“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.

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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. 

In the apostle Marks gospel, chapter 5, is an important lesson on faith. It is a story of Jairus, a synagogue ruler, and his daughter, who was dying. Jairus had beseeched Jesus to come and heal his daughter but on the way to his house they received news that the girl had already died. Then it says that Jesus overheard the news but ignored what was said. In fact, he replied to Jairus: “Be not afraid, only believe” (Mark 5: 36; KJV). There are times when we need to do the same. People may bring us negative reports and talk doubt and unbelief when we are trying to operate in faith. This is when we need to do what Jesus did in the story above and ignore the contrary reports.

Hang around people who are full of faith and who will encourage you to keep believing. As Jesus said to Jairus, just keep believing regardless of the situation because God said: “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isa 55:11). God is also alert and active watching over his word to perform it (Jer 1:12). In other words, if you are standing in faith on a promise from God’s word, in his Bible, it will come to pass just as you have believed.

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“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. “(John 14:27; KJV) The word peace here is a beautiful all-encompassing word meaning the perfect peace and confidence that comes with our salvation. Confident in our relationship with God and our eternal life, no matter what our situation is or what is happening around us in this world.

This peace is so different from what the world can offer; the world can only speak hollow words of wishing and hoping. God can actually give us peace. Our peace is a part of salvation, a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). The world maybe in turmoil around us but we can walk in God’s peace.

We will not have this peace passively by just laying back and waiting for it. As with all of our Christian walk, we have to do our part. In Psalm 199 and verse 165 we note that we will have great peace if we love God’s law (word). In Isaiah 26:3 we see that if we focus our minds on God and trust him, he will keep us in his perfect peace.

So, like every aspect of our walk with God we need to be in his word, building our faith and then his peace will envelope and surround us. Search the Bibles for verses on peace, meditate them. The battle is in the mind. Renew your mind in God’s word (Rom 12:2). Let the Prince of peace (Isa 9:6) bring you to inner stillness and peace: “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10).

Meditate God’s word today and allow him to bring that peace and stillness to your inner being. 

“The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing” (Ps 92:12-14).

According to these verses God’s children, his righteous ones, are going to flourish. We will have long, useful and fruitful lives. Not only that but we will grow old gracefully and still be fruitful and contented in old age. Now that is a promise!

However, all of this is also dependent on something, which is found in verse 13. In verse 13, we see that the condition is that we have a heart’s desire to be planted in his house and flourishing in his courts.

Does that mean we have to live in church all week? I don't think so. What that means is that we need to be in the presence of God as much as possible and then all these wonderful promises will be the result of that. Being in God's presence doesn't mean you have to spend all day on your knees; you can be mindful of his nearness while you are at work, shopping, doing chores or whatever. We can fellowship with God wherever we are and whatever we are doing. We need that desire for a close relationship and intimacy with him.

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