Category: Reverence

Abundant…

Abundant…

How abundant are the good things that You have stored up for those who fear You, that You bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in You. (Psalm 31:19)

Abundant is a pleasant word…. It conveys thoughts of plentiful; great quantity; more than adequate; over-sufficient; lavish; well supplied. Indeed, God provides us with inexhaustible mercy … exceeding grace … infinite peace … lavish love … great hope … overwhelming joy! Yes, He abundantly supplies for every need according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus! (Philippians 4:19) And we have this assurance from our Lord Jesus who declared: “I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Abundant is an encouraging word…. It resonates the gracious fullness with which our God delights to bless us in His Son. His plan … His purpose … His pleasure for us was predestined before the creation of the world:

Ephesians 1:3-8 (NIV)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him (Jesus) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love, He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will— to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him (Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us.

Abundant is a responsive word…. There is no end to what we should do in response to the incomparable riches of His grace expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:7) We shall thank God continually.  We shall pray without ceasing.  Yes, through Jesus, let us offer to God an endless sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that openly profess His Name. (Hebrews 13:15) Our God and Father is worthy of the highest and unending worship! Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him! (Psalm 147:1) Now unto the King Eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17)

Have a Blessed Day!

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure. ~ 1 John 3:1-3

Holiness – Reverence for God

2 Corinthians 7:1 (NIV)

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

In our Verse of the Day, Paul gives us a great and timely message regarding our pursuit of holiness out of reverence for God. To me, the point being made is that our motivation for obedience is to be based in reverence and not merely obligation or duty. Let’s look at our passage in the larger context. Since 2 Corinthians 7 begins with the word “therefore,” we need to understand what it is there for. Thus, we will need to go back to 2 Corinthians 6 to get a better idea:

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (NIV)

14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial (Satan)? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (Citing Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27)

17 Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” (Citing Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:34, 41)

18 And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (Citing 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8)

Corinthians 7:1 (NIV)

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

As we look at the larger context, we see Paul admonish us regarding the nature of our walk with God. His concern is about our pursuit of holiness as temples of the living God. And from this perspective, we need to look at how to keep our lives clean and righteous. To that end, Paul stresses that believers should NOT seek a “yoked” relationship with unbelievers because there is an inherent spiritual incompatibility that ensues from the relationship. He is saying we should not “bind” ourselves in such arrangements where spiritual conflict is inevitable. He asks what does righteousness and wickedness have in common? What fellowship can light have with darkness? What agreement is there between the worship of God and the worship of idols? The answer, of course, is there can be no harmony between two such opposite or opposing forces. There is a natural separation in this realm. And so, Paul takes us to the higher reality that we (the Church) are the temple of the living God. We are the Body of Christ through His indwelling/abiding Spirit within each of us….

With this view in mind, Paul sets out to address the scriptural promises that God has made with His people; believers whom He has called “out of the world” and who represent His temple. God says, “I will live WITH them and walk among them. I will be their God and they will be my people.” God calls us out of the world and says to be separate … sanctified (holy) and set apart for service to God. And in another place, God says, “I will be a Father to you. You will be my sons and daughters.” How wonderful are His thoughts toward us! How miraculous is it that the Creator of the universe expresses such a passionate desire to have intimate relationship with His people … those who have consecrated themselves to Him?

Although we live IN the world, we are not OF the world. We are the Church … the CALLED-OUT ones.  Jesus said, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (Cf. John 15:19) I think this is the very thing Paul is concerned about in his appeal to the Corinthian Church.  We cannot pursue holiness if we continue to pursue the things of this world. Righteousness and wickedness cannot coexist. Light and darkness are separate. What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? We cannot serve both God and the idols of our affections. We cannot have an intimate relationship with the Father if we do not consecrate ourselves to Him through Christ Jesus. But when we separate ourselves from the things of the world and commit ourselves unto the Father, we prepare ourselves for Him to enter into relationship with us. For it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (Cf. Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; 1 Peter 1:16) Thus, Paul urges us to purify ourselves from everything that defiles our bodies and our spirits.

The Word of God is clear that the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ desire to have intimate relationship with us. The question is: “Do we want to have an intimate relationship with God?” If so, then we need to do those things with separate us from the world. The Apostle John taught: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17) These are the three primary avenues of temptation for us, and so we need to consider our spiritual strategies for separation from the world. Our greatest tool (spiritual weapon) is the Word of God! We need to read it, understand it, and put it into practice! I believe the more we engage the Word of God in our lives, the more we will find, feel, and express reverence for God.

My friends, I think the application for our Verse of the Day is self-evident. Our mission is to perfect (or complete) holiness in our lives out of respect … out of reverence … out of love for God. We have been chosen “out of the world” by Jesus Christ to serve in His Kingdom … which is not of this world either. (Cf. John 18:36) Think about the great honor and privilege believers have received to enter into His sanctifying work through the Spirit in order to be separated from the world and enter the Kingdom of Light! And the promise is that God will receive us if we are IN Christ Jesus. God Himself will love us and be a father unto us, and He will dwell among us. (Cf. John 14:23) He will be our God and we will be His chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that we may declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light! (Cf. 1 Peter 2:9) This is why we pursue holiness and righteousness in our lives. Consecration is the expression of our sincere reverence for Father God – the One who sent His Beloved Son to rescue us from darkness … to redeem us from sin … to release us from captivity … to reconcile us to Himself and to grant us everlasting life. Let these promises be our meditation with all thanksgiving for the great mercy shown to us … that we would be CHOSEN to be separated and to have intimate relationship with our Creator. Yes! Let our hearts be stirred up with these thoughts today … with fresh anointing … with fresh fire!

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Honor God With Your Body

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.

Our Verse of the Day presents an important concept for us to understand regarding our walk of faith in Christ Jesus. The call to holiness in our lives is the spiritual expectation of a “new creature”. In John 3, Jesus spoke about the requirement to be born-again … born of the Spirit … in order to see the Kingdom of God. In our verse, Paul develops this prerequisite further for us and expounds on its implications. Although the immediate context is focused on sexual immorality, the broader application is admonishment against all unrighteous behavior in our lives. We have received redemption through the blood of Christ, and it was confirmed by His resurrection from the dead. When we understand and embraced what God has done for us in Christ, it follows that we would seek to thank and honor God with our bodies and souls … with our very beings. Let’s break down our verse for additional perspective:

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?

We can only receive the Spirit of God when we receive Jesus and put our faith in Him as Lord and Savior of our lives. There is no other mechanism for His presence to indwell you … to abide inside your being … except that you abide in Him through faith. Consider that Jesus affirmed we must be born of water and the Spirit or we cannot enter the Kingdom of God. (Cf. John 3:5) Further, Jesus promised us the gift of the Holy Spirit when He assured the disciples: “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. (Cf. John 14:15-18)

You are not your own; you were bought at a price.

We were purchased by God. The payment was the atoning sacrifice of His One and Only Son – Jesus. He offered up His life in order to redeem us from condemnation and eternal separation from God. There was not anything we did to deserve it or earn it. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Cf. Romans 3:23) But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Cf. Romans 5:8) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. (Cf. Ephesians 2:8) When we realize that we are not our own … that God created us and gave us His commands for life to the fullest … and then forgave the rebellion of our sinful hearts so that we would not be condemned forever; I think then we will attain the power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ! The price of redemption is beyond our ability to conceive! So, I join with Paul in his prayer:

Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV)

16 I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Therefore, honor God with your bodies.

 This is the bottom line of our faith in action here upon the earth. We are to honor God with our bodies – the ones He fashioned and gave us as gifts and breathed life into – so that we might live in step with His Holy Spirit in our inner beings. Paul urged, “In view of God’s mercy, we should offer our bodies as living sacrifices; holy and pleasing to God – for this is our true and proper worship.” (Cf. Romans 12:1) And, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like unbelievers, who do not know God.” (Cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5)

I think Paul does a great job explaining this concept of the indwelling Spirit and His purposeful work within us, so I have reprinted a couple of passages for our consideration here:

Romans 8:1-14 (NIV)

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set us free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you. 12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Galatians 5:16-25 (NIV)

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

I think the above passages explain why we are called to live by the Spirit and to put to death the works of the sinful human nature. Though we know that there is a great and ongoing conflict between our flesh and our spirit, Paul brings an interesting perspective on this fight when he asserts: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Cf. Ephesians 6:12) Indeed, we need the spiritual armor of God to prepare and protect ourselves in this battle … and having done all … to stand (persevere) through faith. The role of the Holy Spirit is to guide us into the Truth. What He receives from the Father and the Son is imparted to us. (Cf. John 16:13) Why? So that we will be instructed and directed into a life of holiness … to be conformed to the image of Jesus. Spiritual holiness is manifested through our bodies … how we live! And as John informed us: “This is how we know we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.” (Cf. 1 John 2:6)

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”  ~ 1 Peter 1:14-16

Rejoicing in Obedience…

Psalm 119:14 (NIV)

I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.

I have pondered over our Verse of the Day; and I have asked myself if my heart feels the same way as the Psalmist expressed. Do I REJOICE in following the statues and commands of God?  If someone were to just give you a billion dollars, would the excitement of receiving those “great riches” compare to how you should feel inside for obeying God? What a provocative metaphor the Psalmist has used to exhort our view of and response to scripture … the Word of God.

Psalm 119:9-16 (NIV)
9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.
10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
12 Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees.
13 With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

As we read this particular section of Psalm 119, notice the joy, the exuberance, and the delight of the inspired writer as he considers his inner desire to follow the laws, statutes, precepts, decrees, and commands found in the Word of God.  He holds nothing back!  But do we?  Do we whole heartedly approach obedience with this level of zeal? Or do we begrudge having to exert our own wills to resist disobedience? I think believers certainly endeavor to obey the will of God, but have we ever thought that our attitude should be one of rejoicing like someone who won the Mega Millions Lottery? The question that comes to mind is: “Do we rejoice when we obey God and His Word?  Does obedience bring joy to our lives?

I am reminded of this passage from Paul found in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 which reads: “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” Could it be, perhaps, that the way out is to “rejoice” in obedience? Think about it for a moment. The last time you were tempted, did you delight in His statutes and decrees? Do you meditate on the Word of God and hide it within your heart so that you might not sin against Him? Maybe we need to consider the joy that obedience will bring more than we entertain any thoughts of disobedience … which will only lead to guilt and shame. I think that if we would attain an attitude of delight in following after God, we would be less likely to inhibit fellowship with Him because of sin.

This meditation has challenged me to examine the attitude of my heart. I think the issue here is not so much what I might accomplish by following His statutes – although there are blessings for sure; rather, the focus should really be about my motivation to follow His commands. Do I approach obedience with a cheerful and glad heart? Is obedience something that I wholly and heartily pursue as I would the pursuit of “great riches”? To me the Psalmist is saying, “Obedience is not an afterthought; rather, following the commands of God should be a forethought … a planned strategy that one should take delight in … knowing God will be pleased with every act of obedience. Obedience is not something to begrudge; rather, we should view His perfect law … His royal law … as a source of joy and delight! If we want to experience more joy in our lives, obedience to the Word of God is a great path for us to attain it.

Again, a simple verse with tremendous impact. It has changed my perspective on the inner motivation of my heart and how I should view the will of God. I am reminded of Psalm 1:2 which affirms: “Blessed is the one whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on His law both day and night. And King David wrote: “Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in His commands. (Cf. Psalm 112:1) Indeed, it is one thing to obey God out of a sense of moral duty, obligation, or respect. It is another to rejoice and delight in following His commands. It’s all about the motivation of our hearts. And I remember that Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep my commands.” (Cf. John 14:15) To me, that is the greatest reason to “rejoice” in following His statutes because I always want Jesus to know that I love Him….

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of His righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. ~ Isaiah 61:10

The Lord is Our King

Isaiah 33:22 (NIV)

For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our King; it is He who will save us.

As I pondered our Verse of the Day, I decided to read the entire chapter of Isaiah 33 … wanting to gain a sense of the context for our verse. I found the chapter filled with that inner hope each of us have within us … that longing for what we feel is wrong in life to be corrected … that desire for our lives to be made right again. And the Prophet Isaiah leads us to find this hope in the Lord. I prayed Verse 2 out loud as I read it: “Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.” Is that not a perfect prayer point to start each day?

Isaiah takes us through the ebbs of challenge and hardship along with the crests of victory and triumph that we will find in life; but he reminds us that in all these things we are totally dependent upon God … the One who created us and exercises His sovereign will over us: “For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is He who will save us.” And while the insight and wisdom Isaiah shares can and should be applied individually; I believe the greater context is one of a community … a people … a nation in view. There is a collective and interdependent need to place our complete trust in the Lord to protect and deliver us:

Isaiah 33:5-6 (NIV)

The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high; He will fill Zion with His justice and righteousness. He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.

So, as we tackle the days ahead, I want us to remember these two verses above. He is exalted! He will be our sure foundation! In Jesus is all the wisdom, knowledge, and salvation for your life. And, most of all, the fear (reverence) of the Lord is the key to finding this treasure for life. Let these thoughts be your guide for today and every day….

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped. ~ Revelation 5:12-13

Your Word Gives Light…

Psalm 119:130 (NIV)

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

For our Verse of the Day, we continue in Psalm 119; and again, I will put our verse in its surrounding section for context:

פ Pe

129 Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them.
130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
131 I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands.
132 Turn to me and have mercy on me, as you always do to those who love your name.
133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.
134 Redeem me from human oppression, that I may obey your precepts.
135 Make your face shine on your servant and teach me your decrees.
136 Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed.

צ Tsadhe

137 You are righteous, Lord, and your laws are right.
138 The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy.
139 My zeal wears me out, for my enemies ignore your words.
140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them.
141 Though I am lowly and despised, I do not forget your precepts.
142 Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true.
143 Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight.
144 Your statutes are always righteous; give me understanding that I may live.

As I meditate on these words and the light they bring, I cannot help but imagine the inner feelings of those who penned these Spirit inspired thoughts. I can just sense the intensity of zeal for the Word of God already available to them … for all of its instruction and wisdom in righteousness and order and goodness. Psalm 119 conveys a deep realization that God wants His people to know the truth and that He desires those who love Him to live according to it. And so there is a great hunger and thirst for the Word of God within us. It beckons us to learn and to apply and to be transformed!

Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.

Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Father God, we thank you for Your Word … passed down over the millennia! We thank you for instruction in wisdom and the knowledge of righteousness! We praise you for the light you have brought into the world so that we might know you, the only true God. Indeed, we hold fast to your promise of eternal life for those who put their faith in your Son … our Savior … Jesus the Christ. I pray that Your Word will change us … transform us … conform us into His image. I pray that you would direct our footsteps according to your word and let no sin rule over us. May those who love you delight in your commands to do them. Let your grace abound, O Lord, so that we might obey your word. For I ask these things in your Mighty Name. Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land— not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it.” ~ Amos 8:11-12

Learning Your Righteous Laws…

Psalm 119:7 (NIV)

I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.

Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm in the book; and it extols the virtue and veracity of the Word of God. From its lengthy discourse, we are afforded insight into the power of Scripture to accomplish wisdom, righteousness, and obedience in our lives. Our Verse of the Day indicates that our praise and worship of God matures as we learn His commandments and judgments. I really love The Living Bible (TLB) translation of this verse which renders it: “After you have corrected me, I will thank you by living as I should!” The New Living Translation (NLT) phrases it: “As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should.” The point here is that the Word of God impacts how we should think … how we should conduct ourselves … and how we should intimately relate to God and worship Him. We can look at just the first few verses of this Psalm to get a glimpse of its overall teaching:

Psalm 119:1-16 (NIV)

1 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. 2 Blessed are those who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their heart— 3 they do no wrong, but follow His ways. 4 You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. 5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! 6 Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. 7 I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. 8 I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me. 9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your Word. 10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. 12 Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees. 13 With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. 14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. 15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. 16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

Further on, we will read about our response to the Word of God. When we exercise our “free will” and ability to choose (a willful decision), the question is what will you and I choose when confronted with the Word of God. The inspiration and deliberation within this Psalm should lead us to this same decision:

Psalm 119:30-37 (NIV)

30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws. 31 I hold fast to your statutes, Lord; do not let me be put to shame. 32 I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding. 33 Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it for its reward. 34 Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. 35 Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. 36 Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. 37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.

Paul shared similar exhortation regarding the Word of God with Timothy when he wrote: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of Truth” (Cf. 2 Timothy 2:15) And, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction (training and discipline) in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (Cf. 2 Timothy 3:16-17) The inspired writer of Hebrews makes this point as well: “For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Cf. Hebrews 4:12)

My friends, there is a continued message for us: “Stay rooted and firmly planted in the Word of God!” For the Word of God is the power of God in your life and mine. This cannot be underestimated or overstressed. The struggle for the human will to choose righteousness and obedience is fought on the battlefield of our minds … where our thoughts are formed; and we attach words to those thoughts in order to define them. What we say and do is the outcome of our thought life. We need to remember that the Word of God reveals the mind of God … thoughts that reflect His heart and are expressed through words to us by His Spirit:

1 Corinthians 2:10-16 (NIV)

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. (Citing Isaiah 64:4) 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct Him?” (Citing Isaiah 40:13) But we have the mind of Christ.

As we have studied, Jesus said: “If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will and it will be done for you.” (Cf. John 15:7) And framed in a similar construct, the Apostle John affirms: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (Cf. 1 John 5:14) When we have the mind of Christ … understanding His thoughts through His words as communicated by the Holy Spirit, we will engage in prayer that will be heard and conduct that will be rewarded. This is why we need to spend time in study and mediation of the scriptures; and Psalm 119 provides a great outline of how the Word of God sustains every aspect of our lives. Jesus Himself affirmed, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Cf. Deuteronomy 8:3) And I believe Psalm 119 amplifies this truth….

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Remain In My Love…

John 15:10 (NIV)

If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love.

Our Verse of the Day reflects a simple message of obedience, but it is wrapped in a greater context of HOW we can keep His commands:   

John 15:1-17 (NIV)

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes (cleans) so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

I want to outline some of the salient points that Jesus made in this passage using the vine and branches metaphor to guide our understanding of His Word:

1. God the Father is the gardener! He is the One who planted the True Vine! Jesus is the True Vine!

Isaiah 11:1-5; 10 (NIV)

1A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord— 3 and He will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what He sees with His eyes, or decide by what He hears with His ears; 4 but with righteousness He will judge the needy, with justice He will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth; with the breath of his lips He will slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness will be His belt and faithfulness the sash around His waist. 10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to Him, and His resting place will be glorious.

Revelation 5:5-6 (NIV)

5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, that is, the sevenfold Spirit of God sent out into all the earth.

Revelation 22:16 (NIV)

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

2. We (those who believe in Christ Jesus) are the Branches of the Vine!

This means that believers emerge from the vine. We are an integral part of the Vine. We have no existence or life except that the Vine has produced us and we are an inherent part of its growth. It is from the branches that flowering buds will emerge, fruit will be set (borne), and a harvest will come forth … from ALL the branches that have formed from the Vine. I believe this is the image of the metaphor Jesus has used to illustrate not only our relationship to Him and the Father, but also to manifest the depth of His life-giving love for us. Always remember that God the Father “tends” to the Vine. He observes the branches and their well-being. The Father notes those branches which are producing fruit and He prunes in order for them to produce even more fruit. Branches in Jesus that do not produce fruit, He cuts off. And what is the key to fruit production? Abiding in the Vine! ALL the resources we will ever need and utilize to produce fruit will come from the roots and through the Vine. Jesus said, “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (Verse 5) So each individual branch must understand that nothing less than an intimate relationship with Jesus will be able to produce the harvest that the Father is looking to receive from His Vine….

3. If we keep (obey) His commands, we will REMAIN in Jesus … we will abide in Him and remain in His love.

Jesus states that He is the example of obedience for us. As we visualize the obedience of Jesus to the Father, we see that His intimate relationship with the Father stems from HOW Jesus lived in obedience. His relationship was that of Son. What did Jesus say? “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.” (Verse 9) As Jesus bore the image of the Father, so we are conformed to the image of Him. The inspired writer of the Book of Hebrews gives us some additional insight into how we too can become empowered for obedience:

Hebrews 5:7-10 (NIV)

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission. Son though He was, Jesus learned obedience from what He suffered and, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

First, we observe the prayer life of Jesus. He offered up prayers and supplications with fervent cries and tears to God! Note the intensity described here…. Second, the prayers of Jesus were heard by the Father because of His “reverent submission.” I truly believe from this verse that “reverent submission” is the most important element of prayer! As Isaiah noted: “Our iniquities have separated us from God, and our sins have hidden His face from us, so that He will not hear.” (Cf. Isaiah 59:2) But Jesus was filled with the Spirit of the knowledge and the fear of the Lord. He delighted in the fear of the Lord. And I believe it follows that we are to have the same mindset if we desire to obey His commands and for His love to remain in us.

As Jesus learned obedience through the things He suffered, I surmise that we must enter the same “winepress” in the pursuit of obedience. Sometimes God refines us in the furnace of affliction. (Cf. Isaiah 48:10) So, as I ponder the idea of suffering in order to learn obedience, I am reminded by the thought that suffering will be manifested in the natural realm … in our bodies as we die to sin. (Cf. Romans 6:2) It is inevitable! Sin itself will not die; rather, we have to die to it! And the process of sanctification will often feel like suffering as addictions are withdrawn … as strongholds of bitterness and unforgiveness are uprooted … as the iniquity of the tongue is tamed … and as a myriad of temptations are resisted and escaped. Yet, “In our struggle against sin, none of us have resisted to the point of shedding our blood.” (Cf. Hebrews 12:4) But that is the course we must pursue if we are going to be truly serious about holiness in our lives. “Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.” (Cf. 1 Peter 4:1)

4. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

If we are to love one another as Jesus loved us, then we will also need to prepare for the suffering that accompanied His love for us! As Jesus shared His heart with the disciples, He told them that He was willing to lay it down for them. Jesus called them friends! And this is important to see: “You are my friends IF you do what I command”. This is my command: Love one another! “And this is love: that we walk in obedience to His commands. As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love.” (Cf. 2 John 1:6) Since by the example of Christ Jesus we know that the love of God is sacrificial, our love for one another will manifest as sacrificial as well. And we need to understand that sacrificial love will bring some degree of suffering into our lives … suffering that we will be challenged to endure unless we abide in the Vine through reverent submission to Him. So, let us consider that through suffering we learn obedience; the obedience that comes from faith (Cf. Romans 16:26) … the obedience that leads to righteousness (Cf. Romans 6:16) … and the obedience that accompanies our confession of the Gospel of Christ. (Cf. 2 Corinthians 9:13)

Love requires an emptying of ourselves. It challenges us to be servants to others. As Paul admonished, “I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Cf. Romans 12:1) Paul goes on to instruct us to be devoted to one another in love; honor one another above yourselves; share with the Lord’s people who are in need; live in harmony with one another; live at peace with everyone; and do not take revenge. (Cf. Romans 12:9-21) And Paul wrote similar instructions to other churches: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Cf. Philippians 2:3-4) This is love in action! This is HOW we fulfill His command! Indeed, this is HOW we remain in His love. Amen.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Jesus Christ IS Lord…

Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV)

Our Verse of the Day is a declaration of the supremacy of Jesus Christ and the exaltation due Him. To surrender and submit ourselves to the authority and sovereignty of Jesus Christ is the will of God the Father who is glorified through His Son. So, I would like us to take a closer look at Jesus, the exalted Son of God, to whom all authority in heaven and on earth has been given by the Father. (Cf. Matthew 28:18) We can start with the Gospel of John and his introduction of Jesus to the world:

John 1:1-5; 14 (NIV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

With this scripture in mind, I want us to look at our verse in some context:

Philippians 2:5-11 (NIV)

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature (in the form of) God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature (the form) of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In this context, there is a focus on humility and submission to one another; and the purpose is to exhort us to be of the same mindset as Christ Jesus. And then Paul introduces the surpassed example of Christ showing how genuine humility should be manifested among ourselves. For God the Creator to appear in the form of a Son of Man, made in human likeness, is an incomprehensible act of divine humility in itself. As John articulated it – “the Word of God became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” It is because of this extreme humility that Christ Jesus willingly took upon Himself (even so far as to experience human death upon a cross) that God the Father exalted Him to the highest place and position of authority. Perhaps, this is the part of the reason why Jesus taught: “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Cf. Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14) The Apostle James admonished, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (Cf. James 4:10) And, Peter likewise taught, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that HE may lift you up in due time.” (Cf. 1 Peter 5:6) If God humbled Himself to reach us, then we should humble ourselves in our relationships with one another.

The other lesson that I see is the exaltation of Christ Jesus. Because of His death upon the cross and because His own blood was shed as an atoning sacrifice for the remission of our sins, Jesus is most assuredly worthy of our adoration, worship, and praise! His name is above every other name! As Peter declared, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Cf. Acts 4:12) And so, God the Father has ordained that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, for His own glory. And we have seen this same call for worship declared through the Prophet Isaiah:

Isaiah 45:22-24 (ESV)

“Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance (shall confess to God).’” Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength; to Him shall come and be ashamed all who were incensed against Him.

Indeed, every soul ever created by God WILL bow before Him! Every tongue WILL confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! Every person who has rejected God and the Son, who have rebelled and raged against Him, will come before Him and be ashamed. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (Cf. 2 Corinthians 5:10) There is no one who will be exempt! For He has said, “I am the Lord, that is my name; and my glory I will not give to another nor my praise to idols.” (Cf. Isaiah 42:8) See Also Isaiah 48:6-11.

My friends, it is clear to me that ALL people … of every tribe, of every language, of every nation … will one day bow before the throne of God and worship Him. The issue is whether we will do so now while we are alive through our own free will … or whether a person will be “required” to do so when they stand before the judgment seat of Christ. It WILL happen because Father God has declared it, and He is sovereign over all things. Therefore, it is urgent for ALL people to confess Jesus Christ as Lord now … while it is still called today. “For just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.” (Cf. Hebrews 9:26-28)

It is my prayer that each soul will come to the knowledge of God and make their confession of faith. And I pray the Church, the Body of Christ, will work as His ambassadors to lead others to the truth … so that repentance and reconciliation will come to those who respond to the Gospel. Jesus declared that He was sent to seek and to save the lost. (Cf. Luke 19:10) And we, as His Body, as His presence in the world, must continue His mission. Therefore, I challenge myself, and I challenge you to consider this as well: to set sight on just one person you know is not saved and to get focused … get intentional … and be persistent. Enter into devoted prayer and intercession for that one person and be patient. Yes, be present and available to them. Engage them when opportunities are presented. Let your conversation be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer them. (Cf. Colossians 4:6) Let your light shine before them so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Cf. Matthew 5:16) This is how we humble ourselves with the same mindset of Christ; this how we serve in hope to prepare them for an authentic encounter with Christ Jesus. We prepare the soil and plant seed; we fertilize and water; and God will provide the increase for harvesting. (Cf. 1 Corinthians 3:7)

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. ~ 2 Timothy 2:1-6

When I Called … You Answered

Psalm 138:2-3 (NIV)

I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness, for you have so exalted your solemn decree that it surpasses your fame. When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me.

Our Verse of the Day is a timely affirmation of the Lord’s goodness and faithfulness to those who love Him. As I think about our time of corporate intercessory prayer on Wednesday nights, we strive to be focused on being bold in our petitions and requests; to believe we receive what we ask; and to praise God in advance for the answers He ordains … the outcomes according to His will. I think this Psalm captures what our hearts can experience when we take time to enter the presence of the Lord as the local body. I will reprint Psalm and its reflective words for our reference:

Psalm 138 (NIV)

I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing your praise. I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness, for you have so exalted your solemn decree that it surpasses your fame. When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me. May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord, when they hear what you have decreed. May they sing of the ways of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord is great. Though the Lord is exalted, He looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, He sees them from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me. The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever— do not abandon the works of your hands.

More than ever, it is important for God’s people to “pray without ceasing” and to seek greater intimacy with the Lord. Though we have always been admonished to pray continually (Cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), there seems to be a heightened sense of urgency in these last days. It has been revealed to His Church for us to emphasize the power of intercessory prayer. As we contemplate the times in which we live, we need to embrace that prayer changes things … mostly because it inwardly changes our hearts to align with the heart of the Father. It softens and molds our hearts to see the brokenness, oppression, injustice, and darkness that has over taken the lives of so many people around us. It instills a greater awareness of sickness and disease people are enduring. God deeply wants to bring healing and hope; forgiveness and salvation; liberty and life to the world … and most often His work is done through people. This simply means the people God uses to address the evils in our world must have willing hearts to do the work needed. And a great deal of that work begins with prayer.  Believers need to press into the presence of God until we, like David, can proclaim: “When I cried out, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul!” (NKJV) Indeed, it is prayer that prepares us to be bold; to be courageous; to be servants to those God is calling to Himself! I recall the words of Jesus who shared this perspective with us:

Matthew 9:35-38 (NIV)

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then Jesus said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.”

Luke 10:1-3 (NIV)

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place where He was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

When we pray, we are “asking” the Lord. And here Jesus tells us to “ask” the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest field. Why? There is a vast multitude of people to be brought into the Kingdom of God, but there are few who are willing to do the work to make it happen. When Jesus said ask, it was not about asking the Lord to send someone else; rather, it was about asking Him to become one of His workers. “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Cf. Isaiah 6:8) Indeed, that is my personal prayer … to be bold and courageous and to say: “Here I am, Lord. Send me!”

What is your prayer? When we pray and ask the Lord Jesus to change hearts, to change lives, and to change the world, just what are we expecting Him to do? Exert His divine, supernatural authority and power? Indeed, He will! But I believe He will do so through His people … through His Church. Are we not His Body in the world? Are we not the ones supposed to do the work in His harvest field?  Are we not the ones to whom He has given His authority and power?

James 2:14-17 (NIV)

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

1 John 3:16-18 (NIV)

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

My friends, I encourage and challenge us to think more deeply about the role of prayer in our lives and in our walk of faith. It is one thing to ask God to do something about the suffering in this world; it is quite another to ask Him for boldness and courage to be a worker in His harvest field. Indeed, as His Body, we have been appointed to go into the harvest field. As Paul admonished, we have been asked to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – as this is our true and proper (spiritual) worship. (Cf. Romans 12:1) We have been anointed with spiritual gifts to serve. (Cf. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11) We have been empowered with boldness! “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (Cf. 2 Timothy 1:7) Yes, it is prayer that will get each of us to that place of alignment with the heart of God in order to accomplish His work….

A Final Thought:

How often have we heard people ask, “Why does God allow suffering in this world?” Perhaps, you have asked this or a similar question. I know that I have. But the answer I have received was quite unsettling. God asked me, “Why do you allow suffering?” I had to pause and deeply consider the question. Do I allow suffering? How have I done so? Well, in a word: “Inaction!” Yes, inaction is the opposite of what James and John admonished us to do. Indeed, there are many actions we can take to address the problems of this world … if we will but take time and look for the opportunities. So, let’s get bold and busy! There is a great harvest for us to gather in these last days….

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. ~ Galatians 6:7-10