Category Archives: Walking With Jesus

Gap Standers Needed??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #144

16 Monday Oct 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, Stand by ME!, Stand Fast!, Standing in the GAP!, Study to Show Yourself Approved Unto God, Sweet Words or Bitter Words?, Teachers, The Gospel, The greatest gift!!!, The Love of God, The Only Way, The Word Or The World?, There IS a Test!, This IS The Day, This is the Way, Time Is Grace!, Touch them while you can?, Trendy Or Truth, True Gospel, True Knowledge, Trust God, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Truth is True, Turn to God's Word, Victory IN Jesus!, Walking With Jesus, What are you listening to?, What's coming out of YOUR mouth?, What's in your book?, Whose Sheep are You?, Witness, YOU Can do ALL things through Jesus

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Gap Standers Needed???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #144

God is faithful at every turn, and HIS WORD has never changed, nor will it!  We are living in a world full of those who claim the name of Jesus and lead people away from The Word of God; but we’re not the first and if Jesus tarries, we won’t be the last!  Ezekiel has a word from The Lord in this regard, and I’d like us to consider it today, for we have these same “lying prophets” in our culture today!

“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

2 Son of man,

prophesy against the prophets of Israel

that prophesy,

and say thou unto them that prophesy

out of their own hearts,

Hear ye the word of the LORD;

3 Thus saith the Lord GOD;

Woe unto the foolish prophets,

that follow their own spirit,

and have seen nothing!

4 O Israel, thy prophets

are like the foxes in the deserts.

5 Ye have not gone up into the gaps,

neither made up the hedge

for the house of Israel to stand

in the battle in the day of the LORD.

6 They have seen vanity and lying divination,

saying, The LORD saith:

and the LORD hath not sent them:

and they have made others to hope

that they would confirm the word.”    Ezekiel 13:1-6

And Ezekiel received another similar message from God for this foolish and deceived people.  May we hear The Word of The Lord!

“The people of the land have used oppression,

and exercised robbery,

and have vexed the poor and needy:

yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.

30 And

I sought for a man among them,

that should make up the hedge,

and stand in the gap before me

 for the land,

that I should not destroy it:

 but I found none.

31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation

upon them;

I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath:

their own way have I recompensed

upon their heads,

saith the Lord GOD.”  Ezekiel 22:29-31

Do you see the parallel to America?  I do!  Israel had listened to lying prophets, and rejected the true prophets of God, who warned them of God’s coming judgment through Babylon!  We have prophets (preachers & teachers) today who claim the name of Jesus, and yet preach a word that is not biblically sound.  But how do we know?  We MUST be IN it for ourselves, for it IS the standard of truth, right, God’s ways, times, and righteousness.  Paul told His precious son-in-the-ministry to cling to the truths of God’s Word!  What are we clinging to?  God’s Word or the foolish things of the world—the lies of the enemy (See John 8:44)?

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.

16 But shun profane and vain babblings:

for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”  2 Timothy 2:15-16

The main things which Paul points out here I’d like to simply repeat for our consideration, that we might examine our own lives in light of these principles:

We are to STUDY GOD’S WORD to know truth—

We are to seek GOD’S approval over man’s—

We are to Be A faithful WORKMAN, living without shame—

We are to “RIGHTLY DIVIDE” GOD’S WORD—                                           (not putting our own ‘spin’ on it but doing honest, diligent study, keeping the whole counsel of God in sight, with the immediate context and larger context always in mind.)

We are to shun that which is profane and senseless.                               (Jesus said, “Cast not your pearls before swine.”)

Paul went on in this letter to the young “Preacher Man” to call him to know that  THE WORD of GOD is what we are to study, not just for information’s sake, but for the increase of our faith, maturity, wisdom, grace, and righteous service to others before a lost and dying world.  We must remember that these instructions aren’t just for the preachers and teachers, but for every child of God; for we are saved to serve God and be full of good works and righteous living!

“All scripture

is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable

for doctrine, (truth, information)

for reproof,   (showing what’s wrong)

for correction, (making the wrong right)

for instruction in righteousness: (prevention)

17 That the man of God

may be perfect, (mature)

throughly furnished (fully equipped)

unto all good works.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17

These ‘good works’ are to be an integral part of who we are “IN CHRIST JESUS”, for we have received life, peace, and new life through the power of The Holy Spirit who comes to dwell within each believer!  (See Romans 5:1-11+). God’s work of grace in us is to be a true and effective reflection of Jesus in all we are & all we do!  We must “be HIS” before we can “do HIS” work!

“For by grace

are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

 it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

 unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:8-10.                 (I would encourage you to read all of this precious chapter.)

We must choose to live like it, if we are truly “his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works” that Jesus may be seen IN us, for HE IS IN us!  What does my life and yours say to this lost and dying world around us?  Are we being faithful witnesses, by knowing what God has said; or will we waste our time with fruitless “profane and vain babblings” (and if you consider ‘profane’ and ‘babbling’ they are both synonyms of ‘fruitless’!).  May we be found faithful students of God’s Word so that we can truly reflect the “TRUTH” of God—who IS JESUS!  Let’s stand in that gap for our Lord, by HIS power and grace!!!

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  John 14:6

Amen and Amen!!!

Tipping Over Or Standing??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #138

01 Sunday Oct 2023

Posted by in A Form of godliness?, Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Walking With Jesus, Water of Life

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Tipping Over Or Standing??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #138

I have two large flower pots out in front of our home, they are large pots, the smaller one of the two is the heavier and usually stands up to our Oklahoma winds, but not always, the other is a light pot, and even though it’s the largest of the two, it is so light that it blows over regularly unless I keep them watered.  As I was watering the pots last evening, I couldn’t help but think of the parallel to our spiritual life, when we don’t stay “full of the ‘water of life’, we also will tip over regularly”!

“In the last day, that great day of the feast,

Jesus stood and cried, saying,

If any man thirst,

let him come unto me,

and drink.

38 He that believeth on me,

as the scripture hath said,

out of his belly shall flow

rivers of living water.

39 (But this spake he of the Spirit,

which they that believe on him

should receive:

for the Holy Ghost was not yet given;

because that Jesus

was not yet glorified.)”. John 7:37-39

In John 6 Jesus spoke mostly with the people in/near Jerusalem, yet in chapter 7 Jesus had moved into the area of Galilee to avoid conflict with the religious leaders, for as the scripture often says in the gospels, “His time had not yet come”, but it was coming!  Yet even before Jesus was found in Jerusalem, He shared this very truth with, of all people, a Samaritan woman of ill repute!   In fact it’s the first recorded time that He revealed Himself as the Messiah, and that not only to a woman, but a Samaritan woman, to whom He made the same reference to this water of life—Jesus IS The water of life for all who will come to HIM in repentance and faith in HIS substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin—your sin and mine!  We need this water of life to stand, to keep from ‘tipping over’ in the winds of life.

“Jesus answered and said unto her,

Whosoever drinketh of this water

shall thirst again:

14 But whosoever drinketh of the water

that I shall give him

shall never thirst;

but the water that I shall give him

shall be in him a well of water

springing up into everlasting life.

15 The woman saith unto him,

Sir, give me this water,

that I thirst not,

neither come hither to draw.”  John 4:13-15

As Jesus encountered this woman and started a conversation with her (which was a cultural no-no), He led her to examine her life, her beliefs, and then brought her to the truth of Who HE was.

“Ye worship ye know not what:

we know what we worship:

for salvation is of the Jews.

23 But the hour cometh,

and now is,

when the true worshippers

shall worship the Father

in spirit

and in truth:

for the Father seeketh such

to worship him.

24 God is a Spirit:

and they that worship him

must worship him

in spirit

and in truth.

25 The woman saith unto him,

I know that Messias cometh,

which is called Christ:

when he is come,

he will tell us all things.

26 Jesus saith unto her,

I that speak unto thee am he.”  John 4:22-26

Jesus IS The Water of Life, and only in HIM can we find the strength, grace, and power to “withstand in the evil day”!  Just like my pots full of plants, without water they just fall over; in the same way we can’t stand when we don’t stay at the fountain of living water and quench our souls IN JESUS!  I find it interesting that John 7:39 reminds us that The Holy Spirit who indwells each born-again believer in Jesus, is our constant source of this water, and empowers us to live successful, holy, pleasing lives before our God, and avoid the pitfalls that the enemy is ever trying to trip us up with!

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh…

….25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”  Galatians 5:16 & 25

So my question is relatively simple, will we stay at Jesus’ ever-springing well of the ‘water of life’, or will we settle for the water from the well like the woman of Samaria, the water that keeps requiring refill after refill; while like my pots, we lay on the ground from the winds of the world, to dry to stand upright.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:10 (sometimes the part of the armor that we forget!) that we must remember to keep our eyes on the prize—Jesus, Father God, and The Holy Spirit.

“Finally, my brethren,

be strong in the Lord,

and in the power of his might.”  Ephesians 6:10

Amen and Amen!!!

Walking–By Faith Or By Sight??? A Word from THE WORD!!! Bible Ballistics

11 Wednesday May 2022

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Cross, Faith, Faithful, Faithful Follower, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness, Take Up YOUR Cross, Walking by Faith or Sight?, Walking With Jesus

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A Word from THE WORD!!! #6 Walking– By Faith Or By Sight???

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:

for it is the power of God

unto salvation

to every one that believeth;

to the Jew first,

and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God

revealed

from faith

to faith:

as it is written,

The just

shall live by faith.”  Romans 1:16-17

How are we to walk by faith?  By the power of the “new birth” that God works in those who come to Jesus in repentance and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for our sin—mine and yours—and being made a “new creation” inChrist Jesus!

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things

are become new.”  2 Corinthians 5:17

But how is this worked in us?  By the power of the Holy Spirit, and the coming of The Lord Jesus Christ to live a sinless life, being The Lamb of God, who had come to die for our sin.

“That was the true Light,

which lighteth every man

that cometh into the world.

10 He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them

that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh,

and dwelt among us,

(and we beheld his glory,

the glory as of the only begotten

of the Father,)

full of grace and truth.”   John 1:12-13

As John the Baptizer said:

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him,

and saith,

Behold the Lamb of God,

which taketh away the sin of the world.

30 This is he of whom I said,

After me cometh a man

which is preferred before me:

for he was before me.”   John 1:29-30

Because of what Jesus did, I can walk by faith—faith in The One who loved me and you, and gave Himself for me/you, that we could live IN HIS power, as I/you die to ‘my’ flesh and live unto ‘my’ LORD Jesus!

“I am crucified with Christ:

 nevertheless I live;

 yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

So, how are you “living”?  By your own wiles, efforts, and schemes, or by the power of Jesus?  Have you been “born again” by the Spirit of God, or are you still walking in your own sin, your own way, with the consequences that accompany that choice?  It is your choice but choose wisely there is a test!

“For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus unto good works,

 which God hath before ordained

that we should walk

in them.”  Ephesians 2:8-10

And in closing, the definition of faith from the author of Hebrews:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,

the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report

….6 But without faith

 it is impossible to please him:

for he that cometh to God

must believe that he is,

and that he is a rewarder of them

that diligently seek him.”   Portions of Hebrews 11:1-6

So, who are you seeking?  How are you walking?  By faith?  Or by sight? Are you walking with a “cross” simply hanging around your neck, or have you taken up your “cross” to follow Jesus?

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life

for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange

for his soul?”  Matthew 16:24-26

Amen and Amen!!!  May Jesus speak to your heart today!

You Can Do This!!! But How??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #791

27 Wednesday Apr 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Assurance or Arrogance, Changed Lives, Comfort, Confidence, Conformed to HIS image, Consider Your ways, TODAY, Today And Tomorrow, Today is the day of Salvation, Tomorrow, Trendy Or Truth, Trials, Troubles, Trust, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Uncertainty--God HAS the answer, Under His Wings, Unexpected Interruptions, Victory IN Jesus!, Walk in the Spirit, Walking With Jesus, What's In Your Heart?, What's In Your Mouth?

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #791   You Can Do This!!!  But How???

I have a word to share this morning, a word that we all can use on most days and probably today!  And to set just a bit of context before we dive into this first passage, Paul was talking about Israel in the wilderness (and yes, we are to study the Old Testament as well as the New, so we might learn from the testimonies that God recorded for us!), and how we can learn from their choices.  We can know that God is in charge, and our ‘temptations and trials’ are filtered through His fingers of love; we just need to look up, knowing that HE will provide!

“Now all these things happened unto them

for ensamples:

and they are written for our admonition,

 upon whom the ends of the world are come.

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth

take heed lest he fall.

13 There hath no temptation taken you

but such as is common to man:

but God is faithful,

who will not suffer you to be tempted

above that ye are able;

but will with the temptation

also make a way to escape,

that ye may be able to bear it.”   1 Corinthians 10:11-13

Paul is teaching us to not only live in the truth of God’s written Word, but to remember the examples HE has recorded for us to learn from as we walk through this world of chaos and confusion.  But we need not be either of those things as those who have seen the promise fulfilled of the Messiah who delivered salvation on the cross—salvation for all who will believe and receive the Gospel that Jesus paid for sin—my sin and yours!  And not only has HE paid for our sin but has given HIS gift of The Holy Spirit, just as HE promised to all those who are born again by His power, His provision and His purposes through The Holy Spirit/The Comforter—the source of God’s provision to His own!

So, let’s peruse some references about who the Holy Spirit is, and what HE would accomplish.  First of all, HE is the one who brings us to faith in Jesus (and the “HE” in this passage from John 1 is a reference to Jesus–“The Word…The Creator…The Light of the world!”  The One who promised to send HIS precious Holy Spirit to HIS own!

“He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them

that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh,

and dwelt among us,

(and we beheld his glory,

the glory as of the only begotten

of the Father,)

full of grace and truth.” John 1:10-14

God brings us to the cross via the conviction (the work of the Holy Spirit in man to bring them to see sin as sin, and Jesus as the only cure, see John 14:16-18 & 16:6-8) of sin which HIS Holy Spirit reveals to man!  He leads to the truth of the gospel—on which I stand like Paul, and you can too!

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:

for it is the power of God unto salvation

to every one that believeth;

to the Jew first,

and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God

revealed from faith to faith:

as it is written,

The just shall live by faith.”  Romans 1:16-17

The gospel that Paul declared and stood on is the foundation of our faith—JESUS, and HIS substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice for sin– the truth we stand upon! Paul also gave us the “Gospel in a nutshell”, if you would allow me to call it that!  Consider how concisely He proclaims Jesus!

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you

the gospel which I preached unto you,

which also ye have received,

and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved,

if ye keep in memory what I preached

unto you,

unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all

that which I also received,

how that Christ died for our sins

according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day

according to the scriptures:

 5 And that he was seen of Cephas,

then of the twelve:”  1 Corinthians 15:1-5

The Gospel IS JESUS:

It can only be shared by those who have “received” it—

Christ died for our sins—the only way (See John 14:6)-

 ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES—

Christ Jesus was buried—HE WAS DEAD—

HE AROSE—on the third day—victorious over—

Sin, death, and hell—

ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES—

HE was seen alive by many witnesses!

Jesus paid the price that only the Lamb of God could pay.  Have you come to HIM in repentance and faith?  I pray that you have and if you haven’t, that you will come to HIM today!  The choice is yours, but choose wisely, there is a test!

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith,

Behold the Lamb of God,

which taketh away the sin of the world.”  John 1:29

“For God so loved the world,

 that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world

through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.”   John 3:16-19

There is so much more that I wish I had time (and finger strength left) to share here, but I pray that God will open our hearts to receive HIS truth as truth—that we will respond in faith and obedience—and share that which we have received, in whatever ways God provides and leads us to!  I would like to share a few passages to encourage and assure us that Jesus died for you and me—for our sin—but when HE died, rose again, and ascended to heaven (until HIS return), HE sent us the amazing gift of HIS Holy Spirit to reside within and lead us into HIS truth, equipping us to minister truth to a lost and dying world.  Jesus promised that The Holy Spirit would bring us into all truth if we will but receive and heed HIS leading in our lives—our every day, our walking about days, our tear-filled days, our laughing days—our EVERY hour days! Jesus promised us all we would need to press on.

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth;

It is expedient for you that I go away:

for if I go not away,

the Comforter will not come unto you;

but if I depart,

 I will send him unto you.

8 And when he is come,

he will reprove the world

of sin,

and of righteousness,

and of judgment:

9 Of sin,

because they believe not on me;

10 Of righteousness,

 because I go to my Father,

and ye see me no more;

11 Of judgment,

because the prince of this world

is judged.”  John 16:7-11

And some more from Paul’s letters that I pray will help and encourage each of us to look up, walk straight and press on!  (See Acts 1:1-8)

“In whom ye also trusted,

after that ye heard the word of truth,

the gospel of your salvation:

in whom also after that ye believed,

ye were sealed with that holy Spirit

of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance

until the redemption

of the purchased possession,

unto the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:13-14

“Let no corrupt communication

proceed out of your mouth,

but that which is good

to the use of edifying,

that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,

whereby ye are sealed

 unto the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness,

and wrath,

and anger,

and clamour,

and evil speaking,

be put away from you,

with all malice:

32 And be ye kind

one to another,

tenderhearted,

forgiving one another,

even as God

for Christ’s sake

hath forgiven you.”  Ephesians 4:29-32

And the message to the Galatian believers:

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil

the lust of the flesh…

….. 24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”   Galatians 5:16 & 24-25

Are we walking in The Spirit, or our own ways?  Oh, Jesus, please do your work in our hearts through this precious Holy Spirit which you have imparted to all who are born again by HIS work of conviction and awakening to the debt of sin we owed.  Thank you, Lord, for your love, your sacrifice, and your forgiveness of my sin—for paying my ‘sin debt’!

“Giving thanks

unto the Father,

which hath made us meet

to be partakers of the inheritance

of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:”  Colossians 1:12-14

Jesus gives forgiveness of sin, and we should be recognized by actions which reflect the ONE who lives in us.  How about me?   How about you?  Will we honor the One who saved us—the ONE who calls us to walk in “holiness”?  While it’s simple to remember that God “has it”, it’s not always easy to remember how that looks.  Remember that God filters everything that comes into our lives, and whether its “Job” like tragedy and strife, or blessings—He is working “all things” for our good!

“For God hath not called us unto uncleanness,

but unto holiness.” 1 Thessalonians 4:7

“And we know that all things

work together for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate

to be conformed

to the image of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren.”  Romans 8:28-29

‘Nuff said!!!

Amen and Amen!!!

A Confidence Beyond Weariness!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #773

07 Friday Jan 2022

Posted by in All Sufficient God!, Amazing Grace, Approved Unto God, Beauty of Holiness, Choices And Consequences, Doubt and Confusion?, Trials, Troubles, True Knowledge, Trust God, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus, Walking With Jesus, Weariness

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #773 A Confidence Beyond Weariness!!!

 

While I haven’t posted much lately, I have had the faithfulness of God on my mind.  We’ve had some severe health issues facing us lately, and through all of the strain and the weariness, God is ever faithful.  On that I will ever stand, for with Job I count the faithfulness of God above all things

“For I know that my redeemer liveth,

and that he shall stand

at the latter day

upon the earth:

26 And though after my skin worms

destroy this body,

yet in my flesh

shall I see God:

27 Whom I shall see for myself,

and mine eyes shall behold,

 and not another;

 though my reins be consumed

within me.”  Job 19:25-27

I shall see GOD, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Job knew it, and so do I.  How about you?  We who belong to Jesus shall behold HIM, and yet even more importantly, in this earthly life, is the necessity that we “behold” God here and now, that through HIS Word we come to know HIM more and more personally and intimately!  James reminds us that it is by beholding the reality of God’s person, character, and truth that we can know and behold HIM more and more, here, and now!

“Wherefore

lay apart all filthiness

and superfluity of naughtiness,

and receive with meekness

the engrafted word,

which is able to save your souls.

22 But be ye doers of the word,

and not hearers only,

deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word,

and not a doer,

he is like unto a man

beholding his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself,

and goeth his way,

and straightway forgetteth

what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh

 into the perfect law of liberty,

and continueth therein,

he being not a forgetful hearer,

but a doer of the work,

this man shall be blessed

in his deed.”  James 1:21-25

As you/I know more and more of God’s Word, and learn to trust to His faithfulness, we can come to know more and more of our/my GOD, my Lord, and my KING.  We can simply glance at truth, without considering its import.  As Paul told his son-in-the-ministry, Timothy, we are to “study” to know God’s Word that we might find ourselves approved before GOD, knowing that God’s Word is perfectly sufficient unto all our needs, especially teaching us of Himself!!!

“All scripture

is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable

for doctrine,

for reproof,

for correction,

for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God

may be perfect,

throughly furnished

unto all good works.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17

In our vernacular, mature (not sinlessly perfect), and equipped for all that God calls us to be and do!

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing

the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15

As Paul also tells us about salvation and good works—they work together, by God’s faithful provision.

“For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk

in them.”  Ephesians 2:8-10

And as we draw near to HIM, we can learn to be more of what God calls us to be, HOLY, and able to fulfill the “good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them”. (And you’ll note below that our call is to “holiness” not “happiness”, not a very popular thought today!)

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,

be sober,

and hope to the end

for the grace that is to be brought

unto you

 at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children,

not fashioning yourselves

according to the former lusts

in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy

in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

Be ye holy;

for I am holy.”  1 Peter 1:13-16

It is this confidence in God, HIS Word, and HIS call, that sustains me and will sustain you, if you will but delve into it, and take the truths of God into your heart.  Much like what the Proverbs say:

“Trust in the LORD

with all thine heart;

and lean not

unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways

acknowledge him,

and he shall direct

thy paths.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

So, if I may sum it all up, we are all faced with trials, crises, difficulties, and times of extreme weariness; we must each choose what we will do with our crises—will we keep our eyes on Jesus, or on our own resources.  It’s your choice, but remember, there is a test.

“Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher of our faith;”  Hebrews 12:2a

Amen and Amen!!!