Month: May 2021

Wisdom is Proven Right

Wisdom is Proven Right

In the real world, in everyday living, a wise person is one who follows Biblical standards in their personal lives; and in consequence, experiences startling results. 

I’m describing a person who lives out their faith in Jesus Christ daily, moment by moment.  They extend their help and friendship to those in need; they share the love of Christ with all those who cross their paths; and they even make decisions on practical and political matters based upon their faith in Jesus Christ and in God’s Word.

Yet Wisdom is shown to be right by what its followers do.  (Lk 7:35 CEV)

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”  (Mt 11:19 NIV)  This verse is talking about Jesus being called a glutton and a friend of drunkards and sinners.  However, Jesus was wise in obeying the plan that Father God had for His live. 

Jesus knew that these were the very people that He had been sent to redeem.

Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.  (Hos 14:9 NIV)  As this verse reminds us, wisdom understands that the ways of the Lord are righteous and the just person walks in those ways.  Only the rebellious trip over them and end up struggling through life.

Do you want to acquire wisdom? 

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  (Jas 1:5 NKJV) With all sincerity of heart, ask the Lord to give you His wisdom today. He will certainly hear and answer your prayer, dear reader.

Trust the Lord More Than Any Human Being

Trust the Lord More Than Any Human Being

Did you know that the Bible tells us that it’s far better to trust in the Lord than to put our trust in any human being—no matter who they are?  Let’s turn to the Bible.

Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord.  For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited.  (Jer 17:5-6) 

This passage warns us that a person who trusts in a human being rather than trusting in God, has departed from the Lord!  It also clearly says that such a person will be like a parched shrub in a desert who couldn’t recognize good when he saw it.  Furthermore, it forecasts that this unbeliever will continue to live alone in the wilderness.  What a bleak prospect for anyone!

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.  It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.  (Ps 118:8-9)  Not even princes or kings should be trusted in preference to the Lord.  God is the only Being who is truly good and who has ultimate, unending power.

Do not trust in a friend; do not put your confidence in a companion; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your bosom.  For son dishonors father, daughter rises against her mother, daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own household.  Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.  (Mic 7:5-7)  This passage even counsels us to distrust our own loved ones before we would distrust God.  It further advises us to wait for God’s salvation, knowing that God always hears our prayers.

These are very serious admonitions which we should heed if we want to be true followers of Jesus Christ.  May God continue to give us wisdom and insight into His Word. A day-by-day trust in the Lord that is constant and unwavering will grow our faith and our relationship with the Lord who loves each one of us! Hurray!

Esteem the Word

Esteem the Word

As followers of Jesus Christ, we should honor and respect God’s Word.  The Bible gives us guidance on this topic.

Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.  (Jer 15:16)

God’s Word should give us joy and cause us to rejoice in His goodness, His nature, and His salvation.

I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word.  I have not departed from Your judgments, for You Yourself have taught me.  How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!  (Ps 119:101-103)

In order to observe [obey] God’s Word, we endeavor to live holy, upright lives.  This is because we consider the Word of God to be sweeter and more satisfying to us than anything else in our lives.

The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver.  (Ps 119:72)

The Word displays to us a right attitude through the above passage in Psalms.  The psalmist said that God’s Word was more precious to him than thousands of gold and silver coins!  He was saying that money paled in comparison to the value of God’s precious Word to him. 

May each and every one of us agree with the psalmist in this matter.  Praise the Lord!

Upright Living

Upright Living

We are strongly encouraged to live holy, upright lives in the Scriptures.  Here are several instances:

In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.  (Tit 2:7-8 NIV)

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.  (1 Tim 4:12 NKJV)

. . . having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.  (1 Pet 3:16)

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—  (1 Pet 2:15)

Why is this so important to the Lord that He would repeat it many times throughout the Bible?  It’s because the Lord has designed us to be His light in this ever-darkening world.  His plan is that through our upright and holy lives, we may silence all who try to defame us and vilify us in public. 

Our Lord Jesus was our example.  He lived a holy, sinless life on this earth and went about teaching the people about God and the Kingdom.  Jesus also performed signs, wonders and miracles continually.  It is such good works as His that we should yearn to imitate. 

I encourage us all to follow our loving Savior’s example of a righteous life.  God bless you.

God Gives Us Triumph

God Gives Us Triumph

The Bible gives us many passages that speak about the truth that God gives triumph to His people.  Throughout the Old Testament, the Lord delivered His people from their enemies and gave them the victory.  In the New Testament, we also have a firm basis to trust that our God shall bring us to triumph over our enemies.

So I will triumph over my enemies around me. With shouts of joy I will offer sacrifices in his Temple; I will sing, I will praise the Lord.  (Ps 27:6 GNT) 

Whenever we experience an instance of God-given triumph, it should always motivate us to praise and to worship the Lord in joyous thanksgiving.  It’s an important part of victory to give the Lord all of the honor and glory that is due Him.

Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.  (Ps 112:8 NIV) 

In the midst of a trial or battle, we can rest assured knowing that we shall ultimately experience victory over the enemy.  Allow the passage of Scripture above to support your faith in a crisis.

Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.  (Col 2:15 NKJV)

Jesus, our Savior, is the One who disarmed every spiritual enemy and by publicly putting them on display, triumphed over them permanently.  Hallelujah!

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory [triumph] through our Lord Jesus Christ.  (1 Cor 15:57 NKJV)

In 1 Corinthians, the Scriptures clearly reveal that we may live in continual victory through Jesus Christ.

By faith in Jesus—and living in agreement with and obedience to Biblical standards—we live in a constant state of victory.  Our faith in the Lord makes us participants in His victory which is established forever in the heavens.

God Draws People to You

God Draws People to You

Do you realize that God surrounds His people with His supernatural and miraculous favor?  God’s favor upon believers turns us into people magnets!  What do I mean?  Let’s look at what the Bible has to say.

Arise, shine; for your light has come!  And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.  For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.  The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.  (Isa 60:1-3)

In the verse above, notice that the passage states: “. . . the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.  The Gentiles shall come to your light . . . “ 

The Word Gentiles in Biblical times referred to people who were NOT God’s chosen people.  So, in our era, the word basically refers to unbelievers–those who haven’t heard the good news of the Gospel of salvation.  The reference to God’s glory arising over us and people coming to our light is a poetic way of describing the fact that people will approve, esteem, prefer, and promote those who are recipients of God’s favor. God’s favor upon us causes other people to be attracted to us so that we may have an impact for good on behalf of the Kingdom of God in this world.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.  (Mt 5:16)

When unbelievers and believers observe the good works done by those who believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord, it will cause them to honor and to glorify God in response.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.  (Eph 5:8)

To walk as children of light implies living upright, holy and exemplary lives that conform to biblical guidelines and standards.

. . . that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world . . .  (Phil 2:15)

When we live and walk as children of light we expose darkness wherever we find it; we search for meaningful fruit in our own lives; we participate in our local church or fellowship; and we read and meditate upon the Scriptures (the Bible) regularly.  Glory to God!

Don’t Seek the Dead

Don’t Seek the Dead

The Bible gives believers important instructions and guidelines for living a life of faith.  One point that is very important is that we should never turn to mediums, wizards, or fortunetellers for information about our future. 

Wisdom teaches us to place our trust in the Lord, knowing that He loves us and has plans to give us a blessed and meaningful future.  We already know that we will spend eternity in heaven with the Lord, and we may surely rejoice in this truth.

And when they say to you, “Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,” should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?  (Isa 8:19, emphasis added)

Note, this passage asks: “Should not a people seek their God?”  This is a hint from the Holy Spirit to us that it is only the Lord, Himself, who is capable of knowing the future.  And He is the only Being who has the power to change the future! So, we must turn only to the Lord Jesus when we are grieving, sad, or uncertain about what is to come.

And the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people.  (Lev 20:6)

In the above Scripture, the Lord warns us that He will be in opposition to anyone who puts their trust or hope in mediums or soothsayers; and that He will cut such a person “off from their people” which is actually a sentence of death upon that person.

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.  (2 Pet 2:1)

2 Peter 2:1 states plainly that believers who turn to false prophets have brought upon themselves SUDDEN destruction.  We must avoid this at all costs! 

We are called to turn to the Lord Jesus for direction and guidance in the course of our daily lives.  As believers in Jesus Christ, we must jealously and conscientiously protect, defend and cherish our relationship with our Savior.  It is the most important aspect of our lives. May God surround you with His love and wisdom.

God Will Turn Us into a Blessing

God Will Turn Us into a Blessing

Let’s see where the Bible addresses this topic of turning believers into a blessing.

And it shall come to pass that just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you shall be a blessing.  Do not fear, let your hands be strong.  (Zec 8:13)

Though their present state was humble, God wanted Israel to trust in His promise of blessing.  He also wanted them to allow His promise to inspire them to diligently and robustly serve the Kingdom of God.  In the above passage, believers are instructed to have no fear and to be strong.  Notice that the Lord says that AFTER He saves His people, THEN we will be a blessing to other people. 

In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land, whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”  (Isa 19:24-25)

As we read above, the Word says that God’s people shall be a blessing in the heart of the earth.  The truth in this Scripture is based upon the fact that the Gospel of salvation was birthed in Israel through the birth of Jesus Christ; and through Israel and the gospel of salvation, all mankind would be blessed to learn of God’s love, forgiveness, and mercy.

‘Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you.’  (Hag 2:19)

In Haggai, the Lord declares that His blessings shall be upon His people.  We may safely put our trust in God’s promise to bless us, though we see no observable indication of its realization.  For our God cannot lie (Tit 1:2), and His Word is unfailing—it is always fulfilled.  (Ezek 12:28; 1 Thes 5:24)

We’re called and designed by God to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in the earth, and in doing so, fulfill our destiny to be a blessing on this earth.  Glory to God!

The Just for the Unjust

The Just for the Unjust

Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer, suffered ONCE for the sins of mankind even though He was completely without sin.  His purpose in doing this was to reconcile us to His Father God, and Jesus completed the task that He was given.  (see Joh 19:30)  Praise God! 

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit . . .  (1 Pet 3:18, underscoring added)

Jesus was made alive by the Spirit because the Holy Spirit’s power raised Jesus from the dead.  (Rom 8:11)  And the same Spirit also dwells within each and every believer.  Think of it!  Resurrection power abides within every believer!

. . . so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.  (Heb 9:28)

As I mentioned above, Jesus completed His assignment when He lived a sinless life, suffered and bled and died, and was resurrected from the grave. Jesus was offered, by His Father even as Abraham offered his son, Isaac, on the altar in Genesis 22:9-13.  Since Jesus dealt with the sins of mankind already, He NEVER needs to have anything more to do with sin. 

God gave Jesus to die for our sins, and he raised him to life, so that we would be made acceptable to God.  (Rom 4:25 CEV)

Through Jesus’ atoning sacrifice, all who accept Him as their own Savior and Lord have been justified and made acceptable to God.  Glory to God! Now, since we have been born again and made righteous through faith in Jesus Christ, we may joyously look forward to seeing Jesus face-to-face in heaven when our life on earth has been fulfilled.  Or a praiseworthy alternative to that will be when Jesus returns to earth to rapture His church.  (Dan 12:1-2; Mt 24:30-31; Mk 13:24-27; 1 Cor 15:51-53; 1 Thes 4:16-18; Rev 3:10)   Hallelujah!