JACKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
(Hebrews 12:1) "Let us lay aside every weight...and let us run."
The Double Eagle II, was the very first “hot air balloon” to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
The men piloting the magnificent craft caught an air corridor that carried them all the way across the Atlantic.
But when they were just off the coast of Ireland, they flew into heavy cloud cover and ice began to form on the balloon’s outer shell.
With the added weight of the ice they began losing altitude, dropping from twenty thousand to ten thousand feet in a matter of hours.
They did everything they could to save the balloon.
They threw out video cameras, food rations, everything that combated the extra weight of the ice.
At about four thousand feet they transmitted their location and then threw the radio overboard.
Finally, at three thousand feet they broke through into sunlight.
The ice came off in sheets… and the great balloon soared all the way into France.
The Bible says that in order to run and win life’s race, you must “lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares” (Hebrews 12:1)
And it’s a lot easier to identify the sin you need to drop… than the weight you need to drop.
Why? Because often the weight is legitimate and includes responsibilities, pressures, obligations, schedules, and the entanglements of every day life.
Today we each need to stop and take an inventory of what we are carrying.
We each need to face things squarely and ask ourselves… “Did God give me this to carry, did someone else give it to me, or did I decide on my own to pick it up?”
Whatever is weighing you down today…lay it aside!
I know many, (myself included)… that are tired and exhausted from carrying and leaping over emotional, physical and spiritual hurdles… clearing out debris called emotional baggage and the weight of sin that has weighed us down.
One financial crisis after another.
One health issue after another.
One relationship issue after another.
One more disappointment… one more trial… one more door slammed in my face.
Sometimes I get so mentally tired that I can’t even think any more.
But we can’t quit living… we still have to pursue life!
How can we run the race… when we are starting the race exhausted?
Here are some steps that I am trying to implement to combat weariness and the stress of coping and trying to survive in this life.
First… I am trying to change the way I think!
What I let my mind dwell on… because the bible says “as a man thinketh in his heart so is he” (Proverbs 23:7)
There is much worry all around us… with confusing decisions that need to be made to combat the stress of living.
We all have certain responsibilities that have to be maintained as we run this race, yet if we allow our thinking to be influenced negatively by the “nay-sayers” around us… doubt filled questions begin to rise… and uncertainty and anxiety become toxic poison weakening our faith and confidence in the promise of God and His continued guidance and care.
We need to take David’s example and sit before the Lord and ask Him what we should be doing to combat the up-heavel and distraction and the stumbling blocks that have been put in our path.
The bible says that “David sought the Lord”… and David encouraged himself in the Lord” (1st Samuel 30:6)
That’s what we need to do… "encourage our selves in the Lord".
Listen to uplifting music.
Take a moment and stop and read scripture that is like healthy food for our soul (Luke 4:4) “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”
Talk to God in praise and prayer.
Encourage yourself in the Lord!
As you do this, the things of earth will grow strangely dim… in the light of His glory and His grace.
Secondly… I am eliminate the distractions as much as apossible!
I am a bit of a talk radio or news junkie… but lately I am choosing to turn off my favorite programs right now.
All of the talk concerning government and their failure to resolve our many calamities and concerns… all the rhetoric about continued diseases flooding our society… the wars and rumors of wars… all of the “doomsday predictions” of what will happen if this candidate or that candidate wins the next election... or will the virus return next fall…
All of this rhetoric is not helping my exhausted heart to find the rest, the peace, the encouragement that it needs right now.
These distractions are not fueling my weary soul with hope... and the strength I need for the race ahead of me.
In fact, even my choice in “entertainment” is distracting me from God and causing me to focus on the things of this world.
So, I am turning off the radio, the TV and the movies… at least for a season.
I am not scrolling through Facebook.
I am trying to eliminate as many distractions as possible right now,...so that my soul can get some much-needed rest.
Thirdly… I am make room for and consuming “spiritual health food supplements”… from God’s Word
The purpose behind re-evaluating my schedule and eliminating distractions is to make room for God’s voice.
Have you ever noticed that God seldom shouts at us over the cacophony of messages that we are listening to and allowing into our minds each day?
Rather… He waits for us to quiet our own hearts and to “turn to Him”… and then He speaks truth into our hearts through His Word… comforting us… giving us rest… and healing our wounded and bruised spirits.
I am told that most professional athletes have learned to take time just before the race or what ever event they are competing in… to focus and bring into captivity every thought that might distract them from the job… the race… the fight… the goal that they are striving for.
Today lets you and I focus on Jesus and His great promise to each of us, “For I am come that you might have life and that more abundantly” (John 10:10)
Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and you will find rest for your souls” (Mathew 11:28)
Good day!
(Luke 4:4) Jesus said… “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word of God”
I’ve been talking about “Divine guidance” for the last couple of days because its time that we as a nation and a people return to our roots.
Roots that made North America (Canada and the USA)… the great hope for several generations of immigrants that came to our borders… and became a diversified force of people who helped build together the greatest nation/s of our world thru hard work, sacrifice, and faith in God.
There was a time during that growth when both our nations declared credible reverence, trust, and faith in the Divine guidance of God and His Word.
But today, our North American society has turned away from that Divine guidance because of an arrogance and stubborn refusal to allow God and His Word… to be our Divine guidance any longer.
The motto of most north Americans is summed up in the old Frank Sinatra song “I did it my way”… and the problem with that motto is that “there is a way which seems right unto a man but it’s the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12)
But God still extends an offer of healing to those whom will walk in His righteousness and in His ways…. and His provision of Divine guidance and protection to us can and will bring healing to our nation if we will follow the encouragement of (2nd Chronicles 7:14) which says… “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways and pray… then will I hear from Heaven and then will I heal their land”.
It is imperative that we as individuals and as a nation … become a people whom give the Word of God preeminence in our lives once again… as our for fathers once did.
Scripture tells us that His word is filled with the guidance we need… if we truly want to enjoy Gods continued blessing, prosperity, and continued protection that we have enjoyed thus far.
(Psalm 119:105) “Thy Word Lord is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path”
Gods Word does not contradict itself or teach falsehoods… because God cannot lie.
With our human limitations… we may not always understand every detail of Scripture… but we must never lose sight of the fact that it is God’s Word and Gods guidance… not man’s ideas or opinions… that have brought blessing to this country
Jesus constantly quoted the Old Testament and made it clear that it was the inspired Word of God.
We who follow Christ must have just as high a view of Scripture as He did.
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater,…so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please… and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11).
God Word in (Proverbs 3:6) say’s…“He will make our paths straight.” “Acknowledge the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”. In all your ways submit to Him and He will direct your path”.
As I have stated earlier... parental guidance may be “loving”... but it is never “infallible” because parents are fallible.
God’s guidance is never in any way subject to error or mistakes... and He cannot make a mistake because He is God.
It isn’t wrong to confer with flesh and blood, or solicit the opinion and or advise of others… but primarily we must confer with the Lord Himself… because whatever man may advise is liable to error because the wisdom of men is seldom in harmony with God.
(Romans 8:9)… “For the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God"
In contrast with this, God’s guidance is faultless and therefore we can rely upon it.
This is the promise that God makes to every one of His children.
So what do we have to do to secure God’s guidance?
The Lord does not force His will upon us but He reveals it to us and offers to show us the way, if we will listen.
However to often we refuse to do His will and instead we continue to make choices that don’t follow the pathway of His leading.
So what is the condition or conditions which we have to meet... in order to experience a renewal of Gods protection, Gods provision, Gods promise to prosper us even as our soul prospers? (John 3:1-2)
Wait a minute there’s the answer right there!
How does our soul prosper?
The answer is found in the words of (Proverbs 3:6) ”In all your ways acknowledge Him”.
We must “ACKNOWLEDGE” Him.
So what does this mean?
To find out the real meaning of these words we must look at verse 5, of (Proverbs 3), that says to ”acknowledge Him”.
This means ”leaning not on your own understanding”… and trusting in the Lord with all your heart.
To acknowledge the Lord really means to abandon any understanding or wisdom of our own. (Proverbs 3:7) “Do not be wise in your own eyes”,
And to trust in the Lord with all our hearts… that He will give us the guidance needed.
The words “trust and “lean” both mean the same thing, so the verse could read, “Lean on the Lord and do not lean on your own understanding”... or, “Trust God and don’t trust at all in yourself!”
We must acknowledge Him “IN” all our ways.
We are to acknowledge Him right where He has placed us, in every area of our lives... in health and affliction... when we are well and strong... and when we are tried and tested.
(Isaiah 30:15) says, “This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation”.
We must acknowledge Him in “ALL” our ways… the emphasis is upon the word “all”.
North America can be great again!
Canada can be the great Lady of the North again.
The USA can be the greatest nation in the world again.
But it will only happen when we return to the faith of our fathers… when we trust His guidance
We are to trust in the Lord with “all” our heart, and in “all” our ways… we are to acknowledge Him; and as we seek grace to do this… we shall be guided by the Lord Himself.
Guided by His Word, and guided by His Spirit.
(2nd Chronicles 7:14) “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven and then will I heal their land.
Good Day!
How does our soul prosper?
The answer is found in the words of (Proverbs 3:6) ”In all your ways acknowledge Him”.
We must “ACKNOWLEDGE” Him.
So what does this mean?
To find out the real meaning of these words we must look at verse 5, of (Proverbs 3), that says to ”acknowledge Him”.
This means ”leaning not on your own understanding”… and trusting in the Lord with all your heart.
To acknowledge the Lord really means to abandon any understanding or wisdom of our own. (Proverbs 3:7) “Do not be wise in your own eyes”,
And to trust in the Lord with all our hearts… that He will give us the guidance needed.
The words “trust and “lean” both mean the same thing, so the verse could read, “Lean on the Lord and do not lean on your own understanding”... or, “Trust God and don’t trust at all in yourself!”
We must acknowledge Him “IN” all our ways.
We are to acknowledge Him right where He has placed us, in every area of our lives... in health and affliction... when we are well and strong... and when we are tried and tested.
(Isaiah 30:15) says, “This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation”.
We must acknowledge Him in “ALL” our ways… the emphasis is upon the word “all”.
North America can be great again!
Canada can be the great Lady of the North again.
The USA can be the greatest nation in the world again.
But it will only happen when we return to the faith of our fathers… when we trust His guidance
We are to trust in the Lord with “all” our heart, and in “all” our ways… we are to acknowledge Him; and as we seek grace to do this… we shall be guided by the Lord Himself.
Guided by His Word, and guided by His Spirit.
(2nd Chronicles 7:14) “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven and then will I heal their land.
Good Day!
(Jeremiah 10:23) “I know Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course”.
Yesterday I started a study concerning our need of and for God… to be the central figure and guiding light to help us find our way in the darkness of our world with all of its calamity, confusion, and deception.
I said yesterday that there are two parts that need to come together for us to truly enjoy Gods Divine guidance in our lives.
I’d like to continue that study to day.
The Old Testament is full of references and stories of “divine guidance” that God gave to His people.
As I shared with you in yesterdays devotion… one such promise is found in (Psalm 37:23)… “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him (that’s you and I)…
Though he may stumble he will not fall (again talking about you and I)…
For the Lord upholds him (again talking about you and I)… with his hand”.
The Old Testament is rife with stories of how God would provide guidance to those that would seek Him and His ways.
There is no greater need in the life of a Christian… than that of Divine guidance!
The reason being is that… life is full of choices!
Every day we have to make decisions in the midst of a cacophony of opinion and secular wisdom that are drowning out “The Truth”… and the Godly principles taught in Gods Word.
Principles taught for our safety and well being both spiritually as well as physically.
In the midst of them all… there is much confusion… and many simply do not know which is the right way to follow or go.
(Jeremiah 10:23) says “ Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own… it is not for them to direct their steps”.
Until we turn to the Lord and ask for His help and His guidance… humbling ourselves before Him… His Word… and His will… we will wander in the darkness of our world continually stumbling and tripping over the stumbling blocks that the enemy of our soul puts in our way.
(Psalm 37:23)… is the promise of “Divine guidance”… regarding every detail of life and for the whole of life.
There is no limit in the promise before us.
God says that “if we will acknowledge Him… He will direct us in all our paths”… until we reach our journey’s end.
Notice the significance of the word “paths”…which includes all the pathways along which we have to travel.
Some have mistakenly said that God does not guide His children in the small details of life… that He’s far too busy and cannot be concerned to help us in the ordinary matters of life… which we face from day to day.
This is not true!
Whether we need guidance in the home, or in business… with regard to our leisure times or our work… our friendships… every aspect of our lives is of great value… interest… and concern in the eyes of our God.
He is interested in every aspect… all is important to the Lord.
He longs to guide us in all the decisions we have to make.
The promise of Gods ongoing guidance is infallible.
It is God Himself who has made this promise… therefore it is divine guidance… and because it is divine… it is infallible and unerring …
“He will make your paths straight.”
Parental guidance may be loving… but it is never infallible… because parents are fallible.
God’s guidance is never in any way subject to error or mistakes… and He cannot make a mistake because He is God.
It isn’t wrong to confer with flesh and blood (Galatians 1:16)… but primarily we must confer with the Lord Himself… because whatever man may advise… it is triggered by humanistic wisdom steeped in wickedness from a nature of sin… and that makes his counsel liable to error.
In contrast with this… God’s is Holy righteous and perfect and His guidance is faultless and unerring and we can therefore rely upon it… its a promise that God makes to every one of His children.
The second part required for us to truly enjoy the benefits and the victory promised to us by walking in Gods footsteps… is found in the exhortation of (Psalm 37:23)… “In all thy ways acknowledge Him”
What do we have to do… to secure God’s guidance?
What is the condition… which we have to meet?
It is indicated in the words… “In all your ways acknowledge Him”.
What does this mean?
To acknowledge the Lord… really means “to abandon any understanding of natural matters or worldly wisdom of our own”
(Proverbs 3:7)… “Do not be wise in your own eyes”… and trust in the Lord with all our hearts”… and He will give us the needed guidance.
The words “trust” and “lean” both mean the same thing… so the verse could read… “Lean on the Lord and do not lean on your own understanding”… or… “Trust God completely and put no trust or confidence at all in yourself!”
We must acknowledge Him in “all” our ways.
Emphasis has been placed upon 2 tiny words in this scripture.
The first emphasis is upon the word “in”.
We are to acknowledge Him exactly where He has placed us…”in”… every area of our lives… “in”… health and affliction… “in” the face of trial and testing…when we are strong… and when we are weak.
There is no strain or stress in life… for one who is guidance comes from the Lord.
We must acknowledge Him… “in”… “all our ways”.
In (Psalm 37:5)… emphasis is also placed upon the word “all”…
We are to acknowledge Him… meaning we are to trust “in”…
the Lord… “with all our heart”… and in “all our ways”.
If we will do this… we shall be guided through the entanglement of the wicked… and the pandemic or plague of sin that seeks to destroy us and pull us away from the plan of God for each of us.
(Jeremiah 29:11)…“For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord…plans to prosper you and give you a future… not plans for evil”
Lean on… trust in …and be confident in the Lord… with all your heart and mind… and do not rely on your own insight or understanding…
But in all your ways know… recognize… and acknowledge Him… and He will direct your paths… making them straight and plain to follow.
But you have to choose!
(Proverbs 3:7)… “Do not be wise in your own eyes”… and trust in the Lord with all our hearts”… and He will direct your paths.
Good day!
(Jeremiah 10:23) “I know Lord that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course”.
The Bible is full of references to “divine guidance” and is filled with many stories/lessons we can learn from when God guided His servants.
One such promise is found in (Psalm 37:23) “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him (that’s you and I)… though he may stumble he will not fall… (again talking about you and I)… for the Lord upholds him (again talking about you and I)… with his hand.
He also gives many promises of His desire to guide each of us along life’s path way… so this study this morning is based on one such promise.
There is no greater need in the life of a Christian or a follower of Christ… than that of divine guidance!
The reason being… is that life is full of choices... often choices that are unclear and confusing.
Every day we have to make decisions and often times we simply do not know which is the right way to go unless we turn to the Lord and ask for His help (Jeremiah 10:23).
If you look at (Proverbs 3:5-6) you will see that the promise of divine guidance is conditional… there are two parts… God’s part and our part.
“Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him and He will do this”… (that’s our part)… He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn… your vindication like the noonday sun”… (that’s His part)
God says to us “If you will do your part… I will do my part”.
So what are some of the things we are to do on our part?
Now I am not advocating “doing” or “good works” for our salvation and right standing before God.
That’s already a “given” according to (Ephesians 2:8)... “For by grace are ye saved thru faith and that not of yourselves lest any man should boast,...but it is the “gift of God”.
But I am saying that if we really want God to move and operate in our lives… then there are some things that must be done on our part to open the gate… and allow Him to do what He does best.
Gods part is the promise of divine guidance!
Since the pandemic crisis… I am hearing many whom are saying… “I just don’t know how we are gong to get thru this crisis that has attacked our country and our world”.
I am writing to encourage you today (and myself as well)… that for the “Child of God”… “He has a way”.
Notice how absolutely certain the promise is in (Proverbs 3:6) “He will make your paths straight”!
It is the promise of a personally conducted tour through life.
See how very personal this is… “He” God… and “you”.
Nothing could be more personal than that.
What an amazing thing it is… that God Himself actually wants to… and offers to lead you in the right way and in the right direction… through out all of your life… and bring you safely to your journey’s end.
This is what He promises you and I in (Proverbs 14:12)…
This verse… this promise of God… reminds us of the fact that as we travel through life… we are faced on every hand with confusing choices… and we are at a loss to know which is the right way.
(Proverbs 14:12) “There is away which seems right unto a man…”
But God says He will guide us so that we do not take a wrong turn.
(Exodus 13:21) “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light to go by day and night”
(Psalm 25:9). "He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way."
God leads the humble to do what is right… and teaches the humble His truths.
In this context, being "humble" or "meek" does not mean being timid, weak, or shy.
It refers to “strength under control”.
C. S. Lewis quipped that "humble" people do not think “less of themselves”… rather… they are people who “think of themselves less”.
Self-will and pride mark the unbeliever… but converted sinners realize they cannot journey through life without God's guidance.
The journey presents too many dangers and uncertainties.
Therefore, the humble rely on God for direction… and they are not disappointed.
(Psalm 32:8) “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go… I will guide thee with mine eye”.
This Psalm counsels us to receive instruction… and the following verse advises us not to be like a horse or mule that lacks understanding… and must be forced to submit to the owner's control.
(Psalm 32:9) “Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle…”
Echoing these sentiments… (James 4:6) assures us that "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
(James 4:10) promises, "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you."
Humility is not always held in high esteem in modern culture… but it is a virtue God honors… and it should characterize all who want to obtain a better knowledge of God… His way… and His guidance.
Good day!
(Deuteronomy 33:25) “The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days”
God promises that He will give us the strength that we need to live and overcome the many trials…tests and weaknesses we face in this life.
The above text/verse states again… another of the many great promises of Gods keeping power, protection and provision for His followers/children.
It assures us once again… the promise of Gods protection and strength… assuring us that He will equip us and sustain us through out our future… He is our hope!
The metaphor of strong gates reflects security and resilience… emphasizing that as ones days increase so too will our strength.
Each day He is there to empower and enable us.
Don’t just rely on your own ability.
Rest and lean on the strength that He gives you today.
Within these words… is a precious promise for a trying day!
It belongs to every Christian… every Believer… every Child of God who is traveling this journey of faith.
God will provide for every part of life's journey… for every day… as each day may require.
It is especially suited to the dark days, the wintry days, and the trying days such as we are all going thru these days...
With the threat of the of pestilence sickness and disease… rumors of war and calamity… the threat of economic collapse and the stress and worry of not being able to find jobs and the means to pay our bills and take care of our families… when all of our earthly props fail us...
These days… when our fellow man can’t help us… when our own ingenuity cannot help us… when our own understanding concerning life and our future fails us…
I want to encourage you today with hope in Him… hope in God… with whom there is still strength available… beyond our own human resources,
Are you feeling depressed… anxious about tomorrow… worried stressed out and cast down?
Are you looking back upon the past with sorrow… and forward into the future with fear?
Cheer up! “The Lord will not lay on you more than He will enable you to bare…nor will He allow any other to do so.” (1st Corinthians 10:13)
However weak you may feel in yourself… however rough the road you may be traveling… however heavy the burden you may be carrying… God will supply you with sufficient strength for the day!
He has never allowed you to be crushed yet… though you may have staggered under some heavy burdens.
Confined to a wheel chair living life as a quadriplegic… Joni Erickson Tada say’s… “we all know that suffering is a strange dark companion… but a companion nonetheless. It’s an unwelcome visitor… but still a visitor”.
I heard it said that “affliction is the bruising of a blessing… but it is a blessing from the hand of God… and it is how God often meets us… in the very midst of our suffering”.
He who has helped you in the past… is still your helper today.
He will also help you in your the future… whether that is tomorrow… next week… or next year.
"As your days be"… as troublesome as they may be… "so shall your strength be."
Whether your day brings life or death… joy or trial… it does not matter.
God will send you/give you exactly what you need to pass through it!
(Psalm 23) “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures… He leads me beside quiet waters… He refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no evil… for you are with me… your rod and your staff they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies... You anoint my head with oil and my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life… and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever”.
Do not look at the trials… do not dwell on your inability… but lay hold on the promises of God and seek His grace and exercise faith in Him.
Our text this morning says again… "I will not fear… for as my day…so shall my strength be. He who has promised will also fulfill His promise."
(2nd Corinthians 1:20) "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ”… and so through Him… the 'Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God through us.
It was the Lord whom Paul pointed to as the anchor of his soul and source of his stability.
It was God who had supported and sustained him over the previous months and years.
It was Christ Jesus His Savior… whom had fulfilled His many promises and whom was at the heart of his message to professing believers.
Paul wanted to get across to them… that the message he taught concerning total trust and faith in the keeping grace of the Lord Jesus was steadfast, sure, unalterable and reliable.
He stressed that God's promises are true and His word stands fast forever… and so he wrote: “For as many as are the promises of God… in Him they are “yes”! Therefore also… through Him is our “amen”!
The boundless love of God is such that His promises never fail “in Christ”… and we can rejoice and say “amen, to the glory of God”.
No matter how many promises the Lord has made, we have an assurance that not one of them will ever fail.
The Lord Jesus came to earth as the “sin substitute” for mankind… and He fulfilled all that the Father ordained… so that we can be set free by faith in Him.
Jesus announced in (John 8:36) “Him whom the Son sets free is free indeed”… and for this reason we can also utter “amen”!
When we consider the many precious promises given to us in Gods Word… that have been carried out in Christ, (on our behalf)… may we never forget that Christ's sacrifice on the cross stamped “the authority of God”… on His promises to all of us,
For all the promises of God in Christ are “Yes”, and in Him “Amen”… to the glory of God, forever and ever.
Following is a prayer this morning to start your day…
“Blessed Lord, I praise You for these precious promises!
Help me… O help me to trust in them… and day by day as duty or trials may require… enable me to look to You… to expect and find sufficient strength from You!
Thank you for the confidence that as David of old had in (Psalm 138:3)
"On the day I called… You answered me… You increased strength within me!"
“Lord thank You for this new day and this new week.
Help me to walk… to receive… trust and operate in your strength as I go thru life with all of its distractions… anxieties and challenges... Amen”
Good Day!
(2nd Corinthians 5:6–7) “for we walk by faith… not by sight!"
Question: "What does it mean to walk by faith not by sight?"
The word "walk", as used here is a “metaphorical reference”… to the way a person conducts his or her life.
The phrase "all walks of life" is often used in our society to mean a variety of lifestyles or cultures.
The Apostle Paul reminds his readers that followers of Christ must not build their lives around things that have no eternal significance.
Rather than pursuing the same things the world pursues… a Christian a Believer/ follower of Christ… should focus on the unseen realities of faith… such as the coming of Jesus and eternity in Heaven.
Paul goes on to say, "So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ… so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil" (2nd Corinthians 5:9–10).
John writes in His letters of the New Testament that we should “love not the world nor the things that are in the world. (1st John 2:15)
Jesus told His disciples that while living in this world we should “seek first the Kingdom of God in every decision we are faced with. (Matthew 6:33)
Jesus also instructed us to “store up treasure in Heaven” (Matthew 6:19-20)
That in living this life here on earth, we should live in and with the idea that we are not here for a long time.
In fact He even went so far as to encourage His followers to sell all that they had and give it to help the poor and the needy (Luke 12:33)
Now I am not saying this morning that you and I should do the same thing… but what I am saying… is that in the light of the calamities that our world has and is facing… and the signs of the times we see around us… “wars and rumors of wars… earthquakes in diverse places and pestilence and disease”…
I am wondering if we might be facing the beginning of sorrows that Jesus talked about… and said would happen just prior to His return or the catching away of the church.
Lets face it folks, wars and rumors of wars, pestilence, and earth quakes in diverse places.
Hurricanes with brutal force and tornadoes that destroy everything in their path as we have not seen them in history past… pestilence and disease that is literally threatening the lives of the whole world, and the potential collapse of our economy as well… it’s enough to cause mens hearts to fail them with fear!
In all of this… the bible encourages to walk by faith!
Walking by faith means living life in light of eternal consequences.
To walk by faith is to fear God more than man…
To obey the Bible even when it conflicts with man’s commands to choose righteousness over sin… no matter what the cost…
To trust God in every circumstance… and to believe God rewards those who seek Him, regardless of who says otherwise
(Hebrews 11:6) “and without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him”.
Rather than loving the things of this world (1st John 2:15–16)… We Christians… followers of God… should spend our lives glorifying God in everything we do .
(1st Corinthians 10:31) “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do… do it all for the glory of God”
It requires faith to live this way.
When we base our lives on the truth of God’s Word rather than on the popular philosophy of our day… we are going against our natural inclinations.
Our natural instinct may be to hoard money… but walking by faith says “we should give to those in need” (Luke 11:41)
Society may say that sexual immorality is acceptable… but those who walk by faith base their standards on God’s unchanging Word, which says any sex outside of marriage is sin (1st Corinthians 6:18) (Ephesians 5:3) (Galatians 5:19).
To walk by faith requires that we “tune our hearts” to the voice of the Holy Spirit and the truth of His Word.
(John 10:27) “My sheep listen to my voice, I know them, and they follow me”.
“But when He, the Spirit of truth comes… He will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13).
(Proverbs 3:5–6) tells us we need to “choose”… to live according to what God reveals to us, rather than trust our own understanding.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding… in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight”.
We are living in troubling times… but for the believer in Christ these are simply markers… signs of the end… of His returning.
The bible says that “to them that look for Him the second time will He return”. (Hebrews 9:28)
So brother and sister in Christ… I encourage you to day… lift up your eyes… lift up your face… lift up your head and watch for the coming of our Lord.
Jesus said… “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.
But understand this... If the owner of the house had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming… he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:43)
Good Day!
(Galatians 2:20) "I have been crucified with Christ."
Paul wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”
In (Galatians 6:14) He wrote… "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ."
For Paul… the cross became the most vital part of his life… and he is a living example for all of us to imitate.
In (1st Corinthians 10:23 and 1st Corinthians11:1)… Paul teaches us… “and you should imitate me just as I imitate Christ”
Why… Because we have three relentless enemies we must overcome each day.
They are sin, Satan, and self.
How do you overcome them?
By living the crucified life.
But perhaps your thinking… “It’s too difficult to live a Christian life” and friend your right… it’s not just difficult… it’s impossible!
The only way to live a Christian life and life style… is to let the “power” and “person” of Christ live in you and through you.
That’s why Paul wrote, “God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14).
A story is told that after years in a Russian labor camp… a certain prisoner of war… “Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn”… became so depressed that he wanted to die.
Laying his shovel down, he walked over to a bench and sat down knowing that any moment a guard could come by… and use that shovel to beat him to death.
It was then that a fellow inmate took a stick and in the sand at Solzhenitsyn’s feet… traced out the sign of the cross.
As he stared at the cross his entire perspective shifted.
Realizing the cross represented the greatest power in the universe, he slowly got up, picked up his shovel, and went back to work under the sign of the cross.
And that’s what you and I must do daily as well.
We must never lose our perspective… nor our focus of who we are and who Jesus is.
That’s one of the reasons that John wrote… “Love not the world nor the things in the world” (1st John 2:15)
Each day, we must remind ourselves… “Jesus died for me… and I died with Him.
When I die to my self… and empty myself… He lives in me.
When He lives in me… I can live for Him.”
That’s the secret of a victorious Christian life... Christ in me!
Realizing that when we die to the world and we focus on Christ and His sacrificial work on the cross… we can look forward to tomorrow.
We can look forward to a new life… a new direction and a new purpose.
When we come to Christ and die to ourselves… (2nd Corinthians 5:17) tells us… “Old things pass away and behold all things become new”.
Because of the “Cross”… because of the “Resurrection”… you and I are justified, redeemed, and given a new life, a new hope, a new direction, a new mandate and a new purpose.
As He is risen… so to are you and I.
(Galatians 2:20)… “I am crucified with Christ… nevertheless I live… yet not I… but Christ lives in me… and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God… who loved me… and gave himself for me”.
Good Day!