8 I have set The Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices. My flesh also will rest in hope (Psalm 16).
When we are passionate about doing something meaningful, we become disciplined and motivated to keep at it. We will consistently do what inspires us each day. Our devotion to a particular occupation, relationship or goal will define our daily routine. We will commit our time and effort with minimal disruptions. We find our existential purpose in what we devote our lives to.
“Love compels us to give the best of ourselves.”
25 “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor (John 12).”
When we have the right perspective on life, we will not waste our valuable time and energy on mediocrity. We will usually make great sacrifices to attain enduring rewards. Those who want to serve The Lord Jesus, must be willing to live for Him at all costs. Our devotion to Christ should be the motivation for all that we do. If we serve Him, we will use our talents, resources and time wisely. As servants of The Lord, we have to make Him the priority and do what He requires of us.
We should be willing to be useful, when He needs us to meet a need. As His followers, we should be able to give up the demands of this life, when called upon, to serve Him. God will honor those, who at the drop of a hat, are ready to serve Him. Those who are willing to give their valuable time or resources to God will gain eternal rewards. Our devotion to Christ is a commitment to serve Him with all we have. Eternal life is guaranteed to those who are willing to let go of their privileges to wholeheartedly do God’s Will.
“We are what we do routinely.”
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil (Proverbs 4).
Those who desire righteousness must strive for it. We should not allow ourselves to be tripped up by others or sinful desires. Set practical goals and stick to them. Determine what to avoid and what you must do consistently. Just as one who wants to be healthy or lose weight envisions a weight goal: how much they want to lose, the right diet, a workout routine, and what food to avoid. Be one-track minded and stick to the plan you have outlined. Keep a rapt attention on what you have set out to accomplish. Do not be embroiled in matters that don’t advance your goals to become a fruitful Christian. Mind your business, if that is what you have to do; steer clear of what will not benefit you. Righteousness is a lifestyle that must be maintained, like a healthy diet.
3 I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me. 4 A perverse heart shall depart from me. I will not know wickedness (Psalm 101).
We are responsible for what we say we will do. As children of The Holy God, we are to be more like our Father. Wickedness should not be entertaining or amusing. It should not bring us any form of pleasure. We are what we do routinely. Our frequent thoughts will evoke our desires. We should not be overcome by wicked desires or thoughts; instead, we must pursue purity. Sin should be abhorrent and repulsive to all children of God. We should not keep close associations with those who consistently engage in sin. We should not be contaminated with works of darkness because our Heavenly Father is Holy.
“Our devotion to godliness will yield us imperishable rewards.”
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses (1 Timothy 6).
We were created for an eternal purpose. God made us for eternity, not for the ephemeral substance of this world. Be devoted to building the character that pleases God.
The love of money leads many to sin and greed. Money is good for sustaining a living, but an obsession with it can lead to an endless pursuit of riches, driven by deception, greed, corruption and anxiety. Riches are like a mist that is here today and gone tomorrow. The child of God has every good and perfect thing that God continuously supplies. We must learn to be content and grateful.
Instead of pursuing fleeting riches, we can invest in eternal life. Our devotion to godliness will yield us imperishable rewards. Our pursuit of righteousness, faith, love, patience, compassion and self-control will require us to use these godly blessings to bless others. See goldy riches are intangible and priceless. If we love God, we will not be enamored of worldly possessions; we will use godly blessings for His Glory.
34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole Earth. 36 Watch therefore and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man (Luke 21.”
If we are vigilant and pray as often as we can, we will not be party to wrong activities. Those who speak to God frequently, for the most part, are found in His Presence. His Spirit lives in them, and they are in constant touch with Him. They will be able to escape the day of Judgement, because they have chosen to be closely associated with Him. They will stand before the Son of Man because they have always stood with Him.
The Lord Jesus warns us to take heed to ourselves and keep from being carried away by worldly pleasures of revelry, drunkenness, and materialism. Christ admonishes us that the life we have been given is of much greater import. He exhorts us to watch and pray at all times. When we are attuned to what He is doing in our lives and preparing ourselves for His return, we will not be distracted by other things. He will come; and all will have to stand before Him to give account of how they lived the lives He gave each one. The One Who gives life requires that we are good stewards of it.
“We find our existential purpose in what we devote our lives to.”
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).
Money can become an obsession, when we are not content with what we have. We should make a living and learn how to manage our money well, so that we are meeting our basic needs, and still enjoying the fruit of our labor. Money should not be what we serve. We should serve God with our skills, talents and resources. When making money becomes the main purpose of our existence, God will become secondary, even our loved ones will get less attention over time. We cannot be devoted to God and money; we will desire one over the other. Either you will hate one and love the other, by giving most of your time and energy to the one you love. The amount of quality-time we invest into something shows our devotion to it.
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, there are few who find it (Matthew 7).”
What is fashionable in today’s culture or is celebrated by most does not pass muster with God. The wide gate and broad way lead to destruction because it is acceptable to most; and most don’t want to do what is difficult.
Obedience, sanctification, love, purity, faith, righteousness, and submission to God are not easily achieved. Godliness and righteousness are for those who are willing to separate themselves from what is popular, to please God. Few will find the path that leads to life because few are willing to be committed to submission, obedience and godliness.
The narrow gate is accessible to those who have surrendered to the Spirit-led life. They have put off the fleshly nature for the spiritual, new life, found in Christ alone. They don’t need to appeal to others. They will enter the narrow gate having counted the cost of a surrendered life. The narrow way keeps them focused on their calling to attain eternal life. It is easy to do what everyone else is doing, but it’s difficult to yield to The Holy Spirit.
“Our devotion to Christ should be the motivation for all that we do.”
27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. 28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29 If you know that He is Righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him (1 John 2).
We are taught how to live the new life by The Spirit of Christ. His anointing opens our understanding to living in The Spirit and not in our sinful flesh. He abides in us, and we abide in Him. We have no need for the world to teach us how to live anymore; we have The Spirit of Truth to transform us.
We must devote ourselves to the teachings of Christ. Our life in Him must be lived according to His Doctrine. If we abide in Him, His Word abides in us, as the seed that regenerates us. And daily gives us wisdom, knowledge and understanding of Who He is and what is required of us. Since He is Righteous, we must practice righteousness as those who are born of Him. Our confidence is that when He comes, we will be found in an unbroken fellowship with Him. When He comes, we will be confident to stand before Him.
“Devotion is a component of love.”
11 Teach me Your Way, Lord, that I may rely on Your Faithfulness. Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your Name. 12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your Name forever. 13 For great is Your Love toward me; You have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead (Psalm 86).
When we are determined to achieve a goal, we will steep ourselves in all the information we can find. We will be willing to take the time to study and understand, so that we can apply that knowledge appropriately. We can hunker down and set everything else aside to keep our focus on what we are doing. If we want to be delivered from the path to hell, we will choose the path that leads to God. We will learn God’s Ways and fear Him to do what is right. A heart that is enamored of God will give Him undivided attention. A receptive and teachable person will be eager to learn God’s Ways. Fear God and He will make your way perfect.
Devotion is a component of love. Love compels us to give the best of ourselves. When we love God, we will give Him the best of our resources, time, praise, attention and lives. God’s Love, demonstrated by His deliverance of our souls from eternity in Hell, should cause us to fall prostrate with fear and adoration. Great is His Love, and those who understand this will devote their lives to glorify and serve Him. We rely on Him for everything we need because we belong to Him forever. Depend on His Faithfulness, by being faithful.
Set your sights, daily, to be who God has called you to be. Do not be suckered into frittering your life away on worthless things. You are the child of The Great King; you will not lack any good thing. Determine to stay the course you have outlined and invest on eternal rewards. Devote your life to God, serve Him, learn from Him, and you will live the best life.
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the Earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the Earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked, when you lived in them (Colossians 3).
Success or victory doesn’t have to be big to be significant. If we have been able to master a situation, we can bask in that moment. Sometimes we don’t see the need to acknowledge an achievement because we don’t think it is worth recognizing. Did you overcome obstacles? Did you do what you had set your mind to do? Did you exceed your own expectations? Did you hold your own under great strain? You can carry the day because God is always with you. And He will not fail those who depend on His Strength.
“Be adaptable to your circumstances through Christ.”
12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me (Philippians 4).
Challenging times that we are not accustomed to can make us feel defeated. We may feel like we are losing control, when we don’t have the usual amount of food, money, or life-enhancing items. Having less of what we are used to can sometimes cause us to despair. We should adapt to situations we find ourselves in. When we have less, we should make adjustments that meet our immediate needs. Be adaptable to your circumstances through Christ. Abide in Him and you will be kept in His provision. Whether with little or more, your Source will never change. It is not what you have that gets you by; but Who He is—your Strength and Provider. Overcome the fear of not having enough, though you may struggle for a time. With time, you will learn how to keep your head above water. Everything we have comes from our Heavenly Father, and we are the children of God, in Christ.
“God’s Wisdom is the knowledge that we apply to give us the best outcome.”
14 Now thanks be to God Who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His Knowledge in every place (2 Corinthians 2).
God leads us to situations where we can triumph in Christ. He gives us His Knowledge to guide us in making the best decisions. In every place or situation we face, we can fall back on God’s Knowledge, from Scripture, and ask His Spirit to instruct us. The Spirit of our Lord Jesus is ever present in us. When we aspire to use God’s Wisdom to glorify Him, in every place, He will ensure we succeed in what we endeavor to do. In Christ, we will have victory at every stage of our lives. God’s Wisdom is the knowledge that we apply to give us the best outcome.
“While you wait on The Lord, you can complete other tasks.”
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, The Lord, The Creator of the ends of the Earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, 31 but those who wait on The Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40).
Know your God and don’t waver on Who He is. Though we may be worn out and overwhelmed by the challenges and trials we go through, we don’t have to depend on our strength to get us through. We should not define God by how we feel about ourselves or our circumstances. He is The Creator of everything and He keeps the Heavens, Earth, and sea under His Command. He doesn’t slumber, nor does He tire from keeping the cycles of nature working as they should.
Those who depend on themselves will reach a breaking point. Wait on The Lord to meet your needs, and He will uphold you with His Might. While you wait on The Lord, you can complete other tasks. He will give you the strength to overcome your weakness. When you trust in God, He will give you the stamina to keep you going. Instead of drooping into despair, you will make better use of your time and energy. Don’t give up on doing the next thing. Keep going without fainting, soar above your fears as an eagle. As your God doesn’t faint, so shall you be in His Strength. Get on with the next task, while drawing from God’s Strength.
“Before you go into battle, praise God for all He will do.”
1 Praise be to The Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. 2 He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in Whom I take refuge, Who subdues people under me (Psalm 144).
Meditate on Who God is to you: your fortress, deliverer, shield, refuge and your loving Savior. God will not lead you to a losing battle. He will be everything you need Him to be and more. He will teach you the ropes on how to subdue your opponent. He is your Rock that is steady, and strong, and will not crack under strain. Face your challenges with God, and put all your confidence in Him. Before you go into battle, praise God for all He will do. He will trounce those who come against you, and deliver you from all their schemes.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He Who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God Who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ Who died, and furthermore is also risen, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us (Romans 8).
Can anything separate us from God’s Love? He gave us His only Son. He has demonstrated His Love for us. No one can lay a charge against us, when we have been bought with The Precious Blood of His Son. If God is for us, no one can prevail against us. We are more than conquerors in peril, battle, tribulation and adversity. Adversity should draw us closer to God because He covers us with His Love.
We are counted daily as sheep for slaughter, when we are willing to live and die for Him. We will be persecuted, ostracized or despised for our faith. When we accept suffering for His sake, He will deliver us. So in every circumstance, we are conquerors of our fear and struggles because God’s Love continuously abounds to us. We lay down our lives for His Glory, just as The Son of God did. He will freely give His elect all things, and no one can stake a claim to what God has allotted to us. No charge or condemnation brought against us will stand because Christ is interceding for us, and has justified us by His death and resurrection.
15 Those who walk righteously, and speak what is right, who reject gain from extortion and keep their hands from accepting bribes, who stop their ears against plots of murder and shut their eyes against contemplating evil—16 they are the ones who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. Their bread will be supplied, and water will not fail them. 17 Your eyes will see The King in His Beauty and view a land that stretches afar (Isaiah 33).
Shun evil at all costs. Resist the lure of sin, and despise it vehemently. Steer clear of fraudulent gain, shut your eyes and ears from evil plots that harm others, and live each day to speak and do what is right. When you choose righteousness, God will be your refuge, fortress and strength. He will supply your needs and will not fail you. While others are raking in from bribes and extortion, you put your trust in God. He is your Source for everything. Keep your focus on The Great King, whose Beauty is His Holiness. Look forward to the place He has prepared for you—Heaven—where you are furnished from His abundance. When you overcome temptations, you triumph over wickedness. Pleasing God should be the motivation to do what is right.
“God’s Presence is the reward for those who cling to Him, to the very end.”
24 You will guide me with Your Counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in Heaven but You? And there is none upon Earth that I desire besides You. 26 My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (Psalm 73).
Even if suffering leads to death, we must still finish well. God will guide us with His Wisdom, until He brings us to our eternal home. If nothing can separate from God’s Love, we are complete in His Presence. Earth offers little comfort to the haggard soul—one who is wasting and slipping away. God becomes the full portion and desire of those who are longing to be with Him.
With every labored breath, as the curtains come down on our life, we have the privilege of gaining Heaven, as we lose our grip on Earth. God’s Presence is the reward for those who cling to Him, to the very end. Peace and hope enfolds those who have assurance of their eternal home.
This life is riddled with hurdles to overcome, but we are not called to go it alone. We will never lack, when we learn to be content in our circumstances. We can apply God’s Wisdom to the decisions we make, and be fruitful and productive in our responsibilities. In Christ, we have access to The Father, who meets our needs and leads us to triumph each day. We can face challenges by putting our confidence in God; Who teaches us how to battle. As we put our expectations on Who God is, we can praise Him in the face of adversity. If we are close to our end, we have God’s Presence with us here to give us the strength we need. And the promised reward of eternity with Him, when we draw our last breath. But we must live our lives as those who triumph over sin, fear and despair. We are more than conquerors because nothing will ever separate from God’s Love, which is in us, through Christ Jesus.
29 “For You are my lamp, O Lord; The Lord shall enlighten my darkness. 30 For by You I can run against a troop; By my God I can leap over a wall. 31 As for God, His Way is perfect; The Word of The Lord is proven. He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
32 For who is God, except The Lord? and who is a Rock, except our God? 33 God is my strength and power. And He makes my way perfect. 34 He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places. 35 He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 36 You have also given me the shield of Your Salvation. Your gentleness has made me great. 37 You enlarged my path under me; so my feet did not slip” (2 Samuel 22).
3 But let the righteous be glad. Let them rejoice before God: Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly. 4 Sing to God, sing praises to His Name. Extol Him Who rides on the clouds, by His Name Jehovah, and rejoice before Him (Psalm 68).
We receive people differently, depending on our relationship with them, their fame or professional title. Prominent people are treated with respect and honor. They get the best seats, services, and a standing ovation. There’s a decorum that is expected of those who will be in the presence of one who is highly esteemed. How do you conduct yourself in the Presence of God?
“Lift up your voice and worship your God like your life depends on it.”
9 I will praise You, O Lord, among the people; I will sing to You among the nations. 10 For Your Mercy reaches unto the heavens, and Your Truth unto the clouds. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the Heavens. Let Your Glory be above all the Earth (Psalm 57).
Not for nothing do we glorify and praise our God: He forgives all the offences that others would not; He always speaks Truth; He is Holy, and full of Glory and Power; He is Our Everlasting Father, and Savior. There’s no one like our God. God deserves our highest praise and honor. Within the congregation of God’s people, don’t hold back your praise just because there are others around. Lift up your voice and worship your God like your life depends on it. Exalt The Great I AM with all your being because He is worthy. Don’t give your best praise and adulation to mere humans; they are just as imperfect and unique as you are. God is exalted above the highest Heavens by His creation. He deserves the greatest honor from those who inhabit the Earth—those who have been created to have a relationship with Him.
“Give God the best of your substance, and do so cheerfully.”
6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I Am The Father, where is My honor? And if I Am a Master, where is My reverence? Says The Lord of hosts, to you priests who despise My Name. Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your Name?’…8 And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? Offer it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?” Says The Lord of hosts (Malachi 1).
Animal sacrifices are no longer offered in worship and service to God. The Lord Jesus offered Himself for the sins of all mankind, once and for all. Unlike the priests and people who gave God what they didn’t want, God gave us His most precious possession—His Only Son.
When we prepare gifts for those we love, we often go out of our way to get what we think is the best. When we come before The Lord to honor him, we should consider what we are offering. We bring our offerings and tithes as an acknowledgement of God’s Goodness; we give Him a portion of our earnings as a reminder that everything we have comes from Him. When we give God begrudgingly, we don’t give Him the honor He deserves. Our offerings of thanksgiving express our desire to honor God. Why we give will determine what we offer God. If there’s a good reason to give, we will do so willingly. Bring an acceptable and pleasing offering to The Lord. Give God the best of your substance, and do so cheerfully.
8 Let my mouth be filled with Your praise, and with Your glory all the day (Psalm 71).
We should be careful with our words. Our words tell others about our attitude toward them, and they also give a sense of what kind of people we are. Words can hurt, bless, curse, encourage or repel others. We are affected by the words we speak to ourselves and others. Fill your mouth with God’s praise and glory, before you open it. Think of how your words glorify God before you speak them. We are more likely to speak words that edify, respect and encourage ourselves and others, if we speak as those who are in His Presence.
“God honors those who honor His Commandments.”
18 “For assuredly, I say to you, till Heaven and Earth pass away, one jot or one title will by no means pass from the Law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these Commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 5).
The Lord gave us His Commandments to live by. He esteems His Law above the existence of Heaven and Earth. He requires that we keep His Commandments, to the best of our ability. When we know what pleases a loved one, we will try to do it. We honor those we love. If we honor God, we will delight in keeping His Ways. God honors those who honor His Commandments: but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. Our obedience is evident to others. When we know God’s Ways, but fail to implement them in our lives, we teach others to be flippant about their own commitment to please God. Those who will be honored in the Kingdom of God are those who teach others, while practicing what they preach.
21 The Lord is well pleased for His Righteousness’ sake; He will exalt the Law and make it honorable (Isaiah 42).
The Lord will exalt His Law and honor it above all other laws of mankind. The Law is righteous and those who keep it become a delight to The Lord. If you desire righteousness, keep God’s Law: Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength; And love your neighbor as yourself.
“Those who receive Christ honor God Who sent Him.”
41 “I do not receive honor from men. 42 But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. 43 I have come in My Father’s Name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from The Only God? (John 5)”
The Lord Jesus did not receive honor from men because His honor came from God. He didn’t receive honor from those He came to teach and save because they honored their religious leaders above Him. Those who receive Christ honor God Who sent Him. They receive Him without the angst of being rejected by others. It’s unfortunate how we idolize people because they have great accomplishments, are religious, wealthy or famous. We are willing to hang on their views on issues, while we disregard what Christ has said. He is the same today and forever. Our love for God is shown by the reception we give to His Son. Many will not receive Christ in their lives because they are worried about what others will think. They love the honor from others, more than the honor of God. They love others more than they love God.
“God’s Word should be taught and spoken with the honor He gives it.”
17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the Word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 2).
It is vital that those who teach and preach the Word of God don’t do it solely for profit or gain. Those who teach God’s Word should do so as those who have been sent by God. God’s Word should be taught and spoken with the honor He gives it. The messengers of God are sent in Christ, and not in their own name. They are to speak in Christ, Who did not speak to receive accolades from men, but instead honored God. Those who speak God’s Word do so in the sight of God, in one accord with Christ.
God holds the highest place of honor, above all things and people. We honor Him by keeping His Ways, by living as children who honor their Father, and doing everything in concert with The Lord Jesus. By offering our highest praise and thanksgiving, we glorify God with our substance. We should not concern ourselves with what others think of us; our honor comes from God. Those who teach God’s Truth should be careful to not use their role for their own selfish ambitions. As messengers of God and children of God, our words should be weighed carefully. If we fill our mouths and thoughts with God’s praise and glory, we will not stumble.
Oh come, let us sing to The Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before His Presence with thanksgiving. Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. 3 For The Lord is The Great God, and the Great King above all gods (Psalm 95).
If we want to meet a goal or achieve something, we have to be unequivocal about what we want and how we get there. We must have clear and well-defined objectives to reach our goals. All the groundwork needed to get things in motion should be in tandem with the objectives. It takes discipline and consistency to ensure progress. As we aspire to be more like Christ, we have to be intentional about our commitment to please Him, and to relate to others as He would want us to.
“Our conversations and interactions with others should be seasoned with integrity.”
9 So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words that are easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. 11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. 12 Even so, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel (1 Corinthians 14).
Man is not an island; we were created for relationships. Language and communication are building blocks that connect people. When we speak, people will respond to how our words make them feel. When we misconstrue what people are saying, we can become offended or confused. As Christians, we have to communicate God’s Truth with simplicity. Spiritual gifts are qualities that God imparts to us to serve Him and others. They are not meant to make us superior to others. We should use our spiritual knowledge, enlightenment and revelation to mature us in Christ, while building relationships with others.
If we are to share God’s Truth with others, we have to use an approach that they can relate to. We should speak to people at their level of understanding, without sounding highfalutin. God desires a relationship with us. He is mysterious, but He is not too complicated to relate to. When people can apply God’s Ways to their daily lives, they will be more receptive to Him. They will even be more receptive, when we are relatable; and not peculiar. He is our Father, and He speaks to us as His children. We should not make God, and His Word convoluted for anyone to be able to understand. We should not make the Christian way of living seem so complicated.
“We live through Christ, so that He reveals Himself through us.”
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 (1 John 4).
Whatever we do for God, must be done out of love. We know God by His Love. Love is a spiritual gift that God has endowed everyone; it originated from Him. Love defines God in entirety. Love draws people to each other. It is an endearing language that we can all understand. Everyone who loves is born of God; belongs to Him, and is made in His Likeness. God sent His Only Son to die for us, as the greatest expression of His Love. He sent The Lord Jesus, so that we might live through Him. Love is expressed through Christ. In Christ, God’s Love is perfect and makes us perfect in Him. We must learn to love one another through Christ’s Love. We don’t love as we should, when we love others based on how we feel about them. If we are to share with others about Christ, we must do so out of love, and not condemnation. We live through Christ, so that He reveals Himself through us. We are not redeemed to show ourselves off to others; but to let the Life of Christ shine through.
“Everything we become hinges on our perception of God.”
12 “And now, Israel, what does The Lord your God require of you? but to fear The Lord your God, to walk in all His Ways and to love Him, to serve The Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the Commandments of The Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good” (Deuteronomy 10).
The ultimate goal of our lives is to fear The Lord our God; walk in His Ways, serve and love Him with all our being, and observe to do as He has commanded us. This is the life we have been called to, and it involves every area of our lives: our relationships, responsibilities and our lifestyles. Fear and love for God should determine our motives. Everything we become hinges on our perception of God. When we are conscious of God, we will treat others with kindness, and love them as we love ourselves. If everything we do becomes a service to God, we will apply ourselves diligently. Loving God with all our heart, will cause us to keep a reign on our emotions and thoughts. It will go well with us, if we implement God’s Ways to our daily choices, and attitude toward life. Fear The Lord your God; regard Him with reverence because He directs your life according to His Will.
“Let justice and goodness define your life.”
14 Seek good and not evil, that you may live; so The Lord God of hosts will be with you, as you have spoken. 15 Hate evil, love good. Establish justice in the gate. It may be that The Lord God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph (Amos 5).
Hate evil and love good. God hates wickedness. He is Holy and He is Good. Those who belong to Him are like their Father in Heaven. Do not live for wickedness and do not tolerate it; hate evil. Live in the Presence of The Lord hosts, and you will know good from evil. Pursue justice for the oppressed. Abhor anything that is gained by oppressing others or taking advantage of them. Let justice and goodness define your life. God is gracious to those who turn away from doing what is wicked to pursue righteousness. He will not forsake those who please Him.
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them (Ephesians 5).
If we are to become mature and fruitful in our lives, with Christ, we must be wary of any distraction that would bring us up short. We are a work in progress, as long as we continue to make advances. We should not be regressing, by partaking in what will defile us. How we spend our time reveals a lot about our priorities and values. We should not revel in putridity. God does not wink at filthy and unclean practices. He will judge the rebellious, vile and disobedient. They have no inheritance in His Kingdom; they are bound for eternity in hell. Since Christ dwells in us, we ensure that we do not pollute His Presence. Our conversations and interactions with others should be seasoned with integrity. We should not allow ourselves to be captivated by foolishness and filthy jokes. Conversations will always have an impact on us, one way or the other.
“We only get this one chance to live meaningful lives.”
8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with The Lord. 9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of The Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences (2 Corinthians 5).
We know that we are all going the way of all flesh. We only get this one chance to live meaningful lives. We must be confident about what we want and how to achieve it. How we live for God here, will determine if we will spend eternity with Him. Whether we are present here, we live to please Him, so that we are always conscious of Him. Christ will judge each one of us according to how we lived here; by our choices, associations, priorities and intentions. Yes, Christ will judge us because He abides in us and knows everything about us. He also came as a Man, so He knows the challenges of humanity. We must be aware of what our actions will earn us. We know ourselves well enough, and so does God. We can fool others, but we can’t fool God. We should be intentional about pleasing The Lord, each day we draw a breath.
Whatever we do in speech or deed must have significance and relevance to our aspirations. We were redeemed by The Precious Blood of Christ, not to just get by here on Earth, but to live according to His Great Power in us. God’s intention for His people was to make them in His Image and Likeness. As He is Holy, so are we called to be. We have an obligation to communicate to others about Christ by the way we live our lives. We must not make God’s Truth complicated, nor should we turn others off with sanctimonious piousness. We have to choose to love God and others, and make it the objective of everything we do. God must be feared, as we carry on with our responsibilities, relationships and goals. We live through Christ and we will always be in His Presence. We must do what is good and pleasing before Him, and do so with intent and purpose. He will not forsake those who have set their sights to honor Him.
“Fear and love for God should determine our motives.”
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is Holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I Am Holy (1 Peter 1).”
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).’”
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