Sometimes
we can be overawed or intimidated by the glory and power of God and feel
inadequate or unworthy of him as we walk our walk upon this earth. It is important
for us to realize that Jesus gave up the advantages and privileges of heaven
and came to earth as a man, with flesh and blood (Phil 2:5-8). He had to be
filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to minister on this earth just like we
have to be (Matt 3:13-17).
In
Hebrews chapter 4, verse 15, we are told that Jesus can identify with us as he
was tempted in all the same ways we are, while he was on this earth, but he did
no sin. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the
feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet
without sin” (Heb 4:15.) Do you get the picture? Jesus came here as a man with
flesh and blood and walked in our shoes just like us. He knows our state, our
weaknesses and temptations, our trials and tribulations; he dealt with the same
things while he was here. He knows where we are at and yet the word still says:
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil 4:13).
Nothing
is impossible if we have Jesus inside us. Be encouraged today, Jesus will never
leave us or forsake us (Heb 13:5).
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“I
have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fufil
all my will” (Acts 13:22-23; KJV). What was it about David that allowed the
Lord to say these words about him? David had a great zeal for God (1 Sam
17:45). He was teachable, humble and feared God (Ps 25). David trusted God and
had great intimacy with him (Ps 27). David loved to praise his God (Ps 34:1),
desired righteousness, (Ps 51) loved God (Ps 63) and prayed and cried out to his
heavenly Father (Ps 143:1). As we see in our main text, David was also obedient
to the will of God.
David
was; however, human and fell into the sins of sexual immorality and even murder
in his affair with Bathsheba (2 Sam 11). However, when confronted by Nathan the
prophet he repented and God forgave him (2 Sam 12). “And David said unto Nathan,
I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath
put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.”
We
should look to the life and attributes of David, a mighty man of God. We should
also be encouraged that God regarded David’s strengths and forgave such great sin.
God loves us and will forgive us just as he did David. Be exhorted and
encouraged.
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book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and
also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to
others.
“This
Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shall meditate therein
day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:
For then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good
success” (Josh 1:8-9; KJV).
In
the old Testament men and women lived under a law they could never completely
keep, but God was merciful and blessed them when their hearts were right toward
him. This was their relationship with him.
Now,
if we have given our lives to him, we have Christ in us (Gal 2:20) and through his
death we were justified (made just as if we had never sinned) (Rom 3:24). We
are new creations in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:17), we have his forgiveness (Eph
1:7). We no longer live under the law, driven by the dictates of the flesh, but
by faith we live in obedience to God as the Spirit leads us (Rom 8:1-2). We are
redeemed (purchased at a great price) from the curse of the law, poverty,
sickness and death (Gal 3:13). God has adopted us as his children (Rom 8:15), he
is our Abba Father (Daddy). He has taken us out of the power and authority of
darkness into his wonderful kingdom of light (Col 1:13-14). We are more than
conquerors in Jesus (Rom 8:37).
Let’s
commit to grow into all God has for us. If we press into him, he will work in
us through his word and power to change, transform, use and bless us (James
4:7-8; Phil 1:6).
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“That
ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst
of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world"
(Phil. 2:15; KJV). The devil would like us to think that our lives as Christians
are not making much of a difference in the world and that we are certainly not
seen as bright lights. However, we need to go by what the word says, not what
the devil or anyone else says.
According
to the verse above we are not just lights in the world but bright lights. That
is a fact because it is the word (Bible) . We never know how many people we may
be impacting each day, whether by our smile, our words of encouragement or
deeds of love.
However,
there are ways to make our light shine more brightly - by spending more time
with the Light of the world (Jesus) for starters. In the gospel of the apostle
John the first chapter and verses 14-16 we see that the Word or Jesus are one
and the same and came to earth as a man. In verses 1-3, we read that the Word was
present at creation and that everything that was made was made by God the
Father through the Word. The more time we spend in the Light (Jesus, the Word) the
more our light will shine in and through us. Our Bible is the written Word of God.
So, get in that Bible and: “let your light shine before men, that they may see
your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).
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We
hear much about the importance of the word, faith, prayer, praise, the fear of
God, obedience, humility, repentance and the need for change in our Christian
walk and so we should. But God’s cardinal commands are to love him with all our
heart, soul and mind and our neighbor as ourselves (Matt 22:37-39). Jesus gave
us a new command that we love each other as he loves us, by this he said the
world would know we are Christians (John 13:34-35).
In
the great love chapter of the Bible (1 Cor 13:1-13) the apostle Paul wrote that
without love we are nothing. He clearly emphasized that of faith, hope and love
the greatest gift was love (1 Cor 13:13). The Greek word for love that is used
dominantly in the New Testament is agape; God’s unconditional love and the love
that we are called to love with. First Corinthians chapter 13 defines this love
for us, take time to meditate on it.
The
bible says God’s love is in us, poured in by the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5). God
demonstrated the extent of this love by allowing Christ to die for us (Rom 5:8).
We are called to love with our words (Eph 4:15); words that come from our
hearts and are spoken in love. But love has to go beyond our words to actions,
our deeds (1 John 3:18); love must be demonstrated; just as faith is not faith
without corresponding actions (James 2:17). Think how you can share God’s love
today; a gentle encouraging word, a kind spontaneous action.
Please
pass this on. All rights reserved.
Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our
book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and
also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to
others.