Ed Christian's World

The Weight Of Our Culture…

Proverbs 16:11 says “A just balance and scales belong to the LORD; All the weights of the bag are His concern.” The weights of the bag were the standard measures used on the scale.

Proverbs 20:23 says, “Differing weights are an abomination to the LORD.” Other ways of defining weights, are standards or values.

One of the signs that a civilization is corrupted, or in moral decay, is the sign of altered weights or values. When values are changed, standards are lowered, and words are redefined: fornication becomes living together, sin becomes a disease, adultery becomes an extramarital affair, and perversity becomes alternate lifestyles.

When morality is redefined as intolerance, when an unborn baby is called ‘just a fetus,’ or a pregnancy can be terminated, it shows there’s corruption in the society.

We as believers have to be all the more grounded in eternal truth. Altered weights are an abomination to God. The weights belong to Him.

Don’t alter them, don’t dilute them, don’t change them. You are called to be a keeper of the weights of God.

You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. James 4:4

Today, choose to stand firm in God’s Word, stand strong against the corruptions of our culture, and strong for the truth.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Beast Of A Thousand Faces

Martin Luther did great things in trying to make the Bible more accessible. He first appealed to the Jews but later became embittered against them.

He wrote: “concerning the Jews and their lies… their synagogues should be set on fire. Whatever doesn’t burn up should be covered over with dirt. And it should be done for the honor of the God of Christianity, in order that God may see we’re Christians.

Secondly their homes should be broken down and destroyed.” Later these writings were used by Adolf Hitler.

When the Nazi’s launched their attack of Kristallnacht, destroying Jewish businesses, buildings, and synagogues, they said it was in honor of the anniversary of Martin Luther’s birthday.

The devil is always looking for a place even with people who are used for great things. He’ll look for any gap of bitterness, jealousy, unforgiveness, lust, or anything to get a foothold in your life.

Give the devil no room. Close up the gaps and be used for God’s purposes. Give the Lord all the room, and you’ll be used mightily for the kingdom of God.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Ephesians 4:31

Close up any gaps in your life, your home, your calling, your mind, and your heart. Give the devil no room!

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Honeycomb…

Young honey bees stay in the hive while older bees bring back the nectar. As the bee matures, it starts going out to find the nectar for itself, from the source.

In this is a lesson about spiritual growth. When you’re young in the Lord, you receive much of your spiritual food from others; teachers, writers, friends, older more mature believers and that’s good.

But growing spiritually means that like the bee, you have to start getting the nectar for yourself. You need to deal with the Word of the Lord for yourself firsthand by going directly to the source.

Spiritual growth is about getting closer to the Source; moving from the outer courts to the Holy place. It’s not so much concerned with secondary things about God, but God Himself, to receive directly from His throne the riches of His mercy.

Learn from the bee, and more and more, go yourself. Receive the rich nectar of the Word, of His love, of His grace, of His presence for yourself. Go direct. Because your maturity and growth in the Lord is linked to one thing; you, going yourself to the source.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? Psalm 42:2

Make it your aim to go to the nectar, the source, go directly into His presence and receive directly from Him.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Resurrection On Trial…

The Sanhedrin was the governing body that leveled the charge against the resurrection, that the disciples stole the body. The Sanhedrin was Israel’s court of law.

Why then in all its history was there never a trial or conviction of these charges? We have the Book of Sanhedrin in the rabbis’ Talmud. But there’s no record of any such trial.

Thus they obviously didn’t have any evidence to prove it. Otherwise they would have used it to stop the new movement.

The Sanhedrin couldn’t produce the body, and they had no way of proving their charge. They only proved one thing – that the tomb was empty – and not by the hand of man, but by the hand of God.

Kingdoms rise and fall but Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. If He abides in you, no matter what things look like in your life, no matter how hopeless, or overwhelming, the good will triumph over the evil.

The light of Jesus is going to conquer the darkness, and every power on earth and hell. He’s alive! He is risen! He has conquered, and so, in Him, will you.

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. Romans 8:11

Today, bring any issue you have been struggling with to the light of Jesus and declare, believe, and receive the truth – that He is alive and ruling over it.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Funeral Of Your Sins…

Hata‘ah is the Hebrew word used for the sacrifice that took away sin. The same word means sin. The sacrifice and the sin were called by the same name.

It means that the sacrifice for sin became one with the sin it was taking up – so much so, that the person offering up that sacrifice would see in it the dying of their sin.

So in 2 Corinthians 5:21 it says, “God made Him who knew no sin, to become sin, for us, that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus is the Hata‘ah.

When He died on Calvary, sin actually died on Calvary. Rage, jealousy, addiction, bondage, darkness, your past, was crucified. When He dies it’s over, it’s gone, and it’s dead.

Jesus didn’t just become an offering for sin, He became sin itself. And you can receive that your sin is actually gone for real. Live in the light of the fact that your sins have actually been killed.

The past is dead. For He who knew no sin, became sin for you, that you who did not know holiness, would become by that same miracle, holy.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29

Today, hold a funeral for your old sins. Rejoice that they are dead, gone, buried, and never coming back!

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Genesis Gene…

For centuries, a prevalent doctrine in the church world taught that God was finished with the Jewish people, that all His blessings were transferred to the church, and Israel was left with nothing.

It’s called replacement theology, or supersessionism. The problem with this is that the Word of God clearly says that He will never abandon His people.

Romans 11:2 says, “God has not rejected His people.” Jeremiah 31 teaches that as long as there is the natural order of the sun, moon, and stars, that the seed or the children of Israel will not stop being a nation before Him.

The Hebrew word for seed is Zerah. It means seed that you sow on the earth and it also speaks of DNA. It’s amazing how modern technology and genetic testing have now proven the Bible.

Jewish people all over the globe, are the exact same people, and they originated from Israel. If the God of Israel happens to be your God, and He hasn’t replaced Israel – He won’t replace you.

He’ll never leave or forsake you. For He who keeps Israel, and you, will never slumber nor sleep.

Indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep. Psalm 121:4

Today, meditate and soak in the fact that the Lord will never abandon you, replace you, or forsake you. He will keep you forever.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed.

The Gospel Of The Moon…

The full moon marked key dates in the ancient Hebrew calendar. It was the fullness of the month that was considered the best time for a betrothal.

So in the Hebrew marriage was often at the time of the full moon that the groom would propose and covenant with the bride. There, under the full moon, he pledged his life to the bride and the bride did likewise.

There, they shared in the cup of the covenant to seal the betrothal. Passover falls on the 14th and 15th of Nisan – the night of the full moon.

Jesus gave us the cup of the covenant that same night. Then He gave His life on the cross. That was His pledge to us.

For Jesus is the Bridegroom. And so He has given His pledge to you, the pledge even beyond marriage. Your response, in turn, must be, to pledge yourself, your love, and your all to Him.

Because the covenant is given, and so it must be sealed under the full moon. He has given His covenant and pledge to your life. Go and do likewise.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1

Today, pledge your life to your Beloved and give Him your all.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Becoming A Character In The Bible…

When I was a child, my parents called me Eddie. They bought me a children’s book called “Eddie goes to Washington.” My Father wrote an inscription, noting that the boy had my name.

So when I read that book, I could picture that I was that boy going to Washington DC, to the White House, and meeting the President.

Today they actually have children’s books that insert the name of the child in the books, so the child feels part of the story.

Herein lies a secret to reading the Bible. Don’t just read the Bible as if it’s a book about other things, other people, or general principles.

Read it as a Book that’s about God and you. God so loved… Eddie, Jim, Susan, Linda, that if… Bill, Maria, David, would believe in Him… Take it personally and specifically.

Whenever you read of anyone, whoever, or whatever applies to you, insert your name into the Holy Word and see what happens.

Put your name in the Book, because you are in the Book. Get yourself into the Book and the Book will get into you.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. John15:16

Today, read the Bible by inserting your name into scripture. Make it personal, make it about you.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Blessing Of His Rod…

King David refers to the Lord as his Shepherd with a rod and a staff that comfort him. It’s comforting for sheep to know that the shepherd is able to defend them, because there are wolves out there.

But the rod and staff are not only for wolves, but also for the sheep; to be corrected, and pulled out of danger. We need the Lord’s rod to defend us from the evil one and to correct us.

Parents who don’t correct their child are sinning against that child’s life. God is a good Father who loves you and corrects you. He has to correct you because a child who doesn’t have anyone correcting them is an orphan.

Don’t be discouraged when you’re corrected. Rejoice in it and be encouraged. Because His rod is a sign that you’re not an orphan.

You’re a child of a loving Father and a sheep of a loving Shepherd. His love protects you from the danger of the wolf, and from your own sins and mistakes.

Thank God for His rod and staff, for as they comforted David, they will comfort you.

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. Hebrews 12:6

Today, rejoice in the rod of God, all the times and ways He corrected you. Be comforted, you have a Father who loves you.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Woman On The Hill…

While on a mission trip in Nigeria, a group of us were walking by a river where there was a shrine to the goddess Oshun. The high priestess was watching us from a hill. It was obvious that she was in darkness.

Someone from our group offered her a Bible, which she refused, but when they offered it again, she accepted. We began sharing the love of God with her. At the end, I asked if she was ready to ask the Lord into her life.

She said yes. We prayed a prayer of salvation with her. She came out of that prayer glowing, as much as I’ve ever seen anyone glow in the Lord.

There are many people in darkness. We often judge them as being part of the enemy’s camp. Human nature is to keep them outside. But the Lord reached out to us in our darkness.

We need to do the same. Reach out to that person in darkness. Because even the high priestess of a pagan god may be waiting, in the darkness, for you to reach out to them and bring them into the light.

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2

Today, break through the wall; share God’s Word with someone who is in darkness. Bring them the light.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed