Tag: #Christian

A Life with Faith

All of us have faith but it is not our faith that helps us or saves us but it is the object of our faith. Some people have faith in themselves and some people have faith in others or institutions or even objects. Faith is trust and it is within us to trust something or someone. However, if what we have put our trust or faith in is not trustworthy and faithful then it will produce fear within us.

Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

I Corinthians 4:2

Trust is the opposite of fear. Trust gives us security and fear removes security and gives insecurity. If we sat in a chair and did not have trust that it would hold us up then we would be fearful of falling and hurting ourself. If we marry someone but we can’t trust their faithfulness in the marriage then we will feel insecure. Insecurity brings on jealousy and stress that will eventually destroy us. We will also be tempted to do all sorts of things to try to give ourselves the security which we long for but will be impossible to obtain if the person or object of our trust is untrustworthy or unfaithful. True faith allows one to rest in the one he trusts in.

God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. Hebrews 6:18

The Lord Jesus Christ is the only One who is trustworthy for He can not lie. He proved His love by dying on the cross for the world, for you and for me. There is no one beyond His love. He offers forgiveness and eternal life to all. However, we must believe what He said. Faith is an act of the will and we must have faith in His Word. Feelings follow faith. We do not live by feelings but we live according to the decisions that we make with our will by faith.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

The only promises that God makes that will help us and save us are the ones that we believe.

For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. Hebrews 4:2

The Bible says that the righteous shall live by faith. Trust in the Lord and in His Word is what pleases the Lord God. We try to please God by being “good”, which we can never be good enough. It is trusting in His goodness, His faithfulness and in His Word that pleases Him, The Lord wants us to seek Him, not seek to be “good”, for we will always fail in being “good enough” for God. Our “good” will never be able to outweigh the “bad” which we have done for we have all sinned.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23

Eternal salvation is eternal life and is a free gift from God, that can never be earned. It is from God and it is received by faith.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

Eternal life and salvation begins the moment that one puts their faith in the Lord and receives Him as the only Savior and Lord. There is salvation in no one else. Nothing else can be trusted in. Everything will eventually fail us.

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Are you in trouble? Are you struggling? Do you want to live forever in God’s love? Do you long for forgiveness? Do you realize that you can never be “good enough” for God and that your “good works” can never outweigh your “bad deeds”? Come to Him.

“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. Matthew 11: 28, 29

Jesus Christ invites us to come to Him. He longs to show us His love. He longs to wrap His love around us. He longs for give us rest.

Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him. Isaiah 30:18

He loves you and came for you and He is asking you to come to Him. He wants you to receive His gift of love, which is present salvation and eternal salvation. His love is a gift and is a decision that is made in faith. You will not be disappointed. This is the promise He makes to you but you must believe and trust in His Word.

For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” Romans 10:11

The following is a simple explanation of how to receive God’s gift of love and forgiveness in and through Jesus Christ:

A: Acknowledge that you have messed up and can never be “good enough” and that you need a Savior and Lord. “for all have sinned” Romans 3:23

B; Believe in what Jesus Christ did on the cross to save you. “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. Believe that He died, was buried and rose again. He is alive today and will become the Savior of those who put their trust in Him the moment they choose to believe in Him to be their personal Lord and Savior.

C: Confess Jesus Christ as Lord of all and Lord of your life. “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.” Romans 10:9,10

Prayer is talking to God, through Jesus Christ. A simple prayer that can be prayed to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior is:

Dear God, I need you. I have failed in my actions, my thoughts and my life. I can never be perfect. Will you please forgive me of all of my failures and forgive me for never being “good enough” to please you. Thank you for your love in sending your Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for me to forgive me of all of my failure and offering eternal life. By faith, I receive the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ and what He did for me. Thank you for giving me eternal life and for the privilege of becoming your child. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray this prayer, Amen

If you prayed this prayer: The moment you receive Jesus Christ you become God’s child. “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. Your sins are forgiven and you have been transferred into God’s kingdom and rescued from Satan’s kingdom. “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13,14. You also become the recipient of God’s great love. “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. You have eternal life. “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.” I John 5:11-13

If you prayed this prayer of receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior then by faith, pray and thank Him for each of these things that He has done for you.

Start reading your Bible and do what He tells you to do so that you will learn to live in His love for you. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.” I John 5:3

If you would like a free Bible then please email us at: reply@instructionstoayounglife.com

A Life with Faith

All of us have faith but it is not our faith that helps us or saves us but it is the object of our faith. Some people have faith in themselves and some people have faith in others or institutions or even objects. Faith is trust and it is within us to trust something or someone. However, if what we have put our trust or faith in is not trustworthy and faithful then it will produce fear within us.

Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

I Corinthians 4:2

Trust is the opposite of fear. Trust gives us security and fear removes security and gives insecurity. If we sat in a chair and did not have trust that it would hold us up then we would be fearful of falling and hurting ourself. If we marry someone but we can’t trust their faithfulness in the marriage then we will feel insecure. Insecurity brings on jealousy and stress that will eventually destroy us. We will also be tempted to do all sorts of things to try to give ourselves the security which we long for but will be impossible to obtain if the person or object of our trust is untrustworthy or unfaithful. True faith allows one to rest in the one he trusts in.

God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. Hebrews 6:18

The Lord Jesus Christ is the only One who is trustworthy for He can not lie. He proved His love by dying on the cross for the world, for you and for me. There is no one beyond His love. He offers forgiveness and eternal life to all. However, we must believe what He said. Faith is an act of the will and we must have faith in His Word. Feelings follow faith. We do not live by feelings but we live according to the decisions that we make with our will by faith.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

The only promises that God makes that will help us and save us are the ones that we believe.

For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. Hebrews 4:2

The Bible says that the righteous shall live by faith. Trust in the Lord and in His Word is what pleases the Lord God. We try to please God by being “good”, which we can never be good enough. It is trusting in His goodness, His faithfulness and in His Word that pleases Him, The Lord wants us to seek Him, not seek to be “good”, for we will always fail in being “good enough” for God. Our “good” will never be able to outweigh the “bad” which we have done for we have all sinned.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23

Eternal salvation is eternal life and is a free gift from God, that can never be earned. It is from God and it is received by faith.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

Eternal life and salvation begins the moment that one puts their faith in the Lord and receives Him as the only Savior and Lord. There is salvation in no one else. Nothing else can be trusted in. Everything will eventually fail us.

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Are you in trouble? Are you struggling? Do you want to live forever in God’s love? Do you long for forgiveness? Do you realize that you can never be “good enough” for God and that your “good works” can never outweigh your “bad deeds”? Come to Him.

“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. Matthew 11: 28, 29

Jesus Christ invites us to come to Him. He longs to show us His love. He longs to wrap His love around us. He longs for give us rest.

Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him. Isaiah 30:18

He loves you and came for you and He is asking you to come to Him. He wants you to receive His gift of love, which is present salvation and eternal salvation. His love is a gift and is a decision that is made in faith. You will not be disappointed. This is the promise He makes to you but you must believe and trust in His Word.

For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” Romans 10:11

The following is a simple explanation of how to receive God’s gift of love and forgiveness in and through Jesus Christ:

A: Acknowledge that you have messed up and can never be “good enough” and that you need a Savior and Lord. “for all have sinned” Romans 3:23

B; Believe in what Jesus Christ did on the cross to save you. “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. Believe that He died, was buried and rose again. He is alive today and will become the Savior of those who put their trust in Him the moment they choose to believe in Him to be their personal Lord and Savior.

C: Confess Jesus Christ as Lord of all and Lord of your life. “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.” Romans 10:9,10

Prayer is talking to God, through Jesus Christ. A simple prayer that can be prayed to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior is:

Dear God, I need you. I have failed in my actions, my thoughts and my life. I can never be perfect. Will you please forgive me of all of my failures and forgive me for never being “good enough” to please you. Thank you for your love in sending your Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for me to forgive me of all of my failure and offering eternal life. By faith, I receive the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ and what He did for me. Thank you for giving me eternal life and for the privilege of becoming your child. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray this prayer, Amen

If you prayed this prayer: The moment you receive Jesus Christ you become God’s child. “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. Your sins are forgiven and you have been transferred into God’s kingdom and rescued from Satan’s kingdom. “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13,14. You also become the recipient of God’s great love. “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. You have eternal life. “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.” I John 5:11-13

If you prayed this prayer of receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior then by faith, pray and thank Him for each of these things that He has done for you.

Start reading your Bible and do what He tells you to do so that you will learn to live in His love for you. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.” I John 5:3

If you would like a free Bible then please email us at: reply@instructionstoayounglife.com

A Life with Times of Refreshing

Just as our bodies can become weary so our souls can become weary also. Sometimes our bodies can be in a dry and weary place where there is not much water or rest. Just as cold water and rest can refresh the body so also God’s presence can bring times of refreshing to the spirit and soul.

Acts 3:19 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;

We may need to repent if we have never come to Jesus Christ to forgive us our sin and to give us eternal life. Repentance is turning away from sin and turning to the Lord. We are either going toward God or we are going toward sin. God desires that all come to repentance and that none perish.

II Peter 3:9 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.

We need to repent if we have gotten away from having Jesus Christ be our “first love” and the lover of our soul and the giver of life. It is easy to become busy with life and fill our lives with “good things” and forget that the Christian life is a love relationship with Jesus Christ. Or, we may just have gotten our eyes off of Jesus Christ and have been trying to live the Christian life on our own and allowed it to become a life of “do this and don’t do that”.

Revelation 2:4,5 But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.

We may need to repent if we are a Christian and have become ensnared with a particular sin and are experiencing death to our soul, which is the defeat and guilt that we feel when we know that we are not living in a way pleasing to Him. Sin can cause weariness. Whatever it is that is causing our weariness, it is not design.

Matthew 11:28-30 “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.”

Come to the Lord Jesus if you are weary and heavy laden. He will give you rest. Repent, if you have gotten away from Him and have left your first love. Do the things you did at first when you first became a Christian. Remember how you marveled at how great a love that He has for you. Remember how His grace was poured out on your life and you experienced His forgiveness and cleansing? Repent and return to Him in order that times of refreshing may come from His presence. In His presence there is fullness of joy and in His right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11 You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

It is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance in order that He might bless us.

Romans 2:4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

 

A Life Whose Debt is Canceled

We owe a debt we can not pay and there is One who paid a debt He did not owe. We were helpless and at the right time, our debt was paid and our certificate of death was canceled.

Romans 5:6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

When Jesus Christ came and became the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, He became our substitute and took the punishment that we deserved and paid the debt that we owed. Death was what we had earned by going our own way and doing our own thing. We wanted to rule our own lives rather than have the One who made us and created us to be in relationship with Him, to rule us. Sin is wanting to be your own god and the outcome is death spiritually, death to our soul and the death of our body.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Wages is what we deserve but a gift is what we do not deserve and have not done anything to work for it. We earned and deserved death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. When He becomes our Lord then we receive the gift of eternal life and with the gift of life comes the cancellation of the certificate of death.

Isaiah 28:16-18a Therefore thus says the Lord God,

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone,
A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed.
He who believes will not be disturbed.
“I will make justice the measuring line
And righteousness the level;
Then hail will sweep away the refuge of lies
And the waters will overflow the secret place.
 “Your covenant with death will be canceled,

When we become a Christian then our eyes are opened to the lies that we took comfort in and the secret places of our heart where our sins dwell. Jesus is the foundation and that Cornerstone God sent on which He will build His church. Those who believe in Him will not be disappointed but those who do not believe and are disobedient to His Word will stumble over the rock of Christ and experience doom.

I Peter 2:6-8 For this is contained in Scripture:

“Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious cornerstone,
And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,

“The stone which the builders rejected,
This became the very cornerstone,”and,

“A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”;

for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.

Those who believe in Him, not only do they receive life and their certificate of death is canceled but the accusations and certificate consisting of decrees against them is canceled. He nailed it to the cross. The certificate of decrees against you are all of the sins that you have ever committed or will ever commit. Everything that you have ever done wrong is recorded and that record was nailed to the cross. (Those who do not believe in Jesus Christ, the record of all of their sins will be read on Judgment Day and they will have to pay their own debt for their sins.)

Colossians 2:13,14 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

When you were dead in your sins, Christ died for you, and made you alive together with Him. He has forgiven you of all of your wrongdoings. Because Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and lives, you also became alive and will be raised from the dead and will live forever with Him IF you have received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and the gift of eternal life in Him. The gift is offered to all but only given to those who will receive it. For God so loved everyone in the world that He gave His Son.

John 3:16 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.

You must call on the Lord Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior to receive Christ into your life and be saved. When He saves you then He also forgives you and gives you the gift of eternal life.

Romans 10:11-13 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.”

He who has Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has the life. He who does not have Christ does not have the life. These things have been written for you who believe in Jesus Christ in order that you may know that you have eternal life. Your debt of sin and certificate of death is canceled forever.

I John 5:12,13 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.

 

 

 

A Life with Great Comfort

We all need comfort. Without comfort we wither on the inside and dry up. It is what nurtures and restores our souls. Comfort is like the spring rains that come and bring refreshment to the earth. Comfort brings healing to our hurts.

Ask rain from the Lord at the time of the spring rain— The Lord who makes the storm clouds; And He will give them showers of rain, vegetation in the field to each man. Zechariah 10:1

It is the Lord that gives comfort. He will come to us like the spring rain when we seek Him, that is, when we press on to know Him.

“So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth.” Hosea 6:3

When we press on to know the Lord then not only do we receive comfort for our soul but He also restores us. The Lord gave us His Holy Spirit so that we would know His great comfort and be restored.

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; John 14:16

A characteristic of the Helper, who is the Holy Spirit, is that He brings comfort to those who belong to Jesus Christ.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. John 14:26

It is the Holy Spirit who brings comfort. He is given to all who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The Lord cleanses our conscience and heart when we receive Him. When our conscience has been cleansed then we can hear the voice of the Lord. He is our Good Shepherd and we are His sheep.

I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. John 10:11

His sheep hear His voice.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; John 10:27

God is a God of comfort. He is the God of all comfort, who comforts us in our afflictions and troubles. His comfort is abundant in Christ.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. II Corinthians 1:3-5

Are you struggling? Let the Lord comfort you through His Holy Spirit. Let the Holy Spirit bring to your remembrance the comforting Words of Christ. The Lord did not give the Holy Spirit to convict Christians but to comfort them. (The Holy Spirit does not convict Christians but the Holy Spirit convicts non Christians. It is the conscience of the Christian that reveals to him his wrong and he grieves or quenches the Holy Spirit. For this reason it is crucial that a Christian keep a clear conscience.) Conviction involves judgment and judgment involves punishment and condemnation. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. Jesus Christ took the judgment for our sins on the cross. He took our punishment and our condemnation. He never sinned and never did any wrong. All of us have sinned.

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1

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

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

It is Jesus Christ who died for the sins of the world and was raised again. It is Jesus Christ who brings us to God. It is Jesus Christ who gives us His righteousness. It is in Jesus Christ that we have great comfort.

“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

Are you struggling? Do you feel as though there is no one to comfort you? Do you feel as though there is no hope? Does your soul need to be restored? Come to Him. He is the only One who knows you perfectly and understands your hurts and needs. He will come to all who call on Him.

“For these things I weep; My eyes run down with water; Because far from me is a comforter, One who restores my soul. Lamentations 1:16a

The Lord is the Good Shepherd if you are His child. He will bring you comfort and restore your soul if you come to Him. That is who He is.

The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3

A Life Understanding Life

The Bible says that the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. We all long for understanding. Have you ever said to yourself, “I don’t understand” or “I wish I understood”?

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10

When we don’t know what to do we lack understanding.

For they are a nation lacking in counsel, And there is no understanding in them. Deuteronomy 32:28

Understanding is a very interesting characteristic. It can be gained and it can be lost.

He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good. Proverbs 19:8

Harlotry, wine and new wine take away the understanding. Hosea 4:11

Understanding has many benefits and without it much grief is experienced. It gives life and can bring about death.

Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, Proverbs 16:22

But fools die for lack of understanding. Proverbs 10:21b

To the Lord belongs understanding.

With Him are wisdom and might; To Him belong counsel and understanding. Job 12:13

Understanding produces favor for the one who has it. Without it life is hard.

Good understanding produces favor, But the way of the treacherous is hard. Proverbs 13:15

Understanding makes knowledge easy. A scoffer is one who turns their back on God and does not seek Him, therefore he lacks in understanding.

A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none, But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding. Proverbs 14:6

Understanding is more valuable than silver.

How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver. Proverbs 16:16

Whether building a house, a life, a career, a marriage, a business or any other endeavor it is only by understanding that it will be established.

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

A lack of understanding brings about ruin.

So the people without understanding are ruined. Hosea 4:14b

If we want understanding then we must depart from evil. Another word for departing from evil is repentance, which means turning from doing what is wrong and turning to the Lord. We can’t have both good and bad. We can’t continue doing what we know is wrong and experience good through having understanding.

And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding. Job 28:28

The Lord does not despise any but wants to give to all understanding, if they will only come to Him then He will give understanding.

Behold, God is mighty but does not despise any; He is mighty in strength of understanding. Job 36:5

God’s Word gives understanding.

The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. Psalm 119:130

God’s understanding is infinite.

Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite. Psalm 147:5

There is nothing beyond His understanding. Do you want to understand yourself or your spouse or life or death? Do you long for resolution in certain areas that you don’t understand? Are you weary of trying to figure things out on your own? Come to Jesus. He is calling you.

“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 22:28-30

A Life that Lives Above Circumstances

There is a promise in the Bible that is an amazing promise and it is one that says if you do a certain thing then you will ride on the heights of the earth. This means that you will live above the circumstances of every day life. However, as with many of His promises, there is a condition. What does the Lord require of you to live this incredible life?

Isaiah 58:13,14 “If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot
From doing your own pleasure on My holy day,
And call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable,
And honor it, desisting from your own ways,
From seeking your own pleasure
And speaking your own word,
Then you will take delight in the Lord,
And I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;
And I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father,
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

The Lord established the Sabbath commandment at the beginning of creation when the Lord Himself rested on the seventh day of the week. Was He tired? No, the Bible says that the Lord God does not get tired.

Isaiah 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable.

The Lord was setting the pattern for work and for life by His example. He does not only teach us but He shows us how to live life. He gave us a day of rest because He is good. He did not make man for the Sabbath but the Sabbath for man.

Mark 2:27 Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.

Often people will say that they wish they had a day where they did not have to do anything. He has given us a day every week to rest and become refreshed in our relationship with Him. It is not “family day” or a day that we can do things we want to do and because we enjoy them then it is not considered work. No, rather He makes it very clear that we are not to do our own pleasure or live life our way. We are not to seek our own pleasure or speak our own words but we are to honor Him by honoring His holy day. He says that if we do this then we will ride on the heights of the earth.  Holy means that it is set a part for Him.

Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,

This is the Apostle John speaking. Since Jesus Christ rose again from the dead on Sunday, the first day of the week, Sunday became the Sabbath day for the Christians after the resurrection. Sunday became the day that was set a part from the other days of the week so that they might get together and worship the Lord and rest.

Deuteronomy 5:12-14 ‘Observe the sabbath day to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant or your ox or your donkey or any of your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you, so that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.

The Lord considered the setting aside one day a week and not doing any work so important that He made it one of the Ten commandments. You will find that if you will keep this commandment then the quality of your life will become much better and you will also “take delight in the Lord”, as He promises.

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.

One of the beautiful characteristics of the Lord is that He does not make you do anything. You don’t have to obey any of His commandments. However, because He is so incredibly good He promises a reward if we delight ourselves in Him. He will give us the desires of our heart.

 

 

 

 

A Life that is Moral

Morality and immorality are opposites. Immorality is exchanging eternal values for  temporal values. Esau was immoral by trading his birthright for a meal. His birthright was his so why was his action immoral? His birthright was what had eternal value and the meal had temporal value.

Hebrews 12:16 that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.

If we do not wait for God’s timing then we are also godless. Esau would have gotten some food but he could not wait.

Isaiah 64:4 For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear,
Nor has the eye seen a God besides You,
Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him.

The Lord has far more for you than what you can see or have heard of if you will only wait for Him.

Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,

He can even do more than what you can think of if you will only trust Him and wait for Him.

James 1:16,17 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

Do not be deceived and listen to the lies of the devil that come out of the world or that even come into your thoughts. The Lord wants to give you good things and perfect gifts.

Isaiah 55:8,9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Learn to think His thoughts and learn His ways. His thoughts are revealed to us in His Word and that is also how we learn His ways. He has given His Word to us. It is His revelation of who He is. It is the only way that we know the only true God. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us through Jesus Christ.

Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.

He wants to teach us His ways and He wants us to observe His Words, by observing He means to study, know and obey them.

Psalm 25:4 Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths.

Are you thinking His thoughts and learning His ways. It is a lifelong process and the more we know His ways then the more we will know Him and experience His good gifts. That is why the Lord says over and over again in His Word that the ones who keep His commandments and follow His ways are blessed. Morality is keeping His ways and being obedient to His Words, which are eternal values. Immorality is doing what you want to do and satisfying your flesh, which are temporal values.

A Life that Responds Correctly to Anger

Anger is such a destructive force in relationships and in families but if it is responded to in the correct way then it will dissolve much more quickly before the damage in done. Often, for a young lady, many of her relationships are ones that she did not choose, for instance, she may have a relative or a boss that has an issue with anger. Anger causes men and women to do things that they would never have done in their sane mind.

Genesis 49:6 “Let my soul not enter into their council; Let not my glory be united with their assembly; Because in their anger they slew men, And in their self-will they lamed oxen.

If you have a choice, then choose friends who do not have an issue with anger. The Lord says to not go with a man given to anger. A person who is slow to anger is like the Lord, for He is slow to anger.

Exodus 34:6 Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth;

Even though the Lord is slow to anger He still is a just God who will render judgment and recompense to all men. Slow to anger does not mean that you are passive, rather it means that you are God controlled.

Numbers 14:18 ‘The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generations.’

However, how do you respond to a person in authority over you when they become angry? First, be sure of your position, that it is the position of what the Lord stands for in His Word. Check your attitude and make sure that you are entirely dependent on the Lord and that you have no will of you own but only to do His will. Then, once you know that you are doing what is right, do not give in or be intimidated. Stand firm.

Ecclesiastes 10:4 If the ruler’s temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses.

If you must respond then make sure that your gentleness speaks louder than your words. The Bibles says that a king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion. It is frightening.

Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

What if you are the one who has been defeated by anger in your own self? If anger is something that you struggle with then you must give it to the Lord. Basically, most anger comes when we do not get our way. Anger is the opposite of self control. Self control is part of the fruit of the spirit. Do you feed your flesh with worldly passions and desires for that quenches your spirit and you will not be able to have self control when you need it. All men and women respect someone who can control his own spirit.

Proverbs 16:32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.

Only a fool allows his anger to take control of him.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, For anger resides in the bosom of fools.

If you find yourself angry then get away from the situation and through it all call upon the Lord to help you. Ask the Lord for wisdom and prudence so that you will know how to respond to the situation in a way that will cause people to respect you rather than lose respect for you.

Proverbs 12:16 A fool’s anger is known at once, But a prudent man conceals dishonor.

Never let the sun go down on your anger. The more that you can learn to do this then the happier your life will be and the healthier your relationships will be. This also is great preparation for marriage, where the closer you live with someone, the more your selfishness and anger will come out, if you have not learned to walk with the Lord.

Ephesians 4:26 do not let the sun go down on your anger,

Finally, ask the Lord to forgive you and also the person with whom you were angry, if you said or did something. Asking someone to forgive you and meaning it is one of the best ways to stop doing something and to change because if you are really sorry for what you did then you will not want to do it again. It also helps clear the air and bring about healing to the damage that has been caused in a relationship.

Proverbs 28:13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes themwill find compassion.

Finally…put it away from you.

Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

We all have struggled some time or other with anger but our response, if done correctly, can change us and can change those around us. The Lord wants to give us victory in this area. If you learn to conquer anger then it will save you much grief.

A Life that Lives Out Love

The Lord is perfect in all of his ways. He is so good to us because He always gives us a free choice. When we become a Christian we do not have to love Him. However, when we experience His unfathomable love for us why would we not want to love Him with all of our heart, soul and mind?

I John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

When we become a Christian the Lord sets us free. He does not set us free to do what we want but He sets us free to do as we ought. We can still become enslaved again or we can live in the freedom that He paid for with His blood.

Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

When we live according to the flesh then we become a slave again to sin.

Galatians 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

God’s grace is what enables us to live in obedience to Him and to remain free. God’s grace became available to us through the cross. Do not allow the free choices you have to turn the grace of God into licentiousness.

Jude 4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Don’t allow your freedom or liberty in Christ, which is your freedom to choose, become a stumbling block because you want to indulge your flesh.

I Corinthians 8:9 But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.

If you love someone with the love of Christ then you will be more concerned about their relationship with the Lord than your own pleasures and indulgences. If you love the Lord then you will love His children.

I John 3:16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

It is by our love for one another that the world will know that we are His disciples.

John 13:34.35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”