Closer to Cross

The Secret for Bearing Eternal Fruit  Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. John 15:4. So many of My followers weary themselves trying to bear fruit. But bearing eternal fruit has little to do with how hard you work and everything to do with your connection to Me. For a branch to have life and produce fruit, it must have sap. And the life-giving sap flows from the vine into the branch. I am the Vine, and you are the branch. The only way you can have a spiritual life that produces fruit is by abiding in Me and My words. As you abide in My words, My life will flow from Me to you, and the Holy Spirit will produce His fruit in you. There is no other way you can bear fruit. Your purpose is to bear much fruit for God’s kingdom. To fulfill that purpose, you don’t need to become more active; you need to become more connected. My words are your connection to Me, through which My Spirit and...

Hearing, Understanding, and Bearing Fruit     But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Matthew 13:23  Child, you have heard My words. You have understood My message of the Father’s boundless love for you. You have understood His righteousness and judgment. You have understood that your sin created an impossible debt and that the Father chose Me to lay down My life as a ransom for you. You understand My call to deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Me. Yet I know you struggle in your efforts to deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Me. Don’t be discouraged. All My followers struggle against powers and principalities. We are plundering Satan’s kingdom, and he does not surrender his subjects without a fight. I have called you to stand against the strength of your old nature and the attractions and influence...

Fooled by Wealth’s Deceit   The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. Matthew 13:22  If I had more money, I could do more for God and people who are needy.” “I need a bigger house and a better neighborhood.” “If I had more, others would have more respect for me, and I could influence more people.” These are a few of the lies that so many of My would-be followers have believed.  Today visions of greater prosperity—more than most other stumbling blocks—keep people from truly following Me. Remember, I have said, “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” I meant that for all My followers, including you.  Don’t be deceived by the lies of wealth. I also said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and ...

Choked by Life’s Worries   The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. Matthew 13:22  What distractions and obstacles keep you from following Me with your whole heart? What prevents you from bearing much fruit for My Father’s kingdom? Is it not all the time you spend worrying about the temporal things of life? Most of the things you worry about are of little importance to the kingdom. My Father’s will for you is that you bear much fruit. He wants you to love others with His unconditional love. He wants you to be an example of His righteousness in this world. He wants those who see you to see His mercy in the ways you show mercy. He wants others to see His generosity in the ways you are generous with your time and possessions. He wants people to see His compassion in the ways you show concern and care. He wants you to be a beacon of truth to t...

When Trials Come   The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. Matthew 13:20–21. How could people who received My message with great excitement later abandon their faith? The answer is simple. When they received the Gospel, they thought they were trading their unhappy lives for happier ones. They thought their lives were going to get easier, not harder. No one told them that I had said, “In this world you will have trouble.” So when trouble came, their shallow roots gave way, and their faith withered. They didn’t know that to follow Me is to deny yourself and take up your cross daily. They embraced a form of godliness but never understood the true nature of becoming My follower. Child, you know that following Me means laying aside your self-centered rights, dying to yourse...

Without Understanding, the Risk Is High  When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. Matthew 13:19. The message of the kingdom is the same today as it was at the start. It’s a message about the Father, His love, His righteousness, and His judgment. It’s about Me and My redeeming sacrifice. It’s about My sheep. They hear My voice, deny themselves, take up their crosses daily, and follow Me. It’s a message about dying to your selfish desires and living instead for My Father and His kingdom. The “seed sown along the path” refers to those who hear this message, and even though they initially embrace it, they don’t understand it. It is contrary to their self-centeredness and conflicts with their desires. Because they don’t understand it, the Evil One steals the message from their hearts, and they go back to their old ways. They trade that which is eterna...

ETERNAL LIFE  Now For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16.  My precious lamb, do you really understand the miracle that the Holy Spirit has wrought in your life? If you are not rejoicing throughout the day, then you have not fully grasped the greatness of your salvation. Before, you were spiritually dead. You didn’t have even the tiniest spark of life. You had no hope. Dead people with no hope can do absolutely nothing to raise themselves from the dead. But God, being rich in mercy because of His infinite love, made you alive in Me. The Holy Spirit brought about the miracle of your second birth. With this birth you repented of your sin.  Instead of being driven by your self-centeredness, you did an about-face and began to follow Me. Instead of a future of eternal darkness and separation from My Father and His kingdom, you became a joint heir with Me to all that He has p...

Those Who Believe in Him   For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16. Whoever believes in Me will not perish but will have eternal life. Believing in Me is not merely agreeing, accepting, or admitting that I am God’s Son. Many people will say, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” Tragically, I will tell them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” People’s behavior is the expression of their heart’s true beliefs. Many call Me Lord, but their hearts are far from Me. They choose to set aside My words, doing instead what they desire. But those who believe in Me in their hearts follow Me by doing what I say. When you truly believe in Me, you will endeavor to love the way I love, forgive the way I forgive, and show mercy to those who don’t deserve it. You will gain a growing desire...

Oh, How God Loves You!  For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16. When Adam and Eve rebelled against God with their arrogant disobedience, He would have been just and righteous to destroy them and start over with a new creation. But instead, because of His unfathomable love, He promised that He would provide a Savior. The Savior would be the enemy of Satan, the One who would destroy him and his evil work and save Adam and Eve and their descendants. Sin is detestable beyond description to the Father, who is perfect in holiness. Every sin of humanity is a hateful display of arrogance and rebellion against God. Would you consider sacrificing your precious, beloved child to save people who show their hatred of you every day—people who defy you and belittle all you have given them? Of course you wouldn’t! But your heavenly Father, the God of all creation, loves you with a love so great...

You Must Be Born Again   That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, “You must be born again.” John 3:6–7. From the time you first became aware of Me, you have heard the announcement I gave to Nicodemus. No one can enter the kingdom of God and intimately know the Father and Me without being born of the Spirit. I know you have wondered if you have been born again. A tree can be known only by its fruit. Have you seen your desperate need for forgiveness and cleansing from your sin? Did you repent and run to Me? Do you desire to know Me intimately? Do you hunger for My words and feast on them? Do you want to follow Me, even if it means turning your back on the treasures of this world? Are you willing to take up your cross and follow Me, even though it means daily surrendering the “rights” you used to cling to? Are you seeing the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life? These cannot be produced by your...

All Truth Is in Me and Is Revealed in My Life and Words   I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6. I am the truth. All truth, everything of eternal value, everything of true worth is contained in Me. It is demonstrated in My life and expressed in My words. My words are the truth by which all else will be measured and judged. By hearing My words, you can know the truth about the Father and the Holy Spirit. You will hear what He loves and what He hates. In My words you can know the truth about everything—that which has great worth to the Father, that which has no value. Although His ways are as far above your ways as the heavens are above the earth, through the truth of My words you can learn His ways and know all that you can do to please Him. By the truth of My words, you can avoid that which is destructive to you. Through the truth of My commands, you can love the Father and Me with your faith and obedience. Through the t...

It’s Not What You Know, It’s Whom You Come To  You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. John 5:39–40 My child, Scripture is one of the greatest gifts My Father has given to the world. The Scriptures reveal the truth about My Father, about Me, about the Holy Spirit, and about everything We love. The Father gave the Scriptures so people could come to know Us intimately. But instead, many people have searched the Scriptures simply to gain knowledge, and they did not come to know the Father or Me. This is tragic. Not only do they miss the purpose of the Scriptures. They also miss the very purpose of their lives on earth. Child, don’t follow their foolish example. Every day come to Me for life. Prayerfully meditate on My words so you can get to know Me and the Father. Hear what I say and do it. If you will, My Father will love you, and I, too, wi...

The Power of My Words   For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say. John 12:49–50  On earth I was not merely a teacher passing along information. I didn’t say what I said so people could simply consider My words but so they could do them. The truth is, My Father sent Me to earth to accomplish everything He wanted Me to accomplish. I did everything He commanded Me to do and said everything He commanded Me to say. That’s why My words are so critical to your daily life and to your eternal life as well. They are not My words only; they are the words of your almighty Father. They will perform their miraculous power in you if you will abide in them. My words will never fail. But if you don’t know them, you rob yourself of knowing the ultimate truth, the solutions to your problems, and the source of your fai...

Your Sorrows Will Turn into Joy   Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4.  My dear one, I know your sorrows, and I understand your grief. Even though I knew I was only minutes from raising Lazarus from the dead, his death broke My heart. In Gethsemane My sorrow was overwhelming, nearly to the point of death. But for all who know My Father, sorrow is only temporary—it need not control your heart. As you express your heartaches and sorrows to My Father and Me, We will comfort you. Though your grief may be great, know that the Holy Spirit’s miraculous comfort will be greater. In this time draw even nearer to Me. Pray continuously. Listen with your heart to My comforting assurances. The eternal things of your life are as present today as they were the day you came into My kingdom. All other things, even people’s lives on earth, are only temporary. But your comfort and hope, your joy and your life with Me are eternal. Because I live, you shall liv...

I Know Your Desires, and I Understand Your Weaknesses   Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. Matthew 26:41  For more than three years, I poured My life into My disciples. I loved and nurtured them. I met their every need. I gave them the authority and power to perform miracles. They confessed their faith in Me. And yet, when My heart was breaking and I asked them to keep watch with Me while I prayed, they couldn’t stay awake. I asked them to keep watch and pray, but they failed. Though I was deeply saddened, I did not condemn them. I knew that in their spirit they wanted to serve Me, but they simply did not have the power to do so in their flesh. I know the same is true with you. There are so many times that you want to obey Me. Your spirit is willing, but your flesh is weak, and you fall short. I do not judge you; I understand you. I understand your weaknesses far better than you do. When you fall, know th...

Growing Your Faith into Maturity   But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48. When you were born again, you were born into a whole new way of life. At first you continued to act in many of the ways you acted before your new birth. When people offended you, you struck back, delivering a wound for a wound. When people said unkind things about you, you said unkind things about them. You loved people who loved you and behaved in a hateful manner toward those who were hateful. But now it’s time to grow up. I want you to become more mature and complete in your faith. Immature faith loves a neighbor but hates an enemy. Mature faith behaves as your Father in heaven would behave, not just loving your neighbor but loving your enemy as well. Mature faith prays for those who hate you or persecute you. In fact, mature faith looks for ways to bless those who hurt you. I’m not asking you to change your emotions or feelings. I’m asking you to have faith...