Monday Encouragement — Now Let Us Live What We Believe

Blessings, dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

Yesterday we had the wonderful privilege of gathering with God’s people on the Lord’s Day. We worshiped our sovereign God, heard His precious Word proclaimed, prayed together, and were reminded once again of the saving grace that is ours through our Lord Jesus Christ.

But now Monday has arrived.

The worship service has ended, but our worship has not.

Today we return to our homes, workplaces, ministries, communities, responsibilities, and challenges. And this is where the truth we heard yesterday must become visible in the way we live today.

It is easy to proclaim our trust in God while surrounded by fellow believers on Sunday. The greater challenge comes on Monday when difficulties return, unexpected problems arise, and the noise of this world begins competing for our attention.

Yet the God we worshiped yesterday is the same God who walks with us today.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” — Hebrews 13:8

Whatever this week brings, let us resist the temptation to immediately depend upon our own understanding and strength. Before making decisions, pray. When difficulties arise, pray. When opportunities appear, pray. When someone needs encouragement, ask God to give you the words to speak.

And wherever the Lord places us this week, let us remember that we carry something this world desperately needs—the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We are not called merely to observe the darkness around us. We have been commanded to carry the Light into it.

There may be someone God places before you this week who needs to hear that there is hope. Someone may need to experience Christian compassion. Someone may simply need to see through your life that Jesus Christ truly makes a difference.

Let us therefore begin this week asking one simple question:

“Lord, how can You use me today for Your glory?”

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” — Colossians 3:23

May the Lord guide our steps, guard our hearts, strengthen our faith, and give us courage to faithfully proclaim Christ wherever He sends us.

Yesterday we gathered to worship.

Today we go forth to serve.

Serving Christ Together for His Glory Alone.

Soli Deo Gloria.

"And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:32 NLT

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Though storms may rage around us, Jesus is still present—He is our calm within the storm.

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All of us would be wiser if we would resolve never to put people down, except on our prayer lists.

D. A. Carson

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Dear Jesus, I trust You as You fight for me.

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Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.

1 Timothy 6:12 NLT

Ellen G. White
For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. Romans 14:7. – {UL 243.1}
There is constant temptation for human beings to consider that any influence they have gained is the result of something valuable in themselves. The Lord does not work with these, for He will not give to any human being the glory that belongs to His own name. God would have everyone under His supervision, and recognize that to God belongs all the glory of their success.... – {UL 243.2}
If the human worker will walk in all humility of mind, looking to God, trusting in Him, working out his own salvation with fear and trembling, the Lord will cooperate with him. It is God that works in us to do His will for His own name’s glory. He will give His wisdom, His divine power, to everyone who is doing His service. He makes the humble trustful servant His representative—the one who will not lift himself up, and think of himself more highly than he ought to think. The life of such an one will be dedicated to God as a living sacrifice, and that life He will accept and use and sustain.... – {UL 243.3}
Our life is not our own. It is Christ’s life. All is His, and we are to spend our powers in doing the will of God. Watch and pray; spend and be spent in doing His will from the heart. Carry every entrusted capability as a sacred treasure, to be used in imparting to others the knowledge and grace received.... – {UL 243.4}
Nehemiah, after gaining so great an influence over the [Persian] monarch in whose court he lived, and over his people in Jerusalem, instead of ascribing praise to his own excellent traits of character, his remarkable aptness and energy, stated the manner just as it was. He declared that his success was due to the good hand of God that was upon him. He cherished the truth that God was his safeguard in every position of influence. For every trait of character by which he obtained favor, he praised the working power of God.... And God gave him wisdom, because he did not exalt himself. The Lord taught him how to use the gifts entrusted to him to the very best advantage, and under the supervision of God, these talents gained other talents.... – {UL 243.5}
Every jot of influence is to be appreciated as the gift of God. The eye of the mind is to be single to the glory of God. Then the sense of responsibility will increase. Our talents will be put out to the exchangers to increase and double. There are hundreds of men and women who, if they had a proper appreciation of the heavenly trust, would go diligently and earnestly to work to use what they have.—Letter 83, August 17, 1898, to a leading minister in Australia. – {UL 243.6}

Did you know?
Nothing in this world is more valuable than knowing Jesus Christ personally. Success, possessions, and achievements may satisfy for a season, but they cannot save the soul or give the hope of eternal life. Jesus declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me"(John 14:6). God has already shown the depth of His love by giving His only Son, "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life"(John 3:16).

To know Christ is more than agreeing with facts about Him—it is trusting Him, following Him, and allowing Him to transform every part of our lives. As Paul wrote, "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord" (Philippians 3:8). When Jesus becomes the center of our lives, we receive forgiveness, peace with God, and the sure hope of eternal life, a treasure far greater than anything this world could ever offer.

Let's talk about it.
ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED — A DANGEROUS DOCTRINE

The statement “Once saved, always saved” sounds comforting, but if it is understood to mean that a person can never fall away from Christ regardless of how they later live, it contradicts the serious warnings of Scripture.

Jesus said, “He that endureth to the end shall be saved.” — Matthew 24:13

Why would Christ emphasize endurance if salvation made perseverance irrelevant?

The Bible repeatedly warns believers about falling away:

Hebrews 10:26–27 — deliberately continuing in sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth brings fearful judgment.

1 Corinthians 10:12 — “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

John 15:6 — Jesus warned that branches that do not remain in Him are cast forth and burned.

Revelation 2:10 — “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

Matthew 24:13 — “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

Biblical salvation is not a license to live in rebellion. Grace forgives sin, but grace also teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts (Titus 2:11–12).

We are saved by grace through faith—not by works—but genuine faith produces obedience and a transformed life (Ephesians 2:8–10; James 2:17).

So the issue is not whether God is faithful. He is. The issue is whether we will continue abiding in Christ.

Don't let a false sense of security replace watchfulness, repentance, faith, obedience, and perseverance.

“Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” — Revelation 2:10

Eternal life is promised to those who continue in faith and faithfulness to Christ.

Amazing Love

The Advent Truth
What are the first and second greatest commandments? Jesus answered that question plainly:

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” And, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matthew 22:37–39)

But here’s the part law-haters conveniently leave out: Jesus wasn’t abolishing the Ten Commandments. He was summarizing them.

Jesus was quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. And what surrounds those verses?

Deuteronomy 5 gives the Ten Commandments, then Deuteronomy 6 explains that obedience flows from wholehearted love for God. Leviticus 19 likewise commands honoring parents, keeping God’s Sabbaths, rejecting idols, refusing to steal, lie, defraud, murder, hate, or covet—and then says, “thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

So what does loving God look like? The first four commandments show us. What does loving our neighbor look like? The last six commandments show us.

That is precisely why Jesus concluded:

“On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” — Matthew 22:40

Notice He didn't say, “These two commandments replace the law.” He said the law hangs upon them.

Imagine someone saying, “The whole door hangs on these two hinges,” and responding, “Great! Then throw away the door!”

The two great commandments are the principles upon which God's law hangs. Love doesn't abolish God's commandments; love fulfills them.

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” — 1 John 5:3

You cannot use LOVE to abolish the very commandments Scripture says love causes us to keep.

Jesus settled this one.

A NUGGET OF TRUTH
God’s moral law was never intended to define sin for Israel alone.

Paul states plainly:

“For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law… these… shew the work of the law written in their hearts.” —Romans 2:14–15

Gentiles could be judged as sinners because the moral standard of God applied to them also. Paul adds:

“For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law… for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.” —Romans 2:12–13

The law reveals sin:

“By the law is the knowledge of sin.” —Romans 3:20

And sin is not limited to Jews:

“All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” —Romans 3:23

The same God justifies both Jew and Gentile through faith:

“Is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also.” —Romans 3:29

And that faith does not abolish His law:

“Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” —Romans 3:31

The New Testament therefore presents one God, one definition of sin, one gospel, one Saviour, and one moral standard for humanity.

Salvation is not earned by obedience. It is received by grace through faith. But the faith that saves does not erase God’s law—it writes His law upon the heart and produces obedience.

One Saviour. One Gospel. One Moral Law.
One way of salvation for Jew and Gentile.

Daily Devotional
Deal my bread to the hungry.

Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? Isaiah 58:7

What is pure religion? Christ has told us that pure religion is the exercise of pity, sympathy, and love, in the home, in the church, and in the world....

We are to think and care for others who need our love, our tenderness, and care. We should ever remember that we are representatives of Christ, and that we are to share the blessings that He gives, not with those who can recompense us again, but with those who will appreciate the gifts that will supply their temporal and spiritual necessities. Those who give feasts for the purpose of helping those who have but little pleasure, for the purpose of bringing brightness into their dreary lives, for the purpose of relieving their poverty and distress, are acting unselfishly and in harmony with the instruction of Christ.

All around us we see want and suffering. Families are in need of food; little ones are crying for bread. The houses of the poor lack proper furniture and bedding. Many live in mere hovels which are almost destitute of conveniences. The cry of the poor reaches to heaven. God sees; God hears.

The work of gathering in the needy ... is the very work which every church that believes the truth for this time should long since have been doing. We are to show the tender sympathy of the Samaritan in supplying physical necessities, feeding the hungry, bringing the poor that are cast out to our homes, gathering from God every day grace and strength that will enable us to reach to the very depths of human misery and help those who cannot possibly help themselves. In doing this work we have a favorable opportunity to set forth Christ the crucified One. [241]

Inspiration from Scripture

“Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Write all the words which I have spoken to you in a book.’” — Jeremiah 30:2

At Vision House Publishers, we draw great inspiration from this powerful message. We believe in the importance of capturing God’s words and wisdom through writing. Our mission is to provide a platform for authors who wish to share their insights and experiences, spreading the gospel of Christ through the written word.

Every book we publish is an opportunity to communicate hope, truth, and transformation, just as God intended. If you feel called to share your story or message, we are here to help you make that vision a reality.

Let us help you write and publish the words that can impact lives and spread the gospel to all nations!

Visit our website: visionhousepublishers.com

#VisionHousePublishers #Jeremiah30 #WriteItDown #SpreadTheGospel

TEEN MISSIONARIES GET MARRIED AFTER MEETING ON A MISSION TRIP, 24 HOURS LATER THIER LIVES WERE TAKEN.

A Young Christian couple who dedicated their lives to missionary work had just stepped into marriage when their story took a devastating turn.
They met while serving as missionaries in South Africa, both passionate about sharing the Gospel and living out their faith on the mission field.
Their love grew quickly, rooted in their shared calling and devotion to God.
Soon, they were engaged-and believed they were stepping into a lifelong journey of ministry together as husband and wife.
They held a simple courthouse wedding surrounded by close family.
It was a moment of joy, faith, and new beginnings.
But just one day after saying "I do," tragedy struck.
The newlyweds were involved in a fatal car crash, cutting their marriage story down to less than 24 hours.
One passed away at the scene, and the other later died in the hospital from injuries sustained in the crash.
What should have been the start of a lifetime together became a heartbreaking reminder of how fragile life truly is.
Yet even in the sorrow, those who knew them continue to speak of their deep faith and devotion to Jesus.
Their lives may have been short, but their testimony of love for Christ continues to speak.
In the midst of grief, many are reflecting on a deeper biblical truth found in Isaiah 57:1: '
"The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; devout people are taken away, while no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil."

Though their time on earth was brief, their legacy of faith, love for Christ, and missionary devotion continues to speak.