7 You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble. You shall surround me with songs of deliverance (Psalm 32).
It may seem like there’s no hope for all the suffering, sorrow and hurt around us. Bad news has become fodder for the news media, as it’s churned out all day long. We get sucked in by the negative streaming of information, then begin to feel overwhelmed and exhausted. We can be overly stimulated by what we ingest repeatedly, by listening to it over and over again. It’s important to curtail how much we take in. In all the hurt and suffering around us, we should try to find a glimmer of hope. We also have our own share of troubles. Somehow, we have to steel ourselves to cope with it all. When we are in over our heads, we need strength and provision beyond our means.
“Be content in what God can do.”
19 He shall deliver you in six troubles. Yes, in seven no evil shall touch you. 20 In famine He shall redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword. 21 You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, and you shall not be afraid of destruction when it comes. 22 You shall laugh at destruction and famine, and you shall not be afraid of the beasts of the earth (Job 5).
Trouble is inevitable, but God will not allow us to be consumed by it. God never forsakes those who put their trust in Him. Though they may be buffeted by many trials, He will deliver His people, time and again. In the midst of famine and war, He will redeem His own from death and destruction. We should be encouraged by God’s Goodness. We can rest in God, by choosing to rejoice in His unfailing Love, even in the midst of disasters. There’s nothing funny about troubles, but if we make God our hiding place, we can be glad in His Presence. There’s a sanctum for the weary—a place of refuge that tunes out the ominous din of misfortunes. We don’t know how things will pan out, but we are certain of our God. Though destruction may pervade us, Almighty God is still in control. In the face of trouble, God always wins. God is no match for any war, famine or disaster—He is our shield and fortress. Choose joy and victory in place of fear. The Maker of every moment is God at all times. He is Great, because He is God by Himself, and He never fails.
13 Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so Great a God as our God? 14 You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your Strength among the peoples. 15 You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah 16 The waters saw You, O God; The waters saw You, they were afraid; the depths also trembled (Psalm 77).
The Mighty One of Jacob, does great wonders for His people. It is during the most difficult trials, that He proves Himself to those who trust in Him. When we depend only on God for deliverance, He arms us with His Strength. He is honored when we trust in Him. In every situation, He reassures us that there is no other Deliverer. He puts to shame the things that afflict us. Creation trembles before His Presence and Majesty. We must remember that Greater is He that is for us, than any force against us. The battles we face are opportunities for God to reveal Himself. We should be able to laugh at the prospect of victory. How much peace we could have, if we turned our attention to God’s inimitable Abilities? May The Most High God be revealed in your time of uncertainty! He is the only One we can lean on; while every distressing situation seems fickle—He remains Faithful.
“The Maker of every moment is God at all times.”
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him; 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened. That you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the Glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His Power toward us who believe, according to the working of His Mighty Power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places; 21 Far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come (Ephesians 1).
If we are willing, we will know the riches given to us who believe in The Father of Glory. He has given us an inheritance, which is access to His exceeding great Power—the same Power that raised Christ from the dead. This Power is made available to us. This is far above any other power, in the realm of things seen and unseen, in every dominion in Heaven or Earth. Our inheritance is not our suffering, but the manifestation of God’s Might in it. The hope of our calling is to know the riches of God’s Glory. We can only know what we are willing to experience for ourselves.
Our inheritance is irrevocable and independent of our circumstance. Have you experienced God’s Power yet? We have not been set apart to just muddle through this life, but to use everything made available to us from the Kingdom of God. We have assurance of having everything in Christ Jesus, as sons and daughters. Though we face trials, we are being equipped from above. Our supply is the riches of God’s Glory. We are not constrained to earthly reservoirs; we have a surfeit of heavenly resources. We are uplifted by our hope in God’s Providence.
“The battles we face are opportunities for God to reveal Himself.”
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His Glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for The Spirit of Glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified (1 Peter 4).
Suffering for Christ is common for all believers. They stick out like a sore thumb and can make others uncomfortable; because they have different priorities and views on life. As Christians continue to live by the courage of their convictions, they become a target for those who oppose them. We are told to rejoice, because the criticism and attacks from others, is evidence that we have The Spirit of God and Glory on us. If it were not so, they would not mind us one bit. By enduring the reproaches, we are partaking in Christ’s suffering and becoming one with Him— For He suffered in the hands of His accusers. We can rejoice in the taunting and ridiculing because we glorify Christ in us.
“We are uplifted by our hope in God’s Providence.”
10 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord, be my helper!” 11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness. 12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever (Psalm 30).
When we cry out to God for help, we give up control in exchange for His help. So why not start rejoicing, because it’s no longer up to us. Turn your mourning into a song of praise and thanksgiving, because the burden is no longer yours to carry. Be content in what God can do. Take off the garments of sorrow and put on joy. Give thanks for God’s Mercies which never run dry. Give thanks to God forever.
Though this life is full of terrible surprises, coupled with all sorts of reactions from people, we can still live above all of it. We are found in Christ, Who is seated above the heavens. So, in all things hurtful, painful, and sorrowful, we can find solace in what we focus our energy on. The antidote to the droopy and foreboding uncertainty, is a revitalizing restorative. So, tune out the deluge of negative emotions and information. We have access to glorious riches, peace and power, in the heavenly places. In Christ, we can rejoice no matter what is thrown at us, even criticism for boldly living out our convictions. We have The Spirit of God and Glory, that makes us complete. Uplifting begins by turning our thoughts to the things that stir up peace. Remember that the present is not just gloomy, but there’s still plenty of good, to be grateful for.
“Though we face trials, we are being equipped from above.”
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned, received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4).
Within a second, our ears have received many sounds that are sent to our brain for processing. We can differentiate sound, discern what direction it’s coming from, who is speaking, and whether it is a cause for alarm, even before we go towards it. From all the noise around us, we are selective about what is of importance. When we pay close attention to sound, we are no longer just hearing it but listening. Listening is a skillful art. It requires rapt attention to catch specific details of what we hear. We can’t listen while we are speaking or thinking about something else—we must put aside all distraction. There’s a mine of information we can retain, if we hear intently and act on it. We listen with our minds when we read words out of a page. We hear ourselves narrating what is written and choose how to respond.
“The Word of God is our best source of nourishment for the soul.”
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does (James 1).
People are drawn to the information which can reinforce their knowledge or can teach them something new or exciting. Most people will take time to listen or read what they consider pertinent to their well-being. If we put aside distraction, we can pick up invaluable information that can greatly benefit us. What are you reading to profit your soul? Whatever we feed our mind will motivate us to do what will benefit the body and soul. But the body is temporary, while the soul is eternal. These bodies were not meant to last; hence all the aches, pains, slumping, atrophying of tissues and muscles, and loss of senses, as we age.
“Listening is a skillful art.”
We have to do whatever is necessary to keep our souls in what will profit beyond this life. The Word of God is our best source of nourishment for the soul. There are a lot of diets out there; to help those with different ailments, food allergies and intolerances, that also increase longevity. There’s only one diet for our soul—The Word of God. As we try to sustain our bodies by avoiding intake of high levels of destructive food, we should not neglect to be as earnest with what we feed our souls. We must nourish our souls with Scripture so that we can get to live for eternity. We have to be not just hearers of the Word, but do what it says. The Word reveals our condition so that we can do something about it. Just as one has to put on their face in the morning before they go out the door, we have to strive to purge our souls of unsightly attitudes and passions. Repentance is accepting God’s correction and being willing to change. Those who just hear the Word and fail to do what is said, are like one who sees themselves in a mirror, denies that they need to clean up, and goes on to continue in a dissipated lifestyle. Listening is meditating on what we have heard and applying it ourselves. When we do what is good and pleasing to God, we will profit in this life and the next.
27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead. (Luke 16)’ ”
The LORD Jesus told of a true story of a rich man and a poor man, who both died. The poor man, Lazarus, went to heaven and was in the bosom of Abraham. The rich man who ignored Lazarus afflictions, went to hell. The story picks up where the rich man in his agony of hell’s torment, sees Lazarus and begs Abraham to send him to his family to warn them of hell. The rich man believed that if his loved ones saw one who came from eternity they would believe that hell existed. There are those who don’t believe in God’s Word until they see something extraordinary or supernatural. There are also those who believe that the soul is only destined for heaven; like the rich man who was pleading to have his family convinced of hell. God has spoken through Moses and His prophets, but many have turned a deaf ear to the only Truth that ever existed: The Truth that can save their souls from hell. If we won’t listen to those who God has ordained to deliver His Word and Truth, then we don’t need miracles, signs or people back from the dead, to convince us.
Abraham is alive as we have read, and Christ already died and rose to life; yet some are still obstinate in their unbelief. God’s Word is time-honored and unchanging. He continues to speak through Scripture. Reading God’s Word is listening to His Insight. The rich man and his family failed to heed to those who spoke what God revealed. We often give credence to a lot of false information out there, but we should not ignore truth that will determine our eternal destiny.
“Listening is meditating on what we have heard and applying it ourselves.”
22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the Word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the Word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
We can muffle what we hear, by allowing all sorts of distractions to drown out the Word of God. Our minds can wander off to the cares of this life and we can easily lose the opportunity to hear what The LORD is speaking to us. Those who hear the Word and understand it, have to go and do what it says. They should be fruitful, and with increasing measure become more like Christ. They are the good ground that profits from being in The Presence of God. They are resolute in obedience and submission to The Holy Spirit’s prompting. We need to read Scripture as a guide to be fruitful and useful in Christ’s Likeness.
“God’s Word is time-honored and unchanging.”
9 And He said, “Go, and tell these people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ 10 “Make the heart of these people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes. Lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed (Isaiah 6).”
There are those who have heard the Words of God but they have had no impact on their lives. They are those God prophesied by Isaiah that their eyes can’t perceive, their ears are dull and they lack understanding. If they were listening they would have understood that they need to be healed. Those who seek after God, seek to be made spiritually whole. Reading and listening to The Word of God is an admittance to His Presence. In Scripture, we see ourselves clearly as we see God in His Holiness. It is by listening and meditating that we yearn to be restored. It is also by choice that many have become apathetic to the things of God. If they understood with their hearts they would repent and be healed.
“Listening to God is shown by trust and obedience.”
47 He who is of God hears God’s Words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God (John 8).”
When we are in agreement with God, because we believe He is the source of Truth, we will listen to Him. Those who are of God, are those who are chosen in Christ—born-again of The Spirit of Christ. They are in one accord with Him, therefore they hear what He says. Those who don’t hear are those who are not of God. It’s that simple. We can try to convince others to listen or read God’s Word until we are blue in the face. Christ tells us there are two groups of people; those who are of God and those who aren’t. God made creation with two opposites, physically; light and darkness, mountains and valleys, hot and cold and the list goes on; so it is with the spiritual; those of God and those who are not.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit Who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolish to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2).
The Holy Spirit fills us with spiritual things which the wise and educated of this world can not grasp. Those who have the Spirit of Christ have the mind of Christ; to know the deep things of God that can not be discerned by the natural mind. Those who reason with logic are incapable of understanding spiritual wisdom. The Holy Spirit teaches those who are willing to grow deeper in the things of God. They are mysteries freely given to those with an insatiable piqued-interest in knowing God. The wisdom of The Spirit is never revealed by man’s wisdom. It is taught by The Holy Spirit.
“It is by listening and meditating that we yearn to be restored.”
24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock (Matthew 7).”
What principles are you building your life on? There are all sorts of books, resources and seminars for self-help and improvement. Unfortunately, they are not enough to sustain our spiritual well-being. The Creator of all things bids us to listen and do what He prescribes. When storms, trials and hardships come, those self-help strategies will not stand you in good stead. Whoever builds his life in trusting and obeying God’s Words, will not be shaken by troubles. They discover that in spite of storms, a foundation of obedience and trust overcomes all sorts of untoward emotions. Listening to God is shown by trust and obedience. If we teach trust and obedience to our children from a young age, they will not be easily swayed by uncertainty.
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. On the day of trial in the wilderness, 9 where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works for forty years. 10 Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.’ 11 So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest (Hebrew 3).’ ”
What do you listen to routinely? We are physical and spiritual beings; we must consider giving precedence to godliness which profits everything. We can do better in every area of our lives, when we understand that our body is the temple of The Holy Spirit. By obedience to Him we are assured of His rest and peace. The Holy Spirit is speaking in us and we must submit, to do as He commands. He wants to change us to His Likeness, as sons and daughter of The Most High God. We have to be diligent to listen with our spiritual ears and understand by trusting, repenting and obeying. We are of God if we hear Him. Let’s tune out all distractions and perk up our ears in His Presence. We can ingest and digest the things which will keep us firm, unshaken, to overcome the challenges of this temporary life. Today, if you hear The Spirit speak, do not harden your heart.
41 The men of Nineveh will rise up in judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up in judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here (Matthew 12).
Each day we are met with situations that require we make a choice or decision. There are instances when we have to come down one side of the fence or the other—a decision that will have a significant impact on us or others. Some people prefer to wait and see what others will do, before they make up their own mind. Others will stick to what they are familiar with and will not venture to try something new. Whatever the case, there are decisions which we must resolve to make sooner rather than later; using sound judgement, wise counsel and feasible outcomes. Choices are ours to make and should not be swayed by the opinions of others. We have to consider the benefits and make an earnest commitment to follow through. Our spiritual well-being is one that requires making the right choices that affect all areas of our lives. Under God’s Authority, we are required to do what pleases Him and in return we gain the wisdom needed to do His Will.
“Each family has to choose what is best for them.”
14 “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24).”
Our parents had a great influence on us, as we were growing up. They inculcated certain values, culture and ideals for the life they wanted for us. As children become adults, they can choose what to take with them or leave behind. No parents are perfect, but they tried their best to pass on what they received. We can not become our parents; we have to chart our own course for our future.
Spiritual maturity requires making strides for a better future. We are to serve and fear The True God, not gods of our traditions. Our household is not the one of our parents, though we may wish to emulate them. Each family has to choose what is best for them. It’s our house we are building and sustaining, not the house of our parents, nor is it that of those around us. We must choose for ourselves, who we will serve in this life; where we will put our effort, spend our resources, what we will reap, and what we will leave behind for our children. This is our moment; the choices we make are for now and the future. Whether we believe it or not, we are serving someone or something. We are toiling for ourselves or for others—putting in hours of work, paying someone for services, making sacrifices for our children and trying to have the best we can attain. Serve the LORD and fear Him. After all, without the breath in our lungs, the heart beat, the air and everything that functions in our bodies, we are hopeless. We owe more to God than we think. In a snap, He can take the air out of our lungs and the curtains will be down for us. We can make the choice for us and our family: “As for me and my house we will serve the LORD.”
“Nothing impacts our decisions like our values and priorities.”
24 “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 (Matthew 6).”
We need to choose who we will devote our lives to. We only have one shot at this life, so we must be decisive about what is inviolable. Nothing impacts our decisions like our values and priorities. Far above trying to please ourselves and everyone, God must be honored. When we only strive for material wealth, we live for the ephemeral. We have to make this life count—it must have purpose. So why give our blood, sweat and tears for temporary thrills, when we can seek after our eternal good? We will be in eternity longer than our days on this earth. Long-term goals pay greater dividends than short-term accomplishments. We need to live as those who are heaven-bound, by putting our investments in God’s Purpose. He orders nature in it’s cycles to do what no one else can; He will order our lives according to His Perfect Will.
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6).
As long as we have bills to pay and are in need of basic necessities, we can become bloated with worry. We must work to eke out a living that sustains us. Seeking the Kingdom of God first and His righteousness, is not just going to work but going to serve Him. If for some reason, we have no job and are lacking, we need to continue to seek God, by praying, obeying and trusting in Him. Our Heavenly Father knows the things we need, so we should not worry. Worrying is a choice, just as is trusting. If we desire righteousness before we desire anything else, God will provide everything else. When we live for Him, He will make sure we have everything we need to do so. This means we continue to help those who are in need, we spend more time praying for others, and we look out for others’ well-being, even when we are downbeat. He doesn’t ask us to serve Him without giving us what we need to do so. But when we live for ourselves, we will worry about whether we have enough just for ourselves. As long as we set our sights on living to please God and caring about others, He will keep us in His supply, to ensure we lack no good thing.
“Worrying is a choice, just as is trusting.”
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has, cannot be My disciple (Luke 14).
The greatest decisions we make require discernment and sound judgement. No one wants to be a laughing stock for failing to have a proper plan to succeed in what they have set out to do. A builder has to make sure he has all the material and labor to complete the structure. A king going to war must have the intelligence, soldiers and weapons to overcome his opponent. Anyone who is considering being a follower of Christ, must count the cost of losing this life to gain His. The decision to become a born-again Christian will require one to be willing to forsake all that they considered priority and make Christ the center of their life. It doesn’t mean that they will stop playing their roles in society, it means they should be willing to be at His Service, when called to do so. And yes, we are called to do so daily. We should lay aside those things that would stand in the way of our commitment—relationships, fear, pleasures, activities and even material possessions—that divert our time and attention from Him. Being a follower of Christ is a costly decision. It is one that we make for ourselves, by taking into account what we must give up to fully submit to Him.
“When we only strive for material wealth, we live for the ephemeral.”
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into submission, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified (1 Corinthians 9).
There are things that are not worth our energy or attention. Time is a valuable commodity that must be used to our benefit. Life is like a race to the finish; we are in a hustle and bustle along with others. There are hurdles to go over, there are critics, cheer squads and inclement weather all along the way. We steel our bodies to endure under trials, pain, and suffering, by disciplining ourselves to press on. So, we must be careful not to fritter away our life on worthless things. We are in it for the long-haul and we are looking for a prize that is imperishable—to earn us a place in the Everlasting Kingdom of Christ. So, we don’t just do this life haphazardly, in a shiftless manner; we should be intentional, focused and disciplined. We can command our desires to submit to God. Just as a runner doesn’t graze on junk while training for a race; we are to subject our bodies, mind and attitude to attain what Christ has already set aside for us. As we boldly live out our convictions, we also ensure that we practice what we preach to others, so that we are not also disqualified.
“Being a follower of Christ is a costly decision.”
We have important decisions to make daily. What is our basis for the decisions we make? Seek God and His Righteousness—this is a good starting and ending position. No matter what we have learned from our parents or the influence of those around us, we have to make the best choices for ourselves. Keeping eternity in mind, will give us long-term goals that will impact our lives and those of others. We are in this race of life to finish well. It’s imperative that we lay aside all hindrances and be willing to pay the price to live for Christ, in order to please Him. There’s only so much we can put on our plate; worrying should be excluded from our to-do-list. When we seek to do God’s Will, He will equip us with everything we need. It cost Our LORD His Life to give us Eternal Life, we must be willing to give up everything to attain it. The choice to be a follower of Christ, is one that will cost us this life to gain the next. When we seek God with all our heart, we can be rest assured we will always strive to do what’s right, and have an impact on those around us.
7 The way of the just is uprightness; O Most Upright, You weigh the path of the just. 8 Yes, in the way of Your judgments, O Lord, we have waited for You; The desire of our soul is for Your name and for the remembrance of You. 9 With my soul I have desired You in the night. Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; For when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness (Isaiah 26 ).
29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
32 So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. 33 And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices (Mark 12).”
For the most part, people relate to others according to their feelings or a gut sense they have about them . When it comes to relationships, oftentimes we are driven by how others treat us. We are emotional beings, and how others feel about us makes us respond in kind. We love those who love us and dismiss those who dislike us. Our approach to others may be influenced by how they may have made us feel, in the previous encounter. Since we are fickle about how we interact, we can become unpredictable. The world is full of people who act on a whim based on their emotions. Being at one’s best requires consistency. Each moment of every hour is a new opportunity to approach others with the right attitude. Love is the highest principle to live by. Love doesn’t vacillate over how to respond based on past hurt or another’s reaction to us. Love gives the best of us.
8 But God demonstrates His own Love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His Blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His Life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have now received the reconciliation (Romans 5).
Anger, resentment and bitterness from past hurt leads to rifts that destroy families, and societies as a whole. We are created for relationships so that we can experience life with others. God knows that when one offends another, there’s little hope for reconciliation. Our Heavenly Father knows that we are imperfect and prone to disobey, but are still the work of His Hands.
“ Love gives the best of us.”
While we were yet sinners, God gave His Only Son to die for us. Christ took the punishment that was meant for us upon Himself, so that there’s no rift between us and God. How willing are we to still love those who offend us? God Who spared us from His Wrath, showed His Love when we were in our worst shape—unworthy of mercy. In His Wrath, God showed His Love by extending Grace. Only A Loving Father will give His wayward child an opportunity to be reconciled, by His Mercy. If God were to turn a blind eye to sin, He would not be Holy. If parents were to ignore disobedience, their children would be insolent and destructive. A child’s behavior is usually projected on the parent.
We now live in The Son; one with Him in His death and risen with Him as a new creation; fully justified to please God. We have escaped the punishment of death for our sins, because of His Love. Love offers peace and joy through reconciliation. True worshipers of God, understand why they worship. Those who truly worship God have experienced this Love. We are only saved by Christ’s Life— by living in Him. We have been given the right to be called Children of God. Apart from our union with Christ we remain in our sin, and the Wrath of God awaits us. Since we have been born again, we have a new heart that gives to others what we have received.
“In His Wrath, God showed His Love by extending Grace.”
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him Who died for them and rose again (2 Corinthians 5).
We all died to our sins through Christ’s death, and we now live in the Risen Life of Christ. We don’t live for ourselves but for Him. Our emotions are His, our thoughts are His, and our life is His. The Cross was the place we exchanged our sinful lives for His Righteous Life. By the same measure of Love He gave us, we are compelled to give to others. If nothing else restrains our self-will, let it be the works of God in us, through The Spirit of Christ. We no longer live for ourselves, but live out God’s Will, which is Love.
“Love offers peace and joy through reconciliation.”
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is Love. 9 In this the Love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another (1 John 4).
Love for others is the hallmark of one born of God and has acquaintance with Him. Anyone who doesn’t love, does not know that God is Love. It is in loving others that God is manifested. If God so loved us, we are to love others likewise. Being born of God is having His Character of Love. It means allowing Christ to use us, as a channel of His Grace and Love. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree; so we must become more like Him.
3 The Lord appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you. 4 Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! You shall again be adorned with your tambourines, and shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice (Jeremiah 31).“
To be loved with an Everlasting Love, who wouldn’t like that? This is the love we give a newborn baby, when we first hold them in our arms. They don’t know us, they don’t understand, but we know they need to be loved and protected with every inch of our being. Our Heavenly Father knows what an unloved child can become; lonely, depressed, underdeveloped and afraid. With loving kindness He has drawn us to Himself. Though we are broken, hurting and maybe on the path of destruction, He will restore us. He will adorn us with joy once again. No one, on their worst day wants to be rejected. This is The God we serve; He draws us with chords of love when we are out of sorts. He longs to do a new thing, so that we can forget the past. His desire for us is that we will have a song of praise in exchange for our sorrows and press forward to newness. Love holds out hope for the broken.
2 Take words with you, and return to the Lord. Say to Him, “Take away all iniquity; Receive us graciously, for we will offer the sacrifices of our lips. 3 Assyria shall not save us, We will not ride on horses, nor will we say anymore to the work of our hands, ‘You are our gods.’ For in You the fatherless finds mercy.” 4 “I will heal their backsliding. I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from him (Hosea 14).
God forgives those who are willing to admit they want their sins removed and are in need of Grace. Repentance is spoken words; it’s not just an idea. We return to The Lord in dire need, with a request and a plea to be forgiven. Nothing will save us from God’s Judgement but His Own Mercy. He will heal our backsliding and love us freely. No offering is needed to gain His Love. How many people can we offend and expect to be forgiven without paying a price? God is not like man, who we have to impress to placate. He only requires that we are honest about our error, and He will turn away His Anger. How much Mercy do we forfeit by shrugging off repentance? Many see God as they see people; unwilling to forgive and love. If you have never experienced this kind of Love, let it draw you to Him. In fact, if we love to be loved, let us come before the Seat of Mercy. Here we confess and our shame is covered with Grace. God’s Love should compel us to be honest about ourselves.
“Love holds out hope for the broken.”
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away (1 Corinthians 13).
This verse sums it all. But who among us can love as it describes? Certainly not me; only Christ in me. God doesn’t ask us to use our version of love but His. His Love doesn’t hurt others, isn’t selfish or conceited, and it never fails to meet another’s needs. Regardless of how much Scripture we can reel off, prophecies we can utter with precision, how learned we are in Scripture, if we fail to love, we have failed to meet God’s Standard. As the Body of Christ, all that we do for others must be grounded in love. We are a working progress in God’s Hands.
33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13).”
“Being born of God is having His Character of Love.”
Christ left His followers with a new commandment: To love one another as He has loved us. The disciple is not above the teacher; they must emulate the teacher. If Christ loved others who rejected Him, dismissed Him, betrayed Him, abandoned Him, denied Him and crucified Him, we are commanded to do the same. Somehow, a lot of us think this is a good suggestion, it’s more than that— it’s a command. Disciples are duty-bound to live out the instructions given by their master. So it behooves us to obey this command. We don’t represent ourselves, we manifest Christ in our interactions. If we are incapable of loving as He loves, we can’t be His disciples.
44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” 48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven (Luke 7).”
The woman loved Christ extravagantly, even though she had many sins. She worshiped Him with every core of her being. Because she loved much, her many sins were forgiven. Those who think they have been righteous a long time, and haven’t received much from Christ, sometimes don’t get as excited to be in His Presence. Of more significance is this: “But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” Those who have been forgiven little don’t love God extravagantly and don’t see the point in loving others. Since they don’t desire forgiveness from A Holy God, they don’t give grace to others. They are judgmental of others and resentful, because they consider them irreparable.
Do you worship God because He gives you material things, a good paying job, or has healed your sickness? Are you concerned that others may think you are too zealous in your worship? What must God do for you so that you can worship with your whole being? If someone gave you millions of dollars, you may never stop thanking them. But what about the One Who took your place so that you would not die or go to hell? If hell isn’t real, Christ wouldn’t have come to die. That’s how real it is! If there’s no other reason to worship, at least worship because you have Eternal Life in Christ and are not slated to spend a day in hell. The more we love our LORD, the more we receive Grace for our sins.
“If we are incapable of loving as He loves, we can’t be His disciples.”
7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4).”
The love that Christ commands us to live out is not for the faint of heart. This is love that overcomes biases, forgives offenses, offers help to those who don’t deserve it, does not expose others’ shortcomings to hurt them, but covers a multitude of sins. Beyond a prayerful and worship-filled life, a life full of love for God and others, is a life complete. There’s no telling how much hope, comfort and peace we can offer to broken relationships or to the downcast; but we can give what we have freely received, and give it ever so cheerfully.
“Love is the highest principle to live by.”
8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13).
25 A true witness delivers souls, but a deceitful witness speaks lies (Proverbs 14).
What could be more compelling and credible than hearing an account from the horse’s mouth? If someone says they were physically there, they saw something with their own eyes, what further evidence is needed to believe their account? A witness who can corroborate the events. It’s one thing to read or hear about another person’s experience with someone, a product, service or event; it’s another thing to try it for yourself. It’s better to have first-hand information from those who have had an encounter with something, or have your own experience. It’s also crucial for a witness to relay the information accurately, so that others can make the most informed decision.
10 “You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I Am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me. 11 I, even I, Am the Lord, and besides Me there is no Savior. 12 I have declared and saved. I have proclaimed, and there was no foreign god among you; Therefore you are My witnesses,” Says the Lord, “that I Am God (Isaiah 43).”
“Faith is believing God’s account of Himself.”
How serious do we take our role as witnesses of God, His Truth, His Love and Salvation? We are His witnesses to know and believe that there’s no other God. Know for yourself, learn on your own and not just by hearsay, of Who God is. Study to know and understand that there’s no other God beside Him. This is how you are qualified to become a witness: By being exposed to the truth, believing, experiencing, and understanding it. God has been revealing Himself to the world through those who believe in Him. There are many man-made gods out there, but there is only One True Living God, Jehovah. If God declares that He is The only God and Savior, that settles it. Faith is believing God’s account of Himself. We must live as those who are acquainted with Who God is. We have been chosen as witnesses to what we have learned. We have been saved from our self-will to do His Will. As we learn more about Him in Scripture, we have an obligation to act on that knowledge—that He is God and there’s no other.
13 And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 14 So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 15 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said, “Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; now therefore, please take a gift from your servant.” 16 But he said, “As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive nothing.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused (2 Kings 5).
Naaman, a Syrian commander, had leprosy and it was recommended to him to see Elisha, a prophet of God in Israel. At first, he refused to follow the prophet’s prescription because he was arrogant and preferred another method for his healing. Naaman’s servant prevailed on him by exploiting his pride; his eagerness to achieve only great things. Naaman was challenged to do a small act—wash and be clean. How often do we refuse to do the little things that God commands us? We may shun away deliverance that seems too simple to do, because we believe we have to work harder to attain it. We would rather jump through hoops or as Naaman, tell God how he should go about answering our prayers. Naaman became a witness of God’s Power only after he humbled himself to do what He was asked.
“ The work God does through us defines Him, more than it does us .”
Naaman decided to reward the man of God for the work God had done; “Indeed, now I know there is no God in all the earth except in Israel.” He had an accurate analysis of God, but instead of glorifying God, he elevated the man of God. There are those in the Body of Christ, who ask their church leaders to pray for them for their needs; then once they have their prayers answered they give their praise to the church leadership. Elisha refused to be honored for being the vessel God used to bring about Naaman’s healing. As vehicles of God’s provision, we should not take His place of honor. The work God does through us defines Him, more than it does us. When we experience God’s Goodness we need to give the honor befitting Him alone.
“There are no passive witnesses to God; they are doers of His Will.”
27 They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father. 28 Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I Am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. 29 And He Who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” 30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him (John 8).
Our LORD spoke of his first-hand experience with The Father. He didn’t exalt Himself above His Father, nor do anything for His Glory. He Glorified His Father by what he professed of Him. He took no credit for what He taught and did, He only did what pleased His Father. If we exalt Him, we will know that He is from above and not from the Earth. His doctrine is from above the Earth, and distinguishes it from all other doctrine. What the Father taught The Son, He declared it boldly, and many believed Him.
Our Father never leaves those who give an accurate account of what He reveals. Those who have a constant encounter with Him, will know what pleases Him, and do it. There are no passive witnesses to God; they are doers of His will. Christ always did what The Father did and spoke what He spoke; He did what pleased Him, and many believed in Him. Unless believers learn how to follow after Christ’s example, they will not be able to convince others of what they believe. Christ reveals Himself to those who love Him and keep His Commandments. As He manifests Himself, they become witnesses to Him, through obedience. Just as the Father was explicit with The Son, so is The Son to those who obey.
21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him (John 14).”
We must strive to please God boldly, in spite of opposition. We are not declaring ourselves, we are defining our God. Our lifestyles proclaim what we have heard and seen. He must be lifted above our thoughts, desires and interests, so that they may know He is God. We are not looking for accolades, but declaring His Glory. Living in submission to God is doing what pleases Him. By our life, character, conversations and desires, we are drawing others to Him or repelling them. When we just express our own nature, we become an aversion to those who are looking to see God’s character.
“We are not declaring ourselves, we are defining our God.”
25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But The Helper, The Holy Spirit, Whom The Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you (John 14).
We have A Helper, The Holy Spirit who keeps us in the loop, so that we stay informed on what He desires. He teaches us through The Word, all things—not just some things, but all things that pertain to our calling. He will not leave us on our own to figure it out; The Anointing of God is our teacher. He also reminds us when we are about to falter, the things He has already revealed to us. He is sent in Christ’s Name, He is Christ Himself in us. To give an accurate account we must remember details, and we have The Helper to refresh our memory.
13 However, when He, The Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you (John 16).
How amazing is this! The Spirit of Truth speaks what He hears not by speaking of His Own Authority but from The Father. He is The LORD Jesus, once again telling us that He speaks what The Father reveals. The Greatest Witness to The Father is declaring to us all that He knows. If you have any doubt that The Spirit is Christ Himself, read the verse again and go back and read John 14.
“All things that The Father has, are being revealed to us.”
15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you (John 14.).
The Father and The Son are testifying of Themselves by Their Spirit in us. He not only reveals Truth in the past, but in the present and future. He tells us of things to come, as one not restrained by time and space. We have access to mysteries beyond our time. It’s no wonder Bible prophecies give credence to God’s Word. All things that The Father has, are being revealed to us. We must not shrink away from declaring what He reveals, by how we live in Him.
The one who only speaks of themselves will not be devoid of pride. The one who represents another who is greater, will be careful to do what is above board and right. There’s no room for self-importance when we are declaring what has been revealed to us. It’s not by our wisdom or righteousness that truth is unraveled beyond our comprehension. It is God’s delight to let us into His thoughts.
16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone wants to do His Will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him (John 7).
“We are not looking for accolades, but declaring His Glory.”
We enjoy being regaled with people’s account of their experiences. We also love to share with others, things we have been involved in. How often are we enthused by what God reveals to us? How much are we willing to believe The Spirit of Truth, His Word or Doctrine, by doing what pleases Him? How can we become witnesses to Christ, just as He is to The Father? We must be bold believers who act on what we have seen and heard. Creation declares His Glory, day after day, how much more those who have been given access to His Presence?
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His Hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun (Psalm 19).
When we have a deadline to meet or a goal we intend to achieve, we are earnest to push ourselves to the limit to get results. We don’t do this with most tasks or responsibilities, unless they have great significance. The goals we set for ourselves will prove our mettle—by our grit and discipline.
25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we do it for an imperishable crown (1 Corinthians 9) .
When we are determined to achieve something, we can be persistent regardless of setbacks we face. We become scrupulous with our time, so that we are making the most progress we can, to get to the finish line. Diligence is the determination to succeed in an undertaking, with precision and discipline.
“ Diligence takes others into consideration.”
42 And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has (Luke 12).
How we perform our tasks in the absence of those we are responsible to, is telling of our attitude towards what has been entrusted to us. If we are faithful with what is required of us when our superior is absent, then we are worth our salt. When we disregard how to conduct ourselves in their absence, we neglect integrity. Diligence is expressed in honesty and hard work. With or without supervision, we should be able to faithfully perform our duties, in a timely manner. When one part of any organization is failing to execute its responsibilities, it affects the entire entity’s performance. What portion are you withholding from others by your negligence at home, church or work?
Failure to do little things well, shows lack of focus. The LORD has blessed us with responsibilities because He knows we have the potential to do well. God will not give us the privilege of serving at a higher capacity, if we fail to serve well in menial duties. My fellow believers in Christ, as we await His return we have important responsibilities within our circles. We must be careful to do what pleases Him, even in the mundane tasks. We should not procrastinate on the responsibilities that fall to us to perform.
The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away (1 Peter 5).
Those in leadership at home or church are responsible to give those they oversee their portions faithfully: Teach the Word faithfully and serve with humility and commitment. Execute all your duties with integrity. Church leaders are representatives of God’s Authority over those they oversee. They have the responsibility to serve multiple needs within the Body of Christ. Though they have needs themselves emotionally, spiritually and financially, they must not serve for their own gains; as they set an example of Christ to the flock. Church leadership must represent Christ’s desire for His people. They are under Christ’s Authority to be who they have been invested as, shepherds of His flock. They also must be willing to roll up their sleeves and serve alongside others, by not overworking them.
“Responsibility comes with accountability.”
48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 24).
When the boss is not around, those who are left to hold down the fort, sometimes take liberty with their authority. They may begin to act like they are the boss, being disrespectful, micromanaging others while not lifting a finger to help. Similarly, some within the Body of Christ, may get impatient as they wait for Christ’s return and begin to be critical of others, start backsliding and living in debauchery. We are warned to always be ready and vigilant, doing what we have been called to do. When it seems our Master is delaying His return, we still have to be diligent servants. We don’t know if we will live to see the next hour, nor do we know at what hour He will come. For the most part, it’s better to be in our best form. Eagerly awaiting our LORD, we must keep doing the next thing. We have to try to carry each day abiding in Him. He is ever present and always working. We are looking forward to seeing our LORD, though He is already in us. We need not conduct ourselves as if He left the room.
“Execute all your duties with integrity.”
47 And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more (Luke 12).
The more knowledge we have about what is required of us, the higher the expectations put on us. The servants of God have already been steeped into what is acceptable to Him. They have no excuse for not applying that knowledge. Much has been committed to us, but more so to the teachers, pastors and leaders. Since they have the privilege of attaining the knowledge in Scripture and teaching others to follow it, they have a greater onus to live it out. Responsibility comes with accountability. Knowledge must be applied appropriately, to be of any use. Our actions are proof of our convictions. Just as parents are accountable to practice what they preach to their children; those who are entrusted to us have high expectations of us.
17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen (2 Peter 3).
There are those who have been enlightened longer than others. These are responsible to live out what they have believed. Failure to do what we know is right has repercussions. Since we have been kept in God’s Goodness, Mercy and Love, we are required to be outlets of the same. We are led away into wickedness when we fail to give what we have abundantly received. For those who are just starting to live in Christ, it’s incumbent upon them to grow in the knowledge of Who He is; so that they can be more like Him. What we have received from God’s Riches must be disseminated to others. There will be chastising for those who fail to do as commanded; it will be more severe for those who have the most knowledge and understanding.
“For the most part, it’s better to be in our best form.”
23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. 24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being (1 Corinthians 10).
We have to be able to sift out the things that are meaningful, relevant and helpful, from those things that are a waste of our time and effort. It’s okay to not give our attention to things that will not benefit us. Being diligent requires the wisdom to engage in matters that have value. Time is precious by how we prioritize its use. Wasted time can never be regained. Not everything will benefit us though we may have a right to it. Everything that is our right may not accommodate the needs of others. We have to be willing to make some compromises by not just seeking our own gain, but that of others. Diligence takes others into consideration.
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force (Matthew 11) .
It’s not enough to just have head knowledge of the truths that pertain to living a godly life. No amount of years of studying the Scriptures is enough to make us righteous, but putting it all into practice. The life we live in Christ is not one to take for granted—it cost Him His Life to give us Eternal Life in Him. Just as He was diligent, we must be the same. No one can do this for us, we have to make this commitment and stick with it through thick and thin. We must be willing to suffer to attain what has already been given to us. Since much has been given, much is expected in our conduct, tenacity and perseverance. We await with expectation as those who have received what is promised. We only live this life in Christ, once, so let’s do it right.
“Time is precious by how we prioritize its use.”
9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him; being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and long suffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light (Colossians 1).
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