Closer to Cross

Your Ultimate Answers to Any Temptation  It is written again, “You shall not tempt the LORD your God.” Matthew 4:7. After I overcame Satan’s first temptation, he tempted Me again, this time by quoting God’s Word to Me. He tried to tempt Me to act contrary to My Father’s will and purposes. Had I given in to temptation, I would have been doing it in response to the will of Satan. I would have been doing his will instead of the will of My Father. Here again, I used the single most powerful weapon I had against Satan: the Word of God. My dear one, if God’s Word was My most effective weapon, wouldn’t it also be the most powerful weapon you can use? Of course it is! This is why it is so important that you abide in My words. If you don’t know the Word, you won’t be able to use it to overcome the attacks and temptations of your adversary. There is no greater weapon against Satan and his followers than My words. This is one more way that I want you to follow Me. Heaven and earth will pass a...

Your Ultimate Answers to Any Temptation  It is written again, “You shall not tempt the LORD your God.” Matthew 4:7.  After I overcame Satan’s first temptation, he tempted Me again, this time by quoting God’s Word to Me. He tried to tempt Me to act contrary to My Father’s will and purposes. Had I given in to temptation, I would have been doing it in response to the will of Satan. I would have been doing his will instead of the will of My Father. Here again, I used the single most powerful weapon I had against Satan: the Word of God. My dear one, if God’s Word was My most effective weapon, wouldn’t it also be the most powerful weapon you can use? Of course it is! This is why it is so important that you abide in My words. If you don’t know the Word, you won’t be able to use it to overcome the attacks and temptations of your adversary. There is no greater weapon against Satan and his followers than My words. This is one more way that I want you to follow Me. Heaven and earth will ...

Your Ultimate Answers to Any Temptation  It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4. After fasting for more than a month, I was tired, hungry, and physically weak. That was the perfect time for Satan to tempt Me. Child, whenever you are weakened by anything, you become more vulnerable to temptation. The devil whispers, “You’re only human. Everyone does it. It’s really nothing!” But remember, he will say anything to get you to fall. He will offer you what appears to be immediate relief or gratification. When I was desperately hungry, he tempted Me with an offer of food. He told Me to command stones to become bread. However, I knew that My Father wanted to be My only authority. Taking any order or suggestion from Satan would be giving him a place of authority that belongs to My Father alone. So I answered Satan’s temptation with the one weapon he cannot overcome—the Word of God! My precious one, when you are ...

How to Remain in My Love and My Jo y  I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! John 15:9–11. For more than three years, My disciples experienced the joy of being in the center of My love. On the night of My arrest, they realized I would be leaving them to return to My Father. They were devastated at the thought that they would no longer be able to experience My love and care. I told them they could remain in My love by doing what I did to remain in My Father’s love. I remained in the Father’s love by keeping His commands. My disciples could remain in My love by keeping My commands. Child, the same is true for you. If you will learn My commands and keep them, you will remain in My love, My joy will flow into you, and your joy will overflow to ...

Leading Your Family and Others in My Kingdom  You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Matthew 20:25–28. Leaders often are domineering and overbearing. They often rule with arrogance and use fear to pressure their followers. This is not the way I want you to lead. Instead, I want you to lead with humility and gentleness. I want you to lead in a spirit of serving people, including your family. I want you to guide with love and honor instead of demands and fear. I want you to lead by example. Don’t just tell your children to trust Me and run to Me, but let them see you trusting Me and running to Me. Teach others My ways with My words as well ...

How to Love Those Who Hate You (and Those You Have Hated)  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:44–45. Child, I have called you to love those you might otherwise hate and those who hate you. You may think, But I don’t hate anyone. That may be true of your feelings, but hatred is a behavior. When you are angry with someone and experience a judgmental or vengeful heart, that is hatred. When you gossip about others, you are damaging their reputation, and that is hatred. My disciples asked Me if they should call fire down from heaven to destroy a group of Samaritans who rejected them. I rebuked them and their spirit and then reminded them that I didn’t come to earth to destroy lives but to save them. I want you to...

You Make No Sacrifice When You Sacrifice for Me  And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. Matthew 19:29,  Many of My early followers gave up their wealth, their livelihoods, and their security. They were disowned by their families, hated by their neighbors, and even martyred because of their faith. Many gave up everything they had just to make sure other followers had what they needed. And the truth is, everything they gave up was temporal, and everything they gained was eternal. They knew that their momentary sacrifices were storing up treasures in heaven. But that is not why they made such sacrifices. They simply answered My call to deny themselves, take up their crosses daily, and follow Me. They experienced the unsurpassed joy of knowing Me intimately. So although they gave up everything, they sacrificed nothing— for the...

You Are Worth So Much More Than You Can Ever Imagine  I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. John 10:11. I know there are times when you feel like a failure. You think, How can God still love me? And yet I’m telling you that My Father and I love you more than you could ever imagine. We don’t love you because you have earned Our love. And We don’t stop loving you because you’ve earned Our disdain. We love you because it is who We are. When you were dead in sin, having no hope whatsoever, My Father loved you with an indescribable love. He sent Me to live and to die for you. We could not unite with you because of your sin. But now, through your faith in Me, you’ve exchanged your sin for My righteousness. Because of My atoning sacrifice, you have been cleansed of your sin and clothed with My righteousness. Your worth is not based on what you have achieved or earned. It is established forever by Our love for you and proven by what We have done to gi...

The Power to Forgive   Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, “Pay me what you owe!” Matthew 18:27–28. Why do so many who claim to be My followers find it hard to forgive? The reason is, forgiving is not a natural response. The natural responses to being hurt are anger, resentment, and even revenge. Child, I know you still find it hard to forgive some who hurt you. But you can’t follow Me if you will not forgive. When you withhold forgiveness, you choose to disobey My commands. You belittle My sacrifice on the cross. I died to pay the full debt of your sins. When you forgive, you are obeying My command, loving the Father and Me, and honoring what We have done for you. You forgive not because your offender deserves it but because God has forgiven you a far greater debt. ...

I Want You to Know My Father  Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Matthew 11:27. My Father’s ways are as far above your ways as heaven is above earth. Though some know a little about Him, no one really knows Him except Me and those to whom I reveal Him. Child, I want you to know My Father. You will stand in awe of His majesty and glory. You will shudder in amazement at His love, His righteousness, and His justice. I don’t want you merely to know about Him; I want you to know Him. First, look at Me and My behavior. As you look at Me, you will witness My Father firsthand. As you see the way I dealt with people, you will see His dealings. I did exactly what pleased Him. He lived His life on earth in Me. Second, listen to My words. Every word I uttered is one He commanded Me to say. My words were His words—perfectly expressed. Finally, act on My words. As you do, My Father and I will come and make Our home with You. And I wil...

Your Grief Need Not Remain  So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. John 16:22. I understand your grief, and I am sorry you are hurting. There is nothing wrong with grief for a season, but it must not become your master. It must not keep you from accomplishing the purpose I have called you to accomplish. Your life on earth is but a brief moment in eternity. I am your Shepherd, and you are My sheep. My sheep must follow Me. When grief is your master, it can steal your life and keep you from following Me. If you will draw close to Me, you will see the Father as He really is. As you grow in intimacy with Me, your earthly sorrows will fade. As you dwell in My words and do what I say, My joy will flow into your heart and your joy will be so full it will overflow to others. Let My words pour My Spirit and life into you. If you will, the dark clouds of sorrow will soon be replaced by a bright new day. I promise. I have t...

How to Know You Are One of My Sheep  I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep and my sheep know me….My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:14, 27.  When humanity stands before Me, many will think they are My sheep. They will call Me “Lord” and will tell Me of the miracles they worked in My name. But I will respond, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” Here is what sets My sheep apart from all others: I know My sheep and they know Me. They have been born again and have become joined to Me. The whole direction of their lives changed. They used to follow their own paths, doing whatever they wanted, pursuing their own desires. But when they were born of the Spirit, they began to hear My words and do them. They left their paths and began to follow Me. The more they obeyed My words, the more intimate we became. Child, I want that same intimacy with you. Today and every day set your focus on My words. Consume them like yo...

I Give My Sheep What No Other Shepherd Can Give   I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11  And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. John 10:28. Some sheep follow shepherds who care only about their own purposes. Some follow shepherds who care and do the best they can, but they are subject to human weakness. They do not know what dangers lie around the corner. I am the good Shepherd. I gave My life for My sheep. I alone can take My sheep where no other shepherd can lead. I alone can give My sheep eternal life. I can protect them through this life and lead them safely into the next. Only My sheep have My promise of living with Me forever in the kingdom My Father has given Me. Child, you are My sheep. I gave My life for you. Even today I intercede on your behalf before the Father. Your life today is merely the introduction to the life I have prepared for you. You...

Eliminating All Fear by Fearing God  Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. Matthew 10:28–29. Why should you continue to live in worry and fear? You are often anxious about so many things, and your life is tormented with stress. Child, it doesn’t have to be that way. When you are fearful, it is a sign that you are setting your focus on the temporary things of this life. This world is not your permanent home. Even death should not be feared by My followers. It’s simply the doorway to your eternal home. To be free from all fear, you need only to revere God above all else and love Him by obeying My teachings. I want you to know that nothing will come your way except through My Father’s loving will. He knows everything about you, and yet He loves you so much that He ...