Tag: Christ

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He Is Always There!

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Romans 8:35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? (NIV)


Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: (MSG)

Word Study

Who – G5515 τίς tis who?, what?, which?, why?

Separate – G6004 χωρίζω chōrizō, to divide, separate, leave; (pass.) to be separated from, set apart

Thoughts…

Notice ”The apostle says not (remarks CALVIN nobly) “What,” but “Who,” just as if all creatures and all afflictions were so many gladiators taking arms against the Christians” (Jamieson, Fausser, and Brown Commentary).

I find it fascinating that this verse starts with who. Have you been in situations where people tried to tear you apart to other people? Some have believed their lies and they walked out of your life. Let me assure you right now…GOD WILL NOT WALKOUT! I don’t care if the nasty little rumors are true. He will not leave you. He is always there waiting for you right by your side. There is nowhere you can go that He is not there (Psalm 139:7). They is no sin that you can do that will make God turn his back on you. Like the prodigal son’s father, he is standing in the driveway with open arms waiting for you to run into them. 

No one, not even you, can separate you from God’s love. He is there waiting for you to call on Him, so he can wrap His love and grace around you and bring you home. 

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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Take My Hand and Stand

Philippians 1:27


Life Worthy of the Gospel
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel (NIV)

Word Study

Together – G5254 συναθλέω synathleō, to contend at one’s side, together

Firm – G5112 στήκω stēkō, to stand, stand firm, be steadfast

Thoughts…

In this very significant section of the letter, Paul urged the church members to dismiss their pride and to live and serve together in unity. Anything less falls short of the gospel’s standards. True unity will be realized by authentic meekness and selflessness, ultimately exemplified in the earthly life of Jesus. The attitude the church should exhibit was the one Jesus maintained (HCB Commentary).

Do you want to be a rock in this world of swirling storms? Then join fellow believers instead of tearing each other down. We aren’t each other’s enemy! We need to stand united against the real enemy. Pray for one another. Reach out to one another. I don’t care what religious title you hold. Baptist, Luthern, Methodist, Catholic, Pentecostal, whatever name is on the building where you choose to worship does not matter. We are one in Christ!

Let’s rise up together, look Satan square in the eye and remind him, ”No! WE are Legion and WE are a force to be reckoned with!”

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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Remind Me Again Lord

Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (NIV)

Word Study

Command – H7422 צָוָה ṣāwâ, to command, order, instruct, give direction

Thoughts…

God is all-sufficient. I have commanded, called, and commissioned thee to do it, and will be sure to bear thee out in it. When we are in the way of duty, we have reason to be strong and very bold. Our Lord Jesus, as Joshua here, was born up under his sufferings by a regard to the will of God, and the commandment from his Father (Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary).

When I instruct students it is because I need them to know something. I don’t expect them to already know it. However, there are times when I need to remind them. God never expected us to be without fear. In Joshua 1:9 he is reminding Joshua, and us, it is OK. The fear you are feeling is natural, but you can let go because I got you. I am with you. I sent you on this mission and will be with you and equip you with everything you need. Let me remind you just how much I love you!

Instructions not only teach us new things, but they also remind us what we already know. 

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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Remember the Thief

Ephesians 4:14

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. (NIV)

Word Study

Cunning – G3235 κυβεία kybeia, cunning, craftiness, trickery

Craftiness – G4111 πανουργία panourgia, cunning, craftiness, deception, duplicity

Deceitful – G4415 πλάνη planē, error, delusion, deception

Scheming – G3497 μεθοδεία methodeia, scheming, craftiness, strategy

Thoughts…

In his New Testament epistles, Paul frequently warned his readers to be on guard against false teaching (e.g., 2 Cor 11:3–4). These cautions reveal that from an early point Christianity was open to distortions and heresies that took many forms through overemphasis on some and denial of other central Christian teachings (Archeological Study Notes Bible).

 Believe on the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31). the Lord with all your heart and love others as yourself (Mark  12:30-31). I don’t read in these verses anything about wearing or not certain clothing. I don’t see hairstyles, piercings, or tattoos. I don’t see any must-have rituals. So why do people get so hung up on things like that when judging others and their walk with God?

Don’t let anyone other than God dictate your walk with Him. Remember the thief on the cross died right after believing in Christ and went to heaven with him that very day.

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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Now Straighten That Crown

Corinthians 15:56-57
It was sin that made death so frightening and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage, its destructive power. But now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three—sin, guilt, death—are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank God! (MSG)

Word Study

Sting- G3034 κέντρον kentron, sting, goad

Power – G1539 δύναμις dynamis, power, ability; miracle; ruler, an extended meaning of a person or supernatural being who has administrative power

Thoughts…

Thanks to the victory of Christ, death will be finally abolished. This is great encouragement for all believers to persevere faithfully in the Lord’s service, knowing that “labor in the Lord is not in vain” (HCB Commentary).

We are so blessed. We have always had the privilege of Jesus destroying death for us. We don’t have to worry every second about what happens when we die. We don’t have to carry around huge heavy loads of guilt and perform long rituals. 

When Jesus died he took away Satans power. There is no more guilt-filled legal system to hold us down.  

“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55


Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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But It Is Just A Little

Galatians 5:9
A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough. (NIV)

Word Study

Yeast – G2434 ζύμη zymē, yeast, leaven

Thoughts…

Yeast is generally a symbol of evil or corruption in the New Testament. The metaphor includes the idea of a tiny amount of yeast being able to ferment a large amount of dough (Archeological Study Bible Notes). *see Mark 8:15

A pastor once gave a sermon on sin. He held up a glass of water and asked, ”Who would like a drink of water?” One man raised his hand. The pastor then said, ”Come on up. It only has a little arsenic in it.”

I also recently saw a commercial where people were going into what looked like a restaurant where they were giving out water. The gentlemen explained it only contained the legal amounts of lead in it based on what area of the country it came from. Needless to say in either situation no one wanted to drink the water. 

Sin is like the arsenic or lead or even the yeast. It doesn’t take much to destroy everything good around it. We need to watch every step. Even the white little lie is still a lie. 

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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What Do You Already Know!

1 Samuel 12:24
But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. (NIV)

Word Study

Fear-H3707 יָרֵא1 yārē’1, to be afraid, be frightened; to revere, respect; to be awesome, be dreadful, be feared; to frighten, terrify, intimidate; in some contexts fear relates to terror and fright, in other contexts fear relates to honor, respect and awe, as in “the fear of the LORD”

Thoughts…

I use to teach middle school math. My students would get anxious over learning something new. To help them out I would tell them let’s start with what we know. I would throw a new problem up on the board and away we would go. Eventually, we would get to the new part but they had the confidence to tackle it because they remembered how far they had come already. 

Life can throw us for a curve sometimes. Anxiety can build when a new challenge is presented. It can even make us want to drop everything and run the other way. When this happens set down and remind yourself where God has taken you already. What has He seen you through? What do you already know? I am not saying things ahead will become simple an easy right away, but you will get there.

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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The Rainbow Comes AFTER the Storm

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (NIV)

So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. (MSG)

Word Study

Weary-G1591 ἐγκακέω enkakeō, to give up, become discouraged, lose heart

Reap-G2545 θερίζω therizō, reap, harvest

Thoughts…

We are all very apt to tire in duty, particularly in doing good. This we should carefully watch and guard against. Only to perseverance in well-doing is the reward promised (Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary).

I read a devotion recently that asked a simple question. Am I choosing to give up because it’s the right thing to do or the easy way out? Sometimes God does tell us to stop or change directions. It is part of the growing and understanding process. However, there are times in our life we are asked to keep going. It may be painful or lonely, but it is a road we must travel to get us where God needs us. We need to learn to be steadfast in those moments. Keep hanging on; your reward is coming.

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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He’ll Leave the Light on For You

Romans 8:35

Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: (MSG)

Word Study

Separate – G6004 χωρίζω chōrizō, to divide, separate, leave; (pass.) to be separated from, set apart

Thoughts…

Paul’s conclusion to the first half of the book emphasized the majesty and glory of God and pointed to the certainty of God’s redemptive plan. All that happens to them rests in the sovereign hand of God, who in all things “works for the good of those who love him.” Believers gain assurance knowing that God is for them (8:31). In all the testings and sufferings that confront believers, they can be confident that they are more than conquerors through Christ who loved them. Believers can expect difficulties in this age; yet they can be certain that nothing will be able to separate them from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus” (HCB Commentary).

Repeat after me, ”NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING can take me away from God!” No one can do this. You can’t even do this. You can’t run away. You can’t sin so bad that he won’t forgive you when you ask. He is there and will always be. Yes, even in those times when you feel totally alone. You are not!

You know if God could had a catch phrase it would be something like Motel 6. “He’ll leave the light on for you.”

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

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For Today, You Can Choose To Not Be OK

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV)

Word Study

Good – G19 ἀγαθός agathos, good; good as a positive quality (vs. bad), good as a moral quality (vs. evil):– good, clear, right, better, favor, fully, generous, grain, helpful, kind, pleasant, surplus, useful

Thoughts…

It cannot be that He ‘of whom, and through whom, and to whom are all things,’ should suffer that purpose to be thwarted by anything really adverse to us, or that He should not make all things, dark as well as light, crooked as well as straight, to co-operate to the furtherance and final completion of His high design (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary).

This verse is the most well-meant verse Christians use when someone is in trouble. However, in the midst of the pain, it doesn’t help. I want you to know today it is OK to not be OK. It is OK to need to curl up and just take a moment to cry, be angry, confused, afraid and hurt. Let God hold you. Tomorrow will come and when it does we will face this together and know God has our backs. But today take your moment and I will sit here with you quietly praying that when you’re ready we can face that purpose together. 

God has a purpose for everything but we don’t have to face that purpose today. Today we can choose to just not be OK.

Copyright © 2019 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.