"He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
Don't you just hate it when someone starts to tell you a story, and it goes on and on and on and ON. Don't you just want to say: "hey, just give me the Reader's Digest abridged version, cut to the chase!" What's the bottom line?
We can be like that with the Word of God. We read and study and read and study, but sometimes we just wish there was a concise summary for us to make things a little easier. If only it were that simple. There are a few passages that meet that need, such as the Greatest Commandment, the verses in Ecclesiastes, and this verse from Micah, but we still need the "amplified" Word to teach and guide us. In this verse, the Lord has given us three seemingly simple steps, but upon reflection, they are more difficult then they appear.
The verse states that God has SHOWN us what is good. He gave a picture. In the preceding verses Israel asked the Lord what it would take to please Him. And He showed them what is GOOD in His sight, so good that He REQUIRES it in our lives. First, God said "to act justly . . . " Justly is defined as "honestly and fairly". The world does not value honesty and fairness. We live in a dog-eat-dog world where anything goes to get you where you want to go. Anytime anyone acts honestly and fairly in the world's arena, they're ridiculed, shamed, they lose, so why bother. We serve a God who is just, and we expect Him to treat us honestly and fairly. In fact, we boast about our "just God." If we expect it of Him, who are we to think we cannot do likewise.
". . . to love mercy . . . " What a nice phrase. I love mercy, don't you? "To love" is defined as "to have a profound tenderness for" something or someone. "Mercy" defined is "compassion for an offender or enemy." So, to love mercy means "to have profoundly tender compassion for an offender or enemy." Oucheeeeeeeee!!!! That puts a spin on things we might not want to do. It's hard enough being merciful to someone we like, but to do that to someone who has hurt me, who is an enemy, well, that's asking a bit much, don'tcha think? But God says "this is good, I require it of you."
And lastly, we are ". . . to walk humbly with our God." Humbly, not proud or arrogant. Well, that's easy, I can do that. I'm not proud or arrogant. Easy enough. But Saints, if we refuse to engage in justice and mercy, we cannot possibly walk humbly with God. When we refuse to be obedient to what God requires, we are saying that it's beneath us. We're too proud to stoop to anything so low. "I'll never show mercy to them after what they've done to me; they deserve everything they get!" "oh, it's only a couple of pennies, who's going to miss them?" Honesty. "It's not fair you let them in line ahead of you. I was here first." Oh well, life's not fair. There is absolutely no way we can walk without pride or arrogance unless we walk in obedience to EVERYTHING. And in the order laid down by God.
Such a seemingly simple verse, but oh, the difficulty in compliance. No wonder people don't want to study the Scriptures. It calls us to accountability and obedience, things the "old man nature" rails against. But with God, ALL things are possible, Saints.
How are you doing with the requirements of God?
"Father God, forgive me. I am weak and I fail so often. The more I study the less I know. Impress on me your requirements, Father, and give me a willing spirit to be fully obedient. My heart desires to do your will in all things, but my flesh is so weak. Strengthen me with your Holy Spirit, that I might walk in all Your ways, bringing glory and honor to Your Name. I ask this in Jesus. Amen."
Supporting Scriptures:
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
1 Kings 2:3
Prov 16:5,7,18-19
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Matt 18:21-35
Romans 2:6
James 2:13
Jude 1:22
Acts 4:18-20 - Who's your daddy?
" . . . Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather then God . . . "
This morning I watched a video on YouTube about the Dearborn, MI police arresting a group of Christians for passing out the Gospel of John tracts to Muslims. During this event, there was a man standing a small distance away taking a video, but having no part in the tract handout. He was also arrested for taking a video in a public place. Clearly, a flagrant disregard of the 1st and 4th Amendments.
Committed Christians in America are becoming more and more targets of attack in every arena. Every ungodly religion in the world is upheld and promoted but the truth of Jesus Christ and His Christian followers is despised and trampled on. Apparently we think nothing of violating the legal rights of our own citizens, while upholding the non-legal rights of aliens. Should we be surprised? Absolutely not!!
Paul and John were arrested for doing exactly the same thing in Roman territory, and Paul was a Roman citizen!!! Praise God! We stand in good company. Once again, there is nothing new under the sun. Jesus told us this would happen, but not to worry. Just keep digging in. Stand your ground. Be overcomers. The battle is the Lord's, He is in complete control. Sometimes that thought gets away from us, but we need to hold on to it. Almighty God is in control.
The days are coming, Saints, when Christianity will be declared a crime in America. It already is in some other countries. Satan and his hordes are working non-stop to destroy the faith in Jesus Christ. His one and only passion is to destroy the committed Christian. I have a quote which is a great support for me as I read, study and try to live Scripture: "My love of God must become greater then my fear of man." Daily I pray for the Holy Spirit to make it so.
2 Chronicles 20 is, I think, my most favorite chapter in all the Bible. It is to me the most complete picture of spiritual warfare in the entire Bible. Everything Jehoshaphat did in the natural I must do in the spirit to fight the powers of darkness. It is an incredible study. It is an even more incredible way of life.
Who's your daddy? Who do you follow? Who are you allowing to control your thoughts, words and deeds? Whose kingdom are you promoting? With whom will you spend eternity? ". . . then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." The way we live shows others the strength of our commitment to serving God. What are others seeing?
"Precious Lord Jesus, I acknowledge you as my Savior and Master. I want the world to know that I live and breathe because of you. Change my heart, O God, and create in me a right spirit. Strengthen me, gird me up with your Holy Spirit, that I will never be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, that I will be filled with holy boldness to proclaim my faith, regardless of the consequences. My life is in your hands. Bless those who curse you. I pray in my Savior's Name. Amen."
Supporting Scriptures:
Acts 4
Matt 10:32-33
John 8:44
2 Tim 3:1]
2 Peter 3:3
Jude 1:18
Acts 5:27-32
John 16:33
http://www.answeringmuslims.com/
This morning I watched a video on YouTube about the Dearborn, MI police arresting a group of Christians for passing out the Gospel of John tracts to Muslims. During this event, there was a man standing a small distance away taking a video, but having no part in the tract handout. He was also arrested for taking a video in a public place. Clearly, a flagrant disregard of the 1st and 4th Amendments.
Committed Christians in America are becoming more and more targets of attack in every arena. Every ungodly religion in the world is upheld and promoted but the truth of Jesus Christ and His Christian followers is despised and trampled on. Apparently we think nothing of violating the legal rights of our own citizens, while upholding the non-legal rights of aliens. Should we be surprised? Absolutely not!!
Paul and John were arrested for doing exactly the same thing in Roman territory, and Paul was a Roman citizen!!! Praise God! We stand in good company. Once again, there is nothing new under the sun. Jesus told us this would happen, but not to worry. Just keep digging in. Stand your ground. Be overcomers. The battle is the Lord's, He is in complete control. Sometimes that thought gets away from us, but we need to hold on to it. Almighty God is in control.
The days are coming, Saints, when Christianity will be declared a crime in America. It already is in some other countries. Satan and his hordes are working non-stop to destroy the faith in Jesus Christ. His one and only passion is to destroy the committed Christian. I have a quote which is a great support for me as I read, study and try to live Scripture: "My love of God must become greater then my fear of man." Daily I pray for the Holy Spirit to make it so.
2 Chronicles 20 is, I think, my most favorite chapter in all the Bible. It is to me the most complete picture of spiritual warfare in the entire Bible. Everything Jehoshaphat did in the natural I must do in the spirit to fight the powers of darkness. It is an incredible study. It is an even more incredible way of life.
Who's your daddy? Who do you follow? Who are you allowing to control your thoughts, words and deeds? Whose kingdom are you promoting? With whom will you spend eternity? ". . . then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." The way we live shows others the strength of our commitment to serving God. What are others seeing?
"Precious Lord Jesus, I acknowledge you as my Savior and Master. I want the world to know that I live and breathe because of you. Change my heart, O God, and create in me a right spirit. Strengthen me, gird me up with your Holy Spirit, that I will never be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, that I will be filled with holy boldness to proclaim my faith, regardless of the consequences. My life is in your hands. Bless those who curse you. I pray in my Savior's Name. Amen."
Supporting Scriptures:
Acts 4
Matt 10:32-33
John 8:44
2 Tim 3:1]
2 Peter 3:3
Jude 1:18
Acts 5:27-32
John 16:33
http://www.answeringmuslims.com/
Isaiah 6:1 - Pomp and Circumstance
"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple."
People of means have always made a point of portraying their importance in one way or another. People of culture will never announce their importance, but you will certainly know it by any number of ways. They throw their weight around in subtle ways, and sometimes no-so-subtle ways.
The princess of Sweden was recently married, and her wedding was reported to have cost 2.6 million dollars. That certainly tells us she is an important, and wealthy person. Wealth and prestige seems to go hand in hand. Donald Trump is another. You hear the name "Trump" and you automatically see dollar signs. Howard Hughes; Billy Graham; Bill Clinton; Oral Roberts; T.D. Jakes; and the list can go on and on and on. All important and wealthy people and we recognize this by their lifestyles.
In ancient Biblical times, things were no different. The life of Solomon is a prime example, with one or two exceptions. Solomon knew he was important, and he showed off. Not exactly a godly trait. But there was another way that announced a person's station in life - his robe. Yes, his robe. Every culture in ancient times recognized important peoplei in every culture by their robes. Anyone, ANYONE, could instantly tell how important a dignitary was by the length of the train on his robe and how many slaves it took to carry it. So if somebody puffed themselves up and considered themselves self-important, but had NO train on his robe, he was virtually ignored! The train made the man!
When God called Isaiah to be His prophet, He gave Isaiah a vision of Himself in terms that he could understand. He wanted Isaiah to be able to imprint on Israel just who YWHW is! So He revealed Himself to Isaiah in three undeniable ways.
Isaiah saw the Lord ". . . seated on a throne . . . " First and foremost, he saw a King. Royalty. Ruler. A person whose word was law and demanded obedience. The throne represented protection and judgment, mercy and wrath. He is the decider of life and death. He is the one who holds your life in His hands. Then, He was ". . . high and exalted . . ." which declared Him King of Kings. There was no king higher then YWHW. He was way and above all the kings of the earth, kings bowed to Him. And if this wasn't enough to convince Isaiah, he saw that ". . . his train filled the temple . . . " This was the final point that declared the majesty of Almighty God. All the kings of the Middle East had trains on their robes and servants an slaves to carry them, but absolutely no one, NO ONE, had a train that filled the Temple of Solomon. This same temple that was so incredibly immense, so fabulous, that in the 6th Century A.D. it was declared one of the 7 Wonders of the ancient world.
Almighty God wanted Isaiah to know just exactly who was in charge of Israel then, and He wants us to know who is STILL in charge of the world today! Our God is the same God yesterday, today and tomorrow, and His train will still overflow the largest edifice on earth. To Him be the glory and power and majesty forever!
Have you recognized Jesus Christ as the Lord of Lords and King of Kings? Have you acknowledged Him as the supreme authority in your life? If an excuse immediately came to mind, then you haven't and you are now at a crossroads. Which way will you go?
"All Hail King Jesus!! Hail to the King of Kings !! Hail to the Lord of Lords !! Hail to the Majesty and Glory !! All Hail Emmanuel !! To you be all glory and honor and praise. Imprint on my heart the power of Your Majesty the way you imprinted Isaiah. I want to know you, Lord!! Amen."
Supporting Scriptures:
1 Kings 10
Exodus 15:1,21
1 Chronicles 29:24-26
Psalm 97:9
Philippians 2:9
Hebrews 7:26
People of means have always made a point of portraying their importance in one way or another. People of culture will never announce their importance, but you will certainly know it by any number of ways. They throw their weight around in subtle ways, and sometimes no-so-subtle ways.
The princess of Sweden was recently married, and her wedding was reported to have cost 2.6 million dollars. That certainly tells us she is an important, and wealthy person. Wealth and prestige seems to go hand in hand. Donald Trump is another. You hear the name "Trump" and you automatically see dollar signs. Howard Hughes; Billy Graham; Bill Clinton; Oral Roberts; T.D. Jakes; and the list can go on and on and on. All important and wealthy people and we recognize this by their lifestyles.
In ancient Biblical times, things were no different. The life of Solomon is a prime example, with one or two exceptions. Solomon knew he was important, and he showed off. Not exactly a godly trait. But there was another way that announced a person's station in life - his robe. Yes, his robe. Every culture in ancient times recognized important peoplei in every culture by their robes. Anyone, ANYONE, could instantly tell how important a dignitary was by the length of the train on his robe and how many slaves it took to carry it. So if somebody puffed themselves up and considered themselves self-important, but had NO train on his robe, he was virtually ignored! The train made the man!
When God called Isaiah to be His prophet, He gave Isaiah a vision of Himself in terms that he could understand. He wanted Isaiah to be able to imprint on Israel just who YWHW is! So He revealed Himself to Isaiah in three undeniable ways.
Isaiah saw the Lord ". . . seated on a throne . . . " First and foremost, he saw a King. Royalty. Ruler. A person whose word was law and demanded obedience. The throne represented protection and judgment, mercy and wrath. He is the decider of life and death. He is the one who holds your life in His hands. Then, He was ". . . high and exalted . . ." which declared Him King of Kings. There was no king higher then YWHW. He was way and above all the kings of the earth, kings bowed to Him. And if this wasn't enough to convince Isaiah, he saw that ". . . his train filled the temple . . . " This was the final point that declared the majesty of Almighty God. All the kings of the Middle East had trains on their robes and servants an slaves to carry them, but absolutely no one, NO ONE, had a train that filled the Temple of Solomon. This same temple that was so incredibly immense, so fabulous, that in the 6th Century A.D. it was declared one of the 7 Wonders of the ancient world.
Almighty God wanted Isaiah to know just exactly who was in charge of Israel then, and He wants us to know who is STILL in charge of the world today! Our God is the same God yesterday, today and tomorrow, and His train will still overflow the largest edifice on earth. To Him be the glory and power and majesty forever!
Have you recognized Jesus Christ as the Lord of Lords and King of Kings? Have you acknowledged Him as the supreme authority in your life? If an excuse immediately came to mind, then you haven't and you are now at a crossroads. Which way will you go?
"All Hail King Jesus!! Hail to the King of Kings !! Hail to the Lord of Lords !! Hail to the Majesty and Glory !! All Hail Emmanuel !! To you be all glory and honor and praise. Imprint on my heart the power of Your Majesty the way you imprinted Isaiah. I want to know you, Lord!! Amen."
Supporting Scriptures:
1 Kings 10
Exodus 15:1,21
1 Chronicles 29:24-26
Psalm 97:9
Philippians 2:9
Hebrews 7:26
2 Timothy 3:16 - Whooooosh!
"All Scripture is God-breathed . . . "
Several years ago a man told me that he refused to go to church if the preaching was going to be from the Old Testament because that didn't count anymore, it has no place in the Christian's life. When Jesus came, the Old Testament died. How very, very sad. Apparently, this very same thing was occurring in Ephesus as Paul is encouraging Timothy to stand his ground and continue with his right teachings in the face of opposition. The New Testament was actually being written with these letters, but the new Christians had other thoughts about the Law, Moses and the Prophets. As Solomon wrote: "There is nothing new under the sun . . ."
The Bible, especially the Old Testament, is NOT a collection of fairy tales, sagas, or myths. It is not a human book, but an inspired book written by humans. The entire Bible is the inspired word of God and must be accepted as such. The entire Bible is the Christian's standard against which everything must be measured, and in which all false teaching will be revealed. It is God-breathed.
Used as a verb, "to breathe" means "to inject as if by breathing; infuse" Therefore, God "infused" His breath, His life, into the Scriptures. His word became alive. Think about this: when you received Jesus into your heart as your Savior and Master, The Lord God Almighty, at that very instant, literally breathed His Holy Spirit life into your spirit. Birth. A new spiritual life. The same way God breathed the spirit of life into your natural body, He breathed he breath of life into your spirit. And He did the same with His written word!!
"All Scripture is God-breathed . . ." It is alive, active, producing new life in the Christian as he/she reads it and applies it directly to his/her life. It has power. It is dramatically life-changing. When we read anywhere in Scripture about the "breath of God", we are reading about the power of God. Therefore, all Scripture is infused with the power of God to change our lives. Why, then, do we take the Word of God so lightly?
All Scripture is the only thing that provides us with the knowledge of how to be saved. The Old Testament is like a blazing, neon arrow pointing the way to Jesus, while the New Testament gives us Jesus. The Old Testament shows us that we cannot keep the Law, therefore we are doomed. The New Testament gives us Jesus Christ, grace and salvation. The Old Testament is a living word picture in the natural of what happens to us now in the spirit in the New Testament. Everything is valid and applicable. It is impossible to have one without the other. Consider this: how would you live your life today if you had no past to reflect on, no past showing you where you went wrong and where you went right? Our present and future is shaped by our past. That is why we have both the Old and New Testament.
Don't be led astray by false doctrine and teaching. ALL Scripture is God-breathed.
"Almighty God, giver of life, praise be your Holy Name for revealing to us your Living Word. Refresh me with the breath of your Holy Spirit, quicken my spirit to the profound knowledge of your Holy Scriptures. Remove all doubt that I may have concerning the validity of the entire Bible. Show me, Oh Lord, new and marvelous things. I ask in the precious name of Jesus. Amen."
Supporting Scriptures:
Job 4:9; 15:30; 27:3
John 1:1
James 2:10
2 Peter 1:20,21
Rev 11:10-1
Several years ago a man told me that he refused to go to church if the preaching was going to be from the Old Testament because that didn't count anymore, it has no place in the Christian's life. When Jesus came, the Old Testament died. How very, very sad. Apparently, this very same thing was occurring in Ephesus as Paul is encouraging Timothy to stand his ground and continue with his right teachings in the face of opposition. The New Testament was actually being written with these letters, but the new Christians had other thoughts about the Law, Moses and the Prophets. As Solomon wrote: "There is nothing new under the sun . . ."
The Bible, especially the Old Testament, is NOT a collection of fairy tales, sagas, or myths. It is not a human book, but an inspired book written by humans. The entire Bible is the inspired word of God and must be accepted as such. The entire Bible is the Christian's standard against which everything must be measured, and in which all false teaching will be revealed. It is God-breathed.
Used as a verb, "to breathe" means "to inject as if by breathing; infuse" Therefore, God "infused" His breath, His life, into the Scriptures. His word became alive. Think about this: when you received Jesus into your heart as your Savior and Master, The Lord God Almighty, at that very instant, literally breathed His Holy Spirit life into your spirit. Birth. A new spiritual life. The same way God breathed the spirit of life into your natural body, He breathed he breath of life into your spirit. And He did the same with His written word!!
"All Scripture is God-breathed . . ." It is alive, active, producing new life in the Christian as he/she reads it and applies it directly to his/her life. It has power. It is dramatically life-changing. When we read anywhere in Scripture about the "breath of God", we are reading about the power of God. Therefore, all Scripture is infused with the power of God to change our lives. Why, then, do we take the Word of God so lightly?
All Scripture is the only thing that provides us with the knowledge of how to be saved. The Old Testament is like a blazing, neon arrow pointing the way to Jesus, while the New Testament gives us Jesus. The Old Testament shows us that we cannot keep the Law, therefore we are doomed. The New Testament gives us Jesus Christ, grace and salvation. The Old Testament is a living word picture in the natural of what happens to us now in the spirit in the New Testament. Everything is valid and applicable. It is impossible to have one without the other. Consider this: how would you live your life today if you had no past to reflect on, no past showing you where you went wrong and where you went right? Our present and future is shaped by our past. That is why we have both the Old and New Testament.
Don't be led astray by false doctrine and teaching. ALL Scripture is God-breathed.
"Almighty God, giver of life, praise be your Holy Name for revealing to us your Living Word. Refresh me with the breath of your Holy Spirit, quicken my spirit to the profound knowledge of your Holy Scriptures. Remove all doubt that I may have concerning the validity of the entire Bible. Show me, Oh Lord, new and marvelous things. I ask in the precious name of Jesus. Amen."
Supporting Scriptures:
Job 4:9; 15:30; 27:3
John 1:1
James 2:10
2 Peter 1:20,21
Rev 11:10-1
Jeremiah 33:3 - Ma Bell
"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know."
I can still see Lily Tomlin playing the role of the prim and proper telephone operator Ernestine on either a very early Satuday Nite Live or Laugh-In (I always got them mixed up). She would sit at the switchboard, legs crossed, dialing the phone: "one ringy dingy; two ringy dingys; three ringy dingys!" Then she would go off on her shpill. Always funny. Sometimes the call went through, sometimes she got a wrong number, sometimes there was no answer. You never knew what was going to happen.
Today, the commercial competition among phone companies could be sitcoms in themselves.
One company has a blue map of calling areas; another has a red map. One has you sitting on a sofa in a meadow; one complains about dropped calls; another offers you a "circle of friends"; one goes around saying "can you hear me now, can you hear me now?" and it goes on and on and on. Each one trying to sell you a bill of goods one step ahead of the competitors.
How refreshing to know that the Lord God is commercial-free and that you don't need to be "in the zone" to make a call. With Him, there is never a busy signal, never a dropped call, you are never put on hold, there is never an answering machine to record your message, and never a message that says "no signal".
The Lord our God made two stunning promises in this verse. First, ". . . I will answer you . . ." He said "I WILL . . . " Not maybe, not in a little while, not when I have time, not anything. No question of any kind left in this statement. A very definite, very strong I will. There is no question that God answers those who seek Him. The problem with the connection will always be found in our own operating system. The Lord's end of the line is always open to those who seek Him. Uh-oh, ah, uhhhh, maybe we need to be seeking Him.
The second promise is: ". . . (I will ) show you great and mighty things which you do not know." The most incredible mind-blowing times I have had with the Lord are when I'm in the Scriptures and I ask the Him to show me something new, something I've not seen before. AND HE DOES !!!!!!! It absolutely rockets me out of my chair. And yet, I do not do this every time I read Scripture. WHY NOT? Shame on me!
God's promises are true and Amen!! Why do we doubt for a mille-second that God will do what He says? What God says God does! When was the last time you dialed the Lord AND asked to see something great and mighty? Like James says, we do not receive because we ask amiss. Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, and ASK !!
"Lord Jesus, it's so easy to forget your promises in our busy days. Calm my mind, Lord, place in me your sweet, sweet peace. When I read the Scriptures, show me, Lord, great and wonderful things that I do not know. Teach me, Holy Spirit, to seek you when I read. Draw me closer to you, loving Jesus. Amen."
I can still see Lily Tomlin playing the role of the prim and proper telephone operator Ernestine on either a very early Satuday Nite Live or Laugh-In (I always got them mixed up). She would sit at the switchboard, legs crossed, dialing the phone: "one ringy dingy; two ringy dingys; three ringy dingys!" Then she would go off on her shpill. Always funny. Sometimes the call went through, sometimes she got a wrong number, sometimes there was no answer. You never knew what was going to happen.
Today, the commercial competition among phone companies could be sitcoms in themselves.
One company has a blue map of calling areas; another has a red map. One has you sitting on a sofa in a meadow; one complains about dropped calls; another offers you a "circle of friends"; one goes around saying "can you hear me now, can you hear me now?" and it goes on and on and on. Each one trying to sell you a bill of goods one step ahead of the competitors.
How refreshing to know that the Lord God is commercial-free and that you don't need to be "in the zone" to make a call. With Him, there is never a busy signal, never a dropped call, you are never put on hold, there is never an answering machine to record your message, and never a message that says "no signal".
The Lord our God made two stunning promises in this verse. First, ". . . I will answer you . . ." He said "I WILL . . . " Not maybe, not in a little while, not when I have time, not anything. No question of any kind left in this statement. A very definite, very strong I will. There is no question that God answers those who seek Him. The problem with the connection will always be found in our own operating system. The Lord's end of the line is always open to those who seek Him. Uh-oh, ah, uhhhh, maybe we need to be seeking Him.
The second promise is: ". . . (I will ) show you great and mighty things which you do not know." The most incredible mind-blowing times I have had with the Lord are when I'm in the Scriptures and I ask the Him to show me something new, something I've not seen before. AND HE DOES !!!!!!! It absolutely rockets me out of my chair. And yet, I do not do this every time I read Scripture. WHY NOT? Shame on me!
God's promises are true and Amen!! Why do we doubt for a mille-second that God will do what He says? What God says God does! When was the last time you dialed the Lord AND asked to see something great and mighty? Like James says, we do not receive because we ask amiss. Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, and ASK !!
"Lord Jesus, it's so easy to forget your promises in our busy days. Calm my mind, Lord, place in me your sweet, sweet peace. When I read the Scriptures, show me, Lord, great and wonderful things that I do not know. Teach me, Holy Spirit, to seek you when I read. Draw me closer to you, loving Jesus. Amen."
1 Corinthians 16:13 - The Call to Arms
"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong."
". . .Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. . ." from the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln.
". . . I have not yet begun to fight! . . ." John Paul Jones
". . .We have met he enemy and they are ours.. . ." Oliver Hazzard Perry after the battle of Lake Erie
"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, learning from failure" Colin Powell
". . . War is hell. . ." William Tecumseh Sherman, Atlanta, Ga.
Great military quotes, all of them. Whether it was before, during or after the battle, they were meant to encourage and strengthen the warrior. Or to just make a declaration, as General Sherman did. And all aptly apply to the Christian life.
We are engaged in a great spiritual battle, one that rages without ceasing, testing us daily to see if we will endure or not. Our enemy, the devil, prowls continuously, never resting, always looking for a chink in our armour, ready to rip and tear at us at any given moment.
Our Scripture is written with the military mindset. It needs to be read and acted upon in that manner. Matt 11:12 states that ". . . the kingdom of God is advancing forcefully and forceful men take hold of it . . . " A military attitude using military words "advance" and "force". Therefore, Paul gives advice in a military manner.
"Be on guard . . . " Watch your back, be alert. Never relax for a minute. The enemy is always waiting and watching to ambush us. The demons of hell delight in catching us unaware at any given time. We must be ever mindful of what is happening around us and ever ready to defend our position in a Christian manner. Spiritual warfare is a 24/7/365 job with no time off. Stay in the Word, keep a close relationship to Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you.
". . . stand firm in the faith . . ." This phrase is used 35 times in Scripture. Stand firm in your faith and you will be saved. Give ground and you will lose. The only way to overcome the power of the enemy is to "stand firm", trusting in the name of the Lord. In a military action, the order is given: "Dig in men, give no quarter!" In the spiritual realm, the order is the same: give no ground to the enemy. If you believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Master, you will never back down!
". . . be men of courage . . ." we must be men and women with the strength of purpose to rely on the presence and power of God and a commitment to His commands. It takes courage to stand up for Christ in an ungodly world. It takes strength of purpose to follow the commands of Jesus Christ in the face of mockery and abuse. And the longer we train in the Lord's Army, the stronger we become, and our courage becomes encouragement to all the new believers coming up behind us.
". . . be strong." Be firm, uncompromising. We, as saints of God, are not to conform to the world, but the world is to conform to God. There can be absolutely no compromise in this arena. We cannot twist the Scripture to it our purpose, but we must align ourselves with the Word of God. When we compromise anything, anything at all, that thing becomes weakened. Therefore, to compromise the Word of God in my life weakens me spiritually and I am susceptible to spiritual attack.
Can you hear the kids singing: "I'm in the Lord's arm-eee. I'm in the Lord's arm-eee." Yes, we certainly are. How are you coming along in your training?
"Lord Jesus, you who are my shield an rampart, strengthen me for the battle. Arm me with the weapons of love and truth and teach me the proper way to use them. Send your angels before me and guard me in all my ways. You are my light in the darkness, my calm in the storm and my victor in war. Praise be the name of Jesus. Amen."
". . .Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. . ." from the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln.
". . . I have not yet begun to fight! . . ." John Paul Jones
". . .We have met he enemy and they are ours.. . ." Oliver Hazzard Perry after the battle of Lake Erie
"There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, learning from failure" Colin Powell
". . . War is hell. . ." William Tecumseh Sherman, Atlanta, Ga.
Great military quotes, all of them. Whether it was before, during or after the battle, they were meant to encourage and strengthen the warrior. Or to just make a declaration, as General Sherman did. And all aptly apply to the Christian life.
We are engaged in a great spiritual battle, one that rages without ceasing, testing us daily to see if we will endure or not. Our enemy, the devil, prowls continuously, never resting, always looking for a chink in our armour, ready to rip and tear at us at any given moment.
Our Scripture is written with the military mindset. It needs to be read and acted upon in that manner. Matt 11:12 states that ". . . the kingdom of God is advancing forcefully and forceful men take hold of it . . . " A military attitude using military words "advance" and "force". Therefore, Paul gives advice in a military manner.
"Be on guard . . . " Watch your back, be alert. Never relax for a minute. The enemy is always waiting and watching to ambush us. The demons of hell delight in catching us unaware at any given time. We must be ever mindful of what is happening around us and ever ready to defend our position in a Christian manner. Spiritual warfare is a 24/7/365 job with no time off. Stay in the Word, keep a close relationship to Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you.
". . . stand firm in the faith . . ." This phrase is used 35 times in Scripture. Stand firm in your faith and you will be saved. Give ground and you will lose. The only way to overcome the power of the enemy is to "stand firm", trusting in the name of the Lord. In a military action, the order is given: "Dig in men, give no quarter!" In the spiritual realm, the order is the same: give no ground to the enemy. If you believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Master, you will never back down!
". . . be men of courage . . ." we must be men and women with the strength of purpose to rely on the presence and power of God and a commitment to His commands. It takes courage to stand up for Christ in an ungodly world. It takes strength of purpose to follow the commands of Jesus Christ in the face of mockery and abuse. And the longer we train in the Lord's Army, the stronger we become, and our courage becomes encouragement to all the new believers coming up behind us.
". . . be strong." Be firm, uncompromising. We, as saints of God, are not to conform to the world, but the world is to conform to God. There can be absolutely no compromise in this arena. We cannot twist the Scripture to it our purpose, but we must align ourselves with the Word of God. When we compromise anything, anything at all, that thing becomes weakened. Therefore, to compromise the Word of God in my life weakens me spiritually and I am susceptible to spiritual attack.
Can you hear the kids singing: "I'm in the Lord's arm-eee. I'm in the Lord's arm-eee." Yes, we certainly are. How are you coming along in your training?
"Lord Jesus, you who are my shield an rampart, strengthen me for the battle. Arm me with the weapons of love and truth and teach me the proper way to use them. Send your angels before me and guard me in all my ways. You are my light in the darkness, my calm in the storm and my victor in war. Praise be the name of Jesus. Amen."
John 15:1 - Jam or Jelly
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener."
Scripture is awesome. There are no wasted or unnecessary words. Every single word has a purpose. Therefore, I was struck by the phrase "true vine." Why didn't John simply write "I am the vine, and . . . "
Well kept, well maintained vineyards are a thing of beauty. I love to drive along Rt. 5 in Erie Co., Pa. and look at miles and miles of beautiful vineyards. Pruned and shaped and tended, when the fruit comes into season it is rich and full and succulent. The smell in the air is exquisite, mouthwatering, tantalizing. It begs to be eaten.
On the other hand, if you would hike the mountains or walk the wooded trails in Pennsylvania, there is another grapevine, the wild grapes. As you walk through the woods you will see long, thick, grape-viney tendrils hanging out of trees, like old rope, the bark peeling. If there is any fruit at all on these vines, it is small and withered and usually never reaches maturity. And if you would happen to find a ripe cluster, they are very, very bitter. These vines are of no worth at all.
The teaching in John 15 is very familiar to us. Jesus likens us to the grape. Depending on which vine we are growing on will determine the type of fruit we produce. yada yada yada. I know, it's been told over and over. Are we jam, full of fruit and substance, or are we jelly, syrupy-sweet but with no body? Did you know that if something is repeated in Scripture, it is profoundly important? And if it's repeated three times, you better right now pay attention.
The grapevine teaching is repeated twice in John 15 and once in Rev. 14. There's the kicker.
Jesus called Himself the "true vine" because there is a counterfeit vine. In Rev. 14: 18 we read: ". . . take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the EARTH'S VINE, . . . " Rev. 14:14-20 reiterates Jesus' teaching in John 15 on the destruction of fruit that never matured, the fruit of the vine of the earth. This will be a very horrible harvest.
In light of all this, who, then, are you permitting to "tend your vineyard?" The true Gardener who lovingly, gently, masterfully shapes you to bring about your very own robust maturity, or are you just left to your own devices, to grow willy-nilly, never producing in sweet abundance what you are truly capable of? Are we jam, or are we jelly. The choice is ours. But then, so are the results.
When the harvest of the earth begins, in which winepress will you be found?
Father God, I am in your hands. Twist me and turn me and shape me into your likeness and beauty. My growth and maturity I give over to Your Holy Spirit, to train me up in the way I should go. I pray, Almighty God, that my fruit will be a sweet, sweet offering to you. In you I trust. Amen.
Scripture is awesome. There are no wasted or unnecessary words. Every single word has a purpose. Therefore, I was struck by the phrase "true vine." Why didn't John simply write "I am the vine, and . . . "
Well kept, well maintained vineyards are a thing of beauty. I love to drive along Rt. 5 in Erie Co., Pa. and look at miles and miles of beautiful vineyards. Pruned and shaped and tended, when the fruit comes into season it is rich and full and succulent. The smell in the air is exquisite, mouthwatering, tantalizing. It begs to be eaten.
On the other hand, if you would hike the mountains or walk the wooded trails in Pennsylvania, there is another grapevine, the wild grapes. As you walk through the woods you will see long, thick, grape-viney tendrils hanging out of trees, like old rope, the bark peeling. If there is any fruit at all on these vines, it is small and withered and usually never reaches maturity. And if you would happen to find a ripe cluster, they are very, very bitter. These vines are of no worth at all.
The teaching in John 15 is very familiar to us. Jesus likens us to the grape. Depending on which vine we are growing on will determine the type of fruit we produce. yada yada yada. I know, it's been told over and over. Are we jam, full of fruit and substance, or are we jelly, syrupy-sweet but with no body? Did you know that if something is repeated in Scripture, it is profoundly important? And if it's repeated three times, you better right now pay attention.
The grapevine teaching is repeated twice in John 15 and once in Rev. 14. There's the kicker.
Jesus called Himself the "true vine" because there is a counterfeit vine. In Rev. 14: 18 we read: ". . . take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the EARTH'S VINE, . . . " Rev. 14:14-20 reiterates Jesus' teaching in John 15 on the destruction of fruit that never matured, the fruit of the vine of the earth. This will be a very horrible harvest.
In light of all this, who, then, are you permitting to "tend your vineyard?" The true Gardener who lovingly, gently, masterfully shapes you to bring about your very own robust maturity, or are you just left to your own devices, to grow willy-nilly, never producing in sweet abundance what you are truly capable of? Are we jam, or are we jelly. The choice is ours. But then, so are the results.
When the harvest of the earth begins, in which winepress will you be found?
Father God, I am in your hands. Twist me and turn me and shape me into your likeness and beauty. My growth and maturity I give over to Your Holy Spirit, to train me up in the way I should go. I pray, Almighty God, that my fruit will be a sweet, sweet offering to you. In you I trust. Amen.
1 Thessalonias 4:11 - LifeStyles
"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work wth your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will no be dependent on anybody."
In this verse, Paul gives us some wonderful advice as to how to live day-to-day pleasing the Lord. Nothing very difficult at all, just some very basic, common sense things to do. Right at the beginning, he says "make it your AMBITION . . . ". What a great word is ambition. It is defined as "an ernest desire for some type of achievement or distinction . . . " In our case, we are striving for holyliving, pleasing to God. Then Paul proceeds to list 3 desireable achievements that by doing, we may enjoy holy living.
Firstly, have an earnest desire to "lead a quiet life". Be about the business of life in a behind-the-scenes way, not one that is not showy or obtrusive. Hmmm, think about. How many people do you know that are loud-mouthed, center-of-attention people? Always have to be noticed. Make it a point to let people know they have arrived. They are lacking the Biblical graces of gentleness and humility. We tend to shy away from people like that. Is this a mannerism that is pleasing to the Lord? Does this type of attitude draw people to Jesus?
The second thing Paul tells us to earnestly desire is "to mind your own business." Don't be a busybody. Look that word up in your concordance! It's there. Pittsburghese for this phrase is "nebby-nose". People that always have to know everyone else's business are also the greatest gossips. Why else do they want to know everything? In their own minds, spreading the "news" makes them important. These people certainly are not leading quiet lives. They are to be avoided like the plague.
And lastly, "work with your hands." In other words, make an honest living. Take care of yourself and your family. Don't depend on society to give you handout. It doesn't matter if you're a street sweeper or a CEO, or anything inbetween. if you are working to the glory of God, you are living a life pleasing to God.
There is more to Christian living besides loving others. We must learn to be responsible in every respect of our lives. Leading a quiet life is the basis. When we do that, it will automatically flow into minding our own business and we will go to our jobs with joy in our hearts. And the end result? ". . . you will win the respect of others . . ." There is nothing better in all the world then to be respected. When you're respected, people listen to you, value your opinion, follow your advice. When your life exhibits the fruit of gentleness, meekness and humbleness, people are drawn to you and want to emulate you. What an awesome soul-winner you can become, just by following these 3 little steps.
What is your ambition?
Lord Jesus, Lord of my life, set a guard about my lips that I may not sin against you. Fill me with the fruit of the Spirit that my life will be a glory to your name. Help me, my Master, to be ambitious for you, living to please you, so that others will see you and walk in Your salvation. Amen.
In this verse, Paul gives us some wonderful advice as to how to live day-to-day pleasing the Lord. Nothing very difficult at all, just some very basic, common sense things to do. Right at the beginning, he says "make it your AMBITION . . . ". What a great word is ambition. It is defined as "an ernest desire for some type of achievement or distinction . . . " In our case, we are striving for holyliving, pleasing to God. Then Paul proceeds to list 3 desireable achievements that by doing, we may enjoy holy living.
Firstly, have an earnest desire to "lead a quiet life". Be about the business of life in a behind-the-scenes way, not one that is not showy or obtrusive. Hmmm, think about. How many people do you know that are loud-mouthed, center-of-attention people? Always have to be noticed. Make it a point to let people know they have arrived. They are lacking the Biblical graces of gentleness and humility. We tend to shy away from people like that. Is this a mannerism that is pleasing to the Lord? Does this type of attitude draw people to Jesus?
The second thing Paul tells us to earnestly desire is "to mind your own business." Don't be a busybody. Look that word up in your concordance! It's there. Pittsburghese for this phrase is "nebby-nose". People that always have to know everyone else's business are also the greatest gossips. Why else do they want to know everything? In their own minds, spreading the "news" makes them important. These people certainly are not leading quiet lives. They are to be avoided like the plague.
And lastly, "work with your hands." In other words, make an honest living. Take care of yourself and your family. Don't depend on society to give you handout. It doesn't matter if you're a street sweeper or a CEO, or anything inbetween. if you are working to the glory of God, you are living a life pleasing to God.
There is more to Christian living besides loving others. We must learn to be responsible in every respect of our lives. Leading a quiet life is the basis. When we do that, it will automatically flow into minding our own business and we will go to our jobs with joy in our hearts. And the end result? ". . . you will win the respect of others . . ." There is nothing better in all the world then to be respected. When you're respected, people listen to you, value your opinion, follow your advice. When your life exhibits the fruit of gentleness, meekness and humbleness, people are drawn to you and want to emulate you. What an awesome soul-winner you can become, just by following these 3 little steps.
What is your ambition?
Lord Jesus, Lord of my life, set a guard about my lips that I may not sin against you. Fill me with the fruit of the Spirit that my life will be a glory to your name. Help me, my Master, to be ambitious for you, living to please you, so that others will see you and walk in Your salvation. Amen.
Titus 3:1-2 - To-Do List
"Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate and to show true humility to all men."
Paul certainly likes to pack his sentences and this one is really overstuffed! But oh, such good stuffing. He starts off by saying "remind the people . . ." Remind. We all need reminded of Scriptural commands, and often. Especially when things don't seem to be going our way and we get ouselves "out of joint" so to speak. We are mandated by Scripture to remind each other, in a loving gentle way of course, of those things that help us lead godly lives.
The first "remind" is "to be subject to rulers and authorites . . . " Today, a great many of our rulers and authorities are doing things that are ungodly, immoral, and non-beneficial to us, but Scripture commands us to be in obedience to them. Our merciful and wise God has allowed them their positions for His reasons, so we must honor God, no matter what we feel. First and foremost is our obedience to God.
That's the second "remind" - "to be obedient". 1 John tells us that if we love God, we will obey His commands. And not just some of them. All of them. To date, I have not yet found the "Cafeteria" version of the Bible where we can pick and choose only those items we enjoy. How much we love God is equated with how obedient we are. Tough one.
Then the Scripture continues "be ready to do whatever is good . . . " We never know when an opportunity is going to pop up to "do a good deed", so we must always be prepared. Just like the Boy Scouts (I think they took their motto from the Bible!). Are you ever-ready to glorify God with your actions? Are you on high alert for ways to serve the Lord?
Uh-oh. Trouble. Next is "slander no one." Slander is the twin sister of gossip. Nasty sisters. Only cause irreparaible harm. Slander means "evil, malicious talk intended to damage or destroy another person." Murder of the spirit. Ugly sisters. Good grief, NOBODY in the Body of Christ does THAT !!!!!!!!!!
And the last "remind" is "to be peaceable and considerate and to show true humility toward all men." Blessed are the peacemkers . . . Are we agitators or are we the "fabric softner" of life, effective at removing wrinkles and static? Do we like to "stir things up" or remove the pot from the heat? To be considerate is to show kindly awarness or regard for anothes FEELINGS. True humility is putting God and everyone else before ourselves. God is first, ALL men are second, and I am last, always being tender towards the feelings of others. This destroys the spirit of selfishness in us and releases the fruit of mercy and compassion.
My daily to-do list. If we work at it every day, it will become a way of life and a glory to the Lord. Are you ready to start working?
Lord Jesus, I need remined not only daily, but lots of times by the minute. Holy Spirit, I'm askin you now to be my constant reminder. I give you my permission to encourage me however you will to keep my eyes on Jesus, my ears open to the leading of His voice, and my heart ever-ready to do as He asks. Thank you, sweet Savior. I love you. Amen.
Paul certainly likes to pack his sentences and this one is really overstuffed! But oh, such good stuffing. He starts off by saying "remind the people . . ." Remind. We all need reminded of Scriptural commands, and often. Especially when things don't seem to be going our way and we get ouselves "out of joint" so to speak. We are mandated by Scripture to remind each other, in a loving gentle way of course, of those things that help us lead godly lives.
The first "remind" is "to be subject to rulers and authorites . . . " Today, a great many of our rulers and authorities are doing things that are ungodly, immoral, and non-beneficial to us, but Scripture commands us to be in obedience to them. Our merciful and wise God has allowed them their positions for His reasons, so we must honor God, no matter what we feel. First and foremost is our obedience to God.
That's the second "remind" - "to be obedient". 1 John tells us that if we love God, we will obey His commands. And not just some of them. All of them. To date, I have not yet found the "Cafeteria" version of the Bible where we can pick and choose only those items we enjoy. How much we love God is equated with how obedient we are. Tough one.
Then the Scripture continues "be ready to do whatever is good . . . " We never know when an opportunity is going to pop up to "do a good deed", so we must always be prepared. Just like the Boy Scouts (I think they took their motto from the Bible!). Are you ever-ready to glorify God with your actions? Are you on high alert for ways to serve the Lord?
Uh-oh. Trouble. Next is "slander no one." Slander is the twin sister of gossip. Nasty sisters. Only cause irreparaible harm. Slander means "evil, malicious talk intended to damage or destroy another person." Murder of the spirit. Ugly sisters. Good grief, NOBODY in the Body of Christ does THAT !!!!!!!!!!
And the last "remind" is "to be peaceable and considerate and to show true humility toward all men." Blessed are the peacemkers . . . Are we agitators or are we the "fabric softner" of life, effective at removing wrinkles and static? Do we like to "stir things up" or remove the pot from the heat? To be considerate is to show kindly awarness or regard for anothes FEELINGS. True humility is putting God and everyone else before ourselves. God is first, ALL men are second, and I am last, always being tender towards the feelings of others. This destroys the spirit of selfishness in us and releases the fruit of mercy and compassion.
My daily to-do list. If we work at it every day, it will become a way of life and a glory to the Lord. Are you ready to start working?
Lord Jesus, I need remined not only daily, but lots of times by the minute. Holy Spirit, I'm askin you now to be my constant reminder. I give you my permission to encourage me however you will to keep my eyes on Jesus, my ears open to the leading of His voice, and my heart ever-ready to do as He asks. Thank you, sweet Savior. I love you. Amen.
Romans 12:1 - Dead Man Walking
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship."
In order to worship during the Old Testament, it was mandated that you bring an appropriate animal for a particular sacrifice. It was an offering to the Lord, a gift, to show your love and devotion to Him. In the New Testament, our offering, our worship, is the way we live our lives.
"Dead Man Walking" is the term given to a prisoner who is walking from his cell to the execution chamber. The guards sound it out the entire walk as they escort the prisoner. All the other prisoners know what is going to happen. It is a very sombre ritual.
But in the Christian life, "dead man walking" is a positive, uplifting, exciting term for the person walking with Christ. The Christian has "died to self" and is now walking in step with Jesus Christ. The old man, the old nature, the ways of the world, has been "executed" and now the new person, filled with the Holy Spirit, is alive and walking the spiritual life God has intended. The spiritual "dead man walking" will not reach his final destination until his physical body dies. But instead of an execution, he will begin an eternal life with Christ.
Our act of worship while on earth, therefore, is to live a life that is holy and pleasing to God. Not partaking of the things that would bring offense to the Lord. The answer to this simple question - "Would Jesus like this?" - will determine if what is being planned, thought, word, or deed, is holy and acceptable to God. How we answer that question determnes the type of offering we are lifting up. Are we a Cain, only giving a cut-rate offering, or an Able, giving the very best that we have?
Being a spiritual "dead man walking" is no easy task. But one of the most precious promises of the Bible is this: "I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me sttrength." (phil 4:13). All we have to do is call on the Lord, ask for HIS strength and power to be an overcomer, and it will be given. Instantly. God said so!
Are you a "dead man walking"?
Lord God, I so want my life to be a spiritual act of worship. I want to honor you with everything I think, say, and do, but I am so weak. Fill me with your power and strength, that I may be an overcomer, a dead man walking. I want my life to be holy and pleasing to you. I claim the promise that I can do all things because you have given me your strength. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.
In order to worship during the Old Testament, it was mandated that you bring an appropriate animal for a particular sacrifice. It was an offering to the Lord, a gift, to show your love and devotion to Him. In the New Testament, our offering, our worship, is the way we live our lives.
"Dead Man Walking" is the term given to a prisoner who is walking from his cell to the execution chamber. The guards sound it out the entire walk as they escort the prisoner. All the other prisoners know what is going to happen. It is a very sombre ritual.
But in the Christian life, "dead man walking" is a positive, uplifting, exciting term for the person walking with Christ. The Christian has "died to self" and is now walking in step with Jesus Christ. The old man, the old nature, the ways of the world, has been "executed" and now the new person, filled with the Holy Spirit, is alive and walking the spiritual life God has intended. The spiritual "dead man walking" will not reach his final destination until his physical body dies. But instead of an execution, he will begin an eternal life with Christ.
Our act of worship while on earth, therefore, is to live a life that is holy and pleasing to God. Not partaking of the things that would bring offense to the Lord. The answer to this simple question - "Would Jesus like this?" - will determine if what is being planned, thought, word, or deed, is holy and acceptable to God. How we answer that question determnes the type of offering we are lifting up. Are we a Cain, only giving a cut-rate offering, or an Able, giving the very best that we have?
Being a spiritual "dead man walking" is no easy task. But one of the most precious promises of the Bible is this: "I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me sttrength." (phil 4:13). All we have to do is call on the Lord, ask for HIS strength and power to be an overcomer, and it will be given. Instantly. God said so!
Are you a "dead man walking"?
Lord God, I so want my life to be a spiritual act of worship. I want to honor you with everything I think, say, and do, but I am so weak. Fill me with your power and strength, that I may be an overcomer, a dead man walking. I want my life to be holy and pleasing to you. I claim the promise that I can do all things because you have given me your strength. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.
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