Ed Christian's World

The First Words of The New Covenant…

The first words of the New Covenant that Jesus gave His disciples after His resurrection was, “Peace be unto you.” But Jesus didn’t speak English, so what He said in Hebrew is “Shalom aleichem.”

Shalom doesn’t just mean peace. It means fullness, well-being, completion, wholeness, perfection, blessing, prosperity, and healing. The Old Covenant was based on trying to get there, trying to live up to the Law, trying to measure up, trying to get to the place God wants you to be, longing for the day of Jesus’s coming.

But the New Covenant is based on Shalom. In other words, it’s here. It’s come. It’s finished. You’ve arrived. You can stop striving. You can rest, be well, whole, healed, fulfilled, and blessed. Jesus began by saying, “Shalom be to you.”

The first thing in the New Covenant is Shalom.” Not just Shalom, but Shalom to you. But you have to receive it and come into the blessings of the new. Receive and experience all Jesus has for you, peace and blessing in Him. It’s as simple as two words. Shalom Aleichem.

The Jews who heard these words were again divided. John 20:19

Today, receive the Peace from Jesus that He has promised you and blessed you with.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Lord’s Fund…

We put our money in banks or investments and they gain interest, but all the money and interest is going to be nothing in the end. There’s another way of investing which gives returns that don’t pass away.

The Lord has a fund. It pays great dividends, a hundred fold or more. It never fails and always pays you back on your investment. It’s eternal riches. Proverbs 19:17 says, “He who gives to the poor lends to the Lord.”

When you give to people who can’t pay you back; the poor, the needy, the hungry, the lost, or when you give to the Lord’s work; the great commission, to spread the gospel, you give to His glory. You’re not just giving to a person; you’re lending to the Lord.

Giving with no thought of getting back anything on earth is an investment in the Lord’s heavenly fund. You’ll receive back eternal treasures. In this life, give abundantly and generously with joy.

Because it’s not only the best thing to do; it’s the wisest investment, and it will be given back to you, pressed down, shaken together and overflowing.

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

Invest your time, talents, and resources in heavenly things today that never rust or fade.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Age of Epiphanes…

The Chanukah story tells of Antiochus Epiphanes, a shadow of the antichrist, who defiled God’s Temple. Epiphanes means, “God manifest.” 2 Thessalonians 4 speaks of the antichrist who will exalt himself over everything, setting himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming to be God.

When man seeks to get rid of God, he makes himself god. When any government denies God, it becomes its own god. This same spirit fills New Age teachings. Even as believers, we can fall into the Epiphanes Syndrome.

When our concern above everything is ourselves, as if we’re the most important thing, more concerned about our reputation than God’s, seeking praise instead of giving it, we’re falling into the Epiphanes Syndrome.

But if you empty yourself of the Epiphanes Syndrome, in true humility and selflessness, then the true God will manifest Himself in your life. Those who empty themselves of self, their life will become a Holy of Holies filled with the presence of God.

Stop trying to be God Manifest, and your life will be filled with the Manifestation of God.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, Philippians 2:3

Empty yourself of selfish thoughts today. Make your focus on serving God and others.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Collaborating With Your Enemy…

The story of Chanukah is about the takeover of Israel and the Temple by a foreign power. But that’s not the whole story. Long before the nation was taken over and the Temple defiled, there were those of Israel who began imitating the ways of the gentiles, brought in the foreigners, and collaborated with the enemy.

The enemy wouldn’t have gotten into the Temple if it weren’t for those who opened the doors and led them in. The desecration of the Temple happened because the high priest guided the enemy into the Holy Place.

The real enemy of our souls can not have a victory over God’s people unless we let him. The enemy can not stop you, defile you, plunder you, or oppress you unless you let him. Don’t let him.

Every time you give into sin, you’re collaborating with and aiding the enemy of your soul to wage war against your soul. In God, you’re on the winning side, and you can’t help but win unless you allow the enemy to win.

Stop giving into sin. Why should you aid your enemy? Instead, aid your friend, and you’ll win.

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24

Search your heart and see if there’s anywhere you’ve been agreeing with the enemy. Choose to agree with God today and throw the enemy out.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Bethlehem Goel…

The ancient law of the goel said, ‘If a man died without having an heir, his nearest relative would marry his widow and have a child who would carry on his line, redeeming the barren house.

Scripture shows this in the line of Judah with Tamar and centuries later with Boaz and Ruth who had Obed, who fathered Jesse, who fathered David. Later, we come to Miryam; Mary who was born of the line of the Goel intervention.

She gives birth in Bethlehem – the same place the Goel redemption happened to Ruth. The birth of Jesus is the ultimate Goel redemption. Adam’s line had fallen because of sin. We were barren and couldn’t produce life; we were headed to death.

So God Himself intervened that we might be redeemed and bear fruit. That’s what God does for you. He sees your barrenness, comes and puts His life within your heart and your life miraculously bears His fruit.

Receive His life, love, and His Spirit and bear His fruit. Your life will be redeemed and fruitful for God, Himself is your Goel.

I know that my redeemer lives and that in the end, he will stand on the earth. Job 19:25

Share your fruitfulness with others today by being kind and compassionately sharing your Redeemer.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Other Side Of The Gift…

Isaiah 9:6-7 is a Messianic prophecy, “Unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given.” First, “a child is born” in the natural. But second, “a Son is given”. Given means existed before; came from somewhere else, given by someone else.

Jesus didn’t become a son. He always was and was given. His life was a gift given to us. First for the Jewish people and second to everyone else. The life of Jesus, ‘a gift’, can’t just be known about but must be received or rejected.

This is the issue of salvation. As many as received him, they became children of God. The key aspect of Jesus’s life on earth is summed up in these words, ‘Gift’ and ‘Given.’ ” So the key characteristic of your life must be that you have received that gift.

Signs of a life that has received a gift is a life of gratitude; a life of thankfulness; a joyful and blessed life. Is that you? Live a life of gratefulness and grace. For unto you a Son is given that you might live a life of blessing, thanksgiving and joy unto Him.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body, you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

The gift of Jesus grows when you share Him with others. Show your gratitude by sharing Jesus today.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Courage…

In an experiment, scientists placed people who witnessed an event in a room with actors who were scripted to lie about the event. After the actors gave false testimony, the test subjects also gave the wrong testimony, going along with the majority.

They refused to witness the truth. It sounds cowardly and immoral, but it’s no more immoral than most of us who witnessed the power of God and the truth of his salvation in our lives. But because we’re afraid of the majority or rejection, we restrain our witness.

We keep quiet, and they keep perishing. We’re no better than the people in the experiment. If we condemn those people who knew the truth but refused to tell it, then we have to condemn ourselves because we know the truth. We have to bear witness of the truth to our families, friends, co-workers, acquaintances, strangers, or those of other nations.

Share the gospel because the one who refuses to bear witness to the truth is not much better than a liar. But the one who does bear witness is the true and faithful witness of the Lord.

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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

Bear witness of the truth to all those around you today. Refuse to go along with the majority.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always

Ed

The Place.Of Blossoming…

For 2,000 years the land of Israel became known as a land that couldn’t be farmed. People tried, but it was barren. Then starting at the end of the 19th century, Jewish people began returning to their land.

It was prophesied by the Hebrew prophets that the land would blossom like a rose in the desert. Miraculously, the Jewish people farmed a desert and produced a Garden of Eden, exporting flowers and produce all over the world.

How could the Jewish people, not known to be farmers, become the greatest of farmers in this barren land? Because they were brought back to where they belonged, in the will and place of God.

If your life isn’t bearing the fruit that you know God called you to, the chances are you’re not in God’s will. Whatever change you have to make, whatever repentance, whatever you need to do to answer that call, do it.

Because when you’re back in the center of God’s will, that desert is going to bloom in your life like the Garden of Eden. Whatever you touch will blossom. Just get back and get into God’s will.

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes. New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills, and I will bring my people Israel back from exile. “They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the Lord your God. Amos 9:13-15

Do whatever you need to do today to get centered in God’s will and watch your life blossom.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Direction Of Your Armor…

In Ephesians 6, we’re told to put on the armor of God: the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with sandals of the gospel, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit. Notice that it all faces forward, nothing faces backward.

If you’re going to become victorious in God and win your battles, you also have to face forward. Don’t run back. Look behind or retreat, but move forward continuously. Paul said, “Forgetting what lies behind, I press on to what lies ahead.”

Press on to higher ground, looking forward in hope. Be a person. Press on to greater challenges, holiness, godliness, faith, love, prayer, power, and greater Jesus’ likeness. The victory in God lies only ahead of you, and all your armor is made for it.

Only by going forward and moving forward will you have victory, and you will, but press on. The victory is guaranteed, but you just have to press on. You’ll win the race, but you just have to keep going and press through. For the victory of the armor is assured, but only in one direction-forward.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

Move forward in His Spirit and claim the victory that has already been won today.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Cheese Maker…

Years ago a young man started a small cheese business. He was failing and deep in debt. A friend counseled him, “You need to give God your business.” The young man thought… well if God wants to run a cheese business He can do it. He’ll be the senior partner and I’ll work for Him.

From that moment on, the business grew and prospered and became the largest cheese business in the world. The man was J.L. Kraft, President of the Kraft cheese company. So it is in all things in life.

You need a senior partner to shoulder all your burdens to relieve you of your worries and anxieties, to guide and bless you, and to lighten your load. God’s got the whole world in His hands, so give Him your life in every part.

Make Him the senior partner of your ministry, career, business, family, and everything you have and own. Then everything you have and own will be blessed. In the business of life, the only way to really profit is to make God your senior partner.

And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything, he might have the supremacy. Colossians 1:18

Seek God’s counsel on every decision you make today, making Him the senior partner of your day and the rest of your life.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed