Tag: Lord and Savior

We’re Not Fighting Flesh & Blood

We’re Not Fighting Flesh & Blood

Sometimes, we need to remind ourselves that, as believers, we are not battling with human beings but with unseen enemies.  This is an important concept to keep in mind, because we can make the all too easy error of considering other human beings as our enemies.

This is not the heart of God.  This is not why Jesus came to earth!  Let’s turn to the Scriptures and meditate.

We aren’t fighting against human enemies but against rulers, authorities, forces of cosmic darkness, and spiritual powers of evil in the heavens.  (Eph 6:12 CEB)

As the verse above, in Ephesians, reminds us:  we’re fighting against forces of celestial darkness and unseen powers of evil in the heavens.  This is a spiritual battle in which we need the spiritual weapons that the Lord has given to all believers.

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ . . .  (2 Cor 10:3-5 ESV)

The Lord has His own battle plan which we would do well to follow.  The first part of our battle involves controlling our own flesh and our own reactions.  We must make sure that our thoughts are obedient to Jesus Christ and His teachings.

. . . to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.  (Ac 26:18 ESV)

We have already turned away from darkness and invited the Lord of Light into our lives.  We have received forgiveness of sins and a place among all who have been sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ.  Our calling is to introduce other people to the same Lord and Savior who has rescued each one of us.

In their case, the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe to keep them from seeing the light of the glorious gospel of the Messiah, who is the image of God.  (2 Cor 4:4 ISV)

We must remember that unsaved people have blinders on their eyes to prevent them from seeing the light of the gospel of Good News.  Our prayers and ministry to these people is designed to dissolve those blinders and help them to see the Truth, and to accept their Savior and Redeemer.

Learn about your spiritual weapons and start using them today, dear brothers and sisters.

LOVE

LOVE

As we know, 1 John 4:8 teaches us that God is love.  The love of God gives us stability and assurance in our faith.  It surrounds us and upholds us in our daily lives.  But God’s love accomplishes many other things as well.

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.  (Pro 3:3 ESV) 

We need to write God’s steadfast love and faithfulness upon our hearts, and one way of doing that is to memorize Bible verses about Him and His love.  His Word is truth.

Mercy and truth preserve the king, and by lovingkindness he upholds his throne.  (Pro 20:28 NKJV)

God’s lovingkindness actually supports, maintains and sustains His throne.  Wow!  What an idea worthy of meditation.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.  (Eph 5:1-2 NASB)

We should walk in love, allowing it to motivate us, to lead us, and to flow from us towards other people.  As we live in this way, we are being transformed by the example of our Lord and Savior.

If I give away everything I own, and if I give over my body in order to boast, but do not have love, I receive no benefit.  (1 Cor 13:3 NET)

As 1 Corinthians reminds us, without love for God, for ourselves and for others, we have received nothing.  This is quite an enormous truth to wrap our thoughts around, so take some time in the weeks to come to meditate upon today’s topic.  God bless you.

Servants of Christ

Servants of Christ

When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, a number of things occurred in our lives.  Here are just three things that took place:

  • We became children of the Living God.  (Rom 8:16; 1 Joh 3:1-2)
  • We became bondservants of Jesus Christ.  (Eph 6:6; 1 Pet 2:15-16)
  • We passed from darkness to light.  (Col 1:13)

The Scriptures show a number of apostles and disciples who identify themselves as “bondservants” of Christ.  Every believer should identify with this claim.

Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God . . .   (Rom 1:11 NKJV) 

For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ.  (1 Cor 7:22 ESV)

. . . not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart . . .  (Eph 6:6 ESV)

A bondservant is a person who willingly becomes a slave to another person.  The Mosaic Law allowed an indentured servant to become a bondservant voluntarily: “If the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’ then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life” (Exodus 21:5-6).  Source:  GotQuestions.org. 

You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men.  (1 Cor 7:23 ESV)  The Bible warns us NOT to become bondservants of human beings.

But we do need to settle it in our hearts that we are servants of Jesus Christ and of the Kingdom of God.  We need to be submitted to God’s will and plan for each one of our lives.  It’s important to remember that the Lord can see the end from the beginning.  He knows every possible outcome of our own, human decisions; but if we allow Him to direct our paths, we will fulfill His will for each and every believer.

Set aside some time to spend in meditation and prayer about this important concept.  Determine what yielding to the Holy Spirit will mean for your life.  God bless you.

An Everlasting Throne

An Everlasting Throne

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, has been promised an everlasting throne according to the Scriptures.  Let’s consider this truth today.

You, O Lord, remain forever; Your throne from generation to generation.  (Lam 5:19)

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.  (Ps 45:6)

But You, O Lord, shall endure forever, and the remembrance of Your name to all generations.  (Ps 102:12)

This truth from the Bible is information designed to strengthen and to sustain our faith, and give us confidence in the Lord.  Our Savior is the Prince of Peace and the King of Kings.  (Isa 9:6; 1 Tim 6:14-16) 

Here is some additional insight into the Lord’s everlasting throne:

When the angel was announcing to Mary the conception of the Messiah, these promises were reiterated. “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end“ (Lk 1:31-33). These promises will be eternally fulfilled some day. “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'” (Rev 11:15).   Source:  https://www.blueletterbible.org/devotionals/dbdbg/view.cfm?Date=0630

One day ALL of the nations of the earth will worship and glorify our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!  (Ps 22:27; 72:11; 86:9; 102:15; Isa 2:2; 40:5; 45:23; 66:23; Jer 3:17; 33:9) 

As God’s own people and joint heirs with Jesus Christ (Rom 8:17), let us be faithful and obedient to acknowledge and praise our Sovereign God and King now!  May we be continuously aware that we serve the God whose reign will never end.  We will spend eternity with the Lord in sweet fellowship and harmony with Him.  Glory to God!