God of ALL Men

Verse of the day: 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

This verse of Scripture is very interesting in its context. Although it contains some basic truths about who Jesus is, it is saying much more than that. First, let us get this one fact out of the way; there is only ONE true God. He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but He is one God (Gen 1:26). I know that our carnal minds cannot completely get around this heavenly truth, but there are certain things about God that He clearly tells us about Himself that we simply have to believe by faith. Over and over again the Bible tells us that salvation can only come from God (Ps 68:20). With all that said, Jesus is the only way to the Father; He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). It is only the Name of Jesus that brings salvation (Acts 4:12). He was there in the beginning of creation, and He is Creator (John 1:1). Since only God can be Creator, then that also tell us that Jesus is the One True God (1 John 5:20). John tells us that when we sin, we have One who speaks on our behalf, the man Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1-2) who became sin for us (2 Cor 5:21) and paid the price for our salvation. Nowhere in Scripture are we told that God the Father accepts mediation from anyone other than Jesus Christ. What that says to us is that, as born again believers, we do not need another man to intercede for us, and there is no “saint” that has been designated as mediator. We are to bring our prayers, supplication, and all requests to Jesus alone. In its context, the Apostle Paul tells us that God is the God of ALL men. The Father did not send the Son to die for just a certain group of people. He did not die for a certain religious group. He did not die for a group that came from a certain background. Jesus died for all men (John 3:16). Contrary to what some men say, God created all of us from one blood (Acts 17:24-28), which obliterates man’s reasons and justifications for racism and prejudices. This is the reason that the Apostle tells us that we are to pray for ALL men. There is no condition set that tells us that we are to pray for only those we love or agree with; he tells us to pray for ALL men, because God is the God of ALL men, and desires that all men would be saved (2 Pt 3:9). Interestingly, he specifically tells us to pray for those that would be in authority over us. As Christians we are, first and foremost, under the authority of God and His Word. However, just as Jesus told us to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God (Mt 22:21). The government and its representatives get their authority (regardless of whether they acknowledge it or not) from God (Rom 13:1). Therefore, whether or not we agree with what they are doing, and how they are carrying out their duties, we are to pray for them. Sadly, too many of God’s people act like the unsaved world when they disagree with the leaders of their country, state, city or town. Our duty as Christians is not to post demeaning, unholy, and corrupt things about the leaders we disagree with, or engage in conversations in such a way to dishonor our God and our testimony. Instead, it is our duty to pray for our leaders, and trust that God is in control of all He is allowing. This does not mean that we cannot, in love, share with others what our view point is, based on God’s Word. However, God is not honored when we use the same foul, and hateful, language or mean-spirited approach some Christians use to try and make their point. The bottom line is that regardless of what our leaders do, because we have Jesus, we can still live a life of peace, tranquility, holiness, and reverence, regardless of what is going on around us, or what others are doing around us. Considering all that is going on in the world today, let us consider what God expects from us as His people. If Jesus was willing to submit to the authority of the government under which He lived while He was here, how do we justify a rebellious attitude under the authority we live under today? If we want change, we need to do the one thing that will bring the greatest change…pray. As long as we are praying, and living for God, we simply have to trust that He will allow what He will allow, and change what He wants to change, in accordance to His will and plan. As God’s children, let us not be divided by what only God can change, and let us focus on what we have been called to; sharing the Gospel with ALL men, and praying that all men (including our leaders) would come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord, because God is the God of ALL men.

Jesus died for everyone regardless of skin color, heritage, social status, or anything else that sets us apart in this world (John 3:16). All who call on Him, by faith, repenting, and confessing their sins, will be saved. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 6:23; 10:13).

Spiritual Warfare (Part 8: Prayer)

Verse of the day: Ephesians 6:18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

To date, we have discussed the individual pieces of God’s armor. However, these are not the only pieces of spiritual equipment that He has given us. Today we will see that there is one key piece that God has given us that holds all the other pieces together. Prayer is the buckle that secures our belt of truth. It latches our breastplate of righteousness securely in place. Prayer is what laces our shoes, boots, or sandals of the peace of the gospel on our feet. It is the handles that secure our shield of faith to our arms; the strap to our helmet of salvation, and the sheath for which we carry our sword of the Spirit. In other words, in order for us to effectively put on and utilize the armor that God has provided for us, we MUST pray. Without prayer we are essentially trying to deploy what God has given us using carnal means, and I can tell you now, with all confidence, that this is dangerous and is a sure recipe for defeat, since the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but spiritual (2 Cor 10:3-5). For this reason, the Apostle instructs us to pray always (2 Thes 5:17), without ceasing. This means that we are to always have a heart and mind that is often and continually speaking to God. There are many occasions when we can pray, whether private, public, silently, to ourselves, out loud with other believers, and in any place we happen to be or any circumstance we are going through. We can pray lying down, on our knees, sitting down, and standing up. We must be praying always. We are to make supplication, not just for ourselves, but for others also (1 Tim 2:1); knowing that our brothers/sisters in Christ are suffering the same afflictions and attacks that we are (1 Pet 5:8-9). However, we must remember that when we pray we enter the spiritual realm, so Who better to help us in prayer than the Holy Spirit. The Word of God tell us that we do not know what we should pray, and the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us, knowing the mind and will of God (Rom 8:26-27). The enemy will do all he can to interrupt and keep us from praying. Sadly, too many of us are easily distracted, and make other things in our lives of greater importance than prayer. This is quite evident even in the local church. I remember, sadly, and too often, when the church would sponsor a time of food and fellowship, and the fellowship hall would be filled; yet, when a prayer meeting was called, the sanctuary was poorly attended, with only a few true, faithful, prayer warriors. If there is any reason for the weakness in today’s Christianity, it is the Christian’s lack of prayer and communion with God. Knowing that the enemy will do whatever it takes to distract and interfere in our prayer life, we need to be watchful (Mat 26:41; Col 4:2; 1 Pet 4:7). Prayer itself is a battlefield (a battlefield of the mind). I often experience moments during prayer when some thought will come to mind that is completely inappropriate for my time of communion and communication with God. How often have we been distracted and then some time later realized that we stopped praying and started thinking about something else without even realizing it. How often do we give God the leftovers of our day, and fall asleep during prayer because we are too fatigued? This is why it is key that we give God the first fruits of our day and energy. We are to watch, pray, and not faint (Lk 18:1). The bottom line is that prayer is what holds our armor in place and gives us the strength, energy, and wisdom to effectively use each piece of the armor, in battle, against the enemies’ attacks. Most importantly, it will open doors for us, and the brothers and sisters we are praying for, to share the Gospel message with others, as the Apostle requested in verses 19-20; for too often we allow fear to keep us from boldly (yet lovingly) speaking up for Christ and the Kingdom. Going into battle well equipped is of utmost importance, but without communication we will not be able to communicate with the Commander to receive instruction or to request back up for those times when we are overwhelmed and overrun. God does not want us to face life on our own, as His children. He wants us to submit to Him, with all humility, and depend on Him completely because the enemy does not fear us, but knows he cannot stand against our God (Jm 4:7-8). So, if we want to experience the ultimate victory in our daily living, in Christ, we must prayerfully put on God’s armor, never surrendering, and never giving up.

The only name by which man can be saved is Jesus’ Name (Acts 4:12); and the way we receive eternal life is to call on Him in prayer (Rom 10:13). All who call on Him, by faith, repenting, and confessing their sins, will be saved. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 6:23).

Spiritual Warfare (Part 7: Word of God)

Verse of the day: Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

The last piece of God’s armor listed for us is the sword of the Spirit. A soldier’s armor was never complete unless he had a sword. The sword was usually a two-edged dagger styled weapon. Although last on the list, it is of utmost importance. The Apostle Paul makes sure to clearly state that this sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. No Christian, regardless of who he/she is, can survive in spiritual warfare without a good handle on the Word of God. This is why we are commanded not just to read the Word, but to study it, divide it (2 Tim 2:15). The study of God’s Word, along with prayer, should be the priority of the Christian. It is one of the greatest defenses we have against Satan and his demons. Jesus set the example for us in Matthew 4. Human reasoning, logic, philosophy, and man’s wisdom will always fall short as a defense against temptation or spiritual opposition (lies and false doctrines). Satan can outwit us and was created full of wisdom (Ez 28:11-13); therefore, the only thing he cannot defend against or defeat is the truth of the Word of God. It is the Word of God that gives us the strategy to overcome the enemy, and it has everything to do with our submission, in humility, to God, and drawing near to Him, so that He can fight the battle for us (Jm 4:7-8; 1 Pt 5:6-9). What many of us do not realize is that when we study and memorize God’s Word, and the occasion arises that we need to draw from that knowledge, and it does come to memory for us to use, it is not really us who is fighting the fight. The Apostle is clear to tell us that it is the sword of the Spirit; therefore, it is the Spirit that is fighting the fight, because He is the One bringing it back to memory (Lk 12:11-13; Jn 14:25-26; 16:13-15). Too often we get prideful because we can quote Scripture, and far too many Christians have a head full of Bible verses that are doing them no good, because they do not or have not learned how to apply it properly (Jm 1:22-24). The Word of God is also described as a double edged sword (Heb 4:12). It can cut deep into the soul of man, bringing conviction to the hardest of hearts (Acts 2:37). There is not one of us who could readily admit that at some time in our lives, if we have truly sought God, that His Word did not cut deep into our hearts when He was dealing with us; and if we received it with the right attitude and motivation, as painful as it might have been, the end result was healing and a deeper intimacy with God. This is where we must be careful in how we wield that sword of the Spirit. In the hands of God it brings healing, but in our hands, under the influence of our wisdom and selfish motivation it can cause great damage. It can cause people to go away from the Lord because of our attitude and how we have misinterpreted it (and the devil loves to use us that way). We can cause greater pain in the life of another brother/sister if, in our pious zeal, we misuse it in our attempt to correct and rebuke. We must speak the truth in love with the intent to reconcile that person to Christ. Just like a scalpel in an untrained hand can cause damage or death, it can also heal in the hand of a skilled surgeon; so is the Word of God. This is the reason we must allow the Great Physician to be the One to handle it for us and put His hand over ours when we are wielding it. Sadly, if we are not careful, Satan can disarm us and turn it on us (he is no stranger to the Word). It behooves us, as God’s children, that we carefully study the Word, allowing it to guide us into God’s truth. Far too many approach the Word of God looking to prove what they believe is true, rather than read the Word with an open mind and heart, and letting it tell us what it true. When what we believe contradicts what we find in God’s Word, we must submit to that truth and change our thinking. To neglect the Word of God is to go onto the battlefield each day unprepared to defend ourselves or support a brother/sister that we might encounter that day who needs encouragement from God. I have met far too many who cannot even share the basics of salvation with another. How then do we advance in the battle for other men’s souls? How do we lead others (family, friends, co-workers, and the like) to Christ if we cannot explain our faith? Each time we fail in this, because we have failed to pick up our sword and learned how to effectively wield it, we give Satan the victory. It is not enough to pray for our loved ones and others to be saved, if we are not prepared, ourselves, to be the ones that God uses. I dare not ask how many are reading this devotional now that have not yet invested some quiet time studying God’s Word already. I pray that this will motivate you to begin to separate that time as a priority in your life, if you are not already doing that. The sword of the Spirit is indestructible, and powerful. It can be used for good; for healing, for encouragement, for defense against the falsehood and lies of the enemy, but if improperly used can cause great damage for the cause of Christ. It is God’s Word that will guide us through every encounter we face on a daily basis (Ps 119:104-106). Let us be diligent to always hang it on our belt of truth so that it will be available for the Spirit to use when we find ourselves on the frontline fighting for our lives or someone else’s.

Jesus won the ultimate battle when He gave His life on Calvary. To the world that may seem like defeat, but when He rose from the dead, He defeated the power of Satan and death. Now He offers us eternal life. Anyone who comes to Him in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 6:23; 10:13).

Spiritual Warfare (Part 6: Salvation)

Verse of the day: Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

As we continue today in our series of messages on spiritual warfare, we move onto the helmet of salvation. Each day, in preparation for whatever may come our way, we must have the reassurance and hope that comes from God’s promise that we are His children, adopted into His family, and that NOTHING can change that. Every time the enemy strikes a blow, and our world is turned upside down, we need to have some kind of hope to hold on to. The assurance that we have eternal life and that nothing can reverse our destination is of utmost importance in being able to stay in the fight. As His children we can know, with great confidence, that we are saved because we put our faith in the finished work of Christ and have called upon Him (Rom 10:13; 1 John 5:13). We are eternally sealed and nothing can separate us from His love (Rom 8:38-39; Eph 1:13). It is this hope that will sustain us when the enemy comes along and causes us to question whether or not we are really saved. For many of us this may be a basic fact that we both know and believe. However, we have all had our moments of stumbling, and the enemy will take advantage of those opportunities to discourage us and accuse both us and God. How often have we heard, “You really think God will forgive you for that” or “How can you even say that you are a Christian after what you just did or said”? How often have we been caused to question God’s love because of something we did or something that is happening in our lives to us or someone we love dearly? These are all tactics that our enemy deploys to knock us off balance, and possibly cripple us to the point that we completely give up the fight. In Genesis 3, God, while in the Garden, addressed Satan in respect to his future defeat at the coming of Jesus, for what he did to Adam, Eve, and mankind. He told him that although he (Satan) would bruise His (Jesus) heel (a nonfatal blow) Jesus would bruise his head (a fatal blow). It is true that one can survive a severe blow to the foot, and possibly remain crippled for life, but a severe blow to the head can not only cripple, but most likely be fatal. The enemy loves to attack our mind. This is why being in prayer continually and meditating on God’s Word is so important in our daily routine. If he can break us down in our thinking, he can immobilize us. Quite often what slows us down or stops us from living for, and serving, God is the result of what is going on in our heads. The helmet is an important piece of equipment, and to leave it behind is to put ourselves in a place to be fatally wounded in our walk with the Lord. The enemy will try to shame us into giving up, but the Scripture reassures us that hope makes us not ashamed because of the love of God in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is in us (Rom 5:5). This is where we see that our shield of faith and our helmet of salvation are tied together; for it is by faith that we receive salvation, and it is by faith that we can firmly put on our helmet of salvation. The bottom line is that we need to be reminded that no matter what we face in our daily battles, and how often we may stumble, if we are certain of our salvation, then whatever we face will be dwarfed by what God has in store for us in Christ Jesus (1 Pt 1:3-9; Jm 1:2-3; 1 Cor 2:9).

Salvation comes by faith alone; however, not by faith in just anyone or anything. It only comes by putting our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on Calvary, and only by calling on His Name (Acts 4:12). Anyone who comes to Him in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 6:23; 10:13).

Spiritual Warfare (Part 5: Faith)

Verse of the day: Ephesians 6:16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

Let us begin today understanding that without faith as the foundation of our Christianity we have lost the battle. The fact of the matter is that life itself begins with faith. The Apostle Paul describes faith as a shield. The shield came in varying sizes and shapes. However, the word used here describes a large shield that covers the body, much like a door. A shield was made up of layers of leather that were capable of catching fiery arrows and quench their fire. Arrows often bounced off, deflecting the shot away from the soldier. Many of these shields interlocked so that soldiers could march into battle, together, side by side, as an army. What a beautiful picture of how we should be facing the enemy, side by side, encouraging one another and supporting one another (now if only God’s church would understand this). God commands us not to forsake the assembling with one another for the purpose of encouraging and exhorting one another (Heb 10:24-25) in unity (Eph 4:1-3). He calls us to love one another, an active love, a love of action that is demonstrated by the way we treat one another and support one another (Jn 13:34). Without us first putting our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord we are lost and on our way to Hell. Hell is a real place and its thirst is never quenched. We only truly begin to live when we, by faith, call upon Jesus Christ for eternal life. However, know that the moment we accept eternal life we are in the battle, and for this reason it is of utmost importance that we begin to learn how to effectively put on the armor God provides for us. The enemy tries to use a number of tactics to keep us from effectively serving the Lord and glorifying Him with our lives. He uses fear to keep us from taking steps that require faith. As God’s children we must remember that we were not given a spirit of fear (2 Tim 1:7). Satan kept us in bondage through the fear of death, and Jesus by His death has destroyed the enemy’s power of fear over us (Heb 2:14-16). We are free to serve God without fear, and by faith. God tells us that without faith we cannot please Him (Heb 11:6). Even if we trust God with mustard seed sized faith, He can do much with it to help us to grow in our faith in, and walk with, Him. The next thing the enemy tries to use to immobilize us is doubt and insecurity. It was a seed of doubt in the Garden of Eden that brought the fall of man (Gen 3). He still uses that tactic today. He creates doubt in us in respect to God’s love, grace, mercy and forgiveness toward us. He continually tries to twist God’s Word in order to create a doubt in our minds as to what God really said in His Word; and this is why I cannot stress enough that we need to be diligent students of God’s Word, dissecting it and studying it in its proper context, letting His Word tell us what it is saying rather us trying to make it say what we want it to say (2 Tim 2:15). When we begin to doubt God’s love for us, and all that it entails, we need to stop and read Romans 8:31-39. Finally, the enemy loves to bring thoughts that are unholy and lead us down a path to sin when we allow those thoughts to provoke our selfish, and lustful, desires (Jm 1:13-14). This is what he did with Eve in the Garden (Gen 3). However, we can have victory in this area if we immediate expel those thought as instructed in 2 Corinthians 10:4-6, and give them over to Jesus, knowing that with each temptation God has created a way of escape (1 Cor 10:13). Instead of entertaining these thoughts and giving way to sinful behavior, thereby being defeated in the battle, we need to think on the things that will honor God, things that are holy and pure (Phil 4:8). The bottom line is that without faith we are fighting a battle that we cannot win. The enemy is good at what he does. He will create fear, doubt, discouragement, and lead us down a path of sin if we are not vigilant in our daily walk with God (1 Pt 5:8). Our shield of faith should always be in position to deflect or put out the flaming darts that can come from any direction and often unexpectedly. If we are putting our complete faith in our relationship with Jesus, and trusting His Word completely, even if we are knocked down in the fight, we will not be knocked out. Interestingly, we think of a shield as a weapon of defense, but it was also used as a weapon of offense. Let us go forward into our daily battle holding up our shield of faith, pushing the obstacles of fear, doubt, and temptation out of the way, making the way clear for us to share Jesus with others, and do all that He calls us to with confidence in the One that has already defeated the enemy (Col 2:15).

Salvation comes by faith alone; however, not by faith in just anyone or anything. It only comes by putting our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on Calvary, and only by calling on His Name (Acts 4:12). Anyone who comes to Him in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 6:23; 10:13).

Spiritual Warfare (Part 4: Peace)

Verse of the day: Ephesians 6:15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

We saw from yesterday’s devotional thought that we are to gird ourselves with God’s truth, and that this truth should affect us both inwardly (within ourselves) and outwardly (toward others). The righteousness that guards our hearts should be reflected in how we live before God. The next piece of armor given to us is the shoes of the gospel of peace. First and foremost, we need to understand that the Gospel message is a message of peace (Luke 2:14). However, let us not think that this is peace amongst men; for we know that peace amongst men has not truly existed, and does not exist today, even though we are called to be at peace with others, if it is possible, as much as depends on us (Rom 12:18). The peace of the Gospel message has to do with the peace between God and man that was made possible through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ (Rom 5:1). We have been called to spread the Gospel message and preach it to every creature (Mk 16:15). In warfare we do not often think of footwear as being an important part of the uniform, but it is a key part of what is worn. What we wear on our feet during times of conflict is important for maintaining proper footing during battles and the ability to walk long distances or move quickly when necessary. If we sustain an injury to our feet it slows us down and can even put us out of the fight. We are supposed to be ready, at any given time, to go wherever God sends us to share His Gospel message. We are to be ready to be deployed to not just explain the Gospel, but demonstrate it by how we live. However, know this, that when we set out to share the Gospel of peace we will likely experience trials, tribulations and even inner turmoil, as the enemy will stir up situations that can cause us to take our eyes off of what we have been called to do. The world will reject the message, mock us and persecute us (and all of this can even come from those closest to us that do not know the Lord); for even Jesus said that He did not come to bring peace, but a sword amongst those dearest to us (Matt 10:34-35). This is where the tranquility of knowing that we are at peace with God will play a role in keeping us focused on Jesus, and on course to sharing the message with others without becoming discouraged. The path we walk along may contain many obstacles that can hinder our stride. Therefore, having the proper covering for our feet is important, as every time we go out, ready to share the Gospel, we enter enemy territory. Just like the proper footwear is important to a mountain climber, so we, when we encounter those hills and mountains in our path, will need the proper shoes to go up over or around such possible hindrances. The Gospel of peace is not just for sharing with others; it is also for our own peace of mind. It is applicable for everyday living while we go about preaching it to the world. If we stop and take a look around us, we will see turmoil. We see war, conflicts, and people lashing out at each other in their warped approach to bring about peace.  In the midst of all this turbulence we see people silently suffering from worry, loneliness, and a lack of inner peace (for a number of different reasons), trying to bring about peace in their lives by the use of alcohol, drugs, cutting, immoral relationships, and even suicide (just to name a few); when true peace can only come from God and His Gospel of Peace. Only Jesus, our Prince of Peace, is the real solution. Only when we live truth, choose righteousness before God, and allow the peace of God to take hold of our being (and prepare our feet to go), will we begin to develop into the Christian soldier that will become unstoppable in carrying out our call to share Jesus with a dark, lost, and dying world. The Apostle Paul put it best when he instructed Timothy to teach faithful men the things he has heard so that they too could go out and do the same (2 Tim 2:2-4). This command is the same for us, as we are to always be prepared to proclaim the Gospel that was shared with us. Like a good soldier, we are to endure whatever hardships necessary in order to accomplish our calling.

Being at peace begins when we are at peace with God; only then can we be at peace with ourselves and others. The Father gave us His Son so that we could be reconciled to Him and finally be at peace with Him (John 3:16). Anyone who comes to Him in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 6:23; 10:13).

Spiritual Warfare (Part 3: Truth & Righteousness)

Verse of the day: Ephesians 6:13-14 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

The terms that the Apostle Paul uses here are warfare terms. His instructions to the church at Ephesus is that they are to be ready to withstand and overcome the attacks on the days when they are assaulted with temptations. Any one of us knows that every day we are tempted in one way or another. Therefore, we must be prepared to stand our ground and do our best to have victory over whatever temptations the enemy throws at us. We know that there is nothing new under the sun in the realm of temptation for each of us; and God has made a way of escape with each temptation (1 Cor 10:13). This is why it is of utmost importance that we stay grounded in the Word and prayer, continually working on renewing our mind with the truth of God’s Word (Rom 12:1-2). The assaults launched against us are for the purpose of knocking us down, and ultimately making us useless for the cause of Christ, just as Satan wanted to do with the Apostle Peter in trying to make him as useless as wheat chaff that blows away in the wind when sifted (Lk 22:31). It is for this reason that we must be diligent in putting on our spiritual armor as describe in this chapter. The Apostle Paul likens our spiritual armor, most likely, in the same way as the soldier’s uniform that was tasked with watching over him while imprisoned, and writing this epistle. He first tells us to put on the girdle of truth (or belt of truth). The application of truth here applies to both an inward and outward truth. Knowing the truth contained is God’s Word is imperative; but knowing it and not applying it is only head-knowledge, and of no use to us as a defense, if not applied to our lives (Jm 1:21-25). The truth that is a useful defense is one that affects our everyday life. First and foremost it reveals whether or not we are in Christ, and leads us to Him for salvation. It shows us who we are so that we are not deceived into thinking we are someone or something we are not; helping us to avoid pride and conceit. It is the truth of the Gospel that reassures us that we are sealed and belong to Him, and that nothing can change that. It is the truth that comes to the forefront of our minds when we are under attack and reassures us of God’s presence and the fact that He will never leave us and is our Defense and Help. The truth of God firmly planted in our minds and hearts is what brings peace, joy, and a calm spirit during the most trying of times, and helps us to demonstrate an outward peace that will open opportunities for us to share Christ with others. Outwardly, truth is demonstrated, not just by the peace others see, but also by our honesty in dealing with others, and our choice not to deceive and cheat another, regardless of whether it is an unsaved person or a brother/sister in Christ. Next the Apostle tells us to put on the breastplate of righteousness. Righteousness has more to do with who we are before God. Although we know that it is the righteousness of Christ that has been imputed unto us and has made us acceptable to the Father (Rom 4); we must also live righteously, in Christ, before God. In other words, we choose to do what is right before God when no one else is around to see it. We are called to be faithful to God above and beyond anything else, and our concern in falling to temptation is that when we sin, we are primarily sinning against God, and for that reason our sin should bring us to a place of mourning, repentance and getting right with Him. Note that the breastplate was used to cover up the area of the chest which contains the heart. How important it is to have our heart guarded and protected with righteousness. It is so easy to deceive the heart because it is so easily driven by emotion, and our own desires (James 1:13-15). Yet, if we have the truth of God in our hearts and protect it by applying God’s righteousness, it will be more difficult for the enemy to get the advantage and cause us to stumble with lies, and twisted versions of God’s truth. Too many of us forget that Satan knows the truth, but will twist it in such a way that he can easily deceive us using false teachers (if we do not know it in its context). He tried to do this in his failed attempts to tempt Jesus in the wilderness (Matt 4). We must be vigilant, and diligent. When we stand firmly in God’s truth and His righteousness, the enemy has no offensive he can launch against us that will cause us to lose our footing.

The truth is that Jesus died for each of us (John 3:16), and anyone who comes to Him in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life; the righteousness of Jesus being imputed unto each one, making us acceptable to the Father. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 6:23; 10:13).

Spiritual Warfare (Part 2: The Enemy)

Verse of the day: Ephesians 6:11-12 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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.

We saw from both the Apostle Peter and the Lord’s brother James that the best defense against our enemy (to make him flee) is to draw near to God and submit humbly under His mighty hand (1 Peter 5:6 & Jm 4:7-8). Ephesians 6:10 tells us to be strong in the Lord. So, it is no big secret that our ability to have victory over the devils’ attempts to derail us is to stay close to God and continue to develop an intimate relationship with Him. Too many of us go out into the battlefield of life without being prepared to handle possible attacks. It would be like a football player going out to play without wearing his shoulder pads and helmet. I imagine it would not be long before he would be sidelined with a serious injury; or a police officer who goes out to do his job but fails to put on his/her vest or other equipment that helps him/her defend themselves (or others) while carrying out his/her duties. As born again believers, we need to remember that the attacks against us do not necessarily come because of who we are personally, but because of Who we represent, and what we are called to do for Him (2 Cor 5:20; Matt 28:19-20). For this reason it is imperative that we put on the FULL armor of God, every day, so that we are not sidelined in our service and walk with the Lord. Part of the reason we fail to be victorious in our daily battles is that we forget who our enemy really is. How often have we lashed out at an unsaved person for something they did or said, or been at odds with, and refused to forgive, another brother/sister in Christ because of an offense against us? We treat them like they are the enemy, and fail to realize that the devils use those instances to first keep us from sharing Jesus with the unsaved (because now we are at odds with them and have ruined our testimony by our reaction and behavior toward them), and secondly, we have caused division within God’s family because we refuse to forgive and reconcile with our fellow Christian. The bottom line is that there is no valid excuse that we can truly give, based on God’s Word, to hold on to such attitudes and behaviors. Will it be easy to do? No, but not impossible. We have the Holy Spirit working in us, from whom we will find the strength to overcome such challenges. Each day, when we are confronted with situations that call for a response or reaction, we must stop and ask ourselves where this is coming from. Verse 12 clearly tells us that our struggle is not with people, it is in the spiritual realm. Our daily struggle is one that is invisible, and unknown to the majority of the population around us who does not know Jesus personally. However, for us, the born again believer who is diligent to study and obey God’s Word, it is no secret that our struggle is not with flesh and blood; and it is sad when we behave and respond like the world, knowing that our battle is really with devils. The Apostle Paul describes our true enemies as authorities, powers, world-rulers of darkness, and spirits of evil in the heavens; against a spiritual enemy we can only defend ourselves against using spiritual measures and weapons. For this cause we are to put on the spiritual armor that God has provided for us. Today, and every day going forward, we need to start being wise about how we respond to those around us, reminding ourselves that our true enemy is not the person we are sent out to lead to Christ (the unsaved person) or the person we are called to love and fellowship with (our brother/sister in Christ). It behooves us to prayerfully respond when we are offended or bothered by others, and realize that the person we see before us may not be the initiator of the offense; and regardless of where the offense originates, it does not remove our responsibility to respond in a way that truly honors God, and thwarts the enemies’ attempts to ruin our testimony and service to our Lord Jesus.

Without the Lord, we are helpless against the devil. He wants each person ever created to suffer eternally, as he will when God judges both man and the devils. However, God’s desire is that none would perish, but that all would be saved (2 Peter 3:9). However, in order to receive eternal life, we must call on Jesus, by faith, repenting and confessing our sins, and accepting His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23; 10:13). Would you call on Him today?

Spiritual Warfare (Part 1: The Enemy)

Verse of the day: 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

When it comes to spiritual warfare we must have a balanced view of our enemy. Sadly, too many people (Christians included) have allowed the television to be their teacher in respect to who Satan is, what he looks like, and what he is capable of. For us, the born again believer, our knowledge of both the earthly and spiritual things should come from God’s Word. Satan is, and demons are, real. He is not a made up, fictitious, character. He is not red, with horns, carrying a pitchfork. He does not live in hell (which was created for the punishment of the devil and his angels; Matt 25:41), but as the Apostle Peter plainly states it, he walks about seeking to do us harm. This fact is also verified by Satan himself, who tells God that this is what he is doing, when questioned in the Book of Job (Job 1:7). He is a created being, a fallen angel. He is powerful, but not omnipotent. He was created with talent, wisdom and beauty (Eze 28:11-15), and sadly, it is what he uses today to draw many away from God. His pride caused his fall (Is 14:12-15), and now he and his demons do all they can to keep us from believing in God, and from accepting Jesus as Savior. His desire is to destroy us. Even as Christians, he does whatever he can to distract us and keep us from truly serving God, praying, and living for the Lord. He wants to make us useless for the Lord’s purposes (Lk 22:31). The devils are not to be taken lightly, but we are not to be preoccupied with them or give them more credit than what is do when things go wrong, and bad things happen to us or to someone we love. We are not to be paranoid, but we are to be aware of the fact that the devil is looking to do us harm, as the Apostle Peter warns in this verse. So how do we build up our defenses so that we can equal the playing field in our battle against the enemy(ies)? James tells us that if we resist the devil, he will flee (Jm 4:7). However, both James and Peter are specific about what it means to resist the devil. Peter tells us in this chapter that we must humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, bringing all our cares to Him (v. 6). James tells us that we are to draw near to God, and God will draw near to us (Jm 4:8). In other words, the best way to overcome the devils’ attacks is humility. We are to concentrate our efforts to humbling ourselves, in obedience to God and His Word. In doing this, we give the battle over to the Lord (where it belongs) as we are instructed in Ephesians 6:10 to be strong in the power of God’s might. We would be foolish to think that we can defeat Satan at what he has been doing since the creation of man (Gen 3). The bottom line is that every day when we wake and go out into the world, we go out into the battlefield. We must remind ourselves that regardless of what we may face on any given day, our God is greater than our enemy (1 John 4:4). God, in knowing that we would encounter opposition in the world, and knowing that our enemy would be on the attack, has provided us with the equipment we need to stay in the fight. Ephesians 6 describes for us the armor that we have been given, to put on every day, to affect our victory on this battlefield called life. Tomorrow, we will begin a short series on the Armor of God, and how by putting it on, we are in actually putting on Christ, who is really the One who is fighting on our behalf, if only we will get out of His way.

Without the Lord, we are helpless against the devil. He wants each person ever created to suffer eternally, as he will when God judges both man and the devils. However, God’s desire is that none would perish, but that all would be saved (2 Peter 3:9). However, in order to receive eternal life, we must call on Jesus, by faith, repenting and confessing our sins, and accepting His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23; 10:13). Would you call on Him today?

Always Trust God First

Verse of the day: Jeremiah 17:7-8 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. ⁸ For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

Over the past three days we discussed the fruit of the Spirit and how they will be displayed in our lives when we allow the Spirit to do His work in us, and through us. Today we see that the key to the Spirit yielding this fruit in our lives comes from our trust in the Lord and making Him our hope. The Prophet Jeremiah compares two men. The first trusts in the “flesh”, while the other trusts in the Lord. The first man is cursed and is compared to a shrub in the desert (v. 5-6). The second man, which is the one we want to model, is blessed and compared to a tree planted by the river. What a contrast. The one is pictured as a bush that is wild and frail while the other is strong, vibrant and producing much fruit. The one who trusts in the flesh (his own ideas or the help of people over God’s help) are trusting in man who is often unfaithful and unreliable. Man often lacks wisdom and makes decisions based on emotions, and what seems right in their eyes; rather that what is right before God. In verse 9 of this chapter, the Prophet Jeremiah warns that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it? God knows it, and searches it. Although it is wise to seek godly wisdom, the Lord should be the One who gets the last word. The person who trusts in the Lord is one that will endure life’s challenges, being anchored in God’s salvation; a salvation that can only be found in Jesus Christ. Our hope is not a dead hope, but a Living Hope, which is Jesus. When we are grounded in the Lord, we have the Living Water abiding in us (the Holy Spirit). When we take in His Word, which is our spiritual nourishment (Matt 4:4), the Living Water uses it to produce fruit in our lives (Gal 5:22-23). Just like a tree that draws water from the river and its leaf blooms consistently, our testimony, when we allow living water to flow through us, will shine consistently in a dark world (John 7:38-39). When we are firmly planted in Christ, abiding in Him (John 15) and the Holy Spirit is flowing through us, working in us, no matter what storm, trial or tribulation we face, we will stand strong and rooted in the Word. Jeremiah equated this to the tree that is not fazed by the heat when it comes because it is being strengthened and cooled by the water its roots are absorbing from the abundant source of water. However, unlike the tree, whose river can dry up, we have a Source that does not run out or dry up. Jesus told the Samaritan woman that He could give her living water and she would never thirst again (John 4:14). Psalm 1 also speaks of the truth that the man that delights and meditates on God’s Word is blessed and will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, bringing forth its fruit, and its leaf will never wither. The bottom line is that God will sometimes put people in our lives to be a blessing. However, we end up in dire straits, when we begin to put more confidence and trust in the creation, and the blessing(s), than we do on the Creator who is the One that sends the blessings.

The greatest blessing man has received is eternal life in Christ. However, in order to receive eternal life, we must call on Jesus, by faith, repenting and confessing our sins, and accepting His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23; 10:13). Would you call on Him today?

The Fruitful Life (Part 3)

Verse of the day: Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Today we continue looking at the fruit of the Spirit and what it should look like in our lives as we represent the Lord in the way we deal with others, and what our life looks like before God. The next fruit listed is that of faithfulness. We know that without faith we cannot please God (Heb 11:6), but here the Apostle Paul is speaking of our fidelity in keeping promises. As God’s children we should be known as people who keep our word. In other words, when we make a promise, we keep it. It is sad when a Christian has a reputation for not being trustworthy. We should be the people that others look to, and depend on, because of our steadfastness in following through on the things we say we will do. Regardless of what role we are in, husband, father, son, co-worker, friend, or neighbor, we should be seen as someone to be counted on. This not only applies to our commitments to people, but especially to our commitments to God. For this reason, we must be careful about the promises we make. If there is some doubt as to whether or not we will be able to carry out a task, we should express that rather than say that we can, knowing that we may not be able to or not really want to. The Apostle then lists gentleness as the next fruit. Gentleness (meekness), when it takes root, produces peace. We are told that as much as lies within us we are to be at peace with others. When we are meek we see no need to prove that we are not a pushover. Jesus had the ability to keep from being taken into custody, beaten and crucified; yet, in obedience to His Father, He submitted in meekness and humility (Matt 26:52-54). Because He was meek, He was able to endure being wronged. So we too, when we allow the Holy Spirit to grow the fruit of gentleness in us, will be able to endure being wronged without lashing out or seeking vengeance. Insults will roll off like water off of a duck’s back. Gentleness (meekness) helps us to grow “thick skin” so that we are not so easily offended in a world that is corrupt and by its nature is offensive. Sadly, too many of God’s children react much like the world (with inappropriate language and behavior) when we see or hear that which is offensive; which the world sees as acceptable. Instead of lashing out when we see what is happening around us, why not pray for the salvation of those we see on the road to eternal condemnation? Why not see them through the eyes of compassion, seeing that they are lost and need the Savior? Why not do our part to live righteously and honestly so that that Lord will open doors for us to share the Gospel, trusting Him to take care of the injustices that are committed toward us? Why lash out verbally or physically and ruin our testimony simply because someone mocked our faith or ridiculed us because we chose to do right? We need to be reminded that for each time we endure persecution, God sees it and will reward us. Therefore, our response, if we are meek, will be rejoicing (inwardly) because we have been honored to suffer as our Savior suffered (Matt 5:11-13; Phil 3:9-11). As a result, our inward rejoicing will manifest itself as joy and peace outwardly. The last fruit listed is self-control. To have self-control is to have an inner strength that keeps us from giving in to the passions that are often aroused within us (1 Cor 9:27; 1 Thess 4:3-8). We live in a society that does all it can to arouse our ungodly passions. This is the reason we must be diligent to renew our minds and not conform to the ways of this world (Rom 12:1-2). We must guard our hearts and minds by guarding what we allow our eyes and ears to be continually exposed to. The bottom line is that we ought not to be known for being people who cannot keep their passions under control. It is often a lack of self-control that will cause us to seem as hypocrites when we preach to others about what they should not do; yet, we cannot keep our own sinful passions in check. There exists no law that will condemn such behavior, as listed in these verses. When we love, as God loves, we will give room to the Holy Spirit to produce and grow all the fruit listed in these two verses. In doing so, we fulfill the whole law, in Christ, in that the law itself is fulfilled by loving God with all our being, and our neighbor as ourselves (Gal 5:14).

God demonstrated true love toward us when He gave His only begotten Son for us (John 3:16). His desire is that none would perish, but that all would be saved (2 Peter 3:9). However, in order to receive eternal life, we must call on Jesus, by faith, repenting and confessing our sins, and accepting His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23; 10:13). Would you call on Him today?

The Fruitful Life (Part 2)

Verse of the day: Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Today as we continue discussing the fruit of the Spirit that should be evident in our lives, the fourth fruit list is that of longsuffering. I have often seen this one use interchangeably with patience; however, the two are actually a bit different. When we are praying for God’s direction and seeking His will and plan for our lives, we may be required to wait patiently for God’s answer. In essence, we are waiting for something good. In contrast, to be longsuffering is to endure through trying times. It may be that we have to put up with persecution or put up with situations that annoy us so that we do not lose our temper and ruin our testimony. To be longsuffering is to endure while being joyful and enjoying the peace that God provides during turbulent times, when we are diligent to bring them before Him (Phil 4:6-7). When we are short in longsuffering, it will determine whether or not we give room for the next fruit, which is kindness. When we fail to lean on the Lord, and endure under His watchful eye, we will have a tendency to lash out at those that attack our faith. Too often I have seen Christians who have equated a “stiff” and “harsh” attitude and response to piety. Sadly, this is the approach they take when dealing with a brother or sister who has stumbled and needs to be encouraged to stay in the fight and reconciled to the Lord (Gal 6:1-5). Many unsaved people are also turned away from the Lord by this attitude, as many are treated with the same standard as if they were a Christian, and this only repels people from Christianity. It is by His goodness and gentleness that the Lord draws others to Himself. It is God’s goodness that leads to repentance (Rom 2:4). If God in dealing with us is slow to anger (Ps 103:8; 145:8), why then do we think that being harsh with others will accomplish God’s righteousness (James 1:19-20)? We may be dealing with that one co-worker that gets on our “last nerve”, but if we are longsuffering and treat them with kindness, rather than getting upset every time we deal with him/her, the Lord can use us to point them to Him (which is what we are called to do). Maybe it is that one Christian that everyone in the congregation tries to avoid because even to other Christians think “they are weird”. Well, we are called to love each other, even as the Lord loves us (John 13:34-35). Next, the fruit of goodness is to be evident in our lives. In other words, we are to always be ready to that which is pleasing before God; in the way we treat others and in the things that we do when no one but God sees it. As we grow in the Lord we should be more concerned with the things that God is concerned with. We are to honest in our dealings with others, and have compassion on those that are hurting and in need. This means that we ought to be always ready to allow God to use us to be a blessing in the life of another, and be willing to use the resources He has supplied to be used by Him to bless others (time, talents, and material resources). In order to do this, it will involve us loving others, giving joyfully, and being at peace with whatever God calls us to do in service to Him. So, as you can see so far, each fruit is connected to the other and works together to help us mature in Christ. Tomorrow, Lord willing, we will continue to see how the last three fruits listed are displayed in our lives, and how they are connected to the six already discussed.

God showed us His goodness by sending Jesus to die for us while we were still His enemies (John 3:16; Rom 5:8). His desire is that none would perish, but that all would be saved (2 Peter 3:9). However, in order to receive eternal life, we must call on Jesus, by faith, repenting and confessing our sins, and accepting His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23; 10:13). Would you call on Him today?

The Fruitful Life (Part 1)

Verse of the day: Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

The battle between the Spirit and the flesh is real. As born again believers we have been sealed and indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13; 1 Cor 3:16). However, this does not mean that our desire to do what we ought not to do goes away altogether. Temptation still lurks at the door, and our selfish passions still flare up on occasion. Nonetheless, we do not have to give in to those ungodly desires. We have the power to choose holiness and righteousness. The struggle is real, but so is the ability to overcome and do right. Our power to do what is right comes from the Spirit of God working in us and empowering us. With that said, how do we know that we are truly walking in the Spirit? This will become evident when we begin to see the fruit of the Spirit growing in our lives. As we allow the Spirit to do His work in us, others will begin to see more of Jesus in us. Our ultimate goal is for us to see so much of Jesus that we fade away and see less of ourselves, and our selfish ways. In this chapter, the Apostle Paul tells us what fruit we should be seeing outwardly in our lives as a result of the Spirit’s work within us. First on the list is love. The Word of God tells us that without love we are essentially useless to Him, no matter how much talent we have or how much ability we have. We can serve God with our gifts, but if love is not the foundation of our service, then we are nothing (1 Cor 13:1-3). When we truly love as God loves, we fulfill God’s law (Gal 5:14). Why? Because when we truly love we refrain from doing that which is offensive to God, and evil toward our neighbor. Not only will we refrain from performing evil toward others, but we will also resist pursuing vengeance when we are wronged. Instead, we will love and pray for those that stand as our enemies (Matt 5:44). Secondly, the fruit of joy will grow and enable us to avoid the trap of allowing situations that bring great sorrow to take root and depress us to the point of debilitation. The Bible tells us that we are to rejoice in the Lord (Phil 4:4). Our ability to praise God, and count our blessing is directly tied to finding contentment and joy in our lives when circumstances want to dictate otherwise. Our choice to focus on all the good that God has done in our lives will enable us to override our tendencies to be naysayers, and our tendencies to focus negativity and on the things God has chosen not to give us for our own good and His glory. When we choose to obey God’s Word, and rejoice in the Lord, we will then experience the third fruit listed, the peace of God. When true peace takes root in our lives, it will become evident to others, and our testimony for the Lord will shine brightly. Observers of our faith will marvel at how well we deal with trials and tribulations. This will give us the opportunity to share with others why we can have peace in the midst of the storms that can cause overwhelming distress in the lives of those who do not know Jesus, and have no hope. The secret will be that we have prayerfully brought our circumstance(s) to God and left it/them with Him. In return He will guard our hearts and minds with the peace that passes all understanding (Phil 4:6-7). It would be remiss of me not to point out that our ability to love, have joy and peace, are all tied to having a prayer life that keeps us going before God continually, rejoicing before Him and giving thanks in everything (1 Thess 5:16-18). Just these first three fruits of the Spirit, growing in our lives, will open many doors for us to share Jesus with others. Tomorrow, Lord willing, we will take a closer look at the next three fruits of the Spirit listed in these verses.

God demonstrated true love toward us when He gave His only begotten Son for us (John 3:16). His desire is that none would perish, but that all would be saved (2 Peter 3:9). However, in order to receive eternal life, we must call on Jesus, by faith, repenting and confessing our sins, and accepting His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23; 10:13). Would you call on Him today?

The Serpent and the Dove

Verse of the day: Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

Why are we amazed when people hate us for what we believe as followers of Jesus? Why do we act as if something new or extraordinary has taken place? Why do we act surprised, as if to not expect persecution (1 Pet 4:12)? Did not Jesus tell us that in this world we would have tribulation and experience hatred because we choose to follow Him (Matt 10:22; John 16:33)? However, even in knowing this, Jesus has sent us forth into the world, even as He was sent into the world (John 17:18). In today’s verse we plainly see that Jesus knew the dangers that His followers would encounter as they went out to do what we have all been commanded to do, tell others about Jesus and share the Gospel message. In doing so, and in knowing what we would face, Jesus gave us a very important principle to follow that will help us to be more effective in the way we interact with the world. Too many Christians are foolishly engaging the world in a way that is counterproductive to the furtherance of the Gospel (in both the way they present it and the way they represent Jesus [in our behavior towards others]). Jesus told his disciples, and this still applies to us today, that they were first to be “wise as serpents”. Many of us are not fans of snakes. However, in interacting with the world, we can certainly learn a lot from them. If you observe the serpent, it is one of the most cunning animals in its ability to escape danger. It is ever watchful and immediately recognizes a dangerous situation. It moves along silently and is often undetected, even when someone is standing next to one. In this we are to mimic the snake. As born again believers we must be careful to discern when is the right time to speak or be silent, as to not draw negative attention to ourselves or the Gospel. Just like the serpent recognizes danger and takes refuge, we too must know that the Rock that we take refuge under during the storms of life is Jesus. The serpent’s eyesight is sharp. We must be careful not to cloud our vision with the distractions that the world puts before us to draw our attention away from our calling and what we are supposed to be accomplishing, in Christ while we are here on earth. The serpent is not easily charmed; so we too are take caution in what we spend our time listening to (inappropriate gossip, music, charismatic teachers who teach heresy). The serpent goes to great lengths to protect its head from injury. Too often, the follower of Jesus neglects the mind and for this cause too many are easily deceived by false teachings, and corrupt doctrines, leading to beliefs and lifestyles that draw us away from God’s truth, and bring dishonor to the Gospel and Christianity. Jesus also told His disciples that they are also to be like the dove which is a symbol of beauty, chastity, fruitfulness, love, peace, unity and innocence. We are to live pure lives that are fruitful in our ability to mature in Christ, share the Gospel and lead other to Jesus, and disciple others so that they can do the same. We are to love one another, and even our enemies, and be at peace with each other and the world at large, as much as is within us (Rom 12:18). The world should see people who love Jesus, and live what they believe; and though they may persecute us, they should have to lie in order to blaspheme who we are in Christ, as we are told in 1 Peter 2:11-13 and 1 Peter 3:16. We must be wise enough, and humble enough, to resist reviling when we are reviled, trusting the Lord to take vengeance on our behalf (Rom 12:19-21). Instead of going on the attack, we must show love, and pray for those that persecute us (Matt 5:44). Wisdom and gentleness should guide us in knowing when it is best to speak the Gospel or when it is best to just be silent and live it so that the Lord can use that to open a door for us to verbally present Jesus with others.

Regardless of whether or not we are a Christian, we will experience troubles in this lifetime. However, the trials we suffer in this life will be dwarfed by the suffering to come for those who reject Jesus. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us so that we would not be condemned. However, in order to receive eternal life, we must call on Jesus, by faith, repenting and confessing our sins, and accepting His free gift of salvation (John 3:16; Rom 6:23; 10:13). Would you call on Him today?

Every Need Will Be Met

Verse of the Day: Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Psalm 23 is one of the most well known Psalms in Scripture. I have most often heard it read during funerals, but this truly is a Psalm for those of us that are alive and well. It is not really known exactly when King David wrote it, but it most definitely was written from his own experiences as a shepherd. This Psalm is a great reminder that God is a personal God. King David wrote, “The Lord is my Shepherd”. How beautiful and comforting it is to know that God is our personal God. Like the shepherd knows each individual sheep, so God knows each of us, and deals with us individually and personally. He knows what is happening in each of our lives, and takes a personal interest, regardless of how great or small we may think the situation to be. In John 10, the Word of God tells us that Jesus is our Good Shepherd. He tells us that not only is He our Shepherd (and knows each of us), but we too know His voice and follow Him. However, in order for us to truly recognize His voice, we must know His Word (2 Tim 2:15). We must not forget that our enemy, the devil, tries to mimic God and wants to deceive us by twisting God’s truth and taking us down a path that leads us away from God. Every day in life we will make decisions; and each decision, regardless of how great or small, needs to be filtered through what we know of God’s truth because each decision can potentially have great consequences. The Psalm goes on to tell us that our Shepherd sees to it that we have everything we need. As a matter of fact, He knows even before we ask (Matt 6:8). However, we must not mistake our wants for our needs. This is not to say that God will not also give us the things we desire; however, when God is our priority in life, our desires will line up with His (Ps 37:3-5) making more likely that the wants we ask for will be in accordance to God’s will and plan for our lives. In Matthew 6:25-34, our Good Shepherd reminds us that we should not worry about what we need. He takes care of the birds of the air, and we are more valuable to God than they are.  Why then would He not see to it that we have all that we need on a daily basis? All too often we spend way too much time worrying about how we are going to meet our weekly or monthly bills or responsibilities, forgetting that we are not guaranteed tomorrow, and that God will take care of next week’s and next month’s needs when next week and next month has come. I am afraid that if we are to take an honest look back at all the times we worried, we would have to admit that we wasted a lot of time worrying and making ourselves sick over things that God ultimately took care of. Let us live today trusting God, and letting Him take care of tomorrow’s needs, as today will have its own set of challenges without us trying to anticipate what they will be (which are already in God’s hands and under His control); Matt 6:34.

Jesus died for each and every one of us (John 3:16). As His child, you will enjoy a personal and intimate relationship with Him. He desires not only to give us eternal life, but also to take care of our every need (1 Pet 5:7). Do not wait to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Call on Him today, repenting and confessing your sins (Rom 10:13).

Will the “New Man” Please Stand Up…

Verse of the Day: Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

Is Jesus really the center of our lives? If we say He is, does the way that we live reflect that? Do those who knew us before we accepted the Lord see a notable difference in who we are today? I am not talking about those who see us going to church for the first time or see us going more often than we used to. Many are going to church, but are not changing their behavior, thereby being seen as hypocrites because of their words and deeds outside of the church building. I am talking about genuine change; the kind of change that has not only made others notice, but has also allowed God to open doors in our lives to share Jesus with others. The Apostle Paul reminded the readers of this letter that they, as we, are dead to self and sin, and have been raised in Christ to life everlasting. Therefore, we are to put aside the things that we used to do before we were given a new life in Jesus. Sadly, I believe we make far too many excuses for why we have not changed in certain areas of our lives. We excuse our anger and evil passions by blaming society and what is going on around us for arousing those fleshly and devilish behaviors; when we should be focusing our attention on Jesus and the changes He is trying to make in our live by the working of the Spirit and the Word of God in us. The Apostle admonishes us to put on the “new man” as followers of Jesus. As His children we are to have a heart of compassion. When Jesus sees the lost He sees a people who are lost sheep without a shepherd (Matt 9:36). God often had compassion for His people, and rather than destroy them for their sin, He forgave them over and over (Ps 78:38). He also tells us to do the same when we have occasion to have to forgive others (Col 3:13). The Apostle goes on to tell us that we ought to be Christians who demonstrate kindness and humility (meekness), and willing to suffer long, patiently putting up with others (whether saved or unsaved). My brothers and sisters, this is the area where we often destroy our chances of pointing others to Jesus. Somehow, we have allowed ourselves to believe that the only way to reach the lost is to beat them up with the Scriptures. Many of us, who already know the Lord are often offended when we hear the truth about our own sin. However, if we are truly seeking to allow the Lord to change us, then by the conviction of the Holy Spirit we eventually realize that our offense came because we recognize that God was right, and that there are areas of our life that need to be pruned. May I remind us that the unsaved are not capable of thinking and processing the same as we do? For this reason we must be careful to speak the truth in love (and allow God to work in their hearts, to convict them of their sins [John 16:7-9]). Will there be occasions when we may have to be a bit harder on someone? Yes, but that would be with one who claims to be a brother or sister in Christ who is being rebellious and disregarding what they know about who they ought to be in Christ (1 Cor 5:9-13). Jesus was hard on the religious (Pharisees) who should have known who He was and should have been leading others to God, but by their behavior led people away from God and to themselves. The Apostle reminds us in verse 14 that above all we are to put on love. In other words, in all our interactions the foundation for our actions should be love (the love of Jesus). Peace is to rule in our hearts (v. 15), so that we are at peace with others and amongst each other (Rom 12:18). The Word of God is to dwell in us richly (influence us abundantly to do good). The bottom line is that in order for us to succeed in putting on the “new man” we must stay in the Word daily, pray without ceasing, and stay our focus on the Lord. I ask you once again, “Does our behavior, and the way we live, really reflect that we have put off the “old man” and put on the “new man” in Jesus?”

When we accept Jesus Chris as Savior and Lord, we are made a new creature (2 Cor 5:17). Without Jesus we cannot receive eternal life (John 3:3). Do not wait to accept His free gift of salvation (John 3:16; Rom 6:23). Call on Him today, repenting and confessing your sins (Rom 10:13).

Understanding from Heaven’s Perspective

Verse of the Day: Psalm 73:16-17 When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me— ¹⁷ Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then I understood their end.

How often do we find ourselves being angry over what we see going on in the world around us? We see the unfair and cruel treatment of the just. We see innocent people being killed and all the while it seems as if God has turned a blind eye to the crime and corruption in government and in society in general. Too often we have taken our eyes off of Jesus and focused a little too long on how prosperous the unsaved and the dishonest people have become. If we are honest with ourselves, we would have to admit that we have even envied and coveted what they have (fame, success, money, material things). Some have even been tempted to try and gain some of that by dishonest means. Like the Psalmist, we have even questioned and have said to ourselves, or to someone else, “What’s the point of living right when everything seems to go wrong?” The Psalmist (Asaph) knew that God was good to the “pure in heart”, yet he was troubled by how the ungodly seemed to get ahead with no apparent consequences for the wicked ways. Based on those observations he was tempted, but did not stumble (v. 2, 14). Today, we too know that God is good to the “pure in heart” (to those that live according to, and obey, His Word). Yet, it seems that the wicked continue to prosper while we, His children, suffer. What kept Asaph from stumbling in this temptation and his struggle with understanding why God was allowing the “bad” people to prosper, with seemingly no consequences for their evil ways? He clearly states that it was troubling for him to try and understand this; but only until He turned to God for the answer. How often have we been painfully troubled in trying to understand what we see going on around us? How often have we or other Christians we know turned to complaining and saying things (ungodly things) in response to what we see in society and government? How often have we, instead of praying, made ungodly comments about those that are behaving wickedly (especially when it affected us in some way)? Sadly, we have done this publicly (on social media), and in the long run have behaved in a way that has brought dishonor to the Name of Jesus. Although Jesus was confronted and challenged quite a bit during His time here on earth, we read nowhere in Scripture where He turned to reviling or insulting those that disagreed with Him or behaved wickedly (by God’s standard and truth) toward Him (1 Pet 2:23). Asaph found relief and understanding only when He turned to God and spent time seeking His answers to those nagging questions in His presence. What he found was that no matter how much the wicked prospered in this lifetime, there would eventually be a price to pay for their evil ways. All that they had gained would be of no value to them on the day of their judgment. The truth of the matter is that this has not changed. God tells us that He is good to both the just and the unjust (Matt 5:45). As a matter of fact, let’s take this a step further and be reminded that Jesus who is Just died for us, the unjust (1 Pet 3:18). It is very easy, especially when we suffer for doing what is right, to lose sight of the fact that the wicked, in all their prosperity, will someday be judged and suffer eternal condemnation (Acts 24:14-16). Like Asaph, although we may be tempted, and feel like giving up; we must endure and turn to where our help and strength come from, our Lord God (Ps 28:7). Let us be reminded of how often we have seen the wicked die in the “prime” of their lives. How many “famous” people who seemed to have had it all have we seen commit suicide or die an untimely death? How many have overdosed, or died while in the midst of enjoying their wicked ways? The pleasure of sin only lasts for a season (Heb 11:24-26). Yet, you and I are still live, and have eternity with Jesus to look forward to. Sadly, they traded their soul for treasures that really were not treasures, but distractions and idols. What good did it serve them? What good would it serve us? Jesus reminds us in Matthew 16:26, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Many of us may be going through difficult times right now, even though we are living for the Lord. I would encourage all of us, who are living for, and serving, God, to hold fast and remember that in the end we will receive our eternal reward, and what we suffer here does not compare to what He has in store for us (Rom 8:18). However, this can only be truly understood when we turn to the sanctuary of our God where we find the joy, contentment, satisfaction and hope we need to be at peace (with others and ourselves) in a turbulent world.

It is so easy to question why we suffer while the wicked prosper and seemingly live without consequences. The truth is that there will be consequences, and even though the innocent seem to suffer, God is just. He tells us that there is no one who is innocent, no matter how good we think we are. However, even though our righteousness cannot gain us Heaven, the Blood of Jesus can. Will you call on Him today? Trust Him, repent, confess your sins, and call upon Him by faith (Rom 10:13).

Are We Maturing Spiritually?

Verse of the Day: 2 Peter 1:5-8 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, ⁶ to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, ⁷ to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. ⁸ For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

How are we doing in our spiritual growth? Are we still babes in Christ? I am not asking this to the brother or sister that has recently accepted Jesus as Savior. I am asking those of us who have known Jesus for some time now. There are too many Christians who measure their spiritual maturity by the number of years since they made a profession of faith. However, the number of years we have been a Christian does not necessarily make us mature in the faith. Far too many Christians are stunted in their spiritual growth because they have failed to apply the Word of God to their lives. Some have memorized Scripture (which is great), but still react to people, and respond to life’s issues, in almost the same manner as when they were first saved. Many know the basic doctrines relative to salvation and other basic truths, but have not taken the time to dig into the Scriptures to find the treasures that are there. Sadly, some of us would be those that were spoken of by the Apostle Paul when he desired to give the brothers and sister in Corinth the meat of the Word, but could only give them milk because of their immaturity (1 Cor 3). As born again believers we must not see Jesus just as “fire insurance”. When we accepted Jesus as Savior, we began the journey of being sanctified (the process of becoming more like Jesus). God gave us the Holy Spirit and His Word to help us in that process, but we need to prayerfully seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance in applying the Word of God, and not just be hearers of the Word, but doers also (James 1:21-25). Here, the Apostle Peter tells us that once we have received Jesus by faith, to our faith we must add moral goodness. In other words, our sense of morality should change so that we no longer accepting what the world defines as moral (there should be a definite change in our worldview). For the unsaved, what is right is wrong and what is wrong is right, and everyone has their own idea of what is morally correct. Our morality, on the other hand, should be defined by what God says is morally right. To that we are called to add knowledge. We are to be avid students of the Word. We must be able to recognize false teaching and be able to discern when the truth of God is being twisted for selfish and personal gain (and not being used to glorify God by its false application). Next we are to add self-control, especially in our sensual desires and appetites, coupled with patience so that we do not give into lustful acts of sin. Self-control and patience also help us to avoid rushing into making our own decisions about what we want, especially when God may not desire whatever that is for us; and will help us to patiently wait on the Lord to show us His will and plan for that moment and for our lives in general. Ultimately we will be able to patiently wait for Him to see us through the difficult situations He allows into our lives, which result in greater faith and trust. To our self-control and patience we need to add reverence; reverence and respect toward God so that we realize that He is Lord of our lives. Too many alleged followers of Jesus want to live with Him as Savior, but resist Him as Lord. Finally, we must demonstrate our maturity in Christ by the way we treat one another in brotherly love. We are to be kind to one another and cherish each other; seeking one another’s best interests before our own (Phil 2:1-4). We must, by God’s leading, encourage one another and meet each other’s needs, as God reveals those needs to us. On any given day, He can use us to be the answer to someone’s prayers, and vice versa. The bottom line is that when we are careful to do these things, putting them into practice each day, we will be fruitful in gaining more knowledge about who Jesus is, and our intimate fellowship with Him will grow sweeter with each passing day. So, I ask again… How are we doing in our Christian maturity and walk with Jesus?

Our walk with Jesus can only begin when we accept Him as Savior and Lord (John 3:16). Will you call on Him today? Trust Him, repent, confess your sins, call upon Him by faith (Rom 10:13), and begin to enjoy the sweetest relationship you will ever have in this lifetime, and the next (eternally with Jesus).