Ed Christian's World

Eternity In Their Hearts…

The Gedeo people of Ethiopia believed in a benevolent, omnipotent, creator god named Mageno, but they spent more time appeasing an evil spirit named Sheit’an. They believed there was distance between them and their god.

One day, a man named Warrasa prayed directly to Mageno that he would reveal himself. He saw a vision of two white men and heard a voice saying “they will bring you a message from Mageno.” Eight years passed.

In 1948, two Canadian missionaries came to the town where Warrasa lived. He received them according to his vision, and led 40,000 of his people to the God of the Gospel.

Ephesians 2:10 says “We’re created in Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand.” These missionaries had no idea how God had prepared their way. Set yourself to do God’s will. He’ll prepare the way before you.

It’s true for the Gedeo people. It’s true for the missionaries, and it is true for you also. When you commit yourself to do His will, the ground will be prepared, and you’ll find it was waiting for you all along to arrive.

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9

Set this day all the more to fulfill the will of God. And you will walk into what has already been prepared and waiting for your footsteps.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Words Of This Life…

In Acts 5, an angel frees the disciples from jail and tells them, “Go to the temple… speak all the words of this life.” He didn’t say preach Christianity, the New Testament, religion or even the Gospel.

What does this mean? It’s simple. What is it that we’ve come to know? Life. Real life, that’s our faith, this life. Other things masquerade as life that aren’t really living. But God called you to this life.

Jesus is called the Prince of Life. It’s not just some doctrine or religious precept. It’s not merely some faith statement. It is life itself. It’s not a part of life. You can’t just fit it into your schedule. It’s the reason you live, the reason you work, the reason you talk, the reason you do everything. That’s what it has to be.

Get everything in your life, into this life. Get everything centered on Jesus. Make this the reason you do and say everything. Because this is not just some religion. This is not just even a major part of your life. This is life itself! This is life-your-life. Make it so!

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

Do everything as unto Jesus today. Make Him the focus of every aspect of your life.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Jesus – Your Hearts Gift…

Jesus is a gift. Salvation is a gift. If you received the gift, your life must be characterized by the gift. The first evidence is that you have something. Not your bank account or material possessions, but your heart and your spirit.

If you received the gift, your life is characterized by that. A special thing has come into your life and you have something precious. It does not matter what is happening on the outside because on the inside you have a reassurance, this treasure.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

If you live with an attitude of never having enough or always wanting more to be happy, then you are testifying against the gift. If you are wrapped up and running around after what you do not have, your life does not evidence of the gift.

For it is by grace you have been saved,through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

We have this confidence, it is written. Stop dwelling on what is going on in the world and what you do not have. Focus on what you do have. You have this treasure, this confidence, this hope. You have this salvation. You have Him. Live like it. It is the secret of your life.

Treasure the treasure today – live as one whose life holds the greatest of treasures and walk today a priceless walk.

Love always,

Walk daily with God at your side!

Ed

The Christian Origins Of Science…

Some people say that science and the Bible oppose each other. But did you know that much of modern science actually comes from the Bible? Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”

Bacon, Newton, Kepler and other founders of modern science believed in the Bible. Isaac Newton spent more time writing Bible commentary than science papers.

Modern science came from the belief that God created the universe. And if there was intelligence behind it, then the universe was intelligible. The same God who revealed Himself in the Word, revealed Himself also in the creation. Making it worthy of study because it could be understood.

From Bacon to Newton to Albert Einstein, the belief in God was critical for modern science to come about. So don’t believe it when people say the Bible and science don’t go together. The ancient words: “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom” are still true.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7

We have an intelligent God and the more you reverence Him, the more intelligent you’ll be. In God you’ll be wiser than Einstein.

Seek the Lord’s wisdom throughout your day today. He will give it to you generously.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Angel In The Wilderness…

In an angelic event, Gabriel appears to announce the birth of John; Yochanan in Hebrew. An angelic event not only because of Gabriel, but because John is called in Greek, and even in Hebrew prophecy, an “angel,” “malakh” in Hebrew, “angelos” in Greek, meaning messenger.

Not your typical angel. He was hairy, locust eating, blunt, shouting, convicting people of sin and dunking them in the water. An angel who spent most of his life not in glory, but in the barren wilderness.

God has unlikely angels, and if you’re born again, you’re to be one of them. You might be rough, blunt or hairy; nevertheless, you’re to be an angel on assignment with a message. Even if you’re in a wilderness, that’s okay. God has angels in the wilderness.

No matter your circumstances, live as an angel. Spend your life shining the light, waking up each day to say “I’m on assignment! Lord help me fulfill my mission today.”

Live as an angel and your life will be a heavenly mission, to spread the good news of the gospel, an angelic one, the life of His unlikely angel.

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. Hebrews 3:1-2

Ask God what your assignment is today, so that you can be faithful to the mission He has for you.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Ruth and Naomi…

Ruth is a beautiful story of love and loyalty. But it’s also an awesome truth about God’s plan for the ages. Naomi represents the Jews, Ruth the nations. In the beginning, Naomi’s life blesses Ruth’s life. But at the end, Ruth’s life blesses Naomi’s. Salvation came through and from the Jewish people, to bless you who are not born Jewish.

You’re blessed by them, and like Ruth, are now grafted in as a fellow citizen of Israel. You now have Jewish roots in Jesus and are a child of Abraham and an heir of the promise. But that’s not the end of it.

The story is only complete when you return the blessing, as Ruth with Naomi. The circle of love is only finished, when you see that the Jewish people were born to bless you and that you were born again to bless them.

So pray for the peace of Jerusalem, bless them and bring the Word to them. Support the giving of the gospel to them. It’s as simple as finishing the story. It’s time to bless Israel, those who blessed you back. It’s time for you to finish the story.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Psalm 122:6

Pray for Israel today, and all who dwell there, to receive the good news of Jesus.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

We’re Just Visitors…

You can tell when people are tourists because they’re in awe of everything that we take for granted. Tourists love to visit the Statue of Liberty, but ask people who live in New York City, and chances are they’ve never been there, because they’re not tourists. Tourists take nothing for granted, they don’t live there.

1 Peter 1 says “we’re aliens, strangers,” meaning we’re in this world, but not of it. You’re here, but it’s not your home. You’re a tourist. You’re here on a mission. Take nothing for granted here and give thanks for everything.

All of it is God’s blessings. Starting with life, with the sunrise, the sunset, the air, the flowers, the friends, the fellowship, the time God has given you on earth. Every blessing on earth comes from God; it’s not forever.

You’re not a resident here; you’re a tourist. Get out your spiritual camera, your guidebook, and start praising God for all the blessings you may have taken for granted. Because this life is only for a short season, and in eternity then it’s gone. And you happen to be a tourist on planet earth.

I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me let us exalt his name together. Psalm 34:1-3

Spend time today enjoying the life God has given you and give Him praises throughout the day.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Earthly Limitations…

Heavenly Unlimitations “Shamayim,” is Hebrew for “heaven,” but it doesn’t really mean that exactly. It has an “im” at the end, which means it’s plural. Heaven is plural, because there’s no end to it, to the blessings; to the eternal. It’s forever, infinity, it’s amazing. But the word for “earth– erets,” has no “im” because it’s singular.

The things of earth are finite; limited. They have a beginning and ending point in space and time. If you live with your heart wrapped up in earthly things, you’ll always be running on empty or in short supply, because it’s limited.

But if you live by the heavenly, by His Spirit, by faith, your life will become unlimited because there’s no end. You’ll be filled to overflowing and unlimited.

Only an open heart with faith can contain that which has no end. Paul said, “We live by faith, not by sight…” The things that are seen are temporary, but that which isn’t, is eternal.

So stop being limited by the earth. Live by the heavenly, by His Spirit, and you’ll have no limitations. The one who lives in them cannot be bound.

For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

Get your mind off the limitations of the earthly, and onto the limitlessness of the things of God.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Food Of Ghouls…

Growing up, I used to watch monster movies. They had ghouls who hung out in cemeteries and lived off of dead things. People who dwell on and live off of dead things, are ghouls.

If you call yourself a believer, but live off of dead things, sitting in front of the TV, taking in all sorts of impurities or watching questionable things on the internet, you’re a ghoul.

When you engage in gossip, dwell on the sins of others or look for faults to judge other believers, when you hold on to unforgiveness and bitterness, you’re partaking of dead things.

Do you know the difference between a ghoul and a child of God? A ghoul lives off of death. A child of God lives off of life. God’s calling us to put dead things far away from our lives.

We’re to become a people of life, to focus on what’s good, pure, lovely and true. Rejoice in and live off of that which is life. Put away that dead thing. Replace it with life. God has called you to be a person of life and not a Christian ghoul.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Examine your life today and get rid of that dead thing that takes you away from your relationship with God.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Grabbing Jesus’s Kanaf…

Ruth said to Boaz, “Spread your garment over me.” Garment in Hebrew is “kanaf,” which can be translated as “wings”. Boaz does it and she’s no longer an outcast, she’s going to be married. From Ruth to the woman who touched Jesus’s garment, we see hutzpah.

That’s Hebrew for guts, nerve. Ruth had hutzpah. She knew there was a blessing waiting. She knew the law of Israel’s goel, the kinsman redeemer, and she went boldly forward. The woman who touched the fringe of Jesus’s garment, to get healing, knew the power of God. She also had hutzpah.

So should we. It’s not that we can tell God what to do or have Him do our will, but we’re to be bold when it comes to standing on God’s promise and His will. We need to grab hold of His cloak of blessing, the sacred kanaf, the wings of His garment.

Take the initiative to receive the blessing, to receive your healing and your shalom is waiting to happen. God has given you the promise. So go to Him in faith and holy hutzpah and say, “Lord, spread Your garment over me.”

“Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.”  “The Lord bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character. Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family, there is another who is more closely related than I. Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your guardian-redeemer, good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives I will do it. Lie here until morning.” Ruth 3:9-13

The Word is filled with blessings God has for you. Boldly push through, as did Ruth, to take hold of them today, even to grab the kanaf of His garment.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed