1 Peter, 2026, Micah

Bethlehem

I think I have to tell you something.

It’s getting to be the time of year when even unbelievers think of the Star and Bethlehem.

Bethlehem.
Not Bethlehem, North Carolina, or any of the other 15 cities named Bethlehem here in the USA, but Bethlehem on the West Bank.

The place where Yeshua was born; you may prefer to call Him JESUS, but I have taken a real liking to addressing Him as Yeshua or Yeshua HaMashiach.
It’s a whole other train to board (which we won’t today), but I will say this:
When we say Yeshua HaMashiach, there is no doubt about who we are speaking of. There seems to be a jesus moving about in our world today who will accept your worship without repentance or transformation. I say stay clear of him.

Bethlehem.
The place Scripture and the world at large (mostly) ascribe as the place of Yeshua’s birth.
It’s important we know this.

I read the following this morning:

Some modern New Testament scholars believe parts of the Gospel accounts to be later accretions and hold that Jesus was born in Nazareth, his childhood home, but normative Christian belief has sanctified Bethlehem as Jesus’ birthplace for almost two millennia. source:

Let me be clear.
Yeshua, Jesus the CHRIST, was born in BETHLEHEM.
Why is this important?
Why is it a must that we let no one sway us from Scripture with man’s assertions?

Check out Micah 5.
If Yeshua had failed to fulfill any one of the prophecies, He would not/could not be Who He said He was/is (which, by the way, would have at the very least made Him a liar), and we (you and I) would all be lost without a Redeemer, without a hope for redemption, all damned to hell, if He failed to fulfill even one of them. HE DIDN’T! And because of Him, we are, or we have the opportunity to say yes to, His gift of deliverance when offered to us by HOLY SPIRIT. Here is a website I found addressing the Messianic prophecies. LINK When you click the link, please don’t be distracted or deterred by the ads on the page. Thank you.

That’s how important it is for us to KNOW our Bibles. If we know our Bibles, we cannot be swayed from TRUTH.

15 But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ. 1 Peter 3 BSB

That’s it for today.

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2026, Just Chatty Today, KWT Paraphrasing, Psalm

Let’s Talk.

I often listen to devotional podcasts and watch teachings on YouTube, and sometimes I think, “No, I would that you did not say it that way.”

Would you like an example? Good.

Scripture teaches us that GOD is ALL-KNOWING. Psalm 139.

So, saying that GOD wanted to see if Abraham would be faithful, if he would go up the mountain with Isaac, makes no sense to me.

Since GOD is all-knowing, how could He not know whether Abraham, or any of us, would be faithful in any given circumstance?

He already knows, has always known, BUT we need to see; we need to know how faithful we are.
We need to know if GOD is important enough to us that we will obey Him, especially when what He has instructed us to do is the opposite of what we want to do.

HE KNOWS, and we need to know too.
He knows us better than we know ourselves, and He is willing to teach us about Himself and us.

Sometimes we need to know we love Him even more than we thought we did!

I can imagine that Abraham went down from that mountain with Issac with more joy and more faith in the faithfulness, the goodness, the grace, and the love of GOD than he thought he could ever have!

When ABBA tests us, it’s not so He can see, but so WE can see!
He is truly AWESOME!!
And to think AWESOME GOD takes up time with ME! AMAZING!

Perhaps you think He is amazing in that way too!

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2026, Guests

Hand Holding

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EC6Z1PmW7/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Got your attention?

Here’s how the Facebook link reads: I’ve done a copy and paste for you here.

Found this on X and I was led to share it, it is a very good read.
Satan is not opposed to good morals.

He’s opposed to Jesus Christ.

Read that again because most Christians miss this completely.

Satan doesn’t care if you’re a “good person.” He doesn’t care if you volunteer at the food bank, recycle your trash, and help old ladies cross the street. He doesn’t care if you’re kind, generous, and well-liked by everyone in your community.

He cares that you don’t bow the knee to Jesus.

Here’s the deception that’s damning millions:

Satan has convinced people that morality equals spirituality. That being a “good person” is the same as being a Christian. That if you just live right, treat people well, and avoid the “big sins,” you’re acceptable to God.

This is a lie straight from the pit of hell.

The Pharisees had impeccable morals. They followed the law meticulously. They were respected, disciplined, and religiously devoted.

Jesus called them children of the devil.
Why? Not because their morals were bad. Because their morals replaced Christ.
Satan’s greatest trick isn’t making bad people worse. It’s making good people think they don’t need a Savior.

Think about it:

The atheist who feeds the homeless thinks he’s good enough without God.

The Buddhist who meditates and practices compassion thinks she’s enlightened without Christ.

The Muslim who prays five times daily thinks he’s righteous without Jesus.

The moral Christian who goes to church, pays his tithe, and avoids scandal thinks he’s saved without surrender.

All of them are headed to the same place: eternal separation from God.

Because morality doesn’t save. Jesus saves.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Satan loves moral people who reject Jesus. They’re his best advertisement for the lie that you can earn your way to heaven.

They’re living proof that you can:

•Be kind without Christ
•Be generous without God
•Be disciplined without the Holy Spirit
•Be respected without redemption

And still be lost.

The most dangerous people in hell won’t be the murderers and rapists. They’ll be the moral, upstanding citizens who thought their goodness was good enough.

Their morals became their idol. Their goodness became their god.

And Satan smiled because he’d accomplished his goal: Keep them from Jesus.

Here’s what most Christians don’t understand:

Satan doesn’t need to make you do bad things. He just needs to keep you from doing the ONE thing that matters: surrendering to Christ.

If he can get you to:

•Trust your morals instead of Christ’s sacrifice

•Rely on your goodness instead of God’s grace

•Believe in your works instead of Jesus’ finished work

He’s won.

You can live a moral life and still die lost. You can be a good person and still face judgment. You can avoid all the “big sins” and still end up separated from God forever.
Because the only sin that damns you eternally is rejecting Jesus Christ.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36

Not the murderer who repents and believes in Christ is damned.

Not the thief who turns to Jesus on the cross is damned.

Not the prostitute who washes Jesus’ feet with her tears is damned.

The moral, religious person who rejects Christ is damned.

That’s why Satan loves morality without Jesus. It sends people to hell with a smile on their face, convinced they were good enough.

Stop trusting your morals. Start trusting Jesus.

Your goodness won’t save you. Your works won’t redeem you. Your morality won’t justify you.

Only the blood of Jesus Christ can wash away your sin and make you acceptable to a holy God.

Everything else is just Satan’s distraction from the one thing that actually matters.

Copied

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I’ve nothing to add other than this:

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We are glad you are here; stay a while, look around, and be encouraged. There are over 3,500 posts here at The White Stone Blog. Please know my hope is ALWAYS to help and NEVER harm. I have voiced many opinions and thoughts here since 2007 and by now I MAY NOT EVEN AGREE with all of them and some of my grammar and punctuation likely needs editing. But this is changeless: JESUS is our ONLY Savior and Hope. Do you KNOW Him?