The Skies The Limit

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Colossians 3:1-2

In reading today’s focus verse I am reminded of the old saying talk is cheap; there are a lot of Christians that do the talking, but in the heat of the moment they are the same Christians which fold under the pressures of this world and what society says is success… There are a lot of pretenders and procrastinators in the body of believers and this is also why verse 1 starts off by using the word if… In other words you may say that you are of the body of Christ, but if your actions say differently than there is a disconnect somewhere… Paul uses the word “if” because the words which follow it serve as a filter to separate the real from the phony… When we read the word if we can then grasp the words that follow and apply them to our lives and ask the question as to whether we really are a child of God or not… The things which motivate you to act on this earth are the things which you desire to obtain and/or please… There are a lot of us which pledge our allegiance to Christ, but when are lives are examined under the proverbial microscope of life we find that there are a lot of other things which come before our Savior… We say that we love Christ; however, He doesn’t hold priority in our lives… We say that we love the Lord; however, prayer is an afterthought in our daily routine… We remember when to get up for work, we remember that our physical bodies needs nourishment, but someone has to remind us to pray about it or ask us ifwe have talked to the Lord about our problems… 

As a child of God this should not be, we must have a mindset where the cares of this world are taking a backseat to the matters of Christ… Our lives are so cluttered and bombarded with so much that we have not room for intimacy with Christ… This enemy has you right where he wants you if you find yourself forgetting to pray and spend time in devotion… The devil has a mighty grip on your life if you are focused on the daily task and the things of this world as oppose to what God can do and what He has already done in your life… The bible declares in Hebrews that without faith it is impossible to please God… Faith must be a part of every Christian’s life and it is shown when we live the verses recorded in this passage… We walk by faith when we seek things above and not the approval of our peers…  It is important that we understand that what we seek is what drives us and this is we are told throughout the bible that we must seek him while he may be found… Time is running out, tomorrow is never promised and the real desires of your heart are seen by God and displayed to men by what you obtain on this earth… Is your relationship growing in Christ or are you just trying to thicken your wallet? This is also why we are charged as Christians to seek those things which are above… Your attitude should reflect your Christianity… In a follow-up from yesterday’s food for thought, we see today Paul’s letter to the Church of Colosse and his focus again on the state of mind that a child of God should be in. He starts by saying that “if” you are risen with Christ, a conditional term that can only be validated from within; so many people claim to be a Christian, but their actions and the mindset speak differently than there tongue! 

To be in Christ is to live; therefore, your thoughts should reflect life, they should reflect joy, they should reflect hope…To be in Christ means that we look beyond the current situations, we are able to focus on the faith we have instead of the storms we are facing; to look beyond the realm of our possibilities and focus on the mighty hand of our Lord and Savior… In Christ you have been called to a higher standard, so don’t set your own ceiling in your ministry or in your home which will cause you to settle for less than what God has already ordained for your life…  This world will have you to believe that you have made a bed and must lie in it, this world will have you to believe that you can’t change and be transformed, this world will make you question God, this world will make you lose hope, this world will cause division and manipulate you until you have become a cancer in your home and in the church! This is why Paul says set your affections on things above, not on the earth! We have to train our minds to look past our faults, train our minds to stop holding on to access baggage, train our minds that this world is not the end of my journey only the beginning… Christ is pleading on your behalf because he knows that we all have fallen short, he is talking to the father because he knows that you can do bigger and better things in this life! He has done His part, now you must refuse to be satisfied with what you have on this earth and focus your attention on the will that God has for your life!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Think Positive

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

 

Philippians 4:8

 

Be mindful of the things contemplate; your thoughts are powerful shackles which not only impact your directive but provide the direction in order to accomplish it… We are reminded in today’s focus verse about the importance of guarding your thoughts… Eve was deceived by the serpent because He was able to appeal to her thoughts concerning the tree of knowledge of good and evil… Remember how Eve states that her and Adam were instructed not to eat of the tree nor even touch it; however, the serpent instills in her that she will not die and will be like God… The same ploy that led to the fall of man is a familiar vice which ensnares the craftiest of men today… You may be in a situation where you are waiting on God to move and in the moment in which the temptation is the greatest or the storm is the most fierce the enemy will whisper in your ear and tell you that God isn’t coming and that you must act… So many of us have fallen victim to this plot and scheme; the enemy has got you to worry, in the thick of the circumstance he has you becoming unsettled about the situation and as a directive from the voice you hear, you turn from the prayer which you sent up earlier in the day and take matters into your own hands… This is why Paul gives us very specific thoughts we must take captive of in this epistle; this is also why we are reminded in the church of Corinth in his second epistle to them to be mindful of what infiltrates their minds…  

In that later Paul says, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” Your thoughts are very powerful, they are the ignition of every action and decision which is developed in the heart… Matthew 7: 13, 14 teaches us that we have two paths to choice from in this life, “¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Today, Paul tells us how we must train our mind if we choose to walk the narrow road which leads to salvation… Something that is narrow is thin, slim or slender; we must understand this because when we walk this road there isn’t room for missteps or slip-ups… In order to walk this narrow road and be successful we must first tune our minds to the right things so that we are not deterred or mislead… Paul writes in his letter to the Church of Rome that we should not be conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind… He later goes on to say in his letter to the Church of Ephesus that we wrestle not against the flesh, but against principalities and darkness in high places! The really battle that we face on this journey is within, we have a natural desire formed from the sin of Adam in the garden and we have the obtainable desire to live righteously through Christ and His bloodshed. This war within is being waged between good and evil! Daily we are faced with many obstacles that can hinder our spiritual growth or become stepping stones to develop a more intimate relationship with God… The obstacles will never cease, but what goal they represent or there ultimate purpose is defined by your thoughts and prayers! I

f you are a person whose life is filled with gloom, everyday you are worried sick, you complain about this and you complain about that, your relationship with God will never grow through your trials and tribulations. Paul is telling the Church of Philippi that you must make sure that your thought aligns with your goals as a child of God! Instead of looking at the glass half empty, see it as being half full… Even when things seem hard, know that they could always be worse… Realize that trials come to mold you and purify you in the eyesight of God… What Paul is saying to us today is that thoughts of honesty will keep you from stealing, doing justly will help you to avoid breaking the law, and thinking on things that are pure will keep you from allowing the filth of this world to overtake you and your soul. Things built in love will keep you from falling into lust, a good report will stop the gossip, and virtue will help you to see the character of an individual… These are the things we should set in our minds, to think of the positives of every situation, to refrain from slandering our fellow brothers and sister in Christ when they fall short or misstep… We all have a duty on this earth and a goal to fulfill; we must start with training our minds to focus on the things that God adores, then we can begin to transform our actions so that God’s beacon light can shine from within and reach out! Remember Paul’s second letter to the church of Corinth states that we walk by faith and not by sight; surely at every turn of the head there is cause for concern, every time we turn on the news there is reason for heartache and worry, but as a child of God we must learn to walk by faith… We must believe that God is still at work, we must believe that God has a plan that is being fulfilled, and we must believe that the enemy will be defeated and that we will be caught up in the clouds to meet Him… Think not of the sadness in the world, but of the opportunity that every moment presents to witness on behalf of Christ; think not to the trials and storms that rage in this world, but of the maturity that is taking place and the crown of righteousness that awaits all who persevere…

 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Nothing Compares To Knowing Christ

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

 

Matthew 13:45-46

 

The value of finding your name written in the book of life and having a mansion in heaven is priceless… Nothing of this earth can compare; the most precious gem isn’t comparable to the divine words well done… This passage simply puts my everyday affairs into perspective… So many of us find ourselves daily struggling and fighting to reach heights defined by our peers; however, when we come to know the truest of treasures (the kingdom of heaven) we will be like this merchant man spoken of in the gospel of Matthew and sell all of our goods to obtain it… On earth we always believe we have the best until we see something better… A new car we love today, but strive for the one which comes off the assembly line tomorrow; a new job we embrace today, but will soon find ourselves seeking other employment with a higher salary… You will never be satisfied on this earth... Nothing will fill the void within unless you cast all your value in Eternal Life…There is nothing of this earth which I can obtain that will bring the happiness and immeasurable joys of heaven… There are two ways for us to understand this story told here in Matthew on the one hand we see the Love of God and on the other we see the love that we must display toward Him…If we are able to read these verses and contemplate the Love of God, we can see that just like this merchant man God sold all He had for us to buy us and bring us back into a right relationship with Him… We need to look at these verses in that light because we are the pearls that are being talked about in this chapter… Stop allowing people to put price tags on your life or tell you that you are of no value… My bible tells me that Christ died for me and thought it not robbery to leave His home in glory… If Christ was willing to do that than I must have a value that you simply cannot see… God says you’re priceless and because of that He sold all He had (gave His son) to purchase you… 

Matthew paints a portrait today of what the eternal kingdom will look like and represent! It is compared to a merchant who is seeking good pearls and finds one at a great price so he sells all that he has to obtain it… God was seeking one who would follow Him, one who would obey Him and when He found you He said my son is worth the price… If God thinks that you are worth the price of His own son, why do you allow society to devalue you? If God gave all that He had to buy you, why are you selling yourself short? These are the questions that we must ask ourselves knowing that God teaches us today that there is no value on this earth that equals you… Why does God value us so high, because you were created in His image; Genesis 1: 26-27 says, “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” ²⁷So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Now that we see the love of God, let us look at the reverse and place ourselves in the place of the merchant man and God is the pearl… You and I have been searching long and hard trying to find answers and paths to solve problems of life… So the question I have today is what are you willing to give up (worldly possessions) to obtain your answers… The merchant in this story found something that was valued more than anything that he had already gained; today we must come to realize that the precious promises of God and the happiness that resides within Heaven will outweigh any of the pleasures of this world… He sold all he had to increase what he had, what are you holding back today, what are you refusing to sell today (drugs, habits, people…) these are some of the possessions that we must sell, these are some of the items that we must give up in order to increase the value of our lives and the relationship that we have with God… 

This merchant was searching for happiness, he was searching for peace of mind and freedom, and when he found it he immediately gave up everything that he had… What are you searching for in this life, what is your motivation or your goal to reach? Is it happiness, stability, peace, solitude? The fact of the matter is that we all are searching for something, and within Christ we can find it! This passage has a two part meaning though, the merchant found the pearl at a great price! Now that you know the road to achieve your hopes and dreams (which is Christ), now that you see the light at the end of the tunnel, how much is it worth to you? You see Christ with open arms awaiting your arrival, you can see your joy, your peace, and your happiness, but you realize that it is going to cost a great deal of sacrifice to receive it… It’s a great price to pay, the price can be in a realm of darkness, that price can be manifested in times of despair and loneliness, that price can be established on islands of misfortune and trials… Are you ready to give up all that you have, are you ready to loose some friends, can you be removed from some situations, and can you stand to see some of your love ones be cancelled out of your life? These are the questions that the merchant had to answer; these are the questions that we have to answer… It is very easy to say we are Christians and we are a child of God, but when we go through challenges it helps us to appreciate the rewards of our labor… God says your labor is not in vain; the question is do we believe that? If so, sell yourself and all the things you have desired on this earth to obtain that good pearl (salvation)!

 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

God Always Fulfills His Promise

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9

Don’t get confused today with the assumption that since God hasn’t answered as rapidly as you had liked that He will not answer at all… Understand today that the enemy is busy; the best way for Him to deceive the Christian is by consuming their minds with thoughts that God has forgotten about us… You might even be in a situation right now where things don’t appear to be going as you planned and it seems as though your prayers are going unanswered; if this is you today, be encouraged to know that God is working in and through you to touch others and exalt you through your storm… This is why Peter says that we endure longsuffering; simply because God is not willing that any should perish… The storm you are going through will water the seed that has already been planted in you and cultivate the hearts of all that watch your perseverance foundationally set upon your faith… Long story short, God hasn’t forgotten about you; He’s simply using you for His glory… See, God knows His promises to you, He knows what He has said and will not withhold what He has promised to those who walk within His will! Often times we confuse longsuffering with an unfulfilled promise… In the verse that precedes this one we are told not to forget time as it appears to the Lord… The 8^th verse of this chapter says, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” This is vital to remember when you feel like a promise hasn’t been meet or that the Lord isn’t by your side… God desires that all mankind would come to know Him, because of this, He has prolonged the coming of His kingdom to allow every man, woman, boy and girl to come to know Him and the love that He possesses and has dispensed upon mankind… The word of God must travel to the world so that men and women have the opportunity to experience His love, grace and mercy… One of my uncle’s was in the Army and he often recalls stories of his tours of duty in Vietnam and Desert Storm… 

He recalls how in the early 90’s he was informed by the commander that the particular place they would be going didn’t allow bible’s… This struck my uncle as he had no choice but to leave his bible behind, by the grace of God he was brought back home safely and now evangelism has spread to those regions… The point of that story is to show that God’s word is moving, you may not see it right now, but it isn’t coming back void and when it accomplishes what is was sent out to do you will see the promises that God made with you and to you being fulfilled before you… We each have a purpose in this life and the ultimate goal of God is that everyone may come to know His name… God knows the promises that He has made, He knows the covenants that He has established with you and will hold up His end of the bargain… God is a loving God and His love goes beyond you and me, He loves the sinner, He loves the wrong-path human, and desires that they come to Him and that He may include their sin in His death on the cross (it probably wasn’t that long ago that you were that sinner and wrong-path person)… Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” This question is posed because we should have full confidence (regardless the situation) that God is with us and will fulfill His promises… The evidence of His promises being fulfilled is that He has sent the comforter (Holy Spirit) to dwell with us… Evidence of His promises is that we have all been freed from sin by the bloodshed of His son… We have all been given a clean slate; however, God knows that there are some that are carrying unnecessary baggage; there are some that don’t understand who Christ is and what He has done! These are the people that Christ wants to reach and He is using us to fulfill that desire… 

Understanding that God is not slack in His promises as men count slackness, teaches us that we must handle situations in storms with a since of admiration and reverence for God… Today’s scripture informs us that trials will come, promises may seem bland at times, but Peter reminds us that we have a bigger cause ahead! Every trial that you face may not necessarily be for your maturity, it could be that the storm that hovers over your life is to show your faith and for God’s faithfulness to be displayed so that someone close to you will come to know Him and accept Him as their personal Lord and Savior… Your hardships don’t show that God isn’t around; they show that He is performing a mighty work in and through you… Don’t think God is slack when things don’t go as you had planned, don’t think God is slack when the enemy seems to be winning… Trust God, and know that He has a timetable in place that was set before you were formed in your mother’s womb… Peter reminds us that we should not be focused on what Christ can do for us, but the multitude of people that we can touch for Christ… If you want your blessings to shower down on you, if you want to hear God say,“Well Done”, if you want to see pain and agony cease; step up and walk in the will of God! In short, bear witness to everyone you come in contact with knowing that Christ desires for all to know Him and you have a message to deliver through the rugged hills and valley’s that God has ordained for you!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Keep Trusting In The Lord

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

A lot of us confess to have a relationship with the Lord; however, one must do a personal inventory to figure out how deep that relationship is… It is so easy to claim to love the Lord, but when things go south we often ask the question why me… As we ask this question, God answers us with a question of His own, do you trust me…? Is you trust in the Lord or in the things that you accredit Him for putting in your life…? Do you truly trust the Lord not only when things are calm in your life, but also when the storms are raging and you feel all alone…? When the storms of life are raging and adversity is present, then we display the true trust that we (either in things or in God)… I can recall growing up and how it was instilled in me at a young age that the most important component to a relationship is trust… After thinking about this statement, I soon realized how many things branch off from that very word… If I cannot trust someone, I cannot have confidence in them, I cannot believe in them and I cannot love them… Solomon writes today a couple of verses that we often here people quote; however, notice that the first thing Solomon writes is that we must “trust the Lord…” The desires that I have is to allow the Lord to direct my path, I want Him to lead me because I know that He won’t lead me down the wrong road; however, if I don’t “trust” Him than I will not follow His lead… 

Likewise, we must have complete confidence in the Lord in order to develop a secured foundation with Him… Think of it this way, if you didn’t trust your spouse or your boyfriend/girlfriend… How can you grow with them? If you didn’t trust them, what would be going through you mind every time you were not with them… The point is that you will be apprehensive and worried, both of which will lead to the decaying of your relationship… Solomon has been accredited to be the wisest man that ever lived… Today through these verses taken from Proverbs we can gain a better understanding as to why that is… Again, Solomon teaches us today that the most important thing for us to do in life is to trust the Lord and even go deeper to trust Him without a shadow of doubt; this is why eh goes on to say with all thine heart… Your faith in God cannot waver or be tossed to in fro, when this happens James tells us in his book that we will not receive of the Lord… There are a lot of people walking this earth who claim to trust God, but continue to try and handle situations under their own power and might… There are a lot of people who put trust into all the wrong things or people and end up depressed or angry. When one trusts something or someone, they have faith, belief, hope and confidence in the person or object… There are a lot of things that we trust without even noticing it; for example, when we sit down we trust that our chair will hold us up and that we will not fall… Solomon reminds us today that our trust must be established in the Lord… A chair can be broken, a relationship can fail, a loved one can pass away and a storm can arise… All these things can affect our lives and magnify everything that we deal with in this life; there is only one thing that remains constant, God… 

When the Israelites were freed from the hand of Pharaoh God was leading them through the wilderness, when they encountered battles and wars, God was at the forefront, when they rebelled and were lead to captivity, God still sent prophets unto them to reveal the path to freedom… Despite where you are right now, despite what you are going through, despite the decisions you have made, God still looks down from heaven upon your life and wants to turn you around and perfect you according to His will… Solomon says that we must trust the Lord will all our heart because He is the only incorruptible being in our life, He is the only steady foundation we can stand on and He is the only vine we can live from… Not only is it a mistake to not trust in the Lord, but it is even worst when we “lean to our own understanding…” God desires to lead you and guide you through this life, He desire to open doors for you and make ways out of no way, but you must desire to have Him as the head of your life… We all have heard that the quickest way from point A to point B is a straight line; however, what we must learn is that the quickest way from point A to point B is by following the way that God has paved for you… Solomon reminds us today that God will be your GPS, He will navigate you through the storms of life and make sure you make the appropriate turns (decisions) that will help you reach your destination safely… When you realize that you are lost, that’s the time that you will be found, when you realize that you don’t have the strength, that‘s when you will be empowered, and when you stop trying lean to your own understanding is the time you will come to understand the things of this life and the purpose your life serves on this earth… Trust in the Lord, it’s the key to unlocking your God given ability and destination…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Humility Leads To Exaltation

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Luke 14:11

The standards of this world are not the standard of Jesus Christ… The sooner that we grasp this concept, the sooner that we can start to reach higher levels than we ever thought possible within our own finite power… This is the lesson that Luke teaches us today in his gospel… There are so many people who have been confused and found themselves falling short because they have not align themselves with the will and desires of God… The people that fall into this category are the ones who have been in prayer; however, they have not totally turned the situation over to the Lord which means that they are lacking in humility… There is something missing in their lives and even though they call on the Lord they have not sought Him with their whole hearts for Him to be found… This is the same thing that plagued the rich young ruler in the gospel of Mark… Even though He knew who the Lord was, He measured his happiness by his wealth and not his faith… Today, make the decision to be humble so that God doesn’t have to humble you… This is a very scary truth and is also why Luke starts off by saying,“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled…” Make no mistake about it, even though it may appear that people with pride and ego’s are flourishing, this passage tells us that it won’t last and that they will reach a point where there high horse comes crashing down… We see this all too often with image based celebrities who fall back to earth through the most precarious situations… Today, even though the majority may choose otherwise, you must make a decision… Are you climbing the ladder of success defined by the world or by God… The latter being the one which appears lease acceptable but is the most profitable… The way to ascend is to go down and the way to fall is to stand up…

Luke teaches us the way of the Christian life and how it is that we obtain exaltation… For many of us, this way of thinking can be a major stumbling block or hurdle; especially when we look at the world’s definition of success… Since we are born into this world we enter with a (n) approach to life that is drastically different than what God desires for us and from us… According to the world, we must make a certain amount of money, live in a certain neighborhood and drive a certain style of car to be considered successful; however, this success is not guaranteed to either be reached or even be kept once and if we do reach that level… In the blink of an eye a millionaire can find him/her self unemployed… Driving a fancy car doesn’t mean that you can’t be involved in a car accident that claims your life… When we begin to think on these things, we begin to understand why it is important to seek the success that is obtained in God as opposed to the world… The flashy clothes won’t be in eternity, the mansions and streets of gold are set aside for billionaires, but the accumulated wealth isn’t money… We must transform our way of thinking if we want to really reach heights that we never thought were even possible… Instead of reading how to become rich, study the word of God and trust Him wholeheartedly… The bible says, “He will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory…” God will take care of you, when you are His child you have the greatest wealth imaginable… You can call on your Father who never runs out of resources and has the power to change or overtake any situation… Money can’t buy happiness nor can it buy a plug for the voids you have in your life… A traumatizing experience can be changed by money, a rough upbringing can’t be made any easier by money; however, the love of God can comfort the comfortless, heal the brokenhearted and set the captives free… In this life you have two choices… 

Luke tells us that a man/woman will do either of these things; they will either exalt themselves or humble themselves… Your life tells the story of which avenue you have chosen… Exalting yourself calls for everyone to take notice of what you are doing or trying to do; however, humbling yourself means that you are not worried about pleasing men and that you know that there is nothing of this earth that can out do the love of God… When you humble yourself you push away the temptations to seek your own way, when you humble yourself you open the door for Christ to lead you… When you humble yourself you recognize that I can’t do it on my own and without God I am nothing… In the 14 chapter of Luke we find Jesus sitting to have dinner with a Pharisee on the Sabbath Day. As they are sitting Jesus begins to teach about law verses grace and humility. In verse 11 the Lord is calling us to be humble, having FAITH that HE will exalt us. As a Christian we have to realize that worldly prestige means nothing to the eyes of The Great I Am. God is looking for those who are not out for popularity or rewards. The Lord is pleased with those who are serving him in spirit and in truth. Think about it, if Jesus would have been here with prestige and all this popularity, HELL would have already swallowed us up!!!! It’s a sobering feeling when you humble yourself; it’s not an easy task; just like we work for a living we have to work at being and remaining humble… It requires a lot of sacrifice, it requires a lot of prayer, it requires a lot of hard work and you will indeed feel the pains of struggle… Your hard work will pay off, your trials will be worth it and leaving the world behind you will plant your feet securely on the streets of gold; where everyone who obtained success on this earth at the expense of their relationship with the Lord would love to be and would gladly then exchange their Stacy Adams for your sandals…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Be Steadfast & Unmovable

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58

As you grow in the knowledge and will of God you are assured to be subject to many temptations and snares placed in your life by the enemy… There will be many test that you must endure and many hardships that you must face; however, in the midst of your circumstances you can find courage in knowing that your sweat, blood and tears are not in vain… I know that it is very easy to become discouraged when you face opposition and it appears that all of the seeds that you have planted are not bearing fruit; however, you must “be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…”Today’s focus verse challenges us to walk by faith and trust that the Lord knows all and sees all… The enemy wants you to believe that you have lost, he wants you to believe that you cannot obtain victory; however, Paul wants you to know that every stumbling block will eventually become a stepping stone and you will have a testimony that will lead others to Christ… No seed, when planted sprouts immediately; this principle applies to our lives as Christians as well… You have a seed that God planted in you and the storms of life that you face provide the nutrients needed for that seed to grow…This is why we must be steadfast; don’t let Satan corrupt your seed… 

Don’t let him dig up what God has planted in you while it tries to take root… The things that you face in life will either provide water to your seed or a shovel to the dirt which protects and keeps it… Despite what people may say (being that shovel that the enemy will use), you must continue to abound in the work of the Lord… No matter what the appearance of your current predicament may seem, you must continue to fight the good fight and walk in faith… Don’t get caught up in the moment, continue to look ahead and the big picture which is God’s plan and expected in for you… Jesus gave His life for you to be with Him in paradise… This doesn’t mean that you won’t endure tough times; it doesn’t mean that you will not have you share of bad days, it doesn’t mean that you will not be subject to trials and tribulations, it simply means that in the end you will be dwelling in paradise…Whether it takes two years or two decades, the seed that has been planted in you will materialize into exactly what God originally formed it to be… You were created in His image and that perfection with which you were formed will be shown… The reason why a lot of us fall short is because we don’t realize how close we are to our expected end… The day you turn from the path of Christ could be the same day that your seed was beginning to bear fruit… Stay focused on reaching your destiny, it is not by chance that you accepted Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, but now is the time when you will face the strongest trials that Satan will send your way (Satan was and is never worried about those in the world, they are already being controlled by him)! You have accepted Christ offering, but more importantly you have accepted His will for your life! You must be steadfast; you cannot waver or lose sight of the big picture! There will be times of heartache, there will be times of pain and suffering, but know that as long as you abound in the work of the Lord, you know that your labour is not in vain… 

God bears witness to all you endure; He sees everything that you face and has taken note of your faith and drive to live a life that is pleasing in His sight… Plow the field God has laid before you, remembering the promise that He made to us, “we will reap a harvest, if we faint not!” Child of God, the warfare has intensified, and in spite of the fiery darts that are being sent your way, you must continue to "Advance", as you remain focused on the assignment that has been ordained to your hands. Beloved, you are not alone in this battle, nor are you fighting on uneven territory, for the Father has already dispatched a legion of warring angels who are fighting on your behalf in the spirit realm. But, in order to "Advance!" in full strength and power you will need to shed flesh; therefore, you must suit up by pulling out your spiritual arsenal of mass destruction against the enemy by adding fasting to your prayers, which is sure to give you greater leverage against the wiles of the devil causing you to "Advance" against the kingdom of darkness. This is not the hour to retreat or give in to the pressures of discouragement, but to "Advance!" against all that would dare hinder the move of God in the lives of His people. To be unmovable we must be planted like a tree beside the waters, we must stand firm, trusting that even in the worse conditions, we will have the nutrients we need to maintain and we will bring forth our fruit in season…

Be encouraged and always remember you are favored by the KING!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Love God As Well As Others

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

Matthew 22:37-39

The foundation of our being starts with love… Love has to be the cornerstone and driving force and that means that you must have a relationship with the Lord… The bible says that “God is love…” So you are not walking in love if you are not walking in Christ… Make no mistake about it, you are not here by your own doing, but through the love of God… It was the love God has for us that allowed Him to sacrifice His son and pave the road to forgiveness and salvation, it was the love Christ had for us to hang on the cross and go down into the belly of this earth and it is the love that we have for God that keeps us in His will and striving to become more and more like Him… This walk as a Christian calls for a total commitment to the will of God! Jesus is instructing us today through the gospel of Matthew about the foundation that will lead to eternal salvation. True love is formed or born through trials and tribulations… I can always say I love you to someone, but until my love is tested (and grounded in the Lord) you will never know the severity of how much or deep my love goes. A lot of us mistake lust for love and the difference of the two is evident in our commitment to that particular person of thing… 

Jesus says that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind! We can’t say we love Him when we feel like it or when He has blessed us and curse Him when things aren’t going as we planned… We can’t throw our hands up in praise for His goodness, and drop our head in defeat when the storms of life begin to rage… James [Jesus’ Brother] tells us to consider it pure joy when we face trials! Understanding God’s goodness and faithfulness will bring about spiritual freedom and peace that will keep you smiling no matter what task or hurdle lay before you! This is the first and great commandment, we must give God preeminence! He should be on our mind when we wake up [take time to pray], He should be in our thoughts regardless of the circumstances that we face. David slipped up when he saw Bathsheba bathing, Sampson was conquered when Delilah tricked him, and Adam and Eve fell at the hands of a (n) apple… All the devil needs is a crack to open the flood gates and cause you to drown in sin; this is why we are taught today to love God will all our being… We must first love God with a total commitment to Him before we can take the next step in this verse which is that, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself…” A lot of us stumble at the approach of loving people, this happens because we first don’t have a committed relationship to the Lord and secondly, we really don’t’ know how to love ourselves… I have seen so many people with a nasty attitude and it derives from the disgust that they have with themselves… Jesus died while we were yet sinners, He died for us when we were ugly, beaten down and scarred because He saw the true jewel and diamond we are… 

This is why we must have the love of God within us, because the world will tell us that we are ugly, worthless and valueless; however, God tells me that “He thought it not robbery to leave His home in glory…” Jesus demonstrated to us that when we love something completely, we will give all we have too it; likewise, we will do whatever tasks that are put before us to maintain and strengthen that love… When you are in love with someone you give all you have to that person and then you will also do whatever is asked of you… God instructs us that the greatest command is to love the Lord and the second is to love thy neighbor… This love should be shown through our walk, but it should also be manifested in the way we treat others! We should have a kind word for our fellow man, we should be able to lift him up when he’s down, be there for support when things aren’t playing into there hands or simply to love them and encourage them to continue to pursue this Christian walk and become the men and women that God has called them to be… True love always has an element of sacrifice, true love causes you to go above and beyond your normal realm of thinking, and it causes you to focus on the individual and not the trial! That’s why God says that we must love Him and our neighbor, He knows we will have to sacrifice to carry our cross, He knows that we will have to smile in the face of our enemies even when they have stabbed us in the back… He has given us a spirit to overcome these challenges, a spirit to adhere to His calling and to put away malice and anger! His commandment is to love as Christ loved us and give His life! Your life should be full of love, which means it should be full of sacrifice!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Love Fervently

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.

1 Peter 1:22

How hard is in to lend to someone who you feel doesn’t deserve it? How hard is it to speak a kind word to someone who despises you? How hard is it to turn the other cheek and walk away? On the contrary, how easy is it to speak you mind? How easy is it to wish bad on someone? How easy is it to retaliate and turn the other person’s cheek…? These are the questions that we must answer within ourselves today… These are the things that we face on a daily basis and these things show where we are currently in our spiritual walk and how much further we still have to go… Taking on a mind of Christ leads us to extend a helping hand and not dig a pit for another to fall in… In today’s study verse Peter speaks about the love and desire we should have as a child of God walking under the influence of the Lord… Notice that this passage says that you have purified your souls through obeying the truth by the Spirit. Before we can walk we must first stand up, before we can speak we must first open our mouths; Peter reminds us today that we are called to love one another, we are called to exalt one another, and we are called to have unfeigned love one for another as a child of God… The love that Peter talks about is instilled in us by God and only can be placed within us when we first turn unto Him… We are purified through the Spirit which guides and directs our lives; to be purified means that you have been cleansed, sanitized or filtered…  

Through the accepting of Jesus Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit our purification process has begun, we have been cleansed from the sin that chained us to death, we have been sanitized by the blood of Jesus and filtered through His love and sacrifice… Without the presence of the Holy Spirit residing within you, you cannot accomplish anything. We have to be lead by the spirit; we have to have the Holy Spirit abiding within us. Remember Christ spoke to the disciples prior to His departure and said that you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes; we through the Spirit have the ability to overcome and be victorious on this earth. It is also through the Spirit that we can love unconditionally; we can help our enemies, and be kind to those who show no kindness towards us. Understand today that this is not possible until you have “purified your souls…” If you are still living the life of sin and focused on the desires of the world than you will not be able to love your brother/sister or love with a pure heart… In the world everything is done for personal gain or exposure, in the spirit everything is done to glory God and life up one another… In order to focus on lifting one another as oppose to tearing one another down you must first acknowledge where you stand and in which direction you want to go… We all must be purified; however, this cannot be done if we believe that we are already clean… This is why Peter says these things contained in this verse… The only way to love fervently is through the Lord, the only way to have unfeigned love for your brethren is through the Lord… You must purge the evil that is born within you in order to receive the spirit of God that will guide you to know heights and have you doing things you never thought possible… 

Jesus gave us a New Commandment prior to leaving the earth, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” The greatest command we have as a child of God is to love one another, Jesus gave this command because if we are doing things out of love we will abide within the will of God and also the laws instituted by God and the world we live in… Peter says that we are not only to love, but to love fervently; we must have a passion to love, zeal to love, an excitement to love and a (n) eagerness to love… The love that Peter is speaking of isn’t gained overnight, but is learned through the experiences we go through and the mindset that we have… Again, before you can walk you must learn to stand; before you can love fervently you must learn how to simply be kind and overcome evil with good… Love is a word that is better described and defined by actions… When someone has zeal, they have a willingness, a (n) excitement or passion for something; and it is shown by how they approach a task or mission… When we talk about loving as Christ loved, I should be able to see all those traits in your lifestyle as a Christian. Remember, greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends!!!!!! That is Jesus showing His fervent love for us! HOW ABOUT YOU!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Guard Your Heart

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:23

The heart is a very sacred and vital organ both to your physical and spiritual life… If we take the analogy of the heart being a pump, we know that whatever is inside the heart will be pumped out (in the physical since this is the blood that travels through our veins, in the spiritual we are talking about whatever Godly or worldly things that reside within)…This is why we are reminded that if we want to live we must keep our heart…  The heart is the source, it’s the critical point and it’s the very place you’re most likely attacked by the devil… Luke 6:45 says, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” How often do you give your heart to others? How many times have you found yourself allowing someone or something to have authority over you by controlling your heart…Whether we have come to realize it or have not comprehended it yet, the heart is the center of our living and being… David wrote in Psalm 37 that if we delight in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our heart… God knows how critical it is that we maintain our heart; He knows the importance of the heart and has told us that if we make Him first in our lives He will give us the things that we seek… God knows the things that we seek are love, appreciation, acceptance and happiness… Today we are reminded that just because we seek those things doesn’t mean we try to obtain them at all cost… The proverb today reminds us that we must “Keep thy heart with all diligence…” 

The book of Proverbs was written by the wisest man that ever lived (Solomon), but even he was subdued and humbled when he did not protect his heart… I am a firm believer that doors open in your life, but I am a (n) even firmer believer that not every door is meant for you to walk through… That being said, we must understand that being patient and thorough when it comes to matters of the heart are critical not only in Christianity but in simply living in this world… The bible says that the devil is seeking to steal, kill and destroy and the truth of the matter is that he will only accomplish this by obtaining control of your heart… The proverb says in all diligence, we must make every effort, put every last bit of energy in preserving our heart… The bible records many verses speaking to the importance of the heart and how it is the foundation of our direction… Paul wrote to the Romans about salvation and how it is received through the heart, Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” It is critical that we understand the value that the heart holds… When we say that we truly love someone, that love comes from the depths of our heart, when we look beyond someone’s faults what is displayed is the genuine heart that we possess… Solomon goes on to tell us that the reason we must protect our heart is because the issues of life come from the heart… When we have a heart for something we have the mindset and drive to do it, that in and of itself is important because a lot of us have the heart to do the wrong things… We have allowed the enemy to penetrate our minds so long, that our heart has become poisoned and we have begun to go down the wrong roads in this life… Every turn you make in life is decided by your heart, every decision you make is validated by your heart and if your heart is in the wrong place than that is where you will be also… “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” 

Just like this proverb, Luke elaborates on the importance of the heart when he records in the 6^th chapter 45^th verse that, “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” Your heart will manifest its true desires by the way you conduct yourself in every day affairs… Luke informs us that we can see the desires of mankind and the issues of people’s lives by how they act from day to day… If you are a genuine person and a person that desires the right things, your heart will show that by the actions that you choose to engage in… Today is a day where I think it is appropriate that we examine our hearts… We examine the desires of our heart and make sure that we have protected our heart from the devises of the devil… The issues of life are the things that affect us, but also the ways in which we live… An issue is subject, concern or topic; the issues of life are whatever we make them… If we become worried about a job it’s a (n) issue, if we stay up all night because of a relationship, we make it a (n) issue and all this derives because we have allowed our heart to be invaded by things that are not of God… When we allow God in and keep our hearts with all diligence the issues of life become living the way God would have me to live, smiling in the face of adversity and speaking a good/kind word to an enemy… I don’t have to hear you speak or even ask you questions to determine what kind of heart you have; it will be shown in your living… The bottom line is that you must protect yourself and your life… If you’re careless with your heart and give it to any and everybody, it will be shown by how torn and tattered your life is…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Your Struggle Will Be Over Soon

But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.

Malachi 4:2

When you feel dejected and ready to throw in the towel, just know that “the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings…” Jesus was persecuted and appeared to lose; however the death on the cross produced His greatest ministry… Today, know that you will be persecuted, but in your most troubling days your ministry will be that much more intense and exalted…  God knows that walking under His guidelines subject you to many obstacles and hardships that are thrust upon you or in your path by the ways of this world… The Lord realizes that every time you choose to follow Him you run the risk of losing friends and having sleepless nights; however He wants us to find encouragement in today’s study verse knowing that we will run free in victory and overcome the storms we face… This first starts by saying, “But for you who revere my name…” We must stay the course and revere (honor, respect and admire) the name of the Lord… Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” No matter what you face or what opposition comes before you, stand upon the promises of God and trust Him knowing that when you revere His name He will protect and keep you… Malachi goes on to inform us that the sun of righteousness will rise again, there is a day marked on the eternal calendar, an hour when the clouds will part and Jesus will return unto this earth… 

When the sun goes down darkness covers the earth; this very principle is one that we must apply today knowing that dark has covered the earth… If we understand that He will rise again we must understand that things must appear to have fallen first; situations must seem to be insurmountable, trials must seem unconquerable, sin must feel too tempting and Satan must appear to be winning… During the days of Noah there were many who walked by him mocking him while he built the ark, their were many laughing and being merry while he appeared loony and out of his right mind, but when the floods came upon the earth we know who survived and who perished; likewise, in Christ we appear to be loony from time to time, we appear to people of this world to not know “how to have a good time,” but we eagerly await the sun’s rise knowing that we will be victorious and exalted… Understand that our hope may not be evident in the present sufferings that we may be encountering right now; see Malachi reminds us today that in revering God we patiently await His return and our rescue from this world of sin… We all have been enslaved at one point in time in our lives… We have been imprisoned by our bad choices, locked up behind our fleshly desires, and hindered by our own transgressions… We have been scared by yesterday, and our light has grown dim when looking into the future. It seems that nothing can come of a positive in our lives. 

There is good news today for those who revere the Lord, those who serve Him in spirit (within) and in truth (through circumstances)… That good news is that through Christ death we no longer are captives to sin. We have the key to our destiny, the choice is up to us and we can choose to learn from our mistakes instead of allowing our mistakes to control us. The sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. Christ has risen with all power on earth and in heaven; He has everything that you stand in need up. He is your shield through the fiery darts; He’s your comforter in times of loneliness, He’s your healer in times of sickness, and your deliverer in times of confusion and chaos. Christ came first to pave the way to God and when He left he went to prepare a place for us… When He returns (rises again) He will escort us into His kingdom and Sabbath will have no end… We revere Him because He first loved us, we revere Him because He looked beyond our faults, and we revere Him because He has deposited Grace and Mercy into our lives… It is because of Christ healing that we are even alive and reading this message, it’s because of His sacrifice that we will be able to leap like calves released from the stall. The stall is your current circumstance, your stall is the way you feel when you don’t think things can get better, your stall is the ceiling that has been placed in your life when you think that you can’t go any higher… Your stall is limitations, but when you know the one and only true God, when you understand who is the author and finisher of your faith, you will be able to hold to God’s hand, you will be able to keep your joy through sorrow and suffering! For there is healing in His wings, He has heard your cry, He has understood your moans and He will deliver you from your current bondage (stall) unto the eternal Promise Land!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Do Your Part So God Can Do His

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Revelation 2:17

Hold on just a little while longer; keep fighting and running the race that has been laid before you… The words of today’s focus verse provide encouragement for what lies ahead for the believer… Those who have exhausted high levels of energy; those who have pressed through sweat and tears should find comfort in knowing that you work is not in vain and that the Lord teaches us today that “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna…” All your aches and pains will be eased; all the tears that you have shed will water the seed of abundance that God has planted in you… The bible declares that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning… This verse provides hope to the man or woman who is walking in the spirit of faith; understand today that joy may not come tomorrow morning, but as a child of God you are assured that it will come… Let us not become weary in well doing, for in due time we shall reap a harvest if we faint not… These are the words that Paul uttered to the church of Galatia as the endured the storms of life… Today, we must live by those same words, being reminded that we must overcome to receive the good and perfect gifts from the Lord… John reveals to us today some of the most precious promises God offers; however the first thing that we must do is overcome… To overcome something, you must recognize that it is a (n) obstacle, trial or hardship… This is the first and greatest step that we must see and take… A lot of things that we face in life we don’t recognize… 

A close friend can be a stumbling block, a desire for a particular person can be a hindrance and a false since of security can lead to your demise… This verse penned in John’s revelation calls for all to pay attention to the things that God will reveal unto us,we will eat of the hidden manna and receive a white stone which will have a new name written for us… The promises put forth unto us today are that we will no longer suffer from the things of this world; the offer put forth is that God will reveal himself unto us and we shall be revealed unto ourselves as to who we really are… When the Israelites were in the wilderness God feed them with manna from heaven, today we are informed that God will take care of all our needs according to His riches and that we will be clothed in righteousness through His love and sacrifice… John records that we will be given a new name, the things of this world will not follow you into your eternal rest, the mistakes you have made will be wiped out when Jesus returns unto this earth and you will be made clean through His blood… Your new name won’t be scarred by your past; your new identity will not be prohibited by mistakes or wrong turns… The hidden manna is the substance that we have desired since our birth; the hidden manna will fill the voids of our lives and make us whole and complete… It is hidden because we can only obtain it through God and His perfect offering… The good news today is that we will be filled… No matter how much you have suffered, no matter how hard you have fallen or how many scars you have obtained… The hidden manna will fill your life and God’s love will be poured out upon you… This manna that we will partake of will not wear off; this will not be a quick fix… We are afforded a golden opportunity in Christ to have all our sins wiped away; we are given a golden chance to turn from our wickedness and develop a (n) intimate relationship with God… John calls for all of us to hear what the Spirit says to the church! 

The spirit says there is hope for those who want to give up, the spirit says there is a way out for those in bondage, the spirit says there is forgiveness for the backslider, and the spirit says there is grace for the humble, the spirit says there is mercy for the wicked and that we all can be transformed… All these things are possible and can be obtained, but we must “overcome…” The key to developing a relationship with God is being able to maintain the desire to be with Him despite what obstacles you face… John reveals to us that we will have a new name, we will receive blessings from the Lord and come to know some of the secrets of God, but in order to receive the revelations and promises we must accept the will of God for our lives on this earth and overcome the battles we have faced, are facing and will face in the future… The battle of temptation must be overcome, the battle of retaliation must be overcome, the battle of peer pressure must be overcome, the battle of priorities must be overcome, the battle of addiction must be overcome… God made several covenants with many people in the bible, today He makes a covenant with us through the revelation of John… A covenant is a vow, promise or contract… To fulfill a covenant, both parties must meet the obligation they have agreed too… God vows to blot out your sins and make you whole; now we must turn and seek His face… “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;”

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Avoid Worldly Thoughts

And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Luke 16:15

As a child of God we seek to please our Creator; not those who were created like us… Luke reminds us today that we can fool people as we seek to find justification in and through them; however, the heart with which your actions derive from is what God takes note of… I know how hard it is to accept people not liking or accepting you; however, Luke brings our attention to the fact that the people we seek to please cannot get us to the Eternal Rest that we desire… As you journey through life, what is your objective each and every day? When you open your eyes, when you open the door to leave; what is your mind set on to accomplish… Are you striving to hear the words well done from your supervisor or your father…? When you are faced with a choice and it will lead you to your divine destiny or away from it, which path do you choose…? Despite what people may want you to believe, pleasing God and obtain His approval is all that matters…The question that aligns with this statement is do we really believe… The answer to this question is not given verbally, but lies in our walk upon this earth… It isn’t about what you say you’re about, it’s about what you display that your about… Yes, you can be highly esteemed among men and yet find yourself being an abomination in the sight of God… There are a lot of us walking this earth that fit this description… We have completely strayed away from the path that God outlined for us; however, we believe that everything is under control because we are getting the proverbial pat on the back from our friends and colleagues…  

There are so many people who are fooling themselves because they believe that actually can fool God since they are able to fool others… Luke writes today about the difference between being men pleasers and a pleaser of God… The bible tells us that you cannot serve two masters and Luke reminds us today that when we are justified by men, our heart is known by God and it is indeed a (n) abomination to Him… This verse is recorded after Jesus has told the parable of the shrewd manager and how he tried to obtain stability through the debtors of his master by lowering their debts… We may not be engaging in evil like this manager; however, we often find ourselves (much like this manager Jesus speaks about) seeking approval of men at the detriment of our heavenly Master… After telling this story the bible says that the Pharisees began to sneer at Jesus… At this, Jesus than uttered the words recorded here in the 15^th verse… The Pharisees were a very vocal religious sector of Judaism that believed they were the most loyal to God… They were so caught up in themselves that they did not recognize who Jesus was or what He was here to do… Instead of seeking Jesus, they were the ones Jesus speaks about when He says, “they which justify yourselves before men…” We are challenged and tempted at just about every turn of life; however, we must stay the course in our faith and not deter… It’s so easy to get bogged down in being justified before men… We want to fit in, we want to be cool, we want to be seen in a certain light; however we are reminded today that the light of God will never go out and that is the light which we must seek to shine upon us… 

I have often wondered why it is that so many churches are being built but yet so many souls are being lost… Jesus tells us today why this is when He says, “God knoweth your hearts…” It is very easy to fool man, if you see me in church every Sunday, if you see me leading devotion, if you see me at Bible Study or any other church event it is very easy for you to say that man is a devoted follower of God… However, just like the Pharisees we are in church but our heart (the motivation and desires we have) are not of God and therefore we fall short… The bible tells us in Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Your heart is what this battle is all about… When your heart is aligned with the will of God you don’t care what people think, you aren’t seeking the approval of men and you don’t desire to be justified according to their standards… The same is true when your heart is focused on the world; you may be in church but you pray a little longer so people will notice, you shout a little louder so people can hear you and you poke your chest out so people can recognize your stature… For these kinds of people we are told that they “already have their reward…” For those following God, your reward is being stored up and prepared for you; for those following the world everything you see is what you will get until your life is over… The rich man had the prestige and wealth, but he was missing JESUS and his opportunities to edify other individuals. As a result, he ended up in hell. I say that to say this, material things can’t get you to heaven, but belief in Jesus and helping others will surely put you on the right path…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!