Beholding as in a Glass

2 Corinthians 3:18  "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

Once we trust Christ by faith God begins to do a work on us.  He begins to conform us to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He has to teach us to walk by faith, to trust, to obey and to yield ourselves to Him.  There is a pruning process involved as God prunes away everything that isn't honoring or glorifying to the Lord.  The things that are glorifying to God are left to grow and flourish.  We should be mirrors for the glory of God.  When people examine our lives they should see the reflected glory of the Lord.  The Holy Spirit works daily to make us into what He desires us to be.  How is your mirror today?  Is it clearly reflecting the glory of the Lord or is reflecting too much of self and self-will?

Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God

Matthew 6:31  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Matthew 6:32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Matthew 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

If we're not careful it is very easy to get our priorities all mixed up.  We can spend so much time worrying about our next meal, about the clothes that we want to wear that we omit fulfilling our purpose in this life.  We get our attention on everything but the very purpose that God has given us in life.  We need to understand that God know us.  He knows the needs that we have as His children.  He will take care of all of our daily needs if we simply trust him.  We are to put the kingdom of God first and let God take care of everything else in our life.  How are your priorities today?  Is God first?

Our Heritage

Isaiah 54:17  "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD."
Just like an earthly father has a desire to keep his children safe, our Heavenly Father is always looking our for our best interests.  His power is unlimited to work on our behalf.  Even though our enemies rise against us we don't have to be afraid.  We have a God that can cause their weapons to fail when they wield them against us.  Those that would slander, gossip or accuse us God will condemn.  This is our heritage as servants and children of the Lord.  Any righteousness that we have is because of the righteousness of Jesus Christ being placed on our account through His atoning work.  Thank God today that He cares for you!

Walk Upon God's High Places

Habakkuk 3:19  "The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments. "

God has a perfect purpose for your life.  His desire is that you would rise to your fullest potential in His strength.  You've been perfectly prepared for the task that God has for you.  He has placed you in the midst of trials and tribulation to strengthen you for the task ahead.  He has placed you under the proper teaching and preaching of His Word to prepare you.  He is waiting for you to step out by faith and begin the journey.  He is the ultimate source of your strength.  He will make your feet like hinds' feet.  He will give your steps the power, the speed, the grace of the hind if you allow Him to guide you.  He will make you to walk upon the high places of victory as you follow Him.  Give Him control of your life and let Him lead you to your perfect purpose!

God Loves You, He Really Does!

Romans 8:28  "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Our God is a sovereign God.  He has control over everything that comes into the life of the believer.  He has a perfect purpose for everything that happens to us.  The blessings that come into our life serve the purpose of creating within us a thankful heart.  The trials that come into our life are used to instruct, correct and lead us into the path and purpose that God has for us.  The Bible teaches us that in our weakness God's strength is made perfect.  God will allow us to come to the end of our self in order that we might realize our total reliance upon Him.  Are there any trials or burdens in your life today?  Remember that God has purpose for them.  Pray that God will reveal His reason for permitting the trial.

A Jealous God

Exodus 20:3  "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."

Mankind does a wonderful job of creating gods for themselves.  You could go to the remotest village in the farthest part of the jungle and you would find that the villagers there would be worshiping something.  Man will invariably create something to worship.  There is within man a desire to worship something.  Man usually doesn't have far to look when creating a false god to worship.  More often than not man will create a god in his image.  We are very adept as sitting ourselves up as the god of our life.  Making sure that everything we do fulfills our selfish needs.  We want the world to revolve around our wants, needs and concerns.  We get more interested in what we want than what God wants.  God made it abundantly clear to the Israelites when He gave His law to Moses.  God declared that man is to have no other Gods than He.  He is the real God.  He is the one that is altogether worthy of our honor and reverence.  How are you doing today?  Who's really in charge of your life, you or God?

A Time to Every Purpose

Ecclesiastes 3:1  To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Ecclesiastes 3:2  A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

If we live a hundred years upon this earth it will seem, but a fleeting moment.  Time races past and we're old far too quickly.  Our lives are broken down into seasons and times.  The Bible teaches that there is a purpose for every one of these seasons and times.  God has different lessons for us along the way from the cradle to the grave.  As we walk with Him we have the wonderful opportunity to learn from Him.  We learn from the the Living Word of God.  We learn from the experiences that God allows us to pass through.  Have you ever noticed that you can read the same passage of Scripture at different times and it speaks to you differently each time.  The Word of God is truly alive.  It meets the need that we have at the moment that we read its pages.  Are you enjoying the seasons and times of your life?  Walk with God, learn of Him and be blessed!

Lean not unto Thine Understanding

Proverbs 3:5  "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."

There is a certain feeling of satisfaction that comes with being self-sufficient.  When we get our first driver's license and are no longer restricted to riding with others it definitely brings a sense of relief and happiness.  We like our independence and the ability to do things on our own without relying on others.  We like to think that we've lived long enough to have acquired a certain amount of wisdom.  We know how to do things.  We know how to handle different situations that we might have to face.  The Bible warns us not to become too self-sufficient.  The Bible teaches us that it is far better to lean upon and trust the Lord's understanding instead of our understanding.  We can fully trust God with everything in our life.  Our understanding isn't capable of handling everything that life brings.  We have to lean upon One who is able to handle everything that we will ever face.  He is our guide through life.  He is the one that can set us upon the right path and lead us to the best that life has to offer.  Quit trusting in your self and trust God!  He is able!

All Things Were Made by Him

My Soul has Desired Thee!

Isaiah 26:9  "With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. "

Is there a longing within your heart for fellowship with your heavenly Father?  When dusk falls and the night draws nigh does your heart cry out to God?  Do you long to spend time in His Word allowing Him to speak to you?  When the first rays of the sun break on the horizon does your heart leap for joy at the thought of spending time with God?  Do you wonder at the wonderful prospects that the day may hold?  Our heart should be filled with a longing to spend time with God in sweet fellowship.  Time in a quiet place alone with the Word of God, praying and meditating on the words of the Scriptures.  We know that there is a day of righteousness coming when the Lord of all the universe will set up His throne in Jerusalem and the world will learn righteousness.  Is your heart longing for that day?

Then Peter said unto them, Repent!

Acts 2:38  "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

     Peter was addressing all of the people that were gathered together in Jerusalem.  Peter preached on the day of Pentecost to above 3000 souls.  Peter preached in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Peter preached the message that had been entrusted to him.  The message was one of repentance.  The message is the same today in the year 2013.  We must first repent of our sins.  We need to see our sins for what they are.  Our sins are an affront to a Holy God.  They have created a separation between us and God.  Jesus came and died for our sin that we could be reconciled to God the Father.  First we repent, then we accept Christ by faith believing in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.  This is salvation!  At the very second of salvation the Holy Spirit of God indwells us as believers.  Our bodies literally become the temple of the Holy Spirit.  God dwells within us as his children.  After salvation we are to follow the Lord's example by being baptized.  Jesus was baptized to set the example for us.  When we are baptized we are symbolizing Christ's death, burial and resurrection.  

     The problem in modern society is that everyone wants to simply add on Jesus to their life and then continue in their sin.  They want salvation with no repentance, no turning away from their sin.  They want to claim the name of Christ on Sunday morning and live like the devil the rest of the week.  Without true repentance there is no salvation.  We have to agree with God that our sin is sin.

     Where are you today?  Have you recognized that your sin has caused a separation between you and a holy God?  The only way to an eternity in Heaven is by repentance and faith.  Come to Christ today!

Love is of God

1John 4:7  "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."

The greatest love that has ever been demonstrated to mankind was when God the Father sent His own dear son to die at Calvary for the sins of all mankind.  God demonstrated what true love is.  It is a selfless, giving love.  A love that is poured out for others.  A love that flows from the depths of our being out of gratitude for what our God did for us.  We are to love as God loves.  We are to demonstrate love to the lovely and the unlovely.  The Bible teaches that when we do this, it's a demonstration of the result of our salvation.  When we are able to love those that no one else loves it demonstrates our Christ-likeness.  Have you reached out in love to someone today?  Have you demonstrated love toward those that seem to be unlovely?  Love like Christ, reach out and be a blessing to someone today.

A Light Unto My Path

Psalm 119:105 "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

I remember going on a camping trip once in the foothills of western North Carolina.  My friend and I pitched our tent while it was still daylight and remembered some things we had forgot to bring with us on our camping trip.  We left the camp site and headed back into town to get supplies.  By the time we returned to the campsite it was pitch black outside.  The only problem was that we had left our flashlights in the tent at the campsite.  We had to stumble across logs and through briers constantly concerned that we would step on a copperhead snake winding its way through the darkness.  I had never felt better than when I heard my friend cry out, "I found it."  He had finally stumbled his way back into our campsite.  A light to find our way would have been incredibly helpful.

God has provided us with a light to find our way through a world filled with darkness.  That light provided by God is His Holy Word.  The bible declares to us that God's Word is a lamp unto our feet.  A lamp shines a light that illuminates our path for just a little ways.  God's Word provides light to guide us today.  The Bible also likens God's Word to a light unto my path.  That is a light that is stronger, a light that will shine farther down the path.  God's Word will illuminate us today, but it will also guide us in the weeks, months and years to come.  Thank God for the blessed light of His Holy Word.

Pray Without Ceasing!

1Thessalonians 5:17  "Pray without ceasing."

How much time have you spent in prayer today?  The Bible teaches us to pray without ceasing.  We are to be in a constant attitude of prayer.  As we go through our day we need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit of God.  There are prayer needs all around us.  It might be a prayer for a co-worker that is going through a difficult time.  It may be a neighbor that has lost a loved one and needs someone to pray with and for them to comfort their hearts during their time of grieving.  We are surrounded with myriad needs every single day.  How many times do we just walk past and ignore the needs around us as we focus on ourselves.  We gain strength as we pray in faith believing that God will work in the need.  Prayer should be a first resort, not a last resort.  God is concerned about everything in the life of the believer.  There is no prayer request so small that God is unconcerned about it.  Take time to pray today.  Our God is able to help in every area that we need help in.  Pray and ask Him for help!

The Beginning of Knowledge

Proverbs 1:7  "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

We can't even begin to know knowledge or wisdom until we fully understand and appreciate the LORD.  When we reject the LORD and refuse to accept Him as our god the bible declares that we are fools.  We despise wisdom and instruction.  We don't know the source of all of Wisdom, the LORD.  We refuse the instruction that is able to make us wise unto salvation.  In order to become wise we must see the LORD for whom He is.  He is the LORD that loved us enough to die for us.  He died that we might have eternal life and know the knowledge and wisdom that is available through Him!

By His Stripes We are Healed!

I Peter 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

As Jesus Christ was beaten and nailed to the cross He was absolutely innocent.  He had lived an impeccable life, perfectly sinless.  He willingly died on the cross not for anything that He had done, but for everything that we had done.  He was the perfect, spotless lamb of God without blemish that came to give His life as a sacrifice for the sins of all mankind, past, present and future.  When He died on the cross, He died for every sin that we would ever commit.  His sacrifice, on our behalf, was acceptable unto God the Father.  It is by Christ's atoning death that the way of healing has been opened unto us.  We can accept the gift of eternal life that is offered to us by faith in Christ.  We no longer have to live a life that is in bondage to sin.  We can knowing the healing that comes through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  We can live a life that is holy unto God, a life characterized by faith and belief in Him.  Have you accepted the gift of eternal life?

Crucifixion Jesus is nailed to the cross. Church of St. John Nepomucen in Brenna

Teaching our Children to Love God's Word

Deuteronomy 6:6  And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
Deuteronomy 6:7  And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

In the Scriptures we are given a sacred obligation.  That obligation is to teach the Word of God to our children.  We share God's Word from the Scriptures that we have stored in our heart.  We share the impact that God's Word has had as we have faced life.  To teach the Scriptures is to actively and purposefully instruct our children in God's Word.  It's not just the job of the pastor or the church to instruct our children in the things of God.  It is our sacred responsibility.  We are to talk of the Scriptures when we're sitting in our house.  Our homes are the primary place of instruction to teach God's Word to our children.  When we are walking along the way God's Word should be continually on our lips.  We are to use real life to apply practical application to God's Word.  Our children need to see that God's Word is there to meet every need of life.  When we lay down for the night God's Word should be on our mind.  We need to commit our rest and protection to God.  When we rise in the morning we need to focus upon the Word of God and allow it to direct our day.

Are you teaching your children the Word of God?  Is your focus on leaving a godly heritage to your children.  If not, there's still time!

No One Likes a Complainer!

Philippians 2:14  Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
Philippians 2:15  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

No one loves a complainer.  A negative spirit is contagious to all those around it.  What are we really doing when we complain?  We are telling God we're not happy with our life or our circumstances.  We're admitting that we really don't accept the fact that God is in control of our life.  The Bible teaches us that we are to do all things without murmurings and disputings.  "All things" covers a lot of territory.  The least favorite thing that we have to do is included.  God wants us to learn that other people are watching us closely.  If we claim the name of Christ there are others watching our behavior to see if our religion is real.  Murmuring and complaining doesn't reflect well on Christ.  God wants us to shine forth as lights in the world.  We do this by living our lives like Christ.  When Jesus was wrongly accused He responded with not a Word.  He didn't murmur and complain, but He accepted the Father's will for His life.  Are you being a light to the rest of the world or are you murmuring and disputing bringing reproach upon the name of our Lord?

Secret to Getting that Promotion!

James 4:10  "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."

We live in a world that is obsessed with self-promotion.  If you look in the bookstore you will find volume after volume telling you how to do this better, how to do that better, how to be the best you, you can be!  We fall into the trap of thinking that if we don't promote ourselves then we will never be promoted.  The Bible teaches that the opposite is true.  We can't get ahead through self promotion.  The Bible says that we are to Humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord.  That word "Humble" means to be meek and lowly, to recognize our unworthiness apart from the Lord.  If we learn to totally rely upon God then He will lift us up.  Promotion comes from the Lord according to Psalm 75:6-7.  He will exalt whom he chooses to exalt.  He will abase whom He chooses to abase.  Trust God today to lift you up in His perfect timing.

Our Refuge and Fortress

Psalm 91:1  He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:2  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Where do we run when the dark clouds of trouble begin to form on the horizon of our life?  There is a place of peace and safety in the midst of the storm.  That safe haven is in the secret place of the most high.  We can draw close to God when trouble comes.  There is safety in His shadow.  The LORD is our refuge and our fortress.  He keeps us safe in when the battle rages all around.  Who is strong enough to invade the fortress of our all-powerful God?  We can trust in the safety that He extends to His children.  When the forces of the enemy seek to assail us we can laugh them to derision because we are safe in His keeping!

My Light and Salvation

Psalm 27:1  "A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

The same David that had killed a lion, a bear and a Philistine champion named Goliath penned the words in the first verse of the 27th Psalm.  David had learned that he had a God that he could rely upon.  His God was a God of deliverance.  David declares some of the other wonderful attributes of God in the verse above.  He declares that God is his light.  God illuminates our path day by day.  God desires to guide us in the right path if we simply yield our self to him.  David states that The Lord is his salvation.  Not only in the physical sense, but also in the spiritual sense.  God delivered David from the lion, the bear and Goliath, but God would also deliver him from eternal separation from God.  David knew that as a child of God he didn't have to live a life that was controlled by fear.  He knew the source of his strength.  He knew that his inability was God's ability.  His strength is made perfect in our weakness.  David could face any obstacle that life threw at him because he fully understood where his strength originated and that was in the Lord.

How is your life today?  Is it characterized by fear?  If we serve the true and living God we don't have to be controlled or dominated by fear.  We can courageously say with David, "The LORD is the strength of my life;  of whom shall I be afraid?"

Worthy of this Calling

2Thessalonians 1:11  Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
2Thessalonians 1:12  That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul was reminding the Christians at Thessalonica of his prayer for them.  The desire and prayer of Paul's heart toward the brethren was that they be counted worthy of their calling.  Their calling was the mission of being entrusted with the Gospel of Christ and carrying that precious message unto all the world.  The same calling that we as believers have today in 2013.  Paul's desire was that they would step us and answer the challenge that had been entrusted to them as a body of believers.  The message of the Gospel is a message of Good News.  It is a message of God's goodness toward sinful man.  We should never shun the opportunity to share the message with others.  As we share the message of the Gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit the result is a work of faith in those that hear.  God is glorified when we share what he has done for all mankind.  He has created the solitary way for sinful man to be reconciled to a Holy God.  How is your life today?  Can God count you worthy of His calling in your life?

The Apostle Paul by Rembrandt

Asleep in the Garden

Mark 14:38  "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak."

Jesus had taken Peter, James and John with him into the garden of Gethsemane.  Jesus had came to the garden to pray because he knew that the greatest hour of his life grew near.  Christ left Peter, James and John with a request for them to watch and pray and went a little farther into the garden to pay.  Christ returned and found the three men sleeping.  Jesus told His disciples to watch and pray that they stay away from temptation.  Jesus understood that the flesh is weak.  The flesh leads to failure and disappointment, but the spirit if ready.  The disciples were operating in the power of the flesh and not in the power of the Spirit.  Jesus knew their frame.  He knew that they were weak because of the presence of the flesh.  Watch and pray to avoid temptation.  This prescription still stands valid for our lives today.

Justified by Faith

Romans 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

The Apostle Paul is explaining two very important Bible doctrines in one verse in the Scriptures.  The term "Justification" is a legal term it means "A showing to be just or conformable to the law."  In theology it has a dual meaning of "Remission of sin and absolution from guilt and punishment; or an act of free grace by which God pardons the sinner and accepts him as righteous, on account of the atonement of Christ."  Once we have trusted Christ's finished work on the cross on our behalf we stand justified before God.   When God looks at us He sees us through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is through Jesus' sacrifice we stand innocent before a Holy God.  We literally have peace with God through Jesus Christ.  He is the propitiation for our sins.  A propitiation is " the atonement or atoning sacrifice offered to God to assuage his wrath and render him propitious to sinners."  Christ's sacrifice appeased God.  We are no longer at enmity with God if we have exercised faith in Christ.  We have been reconciled by faith.  Do you have peace in your life?  There is a source of eternal peace, the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am the Good Shepherd

John 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
John 10:11  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Jesus is teaching His Good Shepherd message in John 10.  Jesus is pointing out the differences between the Good Shepherd and the hireling.  The motive of the thief or hireling is clearly explained.  Their goal for the sheep is to steal, kill and destroy.  Jesus has much better plans for the sheep.  Not only does he give life through salvation, but once salvation has been obtained he provides an abundant life for those believers that walk with Him.  We don't have to be satisfied with an average Christian life.  Jesus came that we might know the abundant life that He can provide.  Jesus reminds his disciples that he is the good shepherd.  The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.  Jesus would literally lay down his life for the lives of his sheep.  Where is your faith today?  We can trust the Lord Jesus Christ.  He is the good shepherd.  He wants what is best for the sheep.

Resist the Devil

James 4:7  "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

How do we do battle against the devil.  The devil is as real as God.  The Scriptures have much to say about this individual.  We know from the Bible that Satan had his beginning in Heaven with God.  He rebelled against God and sought to have God's throne as His own.  When Satan rebelled against God he was cast out of Heaven along with a third of the angels that took his side in the rebellion.  Satan must have been quite charismatic to be able to convince a third of the angels of Heaven to come over to his side.  If the devil could convince the angels to risk heaven then he has no trouble convincing men to follow him today.  The bible teaches us that the devil is subtil.  He is sly and sneaky.  He works daily to try to deceive men about the way of salvation and the nature of God.  What should we do when the devil tries to deceive us and get us to come over to his way of thinking.  The bible gives us the specific steps to follow.  1)  Submit yourself to God.  Realize that God has unlimited power to help us in time of need.  2)  Resist the devil.  Actively resist, use the power of theWord of God to resist him.  3)  When we submit ourselves to God and actively resist through God's Word the result will be a fleeing devil.  Do you feel as though the devil has you in his cross-hairs today?  Follow God's plan of resistance and breathe easier!

Not of this World

John 15:18  If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
John 15:19  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
John 15:20  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
John 15:21  But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

Jesus was teaching His disciples to not be surprised by the hatred of the world.  Jesus reminded them that the world hated Him first.  We live in a world system that, for the most part, is totally opposed to the things of God.  Jesus told the disciples if they were focused upon the things of this world the world would love them.  If they kept their focus upon the things of God they would earn the world's hatred and animosity.  Jesus knew that His disciples would face persecution in the years ahead.  Jesus told them not to be surprised by it.  As His followers they could expect no less than He had to face.  Jesus explains the basis for this hatred by the world in the fact that the world doesn't know God the Father.  The world has their own Father and it's not the Heavenly Father, but the god of this world.  John 8:44  How is the world treating you today?  If your answer is rough, then don't be surprised.  Keep your eyes focused upon Christ and His soon return and remember He is always with you!

Faith is the Substance!

Hebrews 11:1  "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

I once asked a group of young people in a children's church to define the word "Faith" for me.  One little girl tentatively raised her hand.  I called her name and she gave her definition of "Faith."  "Faith is believing in something you can't see."  That was a great definition for a child of eight years old.  As Christians we long for the day when we get to inherit our heavenly home.  We've never seen it, but we know that it is beautiful beyond compare.  We've never seen our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, face to face, but we know that one day we will get that opportunity.  The Christian life is a life that is not to be lived by sight, but by faith.  The objects of our faith and hope are as sure as the promise contained in the Word of God.  The objects of our faith, though we can't see them, have a very real substance because they are based upon the sure Word of God.

The Right Type of Gossip!

Acts 4:20  "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."

When Peter and John were commanded by the enemies of Christ to hold their silence, they responded in the way that we should respond in the same situation.  When we look back at the miracle that God wrought in our life.  When we see God's miraculous, transforming power in the lives of others we can't be silent about what God has done.  We have witnessed lives that have been supernaturally transformed by the power and presence of God.  We can't keep it quiet!  We need to tell it everywhere we go.  Share the things that we have seen and heard, the things that bring honor to our God.

The Joy of Trials

James 1:2  "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;"

It seems an impossible task, to be joyful when going through trials.  How can God expect such a thing of believers?  When we understand that we serve a sovereign God and a providential God we can begin to understand how it is possible to be joyful in trials.  Nothing happens in the life of the child of God except God permits it to happen.  God has purpose behind the trials in our life.  His desire is that we become more like the Lord Jesus Christ.  God uses the trials to grow and develop us as believers, to grow our faith.  When we begin to see the trials as part of God's plan for us we can become joyful in trials knowing that God is turning us into what He wants us to be.

Be Content!

Hebrews 13:5  "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

God calls us as Christians to be content with such things we have.  Discontentment leads to all kinds of sin in the life of believers.  Covetousness is a sin directly against God.  Covetousness is saying that what God has provided to us isn't sufficient.  We need to learn to be thankful for the things that God has blessed us with.  We may not have everything that everyone else seemingly has, but we can be grateful for what God has provided.  The way we can do this is by recognizing that God is with us.  He will care for us.  He will never abandon us and leave us to make it on our own.  We live in the midst of a society that is going crazy to have the latest and greatest technology device that changes every four months.  There is a real danger of discontentment among people.  Don't fall into the trap!  Thank God for every blessing He has provided.  He is with you and will never leave or forsake you.  

Jesus Christ...The Way!

John 14:6  "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Modern religion would tell you that there are multiple ways to get to Heaven.  Jesus Christ closed the door on such ideology during His earthly ministry.  There are not multiple paths to Heaven.  Every road does not lead to eternity in the presence of God.  Jesus declared Himself to be the way. It is the singular way for lost man to enter into the presence of a holy God.  Jesus not only declares Himself as the way, but also the truth.  If Jesus Christ is Truth incarnate can we not trust His message?  His message is that He is the way, the truth and the life.  He is the life, the eternal fountain of life springing up in us by faith.  Jesus goes on to declare that no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  Jesus, God manifested in the flesh, declared that there is no other way to the Father except by Him.  Have you noticed in our modern day the assault that is taking place on the name of Jesus.  The world doesn't want Christians mentioning or praying in the name of Jesus, but it is the name of Jesus that gives us entrance into Heaven.

Act 4:12  "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

If your heart's desire is to spend eternity in Heaven in the presence of God you must get there through Jesus Christ.  There simply is no other way!

Preparing a Place for Us!

John 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
John 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Is your heart troubled today?  God instructs us not to allow our hearts to be troubled.  If we firmly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ we don't have to be controlled by worry.  When Jesus left earth to return to Heaven He went to prepare a place for us.  If God built the earth in six literal days, we can't even begin to imagine what He has prepared for us over the last two thousand plus years.  It must be beyond our wildest imagination.  God creates simply through a spoken Word.  When God speaks He has absolute authority over time, space and matter.  When the Creator speaks the creation responds.  Jesus completes verse three with an astounding promise for us as believers.  If He went away, which he did, then He would come again and receive us unto Himself.  We can be with Christ.  That is a wonderful promise from the Scriptures to encourage our hearts today!

Giver or Taker?

Acts 20:35  "I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Paul was reminding the Christian brethren of the need to support the weak.  If you watch a pack of wild animals they will withdraw themselves from a member of their group that is weak or sick.  Christians are to do exactly the opposite.  When a brother or sister in Christ is sick or hurting we're to draw close to them.  We are to be there to pray with, console and encourage one another.  We are to bear one another's burdens.  We are to remember the Words of our Saviour, it is more blessed to give than to receive.  What a blessing it is to minister to another in need.  When we serve others we forget our problems and concerns.  It is honoring to God when we put others before ourselves.  God the Father put us before His own precious Son when He allowed Jesus to bear our sins on the cross at Calvary.  The question today is, "Are you a taker or a giver?"  God wants you to give as He has given unto you!

The Ways of Death

Proverbs 16:25  "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

Many people have a mistaken notion of what they must do to inherit eternal life.  Many think that when they come to the end of this life God is going to take a balance scale and put all of their good works on one side and their bad works on the other and if the good outweighs the bad then they make it into Heaven.  There is a tendency to think that sincere people that live good, honest and upright lives are going to be a shoo in to make it to Heaven.  Unfortunately both of these viewpoints are dead wrong.  We don't get into Heaven through our good works.  We don't get into Heaven by living good, honest and upright lives.  Though these ways both have an appearance of being right or correct, they are the ways of death.  The Bible makes it abundantly clear that no man gets to Heaven by works.

Ephesians 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Salvation comes through faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ at Calvary.  We must recognize that we're sinners, repent of our sins believing that Jesus died for our sins on the cross and that He was raised from the grave on the third day.  This is the Gospel.  It is the good news of the offer of the free gift of eternal life.  Are you trying to get to Heaven your way or God's way?  Be saved by faith today and secure Heaven as your eternal home!

Crucified with Christ

Galatians 2:20  "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

We all have our own desires, plans and aspirations for our life, but once we've trusted Christ we need to realize that our life is no longer our own.  We've been crucified with Christ.  Our life should become His life.  Our plans have to be surrendered to His plans.  He has a perfect plan and purpose for us.  All we have to do is allow God to lead us into His perfect plan.  We accomplish this by faith.  Faith in a God that knows the ending from the beginning.  Let God take control of your life today.  Wave the white flag of surrender to His will!  He will do a far better job with your life than you will!

God Exalts in His Time

1Peter 5:6  "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:"

We live in a generation that is obsessed with self-promotion.  Everyone wants to get the big promotion or get exalted above their co-workers.  It's a natural desire to want to excel and to get recognized for our hard work and effort.  I Peter 5:6 reminds us that if we will humble ourselves under God, He will exalt us!  We all have a tendency to want to take the reins of our own life, but God wants us to turn our life over to Him.  Let Him take control and He will take care of promoting us when we're ready.  He will not forget you, but will promote you in due time.  When Joseph was falsely accused in the Scriptures by Potiphar's wife and ended up in prison there may have been a tendency for Joseph to think that God had forgotten him, but we never see Joseph doubting God!  In God's timing Joseph not only was freed from prison, but he was exalted to second in command over all Egypt.  Quit worrying your self to death over that promotion, God will exalt you in due time.

The Lord of the Harvest

Luke 10:2  "Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest."

There are approximately eight billion people on planet earth.  God commanded us in His Word to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.  On the face of it, it seems a monumental task, a task that is too great for us to accomplish.  How can we carry the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ into all the world?  God tells us to pray to the Lord of the Harvest.  God is the Lord of the Harvest, apart from Him and His power we can accomplish nothing.  If God doesn't accompany us, then the mission truly is futile.  God alone can convict the heart of sinful man and make him realize his need for a Saviour.  God uses us as labourers to carry the message, we preach the Gospel and the Holy Spirit draws men unto the Father.  We are to pray for the Lord of the Harvest to send forth labourers into his harvest.  There is a world to reach and our time is growing short.  Pray for God to send labourers to carry the Gospel to the uttermost part of the earth!

Darwin Had it all Wrong

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Darwin had it all wrong!  The Bible declares that man was made in the image of God, after His likeness.  If you read carefully you'll notice the pronoun "Us" in the statement, "Let us make man in our image."  That little pronoun consisting of just two letters speaks volumes about the God that we serve.  He is one God manifested in three distinct personalities.  God presents Himself to us as the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Trinity.  We are monotheists as Christians not polytheists.  We worship and serve one God.  The best illustration I've ever heard to describe the character of God is the illustration about water.  When we see water in its liquid form it is water.  When we see liquid in its gaseous form as steam it is still water.  When we see an ice cube in its solid form it is still water.  God is one, but manifested to us in three different fashions in the Holy Scriptures.  Praise God that we're made in His image and not the image of a monkey!

Prescription for Spiritual Prosperity

Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psalm 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

We live in the midst of a society that is searching for happiness and contentment.  Every book store has hundreds of titles telling us how to find joy for our lives.  The Bible contains a solid, time-tested prescription for obtaining joy and prosperity.  Verse one of Psalm One tells us to avoid the counsel of the ungodly.  We're not to take our counsel from those that don't seek after God's wisdom.  We're not to live and act like sinners or sit with the scornful.  Negative attitudes are contagious.  They will drag you down to a place of discontentment.  The Bible tells us clearly what to avoid and it also tells us what to embrace.

The man that would prosper in his Christian life must delight in God's Word.  He must take time to read and study the Scriptures every day and allow God to use them to speak to his heart.  The Bible tells us that this type of Christian will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water.  The spiritual "roots" of that Christian will run deep.  That Christian will bring fort fruit in their season.  Other people will come to believe on Christ through their faithful ministry.  The Lord will continue to bless and prosper that Christian in everything that he does.

How is your life today?  Are you in a place of contentment and joy?  God's Word is waiting to help.  Spend time in God's Word and allow Him to speak to your heart and guide you on His path today!

The Devil's Doom!

Hebrews 2:14  "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;"

When a child is born he is born into the family of all mankind.  He is born a partaker of flesh and blood.  Jesus Christ took on the same attributes when He came to earth to fulfill His earthly ministry.  Jesus Christ who was fully God was made in the likeness of men according to Philippians 2:7.  He shed His precious blood on the cross of Calvary for all mankind.  While Jesus was saving man on the cross at Calvary He was declaring a death sentence on the devil.  The devil had tried to keep Jesus from the cross.  He tempted Jesus in the wilderness trying to get Him to sin against the Father and disqualify Himself as the perfect lamb of God that came to take away the sin of the world.  We know that Satan failed.  His fate was sealed at the cross, an eternity in the Lake of Fire.  The devil isn't there yet, he's doing everything he can to take others with him.  If the devil is troubling you today take heart, his doom is sealed. 

Where Two or Three are Gathered

Matthew 18:20  "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

The immediate context of the above verse is within the context of church discipline, but we can draw tremendous practical application for our Christian lives from the verse.  There is strength when we gather together with other Christians.  When we come together to worship God is there in our midst.  We can encourage and strengthen one another by spending time in each others presence.  It gives us opportunity to be made aware of things that are going on in the lives of other believers.  As we become more aware we have a great opportunity of ministry to others.  When the early disciples were dispersed because of persecution what a comfort for them to know that God was there with them, no matter where they gathered.  This verse offers great comfort to our Christian brethren around the world that are being persecuted for their faith.  Take heart Christian God is there with you, dwelling in the midst of you and He is the God of all Comfort!

Wisdom is Better Than Rubies

Proverbs 8: 10-11

"Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it."

The Bible places great emphasis upon acquiring wisdom.  It's not the wisdom that comes through some advanced college course or worldly philosophy.  It is the wisdom that comes from a personal relationship with the source of all true wisdom.  When we receive our wisdom from God it is a wisdom that transcends earthly wisdom.  The bible declares the wisdom of man to be foolishness with God.  God has given us a book, the Bible, to meditate upon and to grow in wisdom accordingly.  God reveals that acquiring godly wisdom is better than silver, gold and rubies.  It should be our chief pursuit.  Nothing else compares to the wisdom that God offers.  The reason God places such a high emphasis on wisdom is that we live in a generation that seems devoid of wisdom.  The whole world seems to have gone crazy in its deification of man.  Man has attempted to lift man up to the place of God and that truly is foolishness.

How is your wisdom today?  Are you studying and meditating upon God's Word and allowing God to instruct you in His wisdom?

The Worth of a Soul

Matthew 16:26 "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

There are some wealthy men and women on earth today.  The annual Forbes List of the wealthiest people in the world lists many millionaires and billionaires.  We've probably sit around daydreaming about what it would be like to have such considerable wealth.  The Bible declares to us that there is something worth far more than the wealth of the entire world.  That is an incredible statement when we think of the vast treasures that are owned throughout the world.  Think of all of the gold of ancient Egypt, the crown jewels of the U.K. and the oil riches of the middle east.  The Bible declares that the human soul is worth more than all of these riches combined.  God declares through His Word that one solitary soul is worth more than all the riches of earth.  What a sad thing it would be to spend your life acquiring the wealth of the world and neglect the salvation of your own soul.  The Bible teaches us that this type of attitude is profitless.  What's more important in your life today?  Are you expending all of your time and energy trying to acquire more goods.  Have you taken care of your most valuable possession, your soul?  You can lose all of your wealth and have a chance to earn it back, but if you lose your soul you'll never have a chance to win it back!

Dwell in Unity

Psalm 133:1 "A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

I hope the Lord has blessed you with a wonderful Lord's Day today.  It is such a tremendous blessing to be able to go to the house of the Lord and worship with the brethren.  Our church should be a safe haven, a sanctuary from the world.  It should be a place where each Christian prefers others better than themselves.  What a wonderful atmosphere for worship when all the brethren are working for the same goal.  The goal of our church should be to train and equip Christians to reach the world for Christ.  When we focus our energy and effort on God-honoring goals we spend less time fighting and squabbling over things that really aren't that significant!  The church should be a place of forgiveness.  A place where we forgive others by remembering how much Jesus forgave us!  I hope you enjoyed worshiping with the brethren this Sunday.  Thank God for the blessing of a church family that dwells together in unity.

Exhort One Another!

Hebrews 3:12 "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God."
Hebrews 3:13 "But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."

We are surrounded by sin in our modern society.  The sin that we are exposed to daily impacts our lives in a multitude of ways.  One of the ways that sin affects our life is that it leads us to an evil heart of unbelief.  We begin to doubt God and His care for us.  The tempter would come along and whisper to us during times of trial that God doesn't love you.  If He loved you how could it let something like this happen to you?  If we're not careful, if we're not taking heed that evil heart of unbelief will lead us on a path away from God.  The solution to wandering away from God is to exhort one another daily.  We have a tremendous opportunity to encourage other believers.  Share what God has done in your life.  Remind other believers of times when God was there to lift you up when all strength was gone.  Your testimony has power to impact other lives for good.  Exhorting other Christians will remind you of all the blessings that God has bestowed upon you.  You can minister and be ministered to at the same time.  Look around you today is there a Christian brother or sister wandering away from their walk with God?  Take time to encourage them before they get too far down the road and find out they are mired in the deceitfulness of sin.

With His Stripes We Are Healed

Isaiah 53:5  "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

Isaiah 53:5 is a wonderful, prophetic verse in God's Word.  Hundreds of years before the birth of our Saviour the verse tells us precisely what would happen when our Saviour came.  Jesus Christ was wounded for our transgressions.  He had no transgressions of His own.  He was perfectly sinless, 100 per cent God and 100 per cent man.  He was beaten and crucified for our sins.  He was bruised for our iniquities.  He paid the wages of sin for us.  Our sin nailed Him to the cross.  Our sin caused Him to be cruelly sentenced to a criminal's death.  The chastisement of our peace was upon him.  It is through His chastisement at Calvary that we can obtain Peace with God.  We can become a child of God through repentance of our sin and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on our behalf at Calvary.  The verse concludes by demonstrating to us that is is by His stripes, His suffering, that we are healed if we choose to be healed by faith in Him.  Are you thankful today for Christ's willingness to give His life for you?  Have you thanked Him for your salvation?  Take time to thank God today for His unspeakable gift.

Right on Time, Every Time!

 Psalm 13:1-6

1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?  
2  How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?  
3  Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;  
4  Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.  
5  But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.  
6  I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

David is crying out to God in the midst of a great trial in his life.  God's people have a tendency to think that God has forgotten them when His deliverance doesn't come immediately.  For some strange reason we think that God has to perform on our schedule.  God doesn't always instantly deliver when we're in the midst of distress.  God delivers right on time, every time.  His timing is always perfect.  When we feel that we're being overwhelmed by the enemy and feel that we're at the brink of death, we would do well to remember God's mercy.  When we discover that we have no strength left we find that his strength is unlimited!  When the trial is over and sunny days reappear we like David can praise our God for dealing bountifully with us!

Walk Circumspectly!

I Timothy 1:5  "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake."

Paul addresses the Christians at Thessalonica reminding them of the nature of the Gospel that they brought unto them and the demonstration of that Gospel.  Paul, Silvanus and Timotheus had all ministered to the Christians there.  Paul reminded the Christians that the Gospel they brought wasn't only in word, but in a consistent walk.  A Christian walk that was carried out by the power of the Holy Ghost.

When we live a consistent God-honoring Christian life, it assures other that the message of the Gospel is a legitimate message.  It is a message that has the power to absolutely change lives.  The message of the Gospel, that we carry, must be backed up by a circumspect walk.  Our actions often speak so loudly that people can't hear what we say.  If we live a life that honors God then people will believe the message we bring.  Does your life reinforce the message that you carry?  Are there some areas that you need to get right with God?  First walk the walk, then talk the talk!

The First and Second Adam

Romans 5:17  "For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

In this Scripture verse we witness an incredible contrast between two men.  The contrast is drawn between the first Adam and the Second-Adam.  The first part of the verse reveals to us how sin passed upon all of mankind throughout history.  Adam's original sin in the Garden of Eden has passed down through the bloodline of all men.  Every child is born into this world with an Adamic nature, a sin nature that is inherited from Adam's sin in the garden.  That sin nature results in condemnation.  We stand guilty before a Righteous God.  Adam and Eve's offense in the garden was a direct affront to a Holy God.  The resulting sin created a rift in the relationship between God and man.  Thank God that through the Second Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ, we can restore a proper relationship with God through belief in Jesus Christ.  It is through God's grace that sinful man can receive the gift of righteousness and live eternally with God.  When we fully comprehend what Jesus Christ did for us we realize how abundant God's grace truly is in our life.  Put your faith in the Second Adam today.  He desires for you to live an abundant life today!

Angels Watching Over Us

Psalm 91:11 " For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."

God has multiplied millions of angels at His command.  God sends them to do a multitude of tasks.  We can look throughout the Scriptures and see time after time the ministry that God sent His angels to perform.  We see angels bringing messages of warning, announcements and ministries of encouragement.  Satan quoted this passage of Scripture to the Lord Jesus Christ during the temptation in the wilderness in Matthew 4:6.  Satan applied it to the Messiah, but as the children of God we can hold on to the same promise.  God has angels assigned to watch over us from day to day.  I can look back through my life and can count five different incidents where I was literally at death's door, but God preserved my life.  I firmly believe that God had His angels watching over me in spite of myself.  We can't see into the spiritual realm where angels dwell, but according to God's Word we can know that angels are there carrying out the ministry that God has given them.  The ministry to keep us and watch over us in all our ways.

Joy Cometh in the Morning!

Psalm 30:5   "For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

God is merciful to us as His children.  The Bible clearly teaches us that God chastens His children.  When we stray away from Him or are disobedient God will correct us.  He wants the best for us and sometimes that requires that we be corrected from the error of our way.  God is merciful even in discipline.  It's not fun for us to be disciplined by our Heavenly Father, but we need to understand that it is for our good.  God the Father is committed to conforming us to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.  When we start living in a manner that isn't demonstrating a Christ-likeness then God begins to whittle off the rough edges through chastening.  If we find ourselves in the midst of God's chastening today we can take joy in the fact that joy cometh in the morning.  It may not seem like it today, but there will come a day that we can reflect on what God has done in our life and we'll be able to praise Him for His correction.  God cares enough to discipline us when we go astray.  Praise Him for His love for us.

Purified Seven Times

Psalm 12:6  "The words of the Lord are pure words:  as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times."

What a wonderful privilege we have to own a complete copy of God's Word contained in our Bible.  It is something that I hope you count as a great blessing.  Not everyone in the world enjoys that same privilege.  Some countries imprison their citizens if they are caught with a copy of God's Word.  The Bible declares in Psalm 12 that the Words of the Lord are pure words.  They are as pure as God is.  His words contained in the Bible are Inerrant, Inspired and Infallible.  There are no mistakes or contradictions contained in our Bible God has provided to us His perfect word.  The Bible compares God's Word to silver tried in a furnace of earth purified seven times.  In the Bible the number seven represents completion or perfection.  God has given to us His complete Word.  We must handle it carefully.  We have no right as the creation to attempt to change God's perfect Word.  Do you appreciate your Bible today?  Do you take time to relish the precious, live-giving words of God?  Ask God to renew a love for His Word in your heart.  Allow Him to speak to you through his Word.

A Labour of Love

Hebrews 6:10  "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister."

Have you ever grown weary in the work of the Lord?  Have you ever thought that no one cares, what's the use?  When we forget the reason that we're serving God it is easy to grow faint and want to quit.  We need to always remember that if a single soul on the earth doesn't express gratitude for our ministry there is a God in heaven that remembers everything we do for Him.  If we serve God with the right heart attitude God will remember our ministering to the Saints in whatever area God has placed us.  Men often forget and are ungrateful to those that serve them, but our God never forgets.  He always rewards faithful service that is done according to His perfect will.  Labor that we have done to bring glory to Him will be rewarded.  God will see to it!

A Spirit of Fear

II Timothy 1:7  "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

As Christians the Bible teaches us that we are uniquely gifted by God to fulfill his purpose with out lives.  God has equipped us by gifting us spiritually to do the task to which we are called.  Many times we feel that we're unable to do what God has asked of us.  We're reminded of God's call on Moses' life.  God spoke to Moses out of the burning bush in the wilderness and instructed him to go to Pharoah and tell him to let the Israelites go free.  Moses didn't feel up to the huge task that God has just given him.  He complained to God that he wasn't even able to speak well.  God told him to go and he would allow Aaron to go with him.  It's interesting to note that when Moses goes down to Pharoah we don't see any evidence of Moses' inability to speak.  Moses realized  the practicality of II Timothy 1:7.  God doesn't equip us with a spirit of fear to do the ministry that he has called us to.  He equips us with His power.  He gives us a spirit of love to use as we minister to others.  He gives us the power of a sound mind to make decisions and judgments that are pleasing to God.  Are you afraid to carry out the ministry that God has given to you?  Remember, God has given you everything you need to keep on serving Him!

He Doesn't Need a Phone Booth!

Psalm 12:5  "For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him."

When I was a boy growing up in rural North Carolina I enjoyed reading comic books.  My favorite comics were the ones that featured superheroes.  I enjoyed Spiderman, Superman and Batman comics.  The heroes were always there to help out the citizens that were in need.  They would swoop in at the last minute and save the day.  We can be thankful as Christians that we don't have to rely on a superhero to swoop in and fight on our behalf.  We have One that is far greater.  God has declared to us that He will arise on behalf of the poor and needy.  He will fight our battles.  He will set us at safety.  He is our rock and refuge.  He is our safe haven in the midst of the storm.  If you're having troubles in your life today don't send up a "Bat Signal" just send up a prayer and allow God to work!

Bad to the Bone

Romans 3:23  "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

God issues a blanket statement for all mankind in verse twenty-three of Romans three.  It makes no difference what nationality you are.  It makes no difference who your parents were.  It makes no difference how good you think you've been.  God declares that all have sinned.  Our sin has separated us from God.  If you've ever committed one sin then in the sight of God you're a sinner.  We know from experience if we've lived any time at all that we all sin.  We try our best to do right and think right, but often find ourselves drifting back into sin.  The Bible declares that when we sinned we came short of the glory of God.  God will not permit sin into Heaven.  God will only permit righteousness into Heaven.  If we're all sinners, what in the world are we going to do to make it to Heaven?   If we accept the fact that we are a sinner and realize that forgiveness is available through Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross, we can have Christ's righteousness applied to our life.  When we come to Christ and accept Him as our Saviour then God places Christ's righteousness on our account.  When God the Father looks at our life he sees the righteousness of Christ.  That is the only way that a sinful man can get into Heaven.  Have you trusted Christ as your Savior?  When God looks at your life does He see filthy, dark sin or does He see the righteousness of Christ applied?

Consider the Ravens

Luke 12:24 "Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?"

When we are tempted to worry and fret about the issues of life, Jesus reminds us of a critical truth for our well being.  Jesus would remind us to consider the ravens.  Have you ever taken time to just watch the birds or animals around you on a day to day basis.  I live in the woods and my home is surrounded by huge oak trees.  I have the wonderful opportunity of watching the squirrels scampering around the yard burying and uncovering acorns.  I get to watch the different birds as they fly in and land on a tree just outside of my window.  In all the times I've watched the birds and squirrels playing around my house I have never seen one driving a tractor and planting seeds for a harvest.  I've never seen the animals building a barn to store their food.  They don't have to concern themselves with such things.  God has already provided the means whereby they could get their food.  God planted the oaks that produce the acorns that the squirrels can enjoy in the cold, dreary days of winter.  God planted the oak and created the earth that acts as a storehouse for their acorns.  God causes the rain to fall and the seasons to pass.  God causes the trees to yield acorns and seeds for the birds.  The Bible makes it abundantly clear, God feeds them.  If God has put so much care into planning for the animals don't you think that He has planned and prepared for us.  We are much better than the fowls.  God created us in His own image.   Are you worrying today about the cares of this world?  God loves you and He will take care of you! 

Strong and Courageous

Joshua 1:9 "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

How is your courage today?  A great writer once wrote that, "The coward dies a thousand deaths."  When we are carrying out the orders that God has given us in His Word we don't have to be afraid or dismayed.  God reminds us that when we go in His will and according to His Word, we can be bold as we carry out the mission that has been entrusted to us.  What a wonderful promise from God's Word.  "God is with thee."  When we have a God with infinite power on our side, whom shall we fear?  If God has commanded us to do it, He will empower us to accomplish the mission.  Be courageous today!  Don't let the world and the devil intimidate you.  God fights your battles for you! 

A Curse For Us

Galatians 3:13  "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:"
Galatians 3:14  "That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."

These two verses are absolutely vital to our faith as Gentiles.  Jesus Christ was absolutely sinless.  He lived 33 1/2 years upon the earth conducting His earthly ministry and never committed a single sin.  He was absolutely innocent of sin, a lamb without spot or blemish.  God made him a curse for us.  As Christ hung there on the cross being put to death God placed upon Him every sin that we would ever commit, past, present or future.  Jesus willingly paid the wages for our sin which was death.  Every sin of every man, woman and child that would ever be born was placed upon Him.  As Jesus hung on the cross He cried out, "My God, My God why hast thou forsaken me?"  God the Father couldn't look upon His own darling Son because He bore all of the sin that mankind would ever know.  The Perfect, Sinless One bearing every sin that mankind would ever know upon Himself.  He died for your sins and mine.  Why was Jesus willing to do this for us?  He did it out of His limitless love for us because He understood that His sacrifice was the only way that sinful man could be reconciled to a sinless God.

Philippians 2:7 " But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:"
Philippians 2:8  "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

Through Jesus' sacrifice we can be indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God when we trust Christ by faith.  Trust Christ for your salvation today!  Repent of your sin, believe that Jesus died for your sin, was buried and rose again the third day.  If you will call upon the name of the Lord He will save you according to the authority of His own Word.  Romans 10:13 "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Someone Cares

I Peter 5:7  "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

How much time do we spend worrying about things that never happen?  In our minds we are quite adept at conjuring up all the possible outcomes, mostly negative. A person once said that 95% of what we worry about never happens.  So much of what we worry about is outside of our control, but there is One that can change anything that concerns us.  He is concerned about every thing in our life no matter how small. We need to learn to cast our cares and concerns upon God.  He is able to work on our behalf and change things that are outside of our realm of capability.  We can give our cares to God because He cares about his children and wants things to work out for our good!

Tapping the Power Source

 ^{Acts 1:8} 

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

God issued the great commission to His disciples in Acts 1:8.  The same commission holds true for us today.  Jesus told them that the source of their power was the Holy Spirit.  That holds true for us as believers today.  He is our source of power to do the task that God has given us.  The task is to be witnesses.  In verse eight we see the progression of the witness.  First we witness to those that are close by, then we branch out farther and farther, eventually reaching the uttermost part of the earth.  God didn't give us a task to finish and leave us with no means to finish it.  He has given us the power that we need to complete our mission.  The power of the Holy Spirit of God.  Are you tapping into that limitless power source today to help you do the job that god has given you?  

The Missing Ingredient

Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

How is your faith today?  It seems that we live our lives on a wild roller coaster ride.  One minute we're slowly clicking our way upward and the next minute we're hurtling downward.  We go from the peak of the coaster to the valley in a matter of seconds.  Many times our faith is exactly the same.  We face challenges in our life and we often wonder where is God.  There are other moments when the blessings are falling, God's presence is very near and we feel we can fight Goliath and be victorious.  We need to come to the place in our Christian lives where our faith is not wavering up and down constantly.  We need to develop a steady, abiding faith.  The bible teaches us the importance of this kind of faith in Hebrews 11:6.  We discover that without faith it is impossible to please Him.  When we come to God we must see Him for who He is.  We must remember the infinite power that He has at His disposal to work on our behalf.  Jesus rebuked His disciples for their little faith in the New Testament.  We need to look at God's track record in our life.  He has always been faithful.  What makes us think He will not be faithful to us in the future?  Spend time in prayer today, meditate on God's Word and allow God to grow your faith.  Allow your faith to pleasing in God's sight!

Welcome Visitors

If you're viewing this page and it's a blessing to you.  I would love to be able to communicate with you.  If you're a Christian in a foreign country I would love to hear from you.  My email address is listed on the blog, but I'll include it here.  Please contact me it would be an encouragement to hear from you.  mackholbrook@gmail.com

Inspect The Fruit

<sup>Galatians 5:22-23

22</sup> "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³ meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." 

Normally when we see a list of attributes it is considered to be plural and the noun is written as plural.  In verse 22 of Galatians 5 we see the term, "The fruit of the Spirit" followed by a long list of Christian attributes.  God is teaching us as Christians that all of the attributes in the list are to be a part of the life of the child of God.  To be Christ-like is to have these attributes manifested in our life.  This fruit is the work of the Holy Spirit of God growing and developing us as believers.  Every Christian should exhibit love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance (an even-keel, control) in their life.  These attributes demonstrate and create in us a Christ-likeness that is pleasing to God.  The latter part of the verse contains an important truth.  These attributes aren't developed by keeping the letter of the law, by simple obedience, but by a yielding to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.  God wants to develop this fruit in your life.  Does your life demonstrate God's handiwork in your life?  How is your love, joy and peace today?