Fighting the Wrong Enemies

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Before you continue reading, stop, go back, and read the verse again. Go ahead...I'll wait. Did you read it? Did you let it sink in? Okay, good...now we can continue. What I find most amazing about us as believers is that we can read, and even study, a portion of Scripture; yet, we can close our Bibles and immediately forget what we just read. This truth is evident in the fact that so many of us are divided today over things that will not matter when we leave this earth. If we were about to breathe our last breath, or if Jesus returned at this very moment to take us home with Him, many of the things we allowed to create division in our lives, amongst our brethren, would not matter one stinking iota. No matter how often we read that "we DO NOT wrestle against flesh and blood", we still argue, fight, and cause division within the body of Christ. Chapter 4 of this very Book tells us that God wants unity amongst His people. We are to walk in a manner worthy of our calling. We are to show humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance for one another in love; being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (4:1-3). Chapter 5 tells us to be imitators of God, walking in love. Sadly, all we see today is a bunch of sheep who are supposed to be following the Shepherd, but instead are choosing to follow the wolves who are constantly bombarding us with lies, in order to instill fear, and cause us to fight amongst ourselves. What is even more tragic is that we are fighting against people we are supposed to be leading to Jesus. The real enemies, the devil and his demons, are doing a great job of distracting us from what we should be doing as followers of Jesus. They have us pining after human leaders that can do nothing for us in the long run; Jesus is the only true Deliverer. They have us focused on news and social media, rather than the only place we find truth...the Bible. The devils are succeeding in their efforts to do the one thing they want to accomplish through all their fear mongering, to have us fighting the wrong enemies, and ruin our testimony for Jesus in a world where we are supposed to be salt and light.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Fear, Repentance, and Happiness

Proverbs 28:13-14 He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. Happy is the man who fears, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

So many today seek happiness, but cannot seem to find it. The truth of the matter is that the reason we do not find it is because we look for it in all the wrong ways and places. The world has far too many of us convinced that happiness is found in living a comfortable life, gathering more and more of the world's material things. We are constantly bombarded with advertisements that send the message that having more of the world will bring the satisfaction and happiness we seek. We are told that doing things the world's way, no matter what we have to do to attain them, is the way to live. Yet, God tells us that the way to happiness is to live a life of repentance. He tells us that happiness comes from living a life that is right with Him. A life where we repent of, and confess, our sins. When we come before the Lord, continually asking Him to examine our hearts and show us what is there, so that we can confess it and not hide it, it is in this process that we find His mercy. It is in this process that there is true happiness. If we show this kind of fear, a fear that is a reverent fear for God, and a fear of sin and its consequences; only then will we find true happiness. This kind of happiness cannot be easily taken from us because it is grounded in the joy and peace of God. Seeking after the world and its ways will harden our hearts toward God and His ways. Let us avoid this hardening by simply being more intentional in repenting and confessing our sins, and being right with the One who offers us His undeserved mercy and grace.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Say No to the Vomit

Proverbs 26:11-12 As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly. Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Imagine for a moment that you are going to sit down to have a meal. How appetizing would it be to have, and how would you respond to having, a nice steaming bowl of your own vomit put before you? Yes, I know...that is totally gross. However, that is the picture we are given in today's verse in respect to the person, or fool, who returns to their own foolishness. Like the dog who not only returns to its vomit, but seems to joyfully consume what it threw up just moments before, so is the fool who returns to the life of foolish sinful living. How often we are tempted to dabble in the things we forsook when we chose to follow Jesus. These are the very things that we, in our own wisdom, decide we can still dabble in without getting re-entangled in our former way of living. God's Word tells us that even a fool has more hope than the one who goes back to their former ways. Romans 6:16 warns, "Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?" Why then would we take the chance of becoming slaves to a master we have been set free from? Let us instead draw near to God, and lay down before Him as living sacrifices on His altar, and be free to serve Him who is the greatest Master we can serve; the One who bought us with His own Blood. The next time we are tempted to pick up that sinful habit the Lord has helped us to put aside, we need to stop, imagine that steaming bowl of vomit, and prayerfully ask the Lord to help us walk away. There is greater blessing and satisfaction in enjoying a meal consisting of the Bread of Life, washed down with some refreshing, Living Water. Say no to the vomit.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Observe, Consider, Receive...Action!

Proverbs 24:32 When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction:

There is much wisdom in learning from what the Lord allows us to observe. This observer saw the field of the lazy man, he considered it in his heart, and received instruction. The Lord often puts examples before us, both in "real time" situations, and in His Word, for us to learn from. In 1 Corinthians 10, the Apostle Paul wrote about the Israelites in the wilderness, and how many of them died in the wilderness because of their lust for evil things, their idolatry, and unbelief. He goes on to tell us that these things became our examples of what not to do. Far too many of us, in spite of the examples God graciously puts before us, still follow our own lusts and sinful desires, only to suffer painful consequences that could have been avoided, had we heeded the warnings that came by way of the examples. Let us be wise in our walk with Jesus, by not only learning from the examples He sets before us, and the examples He has provided for us in His Word; but by also being doers of His Word, and putting to action the instruction we have received. So the next time God puts an example before us that is profitable for gaining wisdom, observe it, consider it, receive it, then...put it to action!

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Now or Later

Proverbs 23:17-18 Do not let your heart envy sinners, But be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day; For surely there is a hereafter, And your hope will not be cut off.

What have we accomplished in life thus far? Will we be able to look back on our lives and say, "Lord, I accomplished everything You wanted me to"? What if today was our last day here; could we honestly say that we have lived for Jesus, or would we have to admit that we have wasted our life on self and the pursuit of the things the world has convinced us are important? Have we wasted life pursuing the things that the Lord never meant for us to have? Are we so focused on what others have, who are not living for Jesus or may not even know Jesus, that we have lost sight of why we are here, and what it is that we are supposed to be doing? Today we are reminded that this life is not it. What I mean is that life on earth is temporary, and it will pass like a vapor. Those who are living for "now", for the instant gratification of material gain, fame, and fortune, while living a wicked and corrupt life, will one day be no more (Psalms 37:35-36). For us, the children of the Most High, we will inherit the earth. In Christ, we already have Heaven; it is our home, and with it are promises of great rewards for those of us who lose our life here for Jesus. We are not to live for "now", but live for "later". We are to live now with the future in mind. We are to strive to serve Jesus, for His glory, gathering treasures in Heaven, where we will enjoy them eternally. The unsaved, with all their riches, and prestige, have no hope. We, on the other hand, have a Living Hope! That is where our focus and attention must be. We need to forsake friendship with the world, and the pursuit of empty rewards that will one day perish. How much of all that we have gained here can we take with us when we die? Nothing more than the clothes, jewelry, and other keepsakes they might put in our coffins; which is right where these things will remain. The rest of what we have gathered, regardless of how much or little, will go to someone else who will likely squander it. Let us live for the eternal. Let us work to bring souls with us. Let us love God and love our neighbor in such a way that every day, with every interaction, we gather more heavenly treasure than we can ever imagine. One day, our life here will end; either in death, or the rapture. Either way, it will be over for this life. However, when we stand before Jesus in our next life, it will become evident as to whether we lived for "now" or "later".

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

In Whose Hand?

Proverbs 21:1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

Why do we panic when things seem to go sideways and out of control? Why do we respond to life and circumstances, as if God has somehow lost control? As born again believers we say that we believe that God is sovereign, all-knowing, all-powerful, and ever present; yet, we fly into a panic when life, our country, and the world seems to go crazy. Have we forgotten that God is the One who puts kings on thrones, and also dethrones them, as He wishes and decides? Today, we are reminded that God can direct a ruler's heart in any direction He determines best, in order to accomplish His will and plans? Has God not used unsaved rulers in the past to accomplish His will on earth in respect to getting His people's attention, and getting them refocused on Him? Maybe what we need to do today is take our eyes off of the nonsense and lies that are constantly being put before our eyes, and refocus our attention on Jesus, serving Him, and telling others about Him and what He did for us. The bottom line is that just as the king's heart is in the Lord's hand, we need to let God be the Lord of our hearts. We can either be living sacrifices on God's altar, letting Him lead us, and move in our hearts, or we can be the lords of our own hearts, sell out to the world, and become friends of the devils and the world. As we step back and take a critical look at our lives, let us ask ourselves, "In whose hand is my heart?" "Am I letting Jesus turn my heart wherever He wishes?" If not, is it not about time that we did?

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Pay It Forward

Proverbs 19:11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression.

Contrary to what the world calls strength, and manliness, being slow to anger is a great demonstration of true strength. It is far too easy to allow our pride to drive our bouts of anger, whenever we are offended or insulted. It takes supernatural strength to overlook transgressions, and shrug off insults. Today's verse reminds us that in God's eyes a person who refrains from being quick to anger is a person of discretion, or wisdom. Overlooking a transgression does not mean that we cannot hold someone accountable for their sinful actions or behavior. It simply means that we must have the wisdom to know when to "just let something go" and when to address a situation with calmness, kindness, and love; refusing to return evil for evil, but returning good for evil. Proverbs 16:32 clearly tells us, "He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city." The world's idea of what it means to be strong stands in complete opposition to what God defines as strength. Our flesh feels better when it gets its "pound of flesh" from someone who has caused an offense, but in the end all we are doing is demonstrating how weak we truly are. The greatest example and demonstration of the kind of strength God desires for us, His children, was demonstrated for us by Jesus Himself in 1 Peter 2:23 which reads, "Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously." Today, before we give someone "a piece of our mind" when we are offended or insulted, let us stop and remember how often God has forgiven us for sinning against Him; and pay that same forgiveness forward instead.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

The Only Way

John 14:5-6 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

How can we know the way? The simple answer...God's Word. It is where we find the truth that reveals the Way. It is where we find the Way to the Father, and the way to other destinations that are available to us, only in Christ Jesus. In John 1:4 we are told that in Jesus was life; and in John 11:25 Jesus said that He is the Resurrection and the Life. Acts 4:12 tells us that there is no other Name under heaven given among men by which we MUST be saved...no other. Jesus is the only Way to life eternal. John 1:17 tells us that Jesus is the Way from which came grace and truth. This is the grace that we need each and every day. It is the grace that brings forgiveness for our sins, and gives us what we do not deserve. It is the grace that allows us to be reconciled to our Heavenly Father. It is the grace we have access to in those times we need help. Jesus is the Way that brings us truth. This is the truth that sets us free from fear and the bondage of sin. It is the truth that shines light on the lies and deceptions of the enemy. It is the truth we need to focus on today, as the world and its system attempts to put us in bondage to fear. In Jesus, the Way, we have been given the confidence through faith in Him, to boldly access the throne of grace, and put aside the lie that we are not worthy to approach the Father; for it is the righteousness of Jesus, not our own, that has made a way. Because of Jesus we have a way to the Father and all the blessings that come with being a child of God, and having an intimate relationship with our Lord and Savior. It is by His Blood, and by the Spirit (Ephesians 2:18) that we have been cleansed and given access to the things and places we cannot earn or obtain by our own works. In Jesus we find the way to restful pastures (John 10:9). In Him we find rest from trying to work for our salvation. In Him we find rest when life becomes turbulent. In Him we have access to the joy and the peace that passes all understanding, even when it seems like things are out of control. He is truly the Way, the only Way.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Until He Sees His Own Reflection

Proverbs 17:3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests the hearts.

Although the process for purifying silver and gold varies slightly, both metals go through a melting process that separates the precious metals from the dross, or impurities; so it is with the heart of man. The refining pot and furnace of the heart is the Lord Himself. In Malachi 3, God is described as a Refiner's Fire, and in 1 Corinthians 3 we are told that the Day is coming when our works will be tried by fire to determine their heavenly worth. Before any of our works can pass the test of fire, our hearts must be refined by fire. Like precious metals that must pass through the fires that melt them and separate them from the impurities they are intermingled with; so the heart of man must also be put through the fire that separates it from sin. The Lord turns up the heat of trials, tribulation, and persecution, in order to bring to the surface the dross of pride, selfishness, hypocrisy, rebellion, deception, and all the sin and wickedness that abides deep within the recesses of the heart. God, who is the only One who truly knows the heart of man, reaches down into the most remote and secret part of our hearts to bring up that which keeps us far from Him. It is only the Lord who has the power to take our uncaring and selfish hearts of stone and transform them to hearts of flesh that are then capable of surrendering to God, and serving Him for His glory, by the power of the Spirit, in Christ Jesus. It goes without saying that we, in general, do not enjoy suffering. We do not enjoy having to endure trials and tribulations. However, it is the process of having to walk through the fiery trials of life that begins to purify our hearts and prepare us for a life of service to our Lord. It is only as He puts us through this process that we are able to perform the good works we were created to perform, that will eventually pass the fiery test that will determine if our works are worthy of heavenly reward. What is most amazing about this process is that God does not just put us in the fire, and turn up the heat. No, instead He puts us in the fire, turns up the heat, then walks through it with us, keeping a watchful eye on us so that, like a precious metal, we are not ruined from being overheated. When we come out on the other side, and the dross of all the wickedness that dwells deep within is removed. The Lord then polishes us, like the refiner polishes precious metals, until He sees His own reflection in the finished product. When it is all said and done, remember this one thing...no matter what fiery trials we must endure in order to have our hearts purified, it is a process that is grounded in God's love, and His desire that we become more and more like His beloved Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Our God Is Still In Control

Proverbs 16:4 The Lord has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.

As we look all around us today, it may be difficult for some of us to see, or understand, what is God's purpose in allowing everything that is happening in our country, and in the world; especially when it touches us and affects us personally. Yet, God most certainly has a purpose for everyone and everything He created, and everything He allows. We can sit here and waste time trying to figure it all out, or we can stay focused on God and His Word, knowing and trusting that He has a plan, and that His plan(s) will be accomplished in accordance to His will. We can play the "guessing game" and come up with all kinds of possibilities as to why God is allowing what He is allowing, or we can realize that all that is taking place is a foreshadow of what is coming soon, and simply get busy doing what we should have been doing all along; telling people about Jesus, living out His plan for our own lives, serving Him, and seeking to glorify Him by the things we say and do. We may not always like what God allows. We may still be wondering what God's plan is for our lives; but the truth of the matter is that God's plan in our life unfolds as we live out God's Word (the place where He has spelled out His will). As for what God's purpose is in allowing all this evil and wickedness to continue in this present time; well, only God truly knows, and we are told that the secret things belong to Him (Deuteronomy 29:29). God has given us as much as we need to know about these end times that we are seeing unfold before our very eyes. However, this is not the time to be idle and waste time trying to figure out the things that are not ours to figure out. Just know that God has a plan, that He has a purpose for everything He allows. Know that God has a purpose for you and me, and that it begins with our personal relationship with Jesus. So today, let us turn off all the propaganda that is drawing our attention away from God, and filling us with a devilish fear that should not take over the life of a child of God; for we have not been given the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). God is using wicked men to wake up His people, and will use them in the coming Tribulation Period; but know this...the wicked will ultimately be punished and be no more. So, let us get busy living out God's plan, and leave the rest to Him, for our God is still in control.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Do Not Despise His Love

Proverbs 15:32 He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.

Anyone who enjoys being chastened, please raise your hand. I do not think I will get too many takers on that one. However, there is great wisdom and blessing that comes with chastening, which some of us need more than others. Hebrews 12 tells us that God's chastening is evidence that we belong to Him, as sons and daughters. God's chastening, which may even come as a loving rebuke from a brother or sister in Christ, is profitable for us in that He uses it to steer us back onto the path He desires for us to walk on. For this reason we must take care to receive chastening, and a loving rebuke, in the right spirit; and that takes much practice and humility. Hebrews 12:11 tells us, "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness." Today, let us not ignore what God is trying to teach us, if we are in fact experiencing His chastening. He may be starting gradually in order to get our attention, and keep us from going down a path that will result in painful consequences. To ignore it, or become stiff necked, is to despise our own soul. Instead, we must see God's discipline for what it truly is...a blessing. A blessing because we have a God who loves us enough not to allow us to continue down a path of potential pain, and destruction. He loves us enough to redirect us so that we can enjoy a life of fellowship with Him, and blessings that come with living a life of righteousness. To despise His chastening is to despise His love.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Our Nation Would Look Different

Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.

What can be said about a nation that rejects God and His ways? What can be said of a nation that gives preference to everything that is godless and wicked? Will their military might exalt them? Will their economic prosperity exalt them? A nation may enjoy prosperity, might, and great status among other nations, but it will all crumble when it turns its back on God; or should I say, when God turns His back on that nation. As we slowly push God out of society, so that men can do what is right in their own eyes, the consequences of forsaking God will begin to show when God forsakes the nation (whatever nation that may be). We can learn a lot from watching how God did not spare even His people Israel, whenever they turned from Him to follow and worship other gods. Today, we are seeing the results of a nation that has, over time, pushed God out of schools, politics, and is looking to push Him out of every aspect of society, making way for all that is wicked and devilish. Quite sadly, even the church is failing miserably. We have traded our "battleships" in for "cruise ships", turning our churches into "country clubs" rather than the "hospitals" they should be. We have become too busy, and intimidated, to tell people about Jesus when we are outside of the church building, and fail to even invite others to come. We pray that God will bring people in, but fail to remember that He called us to go out and bring them in. We have traded our Bibles for smartphones and tablets that keep us busy on social media. We justify it by telling ourselves that we are using it to post Scripture and cute little Christian memes. We live our lives dabbling in the things of the world, acting like the world, and chasing the things the world has convinced us will bring success, comfort, and happiness, as long as we compromise our values and our faith. We are lukewarm at best, if that. Then we cry out and mourn because the nation we live in begins to restrict us, persecute us, and vilify all that is righteous before God, it seems to fall on deaf ears. A once godly nation is failing, because the church is failing. We have allowed ourselves to stray from truth for the sake of gain, and comfort. God and His Word have taken a backseat to all else. As a result, the devils have wreaked havoc in our families, which of course has led to the deterioration of society. We may want to blame the world and the unsaved for the wicked direction in which our country is heading, and has been for some time; but if we are to stop and take an honest look at the condition we find ourselves in today, we must have to admit that we, the church, have forsaken the righteousness that would exalt a nation. If only each of us personally did more to truly live for Jesus and His Word, our nation, which we claim to love, would look a whole lot different than it does today.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Whose Wielding the Sword?

Proverbs 12:18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.

Who is wielding the Sword? Which Sword do you ask? You know, the Sword of the Spirit. That's the Sword that we are supposed to carry and use as both a defensive and offensive weapon. However, here is where I have to stop and differentiate for us the meaning of the word "offensive". When I say the Sword of the Spirit is an offensive weapon, I mean that it is a weapon that is used to launch an attack; a spiritual attack on the enemy, not an attack on a brother or sister in Christ, or an unsaved person we are trying to lead to Jesus. Sadly, I see far too many of us using the Sword of the Spirit as an offensive (different pronunciation and meaning) weapon, causing pain and resentment in those we share the Word of God with. The difference in the way we use the Sword comes down to who it is that is wielding it. When we take it upon ourselves to take control of the Sword, allowing our emotions, and our pride, to handle the swings and thrusts, we end up slicing and dicing people to bits, spiritually speaking. We let our knowledge of Scripture puff us up and make us feel more spiritual, when we give others a piece of our self righteous minds. On the other hand, when we prayerfully let the Spirit, in us, handle the Sword that belongs to Him, He leads us in how to skillfully use the Sword to heal the wounds that already exist in the lives of others. We can either go at someone and hack away at them, and their lives, leaving them wounded and bleeding out, or we can, like a skilled surgeon, use the Sword of the Spirit to cut in such a way that the healing process begins; a process that begins with the Great Physician, Jesus Christ. So today, before we open our mouths to share Christ, or even lovingly correct a brother or sister in Christ, let us remember to first pray and ask the Spirit to help us wield the Sword that belongs to Him; not to make us feel more spiritual, but for the benefit of those we speak to, and for God's glory alone.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Of What Profit Is It All?

Proverbs 11:4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.

Stop for a moment and imagine this...we are on our deathbed, and we are about to go on to the other side of eternity; of what profit is all that we possess, materially, at this very moment? What can we use to buy one more minute of life? Considering the fact that we cannot take anything we have with us, because we came into the world with nothing and are going out in the same manner (1 Timothy 6:7); what will we be able to use to buy favor or forgiveness when we are finally standing before the Judge? What profit is it if we live this life for ourselves, and gain as much wealth as possible, when in the day of wrath it will all be worthless? In all that the Lord has allowed us to gain, how much of it have we honestly used for the furtherance of the Gospel, and the Kingdom? How much of our earthly riches have we used to gain heavenly riches? The Word of God tells us that godliness with contentment is great gain (1Timothy 6:6). Today's verse is a great reminder that a life lived in righteousness is far more valuable, in the end, than a life lived with the goal of gaining the riches of this world. However, let me remind all of us that the righteousness that will profit most, on the day of wrath, on the day we close our eyes in death, is not our own righteousness. The Bible is very clear that all our works of righteousness are like filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6). So whose righteousness will count on the day of judgment? Whose righteousness will help us escape the wrath to come? Simply put...Jesus' righteousness. How do we gain that righteousness? We gain it by calling upon Jesus as our Savior and Lord, and living a life of faith. It is His righteousness imputed on us that will be of any worth on the day of wrath. Brothers and sisters, let us not waste another moment chasing the things of this world. Instead, let us do all we can to trade our earthly riches for heavenly riches, and strive to live a life of faith, in Christ, that is pleasing to our Heavenly Father.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Words That Bless and Refresh

Proverbs 10:11, 20-21 The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; The heart of the wicked is worth little. The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of wisdom.

The tongue is a volatile little member that possesses great power. It is described as a fire, a world of iniquity that defiles the whole body (James 3:6). It has the power to uplift, but can also cause damage that can take years to repair. Sadly, many of us have not yet learned how to tame this little beast. Far too often we allow our pride and emotions to be the drivers of the words we speak, and cause much pain, anger, and create emotional scars in others; all for the personal satisfaction of giving someone a piece of our mind, and not letting them "get away" with what they did or said. Today's verses remind us of the importance of using our tongue, our words, to be a blessing, and not a curse, in the lives of others. James 3:10 tells us, "Out of the same mouth proceed blessings and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so." Colossians 4:5-6 command, "Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." We are commanded to be careful about how we live, and what we say while around the unsaved. It will certainly make the difference between whether they will take us seriously concerning our faith. Not only are we to speak words of life, by sharing the Gospel message, but we can also add flavor to their lives by not behaving like the world in the things we say and do. Finally, our words should be encouraging to the brethren, and not grieve the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4:29-32 clearly tells us, "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." Our words should not be setting fires and causing destruction. Instead, as ambassadors of Jesus, our words should be words that bless and refresh.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Let Us Not Waste Our Words

Proverbs 9:7-9 "He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning."

We read over and over again how Jesus confounded those who opposed Him by simply asking questions. He did not argue with them, and when He called them out for their hypocrisy, He was straightforward, and did not involve Himself in silly debates. When He was falsely accused, He answered them with silence. It truly is amazing what happens when we learn the simple skill of asking a challenging question when we encounter someone who is arrogant and only looking for a fight. Sadly, I am not talking about just the unsaved. I am talking about other brothers and sisters in Christ who are constantly looking for arguments and debates over issues that, in the grand scheme of things, will not matter one iota when we finally stand before the Lord. We waste our words on both saved and unsaved who have no real desire to listen, but only speak in order to prove their point. We must learn to discern when someone is genuinely inquiring about the faith, or when they are simply someone who thrives on arguing; or feeding their ego by proving they know more than we do. It is this arguing and bickering that usually puts a bad light on Christianity; especially when someone from one denomination disagrees with how another denomination lives their Christianity. My experience has been, thus far, that we differ even within our own denominations. So, let us stop majoring in minors. Let the scoffers be scoffers, and the scorners be scorners. We must, with as much as depends on us, live at peace with others. Let us focus on sharing Jesus and the salvation found only in Him, correcting and teaching those who want to be taught and who want to grow in godly wisdom; and let us remember that a day is coming when those who refuse to believe, and who choose wickedness, and scoffing, will one day stand before the Judge of this world, Jesus. We must be wise enough to know when to ask a question, when to rebuke, and when to just be silent. We must not give Christianity a blackeye with useless arguments amongst ourselves; and learn to stop wasting our words on deaf ears.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Walk, Do Not Run

Isaiah 43:1-2 But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you."

Today's verses are another reminder that the Christian life will not be without its difficulties. There will be times that seem to overwhelm us with a flood of challenges, while other times make us feel like we are being consumed by one fiery trial after another. However, just like God promised Israel that He would see them through those moments; we the church can also hold on to such a promise, for our God has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. Note that in verse 2, the writer states, "when we walk through the fire"; he did not say, "when we run" or "when we hurry or rush". No, this is a picture of someone who walks through difficult times. It is a picture of someone walking in peace. The only way that is possible for us to walk in peace is when we put our full trust and confidence in the One who walks with us during those turbulent times. Yes, when we walk with the Prince of Peace, and bring our cares and concerns to Him, He gives us the peace that passes all understanding to guard our hearts and minds. So, if today we are going through challenging times, remember to walk, and not run. Because if we run, we may stumble and have a greater chance of being trapped. Instead, walk and remember that there is no need to panic when Jesus is the One keeping us afloat during the flood of difficulties, and walking with us through the fiery moments of life.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).

Owe Nothing But Love

Proverbs 6:1-5 My son, if you become surety for your friend, If you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth. So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; For you have come into the hand of your friend: Go and humble yourself; Plead with your friend. Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids. Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, And like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

Oh what a mess many of us have made of our lives because of debt. Some because of debt we have gotten ourselves into personally; but some for our willingness to help a friend. The fact of the matter is that at some point we may have to borrow from someone somewhere. It is almost unavoidable. However, the Word of God does give us much to consider and pray about when it comes to whether or not we should be involved in certain transactions. Today's verses are very clear that we should avoid, at all cost, being surety, or taking on the debt that primarily belongs to someone else, whether friend or stranger. This is not saying that we cannot bless someone by helping them pay a past debt. This is talking about making a promise to take on the responsibility for a debt that is a future debt, such as an open line of credit, or a loan that is to be paid in the future. I learned this the hard way in my younger days when I cosigned a car loan for a friend who later defaulted. I ended up having to pay the balance of the loan in order to purchase my first home. Lesson learned. In Proverbs 22:7 Solomon warns that when we borrow, we become a servant to the lender. Sadly, the reason far too many of us end up drowning in debt is because we have not learned to be content with such things that God has already provided for us. Our other downfall, at times, is that we are not willing to hurt our friends' feelings by simply explaining that we should not, as believers, promise to pay a debt that will be incurred by someone else. Romans 13:8 tells us instead to owe no one anything, except to love one another. Jesus was our Greatest Example. He paid a debt that was past, present, and future. He paid for the sins we committed, are committing, and will commit. This is the love we are to have for one another; to love one another by forgiving past offenses, current offenses, and be willing to forgive future offenses. Yes, in the same manner each and every one of us was forgiven by God for Christ's sake. By the way, I am not saying that we do not hold the offenders accountable. I am saying that with every offense we must be willing to forgive. So, if today we find ourselves in foolish debts that we never should have taken on, for ourselves, or someone else, let us be like the deer and the birds who do all they can to escape the hunter, and get out of it as quickly as possible. Let us be like the ant in this same chapter who works diligently day after day to gather what is needed. Most of all, let us be diligent to love one another, as Christ loved, and loves, each and every one of us.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 7:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).