“Ye
shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and
obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him” (Deut 13:4; KJV). Our
lives should line up with the word of God. We need to look into the word today
and see if our lives, our thoughts, words and actions are on track. So often we
look but only want to pull out our favorite words.
The
word is truth (John 17:17), inspired by God (2 Tim 3:16) and his counsel for
every aspect of our life (Pr 4:20-23). We can look into the word and it will encourage
us as we see areas where we are lined up with it. However, the word will also bring instruction
and reproof if we are open to receive it (Pr 2:10-11). To grow in God, we need
to allow his word to not only strengthen us and encourage us but also to
challenge and change us. If we refuse, we will stagnate and be frustrated,
going nowhere.
How
often we have favorite words but the very next verse we gloss over because it
is an ouch; a word that challenges our stubbornly held opinions where we do not
want to change. It is only when we are open to God’s whole counsel that we can
move on to be used by God and experience that true life of abundance (John
10:10).
Moving
on in true revelation of God’s word is wonderful, going to new heights and places
we have never been before. Let’s give God permission to open our eyes and ears
to his word today and do a new thing in our lives. O my, how I want that, do
you?
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"If
any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what
ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be the measured to you: and unto
you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and
he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath" (Mark
4:23-25; NKJ).
These
3 verses tell us that the amount of time and effort we put into reading, meditating
and studying the word is equal to how much we get out of it; a sobering thought.
Let’s have ears and eyes that truly hear and see what God is teaching us. Be encouraged
by our passage above, we are shown that what we receive from the word will
continually increase and time invested in God is never wasted; it always
benefits us. “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou
shalt 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” (Joshua 1:8). I like the sound of that!
Time
spent in God's word is always beneficial because God is watching over his word
to perform it (Jer 1:12).
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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.
Before he started his ministry, Jesus fasted
for 40 days and then he was immediately tempted by the devil (Matt 4:1-11).
Satan appealed to Jesus’ physical hunger by tempting him to turn stones into
bread. Jesus refused this temptation even though he must have been hungry. He
countered this and each of the 3 temptations that the devil brought him, with
the word of God.
In
the second temptation satan tried to appeal to human vanity, suggesting that as
Jesus was God’s son, he could throw himself off of the temple and God would
rescue him. Again, Jesus countered with the word: “Thou shalt not tempt the
Lord thy God” (Matt 4:7; KJV). Finally, satan appealed to the lust for power
and prestige, offering Jesus authority over all the world if he would worship
him (satan). But even at a time of physical weakness, Jesus was rock solid;
quoting the word that man should serve and worship only God.
What
can we learn from all of this? Well, Jesus was totally obedient to his heavenly
Father. Satan will try to attack and tempt us to sin in our weakest moments and
in the weakest areas of our lives. How do we put satan in his place? As he lies
to us, we counter with the truth of the word. If he tries to talk you out of healing,
through thoughts or people, speak those Bible verses on healing.
Jesus
defeated satan at the cross and took all power and authority from him (Matt
28:18; Heb 2:14). As Christians we walk in Christ’s victory (1 Cor 15:57). Satan
will try to test our resolve but we have to assert our victory by speaking the word.
There is power in the word (Heb 4:12).
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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.
Try
reading Colossians 1:3-11 today. Paul prays for the saints or Christians in the
Colossian church. Notice how his first words are positive and full of praise;
thanking God for the Colossians, their faith and love. He encourages their
focus on their eventual eternal heavenly reward (V.5) (1 Peter 1:3-4).
Paul
gives us a glimpse of his approach to and priority for his praying for the Colossians:
“praying always for you” (V.3) and: “do not cease to pray for you” (V.9) (KJV).
The
crux of the prayer for me is the emphasis on God’s word. In verse 5 he reminds
them that their heavenly hope comes from: “the word the truth of the gospel”.
He pursues this thought in verse 9 when he prays that the Colossians would be
filled with all knowledge, understanding and wisdom of God’s will. This he links
to being fruitful in good works (V.10), being strengthened by God’s Holy Spirit
power and authority and growing in the good fruit of the Spirit (long suffering,
joy) (V. 10-11). (Gal. 5:22-23).
Jesus
told us that the Holy Spirit would reveal God’s word to us (John 14:26), would
enable us to walk in all God’s promises and would flow through us to impact our
world (John 7:38). Make Paul’s prayer yours today, allow the Holy Spirit to
bring you revelation of God’s word and walk in it by faith.
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book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and
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others.
“Except the Lord builds the house, they labor
in vain that build it” (Ps 127:1; KJV). What is the foundation for your life?
Are you trusting in your bank account, your career? Those things may build a
living for you but they will not build a life. Jesus said that he came to bring
us an abundant life (John 10:10). This means a superabundant life in every
aspect; prosperity, health, peace and purpose, to name but a few areas.
Gods
eternal life starts now, in the present life and continues forever for the
Christian (1 John 5:11). Jesus taught us about the foundation we need so we can
enjoy the God kind of life (Matt 7:24-27). This foundation is the word of God;
hearing it and doing it. Jesus likened this to putting down a firm foundation
for a house on the rock. He also talked about the foolish man that built on the
sand and the storms of life came and blew his house away; this man chose to
ignore Gods word.
God’s
word is truth, it is also life and the bible tells us that we shall know the
truth and the truth shall set us free. (John 17:17; 8:32) We need to fall in
love with God’s word and commit to spend time in it ahead of all other
priorities (Ps 1:1-2); then we need to commit to do it. Try it, God will change
your life and line it up with his.
Send
this 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.