8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself (Daniel 1).
There are some things that are not worth our time or energy; they will not benefit us. We should know what places, people and things to avoid, if we know what is good for us. What may seem harmless, with time, can become insidious and destructive. We have a conscience that warns us to tread carefully. Take your inner alert signals seriously. They are there for a reason. Even animals know when something foreboding is about to happen, and take cover. Don’t ignore The Holy Spirit’s Conviction. God’s Word guides us to make the right decisions, based on His Wisdom. We are warned by His Word; and by obedience we can avoid sin, which leads us on the path to destruction.
“When we delight in God’s Law, we will be discriminating about our associations.”
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the Law of The Lord, and in His Law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water—that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper (Psalm 1).
The one who avoids the path of sinners, does not linger in the place where wickedness pervades. The one who delights in the Law of God ponders over it throughout the day, and dissociates from sinful indulgences done at night. Don’t be numbered with those who scoff at God’s Law. Blessed is the one who doesn’t seek ungodly counsel, but meditates on God’s Law. They will prosper in what they set out to do. Since they have made God’s Law their wisdom, counsel and delight, they will be fruitful and prosper in their endeavors. They are watchful, cautious and selective in what they engage in. When we delight in God’s Law, we will be discriminating about our associations. God has High Standards, and those who have an intimate relationship with Him should not settle for mediocrity. Not everyone, or everything is worth your valuable time.
“Don’t sacrifice your values to win the approval of others.”
33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits” (1 Corinthians 15).
If we spend too much time in a room that stinks, eventually we will get used to the stench. We become less bothered by the odor. Much like when we hang around people who are potty mouths or have repulsive habits, before we realize it, we will cozy up to them. We may even pick up some of their habits. Bad company will have an impact on one who is trying to live righteously. They will soon begin to compromise on their principles. Don’t sacrifice your values to win the approval of others. You are more likely to conform, than they are willing to accommodate you. Part company with those who will draw you away from God. Keep company with those who support and encourage you to live righteously: those who respect you for who you are.
“Steer clear of arguments that evoke anger and resentment.”
22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on The Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth (2 Timothy 2).
Youthful lusts are desires that are driven by emotion, sinful passions and pressure from others. They are often short-lived pleasures that drown out the conscience, while shrugging off any consideration for consequences. Every follower of Christ must overcome sinful desires by pursuing righteousness, love and peace with God.
It is commendable to defend the faith in which we stand—we should not be ashamed of our identity in Christ. We can be apologetics for our convictions and the Truth of The Word of God; but we must avoid arguments that don’t benefit those who are listening. We have to discern people’s motives for their arguments. While we may want to answer critics or those who question our beliefs, we do not want to engage in disputes which may enrage us. With humility we can correct those in opposition because we too were once doubtful, before we were enlightened by The Holy Spirit. Steer clear of arguments that evoke anger and resentment. Not everyone will receive God’s Truth with an avid interest to learn, but merely to cast aspersions on our faith and Lord. Those who are eager to understand will not engage with malice, or anger; and those who teach should do so gently, and effectively. Godly counsel should be given with humility and patience, without appearing to be condescending or sanctimonious. Our approach can turn off others from God or turn them back to Him.
“Don’t ingest false doctrine by accommodating false teachers.”
8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both The Father and The Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work (2 John).
Beginning well doesn’t always equate to finishing well. If we continue in the teachings of Christ, we continue to build our lives on the solid foundation of God’s Truth. But we must continue in it, to be fully rewarded at the end of our lives. Whoever fails to finish the race set out for them, will not receive the price. We must be wary of false doctrine and those who teach it. Whoever does not continue in the teachings of Christ doesn’t not have The True God. Christ is The Truth and Wisdom of God. He is the express Image and Likeness of God. Anyone who teaches to the contrary is a false teacher. Don’t ingest false doctrine by accommodating false teachers. Do not allow them to persuade you to question the Truth of The Living God.
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus The Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the Fullness of The Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, Who is The Head of all principality and power (Colossians 2).
Abound in the faith and knowledge of Christ, so that you are not beguiled by frothy doctrine. Know God’s Word—The Bible—for yourself, so that you can sniff out a lie when you read or hear it. Stay built and rooted in Christ so that you don’t fall prey to those who are servants of darkness, sent to derail you. As dazzling as their teachings may seem, they are man-made concepts and principles meant to entertain and engage, with a motivational-self-help flair. They are devoid of God’s Wisdom, Truth, Righteousness, Justice, Mercy and Grace. They teach formulas for being the best you can be, based on human merits.
You are already complete in Christ. In Christ dwells the Fullness of God; and He is in you, by His Spirit. You are not made whole by human endeavors. You are made whole by being forgiven of all your sins, and being conformed to His Image. Remain in the faith you first believed and don’t be swayed to follow any regimen to be accepted in The Beloved. You are accepted and complete, not because of your efforts, but because He, Who is the Fullness of God, abides in you.
“Part company with those who will draw you away from God.”
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of The Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of The Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the Will of God abides forever (1 John 2:15-17).
We belong to the Kingdom of God, though we live in this world, sojourning, until God calls us home. If we love The Father, we will do His Will here, with eternity on our minds. The things of this world are temporary. They should not consume our thoughts and time. Money is good, but the love of it can lead to greed. Our looks, clothing and possessions can make us arrogant, or depressed, if we become discontent. An excess of anything is detrimental to our health and relationships. It leads to mismanagement of our time and resources.
God did not create us to have unfulfilled lives, but gave us all things to enjoy and glorify Him with. The lust of the things of this world is driven by greed, sinful passions and pride. If we love The Father, He will not have to compete with the things of this world. If we love The Father, we will use our valuable time and resources to honor Him. We will be content with having enough, and also sharing with those in need. We will not use God’s Provision for sin. Avoid feeding fleshly desires that dishonor God. The one who abides forever is the one who is consumed with God’s Will. The world and everything in it is passing away. We are all going to leave this world without a red cent. The lust of this world is not acceptable to God, The Father. Lust ensnares one who is easily won over by the ephemeral, and is willing to sacrifice their relationship with The Father.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in The Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to The Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them (Ephesians 5).
We live by The Life of The Spirit of Christ in us. Christ took upon Himself our sinful flesh and crucified it on The Cross. We died with Him and rose with Him, being made one in Him. The resurrected Life of Christ is now the new life we have. So we must put off the old and walk in the new. We are now light, filled with The Spirit of Christ to do all that is good, righteous, and is done in truth. Because He is Light, we can not associate with darkness. The works of darkness will not benefit us, so we must be honest and expose them. Don’t make light of the sin you know of, expose it by repenting. Find out what is acceptable to The Lord and reject what is not.
“Don’t ignore The Holy Spirit’s Conviction.”
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things (1 Corinthians 13).
Children live for their present needs and desires. They lack self control and discipline. They live for the moment, and are driven by their emotions. They speak their minds with no regard for others’ feelings; they don’t mind their p’s and q’s. They are gullible to believe anything that sounds good, or excites them. As mature Christians, who have known The Lord, we should be more careful with our words, thoughts and actions. We are constrained to obey God, and can no longer just do what tickles our fancy, without thinking of the repercussions. We must thrust aside our self-will that is driven by selfish motives. We are children of God, but we must be mindful of how we behave before our Father.
As children of The Most High God, we have been chosen as representatives of the household of God in this world. We are not called to make associations with everyone, engage in any activity, or lust for the things of this world. We are completely catered for from The Kingdom of our Father. By obedience and heeding to the promptings of The Holy Spirit, we become more like our Lord Jesus Christ. We offer our lives to Him, for His Glory and not for the approval of others. We must sift out false doctrine from the Truth, so that the enemy of our souls doesn’t get us off track. We defend our faith, by boldly living out our identity in Christ. We should avoid disputes and arguments that will not benefit those who are still in the dark; but reach out to others with humility. If we live for God’s honor, we will keep ourselves from being defiled by the ways of the world.
18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. 19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. 20 And we know that The Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him Who is true; and we are in Him Who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and Eternal Life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen (1 John 5).
We play different roles, and have the resources needed to ensure that we are efficient and productive. Whether we are parents, employees, or students, we must meet our goals without wasting time and resources. We are stewards of all that God has given us—family, environment, home, children, jobs, income, time, talents, and so on. Good stewards keep inventory of what they have, and make the most of it, faithfully.
“God will only entrust us with what we are faithful with.”
10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? 13 No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money (Luke 16).”
Our approach to small tasks determines how we tackle bigger ones. If we can’t do the little things well, we will not be diligent with the big ones. When small responsibilities are done haphazardly, they eventually affect other important ones. When one is careless about keeping time, meeting deadlines, replenishing supplies, cleaning after themselves, or not taking what isn’t theirs, they will inconvenience others. If we are assiduous about the aforementioned and other little responsibilities, we become detail-oriented and organized.
God will only entrust us with what we are faithful with. He has supplied us with earthly resources, and we must be good stewards of what rightfully belongs to Him. We will either serve God or ourselves. When we think of our income as belonging to God, we will not fritter it away on excesses. When we consider our children as belonging to God, we will nurture them in godly ways and love them as He would. When we see our jobs as a place to serve God, we will be on time, do a full-day’s work and not take home office supplies. We must be good stewards here, to inherit the true riches in eternity. We can’t serve God and our own interests; we will be more invested in one, or the other. We will give an account of how we handled all that God has given us. Our reward will be commensurate with our faithfulness, in managing what He has given us.
“Using the fruit of our labor to do good is sharing God’s Goodness with others.”
28 Let him who steals steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need (Ephesians 4).
It is more noble to earn a living than to live on what belongs to someone else. Honest work is rewarding especially if it also meets the needs of others. When we use our hands to do what is good, with what we have earned, we will find our purpose in the work we do. Giving some of what we have worked for shows we are willing to care for the needs of others. Giving what we have not worked for is less gratifying because it doesn’t involve sacrificing what we need, for another’s needs. Our earnings reflect God’s Blessings. God facilitates our ability to make wealth; He gives us good health, strength to work, protection throughout the day, the know-how and the environment that is conducive for work. Using the fruit of our labor to do good is sharing God’s Goodness with others.
“Love disciplines us to be good stewards of material and spiritual blessings.”
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His Will (Ephesians 1).
What have you done with the spiritual blessings you have in Christ? You were chosen in Christ, before the foundation of the world was formed. Everything that is in Christ has been given to you. God was pleased, according to His Will, to give you every spiritual blessing in Christ, in the heavenly places. Your inheritance is sure and guaranteed, prior to the inception of the world. Since you were chosen to be a child of God in Christ, you have a role to play. With every spiritual gift given to you, you must be diligent—blameless and holy in managing it. By loving God and others you are able to utilize every spiritual blessing to please God.
We can’t meet others’ needs without love, mercy, compassion, joy, gentleness, patience and self control. These are blessings we have received from God that stimulate us to love others. Love disciplines us to be good stewards of material and spiritual blessings. When we love, we will be blameless with what is entrusted to us. We are already chosen and predestined to be sons and daughters in Christ; so we are more than capable of expressing Who He is, with everything we have.
“True worship is glorifying God with praise and substance.”
12 “Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your Hand is Power and Might; In Your Hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. 13 Now therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your Glorious Name. 14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer as willingly as this? For all things come from You, and of Your Own we have given You. 15 For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, as were all our fathers. Our days on Earth are as a shadow, and without hope (1 Chronicles 29).”
How much are you willing to give back to God? All things come from Him; so we should be willing to give generously for His Glory. David and the people of Israel gave willingly for the building of God’s temple. They supplied materials of gold, silver, bronze and other metals, linen, animals for sacrifice, and all that was necessary for God’s temple and services. David acknowledged that they didn’t have a right to what belonged to God. We should not cling to material wealth because we will not die with it. This is God’s Earth and we are only here for as long as He wants us to be. We should bring our offerings from what God has given us, willingly, and with thanksgiving. True worship is glorifying God with praise and substance. God gives us the strength and ability to do great things. Since our days are as a shadow, a mist that eventually fades, we should spend our days in worship and gratitude. In the grave, there’s nothing we can offer God—not praise, glory, adoration or any service.
We don’t have to be wealthy to become stewards of God’s blessings. Every good thing we enjoy has been given to us by God, for a limited time. Whatever is at hand is ours to manage and use productively. We have to acknowledge God with every responsibility we have been given. We also must not withhold what He has blessed us with from honoring Him or meeting the needs of others. We are stewards of our marriages, families, jobs, time, income, homes and our very own lives.
When we love God and others, we will be wary of self-aggrandizement; we will be humble and faithful with all that we have. We have an inheritance in Christ, Our Lord: true riches and eternal blessings. We should be blameless and holy, in love, with earthly blessings. We can be faithful in maintaining the little things that make everything else run like clockwork. No responsibility is unprofitable; it benefits us as well as others. Make the best of every opportunity, by not wasting it.
“We will give an account of how we handled all that God has given us.”
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25).’”
After much training, learning and completing a course or study, we aspire to put all we have learned to practice. What good is knowledge, if it can’t be applied appropriately? With knowledge and the skills needed to perform a task, we become useful and productive members of society. Christians who are well versed in The Word of God and what God requires of them, should be effective and productive in the knowledge of God.
“Become useful and fruitful by striving for what is good.”
7 For the Earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned (Hebrews 6).
The one who receives the Wisdom of God, by steeping themselves in The Word of God, should be able to produce, nurture and develop the attributes that honor God. The one whose life has been transformed by God’s Truth, will impact the lives of others in a positive way. Become useful and fruitful by striving for what is good. When we take in God’s Instructions, with an attitude of compliance, we begin to do what is acceptable to Him. He will bless those who learn to be like Him, by living out the concepts of His Word.
The one who is enlightened by God’s Word and uses that knowledge to be abrasive towards others produces thorns and briers. Instead of doing good, by showing mercy, kindness, love, grace and pursuing peace, some use God’s Truth to hurt others. We should give what we have abundantly received from God—Love, Grace and Goodness. Knowing God is understanding Who He is, by what He has done for us. We have no authority to judge others because we too will face God’s Judgement. God’s Word encourages us to live for His honor, without alienating those He also loves. When we fail to express His likeness to others, we fail to duly represent Him. We are encouraged to bear herbs that benefit others, and not to bring forth thorns that harm others. It takes time to learn how to cultivate the right attitude with grace and love. We all need the Holy Spirit to help us become those who will receive blessings from God for doing His Will.
“Use your words to bring out the best in you—Christ Jesus.”
4 I always thank my God for you because of His Grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in Him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— 6 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. 7 Therefore, you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is Faithful, Who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 1).
We, who have been lavished upon with the Grace of God, have been enriched in every way to speak the same Grace, with the knowledge of Who God has been to us. We must use our words to build others up. Use your words to bring out the best in you—Christ Jesus. In The Lord Jesus, we have every spiritual gift to continue to live as He did, while we await His return. He will help us in the areas we are falling short of His expectations. We are the work of His Hands and we are making progress each day. He is gentle and patient with us, and so should we be with others. He will also enable us to be steadfast in becoming who He has called us to be. We must always be in fellowship with Christ, Our Lord. Only when we are in The Lord, can we be found blameless. In fellowship with Christ, God is Faithful, so that we stay the course.
“Love compels us to be fruitful, through obedience, by loving God and others.”
16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask The Father in My Name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another (John 15).
We choose people to assist us in accomplishing certain goals because they are reliable and efficient. They can be trusted to get the job done. Can The Lord Jesus count on you to be effective? He has chosen you to be fruitful in what He has revealed to you. When we are doing God’s Will, He will keep us in His Provision. God is Faithful to furnish us with everything we need for His Purpose. When we are working in tandem with The Lord Jesus, we can ask anything of The Father in His Name. The Lord chose and appointed us to be fruitful in what He commanded us to do. He gave us specific instructions: To be fruitful in loving others. When we are driven by love, we will seldom fail to do good, and to do it with gusto. Love compels us to be fruitful, through obedience, by loving God and others.
“We become experienced by applying knowledge and acquiring wisdom.”
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the Word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5).
The more we can put to practice the knowledge we have the more skilled we will become. The less we use a set of skills the rustier we get. We become adept at performing tasks we have done multiple times. Mature Christians have an in-depth knowledge of God’s Word. They have learned to rightly apply the Word of God to their lives. The more they practice what they know the more proficient they become as Christians. We don’t want to be constantly reminded of who we are supposed to be, or need to be spoon-fed. As mature Christians, we should be growing in the deeper knowledge of God, even being able to teach others. Solid food is not for babies; just as those who have not put to practice the basic tenets of Christianity can’t move on to grasp the deeper things of God. When we live out what we learned, we begin to implement what God requires of us. We become experienced by applying knowledge and acquiring wisdom. We have to keep working towards becoming mature Christians, who can discern what acceptable to God.
“He has chosen you to be fruitful in what He has revealed to you.”
19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names The Name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work (2 Timothy 2).
Those who know God are also known as His Own. The solid foundation is knowing with surety that we belong to The Lord. This foundation is sealed with His Precious Blood, by Which He has purchased us. We are now His, and are called by His Name. As vessels of His Honor, as servants who are called to do The Master’s Will, we must forsake sin. In God’s Household, there are servants who are endowed with strength and splendor like His Angels, and there are also those who have little power, like us. Every household uses different vessels to serve a specific purpose. We would usually take out the fine ceramics or china for special occasions, and the rest we use frequently. All vessels are essential, but some are for special occasions. As we continue to be sanctified by God’s Spirit, we become obedient servants. As vessels of God’s honor, we are being sanctified to be used for God’s Work. We honor Him by being prepared to do every good work, regardless of our imperfections and weaknesses. He will equip us, as His Own, to be useful to Him as often as He desires.
25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread. 26 They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing. 27 Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever (Psalm 37).
The righteous are never forsaken by God because they are God’s conduit, if you will, for good upon the Earth. As they generously give others of God’s Goodness, lavished on them, they will never lack. The righteous are generous and they teach their children kindness. Their children are also destined to be a blessing. They are not close-fisted with what belongs to God.
Everyone of us has a purpose and is useful as much as we are willing to offer our skills, time and effort for others. Christians are God’s servants, vessels of His honor on Earth, to reveal the nature of God to others. They are trained and equipped by God’s Word to be effective and productive in the knowledge they have gained, with the help of The Holy Spirit. We must be fruitful and generous in what we have received. We will not lack what is necessary, if we continue to strive for what is good, by not becoming like thorns and briers that harm others with God’s Truth. Those who use their knowledge to destroy, hurt and alienate others are not representing God in a good light. Use your words and actions to not bring judgement on yourself, but to stand blameless before The Most High Judge.
8 “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire (Luke 3).”
We bubble with joy and excitement, when we accomplish big goals. We are delighted and proud of achievements because they are well-deserved. Great milestones and accomplishments should be celebrated, and those who have made great strides should bask in the honor. Sacrifices are made along the way and challenges are par for the course in order to succeed. Eventually, trophies and awards begin to collect dust, as we carry on with other responsibilities. As time marches on, the glory of success begins to fade away.
“Glory in God and you won’t need to glory in yourself.”
23 Thus says The Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches. 24 But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me; That I Am The Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the Earth. For in these I delight,” says The Lord (Jeremiah 9).
The Lord delights in those who have known Him and understood what pleases Him. Worldly accomplishments are of little value to Him. Those who consider themselves wise should not be arrogant. Those with a strong stature should not be vain because of their physical appearance. Those who have wealth should not put their confidence in their riches, or be full of their own importance. All these are considered exceptional by worldly standards. But God is nonplussed by the vanities of this life. God is impressed with those who are proud of their knowledge of Him. God delights in those who use their achievements for His Glory: for righteousness, justice and expressing love and kindness to others. We should glory in those things that please God, by using our abilities to honor Him. Wisdom, strength, power, beauty, and riches can cause one to be puffed up with pride, and be detestable to God.
17 But “he who glories, let him glory in The Lord.” 18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom The Lord commends (2 Corinthians 10).
God’s approval far exceeds what others tell us or what we tell ourselves about our accomplishments or performance. Having a high regard for oneself doesn’t mean God is equally impressed. Whatever is pleasing to God should be the yardstick to measure our performance. Even if we do what is acceptable to God, we should not glory in ourselves. It is God who motivates us to strive for high standards. He should get the glory for any decisions or achievements we make. His Ways are our inspiration and impetus to get it right. Glory in God and you won’t need to glory in yourself. Exalt the Name of God and suppress the urge to magnify yourself.
“We boast of Gods Goodness with praise.”
1 I will extol The Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. 2 I will glory in The Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 3 Glorify The Lord with me; let us exalt His Name together (Psalm 34).
When we are in the doldrums, there’s little to be joyful about. But praising God should not hinge on our circumstances. We boast of God’s Goodness with praise. When we extol God, we are elated with Who He is. Praise should be at all times—in afflictions and prosperity. As the afflicted hear of God’s exaltation and rejoice in Him, they will be encompassed with an aura of God’s Goodness. He is worthy of all praise and glory, at all times. Let His praise be on your lips; then you will find solace in exalting Him above all your hardship and trials.
“Glory in every suffering that transforms you to the likeness of The Lord.”
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted as a loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the Power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3).
All that we have gained in this world: accomplishments, awards or honor can’t be compared to having Christ Jesus in our lives. He is the Righteousness, Knowledge, Image and Power of God. Excellence is the knowledge of Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior; and having a deep understanding from fellowship with Him. We should count everything else futile in order to have Christ enrich every area of our lives.
To be found in Christ is to be one with Him in suffering, death and His resurrection. Eternal life is the life that has enduring rewards. When we have Christ, we have His Righteousness. The Righteousness of God is not of the law. It is in Christ, The Holy One, in whom we have our being. If we suffer, we do so because He also suffered. Righteousness is not without suffering. It takes grit to succeed and be rewarded. When in fellowship with Christ, we will face hardship and be brought to a place of surrender. Be open to knowing Him, even being one with Him in His death and suffering. Glory in every suffering that transforms you to the likeness of The Lord. He became obedient in suffering and death. In suffering we are strengthened by the resurrection Power of Christ in us, emboldening us to face another day. We can’t be crushed by our troubles; we rise above them and overcome just as He did. We have the resurrection Power of God to meet the demands of this life.
“Suffering reveals the glory that is imparted on the children of God.”
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God (Romans 8).
There are traits that are nurtured or put to the test during hard times. We might learn patience, resilience, endurance, and how to surrender the need to always be in control. We build our faith and hope as we wait patiently for a breakthrough. We are changed by our struggles. There’s glory that is revealed in us that we didn’t know about until we crossed over to the other side. Sons and daughters of God are not exempt from suffering. Suffering reveals the glory that is imparted on the children of God. The Power of God and Love of God stands us in good stead. After we have been through the wringer, we come out smelling like roses—tested, tried and empowered. The glory that is revealed in us is worth the experience. The creation awaits the revelation of the children of God, who will come forth from the struggles of this life with flying colors.
“The Spirit of The Lord God is upon Me, because The Lord has anointed Me, to preach good tidings to the poor…3 To console those who mourn in Zion; to give them beauty for ashes; the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness—the planting of The Lord, that He may be glorified”(Isaiah 61).
These are the words The Lord Jesus preached before a congregation, as one of His first sermons (see Luke 4:15-21). He assured the audience that the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled before their very eyes. The Lord has come to take away the heaviness, sorrow and pain of suffering. For those who know their Lord Jesus, they are never without solace. In their suffering they are made whole; they become the righteousness of God because they have trusted Him. They are the planting of God—the trees of righteousness, to declare His Glory—His Power, Love and Goodness. See, there are not many who are willing to glorify God in their suffering and pain. But those who are planted by The Lord have received the garments of praise from the Spirit of God, The Lord Jesus. And will glorify Him in the midst of their storms. God has orchestrated every detail of their lives for His Glory.
Each moment in our life is not a coincidence. We have been created for God’s Glory alone. When we take the shine off ourselves, we give God the honor that He alone deserves. As Christ suffered, we became one with Him in our suffering. He gives us the comfort we need and exchanges our sorrow for joy. The struggles we endure work in us greater glory; we become complete—one with The Lord. Our talents and achievements are tools to exercise justice, love, kindness, and the righteousness of God. We look to please God at all times, by doing what merits His commendation. We are being changed everyday to be more like The Son of God, as children of God. Our suffering is earning us a more glorious character, as the planting of The Lord, that He is glorified.
17 Now The Lord is The Spirit; and where The Spirit of The Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled faces, beholding as in a mirror the Glory of The Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by The Spirit of The Lord (2 Corinthians 3).
There are notices and signs that we are to adhere to on the roads, outside businesses and at the places we frequent. Those who put up these signs or warnings have the authority to tell others what is required of them. Failure to comply can have consequences. We have to follow rules even though they may not seem sensible. As part of a society or community, we submit to the local authority, and hope that others do their part. God is the Highest Authority, and as Christians, we have to submit to His Commandments and Will. We must strive to live in obedience even as His Son, The Lord Jesus, did.
“By submission and obedience our lives become an acceptable offering to God.”
8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your Will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that Will we have been sanctified through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all (Hebrews 10).
God had no pleasure in sacrificial offerings for sin that did not make those offering them submissive. The Israelites sacrificed animals as a substitute for the punishment for their own sins. They also worshipped the idols gods of the nations around them. God was not appeased by extravagant offerings that did little to conform their desires and will to His. The Lord Jesus came to do God’s Will. He came to do what we were always required to do—obey. This is what pleases God—submission to His Will. By doing God’s Will, Christ satisfied God’s recourse for dealing with sin. We have been sanctified by Christ’s offering of Himself. The Lord Jesus was obedient even till His death, as the propitiation of our sins. We must die to our own will, to do God’s Will. As children of God, created to be in the likeness of His Son, we are here to do God’s Will. Obedience is the offering that is most acceptable to God; the offering we give willingly. By submission and obedience our lives become an acceptable offering to God.
“Submission is humbly accepting the punitive consequences for wrong doing.”
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight—that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge (Psalm 51).
Acknowledge your sin by repenting. God is able to forgive even the worst offence, if we are willing to fess up to it. Submission is humbly accepting the punitive consequences for wrong doing. God is always right and we are often wrong to cross Him, by being rebellious. He will cleanse us of our sin, when we are willing to discard it. Sin is like a plaque to the soul that needs to be thoroughly purged. We only sin against God, even though we may have harmed others, we have not sinned against them. Sin is wickedness, and we must acknowledge it as such. God is justified to deal with sin as He deems fit. If we are to truly submit, we must be willing to be chastised and restored. We must desire to be reconciled with God, if we want His forgiveness.
“Be diligent to do as The Lord requires”
7 “So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a Word from My Mouth and warn them for Me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul (Ezekiel 33).
Ezekiel was commanded to be a messenger of God, to speak exactly what God told him. The message he was to deliver would offend others or was a bitter pill to swallow. Ezekiel was not to sugarcoat what He was told, nor was he to withhold it. He had to speak the precise Word of God. Ezekiel was equally culpable, with those he was sent to, if he failed to deliver the precise message of God.
God may want us to do or say something that may not sit well with those on the receiving end. It is our duty to do what He tells us, fearless of the response we receive from others. We must uphold His Word and perform it. Failure to give others God’s warning, may bring us under God’s Judgement. Any preacher of The Word of God must be careful not to mellow the message, or make it palatable to the hearers. When God gives a mandate, we must boldly act on it.
32 “Therefore you shall be careful to do as The Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 33 You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess (Deuteronomy 5).”
Be diligent to do as The Lord requires. We are called to complete submission by obedience. It will be to our benefit to keep God’s Ways as the guiding principles of our lives. When we live in obedience, we resolve not to divert from His Instructions to us. God wants what is best for us: to be spiritually well-grounded, our days prolonged in peace and wellness, and receiving blessing and rewards that He has for us. Be careful to fully submit to God because your whole life depends on it.
12 Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord, the one you teach from Your Law; You grant them relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked. 14 For The Lord will not reject his people; He will never forsake his inheritance. 15 Judgment will again be founded on righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it (Psalm 94).
God’s discipline is for our own good. He disciplines so that we learn to live righteously, and to protect us from His Judgement. There’s a day coming when all will stand before the Judge of the Earth. He will spare those who have not rejected His discipline while they lived on Earth. He will put the obstinate and rebellious in the pit of hell. The Lord will not reject those who humbly submit to His chastisement. After they are called on the carpet and disciplined, they set their hearts on righteousness. Those who belong to God are His inheritance. He will not forsake them.
“We must die to our own will, to do God’s Will.”
Submission to God, will make us more cognizant of what He requires of us. We will be earnest to do as He commands, even though others may be bristled by it. When we submit to God’s chastisement, we learn righteousness. We acknowledge our sin and repent, so that God restores us. As we have been made one with The Lord Jesus, our lives become an acceptable offering, when we do God’s Will. God will bless those who submit to Him and will protect them throughout their lives.
12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from The Living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. 15 As has just been said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your heart as you did in the rebellion (Hebrews 3).”
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