“Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col 1:27; KJV). Wow, do you ever stop to think what that means to us as Christians? We have Jesus on the inside of us in the form of the Holy Spirit (John 14:17). All that Christ died for, all he rose for, his victory and power and authority are ours (Matt 28:18).

We find out what is ours in the bible and he gives us his power (Acts 1:8) to be all he wants us to be and live the life that God lives (John 10:10). God’s power works in us to bring about change (Phil 2:13; Phil 1:6). In fact, Paul said that he could only boast about that which Christ had done in and through him; everything else was of no significance (Rom 15:18).

If you think about it, all we need to do as Christians is to rest in him (Matt 11:28), study and believe his word (John 6:29) and cooperate with him as his word and power change us, guide us and direct and use us for his glory. Knowing this we should have such a heart to be in his word; to pray, praise and worship him, give him thanks and hang on every word as we are taught by his ministering servants.

It sorrows me to look around our churches and see blank, impassive faces during worship and hear gossip going on as we are taught the word of God. Christians, wake up to who you are in Christ, what we have and what God expects of us. We are his hands and feet and voice in this earth. His will can only be done through us. Be exhorted today, time is short.

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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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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.

“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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