What’s Your Delight?

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. (Ps 1:2)

Do you find delight in the Bible? This Psalmist declares that he delights in the word so much that he meditates upon it and thinks about it all of the time—literally!

Most of us can find delight in our children; or in a certain sports team; or a wonderful movie . . . even a favorite meal. But have we trained our appetite in such a way that we derive great pleasure from reading the word and meditating upon it?

We can prime ourselves to love and rejoice in God’s word by drawing closer to God. That can be achieved through prayer, praise and worship, and simply quietly listening for His voice and His wisdom to be imparted to us after we have spent time in the word.

After accustoming ourselves with the word, and receiving answered prayer because of praying according what we know the word says, then we will definitely begin to have a deep appreciation for God’s word.

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. (Ps 37:4)

As for the saints who are on the earth, “They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.” (Ps 16:3)

As Psalm 16:3 says, God delights in His saints and God notices when we delight in His word and in Him! When we delight in Him, he gives us the desires of our heart.

Note: This is a copy of our blog article dated 05/18/2017.

His Life in Us

The Holy Spirit teaches each one of us about Jesus, so that we may see Him clearly and accurately. The goal of our lives should be to know Him as He is, for only then can we represent Him faithfully.

As Jesus has dealt with each one of us in love and mercy, He desires us to reach out in that same manner to those who don’t yet know Him as their Savior. In fact, Jesus’ very own love and mercy emanates from the Christ who lives within each one of us!

Here are a few Scripture verses that support this concept:

But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is life because of righteousness. (Rom 8:10) This would be more accurately translated: “But since Christ is in you . . .”

I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. (Gal 2:20)

Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Col 1:27)

We cannot have spiritual life without the One who is Life—Jesus Christ. Jesus told us that He is the Way, Truth, and Life. (John 14:6)

Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:12)

Since we are so honored and blessed as to have the Source of Life living within, let’s share Him freely and unashamedly with everyone whom we meet—pouring out His love and mercy upon all.

Note: This is a copy of our blog article dated 04/17/2017.

Set Apart

But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for Himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto Him. (Ps 4:3 KJV) We have been “set apart” by God.

Moreover, when you divide the land by lot into inheritance, you shall set apart a district for the Lord, a holy section of the land; its length shall be twenty-five thousand cubits, and the width ten thousand. It shall be holy throughout its territory all around. (Ezek 45:1) God instructed the Israelites to “set apart” land for Him that would be considered holy. In present times, we believers have become His dwelling place—the “land” set apart for God! (1 Cor 3:16, 17; 6:19)

What does it mean to be set apart for God?

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light . . . (1 Pet 2:9)

It means that we who have accepted Jesus as our Savior are God’s special people, and we are called to proclaim His praises and His good news of salvation to all people, everywhere. We are Christ’s ambassadors on the earth. (2 Cor 5:20)

He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. (Ps 121:3) This is a promise of God to His chosen people—those who are set apart for Him. Every promise in the Bible is for us! These promises are our inheritance. (Ps 119:111)

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Cor 7:1) We who have Jesus as our Savior—and are set apart—are called to holiness. (1 Pet 1:15, 16)

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:10) What constitutes “good works”? Good works are actions which are pleasing to the Lord. Because we have accepted Jesus as our Savior (we are set apart), He becomes the origin or source of our actions. Christ is the root cause of everything, and good works are the fruit!

In conclusion, we are set apart as special to God. Because we are, we walk in holiness and good works to the glory of God.

Note: This is a reprint of our blog article dated 03/20/2017.

Do You Want Wisdom?

Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them. But transgressors stumble in them. (Hos 14:9)

To be wise, we must seek to understand God’s precepts and ways. Understand means to perceive the intended meaning of His Words and His ways. Another definition states that to understand means to apprehend clearly the character, nature, or subtleties of something.

Therefore, in order to be wise in God’s sight, we will clearly apprehend the character, nature, and subtleties of God’s Words and His ways—and His personality.

If you don’t feel that you’ve arrived just yet at that place, then study passages from the Bible every single day. Meditate upon what you’ve read. Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten your understanding and to give you wisdom. He will answer your prayers.

He will open the eyes of your understanding and give you revelations into the Word of God and into God’s loving nature. Hallelujah!

Note: This is a reprint of our blog article dated 02/23/2017.

Abide in God’s Word & Be Made Free

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32)

The word KNOW in verse 32, above, means to perceive; understand; recognize; or realize. This is a knowledge that has inception, a progress and an attainment, according to Strong’s concordance (#1097). It is the recognition of truth by personal experience.

This personal experience suggests a close, personal relationship. And verse 32 states that we need to abide in [accept, stand in, obey] God’s Word and thereby confirm ourselves to be Christ’s disciples.

In that context, as we personally come to experience the truth of and dependability of God’s Word, it is that same truth that shall set us free from various challenging and destructive experiences in our lives. It also sets us free from the hurts that other people have inflicted upon us.

God’s steadfast and unfailing love for you can give you such strength and stability in your emotions that you can be made emotionally whole and healthy.

The best kindness that you can do for yourself is to abide in the Scriptures and become more and more stable and secure in their truth—because you know that God does not lie. (Num 23:19)

Rest in Jesus, who has given you the grace, freedom, and strength to live your life to His glory daily!

Note: This is a reprint of our blog article dated 11/21/2016.

Self-Control

Welcome! The fruit of the Spirit includes self-control. (Galatians 5:22-24 NIV) Isn’t that wonderful?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ²⁴And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:22-24 NKJV)

When we accepted Christ as Savior, the Spirit of God made His home in our hearts. The Holy Spirit is the One who enables us to walk in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Our responsibility is to yield to the Spirit of God and to actually manifest this fruit! It is quite exhilarating to do.

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV) Consider the ways that you exercise the spiritual fruit of self-control. Then praise the Lord for them!

Note: This is a reprint of our blog article dated 08/20/2016.

Don’t Be Ashamed

The Lord tells us in His word that we should not be ashamed of Him or of His words. The apostle Paul teaches us the right attitude with his declaration in the book of Romans:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Ro 1:16)

For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. (Mk 8:38)

For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. (Lk 9:26)

We should never feel embarrassed or uncomfortable that we are Christians. Additionally, we should never be ashamed to share testimonies of our answered prayers, or of our salvation experience and the blessings of God.

For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” (Rom 10:11 ESV)

The gospel of Jesus Christ is truly the POWER OF GOD to everyone who believes. Let us rejoice in this truth and praise the name of the Lord!

What About Eternal Life?

How does the gift eternal life, through salvation in Jesus Christ, affect us now in our daily lives?

These Bible verses are among many that assure us of eternal life, as believers in Jesus:

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (1 Jo 5:20 ESV, emphasis added)

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (Joh 17:3 NKJV)

Having an eternal point of view will change the way that we live as believers. Does anything last forever? Only God. Being mindful of our eternal home in heaven, will prevent us from focusing on the wrong things in this life.

Considering an eternal home in the presence of Jesus and hosts of angels, along with countless brothers and sisters, will help us to reject pride, envy, jealousy, lust for wealth, and many other temptations that are common to human beings.

The Lord has given us the Bible to inform us about our salvation; about His standards of righteous living; and about the endless and bounteous blessings that God pours out upon all people. His word teaches us to think on good and virtuous things, to bear fruit for the kingdom, to always praise God, and to have regular fellowship with other believers.

Living with an understanding of an eternal future in heaven will infuse our daily lives with joy and wonder. God bless you.

Why Are Our Thoughts Important?

Believe it or not, the subject of our continual meditations is very important to our lives, and to the quality of our Christian experience.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (Phil 4:8 NKJV)

This verse from the Bible urges us to think only about things that are:

True,
Noble,
Just,
Pure,
Lovely,
A good report.
Additionally, it insists that we think of those topics that have:
- Virtue (goodness, righteousness) and those that are
- Praiseworthy (worthy of celebration).

Why are these things important to the Lord? The Scriptures also say:

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) . . . (Eph 5:8-9 NKJV) Jesus called Himself the ‘light of the world’ in John 8:12, and we who follow Him and walk in His light produce fruit that is good and right and true.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the only person who ever walked the earth who can be described using all the words shown in the list from Philippians 4:8! He lived a holy, sin-free, righteous life; and obeyed His Father’s will perfectly. He did not glory in gossip or in evil reports or in negative stories. Rather, he turned peoples’ hearts toward the love, mercy, and forgiveness of God, the Father. He brought GOOD NEWS to mankind!

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. (Eph 4:25) We are encouraged to speak the truth concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ as well as the mercy and love of God to one another.

So, let us endeavor to meditate on things that meet the guidelines shown in Philippians 4:8. Our lives and our conversations will be blessed and encouraging!

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You are the Deciding Vote! In your life, you can make decisions that will help you and bless you.

Month: January 2022