“And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation” (Ex. 19:6; KJV). These are the words that God spoke to Moses. One of the responsibilities of the priests was to minister to the Lord in praise and worship.

As you know things in the Old Testament are a type and shadow of things in the New Testament. In 1 Peter 2:5 we read: “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an HOLY PRIESTHOOD, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ”. Spiritual sacrifices refer to worship and praise. In v.9 of the same chapter it tells us that we are a: "royal priesthood" and that we are to proclaim the praises of God.

The priests in the Old Testament led the praise and worship as I said but now, WE are the: “royal priesthood”, so we can do this for ourselves, we can: “sing unto the Lord a new song” (Ps 96:1), we can be a people: “singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph 5:19). It’s up to us though, we have to make a decision to do it; our flesh doesn't always feel like it. However, it says in Hebrews 13:15 that we need to make the: "sacrifice of praise". I think that means we are supposed to do it whether we feel like it or not.

In Psalms 22:3 King David wrote that God: “inhabitest the praises of Israel”. This has the sense that God comes down, settles down and invades our very presence when we praise him! I don’t know about you but I surely desire that intimacy with our heavenly Father.

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. 

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot by men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candle stick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven” (Matt 5:13-16; KJV).

As Christians, we are to be salt, we are to shine as lights in the world we live in. Those who watch us should see a difference, should be led to say, what is it about you, I need what you have?

We should not hide our lamp under a basket; in other words, we should not be intimidated but be bold and shine. We should ask ourselves have we lost our saltiness, are we shining brightly for the Lord?

His love, his life-giving power and presence in us should shine out (Phil 2:13 and 15). Look at how God’s presence shone through Moses after he had met with God (Ex 34:29). God wants to show his plan and purpose through us, his church, even to all the evil principalities in the heavenly places. (Eph 3:10).

Let’s allow Gods presence, his word and power to change us today and shine through us.

Please pass this on. All rights reserved.

God does not leave us alone (John 14:15-18). He sent us his Holy Spirit, his power (Acts 1:8). Jesus received the same Holy Spirit when John the Baptist baptized him in water (Matt 3:16). Jesus needed this power to flow from him when he ministered upon the earth (Luke 8:46).

We are told that this is the same power that raised Christ from the dead and that this power will bring life to our mortal bodies: “But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Rom 8:11). This Greek word for power is where we get our English word dynamite (Eph 1:19-20). We have his dynamite power on the inside of us!

As we discover God’s promises to us in the Bible and step out in faith, the Holy Spirit can go to work to change us and use us. Jesus said: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (John 14:12). Yes, he said that we are empowered to do the same works as he did on this earth and even greater works! Let’s allow his power to change us and flow from us to a hurting world.

Share this with some one. 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. 

Isaiah 40:31 is a wonderful verse: “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagle; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint” (KJV).

One spring Jean and I were parked in our car on the south end of Waskesiu lake in Prince Albert National Park, Saskatchewan, Canada, having our prayer time. There were 6 or so golden eagles feasting on dead fish out on the melting ice. After a while the eagles took off and gave us 30 minutes of the most glorious flying and gliding display right in front of and over our car. What amazing, powerful and graceful creatures; such colors and majesty, such strength. Isaiah 40:31 truly came alive for us. God is so obvious to all in his creation (Rom 1:20).

This is the strength he has for us. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isa 41:10) It's God that does the strengthening and holds us with his hand. God tells us not to fear, he is the one who fights our battles for us (Deut 31:6).

And, yes, this is New Testament as well: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil 4:13). Did you notice that was all things not some things? Trust God, cast your cares on him and lean on his strength today. We can't do it on our own, my, how we need our God.

Pass this on to someone. 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.

"As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." These 2 verses are from John 15:9-10 in the King James Version of the Bible.

Jesus is telling us to abide or continue in his love; but how? Well he gives us a clue by telling us to obey his commandments. A cardinal command is to love: “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love they neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these”.

I believe we also need to meditate on the scriptures that tell us about God’s great love for us - and there are many of them. Here is one I am sure we are all familiar with, but it speaks volumes: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Wow, could you ever doubt his love for us?

We also need to learn to be quiet before God and just sense his love for us in our hearts; and experience it. If we get a revelation of God's great love for us then we will start to feel better about ourselves and then it will be easier to love others.

Pass this on to a friend. 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.