A New Thing

Isaiah 43:18-19

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Are you living in your past? Are you hanging on to old comforts … old habits … old regrets? Many of us linger in what our lives used to be instead of stepping forward into the mysterious newness of life we have received in Jesus Christ. Often, we are tempted to drift back and ruminate on our past sins and failures … doubting that we have been cleansed and received full atonement through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Today I want to remind those of us who struggle with this area of unbelief:

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18)

Indeed, Christ has done a new thing in your life and mine. We have been born again! “According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3) Through faith in Christ we have graciously received the indwelling Spirit of God; and we are now to live our lives by walking according to the Spirit:

Romans 8:1-8 (ESV)

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.²For the law of the Spirit of life has set us free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. ³For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as a sin offering, He condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ⁵For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ⁶For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. ⁸Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Dear reader, it is my prayer that you will believe what the Spirit has written for our encouragement today. Yes, and let us consider the mindset of Paul in this regard:

Philippians 3:12-14 (ESV)

¹²Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own. ¹³Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

A Final Thought:

And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also, He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21:5)

Have a Blessed Day!

Hour…

Hour…

“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” ~ John 12:27-28

I find it interesting that Jesus felt troubled in His soul when the approaching hour of His ultimate test would come. In His human form, Jesus too was subjected to weakness and temptation in every way, just as we are – yet He did not sin. (Cf. Hebrews 4:15) Jesus did not coward from His purpose or His mission. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. (Luke 19:10) And His death would be a sacrifice of atonement. Indeed, Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2)

How often do we become troubled in our souls as we commit ourselves to the calling and purpose of God upon our own lives? Do we meet with resistance from others? Jesus did! He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him. (John 1:11) Yes, He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. (Isaiah 53:3a) And yet, for the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

Oh, there is a powerful lesson here if we would but grasp it and fix our eyes upon Jesus. You, too, will be tested as you serve God. Yes, in faith you responded to His call upon your life. In faith, you vowed to be obedient and to accomplish the mission you were assigned to fulfill. And from experience, your most difficult challenges have come from your own … your own family … your own friends … your own church. Do not be dismayed when your greatest distractions and discouragement come from those you thought most unlikely to do so. Remember, even Jesus was betrayed by one of His chosen disciples.

I am grateful that the Apostle Paul shared some additional insight for us to consider before we throw in the towel or surrender to our temporal emotions during the heat of the battle. “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. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:12-13) Indeed, your challenges come from the Adversary who is at always at work to prevent you from glorying God through your good deeds in your hour.

My dear friends, when Jesus was troubled in His soul, He first had to surmount all the human frustrations and emotions that besieged Him. And then He questioned, “Should I let pain or suffering deter me from what the Father sent me to do?” “Should I pray for divine rescue from the difficult circumstances that God had already allowed to test my faith?” What did Jesus conclude? “No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Yes, like Jesus, our resolve should be to remain steadfast in the good works that God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

John 15:7-12 (NIV)

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 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. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

Have a Blessed Day!

Crown…

Crown…

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize! Everyone who competes in athletic competitions will exercise strict self-discipline. They do it to obtain a crown that will perish, but we do it to receive a crown that will last forever. ~ 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

A crown is the reward for victory! It is the mark of honor! A gold or ornate crown is often worn by royalty as a symbol of their sovereignty and authority. A crown represents the highest position … the zenith of accomplishment! And yet, all the crowns that might be achieved in this world are temporal. Like the laurel wreaths awarded to the winners of the Olympic Games of old, they will wither and perish. Their accolades will soon fade and be remembered no more….

I love the metaphor that Paul used here to compare the marathon of faith with the athletic competitions of the ancient world. He observes the determination of the competitors … their strict training and self-discipline to master their physical conditions. All of the energy and preparation is focused on one goal: winning the race. His analogy is worth pondering because the same principles of winning an earthly reward can be applied to the self-denial required to pick up our crosses daily and to follow Jesus for the long run. (Cf. Luke 9:23)

Our God is a most gracious God; and He adorns us with various crowns as we walk with Him during our journey of faith. Human beings were made a little lower than the angels; and yet, God crowns us with glory and honor … to exercise dominion over the earth. (Cf. Psalm 8:5-6) The humble He rewards with a crown of victory. (Psalm 149:4) Those who attain wisdom, He presents with the crown of knowledge. (Proverbs 4:9) Those who practice righteousness, He crowns with blessings. (Proverbs 10:6) Indeed, the wealth of the wise is their crown; gray hair is a crown of splendor; and grandchildren are a crown to the aged. (Proverbs 14:24; 16:31; 17:6)

My friend, what crown are you pursuing in this life? The crown of wealth or fame? The crown of power or preeminence? Do you chase after the things of this world, but neglect the crown of redemption God has provided for you? Have you so soon forgotten that the One who has bestowed so many gracious crowns upon you wore a crown of thorns upon His own head? Does the blood that oozed from each pierce of His brow not penetrate your very soul as well?

It is my prayer that we will exercise self-discipline and persevere in faith to receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:12) Indeed, all those who long for His appearing will be awarded the crown of righteousness on that Day. (2 Timothy 4:8) And when He appears, believers will receive the crown of glory! (1 Peter 5:4) Therefore, let us be faithful to the Lord Jesus, even to the point of death, for we will receive eternal life as our victor’s crown. (Revelation 2:10)

Have a Blessed Day!

Thanksgiving…

Thanksgiving…

With praise and thanksgiving, they sang to the Lord: “He is good; His love toward Israel endures forever.” And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. (Ezra 3:11)

After returning to Jerusalem from their captivity in Babylon, the foundation of a new temple was laid and there was a time of praise and thanksgiving among the people! I am reminded of how our faith is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit. (Ephesians 2:20-22)

I marvel at how centuries before Christ, Isaiah prophesied: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; and the one who trusts in Him will never be put to shame. (Isaiah 28:16) He foresaw that Jesus, the stone the builders rejected, would become the cornerstone of a temple made without hands! Peter affirmed this as well: “As you come to Him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to Him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4-5)

Paul used this metaphor in his letter to the believers in Corinth:

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NIV)

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

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.

Indeed, Jesus is the cornerstone and the head of His Church! He is the founder and the finisher of our faith! (Hebrews 12:2) Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and exalt Him with music and song! (Psalm 95:2) For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the musicians and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. (Nehemiah 12:46) Let us follow their footsteps! Let us praise His Name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving! (Psalm 69:30)

My friends, I pray you will have a time of remembrance and thanksgiving for all the ways God has blessed us! Yes, Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever! (Psalm 106:1) And, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Have a Blessed Day!

Doubt…

Doubt…

Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31)

Doubt is not a new phenomenon. It is the principal tactic of Satan to dissuade our trust in God … our faith in who He is and His nature. Doubt was planted in the Garden of Eden when Eve questioned the motivations of God. “Why would God withhold knowledge?” she wondered. And so, reverence gave way to doubt, and the consequence has impacted all creation. (Cf. Genesis 3) Yes, the history of man has been riddled with doubt toward God … the sin of unbelief. But God has been faithful through His plan of salvation to destroy the work of doubt and to redeem the glory of His grace.

Doubt…. It exposes our lack of confidence. It arouses our inclination not to believe or accept the truth even when it is right in front of us. It produces hesitation and distrust within our inner beings. We see its effect when Peter attempted to walk on the water. Jesus bid him to come, but Peter began to sink when he doubted. (Cf. Matthew 14:22-33) Yes, doubt crept in when Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and began to look at the circumstances surrounding him.

Doubt suppresses our faith – our confidence in what we hope; the evidence of what we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1) And yet, even when the disciples saw Jesus after His resurrection, some of them still doubted. (Cf. Luke 24:36-43) We can recall what Jesus said to Thomas: “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas responded to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:27-29)

My friends, God is still telling us today: “Stop doubting and believe!” He assures us: “Do not be afraid.” Yes, the Lord promises each of us: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Cf. Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5) So, I pray we will believe Him at His Word without any doubt – because doubt is the enemy of faith! And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6) Indeed, Jesus encourages us to pray with complete and unwavering faith:

Mark 11:22-24 (NKJV)

So, Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Have a Blessed Day!

Unknown…

Unknown…

The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29:29)

From the beginning, humans have pondered and wondered about the unknown. It was the desire to know what God had not made known that tempted Adam and Eve to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. (Cf. Genesis 2:15-17) Indeed, what a different world we would live in now had obedience prevailed in their hearts…. Truly there are things unknown that are best left in their mystery. Indeed, it is purposed that we live by faith! Yes, faith is the confidence in what we hope for and the evidence of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

That God will reveal to us the things we need to know has been attested in His Word. God has made known His mercy through the Noahic Covenant with the sign of a rainbow. God has made known His faithfulness through the Abrahamic Covenant with an unchanging promise. God has made known His will through the Mosaic Covenant with tablets of stone. God has made known His mediation through the Davidic Covenant. And God has made known His everlasting love through the New Covenant – with the blood of Christ Jesus.

Isaiah prophesied: Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ (Isaiah 46:9-10)

Paul affirmed: “We declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” – the things God has prepared for those who love Him— these are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:7-10)

My friends, we have been given sufficient knowledge to know the Father and His will for us – through His Word, our Lord Jesus, and Holy Spirit. Therefore, I pray we will walk in what we do know and has been revealed. Let us always be mindful to walk in the obedience of faith that we have received through grace because it is unknown when our Lord Jesus will return. We only know that as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. And we know as the prophetic signs begin to take place, we should stand up and lift our heads, because our redemption is drawing near. (Cf. Luke 21:5-36)

Have a Blessed Day!

Grace…

Grace…

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. Out of His fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:14, 16-17)

The Apostle John had great insight and wisdom into the deep significance of the Son of God … His origin in eternity past; His intimate relationship with the Father; and the ordained purpose for which He was sent into the world. The grace of the Law given through Moses was sufficient; and yet, a greater grace was sent from heaven to be received in faith by those who believe. As Paul articulated: “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. (Cf. Romans 5:1-2)

The grace of God is rooted in His Being. It is just as inherent as His great compassion, His unfailing love, and His enduring mercy. His utmost purpose from the beginning has been for us, His treasured possession, to experience the delight of His goodness and love; to abide in His glorious presence through intimate fellowship; and to walk in the beauty of holiness just as He is holy. It is apparent that grace has been integral to the plan of God to see the desires of His heart come to pass. “For if righteousness could be gained through the Law, then Christ Jesus died for nothing.” (Cf. Galatians 2:21)

Our Lord Jesus is the expressed grace of God! As Paul explained: “Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:4-9)

My friends, “God has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done, but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior. (2 Timothy 1:9-10) Therefore, I urge us all to embrace the fullness of His grace! For His grace is more than sufficient for us! His power is made perfect in our weakness!” (Cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Have a Blessed Day!

To Live Is Christ…

Philippians 1:21 (NIV)

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

We have read or heard our Verse of the Day before, but what does it mean for us? How is it applicable to our understanding of the Christian life?

Paul wrote this Letter to the Philippians while he was in a Roman prison. I would say that has some impact on the context of his statement. So, I want us to look at the surrounding passage and see if it will give us a more definitive understanding:

Philippians 1:12-26 (NIV)

¹²Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the Gospel. ¹³As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. ¹⁴And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. ¹⁵It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. ¹⁶The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the Gospel. ¹⁷The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.¹⁸But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, ¹⁹for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance (or vindication). ²⁰I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. ²¹For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ²²If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! ²³I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; ²⁴but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. ²⁵Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

Paul’s thoughts and words definitely make more sense to me when put into this context. When we live for Christ Jesus, our life should be consumed with His presence in our inner being. We are called to have an intimate relationship with Jesus which creates an abiding fellowship with Him – which should impact our fellowship with one another as well. (Cf. John 17:20-24) Intimacy with Christ is the wellspring of fullness that His grace and redemption has granted us to receive in Him. Thus, His indwelling Spirit should make us emboldened to walk in sanctification and give us courageous to share the Gospel with those around us. Indeed, as members of His Body – the Church – we have been equipped and empowered to do both! (Cf. 2 Timothy 1:7) So, yes, life is about abiding in Christ and accomplishing His work. “Your Kingdom come … Your Will be done … on earth as it is in heaven.” This is our prayer and the hope for which we should live….

In looking at Paul’s example, we should not fear when we encounter desire situations and circumstances in our lives. It might be not the darkness of a prison cell, but if the current tribulations in our world are any indication, we will experience challenges to our faith and our resolve to persevere. The attack of our adversaries (spiritual forces of darkness) on our thoughts, our minds, our emotions, and even our bodies, should not cause us fear; rather, these trials should be viewed as a sign that the glory of Christ and His Spirit rests upon us. As the Apostle Peter asserted, you should “rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” (Cf. 1 Peter 4:13-14) Similarly, Paul contemplated: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. (Cf. Romans 8:18-19)

Final Thoughts on Paul’s Statement … “to die is gain”.

Paul said it was more useful for he to be alive and to administer the Gospel as long as he had breath and strength. The same could be said for all of us who have a personal, intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus. But when (not if) we put off this covering of flesh and blood, there is a greater experience awaiting us in heaven. We are called to … we are drawn to believe His promise of eternal life. In John 14:2-4, Jesus said, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” So, perhaps, this is why Paul was unafraid to die. He trusted the promises we have received in Christ. As it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” (Citing Isaiah 64:4) — the things God has prepared for those who love Him….” (Cf. 1 Corinthians 2:9)

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11

You Have Preserved My Life…

Psalm 119:93 (NIV)

I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.

There is a battle that we fight most the time … the struggle with doubt and the sin of unbelief. We are vulnerable and question if there is absolute truth … truth that we can fully trust. And it is possible to succumb to the influence and demonic lies of the enemy at times … especially when we observe a world in great turmoil and where the suffering of people abounds. We might ask, “Where are you, God?” “Where are you when people need your help?” And if we neglect to consult the Word of God for answers to these types of questions, we are susceptible to reaching wrong conclusions and allowing our thoughts to wander in the direction of anxiety and fear….

Our Verse of the Day affirms that the Word of God IS the source of all truth … truth that is able to sustain and preserve our lives when we feel vulnerable or lost. We are encouraged to read it often … to memorize it and to implant it in our minds and hearts. For when we know and embrace its certainty, we will not be swayed or distracted by the uncertainty that we experience in this world. As Jesus taught and affirmed, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Cf. Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4; Citing Deuteronomy 8:3) So, where is God now in our time of trouble? David declared this truth: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Cf. Psalm 46:1) Yes, God is ever-present! He has said, “Never, will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Cf. Hebrews 13:5; Joshua 1:5) I am reminded of what Paul wrote concerning the love of Christ as the anchor for our faith:

Romans 8:35-39 (NIV)

Who (or what) shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Think about what Paul is saying here. We are to expect challenges and hardships to occur in our lives. They are inevitable as long as we live in this fallen world. But none of the things that God allows under His sovereign will diminishes His love for us; rather, He uses them to develop, strengthen, and mature our faith in Him. So, I believe above all things that we need to trust the love of God! If we ever doubt His love, we make ourselves vulnerable to the lies and seduction of the enemy. We may not always understand how God works in our lives or why He allows the circumstances that we face and navigate, but I believe we can be assured that whatever happens is in accordance with His perfect and faithful love. Yes, that is why we need to know the Word of God … to know His will for us … to know His love for us … to be transformed by the renewing of our minds … to receive the salvation He has provided through His Son who is the living Word of God. Through faith in Jesus, our lives are preserved for eternity! We simply need to cry out to Him. As David wrote: “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.” (Cf. Psalm 34:17)

My friends, how God delivers us from our troubles may not always be how we think He should do it. It is not up to us to make God’s decisions for Him nor should we even desire to do so. We do not have His foreknowledge … the ability to know the eventual outcomes. Only He knows the end from the beginning. (Cf. Isaiah 46:10) And so, we are well advised to trust that whatever happens is in accordance with His loving will and for the good those who love Him. (Cf. Romans 8:28) That is what faith is all about! That is why we are encouraged to persevere in faith! That is why it is important to know the Word of God … for by its wisdom and guidance our lives are preserved….

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. Fulfill your promise to your servant so that you may be feared. ~ Psalm 119:36-38

Persevere In Faith…

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)

Sometimes we can experience a “trial” of faith. We believe in God … His Word … His Covenant … His Promises … His Son … His Atonement … and we endeavor to walk in this light and knowledge. But a failure happens … a sin entices and ensnares … and we wonder what to do. We ask, “How do I get out of this situation I have allowed myself to enter?” “Why did I let this happen?”

Our Verse of the Day reminds us of the call to persevere in faith. Hebrews Chapter 11 recounts the “Hall of Faith” and those who have passed through the furnace of affliction and the trial of refinement in their journey of faith. They were not perfect, but they continued to walk in faith … trusting in God and His mercies and lovingkindness. Their example … their perseverance … should inspire us who live in this generation to run our races with the same focus and determination. I am reminded of Paul’s words to the Philippians in this regard:

Philippians 3:7-14 (NIV)

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

I believe God wants to encourage us to be steadfast, and I have found the following passages helpful in my own journey of faith:

1 Corinthians 10:11-13 (NIV)

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation (test) has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted (tested) beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted (tested), He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

1 John 1:5-10 (NIV)

This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word is not in us.

When failure happens … and it does … we should follow the example of Paul and keep running the race! “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand.” (Cf. Psalm 37:23-24) You and I can keep going … and He will see us through to the finish line. Our adversary, Satan, is a liar and a deceiver. And if he can lure us into questioning the truth of the Word of God, he will do whatever it takes to make us question God, His love, and His promises…. So, remember that Jesus is the pioneer and perfector … the author and the finisher … of our faith. Yes, let us remember, this word of encouragement: For we know and are confident that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Cf. Philippians 1:6)

Hebrews 12:1-7 (NIV)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? Proverbs 3:11-12 says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He chastens everyone He accepts as His son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as His children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?

My friends, God will correct us whenever necessary because He loves us with an everlasting love. So, we are admonished to stay the course … to persevere and finish the race of faith. As the inspired writer affirmed: “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.” (Cf. Hebrews 10:36) The promise is received in Jesus Christ. The promise is eternal life with Him. Let us trust the Father to see us through to the victory promised through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him. ~ James 1:2-4; 12