JESUS; Our First and Last Bus Stop

Dear Reader,

Today I will be sharing with you some truths learned from the story in Mark 2:1-12. I hope you are blessed. 

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Mark 2:1-12 (Emphasis on verses 5 & 11) - “1 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!””

     This is the story of the paralyzed man that Jesus healed as a result of the faith of his friends who let him down through the roof the room where Jesus was teaching. Vs 5 & 11 stand out to me most especially because of the weight of truth in them.

Truth 1: The first thing Jesus did was to forgive the man’s sins when he was brought to him. Why? Why didn’t Jesus deal with the visible issue that was staring everyone in the face? (The paralysis) From this I learned that God values my spiritual health over the physical and therefore He often deals with my spiritual needs before attending to my physical needs. Not that He doesn’t value my physical health. He does. But the salvation of my soul comes first. After all, this body will perish.

Truth 2: My faith moves God to work. Vs 5 states that it was when Jesus saw the faith of the friends that He began His work in the paralyzed man’s life. faith, even as little as a mustard seed is powerful. Faith moves God to work. FAITH TRIGGERS OUR MIRACLES!

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Truth 3: Jesus is the only solution to the physical and spiritual needs of my friends, family and myself. He alone has the power to heal and to forgive sin most importantly (vs 10). Doctors may try to meet health needs, other humans may try to meet financial and other needs, but ONLY Jesus can solve the needs of the heart, soul, and spirit.

Truth 4: Am I bringing my friends and family to Jesus? The 4 men who brought the paralyzed man to Jesus knew that his solution could only be found in and with Jesus Christ. And so, they went to such great lengths (passing him through the roof) just so Jesus Christ could minister to their friend. To what lengths have I gone to bring others to Jesus? Have I even made an effort to bring them to Jesus? Will I have souls to greet Him with on the last day? I must point others to Jesus for their solutions and not to man. Jesus should be the first and last bus stop.

ONLY Jesus can restore completely; physically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and otherwise. He is the most powerful being in heaven and earth. Hallelujah.  

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#selah

In Christ,

Shanpepe

What is Your Calling?

Dear Reader,

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Have you been called to teach children? To cater to the less privileged? To work with teenagers? To raise awareness for a cause? To go to the mission field? WHAT IS YOUR CALLING?

“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things you will never stumble,…” (2 Peter 2:10)

“…I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4:1)

Both verses talk about my calling.

Who has called me?

To what life have I been called to?

Why must I be sure of my calling?

All these are questions that arose in my heart after reading both verses.

Who has called me? JESUS has called me. He has called me because He has a purpose and plan for my life that I can only fulfill when I have answered His call. He cannot force His plans and purposes for me, on me.

To what life have I been called? In Ephesians 4:2, there are listed some characteristics that I must possess which are proof of the life I have been called to. Some of them are humility, gentleness, patience and bearing with others in love. These are the characteristics of the life that God has called me to. And these are not characters that just anyone can possess. Only through the help of the Holy Spirit can I exhibit such qualities. This also means that the calling I have received is not a trivial one. It demands a change from my nature of sin, to a new life of Jesus that is uncommon in this world of sin and perversion. My life must match my calling. If I claim to be called of God, then my lifestyle must prove that indeed, I am of God. What man claims to be a soldier yet is timid, fearful and lazy?

Why must I be sure of my calling? I must be sure of my calling so that I will remain strong and steadfast. I must do all I can to confirm my calling and election as the Bible says. For me, this means that I must make every effort to know for a fact what God wants me to do with my life, what purpose He has for me, what ministries He has called me to and how exactly He wants to use my life for His glory. This means that I must desire a sense of understanding so I know what God wants/demands of me. When I know what God’s will and purpose for me is, I will not be confused. Neither will I travel the wrong path for my life which will be filled with unnecessary obstacles (I do not mean there will be no obstacles) because I am on the wrong path and have no understanding on how to navigate it. This is where I will stumble, and woefully.

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When I am walking in purpose and understanding, I will be able to navigate my path of travel very accurately. Therefore, I must desire to really know my calling and when I do, I must strive to live a life worthy of that calling. I must be careful not to try and fit myself into someone else’s calling. God has a special plan and purpose for me that I will fit perfectly into like a puzzle piece. All I need to do is to ask Him to reveal my purpose to me and help me live it.

Dear Lord,

Help me to live a life of purpose. Grant me understanding of the calling You have given me. I cast aside every distraction, pride, selfishness and other things that would keep me from entering into all that you have for me. Help me to forgo the past and begin to live for You from this moment. Show me if what I am doing now is what I am supposed to be doing. If it is not, then please realign my life to Your will and purpose. Please show me clearly what gifts and talents You have placed in me and how I can use them for You. May my life count for eternity.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen. 

In Christ,

Shanpepe

God Remembers Seeds

Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 – “Give generously, for your gifts will return to you later. Divide your gifts among many, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead.”

    Generosity is an investment. And what does an investment do? It yields returns for the investor. What is generosity? In my simplest way of putting git, it means giving freely, without expecting anything in return. This is how NIV puts it: “Cast your bread among the waters…”

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    For some of us, it is so difficult to share what we have with others. We cannot bear to let go of the ‘little’ we have or the ‘much’ we have for another to benefit. But do you know that when you give to others you are actually doing yourself a favor? You may think that you are the one sacrificing your money or material things for another but the Bible says that “your gifts will return to you later.”

How? You may ask. The answer is simple.

What goes around, comes around.

What you sow, you will reap.

Do unto others what you want them to do to you.

Get it now?

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    When we give to others, God remembers and when we also need to be given, our gifts make a way of provision for us. Verse two teaches another great lesson. We must not be afraid to give. No. Give recklessly! You do not know where your gift would get to. You do not know who will be helped by your gift. You do not know the risks that life before you.

YOUR GENEROSITY IS AN INVESTMENT.

    And from what I know, investments are usually made for rainy days abi? People invest in order to have something to fall back on a rainy day. This is also applicable here. I must learn to give freely to others because it is really for my own benefit.

GOD REMEMBERS SEEDS.

    God never forgets the sacrifices that His children make for the sake of others. He remembers seeds and honors them.

Give and it will come back to you.

#selah

In Christ,

Shanpepe

FFN - Fine For Nothing!!!

Proverbs 11:22 – “A woman who is beautiful but lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.” (NLT)

“Beauty in a woman without good judgement is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.” (GNB)

Dear Reader,

     I have been pondering on this verse for a while now, particularly because my mom keeps hammering that I must learn to be discreet with money. I can hear her voice saying, “Christine you must learn to be discreet with money oh…” I love the way the Good News Bible puts the verse. “A woman without good judgement…” What is good judgement? This has to do with being able to make right and proper choices, thinking through the consequences of my actions and acting upon wisdom. This means that I must be able to weigh my decisions before I take them. I must be guided by the Holy Spirit in making decision so that I will make the right decisions based on God’s wisdom.

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     When I lack good judgement or discretion, I will live and act carelessly without “want of care” as the law would put it; recklessly. And the Bible likens a woman; in fact, a beautiful woman who lacks discretion to a gold ring in a pig’s snout. What?! Like realy?! First off, this means that beauty is not the ultimate oh. You can be fine and foolish at the same time. As a dear friend of mine would say, you can just be FFN (Fine For Nothing!!!). This is critical because we all know that gold is precious. Now, why on earth would I take gold and put it in a pig’s snout? Like really?! What a waste! A pig’s snout is what it uses to sort out rubbish and garbage oh. Yuck! What a devaluation of such a priceless jewel. This means that I must be careful not to lose my position and identity because of a lack of discretion. I am such a valuable and priceless jewel, but if I lack good judgement, it will lead to poor choices which will lead to wrong destinations (pig’s snout) and also a loss of my identity!

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     Outward beauty is not enough. Good judgement is what keeps me in my place of value. I must also remember that “Beauty is fleeting…” (Proverbs 31) A pig will not value a gold ring because it does not know its worth. Ladies!!! Don’t be a woman who lacks good judgement. Poor judgement will lead to poor decisions and for us ladies, we will end up in relationships with ‘pigs’ who don’t know out value and who will trample and devalue us. Beware of such relationships! I (You) deserve more because I am (You are) of great value to God.

Dear God,

Help me to be a woman of good judgement in every area of my life. May I not fall into the hands of a ‘pig’. Amen.

#selah

I do hope you have been blessed.

In Christ,

Shanpepe

The Wise vs. The Foolish Woman

Proverbs 14:1 = “A wise woman builds her house; a foolish woman tears her down with her own hands.”

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 This verse brings to mind that the preparation for my future begins now. Most importantly, the survival of my home depends on me as well. Most homes today are held together by women. This is not to say that the man plays no role. NO. It is just that if a home fails, blame it on the mother of the home. She is the mover and the shaker, the one who controls the powerhouse of the home. The Bible says it is a wise woman who builds her house. What is wisdom? To me, wisdom is the proper application of knowledge, and wisdom comes from God. The ability to apply the truths of God’s Word is what qualifies me as a wise woman. right now is my time of training, and I must not play about it because marriage/homemaking will be the true test of everything I am learning now.

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WILL I BE A WISE WOMAN WHO BUILDS HER HOUSE?

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  Or will I use my own hands to tear down my house? To build is more difficult than to tear town. A lazy person will never be willing to take the pains to build something that will last. A wise woman builds her house upon the Solid Rock, which is Jesus Christ.

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  The success of my home greatly rests on my shoulders. Make I no use my hand destroy my home in Jesus’ name, amen. Deliver me from the spirit of the foolish woman oh Lord. I am a wise woman and will build my home and not destroy it. 

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I hope you have been blessed.

Sincerely,

Ishanpepe.

Leader or Slave?

Dear Friend,

Would you rather be a leader or slave? The choice is yours. I hope you are blessed as you read.

Proverbs 12:24  

“Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.” (NLT)

“Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.” (NIV)

     The NLT version puts this truth in a very captivating way which reveals a whole to me as a person who especially values of hard work. For me, the phrase that took my attention is “and become”. This is like the consequence of whatever action a person chooses to take. The principle is quite simple.

HARD WORK = LEADERSHIP

LAZINESS = SLAVERY

     These are like two opposites. One leads to the top, and the other leads to the bottom. I choose to see it this way. I am simply Shanpepe. No identity of any sort. I am simply just a person. I am just a girl. However, it is in fact like a blank cheque given to me. Whatsoever I do has its own result. If I choose to work hard and be diligent, I will most definitely become a leader. However, if I choose to be lazy, I will become a slave. Therefore, my fate is sort of in my hands. Becoming a leader or a slave is actually a process; that is why the NLT version puts it as “and become”. The question is, what destination do I have in mind? Laziness will never take me to the position of a leader. Therefore, if I must leader, I must be a diligent and hardworking woman.

LEADER OR LOSER?

     The choice is really mine. Am I willing to pay the price of hard work to become a leader? I think I am. This also reminds me that a leader is more made than born… leadership is a process and the fuel of the journey to the top is HARDWORK AND DILIGENCE…

“Seest thou a man…” Proverbs 22:29

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Let us pray:

Dear Jesus,

     Help me to be diligent and hardworking in every area of my life. may I never run out of the fuel of hard work and diligence on this journey/process to becoming a leader. Thank You for grace to excel.

Amen.

#selah

In Christ,

Shanpepe

Did God Choose Some People to be Christians?

Romans 8:29-30 – “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And he gave them right standing with himself, and he promised them his glory.” (NLT)

I grew up hearing people often ask this question: ‘Why did God choose some people to be Christians and heaven-bound and then chose the others to remain unsaved and hell-bound?’ It made God look like an unfair and unjust God who played favorites with some of His creation. It also made it look like those ‘chosen’ ones must have done something extraordinary to be chose, thereby underestimating the power of GRACE which we never deserve.

Some days ago, I came across Romans 8:29-30 and my heart could not contain the excitement about what I had found! Two verses changed my entire perspective. Guess what?????!!!

EVERYONE HAS BEEN/IS CHOSEN!!!!!

God has called everyone! Okay so lemme back up so we understand this together. The Bible says that God already knew His people in advance and He chose them so that they could become a part of God’s Family. Now vs 30 is the crux of the matter. “And having chosen them, he called them to come…” This is the call of salvation. God has chosen each and every person to be His sons/daughters but YOU must yourself accept His invitation. Once you accept His invitation and come to Him, He will give you a right standing with Himself. Before I go on, the call here is the same as His call in 1 John 1:12 saying that “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (KJV)

When I accept God’s salvation, He will show me His glory as well. God does not select those He wishes should enjoy salvation and sonship. NO. He has chosen everyone. What is left is your response to this call. God is a fair and just God, He does not desire that anyone perish and thus He chose everyone. The offer to enjoy salvation, sonship and God’s glory is open to all!

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What choice will you make? Will you answer to His call now?

Dear reader, if you know you have not answered the call to salvation and a Christ filled life, pray this prayer with me:

“Lord Jesus, thank You because you desire that everyone be saved. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I choose to answer Your call to salvation today. Come into my heart and dwell in me. I receive You as my personal Lord and Savior today. I am committed to following You forever. Thank You for accepting me into Your family. I love You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD!

#selah

In Christ,

Shanpepe

Created For God's Glory

Dear Reader,

YOU have been created for God's glory. YOU have been created and equipped to bring glory to God. I hope this post blesses you.

Exodus 31:1-11 – “Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3 I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. 4 He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. 5 He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft! 6 “And I have personally appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to be his assistant. Moreover, I have given special skill to all the gifted craftsmen so they can make all the things I have commanded you to make:

7 the Tabernacle;[a]

the Ark of the Covenant;[b]

the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement;

all the furnishings of the Tabernacle;

8 the table and its utensils;

the pure gold lampstand with all its accessories;

the incense altar;

9 the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils;

the washbasin with its stand;

10 the beautifully stitched garments—the sacred garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments for his sons to wear as they minister as priests;

11 the anointing oil;

the fragrant incense for the Holy Place.

The craftsmen must make everything as I have commanded you.”

This is one of those Old Testament passages we pass up on when reading our Bibles but which really carries some mind blowing truths in it. first off, we can see that when also equips such a man for a task. He chooses Him AND also equips such a person for the job, adequately. This also reminds me of the fact that I have been made to bring glory to God. Everything I do is to bring glory to the One who made me (1 Corinthians 10:31). The skills, talents and giftings which he has blessed me with are not for mere decoration oh. They are to be used by me to fulfill His purpose. In this passage, God had a desired list of things that He wants for the TABERNACLE (v. 6-11) and so He endowed some men with the necessary skill to get those things made according to His taste. Not that He was handicapped to make them oh. No. but God still chooses us to His work through mere men. Also, when God endows you with a skill or a gift, He gives you the ability of a master of such skill (vs 3). Just like the Bible says that His blessings maketh rich and adds no sorrw to them. God’s giftings are always complete. God is the Master Craftsman and so as a child of God, my artistic expressions are simply a reflection of my Father. 

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The question now is, have I discovered my God given skill and talents? If I have, what am I doing with them? It is important for me to discover how and where He wants me to utilize them so that they will not waste. When I use my skills and talents for the honor of God’s name, that is the best way I can truly be appreciative it. I am CREATED FOR GOD’S GLORY.

Let us pray:

Dear Jesus,

Help me to use my skills and talents to honor You. Thank You for them because I know that You have equipped me with them for a divine task. Help me not to miss that task in Jesus’ name. Amen. May I always remember that I am created for God’s Glory.

#selah

In Christ,

Shanpepe 

It Is Well!!!

Dear Friend,

     So I came across the story of the Shunammite woman some days ago during my quiet time and after studying it much more, came to see it in a new light. I hope you are able to come to the point she came to where she could say that ‘It is well’ even in a painful situation. The story can be found in 2 Kings 4:8-37 but my focus is on verse 26 (King James Version) which says, "Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well:". Here are some thoughts/lessons from this story.

    I admire the calmness of the Shunem woman from the moments of her son’s sickness to the moment he died. She didn’t panic. The Bible does not account for her beginning to doubt the promises of the Lord concerning her child. She remained calm. Even in the midst of chaos, her faith remained steady.

    It still baffles me that she kept saying “It is well”, “Everything is alright”, (NLT version) throughout the entire situation. I mean who does that?! This is a woman who had no child but then eventually became blessed with a miracle child as a result of her service to the man of God Elisha, only for her to lose this same child a few years later. Hmmm!

    I think her repeated affirmation that “It is well” was a sign of faith on her part. She was speaking by faith, believing that God who gave her that child would bring him back to life again. She did not bother sending news around that her son was dead. Instead, she immediately sought for the man of God. And it was only when she got to him that she finally opened up and exposed her true emotions. What do I do when faced with bad news? Do I run around crying to human or do I immediately run to my closet and pour out my heart in prayer?

    This woman was a relentless woman. She insisted that the prophet return with her even when he sent his servant ahead of him with his staff to lay on the child. Her relentless efforts were rewarded when her son was brought back to life by God’s mighty power.

    The writer of the famous hymn ‘It is Well’ Horatio G. Spafford, wrote that hymn after losing his four daughters to a sunken ship. What faith to still say it is well in such distress! You may read the full story here: 

https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-it-is-well-with-my-soul

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    How do I respond to chaotic situations around me? Am I calm and collected through it or am I busy complaining and doubting God’s Word? At such moments, I must put aside calling on any man to help me and run straight to God for help. Most importantly, I must hold on to my faith firmly during such situations. It is my faith that causes me to have the courage to say that “IT IS WELL”, even in the well. I must speak by faith the results I desire even in a chaotic situation because there is power in the tongue! God is the expert of turning chaotic situations into a testimony service. He is my unchangeable changer of humanly unchangeable situations. Halleluyah.

     I leave us with words of the hymn ‘It is Well’:

1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
   When sorrows like sea billows roll;
   Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
   It is well, it is well with my soul.
   • Refrain:
     It is well with my soul,
     It is well, it is well with my soul.
2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
   Let this blest assurance control,
   That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
   And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
3. My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
   My sin, not in part but the whole,
   Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
   Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
4. For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
   If Jordan above me shall roll,
   No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
   Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
5. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
   The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
   Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
   Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
6. And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
   The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
   The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
   Even so, it is well with my soul.
7. http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/It_Is_Well_with_My_Soul/

#selah

In Christ,

Shanpepe. 

Can I Lose My Salvation?

John 10:27-30 = “My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. So no one can take them away from me. The Father and I are one.”

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Can I lose my salvation? This question has always plagued me, especially when I hear people comment about it and say that it is possible to lose one’s salvation; as if it is something that can be lost, just like that. Funny enough, let me state this from the onset, it is not so. I cannot lose my salvation if I was truly born again in the first place. When I am born again, there is a transformation in my identity from dog to sheep. Therefore, when it is argued using 2 Peter 2:22 that “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and a pig same, it is a wrong analogy. When I became born again, I became a new person; I became a sheep of Jesus’ fold. Yes, I will fail and fall, but I will not go back to my vomit or wallow in mud. Sin is like vomit and mud, which are contrary to the identity of a new creation (sheep) in Jesus Christ. A true believer is on the search for freedom from sin. As a new creation in fact, grace causes one to live above sin (Romans 6:14).

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                                     ----   ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED!    ----

Now in the verses above, we further see that one who is truly saved cannot lose his/her salvation. Typical of my style of study, we will consider the key words/phrases in the verses which stood out to me.

·       “sheep recognize my voice” – I consider this the point of salvation, when one receives Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. There is a change of identity from dog/pig to sheep which has recognized Jesus’ voice.

·       “know them, follow me” – This is the point where I become known by Jesus as His child and I become His follower, cultivation a relationship with Him. I cannot truly know a person if there is not existing relationship between us.

·       “give eternal life, never perish” -  Salvation comes with eternal life and so once I receive Jesus into my life and He now knows me, I have eternal life and the Bible says I will NEVER perish!

·        “No one will snatch, away from me” – This is the crux of it all! That once I am saved and in Jesus Christ’s grasp, NO ONE can snatch me from His hand. This reminds me of some lyrics in the song IN CHRIST ALONE that say, “No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand…” NO ONE. Not even Satan. NOTHING, not even sin or hardship or failure or addictions, or struggles can snatch me from His hand. His salvation is everlasting and secure. How? Why?

·       “My Father has given them, he is more powerful” – This is they why and the how! How? Because God has given me to Jesus and why? Because He is the most powerful in all the universe! What He gives, no one can take.

·       “No one can take them away” – Here, the word is ‘take’ and not snatch. I see a little but great significance here. To snatch is done with force. To take requires some consent, or some agreement. Well, Jesus will never consent for me to be taken away from His hands of salvation.

·       “My Father and I are one” – There is unity between God the Father and the Son. This powerful force ensures my everlasting salvation and security.

So, can I lose my salvation? NEVER. It is once saved, always saved for a child of God. My sin and failures are not greater than the salvation that Jesus offers. Halleluyah!

#selah 

I hope that this post has blessed you and served as an assurance of your salvation in Christ Jesus.

In Christ,

Shanpepe.