Revelation 14:4These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.

One of the sweetest descriptions of the Christian life is found in our verse today.

"They follow the Lamb (Christ) wherever He leads."

This should be the goal of every believer at every turn in our lives.

Planned or not.  Desired or not.  

To live with a singular focus to follow our Redeemer where ever He leads. 

Today, let us  keep the eyes of our heart fixed on Him and the ears our mind attentive to His word.

Let's respond as the song writer, "where He leads me I will follow".

John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”

Why were the followers of Christ “troubled”?

Their life was about to change in ways they could not understand and did not appreciate. Jesus was going to the cross!

The first truth that is used to comfort their hearts is the deity of Christ. Jesus is God!

Jesus is not only the God of the universe He is the God of our individual lives.

In Hebrews 1:1-3 the Bible teaches that Jesus, as God, is our Creator, Sustainer and Savior!

Whenever we are facing changes we wish were not happening, or that we cannot understand, let us run to our God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Today, let us rest in His wisdom as Creator, His power as Sustainer, and His grace as our Savior!

Revelation 1:5 “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,”

Everything Jesus says we can trust. He is the “faithful witness”.

This means every word Jesus has given us is worthy of our complete acceptance and submission.

Remember, the words of Jesus are not just the words in red in our Bible.

They are, in fact, the whole of the bible.

If any of us are facing a complex or uncertain situation in our lives today let’s be encouraged to seek God’s guidance through His word.

While it is true you will not find a Bible verse on every specific challenge you might face, you can, and should, allow the bible to be the ultimate foundation of all your thought processes.

This requires time, effort and a disciplined heart.

May the Lord find us faithful in our daily and disciplined relationship with His word.

I John 2:1-2 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any
man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the
propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Have you ever sinned?

There is great news for you (and the rest of us) in our two verses for today.

God the Father sent His son, Jesus, to be both our “Advocate” &“Propitiation”.

Christ as our propitiation removes all our personal guilt before a holy God. This happens
when we first recognize our personal guilt before a Holy God and our inability to
remove that guilt on our own. This realization drives us to the blood of Christ which is
the only and complete sacrifice for sin. Then we call upon Christ to save us, by faith.
(Romans 3:25). “Faith” means to transfer our trust. We transfer our complete
dependence upon Christ’s blood to provide the removal of our guilt for sin and to bring
us into a right and eternal relationship with God. (John 1:12)

Christ as our advocate relates to His ministry in our lives after our salvation when, from
time to time, we do sin. Our sin after salvation does not negate our position as God’s
children but it does interfere with our fellowship with God. Christ comes “along side”
(advocate) to help us see our sin and deal with it.

Today these verses should let all of us to ask two clear questions.
Have I ever trusted Christ as my Savior? If not, today would you call upon Christ? He loves you and desires to remove the guilt of your sin through faith in His death on the cross.
As a believer, are there any sins in your life today that need to be confessed (I John 1:9 - identified, acknowledged, and forsaken)?  Do so today so that your walk with God can be a free and joyous as He desires and you (and I) desperately need.

John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.”

Jesus’ prayer in John 17 focuses primarily on God being glorified and that His children would be preserved in the midst of a world that does not understand or care.

 “Sanctify” means to be set apart. 

In the context of the prayer Christ is asking that all believers, of all ages to come, be set aside for the glory and purpose of God.

Our verse for today highlights the power and importance of God’s word.

The Word needs to dominate every thought, every choice and every task we endeavor.

Today let us examine our daily, moment by moment, relationship to God’s word.

Are we allowing the truths to penetrate our hearts, alter our minds and direct our paths?

Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. John 12:42-43

Everyone likes to be liked. (at least by someone)

Yet the desire to be accepted by others can become a stumbling block in our walk with God.

As believers we are not called upon to be difficult or irresponsible in our relationship with others.

In fact we are challenged to love and serve those God brings into our lives.

Yet we must guard our hearts and make sure that no one, not anyone, takes God’s place in our heart and life.

Today, let us express our love for God first by placing Him above everyone and everything in our lives.

John 6:20 “But he saith unto them, It is I: be not afraid.”

The disciples were on the water sailing toward Capernaum.

Jesus had gone into the mountains to avoid the crowd from taking Him by force.

Then came the storm.  Then came Jesus with this powerful summary of an eternal truth.

 “The presence of Christ always dispels the dominance of fear. “

When fear comes our way let us run, rest and rely upon Christ to sustain us.