FREE TO BE A SLAVE

1 Peter 2:16 New Living Translation

“For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.”

      This sounds like a peculiar verse, in that Christians don’t necessarily see themselves as slaves to anyone after they have been saved.  What the Apostle Peter is speaking is that we are not so much slaves in the truest sense of the word, but we have switched masters.  Once we were under the control of Satan, whether we realized it or not, now we are under the control of Christ.  Once we were under the bondage of sin, now we are free from the weight of that sin.  Once we were under Old Testament Law, now we are free men in Christ. This freedom doesn’t allow us to live as we choose, but rather allows us the freedom to serve God.

            We are called to live holy and righteous lives and our freedom allows us to do just that.  Our focal point has changed.  It’s no longer us and the betterment of our lives, it is now seeking the betterment of others as we rest in the knowledge that the Lord will take good care of us as he meets all our needs.  If we do as we choose we abuse our liberty and displease the Lord.  Christ didn’t die on the cross so we could simply be free of past sins, he died to cleanse us from those sins and give us the great opportunity to serve the One who purchased our freedom.

            The word ‘slave’ implies that we are forced in some way to serve God once we have become saved from sin.  This isn’t true.  We don’t have to serve the Lord.  It is not our obligation to do so; however, what has been done for us should compel us to want to serve him. A compulsion is an irresistible impulse to act, in this case on God’s behalf.  So use your freedom as an incentive to be God’s hand extended and any other godly act you feel impressed by the Holy Spirit to perform.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resources: The Matthew Henry Commentary on the Bible; The Reformation Study Bible and The Asbury Bible Commentary.

TOMORROW IS A NEW DAY

Genesis 1:5 NIV

“God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.”

         Here are three things I believe about God and life in general:

1.     I believe all things happen for a reason.

2.     I believe God is aware of everything that happens in His universe … every single thing.

3.     I believe that God is in ultimate control of all things, because simply put, if he were not, he could not possibly be who he says he is.

4.     Scripture is clear; God is all knowing, all seeing and all-powerful. How can a created being know more, see more and be stronger than its creator? It can’t; it’s not possible.

         Now if everything happens for a reason, wouldn’t you want to know what the reason is? Of course you would, it’s human nature to be curious. Allow me to suggest the following; rather than knowing WHY, wouldn’t you rather know what God was trying to teach you??  There is potentially a life lesson in every event, whether good or bad, in our lives. It’s our responsibility to be quiet and attentive so that we might determine what God was trying to teach us. Millions of people waste time griping and complaining about the events that have befallen them, when they could be learning what the Lord is trying to teach them. Bad things happen to good people all the time. But the good people are able to rise above the chaos of this world and enjoy peace, through God, the peace giver.

         Have you done something you feel is unforgivable? Are you involved in something you know you shouldn’t be? There is hope for you my friend. There is peace to be found, but it can only be found one place … in the arms of God. He casts no stones. He offers a free pardon. All He asks in exchange is your surrender to His will. It is both the hardest thing you will ever have to do, yet the easiest as well.  Once you realize that it is not all about you, but rather that there is someone bigger than you, it becomes easier to surrender. You cannot defeat the enemy alone, but with Christ you can be victorious in all things each and every day.

            I am happy to report to you that no matter what has happened to you today, there is always another day … a new day, a clean slate day, a day where everything is fresh and bright and yesterday is history.  Remember, tomorrow is a new day! Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Translation used: The New International Version.

TRUTH VS. LYING

Psalm 25:5 New Living Translation

“Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.”

            Why is it that some folks find it so hard to be truthful? There is no doubt it can be a lot easier to lie then to tell the truth.  When a person gets caught, as most people do, it is a very uncomfortable place to be … and it should be.  Nothing positive and lasting has ever been gained by lying.  Telling lies only brings pain, sorry and regret to all parties involved.  Most importantly, the integrity that an individual may have had is gone, evaporating into the wind the moment they are found out.

            Integrity, credibility and trust are three characteristics that are vital in the life of any person. When they are lost it can be a very long climb to reestablish any semblance of trust back again. Many times it is lost forever … and the guilty party has absolutely no one to blame but themselves.

            God IS truth; in him there is no shadow of turning. Of all people that you will ever know, Christ will never, ever fail you or deceive you. He is the standard against which all else is to be measured.  This is why the Psalmist asks his Heavenly Father to “guide (him) into truth” and not just any truth but the perfect and righteous truth of Almighty God.

            In the end, there are always consequences to our words and deeds. The Biblical teaching of “reaping and sowing” comes into play every day. As simple as this concept is, it is amazing how quickly that fact escapes us as we are taken over by temptation, greed or some other form of weakness. In spite of all of this there is redemption. If we come to our God with a truly contrite heart, He will restore us spiritually. Forgiveness is for the asking and freedom from sin is the result.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource:  The Life Application Study Bible, published by Tyndale House.

WHITER THAN SNOW

Isaiah 1:16-20 The Living Translation

“Wash and make yourselves clean. Put away the evil of your deeds from before my eyes. Cease to do evil. Learn to do good, seek justice, relieve the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.” “Come now, let us reason together,” says Adonai. “Though your sins be like scarlet, they will be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they will become like wool. If you are willing and obey, you will eat the good of the land. But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured with the sword.” For the mouth of Adonai has spoken.

            This portion of Isaiah is expressed regarding visions the prophet saw concerning both Israel and Judah.  The same words apply to Christians throughout the ages to this very day.  Crimson is a deep red dye that was permanent and caused a deep stain that was impossible to remove from an article of clothing.  Our sin is equally as permanent.  Only one thing can remove it from our soul and that is the blood of Jesus Christ.  We are most familiar with the portion that simply says that our sins are like scarlet, yet they will become white as fresh fallen snow, but what of the surrounding verses?

            Like the Jews, we are asked to put away our evil deeds and learn to do good.  We must be willing to listen to the Lord when he communicates to us and obey whatever he lays upon our hearts.  If we refuse to do so and rebel against the will of God then we will face eternal separation from God. 

            God is not one to be trifled with.  He has forgiveness and a life plan available for those who are willing to follow.  You absolutely do not have to do any of this, that is the free will choice you are permitted to make.  Yet with every choice come consequences.  The Lord does not wish for anyone to spend eternity separated from him.  He has great plans in store for those who place their unwavering faith and trust in him.  Reject him or take a laissez-faire attitude toward his involvement in your life and you will end up the loser in the end.  Adhere to his standards and be his representative to a lost and dying world.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible, published by Tyndale House.

NOTE: Adonai – A Hebrew title of reverence for God, serving also as a substitute pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton* (The four Hebrew letters usually transliterated as YHWH or JHVH, used as a biblical proper name for God.) [Literally, “my Lord”; spoken in place of the ‘not to be uttered’ name Yahweh]

SURRENDER TO GRACE

2 Corinthians 9:15 The Amplified Bible

“Now thanks be to God for His Gift, [precious] beyond telling [His indescribable, inexpressible, free Gift]!”

          When Christians speak of the Gift of God, they are referring to either salvation or the associated grace with which he administers his favor.  Paul describes God’s grace as ‘precious’ and ‘indescribable’ in the Amplified version of the Bible. How many times in life have you encountered experiences that you couldn’t find words to describe? They defied description.  It was as if no words had been created to best describe what you were experiencing at that moment.  This is what Paul is conveying to his readers in 2 Corinthians. That the grace of God is so wonderful, it defies description.  The words “unmerited favor” don’t seem to do it justice. “Receiving something that you don’t deserve” helps at bit, but still doesn’t express the true grandeur of its’ meaning.

       As believers in Christ we have experienced something that cannot be fully explained or described. We don’t need to understand, we simply need to accept that it is as real as God himself.  Frankly, there are many things we will never understand this side of heaven.  Grace is yours; accept this gift freely given at no cost to you.  Don’t ever take it for granted, but rather guard it by the way you live, for trampling it under foot cheapens it.  It’s like spitting in God’s face.  Surrender your will to the One who made you.  God is no respecter of persons, for he loves each of us the same. His grace is for you.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

A TRUSTWORTHY SAYING

1 Timothy 1:15-16 New Living Translation

“This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.”

            The Apostle Paul wasn’t always a godly man.  He oversaw the murder of Christians.  God exhibited much patience with Paul until when the time was right the Lord revealed himself to him on the road to Damascus.  Paul’s conversion was dramatic to say the least, what with being blinded by a bright light and knocked off his horse.  He had been such a terror to believers prior to salvation that some of the brethren initially had difficulty accepting that he had become a follower of Christ.  Thru the prompting of the Holy Spirit Paul was embraced and went on to become the Apostle to the Gentiles, those grafted into the family of God due to Jewish rejection of Jesus as their Messiah. 

            Paul’s conversion is a prime example of one you would least expect to become saved.  Perhaps it has something to do with our inability to forgive some folks that leads us to believe that some people will either never believe as we do or do not deserve to be redeemed.  That type of thinking is wrong on both counts.  Since we are not the judge who makes the final determination as to the eternal destination of anyone, we have no say in who goes to heaven or hell.  Many of us have the unsavory habit of judging others merely by their physical appearance. I struggle with that quite a bit.  If God judged us the way we judge others none of us would enter into heaven.

            This portion of scripture should be an encouragement to believers regarding those we know who have up to this point have rebuffed our witness.  No one is beyond the reach of God.  There is no one God wishes to burn in hell.  We are his representatives on this earth.  Are we judging when we should be ministering in mercy and love?  Be God’s hand extended and not one that drives people away from salvation.  Ask the Lord to enable you to see others, whether lost or the brethren, the way he sees them.  That would be a major step in the right direction.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible, published by Tyndale House.