A Scribe on the Wall

Several years ago now, I believe that God gave me a message, He would be telling me things and it was up to me to tell others. To me, it's much like the Watchman on the Wall as described in the Old Testament. The Watchman was told that it was on him to warn others about any approaching dangers. God's apparently gifted me with being able to type and write. So I put the old definition of a writer along with the concept of a watchman together. Jesus is coming soon...are you ready?

Thursday, April 16, 2026

The Why Behind the Why

by David Brenneman

"I trust in Vour word" (Psalm 119:42)

The strength of our faith is in direct proportion to our level of belief that God will do exactly what He has promised. Faith has nothing to do with feelings, impressions, outward appearances, nor the probability or improbability of an event. If we try to couple these things with faith, we are no longer resting on the Word of God, because faith is not dependent on them. Faith rests on the pure Word of God alone. And when we take Him at His Word, our hearts are at peace.

God delights in causing us to exercise our faith. He does so to

bless us individually, to bless the church at large, and as a witness

to unbelievers. Yet we tend to retreat from the exercising of our

faith instead of welcoming it. When trials come, our response should be, "My heavenly Father has placed this cup of trials into my hands so I may later have something pleasant.".

-exerpt from Streams in the Desert, April 15th.

One sure highlight from the last 11 months has been looking for and actively seeing Jesus keeping His promises to always take care of us and to always be with us.

We had lessons to learn through the apparent to ourselves and all difficulties. Learning how we can do better at our finances. Learning where to find help with food. Learning to pray expectantly about our financial needs to pay the mortgage and bills. Never once were we behind in paying anything.

We learned to get done some things with what we had and to see Jesus provide free things to accomplish much.

I was able to help quite a few people with completing odd jobs for them. Was able to keep my commitments in my Bible reading and Bible studies. This was the more important part.

Looking in faith for what we prayed that God would do according to His Word was and is everything.

It caused us to be strengthened and stretched in our faith. It caused others the same as well. Have been told of from some of that very thing.

Many of Dr. Stanley's Life Principles, we saw happening in our lives. Life Principles that he came up with are straight from the Word of God.

We saw even more deeply the hands of God in our lives.

My Dear Reader, we aren't going to go through a bumpless life. We aren't going to have a life without trials and tribulations. Jesus said plainly that through many tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom of God.

But yet still why? In the lives of my Wife and I, this here this now we have grown enough in Christ to be able to recognize and draw strength from the Lord Jesus. Had this happened years ago we likely wouldn't have come out of it the same.

There's a divine plan to our lives to grow and be transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. That is the workmanship that Jesus is doing through the Spirit of God in each and every single Believer.

It isn't always going to be our understanding what we're going through. We read of one of Paul's shipwreck adventures. We read it but do we ever really know why the ship had to be destroyed or why they went through all of it? Some points yes but not all.

Our lives are going to be filled with various things to cause us to grow in Christ Jesus. If you're not going through various things you might want to have a serious conversation with Jesus about it.

We're to live our lives in Christ in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. There ought to be something that they see.

It's ok to be concerned but take that to the Lord in prayer. We have this hope in all who believe that God is a promise keeper. We have the right to cry out to God for help. We who are saved are the adopted children of God with that right given to us by God.

We have this promise that when we seek the Lord He will be found by us. That when we pray in earnest He will hear our pleas.

There've been several people who thought that I was turning down jobs during those 10 months. Truth is I only turned down 1. The pay was below anything we could live on even temporarily. The rest of the time it was mostly crickets. Silence. As I told many...I can't go through a door of opportunity unless God gives me the key. When He says it's time He will give me that key. Which He did do.

We aren't really good at waiting. For several generations people have been trained to get n go. To rush through and don't stop to consider. To be honesty impatient about getting ahead.

Jesus taught His disciples the exact opposite. Take time to be alone with Jesus. Take time to be still before Jesus. Take time to see things from His perspective. To be who He is making you to be. To make use of the gifts given to us by His Spirit. To stand firm in the Lord. To run the race set before us with all diligence in the Lord.

To trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

Breathe. Pray. Repeat.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

The Wall of the Lord

by David Brenneman

"Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God." Philippians 1:27-28.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:10-17.

Dr. David Jeremiah Notes on Philippians 1:27: Paul issues the challenge to stand fast in many other letters (Philippians 4:1; 1 Corinthians.16:13; Galatians 5:1; 1 Thessalonians 3:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:15). The image refers to the way Roman soldiers would lock their shields together, plant their feet, and present a solid, unified wall of resolution against the enemy.

Last night I was reading in Philippians and saw this note on 1:27. Then had the wondrous image in my mind of soldiers planted at the line they were holding, standing firm in their spot. The first row down on one knee, shield planted firm. A second standing above and behind the first with his shield overlapping the first's shield. Then imagining row upon row side by side in this manner. Where there might be a crack in the wall of interlocked shields is where the sword would go through. With this arrangement nothing could get through them. Arrows would bounce off of them because they couldn't land on any.

Then my mind replaced the average gear these Roman soldiers wore with the whole armor of God. What a sight!

My Dear Reader this is what we're to be doing in the Lord. This is what our relationships with each other in Christ is supposed to look like. That's what I believe that the Spirit was showing me last night.

A lone soldier with his shield still had vulnerabilities. Soldiers who worked together were much. stronger together than apart.

This is why we need to keep each other lifted up in prayer. This is why we need to be with each other in meeting with each other. To be a part of each other's lives in Christ.

Look at how the Lord arranged the children of Israel as they wandered through the wilderness for 40 years. There was organization to the way they set out. To how they went through living.

The extremely sad part is they were still perpetual complainers.

Grumbling and whining about their circumstances even though the Lord was with them, supernaturally keeping their clothes from wearing out. Their sandals from wearing out.

They had the Lord Jesus there with them and missed out on that unique blessing.

We too can miss out on the unique blessings of being with others in Christ. We can choose to let past hurts keep us from being with others in Christ. We can let even those within the Church who've hurt us keep us from the righteous life that God desires for us.

We are going to have difficult people to deal with in this world. Within the Church and out in the world. Nobody is immune to that.

The instructions from the Word of God are to continue praying without ceasing. To continue in the love of Christ no matter who does what towards us or others.

We are Ambassadors for Christ everywhere we go and in everything we do.

It's a sad sad moment when we run across people essentially being part-time Christians. Living a life one way at church and another under various circumstances.

When we do recognize such behavior begin at once to pray for such people. Letting nothing taint our own position before the Lord. We get shown such things in order to help bring these people back into the life in Christ that they need to be living.

Now imagine our wall of soldiers in the whole armor of God randomly getting up n going their own way, taking off parts of it. Dropping their swords. How well will that line be defended? How long do you think it would be held?

We're still here, going through what we go through as His workmanship, to grow in Christ. To help each other in their journey with Jesus. To cause the light of Jesus Christ to shine. To be obedient in all that we do in Christ, what they're to be doing in Christ.

We need each other.

We cannot live the life in Christ without each other.

The whole armor of God is never to be removed.

Our lives are always supposed to reflect Christ to ourselves and all others.

If what we're doing and saying is reflecting bad on our life in Christ, why are we doing it, saying it, thinking it?

Will our Father in Heaven ever be glorified if we're not doing, saying, thinking as we are supposed to be in Christ Jesus?

Suit up, standing firm in Christ.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

What Am I Supposed to Do?

by David Brenneman

"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:20-2.

What am I supposed to be doing for Jesus? What's His plan and purpose for me?

From the onset, from the moment you're saved, the Spirit has something in mind for you to be doing for the Kingdom of God. He seals you in Christ for the day of the return of Jesus Christ. He also knows exactly how best you can serve the body of Christ.

Not just in the world but in your own relationships.

Something you should possibly know is that after coming to Christ you're quite possibly going to lose some people from your life. Some are going to be happy for you, some might go as far as to revile you. Mock you, get angry with you.

Expect this in case it happens.

Consider well this from Paul: "But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one." 1 Corinthians 2:14-15.

There's just no way those who have no relationship with Jesus are going to understand much of what you now know and understand about your relationship with Jesus. That's why it's so important to live out loud the character of Christ. So that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. That they see that we have this hope that cannot be extinguished. That we show a love through forgiveness that they've never experienced.

Our live are to be that kind of light.

The light of Jesus Christ is what illuminates us. Not our own but His. It's on us not to hide that light.

The writer of Hebrews in chapter 11 points us to the Hall of Faith. People who went through much in order to be sure that the light of Jesus Christ was going to be seen.

My first full day as a Christian was incredibly hard for me. Those my age were far from kind to me. It honestly took decades to heal from their behavior and words. It's been through the work of the Spirit of God that I am who I am today. Using everything that Satan's minions thought were victories in my life for the good of the cause of Jesus Christ.

In several places in the Scriptures we read of people being drawn up out of the pit. Essentially thinking they were that far separated from God. I do believe that many have gotten it wrong that these same people were dead and were brought back to life. If this were true then I am certain the Spirit would have said as much.

Separation from God is the most horrendous thing ANYONE will ever go through in eternity yet trillions choose that over salvation in Christ Jesus. In 1999 I can look back and see that the Spirit pulled me up out of something that I felt was a pit. I was immersed, drowning in the darkness of Satan's schemes. Spiritually I couldn't breathe. He lifted me up out of that into a newness of life in Christ that was equal to or more than I knew when I first came to Christ in 1974.

Since that day in all that I can, I live for Jesus. Morning's start with being in the Word of God. Praying throughout the day. Listening to what He might be saying to me. Evening's in study Bibles and a few devotionals. I miss nothing that I was called to give up for this kind of life.

You have something for you to be doing in Christ. Begin with your commitment to be in the Word of God and build on this. Add your commitment to be in prayer. Add your willingness to listen and obey. Then see what He wants of you after that. You can't do until you're in training in righteousness.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6.

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve." Colossians 3:23-24

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Monday, April 13, 2026

New Beginnings, Again, and Going Forward

by David Brenneman

"Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." Ephesians 5:15-17.

"speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ." Ephesians 5:19-21.

It is a day of new beginnings for me today. Starting a new job. Looking back over the last 10 months it's been awesome to see the hands of my Savior and my God working out everything to our good.

It's been a time of reflection, of growth, of forgiveness, of peace.

In all these days...it's been important to stay the course and continue to run the race set before me. As it should be in the lives of all who believe regardless of what life appears to look like.

My past isn't where I am to live. It's shaped me and has helped define me but it's not my whole description of me. I might say that I am proud of my accomplishments where I have been but I am now to set out for new in the Lord.

Our lives are all going to be the same but different. As children of God in Christ Jesus He will use the same tools with each of us just in different ways.

The second section of Scripture we read this morning is to do with where our minds are to be going.

Colossians 3:23-24 say "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve."

The right attitude in life is to always look to Jesus when anything and everything is happening...albeit the good, the bad and the ugly.

All who are in Christ are being seen by those who yet still remain in this present darkness of the world in which we live.

All, who are saved, are to shine as the Spirit works with them...wherever they are and in whatever capacity the Spirit sees fit for them to be doing.

There's no retirees in the Kingdom of God until He calls them home or He returns for the Bride of Christ, Church of Jesus Christ.

All that He allows in us is directed towards learning more about Jesus. To become more like Him in what we do, say, or think.

I am both excited and nervous at the same time. But I know that God brought me to this, He will see me through this. That's how He does life in the lives of all who have come to know Him as Savior and Lord.

Have had a few people strongly recommend that I not speak to those are becoming my coworkers today about my past work experiences. That's not how the Spirit works. The Spirit uses our commonalities to work towards fruitful relationships.

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28.

I know not where this new path in life is going to take me but I do know who it was who bid me to enter into this path.

My God's never ceasing to work in my life to make me more like Christ. The Spirit teaches character development in all that He does. Teaching us to live, act, think, in the character of Christ.

Our ups and downs, our valley's and mountain tops, are where this development occurs.

Our obedience is key. Without it, we will repeat lessons. It's always to be His will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

The Spirit uses all of this to form bridges in our relationships to reach others who have not come to Christ for salvation yet.

Be malleable. Be moldable.

Be devoted to Christ in the day that's been set before you. Be open to the work of the Spirit in you. Don't resist when He's changed your direction. He does know way more than any of us as to what's going to fulfill God's plan and purpose for our lives.

Each day is a gift from God.

Every breath.

Every heartbeat.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Sunday, April 12, 2026

Having Eyes That See, Ears that Hear

by David Brenneman

"But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it." Matthew 13:16-17.

"And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; For the heart of this people has become dull, With their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes, Otherwise they would see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear." Matthew 13:10-16.

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21.

To know...

To know begins with listening and seeing. The input devices that our Creator gave us. These are the beginning of understanding when we process what they see and hear. But what must come next, MUST come next, to a Believer is to learn to use their spiritual eyes and spiritual ears.

"for we walk by faith, not by sight—" 2 Corinthians 5:7.

"Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." 2 Kings 6:15-17.

"but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9.

My Dear Reader...we are indeed infants learning how to crawl, to walk, and maybe even perhaps run in the faith.

We're not born in this life for our own bidding. We're not here to accomplish great things for ourselves. We're not here to build empires unto our own.

In Christ we're to grow with respect to our salvation. We came to Christ at His behest. We were sealed in the Spirit. We became the adopted children of God.

And now we grow, we learn. We learn how to eat true spiritual food, to drink true spiritual drink. We learn how to exercise the new spiritual bodies we've been given.

We are to walk by faith and not by sight. Seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness. That is what's to motivate us through this life.

We waste time, energy and effort trying to build a kingdom of our own. We're to live lives in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. We can only do this if our lives reflect lives that are lived in obedience to Jesus Christ.

We easily can be exemplary models of both Christianity and the world...all within seconds of each other. Doing great in life and getting caught broadside by an event or person and the old sin nature shows up instead.

A life in Christ is one of learning.

You must realize there's no room for slacking off. There's no time to take vacations from learning from the Spirit of God.

We are reborn in Christ and are immediately found to be under the gun. Scripture says that through many tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom of God.

But enter it we will because Jesus is with us. We are never alone in this life. The Spirit takes no teacher in service days. The Spirit is always ready to share something new with those who's hearts are set on Jesus.

But are we looking to learn?

Are we trying to hear with our new spiritual ears? Are we trying to see with our new spiritual eyes?

We are given at least one spiritual gift upon coming to Christ for salvation. We're going to give an account of how we used that gift to God's glory.

I look back over my life from where it is right now...and even I can see that much of my life will be burned up when I stand before Jesus to give an account of my life. Of what I did in my body for Him or not for Him. I cannot change the past, but I can do something about the present and the future.

My Dear Reader so can you.

"Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established." Proverbs 16:3.

"Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it." Psalms 37:5.

"For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.

If we're living life in light of the Word of God...that we are not our own, that we were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ...should not our lives reflect that?

Or is our lives a reflection of something or someone else?

Praying for eyes that see and ears that hear the things of God will never steer you wrong.

Praying for understanding before you read your Bible will get your attention where your spiritual eyes are looking.

Praying to have a life well pleasing in His sight rather than our own will never disappoint.

To seek first His kingdom and His righteousness starts with prayer that does not lack sincerity.

What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and yet forfeit his soul?

What are you possibly going to get for living a life for you and not for Jesus?

We cannot afford to waste the precious seconds and minutes we're given. Paul's life exuded a life way more concerned about others than himself.

There's many things that I could have pursued in my life that maybe for a moment could have brought joy and comfort. But it wouldn't have lasted. The problem with the pursuit of worldly happiness is its really unachievable. We got a high from something and try again to get that feeling again and it's no longer potent enough.

In Christ, a life lived will never cease to experience joys and peace that we cannot really describe because they're so good.

Pray for yourself that your life, your ways, align with what God called for you to be doing, saying and thinking. Pray that you are glorifying God in your body. Pray that when the Spirit says something for you to be doing or saying, that you just obey.

Don't expect everyone to understand or to get it. Obedience is a process and we're all in different places from each other with regards to this.

Isaiah had his eyes opened and he knew how dirty he was before Jesus. Jesus took away his sins and cleansed him. Isaiah was more than happy to obey in everything that Jesus wanted of him.

Pray for your growing in Christ.

Nothing else we do in life is remotely as important.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Saturday, April 11, 2026

What We Asked For

by David Brenneman

"Tell me what charges you have against me." (Job 10:2)

O tested soul, perhaps the Lord is sending you through this trial to develop your gifts. You have some gifts that would never have been discovered if not for trials. Do you not know that your faith never appears as great in the warm summer weather as it does during a cold winter? Your love is all too often like a fire-fly, showing very little light except when surrounded by darkness. And hope is like the stars-unseen in the sunshine of prosperity and only discovered during a night of adversity. Afflictions are often the dark settings God uses to mount the jewels of His children's gifts, causing them to shine even brighter.

Wasn't itjust a short time ago that on your knees you prayed, "Lord, I seem to have no faith. Please show me that I do"? Wasn't your prayer, even though you may not have realized it at the time, actually asking for trials? For how can you know if you have faith, until your faith is exercised? You can depend upon the fact that God often sends trials so our gifts may be discovered and so we may be certain of their existence. And there is more than just discovering our gifts -we experience real growth in grace as another result of our trials being sanctified by Him.

God trains His soldiers not in tents of ease and luxury but by causing them to endure lengthy marches and difficult service He makes them wade across streams, swim through rivers, climb

mountains, and walk many tiring miles with heavy backpacks.

Dear Christian, could this not account for the troubles you are now experiencing? Could this not be the reason He St dealing with you? Charles H. Spurgeon.

Being left alone by Satan is not evidence of being blessed.

-Streams in the Desert, L.B. Cowman.

In the lives of Christians everywhere is the desire of an increase in our faith.

Seeking such a path in life also will guarantee an increase in trials and tribulations. Jesus told us that through many tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom. Acts 14:22.

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you." 1 Peter 4:12-14.

"And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:3-5.

"For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:17-18.

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all." Psalms 34:19.

Can we really expect a life of ease and comfort when it's through such things as these we enter into the Kingdom?

Can we really think this?

Jesus went through many tribulations while here on Earth. Especially in the Garden of Gethsemane. Likewise while being beaten and scourged. Let is not forget the pinnacle, His being nailed to a cross.

We shouldn't expect anything less than for class to always be in session with our lives in Christ. The Advocate, the Helper, the Holy Spirit, was brought not just to seal us for the day of Christ Jesus in salvation, but to teach us-bringing to remembrance all that Jesus taught.

Our lives are hidden in Christ Jesus...and our sanctification is an ongoing process until we are through with this physical life and step into Heaven.

While yes we read in Psalms 23 of being made to rest...it's not going to last forever in this life. It's meant as a respite until the next challenge we need to face to grow in Christ Jesus.

Becoming more like Jesus Christ is to be our ambition in our lives. To have the fruit of the Spirit shining in our lives. To see to it that the Father is glorified.

And it's a hefty process.

It's going to stretch us.

It's meant to.

While in school, year-upon-year, teachers stretched our minds to learn and explore new ideas and concepts.

The Spirit of God will do oh so much more in each of us.

Paul wrote of only some of the things that he endured for the cross of Jesus Christ. Sharing in the sufferings of Christ is how he put it.

We too ought to think better of the things we go through, as long as we're going through it for the right reasons.

Be sure of your salvation...and be sure of the things that you're going through aren't really self-inflicted.

We are to glorify God in our bodies.

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:1-5.

Keep in the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6).

Keep in prayer.

Keep in mind that what we're to be going through is to glorify our Father in Heaven.

Be on guard.

"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8.

Lastly...“Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming." Matthew 24:42.

We ought to be living lives in readiness for Jesus to return for us. Making the most of every opportunity.

Suit up in the whole armor of God.

We're in training and we will be challenged to grow in Christ.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Friday, April 10, 2026

More Than Time to Get in the Game

by David Brenneman

"In other words, God has chosen the specific era, location, and giftedness with which you would exist for the purpose of serving Him. You are not a mistake-your strengths, weaknesses, and situation in life are part of His plan to be glorified through you. Your

ministry does not start sometime in the future when your circumstances change. It begins the moment you believe in Christ. Serve Him obediently with this in view."

"I have a right to..."

"What about my rights?"

"When is it my turn to..."

"But what about me? When do I..."

These thoughts are very much in the world today as well as many others like these. In this, it's as prolific in the Church as it is outside of it.

People are indoctrinated into selfishness from a young age with many parents doing nothing to curb it in the very young. So it becomes a greater problem as they grow older.

Our world isn't what the world wants us to believe about it. It's not global warming. It's not social injustice. It's not racial inequality. It is a sin cursed world and the days of judgment by God through Jesus Christ are coming.

We who are among the saved in Christ Jesus are not to be wasting our days here on Earth that we've been given. We cannot afford to be living for self when the world around us is heading quickly for the Great Tribulation.

We can't afford to keep calling sins 'mistakes'. Nobody is in Hell due to mistakes. They chose to reject Jesus and died in their own sins.

We, you and I, were born in this here this now to live a life in Christ in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. To live in such a way that people want to know why we're different and to show them how to find what we found in Jesus.

We do ourselves and the cause of Christ a grave injustice when our selfish nature rises up when we ought to be silencing it.

We ought to be completely aligned with what the Bible calls sin and avoid it. We are to be living examples of Jesus to the world in which we find ourselves.

People ought to see the fruit of the Spirit in us. People ought to recognize something more in us than the world is offering.

How can we ever expect to hear "Well done!" from Jesus when we haven't been striving to please Him in all that we do, say, or think?

Why? Why are we doing so little to be committed to the calling by which we have been called? Why is it so difficult to consistently be in the Bible every day yet we can check up on movies, sports scores and stories, news stories, a Facebook newsfeed, a plethora of videos? Why is it we are falling for what's tripping up the rest of the world so easily?

I am not here simply harping...I have to look in the mirror too. I have by no means arrived any more than others in Christ.

It's a constant daily challenge to stay consistent. To persevere when life's showing an easy way to get by or go through seasons of life.

We can't afford to just accept the world's ideologies or definitions to life's difficulties either. There ARE demon possessed people in our lives today. Some may be out in the world when we leave our homes, some may be in our homes.

In Ephesians Paul is writing about how to engage the world from a spiritual perspective. We need to be fully devoted, fully committed, to suiting up in the whole armor of God each and every day. The implication in how he was lead to write it by the Spirit is that suiting up in the whole armor of God has to begin when we wake up. Right where we are...immediately...not later after we've had coffee or tea or whatever morning beverage.

We are among the called out ones to be walking in a manner worthy of our calling.

Do you really want shame to be your covering when you give an account of your life before Jesus?

How do you think you're going to feel when all these times you kept convincing yourself that you were making mistakes, you get shown that no, you were sinning instead?

Jesus has so much more in store for all who believe and are willing to put obedience first in their lives in everything they do.

We aren't part-time Christians either. We aren't to only live holy lives when we're in Church and live as we want the rest of the time.

Are you striving to please Jesus in all that you do? Are you committed to obeying God? Are you suited up in the whole armor of God? Are you seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness? Are you asking Him for whatever is next for you to be doing?

We were bought with a price, the shed blood of Jesus Christ, we're to always glorify God in our bodies.

We need to ask the Spirit to open our eyes to the truth of what God says needs to go from our lives.

Why such talk in this message? It matters to God! The Jewish Leaders redefined the Law in many ways and oppressed the Jewish people and Jesus called them out concerning it. They wrote hundreds of extra things to be in control over the people. As Christians we should not be redefining anything in order to keep from calling what God says is sin as being anything else.

We are to confess our sins and He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. It is never translated confessing our mistakes.

Striving to please Him in all that you do. There's the motivation for a Godly life in Christ.

Time is running out. As soon as the Church of Jesus Christ is complete there is then no longer any reason for Jesus to delay in returning.

Get in the game. Get suited up and engage. Let your light shine in such a way that people see your good works and so glorify our Father in Heaven.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org