LEARNING DAILY

 

1 Corinthians 10:23-24, 31, All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being. Therefore, whether you eat or drink, do all to the glory of God.

 

I am going to add another thought for each of us to grow our faith and to advance a little further on the road to the kingdom of God. As Christians we need to do everything we can to protect ourselves and one another from influences that would prevent us from becoming less than what God wants us to be. Paul was addressing an issue that is still misunderstood by some today. Being a Christian does not mean we can do anything we want because we are under God’s grace. No, we are not free to do anything we want. Just because most things are okay under the law and are not sinful in themselves, Christians must apply a different standard in order to best apply their freedom. Paul gives us an additional thought about the things we do. Is it helpful? Does it edify or improve who I am or who others are? Yes, legally we may have a right to do something, the problem occurs when the circumstances around it might make it sin.  The warning for us is to consider whether we are promoting the welfare of ourselves and others before we act.

 

As Believers, we do not have a series of do’s and don’ts to live by. We have God’s Word that very clearly outlines the lives He expects us to live. One pastor we listened to spoke about convictions; there could be things God would convict us were wrong for us personally. Even though something might not be sinful, doing “it” might give another who saw “it” being done might cause them to misunderstand and sin. It is important to remember God is holy and He expects His followers to be holy as well. We are to be set apart and living the way He shows us in His Word. We are to not to be legalists in the way we live but living our lives so others are edified.

 

God did not save any of us for our own benefit; He wants us to live our life to benefit others. How can we bring the Good News (the best news ever goes the song) to others? What do we do that others might see and cause them to not believe the gospel? What can we do to show the love of Jesus Christ and show others He can be trusted to do what He has said? What can we do to show God’s love, goodness and kindness to others. It is amazing that when we are busy doing this that we will not have such a strong need to be self-centered.

 

One last thought. We should do all we do for the glory of God! This summarizes what has been said into an important principle that should guide each of our choices. As Believers, each of us should be motivated to bring glory to God in everything we do. Paul has given us a lot of ways to use our freedom in Christ. The question we can ask ourselves is do I use my freedom to gain material wealth, position or my pleasure. As a believer, everything I do should bring glory to God.

 

Be an encourager to others by the way you live your life. It is amazing to me how many are watching you to see if you live what you profess.

 

LEARNING DAILY

 

Romans 8:37-39, Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

One of the thoughts I have gained as I have been reading the Chronological Bible for my daily devotions is that nothing Israel did could stop God from loving them. Yes, He certainly got angry with Israel but that anger never was so great that He stopped loving the people He had made a covenant with (the covenant He made with Abraham). The people of Israel deserved to be permanently rejected by God; instead He temporarily punished them. The cycle in the book of Judges clearly shows us that when the people cried out to Him, He heard them, sent a judge to deliver them, they lived in peace and prosperity until the judge died , and they fell back into sin. The people’s desire to have a king over them instead of God clearly shows the people’s desire to be like the world; God told them through the prophet Samuel what would happen by choosing a man to be king. It did not matter to them. So, God gave them a man to be their king and just like He had told them they turned against Him. Even with Israel’s flirtation, even outright spiritual adultery, God loved Israel. Israel did not totally abandon God; Israel was attracted to and became preoccupied with gods other than the One True God. Before the people entered the Promised land, Moses warned them to hang on to God with all their might (Deuteronomy 4:1-4). Yet, over time the people drifted, little by little, they drifted in to disaster. But God never stopped loving them.

 

The New Testament tells us to “watch and pray”. Those word are usually associated as encouragement to be alert to Jesus calling His people to Him in the clouds – the rapture of the Church. I find them encouraging because if we do not, it can be easy to drift from our love, loyalty, and commitment to Jesus Christ, when that happens it becomes easy to allow other interests, concerns and pursuits to gradually replace Him. Moses’ warning to the Israelites is very appropriate to each of us today. We must hold fast to Jesus Christ so we do not lose control of what it means to follow Him.

 

That brings us to today’s verses. As a Believer, you are conquerors. You are victorious. You are super conquerors through Jesus Christ who loved us so much He was willing to die on a cross, taking the punishment we should be taking for our self-centered, sin-filled lives. Believers in Jesus are not victims in this fallen world; in Jesus Christ, because of His victory at the cross, we are empowered by the Holy spirit in us to be “more than conquerors” in our struggles in life.

 

I can only believe that anyone who fails in their spiritual life, it will not be because of the lack of God’s grace and love. No external force or great adversity will be able to “separate you from the love of God”! Only one’s neglect to remain in Him will do that. We “watch and pray” and know that in Jesus Christ the love of God the Father is revealed to us. By remaining in Jesus Christ as “our Lord” can we have certainty that we will never be separated from the love of God.

 

 LEARNING DAILY

 

1 Thessalonians 1:3, We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other,

 

It is worth taking the time to examine where we are on the narrow way as we walk toward eternity in God’s kingdom. Each of us is on a different place on this way; where we are has much to do with the amount of faith we have. In the last page of the blog, I wrote that God gave us each the same amount of faith when we were saved. The question for each of us is about our faith today. I ask you to consider if your faith is growing? Is it bigger today than it was last week, last month, last year, or since you gave your life to Jesus Christ? Is your ability to believe greater today than it once was? Your faith, your spiritual maturity, should be growing continually; as written yesterday, the love you have for others indicates growing faith (according to the verse above).

 

We need to think about some indications of spiritual immaturity or remaining in the measure of faith God gave each of us. 1 Corinthians 3:2-3, “I fed you with milk and not solid food; for until now you were unable to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal [not spiritually mature]. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?” Babies are self-centered and only concerned about their own needs being met (the Kingdom of Self); they can only handle a basic understanding of God’s Word. Because of that, they have only a basic understanding of its meaning. Mature people meet the needs of others and grow in their understanding of the Word.  When the verse in 1 Corinthians says one is envious it means the person lives for the slap-on-the-back from others and become jealous of others when he/she gets applause. Envious people become bitter. One who has grown spiritually (faith) does not need to receive the approval of men because serving God is their concern. Strife means a person is right in the center of a fight sowing disagreement and tension. The Christian, growing in their faith, will be doing all he/she can to bring unity into every situation.

 

To become mature spiritually and to grow in your faith, you must die to self. That means you must make an effort to fully overcome the sinful nature that is in you (again the Kingdom of Self); you must stop behaving in a worldly or unspiritual manner. By continuing to live this way, you are not growing in grace. It is time to grow up! Start taking God’s Word with utmost seriousness!

 

Here is the danger for worldly Christians (Is that an oxymoron?). There is terrible deception in the world today – greater than ever before. Jesus said false teachers and deception would abound in the last days. He was right! One who has not grown in their faith is in danger of being deceived and led astray from a sincere devotion to Jesus Christ. They are in danger of being more and more conformed with the world. Being unwilling to put to death the sinful nature with all its desires and appetites is a dangerous way to live in the days we are living. Let me be straightforward – no one can give attention to Satan, his lies, and the things of this world and participate in the things of the Lord at the same time! Again, its time to grow up in Your faith and walk with Jesus! Separate and purify yourself from all filthiness of the flesh and grow in the holiness of God.

 

The time of the trumpet sound seems to be so near, sounding for the faithful followers of Jesus to join Him in the clouds. I do not want any who read this to miss out! There seems to be an urgency to speak and write truth! By the way, each of us needs to continue growing in our faith. Tomorrow, I will make some suggestions about how we can do that.

 

LEARNING DAILY

 

Luke 17:5, And the apostles said to the lord, “Increase our faith.”

 

From what I have studied over the years in God’s Word, grace and faith are gifts from God. We are saved and enter into the family of God by His grace. In Romans 13:3, Paul writes that, ”… God has dealt to each one a measure of faith”. The measure of faith is a starting place for every Believer; God gives each of us the same amount of faith. What we do with that faith is really the difference between Believers. I do not see where God gives us different amounts of faith. It is important for each of us to know that faith needs to become more than faith to be saved – faith must become a lifestyle for every Believer.

 

Like the apostles asking for their faith to be increased, many Believers today think they would be better able to live the Christian life God wants them to live if only He would grant them more faith. The notes in the DJSB tells us, “Jesus focused not on the quantity of faith but its character. More faith does not equal greater ability to accomplish, since the Lord is able to accomplish great things with only a grain of genuine faith [the faith the size of a mustard seed]” (Matthew 17:20). When we talk of a measure of faith, it means that every aspect of our life needs to be lived by faith.

 

Can we all agree that we are living in days that are testing each of our faith. Like the apostles we may be asking the Father to increase our own faith. Romans 10:17 states, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Billy Graham has written, “The Bible also teaches that faith will manifest (demonstrate) itself in three ways. It will manifest itself in doctrine (what the Bible actually teaches). It will manifest in worship (communion with God). It will manifest itself in morality (righteous behavior and godly living).” Faith is a voluntary action each of us do by giving up or surrendering our old self-centered life to live the life God wants us to live. He does everything He can to draw us closer to Him by getting us to act on the faith He has already given us.

 

There are all sorts of helps about stages of faith. Let’s be simple and just know our faith grows when we read/study our Bible every day. How can it not when we read about the faith of those people who acted upon their faith and Jesus healed them. Read the Old Testament and see the results when people acted on their faith and the simple people God used to accomplish great things for Him and His kingdom. I challenge you to pray in the faith you have and see how God works on your behalf. Don’t pray and then think your answer was due to something other than God answering you. Put what faith you have into action by stepping out when you need to act on it. Remember each of us has been given the same amount of faith. Act on what you have and see how God uses it; isn’t that the difference between you and the ones you believe have great faith?

 

Paul wrote in his second letter to the Thessalonians, “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of everyone of you abounds toward each other.” If your faith is growing, your love will overflow towards others. Your faith grows as you grow in your knowledge of grace and of the Lord Jesus Christ grows. I cannot encourage each of you enough to be reading/studying your Bible daily, praying daily, to be obedient to what you know, and to just live in the faith you have. There can be only one result – the growth of your faith.

 

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible.

 

 

 

LEARNING DAILY

 

Matthew 24:8, All these are the beginning of sorrows.

 

I have not written on those things Jesus said must happen as we move into the end of days. My brother in Christ sent me a video of podcast that was a reminder that those of us faithful to Jesus Christ and who are diligently looking and listening for the trumpet sound must be ready for the rapture to occur. Jesus tells us in Matthew 24 various events that must happen at the end of days. Add to that what the apostle Paul writes to Timothy in chapter 3 of his second letter regarding life in the last days and one must consider that those times are here and the trumpet sound to meet Jesus in the clouds is very near.

 

Yes, many of the events Jesus spoke about happening before He calls His people to Him have been happening since His resurrection; by definition, we could say the end times began then. But, in the days we are living, the intensity, the frequency of these things has increased greatly. Yes, 2 Peter 3:3 tells us of scoffers making light of His promise to return for His people. They are certainly around. I wrote down somethings said on the podcast I listened to and thought they are worth you reading.

 

We are certainly seeing dry areas around the country because of lack of rain. Where I live, we are in severe drought – the worst in Texas. Add to this in agricultural areas that are dry the cost of fertilizer causing hardships for farmers and one wonders about the high cost of producing food. All of us know the higher prices already seen at the grocery stores. Earthquakes, volcanic action are occurring in greater numbers and with terrible results. We continually read about a global reset, a new world order – what does that mean? We have all seen or heard by now about the bank failures that have occurred in this country and wonder if this is only a beginning of things to come. There is also talk of digital money replacing the current monetary system we have. That would allow the government more control over our finances and also be a way to track where each of us are. That does not even take into consideration of the looming recession. We cannot go further without being reminded of what we went through during the covid scare. Do you remember how quickly everything shut down and no one could go or do anything. Since then, the threat of a new virus (that should be viruses) is continually before us.

 

Jesus also spoke about all Believers being hated and persecuted. Christians are being ridiculed for their beliefs about highly sensitive issues today. Now is not the time faithful followers of Jesus Christ to be confused about where God stands on these issues! Stand firm in what you know to be biblical truth! I have written about the difference between true Believers and those who are religious.

 

There is one other aspect that this podcast brought up and that is a greater emphasis on UFOs and aliens. I had to laugh to myself because I have been reading a fictional series on aliens and motherships (As I got into it, I wished I had not gotten it!). The world system has already created a scenario for people disappearing suddenly from the earth. Of course, the aliens have taken all the missing people to the mothership for whatever purpose one can imagine.

Is the rapture of the church near? No one knows when it will happen. However, the signs Jesus gave us indicate that it could occur at any time. The best option for all Believers is to stay ready by walking on the narrow way as best we can. I look forward to the time when we will be in heaven with Jesus and with the saints from all time. What a glorious day that will be. Be ready, stay ready because when that trumpet blows there will be no time to get ready!

 

LEARNING DAILY

 

Proverbs 3:5-7, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.

 

During the funeral I attended last week the pastor commented that Jesus said to trust Him. This may have come from when Jarius, the ruler of a synagogue, came to Jesus to ask Him to lay His hands on his dying daughter. Before He got there, she died and Jesus told him, “Do not be afraid; only believe [trust Me].” Jarius did not try to stop Jesus from going to his home because he did believe Jesus could still help his daughter – he believed and trusted Jesus. As a result Jesus brought his daughter back to life.

 

How easy it is to say the words to trust someone, to trust Jesus. Would you agree it is very easy to trust when things are going well? But what if you’re finding yourself in circumstances similar to Jarius? I have found that fear of the circumstances, the situation can almost paralyze a person; it can rob one of their faith. However, the words of Jesus to Jarius should strengthen each of us, “Do not be afraid; only believe [trust Me].”!

 

Trusting in the Lord with all our heart is the opposite of doubting God and His Word. The trust that is being written about here is fundamental to our relationship with God; it is fundamental to know and believe that He is trustworthy. As children of God, we are assured that He loves us and faithfully cares for us and is guiding us in the right way as we walk the narrow way. The words from the proverb tell us that God “directs our path”; but notice “we must in all our ways acknowledge Him” or doing already what we know to be right. We must be walking in obedience, trusting in Him. “Depending on our own understanding of truth and life means to disregard God’s will” (DJSB). We must be careful not to put ourselves above God. So, we ask God for understanding when we need to understand situations and circumstances, knowing He gives grace and keeps His promises in those difficult times. We trust Him to work for us! Our own understanding is limited and certainly can be wrong. To lean on our own understanding leads to pride; we demonstrate our trust in Him by continually asking for wisdom and knowledge in all areas of our life.

 

As we acknowledge Him in our plans, decisions and activities, we are telling Him that His will is the desire of our heart. Each day as we seek to do His will, He promises to “direct our path”. This kind of trust does not happen overnight; it is a process. Solomon tells us we trust Him “in all our ways” not some of them.  Can I mention that we must be careful because there are those who say that that trusting in God will lead to prosperity in the eyes of the world. Do not get caught up in this teaching. Trusting God does not mean everything in our life will work out favorably with us. We will walk down difficult paths as we follow Jesus. Trusting Him does mean that He is always in control of every situation and trusting Him means He can turn every bad circumstance into good.

 

Trusting in Him means we cast all our anxieties and fears upon Him (1 Peter 5:7). Because trust is usually built over time, we spend time with Him in prayer and reading/studying His Word. We must do what He leads us to do through His Word even when the world system mocks and laughs at us for doing so. Living His way, on the narrow way, is the best way and the only way to eternal life with Him.

 

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible.

 

LEARNING DAILY

 

Joshua 13:13, But the Israelites did not drive out the people of Geshur and Maacah ….

Joshua 15:63, As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out ….

Joshua 16:10, And they did not drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer ….

Joshua 17:12, Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities …

 

You need to understand that as I am reading the Chronological Bible for my daily devotions, I am reading the instructions God gave to His people, the Israelites, as they entered the Promised Land. They were to kill all the inhabitants of the land He gave them so there would be no influence that might cause them to compromise their beliefs or might tempt them to be disobedient to Him. While the tribes were together, under the leadership of Joshua, they did just that.  But as the various tribes began to take their allotted land, you can see by the verses above, the people did not drive the inhabitants from the land. It is not always clear by reading Joshua whether the Israelites were just unwilling to drive the people out or could not because their disobedience caused God to withdraw His help.

 

God’s commands to remove the inhabitants from the land seems cruel in many ways; He knew the hearts of the people would be weak and fall into temptation and compromise because of the idolatrous people in the land. Their idolatry, if allowed, would lead His people away from Him and that is what happened. Failure to drive out the inhabitants may indicate not only a lack of Israel’s determination to obey God but an interest or fascination with the way of life of the people living on the land. Whatever the reason for their lack of obedience, continued reading in God’s Word shows us the people fell into a pattern of idolatry, God giving them over to their enemies, the people crying out to God for help, and God raising a judge to deliver them. This is the cycle repeated over and over again in the book of Judges.

 

While reading this I could not help but think how relevant this is to us, the body of Christ, today! If you have been reading and considering the writings in this blog, you know that walking on the narrow way is difficult because the Holy Spirit is pointing us away from our old, self-centered life where we lived only to please ourselves to a life where we “deny self, pick up our cross, and follow Jesus”. Reading the book of Joshua is a spiritual lesson for each of us about being obedient to the Word of God which brings blessings or being disobedient which brings adversity and consequences.  From the beginning, the Israelites were successful in the conquest of the Promised Land – just like each of us were when we first accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior. But over time the attitude of the people changed because of compromise and failure to be obedient to God.

 

There is never a time we let down our guard and begin to compromise God’s principles from His Word with the ungodly evil world we live in. When Israel compromised, both political and spiritual decline began. Look around, people, and understand there is tremendous compromise with an ungodly people and philosophy in the nation and world today. It is not getting better or going away. It leads to what we are experiencing today – political and spiritual decline. You and I must not give in to this! We must continue to diligently walk the narrow way to eternal life in God’s kingdom in obedience to the Lord as He leads us and continues to cleanse us of all unrighteousness. With all the difficulty we might face, we stay strong and diligent to the call to die to self and live the life God demands from each of us. Doing so brings the prosperity that only God gives, eternal life with Him.

 

Be strong and encouraged in the Lord!

 

LEARNING DAILY

 

1 Peter 5:6-7, Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

 

I have written before about a former Head of Schools who used a car as a tool to ask the question, “Who is driving your car [life]?”. I always thought it to be a great question to ask myself continually. I have included a picture today about that cat who is continually used to teach me something I need to be taught. Evidently, I needed some help getting to our destination as he decided to help drive the car.

 

Here is my thought for today: Once a person comes to the place where he/she knows the need for Jesus Christ to forgive their sin and asks Him into their lives, what happens next? The answer lies in knowing you have to let go of your life and doing what you want and allowing Jesus Christ to have His way in your life. Are you driving or is Jesus Christ the driving force in your life. He gave us the example to follow while He was walking on earth as He often stated He did nothing on His own. He said He had come to do the will of His Father. And He said, “Not as I will, but as You will”. Have you allowed God’s will to be your guide, following His commandments as best you can?

 

For one to surrender their will to Jesus, he/she needs to believe that He knows what is best and will lead them in that direction. If one believes that He is the sustaining force in their life, there will be no limitations on Him being the Lord of their life. In other words, if He is truly the Lord in your life, there are no conditions for us to meet for Him to guide us into all Truth.

 

One way we get to this point is found in Psalm 46:10, “Be still [cease striving], and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted on the earth!”  Not one of us can do anything to earn more of God; stop striving and know that when He becomes our Savior, we make Him our Lord by doing what He says. “He has committed Himself to be the believer’s faithful and constant guide throughout life, in the experience of death and beyond death to the eternal home where we will be with Him forever” (LSSB). Our personal circumstances are never too much for His power and faithfulness.

 

What are you holding on to that makes you feel secure and even powerful in your life? Is it keeping you from surrendering yourself totally to Him? If there is, this is a good time to pause and pray that He would help you to surrender it to Him and that He take the place of whatever you are not trusting Him with. I want to tell you that doing so will help you as you walk the narrow way!

 

Here is what happens when we surrender control of our lives. Do you remember what Moses told the Hebrews when they were between the Red Sea and Pharoah’s army? He told them to stand and see the power and glory of the Lord! God was in control – the entire time – and He worked for them. When we surrender, we are telling the Lord that we trust Him to work for us. For most people trusting Him is a life-long process. It is a choice each of us makes each day. For me, it means I do not have to understand the “whys” of the situations I face; it means I place my faith in the One who knows all things. Yes, He even knows tomorrow and the next day and next week! I was encouraged years ago, to write down things I was thankful for each day. Perhaps doing so would encourage you to see God’s faithfulness in your life. It only encourages us to trust Him more for today.

 

We need to be diligent about seeking Him. Jeremiah 29:13 gives me assurance that God will be faithful to lead us when we do. “And you will seek me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Diligently seeking Him will result in finding Him in everything we do. That is His promise.

 

So, who is driving your life?

 

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible.

 

 

LEARNING DAILY

 

Joshua 23:11-13, Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the Lord your God. Or else, if indeed you go back, and cling to the remnant of these nations – these that remain among you – and make marriages with them and go in to them and they to you, know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations from before you. But they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land which the Lord your God has given you.

 

Yikes! Over and over the people of Israel were warned that there would be blessing for obedience and consequences for disobedience. This included being told many times that when they entered the Promised land that they were to drive out and destroy those living there, because failure to do so would cause the Israelites to compromise, intermarry with the remnant and begin to live in the belief system of idolatry. They were warned that these unbelievers would influence Israel to adopt the shameful ways of the Canaanites. God’s people were to keep His unchanging Word at the very forefront of their lives; that was the only way for them to withstand the temptations as they moved into the Promised Land. They did not do this. They left a remnant in the land. With this remnant, they intermarried, and the consequences of disobedience happened.

 

The call for God’s people to be separated from the ungodly “world” remains the same for God’s people today. Nothing has changed regarding this New Testament teaching of separation. Let me define the term “world” again. It often refers to the enormous system of this age that Satan promotes and that exists independent of God. This world system “consists not only in the evil immoral, and sinful lifestyle and values found in the world system but also refers to the spirit of rebellion against or indifference to God and His revelation that exists within all human enterprises not under Christ’s lordship” (LSSB). Think about how Satan uses the world’s ideas, philosophies, ideas, governments, education system, medicine, arts, entertainment, sports, and so much more to oppose God. Can you think of any area Satan has not influenced to oppose God, those of us who follow Him, God’s word and His righteousness?

 

Joshua’s words are a reminder and an encouragement to each of us today. We must be diligent to do at least two things. We must love God; we love Him with all our heart, our soul, and our mind! When we do, we do all we can to walk on the narrow way to eternal life in His kingdom. But Joshua’s words must be considered by each of us. We must not be friends with the “world” we live in because doing so we will compromise our walk with the Lord. Snares and traps are those things set and hidden on the ground to catch unwary travelers. Scourges and thorns are those things that continue to tempt and bother us until we are so weakened that we give in to temptations. We must be diligent in watching for those things that come against us. We must be alert to those who would befriend us and lead us into temptation. Becoming friends with those in the world by hanging around them only causes us to be tempted with ungodliness and sinfulness in the world. We have enough trouble on our own.

 

We stay in God’s Word, doing our best to walk how it tells to walk on the narrow way. We stay strong in our relationship to Him by being in prayer about all things. We are careful about who we allow into our lives, desiring to build relationships with Godly people. When we can, we tell those in the world about Jesus and how He has changed our lives. We live our lives watching and waiting for Jesus to sound the trumpet to join Him in the clouds. We live our lives so we will hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

 

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible.

 

LEARNING DAILY

 

1 John 5:4, For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.

 

Charles Spurgeon wrote an editorial for a magazine called The Sword and the Trowel. He wrote in the article, “God Himself has spoken a great secret. It is one word, ‘Faith’ – faith in Jesus for pardon, faith in the Father for providential provision, faith in the Holy Spirit for all grace. In ordinary pathways, men walk by sight; but in the way of life, if we prosper, we must walk by faith. God is unseen, but He is ever near to those who trust Him. His promises are sure, and He is ready to fulfill them. He hears and answers the prayers of believing souls. There is reality in His presence, and true support in His comforts.” This was taken from an old devotional from Today’s Turning Points with David Jeremiah.

 

This world we live in presents a lot of challenges to each of us. There are so many decisions to make each day and all of us want to make the right decisions that honors God. We face health issues and uncertainties of all sorts so we do all we can to make sure we are eating healthy, exercising, and getting the proper rest we need. Most of you reading this have entrusted God with your eternal destination, but have you given Him your trust with your daily needs and burdens?

 

Notice the verse says this type of faith “overcomes the world”! This type of faith is an overcoming faith despite the temptations and troubles that come our way as we walk the narrow way. It is a faith that sees eternal realities as we experience the power of God as the pleasures, ungodly ways and selfishness of the world not only lose their attractiveness but we begin to look upon them with disgust.

 

As we walk the narrow way, the world system will do all it can to get Believers away from their walk to eternal life in God’s kingdom. Jesus said this way would be difficult and it is due to Satan’s many temptations and the desires of the old self to gain control. We have to live the faith God gives us; when we do the world can do nothing to repossess us. Our faith continually reminds us that Jesus has defeated the evil world system and lives within us.

 

The object of our faith must be Jesus Christ! We must trust in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; our faith is centered in His forgiveness of sins and that He has overcome the world. That is the way Believers overcome the world – their faith in what Jesus Christ has done for us. Our faith in Jesus has given us all we need to overcome every temptation, every trial, every fleshly desire that we will face. Shouldn’t we be thankful every day for the overcoming power we have in Christ and seek to honor and glorify Him each day?!

 

 LEARNING DAILY

 

Luke 23:43, And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

 

Yesterday, I attended the funeral of a teacher I taught with at First Baptist Academy. The funeral was more of a celebration of a life well-lived, of one who lived her life faith to her Savior and Lord. The point was well made that she walked the narrow way during her life and is now in God’s kingdom with Jesus. That was/is a powerful testimony that I desire to leave when I walk into His eternal kingdom. The Pastor centered his words on the fact that heaven has been purchased for every person who has accepted His way of salvation – forgiveness of sin through His death and resurrection. “The fear of what happens after death has caused people to live in doubt and dismay daily. However, there is hope found in the promise of Jesus from the cross that not only applied to the thief, but to you as well” (Dr. Ed Newton).

 

Luke 23:43, above, are the words of Jesus to a repentant thief hanging on a cross beside Him. The thief had admitted his own sinfulness, his guilt, and knew he deserved to die; he needed forgiveness. In his situation, he had no time to join a church or walk down an aisle to be forgiven, no time to be baptized and there was no time to do good works. He only had time to believe in Jesus. He did and he was forgiven of his sin. The result was to be with Jesus in “paradise”.

 

Paradise refers to a “walled garden”. There are those Bible authorities who believe this is a reference to a new Garden of Eden. It is reference to where all Believers are headed – heaven. If we breakdown the verse, the word “in” tells us heaven will be where we will live after we die, Death becomes a doorway, it is not the end of life but the beginning of eternity with God. Stephen, in Acts 7:55 was able to look into heaven before being martyred. “But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” For the child of God there is no unknown about what happens after death. They immediately go into the presence of Jesus in “paradise”.

 

When Jesus talked directly to the thief, He was specific when He said “you”. When Jesus spoke to people, He spoke directly to them with the words “you” and “your”. The same words are for each of us. The message of paradise or heaven is a personal one for each of us. Not all people go to heaven because nothing unclean will enter heaven. People are unclean because they have not come to Jesus to be cleansed through His forgiveness. There is no other way to heaven except through Him. “Salvation is not based upon how you performed, but through whom you profess” (Dr. Ed Newton).

 

Jesus told the thief that being in “paradise” meant to be “with Me”. The Lord Jesus is clearly teaching us that after death the saved go immediately into His presence in heaven. This tells me the importance of developing a relationship with Him now that will continue on with Him throughout eternity! Our walk with Jesus on the narrow way is so important as we study His written Word, develop a prayer life with Him, and walk on the narrow way that continues to cleanse us of unrighteousness! Doing so should encourage us about our future with the Lord!

 

LEARNING DAILY

 

John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”  Jesus

 

Events that are happening in the world today are happening at a rapid pace and are making me wonder if the return of Jesus is very close. How about you? Because of that question it seems necessary to revisit some thoughts about the return of Jesus.

 

Before Jesus was crucified, He told His disciples He was going to prepare a place for them in His Father’s house. Then He told them (and all His Followers) He would come back for them so they would be with Him in heaven. The New Testament clearly states that He will return. Revelation 1:7 tells us that when He returns, “every eye shall see Him”; it will be very public. Acts 1:11 tells us that He is coming Himself; He will not send any of His angels to get us. Each day, His Followers must live like today is the day the trumpet sounds announcing it is time to meet our Lord as He comes for us.

 

That hope brings us another reminder, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32). Jesus certainly knows now that day and hour since He now sits at the right hand of the Father. There are many who scoff at the return of Jesus because so much time has gone by since His resurrection. People who have thought they will escape God’s judgment have always been around; they have been spiritually unprepared for the return of Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5 warns us to be sober or clear headed regarding the return of Jesus Christ. In other words, we are to be alert and watching for His return. We must not be idle. Instead, we must be mentally and spiritually prepared for His coming. David Jeremiah suggests we “put on the breastplate of righteousness to protect our desires and affections and the helmet of salvation to protect our thoughts” (DJSB). Each of us must be ready.

 

Let me take you to Matthew 24 to remind you of what Jesus said when His return would be near. Yes, many of these signs have been around since the resurrection of Jesus. Think about the intensity and frequency of these events as they happen right now. There will be political unrest (v. 6), famines and pestilence unending (v.7), powerful earthquakes [and I might add other types of natural disasters] (v.7), and false teaching and deception (v.7 and 2 Timothy 4:3). 2 Timothy 3:1-5 describes “perilous times that will come in the last days”; take the time to go back and read this lengthy list. There is no disputing that we are in those last days! Luke 21:17 tells us that Believers will be hated and persecuted by unbelievers! Does anyone dispute that is happening today? This list was taken from notes during a sermon given by Dr. Ed Newton.  All of us who believe in Jesus and His return better be attentive to the signs Jesus said must occur before He returns. They were given for us to be watchful and ready for His return!

 

One last thought. When Jesus comes for His people, it will suddenly and unexpected. “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep [have died] but we shall be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). This is just a reminder, an encouragement to be watchful, to be expectant for Jesus to come to take Believers to be with them to be where He is. I will come back to this subject in the next page of the blog.

 

For now, it is important to know that His return requires for you to be sure about your relationship with Jesus Christ. Revelation 21:27 is clear in its message. “But there shall by no means enter it [the kingdom of heaven] anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”  You can only be sure you will be where Jesus has prepared a place for you if you have been forgiven through the salvation He offers by His death on a cross and His resurrection. Have you taken that step of faith?

 

From now on DJSB will be used to note information or quotes from the David Jeremiah Study Bible and LSSB will refer to information and quotes from the Life in the Spirit Study Bible.

 

LEARNING DAILY

 

Joshua 10:40, So Joshua conquered all the land; the mountain country and the South and the lowland and the wilderness slopes, and all their kings; he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded.

 

I am once again reading through the conquest of the Promised Land by Joshua. The command given by God to kill all of the people there seems cruel and cold by the God we know to be the God of love and peace. In the commentary offered in the Daily Readings of the Chronological Bible I am using for daily devotions, the following is given as an explanation for God’s commands to Joshua. “Even now the cost in Canaanite lives is shocking, and once again a moral issue is raised, particularly because the Israelites themselves are the invaders. Though it affords little comfort to the modern mind, it must be remembered that the extermination of defeated enemies is expected of victorious armies at the time. The record further hints that God is using the Israelites as His instrument in punishing the pagan Canaanites for their continual wickedness.” The wickedness of this people consisted of willfully disobeying the law God had given Moses including the worship of and sacrificing to idols, practiced magic and sorcery, child sacrifice, and other grossly immoral practices.

 

God commanded these people be destroyed because He knew their presence would become a source of temptation for His people. He demanded to be the center of their lives and would not tolerate compromise with sinful people as the Canaanites. Judgment came to the Canaanites when the Israelites entered the land God had promised to the descendants of Abraham.

 

As we have written the nature of God does not change; He hates sin and judgment comes to sinful nations, to sinful man. He has already sent a flood as the judgment on sinful man. I can only wonder how near we are to His judgment on this sinful world! I am so thankful for the Lord Jesus Christ taking my place on a cross for the sinfulness of my life. If you have been reading this blog for any length of time, you will know it’s focus is to encourage everyone who has accepted Christ as their Savior is to make Him the Lord of their life by walking a narrow way to eternal life in His kingdom. The Lord Jesus died for every sin we have made or will commit. Yet, it is our responsibility to walk in His presence and renew our hold on the truth each and every day. In other words, we must walk with Jesus all day long.

 

How did I get to this encouragement from God’s command to destroy all the Canaanites in Joshua? Simple. Each Christian is to stay away from sin. How do we do that? Die to self every day. Instead of living life filled with sin, we say no to it. Now, you must be honest because that is easy to say and difficult to do. When we sin, confess it. If we do not confess the sin we commit, our unconfessed sin weakens our fellowship with God; our relationship can become distant. Confess sin and move on! Walk with Jesus, be diligent about staying strong in your faith, and walk in the light on the narrow way.

 

God still demands each of us to destroy the sin in our life in order to walk with Him! Better for us to confess our sin than to face His judgment without doing so!