OUR ALL KNOWING GOD

You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. – Psalm 139:1-2

          Being omniscient, there is nothing in all creation that God is unaware of. So whenever we think, say or do anything God is very much aware of it. This is why we are to think before we speak, act or react to anything that takes place in our lives. We are to think first not out of fear of some punishment, but rather because as Christians we are ambassadors of Christ and are to represent Him well in whatever we think, say and do. God loves us and wants us to succeed in all we do; however, we are supposed to desire to do that which is pleasing to God. That is the whole point of this life we have been given. Not to do as we please, but rather to emulate Christ and glorify God. So it should be a relief and a joy to know that God has intimate knowledge of our comings and our goings. He is, after all, our provider and sustainer. Trust the Lord with all your heart … (Proverbs 3:5a). Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD’S PROMISE

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. – 2 Peter 3:8-9

          The Lord moves at a pace that suits Him and not at the pace we seem to think things need to take place. It seems like some things take forever. We need to understand a couple of things: 1) Time is irrelevant to God; 2) His promises are now and forevermore. The patience of God, which is well documented in scripture, is due to His never-ending compassion for His creation. He doesn’t wish that any would perish but that all would receive eternal life through the forgiveness of their sins. We become irritated with delays; frustration is the enemy of patience. The salvation of a loved one is only as far away as their willingness to surrender their will. We must trust the Lord that He is true to His word and will do that which He has promised. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

WHEN LOSING IS WINNING

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. - Matthew 16:25

          We are called to lose ourselves in Christ. We are to place others before ourselves. We are to see others through the eyes of God. We are to be Christ to a lost and dying world. This isn’t easy to do at times due to our acquired prejudices. We must cast aside our own feelings and immerse ourselves in the Word of God to know what is required of us. Those that live for themselves will save their own life, yet will lose it in the process. Those who give their life away will find it. Living for God leads to the ultimate satisfaction, for by doing so we are making a difference in the lives of all we encounter. This satisfaction leads to contentment and a fulfillment that cannot be found anywhere else. This world provides nothing that is everlasting or eternal in nature, for everything in this world is temporal and will decay over time. Lose your life to Christ and change the world one person at a time. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

IT STARTS WITH A THOUGHT

…whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. – Colossians 3:17

          As we live out our lives we are admonished to live as one who has been changed by the grace of God. The presence of His Holy Spirit in our hearts makes the way for such a change. Submission on our part is necessary as we proceed down the narrow path set before us. We must submit to the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit and be determined to live for God no matter what comes our way. While not mentioned specifically in this verse, our thoughts, from which come our words and deeds, are to be changed. Once we give our lives over to Christ we are no longer the same person we were prior to our conversion. We are to allow His Spirit to infuse us with Godly thoughts. Philippians 4:8 tells us to think on things that are noble, true, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. If we think on these things our words and deeds will, as a result, be pleasing to the Lord. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

NO PLACE TO HIDE

Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord. - Jeremiah 23:24

          There are times when even the staunchest believer can fall victim to temptation. We lose sight of reason as our focus shifts off the Lord and onto that which we know in our heart we should not do. We try our best to conceal what we are doing and succeed in part, by fooling those around us with half-truths and ambiguity. During this time we are barely thinking about God, for our nefarious actions have consumed us. All the while God is there. Being omniscient, He is aware of all our comings and goings. There is nowhere for us to successfully hide and nothing we can say or do that escapes Him. God will allow us to go off on our rabbit trail, but will also be the first to welcome us back when we eventually come to our senses. Consequences always end up catching up with us as we become caught in our own web, yet we serve a forgiving God. We will make mistakes in this life; however, we are not defined by those mistakes. God loves us unconditionally and will always forgive us once we repent of our indiscretions. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

ACT IN LIKE MANNER

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. - 1 Timothy 1:15-16

          The Apostle Paul was a killer of Christians. He oversaw the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7:54-60 and was in stiff opposition to all that Jesus Christ stood for…until His encounter with the Lord on the Damascus Road. There God showed Paul mercy, forgiving him of his heinous past. This should be a lesson to us all; no one is so far gone that they cannot be converted. We need to treat others as God treated us; with mercy, grace and patience. We are not an unbeliever’s judge and jury; we are simply the vehicle God has chosen to use to reach others for Christ. We are the gift giver, not the executioner. God has entrusted us with this important task, knowing full well that it will many times be difficult for us to shed our prejudices and perform with mercy and grace. We must remember and never forget the grace and mercy shown to us by our God when we knew Him not and act in like manner towards those outside the faith. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD IS WATCHING

The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. - Psalm 121:7-8

 

          If the Lord created you and professes His everlasting, unconditional love for you, do you honestly think for one second that He would allow anything to harm you? As we walk with the Lord we find that our way is many times made clear for our passage. We have no idea what pitfalls or potholes have been leveled so that we might have clear sailing. Any obstacles that impede our progress are placed there by Almighty God as a means of growing our faith. There are lessons to be learned from each hindrance, for God is a teacher. He is watching over us every moment of each day; His ubiquitous nature allows this. Both Genesis 28:15 and Joshua 1:9 tell us that God is with us wherever we go.

          God’s promises are not for the glib individual who says he knows Him yet lives as he chooses; they are for the ardent believer who has dedicated his life to following Christ all the way to our new home in heaven. Until next time…walk with the King today and be a blessing!

OUR LOVE REWARDED

“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.” - Psalm 91:14-15

 

          What a wonderful promise! If we love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, He will watch over us and protect us from harm. Why do we love God? We love God because He loved us first (1 John 4:19). When we call out to Him, He will answer. When we are in trouble He will provide a way of escape. This is not a superficial love we are speaking of, but rather a deep, abiding, genuine love that is borne out of our realization that He has saved us from eternal peril. How do we show our love to a God that cannot be seen? We show it by obeying His decrees, for in them is life. God knows us intimately and therefore knows exactly what is best for us. It’s a glorious exchange; a life without direction for a life with purpose. God alone can provide this for us as we love and obey Him throughout our lives. Until next time … walk with the King and be a blessing!

BE REAL

Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? – Mark 9:50

          Christians are special and should live lives that are distinctive compared to the world. We are called to hold on tight to our uniqueness in Christ and never lose it. A piece of silver, when not cared for, will tarnish and lose its luster; but, when polished it becomes a reflective beacon of the light that surrounds it. Without our faith, which breeds trust, reliance, peace and hope, we would appear to be bland and dull. When we strive to live lives that are pleasing to God we are, in essence, polishing our spirit. As we do we shall reflect His glory, grace, mercy and compassion to a lost and dying world. Be a genuine and consistent example of what life can be with God leading the way. Allow people to see that forgiveness is necessary and within reach. Be salt to those around you for the sake of Christ. Let them see in you something that they are drawn to. Let it be real and not pretentious, for without Christ we can truly do nothing of any eternal value (John 15:5). Let humility rule your life just as it did in the life of Christ. Until next time … walk with the King and be a blessing!

PROTECTED BY GOD

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

          When we receive Christ we are immediately seen as righteous by God. Christ’s blood covers us and we are clean, void of any sin. Therefore, from that day forward God watches over our way to ensure that we are safe. We can go off on rabbit trails if we insist, but the Holy Spirit within us shall warn us and seek to draw us back to the main path. Not so with those who don’t know Christ. They are rudderless ships going whichever way seems right to them. Their choices are their downfall for they lead to their own demise. It’s for them that Solomon writes in Proverbs 14:12 and again in 16:25 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its way is the way of death.”

          Followers of Christ can be secure in the knowledge that if they stay close to God and obey His decrees they shall be forever under His protection. It behooves us all to do that which is pleasing in the sight of our Lord for then and only them shall we find true contentment in this life and contentment leads to fulfillment. How satisfying it is to know we are considered righteous in the sight of our God. We must always strive live up to this stature through reverential obedience. Until next time … walk with the King and be a blessing!

SUBMISSION REDEFINED

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. – Ephesians 5:21

          Christian men like verse 22 which tells wives to submit to their husbands, but they seem to miss Paul’s admonition to the husbands in verse 25. It says that husbands should love their wives just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her. If husbands love their wives with a Christ’s love, wives would be far more inclined to submit to their leadership in the family. Husbands who rule with an iron fist will get undesirable results most of the time. The verse above tells both parties to submit to one another. Men and women have great value by themselves. When they join in together in union both individuals value escalates greatly. They are to work as a team toward one goal; to glorify God through their combined efforts as they raise their families. Neither should seek an advantage over the other, but rather should do things in tandem making their efforts less stressful. Pulling in the same directions brings far better results than pulling against one another. So men, submit to your wives as Christ submitted to the will of the Father. Love them with an undivided heart and they will submit to your leadership and love you in return. Men should always remember that wives are not to be ruled over, but rather to be a helpmate, confidant and forever friend. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

HONESTY

An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips. – Proverbs 24:26    

          

          There are times in our life that lying would be so much easier than telling the truth; however, telling the truth is the right thing to do. Yes, there are times when lying is necessary; for example, when a couple is in a car accident and one lives while the other one dies. It is prudent not to tell the surviving spouse of their partner’s death, so we lie to spare the feelings of distressed loved one at that specific moment. That isn’t what we are speaking of. There are some folks in this life who avoid the truth at all costs as if it were a terminal disease. It can be said that they wouldn’t know the truth even if it bit them. They pathologically lie to elevate their stature in others eyes. A habitual liar is void of integrity. Solomon eloquently instructs us that a truthful response is like a kiss on the lips. It can be a balm to a broken heart. Lies do nothing but tear down and destroy. Honesty brings life to the hearer. Use discernment to know when to tell the truth or simply remain silent. Until next time … walk with the King and be a blessing!

A PROPER PERSPECTIVE

Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. - Proverbs 23:4-5                                                                               I once knew a young man whose goal in life was to be wealthy. He plotted and planned to come up with just the right business scheme which would garner the largest profits. His first plateau was to reach the million dollar mark and he devoted all his energy to reaching that goal. Sadly, while he grew up in a Christian home, his faith had shriveled and all but died. He believed in God, but didn’t cultivate the personal relationship he had once had. Money falls under the category of “A Necessary Evil”; however, it mustn’t rule our lives. As believers, we must keep our priorities from getting skewed. Money is a tempting mistress. She will draw you in and bleed you dry. When a person is spiritually well grounded, their wealth can do much good for the Kingdom. When their focus is on acquiring wealth and not on God, their standards shift and their future could potentially come to nothing. “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:26) Keep things in their proper perspective. Until next time … walk with the King and be a blessing!

OUR RESPONSIBILITY

“ … our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” - Philippians 3:20-21

 

          This verse reminds me of a chorus we used to sing in church … “This world is not my home, I’m just a passin’ thru, my treasure’s all laid up somewhere beyond the blue, the angels beckon me from heaven’s open door and I can’t feel at home in the world anymore.” We currently reside on earth, but our citizenship is in heaven with our Creator God. This is due to our acceptance of God’s redemptive plan which saved us from our sin. Christ paid the price for our sins and essentially punched our ticket to our heavenly home. If this is true then why do we resist living for Him this side of heaven? Christ didn’t willingly submit Himself to such a torturous death so we could rest easy and do nothing for the Kingdom. We aren’t supposed to get all we can from God without giving anything back. Yes, heaven is our ultimate destination; however, living the rest of our lives on this earth for God’s glory is not too much to ask in return. Until next time … walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD: OUR PROVIDER

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” - Luke 11:11-13

 

          Jesus is asking a rhetorical question which shines a light on the goodness of man compared to the goodness of God. If sinful man is capable of doing good, how much greater is God who created man, to do even greater things? If it’s true that God knows all things and I believe it is, than He knows us intimately and therefore knows exactly what we need and exactly when we need it. We fret and fuss and fume over delays all the while forgetting the nature of God and His willingness to bless His children. James 1:17 tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from God. We must trust Him to give us not what we want, but rather what we need. God is our provider and sustainer; Yahweh*-Jireh or YHWH* will provide. Trust is the byproduct of faith. Our faith in God should lead to our relying on Him for all things. God will take care of us; however, we must stop straining at the leash and allow Him to do what He knows is best for us. Until next time … walk with the King and be a blessing!

 

*Yahweh or YHWH is the proper name Hebrews use for God.

GOD: OUR WONDROUS CREATOR

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. - Psalm 19:1          

          According to Charles H. Spurgeon this Davidic psalm was written to be sung by assembled worshippers in the sanctuary. David was proficient in his understanding of the greatness of God due to his time spent in the fields as a boy tending his father’s flocks. He saw the immensity and grandeur of God poured forth before him as paint on an artist’s canvas. That, combined with his knowledge of Holy Scripture enabled him to tap into God’s glory in a unique way. With this as a backdrop he boldly proclaims that the heavens and the skies above tell of the wonders that God has created. Though unspoken in this psalm, the entirety of creation speaks of His artistry. Think of the most beautiful places you have ever seen on this earth and know that the hand of Almighty God formed them. If God can make a world that is so incredible, think of what He can and will do for you if you ask Him to. Become intimate with God so that His will becomes your desire. Until next time … walk with the King today and be a blessing!

GOD: OUR SHELTER & PROTECTOR

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. - Psalm 46:1-3

          This is a song of praise to the Lord by the sons of Korah. In it are two very important words for the Christian: refuge and ever-present. A refuge is a place that provides shelter and protection. Ever-present is something or someone that always exists, that is. God is. He has no known beginning and no known end to His existence. Scripture tells us of His mighty power. Since He exists and loves us with an ever-lasting, unconditional love, we have absolutely nothing to fear. Though the fiercest storms may relentlessly pound us, still we have nothing to fear. God is our place of shelter and protection from the most violent upheaval. We know from scripture that God will never leave us, nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). Scripture tells us in Joshua 1:9 that God is with us wherever we go. He is in us by His Holy Spirit. Our humanness causes us to doubt, which leads to worry. If we draw close to our God, He will draw close to us (James 4:8). Therefore we truly have nothing to fear. Until next time … walk with the King and be a blessing!

WILLING FORGIVENESS

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

          While it is good to remain patient and forgiving with all those you encounter, Paul is especially referring to our being that way with our brethren. Christians are hardly perfect; therefore, we must be open to the teachings of scripture so that we can hone the behavioral characteristics that God desires us to have. If we do not it’s like looking at ourselves in a mirror and walk away forgetting what we look like (James 1:24). We shall never attain all that God has for us that way. We must be moldable, like clay in a potter’s hands. We must remember and never forget the forgiveness God readily and willingly gave us when we receive His indescribable gift of redemption. That is to be the back drop that motivates us to do likewise with those we have a grievance with. Consider what state we would be in if God withheld His forgiveness from us. Until next time … walk with the King and be a blessing!

OUR INCONCEIVABLE GOD

Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy. – Habakkuk 3:2

          In Chapter 2 of Habakkuk the Lord speaks of His interceding on behalf of His people. The prophet Habakkuk responds to the Lord in the following chapter with a prayer that begins above. We could easily repeat the same words today for the Lord never changes. He is the same as He was back in the prophet’s day. His power has not diminished; neither has His wisdom nor His omnipresence. There is nothing God cannot do for us. We are the ones who put Him in a box and limit Him due to our ignorance. Is it because we want to make Him into a God that we can fully comprehend? It is inconceivable how great and mighty God is. We will never understand the immenseness of His power and glory this side of heaven. The very nature of faith is to trust in that which we cannot see as if we can see it. We must rest in the history of deeds done; knowing that with one solitary word God can irrevocably change things. The situation that we may find ourselves in at this time can change in an instant if we rest in the knowledge that the Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever. Until next time … walk with the King and be a blessing!

TIME IS IRRELEVANT

A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. – Psalm 90:4

          Time means an awful lot to us. We wear watches to tell us what the time is and make appointments based on a certain time of day. Have you ever considered that time means nothing to God? We make requests of God and then determine that He is late in responding based on the time that has passed since we asked. This is incorrect thinking. To God a thousand years is like a day and a day like a thousand years (2 Peter 3:8). He is the creator of all things; therefore, He is the creator of time. God knows when time began and when it will end. His answers to us are just exactly when He knows they need to be made. Our impatience causes us to fret, become disappointed or worse, become angry. Why? God never promised that He would provide what we are seeking when we want it. God simply promised He would meet our needs. As we begin to understand how God’s economy works and trust Him to do as He has said and we will worry less and be at peace. Until next time … walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD’S LOVE

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. - Ephesians 3:16-19

          We see in Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians a statement that should resonate with all believers … knowing the depth of the love God has for us. There is nothing this side of heaven that can compare to such love. It’s a love that allowed for Christ to suffer a horrifying, torturous death at the hands of sinful men. That love paid our sin debt. Once we accepted God’s gift of redemption and experienced the forgiveness that is associated with it, our slate was wiped clean. It’s then and only then that we may begin to have the slightest inkling that this was no ordinary love that has been bestowed upon us. This is genuine, pure, righteous, unconditional, everlasting love that will never diminish and will always be. God loves us so much that He paid the lofty price of our salvation. We must never take it for granted, but rather must live our lives with the knowledge that, if saved, God’s spirit lives within us and His love shall never fail. Until next time … walk with the King and be a blessing!

REGARDING RETALIATION

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

- 1 Thessalonians 5:15

 

          Paul is writing the believers in Thessalonica for several reasons, one being to exhort them to uphold ethical behavior with one another. Here he is clearly saying that getting even with someone who has wronged you is not to be tolerated within the body of Christ. We are to try to bring good out of evil. This flies in the face of our society today. Revenge or retaliation is seen as a strength. To overlook an act of evil is seen as a sign of weakness. We can only control our own thoughts, words, actions and reactions. Therefore we are to heed the words of the Apostle Paul and never pay back wrong for wrong.  Nothing positive ever comes out of vengeance. The satisfaction you may get from it dissipates quickly as retaliation is plotted against you by the other. And around and around we go … where it stops nobody knows. Scripture is God breathed and meant for our instruction but it can’t help us if we ignore it. Read and practice those things that the Bible imparts. Until next time … walk with the King and be a blessing!

ACKNOWLEDGING GOD

Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. – 1 Chronicles 29:12-13

          This is part of David’s prayer of praise to God before the people of Israel.  In it he shows that the Lord is deserving of His people's praise. 

          It is important that followers of Christ acknowledge that all things come from their God. Anything that we lay hold of in this life, though by our own hands, is because of the strength God has placed in us. Any wealth or honor we may achieve is due to the blessing of the “ruler of all things”. It is right to praise the name of our Lord God in all things. Whether in triumph or tragedy we are to praise the maker of the heavens and the earth, for He alone can cause us to rise like a phoenix from the ashes of any calamity and He alone has enabled us to soar like an eagle. We are to thank God and not take Him for granted, for without Him we can truly do nothing of any value in this life. Until next time … walk with the King and be a blessing!

TEMPER CONTROL

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. - Proverbs 15:1

          How many times do we let our own anger fuel a fire that then rages out of control? Proverbs instructs us to be softer toward one another so as to avoid flare ups that can singe our feelings and cause pain. We are emotional creatures and there are no doubt times when we let our emotions get the best of us. My temper is normally kept in check, yet there are certain hot buttons that when pushed will cause my temper to flare up. The result can be that regrettable things are said; things that cannot be taken back. How about you? Has your temper ever gotten the best of you? Keeping our composure under difficult circumstances can help diffuse a potential fire storm of verbiage that can breed contempt and resentment. Using soft, kind words in the face of such circumstances will put out the ember of anger that exists in the other person’s heart. God knows us intimately and cautions us to overlook anger when it is directed at us. We can sidestep confrontation by taking a soft, kind, loving approach. Until next time … walk with the King and be a blessing!

OUR FUTURE

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. - Revelation 21:4

          There is a day coming when all our stress will be gone; when every negative thought will cease and that day shall be when we are with the Lord in heaven for all eternity. As we are told, death will no longer exist; neither will mourning, crying or pain. God will usher in a new age where things will be as they should be; where things are as He originally intended them to be. While on this earth, we are to live our lives as ambassadors of our Lord each day knowing that our reward lies in our eternal home. We are to strive with determination, as a runner strives for the finish line. We are to equip ourselves for the journey from the deep riches of God’s resources. We are to represent Him well in all we think, say and do so as to be a blessing; God’s hand extended. We will one day be with Him for all eternity; however, until that day, we must see others the way God sees them and treat them accordingly. Until next time … walk with the King and be a blessing!