To God be The glory, Amen

Faith acts as the essential, active force that unlocks divine provision and spiritual blessings, acting as the key to God’s storehouse. While prayer is considered the key to heaven, faith is the mechanism that turns that key to access resources, transforming belief into reality. 

Key aspects of this concept include:

• Active Trust: Faith is not passive but an active,, confident, reliance on God to provide, often described as a “master key” for overcoming obstacles.
• Connecting with Provision: It is the condition for receiving God’s promises, allowing believers to access divine,, bottomless,, and unexpected resources.
• The Role of Action: True faith is often combined with necessary,, proactive, work or effort, rather than mere waiting.
• Scriptural Foundation: Biblical principles suggest that without faith, it is impossible to please God, making it necessary to unlock divine opportunities. 

In short, while requests may be made, it is the firm belief (faith) that actually brings the provision to pass. 

In meditating on where I am from and where my body returns to!

Genesis 2:7 teaches that God Created Adam from the dust of the earth: “The Lord God formed a Man from the dust of the Earth and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” After Adam sinned, God informed him that he will toil the earth his entire life. It will be frustrating and difficult. Ultimately, Adam’s lifelong work would end in death, and he would return back to the dust from which he was created. Death was the final consequence of Adam’s choice to sin. In Genesis 3:19, God tells Adam, “For dust you are, and to dust you shall return” (NKJV).

God formed each element of creation with His Word. He said it, and it was. But God specially formed Adam from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. Humanity is made from a combination of the earth and the life-giving breath of God Himself. The glory of God is found in His breath in us, while being made from the dust of the Earth is a reminder of our lowliness and dependence on Him. God’s declaration to Adam that “to dust you shall return” is final and gave Adam a continual awareness that one day he would die physically.

The curse of death that came to Adam was imparted to all humans who have lived since. Because of Adam, sin entered the world (Romans 5:12), all were condemned because of sin (verse 18), and death came to all humanity (verse 15; 1 Corinthians 15:22). All people are sinners (Romans 5:19) and will one day die and face judgment before God (Hebrews 9:27). The reality that “to dust you shall return” is for everyone. For those who trust in Christ, though, the curse of death will be overcome (Ephesians 2:1–10). Rather than fear death, believers have the assurance of eternity that fuels the way we live.

Peter urges believers to remember that we are pilgrims and sojourners, and as such we are “to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul” (1 Peter 2:11). The certainty that “to dust you shall return” should humble us to seek and follow God. Our time on earth is short compared to eternity. Paul calls our bodies “earthly tents” in 2 Corinthians 5:1. This world is not our permanent home, and our bodies are destined to return to dust. On earth we groan and are burdened. Yet resurrection and eternity with God in a heavenly dwelling are promised to those who belong to Christ (2 Corinthians 5:4). We cannot be so entangled in the affairs of this world that we miss out on what matters eternally.

James also reminds believers, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14). We are called to be Christ’s ambassadors, sharing the gospel with others and urging them to be reconciled with God (2 Corinthians 5:20). In light of the brevity of life, we should take account of how we live. Instead of living for ourselves, we should live for God and do good (James 4:16–17). “To dust you shall return” should impact how we live and what our lives are about.

As pioneer missionary C. T. Studd penned, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, / Only what’s done for Christ will last.” God’s declaration to Adam that “to dust you shall return” still rings true for every person today. We all come from dust, and we will all return back to it. What happens in between matters. May we live our lives for His glory, in obedience to Him and telling others of the hope we have in Christ. May many turn to Him before it is too late.

In a time when so much is crumbling, is burning, I don’t want to romanticize the ashes that come with destruction and devastation. As we approach Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, I do want to keep asking what the Holy One can do with dust, and to keep looking for how I can be part of that. So many blessings to you, beloved ones, as the new season arrives.

BLESSING THE DUST

All those days
you felt like dust,
like dirt,
as if all you had to do
was turn your face
toward the wind
and be scattered
to the four corners

or swept away
by the smallest breath
as insubstantial—

did you not know
what the Holy One
can do with dust?

This is the day
we freely say
we are scorched.

This is the hour
we are marked
by what has made it
through the burning.

This is the moment
we ask for the blessing
that lives within
the ancient ashes,
that makes its home
inside the soil of
this sacred earth.

So let us be marked
not for sorrow.
And let us be marked
not for shame.
Let us be marked
not for false humility
or for thinking
we are less
than we are

but for claiming
what God can do
within the dust,
within the dirt,
within the stuff
of which the world
is made
and the stars that blaze
in our bones
and the galaxies that spiral
inside the smudge
we bear.

—Jan Richardson

from Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons
janrichardson.com/books

Image: “Ash Wednesday Cross”
© Jan Richardson
janrichardsonimages.com

Based on Hebrews 12:1-2, focusing on Jesus means fixing our gaze upon the Author and Finisher of our faith to endure life’s race, finding strength, and overcoming distractions. As the source and perfecter of faith, He endured the cross for the joy set before Him, empowering believers to run with perseverance. 

Key Aspects of Focusing on Jesus:

• Fixing Our Eyes: The Greek term suggests looking away from all other distractions to concentrate entirely on Jesus.
• Author and Finisher: Jesus is both the beginning (initiator) and the completion (perfecter) of our faith.
• Overcoming Endurance: By focusing on Him, believers find the strength to endure, just as He endured the cross.
• The Example: He disregarded the shame of the cross to achieve a greater, joyful purpose, offering a model for enduring personal struggles. 

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, rather than our circumstances, allows us to stay above the “storms” of life, preventing us from sinking in despair.

Hebrews 12:1-2 calls believers to run the “race” of faith with endurance by shedding hindrances and sin, inspired by the “cloud of witnesses” (faithful figures of old). It commands fixing one’s eyes on Jesus, the “pioneer and perfecter of faith,” who endured the cross for the joy set before him. 

Key Themes and Interpretations:

• The Cloud of Witnesses: Refers to Old Testament figures (likely from Hebrews 11) whose lives testify to the power of faith.
• Running the Race: A metaphor for the Christian life requiring perseverance and focus, stripping away anything that hinders spiritual progress.
• Fixing Eyes on Jesus: Emphasizes Jesus as the primary example and initiator of faith.
• Endurance: Jesus is the ultimate example, having endured the cross and shame for the joy of his exaltation and the salvation of humanity, now seated at God’s right hand. 

It’s very easy to become discouraged by the things we see in this world. The world’s system has turned away from God completely and people rejoice at this. Christians are seen as problematic; they are persecuted on the daily. But you, dear Christian, should not be discouraged because God is always with you. There will come a time where your name will be cleared and you will be free of the oppression you have faced on earth.

Psalm 34:19-22 is a passage from the Bible that describes how the Lord rescues the righteous from trouble. The passage also states that the wicked will be destroyed, and those who hate the righteous will be punished.

What does Psalm 34:19-22 say?

• “The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time”
• “For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken!”
• “Calamity will surely destroy the wicked”
• “And those who hate the righteous will be punished”
• “But the Lord will redeem those who serve him”
• “No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned”

Psalm 34:22 teaches that God actively redeems, protects, and delivers His servants who trust in Him, ensuring they are never ultimately condemned or “desolate”. It highlights that while the righteous face many troubles, they are legally and spiritually justified, secured from the ruin that awaits the wicked. 

Key Teachings of Psalm 34:22

• The Lord’s Redemption: God acts as a “kinsman-redeemer” for his servants, setting them free and rescuing them from the consequences of sin and brokenness.
• Safety in Trust: The promise of protection is conditional upon taking refuge in God, promising ultimate safety, not necessarily exemption from suffering.
• No Condemnation: Those who trust in God will not be held guilty or “desolate” (condemned) in the final judgment, often interpreted as a promise of justification.
• Contrast with the Wicked: While the righteous are rescued, the wicked face the natural consequence of their actions, which is destruction. 

This verse serves as a comforting conclusion to a psalm focused on God’s care for the brokenhearted. 

The divine Christmas (Christ-ALWAYS) gift!

For Christians, the sacrifice of Jesus is considered the ultimate, most meaningful gift, often described as an “unspeakable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15) that guarantees eternal life. It is viewed as the supreme expression of love, where Jesus, being sinless, took on the penalty of death in place of humanity. 

Key aspects of this gift include:

• A “Once and For All” Sacrifice: Unlike Old Testament animal sacrifices, Jesus’ death was a single, sufficient act that paid for all sins, past, present, and future.
• The Guarantee of Eternity: The sacrifice bridges the separation between God and humanity, offering a free gift of eternal life that cannot be earned by works, but only received by faith.
• The Ultimate Love: It is defined as the highest form of love—laying down one’s life for others, even while they were still sinners.
• A Completed Task: With the words “It is finished,” Jesus declared that the work of salvation was fully accomplished. 

This gift is seen as unreturnable and something that keeps on giving, ensuring that believers are sealed in Him forever. 

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (NKJV/NIV), concludes Paul’s discussion on generous giving by pointing to Jesus Christ as the ultimate, divine gift. It highlights that God’s gift of salvation and His Son is too profound for words, serving as the supreme motivation for Christian gratitude and generosity. 

Key Context and Meaning

• Context: The verse ends a section (2 Cor 8-9) where Paul encourages the Corinthian church to be generous in their financial support for needy believers in Jerusalem.
• The “Indescribable Gift”: While some interpretations suggest this refers to the grace of giving or the gospel itself, it most commonly refers to Jesus Christ, His sacrifice, and the resulting salvation.
• “Indescribable” (Unspeakable/Inexpressible): The Greek word anekdiēgētos suggests a gift that is beyond human capacity to fully describe, calculate, or adequately thank God for.
• Response to Giving: Paul uses this verse to pivot from encouraging human giving to praising God’s divine giving, implying that all earthly generosity is a response to God’s ultimate grace. 

The divine Christmas (Christ-ALWAYS) gift is the person of Jesus Christ, whose birth, life, atonement, and resurrection offer the eternal, daily gifts of salvation, grace, and unconditional love. This, the ultimate gift from God, is not merely for the Christmas season but is available to humanity every day of the year. 

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• The Gift of Salvation: Jesus took on human form to bear the sins of mankind, providing an escape from sin and shame.
• A Daily Gift: Christ’s presence and grace are offered continuously, not just during the holiday season, acting as a constant source of comfort, guidance, and transformation.
• The Ultimate Sacrifice: The true meaning of Christmas is God giving Himself to humanity, a “one-sided” gift of love that we cannot repay, only receive.
• Eternal Life: Through the atonement of Jesus, the gift of immortality is extended to all. 

This “inexpressible gift” invites individuals to experience light and hope daily, transforming the season into a reflection of God’s grace.