SURRENDER

“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

        This is God’s desire for all who seek to live for Him. That our love may increase with each passing day and that our spiritual knowledge and discernment would increase as well. Understand that no matter how long we walk with the Lord we will never arrive spiritually and be superior to anyone else.  It should be our desire to emulate Christ in all we think, say and do as a matter of course in our lives.  Christ was humble and His humility is a characteristic we need to take on as well as all the others.  We must understand that we can do absolutely nothing of any eternal value or consequence without God. This requires submission to the Holy Spirit who is our guide. All this requires a closeness to God that is not acquired by casual association.  It requires diligence on our part, a daily seeking and striving. If we are to be more like Christ we must surrender our will to Him and allow Him to teach us how to truly live. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

OUR SPIRITUAL MATURITY

“The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.” - 1 Corinthians 2:14

          Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians deals with their overblown sense of spiritual maturity. Paul is cautioning them that the things of the Spirit can only be known and understood through the Spirit and by no other means. This means discernment, of which they apparently had little, is needed.

          For us today, it is our lack of depth and spiritual commitment that keeps us from understanding those things God wishes us to know. While it is true that the Holy Spirit enters us upon conversion, we must allow Him to begin the spiritual maturation process in us. It is only then that will be able to discern that which is from the Spirit of God and that which is not. Far too many Christians receive redemption and think that’s the end of it. It’s alarming how many don’t know of the progressive nature of our spiritual maturity. Submit to the will of God and become all He knows you can be. Becoming saved doesn’t mean you have arrived. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

THE PERFECT PROVISION OF GOD

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:33

     What are ‘these things’ that Jesus is talking about here in verse 33? A few verses earlier to see that the pagans concern themselves with what they will eat, drink and wear. Jesus is telling his listeners that if they seek the kingdom of God first and foremost God will see to it that their needs are met. King David declares in Psalm 37:25 “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” God knows how to take care of His children and you are His child if you have accepted His gracious gift of forgiveness. Romans 8:38-39 tells us that nothing can separate us from God’s love. God is never-changing, we are the ones that run willy-nilly in all different directions seeking this and that. God is truly all we need in this life. His unconditional love will never allow Him to forsake us. The ‘things’ that we need in this life shall be provided for us. That is the reason we are told so often to ‘fear not’ in scripture. God is perfect in His provision. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

THE ONE TRUE AVENGER

“For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” - Hebrews 10:30-31

      How many times have you wanted to throttle someone for something they did or said to you? What about those who are your proverbial thorn in the side? Forget Marvel Comics, God is the only true Avenger. He will take care of His own just as a hen protects her chicks or a bear protects her cubs. However, should someone cause you physical, financial, emotional or psychological harm, God will set the record straight. It is not up to us to avenge ourselves. We may not like the manner in which He avenges us or the timing of it either, but we must realize that God knows exactly what He’s doing every day, all the time. He makes no mistakes and knows far better than we do how to rectify the situation. So if you want to smash the living daylights out of someone, know that consequences come with everything we say and do and leave it all up to God to sort out. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

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.” - 1 John 2:1

          Although we have become a new creature in Christ when we receive salvation, we will sin again for perfection is unattainable this side of heaven. It’s comforting to know that even when we do sin we have a parakletos, or ‘helper’ who will defend us. This Greek word is used in the gospel of John to mean the Holy Spirit; however, in this case it is speaking of our Lord. To put it into modern terminology, Jesus is our lawyer; the One who will defend us before the Father regarding our sinful indiscretion. Once we are forgiven of the sin, we must then turn from it and do it no more. Christ died on a cross to pay for all our sins. I think the very least we can do is live our lives striving to be like Him in all that we think, say and do. To not do so is to trample on the grace God has so freely given us. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

GUILTLESS REDEMPTION

“The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,[c] so that we may serve the living God!” – Hebrews 9:13-14

 

          Paul is writing to Greek-speaking Hebrew believers in this correspondence. They were referred to as ‘the diaspora’ which was a term applied to those Jews who settled outside of Palestine after the Babylonian exile. Paul is pointing out to them that they were more than just clean on the outside, which is all the yearly blood sacrifices provided for them. Having received Christ as their Messiah they were cleansed completely and totally of all sin. In addition to this good news, they were also told that the guilt they carried due to the ineffectiveness of the Old Testament sacrifices has been cleansed as well. No longer would they have to bear the guilt of misdeeds, for the blood of Christ covers all.

          We believers today should rejoice in the fact that we have been made clean by the blood of Christ if we have accepted His grand gift of forgiveness. We need not carry the burden of shame for anything we have done in our past if it is under the blood. With a clear conscience we can worship God with no reservations because we are totally accepted by Him. His love is unconditional and has no end. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

THE WONDROUS LOVE OF GOD

“… God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” - Romans 5:8

          How do we know God loves us? He didn’t tell us He loved us, He showed us. If actions speak louder than words, then God’s love was displayed in big neon lights across humanity. He loved us first before we knew Him (1 John 4:19) and He sent His only Son to die a horrific death on a cross reserved for criminals. That blood sacrifice was all that would ever be necessary to cleanse sinful man; however, forgiveness isn’t doled out indiscriminately. A person must ask for it. 

          I am reminded of a chorus I used to sing in church years ago: “What love, what wondrous love. What love, what wondrous love. That God should love a sinner such as I, how wonderful is love like this.” And another: “He paid a debt He did not owe, I owed a debt I could not pay, I needed someone to wash my sins away. And now I sing a glad new song, Amazing Grace. Christ Jesus paid the debt that I could never pay.” Praise God for the blood and thank Him every day for His forgiveness. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

BOAST IN THE LORD ALONE

“But, ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.’ For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” - 2 Corinthians 10:17

          The Corinthian church had some uninvited guests in the form of Jewish-Christian missionaries who saw fit to call themselves ‘super apostles’. In the course of their visit they denigrated Paul and his teaching. Paul felt the need to defend himself in his second letter to the Corinthians. He quotes Jeremiah 9:24 to make the point that these supposed ‘super apostles’ were boasting about themselves. Humility doesn’t seem to be their strong suit. This was the point Paul was making. Paul instructs the Corinthians and by extension Christians throughout the ages up to this very day to boast not in yourself or your own accomplishments, but rather boast in the goodness and majesty of the Lord.  

          For those among us who see fit to ‘toot their own horn’ as the saying goes, stop and reflect on who provided the horn for you to toot. God gave us all the talents we have. Let the Lord lift us up and not ourselves, for conceit doesn’t wear well. A humble spirit speaks much louder. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

COMING BACK TO GOD

“Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” Joel 2:13

      The prophet Joel is speaking specifically to the Jews; however, we could easily apply this verse to any believer who has chosen to walk away from the faith. God doesn’t wish that any would perish (2 Peter 3:9). Therefore, knowing that God’s love is unconditional and never-ending, you must return to where you belong as His child. If you have strayed far from His warm embrace it isn’t too late to come back. God is the only one who closes the door, yet gives ample time for those far away to come close. If you know someone who falls into this category, allow the Holy Spirit to use you to direct him back into his rightful place as a child of God. Like the prodigal son of the Old Testament, you can be restored. Don’t allow mistakes and miscalculations in judgment cause you to miss out on the glory that awaits all those who call themselves children of God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

BE A BALM NOT A BOMB

“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

     There are many ways to shed the old nature and put on the new. Paul addresses some of them in this letter. One sure fire way to show the world you have changed for the better is to not let unwholesome, nonconstructive, undesirable talk come out of your mouth. If you are in right relationship with God, there should be a guard at your mouths door; that guard is the Holy Spirit. You should feel a check in your spirit whenever you feel you must cuss or make a derogatory comment. Nothing positive comes out of unwholesome talk. It cuts and stings and once it’s out there it can never be retrieved. A hundred “I’m sorry’s” can never repair the damage. The wound has been inflicted and the Lord must provide the healing. Expedite that healing by at least vowing to curb your tongue rather than “tell it like it is” all the time. Build people up with encouraging words for they are like a spring of cool water to ones thirsty soul. Walk with the King and be a blessing!

PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO CHRIST

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” - Ephesians 5:1-2

      As believers in God we are to take on the character of Christ. As we wake up each day we should put on His cloak of grace. We need to be ever mindful of the mercy that was extended to all who have placed their trust in Him who saves. Christ willingly and without hesitation laid down His life for sinners; people who didn’t even know Him. But Christ knows us all for He created us. What a wonderful example of true love, to take on the burden of another’s sins. To pay the colossal debt that could not be paid by any other means. Christ’s death is a fragrant offering to God. Our death to self must smell just as sweet to Him. There is nothing we can do to get to heaven but surrender our will to the One who created us to begin with. We must pledge allegiance to Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

HAVING HUMILITY

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” - James 3:13

        CS Lewis once said “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but rather thinking of yourself less.” Humility and wisdom are the harvest reaped from a life lived for God. This will result in having a gentle and humble spirit.

          How can we know true wisdom without God? The wisdom of man, though thought of as lofty, carrying with it an air of superiority, is microscopic compared to the wisdom that is Almighty God. Who can say they are they are all-knowing but God, who created all things. It’s His imparted wisdom that will reveal to us just how to administer His mercy and grace to others through a good life and deeds done in humility. We do many good and noble things in this life, but are incapable of doing anything of eternal value without the Holy Spirit enabling us. Living for God and not ourselves is a sign that wisdom is alive in us. Becoming more like Christ is the key. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

OUR COMPULSION

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” - Philippians 2:1-2

          If we say we love the Lord then we should want to please Him. That’s the way it is with anyone we love this side of heaven, isn’t it? We want to please our parents or our spouses because we love them. So why should it be any different with God? Although perfection in this life is unattainable, it should never stop the believer from striving to be more like Christ in all aspects of their life. This is pleasing to the Lord and what is best for us. God gives us a standard to live by and it is in our best interest to abide by it, not out of obligation, but rather out of compulsion. God should be the focal point of our existence. We should want to live for Him because He died for us. Christ’s death is the heart of God’s grace. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

REPAY WITH BLESSING

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” - 1 Peter 3:8-9

        It is easy for us to want to repay someone for the evil they have dispensed or the verbal barbs they have doled out; however, scripture tells us to love one another. Sadly, we are talking about the body of Christ, for evil lurks in the hearts of some believers when they fall victim to the wiles of the evil one. Insults fly from our lips as if they had jet propulsion and we are pleased with ourselves because of it. In our effort to keep from being belittled or unjustly criticized we take it upon ourselves to repay evil with evil or insult with insult. This ought not to be. We must have a teachable spirit and learn to make spiritual reassessments often to keep in line with our Heavenly Father’s desires. It’s imperative that we do this, for nothing positive is ever gained through retaliation. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD WILL NOT FAIL

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:6-7

          Being human, we tend to become anxious in certain situations. At times the mere possibility of certain future events can make us a nervous wreck. In light of that, Paul’s words to the Philippians should bring us comfort. If we say we believe in God, then we must surrender our will and trust Him to take care of us. We can pray about any situation that weighs upon our hearts or any challenging decision that we must make and God will hear us. He will provide answers exactly when they are needed most and peace when it is required. We can rely on that. We still worry, without question; God understands that about us. Our spiritual growth is progressive, so with each answered prayer or proper decision made our faith will grow and with it our trust. Relying on God is something we hesitate to do at times because we like to be hands on. Understand this: God will not fail you. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

OUR ETERNAL PROTECTOR

“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

       Psalm 121 is referred to as a ‘Song of Ascents’. It is believed that worshippers ascending up the road to Jerusalem for the three pilgrim festivals (the Festival of Passover, the Festival of Weeks & the Festival of Tents or Booths) sang this song as they went forth. It is a proclamation by the people of God of their trust in Him to preserve them now and forever. Its wording is all inclusive as it tells us that the Lord will keep us from all harm. Joshua 1:9 tells us that the Lord is with us wherever we go. That sentiment is echoed in verse 8 above with God stating that He is watching over our comings and goings. This isn’t a one-time deal. God is ever mindful of our whereabouts and will protect us as we seek to live for Him. This isn’t blanket protection for all of mankind, but rather protection specifically for God’s children; those who are in a personal relationship with Him. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD’S LIFELONG CARE

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” - Isaiah 46:4

          Isaiah puts to rest any doubts we may have that God’s loving care will end during this lifetime. God created us and will absolutely sustain us throughout our entire life. The only prerequisite to that is salvation. A person must ask God to forgive all his sins with a sincere heart to activate God’s promises in their life. Only then will Christ’s blood be applied to those sins, thus making that individual clean. God loves us all but doesn’t force His will on anyone; therefore, our surrender to His will is necessary. What a joy it is to know in your heart of hearts that God can and will carry us through the rough spots we encounter in life. We won’t always be able to avoid them, for some trials are sent to us by God Himself to help build our faith and mold our character and some trials come due to our own willful disobedience. Regardless of the reason, God is there at the end of it, waiting to rescue and sustain us. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

GODLY LIVING

“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness … .” - Titus 1:1

          One’s faith can only grow as they grow closer to God. If they don’t make the attempt to cultivate this relationship, it will stagnate and eventually dry up. This is no fault of God’s, for He is ready, willing and able to lead us into a deep, intimate relationship with Himself so that we might experience all the blessings He has for us this side of heaven and beyond. It's our responsibility as believers to draw close to God.  James 4:8 tells us clearly that is we draw close to God He will in turn draw close to us. The only way we can go further in the faith and increase our knowledge of the truth is through a concerted effort on our part. The ‘knowledge of the truth’ comes from reading and understanding scripture. As we live for God and read His word, we will acquire greater knowledge of the one truth that is consistent and eternal. That knowledge will lead us to godly living. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

REDEMPTION

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” – Colossians 1:13-14

          God showed His love to mankind by rescuing us from ourselves and our blind slavery to this dark, sin-ridden world. Scripture declares that there is no greater love than one lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). Jesus calls us His friends if we obey His commands. If we seek forgiveness with a contrite heart we receive it. We have been redeemed; we have been bought back, rescued from the brink of the abyss. Our debt has been paid in full. That should mean something to us. It should make us want to serve God. How would you feel if your mortgage had been paid in full for you by someone you didn’t even know? Think of how much greater it is to have all your misdeeds wiped away forever. They will never, ever be held against you again. It’s as if you never committed them in the first place. It should make you jump for joy and sing Hallelujah. It should make you want to praise God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

LOVING OBEDIENCE

“Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.’” - John 14:23

         In this verse Jesus reveals that the relationship we enter into with Him is reciprocal, in that we love Him and He loves us. In fact, scripture declares that God loved us first (1 John 4:19). True love is expressed in obedience; therefore, if we truly love God we will obey the teachings of Christ. We know that the Holy Spirit has been given to us as our advocate (John 14:16-17) and shall live in us from the day of our conversion until the day we leave this earth. The important factor here though is that if we must follow His statutes in order to take full advantage of this inner relationship. This is for believers alone, for non-believers would have no awareness of Him. If we do not obey God’s word, we will occupy ourselves with other less important things and eventually dry up spiritually, thus dulling our own awareness of the Holy Spirit. Obey God and feel His presence in your life. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD

“It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, ‘You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’” - Mark 1:9-11

          Did you know that Christianity is the only belief system that states definitively that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? All other ‘religions’ either avoid the question altogether or classify him as nothing more than a good teacher or prophet along the lines of Mohammed. For those who believe in God and have chosen to accept that the Bible is God’s flawless word to man, I offer the above scriptures clearly stating His tie to God the Father. The voice from heaven is Almighty God, for who else could claim to have Jesus as a Son? It is this Son of God that we pledge our allegiance to, who died for the sins of man, who rose from the dead and who is coming again for His church. It is our choice whether we believe all that or not. No one else is coming to save us. It’s Christ or it’s nothing. I choose Christ. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD

“This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” – 2 Timothy 2:11-13

         This apparent hymn found in Paul’s second letter to Timothy is comprised of four conditional clauses. They reveal to us the promise of eternity, a warning against apostasy and shows that our salvation is not so much due to our faithfulness as it is the faithfulness of God. The ‘dying’ spoken of is our acceptance of His dying on the cross and our subsequent dying to self as a result. Enduring in the face of hardship shows perseverance on our part; it is an important part of our life in Christ. Not to endure is to give up and that shouldn’t be considered an option for the believer. Turning away from the Lord is to deny Him. The result of such an event would be His denying us on the last day. If our faith fails us, God shall now and forever be faithful, which declares to us His unchanging character. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD’S DIRECTION

“This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” - Isaiah 48:17

     This verse is both comforting and revealing. Solomon points out in Proverbs 14:12 and again in 16:25 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Isaiah confirms to us as believers that God is, in fact, the One who teaches us the correct way to go in life and unequivocally knows that which is best for us. The catch is that we must be paying attention. We must not merely being listening, but actually hearing so that change might occur in our lives. God knows what He’s doing all the time and it is advantageous for us to tap into His limitless knowledge and live lives that reflect His glory. Living on our own will cause us to waste time traveling down wrong paths. Perking up our ears to hear and then abide by God’s directives will keep us on the path His has chosen for us. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

CONSISTENT LIVING

“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

     As we walk through this life we are confronted with many challenges. Some things challenge our morals, some our ethics and still others our very belief in Almighty God. It’s only as we seek Him with all our heart on a daily basis that we can withstand the pressures we find ourselves confronted with. If we strive to follow God’s standard as laid out in scripture, we will be successful in this life. Not success as the world knows it, but true success as ordained by our Heavenly Father. Due to our forgiven status, we are seen as blameless in His eyes. As we walk with the Lord, we gradually become more and more like Him in all our ways. This makes us a positive, wholesome example for those around us who have never surrendered their will to God. Living a genuine, consistent Godly life among the lost will do more good for the kingdom than any words we could say. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!