Luke 5:31-32

And Jesus replied to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but only those who are sick. I did not come to call the (self-proclaimed) righteous (who see no need to repent), but sinners to repentance.

Jesus came to change sinners’ ways of thinking. He reminds people that there is a standard of living, thinking, and believing. When Jesus reveals the difference between righteousness and sin, the conviction for repentance comes to the heart. Pray that sinners’ eyes are opened to Jesus and repentance. 

John 8:51

I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if anyone keeps My word (by living in accordance with My message) he will indeed never, ever see and experience death.

Salvation through Jesus Christ is living and real. If it weren’t, the devil would have nothing to fight against. For the people who may be on the fence about believing and keeping God’s word, it matters for eternal life. Our lives matter to God, and Jesus died on the cross to buy our sinful selves back from hell. Keep your faith, keep going, and stop letting the devil steal the future with lies. 

John 3:19-20

This is the judgement (that is the cause for indictment, the test by which people are judged, the basis for the sentence): the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds are evil. For every wrongdoer hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his (sinful, worthless) activities will be exposed and condemned.

The same devil that entices people into sin will use shame of exposure to keep them there. Pride for a “good” name that is tarnished pushes people to cover sin and not repent. God gets the victory, and the devil loses ground when we honestly repent and turn toward the light. God already knows where we have fallen and is waiting for us to repent so He can forgive us. 

Proverbs 1:20-22

Wisdom shouts in the street, she raises her voice in the markets; she calls out at the head of the noisy streets; at the entrance of city gates, she speaks her words: How long, O naïve ones (you who are easily misled), will you love being simple-minded and undiscerning? How long will scoffers (who ridicule and deride) delight in scoffing? How long will fools (who obstinately mock truth) hate knowledge?

God will send wisdom when we ask for help. Choosing wisdom and making a wise choice will not always be the easiest, depending on outside pressure. In each case above, a person chose to follow their own ways instead of the way of wisdom. Following the world’s wisdom doesn’t bring us the highest reward. 

Psalm 119:148-149

My eyes anticipate the night watches and I awake before the call of the watchman, that I may meditate on Your word. Hear my voice according to Your (steadfast) lovingkindness; O Lord, renew and refresh me according to Your ordinances.

The morning sets the tone for the day. The mind can be a battlefield if we let yesterday’s problems roll over to today’s thoughts. When we start with some study from the Bible or teaching, we focus our minds on God’s way. The devil will try to plant negative thought seeds, but we can cast them down.  

Psalm 119:18-20

Open my eyes (to spiritual truth) so that I may behold wonderful things from Your law. I am a stranger on the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me. My soul is crushed with longing for Your ordinances at all times. 

When God reveals spiritual truths to our hearts, we grow in our spiritual walk. The more we learn about God and His desire for us to receive His best, the more we want to learn. God is all that is good, and when we see that He wants all that is good for us, we long for an even closer relationship. 

Psalm 119:2-3

Blessed and favored by God are those who keep His testimonies and who (consistently) seek him and long for Him with all their heart. The do no unrighteousness; they walk in His ways.  

The best way to keep God’s favor is to keep His commandments. We do this by seeking the Lord through study, prayer, and listening to His word. It is easier for our minds to stay stable, focused, and close to God when we seek Him with all our hearts. Our focus and attention are maintained on God, and He will direct our paths. 

Judges 2:13-14

So they abandoned the Lord and served Baal (the pagan god of the Canaanites) and the Ashtaroth. So the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He gave them into the hands (power) of plunderers who robbed them; and He sold them into the hands of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer stand (in opposition) before their enemies.  

Our witness with our families is essential. The Israelites didn’t promote God as the one true God with their own people. The next generation that does not know God because they were not taught and finds another false god and turns away from God. They suffer for it! We are to teach our children about God and be representatives for God in our homes. We must tell them why God is important and all that He has done for us. 

Judges 2:10

Also, all (the people of) that generation were gathered to their fathers (in death); and another generation arose after them who did not know (recognize, understand) the Lord, nor even which He had done for Israel.   

The teaching of the next generation about what we know about God in our families is vital. Children will emulate their parents, especially when we make God important in prayer, study, and devotion. Feeding them the knowledge of God is an investment in their future. Knowledge that a relationship with God is possible is a powerful resource for them to help them overcome problems in the future. 

Joshua 24:19

Then Joshua said to the people, “You will not be able to serve the Lord (if you serve any other gods), for He is a holy God; He is a jealous God (demanding what is rightfully and uniquely His). He will not forgive your transgression (of His law) or your sins.

A god can be anything in our lives that takes center stage of our love, time, and devotion over our focus on God. We can be overly focused on our family, children, work, money, and possessions. We cheat ourselves out of a relationship with God and His blessings in our lives. Our fulfillment in life comes only from God, and nothing on earth will ever satisfy.