Ed Christian's World

Waiting For The Bride…

When my son got married, there was a malfunction with the preparation of the bridesmaids. Something went wrong and they ended up looking like something out of the bride of Frankenstein.

Because of the malfunction, the wedding was held up by two hours! Fortunately there were a lot of performers present, so everyone was kept busy.

So while they performed, the bridesmaids and bride frantically did everything they could to prepare themselves to look beautiful or presentable.

In the same way, the Scripture tells us that Jesus is the Bridegroom and He’s looking for a bride who is prepared and ready for the wedding.

That’s you. Your wedding’s coming. And the only time you have to prepare for it is now… your days on earth. Use your time wisely. Make the most of every moment.

Use it to become more spiritually beautiful, more loving, more pure, more righteous, more filled with the Holy Spirit and grace – for this is the only time you have. And you don’t want to be late for your own wedding.

For he says “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2

Devote as much time as you can each day making preparations for your upcoming wedding to Jesus, your Bridegroom. Start with finding a way to be more loving to others.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Shadow Of A Doubt…

There were a number of ministers of the Gospel in prison for their faith under Communist rule. One of the younger pastors was troubled by his sins and confessed them to an older minister.

This older minister replied: “You have indeed sinned”. And you will undoubtedly sin again. But there’s one sin you must never commit. Never commit the sin of forgetting that no matter how great your sin is, the love of God is greater still to forgive it.

It was that counsel, which focused not on the pastor’s sin, but on the greatness of the grace of God that helped to set him free. As it is written, “The grace of God leads us to repentance.”

The point is that the point is not us, or even our sins. The point is the love of God is so great that it washes away all of our sins.

You too, whatever you’re going through; you will undoubtedly disappoint and grieve God, but never commit this one sin – never forget that no matter what your sin, the love of God will be there for you, and will be greater still than all your sins.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Memorize this: “No matter how great my sin is, the love of God is greater still to forgive it.” Now go throughout your day living in the grace of God.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Blessings Of The Shalem…

Among the sacrifices of the Bible, one was called the Shalem. The root word behind this sacrifice means “peace” but also “to make complete.”

Jesus is the fulfillment of all the sacrifices of the Bible, and certainly of the Shalem. If you live with a spirit of want, discontent, neediness, desperation, unhappiness, selfish-ambition, regret, longing, etc., it means that you’re not complete.

Even in salvation, most believers live as if they were incomplete people. But Jesus is the Shalem Sacrifice. And that means that He died not only to save you from sin, but to make you complete.

It means that in Jesus, it’s not only God’s will that you become complete, but now in Jesus, you have the power to see it happen.

What’s the key? The closer you get to the Shalem Sacrifice, the more the power of completion and wholeness will become yours. Jesus is that sacrifice.

Therefore get closer to Him, and closer, in prayer, in the Word, in devotion, in love. Your life will become more and more complete, full, and whole the closer you get to the Shalem Sacrifice.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

Each day, take one step to get closer to God. Decide what you will do and act on it.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Psalm 0f Abundant Life…

Did you ever as a child, go through an attraction that was supposed to scare you? It may have been called a scare house or a haunted house.

You rode or walked through it, and it was dark. You might have even felt hands touching you and heard scary noises. You had to tell yourself that it was just part of an amusement park ride, the danger wasn’t real, the monsters were fake, and, ultimately, nothing was going to happen to you.

In this world there are many threats, dangers, problems, and other things to fear. And yet, if you’re a believer, the Bible says that God causes all things to work together for good for your sake.

What does that mean? It means that even the scariest of situations and the worst of problems for you is like being in one of the those rides or houses at a carnival.

Though the problem may look scary, ultimately, it’s nothing. Even the enemy’s worst attacks are, ultimately, going to be turned around for your good.

Believe the good. Don’t believe the evil and trust in the Lord. For at worst, your biggest problem is only a carnival ride.

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22

Take the worst problem that you are facing today and know that it’s just another attack of the enemy trying to take you on a scary ride. Trust in God and watch how He will turn it around for you.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Food Of The Priests…

You’ve heard the expression, “You are what you eat.” Of course it’s true. Whatever you eat, that’s what you are. That’s true in the physical realm and also in the spiritual.

If you partake of spiritually bad food, if you receive into your heart what is impure, carnal, and ungodly, your life will become the same. But you might say, “I stay far away from those things.” Good.

But it’s not enough. Because the inverse is also true: You are not what you don’t eat. All believers are called to be as Jesus, in every part of their lives. So here’s the question: Are you like Jesus? Are you like Jesus in every part of your life?

If not – then the problem can be solved with a change of diet. You are what you eat – so the more you partake of Jesus, the more you’ll become like Him. It can’t fail – just as you can’t partake of a food without becoming it.

So commit yourself to partaking more of His word, His presence, His love, His beauty, and your life will become more and more Jesus-like… it’s a basic law – you are what you eat.

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2

What are you partaking of spiritually in your mind and heart that you shouldn’t be? Go on a spiritual diet – and replace it with something spiritually good.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Ed