Your Work Determines Your Wages

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

Romans 6:23

There is no way for you to live a double life; Paul’s letter to the Church of Rome emphasis the point that the only outcome from sin is death… Many people believe that they can do as they please and make up for it before it’s too late, when we live in this manner we live in falsehood and set ourselves up for failure… Tomorrow is never promised and death awaits all that anticipate a reward for their sin… The bible tells us that every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess; every move that you make is remembered, every decision you make is recorded and you will suffer the consequences of your actions (whether good or bad)… The bible is clear that we reap what we sow and it is also clear that a fig tree can not bare any other object besides figs… If you are living a life that lives according to the standards of this world today is your wakeup call… If you are walking under the authorities that are here on this earth today is your reality check… We all must stand before the judgment seat of Christ. We all must give account and will be held accountable for our actions here on Earth. I cannot help but emphasize the fact that this passage tells us the wages of sin is death. This simply means that as you lead a life of sin, your reward is eternal damnation. Sure, it may feel right at the time or moment, and you may even take great pleasure in your sin, but stop and think about what kind of reward you will receive. People get high to forget their problems, they drink to become disoriented, and they sleep around to feel loved. 

All these things do not add up to true rewards. The problems that you left when taking drugs still exist when your high fades, the pain you try to avoid with alcohol will tear you up even more when you are sober again and love doesn’t live in the arms of multiple partners… The gift that you have been promised if you leave your life of sin is eternal life. The bible tells us that we are to store our treasures in heaven, one of the biggest hurdles we have to overcome on this Christian journey is looking for physical prosperity in everything that we do or take part in… God sees all your deeds, but some of your rewards will not be evident until you reach Eternal Bliss… Your life is truly a gift and you are here on this earth to serve a purpose and fulfill your ordained journey… Turning away from things that please us is hard to do, giving up the desires of the flesh aren’t easy and we must fight daily to advance under the leadership of God… When you place money into a bank account or invest in stocks it sits there and often times you don’t realize how much money you have gained as the stocks mature… Today we invest in our heavenly dwelling understanding that when we reach our Eternal home our deposits of submission and obedience will have matured greatly and will be presented with rewards that surpass anything that this world has to offer… 

These are the wages I cherish as I work through this life. How about you? There are always gifts to be received; the problem is that sometimes we receive gifts that we don’t desire! When I was young I often heard the saying that if you’re bad Santa will bring you a lump of coal, the interesting thing that was embedded in my mind was that you still get a gift, but the gift you receive was determined by your actions! Today let us understand that we all will receive gifts, but that if you want the best things possible for you (eternal life), if you want to give your children the foundation that they need and deserve, than you must demonstrate it in your everyday actions and decision-making… Let us remember that all good and perfect gifts come from above, I want the perfect gift for me, I want a good gift that fits me, so I understand that I must align myself with the will of God and not be worried or mislead by the things that take place around me! I am earning wages everyday, how much I actual get is determined by my work ethic!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

The Avenues Of Life

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

Proverbs 16:25

There are so many paths that we can travel in this life, so many avenues that we can venture down; however, we are reminded today that no matter how many different paths we see or how many different avenues we find, all end in death if they are not paved by the Lord… This verse starts off by saying “There is a way…”You can layout the plans for your life, the goals you want to reach and how you plan to obtain them, but death is guaranteed for your end result if your will is not submissive to the will of God… The bible teaches us that God disciplines those He loves, the bible also tells us that we must go through the “refiner’s fire” so that we can become the children God designed us to be… Understanding that discipline is a part of our growth and trials help our maturation process lets us know that things shouldn’t come easy… The path you seek a lot of times is based upon the appearance of easiness in its travel… 

Often times we are always looking for the quick fix or the easy way out, but the Proverb teaches us today that if it seems easy and enticing to do, you had better stay clear of that path… The way that seemeth right to man is the way that provides least resistance, provides a quick answer and opens doors immediately… We all would love to walk into our workplace, get the respect we deserve a make a salary that would have to many zero’s to count; however, we know that the bible tells us that we must ask, seek and knock… This means that you must work toward the goal, you must sacrifice, you must endure and you must be patient… I have seen many people who have sought the quick fix or the get rich quick scheme and have appeared to have found success; that is until their “man-made”mountain comes tumbling down upon them and they find themselves in a worse situation than they were before… Paul was a well educated man who had a zeal for the Lord; however He never walked in the pathway of the Lord until He was humbled, blinded and placed in the care of another man for a period of time (get the point!!!) We like Paul can have all the accolades and desires for success, but until we walk the path God has laid for us we will indeed be walking a path that leads to death… There always comes a point and time in our lives where we say that we are going to do our own thing. 

We think that we are grown and we know what is best for us. This passage (attributed to Solomon) says that there is a way that seemeth right unto a man. There is a time we fill like this is what we need to do or this is the direction in which we should travel. Solomon was a man, who was the wisest of all, he had riches, over a thousand women and his life was full of bliss, I am positive that he believed that he had done everything that he should have and the direction his life was headed was perfect, but as we look at this passage we also know that Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes and it is in that book that Solomon recounts all that he had accomplished in the worldly view of things and how it is all meaningless (vanity) a chasing after the wind... This lets me know that though we chase after fame, fortune, and popularity, the end of that road is destruction because God is not the head of your life. So even though things may seem to be on the right path, living life to the fullest, eating and being merry, understand that the end is death. So often we base decisions on appearance and not true worth… Even though it seems right, don’t trust it without God’s approval and direction! Ultimately the choice is yours, the path you choose displays the choice that you have made, please pick wisely…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

We Are Saved Because Of His Mercy

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

Titus 3:5-6

Your hours of study and minutes of sweat may be beneficial to your success; however, it is imperative to know and realize today that you can’t do anything on this earth through the works of your hands to obtain the righteousness needed to be saved and clothed in the garments that show you as a child of God… Titus reminds us today that no matter how perfect we think we are or how many good deeds we try to do that it is not by our hands that we receive Salvation… Often times we shortchange the way in which we are saved and sealed until Christ returns… Ephesians 4:30 says, “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed until the day of redemption…” You are saved by the blood of Jesus and sealed by the Holy Spirit… Did you catch that? Again, we are drawn by the father, set free by the son and sealed by the Holy Spirit… All three comprise the Salvation that we inherit as a child of the most high…

Today you need to stop acting as if you are a good person and start recognizing that you are saved “…according to his mercy…” You didn’t deserve it, you didn’t’ warrant it, but while you were in the pit of darkness God withheld His judgment from you and gave you a clean slate… It is by the mercy of God (withholding the judgment that you and I truly deserved) are still in the land of the living…Don’t get it twisted; you have done nothing to deserve the saving power that came through God’s beloved son. Don’t lose sight of the fact that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Nothing of your feeble hands has acquired God’s mercy, none of your works on this Earth would ever be enough to offer and pay the ransom for you life of sin. Remember that He has washed us through regeneration; to regenerate means to renew, restore or revive… We were dead and God revived us, we were broken and God restored us, and we were expiring through sin and God renewed us… 

He gave us a clean slate and refocused our minds on Him by the sending of the comforter the Holy Ghost. Regeneration is a change of mindset, a new focus or outlook; if it were up to us our mindset, our goals and our desires would all be of this world and Satan would laugh all the way to the pits of hell carrying our souls along with him…Through the outpouring of Christ blood, we are given a choice to either walk under the curse we are born with or receive the grace of God which can transcend any current circumstance and place our feet on a heavenly foundation… Again, don’t become so prideful that you forget that humility is the key to salvation. Paul said, “not by works of my hand, lest I should boast!” Paul is credited with writing a majority of the New Testament; however, he knows that even this would not stamp his ticket to heaven… Even though Paul founded many churches He knows that He was found to be a sinner until the light of Christ shined upon the darkness in his life… Don’t take this time for granted, don’t ignore God’s mercy and please don’t forget that without God NOTHING is possible, but by HIM all things are possible…

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

Definition Of Godly Wisdom

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

James 3:17

There are so many people in this world who claim to be wise; however, James reminds us today that there are two kinds of wisdom… There is wisdom which comes from above (Godly) and wisdom which does not come from above (worldly)… Each source of wisdom can be found by the seeds which are planted and developed from it as we see that James shares with us today in our focus verse the attributes that are aligned with the wisdom which comes from above… The very definition of wisdom is to have insight, intelligence, acumen or astuteness toward a specific topic as well as the ability to apply this knowledge in a manner that renders fair judgment and understanding… Wisdom is a deeper level of knowledge within a particular matter and often times allows others a better opportunity to understand any given subject… In understanding the overall spectrum of wisdom, we must understand today that there is power in wisdom and that wisdom can be used in two different ways… When I acquire wisdom about a particular issue I can use it for a positive or negative impact… Using wisdom in a negative manner is the flipside of Godly wisdom as it usually is used to better ones standing or to bring down someone else… This passage taken from the book of James reminds us to consider the avenues in which we venture in obtaining wisdom… Understand today, to be wise is to accumulate knowledge; however, how we utilize the knowledge we gain is another story… 

We all have probably heard the saying, “knowledge is power” and this saying is true, but when we perceive the fact that the devil has a lot of knowledge when it comes to God’s word and our lives, it is scary to think of what devices he can come up with to try and trip us up… For this very reason alone we are reminded throughout God’s word that we are to be immersed in His will and word and that we must be on top of our game… One thing that plagues the body of believers is that we often take in the wrong things as it pertains to the life that we live… We are focused on the wrong things in life; we are consumed by the wrong people and/or places… James describes the kind of wisdom (accumulation and application of knowledge) that we should have and how we know if we are headed in the right direction… Wisdom is something that everybody wants and would love to gain; to be knowledgeable, insightful and intelligent are characteristics that every person would love to have on any given topic or subject… As I stated earlier, James informs us today that we can gain wisdom from two different sources… The wisdom that comes from above displays these characteristics; it is gentle, full of mercy, bares good fruit and is without hypocrisy… To understand what and where “good wisdom” comes from means that there must be a source where we can obtain “bad wisdom” to… Not everything learned is good and something’s that we learn can not only destroy you, but can destroy the others around you as well! James invites us to examine our lives today and mainly focus on our source of learning… The bible declares in Proverbs 9:10 that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” 

The wisdom we desire to have is not something which we can obtain through this earth; this Godly wisdom only comes from God and starts with a fear and reverence for Him… When we go through a situation and learn how to handle that situation and can use that lesson learned to help our fellow man as well as ourselves as it pertains to our Christian walk than we know that we are accumulating a knowledge that God desires for us to have… On the contrary, when we are pulling one another down and speaking deceiving words about mistakes we have made or consequences we have had to bear than we are allowing the wisdom obtained to produced negative fruit and therefore ruin the seed that could have blossomed from those times in our lives… The Pharisees believed that they were full of wisdom and rejected the coming savior… Saul was persecuting the church, but was said to be zealous for God… If the wisdom that you have is destroying others, baring rotten fruit or has taught you to develop lies then you need to check your source! You should be a positive influence on your communities if you are walking in the wisdom of God… If you are doing more harm then good; please, check your sources!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

You'll Be Flawless When God Is Done

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

1 Corinthians 15:54

From your birth to your death there is a transformation that takes place on the outside that all see as it pertains to your growth as far as height, puberty and physical features… Seeing someone at the age of 10 is completely different than seeing them at the age of 25, there are a lot of things that will change throughout the course of one's life that are visible changes… Today, we read about changes that come through the molding and perfecting of God which was set in place by the Lord Jesus Christ… These changes are internal and are not seen until our physical body returns to the dust from which it came… Understand today that we are clothed in corruptible things, we are mortal beings and the scars of sin are visible upon our lives… Each step you take as a Christian in advancing your knowledge and submission to the Lord brings you closer to your body of immortality… Being mortal means that we are earthly, worldly or simply human… We make mistakes, we make bad decisions and we are on a vessel charted with a course leading to hell… This body you are in isn’t adequate for heaven, it won’t suffice and the growth, how ever painful it is that you are going through now is preparing you to step out of the mortal corruption into your heavenly garments… As a child, one of the most trying times in our lives is when someone (parent of other) tells us to “wait”… 

When that word is uttered to us often times we become anxious uneasy or retaliatory desiring to have our way or obtain the resolution we want immediately… In waiting we must be patient and know that other things must take place or time must elapse for us to get where we desire to be or obtain what we want… Paul writes this letter to the church of Corinth to teach about the true victory that we anticipate… Many Christians are expecting miracles and prosperity as soon as they accept Christ as their personal Savior, some begin to lose heart whenever a trial or storm approaches their door; however, we must take notice of what it is that Paul says today and how it relates to us… We often hear people recite this verse about the victory that comes in the Salvation that we receive; however, it is important that we understand and remember the way in which this scripture begins… “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then…” Victory does await all those that call upon the name of the Lord, but we must go through the refiner’s fire and the purification process… Often times we talk about being victorious, but the question that should be asked is how your transformation is coming along… Are you able to give up the things in your life that you don’t need, are you able to trust the Lord at all times (emphasis on “ALL”) and are you willing to let go when it hurts… The saying that “…death is swallowed up in victory…”will not be uttered unless you have been clothed in the garments of the Most High… This means you will see some things, you will experience some things, you will go through some things, but you know that your perfect attire awaits… Death will be swallowed up when your victory overcomes it… You will lie down, but in Christ this is the beginning of your rise… This body that we currently reside in is temporary, this physical establishment that we have will not see the gates of heaven nor will it even be caught up in the clouds… 

This transformation that must take place in our lives is giving up the things of this world, letting go of the physical and relying on the spiritual… We can only gain victory over death by believing in Jesus Christ and accepting His offering on the Cross… The bible teaches us that death is certain, but when we realize that we have a home not made by hands eternal in the heavens we realize that the sting of death is lost, the concealing of the physical body in the ground doesn’t mean much when we know that we were formed from the dust of the ground… When we receive a call that someone has passed or funeral arrangements are being made it stings us to the core; however, what Paul is saying today is that we all have a journey to complete upon this earth and if we are of the household of faith we know that death on earth means life forevermore and when we see it in its true form it doesn’t hurt to see someone go on to be at rest and peace with God… Understanding that death on this earth is a time to rejoice when you know you are in the body of Christ allows you to close your thoughts just as Paul closed this verse; “O death, where is thy sting" O grave, where is thy victory…"

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

You Have To Sift Your Life

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

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

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

In this challenge there is a good and bad knitted together; there are positives and negatives on each side and it is the task of the disciples to choose the right course of action as it relates to the will of God… The same circumstances faced by the disciples in the garden of Gethsemane are the same circumstances that we face in our everyday affairs on this earth today… There is always a temptation that accompanies a test and it is the challenge of every Christian to prove all things so that they can then hold fast to that which is good… Notice that Paul says we have to prove to know; there are things in your life that will come to light when you put them under the proverbial microscope… You must seek clarity in the posture and position of those around you as well as the doors that are opened unto you… Understand today that the enemy has a way of placing things in front of you which appear to be blessings when in reality they are noting more than snares and traps… This is why you must prove all things… You must take the time out of your day to lay every opportunity, every open door before the Lord and wait patiently for His voice to speak to your spirit… There are three main objectives we see in today’s focus verse which we are tasked to do as a Christian; we must prove, take hold and abstain… When you take things to the Lord in prayer, He will show you the things which are to be taken into captivity and it what is to be discarded from your lives… 

It is the challenge of every Christian to take hold of what God places in your life and let go of the things which He declares to be removed… This is why we must abstain from all appearances of evil… The enemy only needs a crack to gain a foothold over you, you must walk in your faith and be about the work of the Lord in any and every situation… These verses taken from Paul’s letter remind us that we must be obedient unto the Lord and submit our will to His… As you go through your daily walk and come across all different kinds of things, one must test the experiences to know if it is of God or evil. In letting things go you will go through growing pains; however, know today that the life of a Christian is not lived in a box… You are tasked to do the will of God and this requires a close examination of all things placed at your doorstep… Not every encounter is bad, nor is every situation out of control, something’s are allowed by God, but the true Christians seeks His will in order to find the answer to life’s problems. Whether you are clinging to a relationship, holding on to past hurt or scars, focus your attention on God and hold on to the things that have helped mold you into who you are and release the things that are like Parasites and continue to weaken you very being!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

We Serve A Perfect God

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

Deuteronomy 32:4

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

This is why that relationship will not work, this job won’t come through and this door will not open; there are better things for you in store through Him but you must come to know and believe that that God you serve is a God of truth… Understand today that this passage taken from Deuteronomy challenges us to think of some of the ways in which you would characterize the very essences of God even when you may feel that you are going through a tough time or situation; He is a rock, again, something that is solid, sound, and sturdy. His work is perfect, ideal, just right, or without blemish. All his ways are judgments, everything about him shows that He rules and presides over mankind. A God of truth and without iniquity, there is no falsehoods within Him everything He speaks comes into existence and there is no evil or wickedness allowed within Him (just ask Lucifer)! Just and right is He, God is accurate and on-time and will deliver His saints through thick and thin! What a God we serve. Our God is solid, ideal and without blemish, everything He does out of love and is in our best interest (whether we understand it at the time or not), there is no falsehoods or lies within Him, and He is always on-time! Now that is the kind of God that I want to serve! Today we are simply reminded that in this world of uncertainty, we can be certain of one thing… In the times of misfortune, we don’t mourn as a people without hope… 

In trials in tribulations we can hold our heads high and smile in the midst of adversity… We are certain of the fact that God will never leave us nor forsake us, we are comforted in knowing and reading what the psalmist David said which is “I once was you and now am old; yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread…” You can hold your head up because we have been told that “those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength...” You have an advocate that is closer than any brother, you have a friend that will always be by your side and you have a rock that will keep your foundation from being destroyed when you face storms… His name is above every other name, he shall be called wonderful, counselor, the prince of peace and Lord of lords… He will make a way out of no way; He will turn darkness into day and will be a crutch in your times of need! God is your rock and salvation, only though Him can you obtain the precious promises and gifts of eternity… He is love, He is mercy, He is grace and He is AWESOME!!!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!