Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

-Hebrews 13:16

After hearing of our great hope, of the “kingdom that cannot be shaken” -Heb 12:28, and the “city that is to come” -Heb 13:14, we are exhorted to “not neglect to do  good and share what [we] have.” We are exhorted to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, and encouraged to do so not by our own power to be good and obedient but by God’s promise to us. “I will never leave you or forsake you” -Heb 13:5. Being assured of God’s unfailing love we may say with confidence, in the midst of trials, lackings, and even the sinful desires of our selfish hearts, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Is the Lord our Helper? Is He the one who sovereignly rules? Are not all riches His? Is our hope here in this world where we have no lasting city, or is it in the city that is to come?

Oh Lord, You have blessed us so greatly. May we see your blessing in making us your children by adoption. All that we have spiritually and physically is from you and for your glory so let us deny ourselves and serve one another for Your great name’s sake.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 12:1-2

I encourage you to watch this video as it gives us an incredible promise to remind us of God’s Faithfulness to His covenant people.

I’m trying to prepare a devotional that i’ll be sharing this coming week on what gives a Christian power to press on in the midst of hardship. If you know me you probably know my answer. It is the Gospel!!! Now, being that this is a gospel centered Blog, and that the gospel is the means to accomplish any good work, I thought it might be good to give a definition in my own words of what the gospel is. So here’s what I think.

The Gospel is this: That Christ came, lived, died, and rose again victoriously for His chosen people. He successfully paid the ransom for our sins in taking on His Fathers wrath upon Himself and imputing to us His righteousness. No longer does God’s anger hang over our head, rather His love and His blessing. He has transformed children of wrath into children of the Almighty God. Jesus was victorious and all authority has been given over to Him. He is the sovereign King, and He will be with us til the end of the ages! He has given us His Spirit to lead us and uphold us in our calling to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

Oh how sweet is this good news. His people will fail not, for it is He who is faithful unto death. The promises are ours. His blessing is upon us! Amen!

J. C. Hahne

“Every word of God is pure;
He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.”

-Proverbe 30:5

Take courage Christian brother, for His words are pure, He does not lie nor change. Every word He has pronounced, every promise He has promised is a shield for us in the midst of war. Rejoice and put you trust in Him!

J. C. Hahne

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,

who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

- Romans 8:1

Oh what a valuable promise we have here in this verse. The fact that we can stand before Holy God, is based solely upon the righteousness that Christ has poured into our account. His righteousness for us means no more condemnation! We must hold on to this promise as it is easy to become burdened and condemned by the weight of the law. But may our heads be raised as we see Christ victorious! Let us be joyous in our Redeemer! May His spirit lead us in the paths of righteousness.

J. C. Hahne

“Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression,
But a good word makes it glad.” – Proverbs 12:25

How true it is that anxiety and worrying, cause depression, sadness, and grief. We must fight against such feeling knowing that they are not from God. But how do we fight? We must take in hand the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. The proverb says, “a good word makes it (the heart of man) glad.” The word of God is good and true. It is our surety, and our sword that cuts through the schemes of the devil.

We are to take the promises of God, preach them to ourselves and one another and defeat sins of depression and anxiety. The Word of truth proclaims that our God is Sovereign and Good, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28, and “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5. Thus we can say with boldness, “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6 or, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31

May the truth strengthen us in our fight against sin. May we gain courage and joy as we trust in His promises. May His “good word” make us glad!

J. C. Hahne