Talk Is Cheap

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Luke 6:46

The saddest thing about the return of Christ to this earth is the number of people who believe that they can get over on Him… There are so many people we encounter on a daily basis who fit this scripture; they call on the Lord verbally, but don’t have the faith and belief in Him to allow His will to be done… So many of us display our true lack of faith when a storm arises or adversity hits us, we as children of the most high have read scriptures upon scriptures that tell us about trusting in the Lord and the question that is posed today, do we really believe what we have read… The bible never says that this road will be easy, it never declares that your journey would be smooth; it does however say that you must endure temptations and suffer of many things… I am quite sure that we all have heard people quote or even at times have quoted the familiar passage from the 3^rdchapter of Proverbs which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” This passage often times is spoken when one is declaring that while enduring any and all situations you must stay within the will of God knowing and believing that He will direct you and lead you… So many speak these scriptures, but yet they do not abide in them; this same principle applies with today’s focus verse; how can you serve or call on a Lord which you don’t obey and adhere too…? 

This devotional today deals with the faith you have in Christ and how much you truly love the Lord… More importantly, it speaks to the actions that you must take so that the things you declare verbally are displayed visibly to others… Don’t forget that the Lord looks at the heart of man and is not fooled by the fabulous jargon which comes from your lips… You are called to action as a Christian; speaking words are meaningless without the Love of God dwelling in them…  Today, remember that it isn’t about what you say to others, it’s about how you show it… Your actions must align with your words in order for you to know that this statement proclaimed by Jesus Himself is not referring to you… Ask yourself today, are you speaking mere words or is everything that comes out of your mouth backed by actions and deeds… Remember in the gospel of Mathew, chapter 15 and verse 8 that Jesus declares, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” Jesus knows your every breath, He knows what you do behind closed doors and what you proclaim in front of people; Jesus desires for all to be saved, but He really is waiting for you to realize that the things you do are not of Him and therefore will not be accepted… This message was going forth to the same people who filled the synagogues religiously, this message was being proclaimed to the same individuals that were praising and worshipping in the streets… Today, Jesus posses a question that I think we all must answer… Why do we call Him Lord and don’t do what He says…?A Lord is a ruler, master or leader… So if we are calling Jesus Lord why don’t we follow His lead…? If I am your leader than you adhere to what I tell you and follow me, today let us look at our lives and examine whether Jesus is Lord or if we have placed other things over us… Are you following the Lord or are you trying to fit in to the ways of this world… Are you content with the will of God or are you trying to figure things out on your own…?Do you walk by faith or are you focused on what you can see, feel and control…

These are the questions that help us figure our if we are honoring the Lord with mere words instead of our actions… It doesn’t matter how much you attend church if you are not growing in Christ; likewise, it doesn’t matter how much you claim to be a disciple of Jesus if you are not walking accordingly… So many people are perishing everyday because they have spoken the right things but have not actually done the right things… In this passage Jesus ask a question that is based on prior knowledge… At this point in Jesus life, He has already been tempted by the Devil; He has already cast out demons, healed a man of leprosy, healed a paralytic and begun preaching and teaching in the synagogues… Some of the disciples have been called and now He asks the question as to why we call Him Lord, but don’t do what He asks… Just like the evidence we have just seen, Jesus has performed many miracles in our lives, from healing to deliverance I think we all have a testimony to the Grace He bestows and the Mercy He extends; understanding the ways that He has made and the doors that He has opened should prompt one to follow Him and trust Him; however, daily we find the opposite happening… The book of James equates the analogy of looking into a mirror and immediately forgetting what you have seen once you leave its presences… A mirror helps you to see your flaws, fix flaws and show’s you where you are lacking in appearance… If you go to the mirror and see the areas of concern with your appearance and don’t fix them what good is it? Likewise with Jesus, He has shown you the flaws, paid your penalty of sin and opened the door for your Salvation, but what good is it if we don’t totally commit our lives to the Lord and walk under His guidance… The question that Jesus asked wasn’t to be answered by words but actions… Don’t tell me about the God you serve, show me when the storms of life hit that you are a tree planted by the rivers that shall not be moved…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Lord Shows Up When You Do

Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.

Psalm 41:1

This verse taken from the 41^st psalm sheds light on the heart we must have as a Christian… This is not to say that we must allow ourselves to be used and manipulated, but to say that we must not set our priorities on material things… In reading this passage I instantly think about the rich young ruler which encounter Jesus in the gospel of Mark… He declared that he had conducted his life according to the book of the law; however, when Jesus declared for him to give away his prized possessions there was a sadness that came upon him… Mark 10:22 says, “²² But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.” Understand today that this rich young ruller was on the cusp of salvation; however, the way he cherished material things led him to leave the company of Jesus… In reading this, a question now arises; how hard is it for you to give (even if it’s your last)…? This is something that I think all of us may answer one way; however, when faced with the situation our actions may speak differently… As a child of God we are called to walk by faith and it’s imperative that we understand that this faith is displayed through our actions and not mere words… Faith is total trust, confidence and reliance in a person, spirit or object… When we place our confidence in Jesus Christ we can give to the needy even if it is our last knowing and believing that the psalmist is right in today’s focus verse declaring that we will be “blessed…” Paul (a New Testament servant of the Lord) dealt with great trials and tribulations as he worked within the will of God… During his greatest need, thechurch of Philippi (founded by Paul) was supportive of him by sending gifts and offerings too him… After receiving these gifts, Paul says in Philippians 4:19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

Understand that when you give out of love you are giving out of the depths of your heart and this means that you are relying on God to sustain and take care of you… We are called to seek the kingdom of God first along with His righteousness and we are promised that when we do this everything else will be added unto you (Matthew 6:33)… In seeking God first, we don’t place our focus or priority on worldly things… This is a great testament to our faith because if we are solely dependent on God, than we can extend a helping hand in the time of need without hesitation… Often times we make mention to the faith we have or we hear someone utter a message to us concerning their faith… Today we are reminded that words are exactly what they are, “words…” The psalmist says that those who consider the poor are blessed, to consider is to think about or feel for… How often do we overlook the poor of this world? How often do we bypass areas of need within our society or household? God will take care of you, but you must believe that (have faith) and demonstrate it by looking out for others… A lot of time we attribute “being poor” to lacking monetary stability; however, someone who is poor simply is lacking period… A rich man may not be poor monetarily, but they can be poor in spirit, relationships, emotions and mentality… There are many people that we come across daily who aren’t carrying a sign begging for a handout, but that are poor when it comes to knowing Christ… The bible says that Faith cometh by hearing; we are called to demonstrate the faith that we have by allowing the light that God has placed within us to shine… The psalmist declares that the Lord will preserve you and keep you alive… Sure you will have people mock you, you will have people that will try to belittle your desire to follow Christ, but you must understand that it is only by walking in the love of God that you can and will experience His power and might… 

James teaches us in His book that “Faith without works is dead…” Prior to those words, He tells us to show me your faith without works and I will show you my faith by what I do… In this book he also ask the question, “what good is it if we see a many hungry and tell him go and be well fed instead of trying to satisfy his hunger with our food…” Faith is not something talked about, it’s shown and displayed for all to see… As the psalmist reveals to us today, we are promised to be delivered from the hand of the enemy; we are promised to be preserved, we are promised to be set free from trouble… God has made many promises that He will keep, but the question posed today is, do you really believe the promises that He has made… If you do, you will walk humbly according the word and will of God, you will trust Him in times of despair and you will sacrifice of yourself to lend a helping hand to others… The proof is in the pudding… In order to receive you must give and this rule of thumb applies to our walk with God… Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…” He is waiting for you to answer today… God promises to bless you and keep you, but you must open up your hand and let go of the things you are currently holding on too (walk by faith)…. I was once told a (n) empty hand is a poor hand… The psalmist teaches us a different way to view that hand today… A (n) empty hand isn’t poor; its just waiting for God’s blessing to arrive… One of my favorite quotes is from Erma Bombeck who said, "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, I used everything you gave me".

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Discover Your Inner Beauty

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

1 Thessalonians 4:7

The desires of God are to see you become what He designed you to be; anything less than that is simply unacceptable… Today’s focus verse emphasizes the importance of abstaining from the ways and views of this world… There are a lot of things that are deemed acceptable according to our peer standards, but they do not align with the will of God… There are a lot of things that people may tell you aren’t so bad or areokay for you to engage in; when in reality these very things will corrupt your mind and your way of life… As child of God it is of the utmost importance that we remember that we are called into holiness, this means that we are separated from the ways and paths of this life and called to adhere to the ways and standards of our Heavenly Father… To be holy means that you are consecrated, sanctified and/or blessed… God wants to take you to higher heights; He wants to open up doors in your life; however, He needs you to stop allow filthiness to corrupt your being… This filthiness could be defiling your physical body with drugs, sex or alcohol; or it could be a more subtle unrecognized tool that corrupts like the music you listen to, the places you hang out or even the people you associate with… You have to be careful and be vigilant as to see clearly that there are many aspects of your life that can be filthy… You can be clean on the outside and filthy inside; you can be clean on the inside and filthy on the outside; no matter what the case may be, know that when dealing with the enemy you can’t become to comfortable with your surroundings… Paul writes this letter to the church ofThessalonica at a time when they are being tested by the Jews or were jealous and envious of their walk in the will of God… This church was a working church in that they strived to adhere to the will of God even in the midst of adversity and tribulations… Today, we can stand to learn a great deal from this church, so many of our churches today have allowed this world to dictate how we deal with situations and turmoil… 

Instead of living according to the will of God we find ourselves living to please the itching ears of society… Paul is writing to set the record straight, even though people will rise in opposition to your work, He wants to remind you that you have been called unto holiness and not uncleanness… To be Holy is to be sacred, divine and consecrated… You will have your detractors and it will appear that the grass is greener on the other side if you just turn form the will of God; however, we are reminded today that through the muck and mire, through the storms or life, we are being perfected and even though we appear dirty we are actually being made clean… The will of God is that you are molded into perfection so that you can be used for His glory and reach the heights of His will for your life... Genesis 1:27 says,“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” You must know today that God’s image is perfect, you were made in perfection; you were fashioned and formed just the way God wanted you to be… We must keep that in mind when people try and talk bad about us, we must keep these thoughts in our minds when people try to bring us down or when we find ourselves dealing with trials and tribulations… Through Paul’s letter to the church ofThessalonica we are being called to action and encouraged to keep marching forward… God is calling every Christian out of there comfort zone. He doesn’t want us to become comfortable or complacent in our everyday life. We are constantly fighting a spiritual battle. Knowing that God has called you to holiness is important, because the devil wants you to believe that there is nothing good inside you… Satan wants you to accept your current possession and wallow in your misery… You have a choice to make today, if you believe that God loves you than you strive to advance His kingdom and be made whole… If you don’t believe that you are loved, than you simply keep doing the things that you are doing… God desires perfection; this perfection is not in your walk, but in your desire and heart… 

God is calling you to a higher level and holding you to a higher standard… You have been dirty long enough, your life has been filled with filth long enough, it’s time to examine some of your closet friends, it’s time for you to examine some of your decisions, it’s time to examine some of the places you go and it’s time for you to realize that God doesn’t want to see you in your current place… Jesus has gone to prepare a place for you, this place is beyond the beauty we could imagine or sketch with a pen and pad, and this place will be perfect; without flaws or defects… If God doesn’t care for you, why would He spend so much time setting the table for your arrival? Knowing that you are called to holiness you must understand that you have been set apart, you have been sanctified by the Holy Ghost… It’s time for you to walk in the beauty and splendor of God’s love and admiration… When someone once to look beautiful or handsome they spend time getting ready, women apply makeup, guys shave; either way there is work to be done… If you don’t think you are beautiful, than you roll out of bed, put close on and walk out the door… God wants you to stop rolling out of bed and discover your inner beauty… He’s called you to holiness; He made a choice to tell you that there is something different about you… Christ gave His life for you, that in and of itself should tell you how beautiful you are… Stop devaluing yourself and walking in uncleanness…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Put God First

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:33

The sooner you put God first in your life, the sooner you will notice a transition taking place… God has made a promise to you that He will carry out; however, the delay in seeing it fulfilled may be the seeking of His kingdom and righteousness which you have not done… The gospel of Matthew reminds us today of the importance that God not only has in our lives, but also the priority that He requires… This verse starts off by saying“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…” You actually hold the very keys to your destiny and divine future; you can unlock the fullest potential that God has placed in your life by seeking Him… This simply means that God must come first in your life… In other words, today is the time for you to rearrange your agenda and make sure that the things of Christ are the first to be checked off of your to do list… So many of us always put God on the backburner of life and wonder why He hasn’t moved on our behalf… We wonder why are lives are spiraling out of control, why there is so much division in our homes, why we keep missing the mark and in this passage we are told the very answer to those aforementioned questions… God has not moved in your life because you haven’t moved toward Him…” 

When you seek His kingdom you develop a more personal and intimate relationship with the Lord… There is so much that goes into the seeking of a Christian; your life is devoted to leaving no stone unturned and no door closed in Christ… Understand that to seek Him isn’t just related to a time during the day, but that it is a progressive work which requires a motivated, persistent and unwavering soul… A lot of us say that we are seeking the Lord; however, the things that occupy our day say otherwise… We work to seek contentment, stability, money and assurance… We date toseek a mate, companionship and love… We remove things from our life to seek clarity, peace and understanding… I state all these things to shed light on the fact that when we do things there is also a motive behind them… When we go to church, what is our motive? When we pray at night, what is our desire…? Are you simply trying to appease your neighbor or are you really seeking His kingdom and righteousness… This verse calls for us to totally dismiss the things and cares of this world when they try to occupy our mind…  You cannot try to put forth a little bit of effort on your job and expect to take home a king’s ransom… You cannot put forth a little bit of companionship and expect to have a relationship that will last; likewise, you cannot do the bear minimum when dealing with Christ and expect bigger and better tings to come about… Notice the promise that is made in this verse; when you put God first and continue to abide according to His will all these things will be given to you as well… The more effort that you put forth in getting to a deeper level within Christ, the more the doors in your life will begin to open up before you... The sweat and tears that drop from your face today when you seek Him will be the same drops that nurture and bring forth your abundant garden… 

When you fail to take care of your flower it will wither and die; however, when you spend time on your knees cultivating it and refining its environment it will continue to bloom and take deeper roots within… There are doors in your life which you have been trying to open and the call of God to you today is to stop tugging on the knob and start trusting in Him… There are a lot of things in your life that you are constantly worrying about and are concerns to you; however, you are called to remember that faith truly is the substance of things hoped for and evidence of things not seen… When you seek God you are totally focused on obtaining Him… When something is sought after, it is pursued and it tracked down it is searched for… How much have you really sought the Lord and not turned to seek answers through the world to life’s problems…? How many much do you really seek God in your life and not just when you are in need of a blessing…? Seeking God is simply getting to know Him more and more each day… This is not to be interpreted as turning to Him when a storm arises; it means that you already are dwelling in His tabernacle before the storm even forms… This is how God will provide all these things to you as well, you must abide in Him and He will abide in you… Life is filled with distractions and the answers you seek on this earth determine what takes priority in your life… I am not saying that the way to unlock the door is easy; however, I am saying that the key you are looking for cannot be found in your peers or your position… God is ready to open up doors for you; He’s ready to make your life brand new, He is ready to transform you and take you to another level, the question that is at your door, are you ready to seek Him…?

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Trust The Covenant God Has Made With You

Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.

2 Samuel 7:28

Have you ever taken a step back in your life to really understand the love of God and how He demonstrates it in your life…? Have you ever really analyzed your life to the point that you have a better grasp of God’s impact on your life verses your own hands…? These are the questions that come to mind when I read this passage… The realization that is found in this passage is that God will keep His covenant even though you don’t uphold your end of the bargain… This is not to say that God can be taken advantage of, but it lets me know that God looks beyond the appearance and accepts the heart and its allegiance to Him… Think about all the promises that you may have broken in your life, all the times that you didn’t do what you promised to do and all the affects and results that came because of it… I know that I am human and can fail at any given time; however, I also know that God isn’t human which means that He will never fail… This is why we can proclaim like David that “Your covenant is trustworthy…” 

We can be confident in a(n) unconvincing situation to know that God will do what He said He would… There are so many things that we do daily which cause heartache, pain and suffering in our lives; there are so many people who have written us off or cast us to the side… David was a man that could’ve easily given up on the desires of his heart because of the errors of his ways; however, he is assured that the love of God transcends barriers and can reach you in the deepest and darkest pit… Don’t give life to the negativity around you; don’t feed the fire of dejecting comments hurled your way… When someone speaks about you in a demeaning manner this verse today allows you to smile in their face knowing that they don’t control your destiny because the sovereign Lord is God… He still sits high and looks low, He still has all power in the palm of His hand and He still can pluck you out of the most precarious situation… David’s life is a testimony to the fact that God has the final say and even though you life may be headed one way; it’s not to late for a redirection to take place… David knew the error of his ways; however, in today’s passage David is in prayer to the Lord and says “you have promised these good things to your servant…” Just because you miss up doesn’t mean you are no longer a servant… Even though you made mistakes, the goodness that God planted in you may still sprout and come to life… Jesus said that He came for the sick; this means that He came for you… This is why God’s covenant is trustworthy; this is why His promises are valid… He didn’t come expecting you to be perfect, He came expecting for you to give Him a chance to perfect you… The good things referred to by David are that His throne would reign forever; these good things are that His sins have been forgiven; these good things are that God has looked beyond his faults and seen his needs… I believe we all can come to know how this passage was inspiring to David and should serve the same purpose in our lives as well… 

Even in the midst of the corruption in filth that outlined David’s life, God assured him that the promise would be fulfilled… In reading this passage, I find great pleasure in comfort in knowing that the promises of God will be fulfilled in my life… This is not to say that I am perfect, but is does inform me that God is and that His perfection is taking root in my life… When you come to a point in your life where you really begin to appreciate God’s sovereignty, then you will also come to a point where you will be exposed to His power… We, like David have messed up, we have given in to temptation and we have fallen short; however, this passage reminds me of the importance that God still has in our lives even in times where we think we are beyond His reach… David was at a point where he wanted to do so much for God; however, building the temple would not be allowed because he had to much blood on his hands… There are a lot of things in life that God may not allow you to do, but it is up to you to have faith in knowing that His no doesn’t mean His removal…Through this message to David provided by the prophet Nathan, David is reminded of the mistakes that he has made while also being assured of the love that God has for him… Before you were formed God knew all the mistakes that you would make; however, He still devised a plan for you to overcome every pitfall and reach higher heights in and through Him… His covenant is (indeed) trustworthy… The next time you think that life isn’t fair and you have been given the short end of the stick, you can rest assured that your suffering now will present a better tomorrow because He has promised good things to His servant…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

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

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!