Ed Christian's World

What you Dwell On…

Some people dwell on evil: of other people, of the world, of cults, of the occult or of various religions. There’s a place and need to be aware, but there’s no place for letting our hearts dwell on evil. Most people who dwell on the bad aren’t joyful and have no peace.

It’s the dwell on – dwell in principle. What you dwell on, you’ll end up dwelling in. If you dwell on the wrong of other people; on sin and on impurity; you’ll dwell in it. When judging, condemning, and looking for evil; you’ll be in sin.

The Pharisees dwelt on the sins of others, and they fell into the sin of pride and judgment. So ask yourself, “What do you want to dwell in, heaven or a heavenly life?”

Philippians 4:8 says, “Dwell on what is … pure, lovely, of good report.” Blessed are the pure in heart, they’ll see God.

Dwell on God, on His peace, blessings, and love. Dwell on heaven, and you’ll dwell in heaven. Because what you dwell on, ultimately in the end, when all is said and done, you’ll end up dwelling in.

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

Today, dwell on God’s overwhelming goodness and love for you.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Following Your Own Command…

Some husbands quote “Wives be subject to your husbands.” While some wives quote to their husbands “Husbands love your wives.” Both are true and right. But notice that the scripture to wives begins with the wife, and the scripture to husbands begins with the husband.

When you focus on what the other person should do, it doesn’t work. But when you focus on what you should do, it fosters an atmosphere of giving and not getting. Spouses are far more likely to love and respect spouses who love and respect them.

This is true with everything. When you focus on your needs or what people owe you, you’ll be miserable. But when you focus on what you can give, an atmosphere of giving, blessing, freedom and love is fostered.

Forget about what you want and what you think you need from others, and bless. Be free and bless, and see what happens. Because God never commanded you to be loved, served, or blessed by others. He commanded you to love, serve, and bless others. Do this, and all these other things will be added to you.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

Take your expectations off of others meeting your needs today. Focus on serving and loving others and trust God to take care of the rest.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Samson Factor…

Samson was the strongest of men. Yet, he fell because he never dealt with his weaknesses. Weaknesses of pride, worldliness, carnality, carelessness, drinking, women, and a weakness of not following God.

Ultimately, his weaknesses were stronger than his strength. He didn’t fall because of his strengths. He fell because of his weaknesses. He never tamed them, worked on them, strengthened them, or took precautions with them.

You might have many strengths in the Lord. But what about your weaknesses? They’re just as important. Truly being strong in the Lord is to know your weaknesses and to guard against them. If you’re weak in a certain area, put a hedge up, cover it, and take precaution.

Because even the strongest can fall, the weak who know their weakness and use God’s wisdom and grace to overcome will rise. Be strong and wise in the Lord.

Be careful with your weakness, and you’ll be like Paul, who knew the grace of God was sufficient in his weakness and who took precaution. He wasn’t like Samson, who never did.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 1 Corinthians 12:9

Today, deal with that weak area in your walk with the Lord. Ask him to strengthen you. Set up a guard to help you overcome.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Book of God’s Oracles…

In the ancient world, people would travel across lands, oceans and seas to get oracles from those who were supposed to speak for the gods. Even kings were awed by them, wanting counsel from the divine. Romans 3 says, “What advantage has the Jew? … to them were committed the oracles of God.” They were entrusted with the true oracles of God, the Word of God, the Bible.

You too have been entrusted with the oracles of God if you have a Bible. The Word of God isn’t just a book. It’s supernatural, from heaven, and it’s yours. People spend fortunes on psychics to get some supernatural counseling, getting nothing that’s going to help their lives.

But you have supernatural counsel for your life, direct from heaven. Counsel for everything in your life from the God of the universe, worth more than money can buy.

What are you doing with it? Don’t let it sit there unopened, wasting such a treasure. Open the Bible today and receive a word from the Living God. Don’t lose the treasure entrusted to you. It’s for real. You’ve got the oracles!

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

You have the very words of God at your fingertips. Ask Him to make His Word come alive to you and live in its power.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Way Of Always…

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 TLV, “Thanks be to God who keeps giving us the victory through our Lord Yeshua, Jesus. Therefore, my dearly loved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord.”

We’re called to be steadfast; constant in faith; immovable. Too often, we’re moved by things that happen in the world. But here it says, “God’s going to keep giving you victory.” That’s the promise. If He’s always going to give you victory as you follow Him; then you can know that through every problem, no matter what the trouble or obstacle; you can excel in your work for Him.

God wants you to become a steadfast person, always loving and faithful in Him. You have a Rock, so you can be like a rock. You have a God who’s steadfast to you, so you can be steadfast to Him. God’s immovable in His love for you. You have a steadfast promise.

Become a steadfast believer. You have an immovable hope; become an immovable conqueror. You have an always God who’s going to always love you. That’s enough for you to become an always disciple.

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4

Today, choose an area in your life where you need to be steadfast in God. Commit to staying immovable; faithful in this area and moving toward victory.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Son Who Prospered…

Jeremiah 22 speaks of the last kings of Israel, their exile, and deaths, and that none of their seed should prosper sitting on the throne. Israel had no more kings after that. Joseph, a poor carpenter in Nazareth, was from the royal line. He would’ve been the king; but he couldn’t sit on the throne.

Notice it says, “Won’t prosper sitting on the throne.” Joseph wasn’t on the throne. He lived a righteous life of humility as Gods’ servant. And yet, he did prosper, and he was blessed. When you live a self-centered life, wanting everything your own way, you won’t prosper. When you get off the throne and forget about yourself, in the Lord, you will prosper.

Get off the throne. There are only two ways of life: centered around yourself, or centered around Him who’s the center; sitting on the throne, or in the blessings of Him who truly sits on the throne.

Don’t try to be king of your life. The position has been filled. Get into the joy of getting off the throne, and you too, like Joseph, will prosper in the glory of the King.

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. Hebrews 4:12

Today, get into the joy of living off the throne, putting your will second to His, serving the will and pleasure of your King – and the King will bless you.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Only Super Hero…

Growing up surrounded by the super hero culture, I wanted to be like them. Fighting crime, standing for truth, justice and the American way. The most powerful force against crime in America isn’t Superman, Batman, or Captain America.

It’s Messiah Yeshua, Jesus. Studies have shown that the effect of Jesus on people’s lives, the lives of men, actually lowers crime. The most powerful force against drugs, alcoholism and addiction is Jesus, not Spiderman.

We’re to be little versions of Him, of our Super hero; to be little super heroes. Faster than a speeding bullet in His Spirit, more powerful to move mountains; to walk through walls; to dwell in the heavenlies; to do all things through Him. I’m not saying put on a cape, but when it comes to your life, people should say “Thank God you’re here. You’ve come to save the day.”

Yeshua, Jesus means God saves. In Him, we have the power to save the day. So get on your way little super hero, you have the power of salvation, because you walk in the footsteps of Jesus, the Super hero of all super heroes.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:18-19

Be a super hero to someone today by walking in the power and sharing the love of Jesus with them.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The No Baggage Life…

When claiming your baggage at the airport, you position yourself next to the baggage belt and watch for it to come out. When you finally get your baggage, it feels like winning the lottery.

There are a lot of journeys in life, and usually, the bigger the journey, the greater the baggage to bring. But in heaven, there’s no baggage claim. We’re on a journey to heaven. You can’t bring any baggage from earth. That’s also the way it is with the heavenly life; there’s no place for baggage.

When you journey to the new life, when you come to salvation, there’s no baggage claim for your old life. It’s time for you to unload from the past; the baggage of sin, the baggage of old wounds, of your failures, of your regrets, the baggage of your idols, your old identity.

Put it aside, because everything is new. There’s no way to bring that old stuff into heaven. So let it go. Put away the baggage and get on with your life. Lighten your load. Drop it and move forward. Because in heaven and the heavenly life, there’s no baggage claim.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

If you have something from your past that has been weighing you down, today make the decision to let it go.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Face Of Saul…

When Stephen was being stoned to death, did he see a face in the crowd… the zealous face of Saul, his enemy? If he’d only known that person filled with so much anger and hatred against Jesus who wanted him dead, would be touched; changed and become the greatest apostle the faith would ever know; bringing the gospel to the nations; and writing the majority of the New Testament. He’d have rejoiced for that face in the crowd.

But it was almost impossible for Stephen to see or know it. When everything is coming at you, stones are being hurled at you, and it seems like everything is going wrong in your life, remember though you might not see it; there’s always a higher reason, a greater purpose of blessing and glory.

It might even, like Saul, be part of the problem at the moment, but be turned for God and solve that problem. Rejoice in your problems in your crisis because in that situation, there’s a Saul that’s going to turn into the greatest blessing for the glory of God. Just look for that face in the crowd.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4

Give thanks today for every situation in your life, even the problems, and believe God for His victorious outcome.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

To Deal With Giants…

Moses didn’t sit complaining about Pharaoh. He led his people out of Egypt. David didn’t sit with his brothers complaining about the Philistines and the state of Israel. He fought Goliath and reigned as king. The apostles didn’t spend time dwelling on persecution, the Sanhedrin or how bad the Romans were. They served the Lord and spread the Word.

Some believers have a defeated attitude; a persecution complex, a paranoid attitude, a defensive attitude, overly conscious of and dwelling on evil. We’re to be aware of evil; the world, temptations, and dangers. But we’re not to be focused on it; dwelling on it, getting an attitude of defensiveness.

God didn’t call us for such a time as this to be defensive. Be on the offense; moving forward. You’re not a victim of the earth; you’re the salt of the earth. You’re the light of the world, not defeated by darkness. Stop complaining and start doing something.

Get out your slingshot and run to that giant! Take that problem and the world head-on because God called you not to be overcome, but to overcome evil and the world with good.

“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

Stop being overcome or defined by your problems, your giant – and overcome your giant with God’s power – the evil with good.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed