Tag: #Christianity

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 with No Excuses

Since the Lord created the earth and made it evident to man that there is a Creator then man is without excuse for not acknowledging the Creator. All atheism and agnosticism is a result of not coming to the light that God has given to man. The light of God begins through creation and when man comes to God then the Lord gives him more light.

Romans 1:19,20 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

Man is without excuse because the Lord created man to know Him and made it evident within Him. However, if man does not turn to His Creator then his foolish heart becomes darkened.

Romans 1:21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

God made man to know Him but when we do not honor Him or thank Him then we start speculating about God. Often it will begin with “My God would not…”. Any speculation about God will only bring greater darkness to the foolish heart that does not turn to God. Finally, the one who does not acknowledge God, honor Him or thank Him will cease to even believe that He exists.

Romans 1:22,23 Professing to be wise, they became fools,and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

The person who turns from God will think that he himself is wise. Once he thinks of himself as wise then he has even less hope than when he was only a fool and turned from God. Now, the wise in his own eyes person will exchange the glory of being made in God’s image and think that he is made in the image of creation, which is a summation of evolution.

Proverbs 26:12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

 

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 that Chooses the Light

Life can be narrowed down to two basic choices and these choices determine the quality of our lives, the direction of our lives and the end of our lives. The two choices are that we can either go towards the light or we can go towards the darkness. If we go towards the light then we will receive more light and will eventually reflect the light to others.

John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

In Christ alone is life and His life is the Light of men.

John 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.

When we receive Christ then we receive the life and we receive the light.

John 1:12 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,

Jesus Christ is the light that gives light to everyone who receives Him and He enlightens every man.

John 1:9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.

You can come to the light through believing in Jesus Christ or you can remain in darkness. The choice is yours.

John 12:46 I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.

If you choose to remain in darkness then your “world” will become darker and darker and you will not be able to see life clearly. You will live in a state of confusion and will stumble through life without peace.

I Corinthians 14:33a for God is not a God of confusion but of peace,

The reason why people do not come to the Light is because they want to go their own way and do what they want to do. The end is frustration, defeat and death.

John 3:19,20 This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

After death, those who chose darkness with receive judgment for the choices of sin they made. They could have chosen light and life but they chose darkness, judgment and eternal torment and death.

Hebrews 9:27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,

Those who chose the light and the life of Jesus Christ will see Jesus when He appears a second time for salvation without a reference to sin to those who eagerly await Him. They chose to turn from darkness to the light and received light, life and eternal salvation and life.

Hebrews 9:28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.

A Life of Great Worth

The value of anything is what someone would pay for it. If this is true then what is your life worth? It is of great worth if you know the Lord because you have been bought with a price, which is the blood of Christ. He paid for you with His life.

I Corinthians 6:20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

The incredible price that you were bought with is the blood of Christ. You have been redeemed and bought out of slavery into freedom through the blood of Jesus.

I Peter 1:18,19 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

All the money in the world could not have bought your freedom. It took the life of One who loved you and have His life for you.

Revelation 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood—

Not only did He redeem you and set you free but He has made you to be a kingdom and to represent men and women before the Father Himself as His priests.

Revelation 1:6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

However, not only are we to be priests to the Lord but we are His spokesmen to the world. We are to share the Good News of God’s love for mankind and His redeeming work of the blood of Jesus on the cross and how He was raised again to live forever and to give eternal life to those who believe in Him.

Jeremiah 15:19a Therefore, thus says the Lord,
“If you return, then I will restore you—
Before Me you will stand;
And if you extract the precious from the worthless,
You will become My spokesman.

The Bible says that those who do not know the Lord are worth less.

I Samuel 2:12 Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they did not know the Lord

The heart of the wicked is worth little.

Proverbs 10:20 The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver,
The heart of the wicked is worth little.

Only Jesus Christ can restore the image of God within a person who has been destroyed through sin. Only Jesus Christ can give us a new heart and take our old sinful heart. Only Jesus Christ can transform our lives into the image of God according to how He designed and created us. Only God can do the work of salvation but He has chosen those who know Him to be His ambassadors and to tell others.

II Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Jesus Christ is the King of kings and He has made us to be His kingdom, His priests and His ambassadors to the world that the world might be reconciled to God. What an incredible privilege and joy.

II Corinthians 5:18,19 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

 

 

A Life Blessed by Love and Truth

It was God’s love and His truth that was His gift to us in Jesus Christ. He took the initiative and loved us and made known the truth to us and made it available to us to become right with God.

Proverbs 16:6a By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,

Our sin was atoned for through the death of Jesus Christ. He took the punishment and penalty for sin that we deserved. We are forgiven through Him and it was His love and His righteousness that we received. Atonement was made for us that we might have the gift of forgiveness and our guilt removed.

Leviticus 14:31 He shall offer what he can afford, the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering, together with the grain offering. So the priest shall make atonement before the Lord on behalf of the one to be cleansed.

Jesus was the lamb of God that took our guilt away and cleansed us from our sin.

John 1:12 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,

As many as will receive the gift of Jesus Christ, the lamb of God, who died for the world shall receive the gift of salvation, the removal of their guilt and the cleansing from their sin and they will become “at one” with God and become His child and a part of His family. God, the Father, receives those who receive Jesus Christ because of what Jesus did.

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

 

A Life Living in Love and Truth

As you learn to live in God’s love and truth then you will soar in life. Your life will have purpose and meaning and you will experience great joy and fulfillment.

Psalm 138:8 The Lord will accomplish what concerns me;
Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

God’s love and God’s truth are eternal.

Psalm 117:2 For His lovingkindness is great toward us,
And the truth of the Lord is everlasting.
Praise the Lord!

As you live in His love and truth then you will being living the eternal life that He came to bring to you. You will have eternal values and eternal treasures.

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.

As you walk in His truth and His love then you will be doing what He has called you to do.

I John 2:3-6 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

His commandments are love and truth. If you love Him then you will keep His commandments and if you keep His commandments then you will be loving others as He has loved you. Jesus was full of love and truth and kept His Father’s commandments. He wants us to walk in the same manner as he Himself also walked.

I John 2:10 The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

When you love others then you will not make them stumble nor will you stumble. For this reason there are some activities that are not a right or wrong issue but they are “love” issues because they would make someone stumble. If you love your brother then you will not do anything to make Him stumble. You will restrict your “freedom” out of love for your brother.

Romans 14:15-21 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.

If you eat certain foods (that were sacrificed to idols) or drink wine and make your brother stumble then you are not walking according to love. The word “good” in this passage means the highest form of love. If you are not loving your brother then this issue is not just a love issue but has become a sin issue. Even though the activity may not be “sin” for you, the very action has become sin because it is not loving your brother.

I John 3:10b anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

If you are a Christian and belong to Him then the commandment that He has given you is to love your brother. If you keep His commandments then you will abide in His love and His love will abide in you.

 

A Life that Knows the Truth of God

Jesus Christ said that He is the truth. There is no truth apart from God. Truth never changes and is the only constant that we can build our lives on and put our hope in. God’s Word will never fail you nor can you change it. There are many theories and speculations in the world but they are constantly changing and are the result of man’s reasonings which will fail.

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

God’s Word is truth and when we live by it then it will set us apart from the rest of the world and will define our lives.

John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

God and His Word are equal.

Psalm 138:2 I will bow down toward Your holy temple
And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word according to all Your name.

You can not truly worship the Lord apart from His truth for those who worship in spirit and truth are the ones whom the Father seeks to be His worshipers.

John 4:23,24 But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

If you want to be His disciple then you must know His truth which is found in His word.

John 8:31,32 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

When you know God’s truth then the truth will make you free. Many people are free on the outside but not free on the inside. They have allowed some sin to have dominion over them and to control them. You can not set yourself free from sin but God can and He wants to through His truth. Are you struggling within with some particular sin that you know the Lord is not pleased with and if others knew then you would feel ashamed? Come to the Lord and He will set you free and you will be free indeed. He knows our weaknesses and we all have them so come to Him. He loves you and will not disgrace you but He is full of grace and truth and will show you His tender love. He does not condemn you.

Psalm 119:132,133 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
After Your manner with those who love Your name.
Establish my footsteps in Your word,
And do not let any iniquity have dominion over me.

 

A Life that Knows the Kindness of God

The kindness of God is truly amazing. His kindness was shown towards us when we were at our worse and it is His kindness that leads us to repent.

Romans 2:4,5 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? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

The kindness of God has come to us through sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins and to be raised again from the dead. We can repent of our sins and be restored to a relationship if God or we can be stubborn and keep an unrepentant heart by going our own way. The Lord does not want us to experience His wrath but if we refuse the kindness of God then wrath will be the righteous judgment of God.

Romans 11:22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.

The Lord’s instruction to you if you have experienced His kindness is to continue in His kindness. God’s love and kindness is for those who belong to Him and obey Him. God’s wrath is being stored up for the unrepentant person but His wrath is also evident today against all unrighteousness and ungodliness. If you do unrighteousness and ungodliness then you will experience the wrath of God that is poured out on these activities. When you suppress the truth of God, which is written in His Word, then you will do ungodliness and unrighteousness. You will experience pain and destruction of your body and soul.

John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Belief and obedience go hand in hand. This is what it means to trust and obey. Trust and obey Him that your soul may live and praise Him. When your soul lives it experiences the kindness and love of God and you will want to praise Him.

Psalm 119:175,176 Let my soul live that it may praise You,
And let Your ordinances help me.
I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant,
For I do not forget Your commandments.

All of our hearts are prone to wander and to go astray. We are like sheep and we go astray at times. Pray to Him and He will seek you. Come back to Him and again trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus.