A Life that Experiences Life

The Bible says that knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. The only way that we will understand life and everything about life is if we know the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word. Jesus Christ is life Himself. When we have Jesus Christ then we have life because He is life.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; John 14:6a

When we were created by God, as He creates every human being in their mother’s womb, we were made in His image.

For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Psalm 139:13,14a

When we are born then He breathes in us the breath of life. We are made up of spirit, soul and body. The spirit gives life to the soul and the body.

Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Genesis 2:7

It is with the spirit that man communes with God. God is spirit and made man to have a relationship with Him and to fellowship with Him.

The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, Searching all the innermost parts of his being. Proverbs 20:27

However, due to sin, man’s relationship with God is broken and he no longer is in communication with God. Man’s conscience is guilty and is no longer clear. His conscience must be cleansed to come into a relationship with God. Man’s conscience is cleansed and cleared through receiving God’s Spirit. Man receives His Spirit through being born again spiritually. When man receives the Spirit of God then he receives the life of God and begins a relationship with God, the Father, through Jesus Christ, by becoming His child.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ John 3:6,7

Only God can remove the guilt within a man and cleanse his conscience through His Spirit. The Lord does this through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. When Jesus Christ died on the cross He took the sin of the world by being the Lamb of God. Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world, one time for all people, in order that He might bring us to God thereby restoring us to a right relationship with God.

 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29

For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God I Peter 3:18a

When Jesus Christ was raised from the dead then He received the authority over life and death and He gives life to all who believe in Him. For this reason, Christianity is different from all other religions of the world. All other religions worship and honor a dead leader and are a way of seeking to attain life but can not give life. Jesus Christ is the only One who gives life.

For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. John 5:21

Not only does Jesus Christ give life to us in this life but He gives life for all eternity to those who believe in Him. However, not only does Jesus give life to our spirit but He gives life to our soul. Our soul also died when we sinned and it is through our soul that we experience life. The soul is made up of our mind, will and emotions.

The soul who sins will die. Ezekiel 18:4b

The Lord gives us life and He cleanses our conscience when we believe His Word and receive His Spirit. Just as we received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior so we experience the life He came to give us by learning to walk in Him.

Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, Colossians 2:6

When we keep His commandments and do what He says in His Word then we live the abundant life that He gives to us when we receive Him. When we become a Christian we turn our back on our sin and turn ourselves to the Lord. We must continue to do this so that our souls will experience the gift of the life in Christ. We must learn to live according to His Word and we do this through the power of His Spirit. It is not enough just to hear His Word but we must do it.

Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. James 1:21-25

The Lord came to set us free from sin, from guilt, from defeat and all the other negative things that come through sin. He came to give us life. A true Christian will want to follow the Lord and do what He says in His Word. A true Christian will no longer enjoy sin. When a Christian sins, he does not lose his salvation, but he will no longer experience the joy of His salvation until he confesses his sin to the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord is faithful and will cleanse him from all of his sin.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:10,12

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9

If you have never received God’s Spirit and been born again then come to Jesus Christ or if you have gotten off of the path of life then come back to Jesus Christ. He will forgive you and He will restore you to Himself.

For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You. Psalm 86:5

A Life that Knows the Lord

Often people will ask, “How does someone know that they know the Lord?” You can tell if someone knows the Lord by their view of God.

For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
And abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You. Psalm 86:5

The Lord is good and He is ready to forgive and to show His great lovingkindness towards ALL who call upon Him. This is who the Lord is. If a person thinks that the Lord is anything other than this then that person does not know the Lord. It is crucial that we have the right view of God because if we do not then we will not want to come to Him and call upon Him. The enemy, the devil, tries to distort the correct view of who God is. He will put doubts and fears in your thinking or he will put a false assurance or no fear in your mind. The enemy will seek to swing the pendulum either way just as he did with Eve in the garden.

Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! Genesis 3:1-4

First he tried doubts, “Indeed has God said…” and then he tried false assurance, “You surely will not die!”. In all these generations since, the enemy has not changed his schemes because he knows they work. If he can get someone to respond to his doubtful ideas and lies then that person will sin.

so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes. II Corinthians 2:11

The Lord is who He is regardless of what anyone thinks of Him. He is good and no evil dwells with Him. The meaning of evil is to cause grief. We bring grief on ourselves when we respond to the enemy. There is only one response to the doubts and lies of the evil one, who wants to continually cause us grief. We must know the truth. The truth is in Jesus Christ and in His Word. He is the truth and His Word is the truth.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6

Your word is truth. John 17:17b

If we know the Lord then we will want to come to Him. The word “good” means the highest form of love and that is the kind of love that the Lord has for you. The Lord loves you with a perfect love and a perfect love casts out all fear.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. I John 4:18

This is the kind of love that sent Jesus Christ to the cross. A love that we cannot understand but a love that God offers to us if we will call upon Him. He is ready to forgive. He has proven His love by sending Jesus Christ to take the punishment for our sins. His love is perfect.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16

God stretched out His arms on the cross for you and for me. He loves the world and whoever believes in Him shall not perish in hell forever, but will live forever in heaven. God’s love is that simple. An offer for love, life, peace, security and unfathomable riches in Christ.

this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, Ephesians 3:8b

We receive Jesus Christ by faith and He comes and lives within our hearts through His Holy Spirit.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19

This is my prayer for whoever reads this post, that if they have never come to know the Lord in a personal way, that they will come into that relationship with Him through Jesus Christ and become a child of God.

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. I John 3:1a

If you have never prayed to Jesus Christ then here is a simple prayer that can help you as you begin a journey of knowing the Lord and His great love for you.

Dear Lord Jesus, You said that whoever will call upon You to be their Lord and Savior then You will save them. I am tired of trying to run my own life. I have sinned against God and others. Please forgive me of all of my sins and come into my life and make me the person You designed me to be. I surrender my life to You and want to trust you completely. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen

A Life Strong in Storms of Life

Building your life is like building a house. If it is done right then it will stand when the storms come. However, it is too late to build your life during the storms, it must be done during the sunshiney days. You will be secure and will not be fearful if you build it with the right foundation and the right materials.

Proverbs 14:1 A wise woman builds her house but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.

The wise woman builds her life on the Word of God so she will be ready when the storms come. She will gain wisdom through the trials to strengthen her life so that she will not  be anxious or depressed over the outcome. Neither will she be boastful for she understands that there is a Master Builder who has a design and a plan and He does not make mistakes.

I Corinthians 3:11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is the only foundation for any life that stands strong. Everything else will ultimately fail. A life must be built upon His Word, for He and His Word are equal.
Psalm 138:2 For You have magnified Your word according to all Your name.
The Lord invites all to come to Him. Listen to what He says and do it.

Luke 6:47-49 “Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and act on them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; an the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”

If you will do exactly as the Master Builder and One who made you has instructed you, then your life will be firmly rooted and will stand strong when the storms come. You will not panic because you acted wisely.

Proverbs 24:3 By wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established;

Finally, if you trust in the Lord and build your life on His Word then He will build it through you.

Psalm 127:1a Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;

 

 

A Life w/Good Choices Not Bad Choices

Life is as much about making the right choices as it is about not making the wrong choices. How many times have we said to ourselves, “that was a bad choice that I made” or “I am so glad that I made that good decision”. Hindsight always seems so much clearer than foresight and yet if we could see into the future the consequences of our decisions then how much sweeter life would be. Fewer regrets and much greater happiness would we have in our life. Not only in our own life but the lives of those who are affected by our decisions. The ripple effect of our lives is great as we have all experienced the ripple effect of the lives of others. Sometimes it is a good effect and sometimes the actions of others brings us much pain and grief.

For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality. Colossians 3:25

Wisdom is knowing the right decision to make that will bring great happiness.

How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.
For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.
She is more precious than jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are pleasant ways
And all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who hold her fast. Proverbs 3:13-18

We all want to know happiness and yet it eludes most people. We all want a long life that is pleasant and filled with peace and yet many never have hardly a day of peace. However, wisdom is more precious than jewels and nothing we desire compares with her. Many have money but no peace or happiness. Some have little money and yet their lives are filled with great joy. We all know that money will never buy happiness or peace.

My son, let them not vanish from your sight;
Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
So they will be life to your soul
And adornment to your neck.
Then you will walk in your way securely
And your foot will not stumble.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:21-24

Wisdom allows you to live in security and makes our sleep sweet. When we have wisdom then we are not afraid and we do not stumble through life. How true it is that nothing compares with wisdom. There is no substitute for wisdom. Prudence is the other side of the coin to wisdom. Wisdom is knowing the right decision to make and prudence is knowing how to avoid the wrong decision.

“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And I find knowledge and discretion. Proverbs 8:12

Both wisdom and prudence give insight into the consequences of decisions. Both are foresight and give much happiness and teaches us to avoid much heartache so that we don’t have to “guess” at the right decision or hope that the “benefits outweigh the costs”. The Lord gives wisdom and prudence.

For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
Guarding the paths of justice,
And He preserves the way of His godly ones.
Then you will discern righteousness and justice
And equity and every good course.
For wisdom will enter your heart
And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
Discretion will guard you,
Understanding will watch over you, Proverbs 2:6-11

What is so amazing about the Lord is that He promises to give wisdom to any and all who ask. He also gives it generously and without reproach, which means that He does not correct us for not acting wisely in the first place. Rather, He has been waiting to help us and wanting us to ask Him.

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5

Are you struggling in any area of your life? Do you have regrets? Do you need to make a decision and don’t know what to do? Ask the Lord. He will help. He will give you wisdom. Open a Bible and read what the Lord says about any topic or go to a Bible app or website and do a search on the word that describes your struggle. God’s Word is His source of wisdom. Ask Him to guide you in His Word. Every time that you need to make a decision, first ask the Lord. Each decision you make is another action that is building your life. Build it right and it will stand and bring you much security, peace and happiness.

By wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established;
And by knowledge the rooms are filled
With all precious and pleasant riches. Proverbs 24:3,4

A Life w/Good Choices Not Bad Choices

Life is as much about making the right choices as it is about not making the wrong choices. How many times have we said to ourselves, “that was a bad choice that I made” or “I am so glad that I made that good decision”. Hindsight always seems so much clearer than foresight and yet if we could see into the future the consequences of our decisions then how much sweeter life would be. Fewer regrets and much greater happiness would we have in our life. Not only in our own life but the lives of those who are affected by our decisions. The ripple effect of our lives is great as we have all experienced the ripple effect of the lives of others. Sometimes it is a good effect and sometimes the actions of others brings us much pain and grief.

For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality. Colossians 3:25

Wisdom is knowing the right decision to make that will bring great happiness.

How blessed is the man who finds wisdom
And the man who gains understanding.
For her profit is better than the profit of silver
And her gain better than fine gold.
She is more precious than jewels;
And nothing you desire compares with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
In her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are pleasant ways
And all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,
And happy are all who hold her fast. Proverbs 3:13-18

We all want to know happiness and yet it eludes most people. We all want a long life that is pleasant and filled with peace and yet many never have hardly a day of peace. However, wisdom is more precious than jewels and nothing we desire compares with her. Many have money but no peace or happiness. Some have little money and yet their lives are filled with great joy. We all know that money will never buy happiness or peace.

My son, let them not vanish from your sight;
Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
So they will be life to your soul
And adornment to your neck.
Then you will walk in your way securely
And your foot will not stumble.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:21-24

Wisdom allows you to live in security and makes our sleep sweet. When we have wisdom then we are not afraid and we do not stumble through life. How true it is that nothing compares with wisdom. There is no substitute for wisdom. Prudence is the other side of the coin to wisdom. Wisdom is knowing the right decision to make and prudence is knowing how to avoid the wrong decision.

“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And I find knowledge and discretion. Proverbs 8:12

Both wisdom and prudence give insight into the consequences of decisions. Both are foresight and give much happiness and teaches us to avoid much heartache so that we don’t have to “guess” at the right decision or hope that the “benefits outweigh the costs”. The Lord gives wisdom and prudence.

For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
Guarding the paths of justice,
And He preserves the way of His godly ones.
Then you will discern righteousness and justice
And equity and every good course.
For wisdom will enter your heart
And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
Discretion will guard you,
Understanding will watch over you, Proverbs 2:6-11

What is so amazing about the Lord is that He promises to give wisdom to any and all who ask. He also gives it generously and without reproach, which means that He does not correct us for not acting wisely in the first place. Rather, He has been waiting to help us and wanting us to ask Him.

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5

Are you struggling in any area of your life? Do you have regrets? Do you need to make a decision and don’t know what to do? Ask the Lord. He will help. He will give you wisdom. Open a Bible and read what the Lord says about any topic or go to a Bible app or website and do a search on the word that describes your struggle. God’s Word is His source of wisdom. Ask Him to guide you in His Word. Every time that you need to make a decision, first ask the Lord. Each decision you make is another action that is building your life. Build it right and it will stand and bring you much security, peace and happiness.

By wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established;
And by knowledge the rooms are filled
With all precious and pleasant riches. Proverbs 24:3,4

A Life with Forgiveness and Freedom

It is easy to misunderstand what is in God’s Word until one comes to know the Lord Jesus Christ in a personal relationship. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Jesus Christ is the truth. He is the source of all truth. There is no truth apart from Him.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

There is peace in knowing and understanding the truth. The truths in the Bible are like diamonds with many facets. The more we know then the more we understand and the more we understand then the more we are set free.

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31,32

To know the truth of what God says then we must first become a disciple of Jesus Christ. A disciple is one who believes in Jesus Christ and holds to His teaching. When we hold to His teaching then we seek to do what He says. Obedience to His teaching comes first and then understanding and knowledge. Many people want to understand first and then obey but the knowledge of truth comes after we hold to His teaching and do it. When we know the truth then the truth sets us free. When a person becomes a disciple of Jesus Christ then they receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth and the Holy Spirit leads a disciple of Jesus into the truth. The Holy Spirit sheds light on God’s Word and gives understanding.

When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. John 15:26

A disciple of Jesus Christ receives the Holy Spirit when he becomes a child of God. He is born again through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes and lives within him. He becomes spiritually alive and this is when he becomes a disciple of Jesus Christ. A true disciple will want to live according to God’s Word. He will want to be faithful to do His commandments. He will begin to understand the truths in God’s Word through learning and keeping His commandments. He will see that God’s commandments are not burdensome, but when obeyed, they bring freedom and joy. He will want to love God.

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. I John 5:3

Apart from God we can not understand the way to true freedom. It is God’s Word through our conscience that keeps us. When we choose to live the way we want to and not according to God’s Word then it is called sin and lawlessness.

Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. I John 3:4

The world feels that they are free from God’s Laws. However, when they break free from God’s Word then they are in what is called “free fall”. It is a state of feeling free because they have not experienced the consequences of when they “hit bottom” which will come either sooner or later. Either way, it will come and it will be painful. Lawlessness is sin and sin brings death.

For the wages of sin is death, Romans 6:23a

The death for the one who chooses not to be a disciple of Jesus Christ is an eternal death, which is an eternal separation from God. It is being in a state of torment for eternity.

And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Revelation 20:10

For the Christian who sins, this person will experience death to his soul and his fellowship with God will be broken.

you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? Romans 6:16b

When the Christian sins, the death that he experiences in his soul is the regret and shame that he feels. He has grieved the Spirit of God within him. However, he can repent, that is, turn away from his sin, and confess his sin to the Lord. He can then experience God’s forgiveness once again and come back into fellowship with the Lord.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I john 1:9

When an unsaved person, that is, one who has not yet given his heart to the Lord Jesus Christ to be His disciple, sins then he too can experience God’s forgiveness and cleansing from his sin if he will come to Jesus Christ also. If he repents, that is, turns from his sin and confesses his need for a Lord and Savior then he will be forgiven, saved and set free from his sin.

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:9-13

For Jesus Christ came for this purpose to set all men free from death and He came to give all men life. He came that He might bring us to God.

For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; I Peter 3:18

This gift of life is for all. However, only those who receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will experience this great gift of God’s love and forgiveness and become His child and His disciple.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, John 1:12

Have you experienced the love of God in your life? Have you known the cleansing of your heart and conscience? Have you experienced the forgiveness of all of your sins? The Bible says that “today” is the day of salvation. Come to Jesus Christ. There is no one who has sinned too much and there is no one whom the Lord does not love and want as His child. Come to Jesus Christ. He loved you so much that He died for you.

Coming to Jesus Christ is acknowledging your need for Him and surrendering your heart and life to Jesus Christ. Believing that Jesus Christ died on the cross for you, was buried and rose again. He lives today. Receiving Him as your Lord and Savior. If you have never prayed and asked Jesus Christ to come into your life then you can today. Pray to Him. Prayer is expressing your heart to the Lord. Tell Him that you are coming to Him and you want Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior. He is faithful and if you genuinely mean what you pray then He will answer you.

And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. I John 5:11-15

Jesus Christ is the way to true freedom and forgiveness. He is the only way. There are no other religions who can offer this great gift and He is the only Savior. He is Lord of lords and King of kings. He is alive today.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16.

A Life Knowing and Respecting God

The Bible says that knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. If we want to understand anything then we must know the Lord Jesus Christ. He gives understanding. If we want to be happy then we must read the directions of the One who created everything. Just as anything, if we don’t read the directions then we will generally make a mess of whatever it is we are trying to do or fix.

And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10b

Another word for directions is instructions. The Lord gives instruction in what He has created.

The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility. Proverbs 15:33

The fear of the Lord means that we respect Him and listen to Him. Humility is recognizing that we do not know everything and we need to know the instructions that the Lord gives us. It is acknowledging that the Lord knows more than we do about everything and therefore we need His help in everything. When we read His Word with humility then we learn to fear Him because we realize that He knows far more than we do.

Establish Your word to Your servant, As that which produces reverence for You. Psalm 119:38

We can not even fear and respect God on our own. It is not in us but if we humbly come to Him and spend time in His Word then He will put within us a healthy fear and respect for Him. A healthy fear of God allows us to see His great love for us. It removes all unhealthy fear. Unhealthy fear involves punishment and the Lord does not punish His children. Jesus Christ took the punishment on the cross for all of mankind. Those who receive what He has done for all of us escape the punishment of God and they come into a love relationship with God.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. I John 4:18

When we come into a love relationship with God then we become His child. When we become His child then we begin the most amazing journey of living in His love.

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. I John 3:1-3

When we become His child then we enter into a love story that never ends and is a journey for much joy and peace. We become His masterpiece of Him transforming us into His likeness. He is good and He is love and that is His design for us. He takes our defeats and He gives us His victory. He takes our failures and gives us success. He begins a good work in us and does not ever give up on us.

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

The Lord begins making us into the person that we long to be. He does not change our personality and the uniqueness of who He made us to be but He sets us free from the very things that destroy who He designed us to be and the person we want to be.

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, That one may avoid the snares of death. Proverbs 14:27

The death that we experience when we fall into a snare is the defeat, the regrets, the guilt and the destruction we experience when we don’t follow His instructions. This is an eternal death for the one who has not received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and it is a temporary, but none the less, real death to the soul for the Christian. It is not His will that any should experience death or for any to perish.

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. II Peter 3:9

Repentance is acknowledging that we do not know what we need and that He does know and has all knowledge. Repentance is turning to God for help and turning from the other “things” that we looked to to help us.

Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; Acts 3:19

When we look to the Lord and fear Him by coming to Him and acknowledging that we need Him then He will meet us and He will set us free and give us life.

You meet him who rejoices in doing righteousness, Who remembers You in Your ways. Isaiah 64:5b

Jesus Christ came to give life and not only that, but He wants to give us an abundant life. It is the devil who robs us of life. Jesus Christ defeated the devil on the cross and offers life to any who will come to Him.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10

Are you weary of your defeats in life? Are you tired of the guilt? Do you have broken relationships? Do you have regrets? Do you feel as though you are just seeking to survive and do the “best you can” but it is never good enough? Are you tired of doing life on your own? Then come to Him. Jesus Christ love you and He offers you a life of peace, joy and love. He came to give you life.

 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

A Life Knowing and Respecting God

The Bible says that knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. If we want to understand anything then we must know the Lord Jesus Christ. He gives understanding. If we want to be happy then we must read the directions of the One who created everything. Just as anything, if we don’t read the directions then we will generally make a mess of whatever it is we are trying to do or fix.

And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10b

Another word for directions is instructions. The Lord gives instruction in what He has created.

The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility. Proverbs 15:33

The fear of the Lord means that we respect Him and listen to Him. Humility is recognizing that we do not know everything and we need to know the instructions that the Lord gives us. It is acknowledging that the Lord knows more than we do about everything and therefore we need His help in everything. When we read His Word with humility then we learn to fear Him because we realize that He knows far more than we do.

Establish Your word to Your servant, As that which produces reverence for You. Psalm 119:38

We can not even fear and respect God on our own. It is not in us but if we humbly come to Him and spend time in His Word then He will put within us a healthy fear and respect for Him. A healthy fear of God allows us to see His great love for us. It removes all unhealthy fear. Unhealthy fear involves punishment and the Lord does not punish His children. Jesus Christ took the punishment on the cross for all of mankind. Those who receive what He has done for all of us escape the punishment of God and they come into a love relationship with God.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. I John 4:18

When we come into a love relationship with God then we become His child. When we become His child then we begin the most amazing journey of living in His love.

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. I John 3:1-3

When we become His child then we enter into a love story that never ends and is a journey for much joy and peace. We become His masterpiece of Him transforming us into His likeness. He is good and He is love and that is His design for us. He takes our defeats and He gives us His victory. He takes our failures and gives us success. He begins a good work in us and does not ever give up on us.

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

The Lord begins making us into the person that we long to be. He does not change our personality and the uniqueness of who He made us to be but He sets us free from the very things that destroy who He designed us to be and the person we want to be.

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, That one may avoid the snares of death. Proverbs 14:27

The death that we experience when we fall into a snare is the defeat, the regrets, the guilt and the destruction we experience when we don’t follow His instructions. This is an eternal death for the one who has not received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and it is a temporary, but none the less, real death to the soul for the Christian. It is not His will that any should experience death or for any to perish.

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. II Peter 3:9

Repentance is acknowledging that we do not know what we need and that He does know and has all knowledge. Repentance is turning to God for help and turning from the other “things” that we looked to to help us.

Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; Acts 3:19

When we look to the Lord and fear Him by coming to Him and acknowledging that we need Him then He will meet us and He will set us free and give us life.

You meet him who rejoices in doing righteousness, Who remembers You in Your ways. Isaiah 64:5b

Jesus Christ came to give life and not only that, but He wants to give us an abundant life. It is the devil who robs us of life. Jesus Christ defeated the devil on the cross and offers life to any who will come to Him.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10

Are you weary of your defeats in life? Are you tired of the guilt? Do you have broken relationships? Do you have regrets? Do you feel as though you are just seeking to survive and do the “best you can” but it is never good enough? Are you tired of doing life on your own? Then come to Him. Jesus Christ love you and He offers you a life of peace, joy and love. He came to give you life.

 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

A Life with Unfathomable Riches

What a sweet feeling it is to know that you are rich. When a person is rich then they often feel more secure and more confident in their decisions. They wake up each day not worrying about what they will eat or where they will sleep. It is a wonderful experience to live with each day. However, there are true riches and there are temporary riches. True riches a person can not lose but temporary riches can be like a figment in one’s own imagination.

A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own imagination. Proverbs 18:11

True riches are a blessing and there is no sorrow with them. Temporary riches often will come at a cost that the acquirer is not aware of until it is too late. The grief that often comes from temporary riches is not worth the wealth that was gained.

It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, And He adds no sorrow to it. Proverbs 10:22

True riches are a gift from a giver and can not be worked for by the receiver. True riches are given out of love for the recipient and are not deserved.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16

For God so loved all of mankind that He gave His only begotten Son. Encompassed in that amazing gift are unfathomable riches for those who receive the gift.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, John 1:12

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. John 6:47

It is wonderful news that these riches are made available to all. Jesus Christ came to take away the sin of the world. This sin was a horrible debt that weighs on all of us. This sin that Jesus Christ came to take was the guilt that all of us bear. It is that ugly desire that we all have in our hearts of wanting to have our own way. It is selfishness expressed at the expense of others. It is seen in the grief that we have brought to those we love and those whom we don’t love. One of the meanings of evil is to cause grief and when we are honest with ourselves, we have all caused someone else grief. We may try to forget it or bury it within ourselves. We may not even acknowledge it but we all know that it is true. We have all failed in the true measure of a person and that is to treat others the way we want to be treated. In other words, we all want to be loved and respected. Jesus Christ took this guilt and our sin that caused our guilt on Himself when He went to the cross.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. II Corinthians 5:21

This gift was a mystery spoken of many times in past generations but was not made known until Jesus Christ came. The gift of God’s love and eternal life to the entire world, expressed through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, … that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, Ephesians 3:4b-9

No one fully understood that the Messiah was coming for the entire world to be saved. Not only to bear their guilt and shame on the cross but to be made fellow heirs and fellow members and fellow partakers of the promise in Jesus Christ, who was the Messiah. He is the Savior of the world.

We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. I John 4:14

The unfathomable riches of Jesus Christ are available as a gift to any who will call upon Him. He takes away the debilitating debt of sin and guilt and gives us the true riches of forgiveness in Jesus Christ. There is no sorrow in these true riches but there is unending joy.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace Ephesians 1:7

There is no burden of grief in these unfathomable riches but sweet freedom of relief… freedom from sin and freedom from guilt.

So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36

There is no shame in these true riches but wonderful cleansing that the Lord gives within a person’s heart.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9

Temporary riches can be a blessing if gained and used wisely but not at the expense of our souls.

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?  For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:36,37

At the end of our life, and no one knows when that will be, any temporary riches gained in this world will be left behind but the unfathomable riches of our eternal life will go with us. They are given to us at the time of our salvation when we give our life to Jesus Christ and believe in Him and receive Him as our Lord and Savior.

A Life of Much Gladness

Gladness is different from joy. Joy comes from the presence of the Lord. The Bible says, “in Thy presence is fulness of Joy”. Gladness comes from loving what is right and doing it. Gladness comes from a clear conscience that you did the right thing earlier and so you are not fearful about being questioned or being caught.  Gladness is closely related to happiness. If you love the right thing and do what is right you will be happier than all of your friends.

Hebrews 1:9 “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above your companions.”

Not only will you have gladness but you will also not walk in darkness for you will have the light of the Lord.

Psalm 97:11 Light is sown like seed for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart.

When others go their own way if you will seek the Lord and walk with Him then you will see that He will give you a witness of Himself and that He is good by giving you a fruitful life and will satisfy your heart with gladness.

Acts 14:16,17 In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”

However, when you walk with the Lord the gladness that the Lord gives you will even be greater than the gladness that you have when you have been blessed with an abundance on this earth. He will give you a gladness in your heart that transcends the blessings of this life on earth and you will sing for joy all the days of your life if only you will seek Him with all of your heart.

Psalm 4:6b,7 Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord!
You have put gladness in my heart,
More than when their grain and new wine abound.

When the Lord’s countenance shines on you then you will reflect the Lord to the world and your heart will be glad. His countenance shining on you is an expression of His favor. There is no sweeter experience than to have the favor of the Lord on your life. When you walk with the Lord in the light of His countenance then it truly is a taste of heaven on earth and is what the Lord designed for us in the garden of Eden.

Psalm 30:10-12 “Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me;
O Lord, be my helper.”
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,
That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

The Lord is the only One who can change our mourning into dancing and loose the things that make us sad and clothe us with gladness. If you heart is sad then let Him do this for you today. Taste and see that the Lord is good and follow Him with all of your heart that you may sing for joy all the days of your life.