Reconciliation Is Your Ministry

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19

As you are blessed, your ministry is to bless others with the seed planted in you… Christ came to this earth with a sole purpose in mind, to free us from the bondage and guilt of our sins… You are here to fulfill a God-given purpose; you are at your current location to reconcile yourself to the Lord by reconciling relationships and people that may have been fractured or punctured through this course of life… This is why Paul goes on to say that Jesus “hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation…” You were formed with a distinct plan from the Lord; you were created to fulfill the Lord's desire before you were even born into existence… The message that we are called to receive and understand today is a compelling and true message regarding the purpose behind each day that you witness on this earth…  So many people have overlooked the things that God has deposited in their lives and therefore continue to miss the mark of pleasing Him… The Bible declares that without faith it is impossible to please the Lord; you must walk in faith throughout your days and weeks and to do this you must realize that you don’t have to be a minister to have ministry… We miss opportunities to bring people to Christ because we are focused on bringing them to church… You have been called to the ministry; however, it doesn’t mean you stand in a pulpit on Sunday mornings… The message that Paul pens to us today is that you have some reconciliation to do in your life… This could be forgiving an adversary or it could be seeking forgiveness from another or from God above… Whatever the case or situation, you must know that people are perishing because you have not walked in your ministry… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Overcoming Spiritual Blindness

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints

Ephesians 1:18

Ephesus was a city full of superstition, magic, and all the other works that resembled that of a cult… It was the missionary journey of Paul (led by the Holy Spirit) to enter the city of Ephesus and open their eyes… Often we see people who have gone the wrong way, we speak words about them but never speak words to them… This is the message that I find so important for us to grasp in today’s focus verse… The people you encounter may not know what they’re doing is wrong, some of them may have very well been brought up with the notion that all the things that are being done are right and it is up to you to allow the Holy Spirit to move so that “The eyes of there understanding may be enlightened…” Not everybody needs to hear a word of encouragement, not everybody needs a pat on the back, some people in your life need to hear the truth in love, some people in your life need a stern kick in their backside… The ministry that God has placed in your life, you are accountable for; every person you encounter every day of your life should be impacted by the display of Christ in and through you… This is what Paul was saying in his letter to the Church of Rome when he said that we should be “a living sacrifice…” The problems that occur in most of the lives of people who live according to this world is that they place their hopes in and on material things… People of the world have the belief that a high-paying job gives them hope for a bright future and stability; however, this is where their understanding must be enlightened… The eyes of this world must be opened and enlightened; this can only be accomplished when they are taught the hope for their existence, the hope for their family and friends is not found in the world but in his calling… God will not fail, and He will not allow you to fail either, so continue to hold to His hand, continue to trust in the Lord, and be about the work that He has called you to do! Your eyes are being enlightened and you are growing in Christ!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Every Knee Shall Bow

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:10-11

When you make Christ the head of your life and walk according to His will and plan you are assured two things, the first is trials and the second is victory… Jesus reminds the disciples in John 15:18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”However, we see in the scripture penned by Paul that people will be humbled before the mighty name of the one that we serve and face trials for… Paul writes a letter to the church of Philippi focused on imitating the life of Christ… When Jesus was resurrected from the dead He received all power in heaven and on earth, He was given authority over every matter and situation and defeated the devil with His sacrifice… Paul reminds us of the authority that Jesus has in today’s focus verses… “That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow…” 

Today we see the reasons why we can smile in the midst of tragedy, today we are given evidence of how we can hold our head up amid a storm, through this passage we learn how to continue in praise despite the circumstances that we face… We have victory through the blood of Jesus; we can triumph because of His nail-scarred hands and we have received a clean slate because of His humility… Paul says every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord… You may see some people going the wrong way right now, you may see some people smiling while indulging in their life of sin and you may see others who appear to be better off than you; however, we must remember that Jesus experienced the same things when dealing with the Romans and Pharisees, Jesus was belittled on this earth, but now has a place next to the father (sitting on a throne) that everyone would love to have… He reigns because of His sacrifice and determination to fulfill the will of His Father… Today you suffer, but in the end, God will be glorified and you will be exalted…If you want to become God's disciple, then imitate Christ and suffer in and for His name…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Blessings Of Giving

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Matthew 5:7-8

Matthew 7:2 says, “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” You have to give to receive, in order to have something put in your hand, you must first remove what already exists in it… The Bible says that the merciful are blessed not only because of their kind acts but also because true mercy calls for one to be humble and solely focused upon the Lord… Mercy is withholding or forgiving someone who has wronged you and/or caused pain and strife within you… Mercy is something that we all naturally do not extend to our fellowman; when I was a little boy I was instructed that when someone hit me I should hit them back; however, Jesus tells us that we must turn the other cheek… A merciful person is indeed blessed because they are walking in the will of God and therefore protected under His mighty hand… Matthew records that those who are merciful shall obtain mercy; we have all fallen short, and we have all made bad choices and decisions, but as a child of God, we cannot allow those things to serve as stumbling blocks that hinder our growth and future aspirations! We must learn from our mistakes and seek the forgiveness of God as well as our fellow man… More importantly, we must be able to extend forgiveness to one another in pure and unconditional love so that our sins and poor choices may be forgiven by our Lord and Savior! Jesus informs us in the 18^th chapter of Matthew that the forgiveness of our sins is made possible by the forgiveness (mercy) that we extend to others… "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” To obtain mercy from above, you must first extend mercy on earth… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

There's Always An Escape

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

1 Corinthians 10:13

 

Everybody faces temptations; the only thing that varies from person to person is how we handle them… Paul says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as if common to man…” This passage shines light on the fact that the enemy knows your common weaknesses; however, it also provides encouragement to the believer as you are told that the adversary is using the same old tired tricks that our Lord has already conquered… This is why, despite the temptations that are common snares in our lives, Paul says that “God is faithful…”This means that the things we face in life are things that have been here before; God knows your limitations… Everything that you endure is never going to overtake you if you remain focused and attentive to the will of God… The things you are dealing with God already knows and the reason you are subject to them is simply because He knows that you can handle them… Temptations display the true character and heart of an individual… It is when we are tempted that we showcase the faith we have in Christ or the lack thereof… We must endure such temptations as we profess our faith and allow God’s faithfulness to work in and through us… Remember that the first portion of this scripture speaks about the common temptations that man faces; with that being said, we can look to Jesus and know how to handle tempting situations…  When Jesus was led into the wilderness and fasted for forty days, the word of God tells us that He was tempted by the enemy… Through all the temptations that were hurled His way, by standing upon the word He was able to resist the enemy and eventually make him retreat… Understand today, that through the word of God, you can overcome obstacles in front of you… You can resist the enemy just as Jesus did and he will flee… 

 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Remember His Mercies

I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

Isaiah 63:7

Do you ever sit back and just recall all the lovingkindness that God has shown you…? When you truly examine your life, you will come to the conclusion that you are beyond blessed… You should always approach the Lord with thanksgiving because even to have breath in your body is a blessing… Despite the different things that you may be going through or the various storms that you have encountered; Isaiah reminds us today that we need to meditate on the things that God has done in our lives, the paths that He has made and the doors that He has opened… When you feel like you are at the edge of the cliff, remind yourself of God’s “great goodness toward the house of Israel…” Substitute the house of Israel with your name and rehash all the wonderful blessings that have been bestowed in your life… At this point in time in the scriptures, the Israelites had already been delivered from the hand of Pharaoh, fed manna from heaven, and entered the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua… Despite all their nagging and complaints, God still gave them water from a rock and defeated all their adversaries… It is in the days of Isaiah that the children of God have rekindled their rebellious nature and are finding themselves in the midst of coming bondage… It is very easy for us to focus on the problems in our lives instead of the solution… Nobody wants to endure discipline and correction; however, we can embrace these times in our life when we know that God is in the midst and His lovingkindness is still present… Can you remember when you weren’t doing what God wanted you to? Can you think back to the point in time when church was an afterthought? If you can, answer this question, has God shown mercy to you in your undeserving state? Let the world know of His lovingkindness, of the grace and mercy bestowed upon you. Understand today that your shoes may not be comfortable for you, but there is always someone who is walking barefoot and would love to try yours on; that’s why Isaiah tells us to THANK GOD!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

He Hasn't Forgotten About You

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." 

Hebrews 13:5

Are you truly content with the things that you have? This does not mean that you are satisfied with your standing, but that you appreciate everything in your life and don’t take things for granted… Today’s focus verse reminds us of the importance of being content with what we have or else we will become susceptible to coveting what our neighbor has… To covet means to desire, want, or long for; when you covet something all your focus turns to obtaining that particular position or object and leaves you vulnerable to losing what you already have… As a child of God, we stand in faith that “he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee…”We don’t covet the possessions of our neighbors simply because we believe in God and that He will supply all of our needs…  When one takes on the mindset of coveting, they really expose themselves to all the devices and snares of the enemy… The minute you turn to material things you lose sight of God; this is one of the very reasons why Moses received one of the Ten Commandments which spoke to coveting… "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” God indeed is in the blessing business (as I often hear people say), but you must first take care of the little you have (be content) and allow God to provide the abundance… Just because He has not provided it now doesn't mean it isn't on the way. Keep the faith and know that Christ has not forgotten about you. 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Grace Is Given To The Humble

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

James 4:6

James teaches us the truth about God’s grace and how we experience it through this journey we call life… Jesus taught His disciples that in order to find your life you must lose it for His sake… We each have a cross to bear and Christ will give us the power, grace, energy and endurance to bear it… James informs us today that if you want to live you must die, if you want be rich you must become poor and if you want to be exalted you must be humbled… God is a God of faithfulness and He demonstrates it by lifting you up when you fall… Every trial that you encounter serves a purpose in your life, every obstacle that you face was ordained and appointed by God and every storm that approaches your door teaches you to lean and depend on our heavenly Father… James says, “But he giveth more grace…” Grace is something that is given that isn’t deserved, a gift that is out of thoughtfulness, kindness and compassion… Even though you don’t deserve it, God gives you more, even when you mess up, He gives you another chance, when you walk through the wrong door (temptation), He opens another to get you back on track… God cares about you, God’s compassion was demonstrated when He sent His only begotten son to die for our sins… Today we are reminded that God is able to make all grace abound to you, one of my sisters once told me, “You never tell God how big your storm is, you simply tell the storm how big your God is…” There is a lot of substance in that statement, James starts off his book by telling us that we should consider it pure joy when we face trials and temptations… We can be joyful in storms not because of the rain, but because you have shelter and will see the sun shine again… You can be joyful in times of sorrow, not because of the tears that flow, but because of the happiness soon to come… God has promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us and the truth of the matter is the greater the hurdle in front of you, the more grace God is about to deposit into your life… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Beware Of Tradition

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Colossians 2:8

We are tempted in many ways and forms to follow anything but the path that Jesus Christ paved for us through His bloodshed on the cross… Paul reminds us of that fact in today’s focus verses which sheds light on the many avenues in which we can be deceived… Today we focus on a letter that Paul writes to the church of Colosse about guarding yourself against the attacks of the devil and his evil intentions… Paul has laid the foundation for the Church of Colosse and as the people have begun to convert unto Christianity, there are some men who have began to try and infiltrate the church and deceive the congregation… Make no mistake about it, as soon as you make the choice to follow Christ; that’s the same time in which the devil turns his attack toward you… Often time we focus on the things of the world as being evil, but today Paul reminds us that our biggest adversary can be found within the church… I once heard a man say that the devil resides in the church, not because He wants to be religious, but because he has no cares about whoever is living according to the worldly standard… Paul teaches us today about the importance of surrounding yourself with the right kind of people and also establishing a sturdy foundation upon the word of God on your own…We live in a world where we have more and more people receiving their doctorate in theology, more and more people attending seminary and more and more people building churches; however, we see more and more corruption in the church, more and more thieves in the pulpit and more and more souls being lost… People have begun to follow men instead of following God and Paul reminds us today through his letter to the church of Colosse that we must beware and be vigilant… Understand that there are a lot of people in the church that aren’t of the church and will try to spoil the congregation… We often hear people say that they are looking for the perfect church and I once heard someone say that you will never find a perfect church because its perfection will be lost as soon as you join…There is a lot of truth in the fact that you will never find a perfect church; however, the key is knowing and understanding where the flaws are so that you aren’t ensnared by them…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Receive Christ; Receive Power

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

John 1:12

The door to your victory is right in front of you; the questions that lie as the doormat is whether you will open it or not… John starts this verse by saying “as many as received him…” You have a choice to make, you decide the outcome and verdict of your life… Jesus said, “Behold I stand at the door and knock,” he wants you to open up and let Him in… You can withstand this test, you can overcome this obstacle and you can master this journey… You have the ability because Christ deposited it in you from Calvary… You have the power to become sons of God, what a compelling statement… This declaration simply means that you have the power to alter your life, you have the power to be what people said you couldn’t be and you have the power to decide to live instead of die… The keys to victory are within reach, the mantle of success is within your sight and the first step to obtain them is to receive the Lord Jesus Christ… When you are a son of God, you are covered and are assured victory… We are told in John the 10^th chapter 28^th verse that as a child of God we are protected and safe… Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” When you walk in the will of God, though you may stumble you won’t fall, though you slip you will not be cast down; for God cares for you and will sustain you… When we accept Jesus Christ as our savior, we receive the power to become sons of God… The power to become sons of God also gives us the power to overcome, the power to maintain, the power to succeed, and the power to be victorious… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Life Begins/Ends With Your Heart

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

Proverbs 4:23

The most important thing you have is your heart… Your heart provides life within your physical body and your connection with the Lord… You are called to guard your heart today because your life (physically and spiritually) depends on it… If you have a heart of hatred and envy, you cannot have a connection with the Lord; the bible tells us that God is love and love is something that starts in the heart… The heart is a very sacred and vital organ both to your physical and spiritual life… Let's 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.” 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!

He Never Said It Would Be Easy

For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

1 Timothy 4:10

There are two kinds of men on this earth; those who work for the reward of today and those who work for the reward of tomorrow… Your drive as far as your work ethic displays the kind of man that you are… When things don’t go as you planned or you don’t’ see the immediate fruits of your labor, how do you handle those situations… Paul reminds us today that we must remember that the prize we labor for will not be manifested upon this earth… Timothy faced a lot of peer pressure when he took up the calling of ministry that was placed upon his life; however, it was through this passage that Paul reminds Him that we suffer not for material things, but “because we trust in the living God…” Not every person you meet will have a zeal for Christ… Not everyone you meet will want to share in your witness or see the name of Christ exalted; it is in these times that we must remember the service which we take part it… We are not about pleasing men nor are we doing this for form or fashion… I serve Christ because I believe that He died for my sins, I serve Him because I believe that I can do nothing without Him, but that with Him all things are possible… I will “suffer reproach” because I believe I have found an answer to the void that is in my life which cannot be filled my men… Don’t give in to the temptation of earthly success; don’t give in to the appearance of happiness that comes with material things… Know that you are working toward a far more precious prize and the more you go through the better it will be… Paul is reminding Timothy of the same thing that he told the Church of Rome in the 8^th chapter of his letter… “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Once we accept Jesus Christ as our personal savior, there are two things embodied by that choice that are guaranteed; one is that you will inherit eternal life and the other (least talked about) is that you will suffer… Amidst seasons where the latter is true, know that your hardships bring about maturity, your destiny will be met through your tribulations, and God knows that this is an uphill battle! 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Endure Temptation; Your Crown Awaits

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. 

James 1:12

Every man faces temptations; however, the one that is blessed is the one that endures them and doesn’t give in…  I was once told that the saddest thing about someone quitting a project or process is that they never realize how close they were to completing it. The same can be said of our Christian journey… The temptations we face appear to be the easy way out, but the reality is that you are so close to the blessings of God if you just hold on a little while longer… The things that catch your eye in this life will never satisfy the vision God has placed inside you… The difference between being blessed or not lies in the sacrifice and obedience that one has within… Daily, we all face decisions; however, the question we have to have at the heart of our decisions is to whom we are trying to please… You can only endure temptations if you have a heart's desire to please the Lord… Make no mistake about it, the story of your life is unique to you, but the challenges that you faced in getting to where you are now are quite similar to everyone on this journey… We all have been and will be tested; this is why James says “for when he is tried…” he doesn’t say if, but when; you can rest assured that in seeking to live according to the will of God Satan will try you… 

He will try to paint a picture of gloom and doom and lead you down a path of destruction that will end with you throwing in the towel… Oftentimes we try to paint an image of Christianity without temptations or snares and this is why so many people can’t endure the rough terrain of this journey… I don’t know what your bible tells you, but the word of God that I read tells me that we will be persecuted, we will suffer, and we will endure hardships… We must stop relying on our own ability and start to allow God to move on our behalf… It doesn’t matter how strong you are, it doesn’t matter how tough you might appear to be, you cannot defeat this enemy on your own and this is why you are not called to overcome but to endure… To endure means that you bear, tolerate, or undergo; you must bear the storms in your life, you must tolerate the words of your adversary and undergo the battles of the opposition… Notice that in this enduring you are not called to fight back or engage… A lot of times we misunderstand endurance and confuse it with perseverance… You are not called to fight the enemy, you are called to speak Christ and let the Lord fight your battles… So just hold on, be strong, and of good courage, we have to be tested, but there is a tremendous reward if we continue to pass the test!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Call On Him And Be Saved

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 2:21

This passage is written after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ; the disciples have been hiding in the upper room and many have feared for their very lives… Through this trying time, Jesus shows himself unto the disciples to reignite their faith… This passage starts out with the words, “And it shall come to pass”… Though we suffer for a moment, the promises of God “shall come to pass”, even though we face trials, hardships, and adversity we are reminded today that the fulfillment of God’s promises are not notated by an “if” but “when”…  Through Jesus death, we all were given a chance to inherit eternal life… Through His suffering, the path was paved for all mankind to change direction and not be condemned according to the sin we were born in… The Bible tells us that we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God; understand that we all have done things we wish we could change or have made decisions that weren’t the right ones… Luke writes today in the book of Acts that we all have a chance to right our wrongs, we have an opportunity to change our direction, and we have been given an opening to improve our future and outlook on life! Today, stop trying to figure things out on your own, stop trying to handle every situation and turn to the Lord. The time has come and is upon us where we shall be saved… Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord (there is only one Lord) shall be saved! Jesus came for the sick, not the healthy! He came for the ones who sought the wrong pleasures, the ones who engaged in the wrong activities, the ones who are lost and confused… He stretched his arms out for those people, He died for all! If you look at your past, you will know that your name was written in His thoughts and was purified as the blood came trickling down His face! Again, this verse starts by saying, “And it shall come to pass…” You will be saved, you will be victorious, and you will overcome when Christ returns… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Lord Is Worthy

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Revelation 4:11 

Can you still praise God when things don’t go your way? Do you still adore His name when the storms of life rage over your head…? These questions define the true worshipper and believer of Christ… Though he experienced many low points in his life, this scripture comes at a time in John’s life when he has been exiled to the island of Patmus… John has no friends to lean on and is literally all alone, even then he writes this revelation praising God for all His goodness despite the situations that he has and currently faces… John recognizes today that God has created all things; John recognizes that all things were created not only by God but for His pleasure… This is good news to us today, this teaches me to know and understand that even when I am on the island of misfortune, even when I am isolated and feel alone, every situation will bring God pleasure… Jesus said if I be lifted up, I’ll draw all men unto me… When we lift Jesus up through the trials and tribulations that we face, we are sure to be lifted up out of the miry clay and sinking sand that we find ourselves in… John is at peace because he knows that God is still with Him, we can have an attitude of praise despite the circumstance because we know that God has all power in the palm of His hand and will never leave us nor forsake us… All I can say is, “To God be the glory”, as I read this piece of scripture, I am encouraged by the revelation of John… This passage speaks to me and confirms my faith by informing me that God is worthy to receive honour and power (authority) from us. We can put all our trust in Him and know that He won’t let us down… It doesn’t matter what we are going through, God deserves the honour and the power, you can look back over your life and see the things that God has done for you, just the fact that you can go to work, the ability to sleep in a bed is recognition enough that God is truly worthy of our praise… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Turn From Sin; There's Still Hope

But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 

Ezekiel 18:21

There is still hope for all who continue to fall short in this journey we call life (I am included)… Though we have made mistakes and given in to temptations, we are reminded today that we still can overcome and be victorious… Ezekiel speaks to a rebellious house today who turned from God to seek other gods and other possessions… The message written during Israel’s disobedience carries the same value and weight for us today… We too, have strayed away from God’s will… It’s not about the magnitude or ripple effect of your ways, but that you must humble yourself in your imperfection and seek to turn from sin… Even though you may not be suffering or experiencing great turmoil in your life, Ezekiel reminds us that we all have to turn to live and not die…This means that the person who feels like their life is successful still needs Jesus just as much as the person who may be in the dark alley amongst spirits of addiction… Today's scripture informs us of the process that we must undergo in becoming a child of God and reaching the heights in this life that only God can and has made possible… As I have stated several times through different devotions or inspirational messages, it doesn’t matter how far you have fallen, how many mistakes you have made, or how many temptations that you have given in to… God sits high and looks low, He desires to have a more intimate relationship with you and if you desire the same, Ezekiel outlines the way that this relationship can be established and maintained… Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” All have sinned and fallen short, every man or woman, every boy or girl… It’s a sobering reality, but it is also the first step in developing the right relationship with the Lord…; today we find the steps to redemption and salvation which are outlined here in the book of the prophet Ezekiel... Turn from wickedness/sin, uphold the statutes of God, and do what is right and lawful. There's still hope, but these three steps must be taken to obtain all that God has in store for you!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Word Will Cleanse You

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Psalm 119:9-11

There is only one way to purge the sin within us and be released from the penalty of Eternal Death… Many have tried to develop their own way or abide in their own will to fulfill their desires; however, we are reminded by David today that the only way to be brought out of condemnation is through the word of God… David was a man who made many mistakes in his life; from adultery with Bathsheba to encamping with the enemy, we find many instances in which David made poor decisions… I am sure that if we look over our lives, we too can agree that there are a lot of choices that we made and things we have done that have strained our relationship with God and caused us to fall short of His calling… The key is not living a mistake-free life, but recognizing your mistakes and knowing who can deliver you from them… After making mistakes, David poses a question in the 119^th Psalm that we all ask when we are down and out, “wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?” How can we get back up when we have fallen, how can we be cleansed from the filth in our lives, how can we overcome the mistakes that we have made, how is it that we can right our wrongs or turn a negative into a positive? We all have asked ourselves these questions and David provides the answer to us in the very next piece of the text, “By taking heed thereto according to thy word…” The Bible is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our pathway… When we are engrossed in the word of God, it will show us our mistakes and convict our spirit into remorse… Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” If you really desire to walk in the will of God, if you want to learn from your mistakes and see the areas in which you need to grow, then study God’s word for it will penetrate down to your very soul and expose the areas of your lives that are keeping you from living according to the will of God… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

All Things Are Possible Through Christ

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:12-13

On this roller coaster of life, we are sure to experience highs and lows, we will have days of joy and days of sadness, laughter, and pain go hand in hand along with great abundance and fear that you don’t have enough… Though the seasons of life change, we experience them all; Paul reminds us today that we must be content not in our earthly possessions but in our standing with Christ…  Paul says I know how to live when I am low (abased) and how to live when I abound (have plenty)… No matter where you are in your life today, whether you have plenty or don’t think you have enough, you must make sure that your faith in Christ remains and that you continue to seek His will… When we have little, we can be tempted to question God and give up; likewise, when we have plenty, we can find ourselves taking the credit that God deserves by becoming confident in what we can do… In both scenarios, we begin to ease God out, which is why we must go through seasons… The seasons we face can change at any given time; however, we are told in Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” We can learn to be content with what we have and what we are dealing with because we know that through it all Christ is with us and will always be our guide and our sustaining power… Your growth is demonstrated when you focus on God and turn away from the cares of this world… Paul is not content because he doesn’t desire more; he is content because he knows that in doing the will of God, all his needs will be taken care of…  This is why he concludes the 13th verse by saying, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Stay Focused On The Word

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Joshua 1:8

The Lord wants you to be blessed and prosper; He wants you to reach higher heights and measures of success that were thought to be unobtainable… The word of God tells us through the prophet Jeremiah this very thing… It is in the 29^th chapter and the 11^th verse that we find these words recorded, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” In the time of Jeremiah the children of God had loss focus and were subject to captivity; however, even in their bondage God reminds them that He desire for them to prosper; however, the key to their prosperity is their willingness to obey His will… Today, you may be in a place where it appears that you aren’t prospering, you may be at the end of your rope and feel like there is nothing that can be done or no words that can be said to change your circumstance; wherever you are today and whatever you are dealing with, know that you (through the obedience to God’s word) have the ability to transform your life and alter your direction… God speaks to Joshua in our focus verse today at a point in his life were he is called to lead the children of God… Moses has gone on top of the hill and passed away and the children of God are on the very doorstep of their destiny, but still have a stiffness and disobedient spirit in them… With all eyes on him and the pressure of leadership being upon his shoulders; God speaks the key to Joshua’s success in the first part of this text when the Lord says, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth…” Being in leadership means that you have people who are following you… With leadership comes distractions and temptations; however, despite how much pressure Joshua may feel to please the crowd, God reminds Him that as long as he stands on faith and seeks to please the Father, he will prosper… You may be in a position today where there are a lot of people who are trying to persuade you to please them; you may be battling in the mind about a decision that has to be made and you are worried that you will lose some friends of break some hearts in the process, the word of God challenges you today to stay focused on the will of God… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Don't Get Caught Up In Worldly Appearance

Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

Proverbs 23:17-18

You may be at a point in your life where it seems like everyone around you isn’t following the will of God. You may be battling in the mind with staying the course and holding to God’s unchanging hand because the grass appears to be greener on the other side; wherever you are in your life or whatever you are battling today, know that Solomon reminds us today to “Let not thine heart envy sinners…” The prize you are working and competing for may not be seen on this earth, but you can rest your thoughts today on knowing that “there is an end…” The broad path many follow appears to be the right direction to go; however, the end is destruction and resentment… Solomon followed the ways of the land even though he was the wisest man to ever live and in his wisdom, he instills in us the fact that the most important thing we must do on this earth is “be thou in fear of the Lord all the day long…” Despite what questions or concerns you may have about your situation, you must maintain your reverence and admiration for the Lord… The Bible declares that as a child of God, we walk “by faith” and not “by sight…” This is mentioned to us because if we walked according to the things we see and observe we would become disheartened by circumstances, we would give in to temptations and eventually stray away from God. This is why we are called to remain in fear of Him and remember that everything that doesn’t align with the will of God “shall be cut off”, while those who walk according to His purpose“shall not be cut off…” We must understand that in doing the will of God, we must have a heart for service and not be distracted by our peers…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

His Return Is Imminent

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Revelation 22:12-13

We do not know the end of our day; however, we know that an end is coming… I hope to see my children and children’s children, but the truth of the matter is that my life could come to an end before the sunsets… Oftentimes we don’t want to think or even talk about this truth, but we are reminded that each day we see on this earth is one we will never see again and there will be a day that others will see and we will not… I presume that we all have heard the phrases “Tomorrow is never promised” or “don’t wait until tomorrow?” If you have, the question that I pose to you today is do you truly believe them? As a child of God, we are to live every day of our lives as if it’s our last, we are to let the light that God has placed within us shine for all mankind to see… Sadly, the reality is that we constantly place God on the back burner in our lives, we place value on other things and people, but today we are reminded that we must “seize the moment because God indeed is coming quickly…” Believe it or not, but every day of our lives that passes by, every second that flashes before our eyes is another opportunity that we can take a step closer to Christ or stray away… In which direction are you going?  

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

In Christ Whom Shall I Fear

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear" the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid"

Psalm 27:1

We live in a dark and aimless world; one that will lead you astray if you don’t know the passage that we focus on in today’s devotion… There are many things that we are susceptible to in this life; many avenues that we can take that will lead us down a path of destruction… God's word declares, “For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” The paths we see leading toward darkness are more visible and enticing than the paths that lead to Christ; however, despite what you see around you and how things may appear, you must focus your eye on the narrow path that leads to life… Everything around you says that you can’t amount to anything and the statistics say that you will fall into one of many unsuccessful categories; however, you can use these things to motivate you instead of deterring you. 

Let the world know that “The Lord is my light and my salvation…” I don’t know about you, but I refuse to be a statistic, I refuse to allow this world to limit me and dictate my future based on my ethnicity or past… God wants to open your eyes to a bright future, He wants to transform your mind to begin to look beyond what you know and see,; however, the key to all this is for you to recognize that you can be better than you are and go further than you currently have gone…  As a child of God, our focus should be on living a pleasing life to the Lord and not appeasing our fellowman… Even though we are sure to face highs and lows on the roller-coaster called life, our focus on God and His will for us cannot be altered. Don't fear the heights or depths you experience. Don't be afraid to take a step out on Faith... Remember in Christ, whom shall I fear... Nothing should be feared in Christ, try something new, go after that dream, and silence the voices telling you that failure is the only end result... Even when we are at our lowest, Christ is using that to propel you higher! 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Promises Of God

And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD. 

Hosea 2:19-20

God wants you to know today that He loves you… Despite how many mistakes you have made or the direction your life may be headed; we are reminded today that God wants to have a relationship with you, He wants to form a union with you that will last forever… The word of God tells us in Paul’s first epistle to the church of Corinth that love “is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” I am sure that there are things that you have done in life that you are not proud of, there are things that have happened in your life that you don’t want people to know; however, understand today that the Lord isn’t holding your past over your head; He is looking beyond your faults and wants to fulfill all your needs… Love sees the beauty amidst the mess, it sees the diamond in the rough and the worth surrounded by unworthiness… God wants to commit to you through whatever you have gone through or are going through… Yes, you have messed up, yes you have fallen short, yes you have gone the wrong way, and yes you have made some bad choices. But even still don’t let the enemy lead you to believing that there isn’t a better tomorrow or a brighter future for you… God betroths you; He is standing with open arms, He desires to give you another chance and wants to bring righteousness, loving-kindness, and mercies into your heart and your home… This is why Hosea starts our focus verses by saying “And I will betroth thee unto me for ever…” Hosea was a minor prophet who was given a charge to present to the House of Israel... Through all the ups and downs that life had presented, through all the bad choices and decisions that the children of God had made, the Lord informs the Israelites that through it all He still has plans to be reunited with them… The same promise has been made to you!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

No Condemnation In Christ Jesus

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:1-2

From your mother’s womb, you were on a path filled with the desires of the flesh that would lead to eternal damnation… This was the course that was laid before you until you decided to turn and follow Christ… Paul reminds us today that there are no chains or restrictions on us in the body of Christ… So many people have found themselves conforming to the ways of this world; however, we are to walk these streets with our heads held high declaring that “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…” You have been freed from the blood of the lamb… All your sins have been forgiven and the slate has been wiped clean… Even though we have a new lease on life, we are reminded that we are not condemned through today’s passage simply because there are a lot of people on this earth who will try to discredit you or cast you down… This world has a crabs-in-a-barrel mentality, which means that when someone is coming out, others will latch on to him to bring them back down…  I say that to say you will endure persecution for the name of Jesus, you will have many days where you want to give up or throw in the towel; however, you can smile in the face of your adversary because you know that what Paul declares later on in this chapter is true... In the 8th chapter, Paul says, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” The growing pains in Christianity are real and you will endure much torment and pain as you transition your life and begin to focus on the things of Christ instead of the things of this world… You will have days where you feel alone and isolated as you learn to “walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit…” Paul wants to encourage you in your walk today because, in your maturation process, the enemy wants you to believe that you can’t win and that you are bound to fail… Christ has made you free and given you the ability to win; however, the choice is yours as to whether you take up your cross or lose your life… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

We Serve A Living God

...For he is the living God, and steadfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

Daniel 6:26

Life is full of uncertainties; however, in our focus verse today we are assured of one thing… Daniel endured much torment and ridicule for His faith, after being imprisoned because of His God, we know the story of being cast into the lion’s den… I am sure that even though His faith did not waver, Daniel was uncertain about the outcome of His predicament… Today, I am sure that there are things in your life that don’t cause you to lose faith; however, they may have you in a position where you are unsure of how things will play out; it is in these perilous times and uncomfortable situations that we must come to know and remember that “He is the living God, and steadfast for ever…” The storms of life will have you tossing and turning from day to day, but you have an anchor whose name is Jesus that will keep you safe and stable… Even though things you hold dear to your heart on this earth can be taken from you in the blink of an eye, you can be encouraged today by knowing that “His kingdom shall not be destroyed…” The Bible declares that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever… This should provide good news to the body of Christ today as we are reminded that even though we will experience highs and lows in this life, we will never fall beyond the thermostat of God’s grace… The thermostat that is Jesus Christ maintains a steady environment within us while everything around us fluctuates from minute to minute… The passage taken from the prophetic book of Daniel reminds us that we serve a living God, today we are reminded that in serving God, we must trust Him in the most awkward and dangerous situations… 

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Love Conquers All

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4:18

In the 15^th chapter of the gospel of John, in the 13^th verse Jesus says, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” The point that Jesus made is echoed in our focus verse today. Even amid the garden of Gethsemane (as Jesus sweat drops of blood wishing that the cup of crucifixion and the separation from God would pass), we see that due to His love, He endured the cross and all the torment that came with it… What do you mean when you tell someone I love you? What is it that that person is supposed to understand about you and how you feel toward them? John informs us of the true meaning of love today, that it outweighs fear and will cause you to become fearless… If a parent sees their child walk into a street with a car approaching, they will risk their lives to save their child, if a house is burning down, a parent will overlook the flames to get their children out safely… This is the kind of love that John is speaking about today; true love gives you the ability to look beyond circumstances to fill the needs of another… To say you love someone means that you can look beyond the flaws; you can look beyond the shortcomings and open yourself up for that person… 

The greatest example we have of love is Jesus Christ's death on the cross… Every drop of blood that came down His face had one of our names written in it, every time He cried out from the cross, He was overlooking the pain to fulfill the need we all had… When we understand and realize what love is, we will also acknowledge that the word love has lost its meaning in today’s society; it is flung around from person to person like a basketball in a game… You constantly hear people saying I love you, only to see that love manifested in ways that would beg the differ. Our scripture informs us that there is no fear in love; a lot of us claim to be children of God and say we love Him, but John is reminding us that if you love God you trust Him and turn your life over to Him… A lot of us haven’t and will not experience true love because we “fear” what people might say, we “fear” what people will think and we “fear” change… John is telling us today that when we overcome our fears we will then be able to experience perfect love. Another point we see about love is that as a child of God, we can’t become fearful when things don’t go the way we planned; we can’t become intimidated when the chips seem to be stacked up against us, and become fearful when storms approach our lives… The word of God has told us that trials serve a purpose in our lives and these situations, obstacles, hardships, occasions, and adversities are actually placed in your life to show you the love that God has for you… John goes on to say that perfect Love casteth out fear… In other words, Love Conquers All...

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!