The word of God teaches us that God Himself is the source of strength. Ps 1211-STATES: I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Oh yes, God is our safe place, and our strength. Psalm 29:11 “The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.” Isaiah 40:29 “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” The word of God teaches us that strength comes through trusting God. Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped.” The word of God teaches that strength is perfected in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9–10 My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness… for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR HELP, STRENGTH, AND PEACE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES. LET US REMEMBER OUR HELP, STRENGTH, PEACE, AND ALL GOOD IN OUR LIFE COMES FROM GOD.
His disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus, Matthew 14:12. WHEN one dies in our home, and our hearts are breaking, we should go and tell Jesus. It will do us good to tell Him. We may not care to tell our trouble to any human friend. Some sorrows are too sacred to be unveiled to any eyes. But we need never shrink from telling Jesus. He can understand our grief, for He knows all human pain, not alone as God, but as man, for He experienced all sorrow. He will treat our sorrow, too, with most delicate gentleness. The very words spoken in love to comfort us fall ofttimes with rude impact upon our bruised heart and give fresh pain. The gentlest touch of a human hand hurts where it is meant to help. But the voice of Jesus is so gentle that its tones fall like soothing music on the quivering heart, and the hand of Jesus is so skillful that its touch gives healing. We need never fear to tell Jesus of our sorrow: He is the truest Comforter and the wisest Healer of hurt hearts.
In Scripture, grace is God’s unearned, undeserved favor—His freely given power, kindness, and help toward humanity. Grace is not merely a feeling from God; it is His active work to save, transform, strengthen, and sustain. Grace = God giving what we could never earn and could never produce on our own. Grace Originates in God’s Character. Grace is not a reaction to human goodness; it flows from who God is. Psalm 103:8 (GW)states: “Yahweh is compassionate, merciful, patient, and overflowing with love.” Grace is rooted in God’s nature, not our performance. Let us understand that Grace Saves. Salvation is entirely a work of God’s grace. Ephesians 2:8–9 (GW) states: “God saved you through faith as an act of kindness. You had nothing to do with it… It’s God’s gift.” Titus 2:11 (GW) states: “After all, God’s saving kindness has appeared for the benefit of all people.” Grace is the source, faith is the means, and salvation is the gift. Grace Trains and Transforms. Grace does not excuse sin; it empowers holiness. Titus 2:12 (GW) states: “It trains us to avoid ungodly lives filled with worldly desires so that we can live self-controlled, moral, and godly lives.” Grace is both pardon and power. Grace Sustains and Strengthens. Grace is God’s ongoing empowerment for daily living. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (GW) states: “My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” Grace is God’s strength meeting human weakness. Allow me to give a brief summary. Grace is God’s unearned favor and divine power given through Jesus Christ. It saves, transforms, strengthens, equips, and sustains believers. Grace is both the foundation of the Christian life and the power that carries it forward. Amen and amen.
TAKE UP YOUR CROSS LET US TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT: Matthew 10:38 Whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me doesn’t deserve to be my disciple. Jesus is not speaking poetically here—He is making a radical, uncompromising call to discipleship. To understand it fully, you have to hear it the way His original audience did. FIRST LET US UNDERSTAND: What “take up your cross” meant in the first century. Before Jesus died on the cross, the cross was not a religious symbol. It meant one thing: Death. Public shame. Total surrender. A condemned person carried their own crossbeam to the place of execution. So, Jesus is saying: “Follow Me even if it costs you everything.” “Die to your own agenda, your own control, your own identity apart from Me.” “Your allegiance to Me must be greater than your allegiance to yourself.” This is not about suffering in general. It is about choosing obedience to Christ even when it kills your comfort, pride, or plans. The heart of the verse is: loyalty that costs something. Jesus is drawing a line: If you want Me, you must want Me more than yourself. If you follow Me, you must follow Me all the way—not halfway. He is not demanding perfection. He is demanding priority. Biblically, the cross is chosen obedience, not accidental suffering. It means denying the flesh, surrendering your will, embracing God’s will, following Jesus even when it hurts. WHAT JESUS IS SAYING IS: “If you want Me, you must follow Me all the way to the end—even when it costs you everything. But in losing your life for Me, you will find the only life worth having.” It is a call to surrender, loyalty, courage, endurance, and love for Christ above all.
THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD. AMEN AND AMEN. ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS?
