Faith / Trusting God, Fear / Reverence for God, Hope, Obeying God, Salvation, Seeking God

Rich in What Counts (Revelation 2:8–11)

What if the world calls you poor—but heaven calls you rich?

Key Verse:
“Do not fear what you are about to suffer… Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” —Revelation 2:10 NASB

Background Context:
Smyrna was a prosperous and loyal Roman city, deeply committed to emperor worship. For Christians there, faithfulness to Christ often meant social rejection, economic hardship, and persecution. Unlike Ephesus, Smyrna receives no rebuke. Instead, Jesus speaks words of comfort and preparation.

The One addressing them identifies Himself as “the First and the Last, who was dead, and has come to life.” Before speaking of suffering, Jesus reminds them of His victory over death.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Revelation 2:8–11

Message to Smyrna

      8“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:

      9‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’

Reflection on Revelation 2:8–11:
Jesus acknowledges Smyrna’s tribulation and poverty—but immediately reframes their condition: “but you are rich.” Earthly scarcity does not equal spiritual deficiency. In fact, their faithfulness amid suffering reveals the depth of their true wealth.

The church is warned that more suffering is coming. Imprisonment and testing lie ahead. This is not hypothetical—it is imminent. Yet Jesus does not promise escape. He promises presence and reward.

The command is simple and profound: “Do not fear.” Fear is the natural response to persecution, but Christ anchors their courage in His identity. He is the One who conquered death. The worst the world can do is not the final word.

The promise of the “crown of life” speaks to eternal vindication. Faithfulness, even unto death, is not loss—it is gain. The one who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death. Physical death may come, but eternal separation will not.

Smyrna teaches us that suffering is not evidence of God’s absence. Sometimes it is the very arena where faith shines brightest. Jesus measures wealth differently than the world does. And He honors steadfast loyalty above comfort.

Application:

  • Measure spiritual wealth by faithfulness, not material abundance.

  • Do not assume hardship means God has withdrawn His favor.

  • Anchor courage in Christ’s victory over death.

  • Remain steadfast even when obedience is costly.

  • Fix your eyes on eternal reward rather than temporary relief.

Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus, strengthen my faith when obedience feels costly. Help me measure my life by Your standards rather than the world’s. Guard my heart from fear and anchor my hope in Your victory over death. Make me faithful, whatever the cost, and keep my eyes fixed on the crown You promise. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Love, Marriage, Song of Solomon

Celebrating Covenant Love (Song of Solomon 7)

Can love be both passionate and pure—celebrated rather than hidden?

Key Verse:
“How beautiful and how delightful you are, my love, with all your charms!” —Song of Solomon 7:6 NASB

Background Context:
Following the reassurance and restored confidence of chapter 6, Song of Solomon 7 moves into open celebration. The husband speaks detailed affirmation over his wife, praising her beauty and presence. The tone is joyful, unguarded, and honoring. The wife responds not with hesitation, but with invitation.

This chapter portrays mature love—confident, mutual, and rooted in covenant security rather than insecurity.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Song of Solomon 7

Admiration by the Bridegroom

     1“How beautiful are your feet in sandals,
O prince’s daughter!
The curves of your hips are like jewels,
The work of the hands of an artist.

      2“Your navel is like a round goblet
Which never lacks mixed wine;
Your belly is like a heap of wheat
Fenced about with lilies.

      3“Your two breasts are like two fawns,
Twins of a gazelle.

      4“Your neck is like a tower of ivory,
Your eyes like the pools in Heshbon
By the gate of Bath-rabbim;
Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon,
Which faces toward Damascus.

      5“Your head crowns you like Carmel,
And the flowing locks of your head are like purple threads;
The king is captivated by your tresses.

      6“How beautiful and how delightful you are,
My love, with all your charms!

      7“Your stature is like a palm tree,
And your breasts are like its clusters.

      8“I said, ‘I will climb the palm tree,
I will take hold of its fruit stalks.’
Oh, may your breasts be like clusters of the vine,
And the fragrance of your breath like apples,

      9And your mouth like the best wine!”

“It goes down smoothly for my beloved,
Flowing gently through the lips of those who fall asleep.

The Union of Love

     10“I am my beloved’s,
And his desire is for me.

      11“Come, my beloved, let us go out into the country,
Let us spend the night in the villages.

      12“Let us rise early and go to the vineyards;
Let us see whether the vine has budded
And its blossoms have opened,
And whether the pomegranates have bloomed.
There I will give you my love.

      13“The mandrakes have given forth fragrance;
And over our doors are all choice fruits,
Both new and old,
Which I have saved up for you, my beloved.

Reflection on Song of Solomon 7:
The husband begins by affirming his wife from head to toe. His words are not crude, but reverent and intentional. He sees her fully and delights in her openly. This kind of affirmation strengthens intimacy because it communicates value, not possession.

The wife is not passive in this exchange. She responds with confidence: “I am my beloved’s, and his desire is for me.” This statement reflects security. She does not question her worth or his affection. Love has matured beyond uncertainty.

In marriage, this chapter teaches that intimacy thrives where honor and affirmation are freely expressed. Desire is not shameful within covenant—it is a gift from God. Celebrated affection deepens unity and strengthens trust.

Spiritually, this chapter reflects God’s delight in His people. God does not merely tolerate His covenant family—He delights in them. Likewise, believers are invited to respond with willing devotion and joyful surrender.

Song of Solomon 7 reminds us that healthy love is mutual. It gives and receives, delights and invites, celebrates and cherishes. Intimacy flourishes where affirmation is spoken and belonging is secure.

Application:

  • Speak affirmation intentionally and specifically within marriage.

  • Reject cultural shame around God-designed intimacy in covenant.

  • Cultivate mutual delight rather than one-sided expectation.

  • Rest in the truth that God delights in His people.

  • Respond to love with openness rather than guardedness.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for designing love to be celebrated within covenant. Teach me to honor, affirm, and cherish the relationships You have given. Help me rest in Your delight over me and respond with joyful devotion. Strengthen love where it needs renewal and deepen unity where You are at work. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father in your life? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Faithful, Hope, Prayer, Purposeful / Intentional, Seeking God, Tribulation, Worry/Anxiety

Faith When God Feels Silent (Psalm 44)

What do you do when you’ve remained faithful—yet suffering still comes?

Key Verse:
“All this has come upon us, but we have not forgotten You, and we have not dealt falsely with Your covenant.” —Psalm 44:17 NASB

Background Context:
Psalm 44, attributed to the sons of Korah, reflects the voice of God’s people during a season of defeat and humiliation. Unlike earlier psalms of personal lament, this one speaks corporately. The community remembers God’s mighty works in the past—how He drove out nations and established Israel in the land. Yet their present experience feels drastically different.

They are suffering not because of open rebellion, but despite apparent faithfulness. This tension gives Psalm 44 its raw honesty and theological depth.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Psalm 44

Former Deliverances and Present Troubles.

For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.

      1O God, we have heard with our ears,
Our fathers have told us
The work that You did in their days,
In the days of old.

      2You with Your own hand drove out the nations;
Then You planted them;
You afflicted the peoples,
Then You spread them abroad.

      3For by their own sword they did not possess the land,
And their own arm did not save them,
But Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your presence,
For You favored them.

      4You are my King, O God;
Command victories for Jacob.

      5Through You we will push back our adversaries;
Through Your name we will trample down those who rise up against us.

      6For I will not trust in my bow,
Nor will my sword save me.

      7But You have saved us from our adversaries,
And You have put to shame those who hate us.

      8In God we have boasted all day long,
And we will give thanks to Your name forever.

Selah.

      9Yet You have rejected us and brought us to dishonor,
And do not go out with our armies.

      10You cause us to turn back from the adversary;
And those who hate us have taken spoil for themselves.

      11You give us as sheep to be eaten
And have scattered us among the nations.

      12You sell Your people cheaply,
And have not profited by their sale.

      13You make us a reproach to our neighbors,
A scoffing and a derision to those around us.

      14You make us a byword among the nations,
A laughingstock among the peoples.

      15All day long my dishonor is before me
And my humiliation has overwhelmed me,

      16Because of the voice of him who reproaches and reviles,
Because of the presence of the enemy and the avenger.

      17All this has come upon us, but we have not forgotten You,
And we have not dealt falsely with Your covenant.

      18Our heart has not turned back,
And our steps have not deviated from Your way,

      19Yet You have crushed us in a place of jackals
And covered us with the shadow of death.

      20If we had forgotten the name of our God
Or extended our hands to a strange god,

      21Would not God find this out?
For He knows the secrets of the heart.

      22But for Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.

      23Arouse Yourself, why do You sleep, O Lord?
Awake, do not reject us forever.

      24Why do You hide Your face
And forget our affliction and our oppression?

      25For our soul has sunk down into the dust;
Our body cleaves to the earth.

      26Rise up, be our help,
And redeem us for the sake of Your lovingkindness.

Reflection on Psalm 44:
The psalm begins with remembrance. The people recount stories passed down from their fathers—how God acted powerfully on their behalf. Victory was never attributed to their own strength, but to God’s hand and favor. Their identity is rooted in divine deliverance.

But the tone shifts abruptly. Now, they feel rejected and scattered. Enemies mock them. They experience loss, shame, and defeat. The painful contrast between past victory and present suffering raises a difficult question: Why?

What makes this psalm unique is its insistence that they have not abandoned God. They declare that they have not forgotten His covenant, nor turned to false gods. Yet hardship continues. This is not the consequence of rebellion, but the mystery of suffering.

Still, they do not walk away. Instead, they cry out more boldly. The psalm ends with a plea: “Rise up, be our help, and redeem us for the sake of Your lovingkindness.” Their appeal is grounded not in their merit, but in God’s covenant love.

Psalm 44 teaches that faith does not deny confusion or pain. It holds on to God even when answers are unclear. Honest lament is not faithlessness—it is covenant trust refusing to let go.

Application:

  • Remember God’s past faithfulness when present circumstances feel confusing.

  • Bring honest questions to God rather than withdrawing from Him.

  • Resist the temptation to measure God’s love by current outcomes.

  • Anchor hope in God’s covenant character, not your own performance.

  • Continue praying boldly, even when heaven feels silent.

Closing Prayer:
Father, when circumstances confuse me and suffering feels undeserved, help me hold fast to You. Remind me of Your past faithfulness and strengthen my trust in Your covenant love. Teach me to cry out honestly without turning away. Rise up, Lord, and redeem according to Your lovingkindness. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

Forgive Others / Seek Forgiveness, Holy Spirit / Ruach HaKodesh, Obeying God, Repenting from Sin

Beyond New Year’s Resolutions: Finding True Renewal in Christ

Have you ever set a New Year’s resolution, only to find yourself straying from it just a few weeks later? You’re not alone.

The start of a new year often brings with it the desire for a fresh start—promises to break bad habits, adopt healthier ones, and somehow erase past mistakes.

But how are these resolutions holding up? Are they drawing you nearer to God, or are they focused on more superficial gains?

The Power of True Change

While many of these resolutions falter by February, returning to old ways, there exists a path to genuine transformation, available any time of the year. This path is through Yeshua, Jesus Christ. Through Him, we receive forgiveness for our sins. By repenting, asking for forgiveness, believing in His sacrifice for us, and submitting ourselves to God, we are promised a new beginning—a true clean start that comes with divine power to sustain us.

The Prodigal Son: A Story of Return and Renewal

The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) beautifully illustrates God’s readiness to forgive and embrace us upon our return to Him. It serves as a vivid reminder that no sin is too great to be forgiven and that God eagerly awaits our humble return, much like the father awaited his lost son. This story encourages us to come home to God without delay, emphasizing His willingness to receive us back into His arms at any moment, not just in January.

The Holy Spirit: Our Guide and Helper

Upon our return to God and acceptance into His family, He gifts us the Holy Spirit to guide us (John 16:5-15). The Holy Spirit empowers our repentance and supports us in our journey, ensuring we are never alone. This divine assistance is crucial for our spiritual renewal and growth.

Forgiveness and Obedience: Keys to Renewal

Scriptures such as Isaiah 1:18-20, Daniel 9:7-14, and Acts 3:19-21 emphasize the importance of repentance and obedience to God’s word for forgiveness. These passages reassure us of God’s promise to cleanse us from our sins, offering us a fresh start. However, they also remind us of the consequences of continued rebellion against Him.

Reflecting on God’s Promises

Ephesians 1:3-14, Colossians 1:13-14, 1 John 1:9-10, and Psalm 103:1-13 are just a few examples of the many scriptures that speak of God’s forgiveness and the renewal He offers us. They invite us to meditate on the depth of God’s love and the breadth of His mercy, encouraging us to embrace the clean start available to us in Christ at any time.

Invitation to Transformation

As we reflect on these truths, let us consider the areas of our lives in need of God’s transformative power. How can the promise of forgiveness and the guidance of the Holy Spirit lead us toward a genuine fresh start? Let us approach God in prayer, seeking His strength and wisdom to make changes that draw us closer to Him.

Conclusion: A Call to Action

Remember, a true clean start is not confined to the turning of a calendar year but is found in the grace and love of our Lord, Jesus Christ. This opportunity for renewal is available to us at any moment, offering not just a temporary change but a lasting transformation. Let us embrace this divine gift, stepping into the new life God has prepared for us.

Engage and Share

Share your thoughts, experiences, or prayer requests in the comments below. Let’s encourage one another as we pursue genuine change and renewal in Christ. Tag someone who needs to hear about the promise of a fresh start today. Together, let’s walk in the power and promise of God’s unwavering love and forgiveness.

Closing Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we stand at the crossroads of old habits and new beginnings, we turn our hearts to You, seeking the true renewal that only comes through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for the promise of forgiveness, the gift of Your Spirit, and the endless grace You pour out on us each day.

Lord, guide us away from the fleeting resolutions of this world and lead us into the everlasting transformation You offer. Help us to lay down our burdens, sins, and failures at Your feet, embracing the clean start You provide at any moment, not just as the calendar turns.

Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, that we may walk in Your ways, embodying Your love, righteousness, and truth. Strengthen us to resist the temptations that pull us away from You, and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

As we move forward, let Your will be done in our lives. May we serve as vessels of Your love and light to others, sharing the hope and renewal we’ve found in You.

In Jesus’ Name, we pray, Amen.

To learn more about following Yeshua, continue reading The Message of the Cross.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Discerning / Judging, Love, Revelation

When Love Grows Cold (Revelation 2:1-7)

Can a church be doctrinally strong—and spiritually drifting at the same time?

Key Verse:
“But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” —Revelation 2:4 NASB

Background Context:
Ephesus was a prominent and influential city, known for commerce, culture, and the temple of Artemis. The church there had endured hardship and resisted false teaching. In Revelation 1, Jesus revealed Himself as walking among the lampstands—among His churches. Now He speaks directly to Ephesus, evaluating not only their actions, but their heart.

This letter sets the pattern for the others: affirmation, correction, warning, and promise.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Revelation 2:1-7

Message to Ephesus

      1“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:

      2‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; 3and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. 4‘But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5‘Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent. 6‘Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’

Reflection on Revelation 2:1–7:
Jesus begins with commendation. The church at Ephesus is hardworking, persevering, and discerning. They have tested false apostles and refused to tolerate evil. Their theology is sound. Their endurance is admirable. They have suffered for Christ’s name and have not grown weary.

Yet something essential is missing.

Jesus does not accuse them of heresy or compromise, but of leaving their first love. The issue is not external performance, but internal affection. Their commitment remains, but their passion has cooled. Orthodoxy has replaced intimacy.

The warning is sobering: unless they repent and return to the deeds they did at first, their lampstand will be removed. A church can maintain structure, activity, and reputation—and still lose its spiritual light.

But even in correction, grace is present. Jesus tells them how to respond: remember, repent, and return. Restoration is possible. The call is not to innovate something new, but to rekindle what once burned brightly.

The promise to the overcomer points back to Eden—the tree of life in the paradise of God. The One who walks among His churches desires not mere activity, but living relationship.

Application:

  • Examine whether your love for Christ matches your labor for Him.

  • Guard against replacing intimacy with routine.

  • Regularly remember what first stirred your affection for Jesus.

  • Respond quickly to conviction—repentance restores light.

  • Pursue relationship with Christ, not just religious performance.

Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus, search my heart. Protect me from drifting into routine without relationship. Rekindle my love for You where it has cooled, and help me serve from affection, not obligation. Restore what has faded and keep my devotion alive and sincere. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Faithful, Hope

Where My Hope Truly Lies (Genesis 49:29-33)

How do you want your life—and your faith—to speak at the very end?

Key Verse:
“There I buried Leah.” —Genesis 49:31 NASB

Background Context:
After pronouncing prophetic words over his sons, Jacob turns to a final, deeply personal instruction. He speaks not about the future of the tribes, but about his own death. Though he has lived his final years in Egypt—safe, provided for, and honored—Jacob makes a deliberate request regarding where he is to be buried.

His words connect him intentionally to Abraham and Isaac and to the land God promised them. This moment is not about sentiment or tradition; it is a final declaration of faith.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Genesis 49:29-33

29Then he charged them and said to them, “I am about to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought along with the field from Ephron the Hittite for a burial site. 31“There they buried Abraham and his wife Sarah, there they buried Isaac and his wife Rebekah, and there I buried Leah— 32the field and the cave that is in it, purchased from the sons of Heth.” 33When Jacob finished charging his sons, he drew his feet into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.

Reflection on Genesis 49:29–33:
Jacob’s final instruction is striking in its clarity and restraint. He does not ask to be buried in Egypt, despite its prosperity and comfort. Instead, he requests burial in the cave of Machpelah, the burial place of Abraham, Isaac, Sarah, Rebekah—and Leah. This is a conscious act of covenant alignment.

Jacob’s choice reveals where his hope truly rests. Egypt has sustained him, but it is not his home. The land promised by God still defines his identity, even though he will not see its full fulfillment in his lifetime. Jacob dies believing that God’s promises remain sure beyond his own years.

There is no fear in his words. No urgency. No regret. Scripture presents Jacob as a man at peace—having spoken truth, passed on blessing, and now entrusting the future to God. After giving this instruction, Jacob draws his feet into the bed and breathes his last. The quietness of the moment is intentional. Faith does not always end with spectacle; sometimes it ends with settled confidence.

Jacob’s final act reminds us that faith is not only about how we live, but how we finish. He chooses promise over comfort, covenant over convenience, and hope over what is immediately visible.

Application:

  • Examine where your ultimate hope is anchored.

  • Refuse to let present comfort redefine eternal identity.

  • Live—and finish—with confidence in God’s promises, even when unseen.

  • Align your life with God’s covenant purposes, not temporary success.

  • Trust that God’s faithfulness extends beyond your lifetime.

Closing Prayer:
Father, teach me to live with my eyes fixed on Your promises rather than present comfort. Help me walk faithfully today and finish well when my time comes. Anchor my hope in what You have promised and strengthen my trust in You beyond what I can see. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father in your life? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Faith / Trusting God, His Timing Not Ours, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Purposeful / Intentional, Strong in Our Weakness

Fruitful Under Pressure (Genesis 49:22-27)

How does God shape strength when life has already tested it deeply?

Key Verse:
“The archers bitterly attacked him, and shot at him and harassed him; but his bow remained firm, and his arms were agile, from the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob.” —Genesis 49:23–24 NASB

Background Context:
As Jacob nears the end of his prophetic blessings, he turns to Joseph and Benjamin. Joseph’s blessing is the longest and most personal, reflecting both his suffering and God’s sustaining power. Benjamin’s blessing, though brief, is vivid and forceful. Together, they close Genesis 49 with a picture of strength that is neither self-made nor reckless, but shaped by God’s hand.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Genesis 49:22-27

Reflection on Genesis 49:22–27:
Joseph is described as fruitful—yet his fruitfulness did not come easily. Jacob recalls opposition, betrayal, and attack. Joseph’s life was marked by injustice and hardship, yet he did not collapse under pressure. His strength endured because it was anchored in God, not circumstance.

Jacob is careful to credit the source of Joseph’s resilience. Joseph’s arms remained steady not because of personal resolve alone, but because of “the Mighty One of Jacob.” God did not remove the arrows; He strengthened the one who endured them. Blessing followed suffering, not avoidance of it.

The abundance spoken over Joseph—blessings of heaven above and depths below—reveals a life that God restored fully. What was once stripped away is now multiplied. God’s faithfulness proves greater than the harm done by others.

Benjamin’s blessing closes the chapter with intensity. He is described as a warrior, fierce and decisive. While Joseph represents perseverance refined by hardship, Benjamin represents strength that must be directed wisely. Together, they remind us that God uses different kinds of strength—but all must remain submitted to Him.

Genesis 49 ends not with sentiment, but with sober hope. God’s purposes move forward through flawed people, through suffering, through strength refined by dependence on Him. The future of Israel rests not on human ability, but on God’s sustaining power.

Application:

  • Trust God to strengthen you when life wounds rather than weakens you.

  • Remember that endurance rooted in God produces lasting fruit.

  • Give God credit for resilience that outlasts hardship.

  • Allow God to shape and guide your strength wisely.

  • Believe that God’s blessings are not canceled by past suffering.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for being the source of strength when life is heavy and painful. Help me endure with faith, trusting that You are shaping fruitfulness even in hardship. Teach me to rely on You, give You glory for every victory, and submit my strength fully to Your will. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Drunkenness, Holy / Set Apart, Idols / False Gods, Traditions / Holidays, Worldliness

What is Mardi Gras and Should Christians Celebrate It?

What is Mardi Gras and why do so many Christians celebrate it? I grew up in a Catholic church and never could quite figure out how people could say that Mardi Gras was a “Christian holiday”. People broadly seemed to have accepted the concept that Christ wants us to embrace wild parties, drunkenness, public nudity, gluttony and other sinful behavior as a precursor to a period of repentance which follows.

Some may say that they only celebrate the parades, or they don’t participate or support the more offensive parts of Mardi Gras. However, it is all linked together as different levels of engagement in a clearly pagan festival. Does God like it if we only participate a little in some fun activities focused around a false god? What if we don’t do the “child sacrifice” but only dance before the idol or have a party on the day others sacrifice to the false god?

If it is not obvious enough that celebrating Mardi Gras is not a way to edify, honor, or lift up Christ then try a more academic exercise. Where in scripture did Jesus demonstrate or teach that we should sin greatly before a period of repentance? It’s not there. In fact, the opposite.

The call to repentance is real, but not the call to sin before it.

This does not even begin to touch on the focus that Mardi Gras puts on pagan gods associated with parades and other events.

Matthew 4:17

      17From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Romans 6

      1What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? 3Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7for he who has died is freed from sin.

      8Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 10For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

      12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

      15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! 16Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? 17But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.

      20For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. 22But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We are called to righteousness and not to sin. How then can those in the church widely accept and embrace sin as a “Christian holiday”? The answer is that we have not followed the Lord’s instructions. He commands us not to learn the ways of the pagans and not to celebrate as they do. But all too often our common cultural holidays have been greatly influenced by pagan celebrations. The church has chosen to accept and blend pagan practices alongside or in place of how the Lord wants us to worship Him.

What Is Mardi Gras?

When Christianity arrived in Rome, religious leaders decided to incorporate these popular local traditions into the new faith, an easier task than abolishing them altogether. As a result, the excess and debauchery of the Mardi Gras season became a prelude to Lent, the 40 days of fasting and penance between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday.

Along with Christianity, Mardi Gras spread from Rome to other European countries, including France, Germany, Spain and England.

http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/mardi-gras

Deuteronomy 12:1-5

   1“These are the statutes and the judgments which you shall carefully observe in the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess as long as you live on the earth. 2“You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess serve their gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. 3“You shall tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and burn their Asherim with fire, and you shall cut down the engraved images of their gods and obliterate their name from that place. 4“You shall not act like this toward the LORD your God. 5“But you shall seek the LORD at the place which the LORD your God will choose from all your tribes, to establish His name there for His dwelling, and there you shall come.

In order to choose to follow the Lord His way, which is the only true way to follow Him, then we must turn away from and reject pagan celebrations which have been blended with or replaced God’s instructions for how we are to worship Him and how we are to live. Let us not make excuses, accepting the lifestyle of the pagans as our own, no matter how long the family traditions have been established. When we start making exceptions, we often end up with things like Mardi Gras… many who claim to be Christian accept it and would defend it… but none can justify it based on scripture or God’s word. It has become part of the culture based on a historical choices and family traditions. Let us seek the Lord and the Lord’s way alone to live submitted to Him. Let us not blend with the ways of the pagans but rather turn back to our Lord wholeheartedly and without hesitation.

—-

Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faithful, Kindness / Gentleness, Love, Marriage, Song of Solomon

I Am My Beloved’s (Song of Solomon 6)

When insecurity whispers doubt, whose voice do you choose to believe?

Key Verse:
“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” —Song of Solomon 6:3 NASB

Background Context:
Song of Solomon 6 follows a season of distance and longing. After missed connection and deep desire in chapter 5, this chapter opens with reassurance. The beloved is not lost, and love has not withdrawn. Instead, the relationship moves toward restoration, affirmation, and renewed confidence. What was strained is now steadied—not through blame, but through assurance of belonging.

This chapter reflects both the healing of marital intimacy and the faithful, restoring love of God toward His people.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Song of Solomon 6

Mutual Delight in Each Other

1“Where has your beloved gone,
O most beautiful among women?
Where has your beloved turned,
That we may seek him with you?”

      2“My beloved has gone down to his garden,
To the beds of balsam,
To pasture his flock in the gardens
And gather lilies.

      3“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine,
He who pastures his flock among the lilies.”

      4“You are as beautiful as Tirzah, my darling,
As lovely as Jerusalem,
As awesome as an army with banners.

      5“Turn your eyes away from me,
For they have confused me;
Your hair is like a flock of goats
That have descended from Gilead.

      6“Your teeth are like a flock of ewes
Which have come up from their washing,
All of which bear twins,
And not one among them has lost her young.

      7“Your temples are like a slice of a pomegranate
Behind your veil.

      8“There are sixty queens and eighty concubines,
And maidens without number;

      9But my dove, my perfect one, is unique:
She is her mother’s only daughter;
She is the pure child of the one who bore her.
The maidens saw her and called her blessed,
The queens and the concubines also, and they praised her, saying,

      10‘Who is this that grows like the dawn,
As beautiful as the full moon,
As pure as the sun,
As awesome as an army with banners?’

      11“I went down to the orchard of nut trees
To see the blossoms of the valley,
To see whether the vine had budded
Or the pomegranates had bloomed.

      12“Before I was aware, my soul set me
Over the chariots of my noble people.”

      13“Come back, come back, O Shulammite;
Come back, come back, that we may gaze at you!”

“Why should you gaze at the Shulammite,
As at the dance of the two companies?

Reflection on Song of Solomon 6:
The chapter begins with a question from others: “Where has your beloved gone?” The answer is calm and confident. He has not disappeared. He is tending his garden. Love is present, active, and purposeful. The fear of abandonment that marked the previous chapter is replaced by clarity.

The beloved woman then makes a powerful declaration: “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” This is covenant language. It is settled, mutual, and secure. She does not say this because everything has been perfect, but because love has proven faithful.

The husband responds with affirmation rather than correction. He speaks beauty, value, and delight over his wife. Where insecurity once lingered, reassurance now flows freely. Love restores confidence instead of punishing vulnerability.

In marriage, this chapter teaches us that intimacy is strengthened not by perfection, but by reassurance. Love that heals does not rehearse past failures—it affirms present belonging. Confidence grows when love is spoken clearly and consistently.

Spiritually, this chapter reflects God’s heart toward His people. Seasons of distance do not negate covenant. God’s love remains secure even when our confidence wavers. He restores by reminding us who we are and to whom we belong. Our identity is not shaped by our failures, but by His faithfulness.

Song of Solomon 6 reminds us that love matures when it moves from anxiety to assurance—from fear of loss to confidence in belonging.

Application:

  • Rest in the security of covenant love rather than fear of rejection.

  • Speak reassurance intentionally in relationships that have felt strained.

  • Allow love to rebuild confidence instead of rehearsing insecurity.

  • Remember your identity is rooted in belonging, not performance.

  • Trust that God’s love restores rather than withdraws.

Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for love that reassures and restores. When insecurity rises or confidence falters, remind me that I belong to You and You have not withdrawn Your love. Teach me to speak reassurance, receive grace, and rest in the security of covenant love. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Depression / Discouragement, Hope, Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Praise / Worship / Glorify God

Hope That Leads Me Home (Psalm 43)

When your heart feels heavy, where do you ask God to lead you?

Key Verse:
“O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling places.” —Psalm 43:3 NASB

Background Context:
Psalm 43 continues the emotional and spiritual movement that began in Psalm 42. Though separated as its own psalm, it echoes the same longing, discouragement, and inner dialogue. The psalmist feels oppressed, misunderstood, and distant from the place of worship. Yet instead of remaining in despair, he turns deliberately toward God, asking not merely for relief, but for guidance.

This psalm shifts the focus from questioning God’s presence to actively seeking God’s leading.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Psalm 43

Prayer for Deliverance.

     1Vindicate me, O God, and plead my case against an ungodly nation;
O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man!

      2For You are the God of my strength; why have You rejected me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

      3O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me;
Let them bring me to Your holy hill
And to Your dwelling places.

      4Then I will go to the altar of God,
To God my exceeding joy;
And upon the lyre I shall praise You, O God, my God.

      5Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why are you disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.

Reflection on Psalm 43:
The psalm opens with a plea for vindication. The psalmist feels surrounded by deceit and injustice and looks to God as his defense. Yet even as he asks for deliverance, the prayer quickly deepens. His greatest desire is not simply to escape hardship, but to be led back into God’s presence.

The request is striking: “Send out Your light and Your truth.” Light and truth are not abstract ideas here — they are guides. The psalmist understands that what he needs most is God’s direction. He longs to be led to God’s holy hill, the place of worship and communion, where joy is restored and praise flows freely.

As the psalm moves forward, confidence begins to rise. The psalmist anticipates returning to the altar, offering praise, and rejoicing in God once again. Circumstances may not have changed yet, but hope has taken root.

The psalm ends with a familiar refrain: “Why are you in despair, O my soul?” This repetition is intentional. Faith does not deny discouragement — it confronts it with truth. The psalmist speaks hope to his own soul, anchoring his heart in God’s faithfulness.

Psalm 43 reminds us that when God feels distant, the path forward is not resignation, but pursuit. God’s light and truth still lead, still guide, and still bring His people home.

Application:

  • Ask God to lead you, not just to rescue you.

  • Seek God’s light and truth when emotions cloud your way forward.

  • Return to worship even when joy feels distant.

  • Speak hope to your soul instead of surrendering to despair.

  • Trust that God’s presence restores joy in His perfect time.

Closing Prayer:
Father, send out Your light and Your truth to guide my steps. When my heart feels weary or discouraged, lead me back into Your presence. Restore my joy, steady my hope, and teach me to trust You as my defender and my God. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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