Closer to Cross

What to Do When You Are Wounded. But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. Matthew 5:39. My dear child, you live in the midst of a wicked and perverse generation. People love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. They have become gods unto themselves, and they have no part with Me. But you need not be discouraged or dismayed, for you are with Me and you are Mine. I am the Light of the World, and because you follow Me, you need never walk in darkness. As My follower, I want you to be a light in the darkness that surrounds you. I want you to represent Me with your words of truth, but even more with your acts of righteousness, to everyone I bring into your path. Those in the world will wound you in many ways. They will speak evil to you and about you. Some will act hatefully toward you, and others will simply neglect or avoid you. But I want you to respond to their evil in the same manner that I respond...

Truth Is Simple—Only Lies Are Complicated Simply  let  your  “Yes”  be  “Yes,”  and  your  “No,”  “No”; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. Matthew 5:37. Satan is the Father of Lies. This world is his kingdom. Those who don’t know Me have grown up in a dishonest world, where people define truth and lies like shades of color. If something is “mostly” true, they view it as true. If there is a slight exaggeration or a few necessary details are omitted, they act as if they have been honest. But God has no part in Satan’s dark world. He is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. You are a child of God. I have called you to walk in the light as He is in the light. Avoid dishonesty in your ways and your words. Your interactions with everyone must be above reproach. When you enter into a commitment, there are to be no lies, no exaggerations, no necessary details hidden or omitted. Whatever you say you will do, you are fully committed...

Great News About Heaven And they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. Luke 20:36. Ever since Adam and Eve’s sin, humanity has been enslaved by sin and its terrible consequences: separation from God, all manner of evil, and the agony of death. But My sacrifice on the cross has changed everything for those who believe, repent, and follow Me. Born again, they have become children of My glorious resurrection and adopted children of God. Child, as My  faithful  follower  you,  too,  are  a  beloved  child  of  the  almighty, everlasting  God. Oh, that you could fully comprehend what this really means! The only thing standing between you and heaven is the completion of your mission on earth. You can’t begin to imagine what it will be like once you pass through death’s door. You will experience the full love, righteousness, and mercy of the Father. You w...

Your Most Important Priority. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33. It is natural for you to attend to most everything else before you seek My Father’s kingdom and righteousness. The countless demands on your time seem to be never ending. My child, you are missing the greatest opportunity of your life. The blessings and rewards of seeking My Father, His kingdom, and His righteousness ahead of all else cannot be received in any other pursuit or activity. When you seek Him first, you will gain a level of purpose, fulfillment, and joy that nothing else can give. More important, your life will count for eternity rather than just the few years you have on earth. Begin your day in My words. Let My teachings determine your choices and actions in everything you do. Replace activities that have little worth or relevance to your relationship with Me with activities that do. Begin and end every day meditating on My words...

Reconciling Is More Important to Me Than You Can Imagine Therefore  if  you  bring  your  gift  to  the  altar,  and  there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:23–24. How great is your Father in heaven? He is above all! He inhabits your praise and joyfully receives your worship and the gifts of your heart. But as much as He loves your praise, worship, and service, He wants you to be at peace with your brothers and sisters. He wants you to do what you can to repair  any  offense  that  stands  between  you  and  those  whom you  have offended. Even if you are worshiping Him and realize you have offended someone, stop and seek forgiveness and reconciliation. Then come back to worship. You may not be able to move the other person to forg...

Now Is the Time to Turn Around and Follow Me Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Matthew 4:17. I began My ministry on earth with a message that the world desperately needed to hear. As it is written, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” People follow paths that appear to be right, because serving themselves first only seems natural. But those self-serving paths lead to eternal separation from My Father’s kingdom. Could anything be worse than spending your entire life going down a path that you thought was right only to find that it was heartbreaking to the Father who loves you? Today many who bear My name embrace the world’s values and walk in ways that are contrary to My Father’s ways. Child, what are your ways? What do you value, and what do you do? How do you spend your time? How do you spend your money? Which activities and distractions have you allowed to become more important than following Me? For your ...

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 o...