The Bible is the story of God’s redeeming work in human history.  The main focus is God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, designed to redeem us and all of creation. In fact, the life and teachings of Jesus are central to shaping our interpretation of passages that are difficult or not easily understood. So, biblical truth convicts us of sin, leads us to salvation, and teaches us how to follow Jesus in daily life.

We can explore biblical truth by understanding:

The Whole Bible is the Word of God.

It is helpful to allow the words of Jesus to guide our understanding of the rest of the story. In fact, the life and teachings of Jesus can shape our interpretation of passages that are difficult or not easily understood.  For instance, after the resurrection, two disciples were walking on the Road to Emmaus.  Jesus joined them and gave them a lesson on how to interpret His own death and resurrection.  He told them that the entire Old Testament had pointed to Him. Christ revealed that His teachings will help us interpret both the Old Testament and New Testament more accurately.

He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself”. – Luke 24:25-27

Here are some steps to follow as we attempt to interpret the Scriptures correctly through Christ:

One of the ways we can grow in our ability to interpret the Bible Is simple. Ask your self how did Jesus interpreted passages from the Old Testament?  You’ll find that many of His teachings are quotes from various Old Testament books.  Many of these are taken from the books of the Torah, the Psalms, and Isaiah.  Here are some good examples:

It is clear from the Book of Acts, that the apostles had a very high regard for God’s Word.  It was their conviction that if they preached the “Word of God” their message would be used by the Holy Spirit and it would have the power to convict and transform. This belief suggests that as the Word of God is preached, it extends the power and presence of the Kingdom of God.  In this way, the Gospel gains power in new regions of the world.  Note the following passages:

When we preach, it is possible for us to draw attention to ourselves rather than to the word of God? The goal of preaching is to testify about Jesus and for God to be glorified.

Does your preaching focus on Jesus, and does it allow the power of the Word of God to be released?

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

The Bible is full of examples of people praying to God and seeing His power at work in their lives. These prayers cover various topics, from requests for help to expressions of thankfulness, and each one is powerful in its own way. 

It doesn’t matter who you are or how perfect your words are—all that matters is that you are genuine before God. Anyone who believes in God will be shown His love and kindness. The truth will set them free (John 8:32)!

The words of the Bible are timeless and can serve as our guide through life. To put you on the right path, these Bible prayers can be referenced whenever you need some help or encouragement:

That all Christians stay one, despite their differences, is also one of Jesus’ most heartfelt requests in the Bible. He prayed for our unity so that the world might believe in God (John 17:20-23).

I do not pray for these alone [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for [all] those who [will ever] believe and trust in Me through their message, that they all may be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe [without any doubt] that You sent Me.

I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected and completed into one, so that the world may know [without any doubt] that You sent Me, and [that You] have loved them, just as You have loved Me.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus said this prayer to the Father. During Jesus’ time on earth, he prayed and wept bitterly, fearing the agony he would experience due to his death and the subsequent separation from God (Matthew 26:36-45). 

The human character of Jesus’ struggle, even though he understood that his crucifixion was unavoidable and part of God’s plan for him, can encourage us greatly. When we feel overwhelmed, we can remember that Jesus had sweat that looked like blood because of his anguish (Luke 22:44).

And being in agony [deeply distressed and anguished; almost to the point of death], He prayed more intently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down on the ground.

He can comfort us because he knows what it is like to suffer, and we can take courage from him to totally surrender in obedience to the will of God, despite the cost to ourselves.

David’s prayer for fury and peace is also included in the Bible, as is his plea for God’s mercy. When David wrote this brief psalm, he was lamenting God over the false accusations that were leveled against him and seeking shelter in God (Psalm 7). 

God! God! I am running to you for dear life;
    the chase is wild.
If they catch me, I’m finished:
    ripped to shreds by foes fierce as lions,
    dragged into the forest and left
    unlooked for, unremembered.

God, if I’ve done what they say—
    betrayed my friends,
    ripped off my enemies—
If my hands are really that dirty,
    let them get me, walk all over me,
    leave me flat on my face in the dirt.

Stand up, God; pit your holy fury
    against my furious enemies.
Wake up, God. My accusers have packed
    the courtroom; it’s judgment time.
Take your place on the bench, reach for your gavel,
    throw out the false charges against me.
I’m ready, confident in your verdict:
    “Innocent.”

Close the book on Evil, God,
    but publish your mandate for us.
You get us ready for life:
    …probe for our soft spots,
    you knock off our rough edges.
And I’m feeling so fit, so safe:
    made right, kept right.
God in solemn honor does things right,
    but his nerves are sandpapered raw.

Nobody gets by with anything.
    God is already in action—
Sword honed on his whetstone,
    bow strung, arrow on the string,
Lethal weapons in hand,
    each arrow a flaming missile.

Look at that guy!
    He had sex with sin,
    he’s pregnant with evil.
Oh, look! He’s having
    the baby—a Lie-Baby!

See that man shoveling day after day,
    digging, then concealing, his man-trap
    down that lonely stretch of road?
Go back and look again—you’ll see him in it headfirst,
    legs waving in the breeze.
That’s what happens:
    mischief backfires;
    violence boomerangs.

I’m thanking God, who makes things right.
I’m singing the fame of heaven-high God.

Over seventy-three of the Book of Psalms 150 books are composed of David’s hymns and psalms. Many of David’s prayers in the Bible were very personal and deeply felt. 

For this reason, the Book of Psalms is sometimes called the “anatomy of the soul.” You’ll find it all there when it comes to feeling thankful, asking for forgiveness, praying for deliverance, and even being angry in Psalms. 

One of the most consoling prayers in the Bible was spoken by King David in 2 Samuel 7:18-29. It is a prayer of thankfulness and a beautiful tribute to God’s greatness.

The prayer of Jabez for strength and protection in the book of Chronicles is one of the Bible’s most meaningful and powerful. Jabez was listed in the genealogy of Judah in 1 Chronicles 4:2-21. 

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would indeed bless me and enlarge my border [property], and that Your hand would be with me, and You would keep me from evil so that it does not hurt me!” And God granted his request.

The Chronicles author provided a brief history of Jabez’s name and a short prayer to the Lord. Even though it was just a few words, it was a powerful plea for protection. 

He seemed meant to do great things in this world and prayed to God for aid.

Hannah’s prayer is one of the most potent ones recorded in the Bible, and it’s one that we should study closely. Hannah was a devoutly religious lady who had to deal with the stigma of being childless. 

Hannah prayed for a son in the temple of Shiloh and swore to devote her child to the Lord. Samuel was born due to her prayers, and she named him after the Lord. Hannah expressed her thanks with her adoration prayer (1 Samuel 2:1-10).

Hannah prayed and said,

“My heart rejoices and triumphs in the Lord;
..horn (strength) is lifted up in the Lord,
My mouth has opened wide [to speak boldly] against my enemies,
Because I rejoice in Your salvation.
“There is no one holy like the Lord,
There is no one besides You,
…no Rock like our God.
“Do not go on boasting so very proudly,
Do not let arrogance come out of your mouth;
For the Lord is a God of knowledge,
And by Him actions are weighed (examined).
“The bows of the mighty are ^[a]broken,
But those who have stumbled equip themselves with strength.
“Those who were full hire themselves out for bread,
But those who were hungry cease [to hunger].
Even the barren [woman] gives birth to seven,
But she who has many children withers away.

“The Lord puts to death and makes alive;
He brings down to Sheol (the grave) and raises up [from the grave].
“The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
He brings low and He lifts up.
“He raises up the poor from the dust,
…lifts up the needy from the ash heap
To make them sit with nobles,
And inherit a seat of honor and glory;
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
And He set the land on them.
“He guards the feet of His godly (faithful) ones,
But the wicked ones are silenced and perish in darkness;
For a man shall not prevail by might.
“The adversaries of the Lord will be broken to pieces;
He will thunder against them in the heavens,
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
And He will give strength to His king,
And will exalt the horn (strength) of His anointed.”

We can learn a lot from Paul’s prayers in the Bible. After his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul spoke about God everywhere he went. He also had a role in the founding of the Ephesian church, and it had been a long time since he had seen them. 

Consequently, Paul composed a letter addressed to the Ephesians in which he asked God to provide the Ephesians with a spirit of understanding that would lead to spiritual progress (Ephesians 1:15-23).

 [I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son]. And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people), and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe. 

The Bible is packed with requests for wisdom and direction, and that’s because we all need it. There are many renowned and powerful prayers in the Bible, but one of the most well-known is Solomon’s request for direction (1 Kings 3:5-15).

“So give Your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart [with which] to judge Your people, so thatI may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge and rule this great people of Yours?”

The Bible is full of powerful Spirit-led prayers that have touched people’s hearts and shaped people’s prayers for centuries. Our prayers reveal our deep emotions as well as the splendor, mercy, and grace of God. These pleas to God have inspired many and will continue to inspire many more people for generations to come. 

Are you interested in knowing more about discipleship organizations in Canada?

Global Disciples trains leaders who live near the least-reached communities to multiply disciples of Jesus Christ and share His Good News. We provide discipleship training to local churches to assist them in activating and mobilizing their members. Contact us and become a part of our community as we spread the Good News of Jesus worldwide.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near to reach least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet, Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. 

We live in a time when many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and practical training and coaching strategy, believers share the Gospel in their nations and cultures. 

Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you want a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

In the Great Commission, Jesus told his closest friends to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). After ministering to others, it’s beneficial to know whether we are actually fulfilling that instruction.

Have we in fact made disciples of the people we’ve ministered to? How can we be sure?

Are we living out Jesus’ Great Commission to make disciples?

Fortunately, the Bible has given us some guidelines to help us define discipleship. Characteristics of righteous people are mentioned throughout the Bible and certainly agree with each other. We must learn to interpret scripture through the lens of scripture itself.

Looking God’s attributes is an ideal way for us to see the qualities we need to reach for.

We need to know who God is if we are to identify His followers.

A disciple is one who is a follower and learner of a person or group. The goal is to learn, live, and be like Jesus Christ.

The path of discipleship is a journey that includes studying the Bible, fellowship with others, receiving ministry, and doing ministry. The Bible gives us a variety of characteristics that are desirable in a disciple.

What are these qualities? The Bible is clear on the qualities of discipleship.

Below are 5 characteristics of a disciple of God, as shown in Scripture, and consequently 5 qualities of God Himself.

The Bible tells us that God is patient with us, slow to anger and abounding in love (Psalm 86:15).

Consequently, the Bible also calls us to be patient, kind, and gentle. We do this by bearing HIS fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22). When we allow His fruit to grow in our lives, our actions naturally become more patient, kind, and gentle.

God is reflected in the Bible as having a very clear plan for humanity and sticking with it (Philippians 1:6). The very life and death of Christ is the fulfillment of this plan. As He resonates through his disciples, they will begin to let Christ become ruler over every aspect. Wasteful living is rejected and daily activities are carried out with the purpose of serving God.

Christ gave up everything to be the ultimate sacrifice for our salvation. The Bible calls us to be living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). This means being willing to give up our own desires, dreams, and comforts to instead be a blessing to others. There have been many examples in history of disciples showing this sacrificial love to violent people whose lives completely changed. They saw their need to also have that kind of sacrificial love.

It is Biblically true that we are all saved by grace and not by works (Ephesians 2:9). Its also true that our works are an indication of our salvation (James 2:18). We are not saved BY good works. But, if we are saved we will DO good works. This is also true in our willingness to work. There is a big difference between resting in the Lord and laziness. Laziness can de defines as not willing to work. Whereas, resting in God is finding the strength in Him to be able to work and work well. A disciple will still work to earn a living, and be willing to work hard as a blessing to others.

In our human nature, we are often quick to judge. How often to we place labels & expectations on others?.

Through Christ, we should be ready to believe the change in others. Its always useful to remember the changes God caused in us. The Bible calls us to always look for the good in others. Just as, in fact, God always saw the potential in us (Ephesians 4). Remember Jonah? He’s described in as having an attitude contrary to God’s attitude toward the people of Nineveh. Nevertheless God worked powerfully IN him and THROUGH him! God saw Jonah’s potential even when Jonah was not living up to that potential. We need God’s grace to be able to see the potential in others.

These 5 qualities of a disciple of God are by no means conclusive.

God is the one who causes His nature to grow within us (1 Corinthians 3:7). We cannot be better people without His strength and guidance. While we all still struggle with sin and can fail many times, by His grace we can start to show more of the attributes mentioned above. These attributes will be some of the markers that can confirm that indeed, Christ lives within us and we are His disciples.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today! 

The Bible is the story of God’s redeeming work in human history. The Bible is the Word of God which convicts us of sin, lead us to salvation, and teach us how to follow Jesus in daily life.

We can explore biblical truth by understanding:

The Word of God is powerful. And, our cooperation is essential for this power to be released within us.

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples” (John 8:31).  In other words, obedience to His teachings will lead Jesus’ disciples to become more like Him.

Obedience opens up our hearts and minds to further truths in the Word of God.  Sin and disobedience prevent us from seeing what is most helpful in our time of need. Obedience allows the Holy Spirit to accomplish within us the transformation which develops Christ-like character.

When the Berean Jews heard the Word of God from Paul and Silas, they received the message with great eagerness . Crucially, they examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. As a result, many of them believed (Acts 17:11). Hearing the word of God is one thing and studying it for life is another thing. It also requires discipline. The Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica.

The word of God is not an empty word. It has the power to transform life (Deuteronomy 32:47, John 6:63).

We must discipline ourselves to read it daily and study it to internalize it. Then we need to obey and teach others (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).

 Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. – Matthew 7:24-27

When we study the Word of God it has the power to stir up our spiritual imagination.  We will begin to have great thoughts inspired by God.  Memorizing the Word of God can help to purify our thoughts and our motives.  Let the Word of God guide you, shape you, and teach you.

Studying the Word of God and internalizing it will allow the Holy Spirit to purify our thoughts.  This will lead to wise, life-giving words and actions.  You will learn to speak the truth in love. Jesus often spoke of the need to be cleansed within so that our words and our actions would accomplish what is best.  “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Luke 6:45).

Whether we curse others or speak a blessing, our words have power. They are never “just words.”  Speaking some of our thoughts helps to bring thoughts into reality, both good and bad.  There are many admonitions in the book of Proverbs that tell us to be careful about our speech for the words of our mouths can bring healing or harm to ourselves and to others.  Many people will be affected by what we say (James 3:3-5).

In Ephesians, followers of Jesus are told that “speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ” (Ephesians 4:15).

What prevents you from maintaining the discipline of daily bible study?

Prior to the invention of the printing press, the books of the Bible were copied by hand by scribes who would make sure that each copy was identical to the original. 

An initial translation of the Old Testament called the Septuagint, took place in approximately the second century before the life of Jesus.  This was reportedly done by seventy Jewish scribes who translated the entire Old Testament from Hebrew into Koine Greek, making it available to Jewish communities who were strongly influenced by Rome (especially in Alexandria, Egypt).

The initial New Testament manuscripts were already written in Greek (and some in Aramaic) since this had become the common language throughout the Roman Empire by the time Jesus was born.  The entire Bible was translated into Latin in the third century by St. Jerome.  This became the official translation of the Church which became very resistant to other translation efforts.

With the invention of the printing press, Christians were quick to realize its value in making the Bible more readily available to every person.  This technology was first developed in China in 1048 and was then more fully developed in Germany by Johannes Gutenberg in 1450; it was then used to print the Guttenberg Bible.  As the Bible became more readily available, it had a powerful effect on people and contributed significantly to the protestant reformation.

Along with making many copies of the Bible, Christians began to translate the Bible into many different languages.  Wycliffe, an organization that continues this translation work today, believes in making it possible for every person to read the Word of God in their “own heart language.”  Did you know the Bible has been made available in more than 1,300 languages?

Receiving the Word of God in your own language has a powerful effect. It communicates God’s love and acceptance of every race, language, and ethnic group.  It is possible because of the foundational Biblical truth that every person is made in the image of God. 

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature^] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. – Philippians 2:5-11

Lectio Divina is an ancient pattern of Bible reading which has enriched the lives of many.  It can be used in personal devotions and in community worship. This practice includes listening, reflecting, praying, and obeying. Here is the process:

Lectio—Listen: ask the Lord to speak, and then read the Bible with a listening spirit.  You may want to read a passage several times or have different people read to you using various translations.

Meditatio—Reflect:  spend time reflecting on what you are hearing from the Lord.  This could include discussion or silent meditation which may be shared with others.

Oratio—Pray: speak to the Lord in response to what you have heard.  Pray the thoughts and ideas which come from the passage, expressing them to the Lord.

Contemplio—Obey: let what you have heard penetrate your life and relationships by being obedient to what the Lord has made clear to you through His Word.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

The Bible is the story of God’s redeeming work in human history.  The main focus is God’s plan of salvation found in Jesus Christ, designed to redeem us and all of creation.  The Bible is the Word of God which is used by the Holy Spirit to convict us of sin, lead us to salvation, and teach us how to follow Jesus in daily life.

We can explore biblical truth by understanding:

Biblical interpretation is simply understanding what a passage of the Bible says in order to live it well.  It is important for us to learn how to study the Bible and apply it to life.  The Apostle Paul says to Timothy, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

It is important to note that understanding the message of the Bible is not difficult.

Most of the Bible was essentially written in a “street language” which means that it is intended to be understood by anyone and everyone; great spiritual insight from God’s Word is not limited to those with extensive academic training—for the Word of God is meant to be read and understood by anyone.  However, it is important that we learn to correctly handle the word of truth.

All of these issues are significant and they do deserve our attention.  For example, it does require a careful reading of the biblical text in order to interpret a passage and apply it to our own cultural context in ways that are faithful to the intended meaning of the Bible.

However, the greatest challenge is that of human pride.

Due to our sin, we are reluctant to accept what God is telling us.  We will do anything to avoid the obvious truth of a biblical text when we are unwilling to submit in obedience to God, our Creator, and Redeemer.  As a result, we often argue or ignore what God’s Word is telling us.  This can lead to divisions in the Church and hostility between denominations.  Confession, humility, and obedience are the steps that bring us back to a place where we hear God’s message more clearly.

Is there a passage of Scripture that makes you uncomfortable because you are unwilling to do what God is asking you to do?

Is there a passage of Scripture that is used to divide Christians in your region into opposing groups?  Jesus prayed for unity among all believers—disunity will harm our witness.  Can you read/study that passage together with those who disagree and become unified?

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

The Bible is the story of God’s redeeming work in human history.  The focus of the Bible is to outline God’s plan of salvation found in Jesus Christ. The Bible is the Word of God which leads us to salvation. And it teaches us how to follow Jesus in daily life.

We can explore biblical truth by understanding:

Genesis states that God created heaven and earth by speaking it into existence.  God said, “Let there be light, and there was light.”  In fact, the book of John explains it like this. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him, nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:1-3).

Throughout His ministry, Jesus revealed that there was power in His spoken word. Jesus who was asleep in a boat when the disciples woke Him up in the middle of a storm.  “‘He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.’  The disciples were astounded.   Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him” (Luke 8:22-25).

When we read the Bible we are reading powerful words, a message from God. It can impact our lives and the lives of others.  As you read the Bible, the Word of God to us, invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
– Hebrews 4:12-13

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
– Isaiah 55:8-11

In the Garden of Eden, God walked and talked with Adam and Eve.  It was God’s desire from the beginning to have a close relationship with mankind, with those made in His image.  The initial stories in the Bible came to us from people who heard from God.  Led by the Spirit of the Lord, these people memorized and passed on these stories to the next generation.

The Bible was written by people who were inspired by God. Divine inspiration allowed each writer to be both humanly creative and obedient to the Spirit of the Lord.

The Bible is comprised of 66 Books written by more than 40 authors over 2,000 years.  The nation of Israel kept the Old Testament books in safety. They carefully made exact copies of the originals.  We know that the text Jesus read was essentially identical to the one we read today. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls helps us understand this.

Jesus expressed confidence that the Old Testament was, and is, God’s word to us (Luke 24:25-27, Luke 24:44-45).  His reference to “the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms” reflects the traditional threefold division of the Hebrew canon. In other words, the entire Old Testament as we have it today.  The early Church was quick to affirm this by practice and through various church councils.

After His death and resurrection, they were instrumental in the formation of the four gospels. And they contributed a number of the letters which form the New Testament canon. In fact, many of these books were written by the Apostle Paul. 

The early Church was required to make some clear decisions when a false teaching called Gnosticism appeared.  Around the year 140, the Roman church received a visit from Marcion, a native of Asia Minor.  Marcion rejected the Old Testament entirely and had selectively chosen and edited some of the apostolic material, purging them of anything that did not align with his views.

This challenge seems to have propelled the early Church to define more clearly the content and the boundaries of the books and letters which came to be known as the “New Testament.” Then, In a series of church councils beginning with the Council of Nicaea in 325, the Church was able to confirm the collection we know today as the New Testament.

Thus, within the first three centuries AD, the early Church adopted the Old Testament as the Word of God, later adding the collection of gospels and letters which form the New Testament that we have today.  The selection process was careful and prayerful.  We now have many early copies of these texts, and they confirm that the New Testament that we read today reflects the original intent of each writer as they communicate God’s word to us.

The Old Testament books are generally grouped into four main sections:

These first five books of the Bible are called the Books of Moses.  They form the foundation for the Bible.  God spoke to Moses on the top of Mount Sinai.  The Lord met with Moses every morning at the Tent of Meeting where He “would speak to Moses … as one speaks to a friend” (Exodus 33:7-11).  The Torah was God’s greatest revelation of Himself prior to the life of Jesus. 

It includes the Creation story, the call of Abraham and the early formation of the Nation of Israel, the release of Israel from captivity in Egypt, the Ten Commandments given at Mount Sinai, and the arrival of the Israelite nation to the Promised Land.  Because God’s message to Moses was so clear and comprehensive, the Torah became the measure of all other messages from God.  From then on, every prophet’s teachings, every word that anyone claimed to come from God, was evaluated by comparing it to the Torah.

These 12 books illustrate God’s patient work with the people of Israel, preparing the way for the Messiah, Jesus Christ.  During this time, Israel entered the Promised Land and was initially guided by Judges until God established Israel as a kingdom. Jerusalem was the capital city and it was here where Solomon, the son of David, built the temple.  After only seventy years as a unified kingdom, the nation divided into two kingdoms—Israel and Judah—in 930 BC.  Both kingdoms were conquered and taken into exile—Israel to Samaria in 722 BC and Judah to Babylon in 586 BC.  In 515 BC, God allowed His people to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.

These five books are treasures for worship and meditation, providing deep understanding of how to experience intimacy with God.  They also address some of the most troubling questions of faith and obedience.  For this reason, they can be very helpful as devotional readings in all seasons of life.

The 17 books of the Prophets were written during the time of the Historical Books.   Like Moses, each prophet was called to speak to the nation of Israel with a message they had received from God.  “Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). They frequently spoke words of judgment addressing the sins of the nation and their failure to remain faithful and obedient to the Lord. Sometimes their visions were about the future, giving hope to the people about a coming Messiah and the ultimate reign of God.

God’s clearest revelation comes to us in Jesus Christ.Colossians 1:15 says, “We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen” (The Message).  The four Gospels allow us to get to know Jesus, but they also teach us how to understand the God portrayed in the Old Testament and help us to fall in love with the God whom Jesus knows.  The Gospels, together with all of the books of the New Testament, are essential tools in understanding and interpreting the Old Testament.

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. ³ The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
– Hebrews 1:1-3

The New Testament books are generally grouped into four main sections:

These are four different, first-hand accounts of the life and teachings of Jesus.  Three were written by disciples who had been with Jesus—Matthew, Mark, and John. These books provide us with a clear picture of Jesus—His birth, life, death, and resurrection.  In all four Gospels, Jesus began His public ministry by announcing the Good News of the Kingdom of God, then dying on the cross and rising again so as to gain victory over sin and death and accomplish our salvation.

Jesus disciple, Luke wrote the book of acts as a record of how the early Church formed and how it grew.  It portrays the early mission efforts—starting in Jerusalem, then spreading throughout much of the known world by the ministry of the Apostle Paul.  Since it is clear that Luke went along on some of the missionary journeys, this book is a collection of firsthand observations as well as other interviews and research.

These 21 books provide a fascinating look at the early Church. They provide deep insights into how to actively live the Christian faith in community.

The Apostle John wrote the book of Revelation. It begins with a vision of the living Christ, enthroned in heaven, who gives John an evaluation of the various regional churches.  The vision then moves through a series of battles that culminate in the final victory over sin and death. The book ends with a vision of all followers of Jesus living in God’s presence in a new heaven and a new earth.

Are there any parts of the Bible you tend to neglect or ignore?

What is God currently teaching you about through His Word?

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

The dictionary definition of an ambassador is this. “an accredited diplomat sent by one country as its official representative to a foreign country.”

Ambassadors act as representatives or promoters of a specific activity.

In fact, ambassadors are appointed by their governments to live in foreign countries. And, at the same time they maintain their citizenship in their homelands. Their role is to reflect the official position of the sovereign body that gave them authority.

The question is how does this relate to being a disciple of Jesus?

In the letter to the Corinthians, Paul discusses the ministry of reconciliation. He uses the term ambassadors for those with whom God has brought reconciliation through Jesus Christ. He has given the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). Ambassadors do not represent themselves. They are always on duty to officially represent the country of which they are a citizen. As ambassadors for our King Jesus Christ, we represent Him in this world. In fact, the only impression many people ever get of Christ is what they see in us. We are the fifth Gospel that our world can read! The main point is that broken people who have been healed are then commissioned to go to other broken people. We are to point the way towards reconciliation. I am a living testimony of that!

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.  (I Timothy 1:15)

As ambassadors for Jesus, we have been sent by Him to represent Him here on earth. In the same way, He represents us before the Father in heaven (Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 3:1-4; 1 Peter 2:12). We have the great privilege of speaking on behalf of him. God has entrusted as ambassadors to represent the ministry and the word of reconciliation.

In all we do and all we say, we should strive to be the very best reflection of our Lord. In Acts 11:26, the disciples were called Christians because they were reflecting Jesus Christ in all that they did. No matter where we go, we should walk with the dignity as one who is an ambassador for Jesus Christ.

We are ordinary people no more. We have been given the ministry of sharing the Gospel of reconciliation with a dying world. In fact, we have been given everything we need to proclaim the gospel to others (Romans 10:14-15). There is only one way to restore the relationship of peace with God.

As ambassadors, we are not allowed to stay shut up in the four walls of the church building. Our job is to take the message of our King to reconcile others with God. There are more than 2 billion people who have not yet heard of the Good News of Jesus. If every ambassador will do their part in sharing about the Prince of Peace, everyone might get an opportunity to hear the Good News and choose to follow Jesus Christ.

The basic mission for all of us as disciples of Jesus is to carry out the mandate given by Him. We must remember that reconciliation is God’s initiative to which we respond through His amazing grace of love.

It is deeply satisfying to help someone come to know and worship their true God. In fact, sharing the Gospel gives us a tremendous sense of significance! We are taking part in the work of eternal worth, sharing in the work of God Himself. God has created us in Jesus Christ to do the work He has designed for us (Ephesians 2:10). That is what it means to be ambassadors of Christ in the world in which we live. May the Lord use us as His official ambassadors to our generation!

Are we representing Christ well as His official ambassadors in our neighborhoods and work places?

What do I need to change to represent Him well?

We created to have right relationships. Both with our Father and with our brothers and sisters around the world. It is a good reminder for us not to forget that our mark as Christ-like disciples is love for one another beyond our localities and denominations. Forgiveness is the other side of the coin of love.

In fact, relationships are restored through forgiveness. It is great to allow the Lord to search our hearts and cleanse us from our guilt (Psalm 139:23-24).

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

We are social beings created for relationships and in the community of disciples.

In Christ-like relationships, husbands and wives must submit to one another in reverence to Christ.

Husbands should submit themselves to love, lead, protect, sacrifice, and provide for the needs of their family. Wives should submit to and support their husbands and families (Ephesians 5:21-33).

Children should submit to respecting and honoring their parents. And parents should submit to raising their children by instructing them according to the word of God (Ephesians 6:1-4).

In the workplace, employees should submit to their employers by fulfilling their responsibilities. And employers should also submit to their employees by seeking the best for them (Galatians 3:28).

We are relational beings, but the sin that destroyed our relationship with God also ruined our relationship with others. This is why life’s greatest hurts, as well as life’s greatest joys, come through relationships with people.

So, how can we overcome some of the challenges we face in our relationships and follow Christ’s example?

We are disciples of Jesus, called to obey His teaching and to follow him no matter what.

… Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what, not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, becoming human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death … (Philippians 2:1-11).

Jesus is God by nature, but He made himself empty and came to this world as a human to serve and live among us to show us the way of a joyful life. He lived by fully submitting himself to what His Father wanted Him to do (John 5:19, John 5:30). He came to serve, not to lord over people. Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus showed us what the Father looks like (John 14:9)—not just what He was like 2,000 years ago but what He looks like all of the time. He taught His disciples to serve as He served them instead of lording over them (Matthew 20:26-28).

As followers of Christ, submitting to one another requires that we hold more tightly to unity and love than to our rights and privileges.  Jesus said that the most important commandment is to love God, and the second most important is to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). If we are going to have Christ-like relationships with others, we need to love people—even people who are hard to love. Jesus set the example for us, coming to die even for the people who hated Him.

Love is a willingness to set aside our own concerns so as to attend to the needs of others. Love is more than a feeling that includes actions (1 John 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 13). Christ-like relationships within the community of believers allow us to love one another deeply, walk-in fellowship with one another, bear each other’s burdens, encourage and build each other to grow, and serve our world together (Hebrews 10:24-25).

When we love one another as Jesus loves us, the world knows that we are the disciples of Jesus (John 13:33-34).  The early Church was known for their love and care for one another as it is recorded in Acts 4:32-34:

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power, the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.  And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them.

The meaning of life is not in having authority over others but in serving them. Paul in his epistles wrote that we should “serve one another in love”—this is a Christ-like relationship (Galatians 5:13; Galatians 6:2; Philippians 2:3). Serving others gives us a meaningful life (1 John 4:10-11). When we kneel down and serve somebody, it makes it harder to think that we are important or mighty. This is why leaders in the Church should be servants (John 13:15); that is the only way that eternal life is going to be enjoyable for everyone. We thank God for leaders who follow the example of Jesus and risk their lives to serve others. True greatness lies not in power but in service—the type of service that Jesus demonstrated.

One of the arenas where we can serve one another is within the community of believers, the Church. As we all know, there is no perfect church, just like there is no perfect person. But the Church is the community of disciples that is designed to help us on our journey to grow together in knowing Jesus. In this community, we learn how to walk with Jesus, remember His sufficient grace and promises, and grow together in experiencing God to serve our society.

This community also helps us to stay focused on our life purpose, and it gives us opportunities to exercise patience and forgiveness which we may not like but which still helps us learn to be more like Jesus. Paul reminds us of the example we ought to follow (Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32).

God has purposefully given us different gifts to serve one another (1 Corinthians 12:11). We need each other just as each part of our body needs the other parts. We have not been given gifts to serve ourselves or to boast about our gifts but to serve others (1 Corinthians 12:14-26). God has given us different gifts “for the common good of others” (1 Corinthians 12:7). We need each other to grow in the image of the Son—the eternal purpose of God—and to reach our world for His glory (Romans 8:29).

When we follow in the footsteps of our master, Jesus, His mercy and grace fill our families, our neighbors, our faith communities, and our workplaces. In all our relationships, we should help one another to grow in Christ-like character, to encourage, and to build each other up (Galatians 5:22-23; Romans 12:10; Ephesians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 1 Thessalonians 5:15; Ephesians 5:22-25; Ephesians 6:1-8).

Living a life that reflects Christ-like relationships won’t be easy and it won’t happen overnight. It takes time, so we need patience with the process, both with ourselves and others. We need faith that God will finish the work He has started in us. God is “a God of mercy and grace, endlessly patient—so much love, so deeply true—loyal in love for a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin” (Exodus 34:6-7). It is my prayer and desire that His character overflows in our relationships with others.

How is your relationship with your family (spouses, children, and parents) and with your neighbors?

How are your relationships at your workplace?

And how are your relationships in the church family?

Are all of your relationships reflecting the way Jesus related with people?

What does it mean to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus in our relationships with one another (Philippians 2:5)?

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

Jesus clearly taught us to forgive all who have offended us, but how do we do it? Learn why forgiveness is essential for our own freedom.

This forgiveness needs to be unconditional and unending just as is our heavenly Father’s forgiveness. In fact, this is required of us because, as disciples, we have already experienced forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15, Matthew 18:22).

Jesus extended forgiveness while He was still in pain on the cross. He pleaded with the Father to forgive those who were crucifying him. This includes the entire human race for we all were found to be guilty with hardened hearts. 

Jesus chose to pray for them so that God would forgive them. He showed His kindness, mercy, and love for them and for us. 

So, if Jesus forgave all those who crucified Him, what right do we have not to forgive those who hurt us?   

In Matthew 18:21-35, Peter asked Jesus how many times to extend forgiveness to someone who hurts us. He asked, “Up to seven times?” Jesus responded with a parable of two slaves who both owed money. The first owed a large amount of debt to the king. And the second owed a much smaller debt to the first slave. When the first slave begged for mercy, the king forgave the entire debt, leaving the slave owing nothing. However, when the second slave begged for mercy, the first slave did not forgive the debt. He had the slave thrown into prison.

Consequently, when this became known to the king, the first slave was rebuked, sent to prison, and tortured. In this passage, Jesus expressed the seriousness of forgiveness— those who do not forgive others will suffer for it. This suffering refers to all of the side effect. Relational, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual elements, that come from holding on to bitterness and anger (Matthew 5:23-24).  That is why Jesus commanded us to make forgiveness a part of our daily life. He does not want us toexperience these effects.

Forgiveness is being obedient to Jesus’ instruction to “love your enemies.” In many cases, enemy number one is one’s self.

Self-forgiveness is essential to self-healing. Each time we forgive someone, our own sense of self-forgiveness and self-worth will grow. It is the true way to improve our own self-image.

Creative imagination makes all things possible in a forgiving state of mind. To the degree that we are healed, that same healing is made available to all those in our lives who have bound us.[1]

The choice to forgive frees us and allows God to mend and restore our broken hearts.

Joseph was imprisoned for many years because of the false accusation of Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39). Now, imagine yourself in his shoes. Can you imagine being falsely accused, losing the reputation you had, losing your job and being put in prison. We can imagine how it feels to have our friends gossiping because of something which is not true. It is painful, and stealing someone’s good name is a very serious sin before God (Exodus 20:16). Yet when we look from God’s perspective, God can restore our reputation as He did with Joseph. Remember that God is the One who will bring the truth to light. We need to remember that God is the one who has the right to revenge, not us (Romans 12:19).  Don’t fight for your reputation—leave that to God!

Friend, the only key to healing the wound left behind is to forgive. Joseph is an impressive example of this (Genesis 45:4-5; Genesis 50:15-21). No one can erase what happened in the past. But the future can be different because God has the power to heal a broken heart through. 

Holding onto offense, refusing to forgive those who wounded us, will block the healing power of the Holy Spirit. Bitterness is a deadly poison that inhibits us from receiving God’s forgiveness and gives us over to torment. The only solution is to release those feelings that we have against others. Allow the Holy Spirit’s forgiving power to restore your soul.

It is very important to open ourselves and allow the Lord to heal our inner wounds as is described in Luke 4:18: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me … He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and … to set at liberty those who are oppressed.”

It is very important to respond to Jesus’ calling to receive the inner healing that He has provided to us (Matthew 11:28-29). Let us release our heavy burden to Jesus, take His yoke which is easy, and learn from Him who has forgiven us and welcomed us to be children of God (Ephesians 4:32).

Is there any broken relationship that you are aware of that needs to be restored?

How quick are you to forgive yourself and others without holding a grudge?

How often do you reflect the forgiveness of God in your relationship with your parents, spouse, children, church family, and neighbors?

[1] Ruth Carter Stapleton, The Gift of Inner Healing, 1976.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

Discover four steps in restoring your relationship with God. Find out how to make your relationship with God strong and healthy.

God created us for a relationship with Him.

Adam and Eve enjoyed that close relationship with God until sin entered the world. The sin that entered the world through our first parents destroyed our intimacy with God and others (Genesis 3:1-8).

However, God didn’t give up.

He took the initiative to make our relationship right with Him while we were weak, sinners, and enemies (Romans 5:6-10). And He is concerned about our relationship with Him more than anything else. He doesn’t care how far we have gone, what a mess we have made or what we have accomplished. Rather, God cares about the relationship that He prepared for us through Jesus. He demonstrated His own love for us by sending His only begotten Son to die for us (John 3:16-18).

Jesus died for us to show God’s greatest love for us and to restore our relationship with Him (John 15:13). In Jesus, God has shown us how much He loves us, even while we are still sinners. In Christ, we are assured of His constant love that will never fail—this is the solid foundation for our relationship with God.

He already has finished His part to make our relationship right. Now it’s our responsibility to accept what He has already done to restore our relationship with Him. He sent His only Son Jesus to take away our sins (John 1:29). He offers us the promise, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:21). Therefore, to make our relationship right with God, we need to live out the following steps.

The first step to restoring our relationship with God is to admit that need His direction. We must accept responsibility for our actions as did the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-17). We need to acknowledge the sin that separates us from God (Romans 3:23) and its penalty of death (Romans 6:23). For many of us, it is very difficult to come to this conclusion of admitting our sins, and we tend to hide or blame others for our sin as did Adam and Eve.

It is my prayer that God brings us to our senses as He did the prodigal son. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!” (Luke 15:17). Admitting our mistake is the first step to restoring our relationship with God—but it is not the end.

The second step in making our relationship right with God is returning to God with a repentant, humble attitude rather than hiding and covering (Acts 3:19; Genesis 3:10-13; Luke 15:18-20; Isaiah 59:2). Returning to God through confession removes the sin that blocks our relationship with Him. When we confess our sins before God, He promises to forgive us (1 John 1:9), and forgiveness is what restores a relationship that has been broken. Some people admit their sinfulness but never do anything about it. Some people even say, “I need to get my life right with God,” but they never actually return to God. The prodigal son did not only plan to get right with his father, he actually took steps to do so; he made a decision and returned with a repentant, humble heart. Some people simply want God to bless them, but they are not willing to make their relationship right with Him by leaving where they are and returning to God. 

The prodigal son did not minimize his behavior as if it were no big deal. He said, “I have sinned against heaven and against you.” And He took full, personal responsibility for his bad choices and actions. He neither blamed anyone else nor did he ignore his own sinfulness. Also, He humbly acknowledged, “I am not worthy to be called your son” (Luke 15:19). In other words, he was acknowledging that he did not deserve anything from his father. This is something we all need to recognize in returning to God to restore our relationship with Him—God owes us nothing and is not obligated to bless us in any way. We don’t come to God making excuses or demands but rather by acknowledging our personal wrongdoing and asking for His mercy. Our God is a loving Father who is waiting for us to be serious about restoring our relationship with Him.

Most of the time, the people who have messed up are not willing to come back home to God because they are unsure they will be welcomed back. No matter how far we have gone, our loving Father welcomes us home. There are seven things that the father does in the story of the prodigal son—looking, running, kissing, giving clothing and ring and sandals, and throwing a feast (Luke 15:20-24). These acts convey the depth of his love and illustrate the heavenly Father’s love for anyone who totally messes up but is willing to return.  God welcomes us home when we come back to Him with humble and repentant hearts. 

The story of the prodigal son’s father gives us a clear picture of our heavenly Father who is always looking for and hoping that His wayward children will come back home. He is a compassionate and loving Father who runs toward us to give us a hug and kiss and welcome us home as soon as we make the decision to return to Him. He shows His love and acceptance to us by giving us the best robe (righteousness), ring (authority of the children of God), shoe (the Gospel of peace), and feast to celebrate the restoration of our relationship with Him.

Making our relationship right with God begins with our spiritual birth (John 3:3-8). As soon as we receive His free gift of becoming sons and daughters, we confess that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Lord (Romans 10:9-10). Our restored relationship with God is the beginning of our ongoing transformation into Christ-likeness (2 Corinthians 5:17-18; Galatians 4:6). We are no more slaves but are His children who serve in our Father’s business (Luke 15:28-32). Let’s live like beloved children and experience our authority as His children (Ephesians 5:1). 

The relationship that God offers us is so intimate that He calls us His children (1 John 3:1; John 15:15) and promises to give us an eternal inheritance (Romans 8:15-17). He invites us before His throne as often as we want (Ephesians 2:18), and He loves us with a love that will never fail. He loves us and accepts the responsibility of providing our needs, protecting us, and helping us to grow toward maturity. Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers (Hebrews 2:11). We praise God for this kind of relationship He has initiated for every person created in His own image and likeness.  Our relationship with God is built upon a life of obedience (Ephesians 5:1). James tells us that as we submit ourselves to God through obedience, resist the devil, and draw near to God, He will draw near to us (James 4:7-8).]

Jesus set an example for our relationship with God. We can look to Jesus to learn more about our relationship with God the Father (John 17). For some people, like me, “Father” brings only negative memories. But when God reveals Himself as a Father, He does not want to cause fear, but love. He wants to remind us of His protection, of His provision for all of our needs, and of His care (Luke 15:20-24). Human parents ought to have these qualities, but everyone falls short of the ideal while some are even evil. But God the Father is perfect—we are secure in His love (Matthew 5:48; Luke 6:36; John 6:32; 2 Corinthians 1:3; James 1:17). We should imagine the best father possible and be assured that God is 100 times better than even this ideal image.

Jesus was sure that the Father loved him (John 3:35; John 5:20). He was also sure that God, as a perfect Father, would provide for His needs. And He trusted His Father to take care of him, even after death. He told His disciples not to worry about their lives, or their food and clothing (Matthew 6:28-34). Our God is the loving and caring Father who provides all of our needs even better than He does for the birds and the flowers.  We need to know that our Father loves us, cares for us, and is always forgiving.  It is our responsibility to become the channels of His love, care, and forgiveness.

Have you made your relationship right with God?

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!