Tag: #God

A Life that Begins Marriage Right

The beginning of marriage starts before you even meet the person that you are to marry. This may sound a little strange but most, if not all, of the problems in marriage are the weeds of the seeds that were planted before marriage. How much easier it is to only plant good plants with good fruit in our marriage rather than to allow the seeds of weeds or plants with bad fruit to be sown. We all reap what we sow.

Galatians 6:7-9 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

There are three enemies of a great marriage. These three enemies will destroy the love that God designed. A great marriage can be the closest experience to heaven if done God’s way. The Lord designed for marriage to be the closest picture of God’s love.

I John 2:15,16 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

The word “lust” literally means desire. When we lust for something then we are simply desiring something that is outside of God’s will. God’s will is perfect and His love is perfect. When we succumb to a lust then we have given in to a desire that is not a part of His will and it will bring destruction to our lives and the lives of those around us. A great marriage is made of two people who have learned to not give in to the lust of the flesh or the lust of the eyes. They also have recognized the deceitfulness and emptiness of the boastful pride of life. These three things will destroy love in a marriage but they must be dealt with in a person’s life before they are married. We take into a marriage who we are. If we have failed in these areas then we are taking into our marriage the seeds of failure that will reap a marriage without true love or respect. You can not keep covered up who you are in your heart.

James 1:12-17 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 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.

It is through learning to persevere under the trials of life that our character is formed. Blessed in the man or woman and blessed will be their marriage if they have learned before marriage to flee from temptation and to turn to the Lord with all of their heart to receive His grace to do life right. If you can seek Jesus Christ and learn to walk in His ways before marriage then your marriage will be a picture of life rather than death. If you give into your lusts before marriage then you will be greatly tempted after marriage and it is you, yourself who will bring about the death of your marriage. Marriage is a gift from the Lord that He wants to give to His children but it must be done God’s way.

Ecclesiastes 3:14 I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him.

The Lord is perfect in all His ways and there is nothing to add to it and nothing to take from it. God has so worked that we should fear and honor Him. He is good and His love is perfect. When you do marriage God’s way then you will praise Him for His good and perfect gift.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

It is most important to remember than you can only have a great marriage through Jesus Christ alone. He is the One who designed marriage and He is the One who will give you the strength and wisdom in how to do marriage right. If you did not start marriage right then He will help you if you turn to Him with all of your heart. Where sin, which is giving into lust, abounds His grace and love abounds all the more. There is no life and no marriage that is beyond His grace and mercy.

Romans 5:20b,21 but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Just as when sin reigns in a person’s life there will be death when grace reigns in a person’s life then there will be righteousness, or in other words, the life and marriage will be done right with the outcome of life. However, the grace, righteousness and life is only through Jesus Christ.

 

A Life of A Great Marriage

A great marriage is God’s design for His children if it is His will for them to be married. He came that we might have an abundant life and part of that abundant life is an abundant marriage if marriage is a part of that life.

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

It is the devil who comes only to steal, kill and destroy and he will do that not only in your life but in your marriage if you let him. The Bible says to resist the devil and he will flee from you.

James 4:6-8 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

The first step to having a great marriage is to realize and acknowledge that you can not do it on your own. We all need God’s grace and the way to get God’s grace and help is to humble yourself before the Lord. He gives grace to the humble. He opposes the proud. Pride says that “I can do it on my own and I can do it my way.” When you humble yourself before the Lord then you are resisting the devil who whispers in your ear that “you have got this and don’t need the Lord”. Cleanse your hands means that you need to take it out of your hands and put it in the hands of the Lord by giving it to Him. Purify your hearts means that you can not be double minded, but single minded by being fully surrendered to the Lord. A double minded person is one who can not decide how to do something. Should they do it “this way or that way”. A pure heart says that you want only to do it God’s way. When we are fully surrendered to the Lord and put our marriage or future marriage in God’s hands then He will show us His ways and give us His grace. God’s ways are God’s wisdom and He will give to all who ask Him if they are not double minded.

James 1:5-8 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. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

So, the beginning of a great marriage is to ask God for wisdom. Don’t lean on your own understanding but trust in the Lord with all of your heart. Faith is trusting in the Lord and asking Him for wisdom is an expression of that faith. He wants to help you and direct you. His ways are perfect and He is good.

Proverbs 3:5,6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.

If you will build your marriage on God’s wisdom then it will be firmly established and will be able to endure the storms of life. The days will be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. Your marriage and home will be a refuge to you and all who enter.

Proverbs 24:3,4 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.

 

 

 

A Life that Becomes Great

You must be taught by One who is great if you want to become truly great. Since there is only One who is truly great when we are taught by Him then He will lead us into greatness.

Luke 6:40 A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.

You must learn to sit at the feet of Jesus everyday and allow Him to teach you His ways. When He speaks to you do what He says. He will speak to you through His Word and you will find that as you obey His teaching that He will teach you more.

Luke 16:10 He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.

Faithfulness is what is necessary to become great. Faithfulness in the little things will bring more truth so that you can learn faithfulness in the bigger things. Righteousness is doing what is right. We learn to do what is right by doing what Jesus teaches us. Yes, when we become a Christian we receive the righteousness of Christ, since He always did what was pleasing to God, but He also tell us to do righteousness that we might represent Him to the world.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

As you allow yourself to be taught by Him then you will learn to practice righteousness and will become more like Him. As you learn from Him then He will also lead you. You will see that as you follow Him that He will also teach you to be a servant, for Jesus came not to be served but to serve.

Matthew 20:26-28 It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

As you learn to follow Him and be led by Him then He will lead you into the good works that He prepared beforehand for you. He has made you unique and no one else can do what He has called you to do. He wants you to follow Him.

Matthew 4:19 And He *said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Follow Him and you will be His servant and you will see His kingdom built. Your cup of joy will overflow as you learn to walk in His ways, do righteousness, love kindness, do good to others and see Jesus and His glory.

John 12:26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

Do you want to become great? Then you must learn to become like the One who is truly great. Jesus came to serve and those who follow Him, He will lead and will teach them to serve. All of our service to others is an expression of our service to Jesus Christ. Whoever serves Jesus, the Father will honor him and he will become great like his Teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

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.

 

A Life Knowing a Loving God

There is only one God and He is the only God and Savior. He existed before anything and He created everything. He has always been and there is no God besides Him.

He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. John 1:2,3

God became a human and lived amongst us. He existed from all eternity and He entered time and space that we might know Him and that He might bring us to Himself.

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’” John 1:14,15

Jesus Christ came, He lived, He died and He rose again to bring us to Himself.

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

We know God, the Father, through Jesus Christ. They are one and the same.

No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. John 1:18

Jesus is the only begotten Son of God who the Father sent to be the Savior of the world. Jesus Christ died for the world that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

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

They are equal and everything that Jesus did on earth it was in submission to the Father. Jesus Christ did nothing on His own. He became a man and although He was still God, He laid aside all of His rights, privileges and power of being God and totally relied on the Father. He emptied Himself and lived a life of trust and obedience to the Father.

Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5b-8

Jesus Christ had to learn the Word of God and He had to learn obedience. He had to learn how to live by faith. He does not ask us to do anything that He did not have to learn to do.

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. Hebrews 5:8

Jesus Christ was made in the likeness of sinful flesh. He was made like Adam after Adam sinned and yet Jesus Christ never sinned. He always did the will of His Father in heaven. The only way that He could do this was to surrender His will completely to the Father. The only way He could surrender His will completely to the Father is if He trusted the Father completely. He had to trust in the Father’s love, His knowledge, His power, His Word, His righteousness, His justice and His faithfulness. Jesus had to first become a disciple of the Father before He could make disciples.

He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.Isaiah 50:4b

The only way that it was possible for Jesus Christ to trust the Father completely was that Jesus Christ had to know the Father and the only way that He could know the Father was through the Word of God. Jesus Christ had to learn the Word of God just as we have to learn it also. Jesus learned and became knowledgeable of God’s Word in the Old Testament and He obeyed it. Jesus Christ lived in the love of the Father. He abided in the Father and in His love. He did the Father’s will.

saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Luke 22:42

If we want to be a Christian and if we say that we are a Christian then we must live as the Lord lived. A life of trust in the Lord and obedience to Him. This is what He taught His disciples and this is what He teaches us who want to be called by His name, who want to belong to Him and be His disciple.

If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. John 14:15

This is the only way that you can learn to trust Him. If you will keep His commandments then you will live in His love just as He kept His Father’s commandments and lived in the Father’s love.

If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. John 15:10

We become His child and we receive His love by receiving Him as our Lord and Savior. We live in His love by obeying His commandments.

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

We can experience His great love for us every second of every day by being His child and keeping and abiding in His Word. Jesus Christ did not leave His disciples and followers to do this on their own. He said that after He rose from the dead that the Father would send them His Holy Spirit to be their Helper. The Holy Spirit helps us learn and obey His commandments so that we can live in His love and truth. When we receive Christ into our lives at that time we receive the Holy Spirit and begin that wonderful relationship of being a child of God and living in His 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. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. I John 3:1

Jesus was full of grace and truth. We know God’s truth through His Word and we receive His grace through the knowledge of Him.

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; II Peter 1:2

We will become more like Jesus Christ as we grow in our relationship with Him. We grow in our relationship with Him through trusting in His promises. As we see His faithfulness then we trust Him more. The Christian life is growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord.

seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. II Peter 1:3,4

The Lord has given us everything that we need to trust Him. He has given us Jesus Christ and in giving us His Son, He has given us everything else that we need.

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Romans 8:32

There is nothing that can separate us from His love.

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39

It is by faith that we live and it is His faithfulness that keeps us. He says in His Word, “that He who began a good work in us will complete it to the end.” He also said that “it is good to declare His lovingkindness in the morning and His faithfulness by night”. When we, by faith declare His lovingkindness at the beginning of our lives, our struggles, our dreams, our relationships and anything else then we will “see” His faithfulness and declare it with great joy. Just as it was the Father who raised Jesus Christ from the dead, He will also raise us up. Not just after we pass out of this life but as we go through each day. It is His desire that we live in His love and experience His faithfulness every minute of each day. This is what it means to know a loving God.

that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘You are My Son; today I have begotten You.’ Acts 13:33

A Life of a Victorious Christian

The Lord wants us to ride on the heights of the earth or in other words He wants us to live above circumstances. He wants us to live an abundant life of great joy, peace and love. He did not come for us to live a defeated Christian life but a life of abundance. He came that we might have life.

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10b

The secret to living a victorious Christian life is to exchange the temporal for the eternal. There was a person in the Old Testament that the Lord found much delight in. In fact, he is the only person in the Old Testament that the Lord said that He loved. He loved this man so much that this man’s name is mentioned more than any other name in the Bible other than the name of the Lord. His name is Jacob. The Lord loved Jacob. The Lord loved Jacob because he chose the eternal over the temporal. The Lord despised his brother, Esau, who chose the temporal over the eternal.

Just as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” Romans 9:13

In fact, the Lord defines immorality as choosing the temporal over the eternal. Every time we sin we choose the temporal desires or pleasures of this life over the eternal value of knowing God.

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

If we want to please the Lord then we must live a life of faith. The righteous shall live by faith. Faith is trusting the Lord for the eternal over the temporal. Bitterness comes when we choose the temporal values in life over the eternal value of knowing the Lord through trusting Him and living by faith. Esau chose the temporal values and became bitter. Jacob chose the eternal values and Jacob came to know the Lord.

See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; Hebrews 12:15

Knowing the Lord God through His Word is eternal and our souls are eternal.

This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3

Jesus is the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us so when we live by the Word of God then we are choosing the eternal. When we choose Jesus Christ then we choose to obey His Word. When we reject His Word then we reject Christ.

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

How do we choose the eternal over the temporal? Everything is temporal that is not eternal. The temporal includes our life and everything in it: our health, our loved ones, our dreams, our future and anything else that is precious to us in this present life. We must count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord.

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, Philippians 3:8

How do we count all things to be loss that we may gain the knowledge of Christ? We present our bodies to the Lord as a living and holy sacrifice. It includes everything that it temporal in our lives. It is a spiritual service of worship that we might love Him with all of our heart.

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Romans 12:1

The Lord offered all of Himself in death on the cross for our life, that we might live. It is when we die to ourselves that we learn to live. Jesus Christ died to His will that He might do the will of the Father.

For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Romans 6:10

In the same way, when we offer ourselves to God we deny ourselves, that is, we die to ourselves that we might live for the will of God to obey Him and do His will.

And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” Mark 8:34

No man can serve two masters, the Lord said in His Word. We can not serve ourselves and serve Jesus Christ. We must either die to ourselves and live for Jesus Christ or we must turn our back on and deny Christ. That is the choice that everyone has. For this reason, each of us will be judged for what we did with Jesus Christ. Do we choose to worship Him by giving our life to Him to do His will or do we choose our own desires and to live for what we want?

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. John 3:19

When we choose ourselves and our will over choosing the Lord then we are choosing to live in darkness. When we choose the Lord Jesus Christ and choose to live for Him it is by faith. When we choose Jesus Christ we begin to live in the light. Jesus is the light of the world and all who come to Him receives the light.

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.” John 8:12

The Christian lives by faith and by faith we die to ourselves and live to Him. We can give ourselves completely to Him because He gave Himself completely for us. He gave Himself to us because of love and it is love that motivates us to give ourselves to Him. He first loved us by dying on the cross for us. Our love for Him is a response to His love for us. It is love for Him and trust in Him that allows us to die to ourselves and live for Him.

We love, because He first loved us. I John 4:19

We can trust the Lord with the temporal and all that seems precious to us: our lives, our loved ones, our health, our dreams, our future and anything else because we can trust His love for us. His love is perfect and perfect love casts out all fear.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, I john 4:18a

We hold onto “things” because of fear of losing them. When we give all to Him then He gives back to us what is good, acceptable and perfect. What we give to Him no longer controls us but we are free from the worries and control of holding on to what was precious to us. The Lord loves us and does not withhold anything that is good from us.

No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11b