Tag: Matthew 28:6

Honest Words, Cleansing Grace

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Honest Words, Cleansing Grace
By Jimmie Aaron Kepler | Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times
Scripture: 1 John 1:9 (ESV) — “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

I was just a boy the first time I heard those words from 1 John.

I can still see the scene — metal folding chair, legs too short to touch the floor, Sunday School room smelling like coffee and old hymnals. My Bible was one of those red-letter editions with gold on the edges and my name in fake gold on the front. I didn’t know much theology back then, but I remember the old man teaching the class had a voice like worn leather and hands that trembled just a little when he turned the pages.

He read the verse slow — like it mattered.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just…”

I didn’t know then how many times I’d come to lean on that promise.
But I sure know now.

Let’s be honest…

Most of us don’t like confessing much.
Not to God. Not to others. Not even to ourselves.

We’d rather pretend we’re fine.
That it wasn’t our fault.
That we’ll do better next time, so no need to mention it now.

But confession — real confession — it ain’t about guilt trips.
It’s about getting honest.

It’s about standing in front of a mirror, spiritually speaking, and saying,
“Yep… that’s me. I did that. I thought that. I said that. I shouldn’t’ve.”

And right there — in that gut-level, bare-soul moment — grace shows up.

Confess. Forgive. Cleanse.

That’s the rhythm.

Not: clean up first, then you can pray.
Not: punish yourself for a while, then maybe you’ll earn back your spot.

Just: Confess.
Then He forgives.
And then, friend, He cleanses. Wipes it clean like it never was.

That’s not just mercy — that’s a miracle.

He’s Faithful. He’s Just.

Now those words used to confuse me.

I used to think justice meant punishment. Like a switch or a belt.
But justice, in God’s hands, looks like a Cross.

See, Jesus already paid what needed paying.
So now, it would be unjust for God not to forgive when we come to Him.

Let that sink in.

He forgives because it’s right.
Because He said He would.
Because He’s not in the business of holding grudges —
He’s in the business of setting people free.

Don’t Wait Till You Feel Worthy

I’ve heard folks say, “I’ll go back to church once I get my act together.”
Or, “I’ll start praying again once I feel a little less guilty.”

Friend, that’s like saying, “I’ll take a bath after I stop being dirty.”

God ain’t waiting for perfect people to show up.
He’s just waiting for honest ones.

If you’re carrying something heavy today…
a regret, a secret, a “wish I could take that back”…
you don’t have to carry it alone.

You can set it down.

You can hand it over to the One who already knows… and already paid.

Let This Be Your Reminder

No matter how far you’ve wandered,
no matter how long it’s been,
no matter how many times you’ve promised “never again” and didn’t mean it —

You are one honest prayer away
from forgiveness, from cleansing, from a brand-new start.

That’s grace.
That’s Gospel.
That’s Jesus.

And He’s faithful. Every time.

1 John 1:9 — One more time, just to let it settle:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9

From my heart to yours,
— Jimmie

Did you enjoy this article? You can find more of Jimmie Aaron Kepler’s books at Jimmie’s books available in paperback, ebook, audio, and large print.

#AncientWisdomForModernTimes #1John1v9 #ForgivenessStory #FaithfulAndJust

New Issue Alert: Refresh Bible Study Magazine – Spring 2025

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New Issue Alert: Refresh Bible Study Magazine – Spring 2025

Discover timeless wisdom from the Old Testament, reimagined for today’s challenges. The Spring 2025 issue offers insightful articles perfect for personal growth, small group discussions, or ministry.

Note: I have an article on page 21 of this issue.

📖 Read the full issue here: https://mcusercontent.com/d56d783b628cb25e0234a8678/files/5db1c780-710e-6b76-f2cb-eeec0dc349d0/Refresh_Bible_Study_Magazine_Spring_2025.pdf

#BibleStudy #FaithLeadership #ChristianLiving #RefreshMagazine

Approach Each Day with Fearless Faith

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Mornings are holy ground for me.

There’s something sacred about the quiet before the coffee kicks in, when the sky’s still gray and the birds are just thinking about singing. It’s in those in-between moments—the hush before the world wakes up—that I whisper the kind of prayer that doesn’t have a lot of fancy words. Just a simple: “Lord, help me walk today with fearless faith.”

Because truth is, some days try to knock the courage right out of you before your feet even hit the floor.

We all know what it’s like. The phone call that changes everything. The doctor’s report. The bank account that’s a little too low. The headlines that make you wonder if anything’s steady anymore. Fear has a way of sneaking in the back door, even when we think we’ve locked it tight.

That’s why I come back again and again to Deuteronomy 31:6:

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

That verse reads like a letter from a Father who knows what you’re up against.

And it’s not just for warriors or prophets or preachers. It’s for folks like you and me—the ones trying to love our people well, keep the faith, and keep going even when the path’s not clear. That line “he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee”—that’s what I hang my hat on. Because sometimes, all I’ve got is the next step.

But that’s the beauty of fearless faith. It doesn’t mean we never feel afraid. It just means we walk anyway—not because we’re strong, but because we’re not alone.

God goes with us. Into boardrooms. Into hospitals. Into classrooms. Into quiet living rooms and bustling kitchens and lonely waiting rooms.

Fearless faith is choosing trust over terror. It’s saying, “I don’t know how this ends, Lord, but I know who’s with me.”

So today, take that step. Make the phone call. Show up. Speak life. Be still if that’s what’s needed. Move forward if the Spirit nudges. But do it all knowing this: You’ve got company. You’re not walking into anything alone.

And friend, that changes everything.

Grace and Peace,
Jimmie

Did you enjoy this article? You can find more of Jimmie Aaron Kepler’s books at Jimmie’s books available in paperback, ebook, audio, and large print.

Bad Doesn’t Last Forever

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After You Have Suffered for a Little While

By Jimmie Aaron Kepler

Life’s got a way of wearing a body down sometimes, doesn’t it?
Some days it feels like you’re getting dragged through a barbed-wire fence — slow and painful — and just when you think you can’t take another step, something shifts.

This morning, sitting with my second cup of coffee, I found myself thumbing through 1 Peter. My worn old Bible practically falls open to the good parts by now, and sure enough, my eyes landed on this:

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
— 1 Peter 5:10 (ESV)

I must’ve read that verse a hundred times over the years, but today it hit a little different.
Maybe because lately, I’ve been feeling that “suffered a little while” part in my bones.

The Promise in the Pain

Peter doesn’t sugarcoat it, does he?
He doesn’t say if you suffer. He says after you suffer — meaning it’s a sure thing. Part of the journey. No shortcuts. No easy outs.

But here’s the part I don’t want us to miss: suffering isn’t the end of the story.
It’s just a page in the chapter, not the whole book.

God’s promises aren’t empty words stitched on a throw pillow. They’re blood-bought, tear-stained, Spirit-breathed assurances. And one of those promises is this:
After the suffering, comes the restoring.

God himself — not an angel, not a preacher, not some well-meaning friend — but God himself will step in and do what only He can do:

  • Restore what’s been broken.
  • Confirm what’s been wavering.
  • Strengthen what’s been weak.
  • Establish what’s been uncertain.

He doesn’t leave us bruised and limping.
He binds up the wounds and stands us back up on solid ground.

A Little While

I know sometimes a “little while” can feel like an eternity.

Waiting on healing. Waiting on answers. Waiting on a prodigal to come home.
There’s a heaviness in waiting that can wear you slick out.

But compared to forever, it’s just a blink.
God’s timing isn’t measured in microwave minutes — it’s measured in the slow, steady beat of eternity.

So hold on, friend.
Grip that plow a little tighter.
Trust the One who sees the end from the beginning.

What This Means for Today

If you’re walking through fire today, know this:

  • You are not forgotten.
  • You are not being punished.
  • You are not stuck forever.

You’re in the “little while” part.
And the restoring is already in motion — even if you can’t see it yet.

Maybe you just need a reminder today that God’s not finished.
He’s still in the business of putting broken folks back together better than before.

You’re not just going to survive.
By His grace, you’re going to stand tall again.

Final Thoughts

This old world can break your heart — but it can’t break the One who holds your heart.

Today, I’m leaning into the God of all grace.
Not the god of “second chances” (though He gives those),
Not the god of “do better and try harder,”
But the God who restores, confirms, strengthens, and establishes — when all my strength is gone.

Take heart, friends.
The same God who called you to glory is walking with you through the valley.
And after you’ve suffered a little while — just a little while —
He will make you whole again.

And that’s a promise you can count on.

Stay faithful, stay kind, and keep walking.

Grace and peace,
Jimmie

If this encouraged you today, feel free to share it with a friend who might be in their “little while” season.
You’re not alone — and neither are they.

More reflections like this at jimmiekepler.com and jimmiekepler.substack.com

Did you enjoy this article? You can find more of Jimmie Aaron Kepler’s books at Jimmie’s books available in paperback, ebook, audio, and large print.

You Are Handcrafted

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You Are Handcrafted

Ephesians 2:10 KJV — 📖 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

There’s a slow kind of beauty in knowing you weren’t mass-produced.

You weren’t slapped together on an assembly line.
You’re not a barcode.
You’re a masterpiece—handcrafted by the Creator of the heavens and the earth.

That’s what Ephesians 2:10 reminds me.
God made you on purpose, with a purpose.
And not just to be—but to do.
To walk in good works He already laid out, like stepping stones in a stream.

I’ll be honest…
That changes how I look at today.

Makes me want to take it slow—
notice the morning light dancing through the blinds,
sip my coffee just a little longer,
and ask, “Lord, what’s my good work today?”

Maybe it’s writing a kind word in a note that’s long overdue.
Maybe it’s forgiving somebody who hasn’t even asked.
Maybe it’s showing up and listening when someone’s hurting.

Whatever it is, I want to walk in it—
not rush past it.
Not miss it.
Because I was made for it.

Friend, you’re God’s workmanship.
You’re not forgotten. Not overlooked.
You’re designed by divine hands.

So take a deep breath.
Walk into today with purpose.
And remember—you’re not walking alone.

Let’s keep walking in grace,
—Jimmie

Did you enjoy this article? You can find more of Jimmie Aaron Kepler’s books at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jimmie-Kepler/author/B00IBTG83K.

The article was originally published on Ancient Wisdom for Modern Times.

He Is Risen — Just As He Said

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He Is Risen — Just As He Said

By Jimmie Aaron Kepler

Sunlight crept over the hillside like it had somewhere to be.

The air was still—one of those sacred still mornings when the world feels caught between what was and what’s about to be. Somewhere off in the distance, a rooster let out a crow like it didn’t want to be forgotten. But near the garden tomb, everything held its breath.

And then, just like that… the stone was rolled away.

Not cracked, not broken—rolled. Neat, clean, like someone had opened the door from the inside. The tomb stood wide open. But it wasn’t chaotic or messy. It was peaceful. Finished.

“He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
— Matthew 28:6 KJV

“As He said.”
Like we should’ve known.
Like He’d already told us, and we just didn’t quite believe it would play out this way.

But that’s the heart of Easter, ain’t it?

A promise made. A promise kept. A Savior who didn’t just talk the talk but walked the long, hard road right through the valley of death—and came out the other side carrying life in His hands.

That morning, the tomb wasn’t just empty. It was victorious.

And friend, here’s what’s been stirring in my soul:

That same resurrection power?
It’s not just for then. It’s for now.

It shows up in quiet hospital rooms when healing comes.
In living rooms where forgiveness finally breaks the silence.
In graveside moments when we grieve with hope instead of despair.
In your heart and mine when we’re ready to give up, and somehow… we don’t.

Because Christ the Lord is risen today.
And He still rolls stones away.

So let’s not treat Easter like a seasonal thing. This is a soul thing. A forever thing.

Today, as the sun rises and songs are sung, and families gather around full tables or quiet ones—remember this:

The tomb is still empty.
The promise still stands.
And Jesus? He’s alive. Just like He said.

Happy Easter, friends. He is risen indeed.

Did you enjoy this article? You can find more of Jimmie Aaron Kepler’s books at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jimmie-Kepler/author/B00IBTG83K.

 

He is Risen

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