Ed Christian's World

Get Into Your Chrysalas…

There’s a beautiful little miracle in nature, that of the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly. The caterpillar climbs a tree and hangs itself by a silk thread.

The creature dies as a caterpillar, as an earthbound creature. Its outside hardens. It becomes like a mummy, a shell, a sort of tomb. The shell is called the ‘chrysalis.’ It’s in this chrysalis that the worm-like creatures dies. It’s from this chrysalis, that a new creature, winged and beautiful emerges.

How do you change from an earthbound creature, into a heavenly one? The chrysalis is the place where you die to self, flesh, ego, reputation and selfish desires, where you surrender your will for God’s, where you let go and let God.

It’s a place of death to the old self – but really, it’s a place of life. For it’s from that place of your dying to self, out of that chrysalis, that the beautiful and heavenly being you were meant to be emerges.

Find your chrysalis today, that sacred place of dying, so you can live, be beautiful, spread your wings and soar in the heavenlies.

There’s a beautiful little miracle in nature, that of the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly.

Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. John 12:24

Take a moment to think about what in your life still needs to be surrendered to God. Today, take a step forward and surrender in the new, to become that beautiful person you were created to be.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Manna…

Shakespeare wrote some of the most poetic verses in the English language. However, if you translate those passages into French, German or Russian, they lose their rhythm and poetic beauty.

This holds true for most of what the world calls the sacred writings. Most followers of Islamic, Hindu or Buddhist writings tend not to be in a hurry to see these writings translated.

Yet there’s one Book which stands alone in human history as the most translated of books, the Bible. No matter what language the Bible is translated into, it still retains its power, beauty, resonance, and its ability to touch the deepest part of man’s heart and change the darkest lives.

The Bible stands alone in human history as the most translatable Book because the Bible is the Word of God. It must go to all people. There are a few languages into which it hasn’t yet been translated, the language of your loved ones, co-workers, and unbelievers.

It’s your job to do this translation. Translate His love, joy, mercy, compassion, His presence, into a language they can understand. The next translation must come through you.

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Acts 20:24

Seek to translate the Bible today for unsaved people – translate the Word into action and life.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Kingdom of Broken Crosses…

What made Adolf Hitler — Adolf Hitler? How does a man become a monster? Well, if you looked at Hitler’s childhood you found out that he had a very stern, and at times brutal father. Hitler’s father would regularly thrash him.

The boy grew up with a vendetta against his father. And it’s not hard, from that, to go to hating others, even entire peoples. So on one hand, it makes sense – cause and effect.

But, on the other hand, there have been many others in history who have likewise been thrashed by their fathers and who didn’t grow up to be monsters. How?

They chose not to be defined by the bad, but by the good, not by the abuse of their childhood, but by the grace of their salvation.

Don’t be like Hitler. Be like Paul. He chose to define his life, not by his past, not by his circumstance, but by the grace of God.

You are not a victim of your past. You are a recipient; if you choose, of the grace of God. You do the same. And you’ll end up like the Apostle Paul, and not like Adolf Hitler.

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Hebrews 12:15

Seek today not to be defined by your circumstances, but instead to define them by the power of God.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Longing For Moses…

The book of Joshua begins, ‘Moses, My servant, is dead.’ Did you ever wonder why God had to tell Joshua that in the first place?

It was through Moses that some of the most glorious events took place: the judgments of Egypt, the Passover, the parting of the Red Sea, and the giving of the Ten Commandments.

It would be easy for the children of Israel, even for Joshua to long for the days of Moses. So by telling Joshua that Moses was dead, God was saying this: ‘Don’t long for the days of Moses. I am alive and I am with you.’

So you were once strong or beautiful or you had all the time in the world. And now that’s all gone. Who cares? Not God. That’s all in the past. And the Spirit is saying ‘Moses is dead.’ Stop looking back. Stop looking for the past. God is not there.

God is here and now. Now is the day of salvation. Now is the day of His presence. Now is the day of the miracles He has yet to do in your life. Now get moving. You have a Jordan to cross.

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1

Today seek to not ponder or dwell on anything from the past. But seek instead to look forward to the miracles and blessings that are ahead of you.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Lots Of Prophecy…

When Jesus was dying on the cross, the Roman soldiers cast lots for His clothing. Why was there gambling at this holy scene? Lots and gambling depend on random events, chance.

People often wonder if that’s what life is, the casting of the lot with no particular purpose or meaning. And with Jesus dying, the disciples must have wondered in the same way.

In the twenty-second Psalm, David had prophesied of the entire event, the Son of God being pierced and dying before his enemies. Even the casting of the lots was prophesied.

In your own life, there are things that happen that don’t make sense, even tragedies. There are times when it looks as if God’s purposes have failed and hope is gone. There are times when you say, ‘Why God?’

But whenever it looks that way, remember the crucifixion and the lots. It looked worse then. It was not out of control, not random, and not by chance.

For even the lots fulfilled God’s prophecy. In the end, it’s God’s will, God’s purpose, and God’s word, that prevails. For your life is sealed not by the roll of the dice; but by the blood of Jesus.

So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. Luke 23:24

Is there something in your life that doesn’t make sense or you’re not at peace with? Today cast it, and any burden upon the Lord.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Secret Of Evangelism…

John Eliot had just graduated from Cambridge University and had arrived in Boston. The year was 1631. He immediately noticed that the English so-called Christians were treating the Indians in a less than Christian way.

They probably viewed the Algonquins as savages. But it disturbed him. ‘With God’s help, I must do something’ he said. And he did. He converted the Algonquin language to writing, taught it to his Indian disciples, and then translated the entire Bible into the Algonquin tongue.

John Eliot’s Algonquin Bible was the first Bible ever printed in the New World and the first to be published for a people who had neither alphabet nor written language. And so, how do you treat people? You treat them as John Eliot treated the Algonquins.

You give them the Word of God; you love them. But they don’t understand it? Well… learn their language and translate God’s Word and love into the language they can understand.

It may be hard, but it’ll be worth it when they get saved. They might be savages. It’s ok. Translate His love. Translate His word. And that’s how to treat the Algonquins.

Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. Proverbs 12:25

Today, seek to be a translater of God’s Word – take the Word of God – and communicate it to those who are from God – in their language, in a way that can reach them.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Prophets Of Lies

What if your bedroom is filled with a blinding light and there at the foot of your bed you behold the most magnificent being you have ever seen. He tells you that he’s been sent from God and has a message for you:’In order to be saved you have to keep the Sabbath.’

What do you do? You uncover your face. You stand up, look him in the eyes and say, ‘Go to hell, angel. For according to God’s Word, that’s where you belong!’

The apostle Paul says it this way, “Even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!’ Or in other words, ‘Let him go to hell.’

The point is, when it comes to the truth of God’s Word, we need to be so pure, radical, and uncompromising. Any teaching that is contrary to this; any Gospel that is different; any sign that would lead you away; even if an angel from heaven… you have full Scriptural authority, and a holy mandate and responsibility to tell it on purely Biblical grounds… to go to hell.

Reference: Galatians 1

Take a Scripture, ponder its meaning and follow it, even stubbornly, let nothing get in the way of applying it to your life.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Secrets of The Hidden Scrolls…

Growing up, I was taught that the idea of Jesus dying for sins was totally not Jewish even to this day. However, the disclosing of an ancient parchment, text 4Q285, one of the Dead Sea Scrolls refuted all that.

It says of the Messiah: “They will kill the Prince of the People…” In other words, Jesus will be killed, and everything we were taught was wrong. It is Jewish to believe in Jesus who is killed.

The Dead Sea Scroll continues: “They will kill the Prince of the People with khalal.” Khalal is the same word found in Isaiah 53: “He was pierced through for our transgressions.”

The word for wounded or pierced through is khalal. So the scroll which was hidden in the Judean desert for two thousand years and then kept hidden from the public another forty years revealed to have said that Jesus will be killed in the same manner as the Savior of Isaiah 53, through piercings.

If you know anybody like that, He’s the Savior who gave up His life for you. There’s only one thing you can do… follow Him with all your heart.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought peace wason him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

Thank God today for the gift of salvation, the price He paid, for all the blessings in your life, and live today as a gift of thanks back to Him.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Sunrise Commandment…

People often say, “You have to be a realist. It’s fine to have faith and dreams but ultimately you have to be a realist.” I’ve got news for you…You don’t have to be a realist. In fact, you shouldn’t be a realist.

We’re supposed to be like God…God isn’t a realist. God doesn’t just accept things as they are, nor does he limit Himself by the reality of the world. He made the world when there was no world.

If He were a realist, He would’ve just looked at the situation and accepted it. He would have said, “Well there’s no light and we just have to accept that.” He never did because God isn’t a realist.

He said, “Let there be light!” And there was light. In the same way, if you call yourself a child of God, then you also cannot be a realist, nor be bound by what is real. You’re not called to accept the world; you’re called to change the world.

So whenever you’re faced by a situation of darkness, don’t accept it. Say, “Let there be light!” And there will be light. For God is your father, and your Father is no realist!

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

Don’t be a realist! Don’t be bound by the reality of your circumstances or problems. But, in God, live in faith, by His better and overcoming reality.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Wherever You Dwell…

In the Book of Ruth, Naomi, the Jewish mother-in-law, tries to convince her Gentile daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, to leave her as she returns to her homeland, Israel.

Orpah agrees, but Ruth still refuses. Finally, Naomi gave up and let Ruth come along. She saw that Ruth was amats. Amats in Hebrew means steadfast, stubborn, courageous, fortified and hardened.

You say, “it’s not good to be stubborn and hardened.” Not quite. It’s not good to be stubborn in sin and hardened to God. It’s very good to be stubborn in love and hardened for righteousness.

It’s not enough to follow God… we must be amats in our following. Like Ruth, amats must chacterize our walk. We need to be stubborn in our faith, steadfast in our love, hardened in our commitment, fortified in our hope. Ruth was stubborn and refused to be discouraged.

So Naomi gave up and let her come. And, when the enemy sees that you also are amats, he too will give up. Be steadfast in faith, unwavering in hope, and stubborn in love.

Be an amats believer, and nothing on earth will keep you from all the blessings God has in store.

 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Ruth 1:16

Today, make a commitment of devotion to the Lord – In one way or another to say: “I will not turn back from following You. Where You lead me, I will go. Your people shall be my people.”

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed