LEARNING DAILY

Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

I cannot think of one person I know or have known who does not like to eat. I used to like to go to restaurants that allowed people to eat all they wanted; I stay away from them now for obvious reasons. I have also found that nothing beats a cold drink of water after mowing the yard in 90-degree weather. After mowing yesterday, I had to get a drink to satisfy the thirst I had.

In the beatitude above, Jesus said the desire for righteousness was as basic in the Believer’s life as physical food and water. Just as one seeks out food when hungry and water when thirsty, the Believer is advised to seek out and desire the righteousness that Jesus gives. The word “blessed” indicates a deep, joy-filled contentment of spiritual well-being. It is a spiritual longing, a craving for being like the Lord Jesus Christ. In Psalm 63:1 it is the Psalmist earnestly seeking God, for Him to quench his thirst. This desire is not passive – it is fervent seeking! It is putting God’s kingdom (Matthew 6:33) and God’s righteousness before everything else.

The righteousness spoken of is having a right relationship with God and other people. Right relationships are at the very center of one’s walk with God. What are the most important commandments? “Love God, love people” (Ed Newton) (Mark 12:29-31). Again, Jesus compares the desire for righteousness to the basic physical Believers need for food and water; Believers are to have the same urgency and desire for righteousness. It is important to understand the significance of commitment in seeking God’s way above all else. It means prioritizing growing spiritually and walking the narrow way above everything else, making sure one’s talk and walk reflect God’s standards.

The Believer can hunger and thirst for righteousness by seeking to fulfill spiritual growth through prayer, reading Scripture and doing acts of kindness and generosity. It is striving to make decisions, making choices, and doing things that are grounded and led by the Believer’s faith. The result of those seeking righteousness is being satisfied and filled. It is both a reminder and an encouragement that seeking and pursuing God’s goodness and becoming more like Him daily is worth the time and effort.

The question then is how hungry are you for righteousness in your life? Only you can answer if you are seeking ways to live the way Jesus wants you to live, instead of chasing popularity and things. Matthew 5:6 is clear about the Believer desiring righteousness like he/she desires success and other things. The result of removing all distractions for what really matters is worth doing so.

 

LEARNING DAILY

Hebrews 4:12, For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

“The Word of God is living.” That means the Word of Gid has life; it is alive. It is alive because God is a living God. Hebrews 3:12, “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.” Jesus said in John 6:63, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” Believers are made spiritually alive when they accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. In the Parable of the Sower Jesus explains that the seed sown (The Word of God) is like a living organism that grows and produces life when planted in fertile ground. This is not accomplished through one’s own effort but through the work of Christ on the cross and the power of God’s Word working within the Believer.

“The Word of God is active.” God’s Word is not just another historical text, a book that is no longer relevant. It continues to speak, producing changes, and helping those who read it to live the life the Lord desires them to live – to walk in faith and obedience on the narrow way. It not only produces changes in one’s life, it gives warnings about wrong lifestyles, about being disobedient, about judgment, and about being diligent in watching for the return of Jesus Christ.

God’s Word is, “sharper than any two-edged sword.” One piece of the armor Paul writes about in Ephesians 6:17 is the “sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” It is an offensive weapon to be used against the Believer’s spiritual enemy. Jesus used the Word of God against Satan’s temptations in the wilderness and Believers are to do the same thing. This is not being passive when temptations come or when doing spiritual battle. As a two-edge sword, it also exists to cut through walls and barriers, one’s defenses to reveal one’s inner thoughts, motives, and intentions. God’s Word helps one to search his heart (Psalm 139:23-24) to convict of sin in their life and to confess it. That is the transformational power of God’s Word, keeping the Believer in constant communication with the Lord and keeps him/her on the narrow way. God’s Word keeps the Believer doing the Word and not just saying it.

As a Believer, I pray your desire is to be in God’s Word daily allowing it to continue to guide your thoughts, attitudes, and daily words and actions. May your time in God’s Word guide you closer to His truth and His righteousness. I pray that you have a great hunger and thirst for God’s Word and Him (Matthew 5:6). I pray that it continues to speak life into you and draws you closer in faith and obedience.

 

LEARNING DAILY

Hebrews 4:12, For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

In the message of the two walking the road to Emmaus Jesus walked with them, breaking down Scriptures to show them that He was the One the Old Testament spoke about. When Jesus broke the bread, He revealed Himself to them; then He vanished. Read what they said in Luke 24: 32, “They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?" Their hearts were opened as well. “This was not emotionalism” (EN).  This is what happens when Believers read/study/meditate on the Word of God with the intention of seeking the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” Pastor Ed Newton said in his message, “Jesus not only opened the two disciple’s ears and eyes, He opened their hearts to Him. They had walked seven miles with Him; they had failed to recognize Him. But after Jesus had left, they said their hearts had burned within them when He opened up the Scriptures to them (Luke 24:32). “This was not emotionalism. This was the Holy Spirit of God speaking to them” (EN).

The Holy Spirit speaks today to those who read God’s Written Word. The Scriptures are not just words written on a page in a book; they are living and active. When the writer of Hebrews writes about a sword and its ability to cut and divide, he is writing that the Word of God as a realistic explanation of how completely it can separate and distinguish between the godly and the ungodly, to separate one’s thoughts and actions into good and evil. God’s written word provides everything the Believer needs to know the difference between selfless, godly deeds and actions from selfish, ungodly ones. Jesus constantly condemned the religious leaders for their outward appearance of pious behavior. They did what they did to be seen by others and receive their applause and pats on the back for their good deeds. Those reading God’s Word must be careful to walk the narrow way in obedience and the desire to be in God’s will.

The Written Word of God will penetrate into the deepest part of your being, revealing your thoughts, desires, and intentions. It does this to guide and change you into one who thinks, speaks, and acts like Jesus Christ. Reading/studying/meditating on it challenges the reader to view God’s Word as more than a collection of stories but as something that can impact your life. I encourage you to pick up the Word of God with reverence and expectation, knowing that it can bring change and growth in your life and help you walk the narrow way in faith and obedience.

 

LEARNING DAILY

Luke 24:13 -16, That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

Two men, one named Cleopas and the other not named, are walking to their village which is seven miles from Jerusalem. They are talking about the event that have happened in Jerusalem, Jesus of Nazareth has been crucified. “These men are disciples of Jesus, possibly part of the seventy He had sent out” (David Jeremiah Study Bible), traveling home on the third day after the crucifixion, and Jesus shows up to walk with them. In verse 19 of this conversation the men indicate that Jesus was “a prophet mighty in deed and word.” Pastor Ed Newton said, “Two men had put their hope in politics. They did not get in Him what they expected [a leader, a king who would take away the Roman authority]. They believed Jesus was a prophet; now their hope was gone. The two men cannot see the One walking with them is Jesus, the King of kings, the Lord of lords.”

As they walked together, Jesus “interpreted the Scriptures to them, in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself” (V. 27). Jesus said that the entire Old Testament pointed to Him (Pastor). Jesus told the men that He was the One who would crush Satan’s head (Gen. 3:15). He was the Passover Lamb in Exodus. He was the One Isaiah said would be crushed for our iniquities and with His wounds we would be healed. Jesus “tells people today to be careful when they read Scriptures that they do not miss Him by thinking about our own story instead of reading to see Him. The Scriptures are about Jesus, not us” (EN). John 5:39-40, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” Scripture still points people to Jesus!

The men still do not know they are walking with Jesus! Not until they invite Him into their home. “When He was at table with them, He took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him. And He vanished from their sight” (v. 30-31). When Jesus broke the bread, their eyes were opened and they recognized Him. At that point did they remember Isaiah’s prophecy at the sound of the breaking of the bread? Notice when their eyes were opened, Jesus vanished. “He was communicating to them that He wanted them to walk by faith and not by sight” (EN).

Believers do not need more information about Jesus. There is everything anyone needs to learn more about Him and everything else in His Word. No, “every Believer needs to see Jesus. Open your eyes and heart to see Him and what He has done for you” (EN). Today, “the Holy Spirit of the Living God is speaking to all who open up His Word. Start listening!” (EN).

 

LEARNING DAILY

John 14:23, Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”

In the previous verse Jesus was asked a question by the disciple Judas (not Judas Iscariat), “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?” (NLT). This question is part of a conversation taking part in the Upper Room where Jesus has told them one of them will deny Him. He has also said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (verse 15). It is necessary to seek the connection between loving the lord and keeping His commandments.

I wonder if the word commandment is misunderstood. Was Jesus referring to the set of rules and laws like the Ten Commandments, all the rules the Jewish leaders had made, a set of moral instructions, or something else? Jesus was telling those who follow Him to follow all of His words and teachings because they were the words of God the Father. John 15:10, “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” 1 John 5:3, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.” See the relationship between loving God and walking the narrow way with Him as He says.

There is a deep connection that is formed through love and obedience; “My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” This is a promise that Jesus will come and make His home with those who love Him and keep His Word. So, Believers read/study/meditate on His Word to know what to obey, how to walk with Him. His promise is His presence and guidance in their lives. I find that extremely comforting and incredible that the creator of all things desires that relationship with someone like me, with all my faults! He desires that relationship with you!

Take time to consider what that means. As a Believer, you have the presence of the Lord in your life, guiding and walking along side of you in every circumstance you face today. Know that Jesus is not far away allowing you to do life alone. No, He is not unapproachable; He desires that you allow Him to walk with you and be closely involved with everything you do. That happens through your love for Him and your obedience to what He demands. What an incredible privilege Believers have when Jesus “makes his home” in their hearts, providing strength, comfort, and direction as they walk the narrow way.

Loving God means following His Word, His direction. Each choice you make, each step you take is a reflection of that love. Oh, when you do mess up, He will be right there reaching down to take your hand, helping you stand – just like He did with Peter! I am in awe of Him every day!

 

LEARNING DAILY

John 16:33, These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.

“Take courage. Be courageous. Take heart. Be of good cheer.” That is what Jesus told His disciples as they were about to face very difficult and troubling times. He would be leaving them soon and they would face persecution, suffering, and death in different manners. Believers, today are being persecuted, killed, despised by the world for their beliefs and for following Jesus. In this verse the Lord Jesus is reminding us there should be no surprise when difficulties and challenges come into the lives of Believers. As Jesus was preparing His disciples for what was to come, He prepares Believers mentally for what may come their way.

“Take courage. Be courageous. Take heart. Be of good cheer.” Jesus also gave hope, encouragement, and reassurance. In Him Believers are to persevere, be strong, and walk with Him in faith and obedience. Why? How? He has overcome the world!  Because He has, Believers are encouraged to hold onto their faith and trust in Him to help us when struggles and difficulties caused by following Him occur. He reminds us that struggles will happen, but Believers do not have to face them alone; their strength and courage can be found in their walk with Him. “Take courage. Be courageous. Take heart. Be of good cheer.” Stay strong in your faith, Jesus Christ is with you; you are not alone! 1 John 2:28 reminds Believers that inner peace and courage come from “abiding, remaining, enduring in Jesus.”

Believers can “Take courage. Be courageous. Take heart. Be of good cheer” because they have learned to trust Him in all situations. You may be learning to do this – if so, know that there is no reason to live in fear or with anxiety because your loving Father knows exactly what you are facing in every situation (Romans 8:28) and is with you (1 John 4:18). Read Romans 8:31-39 to be reminded that nothing can separate the Believer from His love – no trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, poverty, danger, or conflict. Even when facing death, Believers can say they have victory through their Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Why can Believers say this and live like this? “I (Jesus) have overcome the world.” Believers can “Take courage. Be courageous. Take heart. Be of good cheer” because they belong to the One who overcame the world and nothing in this world can harm them because they have victory through our lord Jesus Christ in the end. He acknowledges there will be worldly troubles; He wants Believers to find their courage and faith by trusting in Him and His Word as they face challenges. “These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

 

LEARNING DAILY

2 Corinthians 7:10, Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

I have been reading and doing a little thinking about the Book of Judges this week. There is a consistent theme in that book about the people of Israel doing evil in the sight of the Lord and God allowing other people in the land of Cannan to come against them. After time, the people cry out to God, who then raises up a judge to deliver them. Peace is in the land until the judge dies; the people do evil in the sight of the Lord.

I find this cycle to be familiar to my life.  Perhaps, you do as well. Jesus said that walking on the narrow way would be difficult – He was right. This world is full of temptations, difficulties, people who do not believe in or want to live like the Lord has instructed. There is constant bombardment of an ungodly lifestyle, rumors and fear of warfare constantly in the news, increasing pestilence, and crazy, dangerous weather daily. There are the daily failures that every Believer commits.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians about the great sorrow they experienced over their sinfulness. He rejoiced over their pain because it led to their repentance, a turning away from their sinful walk to go in the direction that the Lord demanded they walk – from the broad way to the narrow way. Paul wrote that there were two types of sorrow. One leads to repentance and one that is only sorry for the consequences of their sin which result in judgment. Godly sorrow or grief hurts. Worldly sorrow leads only to death. For example, Peter’s sorrow over his denial of Jesus led him to weep bitterly (Matthew 26:74-75). David’s sins led him to plead for God’s mercy and “flood his bed with tears” (Psalm 6:6). Paul’s description of his own battles with sin are found in Romans 7:24-25.

2 Corinthians 7:10 is about the transformative power of genuine repentance and sorrow on one’s actions (Michael Johnson). This repentance is about making a conscious decision to turn away from sin and making bad choices and seeking God’s mercy and grace. It is crying out to God like the people of Israel acknowledging their sinful ways, their mistakes, their shortcomings. It is not just feeling sorry for one’s actions! It is seeking to have a change of heart and changing one’s actions.

This verse is a reminder that Believers can experience a tremendous change in their lives through godly sorrow that leads to spiritual growth and leads sinners to salvation. True repentance brings a sense of peace and freedom without the burden of regret. It comes as one seeks forgiveness with a genuine heart and the power of godly sorrow. That is the first step toward a real change!

 

LEARNING DAILY

Joshua 9:14-15, So the men of Israel took some of their provisions and did not ask for the counsel of the Lord. And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them. 

Remember the difference between foolish and wise men. The fool thinks he does not need to ask advice from anyone else – especially the need to consult God. Does anyone else admit you have been a fool like this more than once? The men of Israel did not consult God on a situation where God had directed them to make no covenant with the inhabitants of Canaan. But being “complacent in their strong position, confident in their own decisions, and sure they saw the whole truth (even after God had proven they could not defeat Ai without Him), they failed to ask counsel of the Lord before making a treaty. God’s people set themselves up for failure when they fail to consult Him. It is not enough to pray for God’s provision; His direction must be sought as well” (David Jeremiah Study Bible).

The Gibeonites entered to Israel under false pretenses, saying they had come from a distant land. Deception led the Israelites to enter into an alliance with a group that would have been their enemy. It is a reminder about the consequences of acting without seeking God’s guidance and His wisdom.  It is a reminder of making quick, rushed decisions that are later regretted. Do you remember making any of those decisions? My wife and I have been talking out loud about some things we would like; we have even discussed the situation of not consulting God in decision-making. Even this morning we tossed out some things we would really like. After a few moments of tossing ideas out loud, we looked at each and decided prayer was the only choice, asking God for His guidance, His wisdom as He alone knows tomorrow. We are usually terrible at doing this and felt the consequences of not consulting God. No deception was involved – only complacency and confident in our own decisions. Not this time. Lesson learned.

Human judgment alone can lead us astray. Understand I am not talking about those things God has given a brain for. I am talking about those bigger, long-range plans. This verse helps us to remember Proverbs 3:5-6, where Believers are to lean not on their own, limited human wisdom, but to lean on God’s understanding. James 1:5 is similar when he writes to seek wisdom from God, who gives His guidance liberally.

The world Believers live in is fast-paced and quick decisions are looked on as a sign of good decision-making. However, like the decision made by the Israelites without consulting God about His will, what He thought, a crucial step missed. Seeking His guidance is a demonstration of the Believer’s reliance on Him and their trust in His guidance; it is a way to humble ourselves and recognize His guidance, His ways are higher than our own. Through studying His Word and listening to how He speaks to us through His Word and prayer, Believers gain a deeper understanding of His character and His will for their lives. It is wise to never misunderstand the power of higher wisdom as Believers walk through this life on a narrow way into His kingdom!

 

LEARNING DAILY

John 21:19, He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, You know everything; You know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.”

Pastor Ed Newton asked the Church, “What do you do when you have failed the Lord when He needed you the most?” Then he said, “When you do not know what to do, when God seems to be quiet, go back to the last place you last sensed God’s presence or received a clear word from Him.” He used His interaction with Peter at the Sea of Galilee to explain what he meant.

Peter declared Jesus to be “the Son of the Living God.” Before Jesus was arrested, Peter declared he would never leave Him; yet before the rooster crowed Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times. Peter knew what it was like to fail the Lord, to not know what to do when Jesus had died. He must have wondered. Like Believers do today, “Will the Lord ever use me again?” In John 21:3, Peter told the other disciples, “I am going fishing.” Then he (and six other disciples) went back to the Sea of Galilee, back to their home area to fish. Peter went back to where “he could be comfortable, to get re-grounded, and to remember where he had come from” (EN).

Their fishing was like may of the fishing adventures I have had – they fished all night without catching anything (just like in Luke 5:1-11). This time Jesus was not in the boat with them; He was on the shore watching them. When He asked, “Children, have you any food?” they did not recognize Him. “He had been there the entire time watching them fish. Jesus can be in the midst of His people and not be recognized because of being empty (nothing left, nothing to look to, nothing to hope for), because of being exhausted, and because of nothing good happening” (EN). When He told them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat, when they caught more fish than their nets could hold, they recognized who was there.

Peter swam to shore and had some alone time with Jesus. There, by the fire, Jesus restored Peter. “The smell of the fire may have taken Peter back to the smell of the fire where he denied Jesus. Perhaps Jesus was taking him back to that place where he was shamed so He could strengthen him again.” (EN). Remember Peter was told He was the Rock on who Jesus would build His Church. The Church was to be built on Peter’s declaration, his confession of faith, not Peter himself. It is at this time Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him. He asks him three times, for three denials. After each answer, Peter is told to “feed, tend the sheep,” and finally to “follow Jesus.”

When Jesus called His disciples, He did so with the words “Follow Me.” Now, He invites Peter into a deeper life of ministry by again with a heartfelt “Follow Me.” He does the same for every Believer even when he/she fails. “Jesus will always meet us at the place of our greatest failure, not to remind us of it, but to redeem us from it” (Message Takeaway statement). For someone like me who has a lot of holes that need mending, this is great encouragement! May this encourage each of you reading this today!

 

LEARNING DAILY

Exodus 14:21-22, Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

“The children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them” (verse 10). They were backed up against the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army was coming at them from the other side. Trapped! And they were very afraid and spoke to Moses that it would have been better for them to have stayed in Egypt and died there. I have written in my Bible this statement I read somewhere, “Fear causes one to look to the One who is in control of all things.” We have all been there at some time, facing an impossible situation, a challenge that seems like it cannot be defeated. What did you do when backed up against your Red Sea situation?

Moses told the people to stand still and not be afraid; watch what God will do (verses 13-14). God is about to take care of this problem.  Then God gave the command to “go forward” (verse 15). It is obvious that the Israelites cannot do anything without walking into the Red Sea which “posed no problem for God. When things seem impossible, the people of God need to obediently follow Him in faith, leaving the outcome to Him” (David Jeremiah Study Bible). The Lord has a plan and is about to perform one of the greatest miracles in history.

The people moved into the parted Sea on land that God has dried for them to walk on. He provided the way to escape and destroy the pursuing army. But first, the people had to be obedient. They had to listen to God and believe He was with them in their difficulty. “Wise” people today have faith in God’s ability to provide solutions and a way out of their difficulty. The “fool” believes he has it all under control, knowing what is best for himself. “Wise” people believe God is actively involved with their lives and is capable of intervening in miraculous ways.

Think this is just a great story of what God did for the Israelites? Will He do it for you as you face your situation? The answer is yes, He will – in His Way, in His time. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He never changes. Believers can have confidence in God’s unwavering love and care; He provides and protects Believers through their journey on the narrow way into His kingdom. Based on what He has done in the past, Believers can face each new day knowing that He is with them, giving the strength and assurance needed to face their circumstances. Keep your focus on God, His character and the truths of His Word! There is power knowing he is working for you, bringing victory in His time, in His way.

 

LEARNING DAILY

Genesis 19:15-16, As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, "Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city." But he lingered. So, the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.

The second part of proverbs 1:7 states, “fools despise wisdom and instruction.” There is a warning in this, a warning that says a day is coming when God will separate those willing to learn from Him and His Word and obey His commands from those who believes he “is right in his own eyes” (Proverbs 12:15). With being prepared spiritually in mind, there is a lesson to be shown with what happened at Sodom and Gomorrah that supports this.

The verses before the two above show God’s warnings of mercy and the importance of responding to those warnings. There are consequences of ignoring His Word as the fool does; there is emphasis on the need to live a righteous life in obedience to God. The angels were to remove Lot, his wife, and daughters from the area before judgment came. “But he (Lot) lingered.” There was a mob who wanted to destroy Lot and those with Him. The angels are telling him (and those might not express the urgency) to run and get away before they get swept up in what God is going to do. “But he lingered.” The angels are not going to wait any longer and grab their hands; it looks like they forcibly move them to safety.

Why did Lot hesitate? He could have left long ago; he knew the sin of this area. The evil around him must have grown worse over time. Why did he stay? The way of a fool… God’s mercy included grabbing one like Lot, by the hand, to rescue him despite his foolish actions. In this example, the reminder is clear regarding the consequences of being a fool, of being disobedient, and the importance of following God’s guidance without hesitation. Read on in God’s Word and see the result for Lot’s wife as she looked back.

God’s mercy and protection toward the righteous are evident in this account. For the fool – let it be known that despising wisdom and instruction may lead to one becoming so comfortable with the sin in and around you that you hesitate to leave it behind. Be alert to spiritual dangers and sinful environments. Knowing God’s Word and being willing to remove sin through repentance and getting out of environments that cause sinful behavior is the way of the wise. Choose righteousness!

God still delivers the righteous. It is a reminder that a time is coming when God separates the fool from the wise, the unrighteous from the righteous. It is a warning against moral decay and the effects of being out of God’s will. It should prompt Believers to reflect on their choices and actions, encouraging them to seek God’s righteousness and be obedient!

 

 

LEARNING DAILY

Proverbs 1:7, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 12:15, The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a person who listens to advice is wise.

The “fool” is not one who lacks intelligence, but one who refuses to allow sound advice to penetrate that thing called a brain. It is the main reason the person does not respond to godly truth. The book of Proverbs mentions the “fool” about forty times and is usually contrasted with the wise. The fool is mentioned as one who is too busy talking to learn anything (10:14). One who speaks poorly about another (10:18). One who does not take sin seriously (10:23). One who rejects the advice of others and listens only to himself (12:15). One who is proud of his wrong actions (13:16). One who does not listen to or obey his parents (14:5). And one who does not learn from his mistakes (26:11). Do you get the idea?

The two verses I chose, focus on the aspect of the problem of arrogance and the quality of humility. “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes” is the person who is blinded by their own self-perception. It is the attitude that another person’s viewpoint is not as important as their own. The contrast is given as well, “but a person who listens to advice is wise.” A wise person willingly acknowledges his limitations and seeks out help or counsel from others.

The last part of Proverb 1:7 says, “fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Being right in their own eyes, the fool does not need the wisdom or instruction of others. The “fool” will neglect God who has infinite wisdom which results in missing out on His wisdom; he will not follow the warnings and commands of God. The descriptions of the “fool” above then apply to this individual. The Word of God is clear we are to avoid living as a fool by fearing God, walking the narrow way in His wisdom, and be obedient to what He says.

Believers are encouraged to seek out individuals who encourage wisdom and integrity when choices are to be made; there are long-term consequences for choices made. At the same time, Believers are to be wise about who they receive counsel from. Be careful that the company you keep aligns with righteousness and truth. The Believer’s insights may be limited and biased which lead them to making decisions that are not always best. Seeking different viewpoints help gain viewpoints and insight that help make wiser choices.

All of us have known the “fool”, the one who does not follow the warnings and command of God because he/she lacks wisdom, has no concern for others, and has no desire to avoid sin. God’s Word is clear! “Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe” (Proverbs 28:26, NIV). Do not be a “fool”!

 

LEARNING DAILY

Deuteronomy 30:19-20, Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Did you pick out the word Pastor Jonathon Moore spoke about? Yes, that is correct; he spoke about choices. He said, “Your choices have greater impact than just for you.” Moses wrote, “love and obey the Lord”. That means Believers are, “to listen to Him, getting direction and guidance from reading His Word. The written Word is God speaking to those who take the time to read it. By reading the Word of God, one can hear God’s voice. Hold fast to Him in both the good times and the bad times, when He answers and when He does not. Choosing to do this impacts not only you but your family.” (JM). This is important because “family is God’s number one plan to perpetuate His plan” (JM).

Pastor Moore’s message was about the importance of family. “Parents must choose intentionally” (Point #1). Moses said to choose between life and death – today. This is a powerful statement about being obedient to what God says in His Word, about how Believers are to live their lives. Choosing to be obedient to His commands, Believers align themselves with His will which opens them to receiving His blessings. To choose to not live in obedience results in spiritual death and curses because there is no connection with God. Think of it in this way. We have an app on our phones that gives the “best” routes to a given location. We can choose to follow the directions it gives or decide that the direction we want to take will be better. That is a choice we make.

“Your choices shape your family’s future” (Point#2). “Parents, your adult children are still learning by watching you” (JM). Well, I am not sure that is so, anymore. Pastor Moore said, “What you ‘wear’ spiritually your children will likely wear.” The thought behind his statement is that if you have committed to be in church every weekend, your children will commit to be in church. If you talk in a manner that God approves, your children will do so. If our family sees that we pray, we read our Bible daily, that decision will be passed on. “Your decisions become your family’s decisions. You cannot control everything.” (JM).

Using the app for directions as an example, consider the choices you are making each day. Are you choosing to align your life with what God says in His Word? Are you actively seeking to avoid choices that cause you to go in a direction different from what God is saying? By not following the directions given, you can find yourself going out of your way or sitting in traffic when it could have been avoided by following the route the app wanted you to take. In the same thought, distractions and temptations can lead you away from God and His blessings. Let this verse be a guide that urges you to choose wisely how you walk with God so you might experience His blessings.

 

LEARNING DAILY

John 20:28-29, Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Thomas. Doubting Thomas. The Bible does not call Thomas doubting; he was given that term because of his reaction to the other disciples seeing the risen Christ. Pastor Ed Newton suggested that all the disciples had wrestled with doubt and fear because they had all abandoned Him when He was arrested. Peter denied he knew Jesus when confronted. “There is not one person who has never wrestled with doubt” (EN). There were ten disciples in the upper room, behind a locked door when the risen Christ appeared to them. Thomas was not there. Was he wrestling with the fact that Jesus had been crucified instead of leading Israel against Rome? Was he wrestling with doubt about who Jesus was because he had died? Perhaps “his sorrow kept Thomas from being in that room, and that might have led to his skepticism. When doubt comes separation become easy” (EN).

Whatever Thomas was feeling at the time that kept him away, doubt resulted. “Doubt causes one to no longer be obedient; it distorts one’s identity. Doubt will destroy one’s joy and cause you to not tell anyone about Jesus” (EN). Matthew 20:26, Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Eight days later the disciples were gathered, and Jesus recreated the scene where He had first come to the Upper Room. “The number eight in Scripture is about new beginning” (EN). The risen Christ directs Thomas to put his finger in the hole in His hand, in His side where He had been pierced by the Roman sword. Pastor Newton asked if the patience of the Lord Jesus could be understood. 

Once again read the words of our Lord, "Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." Read that last statement again – He is talking about you, Believer, and me. Believers are blessed because they have placed their faith in the One they have never seen. Do not doubt your salvation nor doubt He is with you as you walk the narrow way. Do not doubt He is with you in every circumstance you face today and every day from now on.

Pastor concluded with how every Believer can be reassured when the enemy tries to get you to have doubts. Examine your faith; 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.” (NLT). Here are four questions to test yourself. 1) “Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13). Have you made the decision to ask the Lord Jesus Christ into your life? 2) “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15). Have you determined to live for Jesus and walk the narrow way? 3) “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13). Is it your desire to read His Word? Are you convicted of sin in your life? 4) “You will recognize them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:20). People will see the difference living for Jesus has made in you.

“Stay connected to Jesus if you are doubting; one never knows when His peace will come” (EN).

 

LEARNING DAILY

Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

In Galatians 2, Paul is writing about how the Believer is made right with God. There were false teachers telling those in Galatia that faith in Christ alone was not enough to be right with God. They were telling the people that as Believers they needed to be circumcised and become Jewish. In Galatians 2:15-16, “We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”

In verse 20, Paul writes about the motive for going to the cross: He loves you and He loves me! Unlike those who are strict in following a rigid system of laws, Christ was motivated by His love for all people. Will you take some time to really consider this. Jesus Christ gave His life for you! He took away your sins by taking your punishment for your sins so you could take His righteousness. Paul had tried to keep the Law; he thought that would please God. The problem for Paul was the more he tried to keep the Law, he saw how much he failed. Believers today who try to live righteously on their own find they fail. Just as Paul realized he needed to give up trying to be righteous on his own, believers need to do that and accept the righteousness of God by faith in Christ. Then one can truly begin living for God.

Galatians 2:20 is a message for every Believer today to examine who he/she is living for. What is driving you? What is your motivation? Are you driven or motivated by personal ambitions? Are you driven to climb the “corporate ladder”? Or are you driven to live in such a way that Jesus Christ in you is being reflected by what you do and how you talk? This verse reflects Luke 9:23 where Jesus tells His disciples and us that we are to die to self. Paul is writing that Believers are to realize their old selves have been crucified with Jesus, and it is no longer them that live but Christ who lives in them. This emphasizes the significance and importance of surrendering the Believer’s desires, ambitions, and their will to what God desires in their lives.

So, what desire and motivation is pushing you today – pleasing yourself or honoring Jesus Christ? Living a life pleasing and honoring Him involves selflessness, humility, seeking to walk the narrow way in obedience, and a desire to glorify God. It involves seeking to walk daily as Jesus did, to love others as He did, and to serve selflessly in His name. Remain rooted in Jesus. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide and transform you! Let go of yourself allowing Him to lead you and see how it brings peace and purpose to your heart.

 

LEARNING DAILY

Ephesians 6:12, For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (NKJV)

The word wrestle or struggle has jumped out at me while reading this verse and passage. Paul has written that we [Believers] are engaged in a struggle each day by using the word wrestle. Growing up in Iowa, our high school had a wrestling team. No, it was nothing like what is seen on television! Wrestling is a close, intense battle between two individuals in the same weight class. It is an excellent way of thinking about the daily battle between Believers and the negativity, fear, doubt, and difficulties they can face each day. I know the struggle can be real and can cause one to be physically exhausted.

Paul makes it very clear that this battle is ultimately a spiritual battle; the enemy is not other people or objects. The devil may use people, but the enemy is sin. Paul identifies the enemies of Believers as spiritual enemies – the devil and his schemes, the rulers, (those who may be at the top of the demonic forces), authorities (may be the general forces attacking Believers), and spiritual forces which may refer to the worldwide nature of the spiritual battle. This description indicates a ranking of evil beings who do the work of Satan on earth.

To fight this battle, Believers need to fight spiritually; the battle will not be won by using one’s physical abilities. Paul writes that the battle must be fought by daily putting on the armor of God. It involves prayer, standing firm on the Word of God, and by staying alert. It is the aspect of prayer I want to focus on today.

Some time ago, I read a devotional about struggling in prayer. I do not remember who wrote it; I believe it was David Wilkerson. He suggested that Believers do not “wrestle or struggle” over great needs in their prayer time. Spiritual warfare is done through actively engaging in prayer, worship, and seeking God and His guidance. Victory does not depend on the Believer’s own efforts but on relying on God, by putting on His armor, and by staying close to Him. The devotion I read challenged Believers to wrestle in their prayer time over those great spiritual needs and trials. That means to be vigilant in prayer for those you are praying for, crying out for God to intervene in their situation, in your situation until The Holy Spirit releases you from doing so. I know the demands of life and priorities one has interferes with this type of prayer. However, it may be vital to pray this way, to be in God’s Word daily to be victorious in spiritual battles. Put on the armor of God and be diligent in prayer just as you would prepare for your job or in the way you love your family to be alert to the schemes of the devil and to be able to stand strong!

 

LEARNING DAILY

Matthew 28:18-20, And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

For the Believer, their belief does not end with their salvation experience. Jesus said to go tell others about Him and what He taught. He was given all authority in heaven and on earth; He gives this authority and responsibility to every Believer. Believers are to represent Him by how they live their lives and by telling others about the salvation and change He offers anyone who would believe on Him. Jesus’ words are the heart of God “who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). The verses above, known as the Great Commission, is God’s desire for every Believer to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

In his message this past weekend, Jonathon Moore said, “This message is for every single person no matter their background or their walk in life.” The Believer’s responsibility is to walk the narrow way in accordance with the teaching of God’s Word. Believers have also been charged with sharing the Good News. This does not have to be a doctrinal dissertation by any means. It is sharing how Jesus has saved you and changed you. Pastor Ed Newton has said many times, “A person can argue over doctrinal issues, but that person cannot argue over how God has changed you.” It has also been said by many that others are watching you closely to see if your walk with Jesus changes when trials and discouragement come. You may be the only Bible another person ever reads. Be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks why you are different.

It is important to receive that Jesus has given you authority as His disciple, His follower. It is a call to action, requiring obedience and the willingness to tell others with love and compassion about your life in Christ. It is not forcing Jesus on others; it is living in obedience and showing Him to others by letting His light shine through you. It is building a relationship with them based on trust and caring for them. It is a willingness to be a mentor for others, helping them understand God’s Word and what it means to be obedient. It is the willingness to walk along side of new Believers, helping them grow in faith. It is exciting to do this and see the spiritual growth that occurs.

Jesus made it very clear that you and I are not alone in doing this. He promised to be with us as the Holy Spirit dwells with us giving us strength and power to share about Jesus and His Word. Consider how you can share your faith by living it out daily; doing so can make a great difference in the lives around you.

 

LEARNING DAILY

Matthew 28:6, He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. (NIV)

Jonathon Moore, Lead Pastor at NorthRock Church, talked about an invitation that was given regarding the empty tomb, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is an invitation “given to every single person – no matter their background or walk in life” (JM). “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see …” “Come and see.” Come and see for yourself! The verse does not say one has to work harder. Just come and see! Do not take my word or the word of anyone else; “come and see for yourself” (JM). It is only when “you experience the empty tomb for yourself that you will see how real it is. “Come and see.” When you take the time to look for yourself the empty tomb no longer becomes someone else telling you about it or listening to the experiences of someone else. The empty tomb is no longer someone else’s faith – it becomes yours.

There are those who laugh at the tomb being empty. The Pharisees paid the soldiers guarding the tomb to say the disciples had stolen the body. There were those who said Jesus really did not die, that this was an elaborate plot to make good on the things He had said and promised. Pastor Moore said there was more than enough evidence to support the resurrection of Jesus. He mentioned Lee Strobel’s book where he wrote the four E’s of the empty tomb. 1) His Execution clearly showed that Jesus had died. The soldier’s pierced His side with a spear. 2) The Empty tomb – He was there and then He was not. 3) Early accounts show that respectable people saw Him. 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 gives a list of many who had seen the resurrected Christ. 4) Eyewitnesses include the four Gospel writers and the apostle Paul. Those who saw Him were greatly changed. The fearful filled with power to preach resulting in thousands being saved and baptized. They were arrested and beaten, released from jail, and went right back to preaching. They had seen the empty tomb, seen the risen Christ Himself, and were empowered by Him. “Come and see for yourself!”

Pastor said, “There is a difference from knowing about and actually encountering Jesus Christ.” Hearing the stories in Sunday School and in church as kids, were just stories. But coming to know Him as the risen Savior and Lord brought those stories to life, changing my life. I am telling you, you will know the difference. Those of you reading this know exactly what I mean. You know that He has forgiven your sins, continuing to show you grace every day.

When you encounter Him, you become a new person, with a new mission, destined for a new eternity! 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” “Fear becomes courage, Grief is turned to joy (from within and not from circumstances around you). Confusion becomes clarity. Doubt is turned into faith. Sin/shame is forgiven and taken off you. Hopelessness is turned into hope” (JM).

Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me.” Jesus Christ is standing at the door of your heart, Believer. He wants to fellowship with you so much through a relationship with you, through your reading/studying/meditating on His Word and through prayer. Open the door of your heart. “Come and see” what He wants to do in your life.

 

LEARNING DAILY

Mark 16:6, And he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.

He is risen! That was the greeting by early Christians. Those greeted would respond, “He is risen, indeed!”

The question Pastor Ed Newton asked this weekend was, “Jesus is alive. Why does it matter?” his message was in response to that question. In Adam, all sin. Because Jesus walked out of the grave, all who believe in that are alive. That not only changed history, but that also changed my (your) history.” If Jesus did not come back from the dead, I have been wasting my time for the last fifty years! “But because He walked out of the grave, sin has been paid for. Death did not win – Jesus was victorious. Now we [Believers] do not fight for victory, we fight from victory; there is no more condemnation because we [Believers] are children of God” (EN).

1Corinthians 15:14, “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” “Anyone who walks out of their grave can say and do anything He wants. Everything Jesus had taught was right. He had said that He was the Resurrection and the Life. He claimed to be God and proved it when the Tomb was empty; the resurrection backs up what He said would happen” (EN). Pastor Newton went to say the empty tomb validates everything Jesus said about Himself. He challenged all Believers to consider why they keep doing their own thing if Jesus is God and He has told them how to live. “His teaching was right. His way of living was right. If that is right and He came to defeat the devil, then He set Believers free from their sin and way of life. Anyone can question the Believer’s theology, but no one can challenge the Believer’s testimony” (EN). I am certainly not the person I used to be!

“Friday was a day that looked like defeat. Sunday showed Friday was not a tragedy but a strategy. The curse of sin – sin, guilt, death, punishment, condemnation, hell, and judgment – was broken. Christ redeemed us [all who would believe on Him]. It was final; nothing a Believer would ever do would change that because Christ never changes His mind about our salvation. Your worst mistake, your worst decision has been forgiven! Your sin does not overpower His resurrection! Friday is called Good because it took away the believer’s sin. The Resurrection added His righteousness, His holiness. The Believer is no longer guilty, but free. Jesus changes lives. He has changed mine – bitterness has been uprooted, lust defeated, thought life renewed, temptation can be defeated in His name, addictions can be gone, and the Believer can walk in newness of life because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in their life.” (EN).

Because of Sunday, death is defeated! That means Believers are going to see loved ones who have died before them that have believed. Because Jesus is alive, life matters; life is not an accident, not merely existing. The Believer’s future is not unknown. Because of the resurrection, when a Believer dies he/she steps right into heaven and begins a new life, an eternal life with Jesus. Because Jesus was righteous, holy, without guilt or shame, and was perfect, when the Father looks at the Believer through His Son -- righteous, holy, without guilt or shame, and was perfect. If this is all made up, I have wasted almost fifty years studying and teaching about the life, death, resurrection, and the eternity to come.

“Good Friday was good because Sunday was coming!”

 

 

LEARNING DAILY

Hebrews 12:2, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

It is Friday. Jesus has been arrested, gone through a bogus trial where He was condemned to death. He has been beaten, spit on, humiliated. A crown of thorns has been shoved down on His head, and He was paraded through Jerusalem to be executed on a cross. My friend DC Adkisson wrote yesterday, “We tend to dwell and stay only on the intenseness of the cross and that whole week of ordeal.  But there is more, so I want to just take a few moments and in this week of Jesus moving towards Calvary think of His joy.”

Jesus endured the cross. At Gethsemane, Jesus was determined to carry out the will of His Father. He chose the cross. Read what Jesus prayed there. “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39). There is never a doubt that Jesus would fulfill the mission given Him. He did this by staying focused on the joy He knew was to come. He knew he would be resurrected and restored to His place of glory which He had from the beginning. He looked forward to the joy of those who would believe on Him and what He had done on this cross. He gave His life willingly to save Believers from eternal separation from God.

1 Peter 1:8, “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.” On this Friday understand that the faith of a Believer is not about a process or a philosophy. It is not about looking at the world or about improving yourself as a human being. It is about a person; about trusting and trusting Jesus Christ. Peter had seen Him face to face, walked and talked with Him for the years of Jesus’ ministry. What joy he must have found in being with Him.

Have you found the joy that He brings through His saving grace? As I consider what walking with Him for almost fifty years now, I am not sure I have the words to express that joy. Walking with Him has changed me; the changes did not instantly occur with being saved. Knowing what I was before and knowing what I am today – I am just so thankful He never gave up on me. As I consider the future and eternity with Jesus, I am filled with joy that continues to grow as I walk the narrow way with Jesus. That is a daily choice that brings peace and contentment when there are trials and difficulties continually trying to disrupt faith and confidence in Him.

Remember the joy and contentment walking with Jesus brings. Keep your eyes, your focus on Jesus and let your heart be filled to overflowing with the joy and love you find in Him.

 

LEARNING DAILY

2 Peter 3:18, But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

This blog, and others that I read daily, are about encouraging readers to grow spiritually through reading/studying/meditating on God’s Word, prayer and obedience through walking the narrow way. This growth does not just happen; it takes effort on every Believer’s part. It does not occur by participating one hour on a weekend in a church service. It takes a dedicated effort just like going to a gym to build muscle and walking or running to gain cardiovascular endurance.

Peter writes that Believers are “to grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Growing in grace is not about gaining more grace. Grace, by definition, is unearned; you cannot work or do anything to get more. It is through God’s grace, by sending Jesus Christ to take all who would believe in Him, that the Believer’s sins are forgiven. As a Believer, you have all rights through Him. We cannot get more grace. However, living under grace given by Jesus there is a wonderful opportunity to grow spiritually stronger and have a deeper relationship with Him.

Maturing in one’s Christian life is not about what we do, but about what God does in us, by His grace. When one accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior, they are considered “baby Christians who need to feed on the milk of the Word” (a term I heard a long time ago). To grow in grace is to grow in one’s understanding of what Jesus did and to “grow up, to be able to feed on the deeper teachings of God’s Word – to feed on the meat of the Word.” Growing in grace is that attribute of God that enables, empowers believers to break free of sinful behavior and patterns in their life that are continually causing problems. Growing in grace gives Believers strength to be obedient and walk the narrow way. Without God’s favor, His grace, Believers would be lost in this world.

How much more grace could be possible than to accept what the Son of God did on calvary’s cross? God’s grace does not increase. To grow in grace is to grow in our understanding and appreciation of the grace Believers have been given. The more understanding gained by learning about Jesus, the more appreciation Believers have about His love and sacrifice for us. That comes through continually seeking him. Knowledge refers to the understanding of His teachings and principles, which come from His Word and applying them to one’s life. Your relationship to the Lord deepens as your knowledge of His Word grows in you and you become more like Him.

God’s Word contains all the knowledge Believers need to learn about God, His Son, and the Holy Spirit; His Word has all Believers need to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. Can I challenge each reader to be more dedicated to grow in your faith by digging deeper into the teachings found in God’s Word and allowing Him to transform you into the man/woman of God you are meant to be?

 

LEARNING DAILY

Lamentations 3:22-23, The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

God is faithful! What does that mean to you and how will that help you in the days ahead? His loving kindness never comes to an end, even when there seems to be hopelessness in the situations being faced by you.

Jeremiah wrote this after Jerusalem had been attacked, the temple destroyed, and the people had been taken to Babylon. He wrote about God’s judgment on His people as well as His compassion for them. In this writing, Jeremiah wrote of hope in the terrible times; he wrote God is faithful and will not be angry forever, will not cast off His people forever. Every day, every morning, God’s mercy and compassion is shown.

I find this to be comforting to know that no matter what happens yesterday there is the opportunity to have a fresh beginning with God. His faithfulness enables the Believer to experience God’s grace every day. Believer, you do not earn this; God freely gives you His wonderful love every day. There are those days I think back over the many mistakes I have made, and it is quite overwhelming. But this verse gives assurance that God’s mercies are not a one-time offering – His mercy and grace is new every morning. He never gives up! What does that mean? How do you and I apply that to our life? Approach each day with gratitude and trust by being obedient to God and Hs Word as you walk the narrow way into His kingdom.

God’s “steadfast love”, His great love for you continues even in times when you are being corrected and disciplined by Him. God’s love for His people and Israel never stopped when He disciplined them for their sinfulness. When God’s love is considered, it includes His grace, mercy, goodness, forgiveness, and compassion. He could have simply given up and destroyed this people for their idolatry and sinful behavior. But He did not do that; He eventually restored them to their land and blessed them.

How do you apply that to your life? God has forgiven me so many times I wonder why He just did not give up! Even when He seems silent, He is working in your life to guide you to Him, closer to Him and His will. One meaning of mercy is to withhold judgment. His mercy, His compassion is new each morning, every day – there is no expiration day toward you! It never runs out! Yes, you still sin and grieve the Holy Spirit but according 1 John 1:9 (a good verse to memorize by the way) His forgiveness is always available. He is always ready to forgive. What a God we serve! His love endures forever; He is for you and not against you. Begin each day with a heart full of gratitude, praying for the strength to walk with Him in His will.