He Cares

 

He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

Pause and let that sink in. The Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth, bends His ear to hear you, not as a distant ruler, but as a Father who knows every detail of your life. We are called His sons and daughters. What a privilege! What a wonder! And it is all because of the finished work of Jesus Christ. Because of His sacrifice, we can boldly cry “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15) and know that He hears us. Nothing is lost. Nothing is ignored.

And this is not a casual privilege—it is the most profound reality a believer can know. For thousands of years, no man could approach the Father without a veil. Now, through Christ, we have access. His Spirit lives in us. Jesus reveals the Father. And we can come boldly, confident that He listens and cares.

“Nor was it to offer Himself repeatedly… But as it is, He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” (Hebrews 9:25-26)

 

Discipline: Proof You Belong

Here is a truth the world will never cheer: God disciplines those He loves. Not out of anger, not out of irritation, but because His children matter.

“For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son whom He receives.” (Hebrews 12:6)

Do not ignore this. To be without discipline is to be illegitimate, not a son (Hebrews 12:8). The world mocks correction, complains about boundaries and celebrates freedom without responsibility. But God’s Word is clear: discipline is proof of belonging. It is the Father shaping us into Christlikeness.

Every correction, every conviction, every piercing word of the Spirit is mercy. It is His hand guiding, protecting, and shaping you. The High Priest understands, for He Himself was tempted in every way, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15).

Discipline is not punishment—it is formation. It is not rejection—it is love. And in a generation that shuns accountability, the disciplined life marks those who truly belong to God.

 

Blessings Beyond Wealth

Now hear this carefully: God’s blessings are not judged by wealth. Absolutely not. In fact, the Lord sometimes blesses through apparent scarcity. He reminds us:

“The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Luke 9:58)

And yet, His provision is perfect:

“Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Luke 12:24)

True blessings are faithfulness, peace, spiritual growth, obedience, and alignment with His will. Material wealth does not define His care. The richest life may look like poverty to the world, yet be overflowing in His kingdom. Discipline often prepares us for the blessings we cannot yet see.

 

Standing Firm Against the Noise of the World

Turn on the radio, scroll social media, or watch the news—everywhere there are voices opposed to God’s truth. They preach self-gratification, freedom without boundaries, and obedience as a form of oppression. They call conviction “shame” and holiness “legalism.”

But we are not governed by opinions, by culture, or by perception; we are governed by Scripture.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

Let the world shout. Let voices rise. Let culture mock. You have a Father whose Word is ultimate. You have a Son who intercedes for you. You have a Spirit who teaches you. And you have the assurance that discipline, care, and blessing all flow from His perfect love.

 

The Gift No One Wants but Every Son Needs

Discipline is a gift. Proof you are His. Proof you belong. Proof that He cares. And blessing is far more than wealth. It is faithfulness. Peace. Obedience. Spiritual growth. Provision in every need according to His perfect plan.

“Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)

Receive it. Cherish it. Walk in it. The Father disciplines because He loves. The Son has opened the way. The Spirit guides. And all His blessings, measured by eternity, cannot fail.

He cares for you. He disciplines because He loves. He calls you His own. He blesses beyond measure, not by the world’s standards, but by His perfect Word.

Walk in that truth today.

 

“Peace to all of you who are in Christ.” 

 

Signing off,

Tyrone

The Rudder...

The Rudder of Obedience

There’s a pattern throughout Scripture that makes me pause whenever God’s people drifted into evil, and consequences followed. Not because God is cruel, but because He is holy. Look at Israel—fresh out of forty years of miraculous provision, and the moment they turned aside, God delivered them into the hands of the Midianites. They weren’t free to live however they pleased and still expect His blessing.

And yet… how often do we do exactly that? How often do we cry out for favour while refusing to confront our own behaviour?

For New Testament believers, this becomes even more layered because of the finished work of the cross. “It is finished.” Not poetic language—actual reality. Salvation accomplished. The blood of the Lamb covers His people. The resurrection sealed it, witnessed and confirmed beyond legal dispute—though our faith never depended on the courtroom. If this work has been finished in Christ, and it has, then the real question stands before us: How should we live?

This is where deception finds cracks in our armour. Our selfish wants. Our excuses. The small compromises that grow into strongholds. I’ve often spoken about the “mirror” in my own life—looking into it honestly and asking God to show me who I truly am. Skip this step, and we’re no different from the ostrich burying its head in the sand when pressure closes in.

We say we love the Lord—and I believe many do—but without obedience, that confession gets thin and hollow. Jesus made it painfully plain:

“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word… Whoever does not love Me does not keep My word.”
(John 14:23–24)

And again:

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
(John 14:15)

These verses trip many of us up—including me at times. But thank God for His kindness that leads us to repentance. Thank God that when His children come in humility, mercy flows like a river.

It’s worth noting that John, known as the disciple of love, is the very one who connects love and obedience. The man who leaned on Jesus’ chest, the one who wrote more about love than anyone else, reminds us that love without obedience is incomplete. Real love responds to Christ with a yielded heart. Obedience isn’t about perfection—it’s about direction. God disciplines His children not to condemn but to guide, keeping our hearts soft, teachable, and hungry for Him. When love and obedience walk together, faith is alive, active, and fruitful.

Still, there must come a point where we admit that God’s commandments aren’t optional extras—they are the rudder of our lives. Ignore the rudder, and we drift. Embrace it, and we walk in truth. If altars of Baal have crept into our lives—altars of self, compromise, comfort—we tear them down just as Gideon did. No excuses.

And here Solomon steps in with timeless clarity. The wisest man who ever lived summed up the posture every believer must have:

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
(Proverbs 9:10)

Not cleverness. Not discipline. Not religious activity. Wisdom begins with honouring God—revering Him, esteeming Him, bowing before Him. Lose the fear of the Lord, and you lose the foundation of a godly life.

But we must also consider another truth God has given us:

“Perfect love casts out fear.”
(1 John 4:18)

This is not a contradiction; it is a revelation of balance. The fear Scripture commands is not the fear Scripture casts out. Reverent fear draws us near. Tormenting fear drives us away. One produces obedience, the other produces panic.

Perfect love removes the terror of judgment because the judgment we deserve has already fallen on Christ. The wrath that should have crushed us was absorbed at Calvary. So, the believer stands before God without dread—loved, accepted, redeemed.

We now live in two powerful realities:

Reverence that shapes obedience.
Confidence anchored in His love.

Lose reverence, and compromise overtakes us.
Lose confidence, and condemnation controls us.

But when these truths walk hand in hand, our faith stands strong. We obey because we love Him. We draw near because He first loved us. Perfect love does not remove reverence—it removes terror. And that is freedom purchased by Christ Himself.

A storm is coming. Scripture is clear about that. And like any soldier worth his salt, we need sharpened skills and settled convictions before the battle breaks. For me, it’s time—past time—to put God first without apology or delay. “Let God be true and every man a liar.” My desire is simple: to please my heavenly Father with my conduct and obedience. Pray for me in this pursuit; I need it.

To understand God’s character, we must read the Scriptures. The law—yes, the Torah itself—reveals dimensions of His holiness, justice, patience, and faithfulness that modern believers often overlook. It is there, in those early pages, that we learn the fear of the Lord and the seriousness of His call.

 

Signing off,

Tyrone

ME!

Me, me, me… why is everything about me?

My prayers often orbit around my own struggles. It’s far easier to intercede for others when the pressure of life isn’t sitting on my chest. But when the weight comes—financial strain, the daily fight against sin, the mental battles that never seem to clock out—suddenly every prayer becomes a desperate plea for personal rescue.

I know the principle behind it all. Romans 12:1–2 is not foreign to me. Present your body as a living sacrifice. Do not be conformed. Be transformed. Yes, I understand it. But understanding a principle and living it out under pressure are two very different realities. That’s why returning to Scripture is not optional. Without the Word of God guiding us, restraining us, correcting us, and comforting us—who would ever find their way through the madness of life?

“Reaction to action” echoes through my mind. “If only…” flashes in the background. But thank God that “Jesus in my place” shouts louder than all my internal noise. Still, even that doesn’t magically dissolve the weight. There’s this ongoing whisper in my heart: life and then some…

We’ve been commanded, not suggested, not to worry about tomorrow. The call to arms is simple: by faith. By faith we walk, by faith we stand, by faith we overcome. And yes, on paper, that sounds beautifully uncomplicated. But the practical—where we actually live, breathe, fail, repent, and get up again—that’s the battlefield. Without that practical outworking of faith, Scripture is clear: we are in danger of the Lake of Fire. This all begins with faith in an unseen God.

We have clues of His brilliance—the creation that preaches louder than any human voice—but we have never seen God with our physical eyes. We do not see spirits moving, angels warring, or demons lurking. Yet we believe. And this belief—this faith—is the key to salvation. It is the door to being born again. It is the gift that grants us spiritual sight.

There must also be gratitude for the work of the Holy Spirit. Without the Spirit’s ministry, thoughts would not be drawn toward Scripture, nor would the truths of God’s Word be brought back to remembrance at the moments they are needed most. Jesus taught plainly on this. He said the Spirit would be our Helper—the One who comes alongside. He promised that the Spirit would “teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” He also referred to the Spirit as the Spirit of Truth, guiding believers into all truth.

And here is something that needs to be said: in many circles—especially among the more Reformed-minded—the work of the Holy Spirit often seems minimised. Not denied, not rejected, but overshadowed. Scripture is rightly upheld as the final authority, but sometimes the emphasis leans so heavily on discipline, systems, knowledge, and routine that the living, daily ministry of the Spirit is pushed into the background. Growth becomes associated with effort—memory verses, study structures, routines—all good things, but none of them can replace the supernatural work of God within the heart.

The danger is subtle: when human effort takes centre stage, the Christian life becomes something we perform rather than something God empowers. But Jesus promised a Helper, not a homework schedule. The Spirit is not an optional extra—He is the very One who gives life, conviction, remembrance, and power. Without His inner work, Scripture becomes information instead of revelation; discipline becomes duty instead of delight; and transformation becomes impossible. A person may memorise a thousand verses, but without the Spirit, those verses remain at the surface level rather than carved into the heart.

This is not abstract teaching; it is the active, ongoing work of God. The Spirit plays a pivotal role in the life of every believer, and this work stands as evidence that faith is alive. Every truth brought back to remembrance testifies that God is shaping His people from within. And this work is also a safeguard, because Scripture warns of the danger of repeatedly resisting conviction. Peter wrote of those whose consciences become seared through continually ignoring sin—hearts hardened, sensitivity to truth dulled, and the voice of God slowly drowned out. The Spirit’s prompting, therefore, is not something to brush aside; it is mercy. It is evidence of God still speaking, still drawing, still rescuing before the heart grows calloused beyond feeling.

To truly grasp salvation, you must first grasp your sin. If sin is minimised, salvation becomes sentimental. God’s purpose for mankind begins with acknowledging our guilt and then believing His Word. Whoever cries out to the Lord will be saved.

And that word “cries” matters. It is not a casual whisper. It is a vocal expression of emotion. A shout. A call for help. A desperate sound that rises from deep within. This is how we must call upon the Lord—anything less risks being hollow—empty—faithless.

Think of Jacob. He wrestled with the angel until dawn, refusing to let go until he received a blessing. It cost him further mobility in his hip, but he would not loosen his grip. There is always a cost to blessings… That’s the kind of cry God responds to—a cry that clings, pleads, refuses to surrender.

And with all this, here is the assurance the Lord Himself gave: “Whoever comes to Me, I will never cast out.”
No one who truly comes, crying out for mercy, is ever turned away by Christ.

Signing off

Tyrone

Tension

This response responds to a question from a blog reader.

 

The True Currency of Heaven: Grace at the Cross, Faith in Christ, and the Watermark of Obedience

Some of the most sobering and most liberating passages in Scripture sit side by side:

• “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom…” — Matthew 7:21
• “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” — Romans 10:13
• “If it is by grace, it is no longer by works…” — Romans 11:6

At first glance, these verses seem to pull in different directions. But place them beneath the shadow of the cross, and the tension resolves beautifully. They reveal the root, the response, and the evidence of true salvation.

And nothing illustrates this truth more vividly than counterfeit money.

 

1. Grace: The Only Real Currency — Minted in Blood

Every nation recognises its own currency. Anything else—even if convincing—will be rejected. Heaven is no different. Grace alone is the currency God accepts.

But this currency was not printed on paper; it was forged on the cross of Jesus Christ. His obedience was perfect, His righteousness spotless, His suffering sufficient, His resurrection victorious. Salvation cannot be earned, improved, or patched with human effort—any attempt to add works makes the note counterfeit. Grace + works ceases to be grace.

The cross proves it: salvation is all of His work, and none of ours.

 

2. Faith: The Empty Hand That Receives the True Note

Paul says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Faith is the empty hand extended to the One who has already paid the full price. It is not a ritual or a magic phrase—it is a cry of a bankrupt soul:

“I have nothing to offer. My righteousness is counterfeit. Only Christ can save me.”

Faith does not earn salvation; it receives salvation. It is the act of trusting the currency of grace that Christ produced at Calvary.

 

3. Obedience: The Watermark That Shows the Note Is Real

Matthew 7:21 warns that many will speak and act like believers—saying, “Lord, Lord,” performing religious duties, moving in Christian circles—but their faith is counterfeit. When Christ holds their profession to the light, the watermark of genuine transformation is missing.

Obedience does not save.
Obedience reveals.
True faith, empowered by the Spirit, produces lives that align with God’s will—not to earn salvation, but as proof that the cross has taken root in the heart.

 

4. The Cross That Changes Us: Repentance, Not Perfection

When the crucified Christ becomes our Treasure, sin loses its charm, and His will begins to become our delight. But this does not mean perfection suddenly blooms. The cross creates repentant people, not flawless ones.

We still stumble. We still wrestle with temptation. We still sin.
But the Spirit reshapes our desires: sins we once defended, we now grieve; habits we once excused, we now confess; temptations we once chased, we now drag to the foot of the cross.

Repentance becomes our daily rhythm, not a one-time event. Grace empowers the ongoing battle against sin. The counterfeit believer sins comfortably; the true child of God sins with grief and turns back to Christ continually.

 

5. God Disciplines His Children — Not the Counterfeit

One unmistakable sign of true salvation is the Father’s discipline. Hebrews 12:6 says:

“The Lord disciplines the one He loves…”

Discipline is not punishment—the punishment for sin was paid in full on the cross. It is proof of belonging. The true believer feels conviction, correction, and restoration, whereas the counterfeit feels no Fatherly hand.

Grace trains, refines, and restores. Sin no longer holds its charm, because the Spirit will not let His children remain in darkness. The counterfeit may drift without correction; the child of God will sense the Spirit’s tug, guiding them back to the cross.

 

6. The Three Verses United: Christ at the Centre

• Romans 11:6 — Grace is the currency forged at the cross.
• Romans 10:13 — Faith receives that currency by calling on Christ.
• Matthew 7:21 — Obedience is the watermark proving that the cross has taken hold.

The root is Christ’s work.
The hand that receives is faith.
The fruit is obedience.
The heartbeat is ongoing repentance.
And the glory belongs to Jesus alone.

 

Conclusion: Nothing but Christ

At the end of the age, when every soul stands before Him, the question will not be, “Did you work enough?” or “Did you perform well enough?” It will be, “Did you receive My Son?”

For those who have—those who cling to His cross, treasure His presence, repent daily under His mercy, bear the Spirit’s watermark—the verdict will echo through eternity:

“You are Mine.”

Not because we were perfect,
Not because we paid,
Not because our hands were strong.

Because He was, He paid, He is, and He continues to work in us.

The cross produces no counterfeits.
It produces children.

And every child bears the watermark of the Treasure: Christ Himself.

 

Grace to all who call upon the name of Jesus.

 

Signing off

 

Tyrone

The Brilliance of God's Grace...

 We often — or rather, I often — find myself turning to Scripture, seeking truths that guide the course of my life. Looking back, that hunger is one of the clearest signs of God’s grace at work within me. Without it, where would I be today? What amazes me most about my glorious God and Father is His patience, His long-suffering, and His willingness to collaborate with a wretch like me.

The world shouts a vastly different message today. Self-worth, self-celebration, self-exaltation — these themes dominate, especially as the deceiver subtly infiltrates hearts. “You deserve it,” they say. “You owe it to yourself.” But if we are honest, all any of us deserve is eternal separation from God — hell and the lake of fire. We have ignored the Creator of all things, visible and invisible, and offered little homage. Even after the cross, our flesh resists, but thank God, a day is coming when our body of death will be shed forever.

Yet today — right now — is the day of salvation. The door is open, but it will not remain so indefinitely. This is the season of grace, mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation. But we must respond before the season passes.

I want us to grasp the magnitude of this truly… Jesus in my place, and what that cost our God and Father. What did this extraordinary achievement cost God? How extreme was the sacrifice? Let us walk through Christ’s journey — a biography of the eternal Son stepping into time.

 

His Eternal Identity

Before Bethlehem, before creation itself, Jesus already existed. He is the eternal Word — co-equal, co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit. The triune God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit — three persons, one essence. He was not created. He is.

 

His Descent into Humanity

The Word became flesh. The Creator entered His creation. He did not descend upon a throne, but into the womb of a humble virgin, Mary. The infinite God confined Himself to an infant’s body. The eternal became temporal — the first scandal of grace.

 

His Life of Perfect Obedience — Despite Opposition

As He lived among us, Christ walked in perfect obedience to the Father. Not once did He sin, stumble, or deviate from His mission. Astonishingly, even those closest to Him inadvertently tried to thwart that mission:

• Peter rebuked Him for speaking of His coming suffering.
• Even His own brothers urged Him to step into the public spotlight before the appointed time, not yet believing in Him themselves (John 7:1-9), but Jesus remained perfectly aligned with the Father’s will.
• The crowds sought to crown Him before the appointed time.

Even in the wilderness, Satan tempted Him — and failed. Every shortcut, every appeal to hunger, authority, or pride felt powerless before His obedience.

Jesus remained locked into His Father’s will. If He had failed even once, humanity would have been eternally doomed. But He did not fail. He carried the weight of salvation flawlessly.

His Sacrifice on the Cross

At Calvary, He stood in our place. Every sin — every lie, lust, pride, and act of rebellion — was placed upon the sinless Son. The wrath that rightfully belonged to sinners fell upon Him.

The Father did not spare His own Son. Nails tore flesh; suffocation gripped Him; the agony was unimaginable. Yet the emotional weight was greater still. The sinless One bore the full weight of sin and divine judgment. When He cried, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” it was substitution — standing where we should have stood.

With His final breath, He declared, “It is finished.” Justice satisfied, wrath exhausted, the door of grace thrown wide open. This is love beyond comprehension. This is what it took to redeem wretches like us.

 

His Burial and Resurrection — Triumph Over Death

He truly died, fully and completely. Laid in a borrowed tomb, the stone sealing the entrance, the world held its breath. Yet the grave could not contain Him. Sin could not claim Him. Death could not defeat Him.

On the third day, the silence was shattered. The stone rolled away. Angels declared the impossible: He is not here — He has risen!

The resurrection is proof of victory, the declaration that death has been defeated, and that every promise of God — redemption, restoration, eternal life — is secure for all who believe. The empty tomb proclaims: Salvation is complete. Hope is eternal.

 

His Ascension and Eternal Reign — Seated in Glory

After conquering sin and death, Jesus ascended — not as a defeated man, but as the conqueror of all things. He sits at the right hand of the Father, exalted above all powers, principalities, and names. From that throne, He intercedes for every believer, ensuring that the work of the cross continues to save in real time.

Yet His reign is not only intercession. Every kingdom, every nation, every force of darkness bows — willingly or not — to His authority. One day, He will return visibly, decisively, and gloriously as King of kings and Lord of lords, unopposed and triumphant.

We live in the tension of this reign: seated with Christ in heavenly places, yet awaiting the day His kingdom is fully manifested. His ascension assures us: nothing is beyond His reach, nothing beyond His control, and nothing can separate us from His love.

 

A Call to Reflection and Response

As we revere all Jesus has done — from eternity past to His ascension — one question remains: where do you stand in relation to Him?

He left heaven to obey perfectly, suffer in our place, die for our sins, and rise victorious. He now reigns in glory, yet the offer of salvation remains open — but not indefinitely.

This is the moment to humble yourself.
This is the moment to turn from rebellion and self-reliance, and bow before the One who loved you enough to die in your place.
This is the moment to acknowledge that apart from Him, you are lost; in Him, you are redeemed.

Do not wait for another day. Today is the day of salvation. Step into the freedom, forgiveness, and new life Christ purchased with His blood.

Let your heart respond in faith, gratitude, and surrender. Let your life bear witness to the cross, the resurrection, and the ascended King. Nothing — not death, sin, or circumstance — can separate you from His love.

And one day soon, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess, every eye will see Him as He returns in glory. Let us not face that day unprepared. Walk in light, obedience, and the power of the One who conquered all for you.

Reflect. Repent. Respond. Live for Him — today, tomorrow, and for all eternity.

 

Signing off

 

Tyrone