Religion is based on people's efforts to reach God through their own effort, while a relationship with God is based on trusting in Jesus and living to please Him. It is important for Christians to identify the difference.

Why am I here? What is my purpose in life? These are questions related to our purpose. As Christians we actually have all kinds of Bible passages that help us answer these questions.

Jesus came to engage in battle against the enemy for us! He sets the example by fighting several battles and overcoming and winning these battles. As we see him overcoming these battles, we are empowered to do the same.

When Jesus shows up the glory falls. He displays his majesty and beauty of his nature that inspires awe and wonder. You come into or encounter his presence. 

People are still getting delivered today! When Jesus shows up, people are healed. When people get healed, other people want to know Jesus too!

When Jesus shows up, demons flee! When we have arrogance, idolatry, prideful, or jealous, these demons open doors to get inside to se up strongholds from which to work their destruction. Only Jesus can destroy the works of the devil and free us from our strongholds.

When Jesus shows up he binds the brokenhearted and delivers us from darkness. His love restores dignity to those that need it most. 

When Jesus shows up he is going to do a new thing. He came and offered living water for us to drink, baptizing  with the Holy Spirit and giving us a new covenant, new heart, and spirit which makes us into a new creation.

This is a season of revelation, where God's shines His spotlight on his Son and says "look at this"! This is what you get when my Son shows up! Everything will become new! What God promised would happen does. He asks us to forget the past because he has something better-Jesus!

Today we celebrate the official naming of Jesus. We tend to officially name our baby at the hospital but, back in Jesus' day, official naming  of a baby boy happened on the 8th day when the child was circumcised. Names are important and carry significance in our identity.  What is even more important is that we have been given the name of Jesus that identifies us as belonging to him, now and forever.