chooseJesus.today

02/07/2025

2/7/2025 - Separation from God’s Love…

If the Holy Bible is truly “A Love Story” (previous message), then what can separate us from God’s love? What can come between us and the love of Jesus Christ? Can anything endanger our salvation and relationship with God? Could anything repeal the grace applied to the lives of those who have accepted our Lord Jesus Christ in faith and repentance, which he paid for with his own blood?

I tell you the truth, no outside power or force in this world or heavenly realms can divide you from the love of God or son, Jesus. I say again, no OUTSIDE force or circumstance can break your bond to the loving grace afforded through Christ. The Apostle Paul said, “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep. No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8, NLT)

So what concern or fear can exist for those who have accepted Jesus in faith and repented of their sins? We have been given a full list in scripture of things that cannot break the love and relationship between us and God. BUT what is NOT included in this list is just as important as the things that are listed! This list which seems to cover nearly everything makes no mention of our own choices and decisions. There is nothing included regarding our own INSIDE ability to simply turn away in disobedience to God. THIS is the message that those who claim to be “saved” need to hear, just as much as the message of God’s ultimate love through Christ. This is how we can be made right in God’s sight for a time in our lives, but not be ready when we stand before him in Heaven. I tell you the truth, many who claim Jesus as Lord will weep in Heaven. Many who claim they have been “saved” today, will not be ready for the coming judgement. Jesus declared, “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” (Matthew 7, NLT) Paul also warned, “For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight … And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.” (Romans 2, NLT)

We can distinguish who belongs to our Father in Heaven from those who belong to the prince of this world by the fruit of their lives. This will be plain to see in the actions of men, because actions are a result of the condition of the heart. And we know God does not judge by appearances or mere statements of faith, but by the heart. (1 Samuel 16) When Jesus spoke of identifying false prophets, he said, “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.” (Matthew 7, NLT) And this same logic can and SHOULD be applied to all who claim to have a relationship with and follow Christ, so that you are not mislead by or entangled with those who only say and teach what you want to hear.

Solomon (the wisest earthly king) gave us this proverb, “When a king sits in judgment, he weighs all the evidence, distinguishing the bad from the good.” (Proverbs 20, NLT) What fruit and evidence of your relationship with God will exist on that great and terrible day, when you stand before our heavenly King for judgement. The Apostle James also warned, “Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.” (James 2, NLT)

Let those with ears hear, and understand, and share what God has spoken into their spirit. By the power and authority of Jesus’ name, I pray. AMEN!

- Daniel

By His masterful design, God created this ministry to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ through encouragement and unification of Christians around the world. Like bright lights in a dark and dying world, may God's children unite together to become a shining beacon of hope, joy, and peace for God!

01/18/2025

1/17/2025 - A Love Story…

What is the Holy Bible, what is it about, and what is its purpose. Countless books, commentaries, seminars, and teachers have attempted to answer these very questions for the masses. But have they done so, and have they done well at giving a good understanding of the Bible to those who do not already have a basic understanding of Christianity and/or relationship with God? The Holy Bible could be summed up in a single word, if needed, which is LOVE. This book is a love story between God and his creation. It describes the love of God, how he proved his love, and how we should respond with love. To grasp only this basic principle gives you an understanding as sufficient as the foremost scholar of the Bible could ever attain. So how does love summarize the entire Word of God, and is this truly an accurate summary?

The revelation of God given to us through the holy scriptures was not given to confuse, or create a mystery, or be something that must be studied for years to understand. The purpose of scripture is made simple for even a child to understand, and God has already written it on the hearts of every man, woman, and child, whether they realize and acknowledge this truth or not! Everyone has experienced this truth in what society refers to as a conscience. This is the word, truth, and breath of God living within each and every one of us, so that no one has an excuse when they stand before God. And this truth living within us tells us one thing, the most important thing, whether we are loving or hurting people and ultimately God.

Scripture confirms this truth of loving God (obedience to his will) and loving people as The Way…
- Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.” (Luke 19, NLT)

- “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22, NLT)

- Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets… Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ (Matthew 7, NLT)

- Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. (Romans 13, NLT)

- If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. (1 Corinthians, NLT)

I tell you the truth, LOVE is the scale that every man will be judged by and the fulfillment of God’s law, when we stand before Him in Heaven. So what is the purpose of the law, demands of the prophets, and commandments recorded in the Bible? They TEACH us how to better love God and people. Our conscience may provide the foundational guidance for love, but God gave us an opportunity to know him and his love for us more intimately through the prophets and his son, Jesus Christ. Every man that has known and understands the Word of God will be judged by his faith and obedience (through repentance) of that understanding. Scripture declares, “A servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.” (Luke 12, NLT) The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. (1 Peter, NLT)

For those who never knew or understood the Word, their conscience (God’s spirit within them) will be their guide and love the scale by which they are measured. Creation itself testifies that there is a Creator, so that no one has an excuse to claim there is no God, either. This is why those who never knew or understood God or his son Jesus could still have faith, and by listening to their conscience still love God and people. Jesus’ blood will atone for their sins (the only salvation) and make them right with God just as it does for those who know (and follow) Jesus by obeying the written will of God recorded in the Bible. But do not worry about all of these things, because our Father in Heaven is a perfect and just judge. He sees us not by our outward appearance and actions that the world judges by, but more importantly by our heart and motives. Be concerned with your own actions and choices so that you may be an example, and make sure they are done out of love for God and his most precious creation, people.

More understanding allows God’s love to shine through us like a beacon of hope, joy, and peace for this dark and dying world. “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine. For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” (Mark 4, NLT)

- Daniel

By His masterful design, God created this ministry to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ through encouragement and unification of Christians around the world. Like bright lights in a dark and dying world, may God's children unite together to become a shining beacon of hope, joy, and peace for God!

10/09/2024

10/8/2024 - 2 DANIEL...

​A Holy Spirit guided collection of messages from this page have been assembled and arranged into a free eBook, 2 DANIEL. Starting today, 3 days before Yom Kippur, you can download and keep your own free copy from the www.chooseJesus.today Home page. May God give you peace and favor!

Let those with ears hear, and understand, and share what God has spoken into their spirit. By the power and authority of Jesus’ name, I pray. AMEN!

- Daniel

05/11/2024

2/24/2024 - Baptism…

What is the purpose of baptism, who should be baptized, and when should you be baptized? These questions are common among those who are new in their faith and relationship with Jesus Christ.

Baptism is a beautiful and visual representation of the death and burial of our sinful life along with the resurrection and beginning of a new life in Jesus Christ. This is a declaration to all who witness that you have put your faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior and that you are ready to start your new life of loving (obedience and respect for) God and loving (kindness and compassion for) others. Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist and instructed all of his followers to do the same when he said, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28 - NLT)

Who should be baptized then? In this quote from the Book of Matthew, Jesus indicates that ALL disciples (followers/students) from ALL nations should be baptized. There is no one excluded by Jesus from this instruction, so ALL brothers and sisters in Christ should feel confident in beginning their journey through baptism.

When should you be baptized? This is probably the question that followers and even leaders within the churches of Jesus Christ struggle with most. Did Jesus say that disciples must fully know, or fully understand, or be fully practicing everything that he had commanded before being baptized? No such prequalification was given and should not be added when a person hears the Good News and wants to be a follower of Christ. A new disciple will not be well-trained in all the teachings of Jesus Christ, and they will certainly not have mastered obedience in their walk with Christ. Becoming a disciple indicates the beginning of your walk with Christ, the start of your desire to be obedient to Christ’s teachings, and the beginning of your journey in this new life (not the completion of that journey). New disciples will struggle and even fail in their obedience to Christ, just as those who have followed Jesus for DECADES sometimes struggle and fail in their walk with Christ. There is no record in the Bible of anyone being turned away, being asked to go home and think about it, or being asked to study scripture before they are baptized, because baptism is ordained by God and not men, organizations, or churches. Three thousand examples of this principle were given by the Apostle Peter, “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah! Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what should we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.’ Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, ‘Save yourselves from this crooked generation!’ Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.” (Acts 2 - NLT)

This desire to follow Jesus Christ in general does not come from within a man and is not taught from one man to another. The desire to follow the Jesus, the Son of God, comes from God the Father as he draws their spirit as Jesus described, “For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.” (John 6 - NLT) Therefore, what man, organization, or church can declare themself the gatekeeper between a man who desires baptism and the Kingdom of Heaven? What man, organization, or church can say to another man that “you are not ready for baptism”, when God himself draws them with the desire to come and follow Jesus?

Ask, plead, even beg for God to examine your heart and open your eyes to the truth of its condition, so that you may be ready for that most wonderful day.

Let those with ears hear, and understand, and share what God has spoken into their spirit. By the power and authority of Jesus’ name, I pray. AMEN!

- Daniel

04/20/2024

2/24/2024 - Motives…

Motives are not the actions of men, but the reasons behind those actions that are often hidden, unknown, or even misunderstood by both those who witness them and sometimes even those who commit them. I tell you the truth, the motives of men are not hidden, unknown, or misunderstood by our Father in Heaven. There will be an accounting of every action and motive of men as their works are brought into the light on that most wonderful day you stand before God. And you will answer fully for each and every one.

So how do we know and understand the motives of men? Wisdom from God should always and frequently be prayed for in all situations, but the motive behind actions can also be discovered by their fruit. Is the fruit of a man’s actions to lift himself above others, or to humbly lift those around him who God puts in his life? Is the fruit of a man’s actions to build an earthly kingdom that we SHOULD know will not last, or to build God’s heavenly kingdom that will last forever? Is the fruit of a man’s actions to gather as many worldly things in this life as possible, where moths and rust destroy and thieves break-in and steal, or to gather his treasure for the next life in Heaven with God, where moths and rust do not destroy and there are no thieves.

Many have been misled by wolves in sheep’s clothing, who claim to have been sent by God while orchestrating a plan that serves themselves and an earthly kingdom, not God. When the actions of a man lead to extravagant clothing that neither serves nor impresses God, who created the flowers of the field and birds of the sky in all their beauty, what is his motive? When the actions of a man lead to great accumulation of wealth that neither serves nor impresses God, who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, what is his motive? When the actions of a man lead to the exaltation of himself above others that neither serves nor impresses God, who sits on a throne above all creation, what is his motive? What have God’s people done with the many resources entrusted to them by our Heavenly Father? Only a great fool would believe a lavish lifestyle would bring more glory to and impress God than giving to the poor, helping those in need, and spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. I tell you the truth, each man will be held accountable for what he was given in this life and how he used those resources.

Ask, plead, even beg for God to examine your heart and open your eyes to the truth of its condition, so that you may be ready for that most wonderful day.

Let those with ears hear, and understand, and share what God has spoken into their spirit. By the power and authority of Jesus’ name, I pray. AMEN!

- Daniel

By His masterful design, God created this ministry to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ through encouragement and unification of Christians around the world. Like bright lights in a dark and dying world, may God's children unite together to become a shining beacon of hope, joy, and peace for God!

02/25/2024

2/24/2024 - Love your enemies…

A world filled with hate, anger, no compassion, no mercy, and no forgiveness has truly strayed as far as possible from the teachings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And the people of this world have determined that they are capable of being its judges, a self-righteous people ready and willing to cast judgement on all of God’s glorious creation themselves. I tell you the truth, the shame and spiritual debt that the judges of this world will accumulate in God’s eyes will truly be great and horrifying on that most wonderful day when you stand before God the Father, your creator and the one true judge of all creation.

Will we live as God intended and as Jesus taught AND LIVED during his earthly ministry, or conform to worldly practices of declaring ourselves God and judge over this world and everyone in it? In the words of our greatest teacher pulled from pieces of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow. You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5 - NLT)

Ask, plead, even beg for God to examine your heart and open your eyes to the truth of its condition, so that you may be ready for that most wonderful day. IN LOVE, teach what is right and true according to the scriptures, and allow God time to convict the hearts of those who are not in a healthy relationship with Him. Don’t misunderstand what I am saying, for there will be judgement for all of God’s laws that are broken and for those who mislead others regarding the law, but that judgement and punishment will come from the only one qualified to do so, our Father and Creator in Heaven. And those who break the laws of this world, whether aligned with God’s law or not, will surely be subject to the authority of this world, as well.

Let those with ears hear, and understand, and share what God has spoken into their spirit. By the power and authority of Jesus’ name, I pray. AMEN!

- Daniel

By His masterful design, God created this ministry to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ through encouragement and unification of Christians around the world. Like bright lights in a dark and dying world, may God's children unite together to become a shining beacon of hope, joy, and peace for God!

01/05/2024

1/5/2024 - Importance of Fasting...

The idea of fasting is presented in the Holy Bible for different reasons. Sometimes it is to show honor and reverence to the Lord, sometimes it is a sign of remembrance, and still sometimes it is during times of great hardship or anguish. But what is gained from a sacrifice such as fasting? How does it affect or improve our relationship with the Lord when stripping away earthly pleasures and necessities? Why did Jesus fast for 40 days before starting his earthly ministry?

Through wisdom and guidance from the Holy Spirit, I hope to give some insight into what we can learn from fasting, and its true significance. Yes, fasting can be used for all the things listed above, but what can be gained is far greater than the sacrifice for any of these reasons typically given for fasting. Each of these things could also be addressed through worship, celebration, or answered prayers for favor and peace, so why would God teach us to fast?

The answer is simple, but not obvious to most. When denying ourselves food, one of the basic pleasures and necessities of life, we discover the condition of our heart. When denied food, are you consumed with hunger, frustration, anger, lack of love or mercy for others, or do you still praise the Lord and love others? Even though the Lord always knows the condition of our heart, we sometimes convince ourselves otherwise through conditional acts of loving others, showing kindness, and praising the Lord only when all our own worldly pleasures and/or necessities are being met. But without pleasure or even necessity, you will see clearly for yourself the condition of your own heart as God sees it. And in this stripping away of earthly fulfillment, you will discover your shortcomings and weaknesses in the eyes of the Lord. If “good people” do terrible things to others when faced with hunger, what does that say about the condition of their heart? People may use excuses like “survival instinct” to justify their actions to themselves, others, or even God, but I tell you the truth, anything contradictory to love is both displeasing to and not from the Lord. Some may read this and say that there are parts of the Holy Bible that contradict showing love to others, but I tell you the truth, any form of loving people is always superseded by obedience to God (loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind being the GREATEST commandment). To conclude, denying yourself the pleasures, comforts, or necessities of this world will unmask the true intentions and condition of the heart.

When led by the Holy Spirit, you should fast for a time based on guidance from the Lord. Along with being an opportunity for reverence, remembrance, or favor in times of trouble, it will be a revelation of the condition of your heart to yourself and even others. You will discover what the Lord already knows about the condition of your heart, and this knowledge can be used to improve the condition of your heart through awareness, and in doing so, improve your relationship with God.

Let those with ears hear, and understand, and share what God has spoken into their spirit. By the power and authority of Jesus’ name, I pray. AMEN!

- Daniel

By His masterful design, God created this ministry to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ through encouragement and unification of Christians around the world. Like bright lights in a dark and dying world, may God's children unite together to become a shining beacon of hope, joy, and peace for God!

10/27/2023

9/30/2023 - The Wayward Son…

After a busy dream where I was trying to complete something (can’t even remember what) for God but couldn’t, I woke up during the third watch of the night (2:00am-6:00am) briefly. Within 10-20 minutes of trying to go back to sleep, the smoke detector in my bedroom started beeping due to a low battery causing me to have to get up, go downstairs, and search for replacement batteries. While trying to go back to sleep for a third time, I kept feeling like God had a message so much so that I started writing tediously on my cell phone, since that was the only thing close. This message felt different than most messages I have written, meaning it was not a singular and focused message but more like questions to stir thought around our spiritual lives. These are those questions…

How many times must a wayward son ask his father for something, before the father is inclined to act. In comparison, how many times would a favorite son who is perfect in all ways need to ask his father for something, before the father is inclined to act, even if pleading for the wayward son?

Whose ears have more compassion for the wayward son? Would it be a disappointed father, or a brother who has walked in your shoes and suffered in the very same ways that you have?

These are the reasons that we should pray to the Son, Jesus Christ, and the reasons He is willing to go to the Father on our behalf to plead our case. Who did the thief, hung on the cross beside Jesus, ask for help? Was it the Father or the Son? Who answered his plea so quickly with grace, mercy, and understanding? You will not upset the Father by asking help directly from the Son, because the Father has given all authority in Heaven and Earth to the Son. Lifting our prayers to the Son brings glory to the Son and to our Heavenly Father who sent Him!

Separately, I felt like God was describing the battle with our great enemy, satan, who is the prince of this world. Who is satan, but another wayward son of the Father. Satan is like an older brother burning with envy and jealousy, because his younger brother, man, has found favor with the Father and will inherit the larger portion normally given to the firstborn.

Tell me, which faithful child of God has not suffered? Which follower of Christ has not faced many trials and tribulations? Was Joseph spared by his jealous brothers? Was Daniel not thrown into the lion’s den? Was Job spared by the jealousy of our wayward brother, satan? Was Christ himself, the greatest and most faithful of all God’s children, not flogged 39 times, mocked, spit on, given a crown of thorns, and hung on a cross?

I tell you the truth, if you have not suffered like men such as these, the prince of this world has no reason to be jealous of your coming inheritance or your relationship with the Father. Be wary of men who claim only prosperity for God’s children, because a pure and faithful son or daughter is created by fire, not prosperity.

Prosperity and affluency create fair-weather children. When times become difficult, they will turn away from their Father and His instruction. They will seek help from whoever offers it and at any cost.

Let those with ears hear, and understand, and share what God has spoken into their spirit. By the power and authority of Jesus’ name, I pray. AMEN!

- Daniel

By His masterful design, God created this ministry to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ through encouragement and unification of Christians around the world. Like bright lights in a dark and dying world, may God's children unite together to become a shining beacon of hope, joy, and peace for God!