“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6).
With everything that is happening in our world, and all the holiday festivities ramping up, it might be easy to forget all we have to be thankful for.
As we get caught up in all the activities we engage in, we often take the basic everyday blessings of life for granted. Thus, we need to be reminded that the Bible shows us at least three basic reasons for which to give thanks.
First, we can be thankful for God’s grace.
“We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 4:14-15). God has forgiven us because Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, and we have received the promise of eternal life, all because of His grace.
Then there are God’s gifts.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17). Every natural ability, our personalities, our character, are put into us by God’s own design. “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).
Finally, there is God’s goodness.
From this source comes the sunshine and rain, food and clothing, our health and life itself. “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” “I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord” (Psalm 116:12; 17).
This Thanksgiving, let’s call upon the name of the Lord, and tell Him how thankful we are for every one of His rich blessings.“Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).
This very special Wedding Celebration is for Jesus Christ and His Bride, who is His Church. And YOU are invited!
“Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” – Revelation 19:9
Why have I been invited to this?
Because God, in His great love, actually desires to see everyone at this special occasion! And He has extended this invitation to all the people in the world, and that includes YOU!
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that WHOEVER believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.” – John 3:16-17
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” – John 1:12
“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift, not from works, so that no one can boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9
By believing in Jesus, He reserves a special place for you in His Father’s house where we will all celebrate the Wedding Banquet together!
“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.”– John 14:2-3
“I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one on Me, so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom.” – Luke 22:29-30
Can I be sure this is true? Yes! You can trust the One who loves you, and gave His life for you.
“But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!” – Romans 5:8
“I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” – 1 John 5:13
Why is this important? Because it’s the only way to be saved from the penalty of our sin. And sadly, there are people who will not reserve their place by responding to the invitation, because they simply don’t believe it.
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” – Acts 12:4
“Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.”– John 3:18
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:23
How can I return my R.S.V.P.?
How do you reserve your place at this Wedding Banquet? By believing and trusting in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross for the forgiveness of all your sins, and His resurrection from the dead, proving He is our Lord and Savior. All you have to do is simply tell Him you believe in all He has done for you! Call out to the Lord from your heart, and accept His gift by faith. You can reserve your place right now! And I pray you don’t wait, for the Wedding Day is coming soon!
“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”– Romans 10:13
If you have done this, your place is RESERVED! And I look forward to seeing you at the Wedding Banquet!
“I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may KNOW that you have eternal life.” – 1 John 5:13
Memorial Day is a day we should be thinking about all those who have died for the freedom we have in our country, at least for now.
And although each one of those deaths is so vitally important to us, there are two deaths we must be “thinking about” every day.
Christ’s death, and ours.
We are all thankful for Jesus going to the cross in order for our sin debt to be paid so that we can, by faith in His finished work, receive the gift of eternal life. But we must not forget that when He died, WE died with Him. We died with Him in order that we could also be raised with Him to “walk in a new way of life” (Romans 6:4). He has given His life to us. We have been given this new life because He wants us to live it! This is a truth we sadly ignore all too often, and its consequences are always disastrous.
Paul writes, “So if you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3).
Now, Paul isn’t saying we should live a “hidden” life that no one sees. The life that God wants us to show is Christ’s life! We are supposed to die to the old life that was focused on the ways of this world. Paul makes that very clear.
“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” (Colossians 3:5-9).
Right now you’re probably saying, “I’ve read this all before, but it’s impossible for me to do this!” You’re right, you can’t. Living the new life can only come from a renewed mind that is “Set…on things above”. Peter says, God “has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” (2 Peter 3-4).
No matter how you may want to look at it, we are living in a world of corruption. God has commanded us to live apart from it, and He’s told us specifically what we are to do. But in order to do so, we must surrender our will to His.
“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
“That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ‘In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:17-32).
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8).
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
Lord, help us to always remember these two deaths. These we must NEVER forget.
May God bless you all!
Brother Rick
U.N.C.L.E. HQ
We wish to thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ without whom this ministry would not be possible.
U.N.C.L.E. Ministry is affiliated ONLY with Jesus Christ to build up the body of believers who comprise His church…for His glory!
One day, Jesus was asked by an expert in the Law, “What is the greatest commandment?” Jesus answered by giving him two. He said to, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength”. He also included, “The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:30-31).
It wasn’t very long after this encounter that Jesus made these commandments very personal for his disciples. During his last meal with them, Jesus said, “By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). But before the meal ended He got even more specific when he told them, “If you love me you will keep my commands” (John 14:15).
So, what was Jesus trying to get across to them? Let’s go back to the greatest commandment. Jesus said we are to love the Lord with ALL your heart, ALL your soul, ALL your mind, and ALL your strength, then, in turn, to truly love others. It’s sad to say, but I think we are living in a time when it’s getting hard to see our love for the Lord lived out in ALL we do. But Jesus did warn us of this, when he said, “The love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). Dare I say, we are becoming “cold” in our desire to keep His commands.
Why do I say this? Well, if people are being honest, many will admit they have seen, let’s call it, the “attitudes” of the people they come into contact with, becoming somewhat less than loving, and in some cases even unloving. Not to mention the people showing hatred.
Now, I know many will point the finger of blame at all the “stuff” that’s been going on for the last couple of years. But does that give us, as believers in Christ, an excuse to let it affect US the same way it affects unbelievers? I must say, at times it’s hard to distinguish between the two. To put it another way, WE’VE become the proverbial frog in pot. The heat and the pressure of the world is killing the love the Lord commands us to express, and in truth, this has been happening for much longer than the last couple of years.
The important question is, how can we correct this trend? The answer is, we need heart surgery. In Revelation 2, in His very first letter to the churches, Jesus tells the believers in Ephesus, they had left their “first love” (v.4). To correct that condition, He instructs them to “Repent and do the things you did at first” (v.5). We need a heart change. For us in the church today, this change needs to be done in two ways.
First, in our individual relationships with the Lord. How is your love relationship with Jesus doing? Are you being faithful and obedient to Him by spending time with Him in His word, in prayer, and in “Biblical” fellowship? If not, repent and do the things you did at first.
Second, in our relationship together as the church, the Bride of Christ, that He is coming for very soon. If we desire to be the church the Lord wants us to be today, we need to remind ourselves of what we are supposed to be doing as the body of Christ. Remember, we are to “follow His commands”. A good starting point would be to take another look at the church when it began, and remind ourselves of those basic tenants of church life.
When the church first began, we read that, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer…They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:42; 46-47).
Then the Apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth, “When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up” (1 Corinthians 14:26). We are to be in a “Biblical” relationship with others in the church so that we can become the connected body the Lord wants us to be, built up in LOVE, “as each part does its work” (Ephesians 4:16).
Don’t just flip this off thinking you’ve “got it”. This may seem “basic”, but we need to be reminded of it often, or we WILL forget it. This is how we get the encouragement we need to be His light in the dark world we live in. It is from here that we go out into our world as His representatives. Being living examples of Christ to others, showing that we are His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20).
Peter understood the importance of being reminded of the basics. “So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have” (2 Peter 1:12). And Paul even feared that the church in Corinth had been “led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). Remember, if we are no different than those we come into contact with, what difference do we expect to make in the world?
Paul writes, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved” (1 Corinthians 10:31-33). Paul knew what his focus needed to be. Are we as seriously focused on loving the Lord with ALL our heart, soul, mind, and strength? And showing that love ALL the time?
The Lord Jesus said, “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work” (John 9:4). Brothers and sisters, we still have much work to do, and the time is short. When the Lord comes for His Bride, and takes us to be with Him, the night will come. Until then, I pray we will love the Lord ALL the time, as He loves us, so we can be ALL that He wants us to be.
“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind” (Philippians 2:1-2).
“But God demonstrated His love toward us in this; while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Jesus DIED for us. Are we willing to live in loving obedience to Him as His Bride ALL the time? I pray that we are.
May God bless you all!
Brother Rick
U.N.C.L.E. HQ
We wish to thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ without whom this ministry would not be possible.
U.N.C.L.E. Ministry is affiliated ONLY with Jesus Christ to build up the body of believers who comprise His church…for His glory!
“Jesus answered, ‘Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.'” – Luke 13:2-3
Brothers and sisters, the church is in peril. No, not in the sense that it will “perish” as stated above, for Jesus said “the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). However, a recent disturbing study has shown that only 3 percent of “Christians” read their Bibles 4 or more times a week! I wonder how many are reading 7 days a week? This begs the question, “Would anybody intentionally not eat for a day or more for no reason?” Of course not. We all need physical food and water to live! But that apparently doesn’t seem to connect with many when it comes to their spiritual lives. Did we forget that Jesus is “the bread of life” (John 6:35), and the source of “living water” (John 7:38)? How can ANY believer live without that?
Not only are believers not reading the Word of God, but they are also forsaking the true fellowship in the gathering of the church, which results in abandoning our corporate prayer, petitioning God to help us all not to fall into the “temptation” of neglect. We are in a serious battle, my friends. God has promised He will never leave us or forsake us, but if we don’t keep our eyes on Him, we WILL sink, just like Peter did. The race is NOT over, but many are stopping short of Finish Line. “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25). “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Satan knows his time is growing short (Revelation 12:12), and he is pulling out all the stops to prevent us from completing our mission. The time is now to turn back to what we all know is the most important thing. Yes, it’s time to REPENT brothers and sisters. If we don’t, we lose. Don’t give up now. The finish line is in sight, if we take the time to look for it. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:9-10). “And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8). So don’t forget to, “Look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28)!
Lord, we ask Your forgiveness for our sin of neglect, regardless of how small it may seem. All around us we see that the clock is coming closer each day to the time of Your return. Help us to keep our eyes on You and the work You have given us to do. Thank You for the great love You have shown us and the blessing of including us in Your Kingdom. You have never given up on us. Help us to not give up on You. May all we do be for Your glory and honor, on that Day when You appear. Amen!
God bless you all on our Mission every day as we walk in His love through the power of the Spirit for His glory!
U.N.C.L.E. HQ
We wish to thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ without whom this ministry would not be possible.
U.N.C.L.E. Ministry is affiliated ONLY with Jesus Christ to build up the body of believers who comprise His church…for His glory!
“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” – Romans 8:37
The heart of man is presented to us in Scripture as a theater that draws the attention of the holy angels and of the Lord himself. There a continual battle is being waged between the powers of hell and the powers of heaven; a battle that is nothing but the renewal of the great battle waged between these same forces in the internal and external life of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this battle he was made to be fully conqueror, and even we ourselves were in turn enabled to be more than conquerors in him who loved us. Thus we are either the slaves and agents of the spirit of darkness or the slaves, the blessed slaves and rich agents, of the Spirit of light and life. It is up to us to choose the one by unbelief or the other by faith, for it is written, “I have set before you today life and good, death and evil…Therefore choose” (Deuteronomy 30:15; 19). – Living In The Hope Of Glory – Adolphe Monod, 1856
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
U.N.C.L.E. HQ
We wish to thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ without whom this ministry would not be possible.
U.N.C.L.E. Ministry is affiliated ONLY with Jesus Christ to build up the body of believers who comprise His church…for His glory!
“All life is in unbroken continuity. If my life were stopped for half an hour, I would be dead, and my life gone. Life is a continuous thing, and the life of God is the life of His Church. The life of God is His almighty power working in us. And God comes to us as the Almighty One, and without any condition He offers to be my Keeper. His keeping means that day by day, moment by moment, God is going to keep us.
“Oh! if we once got hold of the thought: Our whole spiritual life is to be God’s doing – “It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). Once we get faith to expect that from God, God will do all for us.
“The keeping is to be continuous. Every morning, God will meet you as you wake. It is not a question: If I forget to wake in the morning with the thought of Him, what will come of it? If you trust your waking to God, God will meet you in the mornings as you wake with His divine sunshine and life. He will give you the consciousness that through the day you have got God to continually take charge of you with His almighty power. And God will meet you the next day and every day. Never mind if, in the practice of fellowship, failure sometimes comes. If you maintain your position-and say: “Lord, I am going to expect You to do Your utmost, and I am going to trust You day by day to keep me absolutely,” your faith will grow stronger and stronger. You will know the keeping power of God in unbrokenness.” – From Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
U.N.C.L.E. HQ
We wish to thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ without whom this ministry would not be possible.
U.N.C.L.E. Ministry is affiliated ONLY with Jesus Christ to build up the body of believers who comprise His church…for His glory!
Passing along this resource to all U.N.C.L.E. Agentsfrom a brother in the U.K. (click the image below) . This is a good reminder to us as we serve the Lord on our Mission! Hope you enjoy it. May God bless and pass it on to others!
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
U.N.C.L.E. HQ
We wish to thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ without whom this ministry would not be possible.
U.N.C.L.E. Ministry is affiliated ONLY with Jesus Christ to build up the body of believers who comprise His church…for His glory!
“There are in Scripture two very different sorts of Christians. The Bible speaks in Romans, Corinthians, and Galatians about yielding to the flesh; and that is the life of tens of thousands of believers. All their lack of joy in the Holy Spirit, and their lack of the liberty He gives, is just owing to the flesh. The Spirit is within them, but the flesh rules the life. To be led by the Spirit of God is what they need. If only I could make every child of His realize what it means that the everlasting God has given His dear Son, Christ Jesus, to watch over you every day, and that what you have to do is to trust. If only I could make His children understand that the work of the Holy Spirit is to enable you every moment to remember Jesus, and to trust Him! The Spirit has come to keep the link with Him unbroken every moment. Praise God for the Holy Spirit! We are so accustomed to thinking of the Holy Spirit as a luxury, for special times, or for special ministers and men. But the Holy Spirit is necessary for every believer, every moment of the day. Praise God you have Him, and that He gives you the full experience of the deliverance in Christ as He makes you free from the power of sin.” – From Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
U.N.C.L.E. HQ
We wish to thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ without whom this ministry would not be possible.
U.N.C.L.E. Ministry is affiliated ONLY with Jesus Christ to build up the body of believers who comprise His church…for His glory!
We read that “Love is the fulfilling of the law”‘ (Romans 13: 10), and my desire is to speak on love as a fruit of the Spirit…[May] this word be a searchlight in our hearts, and give us a test by which to try all our thoughts about the Holy Spirit and all our experience of the holy life. Let us try ourselves by this word. Has this been our daily habit, to seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of love? “The fruit of the Spirit is love” (Galatians 5:22). Has it been our experience that the more we have of the Holy Spirit, the more loving we become? In claiming the Holy Spirit, we should make this the first object of our expectation. The Holy Spirit comes as a Spirit of love. Oh, if this were true in the Church of Christ, how different her state would be! May God help us to get hold of this simple, heavenly truth that the fruit of the Spirit is a love which appears in the life. Just as the Holy Spirit gets real possession of the life, the heart will be filled with real, divine, universal love.
One of the great causes why God cannot bless His Church is the lack of love. When the body is divided, there cannot be strength. In the time of their great religious wars, when Holland stood out so nobly against Spain, one of their mottoes was: “Unity gives strength.” It is only when God’s people stand as one body, one before God in the fellowship of love, one toward another in deep affection, one before the world in a love that the world can see-it is only then that they will have power to secure the blessing which they ask of God. Remember that if a vessel that ought to be one whole is cracked into many pieces, it cannot be filled. – (Excerpt from Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray)
May the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ fill us with His love on our Mission every day! God bless you all.
U.N.C.L.E. HQ
We wish to thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ without whom this ministry would not be possible.
U.N.C.L.E. Ministry is affiliated ONLY with Jesus Christ to build up the body of believers who comprise His church…for His glory!
U.N.C.L.E. Ministry 