Unfortunately, many Christians wrestle with doubt concerning their salvation. Some fear that they must “stay saved” by their works. It is important to examine yourself (2 Cor. 13:5) and make sure that you are trusting in Christ’s sacrifice for salvation. We must understand that our salvation does not depend upon us; it depends upon God.

We are not “keeping our salvation;” God is keeping us (1 Pet. 1:3-5). According to Jn. 10:29, the Christian is secure in God’s hands. If our salvation depended upon our ability, we would fail. The best that man can do is vanity in the sight of God (Psa. 39:5).

All of our righteous actions amount to a pile of filthy rags in comparison to the Holy Lord of Heaven (Isa. 64:6).

Our salvation is a gift from God, not the results of our works (Eph. 2:8, 9; Tit. 3:5). If people can not be good enough to merit eternal life, how can we be good enough to not lose it? Some argue that after salvation, it is possible not to sin anymore. The apostle Paul did not believe he was perfect (Phil. 3:12). He wrestled with doing right (Rom. 7). The Bible declares if we say we do not sin, we lie (1 Jn. 1:8).

Beloved, we do need to be sure that we have received Christ as our Savior (Jn. 1:12). Christians should live a life that is pleasing to God – not to keep salvation, but to manifest our love for God. But after that, we should rest in His sufficiency and not let Satan cause us to doubt God’s promises (Rom. 8:35-39).

            Men may try to hide their motives, but God knows and sees all. Webster defines a talebearer as “one who spreads gossip”. He further states that gossip is “idle talk or rumors”. The Bible declares that matters should only be reported by those who are actual witnesses of a matter (2 Cor. 13:1).

The Bible does teach that all gossip is wrong. Prov. 26:20 declares that strife ends when talebearers stop their wrong actions. 1 Tim. 5:13 warns of widows who are tattlers and busybodies (today, men are also found to be guilty). Christians are instructed to “study to be quiet, and to do your own business” (1 Thess. 4:11). 2 Thess. 3:11 warns the followers of Christ are not to be busybodies. It is even more enlightening when one notices that God groups those who are busybodies with murders, thieves and evildoers (1 Pet. 4:11). God does not approve of carrying tales.

            A casual look to the Scriptures would bring one to the conclusion that God wants people to mind their own business and guard their mouths. Nowhere in the Bible does God send His people to spread gossip. According to 1 Pet. 4:11, if we are going to open our mouths, we should speak God’s words, not the gossip of men. We must refuse the temptation of Satan to spread gossip!

            The local church cannot be neglected. The saying that “the light that shines the farthest shines the brightest at home” is true. We need strong, Bible preaching and teaching centers of evangelism that are actively attempting to reach their own Jerusalem (Acts 1:8). However, we must not center all of our resources on our immediate locale. The mission of the church is to go. There will be a cost to be paid. Going will require the people of God to extend outside their comfort zones. But we need to remember that the Great Commission is a commission! The command of the Lord is not a request.

            When Jesus told the disciples to go to every creature, He was not neglecting any person on the planet. The message of John 3:16 is that God loves the world. If we are viewing the need through the eyes of our Heavenly Father, we will understand that everybody, regardless of nationality, should have the Gospel presented to them. 

            The preaching of salvation to “the regions beyond” (2 Cor. 10:16) is not to be viewed merely as the duty of the church. It is really an act of delight! Have we become so mature in Christ that we have lost the joy that comes from seeing individuals trust Christ as their Savior? Let us pray for a revival. Let us pray that God will open our eyes of understanding to see the wonderful opportunities that He has given to us. May we stop forgetting the Great Commission and start seeking to fulfill it.

            The Scriptures mention work early in the first book of the Bible. In Genesis 2:2 we find God finished His work of creation. The Word of God declares that God did His work well (Gen. 1:31). As His followers, we should dedicate ourselves to perform our tasks to the best of our ability.

            Paul wrote to the congregation at Thessalonica to require individuals to work if they desired to eat (2 Thess. 3:10). Work is a part of God’s plan for peoples’ lives (Gen. 3:17-19). When one learns to appreciate the true value of work, he or she understands the intrinsic worth of labor. Work assists in giving meaning and direction in life, as well as, satisfaction.

            We cannot forget that God has promised to reward our work for His cause (Heb. 6:10). The prospect of hearing “well done” (Mt. 25:21) from the lips of our Savior should lift our spirits, lighten our load and lead us to appreciate the opportunity to work!

            Believers are encouraged to witness of Christ (Lk. 24:48) and to declare the Gospel message (Rom. 1:15-16). Every follower of Christ knows that God wants him or her to speak up for Him. But the Lord also wants a balance in our lives (Prov. 11:1; Phil. 4:5). A wise man once reminded his congregation that God gave people two ears and only one mouth – the Lord must want us to listen twice as much as we speak! James said much the same thing when he recorded the admonition to be “swift to hear, slow to speak” (Jas. 1:19).

            It would do us all well to pray like David did in Psalm 19:14. David’s petition was that God would find the words of his mouth, and the meditation of his heart to be acceptable in God’s sight. May God give us the discernment to know when to speak and what to say.

The only warning that needs to be given is provided for us in Ecclesiastes 5:4: “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.” God is clear in expressing that He does not want us to make excuses or delays in the performance of things which we have promised to Him.

Christians should periodically examine their lives (2 Cor. 13:5). After reviewing our conduct and beliefs, decisions may become necessary to align ourselves with the tenets of Scripture. A vow (sacred promise) will aid the believer in expressing his or her determination to do that which is right. A good idea would be for the believer to write down his or her promise to God and then keep it in his/her Bible as a reminder. It could be used as a book mark for daily Bible reading.

Do not let the fear of failure hold you back from making promises to God. We live in days that lack commitment. This is true of most relationships: family, friends, and churches. As we start this New Year, may we earnestly vow to God to live for Him. And then may we perform it (2 Cor. 8:11)!

            Brothers and sisters in Christ must be willing to sacrifice of themselves and their ministries in order to be real friends. Friendship must be determined, and then it must be demonstrated. Too many believers operate in a secular mindset. Friendship is only extended if it brings good things to the one who is offering it. As soon as your friend experiences a problem, the world says to cut him off. Many Christians are guilty of this and justify themselves by declaring the need not to embarrass the “work of God”.  In reality, they are worried about someone thinking badly about them. Pride then becomes the deciding factor. Is it not the “work of God” to help those in need? Does not the essence of Prov. 17:17 imply that one should stand with someone in friendship?

            We are not to be partakers of other’s sinful habits and actions. We must maintain personal holiness and strive to please the Lord first of all. Jesus is the prime example of a Friend. One person suggested that if we need a friend, then we should go out and be a friend. May we, by God’s grace, be faithful friends.

When the angels proclaimed “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:10-12) man was given a message of hope! God had come to earth, veiled in human flesh, to bring His message of salvation. Man cannot do anything but fail without the Lord (John 15:5), but the message of Christmas reminds us that “with God all things are possible” (Mt. 19:26).

Before an individual comes to Christ for salvation, the Bible describes him/her as having “no hope” (Eph. 2:12). With the gift of eternal life comes the ability to “rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Rom. 5:2). No matter what difficulties we are forced to face, it is comforting to know that there is hope in Christ.

Beloved, may we find great peace in the message of Christmas. May we come to Mary’s cradle with joy! There is no situation that is too hard for God. The virgin birth is God’s demonstration to the world that He has all power (Mt. 28:18). Christmas is a time for rejoicing in the hope of God!

The Scriptures admonish believers to exercise thanksgiving. Psalm 100 is referred to as the Thanksgiving Hymn. There we are told to enter into God’s presence with thanksgiving. Christians should pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17), but Phil. 4:6 reminds us to bring our requests to God with thanksgiving.

It is easy to be thankful when all is well. Praise and thanksgiving come sweetly off the lips of one who is saved, healthy and without any of the major difficulties of life. However, the Bible says “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1Thess. 5:18). When things are going badly, it becomes difficult to give thanks. But, are not the days of adversity when our thanksgiving becomes genuine? When life is pleasant, our thanksgiving may be more centered on what we do or do not possess. But when our lives are distressed and we offer to God praise and thanksgiving, the Lord becomes the true object of our appreciation.

Our thanksgiving should not be generated by our carnal nature. Our hearts should be directed to be thankful for Who our Lord is, not merely for what He gives to His children. This is not to say that we should exclude being appreciative of His daily benefits (Psa. 68:19), but neither should we only be thankful for these blessings.

Beloved, may our Lord bless you with abundant mercy and grace. May you richly enjoy health and happiness! Let us be thankful for our salvation, the Scriptures and the saints of God. But no matter what our lot, we can still be thankful for the Lord Himself. Circumstances may change, but the Lord will always be for us (Jer. 29:11; Heb. 11:6).

We are accustomed to the changes of seasons and most of us enjoy the variety. However, it is comforting to understand that God does not change. His immutability is declared in the Scriptures (Psalm 102:25-27; Malachi 3:6; James 1:17). We appreciate the truth that our Creator and Savior will not turn back on His promises (2 Corinthians 1:20).

We are thankful that God’s Word is steadfast (Psalm 199:89; Matthew 24:35). We rejoice in the fact that the love of God is everlasting (Jeremiah 31:3). God will never forsake us because He is unchanging (Hebrews 13:5, 8).

It is such a blessing to cling to these truths while we live in a world of uncertainty. The Lord spoke these words in Isaiah 46:9, 11: “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,… yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.”

Some have said that God does change. They mention that God said He was going to destroy Ninevah in the book of Jonah and later spared it. It is important to note that God did not change – the people of Ninevah did. God always hates sin. God always forgives those who truly repent. The people of Ninevah repented, so God spared them.

Beloved, may we who have received Jesus Christ as our Savior delight in the understanding of His consistency!