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!

We Serve A Perfect God

He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Deuteronomy 32:4

God is indeed the rock; He is the only solid being in this world which we can stand firmly upon and rest in safely… Even though we have a solid platform that is God, we must understand that we are still subject to growing pains and challenges; the things we face in this world are resources utilized by God for our good, which is why today’s focus verse goes on to say that his work is perfect… God’s plan is without flaw and the things which you face now will provide a base of glorification tomorrow; you may not understand why a 3 day journey took 40 years (ask the Israelites at the time of this writing); however; the end result was worth the path traveled at the guidance of the Lord… The judgment which God has handed down for you will lead to your prosperity and peace; He has not sentenced you to death, but has devised a plan to get you back on track… All his ways are judgment because He wants to see you become the unique and blessed individual that He designed you to be… 

There are things which will not be acceptable in Christ, and these are the things which God has ruled out for you… This is why that relationship will not work, this job won’t come through, and this door will not open; there are better things for you in store through Him, but you must come to know and believe that the God you serve is a God of truth… Understand today that this passage taken from Deuteronomy challenges us to think of ways in which you would characterize the very essence of God, even when you may feel that you are going through a tough time or situation; He is a rock, again, something that is solid, sound, and sturdy. His work is perfect, ideal, just right, or without blemish. All his ways are judgments, everything about him shows that He rules and presides over mankind. A God of truth and without iniquity, there are no falsehoods within Him. Just and right is He, God is accurate and on time, and will deliver His saints through thick and thin! What a God we serve. 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God Allows U-Turns

The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.

Daniel 9:9

Despite the mistakes that you have made or the wrong choices that you have applied in your walk of life, Daniel reminds us today that God still loves you and allows u-turns…The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving… It is only because of our God's mercy and forgiving nature that we have not been consumed and still have a chance to right our wrongs… Today’s focus verse comes at a time in Daniel’s life when the children of God have been enslaved to the empire of Babylon; it is through the prophet Jeremiah’s word from God that Daniel knows that the bondage of the Israelites will not last forever…The children of God were enslaved because of their disobedience; however, the love of God is displayed at this particular time as He chooses to chasten them instead of abandoning them… This is a powerful message that we find here in today’s devotion: God will allow things to happen in our lives to get our attention, refocus our steps, and realign our vision with His will… These things are corrective measures and not displays of judgment as many may portray them to be… Daniel finds encouragement in knowing that this bondage would not last forever and sincerely thanks the most wise and everlasting Father… The same hope Daniel held onto in this passage of scripture is the same one we hold on to at this very time in our lives… There is no doubt that God has every right to pass judgment on mankind, and there is no defense which we could offer; this alone is reason enough to rejoice in knowing that God loves us, wants to spend eternity with us, and has devised a way of escape for us… The season of correction will produce a season of maturation in Christ, which will in turn bring you closer to Him and His divine plan for you… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Christ Isn't A Title

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

1 John 4:1

Not everyone who speaks the name of Jesus is a true believer of His sacrifice on Calvary… Not everyone you see at church is a member of the body of Christ, and today we are charged to “try the spirits whether they are of God…” We must not be fooled in our walk with the Lord. I once was told that Satan isn’t actually dwelling in the world but in the church; he tries to take up residence in the church because people in the world are already under his control… This verse is such a powerful one, penned by John, because oftentimes it isn’t that we are led astray by the world but by imposters who are “wolves in sheep’s clothing…” If I am walking down a dark alley at 11 o’clock at night, I will be very vigilant and apprehensive; however, if I am walking through a park on a nice Saturday afternoon, then I tend to lower my guard, and my apprehension is non-existent… This same analogy applies to our lives as Christians, when we are in the dark alleys that are this world, we are on guard and our eyes are wide open to see traps and snares; however, when we are in the church we open ourselves up to those who we see and whom we meet expecting them to have our best interest at heart… This is why so many have fallen and have found themselves wondering how they ended up where they are today, and this is the very reason why John says we must try the spirit “…because many false prophets are gone out into the world…” One of the biggest things that plagues the path of a child of God is the deception that lies in wait and redirects our focus… Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden, and it was the deception put forth by Satan that caused the original sin of mankind… They were deceived not only by Satan, but also by the comforts that surrounded them… Being in Eden can be likened to a church in that we are in God’s territory; however, we must be on guard every day and every hour of our lives to refute and rebuke the snares the enemy may lay before us… There are many false prophets in the world. Be sure that you don’t follow or become attached to one! Your soul (spirit) is at stake!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Sanctification Is A Process

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 3:18

It is good to know that the way we enter this world does not have to be the way we exit… Understand today that there is a transformation that takes place daily in the lives of Christians… Through the disobedience of Adam & Eve we all enter this world as sinners, but through the grace and sacrifice of Christ, we don’t have to leave that way! Paul charges the church of Corinth to understand that they are being formed into the image of God by His Spirit. There is a progressive work called sanctification that begins in the lives of Christians when they accept Jesus as the personal Lord and Savior…The work of redefining your life is a process that begins at acceptance and is continued through the presence and aid of the Holy Spirit, which will dwell inside you and mold you into the disciple that Christ has called you to be… This verse, which we focus on today, reminds me of God's limitless love for His creation... God has looked beyond your faults, established exactly what you needed, and then carried out the measures which had to be completed to bring you to that expected in… God’s love for you was made known before you even knew the errors of your ways or the depth of your sin…  We often hear that God isn’t a God of confusion, and that is true, but let us not take that to think that God cannot work in confusion… Through the trials you face, God will show up if you turn to Him, He will be found if you seek Him, and He will transform your spirit into His image if you let Him…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God's Fruit Is Without Restriction

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

Galatians 5:22-23

A quick and easy way to tell a child of God isn’t through the things that come from people’s mouths; it is not through the praise they offer up in worship service, but the kind of fruit they bear in their lives… The fruit we produce is a direct reflection of the seed which lives within, and this fruit can not be altered or changed from its original state… This is why Paul states the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit… These characteristics cannot be found in fruit not produced within the Spirit of God… For example, the bible teaches us that God is love; therefore, being a child of God, one must have fruit of love in their lives which not only takes root in them but also produces offspring of love to enable them to extend a hand to their adversary or forgive one who has wronged them… You cannot straddle the fence with a mixed bag of fruit and call yourself a child of the Most High… This is one reason why we find a passage in the gospel of Matthew which speaks to recognizing people by the fruit that they bear… “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? (Matthew 7:16)” This message is imperative for us today because as a child of God, we are not known by what we claim but the fruit that we bear… Paul writes to the church of Galatia reminding them of the fruit that the Spirit indeed does bare; today let us read these verses and take an inventory of our lives to see if we are baring these fruits, if we aren’t then it is time that we make sure that we are walking in the right spirit… 

As a child of God, we are to be filled with His spirit, and this is displayed in our daily actions in various forums… How we treat one another displays the spirit we walk in, how much time we devote to God displays the spirit that we walk in and how we deal with trials and tribulations display the spirit that we are walking in… If you treat your fellow man unkind, never spend time with the Lord and throw your hands up whenever a storm comes your way it is time for you to check the true direction that your life is headed in… This fruit doesn’t correlate to Sunday or Sabbath Day worship, this fruit is produced 7 days a week 24 hours a day… We all know the death that Jesus offered on the cross, but we often forget about the spirit He displayed in the moments leading up to the cross and even the time spent upon the cross… The bible says that while being mocked, spit upon, and beaten, Jesus never said a mumbling word; the bible says that on the cross, Jesus prayed for forgiveness for His adversaries and that He extended salvation to a thief… Remember that Jesus told us that we would do greater things than Him, and that is a pretty high benchmark for us to cross… To do greater things, we must first acknowledge what was done and strive to be the best that God has created us to be. This starts by first, walking in the right Spirit; secondly, we must produce fruit that carries these features and third, impart them into every phase of our life and every person we come in contact with… Walk in the spirit…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!