Author: vladmin

As a new year begins, people start to make plans for improving themselves. Many want to make themselves into something very different than what they are currently. They want something different, something new.

The thing is that mankind is not the creator. The created can only work with what the creator has given to them. They can try but, ultimately, on their own they will fail. They may do some things to improve their way of living but they cannot change who they are.

There is only one individual in all of our history who has the ability to take what exists and create something new out of it. Jesus Christ is the name of that person who is also the Son of God. He is the creator. He created everything that is and he can change you in the blink of an eye. All you have to do is ask him.

He will change you and bring you redemption and bring you into his family as a member of his own body.

The world around us is crumbling. The universe is falling apart. These are not things to overlook but they are not things to dwell on. God has promised that he will do something new and he will. That day is coming.

This old world will be done away with along with everything in the universe. God will create a new heaven and new earth. They will be the place where he and his people will dwell together forever in harmony and peace.

It’s not that you should not do things to improve your life and to be a good shepherd of what has given you, including the environment. It’s that those things pale to nothing in comparison with the state of your soul.

The most important thing that you can do at the start of this year is to look at yourself as God sees you. If you are a Christian and a follower of Christ, look to see if you have strayed away from God’s path. If so, ask him for help to start fresh in living your life for him.

If you are not a Christian, then you are an unredeemed sinner. When God sees you, all he sees is the sin and that is something he cannot tolerate around him. The only way to come into the presence of God is to have that sin removed.

Jesus will do that for you. He died a horrifically painful death on the cross to save you. He is waiting for you. He already made the gift of pardon for you. It’s there and once you accept it, you will be saved.

If a prisoner has a pardon and decides to stay in prison, what can the pardoner do? It’s up to you to take the action to gift what Jesus has done for you.

Isaiah 43:18-21

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.”

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

Luke 2: 8-17

Sometimes I think that we have too many choices. We have to make constant decisions and that can be exhausting. What to do, what to eat, what to read, watch and who to see. With so many choices, it can become confusing and that, coupled with exhaustion, can make a person just give up and go with the flow.

This type of attitude spills over into everything in our lives. If it takes a decision, best not to do so in case you make a mistake.

The problem with that attitude is that you don’t stay static, you fall further and further away from truth. The status quo is what we think it is.

It is important to sort decisions that are important from those which are not. What you wear and eat are not earth-shaking in their concept.

There are decisions that are momentous and those are the ones to focus on. Who you spend time with, what you read and watch have impacts on your view of the world and of God.

So much of what is out there today is anti-God. It is very easy to take these things in but it is not easy to remove them once they have taken up space inside you.

The most important decision in your life is that of accepting God. A non-decision equals a rejection. The status quo, in that case, dooms your soul to eternity in hell. The only way out is to reach out to the God who created the universe and everything in it. He is waiting for you with his hands held out.

Don’t consider that you have all the time in the world to make this decision. You may not have any time longer than this moment. We are not promised long lives, in fact, we are not promised anything at all as far as the world goes.

What we are promised is that if you reach out to Jesus, accept him as your savior and let his sacrifice wash away you sins, you will be forgiven. That means you will spend eternity in heaven with God.

If you don’t make this decision and your life ends, you will not be given a do-over. This isn’t a video game or a movie or television show where we get more and more chances to get things right.

We are given whatever time we have in life to look to God and see how dreadfully evil we are without him. We can’t save ourselves no matter how strong or competent we feel.

Not one of us measures up to the standard of holiness of God. Not one, no matter how good you think you are or how much good you have done in your life. Who we think we are and what good things we have done, absent salvation, is not a measure of holiness.

What is important is the decision to accept salvation. That is the only yardstick we can measure. We can’t make ourselves good enough. It takes the washing of our sins for us to measure up.

It isn’t what we did but what Jesus did for us that is important. It is this sacrifice that will save us from ourselves. Please make the decision to accept this free gift and know that, regardless of what happens in the world, your spirit is held safe in God’s hands for eternity.

Joshua 24:15

If it is unacceptable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Frustration is something that we all need to deal with. When things don’t go our way or when something happens that turns your day or even our lives upside down, it is frustrating to say the least.

Along with frustration often comes anger. Sometimes there is a distinct object or individual that those feelings are directed towards. Sometimes, it just seems like life itself has it in for you. Then the feelings are directed to the world at large.

There is a slippery slope that we travel when we become angry. It can lead to all sorts of trouble and evil. It is in our minds and hearts to do evil. We inherited it from our ancestor, Adam.

His actions against God condemned mankind to their loss of spiritual connection with their Maker. When that happened, all the good that mankind had was instantly turned upside down. Good become evil.

We all have those thoughts and it is really easy to move beyond a momentary thought of anger to hate and then further to actions to get retribution against those who are or who seem to be holding us down.

We scream Justice, we want Justice. We think it is our right to demand that others change how they are to suit us. It is one thing to take someone to court to obtain justice when a wrong is done and it is another things to take into your own hands.

The gamut of this type of retaliation runs from being a bully to becoming a murderer. Really, who would think that this is the way to solve anything? However, in the world today, it doesn’t seem that unusual.

We are evil and we are becoming used to the evil to the point where many have begun to think that evil is good.

That’s giving in to the master of this world, Satan. He wants us to become as destructive as possible and to wipe mankind off the face of the Earth. He knows that he lost the war but he wants to take as many of us down with him as possible.

That is why he influences people to hate those who tell the world about the love of God and the salvation of Jesus Christ. That is what is behind the move to silence Christians these days.

It isn’t that those who are against Christianity have a better answer. They just don’t want the word of God to shine a light into the darkness of their souls. They don’t want others to experience what they have decided they don’t need for themselves.

It is a time when those who truly follow Jesus Christ learn to stand up for God. It’s not that he needs vindication, it is that we need to tell others about him so that they, too, can be saved.

It is our job to do so, it is our calling and it should be our joy. No matter what the repercussions, you cannot deny Jesus to suit the world.

We have been told that our lot won’t be easy and it isn’t. We know that persecution and evil are going to come against us.

Stand strong and know that God has won this war and that he will support us in our battle. We are not alone. He is there and he will give you peace and joy in the midst of what is happening and what is coming.

Lean into him and hold on, no matter what.

Romans 1:16-17

I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation [from His wrath and punishment] to everyone who believes [in Christ as Savior], to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed in a way that awakens more faith]. As it is written and forever remains written, “The just and upright shall live by faith.”

I look around and see so much confusion in the world. I don’t feel it myself and am, instead, filled with peace. The peace that I feel is not of my own spirit but from that of God.

In the midst of turmoil, I know that he is holding me in his hand and that his plan for the future is going forward. I’ve experienced this since I became a Christian.

Three times in my life, I was assailed, to the end of my own strength, by the enemy. Once, as my first marriage fell apart, another time when I became ill and was expected to die that day. The third time actually came between these two events.

It was when my firstborn, my only son, became ill, struggled to fight his vicious form of leukemia and then died after a successful bone marrow transplant.

It wasn’t about me, but I remember shaking uncontrollably when they moved him to ICU. I sat in the waiting room as my husband spent time with him. I would take my turn after a bit.

It was during that time that God sent an angel in the form of a man. I don’t know that he was an actual angel but, interestingly enough, afterwards, no one remembered him or knew who he was. The child he was visiting had no relatives to visit with him though he identified himself to me as the child’s uncle.

He told me he came to spend time at the young boy’s bedside. When my husband came out to change places with me, the man asked if he could pray for our son and for us. He put his arms around us and asked that God’s will be done and that God give us his peace and understanding.

I stopped shaking immediately and was filled with peace. He left immediately after the prayer and I went to spend time with my son. David passed away within ten days of that event and, during that time, I never felt that fear again.

I felt peace in his life and in his death. I felt peace as I grieved for my own loss of my son. I knew that David was in heaven and was no longer in pain and that he was infinitely more happy.

That lesson has come forward with me. When I was told that I was going to die, I accepted it and asked God to give peace to my family. I didn’t ask for healing but my husband did so and continues to do so every single day.

God had a plan for me and so, my life has continued.

Having had this peace at the worst points in my life, I can face the future and the turmoil and confusion that abounds. Whenever I feel the enemy (Satan) trying to attack me, I hand it to God and ask him to restore my peace and to stop the demons from attacking me.

It never fails. The situation may not change but my attitude towards it does. I see what is happening and know that it is part of God’s plan. You can see Bible prophesy coming to reality.

Yes, we are in the End Times. We have been in those times since Jesus ascended to heaven. Jesus may return for his church in the next second or it may be hundreds of years. I will live as though it is about to happen as that is what he told us to do.

Fellow Christians, be ready, be in right standing and fear not.

If you are not a Christian and the cares of the world are overwhelming and confusing you, turn to God and ask Jesus to save you. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you his peace. If you do so with your whole heart, you will be saved, you will have your relationship with God restored because of Jesus and the Holy Spirit will fill you with the peace of God.

John 16:33

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]

It’s really easy to give God thanks when things are going your way. When life is free and easy, you think everything will always be so. The problem is, we stop thanking God and, instead, believe that we are the ones who are making life a breeze.

The upshot of that attitude, is that our prayer life and thankfulness to God decreases. When that happens, all sorts of evil invades our lives.

Some people then blame God for what is happening when we are, ourselves, responsible for it. When we stop turning to God, he turns away. He has given us free will and will never force us to love him and obey him.

You will have repercussions but those are not from God. Those are from the master of evil in the world. Satan is a beast who wants to devour all of mankind. He wants us to look to him and to embrace his ways.

The thing is, that Christians will, when faced with persecution, turn to God again. They will cry out for his help. They will plead with him to save them.

The beautiful thing about God is that he will do so. Just keep in mind that God is much more concerned with the safety of your soul than that of your body.

We will all die someday and we all live with grief and strife. The infinitely more important issue is where you will spend your eternal life. God wants you to be with him. There is not one of us that he wishes to exclude.

It’s up to each of us to make the determination to accept the redemption of sin and promise of eternal life that Jesus died to provide us. Once you have made that decision and are trying to live your life for God, you will find that your attitude changes.

You can bear so much more because you know that you know you are promised so much more in heaven.

We are to be eternally thankful for this promise and to be thankful in all circumstances, good or bad. What seems bad to us has its part in God’s plan. We will, someday, understand but, in the meantime, give thanks each and every day for all of the blessings that God has given you.

It may be that the blessings are in the future but know that what is happening right now in your life, as a Christian, is a blessing as well. Ask God to reveal how you can be thankful in your trial and he will do so.

Accept it and praise him, even if it doesn’t make your life any easier. Look to him for fulfillment and let your worries and anxiety for the world depart.

Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, take pleasure in Him]; again I will say, rejoice!

Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near.

Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.

And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].

It’s so easy to become obsessed with your possessions, your social standing or how much money you have. Whether it is because you have so much or because you have so little, it seems like you are always left wanting something more or something different.

We search and search for something to fill that spot that cries out for more and, in the end, the things of this world will never do so. This is true of all people, whether they are Christians or not. When we put things or people before God, we become are looking for idols and idolatry is something God cannot abide.

There is a part of us that tells us if something is good or bad. It is what we call our conscience. But, we are fallen and cannot always tell what that voice inside us is telling us to do.

We twist it to what we want it to be. We find things that support us in it, as well. Christians will point to one or two verses, out of context, that allow them to continue to grab more and more in life. In church circles, those who preach this, are preaching a prosperity gospel.

God does want to prosper us who belong to him but he wants us to put value in the same things he does. We want this and that and what he wants is for us to cling more and more to him and to what is important in life. We are encouraged to ask him for good things but what is good in God’s sight?

A new car, a new house, high-fashion clothes or the person you desire are not important to your spiritual life. We are to look to God first and always, not to what society says is good, for true meaning and completeness.

Christians are filled with the Holy Spirit but it is up to the individual whether or not they will listen to his voice. He will guide you if you are open to it and ask for it and abide by what you are told to do.

That is hard if that something is not what you want to hear. Some Christians say their prayers aren’t answered because they didn’t get the answer that they wanted. Or worse, they take it to mean that God has confirmed what they want to do because they weren’t listening to what he said.

That empty space wasn’t empty to begin with. It was the part of humans that interacted with God. When mankind fell, that part of their spirit died immediately and for all generations until Jesus was born.

The curse of spiritual death is inherited through fathers but Jesus’ father was God himself. Jesus, as a man, had a connection through his spirit to God the father from the time he was conceived. His connection preceded his time on earth as, in fact, he was God himself as God the son.

When he died and raised himself again, he gave mankind a path to reconnect spiritually with God. All a person has to do is accept the gift of salvation and eternal life by acknowledging Jesus as the one who took your sins and that he is God.

The empty space will be filled once more by the Holy Spirit but beware of falling into old patterns and behaviors. The love of things of this world is sinful and Christians need to repent from the desires of their flesh.

It is a slow process but with the help of God, it becomes easier as times goes by. I am an example of a Christian who has lost their way time and time again. I have strayed more times than I like to remember.

I know when it is happening. I hear the voice of God warning me of danger and, most times, I steer clear. However, sometimes the desire for something or someone tempts me to overcome ignore that voice and go for it.

You know, whenever that happens, what I wanted brings me down and doesn’t fill me up. I look at what I’ve done and see the evil and not this wonderful thing that I felt such an overwhelming desire to have. Generally, I end up giving away the possession or ending the relationship because of that dark spirit.

That alone isn’t enough. God wants us to confess those sins and ask for his help to overcome the gnawing feeling that brings those cravings about. It is from an evil spirit that seeks to influence us so that we sin. Satan stands in the presence of God himself and accuses us each and every time we sin.

That alone makes me shudder to know that Satan and his demons are working against me. But I know that God is bigger and has already, through the sacrifice of Jesus, won the battle for me. I want to please God and not Satan. God is always good to forgive each time and helps me avoid temptation again. Things of this world are as nothing in eternity but God’s love and forgiveness is forever.

1 John 2:15-17

Do not love the world [of sin that opposes God and His precepts], nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world—the lust and sensual craving of the flesh and the lust and longing of the eyes and the boastful pride of life [pretentious confidence in one’s resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father, but are from the world.

The world is passing away, and with it its lusts [the shameful pursuits and ungodly longings]; but the one who does the will of God and carries out His purposes lives forever.

Recently, I’ve seen a movement among some churches to embrace social justice causes. That is fine as long as they are Biblically inspired. The problem that I have seen at my church, is that this movement is excluding talking to others about Jesus.

We are told that we should be doing good for our community. Of course we should. We are told that we are to help those who cannot help themselves and those who have less than we do. That is good.

We are being told that these works will show the love of Jesus to the world. Yes, it will.

The problem arises in that we are not likewise being encouraged to tell those around us that Jesus loves them and died for them. Without this, the works we do are for our own merit.

Works, which seem good, without love of God included are not pleasing to God. The love that we are to share is that of Jesus and not just helping others for the sake of telling God how much we are doing for him.

We need to remember that we were saved by the grace of Jesus and not by our own works. The best work to do for another person is to point them towards Jesus. What would it profit a person to get all good things available on Earth but not receive salvation and eternal life in heaven?

I’m not sure that many Christians today even know how to tell others about their salvation. Talking about one’s own sin is hard to do. Most would rather know that God has wiped their sins away and leave it at that.

If others don’t know how fallen Christians are, how can they know that the saving grace of Jesus is available for all? I’m ever thankful that people told me about God’s plan for salvation. If they had not done so, I would still be lost in my sin.

If I was even still alive.

Sin is destructive by its nature. Sin is the work of Satan in this world. He has come to lie, steal and destroy. What he wants to do is destroy people before they learn about and acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

So, why don’t people talk to others about their relationship with Jesus? It is probably a number of factors. First, they don’t know how and no one is teaching them how to do so. Secondly, they are afraid they will be ostracized by society and would rather have their status quo. Thirdly, and most sad of all, they simply do not want to. They don’t want to go to the bother of it.

There are probably more reasons, but these are certainly amongst the highest. Some churches are all about evangelizing the world and others, not at all. Those churches that don’t tell their congregation to talk to others have lost their way.

Jesus specifically told us to spread his good news to the dying world. It was what he told us before he ascended to heaven and to the right hand of the throne.

A Christian doesn’t have to evangelize all the time. God will put individuals in their life and give the Christian the urge to speak to them if that is in his plan. The thing is for a Christian to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Actively pray for God to give you opportunities to speak to others and to give you the right words to speak.

Churches should instruct their congregations on how to speak to others. It doesn’t have to be the Church’s only function but it should certainly be a part of their functions.

Asking others to church is not the same. Remember not many people are receptive to the idea of going to church these days. You should certainly invite them but also be ready when God leads you to help plant the seed of faith or to water the seed that someone else has planted. You may be the only individual to ever speak to them about salvation.

It is something that has happened to me when God directed me to speak to others. I am not an individual who would go out on street corners and proclaim the word of God, unless God has that for me in my future. I’m open to it, if I am so directed.

In a way, this blog is my street corner and I will continue to speak the word that God has given me to say.

It reminds me of the time recently, when the senior pastor at my church told the congregation that he was planning on hiding the fact that he was a pastor when talking to individuals on airplanes. He wanted to the opportunity to have great conversations to relieve the boredom of flights and once he told the other person that he was a pastor, the conversation would come to an end. He talked about how he would wiggle around the subject by talking about the good our group was doing, while not mentioning it was a church or even a group of Christians. He was willing to compromise his message for a conversation with a stranger.

I compare that to John Harper. Mr. Harper was a 39 year old Scottish preacher. He was a widower with a six year old daughter. He, along with his daughter and his sister, were coming to the United States to preach. The ship they were on was the Titanic. Once the ship hit the iceberg, his daughter and sister got on the lifeboat but he gave up his place to someone else. He wanted to have some very good conversations with those who remained aboard the sinking ship.

He preached salvation to all those who remained. Just before the ship sank, he jumped into the freezing water. Was it to be physically saved? Actually, it was to continue those very good conversations. While in the freezing water, Mr. Harper told those who were in the water with him about eternal life and salvation through Jesus. He continued until he, along with the others, perished.

When I think of the differences between these two preachers, I can see the full extent of the compromise that my pastor has made. If he continued to tell others about his occupation, God would put someone in his path who needed to hear about the word of God. Because of his compromise, I wonder if God will do this. What would be the point?

Which type of Christian are you? Would you cling to God or would you cling to the world? If the former, learn to speak about God, learn how to share the good news of Jesus and, at the same time, love others and help them as Jesus showed us. If the latter, please reconsider and look to God for what we are commanded to do.

Ephesians 2:1-9

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

No one is ever too set in their ways to reach out to Jesus. Some people we know or know of seem so far gone, that there is no hope of their ever looking for redemption.

That isn’t true.

God loves each and every single one of us and Jesus laid down his life and took up the sins of every individual. The only sin that is unpardonable, is the sin of failing to give your life to Jesus while you are still living.

There are no do-overs once your life is set for judgement. But while you are still living, you can turn your life around and go from being an enemy of God to being a follower.

You can even become one of the most vocal and influential of Christians because you have a story to tell.

The perfect example of this is Saul of Tarsus. He was the number one enemy of the church. He was responsible for rounding up the newly formed church and handing them over in chains to those who were enemies of Jesus.

He loved what he was doing and did it with enthusiasm.

That is, until he had a face-to-face meeting with the risen Messiah. His life was turned around.

As he grew in his new life as a Christian, there was such a change that he took on a new name. His name was Paul and he became one of the most influential and ardent Christians not only of his time but ever since.

Paul faced horrible persecution and pressure to give up following Jesus but, interestingly enough, Christians grow in faith when they are persecuted.

You can see it today in China, Africa and the Middle East. Where the boot of society has been stomped on the emerging Church, the Christians continue to grow in faith and in numbers.

In my country, there is persecution growing and the faith of Christians is growing right along with it. There is a point in a Christian’s life where they must learn to stand up for God.

Being a closet or quiet Christian is not what God has called us to do. He wants us to spread the gospel of Jesus and his forgiveness and redemption to the dying world.

The dying world is closer than you think. It is right here in your own town. It probably includes your friends and family. It is up to Christians to be the instrument through which God reaches these people.

We were called to this time and to this place to give our testimony about what God has done for us, both as individuals and for the world.

If you don’t speak up now, you may never get another chance. Life is short and the lives of those we love are short. We see in it in the pandemic that is sweeping over the world.

Don’t have regrets because you did not talk to those you care about. Don’t ignore the prompting of God in your life. Now is the time, today is the day and here is the place to make your stand.

Be a modern day Paul and tell others about Jesus before it is too late.

Colossians 1:21-29

And although you were at one time estranged and alienated and hostile-minded [toward Him], participating in evil things, yet Christ has now reconciled you [to God] in His physical body through death, in order to present you before the Father holy and blameless and beyond reproach – [and He will do this] if you continue in the faith, well-grounded and steadfast, and not shifting away from the [confident] hope [that is a result] of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which [gospel] I, Paul, was made a minister.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf. And with my own body I supplement whatever is lacking [on our part] of Christ’s afflictions, on behalf of His body, which is the church. In this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship which God entrusted to me for your sake, so that I might make the word of God fully known [among you] – that is, the mystery which was hidden [from angels and mankind] for ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His saints (God’s people).

God [in His eternal plan] chose to make known to them how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in and among you, the hope and guarantee of [realizing the] glory. We proclaim Him, warning and instructing everyone in all wisdom [that is, with comprehensive insight into the word and purposes of God], so that we may present every person complete in Christ [mature, fully trained, and perfect in Him—the Anointed].

For this I labor [often to the point of exhaustion], striving with His power and energy, which so greatly works within me.