Hymn Story for "Wonderful Words of Life"

Hymn Story for “Wonderful Words of Life”  
By William Petersen

As a child raised in a rural log cabin in Pennsylvania, Philip Bliss loved music. The only musical instrument he owned was a flute his father had whittled for him from a cane. Philip hoped to buy a cheap violin, so he picked a basket of berries in the swamps and sold them door-to-door. Hearing the music of a piano coming from one house, Philip went to the door and listened, but the pianist told the barefoot ten-year-old to go away.

Two decades later, Philip Bliss was directing the music in evangelist Dwight L. Moody’s evangelistic campaigns, where Bliss had become known for his singing voice and for the gospel songs he wrote.

When Moody’s brother-in-law, Fleming H. Revell, was launching a new religious periodical, to be called Words of Life, he asked Philip Bliss to write a song for the first issue. Revell suggested both the title “Words of Life” and the text, John 6:67-68. In these verses Jesus sees many of his followers walking away and asks his inner core of twelve: “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Peter replies, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life” (NASB). As Revell requested, Bliss wrote the gospel song, “Wonderful Words of Life.”

Scriptures: Psalm 119:103-105; John 6:67-68; John 8:31-32
Themes: Scripture, Salvation, Comfort

Lyrics of the Hymn:
Sing them over again to me,
Wonderful words of Life;
Let me more of their beauty see,
Wonderful words of Life.

Words of Life and beauty,
Teach me faith and duty:

Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of Life. (Repeat.)

Christ, the blessed One, gives to all,
Wonderful words of Life;
Sinner, list to the loving call,
Wonderful words of Life.
All so freely given,
Wooing us to Heaven:

Sweetly echo the gospel call,

Wonderful words of Life;

Offer pardon and peace to all,

Wonderful words of Life.

Jesus, only Savior, Sanctify forever.

PHILIP PAUL BLISS (1838–1876)

Reference for the Hymn Story:
Petersen, William. The Complete Book of Hymns (pp. 152-154). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Follow Jesus Wholeheartedly!

“So Jesus said to the twelve [disciples], “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You [alone] have the words of eternal life [you are our only hope].”—John 6:67-68, Amplified Bible.

The two verses above paint a picture of a time in Jesus’ ministry when some of His followers abandoned Him and went their separate ways. Jesus asks the Twelve if they would leave too. Simon Peter, the supposed spokesman for the disciples, springs up with this response: “Lord, to whom shall we go?” The statement that Simon makes after asking the question is interesting. It does not only answer his own question but it sums up the purpose of Jesus’ coming. In Matthew 16:16, Simon Peter had acknowledged that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” In John 6:68, he expresses that Jesus alone has the words of eternal life and hence He is the only One who gives them hope.

To stay on the narrow way and to continue to follow Jesus for the rest of our days, we must guard against deception and derailment. Concerning some of the people that quit following Jesus, there is certainly something that became more attractive to them. Perhaps some deception or something that led to their derailment. They say a derailment takes place when a train runs off its rails. In our Christian lives, we must be careful not be lied to or led astray. Instead, “let us [wholeheartedly] lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race set out before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:1-2). Let us always bear in mind the words of Jesus in John 14:6. In the scripture verse, Jesus makes exclusive claims that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that no one comes to the Father except by Him. We, therefore, need to follow Him wholeheartedly. Amen!

Personal Application Questions (PAQs):

1. What does following Jesus wholeheartedly mean to you today?
2. What holy disciplines will you establish to keep you from being deceived and derailed from the Narrow Way? (cf. Proverbs 14:12; Matthew 7:13-14)

*Wonderful Words of Life, August 7, 2017, Devotional Thought

“Have Faith in God” (Mark 11:22): My Bible Verse for the New Year!

Every year, several people have a verse, a word or a theme to guide them throughout the year. About two years ago, I had a Word, “HOPE,” and it was so good when the Lord confirmed it at a Global Impact conference.

Last year, I chose a theme based on Philippians 3:12-14: “God’s goal for us is Christlikeness and we are most like Christ when we are making disciples who make disciples.” This theme was helpful to me in focusing on the Lord and on His discipleship mandate throughout the various activities of the year.

At the beginning of this month, I struggled a little bit figuring out what should be my verse, word or theme for 2017. Of course, our focus should always be on Jesus, but it is also life-transforming to have a specific area on which we purposefully focus our prayer and service opportunities.

One time, during an online chat, I asked a friend what His verse for the New Year was and He informed me that it was Deuteronomy 28:12: “The Lord will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow” (ESV). He also informed me that his theme for 2017 is “honoring others in Christ.”

When my friend asked me, “and yours?” I wished I could articulate it as well as he did. I simply responded, “Thank you for asking! I am still in the clarification process. Please pray for me. Normally, I choose a verse or a word for the year...In November, I took a 40-day prayer challenge but by the second day, I sensed the Lord saying, “It is not about completing some timeframe. It is about spending time with me [daily] and listening to Me."

Following the chat with my friend, he encouraged me to “keep listening” to the Lord. As I listened to the Lord over the next few weeks after the chat, He directed my thoughts to Mark 11:20-25, especially verse 22:

²⁰ In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. ²¹ Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

²² “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. ²³ “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. ²⁴ Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ²⁵ And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (NIV).

A Great Guiding Theme

The central theme (Bible verse) I anticipate guiding my thoughts, study, and conversations with others in 2017 will be “have faith in God” (Mark 11:22). The Bible verse will be both my aim or default position as well as an exhortation to share with others.

This morning, I shared my Bible verse for 2017, with an OASIS (Older Adults Still In Service) group at Community Church in Guthrie, Oklahoma. I made a conditional statement with regards to my central thought/verse as follows:

If we have faith in God, He will make a way for us, He will move mountains that stand in our way, and, in response to His great deeds, we will magnify Him and exalt His name together.

Points to Ponder

There are three main points contained in the central idea above which result from our choice to have faith in God. I will elaborate on each of the points here. I hope they encourage your heart and build your faith.

1.    He will Make a Way for Us (Psalm 32:8)

One of my favorite songs make it clear that, “God will make a way where there seems to be no way; He works in ways, we cannot see—He will make a way for me!” In the same way that He made a way for the Israelites across the Red Sea, I believe He will make a way for those who believe in Him.

As the Israelites headed to the Promised Land, they had to cross the Red Sea and, with Pharaoh’s army with their horses and chariots coming after them, everything looked disastrous and dark—practically impossible. Some of the Israelites probably thought they were going to be driven to their deaths in the sea in front of them. That would have been bad news and would not have been consistent with God’s plan to liberate His people from bondage. The Good News though is that God had a different plan from the one that the Egyptian soldiers had in mind.

God used His servant Moses who stretched his shepherding rod to cause the water of the Red Sea to part and form a wall, thus allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground. However, when they got to the other side of the sea, Moses stretched the rod again and this time, the waters came together and destroyed the Egyptian army that was seeking to destroy them. This reminds me of the lyrics of another old song titled, “How Great is our God” :

How great is our God!
How great is His Name!
He’s the greatest One! Forever the same!

He rolled back the waters,
Of the mighty Red Sea,
And He said I’ll never leave you,
Put your trust in Me.

The Israelites put their faith (trust, confidence, hope) in their God who was yet to accomplish His purposes through them. The Lord still had things for them to do—to make them a blessing to the Nations as He promised to Abraham, one of their patriarchs.

The Lord wants to make a way for us, too. But we must ask ourselves these questions: “Are we willing to trust Him to lead us?” “Are we ready to count on His promises?” For instance, in Psalm 32:8, He makes a promise to us, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you” (ESV).

2.    He will Move Mountains for Us (Mark 11:23)

In Mark 11:23, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.’"

Mountains are obstacles or things that stand in the way. They impede our progress as we seek to do God’s will or to fulfill His purposes. Through our prayers, accompanied with faith in God, they can be removed and cast into the sea. Believing (having faith) in God will accomplish the impossible.

Generally, when God is about to present something like in a theatre, He moves things around. Sometimes, God’s plan requires a move as Abraham had to make a move when God called him out of the land of Ur. Any change or move can be like a mountain, but if we trust in God, He will move the mountain, thus making possible what seems impossible.

Sometimes when something major happens in our lives, we don’t know what to say, think, do, or feel.  It is at such a time that we need to remember what God’s Word says, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Like the children of Israel, we must encourage ourselves with what the Word of God says: “The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And He thrust out the enemy before you and said, ‘Destroy’” (Deuteronomy 33:27, ESV).

We should also recall God’s promises when faced with difficult situations. It is comforting to know that the Lord is our refuge and strength and that His everlasting arms will hold us up and not let go (cf. Psalm 46:1; Deuteronomy 33:7). Similarly, like King Jehoshaphat we should demonstrate our confidence in God when faced with circumstances that seem insurmountable or impossible for us to solve. However, to God, all things are possible. Let us, therefore, express our faith in God as King Jehoshaphat did: “We don’t know what to do but our eyes are on You" (2 Chronicles 20:12). 

3.    We will magnify Him and Exalt His Name Together (Psalm 34:3)

Once the Lord has made the way for us and removed the mountains that stand in our way, we should in response, magnify Him and exalt His name with others. The psalmist captured it so well in his call for us to join him in praising God. He issued the call in this way:

“Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together” (Psalm 34:3, NKJV).

When we are united in praise to our God, it is a powerful thing. In fact, Psalm 133:1 bear this truth: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is; For brothers to dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1, AMP). The New Living Translation uses the word, “harmony” for “unity,” in Psalm 133:1, which then recalls how a choir works hard to ensure that they have good harmony as each singer plays their part well. There’s no competition involved, the choir members seek to be in sync with each other and the Lord.

There are diverse situations we will face in 2017 and singing is an excellent way to weather any storms. I’m encouraged that the Lord “giveth songs in the night” (Job 35:10). May we heed what the apostle Paul wrote while he was in prison:

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

(Philippians 4:4-6, NKJV)

Solomon's Search for Satisfaction

This write-up contains life lessons from the Book of Ecclesiastes that encourage us to keep God first in our lives. It is always best to learn from the mistakes of others. Solomon, through God’s wisdom, passes on some nuggets of truth from his life’s experiences. The article closes with Solomon’s recommendation as to how we should approach life. 

The Author of the Book and Seven Things about him 

Ecclesiastes 1:1, 12, 16 reveal that Solomon, “Son of David, king in Jerusalem” is the author of the book of Ecclesiastes. In this book, there are at least 7 things mentioned about the author, namely:

1.    He had “more wisdom than all who were before him” (1:16, see 1 Kings 3:12)

2.    He gathered for himself “silver and gold and the special treasures of kings” (2:8; see 1 Kings 10:11-23)

3.    He “acquired male and female servants” in great numbers (2:7; see 1 Kings 9:20-23).

4.    He engaged in extensive building projects (2:4-6; see 1 Kings 9:1-19)

5.    He developed a great understanding of plants, birds, and natural phenomena (2:4-7; see 1 Kings 4:33).

6.    He declared, “there is a not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin” (7:20; see 1 Kings 8:46), and

7.    “He pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs” (12:9; see 1 Kings 4:32). [1]

The Key Lesson of the Book of Ecclesiastes

As far as the timeframe and intent of the Book of Ecclesiastes, “Solomon probably wrote this book toward the end of his life, after he had repented of idolatry and his pursuit of foreign wives. Thus, the Book of Ecclesiastes is both a monument to Solomon’s commitment to the living God and a guide for others through the pitfalls and perils of life.” [2]

To learn from Solomon, it is important to consider one of the phrases, “nothing new under the sun,” which he uses in the book of Ecclesiastes. I believe it expresses King Solomon’s skepticism and despair about life, especially when he didn’t have God at the driving seat of his life.  “When Solomon wrote the statement, he was emphasizing the cyclic nature of human life on earth and the emptiness of living only for the ‘rat race.’” [3]

Solomon thought learning, luxury, lust and liquor could satisfy him. He, therefore, tried diverse things hoping they would bring meaning to his life. Unfortunately, they did not make him happy. No wonder, he exclaims in the book of Ecclesiastes that, “Meaningless! Everything is meaningless under the sun.” In other words, they were not satisfactory. Only God could fill the void in his life.  

Examined from another viewpoint, Solomon sought fulfilment in wisdom, pleasure, and possessions (1:12-18; 2:1-3; 2:4-6; 2:7-17) and the result was emptiness (1:18; 2:1; 2:11; 2:17). After he had tried it all, he stated that it was all, “Vanity of vanities…” Vanity is "the futile emptiness of trying to be happy [or satisfied] apart from God." (Nelson’s NKJV Study Bible). I'm glad King Solomon turns to the Lord eventually and concludes the last chapter of the book with these words: "When all has been heard, the end of the matter is: fear God [worship Him with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is almighty God] and keep His commandments, for this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, every hidden and secret thing, whether it is good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Amplified Bible).

Other Thoughts about the Key Lesson of the Book of Ecclesiastes

Below are some additional thoughts or commentaries on the key lesson of the Book of Ecclesiastes. May they encourage you and me to make sure that God is part of the equation of life. Be blessed as you review them:

1.       Life without God is, Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. The lesson the teacher learned from his wasted life is stated for the benefit of others, is, "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" Eccl 12:13 ~Jeba Asir 

2.       “I hated life…” (Ecclesiastes 2:17). Certainly, a statement that deserves our attention from “the wisest, richest and most influential king in Israel’s history”! King Solomon reasons that life “under the sun,” (apart from God) is empty and lacks meaning. He hated it because it was like a “chasing after the wind.” In his pursuit to find fulfillment for his life, he realizes that no “power, popularity, prestige or pleasure” could fill the God-shaped void in a person’s life, but God Himself. However, his remarks in the last chapter show, life takes on meaning and purpose and, consequently, skepticism and despair go out the window, as we “fear God,” and “keep His commandments.”

3.       “Life under the sun when everything has been tried and tested is vanity and meaningless apart from God. But life with the SON finds ultimate satisfaction and meaning.” Also, “As Solomon puts it in the book, there is a great message for our youth to seek the Creator while young.” ~Hash Gudka  

4.       “I think the message of Ecclesiastes is simple, but very deep. Solomon is telling us he's enjoyed great riches and great power and he's seen events unfold personally, nationally, and globally -- there was probably no person of his time with a broader array of life experience than Solomon. So that's the context: the wisest of men with the greatest experience is about to share the secrets of the universe and this is what he has to say: everything we value, everything we think we know, every metric we use to determine success, happiness, influence, and intellect is folly. God makes all these determinations, and His ways are infinitely good and infinitely beyond us. So, be at rest, and live with it.” ~ Jay Barnett 

5.       “Earthly pleasures and public honor pass so fast and are not at all fulfilling - only knowing God lasts beyond tomorrow's heartache. ~Cameron Armstrong

In summary, “Solomon drifted away from God during his lifetime, pursuing different ways to achieve satisfaction [or happiness]. Only after many years of futile searching did he finally remember the true source of peace: a proper relationship with God” [4]. Thus, “Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes to pass on this truth. Satisfaction can only be found by fearing God and keeping His commandments” [5]. This passage captures Solomon’s recommendation to us: 

¹³ Now all has been heard;
    here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
    for this is the duty of all mankind.
¹⁴ For God will bring every deed into judgment,
    including every hidden thing,
    whether it is good or evil.

(Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, NIV) 

References:

[1] Nelson’s NKJV Study Bible

[2] Nelson’s NKJV Study Bible

[3] https://www.gotquestions.org/nothing-new-under-the-sun.html

[4] Nelson’s NKJV Study Bible
[5] Nelson’s NKJV Study Bible

5 Things to Pause and Pray for This Thanksgiving!

In prayer, several intercessors use the acronym, ACTS. Thus, they follow the sequence of Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and, end with, Supplication as they pray. If we focus on thanksgiving, “a prayer expressing gratitude to God,” we will find ourselves with so much to be thankful for in our prayers. For instance, at this Thanksgiving, let us pause and pray thanksgiving prayers for the following five items:

1.    Our leaders, both country as well as our church leaders. The Bible encourages us to offer prayers first for country leaders and other in authority: “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:1-2, NIV). Similarly, we must pray for our church leaders because they are also in authority as far as our spiritual lives are concerned. The writer of the book of Hebrews reminds us of the kind of posture we should have toward those who care for our spiritual welfare: “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you” (Hebrews 13:17, NIV). 

2.    Our parents or parent figures in our lives.  In accordance to Bible teaching, we are to honor our parents in the Lord. Thankfully, it is the only one of the Ten Commandments that comes with a beautiful promise for us: “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12, NLT). This promise, reiterated in Ephesians 6:2, is preceded by with these words, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” (Ephesians 6:1). What a greater thing to honor or obey our parents than to offer a prayer of thanksgiving?  Let us prayerfully thank God for our parents whether they are our biological parents, foster parents or older adults who remind us of our fathers and mothers because of their positive influence in our lives.  

3.    Our family. We cannot imagine life without our family. In so many ways, we are much like our family and we should be grateful to God for our family members. One of my favorite exhortations regarding family is found in the book of Mark and was Jesus’ response to a man He had just healed.  The man wanted to go with Jesus, “But Jesus said, ‘No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.’” (Mark 5:19, NLT).  This Thanksgiving let’s thank God for each of our family members and take time to share with them what the Lord has done in and through us over the last year. 

4.    Our friends. Life without friends is really like a garden with no flowers. Life would be so miserable if we didn’t have friends. It is great to know that even if all our friends turn against us, we still have a friend in Jesus. An old hymn describes Him as a “friend of sinners” and as such He is loving, saving, and keeping towards all those who turn to Him.  Friends are part of our everyday life. In fact, we are so much shaped and influenced by friends. We should, therefore, thank God for good friends. Proverbs 18:24b underscores that “there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother.” Let us be thankful for friends of this kind in our circles of friends. 

5.    Our Salvation—a gift that God has given to us freely—to be evident in our spheres of influence. This Thanksgiving, may our lips express with thankfulness the words of the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:15, regarding the Gift of God’s Son: “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” Jesus is God’s Gift to the world who made it possible for all believers to receive the gift of eternal life. Jesus is also the God-man and the Only Mediator between us and God. The Bible states that the truth of this reality: “For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5, NLT). It is, therefore, by believing in Jesus that we are saved (Acts 16:30-31; Romans 10:9-10). Acts 4:12 rightly puts it this way: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved [except the Name of Jesus]." We must make this known to those in our spheres of influence (i.e. our friends, relatives, associates and neighbors). However, we must keep in mind that we cannot do this only by our lips, we must cultivate a lifestyle that makes Jesus great in all things.

In conclusion, let me encourage us that we don’t limit our thanksgiving prayers to the five things I have listed and described above. Let us expand our expressions of thanksgiving in prayer to include everything as this Scripture verse exhorts us: “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, KJV). Our thanksgiving may also include the good and bad. Why? Because we are confident that God’s Hand is at work in our lives. We are also knowledgeable of the fact that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28, NASB).

Spiritual Inspiration by unknown author!

What does Psalm 46:10 mean?

The verse says, “Be still and know what I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Sarah Young in the devotional book, “Jesus calling,” shares several meanings of the verse:

·         As Young learned to seek God’s Face, “Be still, and know that I am God....” (Psalm 46:10), became a life-changing verse for her. Alternate readings for “Be still” are “Relax,” “Let go,” and “Cease striving” (NASB). This is an enticing invitation from God to lay down our cares and seek His Presence (p. xii). This is in keeping with another rendition: “Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!”—PSALM 46: 10 AMP.

·        According to Young, there is both a passive and an active side [in the verse] to trusting in God.  As one rests in God’s Presence, focusing on Him, God quietly builds bonds of trust between the individual and Himself. When an individual’s response to the circumstances of his or her life are done with affirmations of trust, he or she actively participates in the process. In both instances, God says, “I am always with you, so you have no reason to be afraid. Your fear often manifests itself in excessive planning. Your mind is so accustomed to this pattern of thinking that you are only now becoming aware of how pervasive it is and how much it hinders your intimacy with Me. Repent of this tendency and resist it, whenever you realize you are wandering down this well-worn path. Return to My Presence, which always awaits you in the present moment. I accept you back with no condemnation.” (p. 119).

·        Young believes that Psalm 46:10 is a timeless truth that is essential for the well-being of one's soul. In fact, in other words, the Lord expresses the truth in this way: “As dew refreshes grass and flowers during the stillness of the night, so My Presence revitalizes you as you sit quietly with Me.” Thus, “a refreshed, revitalized mind is able to sort out what is important and what is not.” (p. 258)

(Young, Sarah. Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence. Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition)

Reaching Forward to God’s Goal of Christlikeness in 2016!

^"Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, ¹⁴ I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Therefore, all who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you. ¹⁶ In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained. " –Philippians 3:12-16, Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

I used the Scripture passage above in a sermon I shared at Community Church this morning.  It was humbling to hear how God used the message to touch the hearts of His people. The central idea of the message was that “God’s goal for you and me in our spiritual journey in 2016 is Christlikeness.” To realize this goal, there are three crucial things we must have in place, namely: 1. A START OF OUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY, i.e. to make a decision to follow Jesus if we haven’t already done so; 2. A STRENGTHENING OF OUR FAITH (through fellowship with others, the reading of His Word, and our own desire to grow, cf. Proverbs 27:17; Romans 10:17; 2 Peter 3:18; Ephesians 6:10); and 3. THE SANCTIFYING POWER AND PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

Christlikeness is important in our day and age because of Worship, Our Walk with the Lord, and Our Witness. In worship, we give God His “worth-ship”—He’s worthy of all praise, honor and glory. As we worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:21-24) both privately and publically, our hearts are changed. One writer put it this way:

“…God wants to change your heart. God loves you just the way you are, but refuses to leave you there. He wants you to have a heart like His. He wants you to be JUST LIKE JESUS.” ~Max Lucado

In our walk with the Lord, we experience a constant tension between the things of the flesh and the things of the Spirit. The Apostle Paul has this response, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). The more we draw closer to Jesus, the lesser the temporary things will have a hold on us. The lyrics of a song help to clarify it: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus; Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

Lastly, our witness will result from our Christlikeness as people see Jesus in us and ask questions about spiritual transformation. Let us then be ready to give an answer for the hope that is in us and let us do it "in a gentle and respectful way" (1 Peter 3:15, NLT).

I believe we are most like Christ when we go a step further in our witness and make disciples who make disciples. Let us, therefore, preach the Gospel (share the Good News) and if necessary let us use words!