A NEW THING

“Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-19; NKJV) 

          Tomorrow is the day we celebrate as New Years Day. The last digit in the year clicks forward by one and magically we are entering into a whole new 365 days to do with as we wish. Let us take heed to God’s words through the prophet Isaiah; forget the former things. History cannot be altered. What has happened has already taken place. Understand that as we live for God there will always be another chance to right wrongs and undo misdeeds. Consequences will play out; however, if we allow Him, God will do a new thing in our lives. There is nothing that is impossible for our Lord. He can literally do anything He deems necessary for the benefit of His children and the advancement of the Kingdom. In spite of those who choose not to believe, God will orchestrate that which He has preordained to take place and nothing this side of heaven can stop it. Look to the New Year as a blessing, a time when we can do marvelous things for others in Jesus name and your whole mindset will be uplifted. 

Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

FINDING TRUE PEACE

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

          In Jesus day the religious leaders (the Pharisees) placed additional requirements on the Jewish people that went far beyond the law given by God. These additions were based on the oral traditions of the scribes. It made the people weary and heavily burdened. Jesus, because of who He was, had the authority to overturn any man made requirements and did so once for all with His death. His offer was and still is to give rest to those who believe in Him. 

          With the buying frenzy of the holidays past we find ourselves feeling like those Jewish people; weary and burdened, however, it is our own doing. Any oppression we feel is due to overcommitments on our part. Jesus words still hold true regardless of the reason for our burdens. He offers rest. 

          The rest Jesus offers is not physical in nature, but rather is rest for the soul. When we find our soul at rest we find peace. Our mind and spirit are calm. We must learn to shed our burdens by finding rest in Christ. As a result we shall find true peace. 

Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

OUR MIGHTY GOD

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.” (Psalm 103:8) 

          The beginning of Psalm 103 mentions many of God’s character traits. We see action words like “forgives”, “heals”, “redeems” and “satisfies”. What a wondrous God we serve. 

          In verse 8 we see that He is “compassionate and gracious”. Compassionate in that He is sympathetic to our plight and has genuine concern for us. God’s grace is far more than simply being courteous, kind and pleasant; it is placing upon us His favor, undeserved though it may be. God doesn’t anger easily; we do, He does not. His patience with the creation He made is unparalleled. His love is genuine and everlasting. He is the one constant we can rely upon in a world of inconsistency. 

          God will never change. He will never abandon us. He will never turn His back on us. He will always be right where He has always been, even during the death of His own Son; on His throne in heaven. He shall love us forever no matter what we say or do and will only cast out those who reject Him and the loving act of forgiveness He freely offers. What a mighty God we serve. 

Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

JESUS: THE LIGHT

“A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel.” (Luke 2:32) 

          Simeon, “a just and devout man” (v. 25) had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would see the Messiah before he died. Mary & Joseph had taken Jesus to the temple to “present him to the Lord” (v.22) as the Mosaic Law required. While there Simeon, led by the spirit, came and saw the Christ child. Here he speaks of Jesus being the “light of revelation to the Gentiles”. 

          God’s plan involved the redemption of all mankind, not just the Jews. Just as the Mosaic Law was to shine a light on the sinfulness of man, so Christ would shine a light; only His light would pierce the darkness in men’s souls. 

          We should praise God for the mercy and grace He bestowed upon all men. Without such undeserved favor we would be lost in our sins with no hope of having our debt removed from us. Without Christ we must bear the full weight of our own sins on the last day. Were it not for the mercy of God … . 

Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

"For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!

"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." (3 John 1:2)

WHAT IF CHRIST HAD NEVER COME

          Have you ever thought of what life would be like if Christ had never come? There would be no church steeples dotting our landscape. No hymns to sing. Oh, the Christmas holiday would still remain, for it originated from pagan ritual, but it would be quite different than it is for Christians today. There would be no nativity scenes on fireplace mantels. No hope to dispense to those who were despondent. No ministers to speak words of encouragement and peace. 

          The only thing worse would be if God Himself truly didn’t exist. Think about it. No God, only man made gods. No standard to live by. Do you realize the absolute chaos that would cause over time? Man living by his own constructed standards, ultimately caring for no one but himself. 

          The glorious truth that millions upon millions have come to believe by faith is that God does exist and Christ really did come to earth. Theologians differ on exactly when Christ’s birth occurred, but that should matter little to the believer. The fact remains that He came. What a wonderful truth! What a tremendous hope it provides to all mankind. Forgiveness came in the form of a baby, sent by God to free us all of our sins. What a blessed Savior! 

Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

Merry Christmas!!

OUR SAVIOR & LORD

“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11) 

          Jesus Christ, God’s Son, born of a virgin is the redeemer of all mankind. The word ‘savior’ means that by his death he paid the price required for the souls of men in what should be considered the greatest exchange in history. 

          He is the Christ child, the Messiah; the anointed one of God. He was Lord for he had all the power, authority and influence of God. With it he could have wiped out the Roman government and released the Jews from their oppressive rule, yet he chose to use it to minister healing, raise the dead and forgive sin instead. 

          It’s hard to look at an infant and imagine what type of life they will lead, but God knew the things Jesus was destined for and orchestrated everything according to his perfect will. Mankind would never be the same and it was all due to an infant born in a manger some 2000 years ago. Celebrate the birth of the Christ child and worship him for who is truly is – God incarnate. 

Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

PRINCE OF PEACE

“So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.’” (Luke 2:15) 

          Was it curiosity or compulsion that caused the shepherds to go see the baby the angel told them about? I submit to you that it was a compulsion. When people are introduced to Christ they are compelled, drawn to Him by the Holy Spirit of God. They can resist this compulsion or can surrender to it. 

          Even as an infant Jesus was a compelling figure. Both shepherds and Magi were drawn to Him, perhaps showing that there were no class distinctions for all were welcome. Messiah was expected, though not in this form. He was to bring peace, but not the kind that ebbs and flows with the whims of men. It would be a lasting peace, one that was both internal and eternal. 

          Do you have peace in your heart this Christmas season? Look upon the Christ child who sacrificed His own life to save you from yourself and know peace. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

ANGELS

“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them …” (Luke 2:8-9a) 

          I believe we encounter angels in one form or another a lot more than we realize. Let me relate a personal event from my life … 

          Back in the mid-80’s my wife and I were driving in the snow on a wintry day in New Jersey. The roads were ever so slightly slick so special care was needed when driving. I gently took a curve on a country road and softly skidded into a snow covered grassy area. No harm done, however, we were definitely stuck. Before we could even think about what to do a tow truck came seemingly out of nowhere. The driver hopped out of his cab with a smile, rigged us up and pulled us effortlessly back onto the desolate, serpentine road. I wanted to pay him for his services, but his only reply was “That’s not necessary. You don’t know who I work for.” I thanked him, then turned to go back to my car. Once back behind the wheel I realized that the tow truck was gone. I mean to say it was as if it had vanished into thin air. My wife didn’t even notice him leaving. 

          I have always thought that God had sent an angel in the form of a tow truck driver that precise moment to meet our immediate need. I don’t remember anything else from that day, but I will never forget that event. I have chosen to believe and as a result praise God for His goodness to all His children. 

          Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD’S TENDER MERCY

“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven.” (Luke 1:76-78) 

          Here we see Zechariah’s prophesy regarding John the Baptist. God used John to pave the way to the Messiah whom he has preceded. For the purpose of this devotional I would like to focus on the phrase “the tender mercy of our God”. 

          Mercy is “compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.”(1) God holds the key to our future. God makes the ultimate decision regarding when we live and when we die. God has shown us great mercy and compassion by not only staying His hand against our willful disobedience, but by also providing forgiveness for us through His own Son. This is incredible! Think about it for a moment. Part of the Trinity, God, the Son, willingly left heaven to live among His own creation for 33 years. He knew them intimately, just as He knows us all. Still His compassion and mercy was such that over the course of time Christ allowed Himself to be murdered for crimes He didn’t commit. That is love. That is mercy. That is God’s tender mercy at work for the benefit of a selfish and self-centered people. Praise God for His incredible mercy and embrace the forgiveness that has been purchased for you. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! (1) Definition from www.oxforddictionaries.com

OUR EVER PRESENT GOD

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) 

          Christ promised His disciples peace. This peace was nothing like worldly peace that is fleeting and cannot be relied upon. This peace was from the Father. It was an inner peace; a peace that transcended all reason. It was a peace in the face of calamity. Although the disciples didn’t fully understand why Jesus had to leave them and didn’t want Him to go, it was necessary for Him to return to the Father. It wasn’t until He left that the Holy Spirit would be sent to dwell in them. 

          This is what dwells within us when we give our lives over to Christ. It’s God’s Spirit in us that guides and protects.  It’s that same Spirit who causes  us to be at peace  in the most  troubling situations. 

Therefore, the message for us today is this: no matter what situation you are in, don’t allow your hearts be troubled and don’t be afraid, for the Lord is with you (in the person of the Holy Spirit) wherever you go (Joshua 1:9). Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD’S ENDURING LOVE

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1) 

          Psalm 107 speaks of the deliverance of God. Out of this verse I’d like to highlight two words: ‘endures’ and ‘forever’. ‘To endure’ can mean ‘to remain in existence’. There’s no known beginning to God’s love and there’s no end. ‘Forever’ can mean ‘for always’ or ‘for all future time’. Therefore, since no one knows when time will end, for all intents and purposes it is infinite in length. 

          We should give thanks to the Lord each and every day not just because He is good, but also because He is the only one who can save us and guide us through life. It’s not just His love that has no end, but His mercy and grace as well. His forgiveness is available to all, though many don’t realize their need of it. One day when time is no more there shall be many who will rue the day that they took a pass on God’s gracious offer. 

          Know this day and each day forward that God loves you. His love for you shall never waver or lessen. He will always love you. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

OUR SUSTAINING GOD

“As the deer pants for streams of water 
… My soul thirsts … for the living God.” (Psalm 42:1a & 2a)
   

          Here we find a vivid and descriptive statement by David as he fled from his own son Absalom. Absalom, David’s 3rd son, had designs on being king and engineered a conspiracy that caused his father to flee. Being on the run, David felt far from God so he wrote this poem of contemplation known as a Maschil (mas-keel’). 

          Have you ever felt overwhelmed? As a result, have you ever felt that God was far away from you? The fact is God is never far from us. If we are in relationship with Him His Holy Spirit dwells within us. When we are at our weakest He provides to us strength. When we feel all is lost He causes us to stand up in the midst of our circumstances and win the victory. 

          A cool drink to a thirsting soul is exactly what God is to those who are weary and needing rest. We may sit in His presence and replenish our souls with the sustenance He offers. There is nothing impossible for our God. No matter what circumstance you may find yourself in, one word from God can turn it all around. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD’S GRACIOUS FAVOR

“Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)     

          A host of angels is as numerous as the stars in the sky. That is how many were visible to the shepherds in the field who heard of Messiah’s birth. The best marketing gurus have nothing on God who announced the birth of His Son with such a startling crescendo that it was impossible for the shepherds not to hear and be excited. I wonder what it sounded like. 

          The multitude of heavenly angels proclaimed glory to God and announced that those highly favored and under His care would find peace. God’s favor is the definition of ‘grace’. His grace is bestowed upon all who have sought and received His forgiveness for their transgressions. It’s quite simple really; God desires our praise, glory and honor in exchange for our sin debt being paid in full. We are to have a willing desire and voluntary allegiance to an unseen deity. We are also to allow the Lord to mold and make us into all He knows we can be. Christmas isn’t about gifts, but rather about THE gift, Jesus Christ. When you are opening your presents on Christmas morning, remember the Christ child from whom all blessings flow. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

JESUS, OUR SAVIOR

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) 

          Joshua is the Hebrew name that is transliterated as Jesus in the Bible. There is no exact translation that equates Joshua to Jesus because there are letters in the Hebrew language that have no equal in the Greek. Joshua means ‘God or Jehovah Saves’. Therefore, Jesus was quite deliberately given his name for He would be the salvation of all men. 

          If we ever needed a living example of love, this is it; that God would send His own Son to be born, live and die to save His own creation from spending eternity apart from Him. This is wondrous, incomprehensible love. There is nothing this side of heaven that compares to it. 

          Our propensity to sin is evident by the lives we live. When given a choice to do the right thing or the wrong thing, we have proven time after time that the wrong thing seems far more attractive to us. This is the reason Christ came, to forgive us of our transgressions and show us a better way to live. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD’S INDESCRIBABLE GIFT

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” (Galatians 4:4-5) 

          God set a time when His Son would come into the world to redeem it from itself. The sinful tendencies of men have been their constant undoing. God, who knows all things, was keenly aware that His creation would need redemption. He alone could pay the price of the sin man had committed. Until Christ came, man was bound to serve God under the Law of Moses. The arrival of God’s Son changed all that in that He fulfilled the Law with His own death. The sin debt we carry can be paid one way and that is with blood. Knowing that man could never pay this debt on his own, God in His infinite wisdom and immeasurable mercy and grace laid down His own life in the form of His Son. The blood shed by Jesus on the cross can cleanse the sinner of his sin once for all time. What glorious news! 

          When we receive this indescribable gift we are changed on the inside, at our core. The essence of God enters us in the form of His Holy Spirit. We are born again as sons and daughters of Almighty God. Hallelujah for His indescribable gift. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD WITH US

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) 

          ‘Immanuel’ was the name given to Jesus by God through the prophet Isaiah. It means “God with us”. Matthew’s gospel cites this verse in its telling of the birth of the Christ child. 

          While many Jews were looking for a warrior King to break the backs of the oppressive Roman government, there were those who saw this infant as the hope of Israel. 

          To us today who have received the precious gift God gave in the form of his son, the words ‘God with us’ give us hope. God is with us even now as we go through our daily routine. God has never left nor will he, for He declares it in His word (Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5). 

          The birth of Christ was a sign that God loved us enough to come down to earth and reveal his nature to a stubborn and willful generation. We are no less stubborn today. We rush about at this time of year fulfilling the traditions of the season. Take the time to celebrate Christ for who he truly is, our Savior and Redeemer.  

          Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD’S REALM OF INFLUENCE

“For nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37; NIV*)
“For no word from God shall be void of power.” (Luke 1:37; ASV*)

          Two slightly different translations of the same Bible verse. The words may be different, but the message is the same. God is omnipotent (all-powerful). There is nothing that will ever be impossible for Him. Just when an unbelieving world declares that a situation is impossible, God shows them that nothing is beyond His realm of influence. 

          There are no coincidences in this life, only circumstances that God causes or allows. To not be so would diminish God for that would mean something would be beyond His control. God has His finger on the pulse of humanity and will never let anything take place that outside of His grand design. He sees all and foresees all; therefore nothing takes Him by surprise. 

          When man reaches the end of his rope he throws his hands up in the air and declares a situation hopeless. Even believers in their frustration will throw their hands up in despair. It is at that point in time we must allow the word ‘nothing’ to fully sink in to our minds and hearts. There is ‘no thing’ that God cannot and will not do for His children to fulfill His will for their lives. 

Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

*NIV – New International Version; ASV – American Standard Version

THE VINE

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 18:5)

          The vine sustains the branches, therefore without the sustenance provided the branch would wither and die. We see it all the time with trees and bushes that don't get enough water. Water contains natural nutrients to sustain life. So it is with the believer. Those who truly wish to be productive Christians in a lost and dying world will need to draw their spiritual nourishment from the Lord Himself if they want to bear fruit.

          The word "remain" is important in this verse of scripture. This isn't a hit or miss proposition. It's prolonged exposure to the only One who saves the soul. There is no other way to go which will enable us to life a godly life and make a difference in this world.

           It is my belief that when Jesus says we can "do nothing" He speaks of those things of eternal value. It should be obvious that there are many things we are able to do and in fact, are very normal things that are done each and every day in the course of living your life. I think Christ's meaning is clear. Draw from the vine of your soul and be spiritually nourished now and forevermore. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

THE RESURRECTION & THE LIFE

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’” (John 11:25-26)              

          Jesus spoke these words to Martha just prior to raising her brother Lazarus from the dead. This miracle was evidence of the power He possessed. In verses 41 & 42 Jesus prayed aloud to the Father so that all within the sound of His voice would know that God sent him. 

          Jesus’ words speak out to us all in that when we place our faith in Him and believe we shall not die. Oh, we will pass from this world sure enough unless the Lord returns for us in the clouds prior to our passing, but our eternal destination will have been secured for us. Once our life is over we get to live with Him forever. What a blessing! Many of the sayings of Christ can seem mysterious and unclear in their meaning, but this meaning is clear; if we live in Him we shall never truly die. When our time on this earth passes away our spirit will live on in heaven with God forever. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:14-15) 

          The Reformation Study Bible refers to ‘knowing’ in these verses as “a personal understanding and a commitment of will”. In a scriptural sense, ‘knowing’ someone is referring to a very intimate relationship. If God knows me in an intimate sense, than He knows everything about me and is committed to performing His will in my life. An equal commitment is required of us. 

          A shepherd is ever watchful of his flock. They are his responsibility and he guards them with his life. Christ laid His life down for the sake of His flock so that they might be free of the bondage of sin and life eternally with Him. 

          Jesus is called the ‘good’ shepherd because there is nothing but good in Him. No falseness or evil intentions ever enter into His heart. He is pure and holy through and through. Like a good shepherd Christ is committed to us all and will never fail us. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

THE GATE

“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:9-10) 

          In scripture, we have seen Jesus refer to Himself as ‘the bread of life’ and ‘the light of the world’. Here He calls Himself ‘the gate’. The gate used in shepherding separates ‘the fold’ from the pasture. The fold is the place of safety, where the shepherd is able to protect his flock from dangerous predators. Once the flock leaves the fold they are still under the shepherd’s ever watching eye. The pasture represents the blessings that are available to those who have committed their way to God. 

          The gate is the only way to salvation through the remission or removal of all sin. Jesus is that gate. There are not many ways to heaven, as some believe, but rather one-way. If it were not so why would Jesus have had to die in the first place. 

          Many come proclaiming to know the way to heaven, but if it doesn't involve our full and complete surrender to God, making Him Lord and Savior of our life, then something is amiss. The enemy of our soul would have us aimlessly wander off and become entangled in the underbrush; however, if we have submitted our lives to the shepherd’s loving care we shall be safe from all enemies. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (John 8:12) 

          In this portion of the Gospel Jesus’ testimony is challenged by the Pharisees. They said that appearing as your own witness isn’t valid. In the world’s system that may be true; however, Jesus tells them in response that they have no idea who He is or where He came from, therefore, they cannot know what is true or false. On top of that Jesus tells the Pharisees they can’t possibly know God if they don’t know Him because they are one in the same. 

          When Jesus declares that He is the light of the world, He is also, in effect, saying that there is no darkness in Him. The Apostle John says this very thing in 1 John 1:5. It is clear from scripture, if you choose to believe it; Jesus represents a complete and fulfilled life this side of heaven. What a wonderful gift we’ve been given; to live in the light of His truth and be seen as righteous and holy in God’s sight. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

THE BREAD OF LIFE

“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” (John 6:35) 

          Bread is referred to as a staple of life. It has the basic elements to sustain someone should it be all they have to eat. Jesus refers to himself as the bread of life. We could take that to mean, and rightly so, that He is our sustenance, for without Him there is no life. If a person comes to Him hungry for truth and righteousness they shall go away satisfied. 

          It’s important that we understand exactly who Jesus was and is. He has the distinction of being wholly God and wholly man. He came to earth to be born of a virgin, hand picked by the Father. Jesus lived and died by design; there was a purpose to God’s plan. Part of that plan was to save us from ourselves. Another part was to give us life more abundantly (John 10:10). 

          For those of us who have embraced faith in God and trust in Him to provide for and sustain us, life is ours. Do we truly grasp the importance of this life we’ve been given? Live it for others, knowing that God will take care of you. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

ANGELS

“Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14) 

          Do you believe in angels? I do. I believe they are literally what scripture says they are, ministering spirits. They are God’s messengers who tend to the needs of His children. How cool is that?              

          I don’t see angels as little chubby childlike creatures with wings fluttering about doing good; oh no. I see them as mighty warrior angels in full armor doing battle in the spirit realm against the forces of evil. I see them being present when we find ourselves in difficulties. When temptations arise, they are there. When desperation finds it’s way into our hearts, they are there. We don’t pray to them, we pray to our Heavenly Father and He dispatches them to do His bidding on our behalf. So you see, we truly have nothing to fear. 

          It’s my belief that God can do anything He so chooses for His own good pleasure and He has chosen to use His angels to minister to our needs. Not our whims or our desires, but our needs. We are special, unique creations of God. He will protect us at any cost. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

PERSEVERANCE

“… let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us …“ (Hebrews 12:1b)

     The difference between a 440 yard dash and a 2.5 mile race is that in one you run as fast as you can for a short distance and with the other you must pace yourself so that you can make it a much longer distance. It requires toughness, determination, strength of will and perseverance. Even if things aren’t going your way, you must learn to focus on the prize that awaits you … the finish line.

      It’s no different with the Christian. We encounter hindrances and temptations throughout our lives which require perseverance on our part. Instead of complaining about our misfortune, we need to learn to seek the lesson that God wishes us to learn. He has a will and a plan for each one of us. It’s our responsibility to determine what that is. Don’t allow yourself to burn out. Press on, running life’s good race to its completion; for at its end awaits an eternal prize. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

FORGIVING OTHERS

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13)

          It’s been said that when we forgive someone we are the beneficiaries more so than those we have forgiven. I wholeheartedly agree. To forgive relieves a burden within us that releases us to be at peace. However, there are times when we feel our anger is justified and we either don’t see the need to forgive or worse yet, simply don’t want to. That’s a very human reaction which God understands; His patience for us is unending and at times it needs to be. We need to embrace the forgiveness God gave us and understand the magnitude of this precious gift. Perhaps then we can fully appreciate what our forgiveness means to one who has offended us in some way.

          Christ isn’t like us at all; instead, Christ is our example. We are to think, speak and act like Jesus in all things. God knows that’s difficult for us because He made us. We are a work in progress; learning lessons as we go. One important lesson for our benefit is to forgive as we have been forgiven. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

THE BLESSINGS OF GOD

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalm 100:4-5)

          It’s possible, according to the Reformation Study Bible, that Psalm 100 may have been sung by worshippers as they made their entry into the Temple courtyard for a festive occasion. While the author is unknown, it is without question a psalm of praise to Almighty Jehovah.

          You know, honestly, if God never did a thing for us He would be deserving of our honor and praise simply for who He is. If we take the time to think about all the ways that our life has been blessed by God, how could we not sing out to Him in worshipful praise? His goodness and enduring love are recorded throughout scripture. He faithfully guides us into all truth and will never fail or forsake us. With Thanksgiving rapidly approaching, take time to thank God for the multitude of blessings He has bestowed upon your life. If you are unaware of them, ask Him to reveal them to you. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

CHRIST’S RETURN

“… the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:2b

        A thief comes under cloak of darkness quietly and quickly to take that which is not his. Christ shall come just as a thief taking only that which belongs to Him. The world will not expect Christ’s return and therefore will not be watching for it; however, believers patiently wait for His coming in the clouds. As we are told, it will happen in “the twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:52). What a glorious day that will be.

        The Greek word used for the ‘catching away’ that is referred to in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 is ‘parousia’ (pa-roo’zee-ah), which represents Christ’s Second Coming and literally means ‘being present’. This is because when Christ takes us unto Himself in the clouds we will forevermore ‘be present’ with Him.

        Christ’s Second Coming is called ‘The Blessed Hope’ of the church (Titus 2:13). To know by faith that one day this life of pain and hardship will end is good news of the highest order. No one but the Father knows when Christ shall return (Matthew 24:36); therefore, live as if He were returning today. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” - 1 Corinthians 1:18

          There are those who place faith in a wide variety of things, yet consider it unfathomable to even consider placing their faith in an unseen deity. To them it is foolishness. They see nothing wrong with their thoughts, words or deeds, and as a result feel no shame or regret for past transgressions.

          Then there are those who have embraced the message of the cross and as a result have found salvation. Along with that they have all the resources of God at their disposal. What a wonderful blessing to place one’s trust, reliance and hope on a Heavenly Father whose love is unconditional and eternal. Whether it seems foolish, illogical or not, there is no other route to heaven. Men down through the ages have sought easier paths and believe they have found them, but there is one way to heaven and that is through a bloody cross. If there were a multitude of ways to heaven why on earth would Christ have had to die at all? Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

SING UNTO THE LORD

“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.” - Psalm 95:1-2

         David loved the Lord and praised His named at all times. He set the example for Christians the world over. Acknowledging the greatness and majesty of our God is a good thing; it’s a liberating thing. When we worship and praise the name of our Lord all else seems less important. Problems melt into joy. We are reassured and feel a sense of hope. When God tells us in scripture that He is for us and favors us, what else could possibly matter? He is worthy of any and all praise. As we allow the Spirit of God to move within us we cannot help but be overcome with peace. At that moment in time we catch a glimpse of who He truly is; our redeemer King, the Rock of our salvation. He is not heavy handed as earthly rulers who seek power and glory for themselves, for our best interests are always in the forefront of His thoughts and actions. God loves us and shows it by making His presence known to us in our most difficult circumstances. Allow yourself to get lost in the glory that is our God. He is truly worthy of our endless adoration. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

OUR EVER WATCHING GOD

“For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.” – Psalm 1:6

          We can know that as we travel through this life our Heavenly Father looks down upon us in love. He lights our path and guides us on our way. This is a tremendous blessing and should be a relief to those who are lost or weary. His strength is our strength, His wisdom is our wisdom. All we need to do is seek it and then accept it from Him.

          Nothing escapes the gaze of God. We may feel alone and desperate in our situation; however, our Lord is with us at all times by His Holy Spirit which resides within us, so in reality we are never alone. What Moses spoke to the people of Israel in Deuteronomy 31:8 prior to their entry into the Promised Land stands true for us today: “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

BEING FRUITFUL

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” - John 15:5

          Here we see Jesus describing Himself as ‘the vine’; His Heavenly Father as the tender of the vine. Jesus uses such imagery because in their culture growing grapes was widespread. From this we are to understand that it is Jesus who provides spiritual nourishment to His followers. It was readily understood that any branch that was cut from the vine would as a result wither and die.

          I readily admit that without Christ I could do nothing of any eternal value. On our own we are nothing more than a faded and worn out piece of clothing, but with Christ in us we have life. It is our responsibility to allow the Holy Spirit to cultivate in us fruitful tendencies. God didn’t pay our sin debt so we could go on living as we choose; we are expected to take our walk with Him seriously. Rejoice in the fact that Jesus paid for all our sins and then live a fruitful life honoring Christ by being a blessing to those you encounter each day.

GOD’S ENDURING LOVE

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” - Psalm 118:1

     In a world where 1 out of every 2 marriages end in divorce in America today we hear of forever love. Who ever heard of such a thing? We say we will love our future spouses forever and a day, yet find that our love has faded in a relatively short time. The stresses of life cause our marital relationships to erode to a point beyond repair.

     God gives us a succinct definition of what love truly is or is supposed to be in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. There are 7 things that it should be and 8 things it shouldn’t be (13:4-7). If we apply those attributes to God Himself we will find that He is all those things to us. His love never fails; neither does it ever gives up on us. Even when we fail miserably He continues to love us. It's an unconditional love, meaning we don’t have to do anything to earn it. God is good and worthy of all praise, honor and glory. In the midst of that stands His love which is never-ending. If you ever come to a place where you feel unloved know that God will always love you and will never leave you alone. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

WE ARE BLESSED

“Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.” - Psalm 119:1-2

     A blessed person is defined as one who is endowed with divine favor and protection. Jesus used this term in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3-8). Have you ever thought of yourself as blessed?

     These first two verses in the longest Psalm (176 verses) reveal the conditional nature of being blessed. If you walk blameless according to the law of the Lord you are blessed. You have to know His statutes to walk in them; therefore drawing close to God and knowing His word are prerequisites to walking blameless. We aren’t blameless in a literal sense, but rather seen as blameless similar to the way we are seen by God as totally righteous once cleansed of our sins. We aren’t literally righteous, but flawed individuals who must work out our salvation throughout our lives. Seeking Him with all our hearts is a perfect place to start. God desires that we seek Him and equally desires that we enter into an intimate, personal relationship with Him. It’s never too late to start. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

THE GOSPEL TRUTH

“For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” - 2 Peter 1:16

     Many times the Apostles authority and the validity of their preaching were challenged by false teachers. Peter writes his letters to verify the truth of what he had been saying. He clearly states that the Apostles didn’t make up what they spoke of, but rather lived with Christ and were taught by Him personally.

     When Peter says they were eyewitnesses to His majesty, he is referring to Christ’s transfiguration found in Luke’s gospel (9:28-36). These verses give an account of Jesus hand-picking Peter, John and James to accompany Him to a mountain to pray. There Christ is met by Moses and Elijah in glorified bodies. God spoke to them from a cloud which had encompassed them, confirming once again just who Jesus was*.

     Everything we believe as Christians requires faith. We must know in our heart, mind, soul and spirit that what we believe is true in its entirety and not doubt it. Our belief system hinges on faith. It’s easy to doubt. Embrace your faith and believe. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

*“This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”

THE PEOPLE OF GOD

“Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” - 1 Peter 2:10

     The Apostle Peter is using inclusive language here to tie the Old Testament Israelites to the New Testament gentiles. We are all the people of God if we have entered into relationship with Him.     
     Mercy is defined as showing compassion or forgiveness to those you have the power and authority to harm or punish. What a picture this provides for every believer; Almighty God, who could snuff us out like a cheap cigar any time He chose instead shows us compassion and offers us forgiveness for any and all acts of disobedience.

     It is said that today we live under the umbrella of God’s grace. Grace is favor displayed to those who are undeserving of it. What a wonderful thought. Forgiveness, mercy and grace are ours and it is everlasting. No one has the power or authority to remove it from us.

     Now we must show ourselves worthy of such a precious gift. We must live our lives each day as if it were our last day on earth. Allow God to mold and make you into all He knows you can be. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD’S FAVOR

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father (and the Lord Jesus Christ*).” - Colossians 1:2b

     This is a common greeting the Apostle Paul started his letters with. What a kind thing to say to someone. You are asking that God’s favor, which is completely undeserved by us, continue to be on the recipient as they go through their day. In addition to that, as if that weren’t enough, you are asking that the peace which this world cannot fathom or comprehend be theirs as well. Have you ever said that to someone? I have had brothers in Christ type that at the end of their emails before. It’s a lovely thing to say to another person.

     The fact of the matter is that God’s favor is ever upon us if we have received Christ and are striving to live for Him. As we draw closer to God we will find that we are at peace more and more when facing trying situations. If God is for us what set of circumstances can defeat us (Romans 8:31)? The bare bones fact is that nothing can defeat us unless we allow it to. God’s favor is upon us. Live for God and be at peace. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

* Some manuscripts add this phrase.

OUR ADVOCATE

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” - 1 John 2:1-2

     The Apostle John is writing this letter to an unnamed church who is experiencing division due to some believers’ claim of being spiritually superior to others in the congregation. The letter is specifically for those who are said to be spiritually inferior. John is reminding them of the truths they have come to believe, assuring them that they are part of the one true faith.

     In these two verses we find comfort and strength. Since none of us are perfect we will sin against God. It’s our duty as followers of Christ to avoid the possibility as any and all cost; however, if we do sin we have someone who will stand up for us. That person is none other than Jesus Christ. He took our place on a cross that should have been for us. We sinned, He was sinless. He bore our pain and our shame willingly. Avoid sinning, but if you stumble, seek forgiveness and you shall find it in the person of God’s Son. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

FORGIVENESS IS AVAILABLE

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” – Isaiah 1:18

          Isaiah was called to be a prophet as a young man to declare God’s word to the stubborn and rebellious Israelites. The word ‘vision’ in verse one indicates that these are words directly from the mouth of Almighty God. This alone carries with it a sense of authority. The Lord tells His people if they turned from their rebellious ways and once again sought Him He would cleanse them of their sins.

          Verse 18 has long been associated with the promise to cleanse the sins of the unrighteous through the redemptive work of Christ on the cross. Even today followers of Christ want their own way rather what God knows is best for them. Our hope lies in the fact that our Heavenly Father is willing and able to forgive our stubborn nature and remove all our sins if we submit to His will rather than our own. What an incredible thought that we can have every mistake and indiscretion removed from our record simply by admitting our need of forgiveness and then accepting it. A spotless white garment looks so much better than a soiled one any day of the week, don’t you think? Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

FEAR GOD, NOT MAN

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise - in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” - Psalm 56:3-4

          If you believe as I do that God either causes or allows everything that takes place in this universe, than what can mortal man do to us. In Matthew 10:28 Jesus tells his listeners they should fear God and not man, for man can only destroy our physical body, but God can destroy both body and soul in hell. Our fear of God should be one of reverence and awe rather than being afraid. For those who place their trust in God there is truly nothing to fear.             Those that mock God openly have much to fear, but those who praise Him simply for who He is will be at peace and begin to see Him for who He is. He is our loving Savior God who created everything that exists. He is the great I AM who shows mercy to those who seek Him. He is the only One who can remove our sin debt. He is Almighty God and He loves us unconditionally. Until next time, walk with the King today and be a blessing!

THE SEA OF FORGETFULNESS

“If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, … who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.”

 - Psalm 130:3-4

          God doesn’t give us a ‘wink and a nod’ when it comes to sin. He also doesn’t keep a list of our transgressions should we seek forgiveness. Psalm 103:12 tells us that God removes our sin from us as far as the east is from the west and remembers it against us no longer. Is this a flaw in His character? Does God have a faulty memory? No, my friends, that's not the case at all. God chooses, in His great mercy to never hold our past sins against us ever again. When we ask Him to forgive our transgressions with a sincere and sorrowful heart, He is faithful and just to forgive us (1 John 1:9). He places them all in the Sea of Forgetfulness, never to bring them up again. The enemy of our soul reminds us constantly of our past indiscretions, but not our Lord. Any condemnation that is heaped upon us needs to be recognized for what it is. The enemy would have us be ineffective for the Lord; however, be encouraged, for God loves you and we stand completely and totally forgiveness in His sight. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOOD WORKS IN CHRIST’S NAME

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:10

          When we look around us each day all that our eyes see was created by an unseen spiritual architect. God, as we know Him, has made all that exists and that means us as well. It may be hard to comprehend that every mortal man & woman that has ever existed down through the ages was formed in their mother’s womb by Almighty God. Have you ever considered that someone like Adolf Hitler was created by God? Now God didn’t cause him to turn out the way he did; that was the result of the life choices Hitler made throughout his life, however, his life began just as ours did.

          Before time began God prepared good works for us to do to illustrate the change that has been made in us when we received Christ into our hearts and lives. I have often told people through the years that any good thing they see in me is Christ shining through me. I am painfully aware of the fact that I am capable of no good thing of any eternal value on my own. Show the world you are different; let the love of Christ shine through you into a lost and dying world without hope. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

AVOID TRIVIAL ISSUES

“Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.” - Romans 14:1

          Every believer’s level of faith is different. A lot of that depends on what they have been through in life and a lot depends on how long they have walked with God.  Some enjoy squabbling about non-essentials; I refer to them as not being “heaven or hell” issues.  Things like whether speaking in tongues is for today or whether God stills heals are inconsequential.  I would submit to you that they are what Paul is referring to in 2 Timothy 2:23 when he instructs us not to become involved in “stupid and foolish arguments”.  All they do is produce anger and nothing is ever solved.  Agree to disagree and part as friends.  There are so many areas of discussion for the Christian that are much more fruitful.  Discussing the goodness of God and His faithfulness to us is something we can all agree on and can both bless and encourage us.  We should spend our time building up the body of Christ rather than looking to be right regarding trivial issues that arise.  Our belief in Christ and desire to be more like Him in our daily lives should dominate our thoughts.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!    

JARS FILLED WITH TREASURE

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

– 2 Corinthians 4:7

          The ‘treasure’ Paul speaks of in his second letter to the Corinthians is the gospel message itself and the associated power than comes with it. The ‘jars of clay’ represent our frail human bodies and our weak nature. Our propensity to do wrong rather than right makes us weak by comparison to the awesome power that is God. We have no power aside from God. While we think we have it all together each day, without Christ we are rudderless ships only hoping we are going in the right direction yet never arriving at our destination.

          When we enter into a relationship with God, we need to relinquish control of our will. Only God knows what is truly best for us. Even if we made all the right decisions 100% of the time, we would still be lacking for we would still be stuck in the quagmire that is our sin. It is only with Christ and the blood His willingly shed that we can know true freedom and peace that passes all earthly understanding. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

HE BORE ALL OUR SINS

“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” - Isaiah 53:6

           Sheep are said to be one of the dumbest animals, wandering off from the Shepherd without a moment’s hesitation. It’s no mistake that mortal man is compared to them. We think we know all we need to know to be successful in this life, yet we stumble and fall flat on our face time after time. In His unfathomable mercy, God sent His Son to bear all of our sins so that we might have life. This life God provides is one of complete and total absolution. We stand forgiven if we choose to receive the gift of grace that is waiting for us. Those who reject the gift remain in their sins, but it doesn’t have to be that way. God laid the entirety of our iniquity upon Christ so that we might be free. Christ willingly bore the weight of those sins for our sake. No longer do we have to carry that weight. If you haven’t ever surrendered your life over to the God who made you, what are you waiting for? He loved us enough to die for us. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

WE ARE ALIVE IN CHRIST

“… we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” – Ephesians 2:3b-5

          Did you know that there is no way to get to heaven but through Christ? Other religions scoff at that, declaring that there are a wide variety of ways for one to get to heaven or even deny the existence of heaven altogether. In like manner they either deny the existence of Christ or deny His gruesome death on a cross for the sins of men. It’s a matter of faith; it always has been. Ephesians 2:8-9 declares that it is by faith that men are saved.  We must place our trust in a deity we cannot see, believing that He is real, the Bible is His word & it is true. We are deserving of hell fire; each and every one of us. It is by His undeserved favor, His grace, that we have been given the opportunity to become dead to our sins and alive in Christ. His mercy knows no end. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

RESIST & STAND FIRM

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” - 1 Peter 5:8-9

          How can we resist the devil and all his temptations? By drawing near to God (James 4:7-8); for it is only by being close to God that we can attain victory. Our faith has brought us to the point at which we now stand. The afflictions that we endure in this life are temporal; they shall soon pass. As we lean heavily on our Lord, we can withstand anything that comes against us. Our faith will be tested. Our trials have only just begun. We must be diligent in our walk with God so as not to be caught up in those things that can bring us down. God has already won the war through Christ’s death, yet battles still rage on for the souls of men. Staying as close to God as possible at all times is paramount to our success in this life. We cannot do this alone. If we do we will be tripped up by the enemy and fall on our face. Take your walk with God seriously and with dogged determination strive to live for Him each and every day. You are not alone in the fight; the Holy Spirit will guide and sustain you. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

THE GIFT OF GRACE

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” - Ephesians 2:8-9          
          Grace is the undeserved favor of God. It has been given to us as a gift. As with all gifts, we must receive it. If I have a gift that is intended for someone and offer it to them, yet they never take it from me, it does the intended recipient no good. One must accept this marvelous gift as their own.

          Paul makes it clear in this letter that our faith in God’s gift of grace has saved us from our sin. Our good works have nothing to do with our salvation. We don’t get to heaven based on anything we have done, are doing or ever will do. It is our new relationship with God that should compel us to do good works as a result of our faith. So you see we do good works because we are saved, not to become saved.

          No other religion in existence offers this free gift, yet it is shunned by millions. The door to salvation is open wide. All a person has to do is step through it. Embrace the gift. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” - Romans 12:12

          Joy, patience & faithfulness; three character traits that are important for anyone to have, yet three that seem to frequently elude us. I would submit to you that we should take these in reverse order to the way they appear here. If we are faithful in prayer we will tap into heavenly resources which will aid us in being patient throughout our affliction, whatever it may be. The hope that is found in knowing Christ will bring joy to our hearts. True lasting contentment and fulfillment can be found in no one other than God. He alone is the One who provides payment for our sin debt. He is the One who enables us to withstand any and all trials that come against us. If we allow Him to have His way in our lives through His Holy Spirit, we can know peace in the midst of every storm. It comes from a personal, intimate relationship with our God. Draw close to Him by reading His word and spending time with brothers and sisters in the faith. Surrender your life to the Lord. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD IS ETERNAL

“All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

– 1 Peter 1:24-25

          The Apostle Peter quotes Isaiah (40:6-8) in speaking to the “exiles” scattered throughout Asia Minor. Isaiah was speaking of how earthly kingdoms, such as the Babylonians who had been Israel’s captors, wither away like grass. In contrast, he states that God’s word shall “endure forever”. Nothing can alter the plans God has for any of us, except us of course. If our own will clashes with God’s and forces itself into being, then God’s plans for us can be disabled. Aside from that, God’s word and His plan for the dedicated, determined, faithful believer are fixed and will take place at the precise moment God declares it shall be. All things in this life are temporal; even hardships and pain. At some point it shall all come to an end for God is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. There is nothing that is impossible for Him and nothing that is unknown to Him. How could our trust possibly be in anyone else? Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

THE BIBLE - GOD'S WORD TO US

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Believing in God is a matter of faith and trust. Believing the Bible is God's perfect word requires the same. Yes, there are different translations and yes, at times simplifying the text can cloud its intended meaning; however, this should not take away from the fact that scripture declares itself to be spoken by God. The meaning is still intact and clear. Those who seek a way to avoid submitting their will to an unseen deity will make up any reason to do so, but for those who have placed their complete trust in God and His word, we see it as our life line, our reason for hope. Where does an unbeliever's hope come from; their own knowledge and abilities? I submit to you that there is nothing so difficult or offensive in scripture that would keep people away from God other than their own rebellious nature that refuses to surrender its will. For me, that is the one main reason why people shun religion and Christianity in particular. Those outside the family of God don't realize that they owe a debt they could never in a million years pay. It is the sin debt that all of mankind owes. Surrendering to Christ and accepting His forgiveness is the only way to remove our sin debt from us. The next step leads to a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father. All this is tied into accepting God's word for what it says it is. Without the Bible as our guide we are like rudderless ships with no hope of getting where we need to go. Submit to the will of God today and trust His word as true. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

LEARNING OUR LESSONS

“… always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - Ephesians 5:20

 

          Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is said to be a letter that was circulated throughout Asia Minor due to the fact that it isn’t addressed to any specific church and doesn’t have his usual personal greeting at the end. The Ephesian church had dealt with the issue of black magic, cult religions and persecution from the local Jews. Paul is pointing out that there is no other religion or school of thought that offers them what Christ offers for through Christ they already had every spiritual blessing.

          Looking at this verse makes me think of how we handle difficulties. If we are to thank God for everything, then we are to thank Him for our difficulties as well as our blessings. That goes against the grain with many of us I would imagine; however, it is in the difficulties that we learn the greatest lessons. If we ascribe to the thought that everything happens for a reason in God’s economy, then instead of wearing a ‘woe is me’ countenance, we should seek the lesson God wishes to teach us. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!