GOD REVEALED

No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. - John 1:18

          While it is true that we serve an unseen God and it is also true that there is no iron clad proof as to His existence, Jesus Christ did walk this earth over 2000 years ago. Flavius Josephus, Jewish historian of that time, chronicles the existence of Jesus as a man who was not merely a man in his book Antiquities of the Jews, written in 93-94 AD. Josephus was not a Christian, therefore he would have had no reason to mention Jesus other than to mention history as it took place.

          Now Jesus was and is said to be Son of the Most High God. He has made God known to us and by His death, ushered us into the age of grace. What shall we do with such knowledge? We must either embrace it and let it change our life or reject it and go about our business. God loves us and desires for us to be all we can be IN Him. Live for God. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

LIGHT IN DARKNESS

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” - Matthew 5:14,16

          Light is seen and not heard; therefore we are to show the world that we are different by our actions. Speaking the gospel is important, but words can fall on deaf ears. Talk is cheap, but the message isn’t. It cost the life of the Son of God. So live the message with your life. Show them the love, mercy and grace that God has for them by being like Christ in your daily life. The goal is to bring glory to your Heavenly Father. It’s not something that tends to come easy for us. We get wrapped up in the ‘what ifs’ and concern ourselves with people’s reactions. Not everyone is going to embrace the faith, but there is a victory celebration in heaven for everyone who does. Our responsibility is to be the best we can be for God with the Spirit’s help. Be light in darkness and bring honor and glory to God. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD'S FOREVER WORD

“Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” - Psalm 119:89

          Those who deny the existence of God dismiss the Bible as a book filled with errors and contradictions. For those who have placed their faith and trust in God, it is a treasure trove of truth. People who do not want to relinquish control of their lives laugh at believers, never realizing that they are the fools because we all succumb to someone else’s control at one time or another. Submitting to Almighty God is to our benefit, not a detriment at all; but you must believe that. Placing ones faith in God is the greatest single thing a person can do in their life. Just because He cannot be seen doesn’t mean He isn’t there. That is the essence of faith; believing the unseen as if it can be seen. God is the one constant in a sea of inconsistency. His word is the ‘yea and amen’. His word shall come to pass whether we believe it or not. God doesn’t become ineffective because of unbelief; He just becomes of no consequence to those who don’t believe. Eternity has a home for those who have placed their trust in God and His word. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

PERSEVERANCE

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 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 12:1

    In the 34 years that I have walked with the Lord I have found that there are as many valleys as there are mountain peaks. There are also lulls and plateaus which I have found are times of spiritual growth. If living for Christ takes anything it takes perseverance. Perseverance is a steady continuance; a stick-to-it, follow-it-through type of nature that carries you when things are at their darkest. This perseverance is born out of faith. When we place our faith in God we slowly learn that He can be trusted. Once we know that, we find out through scripture that He is with us wherever we go and that He will never forsake us. That is what fuels our ‘follow through’. God will see us through any situation if we rely on Him to do so. Taking matters into our own hands can lead to disastrous results as far too many of us have found out first hand. Relying on God to lead us is what will keep us from getting entangled in life’s hindrances. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

FAITH

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. - Hebrews 11:1

          Martin Luther King Jr. described faith as “taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.” I typically say that it is seeing things that aren’t as if they are. Faith; it is the benchmark of our belief system. Without it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Faith leads to trust which leads to reliance. We will never trust someone we don’t have faith in and will never rely on someone we don’t trust. It’s like a spiritual equation. One cannot exist with the other. Faith when in full bloom will provide peace and peace leads to hope. Without hope for the future our lives can become a desolate place. Of all the people or things we could place our faith in; Almighty God is the only One who is constant. Every good and perfect gift comes from a God who doesn’t change like the shifting shadows (James 1:17). There is no one else this side of heaven who can make that claim. Exercise your faith and serve God with your whole heart. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

GET ACQUAINTED WITH GOD

Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands. – Psalm 119:66

          There are those of us who turn to God when times are difficult, but don’t consider His instructions when times are stable and calm. It would behoove us all to seek the knowledge that God provides daily for in it are the threads of life. We cannot hope to succeed in this life on our own. Success is fleeting and money vanishes right before our eyes. Knowing the word of God and His precepts can save us much heartache as we walk the path that stretches out before us. We do not learn such things by osmosis, but by digging into scripture and then applying those things we have found to our lives. Just knowing the Lord is insufficient. We must immerse ourselves in His teachings for how else can we truly get acquainted with Him. We need to drink in the goodness of God and allow it to mold our character from the inside out. Scripture tells us in James 4:8 that if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. As with all relationships, both parties must participate. God is willing; are you? Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

EVERYTHING IS THE LORDS

“A good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion.” - Psalm 112:5

          Since we believe God created everything that is in existence, then everything is His. Psalm 24:1 tells us as much; “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it…” . It’s a lot easier to lend out money if we realize that it really is the Lord’s anyway. When we tithe (giving a tenth of our first fruits [read: paycheck] to that place where we get spiritually fed), it shouldn’t be so difficult to part with since we’re really giving back to God what is His in the first place. When we make important life decisions we should lay them before the Lord and proceed with His directives in mind. Using discretion is the ability to make responsible decisions based on the knowledge we have at hand. If we tap into the vast knowledge of God through His word and through communing with Him we will tend to make better choices. Isaiah 46:10 makes it known that God knows “the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.” God’s vastness surpasses anything this world could ever offer. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

CHILDLIKE FAITH

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” - Matthew 19:14

          Little children have a wide-eyed wonder about them. Their faith and trust is pure and unwavering. We are to trust God with that same pure and unwavering faith. Children may learn to strain at the leash at an early age, but their trust is evident, for we all want to be able to trust those who influence us the most.

          God is worthy of our trust. He never changes (Malachi 3:6a). His love for us is unconditional and never-ending (Psalm 143:8). His love is such that He sent His Son to die in our place (Romans 5:8). As children trust those who brought them into this world, so are we to trust Almighty God. The kingdom belongs to those who have the faith to believe and the trust to persevere. The free will God gave us is so we willingly come to Him of our own accord and not as some religious requirement. Willing devotion to our God; that is what He desires from us all. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

WHO WAS JESUS?

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:15-16

          C.S. Lewis once said of Jesus Christ, “Either this man was, and is, the Son of God or else a madman or something worse.” Peter, who had spent time with Jesus, knew in his spirit that He was God’s Son. Who do you say He is? Scripture is clear for anyone who cares to see it; God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to save a creation that had lost its way. Christ is the linchpin, the key element in the salvation of mankind. Without Jesus there is no hope of forgiveness by God for the multitude of sins we have all committed. Without Jesus hell is our eternal destination. However, God had a plan. He knew the heart of man from the start. He knew his propensity to sin. God knew that left to his own devices man would arrive at the place he is now; riddled with sin and eternally lost. God knew, so He sent Jesus to do what no mere mortal could ever do. Jesus allowed Himself to be beaten, tortured and murdered for our sake. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

THE ETERNAL WILL OF GOD

The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. – 1 John 2:17

          Nothing in this world can match the glory and majesty of our God. The earth itself is created for His good pleasure and ours. Someday the world as we know it will cease to exist. It’s a day that the Father alone knows. If we seek to do His Will throughout our lives we shall live with Him in eternity. That seems vague, indistinct and impossible for us to comprehend at this time. We are busy living life. God’s Will for all mankind shall live forever and never be thwarted. Those who question God’s very existence shall find out too late that He was and is and always shall be and His perfect, infallible Will shall come to pass in His good time. All the supposed treasures this world has to offer shall pass away along with the desire for such things. Now is the time to lay aside foolish things and stand tall for all that God stands for. Now, more than ever, is the time to be like Christ to a lost and dying world. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD IS WITH US ALWAYS

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. - Isaiah 41:10

          Though words spoken by God to Israel through the prophet Isaiah, because gentiles were grafted into the family of God (Romans 11:11-24), they apply to all under God’s umbrella of grace. Being human, we have a propensity to become worried, discouraged or dismayed even though God’s tells us we have no need to. In our humanness we react to our circumstances. God tells us that He is with us. Elsewhere in scripture He tells us He will not fail or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5). Our Lord has promised to strengthen and help us. What can mortal man ever do to us that God cannot protect us from? The answer is simple: nothing. So when things are at their worst and you don’t know which way to turn, look up to God and know that He is with you and in fact, resides in you by His Holy Spirit. Everyone you know may turn away from you, but God will never leave you defenseless and alone. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

KNOWING GOD’S WORD

I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. – Psalm 119:10-11

          This Psalm, which is believed to be one of David’s due to its tone and expression, is the longest one in the Psalter at 176 verses. Throughout it is chock full of wonderful insights and helpful directives. Here we find evidence, according to one who would know, regarding how to not sin against God. Seek Him with all your heart and hide His word deep within so that you might truly know what is right and honorable and pleasing to the Lord. You cannot hope to know God without keen insight as revealed by the Holy Spirit. The only place to find such insight is within the pages of God’s inspired Word. Knowing God is born out of faith. Believe in God, believe in His word. Then read it to know the mind of God as much as your finite mind can fathom. Not knowing His word makes life so much more difficult than it needs to be. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. - Romans 1:16

         The Apostle Paul, who at one time sought to murder Christians, now makes this incredible statement; he is not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel is powerful and can alter the path we are on forever; however, we must allow it to do so. Knowing the good news and keeping it to ourselves is selfish. Someone had to share it with you. Cultivate your personal relationship with the Lord to the extent that you can sense His presence leading you. Ask God to then lead you to a person who needs to be encouraged in their life. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you. Share your faith with others. Pray for opportunities. Make a positive difference in people’s lives. Glorify God with your life. Be ready in season and out of season. (2 Timothy 4:2) to declare that which you believe to be true. Do that and God will draw people to you. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. - Colossians 2:9-10

          The believers in the small town of Colossae were infiltrated with a strange teaching that promised protection from all evil if they adhered to strict legalism and self-denial. In response to this teaching Paul wrote a letter proclaiming the doctrine of Christ’s sovereignty. For us today the same remains true. There is nothing we shall encounter in this life that can overwhelm us or defeat us if we remain true to our faith in Christ and continuously trust in and rely on Him to guide us. Christ now sits at the right hand of God the Father interceding for those who are His. It is not nearly good enough to merely believe in God. We must enter into a personal relationship with Him. He who is head over all things desires to forgive us of our sins. That forgiveness ushers us into a right relationship with God. As we slowly develop a close relationship with Him, He shall see us through every trial we may encounter in this life. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

BE QUIET & LISTEN

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. - James 1:19-20

          In this Epistle, which is said to be written by James, the brother of Jesus, we find admonitions for Godly living. The letter is written to “the twelve tribes scattered among the nations” (James 1:1), so it is written to Jewish believers. We have found in reading scripture that Jewish and Gentile believers occasionally have difficulties existing together in the same congregation. Each ones point of reference comes from a different place. Tolerance was lacking. Arguments ensued. Today too many believers allow the point of view of others and certain circumstances set them off. We ought to do that which we have been instructed to do; that being, keep our mouths closed and our minds and ears open. It’s particularly difficult to remain silent when it comes to dealing with the intolerance of others, for their ignorance can drive us mad at times. Whether dealing with Christians or non-believers, we must understand that we cannot exhibit God’s righteousness by displaying anger, but rather by being spirit-led. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

BEING CHRIST TO OTHERS

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. – Philippians 2:3-4

 

          In today’s world of selfish, self-absorbed individuals we read this admonishment to the people of Philippi. We find more and more people who only think about themselves and their own families and ignore the needs of others. This ought not to be. Believers in Christ especially need to heed this warning. We are to be an example to the world of what Christ is truly like. We are to emulate Him in all we think, say and do. I fall way short on a daily basis and I know you do too, but as long as we recognize that fact and have a teachable, malleable spirit we can overcome our ingrained habits and prejudices and begin to literally be Christ to a lost and dying world. It starts with one act of kindness, one word of encouragement or one time when we don’t retaliate. We don’t lose our identity, but rather become all God knows we can be in this life. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

THE WORD OF GOD

The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” – Matthew 4:3-4

          Life comes from God’s Word, through instruction, wisdom and guidance. Jesus relied on the Word of God to sustain Him in the face of spiritual struggles; we are to do likewise. The Word of God is the only standard by which we can withstand the trials and temptations of this life. To avoid its directives is like manning a rudderless ship in a raging sea. It doesn’t have to be that way. We have no control over the outcome of our lives; things shall transpire just as they are intended. We can go it alone, ever fearful of the end result or we can submit to the leadership and direction of Almighty God and navigate through life’s tribulations with confidence. God knows exactly what He’s doing and what is best of each of us. If we rely on Him to direct us we need never feel lost, for the love, patience and mercy of God shall carry us through the valleys and over the mountain tops to our eternal safe haven. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD OF THE IMPOSSIBLE

Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. - Jeremiah 32:17

In calling the Lord sovereign, the prophet Jeremiah is acknowledging the supreme power and authority that he knows God to have. It is no small thing to have created the heavens and the earth, let alone all of mankind. Jeremiah further states that nothing is too hard for God to accomplish. There are many things that man cannot do; however, for God, nothing is impossible. We need to let those words sink in. The word ‘impossible’ doesn’t exist in Gods vocabulary. God is there whenever things seem out of control. He is intimately aware of every detail in our lives. We truly have no reason for alarm for our God is here, within our situation. His spirit is ubiquitous; everywhere at one time. When difficulty strikes, God is there. He is also within us by His Holy Spirit. If He can forgive our sins and place His spirit in us, how could anything be too hard for Him? We must train ourselves to see our circumstances and problems the way God sees them; as temporary obstacles that can be overcome any day, all the time. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

SEEKING KNOWLEDGE

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, … - Philippians 1:9-10

There is one way to gain Godly knowledge, depth of insight and discernment and that is to seek it with dogged determination. It can be found through reading God’s Word, through diligent study, through the sermon of a Biblically sound preacher or through the lyrics of a spirit-inspired song to name just a few. We are not alone in our quest for knowledge, for God wishes us to know all that can be known about Him. We needn’t plug through this life alone, for direction can be readily found in scripture. God’s desire for us is to live prosperous lives in accordance with the prosperity of our souls (3 John 1:2). Financial prosperity means little if our souls are floundering. God wishes us to be able to discern that which is from Him rather than that which is from the world. Drawing close to Him is the only way to accomplish this. (James 4:8) Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

UNWHOLESOME TALK

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. - Ephesians 4:29

          We find unwholesome talk coming at us from everywhere nowadays. Even television isn’t exempt as they have loosened their restrictions to the point where once taboo verbiage now is heard quite regularly as if it were now acceptable. Profanity will always exist. Gossip and deceit will live on through the ages to come. Does this make it alright? No, it does not. As Christians we must fight the urge to lower our standards. If we do not speak unwholesome talk we are not better than those who do, just obedient. God knows that wholesome, encouraging, edifying speech mends wounds and brings overall healing to the soul. Unwholesome talk provides no positive results … ever. We are not restricted from using unwholesome talk, but rather are cautioned in scripture that though we can do as we choose not all things are beneficial to us. God knows us intimately and therefore knows what is best for us. Straining at the leash to do as we please can bring disastrous results. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD’S CREATION

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. – Psalm 139:13-14

          In a day when the sanctity of life is challenged continuously we read of God’s most spectacular miracle; that we are knit together in our mother’s womb. How God must weep for all the children He formed that never got the chance to fully develop into adulthood because of convenience. As sad as that fact is, let us marvel at the wonder of His creation, for we are truly masterfully made. When you consider the way our fingers move independent of one another and how our bodies move so effortlessly when we walk, can we honestly say that this is simply happenstance and not the product of a loving and merciful God? And what of those who are born with defects? God’s creations are never defective, just different. There is beauty in every being, no matter what the naked eye may see. Perhaps they were brought into the world to help teach us tolerance and compassion. Marvel at God’s wonderful creation today, for God is great and greatly to be praised! Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD’S EVERLASTING WORD

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. – Matthew 24:35

          In the world of wild instability we have a God Who is the model of consistency. He never changes; He is always exactly the same. He was and is and always shall be. His words shall remain the one truth that will stand the test of time. They are the plumb line; the standard that all else shall be measured by when all is said and done. One day heaven and earth shall cease to exist, unbelievable as that may seem; however, the words of God shall never cease to exist. They can be trusted and relied upon now and forevermore because of who He is. The architect of the universe can be trusted without question for there is no One else who can provide salvation. He is the one true God and His words provide order and stability. They are the guide we need to make it through this life for they give us hope, peace and direction. Men endlessly seek truth, but nothing this side of heaven shall satisfy our hunger for truth other than the Word of God. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

SEEKING THE COOL WATERS OF GOD

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. – Psalm 42:1

          When we enter into a personal relationship with our God and inner transformation takes place. His Spirit enters into us and we are reborn. The forgiveness we have sought has been granted to us and we are cleansed of all sin. It is at this time that we should have a hunger for God; an earnest desire to know Him and abide by His wishes. As a deer pants for streams of cool, refreshing water when it is thirsty, so our souls should pant after God, for it is God alone who can mold us and make us into all that He knows we can be in this life. We can live as we choose, but we will never achieve the fulfillment or contentment that can be found serving God. We are not a servant, per se, but a child who needs to be willing to follow the instruction of their Father. The Lord is gracious and kind; “slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness”. (Exodus 34:6) There is nothing that is unknown to Him and nothing He cannot do. Seek the cool waters of God and be refreshed. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

FREEDOM BY SUBMISSION

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance. (Psalm 33:12)

          Our great nation was founded on Biblical principles. The American patriarchs were solid, moral, ethical men of God and our country has prospered through the years because we have been a God fearing nation. Today, our morals are decaying, our family unit is being redefined and our ethics have become suspect. Still God watches over us as a nation. His judgment is being held for a day sometime in the future when all men will stand before Him and give an account of themselves. There will be no pardons, no negotiations and no plea bargains; our words and deeds will be all the evidence needed for a conviction. For our nation to be truly blessed of God once again we must take our relationship with Him seriously, as we had in days gone by. We must truly seek to emulate Christ in all we think, say and do. Our country is truly great in all that it has accomplished worldwide; however, good deeds shall come to nothing without submission to Almighty God. God is not seeking to control us, but rather guide us into all the blessing He has stored up for His children. Until next time…walk with the King today and be a blessing!

ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE

The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. – Proverbs 14:6

          This verse reminds me of those who seek scientific proof regarding the existence of God. They shall find no such proof. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, “A god who let us prove his existence would be an idol.” No proof is coming. In a faith-based belief system proof isn’t needed. Faith believes in things that cannot be seen as if they can be. If proof of God’s existence were available, then faith wouldn’t be needed. We are told in Hebrews 11:6 that “without faith it is impossible to please God.” Those who are wise and perceptive, not rushing to conclusions shall achieve knowledge. Faith and not sight is part of the package that provides Godly wisdom and insight. Those that mock God and all He stands for are ignorant fools with no understanding. God honors those who use discernment, providing guidance and direction for their lives. Those who laugh at the faithful shall find nothing but heartache and misery in the long run. It is easy to poke fun at that which we do not understand; however, those who accept by faith that which they cannot ascertain shall be rewarded with knowledge. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

THE HEART OF MAN

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” - Jeremiah 17:9-10

          The heart of man is corrupt and full of malice. Without the Lord our own decisions would lead to our ultimate destruction for He knows our hearts and the deceitfulness that lies within.  If God can search our inner most being and know us intimately, then he knows the motivation behind every thought we will ever have. This is daunting to those who don’t have a personal relationship with their God, for it means nothing is unknown. We may all fool those around us, but with our personal integrity on the line isn’t it better to line up with what the Lord declares as right thinking rather than going it alone. No matter how we choose to live our lives, God is there and knows the inner most thoughts of every man. While our deceitful hearts are by themselves beyond cure, with the Lord working in us by His Spirit, we can shine like the brightest gold in this life. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!

THE DIVINE WARRIOR

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. - Romans 16:20a

          This verse seems to be a contradiction; however, if you understand the whole nature of God you will realize that it’s not. The same God who is the Lord of tranquility is also the same God who shall thwart every effort by Satan to obstruct His people. He is also the Divine Warrior who will eventually crush the enemy’s head under our feet. There’s literally nothing Satan can do to us that God doesn’t allow for His own purposes. We have nothing to fear if we stay near to our Heavenly Father and live according to His precepts. Satan is a desperate enemy in that he has already lost the war and knows it. Therefore, he will do anything to lure devoted believers into temptation in the effort to defeat them. Staying close to the Lord will enable us to avoid Satan’s pitfalls and be a positive example to our weaker brethren. Until next time…walk with the King and be a blessing!