Rick Costa

As a good soldier of Christ Jesus accept your share of suffering. Every one who serves as a soldier keeps himself from becoming entangled in the world’s business–so that he may satisfy the officer who enlisted him.

2 Timothy 2:3-4  (Weymouth New Testament)

God isn’t against us having fun.  But at the same time we are here with a job to do.  As you go about your business always be on the lookout to do GOD’S business…otherwise He might as well take you “home” now if you’re not going to do anything for Him.  Don’t go A.W.O.L. soldier!

If a person thinks that he is religious but can’t control his tongue, he is fooling himself. That person’s religion is worthless.

– James 1:26 (GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995))

I have personally witnessed so called devout Christians shout Hallelujah while in church and barely get outside the doors of the sanctuary and are already cussing.  What kind of testimony is that?  And who do they think they are fooling?  Certainly not God.  Control yourself!

Every time you eat this bread and drink from this cup, you tell about the Lord’s death until He comes.

– 1 Corinthians 11:26 (GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995))

Everytime we join together for communion it is to remember what Jesus did for us on the cross.  It’s not just a ritual.  Never allow it to become that.  Acknowledge that we were sinners on our way to eternal separation from Him but now are adopted children welcomed into His Kingdom because of the Blood of Jesus shed for us.  Thank You Lord.

No creature can hide from God. Everything is uncovered and exposed for him to see. We must answer to him.

– Hebrews 4:13 (GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995))

Why do people think they can actually hide what they do from God?  He sees EVERYTHING and not one thing does He not see.  But thanks be to God that we, His sons and daughters, are seen through the filter of the Blood of His son Jesus!

And let not your behaviour be like that of this world, but be changed and made new in mind, so that by experience you may have knowledge of the good and pleasing and complete purpose of God.

– Romans 12:2 (Bible in Basic English)

We should never want to be like the sinners of this world nor pattern our lives after them.  We are rather to have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16) who was never impressed by those with fame or fortune but only by faith.  If you want to be like anyone, be like Jesus who only did the will of the Father.

But this one thing I do–forgetting everything which is past and stretching forward to what lies in front of me, with my eyes fixed on the goal I push on to secure the prize of God’s heavenward call in Christ Jesus.

– Philippians 3:13b-14 (Weymouth New Testament)

We have all made big mistakes in the past…maybe even minutes ago!  But we are to repent, ask God to cleanse us in His Blood and put our eyes back on the call of God on our lives.  You haven’t messed up too many times and God doesn’t take back that call.  He’s constantly waiting for us to get with it!  So dust yourself off and get back on track with God!

Your lives should be untainted by love for money. Be content with what you have; for God Himself has said, “I will never, never let go your hand: I will never never forsake you.”

– Hebrews 13:5 (Weymouth New Testament)

Even if everyone else in life abandons and forgets you in your hour of need, God NEVER will.

Where there is no vision, the people are uncontrolled; but he who keeps the law will be happy.

– Proverbs 29:18 (Bible in Basic English)

To give your life proper direction you should have a vision (from God obviously) so that you don’t just run wild doing everything except that which God wants you to do in the first place.  Even big secular non-Christian companies have a “mission statement.”  Seek the Holy Spirit today to make the vision for your life clear so that you are always working toward that ultimate goal and not wasting your time doing worthless things.

Purify me from sin with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

– Psalm 51:7 (GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995))

When I first read this verse years ago I just didn’t get it.  How are the branches of a hyssop plant supposed to clean sin?  Remember the night the children of Israel were about to delivered from Egypt and the death angel took all the first born?  The exception was he was not allowed to touch those who were in houses that had the lamb’s blood on the door posts spread on them by…say it with me…HYSSOP!  Now it’s not the hyssop plant that cleans sin but the BLOOD that that is applied with it.  Thank you Jesus for your Blood!  What can make me white as snow?  Nothing but the Blood!

That day they offered many sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them reason to rejoice. The women and children rejoiced as well. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard from far away.

– Nehemiah 12:39 (GOD’S WORD® Translation (©1995))

Can you imagine this happening today?  Why not!?  The praise of God was SO LOUD that it can be heard in the surrounding towns!  So yes God really does like loud praise!  (And of course the devil hates it!  Hah hah)