of grace in our lives, how can we doubt that He will continue and complete His good work?

Faith, gratitude, and humility are powerful ’’sin-killers’’, while pride, complaint, and unbelief are famous ’’sin instigators’’. Therefore, acknowledging that every good thing in our lives is by free grace liberates us from our sins.

From my diary,

February 19,   2024

Be holy

 "You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy." Leviticus 11:45

It's not enough to just admire God's holiness or wish to be holy; I need to actually live a holy life, according to the true model of holiness, which is God's holiness.

I must be holy because He whom I worship and serve is Holy. I must be holy because He whom I want to please is Holy. I must be holy because He whom I want to be like is Holy. I must be holy because He whom I want to see is Holy, and without holiness, no one will see the Lord.

I must be holy because I am the daughter of the Most Holy.

From my diary,

February 18,   2024

Eyes of Faith: Perceiving the Spiritual Realm

"But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:14

Where the spiritual man finds treasures, the natural man who does not have the Holy Spirit sees only foolishness. He cannot know the things of the Spirit of God, because he has no spiritual senses; he has no spiritual eyes, so he cannot see the wonders of God's Word, he has no spiritual ears, therefore he cannot hear the voice of God. He has no Teacher, the Holy Spirit, to teach these things. He does not have all these because he is not born again in the kingdom of God, he is not spiritual because he is not born of the Spirit.

Therefore, one who recognizes and values all that pertains to the Spirit can be sure that they are born again.

From my diary,

February 17,   2024

We belong to the Lord

 "... we belong to the Lord." Romans 14:8

If we truly grasp the privilege we have, we wouldn't feel discouraged, sad, or worried.

We belong to Him, to whom belong the heavens and the earth. We belong to God; we are His treasure redeemed by the precious blood, of Christ, He keeps us like the apple of His eye.

We belong to the Lord because we are born of His Word, live by His Spirit, and for His glory.

We belong to the Lord, so the things that happen in the world do not scare us. Those who belong to Him have a safe refuge.

From my diary,

February 16,   2024

Mortification of sin for life in the Spirit

 "For if you live according to the flesh, you shall die: but if by the Spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live." - Romans 8:13

As long as I live on this earth, I have to mortify something every day in order to live a life that is pleasing to God. I must mortify the deeds of the flesh. They are listed in Galatians 5:19-21. I need to know the names of my enemies in order to kill them. The works of the flesh must be put to death by the power of the Holy Spirit. There is a promise for those who mortify the works of the flesh: they will live. Heaven is for the overcomers, for those who put to death ALL the deeds of the flesh.

From my diary,

February 15,   2024

Peaceful sleep amidst danger

"I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me." (Psalm 3:5)

David did not sleep in his comfortable bed at home, but was surrounded by enemies while fleeing from his son Absalom. Yet his sleep was peaceful, and he awoke safely because he trusted in the Lord. The Lord never fails those who trust in Him. David had a peaceful sleep amidst danger because the Lord sustained him.

Likewise, each morning when I wake up, I can testify:

"I woke up this morning because the Lord sustained me."

From my diary,

February 14,   2024

Invited to drink the water of Life freely

 "And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires, take the water of life without cost." - Revelation 22:17

There is only one condition to receive the water of life: to be thirsty. It is not written, "Whoever is worthy, let him come to drink," "Whoever has earned the right to drink water, let him come," or "Whoever can pay, let him come," but it is written: "Let the one who is thirstycome; let the one who desires, take the water of life without cost."

To be filled with the Spirit of God, with the Word of God, I must be thirsty for the Word of God.

I thirst for God's Word; therefore, I am on the invite list, invited to drink the water of life for free.

From my diary,

February 13,   2024