He Feels Your Pain, He Has A Plan

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 4:15

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:9

God sent His son into this world to deliver us from the penalty of sin. None on this earth was or is perfect, for through Adam’s bloodline all had sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Seeing that there was none among us to deliver us from wickedness unto righteousness, God sent his ONLY begotten son. Hebrews reminds us that he was touched by our infirmities; Christ had compassion on his Father’s creation, so he laid down his life. People lose sight of the fact that Christ was 100% God and Man. There were many times he was tempted, just as we are. The devil offered Him the world (although it wasn't his to offer). He could have passed from taking the cup in the Garden of Gethsemane, but instead, He was without sin. For that, you should truly be grateful. 

Our second focus verse, taken from Isaiah, declares to us the revelation we should grow to see and understand; in our deepest stage of evil, God had already formed a plan for Salvation, He had already ordained the time and day His son would come. He had already planned a way of escape for His children. Despite what I may think is best, I am glad that God knows best… There have been numerous times when I pondered the question: What is God up to? This passage from the prophet simply tells us today that His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are higher than ours. So when you feel despair about your circumstance and can’t seem to understand your situation, know that God is at work and it all will work for the good, for those called according to His purpose! 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Your Work Determines Your Wages

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23

There is no way for you to live a double life; Paul’s letter to the Church of Rome emphasizes the point that the only outcome from sin is death… Many people believe that they can do as they please and make up for it before it’s too late. When we live in this manner, we live in falsehood and set ourselves up for failure… Tomorrow is never promised, and death awaits all who anticipate a reward for their sin… The bible tells us that every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess; every move that you make is remembered, every decision you make is recorded, and you will suffer the consequences of your actions (whether good or bad)… The bible is clear that we reap what we sow, and it is also clear that a fig tree can not bear any other fruit besides figs… If you are living a life that is according to the standards of this world, today is your wake-up call… If you are walking under the authorities that are here on this earth today is your reality check… We all must stand before the judgment seat of Christ. We all must give account and will be held accountable for our actions here on Earth. I cannot help but emphasize the fact that this passage tells us the wages of sin is death. This simply means that as you lead a life of sin, your reward is eternal damnation. 

Sure, it may feel right at the time or moment, and you may even take great pleasure in your sin, but stop and think about what kind of reward you will receive. People get high to forget their problems, they drink to become disoriented, and they sleep around to feel loved. All these things do not add up to true rewards. The problems that you left when taking drugs still exist when your high fades, the pain you try to avoid with alcohol will tear you up even more when you are sober again, and love doesn’t live in the arms of multiple partners… The gift that you have been promised if you leave your life of sin is eternal life. The bible tells us that we are to store our treasures in heaven. One of the biggest hurdles we have to overcome on this Christian journey is looking for physical prosperity in everything that we do or take part in… God sees all your deeds, but some of your rewards will not be evident until you reach Eternal Bliss… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Avenues Of Life

There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Proverbs 16:25

There are so many paths that we can travel in this life, so many avenues that we can venture down; however, we are reminded today that no matter how many different paths we see or how many other avenues we find, all end in death if they are not paved by the Lord… This verse starts off by saying, “There is a way…”You can lay out the plans for your life, the goals you want to reach, and how you plan to achieve them, but death is guaranteed as the ultimate outcome if your will is not submissive to the will of God… The bible teaches us that God disciplines those He loves. The Bible also tells us that we must go through the “refiner’s fire” so that we can become the children God designed us to be… Understanding that discipline is a part of our growth and trials helps our maturation process, lets us know that things shouldn’t come easy… The path you seek is often based on the appearance of ease in its travel… Oftentimes we are always looking for the quick fix or the easy way out, but this Proverb teaches us today that if it seems easy and enticing to do, you had better stay clear of that path… The way that seems right to man is the way that provides the least resistance, provides a quick answer, and opens doors immediately… We all would love to walk into our workplace, get the respect we deserve, and make a salary that pushes us into a new "classification"; however, we know that the bible tells us that we must ask, seek, and knock… This means that you must work toward the goal, you must sacrifice, you must endure, and you must be patient… So often we base decisions on appearance and not true worth… Even though it seems right, don’t trust it without God’s approval and direction! Ultimately, the choice is yours; the path you choose displays the choice that you have made. Please pick wisely…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

We Are Saved Because Of His Grace

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Titus 3:5-6

Your hours of study and minutes of sweat may be beneficial to your success; however, it is imperative to know and realize today that you can’t do anything on this earth through the works of your hands to obtain the righteousness needed to be saved and clothed in the garments of a child of God… Titus reminds us today that no matter how perfect we think we are or how many good deeds we try to do, it is not by our hands that we receive Salvation… Often, we overlook how we are saved and sealed until Christ returns… Ephesians 4:30 says, “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed until the day of redemption…” You are saved by the blood of Jesus and sealed by the Holy Spirit… Did you catch that? Again, we are drawn by the father, set free by the son, and sealed by the Holy Spirit… All three comprise the Salvation that we inherit as a child of the Most High…Today, you need to stop acting as if you are a good person and start recognizing that you are saved “…according to his mercy…” You didn’t deserve it, you didn’t’ warrant it, but while you were in the pit of darkness, God withheld His judgment from you and gave you a clean slate… It is by the mercy of God (withholding the judgment that you and I truly deserved) that we are still in the land of the living…Don’t get it twisted; you have done nothing to deserve the saving power that came through God’s beloved son. Don’t lose sight of the fact that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Simply put, we are saved because of His grace!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Definition Of Godly Wisdom

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

James 3:17

So many people in this world claim to be wise; however, James reminds us today that there are two kinds of wisdom… There is wisdom which comes from above (Godly) and wisdom which does not come from above (worldly)… Each source of wisdom can be found by the seeds planted and developed from it, as we see that James shares with us today in our focus verse the attributes aligned with the wisdom which comes from above… Wisdom is defined as having insight, intelligence, acumen, or astuteness toward a specific topic and the ability to apply this knowledge in a manner that renders fair judgment and understanding… Wisdom is a deeper level of knowledge within a particular matter and oftentimes allows others a better opportunity to understand any given subject… In understanding the overall spectrum of wisdom, we must understand today that there is power in wisdom and that wisdom can be used in two different ways… When I acquire wisdom about a particular issue, I can use it for a positive or negative impact… Negatively using wisdom is the flipside of Godly wisdom, as it usually is used to better one's standing or to bring down someone else… This passage, taken from the book of James, reminds us to consider the avenues in which we venture in obtaining wisdom… Understand today, to be wise is to accumulate knowledge; however, how we utilize the knowledge we gain is another story… You should be a positive influence on your communities if you are walking in the wisdom of God… If you are doing more harm than good, please, check your sources!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

You'll Be Flawless When God Is Done

"So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting" O grave, where is thy victory"

1 Corinthians 15:54

From your birth to your death, there is a transformation that takes place on the outside that all see as it pertains to your growth as far as height, puberty, and physical features… Seeing someone at the age of 10 is completely different than seeing them at the age of 25; many visible changes will take place throughout one's life… Today, we read about changes that come through the molding and perfecting of God, which was set in place by the Lord Jesus Christ… These changes are internal and are not seen until our physical body returns to the dust from which it came… Understand today that we are clothed in corruptible things, mortal beings, and the scars of sin are visible in our lives… Each step you take as a Christian in advancing your knowledge and submission to the Lord brings you closer to your body of immortality… Being mortal means that we are earthly, worldly, or simply human… We make mistakes, make bad decisions, and are on a path charted on a course leading to hell… This body you are in isn’t adequate for heaven, it won’t suffice, and the growth, no matter how painful it is, is preparing you to step out of your mortal corruption into your heavenly garments… As a child, one of the most trying times in our lives is when someone (a parent or other) tells us to “wait”… 

When that word is uttered to us, oftentimes we become anxious, uneasy, or retaliatory, desiring to have our way or obtain the resolution we want immediately… In waiting, we must be patient and know that other things must take place or time must elapse for us to get where we desire to be or obtain what we want… Paul writes this letter to the church of Corinth to teach about the true victory that we anticipate… Many Christians are expecting miracles and prosperity as soon as they accept Christ as their personal Savior; some begin to lose heart whenever a trial or storm approaches their door; however, we must take notice of what it is that Paul says today and how it relates to us… Victory does await all those that call upon the name of the Lord, but we must go through the refiner’s fire and the purification process… This means you will see some things, you will experience some things, you will go through some things, but you know that your perfect attire awaits… Death will be swallowed up when your victory overcomes it… You will lie down, but in Christ, this is the beginning of your rise… This body that we currently reside in is temporary; this physical establishment that we have will not see the gates of heaven, nor will it even be caught up in the clouds… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

You Have To Sift Your Lift

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

In the same way that Paul is instructing the church of Thessalonica, we have been charged to test and prove everything. No matter the esteem you hold an individual to, Paul reminds us today that we are all human and therefore flawed… You must take the time to examine any and everything you give ear to or allow to occupy your time… Remember that Jesus declared that in the gospel of Matthew that we must beware of false prophets; Jesus also declared in his final hours before His arrest that the disciples must stay awake and pray… Jesus tells the disciples to stay awake and pray because of the coming test as well as the temptation which has arrived through the weakness of their flesh… Jesus would be taken from them, and the test of loving and adhering to the will of God would be accompanied by a sense of doubt and fear to tempt them from abandoning their faith… 

In this challenge, there is a good and bad knitted together; there are positives and negatives on each side, and it is the task of the disciples to choose the right course of action as it relates to the will of God… The same circumstances faced by the disciples in the garden of Gethsemane are the same circumstances that we face in our everyday affairs on this earth today… There is always a temptation that accompanies a test, and it is the challenge of every Christian to prove all things so that they can then hold fast to that which is good… Notice that Paul says we have to prove to know; there are things in your life that will come to light when you put them under the proverbial microscope… You must seek clarity in the posture and position of those around you as well as the doors that are opened unto you… Whether you are clinging to a relationship, holding on to past hurt or scars, focus your attention on God and hold on to the things that have helped mold you into who you are and release the things that are like Parasites and continue to weaken your very being!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!