LEARNING DAILY

Psalm 145:7, They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. (New International Version)

I want to wish each of you reading this today a very happy Thanksgiving Day! I pray that in all the preparation and partaking of your meal with those gathered around your table, you take the time to give thanks to the One who has given you great abundance; His greatness gives each of us so many blessings. When we take time to reflect on who He is and the grace He extends to us each day, our hearts cannot help but to be filled with gratitude and reverence for Him.

I pray that you take a moment to truly appreciate the incredible things happening in your life today and share them with those around you. When you take time to reflect on and share God’s righteousness, compassion, and grace with those around you it will add to their hearts more understanding of God’s character.

May this day be filled with wonderful memories for you and your family!

 

LEARNING DAILY

Psalm 119:25-32, I lie in the dust; revive me by Your Word. I told you my plans, and You answered. Now teach me Your decrees. Help me understand the meaning of Your commandments, and I will meditate on Your wonderful deeds. I weep with sorrow; encourage me by Your Word. Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing Your instructions. I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by Your regulations. I cling to Your laws. Lord, don’t let me be put to shame! I will pursue Your commands, for You expand my understanding.

The psalmist is seeking God’s strength and guidance; he wants to follow God’s commandments. He is doing exactly what every Believer should do each day – but especially when facing any difficulty or trial. Even when the psalmist was facing trials, he was committed to deepening his faith.

My friend, DC Adkisson, sent me his notes on this Psalm, he indicated the psalmist felt near death, wanting to die rather than continue his life; the only cure was to be in God’s Word. He was “in the dust,” yet “crying out in faith for God’s grace” (DC). God’s Word is incredible! Turning to His Word in times of difficulty can provide the necessary encouragement needed to persevere. There are teachings and examples of those facing severe circumstances who turned to God for His guidance and His strength. God has given these examples for Believers to be encouraged with. He does not change. What He did for those in the Bible, He will do for Believers today! These are eternal truths that help Believers to grow in inner strength and understanding as they walk the narrow way.  

“I cling to Your laws.”  The psalmist has asked the Lord to teach him His Word; he wants to understand it and be able to meditate on it. He has chosen to be faithful to what the Word says. Being faithful, being obedient to God’s Word is a choice each Believer makes every day. “It is holding fast onto the Word, in confidence. The psalmist is now clinging to the Word instead of the dust. To cling to the Word means it is faithfully read over and over. When this is done obedience follows” (DC).

The psalmist reminds Believers that when times of trial come (and they will come), they can find strength and courage to endure from being in the Word of God. Through the Word of God, Believers can face life’s challenges with faith and trust in the Lord. There are plenty of challenges in the world around us. Now is the time to dedicate your walk on the narrow way with passion by daily reading/studying/meditating on God’s Word. Be ready to receive and be obedient to His Words and to lean on his never-ending grace and love. When you do, you will begin to mature and grow closer to Him as he directs your life!

 

LEARNING DAILY

2 Corinthians 12:9-10, But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Pastor Jonathon Moore, Lead Pastor at NorthRock Church asked two questions regarding these verses. One, “What does God want to do in me?” Second, “What does God want to do through me?” He used the movie Ordinary Angels” to show that sometimes God uses us to help others who need help in their circumstances. In doing so, He uses those times to begin the healing process in our own lives. Audrey wrote in her notes on this movie, “We are not meant to fight alone. God sees us and asks us to let Him into our weaknesses.”

In writing these words, Paul wanted his readers to know he had made peace with his weaknesses; in fact, his weaknesses were the very things he needed to allow God to accomplish what He desired to accomplish in his life. Yes, Paul had accomplishments that he could boast in. But in Philippians he wrote that he considered all his accomplishments as loss for the sake of Christ. His accomplishments were worthless in comparison to knowing Christ.

Pastor Moore and the movie brought out that our weaknesses, “our pain is a doorway to God’s power” (Audrey’s notes). Pastor said, “Your weakness reveals God’s strength.” God wants each Believer to serve Him; “serving is not about having it all together, it’s about being available” (Audrey’s notes).  You might be led to help another individual going through a difficult situation as you are going through your own difficulty. God’s grace will help you give His grace to another person in need, if you are obedient.

Let me ask this. Have you ever faced a situation where you felt weakness and vulnerability? What if you were led to help another person facing their trial, their difficulty? Paul’s writing is showing Believers, they do not need to depend on their own strength or ability to overcome their challenges. By helping another in their difficulties, God may be using the help you give to others to begin a healing situation in your own life. It is okay to feel weak at times because that is when God’s power can work most effectively in your life. Instead of trying to do in your own strength, calling on God, and trusting in His grace lifts you and guides you forward – in helping another and finding He is working on your situation at the same time.

God’s grace is your strength when you feel weak. In Philippians 4:11, Paul stated he had learned to be content in every situation. He had learned contentment because he knew God’s grace and strength came when he was weakest. Lean on God’s grace and allow His strength to transform your weaknesses into strengths!

 

LEARNING DAILY

Matthew 6:25, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”

Pastor Ed Newton spoke on the words Jesus spoke to the people during the Sermon on the Mount. It is important to know He was speaking “to people who did not know where their next meal was going to come from” (EN). They were those today’s society would call poor; they lived from day to day. In the verses before this, Jesus had taught not to be preoccupied with wealth, but to focus their lives on the eternal rewards that come with believing and following Him. Being poor they may not have been too concerned with building wealth. Jesus told them that even though they might have little, they could become too preoccupied with material things.

Read on and Jesus pointed to the birds of the air, the lilies of the field, the grass of the field, and the Gentiles (unbelievers). He taught them “that the birds did not stockpile food; God provided for them each day. If God took care of the lilies, He would take care of them. Jesus pointed out that if He took care of those who did not follow Him, He would take care of them. God gives grace to even those who do not follow Him” (EN).

“Do not be anxious about your life.” Pastor defined anxiety as “being torn apart.” He said, “When people seek other things besides Jesus, it is like being torn apart. Trying to serve two masters causes one to become conflicted; once that happens Believers need to remember that God is the author of their faith. Will you follow your own way or follow God’s way?”

Matthew 6:31, “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?” Pastor said, “Anxiety is fear without reason and worry is something specific that causes fear.” If there is ever a time to start worrying it is when one does not know where their next meal or clothing is coming from. “Worry leads a person to a place where he/she tries to fix the problem themselves, to be fixated on what cannot be controlled” (verse 27) (EN). Jesus is telling His listeners and readers of the Sermon on the Mount to, “Remember how big God is and what the Word says about Him; this places everything in the proper perspective. God is bigger than everything Believers face” (EN).

Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” “Seeking” means to prioritize, to stay focused on God, and to keep being consumed by Him and His Word. Doing this is the foundation of making Him the center of your life. “When the Believer’s life works around the Lord everything comes together. When I take my eyes off Him, things go wrong because I am looking to myself. Seek His kingdom, His righteousness, His character. God always comes through” (EN).

 

LEARNING DAILY

Psalm 100:4, Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name!

There is a lot of thought and preparation being made for the coming Thanksgiving week. It is a time set aside for Americans to offer their thanks to God for His many blessings – both to us and upon our nation. It is my prayer that Believers pause from the business of preparation, parades, the food, and yes, even the football games and offer heartfelt thanks to God for His many blessings and His faithfulness during this past year.

One of the many blessings in my life is the fact that God never changes. Hebrews 13:8 states, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” He is loving, patient, kind, merciful, and generous; He is as dependable today as He was in every situation written about in His Word. God pours out His blessings every day. James 1:17 speaks of every good and perfect gift comes from Him, and Romans 8:28-30 tells us He arranges everything in our lives for good and for His glory.

When one “enters His gates” it is coming into the presence of God; it begins with giving sincere thanks and praise. It means one delights in being in God’s presence, to celebrate, to worship with happiness and joy. Why? The answer is found in the previous verse, “Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” Enter His presence knowing that He alone is God, there is no other; our thanksgiving comes from knowing it comes because of an intimate and personal relationship with the God of the universe! He is the source of our lives and being, and as Believers, we belong to Him.

Believers can “enter His courts with thanksgiving” thinking about God saving us, all the ways He has blessed us, how He has transformed or changed us, and all the prayers He has answered. You may be thankful, as I am, for all the prayers He has said no to. Psalm 103:1 tells us, “Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name.” Do not wait. Begin today to praise Him, to thank Him for all He has done in your life. Psalm 34:1 is for all Believers, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” With the endless “to do list, job and family responsibilities, take a moment(s) to step into God’s presence and tell Him how thankful you are that He has saved and changed you. Thank Him for the many blessings He has brought into your life. He deserves your honest and continual gratitude.

Today begins the seventh year of writing this blog. I am thankful for each one of you who have stayed with me in this journey. I pray it has been an encouragement to your walk with the Lord on His narrow way into His kingdom.

 

LEARNING DAILY

Romans 8:1, There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (New King James Version)

What does Paul mean when he writes those in Christ must walk according to the Spirit? The Holy Spirt comes to live within each Believer the moment he/she asks the Lord Jesus Christ to save them. John 14:16, “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.” Other names for the Holy Spirit are “Comforter” and “Advocate.” The Holy Spirit is given the believer to teach God’s Word, convict of sinful behavior, bring God’s Word to their memory, and to guide the Believer as he/she walks the narrow way. The Holy Spirit lives within the Believer (John 14:17) and is given “forever.”

Galatians 5:16-17 explain that walking with the Holy Spirit leads the Believer into righteousness. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do” (ESV). It is not natural for Believers to live a life of self-sacrifice which is a response to God’s love for them. They have lived too long in self-centeredness and living by the world’s standards of success. The Holy Spirit teaches Believers how to love as God loves; that is not natural. The Holy Spirit empowers the Believer to do Christ’s will and teaches him/her to walk the narrow way in righteousness.

The Holy Spirit, dwelling within the Believer, teaches them to use their freedom in Christ to walk, and keep walking the narrow way with His help and guidance. To live this way the Believer must lay aside their own desires and power to depend on God’s. If you have walked with the Lord for any length of time you know the difficulty in doing this. No one can do this in their own strength. Stop trying and allow the Holy Spirit to be your strength and power to live as God desires. Paul writes that this is the way to stop gratifying the desires of the flesh.

Another way to say this is to stop believing, “If it feels good, do it.” Stop following religious rules and seeking worldly pleasures and live the meaningful lives God wants you to live. When one walks with the power of the Holy Spirit, he/she will be strengthened to not indulge their own desires or those things of the flesh. Read a few verses further and you will see that the Holy Spirit gives evidence of a new life by producing the fruit of the Spirit in the Believer’s life.

One of the important aspects of walking daily with the Holy Spirit is that He convicts one of sin committed (Ephesians 4:30) and convicts the Believer to confess their sin to the Lord (1 John 1:9) to restore fellowship with the Lord.

When you accept Christ as your Savior, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in your heart, bringing with Him an entirely new life of love, relationship, and service to the Lord.

 

LEARNING DAILY

Romans 8:1-3, So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So, God did what the law could not do. He sent His own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins.

There are days I need words of encouragement and comfort; I find them in the words written by Paul above. He has been writing some frustrating words in the previous chapters to the Romans. He is frustrated that “he did not do what he knew he should and did what he knew he should not do.” I relate to that statement! Do you? But then he writes, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” This is a statement why the gospel is such “good news,” the best news ever, for all who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

This is an assurance for all Believers that there is no condemnation awaiting Believers because Jesus Christ has set them free from the guilt and punishment of their sins. It is a reminder that our past mistakes and shortcomings do not define us nor separate us from the grace and love of God because we are united with Christ. Believers do not have a license to sin; when they do, the sin must be confessed knowing that the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross has forgiven their sin. Knowing this and knowing that God sees me as righteous takes a heavy burden from me. It should you as well! This allows us to embrace the unconditional love and acceptance of God.

The New King James Version goes a little further adding this clause, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” The command to walk according to the Spirit and not the flesh is communicated in verses 4 and 9. Paul is explaining that those who believe in Christ are those who walk according to the Spirit. I will examine what it means to do that in the next page of the blog.

Look at the next verse. The Holy Spirit always gives or brings life. Romans 5:1 tell us that Jesus Christ sets us free through faith. That faith in Him brings us peace with God. Because of being justified with God the Believer receives the Holy Spirit who brings life. This results in being set free from sin and death. The law could not do this – no one is able to set themselves free from their sinfulness and be acceptable to God. He had to step in and save us. He did that through His Son.

It seems I need to be reminded of this truth more each day. Too many aspects of the “old self” seem to be rising to the surface. At those times I need to remember that there is no condemnation because of the grace and mercy God extends to me each day. No more guilt, no more shame – just freedom that comes from surrender and trust in the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for me. Let this truth be your guide today.

 

LEARNING DAILY

Psalm 119:9-16, How can a young person stay pure? By obeying Your Word. I have tried hard to find You —don’t let me wander from Your commands. I have hidden Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You. I praise you, O Lord; teach me Your decrees. I have recited aloud all the regulations You have given us. I have rejoiced in Your laws as much as in riches. I will study Your commandments and reflect on Your ways. I will delight in Your decrees and not forget Your Word. (New Living Translation)

The psalmist wrote, “How can a young person [and old people] stay pure?” Then the answer is given: “By obeying Your Word.” In his notes about Psalm 119:9-16, my friend DC Adkisson wrote this quote from Charles Spurgeon, “You must study the Bible so you can pay close attention to your daily life.” Don also wrote, “A careless man never led a holy life. It is not enough to desire to be right.” Moral purity is not a concern of many people; they already believe they are “good” people because they do “good” things.

This section of Psalm 119 emphasizes the ways in which the reading/studying/meditating on the Bible leads a person to living a purer life. Paul wrote to Timothy these words of encouragement, “Focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them. Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:13, 16, 17, NLT). Stay faithful to reading God’s Word in church, immerse yourself in the Word so your life of following Christ is evident to everyone; that was Paul’s encouragement to Timothy. It should resonate with each of us as Believers!

The Lord spoke to Joshua, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8, ESV). Believers are to read and study God’s Word; they are to reflect on what it says constantly so they can walk the narrow way as it directs us. This is the obedience God demands but it takes a constant pursuit to know and apply it.

David Guzik’s Study Guide for Psalm 119 lists ways God’s Word gives Believers a foundation for living a morally pure life. Here are a few of his reasons: “God’s word shows us the standard of purity, so we know what is right and what is wrong. God’s word shows us the reasons for purity, so we understand the wisdom and goodness of God’s commands. God’s Word shows us the difficulty of purity and reminds us to be on guard. God’s word is the key to the renewing of our minds, which in turn is the key to personal, moral, and spiritual transformation (Romans 12:1-2).”

The psalmist wrote four “I will” commitments at the end of this section (v15-16). “I will meditate in God's words. I will respect and contemplate all God's ways of doing things. I will delight in God's statutes. I will not forget what God has said.” (From DC Adkinson’s notes). I believe it is so important to examine these commitments and apply them to your life – each day. Believers are in an evil world with many temptations to follow the ways of those who do not follow biblical standards. Studying God’s Word, to know and apply His standards is the only way to walk each day on the narrow way.

“Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe” (Proverbs 2:9-11, NLT). I am trying to be committed to following the commitments in this Psalm. Will you do the same?

 

LEARNING DAILY

Matthew 6:21-24a, For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters…”

What a great message is the Sermon on the Mount. Pastor Ed Newton shared thoughts about what people chase with their lives, what they collect during their lifetime is what they treasure. Are you collecting and stockpiling “stuff” here on earth, or are you stockpiling rewards in heaven by allowing God to use the “stuff” you have for His honor? Is that not the issue Jesus is addressing by what He said in the verses above? Jesus was not addressing the issues of Believers having wealth, or that they should not want things; He was addressing the issue of the Believer’s priority should be on God.

Pastor Newton emphasized the importance of prioritizing eternal values over temporary material possessions. He said, “The safest place to put our treasure is in God’s hands, where it cannot be deteriorated by rust nor be destroyed by the moth.” He made an interesting comment about God not giving blessings to us. “God may not be giving you a blessing because you could not handle it. Instead of honoring Him, you may make an idol of it.” From experience, God may take away what He has blessed you with because you did make an idol of it!

What we focus on dictates our actions. You have heard or read that before. When earthly success and wealth is focused on, people spend their time and energy on earthly matters. When people focus on God’s priorities, their actions reflect different priorities, on rewards that are eternal. Jesus said that the things treasured reveal where the heart is. There are many who claim they look forward to heaven, but their heart is caught up in the cares and things of the world – that is where their hearts are.

The words of Jesus are still very relevant to a world so caught up in consumerism and material success. Jesus’s words challenge each Believer to take a moment to consider their priorities. Where are you spending your priorities? Are you caught up in accumulating wealth and possessions? Or are you investing in relationships, kindness, and spiritual growth? Pastor asked if we were living in generosity, with our heart set on God satisfying our needs and to be a steward of what God has given to us? Again, our heart follows where we invest our time, our resources, and our energy.

Jesus reminded those listening to this message, and us who are reading these verses that we cannot serve two masters. “You cannot have two thrones in your life; whoever sits on the throne in your life will determine what you do with your ‘stuff’” (EN). Jesus was very clear that one could not place ultimate priority on both God and money! Read and understand the rest of verse 24, “for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” The takeaway to this message (found on the Listener Guide was, “Money is a tool. Greed is a trap. Generosity is testimony, for it proves who you trust and what kingdom you belong to.”

Again, this message was not about having wealth or things; it is about what you are chasing and what you are doing with what you have. There are many moments in life where you must choose which is more important. Christ's calling forces those who would follow Him into such choices.

 

LEARNING DAILY

Romans 1:21, For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Paul has written that a person may not seek God, but he cannot pretend that he did not have enough evidence about Him. Paul has written that down deep a person knows God; His handiwork is seen everywhere, and I wonder if each person knows he/she is being called (in their heart) to a relationship with Him. However, too often the individual turns away from God, failing to acknowledge and honor Him.

Many people acknowledge a “higher power” but do not allow that belief into their daily lives. Instead, they pursue intellectual achievements, material success, and social status; they neglect spiritual growth. This verse is a challenge for every Believer’s knowledge of God to be reflected in their actions, speech, and attitudes.

This makes me want to know the consequences for rejecting God and His truth. Those who refuse to honor or give thanks to God become confused at how the universe works. Their thinking becomes futile, worthless, useless, vain. This thinking leads to wrong thoughts and conclusions and to darkened hearts. They believe themselves to be wise (verse 22), taking themselves further into a downward spiral of wrong thinking and unrighteousness. It begins with rejecting what is known about God through creation. If He is rejected as Creator, there is no reason to honor Him; false assumptions lead to false conclusions. From this point it only gets worse.

If Jesus does not get ahold of a person’s heart and the downward spiral continues because of greater rejections of God, there comes a time when “God gives them over to the lusts of their heart” (verse 24). Paul writes that God gives them over to three things; first, “in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves” (v. 24), second, “gave them over to shameful lusts” (v. 26), and third, “a depraved mind, to do those things that are not proper” (v. 28). At this point it looks like God abandons those who will not recognize nor honor Him to do what they please to dishonor themselves. God no longer gives them His direction or restraint. Being given over to one’s sinful desires is a judgment from God.

Read verses 24-28 for yourself. God gives people over to these things because of the choice to reject Him, because they did not give Him thanks for the truth of His existence and His attributes in creation. The result? Read verses 29-32, “They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God 's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” John 3:19, “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.”

Sounds like what we see in this world today! Know this – Jesus still saves the lost today. Only by turning to Him can this downward spiral be broken; people know right from wrong, good from evil. If you know someone who needs Jesus, do not give approval to those who practice these things.” Instead, allow Jesus to help you know how to help them find Him and cleanse them of all unrighteousness.

 

LEARNING DAILY

Romans 1:20, For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So, they are without excuse.

Psalm 19:1, The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Paul has written that those who are unrighteous before God do not want to know about Him, suppress the truth about God. Paul writes God’s unseen, or “invisible attributes” are clearly seen in creation. What can be learned about God by looking at creation? What has God created that should give us evidence where we can come to some conclusions about what is not seen?

In Psalm 19:1-6, David wrote that creation “declared the glory of God”. He spent time outside as a shepherd; when he locked up, he saw the existence and structure of the sun, moon, and the stars. He wrote, “the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” David continues, “Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge” (verse 2).

Science continues today to confirm and expand knowledge of what God has created. As more is learned about how the universe is structured, and how it works, the more in awe of God I become. Nature itself shows us that there is a God and tells us about Him so that all people can understand. “His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world.” Only a wise, and powerful, and eternal God could create this universe we live in. Only One who is eternal could set the planets in order with a continual orbit around a sun. Only such a creator could place people on a body that is tilted at a specific degree and rotating at a specific speed for those people to live on. Looking at all the galaxies, we see the glory of God. When we look at the intricately made cell in the body and the miles of blood vessels placed exactly where need within it, the wisdom of God can be seen.

 That Creator could not be human, nor could all this have evolved, nor happened by accident. This Creator must be God, in other words. Humanity must look at this creation and decide God made it – the God all will have to answer to. Romans 1:20 points to the “invisible attributes,” to a God that exceeds the physical realm, yet is seen in the wonders of creation. The words “clearly perceived” emphasize the evidence in creation pointing to God’s existence. It is telling people to open their eyes to the unmistakable revelation, the truth, of the One who has made and ordered things.

The beauty and complexity of nature serve as a constant reminder of the greatness and the presence of God in our lives. He has created within each person a moral compass – a sense of right and wrong, a compassion and love for others – that show God’s attributes.

To willfully ignore the nature of God as seen in creation is “to suppress the truth.” Those who do “are without excuse.”

 

LEARNING DAILY

Romans 1:18, For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

I try to write encouragement. But God wants people, even Believers, to be reminded about God’s attitude toward human sinfulness. The gospel is a big deal! This verse from Romans is powerful in its reminder about the consequences of turning away from God and live in disobedience to His Word. Reread the previous verses and remember Paul has written about the gospel as the central issue regarding how God saves people and makes them righteous. Now he is writing that all people need this gospel and God’s righteousness because all people are unrighteous. God’s wrath is going to come against all unrighteousness, against those who suppress the truth; those who do this do not want to believe what is true of God.

This verse is extremely important for why so many resist believing God’s truth – they do not want to believe truth. Instead, they suppress it by refusing to acknowledge God or give Him thanks for anything. John 3:19-20, “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.” God’s righteousness cannot and will not coexist with unrighteousness and ungodliness. There will be consequences for those who suppress the truth and reject God’s directions to live a holy life with Him.

Here is the challenge this verse brings to each Believer: God’s judgment of sin and unrighteousness is real. This is a call for each Believer to take a moment and examine their lives and align their life to God’s standards, His truth. Be sure you are walking the narrow way each day in your decisions and relationships. If there is sinful behavior that you have not confessed, do so considering 1 John 1:9. Do not go another moment without confessing sinful behavior, thoughts, and speech. Believers still sin; it needs to be confessed knowing that God is faithful to cleanse you of all unrighteousness.

Your knowledge and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ should be enough for you to know His power and glory. That should lead you to desire a closer relationship with Him, to be obedient to His Word each day “to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship” (Romans 12:1). You already know that the way to draw closer to the Lord is through reading/studying/meditating on His word and the time you spend in prayer. That is how He guides you and gives you the wisdom to live your life for Him. Just like you need to balance your family life with your work time, you need to find time for God each day. Neglecting this time can disrupt who you are as a Believer! By God’s grace and our faith in Him, God fixed our problem of unrighteousness!

 

LEARNING DAILY

Romans 1:16, For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes — the Jew first and also the Gentile.  This Good News tells us how God makes us right in His sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” (NLT)

Many Bible teachers believe this to be the central theme of Romans. Paul is writing to the Believers at Roman, explaining his mission and desire to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ to all people. He writes he is not ashamed of the Good News because in it is the power to bring salvation to everyone who believes. In this gospel the righteousness of God is revealed – not just a set of beliefs but the righteousness of God, His power to save all people who hold on to it.

This power of God at work is the power to save and transform the person who accepts the finished work of Jesus Christ. It is a message of hope, redemption, and love that goes beyond all barriers, to all people. The word “ashamed” means “disgraced” or “personally humiliated;” a person who would be ashamed would be one who has been singled out for trusting in something and that something let him down. When Paul writes he is not ashamed of the gospel, he is writing his confidence in the gospel has not been misplaced or let him down. There is no disgrace in telling others about the truths Jesus Christ Himself has revealed to him. Paul is emphasizing the Good News is not just good advice or moral guidance; it is God’s power to save and change every individual who believes.

This is a verse each Believer needs to take time to consider. Just as Paul placed his confidence in this gospel of Good News, so can you as a Believer. Ask yourself if you are unashamed of the gospel in your life. Are you willing to share how Jesus Christ saved and changed your life, regardless of the response of those around you? It is not just another story; it is the very power of God that saved and changed you. That story may lead to God saving and changing others.

To live unashamed does not only mean a Believer proclaims the Good News. It means the Believer applies it to their life and lives it openly. Paul’s choices in his life supported his message; he did not preach one thing and live another. When a Believer lives like the world wants them to, indulges in things against the Word of God, or deliberately disobeys biblical standards it shows he does not believe the message. Psalm 1:1-2, “When one walks in the counsel of the wicked, stands in the way of sinners, or sits in the seat of scoffers, it is an indication He does not delight in God’s law, nor read/study/meditate on it. Those individuals do not allow God’s Word to penetrate their lives so others see the power of God to change lives.

Proclaiming one’s faith in this world today invites criticism, ridicule, and even to be excluded from many things. Paul’s writing is a call for Believers to hold fast to their faith, to not compromise their Christ-centered beliefs, regardless of pressures from those outside of the faith of Jesus Christ. Be courageous and be unashamed to share your faith. The world needs the hope and transformation that only Jesus Christ can give.

 

LEARNING DAILY

Psalm 119:1-8, Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey His laws and search for Him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in His paths. You have charged us to keep Your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank You by living as I should! I will obey Your decrees. Please do not give up on me! (NLT)

From the very beginning of this psalm, God is making it clear blessings, fulfillment, and satisfaction come from reading/studying/meditating on His Word and being obedient to it. The opposite of this is walking in sin which leads to destruction and to death. Those who “follow the instructions of the Lord” are considered blessed or happy by the psalmist. Living this way is considered to be boring by many people today. I guess the idea of fun must include something unclean or immoral or it is boring.

Have you taken the time to consider the blessing that God has poured out in your life because you have chosen to walk the narrow way with Him. Have you grown spiritually or to be more like Jesus in your life? Has your language, thoughts and actions cleaned up because you take the time to be in God’s Word? Those are wonderful blessings God has blessed you with. Let this be a reminder to continue to deepen your knowledge of who God is and the changes he brings in you as you walk daily in His Word and strive to be obedient to it.

“You have charged us to keep Your commandments carefully.” There is an emphasis on the divine authority of God’s instructions; they are not suggestions but commands that he expects to be followed diligently. God not only wants those who follow Him to seek Him with a whole heart, He charges or commands them to follow what He has said in His Word. He has established what He expects from Believers as they walk and stay on the narrow way. Jesus said this way is difficult as many will try to get you off the narrow way. There will be difficulties, trials, tribulations along the way to God’s kingdom. Yet, there is much encouragement and blessings when one chooses to live their life according to God’s Word; there is life free from doing wrong and filled with righteousness. Proverbs 3:6, “Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”  God wants to guide us in the decisions we make in life. If only Believers take the time to consult Him, He would not only guide them, but He would also remove obstacles that would prevent them from achieving His will.

 “Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect Your decrees.” The Psalmist acknowledges the human difficulty in following God’s righteous ways, walking the narrow way. Every Believer knows that sense of failing God; striving to be like Jesus seems to be tested many times each day. Failure occurs and 1 John 1:9 must be remembered. This failure is a reminder for each Believer striving for perfection, it is only through God’s grace and strength that one can walk the narrow way blameless.

“As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank You by living as I should! I will obey Your decrees. Please do not give up on me!” Other versions conclude this first section of Psalm 119 by expressing praise with sincerity and gratitude. This praise given is not just a response to God’s goodness. It is a deliberate choice to worship and be obedient to God. It is an acknowledgement that blessings come through reading/studying/meditating on God’s Word and then being obedient to it.

I believe this is that God’s desire for His people has always been to live in righteousness, seek His guidance, and to worship Him with their whole heart. “The heart that sings, ‘Please do not give up on me!’ is a heart that desires to be close to God” (David Guzik). I have written it before – I am so glad God never gave up on me!

 

LEARNING DAILY

Romans 1:28, Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.

There is danger in taking a single verse of Scripture and trying to make it mean something different from the context it is found in. The emphasis of this Saturday morning page of the blog is to think about those who “did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God.” God gave enough evidence to believe and follow Him (Romans 1: 18-20); no one has an excuse to reject Him. Romans 1:21-23 shows that those who do reject Him fall further into foolish thinking as they try to justify their attitude. In His wrath, God does something that is not expected – He gives them over to be consumed by the things they desire. That happens only on this side of eternity. He gives those who reject Him free reign to do what they want; that comes with all the painful consequences that come with their choices.

The King James Version of the Bible uses the word “reprobate” to describe a “depraved mind.” A reprobate is one who continually rejects God and His commandments. This results in God taking away His grace and giving them over to their sinful desires. A reprobate mind is about one who has a hardened heart that resists the Holy Spirit and grows harder; more to the point, the reprobate is on who continually sins and is not going to change.

Let me write one more thing about the “depraved” mind. This person persists in their immoral beliefs and behavior despite knowing God’s truth. They call “evil good and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20).  Not only do they disregard God’s truth they are okay with the wickedness of others (Romans 1:32). They have no fear of God nor in the divine consequences. Therefore, their conscience senses no guilt nor believe there is a need to repent.

So, why write about this today; it is not very uplifting! As Believers, we need to be understanding the times we live in. The guy on the radio talk show yesterday called the days we love in “dark,” and they are getting worse. I have trouble understanding what just happened in New York City. Do the people there really believe the person they elected to be mayor will be able to do any of the promises he made during his campaign? Government run this, government run that. People believe more government is good. No, that is socialism; it does not work for good! My good friend, writing under the name IRA Paine wrote, “They'll soon be wallowin' in the mire of their own makin'.” Does anyone understand the implications of electing a Moslem to run this city? What about the Government shutdown? Just look at the mess that has been created for families who depend on government pay checks and the problems created at airports. Selfishness and “mudslinging” between political parties has led to terrible situations. “They were[are] filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless” (Romans 1:29-31). “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. or people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people” (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

Sounds like a description of today’s world! A depraved mind? Perhaps God has given people over to what they think they want because they no longer look to Him to be their provider and have chosen men to follow instead. There is much to be learned from the Old Testament Israel!

 

LEARNING DAILY

Psalm 30:5, For His anger is but for a moment, and His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

2 Corinthians 4:17, For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So, we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. (NLT)

In Psalm 30, David is contrasting God’s anger with His favor. This might be from the time David had the people of Israel counted (against God’s wishes); this caused a plague to come upon the people. God mercifully gave David three choices to choose from rather than suffer a total defeat from his enemies (1 Chronicles 21). The lesson to learn is the Lord is merciful, even when He disciplines. God’s anger is short lived; His grace is for eternity. If you have experienced God’s discipline in your life you know it can cause sorrow. But, when God forgives, the sorrow goes away, and joy fills your heart once again. Hebrews 12:11, “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening — it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” (NLT).

In 2 Corinthians Paul is emphasizing the grace and mercy of God which sustained Paul and those Corinthians when they faced danger, opposition, accusations, and even death threats from those opposing them. Take time to read what Paul wrote in chapter four. Paul wrote to the Corinthians that his sufferings were not in vain because it brought life (eternal) to them. Notice he wrote, “his present troubles are small and won’t last very long.” He was contrasting his present conditions with the overwhelming time of eternity in God’s kingdom. Eternity signifies a never-ending time of glory that every Believer will inherit. Romans 8:18 supports this thought. “Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later” (NLT).

I want to remind each person reading this who is walking the narrow way with Jesus; the trials, the struggles, the challenges you are now facing are momentary when compared to the eternal glory that waits for us! Consider that the difficulties being faced are working to bring an everlasting reward that is greater than all pain or suffering you are facing.

Why is this so important to grasp? It helps to take the focus off the difficulties of the present moment and place them on the hope of eternal glory that is coming. Knowing this truth will give each of us the strength and peace to endure the storms that come our way, knowing that an everlasting reward is coming. Keep your focus on the eternal promises in God’s Word. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, knowing He is walking with you and has prepared a wonderful and glorious future for those who love Him.

One last reminder about focusing our minds on the eternity to come in His kingdom. The encouragement is to have an attitude of gratitude and praise through all things that come your way. Choose to give thanks for the many blessings God has given you and for the hope you have in the Lord Jesus Christ. We can find strength, comfort, and joy when trials come when we shift the focus from the difficulties to the eternal glory coming.

 

LEARNING DAILY

Hebrews 13:5, Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Hebrew 13 is about Christian behavior.  These have included brotherly love (v.1), hospitality (v. 2), support for the abused and imprisoned (v.3), and an emphasis on sexual morality (v. 4). The focus of verse 5 is greed. 1 Timothy 6:10 is clear, “For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Paul writes that not all sin is the result of material greed; it is that a love of money can lead a person to any other sin.

This verse is about the Believer being content and trust in God’s provision. “Keep your life free from love of money.” This phrase is a warning against the danger of materialism. Loving money and things can easily become an idol and takes one’s eyes off following the Lord. I might also add any type of success can do this as well. An unhealthy obsession with money can be related to being discontent, covetousness and jealousy. The result is becoming unhappy with what one has, instead of being grateful and thankful for what one has or may have in the future.

“Be content with what you have.” A dictionary would define contentment as “the state of being emotionally and mentally satisfied with things the way they are.” I wonder how many truly fit that definition. Jesus asked the question in Matthew 6:25, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” He was talking about unbelievers being worried about these things; Believers were not to worry about such things. Instead, they were to seek His kingdom and His righteousness – FIRST! (Matthew 6:26-33).

The apostle Paul knew what it was to live without the comforts of life. Yet, he knew the secret of being content. Philippians 4:12-13, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” It has been said that the problem is not having money or things; the problem is when money and things have you.” When that is the case, the person continues to seek more and more, never being content with what he has.

Being content means, one places their trust and confidence in God knowing He is the Giver of all good things. James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” He does use the hard times Believers go through to show their faith in Him is genuine! Worry can mean one does not trust God. The key to being content is to remember He said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Believing that comes from knowing who God is (and you know how you do that by now) and remembering how faithful He has been to supply your needs in the past. Peter wrote in his first letter, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.”

Will you trust Him to supply your needs today? Stop living under the burdens of seeking more and learn to be content with what God has given you.

 

LEARNING DAILY

Ephesians 5:18b, 20, Be filled with the Spirit, … giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

How important it is to have an attitude of gratitude each day as a Believer. There is so much to be thankful for. O.S. Hawkins has written that being “thankful is evidence one is filled with the Holy Spirit. Our looking upward with thanksgiving no matter our circumstances is something we can do because of the Holy Spirit’s presence within us.” Believers need to always be thankful because of what God has done in their life;

It is important to have an attitude of gratitude of thanksgiving not only in times of joy and blessings but in all situations being faced. By expressing gratitude and thanksgiving, Believers acknowledge and demonstrate trust in the plans He is directing them through. When Believers do that, they are shifting the attention from circumstances to the goodness of God. Any time one does that their relationship to Him grows stronger because there is an acceptance that God is in control of every situation. Romans 8:28 is a great verse to remember in these times. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Believers must remember that no matter what their feelings are on any given day, loving God and walking with Him in faith is part of what it means to walk with Him. “All things” in Romans 8:28 means every circumstance one might experience even pain and suffering. “Works together” is understood to mean God working in and through all circumstances toward a specific goal – “for good.” The word "good" does not necessarily mean happy or painless or financially successful or our idea of the best possible outcome on any given day. God's ultimate good for us is to bring us closer to the image of His Son, to make us ready to enter eternity in His kingdom.

Have you thanked God for the many blessings you enjoyed this week? Have you gone through any trials or tribulations this week? Have you learned anything from them? Have you grown in your faith by going through them (or as you are going through a situation)? Why don’t you take a moment to thank God for those times or the time you are in, for the opportunity to draw closer to Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Ephesians 5:20, “Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Giving Thanks to God unites the Believer’s heart with God’s heart, His will, and brings glory to His name. The believer is acknowledging God’s control in their life, appreciation for what He has done and will do in their lives.

May I suggest you take another moment and thank God for His grace. Thank Him for your family and how He is dealing with each of them each day. I thank God continually for never giving up on me; He had plenty of opportunities to do so. Because He did not give up on me, I know He will not give up on any of you. Why don’t you take many moments during the day to be thankful for God’s involvement in your life. Try it and see what He will do for you.

 

LEARNING DAILY

Deuteronomy 7:9, Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His faithfulness to a thousand generations for those who love Him and keep His commandments.

I have been messing around with trying to make some toy trains. It has been fun. Have you ever thought about a train can only move when it stays on the tracks that have been set out for it. It moves easily when the tracks are clearly defined, free of obstacles. You have seen what the results are when the tracks become damaged or when something is on the track – derailment. God has laid out a clear way, a narrow way that those who follow Him are to follow. They are well-defined tracks or standards by which His Followers are to live by. That was yesterday’s message by Pastor Ed Newton.

For the next few weeks, I would like to encourage you with words written for Believers to “meditate on” from Psalm 119. The heading for this Psalm in my Bible is “Meditations on the Excellence of the Word of God.” The author is unknown and was probably written over a period of time; the thoughts were probably put together later to form this Psalm because there is no definite flow of thought from beginning to end. The sections and verse are not like a chain, where one link is connected to the other, but like a string of pearls where each pearl has equal, but independent value. (David Guzik).

Why study this Psalm? I want to use it as an encouragement for each of you to see the importance of reading/studying/meditating on God’s Word daily. Yesterday, I was in a cycle class at the gym. About half way through I wanted to stop; I was tired. It became a matter of willing myself to continue so I would finish the class. I was reminded that being in God’s Word was also a matter of the will (at times); it is making the time to be with God so “this train” (you and me) would stay on the track and our travel on the narrow way would be God’s way and not the way of the world.

Psalm 119 refers to God’s Word repeatedly. In fact, it is mentioned in almost every verse. According to David Guzik there are eight words that are used in this Psalm to describe scripture. “Law” is used 25 times to mean teach or direct. “Word” is used 24 times with the idea of the spoken word, God’s revealed word to man. “Judgment” is used 23 times meaning to determine or regulate our lives and show the rules by which we determine right from wrong as we walk the narrow way. “Testimony” is used 23 times is related to the word witness and signifies God’s covenant or loyalty to Israel. “Commandment” is used 22 times to emphasize the straight authority of what is said …the right to give orders. “Statute” is written 21 times with the idea of God’s written Word declaring His authority and power for giving [Believers] laws to follow.  “Precept” is used 21 times to point to the specific instructions of the Lord because He cares about the details. “Word” (a different word) is used 19 times to mean anything God has spoken, commanded, or promised.

Psalm 119 “expresses the majestic love for God’s written Word. It deals with the word as promise, commandment, guide, testimony, teaching, wisdom, righteousness, and reproof. It is presented as the psalmist’s comfort, protection, treasure, rule for life, delight to his heart and soul, and resource for all his needs” (Life in the Spirit Study Bible). May the Word of God become this to each Believer.

 

LEARNING DAILY

John 8:31-32, So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in My Word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Besides continually writing about the narrow way, I write about the importance of reading/studying/meditating on the Bible, God’s Word. This weekend Pastor Ed Newton gave great reasons why this is so important. People believe many things that Jesus said -- things He did not say and believe sayings are from the Bible when that is not true. As a Believer, you need to “abide” or saturate yourself with God’s Word, His truth so you do not believe everything that other people say. As a Believer, you cannot allow yourself to believe what others are saying is truth. Understand the devil wants Believers to believe half-truths. Jesus said, "If you abide in My Word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Pastor Newton gave four examples of what might sound good versus what is truth. The first one was, “Follow your heart: ‘Do whatever feels right to you.’” Pastor said, “What feels right may not be. The heart was never made to lead a person; your heart can convince you that sin is something to be desired.” Deception! One’s emotions, desires, and thoughts can cloud your judgment and lead to making poor choices. The Bible emphasizes the depth of sin and is clear about the destructive power it has. Jeremiah 17:9 is clear, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” This is a challenge to reflect on or consider how complex our inner being is and the difficulty of truly understanding our heart. As Believers, we trust God with our heart, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverb 3:5). And “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life” (Proverb 4:23). These are from the Listener Guide.

The second example Pastor gave was, “God just wants you to be happy: ‘This is the highest goal.’” “Happiness is based on external circumstances; it is connected to following one’s heart” (EN). 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable.” God’s will is for each Believer to be sanctified (the process of being set free from sin); it is what happens when the Believer walks the narrow way daily! “God cares more for what you are becoming than you being happy!” (EN). God’s expectation for every Believer is found in 1 Peter 1:15-16, “But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’" “Because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross of Calvary, God sees you as holy. Your actions need to match what God sees in you.” (EN).  (EN).

The third example of what is believed Jesus said is, “Do not judge; ‘You have no right to tell anyone they are wrong!’” “Our culture has taken this statement and made a principle out of it. It is called moral relativism” (EN). The Bible condemns “hypocritical judgment,” where one does not take the time to find out the facts behind what is being judged. The believer is called to judge all things (1 Corinthians 2:15). This is done to “hold fast to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22). The test of what you hear, see, or believe must be whether it aligns with God’s Word.

The last example of what people too often believe Jesus said is, “God will never give you more than you can handle: ‘God knows your limits.’” Oh, my goodness – I wonder how many times I have said this! Look at the context of this verse: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (Corinthians 10:13). It is about temptation when it comes to the point of not enduring it anymore. You are in a place you know you should not be, and you ask God for help. Then he provides a way for you to get away from it. Overcoming temptation and sin is possible with God’s help!

Once again, read your Bible! Study it diligently! Meditate on what you read and study so you can apply it to your life as you walk the narrow way each day!