Sonsofthesea.org

"Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

Tag: Identity (Page 1 of 5)

You Have My Word On It…

August 8, 2026 /

MaryEllen Montville

“I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.” –Psalm 138:2

Today, we’re going to begin at the end—of this verse, that is. We’ll start with its result, the honor of God’s name, then we’ll move on to its effect, reverencing and worshiping of our Lord. Sometimes, to understand a thing better, you have to take a step back to see it more clearly. Today is one of those times. It was the final twelve Words of this psalm that caught my attention. “For your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.”  

There is no greater assurance a man will ever be given in this life than God’s Word.

If God spoke it, promised it—it’s a done deal. “For when God made the promise to Abraham, He swore [an oath] by Himself, since He had no one greater by whom to swear, saying, “I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you.” –Hebrews 6:13-14

I can personally attest to this biblical Truth. Never has there ever been an instance where God has spoken to me, called me to follow Him, assured me He’d lead me or provide for me, and then failed. Not once, ever, in my nearly twenty years of following Him.

Time will surely reveal what God’s Word accomplished in eternity past—regardless of how long it may take any of us to receive it and, if it be God’s will, witness its fruit. What more perfect example of this Truth is there than Jesus’ own final Words, this side of eternity: “It is finished.” –John 19:30.

God’s Living Word accomplishes everything God intended for Jesus to accomplish before Jesus ever left heaven for earth. Let that sink in…

King David understood this.

We witness this truth in the fruit produced throughout David’s life through God’s unwavering protection, provision, and guidance. And today, we’ll read how David white-knuckled clung to this truth in some of the final words he shared before he died.

David’s dynasty and life were ending.

Still, Scripture tells us of David’s indefatigable confidence, even as he faced death, that God would fulfill every Word and promise He had made David—though he himself would not be alive to witness their fulfillment. “Is it not my family God has chosen? Yes, he has made an everlasting covenant with me. His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail. He will ensure my safety and success.” –2 Samuel 23:5

Daniel also understood this, Truth. “Then the king was greatly pleased and ordered that Daniel be taken out of the den. So Daniel was taken out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in and relied on and trusted in his God.” –Daniel 6:23.

We’ll hear from Daniel again soon. He’ll teach us how God alone deserves all our praise, honor, all the glory and our worship…

But for now, let’s stay with David…

David had been chosen by God as the future King of Israel when he was still a young man. Some scholars suggest he was anywhere between 10 and 19 when Samuel chose him from among his brothers and anointed him as king, replacing the reigning king, Saul. At that time, men needed to be 20 years old or older to serve in the army; Samuel had found David tending his father’s sheep. “Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel told him, ‘The LORD has not chosen any of these.'” And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.” “Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.” So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.” –1 Samuel 16:10-12

Now you might be saying, okay, but what does this have to do with David honoring God, like in the last twelve words from today’s verse?

Through faithfully tending his father’s sheep and faithfully serving his father and brothers both, God was shaping David’s heart to one day serve a nation. Through service and obedience, trials and testing, David would learn to trust and defend the Lord His God and His every Promise in all matters, great and small.

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…” –Zechariah 4:10

David did not despise his “small” beginnings, and God saw how humble and pliable, yet valiant and devout David’s heart was in His Hand. “As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand” –Jeremiah 18:6

Throughout David’s life—every trial, test, every “giant” he’d face—David held fast to God: “David answered, ‘You come at me with sword and spear and battle-ax. I come at you in the name of God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel’s troops, whom you curse and mock. This very day God is handing you over to me. I’m about to kill you, cut off your head, and serve up your body and the bodies of your Philistine buddies to the crows and coyotes. The whole earth will know that there’s an extraordinary God in Israel. And everyone gathered here will learn that God doesn’t save by means of sword or spear. The battle belongs to God—he’s handing you to us on a platter!” –1 Samuel 17:45

David, like Moses and Noah, Father Abraham, and God’s prophets, who foretold Christ’s coming, suffering, and salvation—never witnessed it for themselves —yet held fast to God’s leading and guiding. His every Word of hope. His every Promise. Hence, David could come to the end of his life like so many of God’s servants before Him, ready to face the One he had loved and served, fully confident that everything the Lord had promised him would come to pass—not because David would be blessed to see it all; he wouldn’t, he believed, because God said it.

” This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward. They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.” –1 Peter 10-12

What a blessed assurance for us all, beloved. “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.” –1 Peter 10:8-9

I didn’t forget about Daniel.

He’s going to teach us about the first part of today’s verse: bringing us back to the beginning so that we might end up doing what David and Moses, Abraham, the prophets, and Daniel did. What we’re called to do until the Lord returns, or should He tarry, and call us Home. That is to worship Jesus! King of kings and Lord of lords.

To bow before Him in reverence and humility, acknowledging His Lordship over our lives always, in everything we do. “May the name of God be praised forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to him. He changes the times and seasons; he removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals the deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with him. I offer thanks and praise to you, God of my ancestors, because you have given me wisdom and power. And now you have let me know what we asked of you, for you have let us know the king’s mystery.” –Daniel 2:19-23.

Beloved of God, as surely as God has kept His promises to our brothers before us —be encouraged: He’ll do the very same for us—for you.

Hold tight to that Truth, as David and Daniel, Moses and the prophets of old did, as you pray for your prodigal, that parent or friend, yourself, or anyone you’re believing, interceding for. “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” –Numbers 23:19

This same Jesus, the God of David and Daniel, Moses, Abraham, and all the prophets, promises you today, new friend, that if you don’t know Him as Lord and Savior, you can: “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” –Romans 10:9-10

Light Up The Darkness!

August 1, 2026 /

MaryEllen Montville

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.” –Matthew 5:14

Jesus did not spill His precious Blood, paying the ultimate ransom—His life—for you to live small, hidden, or fearful of the judgment of mere men, beloved. To blend into a world that is not your home. To “hide” your Light, Christ alive in you, out of fear of what men may say or think about you. I can almost hear the Apostle Paul shouting to you across the ages even now, “God forbid!” He is reminding you, through his writings, doing all he could to save you from committing such a sin. “As far as the Law is concerned I may consider that I died on the cross with Christ. And my present life is not that of the old “I,” but the living Christ within me.” –Galatians 2:20.

Christ in you is your identity now; in case you’ve momentarily forgotten…

You are no longer your own, beloved. You no longer “get to” live hidden away; if indeed you belong to Jesus, that’s impossible. “You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.” –Matthew 7:16-17

Hear me now: I haven’t come to condemn you, rather to remind you, and myself, of who we are and of the unfathomable cost our Lord and Savior paid, that we be afforded such a privilege as to be His Light-bearers in this ever-darkening world. “He alone possesses immortality [absolute exemption from death] and lives in unapproachable Light, whom no man has ever seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal power and dominion! Amen.” –1 Timothy 6:16

Being offshoots of Jesus’ unapproachable Light, we “get to” shine for all to see, directing men then toward our Father; by following Jesus’ example, who lived His life on earth to draw all men to the Father. “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” –Matthew 5:16

Those who belong to this world, are and will continue to, demand you dim your Light, Christ in you, insisting even that a single Source of Light doesn’t exist, instead, that, there are multiple light sources at work in the world; they do their level best to extinguish the One True Light of Christ altogether—as if they held such power—not wanting their sin or rebellion against the One True God revealed. Like their father, they prefer to hide in the shadows, far from the Light of Christ. “You are of your father the devil, and it is your will to practice the desires [which are characteristic] of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks what is natural to him, for he is a liar and the father of lies and half-truths.” –John 8:44

But you, child of God, and you whose heart God is tugging on even now, you are, or are being called to carry a Light so Pure, so Holy and alive, it cannot be hidden; you cannot stay hidden.

I believe the Lord sent me to you today to remind you to Whom you belong—and that’s not yourself. You belong to Jesus, and He expects you to do what you were created, in part, to do. And that is to shine His Light into the utter darkness so that in seeing your Light, those in the world will be without excuse, having witnessed its Source. “For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification].” –Romans 1:20

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.” –2 Corinthians 4:6-7

Whatever has been holding you back from letting the Light of Christ in you burn ablaze, or from carrying the Light of Christ within you, I came to encourage you today to turn to, or return to, Christ.

Ask Jesus for the strength to push past the voices of those who call you a Jesus freak.

Those who reject you or who have abandoned you completely because of your devotion to Jesus. That husband, wife, or child, mother or father who has grown cold towards you. The boss who says he’ll fire you if you don’t stop talking to your coworkers about this Jesus, enough already! Stop it! We don’t want to hear about Jesus any more! Don’t you get it! Just go away already…

Take heart, beloved, keep pressing into Christ. He will strengthen you to finish the good works He has called you to do. “We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” –2 Corinthians 4:8-10

Weary soldier, fearful new friend, ask God’s Holy Spirit to fill you, or fill you afresh, if you’ve never asked, with the same fiery Light and power He freely gave those who first prayed in faith believing He would. “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.” –Acts 2: 1-3

Then, let Jesus’ Light, this same Magnificent, Pure, Holy Light that has been piercing the darkness of men’s hearts for millennia, burst forth out of you, like a bridegroom from his bedchamber, unashamed and undeniable. You are God’s messenger: A Light carrier for the King of Kings. You are partnering with heaven when your Light burns brightly and unashamedly before all men—especially those who reject you for His name’s sake. “I tell you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God. / But whoever denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.” –Luke 12:8-9

Blaze on, beloved! In the power of His Might! “Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.” –Daniel 12:3

Friends, you can carry this Magnificent, saving Light of Christ Jesus in you, but first, you must ask Jesus to be Lord and Savior of your life. Won’t you do that right now? Be freed from the darkness and walk in Pure Light… “because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.” –Romans 10:9-10

I Have Decided.

April 25, 2026 /

Maria Braga

Have you ever sung the following song? We sing it weekly at Highland City Church; it is sung not only as an anthem but also as a declaration, reminding us that our lives here on earth are very short, while eternity is forever. John 10:28-30 reminds us of this Truth. “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them to me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. My Father and I are one.”

I have decided to follow Jesus,

I have decided to follow Jesus,

I have decided to follow Jesus,

I won’t turn back, I won’t turn back!

Though none go with me, still I will follow,

Though none go with me, still I will follow,

Though none go with me, still I will follow,

I won’t turn back, I won’t turn back!

The Cross before me, the world behind me,

The Cross before me, the world behind me,

The Cross before me, the world behind me,

I won’t turn back, I won’t turn back!

“I have decided to follow Jesus.” –The formation of the martyr’s words into a hymn has been attributed to the Indian missionary Sadhu Sundar Singh. An alternative tradition attributes the hymn to Pastor Simon K. Marak of Jorhat, Assam. Timeless Truths Free Online Library. Retrieved 2011-10-09.

The true and powerful story behind this song is a sad, deeply moving one that convicts us, makes us look into our own souls, and ask: “Where is my faith?”

This hymn was inspired by and lived out in the life of Nokseng, a Garo tribesman from Meghalaya, India, in the nineteenth century. Nokseng and his family were killed after converting to Christianity when he refused his village chief’s demand to deny Jesus.

Such an honorable story of true love and a dedicated, sold-out life to Christ!

When we “decide” to follow Jesus truly and genuinely, exchange our old, sinful life for His Agape Love, our lives are transformed in such a powerful way that no one can persuade us to turn back.

Uncovering the power of love in this well-known song brings tears to my eyes. Each time I listen to this song, it reminds me of my ongoing need to build my house/faith on the Rock, Jesus. Jesus said that to build our lives on him is to build our lives on the Rock. Because Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is the Rock. He is the only foundation of a well-built faith. Luke 6:47-49. “Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the Rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, it immediately fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

The power of establishing our lives on “the Rock,” Jesus, is crucial to our temporal journey; we must decide to follow Jesus, and not turn back to our old way of life.

The Bible speaks of two builders in Luke’s Gospel: the wise and the foolish.

  1. The Rock represents Jesus’ teachings and a life built on obeying His Words and trusting in Him, leading a person to a strong, unshakable life in Christ, even in the face of trials and tribulations. Jeremiah 17:7-8 says: “They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green”. Jeremiah beautifully describes this trust and obedience as like a tree planted by the water. He talks of a specific stream, representing spiritual stability and resilience; a person who thrives without living in fear and sees the fruit of their faith even though they may be experiencing a dry desert season.

We must keep this promise before us!

  • The sand represents a life built without a foundation, a shallow life. This type of person hears Jesus’ Words but ignores them and puts no value on them. This type of building collapses when hardships or temptations arise.

This Scripture is a metaphor for how we choose to build our lives.

Our lives are built either on something solid, which is faith, trust, and obedience to Jesus Christ, or something unstable, the things of this world, going our own way, and neglecting God’s Word. Through this Scripture, we see that a house built on the sand will soon sink. Building on sand is building shallowly, on the surface, with no substance or foundation to hold it up. One foot in the world and another hoping to go to heaven.

Individuals who attempt to build their faith on the sand have no security, no deliverance, no healing, and no promise to hold on to. The first windstorm to come through their lives will sweep through it. They are a building that is shaky, doubtful, and uncertain about the future.

Here are some questions for each of us to answer:

1-How am I building my spiritual life as a follower of Jesus?

 2-What am I building my spiritual life upon?

3-When no one comes with me, will I still follow my Jesus?

4-If I am not following Jesus, why not?

I pray our answers are full of assurance and in line with God’s Word.

The Cross must forever be before those who believe.

We must produce the Fruit of the Holy Spirit. If we are not bearing fruit, we need to check for cracks in our foundation.

Nokseng was so convinced of his faith that facing death didn’t move him.

He was so assured of his destiny, so strong in his belief, he refused to deny Jesus right up to the end, regardless of the horrific cost before him in the way of anguish and agony as he watched his entire family be killed, one by one.

What an example of faith this individual left for us.

His 19th-century life story of martyrdom in Northeast India is still very much alive today, inspiring us to live with spiritual vitality, fervency, and a sold-out love for Jesus.

Father, in the Mighty and powerful name of your Son Jesus Christ, I lift to you every person reading these words. I pray blessings over them. I pray they are encouraged. I pray it strengthens their faith or brings them to saving faith, Jesus. If anyone reading these words does not know you as Lord and Savior, my prayer is that they surrender their life to you and begin their walk of faith in the power of the Holy Spirit, eternally, never to turn back. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Undeniable Faith In Uncertainty.

September 6, 2025 /

Matthew Botelho

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” –John 14:5-6

I have asked this same question of Jesus a few times myself in my walk with Him, “Alright Lord, I have done what You’ve asked of me. I don’t know where we’re going next, but I trust You.”

Does this sound familiar to anyone? You know you heard God correctly and that you did what He asked of you; now for the “what’s next” part.

The moments of uncertainty God allows to help us grow in our faith and reliance on Him.

Just as muscles in the body need daily exercise and resistance for them to get stronger, our faith needs to meet resistance to grow as well. “Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” –2 Peter 1:5-8.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” –Hebrews 11:6.

We read of the disciples’ trust in Jesus throughout scripture. How they have left their homes, families, and places of employment when He called them to follow Him; everything they found safe and familiar was left behind to follow Him for three plus years.

God began directing their paths, and they all followed by faith, not knowing what tomorrow would bring.

Are you willing to do the same?

To “trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not in your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” –Proverbs 3:5-6

I love reading the New Testament scriptures and learning how Jesus called some of the disciples to follow Him.

Each of them had that one moment, that very personal, unique encounter with Jesus that changed their lives forever. And their encounter with Jesus continues to impact and change lives, still.

Jesus started His His ministry—to spread the Gospel and build His Church, with four fishermen from Galilee, Peter, Andrew, James, and James’s brother, John. When Jesus saw them, He said of them each, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” – Matthew 4:19

And you know what they did?

They left everything behind and followed Jesus.

Fishing was how they all made a living; yet when Jesus asked them to follow Him, they immediately dropped everything they knew and followed Him. Scripture doesn’t say they asked Jesus where they were going. These men had no agenda. By faith, they dropped their nets when He called them, quit what they knew, and went with Jesus. “They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” –Matthew 4:20

And then there’s Matthew.

How Jesus called Matthew is truly amazing to me. It shows me that no matter what people think of you, God will always have the final say.

Matthew was a tax collector for Rome before He encountered Jesus. During Jesus’ day, if you were a Jew and a tax collector, you were hated by your own people. Considered a sellout to their Roman oppressors. They were also hated because many tax collectors would overcharge the people and keep some of that money for themselves, lining their own pockets with money that had been hard earned by their Jewish brothers. But Jesus saw something more than what others saw in Matthew’s heart. “As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.” –Matthew 9:9

 Jesus knew Matthew’s occupation, sure, but He saw his heart—something valuable in him.

Your career will never outweigh the purpose God has for you.

Your job doesn’t define you.

Your true identity is revealed to you by Jesus once you have a genuine encounter with Him. Then, He will call you saying, “Follow Me, ” wherever He may lead you.

When I read how Jesus called Nathanael, I chuckled.

Nathaneal meets Jesus and is blown away by what Jesus says to him. They have never met, yet somehow Jesus knows all about Nathanael. “Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards Him, and said of him, ‘Behold, and Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” –John 1:47

Jesus sees Nathaneal and knows how much he loves God.

There is no lie or deceit in him. That sounds to me like Nathanael keeps the Word of God close to his heart and has spent his life putting it into practice. Now, Nathanael gets to speak and serve Jesus, the very Word made flesh. “Nathanael said to Him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” –John 1:48

When you least expect Him to, God sees you.

 When you are at your happiest or at your lowest, God is there.

Jesus is present during times of uncertainty and He is also present when you’re feeling confident.

Scripture does not say why Nathanael was sitting under a fig tree. It simply states that God saw him there. How truly comforting this is for you and me. “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” –Romans 8:38-39

Nathanael knew God. Had been searching for Him. Yearning to see Him.  Nathanael didn’t need to see Jesus do miracles or teach the multitudes. What Jesus spoke to him was enough for him. So, when Jesus asked Nathanael to follow, Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree’, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” –John 1:50

I wonder if Jesus smiled when Nathanael answered Him? Why? Because in that one moment,  by Jesus just speaking to him, Nathanael believed Jesus was the Son of God. May we, the believers in Christ Jesus,  witness the “greater things” Jesus talked about with Nathanael.

Who is Jesus to you?

Jesus asked this same question of His disciples, and Simon Peter responded with this:

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” –Matthew 16:15-16

What a powerful declaration of faith.

Jesus is the Christ!

He is Lord!

Every Blood-bought believer will say, “Jesus is my Lord and Savior.” Yes, Jesus is your Savior, and yes, your sins have been washed away by Jesus’ Blood shed for you. And yes, Jesus gave His life for you so that you can live eternal life with the Father.

But is He your Lord and master? Or is He just a man who has good moral teachings? Is He one way to get to heaven? Or is Jesus your Lord and Savior? Does His Holy Spirit live in your heart, guiding you, calling you, as He did His disciples? Is Jesus Lord of your family? Your finances, job, and your decisions?

Do you obey His Word, or is your guide other people’s opinions?

Are you trying to please man or God? Does God have your full attention?

The apostle Paul writes to the church in Galatia, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? For if I still please men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” –Galatians 1:10

We don’t have all the answers. But because we have God’s Word, we do know this: All Jesus ever asked of His disciples was to “follow and obey Him.”

It’s no different for us; just follow Jesus, even if you don’t understand where He’s leading you yet, just be obedient and follow Him. It will all be made clear. As His follower, I can promise you that. “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” –Galatians 6:9.

My prayer to my brothers and sisters is that, whatever the circumstances, God has the final say in your life. Be rooted in your faith and know that whenever storms come, Jesus has you. Amen. “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, I will like him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” –Matthew 7:24-25

And for you, friend: Such undeniable faith can be yours. How? It starts with Jesus. He made it so simple for us to have a genuine relationship with Him that even a child can do it. Invite Jesus into your heart as Lord and Savior. He promises He will come to anyone who sincerely invites Him into their life—no matter their past. “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” –John 5:24

Skandalon.

August 9, 2025 /

MaryEllen Montville

“And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.” –Luke 7:23

Oh! It is a great blessing to be put through the fire, if you come out purified. It is a sweet mercy to have to go through the floods, if some filthiness may thereby be removed. The children of Israel went down to Egypt to sojourn there, but after hard servitude and cruel oppression, they came up out of it with silver and gold, much enriched by their bondage. –Charles H. Spurgeon (MTP 15:657).

Skandalon: A Greek word meaning stumble, trapped, enticed to sin, or be caused to fall away.

In today’s verse, skandalon is used to mean: to be discouraged or put off. In modern speak, then, Jesus might say something to this effect, “God blesses those who don’t walk away from Me because they’re put off, discouraged, or disappointed by something I have or have not done or allowed to touch their life.”

I believe my liberty in paraphrasing to be biblically sound because it echoes back to how Jesus answered those disciples John the Baptist had sent to ask Him this question: “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” –Luke 7:19

A bit of context: John was locked away in Herod’s prison; this much we know for sure.

But based on the question he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, we can only speculate that he may have been feeling discouraged or disheartened momentarily by the weight of the looming knowledge that he’d likely never see the outside of his prison cell again. Wondering maybe if this was the end of his days of “crying out” in the wilderness?

Perhaps, in succumbing transiently to his frail humanity, John might have started to wonder if someone other than Jesus would come and do even greater works?

John believed Jesus to be the Messiah. Knew He was. He’d confessed Jesus to be the Savior and had told others as much. Telling them that he wasn’t even worthy to untie Jesus’ sandal strap! “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.” –John 1:29-31

John’s miraculous conception, his life and future calling, had been marked by God; from the womb, John had been anointed and called to prepare the way of the Lord. Listen to what John’s Father, Zechariah, a priest of God, a descendant of Aaron, prophesied over his son on his day of dedication: “And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God…” –Luke 1:76-78.

And so this prophecy happened, as all true prophecy will…

“In the time of the high priest Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. And he went into all the surrounding region of the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight! Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be leveled, and the crooked will become straight, and the rough road will become smooth, and all flesh will see the salvation of God.'” –Luke 3:2-6

Yet now, having been locked up in his prison cell, as the days turned into weeks, perhaps John’s mind got the better of him and he began to wonder…

Could someone else be coming? One who looks more like how most think, expect, the Messiah to look, a Warrior King, more like King David before Him? Perhaps he’ll set me free from Herod’s prison? Free me to go back to preparing the way?

Was John’s discouragement, disheartenment, or possible disillusionment the reason Jesus responded to John’s disciples in the way that He did? Being Sovereign, surely Jesus knew John may have dropped a ball or two as he juggled his faith, his knowledge of Jesus, and his faulty, unfulfilled expectations. Hence, Jesus’ Words: “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.”

In our quest for Truth—for Jesus, to know Him, we must humble ourselves and accept that Jesus may come looking, answering our prayers, or displaying His Sovereignty, differently than how we expect—He is, after all, God and can and often will do or show up—or not, however, whenever, and wherever He so pleases. More, who are we, to expect anything from God at all!

So it is not for God to explain Himself to us; rather, it is up to us to subject our faulty, fear-filled, pride-filled thoughts, feelings, or momentary weakness to Jesus’s Lordship. “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.” –Ephesians 1:19-22.

Beloved of the Father, let us not fall away, then, due to our immeritorious notions, our brazen expectations of how Jesus ought to show up, do, or not do something, concerning our life or world at large.

Let us take heed instead to what Jesus had to say to another of His servants who came with very human yet faulty questions of his own: read Job, Chapters 38-40, and, as you do, ask God, His Holy Spirit, to bring any correction needed to your heart: “The Lord said to Job: “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him! “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line? What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” –Job 40:1-2; 38:4-7.

Now listen to Job’s response to his Lord’s questioning. “I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer—twice, but I will say no more.” –Job 40:4-5. Though Scripture gives us no such exchange ever taking place between John the Baptist and Jesus, I have to wonder if an inner heartfelt confession similar to Job’s bubbled up within John. Surely, as the days clicked past and the oppressive weight of his dank, dark prison cell pressed in on him, because of God’s tender mercy, this crushing produced a precious oil that eased John’s burden and washed away all his questioning.

I can only imagine this man of God began to encourage himself in the Lord, as King David once did, by reminding himself of all he knew, had seen, heard and experienced, of Jesus, the One He once said of: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” –John 1: 32–34.

I have no doubt we, too, must humbly and sincerely confess the same statement in our hearts when, in our weak as water flesh, we become disappointed or disillusioned with what Jesus is or is not doing in our lives.

Friend, if you don’t know Jesus as John did and I do, you can. I encourage you to ask Jesus to reveal Himself to you today, believing that He will. “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” –Acts 4:12.

Are You Known By Jesus?

July 12, 2025 /

Matthew Botelho

“You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather from thornbushes or figs from thistles?” –Matthew 7:16

No one knows the heart of man better than his Creator. Today’s teaching looks at the heart of a man. It helps us distinguish between those who do evil and those who do good, using Jesus’ Words as our guide: “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather from thornbushes or figs from thistles?” –Matthew 7:16

Thorn bushes and thistles produce only dry, thick thorns, which can cause harm. They are not “good fruit”; they will hurt rather than sustain a man. The apostle Paul writes to the church in Galatia about such “fruits”. “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” –Galatians 5:19-21

None of these “fruits of the flesh” will sustain a believer in Christ Jesus. Each of them will lead to separation from God as well as spiritual and, potentially, physical death. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” –Romans 6:23. Therefore, every branch that does not produce good fruit is removed. “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” –John 15:1-2

When we come to Christ, branches that once produced the fruit of the flesh in our lives are cut off. Meaning, Christ makes our old heart new as the fruit of the True Vine, Jesus, being rooted in love of the Father, begins to produce the fruit of the Spirit within us. “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” –Galatians 5:22-23

Yet to bear good fruit and to be in right standing with God, we need to abide in Jesus. We can do this by reading His Word daily, through worship, and by being intentional about carving out time to be with Him. “If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.” –John 15:6-8

Brothers, we need to be washed daily in the Word of God and to pray daily, asking Jesus to examine our hearts. And then repent and pray for God’s forgiveness over whatever His Holy Spirit might reveal. As the apostle Paul writes, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” –Romans 12:1-2

Do not allow worldly desires to take root in your heart.

Every day, we wage war against our flesh —a spiritual battle for those who are in Christ Jesus. Some days this war may feel like a minor clash, and other days, a full-blown battle raging between your spirit man and your flesh, filled with thoughts hell bent on obliterating your walk with Christ. “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” –Galatians 5:17-18.

Before David fought Goliath, he says, “Then the assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.” –1 Samuel 17:47.

How does this apply to you?

The same God who fought for David fights for you.

So you can rest assured that whatever battle you’re facing, God is already in it, and your enemy will be defeated. Even when it comes to your struggle with temptation, God will deliver you from its grip. The apostle Paul reminds us, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For our weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, no one said it would be easy, not even Jesus.

Yet what good is your faith, how strong, if it’s not firmly rooted in God’s Word? “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” –Romans 10:16-17.

As new believers, we are excited about our faith and about Jesus, but that excitement starts to die as we stop reading our Bibles and our time of worship and prayer falls away. We let the fire that once burned so white-hot within us die out because we fell back into our old lifestyle, or got comfortable and complacent, all while still trying to live a life for Christ.

Jesus calls this “lukewarm,” and it’s not a good place to be. “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth “–Revelation 3:15-16

My brothers and sisters in Christ. We are bought by the Blood of Jesus; your sins are forgiven. Do not let this be a license to do what you want to do. Don’t harm yourself by reaching for the thorns instead; go for the good fruit. Jesus said, “Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” –Matthew 7:22. If your hands are cut up because you’ve been playing around the thorns, repent, turn back today. Jesus is calling you back to Himself that you might heal and go in search of good fruit yet again. “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” –Mark 1:15

Amen.

Even If.

April 26, 2025 /

MaryEllen Montville

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” –Daniel 3:16-18.

There is a hymn most Christians would instantly recognize; moreover, whose hearts would joyously and with complete abandon declare. I have decided to follow Jesus; No turning back, no turning back. Tho’ none go with me, I still will follow, no turning back, no turning back. Some say this familiar hymn was composed in 1959 by hymn editor William Jensen Reynolds using what is said to be the last words of a Christian convert of the mid-18th century as he and his family were being martyred for their faith. Other sources say these final words of the martyr, Nokseng, of the Garo tribe in Assam, India, a tribe looked upon as bloodthirsty savages, were turned into a hymn written by the Indian missionary Sadhu Sundar Singh.

Whoever you may credit, this most sincere declaration is indelibly etched on our hearts. No question, each devout word took flight from Nokseng’s lips. This man was so in love with Jesus, so thoroughly convinced that Jesus is who He claimed to be and will do all He claimed He would do, that not even death, his own, nor that of his two sons and beloved wife, would deter him from turning his back on Jesus.

When Nokseng said there’d be no turning back, he meant it.

I pray the same can be said of you and me, beloved.

Mirroring Nokseng’s heart and flintlike faith, the Apostle Paul echoed his own fixed determination never to turn away from Jesus approximately 15 centuries later: “Yet every advantage that I had gained I considered lost for Christ’s sake. Yes, and I look upon everything as loss compared with the overwhelming gain of knowing Jesus Christ my Lord. For his sake I did in actual fact suffer the loss of everything, but I considered it useless rubbish compared with being able to win Christ. For now my place is in him, and I am not dependent upon any of the self-achieved righteousness of the Law. God has given me that genuine righteousness which comes from faith in Christ. How changed are my ambitions! Now I long to know Christ and the power shown by his resurrection: now I long to share his sufferings, even to die as he died, so that I may perhaps attain as he did, the resurrection from the dead” –Philippians 3:8.

If you have decided to follow Jesus, I pray the height and depth of their words and determined following burn as white-hot in your own heart, no turning back.

You may ask, “What do this song and the apostles’ words have to do with today’s Scripture verse?”

To which I’ll reply, “Everything.”

Much like the martyrs Nokseng and the Apostle Paul, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego each made a firm decision never to turn away from following Jesus. “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up” –Daniel 3:16-17.

Long before the moment came when each would face the very real threat of dying for Jesus, each had long before determined in their heart that his life was no longer his own. “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]” –Matthew 16:24 Amp.

How blessed are you, dear Christian, to follow the One, True God, Jesus, who does not ask of His disciples something He is unwilling to do. How blessed we are that our Jesus goes before us in all things pertaining to faith and commitment to God, and by modeling how it is done, Jesus, our Greatest example, was willing to lay down His life in obedience to the Father’s will. “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father” –John 10:18.

Resurrection Sunday is just an arm’s length behind us.

Yet, the same “ever-before-us” decision asked and answered by those who have given up their lives for Jesus remains. “Brothers and sisters, together follow my example and observe those who live by the pattern we gave you. For there are many, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, who live as enemies of the cross of Christ [rejecting and opposing His way of salvation]” –Philippians 3:17-18

As we plainly witnessed here today, those who claimed they followed Jesus did, in fact, do just that—even unto death.

Beloved, recognizing our life is a living sacrifice, we too must decide to follow Jesus’s ultimate example of obedience and love for the Father, knowing with unwavering certitude that, no matter what happens, believing what awaited Jesus on the morning of the third day awaits us as well. “Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life—no longer captive to sin’s demands! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That’s what Jesus did” —Romans 6:6-11.

So, new friend, have you decided to follow Jesus? No turning back? I’m praying you will. “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die” –John 11:25-26.

Link Up.

March 15, 2025 /

Matthew Botelho

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” –Ephesians 4:4-6.

The older I get, the more I understand that it is not all about me; I’m only one member of Christ’s Body, the Church. Maybe I had an “all about me” mindset when I was younger, but that is no longer true. As I’ve grown older and wiser, I’ve gotten better at seeing the big picture. One I was incapable of understanding when I was young, for instance, like recognizing things God has planned for me and the family He has given me. I know for sure the Church He has rooted me and my family in, and his plans for all these are far greater than I could ever have imagined. Isn’t that just like God, though? To give and show us “exceedingly and abundantly above all we could ask or hope for.”

It’s mind-blowing to think that God has so much more to reveal to us. Having faith in Jesus makes life more enjoyable and bearable; by faith, the trials of this world fall by the wayside.

While in prison, God spoke to the prophet Jeremiah. “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” –Jeremiah 33:3.

God also tells Jeremiah, “For I know the thoughts that I think of you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope” –Jeremiah 29:11.

Knowing God’s perfect plan for my life is secure in Him brings me great comfort.

God tells Jeremiah these things so he will encourage the nation of Israel by sharing with them God’s great plans—plans for good, not harm.

As followers of Jesus, we should be encouraged because we have been grafted into these promises. In his writing to the Church in Galatia, the Apostle Paul reminds us of this: “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.” –Galatians 3:29.

Brothers and sisters, God has not forgotten His promises to His children, to you.“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our Spirit that we are children of God, and if children then heirs–heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” –Romans 8:16-17.

This single Truth is for each of us; it is greater than any of us.

As the Church, we need to come alongside one another to edify, pray, and submit ourselves to God—not just as individuals but as one Body, united. Men, women, and youth united as one voice praising our Lord Jesus. An army of believers, ready, waiting for Jesus’ return.

Jesus told His disciples, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another as I have loved you. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” –John 15:34-35.

We are to walk in unity and love one another.

Did you catch that?

Your brother and sister in the Church are not your enemies.

We only have one common enemy, and he is Satan. He is a thief and a liar. He wants nothing more than to take you and your whole family out. Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” –John 10:10.

We are called to love one another with brotherly love.

Granted, not every personality is our cup of tea; some personalities may be more abrasive, while some are more sensitive. As a result, they may clash with each other, yet we are all needed in the Body of Christ. The apostle Paul writes: “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.” –Romans 12:10-13.

 The Apostle Paul reminds us: “For as the body is one and has many members, but all members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free–and all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.” –1 Corinthians 12:12-14. Jesus is the One who connects us all, uniting us as One in Him, as each one of us contributes whatever gifts God has given us.

You are valued, brothers and sisters, deeply loved by Jesus.

You’re a treasure in the kingdom of God, carrying the Holy Spirit everywhere you go, bearing fruit in season for the glory of our Father.

As I started out saying, when I was younger, I may have thought everything was about me.

Today, as one belonging to Jesus—because of His work in my life, I know for certain it is not about me in the least; it’s all about Jesus.

My prayer is that we put away the divisive squabbling and get out of our flesh, our earthly mindsets. The flesh will never agree with the things of the Spirit because it does not comprehend the workings of God. After all, God is Spirit. Jesus told Nicodemus, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit” –John 3:6-8.

Let us link up together, brothers. Time is growing short, and our pettiness must stop. We are called to be the Church, to be faithful with all God has given us. If He came today, would Jesus find us being His Church? not according to world standards of what the Church is or should be, but according to the standards God has decreed through His Son Jesus.

I pray that this teaching has edified and has spoken unity into your lives and that all who proclaim Jesus as Lord will be saved. I invite you to come to our Lord Jesus, repent your sins, and ask Him into your heart. Today is the day of salvation. Jesus says, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” –Mark 1:15. Amen.

His Peace In Rejection.

February 1, 2025 /

Matthew Botelho

“When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? “Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” –Matthew 13:53-56.

We all want to feel valued and loved by our families and friends, not to mention our brothers and sisters in the church. So let me ask you, have you ever been rejected or laughed at for your belief in the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Have your friends and loved ones ever looked at you in such a way that made you feel like you are an outsider looking in? Or have family and friends just stopped talking to you because your love for the Lord Jesus has superseded the love you have for them?

My dear brothers and sisters, if any of this is the case, you are in good company because Jesus also went through rejection when He was teaching and doing miracles in His hometown of Nazareth. His own people, even His own blood brothers, rejected Him. Can you believe that? Not only the townspeople but His own brothers!

They all, family, and townspeople, remembered Jesus as the son of a carpenter, a mere man. They could not see Him as He truly was, the Son of God, their Messiah. Their focus was on the Jesus they knew or had known. However, the Jesus who stood before them taught and preached with power and authority; He knew His true identity. He was from the Father, and nothing, or no one, would stop Him from doing what He was called to do. Jesus said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” –John 12:32

Jesus reminds us that even within households and intimate relationships, division will arise because of Him.

There is always a cost to be paid, my dear friends, when following God’s ways. In Matthew 10, Jesus reminds us of this heavy truth: “I did not come to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.” –Matthew 10:34-36. Wow.

Think about the life you once lived, your BC life (Before Christ), and how friends and family viewed you.

Maybe you partied a lot with drinking and drugs, etc. Then, one day, your BC self-had an encounter with Jesus, and everything you knew totally changed. Your heart changed, and your mind was renewed. You became a new creation. The apostle Paul writes about this very thing to the church in Corinth, “Therefore, if any is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” –2 Corinthians 5:17 Paul also writes to the Romans, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” –Romans 12:2

My dear friends, some people in the world are uncomfortable with change. They expect people to stay the same, never changing or growing. This can even happen within the church if God calls you to do something specific, become a missionary, write a book, be called to preach, and teach God’s Word or lead a ministry. Some will look at you and say, “Wait, isn’t that… and wasn’t he/she just doing ____________, but now they’re teaching a Bible study? Who do they think they are!” To that, I say let them talk and for you remember what Jesus told Peter, “You follow Me.” –John 21:21. My dear friends, even if the rejection comes from those you serve alongside and love, remember you are first and always in the hands of Jesus—obedient to Him above all others.

Who’s to say that God’s not preparing you for the work of the ministry? Jesus says, “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” –Luke 14:11.

Friends you have known for years will eventually see the transformation Jesus has made in you and question, “What happened to you?” Then one of two things will happen: They will either accept the change—the new you or reject you, maybe altogether. But a faithful friend will stick with you no matter what, and a really loyal friend will rejoice with you that God has chosen you to grow into the someone He destined you to be, to fulfill His call and purpose in your life. “A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.” –Proverbs 17:17.

Some friendships will remain rooted, but the sad reality for the believer in Jesus is that some friends will reject you.

Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” –John 15:18-20. Just because you are rejected by men, hold tight to the fact that you are always seen and accepted by your All-Loving, Omnipotent, and Ever-Present God who saved and loves you. Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come to that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” –John 10:10-11.

We may lose what is temporary, but we gain what is eternal in Christ Jesus.

If you are experiencing rejection right now, know that Jesus is with you. Rejection is a heartbreaking experience. Jesus, I believe, may have felt that heartbreak when the very ones He loved were offended by Him and His message. “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” –Matthew 13:57.

Sadly, we are not always accepted where we should feel the most comfortable.

I pray this teaching will encourage you to stay strong in your faith even when all others reject you. How? By clinging to the Truth. “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” –1 John 4:4

Be renewed this day by receiving Jesus as Lord over your life. Be washed and cleansed by His precious Blood, which was shed for you. “For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” –2 Corinthians 6:2. Let today be that day of salvation. The day you’re made new in Christ Jesus.

Amen.

 “What does it matter, Follow Me!”

January 11, 2025 /

Matthew Botelho

Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” – John 21:22.

Blessings and happy 2025 to our Sonsofthesea family! I pray the lessons we learned in 2024 were used to help us grow and will be put to use in the new season God has blessed us with. I pray you encounter new opportunities to share the Gospel, dive deeper into God’s Word, learning more of God’s will for your lives. In case you’ve forgotten, You are all very special to God. Let me remind you of Jesus’ finished work on that cross. How He paid your sin debt with His life. How He shed His precious Blood for you, for each of us; your salvation, our salvation, is a gift, and what an amazing gift it is to be set free from sins icy, cold grip. “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” –1 Corinthians 15:55.

“The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” –1 Corinthians 15:55-57

Last year I posted a teaching here entitled “Follow Me.” Today, I felt a need to revisit it.

I love this small bit of scripture in John 21:21-23. There is so much going on in it. “When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

To give you context for the heart of today’s teaching, let’s briefly revisit John 21:15-19:

“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Jesus restores Peter during this beautiful conversation. It is a reminder that even if you fall short, Jesus is there to restore you. Jesus knew Peter’s heart. That Peter was sorrowful and repentant after having denied Him. In verse 19, Jesus looks at Peter and says, “Follow Me.” After forgiving and restoring Peter,  Jesus and Peter continue talking when John suddenly walks up behind them.

Soon after seeing John, Peter asks Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” I love Jesus’ answer to Peter, and I pray that this hits home with you as well because it sure hit home with me, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?” –John 21:23.

Jesus told Peter not to worry about what He had planned for John. All Peter needed to do was follow Jesus and do all Jesus had for him to do. In other words, don’t focus on who is around you and their actions. Stay in your own lane. Do the work Jesus has given you to do.

I pray YOU will follow Jesus the way He has called YOU to go this year.

I believe we are all looking for significance in our walk with Jesus. We are made for more than just sitting and waiting for Jesus to return. In John 6, the people asked Jesus, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” –John 6:28-29

Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:33 of what is most important in our daily walk with Him: To Seek first the kingdom of God. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

I pray fulfilling Jesus’ command to seek God’s Kingdom first will become your heart’s anthem throughout 2025. God wants you to follow Him as He has instructed you. Forget about what others are doing. Focus instead on what Jesus calls you to do. We can get so lost in our wants and desires, thinking, “I would love to teach like that one…” or “I would love to pray like they do…” yet that may not be the path God has chosen for you; God never called anyone ever, to walk in someone else’s anointing.

Yet you have no idea what it costs that brother or sister to walk in their anointing.

Jesus said, “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it. Lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, “This man began to build and was not able to finish.” – Luke 14:27-30.

Remember Jesus’ Words, my friends; carry your cross and count the cost of what it means to follow Him. Yes, there will be moments where you feel alone, but you are not alone. Jesus said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” –Matthew 28:20.

You may feel like what the Lord has asked of you is too much for you, and it is. Remember, it is Jesus who is doing the work through you. “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” –Philippians 2:13.

The work is finished.

In John 19:30, Jesus assured us of this Truth before He gave up His Spirit to the Father, “It is finished!” Jesus is faithful in bringing you through hard times. Remember, “He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” –Philippines 1:6.  

The above Scriptures are only a few of the promises Jesus has given us to cling to in times of trials or weakness; there are so many more.

Friends, don’t let 2025 be filled with comparison. If we are Blood-bought believers in Jesus Christ, then we’re not competing with each other; we are One Body—His Body. “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all.” –Ephesians 4:4-6.

Let 2025 be the year we walk in unity as we follow God’s path for our lives.

With all that said, the bottom line is this, will you follow Jesus into 2025?

« Older posts

© 2026 Sonsofthesea.org

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑