Good morning people who live with gratitude for what the Father and Son did for us.

Hebrews 10:3-4 NIV But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

The offering of sacrifices was something man did to appease God. Sure, it was what God authored and used to cover over man’s sins, but it was insufficient to remove sin and its subsequent guilt and shame.

Firstly, the sacrifice was a created being; an animal, that although outwardly it may have been perfect, it was not perfect. It was the best man could bring, but it was insufficient to completely wash away sin and guilt.

Secondly, these sacrifices originated in man bringing their best to God. Again, God authored this, but it was only a shadow of the Perfection that was yet to come.

Jesus Christ was the Perfect Sacrifice both outwardly and inwardly, therefore He alone can and did and continues to take away the sin of the world!

And it was the Father Who sent His Perfect Son, not us. God initiated the Sinless Perfect Sacrifice for our atonement and for the removal of both sin and its shame and guilt!

Oh, praise God for His goodness and for the sacrifice that truly brought us complete freedom!

Watch my sermon: ‘Going Deeper in God’

Good morning people who are fully reliant upon the goodness of God.

Hebrews 10:1-2 NIV The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.

It’s not all about obeying the law. It’s about God and a relationship with Him!

If we are not careful, we can place a greater focus on obeying the law perfectly than on knowing, loving and relying on Perfect Love Himself.

If we are not careful, our best effort and good works get more attention from us than the righteousness of God that we have in Christ Jesus.

If we are not careful, we will seek to feel righteous by doing enough good deeds to make up for the bad deeds we’ve done.

The law is not what it’s all about. It’s about the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It’s about a dependency on what they have done and continue to do for us. It truly is about God and us.

Does your focus need to shift Godward?

Good morning people who keep on trusting and believing in a faithful God.

Hebrews 10:39 NIV But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

We are about to look at some powerful truth in this chapter, but I believe God would have me ask you this question today:

Have you made a firm decision, have you resolved in your heart, have you made a non-negotiable covenant commitment to never give up and shrink back from your incredible and faithful God?

I have discovered life is not always easy, and that this ‘not always easy’ life can come in many shapes and sizes. Difficulty and challenges are a part of life for us all.

And this is why it is imperative that we make a decision to never lose grip on the God Who is forever holding us. This is not about striving, but rather a decision to continue abiding – no matter what.

May I remind you of what Father has spoken to me many times: It’s about continued perseverance in the right direction.

“Will you join me in persevering forward in faith and trust in God?”

Good morning people who honour God by honouring those who work for you.

Colossians 4:1 NIV Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

It is just as right for employers to act with integrity as it is for employees to act with integrity. In fact, these verses from yesterday apply equally to both:

Colossians 3:23-24 NIV Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Employers must know that they are serving the Lord in their business. How they treat their employees must be done in a way that pleases God. This is the right way of thinking. Employees should love working for Christian employers. If they don’t, something is wrong.

Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair.

If you are an employer, do you pay your employees what is right and fair? Do you do what is right for them and for the government?

Getting away with giving as little as possible is not the kingdom way.

Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

This connection reminds me of Jesus’ instruction to forgive others on earth so that our heavenly Father will forgive us (Matthew 6:14-15). How we treat people is important to God. How we treat people affects how God treats us.

If you are a Christian who employees people, I pray that you are known as a delight to work for. I pray that people are pointed towards the goodness and kindness of God as a result of working for you.

Good morning people who do your job as unto the Lord.

Colossians 3:22-25 NIV Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.

While we don’t have slaves and human masters anymore, we do have employees and employers, and the same principles apply.

How we work for others is important to God.

It is easy to separate work from ministry. On one hand, this is correct. The Bible says that Jesus began to minister at the age of 30 and yet He had been a carpenter before this. That said, I am convinced that Jesus served his father Joseph faithfully as a carpenter, and while he made tables and chairs, He did it as unto His heavenly Father.

And this is the point in this Scripture today. To serve well at church and to slacken off at work is to not understand how Father sees our life as a service to Him and a witness to others.

This Scripture highlights the motivation of our heart in all we do. Paul instructs people to work for the Lord even when people aren’t watching. Therefore, it’s not about being noticed for the purpose of advancement, but rather, it is about doing everything as unto the Lord.

There is either a reward or consequences for how we work in our place of employment. Therefore, let’s position ourselves for reward. We do this by working for the Lord with sincerity of heart and reverence for God.