Tag: Jesus

Christian

What Is Easy Christianity?

Cindy Dawson

2-Minute Devotion for Thursday, 10/22/26

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul talked about a different gospel. He said,

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel.” Galatians 1:6

Is there a “different Gospel” invading today’s Church? I believe there are many. Today, let’s talk about what some call “Easy Christianity”.

“The concept of Easy Christianity is not new, and as it is with most false doctrines, it takes Scripture out of context and ignores much of what the Bible says.”

It highlights that we are saved by faith, not works, and basically ignores teaching anything that might discourage potential church members from joining the church. And yes, we must not think we are saved by our works! We could never earn our salvation! At the same time, we must not ignore the following verses from the Word of God, which are just as important.

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.” Acts 3:19

“Then he (Jesus) said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:23-26

Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’

“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’” Luke 13:23-25

The Bible warns us about many things. Turning to a different gospel is one of them!

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

Did you know? The Lord appeared to Abram and said, … “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

All Scripture is from the NIV.

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

RealChristianWomen.blog


Christian, Christians and Jews

The Old Testament Points to the Messiah

Cindy Dawson

An Overview of the Appointed Festivals and How They Point to Christ

As the Israelites wandered in the desert, God was pointing them to the coming Messiah.

“The Lord said to Moses,  “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.” Leviticus 23:1-2

  1. THE SABBATH is a day of rest. God said,

“There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly.” Leviticus 23:3

This pointed to Christ, who is our rest.

“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God;  for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.” Hebrews 4:9-10 Read full chapter

2. THE PASSOVER celebrated their deliverance from slavery in Egypt.

“Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” 1 Corinthians 5:7

“So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child.” Galatians 4:7

3. FESTIVAL OF UNLEAVENED BREAD

Christ is our sustenance, our source of strength.

Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

“Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry…” John 6:32-35

4. OFFERING THE FIRSTFRUITS

Points to Christ’s resurrection from the dead.

“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” 1 Corinthians 15:20

5. FESTIVAL OF WEEKS

Celebrates the harvest. It occurred fifty days after the Passover Sabbath. It was also called Pentecost. At the Pentecost following Christ’s resurrection, the Church was born.

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.” Acts 2:1-4 [a] Or languages

6. FESTIVAL OF TRUMPETS

Marked the beginning of ten days of consecration and repentance before God. It points to the Rapture of the Church. However, it does not point to a specific date or time because Jesus said,

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Matthew 24:36

“According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17

7. THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

Signifies atonement from sin, a covering. It points to Christ’s atoning death on the cross.

“God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:24-26

8. FESTIVAL OF TABERNACLES

Celebrated God’s provision in the wilderness.

God said,

“On the first day you are to take branches from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees—and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. Celebrate this as a festival to the Lord for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month.  Live in temporary shelters for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’” Leviticus 23:40-43

These flimsy booths serve as a reminder to Israel that they once dwelled in makeshift huts during the forty years of wanderings in the Wilderness. It was a harsh environment and they were totally dependent on the Lord. Yet during that time, God was ever faithful to provide water, manna, quail, and every other thing they needed to sustain them in the barren desert.

This pointed to Christ as our provision.

Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” John 6:32-33

In His Love, Cindy

Sources: Jeremiah Study Bible Notes, Gotquestions.org, ICEJ, and the NIV Bible

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, … “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

Photo by Artem Labunsky on Unsplash

RealChristianWomen.blog



Christian, Christians and Jews

Trusting God’s Will

Cindy Dawson

Quote of the Week for Friday, 10/2/26

“There will be times when God’s will is not what we would naturally choose.
There will be times when obedience costs us something.
There will be times when we do not understand why God has permitted the road before us to take the direction it has.

Gethsemane reminds us that submission to God does not require pretending that the cup is easy.
Nor does trusting God require us to understand why the cup has been permitted.

It means trusting the Father enough to say:


“Yet not my will, but Yours be done.”

Bruce Cooper, from Yet Not My Will; But Your Will Be Done

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, … “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Christians and Jews

Finding the Narrow Gate

Cindy Dawson

Meditation for Monday, 9/28/26

Jesus said,

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to [everlasting] life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 AMP

These words of Jesus are from the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew, chapters 5-7. Read the entire sermon for insight into these two verses.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, … “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

Featured image by Annie Spratt on Unsplash+

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

“Is It Right or ALMOST Right?

Cindy Dawson

 Does it matter? Well, the Apostle Paul thought it did.

In the following verse, Paul is scolding the Corinthian church, saying that the false apostles they are listening to are NOT leading people to our Savior, Jesus Christ. They are leading them to someone entirely different. He says this is NOT the same Jesus they accepted. And it’s not okay.

“For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, this you tolerate very well!” 2 Corinthians 11:4 NASB

Some believers think that any ministry that preaches about “Jesus” is leading people to Christ. However, there are false religions (cults) that talk about Jesus, but it isn’t the Jesus of the Bible. For example, even Muslims consider Jesus a very wise man and a prophet. BUT they do not believe he is the Son of God, and they do not believe He was crucified on a cross for our sins!

Just because a preacher teaches about someone called “Jesus” doesn’t mean he’s teaching the Jesus of the Bible.

When Jesus is described in an unbiblical way, people are misled into following what Paul calls “a different Jesus.” This kind of false teaching is dangerous.

We know God through His Word (the Bible).

We must know God as He really is, not how we think He is or want him to be.

A famous theologian once said, “Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.” 

To be discerning we must know what the Bible says by studying it for ourselves.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

Photo by Ninthgrid on Unsplash

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Christians and Jews

Oh, Praise the Lord, He Lifted Me!

Cindy Dawson

Monday’s Meditation for 9/21/26

“I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
    and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
    out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
    and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
    They will put their trust in the Lord.” Psalm 40:1-3 NLT

My Thoughts: This is King David’s testimony, but it is also my testimony. Is it yours?

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, … “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

How Do I Know If That’s True?

Cindy Dawson

Why do people believe a lie?

Many times, people believe a lie when that lie is something they want to be true. Sometimes people believe a lie because they have heard it so many times. In fact, a study at Villanova University proved just that. If a person hears something often enough, they will start to believe it’s true.

Is there any way to know what is really true and what is not? There is! God’s Word is true. The longer you study it, the more you will realize how true and relevant it is today!

One of the best things you can do to protect yourself is to commit to a “Read the Bible in a Year” chronological reading plan. The reason I recommend it so highly is that you will be exposed to “the whole counsel of God’s Word” and begin to see God’s Word as the complete story of Christ.

At the very least, read the New Testament cover to cover at least once a year (although twice a year would be better). But remember that the Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy saying,

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16 NIV

Paul is talking about the Old Testament! It must not be neglected because it has much to teach us! Some preachers have said the Old Testament is not relevant today, but that is clearly a contradiction of 2 Timothy 3:16.

Many preachers claim God wants you to be wealthy and rich. That’s called the “Prosperity Gospel” and it’s very popular. (Possibly one of those things people believe because they want it to be true.) But the Bible says something different.

“These are the things you are to teach and insist on. If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” 1 Timothy 6:2-5 NIV

Errant teaching thrives when specific verses are taken out of context, as in the two examples above. We can pray for discernment, but we must still check what is preached against the Word of God.

Let’s take Harriet as an example. Harriet goes to church on Sunday, has a devotional at home (usually a passage from Psalms, and reads random verses for encouragement. She even attends a Ladies’ Bible Study in which they study the latest best-selling book of a well-known Christian author. For the most part, Harriet gives well-known Christian personalities a lot of respect and she trusts their teaching. She has attended church her whole adult life.

Here’s the question I have for you: Is Harriet a mature Christian woman? Is she safe from false teaching? She thinks she is. But is she? Is she developing discernment? Take another look at Harriet’s habits. She depends almost entirely on Bible teachers to guide her beliefs. She has never read the whole Bible, not even the entire New Testament. Is she well-equipped to recognize false teaching or is she vulnerable? You decide.

In his book, The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment, Tim Challies compares spiritual discernment with identifying counterfeit currency.

Challies writes, “We can best know what is wrong by first knowing what is right. Experts on counterfeit currency know this as well. They train others first to know the traits of genuine currency… Experts in counterfeit money study every aspect of their currency including how it feels and every detail of its appearance and color. Only after they do this are they shown counterfeit currency. And guess what? They know immediately what is not real!”

In the same way, the better we know the Bible the easier it will be to discern truth from error.

“I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” Psalm 119:16 NIV (emphasis mine)

Learn more about discernment in the following articles:

 How To Be a Discerning Christian

Why Do Christians Listen to False Teachers?

The Skill of Discernment

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Christians and Jews

Out of the Devil’s Reach

Cindy Dawson

Quote of the Week for 9/11/26

“Nothing sets a person so much out of the devil’s reach as humility.” Johnathan Edwards

Jesus said, “The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Matthew 23:11-12 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, … “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

Are You Studying the Book of Revelation Or Avoiding It?

Cindy Dawson

2-Minute Devotion for Monday, 9/7/26

Just the thought of studying the book of Revelation can be daunting. I’ve read it several times, but what does it all mean? I challenge you to tackle this book, take notes, and delve in, expecting God to teach you.

Jesus assured His disciples,

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26

Learn the characteristics of a healthy church according to Jesus. Find out the things Jesus held against them, things which would result in the removal of their lampstand if they did not repent. The lampstands represent all Christian churches. (chapters 2 and 3)

Some of the things prophesied made little sense until recent times. That’s why Revelation is even more interesting and exciting than it ever was!

“It (the beast) also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its name.” Revelation 13:16-17

In the past, we couldn’t imagine how this would be possible. But today we know that through modern technology, it is possible.  The mark of the beast could be an implanted microchip that allows people to access their digital currency.

Key end-time events involve Israel. But before Israel became an independent nation on May 14, 1948, the Jews had not been living in their land since the first and second centuries.

These are just a few examples of what you can (and should) learn in this timely message from Jesus.

“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” Revelation 1:3

“The angel said to me (John), “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.” Revelation 22:6

“Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.” Revelation 22:7

These are words in red, the very words of Jesus, our Savior and Lord.

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, … “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you…” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

Scriptures from NIV

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian

The Skill of Discernment

Cindy Dawson

I call discernment a “skill” because, like any other skill, it can be developed and improved. This is how you develop discernment: READ AND STUDY THE BIBLE. Understand the Bible as a whole. Read all of it. Don’t pick and choose the verses you like that support your beliefs.

“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” Acts 17:11 NIV Read full chapter

Spiritual discernment is good for more than just making monumental decisions according to God’s will. It is an essential, day-to-day activity that allows thoughtful Christians to separate the truth of God from error and to distinguish right from wrong in all kinds of settings and situations. It is also a skill – something that any person can develop and improve…”

Tim Challies, Canadian Blogger and Author

As I researched the topic of discernment this week, I found many instances where someone had already said what I wanted to express, and it seemed prudent to quote that person, rather than saying it in my own words. It just couldn’t be improved upon. So you will find several quotes in this post. I hope they will give you something to think about.

Discernment is not a matter of simply telling the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right.”

Charles Spurgeon (19 June 1834 – 31 January 1892)

That’s an interesting quote. Especially when we consider today’s movement to be more ecumenical and to embrace unity in the Church. Yes, God wants us to be in unity, but not at the expense of good theology, and certainly not at the expense of staying true to the Word of God.

You see, almost right sounds really good. It sounds so close to the truth that it can be easy to mistake it for the truth. It might even come packaged with Bible verses and sincere sermons/speeches from the pulpit. It tickles ears because it sounds Christian. And when it comes from a person in authority, such as a pastor or professor, it’s not questioned because, “Hey, he studies the Bible a lot more than I do.”

Jason Foster, Christian Journalist

“For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires…” 2 Timothy 4:3 NASB Read full chapter

The Bible teaches that there are many false gospels out there. They aren’t always obvious because many of them are, yes, almost right.

Jason Foster, Christian Journalist

The first step to developing your discernment is to love the Truth, to love God’s Word, and hold it dear. We can’t have discernment if we don’t study the Bible.

 “And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may [a]display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment],10 So that you may surely learn to sense what is vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value [recognizing the highest and the best, and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach] the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble].” Philippians 1:9-10 AMPC

Spiritual discernment is the great need of our day. Jesus Himself warns us:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” Matthew 7:21-23 ESV

Many books have been written that claim to teach new insights into God’s Word. Some of them are Best-Sellers. Some are written by people with a huge following. But none of that makes them true. Only when the teaching clearly aligns with God’s Word is it true. The need for discernment is paramount. Make sure you are developing yours by being a student of the Bible. Only then can you discern what is false and what is true.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Give me understanding according to Your Word. Teach me Your ways. Create in me a pure heart that I may follow you in truth.

For more, see:

Psalm 119

100 Bible Verses About False Teachers

Christians Must Be Discerning by Jason Foster

In His Love, Cindy

To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic

“I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.” Genesis 17:7 (emphasis mine)

RealChristianWomen.blog