Tag: truth

Christian, Jews

The Father’s Love: A Deeper Look at Sacrifice

Cindy Dawson

My son was scheduled for back surgery the next day. Consumed by an irrational fear, I went up for prayer on Sunday morning. Sobbing, I told my pastor that I had never been this afraid.

When I returned to my seat, my heart cried out: Lord, I might give my own life for another person. But, I could never give up my son to die. Never! Never! Never! For a moment, I felt the pain that losing my son would bring.

Suddenly, my focus turned to the Father and the cost to Him. I realized that what the Father did, I could never do. Then I remembered John 3:16.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV

How did I ever read these words without being deeply moved by the Father’s willingness to sacrifice His only son? How can others read these words and remain indifferent?

This is probably the most famous Bible verse the world has ever heard. You may see it on a sign at a football game, on billboards, on clothes, or on bumper stickers. And if you attend church, you may have heard it hundreds of times.

Only when the fear of losing my own son invaded my emotions did I understand the incomparable cost to the Father. I realized the enormity of the sacrifice God had made by giving His only son.

But there is much more to the story. Not only did Jesus die, He suffered a cruel death.

“They spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?” Matthew 26:67-68

“Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.” Matthew 27: 27-31

“When we realize the expense God paid in forgiving our sins, we are immediately humbled by the power of such a display of love.” Jack Hibbs, from his book, LIVING IN THE DAZE OF DECEPTION

Perhaps, we should reflect more often on what the Father did. He gave His only Son for you and me, so great is His love.

P.S. My son’s surgery was a complete success. When he woke up from the anesthesia, he was pain-free for the first time in many months. Thank you, Lord, for answering my prayers.

In His Love, Cindy

Before you go, please see my page Who Is Jesus? Hundreds of people have viewed this page! Have you?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Jews

Holding to Jesus’ Teachings: A Path to Truth

Cindy Dawson

Sunday’s Memory Verse, 6/22/25

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 (emphasis mine) Read full chapter

In His Love, Cindy

Before you go, please see my page Who Is Jesus? Hundreds of people have viewed this page! Have you?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Jews

God’s Promise to Abram: Land and Legacy

Cindy Dawson

1-minute read for Thursday, 6/19/25

“The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.” Genesis 13:14-15 NIV (emphasis mine)

Commentary: God blessed Abram with far more land (than Lot chose) – the whole of Canaan, north…south…east and west – and then God vowed to give the land to Abram’s offspring FOREVER. (Jeremiah Study Bible Notes)

God gave Abram and his descendants a specific piece of land that we know today as Israel.

In His Love, Cindy

Before you go, please see my page Who Is Jesus? Hundreds of people have viewed this page! Have you?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Jews

Understanding the Importance of Truth

Cindy Dawson

Sunday’s Memory Verse for 6/15/25

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 3 John 4 NIV

My thoughts: As we meditate on these words from the Apostle John, may we grasp how important truth is. Jesus prayed for His disciples,

“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:17 NIV

“All who walk in the truth know it, but not all who know the truth walk in it.” Jeremiah Study Bible Notes

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Jews

Consider Carefully How You Listen

Cindy Dawson

1-minute read for Monday, 6/9/25

“No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. 17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. 18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.” Luke 8:16-18 NIV Read full chapter

Jeremiah Study Bible Notes: If people choose to meditate deeply on His words, along with a settled determination to put them into practice, then God will open their minds to even more of His truth. But if they listen only to be entertained or to find fault – giving only careless attention to it – then even what they think they understand will be taken from them.

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Jews

Walking in Truth

Cindy Dawson

Verses for Meditation for 5/29/25

“It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 3-4 NIV

Comments: The Apostle John emphasized the importance of walking in the truth. In his Gospel and three epistles, he mentions truth 69 times. If we walk in the truth, the time always comes when we will have to defend it from those who would distort it.

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Jews

Quote of the Week, 5/28/25

Cindy Dawson

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

For more see my post The Skill of Discernment HERE.

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Jews

What Is the Real Meaning of Binding and Loosing?

Cindy Dawson

 Jesus told His disciples, “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth]shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” Matthew 18:18 NASB

What do you think Jesus is teaching His disciples in this passage? Many people believe He is teaching how to engage in spiritual warfare.

But if you study this verse in context, it will become clear that Jesus is not talking about spiritual warfare or special powers. Jesus is talking about conflict resolution in this passage. Read the verses that precede v. 18 to examine the context:

 Now if your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have gained your brother.  But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that on the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be confirmed. And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, he is to be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” Matthew 18:15-18 NASB Read full chapter

In the Jewish tradition, a rabbi would “bind” (meaning forbid) a certain thing. Or they might “loose” (meaning permit) an activity which might be questionable.

Verse 18 means that what is permitted or not permitted is determined in heaven, not on earth.

As you study the context, it will become clear that Jesus was not teaching on spiritual warfare. He was not teaching His disciples that they could speak to spiritual forces of darkness and “bind” them, meaning to tie them up, taking away their power.

I believed this at one time, but as I studied His Word, God corrected me. As we listen to Bible teachers, we must always consider the context. If we don’t, false teaching can deceive us. (False teaching is often dependent on taking verses out of context.) Never underestimate the power of deception. It is no small, inconsequential enemy.

Never underestimate Satan’s power, and never underestimate his ability to deceive us … “

Billy Graham

The Apostle Paul admonishes Timothy, his son in the faith:

“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.  For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 2 Timothy 4:2-4 NIV Read full chapter

Jesus said, “Consider carefully what you hear,” Mark 4:24 NIV

This passage emphasizes the importance of discerning truth from falsehood, rather than passively absorbing information. 

The key to spreading deception is to convince the audience that the information being taught comes from Revelation Knowledge, something other churches don’t understand because they have a religious spirit. This is pride.

I know this because I experienced it. But the Lord opened my eyes.

If you want to know more about my experience with false teaching, see my post, Rescued From Word of Faith HERE and What Does the Word of God Say About the “Prosperity Gospel”? HERE.

My prayer is that the Church will be wise and discerning by loving the truth, and examining God’s Word daily. I hope that this study on binding and loosing will be helpful as you study God’s Word, the Bible.

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Jews

What is Agape Love? Exploring Its Meaning in the Bible

Cindy Dawson

1-minute read for Friday, 5/2/25

 “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres… Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8a NIV

Commentary: The Greek word for love used here is agape. Agape love is one of the rarest words in the Greek language and is found almost nowhere in Greek literature apart from the New Testament. But it is one of the most common words within the New Testament. It is totally unselfish love. Christ’s sacrifice and His love model what it means to choose love. (Jeremiah Study Bible Notes)

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6

RealChristianWomen.blog

Christian, Jews

Loving Truth: How Paul’s Letters Guide Our Faith

Cindy Dawson

1-minute read – Verses for Meditation, 4/10/25

The Apostle Paul said, “Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?” Galatians 4:16 NIV

Paul loved the Galatians but he would not compromise the truth to appease them. In fact, he pleaded with them to turn away from false teachers, warning them that the motives of the false teachers were evil.

Proverbs 27:6 AMP says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend [who corrects out of love and concern], But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful [because they serve his hidden agenda].

We must love the truth so that we are not seduced by a spirit of compromise. Jesus prayed for His disciples,

“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:17 NIV

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”

Psalm 122:6

RealChristianWomen.blog