Ed Christian's World

The Jesus Sunset…

Jesus is called the sunrise in Luke. His rising makes all things new. But you can’t have a sunrise without a sunset. Sunrises are beautiful, but sunsets are equally beautiful and holy.

When the light of the world goes down, it’s sunset and the old day is finished. You can’t go back to it, it’s done. So Jesus came as the light of the world. He went down to the earth as the sunset to give you not only a new beginning, but to make an end of everything that’s old.

You can’t have one without the other. He’s the sunset. He gives you the power to say goodbye to the old life, the old world, the old sin and the old habits. Just as we rise in Jesus, we also have the power of the sunset, to die to the old life.

So let the sun rise, but first let it set. Say goodbye to it, make an end of it, because you can only enter the new as much as you exit the old. Jesus can only be your sunrise if He’s first your sunset.

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5

Let the sun of Jesus set on all that is old, your old life, your old hurts, your old regrets, and failures, everything. Then walk in the dawn of the newness of life.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The One Who Must Change…

We often have a hard time with change. We want other people to change their ways and attitude. We want our spouses, children, parents, ministers, and our friends to change. We want our situation, finances, job to change. The more things we want to change, the more frustrated we get when they don’t.

The fact is that nothing has to change, but us. We think of ourselves as unchangeable. Only God’s unchangeable. He says, “”I change not.”” If we don’t change – we can’t grow, we die. Our salvation starts with change.

Repentance, growing in maturity, putting away the old self, putting on the new – that’s change. Becoming a new creation, being born again is the only thing you have to make positive changes – not that your situation changes, but that you do.

We have no control over anyone else’s change, just our own. Open your heart and mind today so you can change and become more like Him. Be a change for God, for God is the only one who changes not. That’s His job, to change not, and He shouldn’t. But your job is to change.

I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Malachi 3:6

Today, make it your aim not to change your circumstances, but to change yourself. What change does God want? Start changing today.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Ed

The Power to Enter…

In the Hebrew wedding, first the bridegroom had to come to the house of the bride to be received by her. Then they would prepare. The second part was taking the bride to the house of the bridegroom.

In salvation, it’s the same as the Hebrew marriage. Jesus, the groom came to our house, to this world, into our lives. That’s the first part of salvation. He came to our house, our world, our realm so we could enter into His house, His realm, His world.

The second part is our journey as the bride, to move to where He is, into the heavenly realms. That’s the power of salvation. Not just to move toward heaven, but to enter into heavenly places. He calls and empowers us to enter His heavenly joy, His heavenly peace, His heavenly presence, the heavenly life now.

Start moving, start journeying, the first part of the gospel has been fulfilled. The bridegroom has come to our house. Now it’s time for you to get moving on your journey, the journey of the bride to enter the house of the bridegroom, the heavenly life.

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7

Today, take real steps to move forward from the old house to the new, away from the earthly and more in the heavenly. Dwell with God in heavenly places.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

It’s Only This Darkness…

Ephesians 6 speaks of our warfare against “this” present darkness. It would be much more natural if it said “the” darkness or against darkness. The key word is not darkness, but “this” darkness. “This” is a modifier.

It means it’s a particular kind of darkness. It’s not everything, it’s not all, it’s just “this” darkness, a particular darkness. When you’re going through something, and it seems to engulf you, overwhelm you, like everything is dark, it’s not darkness, it’s “this” darkness, it’s only for now, it’s not the end of the story; it’s going to pass away.

You’re going to pass through it. No matter what you’re going through, put a “this” in front of it. It’s not the end of the world, it’s “this” world. It means there’s a better one. It’s not the whole story, it’s just “this” story, which means there’s a better story. It’s not the whole situation, it’s “this” situation.

What you’re going through isn’t the whole thing, it’s only “this,” and “this” will surely pass. Be strong and you’ll pass through it and always remember even the darkness is just only “this.”

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Today, ask the Lord to adjust your thoughts and actions to the fact that the darkness in your life is temporary.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Two Seas…

In Israel there’s the sea of life and the sea of death. The Galilee is alive. The Dead Sea is dead. The Galilee is always giving water. The Dead Sea only receives water, but it doesn’t give anything. The one who gives is alive but the one who only gets is dead. The sea of life is always flowing into the Sea of Death; it never stops flowing.

So is the heart of life. At the heart of life you’re not limited by people who don’t give you love or who are selfish, because you’re a person of life. The more you give, the more alive you become and it doesn’t matter whether the people give back to you or not.

Love those who don’t love you. Bless those who don’t bless you. Love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you. Don’t let their lack of love stop you from flowing in God’s blessings. Don’t be overcome by evil.

Overcome evil with good. Keep blessing, loving and giving. Because God called you to be like the ever flowing sea of life and not like the sea of death.

Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. John 7:38

Ask the Lord to be your source of living water today so you can continually overflow to everyone around you.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Living In The Verb…

In English, the noun usually comes first, but in Hebrew the verb comes first. In Genesis 22:3, the English reads, “Abraham rose early in the morning,” but in Hebrew “Early rose Abraham.” In English, “He took two of his youths and Isaac his son,” in Hebrew, “Took he two of his youths.” In English, “He split the wood for a burnt offering.” In Hebrew, “Split he the wood;” the action first, then the noun.

Why? In America we tend to think our lives consist of things. But in Hebrew, life isn’t so much about nouns, it’s about the verb. It’s not about earthly things, it’s about moving in the Spirit. It’s not so much about what you own, but where you’re going.

It’s not about your label or your status, but about what you’re doing with God. Don’t live after things. Don’t get wrapped up in or weighed down by things.

Start moving in the divine verbs of God: loving, giving, hoping, believing, praising, worshiping, and overcoming. In English, split he the wood doesn’t make a good sentence, but in Hebrew it makes all the sense in the world.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.  Romans 8:12

Make it your aim to focus not on things today or anything you possess. Go through the day as someone who possesses nothing but God and is here on earth just to do the will of God.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Cosmic Therapist…

Some people go to therapy to solve their problems. In Acts 4 ,the apostles are put on trial for a man being healed. The Greek word used for healing is therapeuo. We get the word therapy from that word.

The power of Jesus that healed that man has the power of therapy. In Jesus, we’re all in therapy. We have a Jewish doctor who doesn’t charge for sessions. Your whole life should be a life of healing, becoming whole and sound, more functional as the child of God that you’re meant to be.

For that to happen, you need to spend time with your therapist, opening up your heart, your soul, your life, opening up your wounds, fears and need. Let your heavenly therapist have His way with you and make you whole. That’s His desire. Prayer time is therapy time.

Do you want to become truly whole? Then spend more time with Him, because in Him is your healing. His name is Adonai Rapha – the Lord our Healer, Sar Shalom – the Prince of Peace. Jesus is your heavenly therapist and you just happen to be in therapy.

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11

Spend time with your therapist, the Lord your Healer, today. Share with Him, your secrets, your hurts, your burdens.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Bridal Nightlight…

The Song of Solomon says that the bride’s face is as fair as the moon. The beauty of the moon is that it reflects the radiance of the sun. It’s the first sign that the sun is still out there and it’s coming.

It’s the light of the rising sun. As the bride, you need to have the beauty of the moon about you. Look beyond this world, beyond the darkness of this night. Look to the light of Jesus, particularly to the light of His rising.

Live your life in the power of His rising, of the resurrection. Set your face beyond your situation and into the direction of His light, into the hope, the glory, the victory and the power of His rising. Live your life in the transforming power of the resurrection.

That’s the moon reflecting the light of the sun. As you do that, you’re going to glow and be radiant with His light in any circumstance. Shine with His light and your life will become as beautiful as the light of the rising sun, radiating in the face of the moon.

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Matthew 5:14

Let all who see you, see the Love of Christ within you.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Redeemer In Disquise…

Ruth is gleaning food in the fields as a foreigner and she stumbles onto the field of Boaz. They meet, but she has no idea that he’s going to be the redemption of her life. She doesn’t see her story as beautiful. Her redeemer is right there, but hidden from her heart. God already had the answer before she saw it.

As for you, in your hardest and lowest times, the most beautiful things are happening. When you look back, you see that God already had the answer waiting for you. You didn’t see it, but it was right there.

People are blessed with great testimonies. What makes these testimonies so beautiful is that when it seemed hopeless, God was right there. God’s beautiful flowers germinate in darkness; when you don’t feel anything. Bless Him anyway, because He’s there.

Learn to start thanking God now before you see the answer. Rejoice that it’s there, and you’ll see it. In your darkest times, the redeemer is waiting, Messiah in disguise, right there in your midst. He’s waiting for you to rejoice and give God the glory before you see it.

“Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 41:14

Do you have a problem, a need, a want, an issue? Thank Him for the answer today before your answer appears.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Equation Of Love…

In mathematics, one plus one equals two. But when Scripture speaks about love, one plus one equals one. In Genesis, the two become one flesh. Jesus said, “A man shall leave father and mother…and the two shall be one flesh.”

Jesus and the Church, the two shall be one. It doesn’t make sense; it’s not logical that one plus one equals one. But love isn’t logical. Saying that someone gave you no reason to love them, they’re unloving. That doesn’t matter.

Stop looking for a reason to love. Love is not rational, or reasonable, according to our laws and understanding. Love doesn’t need a reason. Love gives a reason because God is love and He loved us when we gave Him no reason.

So those people who give you no reason to love, love them anyway. That’s how God loves you. One plus one is supposed to equal two, but the nature of God’s love defies our laws.

One plus one equals one. Love is not logical. It involves the miracle of transcending yourself. Just love and bless them anyway. It’s as logical as one plus one equals one.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:37-39

Make it your aim to love everyone in your life today, unconditionally, just as Jesus did.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed