Friday, September 25, 2015

The Song of Our Pilgrimage

"Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage."  Psalm 119:54.  We are all on a pilgrimage.  Our life is a journey.  Some of our days are happy, while other days are sad.  Our life is better and more enjoyable when we sing.  Songs can fill our hearts with happiness.  But, the songs that we sing can make the difference.  The psalmist sang of God's statutes.  Statutes are laws or rules by which life is to be controlled.  The statutes of God are wisdom and righteousness.  His statutes offer us guidance through a world that has pitfalls.  His statutes enable us to overcome the enemies that we face.  His statutes deliver us from adversity and turmoil.  The statutes of God purify us and make us holy.  In the night, we can sing the song of His statutes and see the light.  When we are burdened, we can sing the song of His statutes and know strength.  In temptation, we can sing the song of His statutes and find an escape.  Amidst the battle, we can sing the songs of His statutes and fight the enemy.  As we make our pilgrimage through this land, let us sing.  And may our songs ever be the statutes of Jehovah.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

In The Beginning

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."  John 1:1.  So begins the great gospel according to John.  This sentence declares the divine nature of Jesus Christ.  Jesus was God in the flesh.  John concludes this gospel with the declaration of the divine nature of Jesus.  John 20:30-31.  Jesus is identified here as the Word.  He spoke the will of God and did so with all authority.  Because of the miracles that He worked, His word could not be denied.  He spoke the word which gives direction for our lives.  If we walk according to His will, we will be blessed both now and in the world to come.  Jesus spoke the word that gives us life.  Without His direction, we are as dead men.  The words of Jesus are words that inspire us to live better in the sight of God and men.  Through the words of Christ we know love and caring.  His words give us peace and comfort.  His words enable us to make the decisions that offer us a better future and a more endearing hope.  We cannot but read His words and know that His words are higher that any thought that man can have.  Jesus was God speaking a will that must control every thought and activity.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Hold Fast Our Profession

"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised."  Hebrews 10:23.  We are to hold fast to the faith that gives us assurance.  We must not lose sight of our faith.  There must be an urgency on our part to hold our faith.  Faith can be lost.  Faith can be deserted.    Not only must we hold our faith, but we must hold fast.  In a single instance, we can let go of our faith.  We can wander away from God.  We must continue to profess our faith.  Faith can be seen in those that possess it.  We live in a manner that speaks of our faith.  And, never should we waver.  We must not question our faith.  We must not deny our faith.  We must maintain the faith of assurance.  We hold fast our faith because of the faithfulness of God.  God does not go back on the promises that He has made and the assurance that He has given.  Those of faith stand by God because God stands by them.

The Assurance of Faith

"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."  Hebrews 10:22.  Our faith is our assurance of our relationship with God.  Our union with God is not based upon a maybe or a perhaps, but we are assured of our union with Him.  We are able to draw near unto God.  We do not approach Him from afar.  Neither is He far from us.  Faith is the bridge that links our hearts with the heart of God.  Also, we have assurance because of our cleansing.  No longer do we entertain an evil conscience, but we are purged.  We have also been washed in baptism.  Purged from evil and cleansed from iniquity assures us that we can approach God.  The faith of assurance is an obedient faith.  Our faith responds eagerly and without hesitation to God's law and will for our lives.  Our willingness to do as God asks assures us that we walk with God and that God walks with us.   

Monday, September 21, 2015

Delivered From Darkness

"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:"  Colossians 1:13.  Evil has the power to control the mind and actions.  Evil leads one into the darkness of rebellion.  In the darkness, one stumbles and falls.  Darkness takes one farther and farther away from God.  But, Jesus Christ has delivered us from the power of darkness.  The chains of darkness have been broken.  The captives of darkness have been set free by the power of Christ.  There is liberty in Christ.  There is change in Christ.  Not only have we been delivered, but we have been translated.  We have been transformed.  No longer must one live in the darkness of evil, but one can live in the kingdom of light.  Jesus changes the heart and life.  The useless become useful.  The powerless become powerful.  The sinner becomes the saint.  The kingdom is a place of direction and purpose.  The kingdom is a place of service unto God.  The power of darkness leaves one lost, but the kingdom makes one saved.  We are at home with God in the kingdom.

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Like Precious Faith

"Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ."  II Peter 1:1.  The "like faith" is the "one faith" of Ephesians 4:5 and the "common faith" of Titus 1:4.  It is the faith that unites all under the banner of unity.  This faith is precious.  It is more precious that rubies and gold.  Precious jewels satisfy only for the moment.  Faith satisfies the soul.  Faith creates a relationship with God and the Savior Jesus.  Faith gives us hope and brings peace.  Faith gives purpose and understanding to our life.  Faith gives us light and keeps us from the darkness.  This "precious faith" has come through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ.  The virgin birth and the cross are the evidence thereof.  God knew the sinful plight of humanity and provided an opportunity for victory and liberty.  This faith must be obtained.  It is a jewel that must be found.  The heart must seek.  This "like precious faith" is the treasure in the field and the pearl of great price.  The one who obtains is blessed.  Seek and ye shall find. 

In The Faith

"All that are with me salute thee.  Greet them that love us in the faith.  Grace be with you all.  Amen."  Titus 3:15.  Being "in the faith" is critical to the salvation of the soul.  Faith brings the blessing of grace into the hearts of those who embrace the faith.  The epistle of Titus speaks to those oppositions to the faith.  God's faith has enemies.  We must beware lest we be led in the wrong direction.  The "one faith"  (Ephesians 4:5) has been sent down from God by the Holy Spirit.  The Bible does not speak of a multitude of faiths, but rather, speaks of only one faith.  The faith is a revelation from God that has come through the Lord Jesus Christ and none other.  The faith creates a fellowship of believers who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior.  The Bible recognizes this fellowship as the church.  This faith is a common faith.  Titus 1:4.  The faith brings unity rather than division.  Harmony is a product of the faith.  Faith brings our hearts together in Jesus Christ.  The faith creates a spirit of love for others.  The faith is a message of hope and trust.  The faith is a message of love and caring.   Come into the faith through obedience to the faith.   The blessing of grace awaits. 

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Defile Not God's Temple

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."  I Corinthians 3:16-17.  We have become God's temple through His grace and our faith and the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ.  God's Spirit dwells within us as a guarantee of our salvation.  II Corinthians 1:22.  Our temple is a holy temple because of the sin free character of God's Spirit.  We are to keep this temple holy.  We are to flee from the defiling influences of the world and perfect holiness in our lives.  We are to refuse all sinful temptation.  We are to separate ourselves from the world because the world is impure and unholy.  We are not to taint nor tarnish what God has made holy.  Purity of heart allows us fellowship with God.  Matthew 5:8.  Only the clean can dwell in the holiness of God.  Only the pure can know God.  If we choose to defile this temple, God's destruction will come upon us.  In the statement of Paul the apostle, there is a blessing and a curse.  Maintain the purity of God's temple and we belong to God and we are the dwelling place of God.  Corrupt the temple and we shall experience the destructive wrath of God.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Unto God Be Glory

"Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen."  Philippians 4:20.  Praise and honor belongs to Him.  God is divine possessing all purity and holiness.  God is love bestowing grace and mercy upon all.  God is all powerful speaking the universe into existence.  In His hand, all things consist.  By His will, all of life continues.  God is the light in which we walk.  God is the life in whom we live.  God is higher than our thoughts.  God is greater than our works.  God is mightier than all of our strength.  He is the Father of mercies.  He is the one who comforts our sorrows.  He is the one who cares that we are hurting.  God reaches down and lifts us up.  God gives victory in defeat.   God feeds the birds and clothes the flowers.  The mountains rise up and the rivers flow because He is God.  We bow our knee and herald His praise.  Our tongue sings of His wonders.  He is our God, but He is our Father.  We are guarded by His love and shielded by His grace.  Unto Him be all glory and may our heart every praise Him.