Tag Archive: saved


Even If You Are The Only One

Filed under: Creatively Speaking, Focus, Uncategorized — Leave a comment
April 16, 2023

by DJ. Martin (Singlefocus ®)

Light In The Darkness

‘LIGHT IN THE NIGHT’ by D.J. MARTIN

Have you heard your child, or you say as a child, “But Mom, everybody is doing it!” Teenagers, of every generation, have the desire to be accepted by their peers. So, to be popular and not shunned, they dress according to the trends and do things their peers do (good or bad). Unfortunately, for some, that kind of craving continues into adulthood, the good or the bad. Thankfully, one day my mom replied, “You are not everybody!” That clicked inside of me. It was a revelation that it was okay to be me. I did not have to be a clone of the best-dressed or most popular. Who I was, and my preferences were fine.

With all that aggressive attempt to fit in and be in step with the custom of your generation, have you ever thought about being the best at being all that is good in you so that others would desire to emulate you? That’s what some celebrated singers are trying to do (more bad than good). Have you ever considered yourself becoming a trendsetter (Romans 12:2)?

You know the murder story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:8). Cain went into exile after killing Abel, leaving                  Eve with no son. After one hundred and thirty years, God provided Eve with another son named Seth               (Genesis 4:25). Then, men began to worship God through seven generations. Noah was the product of the seventh generation. At some time, within the five hundred years of Noah’s life, unearthly beings began marrying the daughters of men, creating giants and wicked offspring (Genesis 6:2). The world grew increasingly sinful and caused God to regret that He created man (Genesis 6:6). However, there was one man who found grace in the eyes of God. One man righteous in the entire world. Noah had a wife, three sons, and three daughters-in-law. But the scripture says that only one person found grace, Noah. Noah did not crave popularity from people or beings. Noah did not regard the world’s customs, changing trends, religions, or traditions. He continued the pursuit of God’s good pleasure. Since Noah deliberately chose to be different, God and his family were probably his only company and friends. The wicked didn’t hang around him, and he didn’t socialize with them. Noah was okay with being Noah and not one who imitated the world. In the whole world, Noah was the only one that reverenced God, His will, and His ways. One man (Genesis 6:8)!

Amid the evil going on in the world, Noah continually walked upright before God. The unholy mating produced offspring who carried unrighteous DNA (Genesis 6:4-5). Therefore, God told Noah of His plan to flood the earth, destroy the world and its inhabitants, and start over with him and his family (Genesis 6:13). The mandate He gave Adam He would now give to Noah (Genesis 6:18; 9:1). He told Noah to build an ark that would house his family and the animals as shelter from the flood. So, Noah began to build the boat. Though it had never rained, Noah believed God. As five years went by, ten years went by, Noah kept obeying and honoring God even though it didn’t rain. Certainly, he was ignored and ridiculed but did not waver from his faith and trust in God. I imagine that he didn’t shop at the same shops for clothes. He probably didn’t play the world’s music but sang worship to God. He remained different and faithful in his walk with God. Noah, though it was now hundred years passed, did not compromise nor stop doing the work of the Lord. All indications are that he did not seek reasons to stop building the ark or dismiss saying what God said. I imagine the giants laughed because they believed they were high enough that no mist from the ground or heaven could drown them. Noah never stopped being the one righteous man. He didn’t say, “Oh, this is a nice custom of the world; let me try it.” Years passed, but he didn’t start looking, acting, or talking like the world. He persevered, not as a reflection of the world but of obedience and trust in the living God. Noah never wavered. He was a single light in the darkness of the world. Noah was okay with being Noah in an increasingly wicked world.

There are Christians in the sports world, but they, like Noah, don’t conform to the world. Unfortunately, some Christian athletes do mimic the world. Noah spent hundreds of years in a wicked world, but he did not emulate the world. There are different Christians in the entertainment world, but then there are those who compromise and walk and talk like the world. There are Christians in the world of business or politics, etc. And those Christians are different and deliberately do not blend in with the world culture, morally or ethically (Ephesians 5:1). But then there are Christians who are the spitting image of the world.

These are crucial days of decisions: whether you will pursue the favor of God or the favor of the world, whether you will walk with God or walk with the world. Noah chose the way and favor of the living God (Hebrews 11:7). The world did not, and the world did not survive. The world you pursue more than the pursuit of God will falter and not be able to save you nor desire to save you. God is looking for some Noah’s in every genre; families, government, media, sports, arts and entertainment, religion, business, education, etc., even if you are the only one. (1Peter 2:9)

We know how the story ended. We are a part of that ending. Men live because God found one man righteous in the entire world. Thankfully, there is now more than one man who has found grace in the eyes of God. It is tremendous because the only living God, from the beginning, decided to make the ultimate sacrifice. He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to bear our sins and take the punishment for our sins by shedding His blood on the cross. And whoever confesses and believes in Him and His sacrifice “shall be saved” (Romans 10:9). One man, perfect in all His ways, gave His life so that we might become saved.

Whatever world you are a part of, persevere in the pursuit of the favor of God, even if you are the only one.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2

That’s Today’s Single Focus

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New Year’s Resolve: Day 11!

Filed under: Focus, Have You Thought About?, Searching For Purpose? — 4 Comments
January 11, 2013

by DJ Martin (SingleFocus Ministry®)

Happy New Year! I believe that this is God’s resolve for us. I will let Him speak in His own Words…

And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of LIFE; and man became a living soul.  Genesis 2:7

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was LIFE; and the life was the light of men. John 1:1-4

You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13

I will praise You; for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made: marvelous [are] Your works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well. Psalm 139:14

Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and He that formed thee from the womb, “I [am] the LORD that makes all [things]; that stretches forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by Myself.” Isaiah 44:24

Thou shalt not kill Deuteronomy 5:17

“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.” Isaiah 49:15

Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says the LORD. “Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?” says your God. Isaiah 66:9

Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, “Before I formed you in the belly I knew you.” Jeremiah 1:4-5

The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me LIFE. Job 33:4

“For the LIFE of the flesh [is] in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it [is] the blood [that] makes an atonement for the soul.”  Leviticus 17:11

“That you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your LIFE and the length of your days;  Deuteronomy 30:20

For it [is] not a vain thing for you; because it [is] your LIFE  Deuteronomy 32:47

Moreover, ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which [is] guilty of death…”  Numbers 35:31

Who is the man who desires LIFE, and loves many days, that he may see good? Psalm 34:12

Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Psalm 34:13

Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:14

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of LIFE, to turn one away from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:27

He who follows righteousness and mercy finds LIFE, righteousness, and honor.  Proverbs 21:21

True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long LIFE. Pro 22:4

Thus says the LORD: “Behold, I set before you the way of LIFE and the way of death.  Jeremiah 21:8

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, [that] I have set before you LIFE and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose LIFE, that both thou and thy seed may live:  Deuteronomy 30:19

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your LIFE, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Matthew 6:25

The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His LIFE a ransom for many.  Matthew 20:28

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting LIFE. John 3:16

“He who believes in the Son has everlasting LIFE; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting LIFE, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto LIFE. John 5:24

 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of LIFE. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. John 6:35

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting LIFE. John 6:47

I am that bread of LIFE. John 6:48

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have LIFE, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10

 I give unto them eternal LIFE; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of My hand. John 10:28

Jesus said unto her, “I am the resurrection, and the LIFE: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” John 11:25

Jesus said unto him, “I am the way, the truth, and the LIFE: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. John 14:6

And this is LIFE eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent. John 17:3

He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s LIFE does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Luke 12:15

For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Romans 6:23

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to LIFE and peace. Romans 8:6

You know not what [shall be] on tomorrow. For what [is] your LIFE? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. James 4:14

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one (Adam), much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in LIFE through the One, Jesus Christ.)  Romans 5:17

For the law of the Spirit of LIFE in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  Romans 8:2

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the LIFE which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved LIFEme and gave Himself for me.  Galatians 2:20

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal LIFE      1 Timothy 6:12

He that hath the Son hath LIFE; [and] he that hath not the Son of God hath not LIFE. 1 John 5:12

The fear of the LORD [is] a fountain of LIFE, to depart from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:27

There is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death. Proverbs 14:12

O Lord, You have pleaded the case for my soul; You have redeemed my LIFE.  Lamentations 3:58

[Seek him] that makes the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and makes the day dark with night: that called for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD [is] His name: Amos 5:8

“But the cowardly, unbelieving,* abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”  Revelation 21:8

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires let him take the water of LIFE freely.  Revelation 22:17

Jesus came to a well filled with water. He who turned water into wine, set there without a scoop or a bucket to get the water out of the well to drink. There came, at the same hour, one woman with a bucket to fetch the water to drink, but who could not make the water quench her thirst. She had all that she needed to get water, but she had no favor with other women of the town. She had more in her hands than could be seen in the hand of Christ, yet she had no good reputation and no one who truly loved her. She was dressed well and her countenance was not hard on your eyes, however, she spent most of her time at home alone and depressed. She thought a lot about worshipping God, but never went to the temple. This woman knew the protocol: where to get the water; who to speak to; and whom to socialize with; but her only relationships were secret and immoral. She heard about the coming Messiah, but did not recognize Him though she stood face to face with Him.  She was at the well because she always fetched water about this time, but she had no one to share just how thirsty: spiritually and emotionally, she really was. She was an ordinary woman who knew where to go when she was thirsty, but when talking with Jesus she revealed that she really was not all that wise or secure. 

Unfortunately, every Sabbath, we sit beside a fellow parishioner who has all the appearance that they have LIFE and they know what to do when empty.  They dress the part, they talk the talk, they have the tools, but if the truth be told, they have not yet had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.  I don’t know if we expect Him to come in an astronaut suit or only appear surrounded by a host of angels. I don’t know what we expect. Maybe we expect Him to speak only to prophets and pastors, therefore we just live like ordinary people.  We hide in the shadows of the world and live like the world Monday thru Saturday, and change our façade on Sunday. 

If you’re thirsty (I mean really thirsty): spiritually, emotionally, mentally, etc.:  the world says; “get a good job, climb the corporate ladder, marry the best looking guy or girl, have 2.5 kids, and go to church every Sabbath and network.” However, until you have a personal relationship with Christ, you will always be thirsty; just like the woman at the well. If you are thirsty, you need to drink.  If you are in the desert; if the plumbing is broke, the water is off, or you can’t pay the bill or buy the water, you will remain thirsty.

Depressed, though you have all that the world says that you need; relationships are always falling apart; and with all that you have, things, wealthy acquaintances, all the power and prestige that anyone could dream of; all the alcohol and/or drugs you can handle; are you still empty? You thirst. The body cannot live long without water. Actually the longer you go without water, the more you might as well start writing your will.

Beloved, there is a fountain, which never runs dry. There is a fountain filled with living water, which will supply whatever you need to quench your thirst eternally; a fountain that has what you need to Live and not die.  ‘There is a way that seems right to a man, but the way of which is death.’ You choose.

When the woman realized that she was talking to the Christ, who had living water, which would eternally quench her thirst; she jumped for joy, came out of hiding, and went running to spread the news. Upon giving her testimony an entire town came alive and was saved; all because, she chose LIFE.

You know the story about how Adam sinned and caused death to be our destiny (“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God  (Romans 3:23”).  But God so loved us; that He sacrificed His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to die on a cross so that we might have eternal LIFE. Are you faking it or have you truly accepted Christ as your LORD and Savior? Have you chosen Life or have you chosen death?

Let us resolve, this New Year to repent, turn from our wicked ways, which is choosing death. When given every opportunity to choose between Life and death, I pray that we will choose LIFE.

May God give us LIFE and ‘LIFE more abundant,’ because we choose LIFE

 

 “Choose LIFE…”  Deuteronomy 30:19

That’s Todays’ Single Focus…

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