BE STEADFAST & TRUST GOD

“Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.  They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”  Psalm 112:6-7

         There are times when the phrase “no news is good news” seems very appropriate.  Without question there’s a fair share of bad news for everyone, but for the Christian it needn’t jolt us off track.  If your heart is steadfast with regard to your relationship with the Lord and your trust in Him is unwavering, bad news can be just another bump in the road. 

There’s a reason for everything that takes place in your life.  At times that may seem hard to swallow, but when you look back on each and every event in your life can you honestly say you weren’t the better for having gone through it.  It’s our own poor decisions that cause us problems, not circumstances orchestrated by God.

You say you believe and have faith, have trust as well.  God is not in the business of toying with us.  Everything He either causes or allows to take place in our life has a purpose that will be for our greatest benefit and His greatest glory.  There is no greater entity in existence that we can trust more than Almighty God; however, placing our belief and trust in Him is a choice we all must make.  Refuse to believe and you forfeit all the benefits that come from knowing Him intimately.  God never forgets any of us and will offer His forgiveness until time is no more.  Be steadfast and trust God no matter what circumstances you find yourself in. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

OUR OBLIGATION

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.”  Romans 8:12-13

         When we receive Christ into our hearts we are no longer simply creatures of flesh and bone, we have now added a dimension to our lives.  It is the spiritual dimension.  The ember that was flickering within our soul has been ignited into a flame.  Our obedience to the standards set forth by God in the Bible fans the flame into a blaze.  Therefore, with this in mind, it is our obligation to the Lord to live according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh that is supposed to be dead.  Make no mistake about it; your flesh will attempt to rise up again at the most inopportune moments.  You must feed your spirit and starve your flesh. 

The misdeeds of the past are history, never to be held against you again.  With your slate clean, what course will you chart?  Living according to the spirit brings freedom and hope; living according to the flesh brings imaginary freedom that turns into slavery over time, for you become a slave to that which you most enjoy. 

Christianity isn’t void of enjoyment; however, that which we do will bring us lasting joy rather than momentary joy that fades over time.  There is no future in living to the flesh but disappointment and emptiness.  Unfortunately, many have to find out for themselves, for the devil is a master of deception who makes things forbidden seem essential.  If you don’t believe me, read Eve’s encounter with Satan in Genesis 3 (the Fall of Man).

God is not a trickster who delights in fooling us with promises that go unfulfilled.  He is our Heavenly Father, the One who seeks to free us from our entanglements and lead us down the path to life everlasting.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

ARE YOU LUKEWARM?

“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.  So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”  Revelation 3:19-20

         Preachers around the globe use verse 20 to speak to the unsaved among us; however, in the context of the full chapter we can see that the Lord is really speaking to the redeemed in Laodicea and not the unsaved at all.  Like a lukewarm meal that is rejected, so the Lord shall reject all those who are lukewarm in their faith.  The enemy has caused so many believers to fall into the trap that simply believing in God is enough.  It’s not.  Once we’re redeemed we are said to be a new creation; we should begin to act like it.  We can’t do it on our own.  It takes assistance from the Holy Spirit to develop the characteristics God Himself displays.

Take note that the Lord doesn’t barge in, but rather stands patiently at the door and knocks.  He is waiting to be invited in.  Too many people today have a crucial misunderstanding of what true Christianity is all about.  We are to turn from our old lifestyle, not incorporate God into it.  A round peg will never fit into a square hole and so it is with God and the world.  We are to be set apart.  We are to live righteous lives.  Our sole goal is to please Almighty God, not man.

 Jesus Christ isn’t a myth or fairy tale.  He was a historical figure who was born, walked the earth for 33 years and died a horrifying death as part of God’s plan to redeem sinful man.  You either accept that as fact or you don’t.  Acceptance leads to forgiveness for all past transgressions.  There’s no in between.  It’s not because I say so, it’s because it’s what’s spoken throughout scripture.  Without God man has no hope.  With God man has nothing to fear.  Open the door to your heart and shed your lukewarm existence.  Let Christ begin to rule and reign in all areas of your life starting today. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD’S MERCY

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, … 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 2:1, 4-5

         Grace – the undeserved favor of God. You were dead, now you’re alive by God’s grace.  He could have left you in your sins, but His plan all along was to pay your sin debt with His own blood.  Normally, death is a terminal event.  Life ends, period.  No one knows what happens next; however, followers of Christ have chosen to believe that once we die we go to be with our Lord in heaven for all eternity. 

          Once we admit our need to be forgiven and receive the gift of grace that God freely gives to all who ask, a new journey begins.  Our merciful God makes us alive when we were dead.

           God in all His infinite mercy and grace extends forgiveness to all who would ask for it.  If  “saved” you are free to live a life full of God’s blessings backed by His promises.  Becoming “born again” provides for you a second chance at life.  The life God desires for us can make us fully alive if we allow it to.  So many of us shortchange ourselves by not tapping into all God has for us.  We accept forgiveness and then simply move on with our lives in the same way we were before. According to scripture we are a “new creation” once we receive forgiveness for all past transgressions (2 Corinthians 5:17).  Focus on Christ and not the things around you and live your life with a new understanding of who God is and what He desires for you in this life.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

RESPECT YOUR BODY

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

         We do some odd things to our bodies.  In an effort to slim down some starve themselves.  To gain weight some gorge themselves on certain high caloric foods.  Some flood their bodies with water, others with sugar filled soda, still others with alcoholic beverages.  Some folks work out to the exclusion of all other activity.  Others are couch potatoes who lead mostly sedentary lives. Some do drugs, others abstain.  Some have sex with whoever will, others show restraint.  If you are a Christian, did you know your body is not your own?  The Holy Spirit resides within us.  He was a gift from God. 

Our bodies, though temporal flesh tents for our soul & spirit, should be shown respect.  Eating properly, staying hydrated, living a life that honors God will give us a better chance of having a long, productive life in Christ.  The opposite will cause our bodies to break down prematurely, causing us physical pain and heartache; the consequences of poor decisions.
          Now this devotional is for me as much as you.  I’m 6’5” and 350 lbs or thereabouts, so I’m in no way pointing a finger at you telling you to get your act together.  We all need to do better, yet not go to extremes.  Honor God with your body.  Make wise choices when it comes to what you eat, drink and do for recreation.  This body we have is on loan to us from our Lord.  Give it the respect it deserves.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

LIFE WORTH LIVING

“Turn my heart toward your statutes
and not toward selfish gain.  Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word.”  Psalm 119:36-37

         We live in a self-absorbed society where selfish gain rules the day.  The things gained are of a temporal nature for nothing in this world lasts forever. Satan makes everything this side of heaven so appealing and seemingly necessary.  Even Christians fall for his lies from time to time.  The key to ward off the worthless things of this world is to devote yourself to God and His word. There you shall find words of wisdom and instruction.  It’s in the finer points of our faith that we find those things that are worth living for. 

There is literally nothing in this world that can take the place of God and all He has to offer those who have chosen to believe in Him.  Scripture provides life-giving advice that can change the course you’re on and lead you to the blessings God intends you to have.  There are things in this world that are necessary.  Food, money and employment are all things that we need to sustain ourselves and our loving Heavenly Father sees to it that we have ample supply for the day.  It’s in our entertainment that we often find those things that trip us up.  The worthless things that on the surface seem harmless.  It’s up to us as individuals to determine which path laid before we take.
        There are many things we can do as Christians that are fun and even by the world’s standards considered normal.  We simply must take the time to size up these things against God’s standard.  Some things are harmless and some things can damage our testimony.  Seek the guidance of the Lord each day so as to avoid selfish gain and worthless things.  They lie all around us.  Live your life in the freedom God grants you, but be careful not to trample on His grace.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD FORGETS NO ONE

“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?¹ Yet God forgets not one of them. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”  Luke 12:6-7

         According to the authors of the Asbury Bible Commentary, “Luke's primary concern for writing his gospel account of Jesus would have been to strengthen the faith and increase the knowledge of existing converts.”   Just as back then, its verses provide much encouragement to all of todays readers as well. 

The significance of the sparrow in this passage is that they are tiny creatures, barely noticed.  They average approximately 5 inches in length and weigh anywhere from a half to 1 ounce.  That is one tiny bird, yet God is aware of them every moment of every day and doesn’t forget them.  He provides them with food and water to sustain their lives.  We are worth so much more than the sparrows of the field to God. 

While it may be true that the Lord has to spend less time counting the hairs on the head of a bald man, the fact remains that every hair on the head of mortal man is numbered.  God created us and knows us intimately.  There’s nothing He doesn’t know about us.  He is in us in the person of the Holy Spirit if we are redeemed.  He is with us in the midst of our trials and at the end of them waiting for us, all possible because He is present in all places at the same time.²

         We have nothing to fear.  God is with us.  There is nothing that can harm us unless the Lord either causes or allows it for a greater purpose.  Knowing He can be relied upon to take care of us should free us to take care of others.  This is being God’s hand extended.  This is being Christ to the masses.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

¹ The “pennies” are an assarion, equal to one-sixteenth of a denarius (a typical day’s wage).  Five sparrows sold for roughly an hour’s pay, but God remembers them all. [Reformation Study Bible]

² The meaning of omnipresence. [American Heritage Dictionary]