The way of the fool seems right to him but a wise man listens to advice. - Proverbs 12:15
Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. - Proverbs 19:20
If we pray for nothing else, we must never cease to pray for the wisdom of God. Having the counsel of the Holy Spirit allows us to make wise choices. We are often our own worst enemies. We take decisions without seeking advice from God or people in authority who may be able to give us wise counsel. We rely on how we are feeling and our emotions to direct our lives. Maturity teaches that feelings are forever fluctuating and therefore cannot be trusted. How we feel is often dictated by the circumstances that we are in. In a world where everything is constantly changing and shifting, we must find an anchor that is solid and stable to hold on to; something that is not affected by circumstances. As believers, our anchor must be God and His Holy Counsel.
We are surrounded often by friends and family who in most cases mean well. They offer advice based purely on the information available to them which may not always be the complete picture. The complete pictures of our lives lie purely with God. As information travels from one person to another it is distorted and misinterpreted. Even advice from a mother to a daughter must be measured against God's Counsel which is his word. If the advice does not measure up, it must be instantly discarded.
Watch whom you let advice you. They may put the wrong name on the right blessing. Good intentions don't always come out right but God's purpose is always perfect. Regardless of who gives you advice and how great it sounds, pray and seek God's counsel before taking any action. Following God's directions will allow you to have peace over your decision. Any choices that go against God's will for our lives will always bring unrest and pain into our lives.
Make the counsel of God the most important compass for your life. Learn to value and follow his instruction if you are to live a fruitful life.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Never Lose Heart
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Trials and tribulations can hit and knock us down. Some never survive. Yet there are the few who survive and come out stronger than ever before. What is their secret? Why didn’t they just crawl into a corner and die? What sets apart an over comer from one who is simply overcome? What gives one victory and another defeat? Why do some always seem to win and some always lose? What gives one courage to advance while another cowardly retreats? In life there are always two distinct classes – the class of people who press forward and continue to win the race of life against opposition and there is the class of those who lose heart and give up at the sight of trouble.
Strength of inner spirit varies from one person to the next. We invest a lot in exercising our bodies. We run, we hike, swim and lift weights, trying to look the best that we can on the outside. But there is a type of exercise that is more important than that of a physical nature. It is the exercising of our inner spirit with the Word of God. It builds up our inner strength and increases our resilience such that we are not easily swayed by outside circumstances. It makes us more prepared to handle difficult and tough times. It is this strong inner strength that stops people from losing heart and holding on to the hope that only God gives.
Perspective is also extremely important when we face trials in life. Anytime I encounter a stumbling block, I always reflect on what Christ must have felt in his heart as he went to the Cross for my sins. And I remember that whatever it is I am dealing with in this realm can never compare to that. Even if I have nothing materially and I have become a joke in town, I hold on to what and in whom I believe. I focus on the source of my eternal hope and rest in the assurance that God will take care of me. He has promised in his word that he will neither leave nor forsake me.
I am human and I sometimes try to understand why some of the things that have happened in my life occurred in the way that they did. But I am quickly realizing that I may never understand why. I remember thinking – “Why would God allow me to go through so much? How do I weather the pain without letting it show for all to see? Will I survive this ordeal? Who will take care of my children if I have a nervous breakdown? What will happen to my daughters if I refuse to survive this?” Armed with God’s forgiveness and his grace, I slowly climbed my way out of the cesspool of unbelief. I began to see life beyond what was going on inside of me. I started to focus on what was unseen rather than the situation I had found myself in. I started to turn my attention to the Great Commission – sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my own little way. Before life’s trials began, I never wrote anything but in some way my experiences have encouraged me to put pen to paper and to focus on what is important – my life in God’s family.
Trials and tribulations can hit and knock us down. Some never survive. Yet there are the few who survive and come out stronger than ever before. What is their secret? Why didn’t they just crawl into a corner and die? What sets apart an over comer from one who is simply overcome? What gives one victory and another defeat? Why do some always seem to win and some always lose? What gives one courage to advance while another cowardly retreats? In life there are always two distinct classes – the class of people who press forward and continue to win the race of life against opposition and there is the class of those who lose heart and give up at the sight of trouble.
Strength of inner spirit varies from one person to the next. We invest a lot in exercising our bodies. We run, we hike, swim and lift weights, trying to look the best that we can on the outside. But there is a type of exercise that is more important than that of a physical nature. It is the exercising of our inner spirit with the Word of God. It builds up our inner strength and increases our resilience such that we are not easily swayed by outside circumstances. It makes us more prepared to handle difficult and tough times. It is this strong inner strength that stops people from losing heart and holding on to the hope that only God gives.
Perspective is also extremely important when we face trials in life. Anytime I encounter a stumbling block, I always reflect on what Christ must have felt in his heart as he went to the Cross for my sins. And I remember that whatever it is I am dealing with in this realm can never compare to that. Even if I have nothing materially and I have become a joke in town, I hold on to what and in whom I believe. I focus on the source of my eternal hope and rest in the assurance that God will take care of me. He has promised in his word that he will neither leave nor forsake me.
I am human and I sometimes try to understand why some of the things that have happened in my life occurred in the way that they did. But I am quickly realizing that I may never understand why. I remember thinking – “Why would God allow me to go through so much? How do I weather the pain without letting it show for all to see? Will I survive this ordeal? Who will take care of my children if I have a nervous breakdown? What will happen to my daughters if I refuse to survive this?” Armed with God’s forgiveness and his grace, I slowly climbed my way out of the cesspool of unbelief. I began to see life beyond what was going on inside of me. I started to focus on what was unseen rather than the situation I had found myself in. I started to turn my attention to the Great Commission – sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my own little way. Before life’s trials began, I never wrote anything but in some way my experiences have encouraged me to put pen to paper and to focus on what is important – my life in God’s family.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Watch Out
I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. – 1 Corinthians 5:9-11
The Bible warns us over and over again to run away from anything that stimulates or encourages youthful lust. As believers, we must never put ourselves in compromising positions. For example, if you are recovering from alcohol addiction, don’t hang out at bars. If you spend your time viewing inappropriate information on the internet, you may need to terminate your access to the internet.
We live in a world filled with rampart immorality. It’s everywhere you turn but we can safeguard ourselves by being vigilant and extra cautious about where we go and who we spend time with. It is important to talk to people who are not Christians – that is the only way to participate in the Great Commission. But talking to an unbeliever about Christ at a Starbucks Coffee Shop and at a nightclub are two different things. We don’t have to grace unnecessary locations with our presence in order to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We should spread the Word while at the same time holding firmly to what and in whom we believe. We cannot stoop to the level of an unbeliever because when we choose to do that, we give him or her nothing to aspire to.
Compromising does not happen overnight. It’s often a little here and a little there. The minute we begin to gravitate towards the ungodly and separate from our fellow believers, we must be on guard. Someone once preached that compromise prompts us to be silent when we ought to speak for fear of offending, it causes us to praise when it is not deserved to keep people our friends. It makes us tolerate sin and not to speak out so as to avoid making enemies.
When we hang out with the wrong crowd, we often find ourselves with one foot in the kingdom of God and the other in the world. We are like a man with one leg on the dock and the other in the canoe; it won’t be long before a tragic accident happens.
The Bible warns us over and over again to run away from anything that stimulates or encourages youthful lust. As believers, we must never put ourselves in compromising positions. For example, if you are recovering from alcohol addiction, don’t hang out at bars. If you spend your time viewing inappropriate information on the internet, you may need to terminate your access to the internet.
We live in a world filled with rampart immorality. It’s everywhere you turn but we can safeguard ourselves by being vigilant and extra cautious about where we go and who we spend time with. It is important to talk to people who are not Christians – that is the only way to participate in the Great Commission. But talking to an unbeliever about Christ at a Starbucks Coffee Shop and at a nightclub are two different things. We don’t have to grace unnecessary locations with our presence in order to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We should spread the Word while at the same time holding firmly to what and in whom we believe. We cannot stoop to the level of an unbeliever because when we choose to do that, we give him or her nothing to aspire to.
Compromising does not happen overnight. It’s often a little here and a little there. The minute we begin to gravitate towards the ungodly and separate from our fellow believers, we must be on guard. Someone once preached that compromise prompts us to be silent when we ought to speak for fear of offending, it causes us to praise when it is not deserved to keep people our friends. It makes us tolerate sin and not to speak out so as to avoid making enemies.
When we hang out with the wrong crowd, we often find ourselves with one foot in the kingdom of God and the other in the world. We are like a man with one leg on the dock and the other in the canoe; it won’t be long before a tragic accident happens.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Never Give Up Hope
We do not want you to be uninformed brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. – 2 Corinthians 1:8-11
God never promised any believer a life on flowery beds of ease. Even after we are saved, we will face trials and tribulations as the enemy does everything he can to stop us from continuing in the faith. It takes one with a persistent spirit to continue walking faithfully with God. The enemy knows what kind of carrots to dangle in front of us. He knows what to offer us and how he can get us to compromise.
Standing firm is not an easy thing to do. We sometimes suffer personal hardships when we follow Christ. Friends leave us because we are no longer the same. Now we are better and the justification for the way that they would like to treat us has been taken away for ever. They ultimately leave to find fresh victims. The desertion can be very painful and difficult to endure. A preacher once said that death was so much better than divorce. I did not understand what he meant until it happened to me. But with God, we slowly heal and we find our way.
How do we find hope to continue with God and with life? We find it in the scriptures. Apostle Paul suffered beatings and imprisonment for Christ. Reading about what he endured for preaching the gospel put my hardships in perspective. We must never give up hope. If Christ can die on the Cross and rise again in three days; there is nothing impossible for God. Lazarus was dead and stinking – Jesus Christ woke him up. Our hope should lie in Our God. He will surely deliver us from whatever hardship that we are going through if we place our trust in him.
God never promised any believer a life on flowery beds of ease. Even after we are saved, we will face trials and tribulations as the enemy does everything he can to stop us from continuing in the faith. It takes one with a persistent spirit to continue walking faithfully with God. The enemy knows what kind of carrots to dangle in front of us. He knows what to offer us and how he can get us to compromise.
Standing firm is not an easy thing to do. We sometimes suffer personal hardships when we follow Christ. Friends leave us because we are no longer the same. Now we are better and the justification for the way that they would like to treat us has been taken away for ever. They ultimately leave to find fresh victims. The desertion can be very painful and difficult to endure. A preacher once said that death was so much better than divorce. I did not understand what he meant until it happened to me. But with God, we slowly heal and we find our way.
How do we find hope to continue with God and with life? We find it in the scriptures. Apostle Paul suffered beatings and imprisonment for Christ. Reading about what he endured for preaching the gospel put my hardships in perspective. We must never give up hope. If Christ can die on the Cross and rise again in three days; there is nothing impossible for God. Lazarus was dead and stinking – Jesus Christ woke him up. Our hope should lie in Our God. He will surely deliver us from whatever hardship that we are going through if we place our trust in him.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
A Complicated Yet Beautiful Quilt of Love
And we know that in all things God works for good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. – Romans 8:28-30
Knowing what I know now, I am convinced that I did not choose to give my life to God; He chose me. Before I was formed in my mother’s womb, he knew me and He already mapped out a path for my life. I have often strayed from that path but like a kind and gentle shepherd, he has used his rod and his staff to guide me back on the right path. Now I can look back in hindsight and see that everything I ever experienced was designed and orchestrated to get me to where I am today and where I am destined to be in the future. Nothing that ever happens to me is an accident. Incidents that occur in my journey through life will never be a surprise to God.
Even when the world thought me worthless and an object to be simply discarded, God had his hand on my life. When I was left alone to live or to die, God ensured that he showed me that there was so much to live for and that I had so much to give to the world. I am continuously kept safe under the shadow of Almighty God. Through of all life’s ups and downs – the good, the bad, the joy and the pain, God was weaving in me a perfect quilt of love. A patchwork made up all the things and experiences that are truly mine and mine alone. God showed me my mission, my purpose in all that I have been through and he is working it all out for good such that I will not want life any other way. He has used my pain and disappointments as a tool to be a blessing to other people. Sure things are not perfect but even in the daily difficulties, God shows me something good; many reasons to keep running the race he designed just for me.
I am a testimony that God works all things for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose. I do believe in predestination. My life is one that was predestined. I am simply living out a course that was pre-designed specifically for me. No-one else can run my race.
God is at work in the lives of all his children just like he is at work in mine. I am grateful that he chose me to bring glory to his name.
Knowing what I know now, I am convinced that I did not choose to give my life to God; He chose me. Before I was formed in my mother’s womb, he knew me and He already mapped out a path for my life. I have often strayed from that path but like a kind and gentle shepherd, he has used his rod and his staff to guide me back on the right path. Now I can look back in hindsight and see that everything I ever experienced was designed and orchestrated to get me to where I am today and where I am destined to be in the future. Nothing that ever happens to me is an accident. Incidents that occur in my journey through life will never be a surprise to God.
Even when the world thought me worthless and an object to be simply discarded, God had his hand on my life. When I was left alone to live or to die, God ensured that he showed me that there was so much to live for and that I had so much to give to the world. I am continuously kept safe under the shadow of Almighty God. Through of all life’s ups and downs – the good, the bad, the joy and the pain, God was weaving in me a perfect quilt of love. A patchwork made up all the things and experiences that are truly mine and mine alone. God showed me my mission, my purpose in all that I have been through and he is working it all out for good such that I will not want life any other way. He has used my pain and disappointments as a tool to be a blessing to other people. Sure things are not perfect but even in the daily difficulties, God shows me something good; many reasons to keep running the race he designed just for me.
I am a testimony that God works all things for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose. I do believe in predestination. My life is one that was predestined. I am simply living out a course that was pre-designed specifically for me. No-one else can run my race.
God is at work in the lives of all his children just like he is at work in mine. I am grateful that he chose me to bring glory to his name.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Remembering Those Who Died For Our Freedom
Today is Memorial Day - a day set apart to remember all those people that died to give us the freedom we now enjoy so much in this country. To those who have lost friends and family to war, it's more than just a three-day weekend; its a memory for a lifetime.
Since July 4, 1776, many Americans have been called upon to defend this great country and many lost their lives in the process leaving behind friends and loved ones who miss them dearly. Over 42 million men and women have served this country at times of war and over 1 million of them have died for this country.
Take some time to remember that the freedom you enjoy today comes with a price. Freedom to wear what you like, eat what you want, live where you choose and do what you enjoy; Freedom not to do what we like when we like but freedom to do what is right all the time.
Since July 4, 1776, many Americans have been called upon to defend this great country and many lost their lives in the process leaving behind friends and loved ones who miss them dearly. Over 42 million men and women have served this country at times of war and over 1 million of them have died for this country.
Take some time to remember that the freedom you enjoy today comes with a price. Freedom to wear what you like, eat what you want, live where you choose and do what you enjoy; Freedom not to do what we like when we like but freedom to do what is right all the time.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
You Are Forgiven
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. – 1 John 1:9-10
No-one is perfect – not one. We all have sin and when I say sin, I mean the state of sin and not necessarily its practice. I have to believe that at some level when we come to Christ, the practice of sin becomes a rare occurrence. And in the rare times, we dabble with sinful actions, we don’t get the kind pleasure we once did from doing the same things. Unfortunately the state of sin is one we can do nothing about. Once we are born into this world, we are automatically enrolled. God is the only one that could handle the state of sin and he saw only one way that man can be saved from sin and it is through His Only Son, Jesus Christ.
God gave up His Only Son who was sinless to die on the Cross of Calvary for the sins of the entire world. Jesus Christ, who was blameless became a scapegoat for us all. He took the blame for all the sins that man had and will commit against God. Jesus Christ took care of our all our sins – past, present and future. When we become a child of God we receive full immunity. We are set free and have a secure spot in heaven.
Accepting what Christ accomplished on the Cross as a final payment means that you do not have to work to earn your salvation. The price for your salvation was paid with His Blood. Once we are saved we are allowed to start afresh with our focus on what God desires for our lives. We are also released from all guilt and shame such that we can go on with life full of confidence and the assurance of the love of God. We do however need to face the consequences of our sins. God does not take the repercussions away otherwise we will never learn. Every seat has it’s price. That is why we must make sure that we measure our choices against God’s Word to avoid facing dire consequences.
As we pray and confess our sins, we are not telling God anything that He does not already know and we are not asking for forgiveness because Christ already gave us that by His accomplishment at the Cross. But we acknowledge our wrongdoing and we take responsibility. Un-confessed sin separates us from God. When we come clean, our spirits are cleansed and refreshed and we can continue on our walk with God. Our Lord does not require us to be perfect – but he wants our hearts to be with him – in the right place.
No-one is perfect – not one. We all have sin and when I say sin, I mean the state of sin and not necessarily its practice. I have to believe that at some level when we come to Christ, the practice of sin becomes a rare occurrence. And in the rare times, we dabble with sinful actions, we don’t get the kind pleasure we once did from doing the same things. Unfortunately the state of sin is one we can do nothing about. Once we are born into this world, we are automatically enrolled. God is the only one that could handle the state of sin and he saw only one way that man can be saved from sin and it is through His Only Son, Jesus Christ.
God gave up His Only Son who was sinless to die on the Cross of Calvary for the sins of the entire world. Jesus Christ, who was blameless became a scapegoat for us all. He took the blame for all the sins that man had and will commit against God. Jesus Christ took care of our all our sins – past, present and future. When we become a child of God we receive full immunity. We are set free and have a secure spot in heaven.
Accepting what Christ accomplished on the Cross as a final payment means that you do not have to work to earn your salvation. The price for your salvation was paid with His Blood. Once we are saved we are allowed to start afresh with our focus on what God desires for our lives. We are also released from all guilt and shame such that we can go on with life full of confidence and the assurance of the love of God. We do however need to face the consequences of our sins. God does not take the repercussions away otherwise we will never learn. Every seat has it’s price. That is why we must make sure that we measure our choices against God’s Word to avoid facing dire consequences.
As we pray and confess our sins, we are not telling God anything that He does not already know and we are not asking for forgiveness because Christ already gave us that by His accomplishment at the Cross. But we acknowledge our wrongdoing and we take responsibility. Un-confessed sin separates us from God. When we come clean, our spirits are cleansed and refreshed and we can continue on our walk with God. Our Lord does not require us to be perfect – but he wants our hearts to be with him – in the right place.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Choosing the Path that I Take
Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands. May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word. – Psalm 119:73-74
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. – Psalm 119:105
Life is full of choices. We start to make decisions the minute we rise each day. We must decide whether we will pray, whether we will listen or read the word of God. We decide whether we will show up for work or we will call in sick. On Sunday, we choose whether we will go to church or watch a televised worship. From daybreak till sundown, we are constantly faced with decisions that we must make – big and small. Either way where we’ll go in life and what we’ll be will ultimately be made up of all the small and big decisions that we have made along life’s journey.
I have made one choice; the biggest decision I’ll ever make. That is to follow the roadmap that God has laid out for all his children in His Word. I have made a choice to turn over my life completely to the One who made me and formed me. God created us with the ability to be able to comprehend His instructions. When we give our lives to Christ and are saved, we are filled with the Holy Spirit. He helps us discern and interpret God’s Word. The more time we spend studying God’s instructions, the more God’s nature is revealed to us. The more we learn his nature, the more our lives are transformed to reflect his.
The Word of God is like light – it shows me which way I must go. It helps me with my small and big decisions. I have learnt that it matters most how I arrive at a decision more than what my decision is. If I measure my choices against the Word of God and I make a decision that is in line with scripture, I have peace with my choice. I hinge my entire hopes not on the state of the economy nor the stock market, my hope is in the Lord and He alone. In times when I face a dark situation, God’s Word brings light in such a way that I can clearly see which way I must go. His word has revealed to me life changing truth that I will never depart from.
We all must choose the path in life that we will follow – not choosing a path and walking aimlessly is also a choice. Give your life to Jesus Christ today. He has so much to teach you and to show you. Once you make this life changing decision, things will never be the same again.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. – Psalm 119:105
Life is full of choices. We start to make decisions the minute we rise each day. We must decide whether we will pray, whether we will listen or read the word of God. We decide whether we will show up for work or we will call in sick. On Sunday, we choose whether we will go to church or watch a televised worship. From daybreak till sundown, we are constantly faced with decisions that we must make – big and small. Either way where we’ll go in life and what we’ll be will ultimately be made up of all the small and big decisions that we have made along life’s journey.
I have made one choice; the biggest decision I’ll ever make. That is to follow the roadmap that God has laid out for all his children in His Word. I have made a choice to turn over my life completely to the One who made me and formed me. God created us with the ability to be able to comprehend His instructions. When we give our lives to Christ and are saved, we are filled with the Holy Spirit. He helps us discern and interpret God’s Word. The more time we spend studying God’s instructions, the more God’s nature is revealed to us. The more we learn his nature, the more our lives are transformed to reflect his.
The Word of God is like light – it shows me which way I must go. It helps me with my small and big decisions. I have learnt that it matters most how I arrive at a decision more than what my decision is. If I measure my choices against the Word of God and I make a decision that is in line with scripture, I have peace with my choice. I hinge my entire hopes not on the state of the economy nor the stock market, my hope is in the Lord and He alone. In times when I face a dark situation, God’s Word brings light in such a way that I can clearly see which way I must go. His word has revealed to me life changing truth that I will never depart from.
We all must choose the path in life that we will follow – not choosing a path and walking aimlessly is also a choice. Give your life to Jesus Christ today. He has so much to teach you and to show you. Once you make this life changing decision, things will never be the same again.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Put God First
Our days are pretty full. I for one am always running around – trying to get the kids to school on time; trying to get to my daily job. My to-do list overwhelms me sometimes. My hustle and bustle starts the moment I open my eyes in the morning. Making time to give God my first fruits and undivided attention in the morning is often impossible for me to do. Then I began to see a pattern. Every day I do not pray and study God’s Word, a situation comes around that challenges me. So I decided to take a closer look at my priorities.
We all have priorities in life and we base them on what is most important to us. The minute we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and our Savior, our priorities must reflect our new decision and new way of life. As believers, God must be placed first in our lives. We must not let anything stop us from talking with God on a daily basis. We must be eager to involve him in every aspect of our lives. All our plans and decisions must be with him in mind and according to the blue print laid out for us in the Bible. If like me, you have a daily schedule that is tight, buy messages on CD. The Bible can also be purchased on audio CD – listen, fellowship and learn even as you drive.
There is nothing worse than a Christian with misplaced priorities. When our priorities contradict what we claim to believe, we appear to others as a scatterbrain. Most importantly our testimony becomes worthless. How do we preach about a life we cannot live? To put God first, we must seek the face of God through prayer, fellowship and reading his Word. God is still speaking and loves to interact with his children. He wants what’s best for us even when we do not know what the best for us really is. We must also trust and believe in the things that God has said in his Word and promised. God has the big picture of our lives so we must trust his plans for us. His will for our lives should be our outermost desire not what we will for ourselves. Finally we must choose to walk in obedience to the Lord. Living a life of sin as a believer is worse than not being a believer at all.
We all have priorities in life and we base them on what is most important to us. The minute we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and our Savior, our priorities must reflect our new decision and new way of life. As believers, God must be placed first in our lives. We must not let anything stop us from talking with God on a daily basis. We must be eager to involve him in every aspect of our lives. All our plans and decisions must be with him in mind and according to the blue print laid out for us in the Bible. If like me, you have a daily schedule that is tight, buy messages on CD. The Bible can also be purchased on audio CD – listen, fellowship and learn even as you drive.
There is nothing worse than a Christian with misplaced priorities. When our priorities contradict what we claim to believe, we appear to others as a scatterbrain. Most importantly our testimony becomes worthless. How do we preach about a life we cannot live? To put God first, we must seek the face of God through prayer, fellowship and reading his Word. God is still speaking and loves to interact with his children. He wants what’s best for us even when we do not know what the best for us really is. We must also trust and believe in the things that God has said in his Word and promised. God has the big picture of our lives so we must trust his plans for us. His will for our lives should be our outermost desire not what we will for ourselves. Finally we must choose to walk in obedience to the Lord. Living a life of sin as a believer is worse than not being a believer at all.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
The Way of Holiness
And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. – Isaiah 35:8-10
We can all agree that no-one can get to the right destination going in the wrong direction neither can anyone do wrong to make things right. In order to be right with God, our heart has to be in the right place and our actions must line up with what, in whom we claim to believe. Even though we live in a pluralistic society where people believe in all sorts of gods, one thing is common amongst all men – we all want love, peace and joy. Jesus Christ is the only One that promises us true and lasting love, peace and joy. He is the only One that can give us a life full of vision and purpose.
Whether we like it or not, we are individually on one highway or the other and there are only two possibilities. There is the highway that leads to heaven – the holy way and there is the highway that leads to death – the carnal way. Examine your life today and ask yourself the question – “Which highway am I on?” Regardless of what the world says, there is only one road to heaven and it is through Jesus Christ. It is a way that is open to everyone who will accept the truth of the gospel and believe. It is a journey that changes lives for the better. It is a road that brings great joy and peace to the heart of the believer. Choose the highway of holiness today and watch your life transform.
We can all agree that no-one can get to the right destination going in the wrong direction neither can anyone do wrong to make things right. In order to be right with God, our heart has to be in the right place and our actions must line up with what, in whom we claim to believe. Even though we live in a pluralistic society where people believe in all sorts of gods, one thing is common amongst all men – we all want love, peace and joy. Jesus Christ is the only One that promises us true and lasting love, peace and joy. He is the only One that can give us a life full of vision and purpose.
Whether we like it or not, we are individually on one highway or the other and there are only two possibilities. There is the highway that leads to heaven – the holy way and there is the highway that leads to death – the carnal way. Examine your life today and ask yourself the question – “Which highway am I on?” Regardless of what the world says, there is only one road to heaven and it is through Jesus Christ. It is a way that is open to everyone who will accept the truth of the gospel and believe. It is a journey that changes lives for the better. It is a road that brings great joy and peace to the heart of the believer. Choose the highway of holiness today and watch your life transform.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
True Repentance
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. – 2 Corinthians 8:10
When I was growing, I will often get caught doing something wrong and my father would dutifully give me a befitting punishment. Based on the degree of the punishment, I feel remorse and guilt but in time, I would find myself in the same position again – back to my old ways. Instead of learning how to avoid doing wrong, I focused on how not to get caught. And when the punishment was too great, I would stop the behavior but not because I cared about how God felt but I was afraid of my earthly father.
True repentance is very different from guilt. When we repent of wrongdoing, it means that we have changed our mind completely about our erroneous ways. Repentance is only true when we make a decision to walk a different path because we understand that the way we are currently walking is not in line with God’s wishes for us. Accepting Jesus Christ’s gift of salvation and a determination to change our lives facilitates repentance. As we study the Word of God and gain strength from his promises for our lives, we are able to turn our backs on unfruitful escapades.
If we are truly repentant, we are never comfortable with having one foot in each camp; following Christ whilst still engaging in ungodly activity. True repentance gives us the foundation to begin a life on a fresh clean slate. It allows us to finally leave the past where it really belongs – in the past. Godly repentance is what allows us to use our past as a tool to remind us where God brought us from but without the guilt.
When I was growing, I will often get caught doing something wrong and my father would dutifully give me a befitting punishment. Based on the degree of the punishment, I feel remorse and guilt but in time, I would find myself in the same position again – back to my old ways. Instead of learning how to avoid doing wrong, I focused on how not to get caught. And when the punishment was too great, I would stop the behavior but not because I cared about how God felt but I was afraid of my earthly father.
True repentance is very different from guilt. When we repent of wrongdoing, it means that we have changed our mind completely about our erroneous ways. Repentance is only true when we make a decision to walk a different path because we understand that the way we are currently walking is not in line with God’s wishes for us. Accepting Jesus Christ’s gift of salvation and a determination to change our lives facilitates repentance. As we study the Word of God and gain strength from his promises for our lives, we are able to turn our backs on unfruitful escapades.
If we are truly repentant, we are never comfortable with having one foot in each camp; following Christ whilst still engaging in ungodly activity. True repentance gives us the foundation to begin a life on a fresh clean slate. It allows us to finally leave the past where it really belongs – in the past. Godly repentance is what allows us to use our past as a tool to remind us where God brought us from but without the guilt.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Stand Firmly On What You Believe
I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. – Joshua 14:7-8
Caleb was a man of integrity. He gave God his best and did not compromise. He believed God will take care of him and all his needs. Caleb belonged to the minority. He was a man who had more faith in his God than the size of his circumstances. David is another man like Caleb. He could have been intimidated by Goliath but No – David knew that God will bring victory to Israel regardless of how large Goliath was. David knew that God had already given them the victory even before the battle began.
Caleb and David did not just have great faith; they had faith in a very great God. We all face giants in our life but its how we look at them that make all the difference. Jesus Christ died on the Cross to give us victory so we don’t fight for victory, we already have victory. We simply fight from the victory that Jesus Christ already brought us. What are you facing today? What are your giants – your challenges? Trust in the greatness of the God you serve. He has brought you too far to leave you on your own now. Believe in your heart that your God is so much greater than your giants.
Caleb was a man of integrity. He gave God his best and did not compromise. He believed God will take care of him and all his needs. Caleb belonged to the minority. He was a man who had more faith in his God than the size of his circumstances. David is another man like Caleb. He could have been intimidated by Goliath but No – David knew that God will bring victory to Israel regardless of how large Goliath was. David knew that God had already given them the victory even before the battle began.
Caleb and David did not just have great faith; they had faith in a very great God. We all face giants in our life but its how we look at them that make all the difference. Jesus Christ died on the Cross to give us victory so we don’t fight for victory, we already have victory. We simply fight from the victory that Jesus Christ already brought us. What are you facing today? What are your giants – your challenges? Trust in the greatness of the God you serve. He has brought you too far to leave you on your own now. Believe in your heart that your God is so much greater than your giants.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Protect Your Spirituality
See to it brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encouraging one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. – Hebrews 3:12-14
The Christian life is often full of surprises. We have seen or read in the media of powerful men and women of God that we all look upon as being “saints” of some kind that started their mission with vigor and what appeared to be strong faith but after some time succumbed to the ways of this world. On the other hand, there are people who have been written-off by society because of their past but in some way found the love and grace of Jesus Christ and turned their lives around for good.
Our spirituality as believers must be protected. We cannot get saved and be ignorant of the wiles of the enemy. The word of God is like a seed – once planted the enemy does all he can snatch that seed away. The bible warns us that the enemy prowls around like a roaring lion looking for whom to devour. Do not be his casualty. Even when we have spent many years studying the Word of God and we are walking with him, we are still vulnerable to being lured away by the Devil. Sin is like a cancer. It ravages the body incrementally. We sin a little, compromise a little and before long the door is wide open for Satan to move into our hearts and turn us away from God. It does not happen overnight; it is a gradual process. In time, our hearts harden and we completely stop yielding to that inner voice of the Holy Spirit within us. We lose connection with our spiritual compass and our position in God’s kingdom is threatened.
It is important that we hold on the confidence, vigor and passion we had the day that we first believed. We should never become too engrossed in ourselves that we forget where God has brought us from and where he is taking us to. The small and big decisions we make today will determine our tomorrow.
The Christian life is often full of surprises. We have seen or read in the media of powerful men and women of God that we all look upon as being “saints” of some kind that started their mission with vigor and what appeared to be strong faith but after some time succumbed to the ways of this world. On the other hand, there are people who have been written-off by society because of their past but in some way found the love and grace of Jesus Christ and turned their lives around for good.
Our spirituality as believers must be protected. We cannot get saved and be ignorant of the wiles of the enemy. The word of God is like a seed – once planted the enemy does all he can snatch that seed away. The bible warns us that the enemy prowls around like a roaring lion looking for whom to devour. Do not be his casualty. Even when we have spent many years studying the Word of God and we are walking with him, we are still vulnerable to being lured away by the Devil. Sin is like a cancer. It ravages the body incrementally. We sin a little, compromise a little and before long the door is wide open for Satan to move into our hearts and turn us away from God. It does not happen overnight; it is a gradual process. In time, our hearts harden and we completely stop yielding to that inner voice of the Holy Spirit within us. We lose connection with our spiritual compass and our position in God’s kingdom is threatened.
It is important that we hold on the confidence, vigor and passion we had the day that we first believed. We should never become too engrossed in ourselves that we forget where God has brought us from and where he is taking us to. The small and big decisions we make today will determine our tomorrow.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
My Personal Race
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. – Acts 20:24
As time passes and I age, I find that my priorities are gradually changing. What used to bother me before now bothers me no more. The things of this world that I once hungered and was in deep thirst for now mean nothing to me. I now understand what it means when I read that my body is the temple of the living God. I know what it means to turn over my physical, spiritual and emotional needs over to the Lord; whatever he has designed for me to do is all that matters to me now – nothing more and nothing less.
I believe what I’m trying to say is what I want means nothing to me. What matters most is what God wants for my life because what He wants is ultimately what I want. Life has dealt its blows and I have taken them one by one with the strength and grace of the Almighty God as my shield. Looking back on my life, I know that the only reason I did not lose my life and/or my mind is because there is a mission that I must accomplish. What is that mission? My mission is to spread the news of the gospel of Jesus Christ in my own little way. I don’t believe that I have any skills of my own. Anything I do, I do because Christ put the ability inside of me. I am simply a messenger that is privileged to share the good news of this wonderful message; the only message that has the power to change people from the inside out. It changed me and gave me the peace that I have so desperately sought all my life.
What is your race? Have you found it or are you still searching? If you are still on the hunt for your mission why not give your life to Jesus Christ? Once you become part of God’s family, you automatically inherit a part of the Great Commission. A task that requires that the hand of all believers in Jesus Christ; a mission greater than any personal mission that you might have; a mission that brings you peace and joy and brings hope to all that it touches.
As time passes and I age, I find that my priorities are gradually changing. What used to bother me before now bothers me no more. The things of this world that I once hungered and was in deep thirst for now mean nothing to me. I now understand what it means when I read that my body is the temple of the living God. I know what it means to turn over my physical, spiritual and emotional needs over to the Lord; whatever he has designed for me to do is all that matters to me now – nothing more and nothing less.
I believe what I’m trying to say is what I want means nothing to me. What matters most is what God wants for my life because what He wants is ultimately what I want. Life has dealt its blows and I have taken them one by one with the strength and grace of the Almighty God as my shield. Looking back on my life, I know that the only reason I did not lose my life and/or my mind is because there is a mission that I must accomplish. What is that mission? My mission is to spread the news of the gospel of Jesus Christ in my own little way. I don’t believe that I have any skills of my own. Anything I do, I do because Christ put the ability inside of me. I am simply a messenger that is privileged to share the good news of this wonderful message; the only message that has the power to change people from the inside out. It changed me and gave me the peace that I have so desperately sought all my life.
What is your race? Have you found it or are you still searching? If you are still on the hunt for your mission why not give your life to Jesus Christ? Once you become part of God’s family, you automatically inherit a part of the Great Commission. A task that requires that the hand of all believers in Jesus Christ; a mission greater than any personal mission that you might have; a mission that brings you peace and joy and brings hope to all that it touches.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Hold On Tight to Your Dreams
Keep your heart open to dreams. For as long as there's a dream, there is hope, and as long as there is hope, there is joy in living. - Anonymous
We all have something deep down inside of us that keep us going and keep us alive. But sometimes the trials of life can put us in a position where we are settling for lesser and lesser in our lives. Life can throw us lemons that allow us to let go of goals and desires we once passionately believed in. As years go by and what we are seeing in reality differs greatly from what we once saw in our dreams, we start to lose faith and hope. Slowly but surely, we start to give up and we refuse to fight any longer mainly because we just don’t have the strength anymore to persevere. We gradually start to adapt and endure a life without hope and without the dreams we once had.
Unfortunately, there is only one life. There is no duplicate and there will not be another round. If we have chosen to abandon all the dreams that God has placed in our hearts we must ask ourselves why? Why have we suddenly decided that were we are has determined where we will always be? What has led us to think that it is over for us? Why have we decided that it is ok to no longer fight for the very things that defined us and gave us a reason to live?
God never takes our dreams away. He may refine it as he guides us through making them a reality but our dreams are ours to own and to manifest. Faith is often the most essential ingredient that allows us to hold on to the chance that we can ever reconcile what we see in our dreams to the reality that we live in. Strength comes in as a close second. Faith and strength can only come from God. God is eager to guide us and move us into new dimensions in our lives but we must break free from the addiction we have now developed to the status quo. We must make a decision that what we see right now is not enough.
Hold on tight to your dreams. We all have a chance at a better life – a life that will make an impact in this world. A life that reminds the world that we were once here.
We all have something deep down inside of us that keep us going and keep us alive. But sometimes the trials of life can put us in a position where we are settling for lesser and lesser in our lives. Life can throw us lemons that allow us to let go of goals and desires we once passionately believed in. As years go by and what we are seeing in reality differs greatly from what we once saw in our dreams, we start to lose faith and hope. Slowly but surely, we start to give up and we refuse to fight any longer mainly because we just don’t have the strength anymore to persevere. We gradually start to adapt and endure a life without hope and without the dreams we once had.
Unfortunately, there is only one life. There is no duplicate and there will not be another round. If we have chosen to abandon all the dreams that God has placed in our hearts we must ask ourselves why? Why have we suddenly decided that were we are has determined where we will always be? What has led us to think that it is over for us? Why have we decided that it is ok to no longer fight for the very things that defined us and gave us a reason to live?
God never takes our dreams away. He may refine it as he guides us through making them a reality but our dreams are ours to own and to manifest. Faith is often the most essential ingredient that allows us to hold on to the chance that we can ever reconcile what we see in our dreams to the reality that we live in. Strength comes in as a close second. Faith and strength can only come from God. God is eager to guide us and move us into new dimensions in our lives but we must break free from the addiction we have now developed to the status quo. We must make a decision that what we see right now is not enough.
Hold on tight to your dreams. We all have a chance at a better life – a life that will make an impact in this world. A life that reminds the world that we were once here.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Testify
Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” – Acts 4:18-20
I can safely say that when God touches your life, it is impossible to keep the good news to yourself. You develop a strong desire to share the free gift that you have received with anyone who will listen. God changes people and circumstances. I used to think that knowing God was optional and that if things are working out for you, why bother? But now I cannot imagine a life without God. Life for me will be impossible to handle without knowing that I have the Lord on my side. There are many dark tunnels in life that one cannot come out of without God.
Growing up, preaching the gospel wasn’t the “cool” thing to do. Most people who went around with a Bible when I was in college were labeled as freaks. The only friends they had were folks who carried Bibles around just like them. They didn’t go to all night parties or used bad language. They did not smoke or drink. They simply taught the Word of God. Now I have an appreciation for how they felt. They were passionate about what they believed. The fact that they encountered opposition and disdain did not dampen the desire they felt in their hearts to spread the word of God.
Encountering God cannot leave you unchanged. A real meeting with God cannot have you living a “business-as-usual” life. Something inside you comes alive – like a light switch has just been flipped. Will I carry my Bible around now if I needed to? Sure. But technology has provided other means to reach a lot of people quicker and faster – the Internet. I am grateful that I can testify about the faithfulness and goodness of God without reservation through this medium. God has been good to me. He gave me a lifeline; kind of like a second chance when it seemed no-one else wanted to, I pray that He continues to give me the strength to testify on His behalf. I pray that he would move me gradually into the destiny that he has for me as a disciple of his word.
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ and you haven’t begun to testify about God and what he has done and accomplished in your life, start today. No-one knows how long they have on this earth. We may be meeting Jesus face-to-face sooner than we think.
I can safely say that when God touches your life, it is impossible to keep the good news to yourself. You develop a strong desire to share the free gift that you have received with anyone who will listen. God changes people and circumstances. I used to think that knowing God was optional and that if things are working out for you, why bother? But now I cannot imagine a life without God. Life for me will be impossible to handle without knowing that I have the Lord on my side. There are many dark tunnels in life that one cannot come out of without God.
Growing up, preaching the gospel wasn’t the “cool” thing to do. Most people who went around with a Bible when I was in college were labeled as freaks. The only friends they had were folks who carried Bibles around just like them. They didn’t go to all night parties or used bad language. They did not smoke or drink. They simply taught the Word of God. Now I have an appreciation for how they felt. They were passionate about what they believed. The fact that they encountered opposition and disdain did not dampen the desire they felt in their hearts to spread the word of God.
Encountering God cannot leave you unchanged. A real meeting with God cannot have you living a “business-as-usual” life. Something inside you comes alive – like a light switch has just been flipped. Will I carry my Bible around now if I needed to? Sure. But technology has provided other means to reach a lot of people quicker and faster – the Internet. I am grateful that I can testify about the faithfulness and goodness of God without reservation through this medium. God has been good to me. He gave me a lifeline; kind of like a second chance when it seemed no-one else wanted to, I pray that He continues to give me the strength to testify on His behalf. I pray that he would move me gradually into the destiny that he has for me as a disciple of his word.
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ and you haven’t begun to testify about God and what he has done and accomplished in your life, start today. No-one knows how long they have on this earth. We may be meeting Jesus face-to-face sooner than we think.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
He’s Always There
“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:6-9
When we face what seems like insurmountable challenges in life, we tend to feel down and discouraged. Believe me; I understand that there are some circumstances that seem impossible to overcome. The troubles appear large and there seems to be no way out and no relief. Just like Goliath must have looked compared to David. Everyone that could help out and show compassion has left the scene of destruction and move on to happier cities. Let’s face it, when catastrophe strikes, only few are left behind to help gather the pieces. The crowd that gathered before the battle began; the spectators that were edging us on to fight the battle of our lives fail to hang around to help us get back on our feet. We suddenly look around and only God remains to see us through. But we must always remember that God is greater than any issue, circumstance or problem that we might face in life.
Discouragement is easy; giving up requires very little but God has promised that he will be with us wherever we go and that we should not be afraid. If God is for us, it doesn’t really matter the multitude that rises up against us. So if you are in despair today because of your walk with God, remain steadfast and God will see you through whatever it may be that you are confronting. No issue or problem lasts forever; it will surely come to pass. Or maybe you put yourself in a position that has created problems for you, repent of your errors and move ahead with God. Life is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. We all make mistakes and so long as you can receive God’s forgiveness and forgive yourself, you can start anew.
God is always there for us. He is our guiding light even when we are lost in the dark and cannot find our way. He sticks with us through thick and thin – even when we are going our own way, his hand is still upon our lives. It’s not about having a great faith in God, it’s about having faith in a great God.
When we face what seems like insurmountable challenges in life, we tend to feel down and discouraged. Believe me; I understand that there are some circumstances that seem impossible to overcome. The troubles appear large and there seems to be no way out and no relief. Just like Goliath must have looked compared to David. Everyone that could help out and show compassion has left the scene of destruction and move on to happier cities. Let’s face it, when catastrophe strikes, only few are left behind to help gather the pieces. The crowd that gathered before the battle began; the spectators that were edging us on to fight the battle of our lives fail to hang around to help us get back on our feet. We suddenly look around and only God remains to see us through. But we must always remember that God is greater than any issue, circumstance or problem that we might face in life.
Discouragement is easy; giving up requires very little but God has promised that he will be with us wherever we go and that we should not be afraid. If God is for us, it doesn’t really matter the multitude that rises up against us. So if you are in despair today because of your walk with God, remain steadfast and God will see you through whatever it may be that you are confronting. No issue or problem lasts forever; it will surely come to pass. Or maybe you put yourself in a position that has created problems for you, repent of your errors and move ahead with God. Life is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. We all make mistakes and so long as you can receive God’s forgiveness and forgive yourself, you can start anew.
God is always there for us. He is our guiding light even when we are lost in the dark and cannot find our way. He sticks with us through thick and thin – even when we are going our own way, his hand is still upon our lives. It’s not about having a great faith in God, it’s about having faith in a great God.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Know God’s Word
“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:6-9
It is virtually impossible to live by knowledge that you do not possess. But the truth is to be truly successful in God’s economy; we must study and live by his word. One of the most important directions given by God to all believers is to spread the gospel but how can we do that effectively if we do not know the gospel upon which we claim that we believe? How do we speak to others about Christ if we are ignorant of the word and how it has applied and continues to apply in our lives and in the world we live in? How would you know for certain that what you are saying to others is theologically correct if you do not know and understand the gospel that you preach?
Knowing and understanding the Word of God is very important to all believers. The Bible says in Romans 10:14 and 15 - How, then can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But how can we preach or be sent if we do not know the word of the one who sent us?
It is easy to be a person of action when you know. I have heard that a knowing person is a doing person. Lack of knowledge is causing a lot of us believers to live mediocre lives. When we receive the gift of salvation, it is important that we continue to grow and develop in knowledge. If we do not do so, we will be saved but the quality of our lives will be no better than those that do not have any knowledge of God. The word of God is living, sharper than any double edged sword and it teaches us how to live our lives on a daily basis.
It is virtually impossible to live by knowledge that you do not possess. But the truth is to be truly successful in God’s economy; we must study and live by his word. One of the most important directions given by God to all believers is to spread the gospel but how can we do that effectively if we do not know the gospel upon which we claim that we believe? How do we speak to others about Christ if we are ignorant of the word and how it has applied and continues to apply in our lives and in the world we live in? How would you know for certain that what you are saying to others is theologically correct if you do not know and understand the gospel that you preach?
Knowing and understanding the Word of God is very important to all believers. The Bible says in Romans 10:14 and 15 - How, then can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But how can we preach or be sent if we do not know the word of the one who sent us?
It is easy to be a person of action when you know. I have heard that a knowing person is a doing person. Lack of knowledge is causing a lot of us believers to live mediocre lives. When we receive the gift of salvation, it is important that we continue to grow and develop in knowledge. If we do not do so, we will be saved but the quality of our lives will be no better than those that do not have any knowledge of God. The word of God is living, sharper than any double edged sword and it teaches us how to live our lives on a daily basis.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Remain Obedient and Faithful
“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:6-9
To be of any value in the Kingdom of God, we must be careful to remain obedient to God. We cannot be of any real lasting use if we are living a sinful life. We may appear to the outside world in a way that displays effectiveness for God but God’s ways are not our ways and he judges based on the heart. If we are to be effective in God’s Kingdom, we must understand what he requires of us and refuse to deviate from that knowledge. Even when others may see our choices as foolish and non-progressive, we must stay faithful to the commandments of God.
If we choose to by-pass God and do things in our own flesh to satisfy our canal desires, God will allow us to go our own way. The only downside to this kind of decision-making is that sooner or later, we will realize that we are wrong but we would have spent a considerable amount of time wandering around in a wilderness we were never meant to be in to begin with. When the scripture above says that we should not turn from what God has commanded - to the right or to the left, it means that we must stay on course and not be distracted by the pleasures of life. Most of the time, doing what is right in the sight of God does not always feel good.
A life that is directed by feelings is not often a productive life. Feelings create a disoriented and haphazard path that has no lasting nor eternal gain. The word of God should be what we remain faithful and obedient to as feelings cannot be trusted. God’s word remains the same yesterday, today and forever more whereas feeling always change and fluctuate based on circumstances. All our decisions should be measured against the Word of God and his word only. To be truly successful for the Kingdom of God, all our decisions must be based on God’s requirements and standards for our lives.
To be of any value in the Kingdom of God, we must be careful to remain obedient to God. We cannot be of any real lasting use if we are living a sinful life. We may appear to the outside world in a way that displays effectiveness for God but God’s ways are not our ways and he judges based on the heart. If we are to be effective in God’s Kingdom, we must understand what he requires of us and refuse to deviate from that knowledge. Even when others may see our choices as foolish and non-progressive, we must stay faithful to the commandments of God.
If we choose to by-pass God and do things in our own flesh to satisfy our canal desires, God will allow us to go our own way. The only downside to this kind of decision-making is that sooner or later, we will realize that we are wrong but we would have spent a considerable amount of time wandering around in a wilderness we were never meant to be in to begin with. When the scripture above says that we should not turn from what God has commanded - to the right or to the left, it means that we must stay on course and not be distracted by the pleasures of life. Most of the time, doing what is right in the sight of God does not always feel good.
A life that is directed by feelings is not often a productive life. Feelings create a disoriented and haphazard path that has no lasting nor eternal gain. The word of God should be what we remain faithful and obedient to as feelings cannot be trusted. God’s word remains the same yesterday, today and forever more whereas feeling always change and fluctuate based on circumstances. All our decisions should be measured against the Word of God and his word only. To be truly successful for the Kingdom of God, all our decisions must be based on God’s requirements and standards for our lives.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Accept Your Weakness
“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:6-9
I never knew that accepting one’s weakness is actually a sign of strength. Sometimes we want to show the world that we are strong and nothing hurts us but we all feel pain and we are all weak in some way or another. The only true strength comes from God. I remember how I felt when I discovered that I would have to bring up my two daughters on my own. I was first afraid and cried out to God because I realized that I was weak and could never accomplish the task on my own. It was only when I truly accepted my own weakness that I could be used of God.
God uses people who know and accept that they are weak. No-one will ever be too small to be used of God – only too big! God is the only one who can give us the courage we need to win the real battles of this realm. I am not talking now about wealth or material stuff; I am talking about the battles that rage in the mind. The things that hold us captive that no-one can see. When we accept our weakness, we are able to humble ourselves before God. 1 Peter 5:6-7 says “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you”.
If you have the attitude that you can go it alone without God, you become a tool that’s impossible to use. God may have to bring you down through circumstances so that you can accept that your personal strength is no strength at all. You may even have to re-learn the same lessons over and over again because you refuse to submit to God’s authority. Our weakness does not make us doormats or wimps – far from it. God’s perfect strength is displayed for his glory in our weakness.
I never knew that accepting one’s weakness is actually a sign of strength. Sometimes we want to show the world that we are strong and nothing hurts us but we all feel pain and we are all weak in some way or another. The only true strength comes from God. I remember how I felt when I discovered that I would have to bring up my two daughters on my own. I was first afraid and cried out to God because I realized that I was weak and could never accomplish the task on my own. It was only when I truly accepted my own weakness that I could be used of God.
God uses people who know and accept that they are weak. No-one will ever be too small to be used of God – only too big! God is the only one who can give us the courage we need to win the real battles of this realm. I am not talking now about wealth or material stuff; I am talking about the battles that rage in the mind. The things that hold us captive that no-one can see. When we accept our weakness, we are able to humble ourselves before God. 1 Peter 5:6-7 says “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you”.
If you have the attitude that you can go it alone without God, you become a tool that’s impossible to use. God may have to bring you down through circumstances so that you can accept that your personal strength is no strength at all. You may even have to re-learn the same lessons over and over again because you refuse to submit to God’s authority. Our weakness does not make us doormats or wimps – far from it. God’s perfect strength is displayed for his glory in our weakness.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
God is Faithful
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love for a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. – Deuteronomy 7:9
Knowing God is a very personal thing. The strength of any relationship is based on trust and the situations that have been experienced. While walking with God I have experienced a lot of different circumstances – some good and some bad. But I have since understood that the “bad” was allowed so that the “good” might increase. When the bad things happened, I was able to trust God as I could remember the good and all the not-so-good that we had been through together.
God is faithful – that’s just the kind of God that he is. He has a special place in his heart for those who struggle with life but still manage to stand firm and trust in him. In the world we live in today, the concept of social friendship far outweighs faithful friendship. A faithful friend is one that you can depend on all the time. A faithful friend is always there right by your side; ready to help and assist in your every need. Social friends on the other hand are what you would call fair weather friends. They only hang around when things are going well. As soon as life turns, they are gone – never to be seen or heard from again.
God never changes; he remains the same. Even when we lose hope in ourselves, he still believes in us. When we are down and discouraged, he is there to give us the strength to carry on. He is always there to pick us up simply because he cannot give up on himself. Giving up on us will be the same as God giving up on his own body. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, we often forget how faithful God is. When we are faced with difficult and uncertain circumstances, we feel as if God has forgotten us.
So remember that even when human nature forsakes us in our most difficult times and avoid us as if we suddenly caught a deadly virus, God has promised us in his word that he will never leave us or forsake us (Joshua 1:5 and Hebrews 13:5). If we hold on to his promises, remain in communion with him and work hard to do our part, God’s faithfulness will reveal itself to us over and over again.
Knowing God is a very personal thing. The strength of any relationship is based on trust and the situations that have been experienced. While walking with God I have experienced a lot of different circumstances – some good and some bad. But I have since understood that the “bad” was allowed so that the “good” might increase. When the bad things happened, I was able to trust God as I could remember the good and all the not-so-good that we had been through together.
God is faithful – that’s just the kind of God that he is. He has a special place in his heart for those who struggle with life but still manage to stand firm and trust in him. In the world we live in today, the concept of social friendship far outweighs faithful friendship. A faithful friend is one that you can depend on all the time. A faithful friend is always there right by your side; ready to help and assist in your every need. Social friends on the other hand are what you would call fair weather friends. They only hang around when things are going well. As soon as life turns, they are gone – never to be seen or heard from again.
God never changes; he remains the same. Even when we lose hope in ourselves, he still believes in us. When we are down and discouraged, he is there to give us the strength to carry on. He is always there to pick us up simply because he cannot give up on himself. Giving up on us will be the same as God giving up on his own body. Like the Israelites in the wilderness, we often forget how faithful God is. When we are faced with difficult and uncertain circumstances, we feel as if God has forgotten us.
So remember that even when human nature forsakes us in our most difficult times and avoid us as if we suddenly caught a deadly virus, God has promised us in his word that he will never leave us or forsake us (Joshua 1:5 and Hebrews 13:5). If we hold on to his promises, remain in communion with him and work hard to do our part, God’s faithfulness will reveal itself to us over and over again.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Deliverance by God
As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”
Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” – Exodus 14: 13-14
The Egyptians have had the luxury of using the Israelites as slaves for 400 years. They could not imagine having to the work of their land by themselves. Let’s face it – who wants to do any laborious work if you can have somebody else do it for you while you reap all the benefits? They were reluctant to let God’s people go because they enjoyed the services that the Israelites provided. So even after the devastating plague that caused the death of their first borne, they quickly got over their loss and pursued the Israelites in an effort to recapture them and bring them back as slaves.
I can imagine how afraid the Israelites must have felt when they saw the Egyptian army afar. They must have felt that there would be no way out and that they were doomed. They quickly forgot all that God did in Egypt and all that he had done in the wilderness. They definitely understood that God had set them free from Egypt but the effect that the Egyptians have had on their psyche for 400 years was still very much in place. They same applies to us when God starts to work on us. He brings us out of bad situations and we are finally emancipated from our oppressors yet the minute we feel that we are stuck in a rut, we wonder if God ever meant to deliver us in the first instance.
Total deliverance by God comes in stages. First the Lord gets us out of a bad situation then we must work with him on getting the situation out of us. God never does a partial work; His work is always complete. So even when we are facing an intermediary difficulty in our walk with God, we must always remember to say to ourselves these famous words – “He didn’t bring us this far to leave us now”. God will finish the works that he has begun in us and our deliverance will be complete – if we do our part. It’s imperative that we do not lose hope or give up at the first sign of problems. Our faith must not be plagued with doubt. We must stand firm and believe in the total deliverance that God has promised us
Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” – Exodus 14: 13-14
The Egyptians have had the luxury of using the Israelites as slaves for 400 years. They could not imagine having to the work of their land by themselves. Let’s face it – who wants to do any laborious work if you can have somebody else do it for you while you reap all the benefits? They were reluctant to let God’s people go because they enjoyed the services that the Israelites provided. So even after the devastating plague that caused the death of their first borne, they quickly got over their loss and pursued the Israelites in an effort to recapture them and bring them back as slaves.
I can imagine how afraid the Israelites must have felt when they saw the Egyptian army afar. They must have felt that there would be no way out and that they were doomed. They quickly forgot all that God did in Egypt and all that he had done in the wilderness. They definitely understood that God had set them free from Egypt but the effect that the Egyptians have had on their psyche for 400 years was still very much in place. They same applies to us when God starts to work on us. He brings us out of bad situations and we are finally emancipated from our oppressors yet the minute we feel that we are stuck in a rut, we wonder if God ever meant to deliver us in the first instance.
Total deliverance by God comes in stages. First the Lord gets us out of a bad situation then we must work with him on getting the situation out of us. God never does a partial work; His work is always complete. So even when we are facing an intermediary difficulty in our walk with God, we must always remember to say to ourselves these famous words – “He didn’t bring us this far to leave us now”. God will finish the works that he has begun in us and our deliverance will be complete – if we do our part. It’s imperative that we do not lose hope or give up at the first sign of problems. Our faith must not be plagued with doubt. We must stand firm and believe in the total deliverance that God has promised us
Friday, May 9, 2008
Be a Laborer for Jesus Christ
“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. – Luke 10:1-3
The Great Commission has been given to us all. We all have a part in the task of spreading the Gospel. It is our ultimate assignment. Preachers preach at the pulpit but all of us are responsible for spreading the message one on one. God reaches people through people. Ultimately, God calls his workers. But through me, I can try to reach everyone in my family and around me who does not believe. God is very concerned about the people of the world who are lost. Every time a soul comes to Christ, the heavens rejoice.
To be an effective laborer for Christ, we must know the gospel. That is our most important weapon – the word of God. We also need to have a testimony. We must be ready to share our story about how we came to know Jesus Christ. If we can open up and be truly honest with people, we may be surprised at how many we can reach. Once our part is done, we leave the rest to God. God holds the power to change people’s hearts as he has the mind of everyone in his hand. We just need to know our message of hope and trust the Lord to turn our words into words of wisdom.
The Great Commission has been given to us all. We all have a part in the task of spreading the Gospel. It is our ultimate assignment. Preachers preach at the pulpit but all of us are responsible for spreading the message one on one. God reaches people through people. Ultimately, God calls his workers. But through me, I can try to reach everyone in my family and around me who does not believe. God is very concerned about the people of the world who are lost. Every time a soul comes to Christ, the heavens rejoice.
To be an effective laborer for Christ, we must know the gospel. That is our most important weapon – the word of God. We also need to have a testimony. We must be ready to share our story about how we came to know Jesus Christ. If we can open up and be truly honest with people, we may be surprised at how many we can reach. Once our part is done, we leave the rest to God. God holds the power to change people’s hearts as he has the mind of everyone in his hand. We just need to know our message of hope and trust the Lord to turn our words into words of wisdom.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Some Characteristics of a Servant of God
1. Warn them before God against quarrelling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. – 2 Timothy 2:14
As servants of God, it is important that we do not quarrel over trivial things such as the words spoken by another person. It has absolutely no value. We know what God says about us and that’s all that matters. Besides when we are arguing or gossiping, it kills our testimony.
2. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. – 2 Timothy 2:15
Our knowledge of the Word of God must be accurate. It may not be complete but the little that we know must be correct. We must always study and do our best to live by God’s word. Teachers of the word are held to a higher level of accountability. Our authority and confidence comes from the Word of God.
3. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. – 2 Timothy 2:16
It is important that we learn to stay quiet sometimes. We must be quick to listen and slow to speak. Talking about “stuff” that has nothing to do with pleasing the Lord is really irrelevant. Godless chatter – once it begins only leads us down the wrong path. Whatever we say as servants of God must be edifying.
4. Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness. – 2 Timothy 2:19
And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to knowledge of the truth and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
5. In a large house there are articles not only gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. – 2 Timothy 2:20-21
We must rid ourselves of all manners of immorality. God uses people who set themselves apart. We must do all we can to sanctify ourselves and live a holy life. Un-confessed sin hinders the work of the Holy Spirit through us. God is not looking for perfection – no. He just wants us to separate ourselves from all things that is not of him. God cannot use us if we persist in godless behavior.
6. Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart. – 2 Timothy 2:22
The fruits of the Spirit must be pursued by servants of God. As we spend more time in his word, we start to think like him and live like him. We will never be like him that’s a fact. Jesus was a 100% - the best we can hope for is about 80%. Nevertheless, we must continue to pursue holiness as a way of life. When we do that, we approach God in prayer with a clean heart. We can better pray for ourselves and make intercession for others.
7. And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. – 2 Timothy 2:24-26
As servants of the Lord, we must desist from quarrelling. Even though it may be difficult, we must do all we can to be kind to people even when they persecute us. How else do we display the grace of God? When people oppose us and all that we represent, we must not display hostility. Instead we stand in prayer for them and hope God will get to them. We do not have the power to change anyone only God can. We must remember that people opposed the message of Jesus Christ – they crucified him. Often time people are afraid of things they do not understand. We should let our lives shine so people will be attracted to the God in us.
As servants of God, it is important that we do not quarrel over trivial things such as the words spoken by another person. It has absolutely no value. We know what God says about us and that’s all that matters. Besides when we are arguing or gossiping, it kills our testimony.
2. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. – 2 Timothy 2:15
Our knowledge of the Word of God must be accurate. It may not be complete but the little that we know must be correct. We must always study and do our best to live by God’s word. Teachers of the word are held to a higher level of accountability. Our authority and confidence comes from the Word of God.
3. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. – 2 Timothy 2:16
It is important that we learn to stay quiet sometimes. We must be quick to listen and slow to speak. Talking about “stuff” that has nothing to do with pleasing the Lord is really irrelevant. Godless chatter – once it begins only leads us down the wrong path. Whatever we say as servants of God must be edifying.
4. Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness. – 2 Timothy 2:19
And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to knowledge of the truth and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
5. In a large house there are articles not only gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. – 2 Timothy 2:20-21
We must rid ourselves of all manners of immorality. God uses people who set themselves apart. We must do all we can to sanctify ourselves and live a holy life. Un-confessed sin hinders the work of the Holy Spirit through us. God is not looking for perfection – no. He just wants us to separate ourselves from all things that is not of him. God cannot use us if we persist in godless behavior.
6. Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart. – 2 Timothy 2:22
The fruits of the Spirit must be pursued by servants of God. As we spend more time in his word, we start to think like him and live like him. We will never be like him that’s a fact. Jesus was a 100% - the best we can hope for is about 80%. Nevertheless, we must continue to pursue holiness as a way of life. When we do that, we approach God in prayer with a clean heart. We can better pray for ourselves and make intercession for others.
7. And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. – 2 Timothy 2:24-26
As servants of the Lord, we must desist from quarrelling. Even though it may be difficult, we must do all we can to be kind to people even when they persecute us. How else do we display the grace of God? When people oppose us and all that we represent, we must not display hostility. Instead we stand in prayer for them and hope God will get to them. We do not have the power to change anyone only God can. We must remember that people opposed the message of Jesus Christ – they crucified him. Often time people are afraid of things they do not understand. We should let our lives shine so people will be attracted to the God in us.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
All The Glory Belongs to God
So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.
Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. – 2 Kings 5:11-14
Naaman was an important man – he was the commander of the army of the king of Aram. His boss regarded him as a great man because he had been used by God to bring victory to Aram. Bu even though he was a respected soldier, he suffered from Leprosy. Leprosy was not a good thing. Lepers were ashamed and ridiculed by others. Underneath Naaman’s expensive robes, hid the skin of a leper.
When Naaman arrived at Elisha’s house, the Prophet Elisha did not even come out to speak to Naaman in person. You would have thought that when someone as important as Naaman was shows up at a prophet’s doorstep, the prophet will have wanted to catch a glimpse of this important soldier but Elisha sent a messenger to speak to this man that was obviously very arrogant instead! Elisha must have sought God for an answer for Naaman and he gave Naaman the exact information he had received from the Lord. What would you have done? Would you have delivered the message in person or would you have adhered strictly to God’s instructions?
If God had told Elisha to touch Naaman, he would have done just that. But God wanted Naaman to go to a completely different location to receive his healing. That way there will be no confusion as to where his healing came from. Elisha did not want any credit for Naaman’s healing. He understood that God is the only one who heals – he was simply a tool to pass on the solution to the problem. Naaman later came back to give glory to the God of Israel. He accepted that there is no other god in the world like the God of the Israelites. He even tried to offer gifts for his healing but Elisha refused to accept anything from him.
We should never forget to give glory to God for all that he has done for us. We must understand that any good that comes out of us is because of the God in whom we have faith – we can take credit for nothing.
Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. – 2 Kings 5:11-14
Naaman was an important man – he was the commander of the army of the king of Aram. His boss regarded him as a great man because he had been used by God to bring victory to Aram. Bu even though he was a respected soldier, he suffered from Leprosy. Leprosy was not a good thing. Lepers were ashamed and ridiculed by others. Underneath Naaman’s expensive robes, hid the skin of a leper.
When Naaman arrived at Elisha’s house, the Prophet Elisha did not even come out to speak to Naaman in person. You would have thought that when someone as important as Naaman was shows up at a prophet’s doorstep, the prophet will have wanted to catch a glimpse of this important soldier but Elisha sent a messenger to speak to this man that was obviously very arrogant instead! Elisha must have sought God for an answer for Naaman and he gave Naaman the exact information he had received from the Lord. What would you have done? Would you have delivered the message in person or would you have adhered strictly to God’s instructions?
If God had told Elisha to touch Naaman, he would have done just that. But God wanted Naaman to go to a completely different location to receive his healing. That way there will be no confusion as to where his healing came from. Elisha did not want any credit for Naaman’s healing. He understood that God is the only one who heals – he was simply a tool to pass on the solution to the problem. Naaman later came back to give glory to the God of Israel. He accepted that there is no other god in the world like the God of the Israelites. He even tried to offer gifts for his healing but Elisha refused to accept anything from him.
We should never forget to give glory to God for all that he has done for us. We must understand that any good that comes out of us is because of the God in whom we have faith – we can take credit for nothing.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Move Into Your Promise Land
But he brought us out from here to bring us in and give us the land that he promised on oath to our forefathers. – Deuteronomy 6:23
The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt for 400 years and God delivered them out of slavery. He didn’t deliver them so that they could wander around in the wilderness. He brought them out so that he could bring them into the Promise Land just as he had promised Abraham. In the same way, when God delivers us from “Egypt” – (whatever your “Egypt” is), he does it for a reason. He wants to take us into the Promise Land, the same way he promised our forefathers. But unfortunately even when God is successful at getting us out of “Egypt”, he has a difficult time getting “Egypt” out of us.
We are saved because we have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior but we are still bound by the things from our past. We believe in God but we are still living in bondage instead of experiencing a life of power and victory. Instead of accepting our salvation and taking steps to renew our minds with the Word of God, we stay in the wilderness mentally. Because of unbelief, we decide to stay where we are; where we feel safe.
Sadly many Christians leave “Egypt” but they never quite make it out of the wilderness. A lot of Israelites died in the wilderness – they never saw the Promise Land. To us as New Testament believers, the wilderness is our minds. If we do not go through transformation when we are saved, we will be accepted into heaven when we die but our lives on earth will be no better than that of an unbeliever. We will attend church, serve in the church and even preach the gospel while we are still bound.
God brought us out so he could bring us into his promises for us. If we were going to remain in the wilderness, why bother?
The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt for 400 years and God delivered them out of slavery. He didn’t deliver them so that they could wander around in the wilderness. He brought them out so that he could bring them into the Promise Land just as he had promised Abraham. In the same way, when God delivers us from “Egypt” – (whatever your “Egypt” is), he does it for a reason. He wants to take us into the Promise Land, the same way he promised our forefathers. But unfortunately even when God is successful at getting us out of “Egypt”, he has a difficult time getting “Egypt” out of us.
We are saved because we have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior but we are still bound by the things from our past. We believe in God but we are still living in bondage instead of experiencing a life of power and victory. Instead of accepting our salvation and taking steps to renew our minds with the Word of God, we stay in the wilderness mentally. Because of unbelief, we decide to stay where we are; where we feel safe.
Sadly many Christians leave “Egypt” but they never quite make it out of the wilderness. A lot of Israelites died in the wilderness – they never saw the Promise Land. To us as New Testament believers, the wilderness is our minds. If we do not go through transformation when we are saved, we will be accepted into heaven when we die but our lives on earth will be no better than that of an unbeliever. We will attend church, serve in the church and even preach the gospel while we are still bound.
God brought us out so he could bring us into his promises for us. If we were going to remain in the wilderness, why bother?
Monday, May 5, 2008
A Chance to Escape
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for am I gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30
God does not want us to live a defeated and dysfunctional life. He wants us to live an abundant life. This invitation is open to all and no-one that comes to the Father will be turned away. In my case, I finally saw an opportunity to escape and I took it. I was weary and I was tired. I was living a meaningless life and I desperately need answers to the various issues of life. I felt drained – I felt as if I had nothing else give – nothing to offer the world. It took time for me to accept that I am weak and that I need a Savior. Since I surrendered my life to God, I have finally moved into the next phase of my life – the best phase. Life as I experience it now is completely different than it was before. Finally I know who am I and to whom I belong. I finally found peace; I am home at last.
Still, it hurts to see the pain of others as they muddle through life making one devastating decision after another. It sometimes seems as if people are deliberately trying to ruin their own lives but study has allowed me to learn that they simply do not know any better. Often when you know better, you will do better. Sadly, most are relying on their own strength to live in the world of today. They muddle through life, figuring it out as they go along.
Jesus Christ gives us a chance to escape. He is calling you just like he called me. Don’t spend another minute in ignorance. Make a decision to move out of where you are now into where God will have you be. If your friends are worse off than you are, change your environment and make new friends. Find people who are living right and walking with God. You will never be better than the environment and people you have surrounded yourself with. Step out in faith and God will bring new people your way. People who will lift you and stretch you so that you have a chance to be all you can be. God gives a chance to escape from the pressures of life. He makes a way in situations where there would have been no chance of a breakthrough.
God does not want us to live a defeated and dysfunctional life. He wants us to live an abundant life. This invitation is open to all and no-one that comes to the Father will be turned away. In my case, I finally saw an opportunity to escape and I took it. I was weary and I was tired. I was living a meaningless life and I desperately need answers to the various issues of life. I felt drained – I felt as if I had nothing else give – nothing to offer the world. It took time for me to accept that I am weak and that I need a Savior. Since I surrendered my life to God, I have finally moved into the next phase of my life – the best phase. Life as I experience it now is completely different than it was before. Finally I know who am I and to whom I belong. I finally found peace; I am home at last.
Still, it hurts to see the pain of others as they muddle through life making one devastating decision after another. It sometimes seems as if people are deliberately trying to ruin their own lives but study has allowed me to learn that they simply do not know any better. Often when you know better, you will do better. Sadly, most are relying on their own strength to live in the world of today. They muddle through life, figuring it out as they go along.
Jesus Christ gives us a chance to escape. He is calling you just like he called me. Don’t spend another minute in ignorance. Make a decision to move out of where you are now into where God will have you be. If your friends are worse off than you are, change your environment and make new friends. Find people who are living right and walking with God. You will never be better than the environment and people you have surrounded yourself with. Step out in faith and God will bring new people your way. People who will lift you and stretch you so that you have a chance to be all you can be. God gives a chance to escape from the pressures of life. He makes a way in situations where there would have been no chance of a breakthrough.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Choose Life
Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” – John 6:32-33
I spend time with a lot of people who aren’t Christians. Some believe in other gods and some believe in nothing at all but themselves. I do my best to explain my faith without trying to change their minds. I tell them the truth behind the gospel and let them choose what they want to believe. I reveal my faith every chance that I get; why I believe in whom that I trust with my life.
I am often met with the phrase “All you need to be is a good person”. Simply being a good person may keep you on the straight and narrow but it will not give you the eternal life we all desperately need. Being nice to others may give you good results here on earth but it will not get you into heaven. You may have a good job, a nice house, a nice car and a good family but if you look deep down inside, there is a void that only Jesus Christ can fill. Positive Thinking is often encouraged but even this does not last for a long time. It may pump us up for a minute but as soon as a difficult circumstance shows up, we are back in the dumps again. Only Jesus Christ allows us to practice Positive Living – a life where we are totally reliant on God to give us peace and joy on a daily basis via His Holy Spirit. Even if we are down over a situation, the constant feeding on the Word of God does not allow us to stay in despair for long.
Accept life and live again. Refuse to spend your life believing in yourself and what you can do. You do not have to go it alone. The journey of life is a tough one. We all know our potential as human beings and if we are honest, we know that we are not as strong and untouchable as we tend to think that we are. We all need the strength and protection of a perfect God that wants to show us His Love – a God who gave his life up and died on the Cross for the sins of the entire world. A God who does not need us to be perfect or flawless but simply to yield to his will.
I spend time with a lot of people who aren’t Christians. Some believe in other gods and some believe in nothing at all but themselves. I do my best to explain my faith without trying to change their minds. I tell them the truth behind the gospel and let them choose what they want to believe. I reveal my faith every chance that I get; why I believe in whom that I trust with my life.
I am often met with the phrase “All you need to be is a good person”. Simply being a good person may keep you on the straight and narrow but it will not give you the eternal life we all desperately need. Being nice to others may give you good results here on earth but it will not get you into heaven. You may have a good job, a nice house, a nice car and a good family but if you look deep down inside, there is a void that only Jesus Christ can fill. Positive Thinking is often encouraged but even this does not last for a long time. It may pump us up for a minute but as soon as a difficult circumstance shows up, we are back in the dumps again. Only Jesus Christ allows us to practice Positive Living – a life where we are totally reliant on God to give us peace and joy on a daily basis via His Holy Spirit. Even if we are down over a situation, the constant feeding on the Word of God does not allow us to stay in despair for long.
Accept life and live again. Refuse to spend your life believing in yourself and what you can do. You do not have to go it alone. The journey of life is a tough one. We all know our potential as human beings and if we are honest, we know that we are not as strong and untouchable as we tend to think that we are. We all need the strength and protection of a perfect God that wants to show us His Love – a God who gave his life up and died on the Cross for the sins of the entire world. A God who does not need us to be perfect or flawless but simply to yield to his will.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
What Are We Really Working For?
“Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” – John 6:27
I see folks running around – trying to make more money so they can buy a bigger house and a bigger car. They are continually striving to be bigger and better materially. They keep looking for the next promotion so that they can earn more to facilitate their love for new “stuff”. Often they will stoop low and play disgusting office politics so that they can ascend the corporate ladder quickly. Others will resort to crime in order to get rich quick.
All the material things we often stress ourselves over will do us absolutely no good in eternity. I watched as people bought 4 to 5 homes in California, hoping to make a lot of money. Others turned their homes into ATM cards and took out huge amounts of money to buy all sorts of toys. No-one could foresee what would ultimately happen to the property market. As teaser rates expired and people were faced with the reality of the country’s recession, people lost their investments one by one and were lucky to have a home to live in. Others lost the only home had and ended up in a rental property – with all their toys!
God is the only one who gives real eternal life – no amount of wealth can give us that. Misery has no bias. I’ve heard of rich people who had all they could ever want in terms of material things and still committed suicide. Material things do not bring peace and joy. The only person that can give us exactly what we are missing in this world is God. The Bible tells us to seek first the Kingdom of God and that all other things will be added unto us. God never asked us to seek a new car or a new house. When we keep God first and foremost in our lives, things begin to make sense – our lives begin to make sense.
I see folks running around – trying to make more money so they can buy a bigger house and a bigger car. They are continually striving to be bigger and better materially. They keep looking for the next promotion so that they can earn more to facilitate their love for new “stuff”. Often they will stoop low and play disgusting office politics so that they can ascend the corporate ladder quickly. Others will resort to crime in order to get rich quick.
All the material things we often stress ourselves over will do us absolutely no good in eternity. I watched as people bought 4 to 5 homes in California, hoping to make a lot of money. Others turned their homes into ATM cards and took out huge amounts of money to buy all sorts of toys. No-one could foresee what would ultimately happen to the property market. As teaser rates expired and people were faced with the reality of the country’s recession, people lost their investments one by one and were lucky to have a home to live in. Others lost the only home had and ended up in a rental property – with all their toys!
God is the only one who gives real eternal life – no amount of wealth can give us that. Misery has no bias. I’ve heard of rich people who had all they could ever want in terms of material things and still committed suicide. Material things do not bring peace and joy. The only person that can give us exactly what we are missing in this world is God. The Bible tells us to seek first the Kingdom of God and that all other things will be added unto us. God never asked us to seek a new car or a new house. When we keep God first and foremost in our lives, things begin to make sense – our lives begin to make sense.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Praying For Strength
So do not fear, for I am with your; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10
Once we embark on working on our purpose in this life, we need daily strength and wisdom from God. Nothing lasting or true will come without struggle. Most days I feel like I am on top of the world and I can do anything and on some rare occasions, I question if I am on the right track. Even with the faith that I have and the clarity of God’s vision for my life, doubt will often creep in. If truth be told, the presence of faith does not completely eradicate doubt. To make matters worse, the feeling of doubt does not walk alone! It brings with it lethargy, worry and even fear. It is during times like this that I have to remember what God is saying and go back to my notes and the things we have discussed. It is at times like this that I search to the scriptures for encouragement.
Anyone who’s ever achieved anything through faith knows that it’s one thing to have faith enough to pray for vision and get it. It’s quite another thing to stay in faith till the vision comes to reality. Reconciling what we see in our vision with what we see in the physical takes continuous faith, hard work, strength, prayer and sacrifice. It is important to have strength to stay in a position where one can constantly get refreshed by the Word of God. Straying away from God may mean that we lose focus, strength and perseverance and ultimately give up on what we once believed in.
The bigger the vision, the greater the strength that it will take to make it a reality. Today I pray for all those who have a vision but are getting weary. Don’t give up on your dreams. Keep pressing forward in faith and God will see you through.
Heavenly Father:
I thank you today for all the beautiful visions that you have placed in the hearts of your children. I thank you for clear purpose and your continued divine direction. Guide us daily as we try so earnestly to make what you have showed us in our dreams a reality. We are not pursuing this dream for our own magnification – No – everything that we are striving for is intended to bring glory to your awesome name.
Father Lord, I pray for strength in the hearts and lives of your people today. I pray for divine interventions and connections. Lord, place us in the right place at the right time. Father, move supernaturally in the lives of each and every one of your children today. Even though the world may say scornfully “There is no hope for them in God!” Father we trust in you and our hope lies in only you.
Lord, hear our prayers today. Show the world that you are indeed in us and with us as we pursue the goals and dreams that you have placed in our hearts to further your kingdom. Have your way with your faithful children, dear God.
In the Mighty Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ we pray – Amen.
Once we embark on working on our purpose in this life, we need daily strength and wisdom from God. Nothing lasting or true will come without struggle. Most days I feel like I am on top of the world and I can do anything and on some rare occasions, I question if I am on the right track. Even with the faith that I have and the clarity of God’s vision for my life, doubt will often creep in. If truth be told, the presence of faith does not completely eradicate doubt. To make matters worse, the feeling of doubt does not walk alone! It brings with it lethargy, worry and even fear. It is during times like this that I have to remember what God is saying and go back to my notes and the things we have discussed. It is at times like this that I search to the scriptures for encouragement.
Anyone who’s ever achieved anything through faith knows that it’s one thing to have faith enough to pray for vision and get it. It’s quite another thing to stay in faith till the vision comes to reality. Reconciling what we see in our vision with what we see in the physical takes continuous faith, hard work, strength, prayer and sacrifice. It is important to have strength to stay in a position where one can constantly get refreshed by the Word of God. Straying away from God may mean that we lose focus, strength and perseverance and ultimately give up on what we once believed in.
The bigger the vision, the greater the strength that it will take to make it a reality. Today I pray for all those who have a vision but are getting weary. Don’t give up on your dreams. Keep pressing forward in faith and God will see you through.
Heavenly Father:
I thank you today for all the beautiful visions that you have placed in the hearts of your children. I thank you for clear purpose and your continued divine direction. Guide us daily as we try so earnestly to make what you have showed us in our dreams a reality. We are not pursuing this dream for our own magnification – No – everything that we are striving for is intended to bring glory to your awesome name.
Father Lord, I pray for strength in the hearts and lives of your people today. I pray for divine interventions and connections. Lord, place us in the right place at the right time. Father, move supernaturally in the lives of each and every one of your children today. Even though the world may say scornfully “There is no hope for them in God!” Father we trust in you and our hope lies in only you.
Lord, hear our prayers today. Show the world that you are indeed in us and with us as we pursue the goals and dreams that you have placed in our hearts to further your kingdom. Have your way with your faithful children, dear God.
In the Mighty Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ we pray – Amen.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Safe From Harm
If you make the Most High your dwelling – even the Lord, who is my refuge – then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. – Psalm 91:9-10
A few years ago, I found myself in a situation where I was very afraid. I didn’t know what to do or where to go. Most of my fear was surrounded around my children and how I would raise them. I came across the scripture above and decided to make God my refuge and my resting place. Fear slowly became a thing of the past. I learnt how to trust God at his word in every situation and to leave my burdens of life at his feet. These days I worry for nothing. Whatever I have all belongs to God and he is definitely free to do with it as he pleases. I finally know that I am safe from harm because I rest under the shadow of the Almighty God. Others may trust in a love affair with a new flame, a new house or a new car but I trust in God and God alone. I know that he didn’t bring me this far to leave me now.
If you’ve never experienced fear, keep these scripture verses tucked away in the recesses of your mind because the time will come when you will need it. It will help for you to know that God did not give you a spirit of fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 says that God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. I have grown to know how to deal with worry or fear. As soon as I feel any feelings of worry or anxiety approaching my mind, I go to the scriptures that remind me what I am supposed to be feeling. I also have the luxury of getting on the phone and talking to a few people that I am sure can reinforce what I already know but not practicing at that very moment.
Once we become believers and the Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside of us, we have access to the Word of God in the way that is powerful. We have the uncanny ability to hear God speaking to us through his word gently reminding us of the truth that now surrounds every aspect of our lives.
A few years ago, I found myself in a situation where I was very afraid. I didn’t know what to do or where to go. Most of my fear was surrounded around my children and how I would raise them. I came across the scripture above and decided to make God my refuge and my resting place. Fear slowly became a thing of the past. I learnt how to trust God at his word in every situation and to leave my burdens of life at his feet. These days I worry for nothing. Whatever I have all belongs to God and he is definitely free to do with it as he pleases. I finally know that I am safe from harm because I rest under the shadow of the Almighty God. Others may trust in a love affair with a new flame, a new house or a new car but I trust in God and God alone. I know that he didn’t bring me this far to leave me now.
If you’ve never experienced fear, keep these scripture verses tucked away in the recesses of your mind because the time will come when you will need it. It will help for you to know that God did not give you a spirit of fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 says that God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. I have grown to know how to deal with worry or fear. As soon as I feel any feelings of worry or anxiety approaching my mind, I go to the scriptures that remind me what I am supposed to be feeling. I also have the luxury of getting on the phone and talking to a few people that I am sure can reinforce what I already know but not practicing at that very moment.
Once we become believers and the Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside of us, we have access to the Word of God in the way that is powerful. We have the uncanny ability to hear God speaking to us through his word gently reminding us of the truth that now surrounds every aspect of our lives.
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