No King But Caesar

"But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him.  Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King?  The chief priests answered, We have no king, but Caesar."  John 19:15.  A rejection of Jesus Christ always makes Caesar king.  Their hearts could not be persuaded.  Their hatred of Jesus turned their heart to stone.  All that remained for them was Caesar.  Jesus or the world.  Which will it be?  The question comes to every heart.  A choice must be made.  Caesar's kingdom is temporary.  The kingdom of Jesus is eternal.  The kingdom of Caesar is earthly.  Christ's kingdom is heavenly.  Caesar's kingdom is worldly.  The kingdom of Christ is spiritual.  Christ reigns as King eternal.  The kingdom of Christ rules the heart.  The kingdom of Caesar rules the flesh.  The flesh dies and rots.  The heart lives forevermore.  The choice of the chief priests on that fateful day is the choice of today.  Every heart must decide who is king for either Christ or Caesar rules every soul.

Again Entangled And Overcome

"For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning."  II Peter 2:20.  The world pollutes the soul.  Jesus Christ is the avenue out of this pollution.  We escape from this polluted world when Jesus Christ becomes our Savior and Lord.  Jesus provides cleansing from the sins of the world.  Jesus becomes our Lord and Savior through our knowledge of Him which is given to us in the Bible.  The Bible teaches us to put Christ on in baptism which washes away our sins.  We acknowledge Jesus as Lord by our confession of Him as the Son of God.  However, the world does not cease to call and entice us to return.  The world can entangle us and overcome us again.  We can return to our former life of sin.  We can become entangled again in the sins of our past.  We can go backward instead of forward.  To be overcome by sin is to cease from right living and holy conversation.  This state is worse than before we had escaped.  To return is worse than the beginning.  It will not be so easy to escape again.  Once we have escaped the pollutions of the world, we must take care and be diligent that we do not go back.  We must take extreme care that Jesus always from henceforth remains our Savior and Lord.

No Fear With God

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"  Psalm 27:1.  Fear comes because of the darkness.  God is our light.  There is no need to fear.  Fear arises when we are lost.  God is our salvation.  There is no need to fear.  Fear is born out of weakness.  God is our strength.  There is no need to fear.  God banishes all enemies.  God defeats all foes.  None are left for us to fear.  Light, salvation, and strength give hope and assurance.  The Lord provides for us so that we need not be afraid.  God helps us to be courageous.  The giants of sin can do nothing to harm us.  We are shielded by our light.  We are guarded by our salvation.  We are aided by our strength.  The Lord keeps us within the fold of safety.  Lean upon the Lord and know no fear.  Walk with the Lord and be fearless.  Allow God to place His arms around us and keep us within His security.  Light from the Lord gives us direction.  Salvation from the Lord provides for us endurance.  Strength from the Lord brings for us victory.  The Lord delivers us from all fear.

Blessed Are The Seekers

"Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart."  Psalm 119:2.  The absolute key to the blessed life is the word of God and His testimonies that are contained within.  The word of God was written so that humanity would know how to live in an acceptable relationship with God.  As a result of that relationship, our life is blessed with His goodness and His providence.  Therefore, we are to keep the testimonies that have been given unto us.  The one who follows divine instruction will be blessed by the divine God.  His testimonies must be sought and God must be sought.  We are the seekers of the good life.  To know God and His will provides a blessed life.  But, God must be sought with the whole heart.  All of our being must be given in this search to know Him and the blessings which He so willingly provides.  God wishes that we be the benefactors of His blessings and guidance.  His hand is extended, but we must give ourselves unto Him with full trust and commitment.  Our heart must be willing to accept Him.  Seeking God and keeping His instructions brings us the blessed life.  We will also find that which we seek.

Blessed Are The Undefiled

"Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord."  Psalm 119:1.  God prescribes true blessedness.  If we are to find true joy in this world, we must follow God.  We are not to be defiled with sin for we are to be after God.  We are chosen as His own.  Therefore, purity of life is to be our character.  As we walk in this old world, we are to travel in the way of God.  This is a clean way and will keep us unsoiled.  Cleanliness of life brings a blessing for there will be no guilt nor regret.  The Lord has a law that prevents us from traveling in the way of the wicked.  God's law guards us from ugliness and filth.  His law keeps us from staining our garments with the sins of the evil one.  Ernest care must be given to the preservation of holiness.  We must constantly travel in the   way of the Lord for any sidestep will tarnish us.  Our holiness does not come from isolation, but even as we walk in the way.  The law of the Lord is on our mind, and therefore, keeps us.  A steady walk and a constant continuance is a blessing unto us for we are mindful of the Lord and His desire to keep us even as He is.

Him That Is Able

"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy."  Jude 24.  Isn't it comforting to know that God is able to do all things?  His power is absolutely unsearchable.  Our mind cannot begin to comprehend the ability of God.  Our God is able to preserve us.  With His divine help and grace, we can remain faithful in His service.  The world will call and Satan will tempt us, but God can keep us.  However, we must give ourselves unto His keeping.  His power to keep does not override our unwillingness to be kept.  But, in the face of temptation and trial, God will help those who seek His help.  We need not worry about our being preserved if we wish to be preserved.  God is greater than all the power of the devil and gives power to defeat all spiritual enemies that would rise up to destroy us.  That power will bring the faithful into the very presence of glory.  God has all glory and He bestows that glory upon those who are kept by Him.  His glory gives exceeding joy.  What a joy it will be to be delivered from the bonds of earth and delivered into the everlasting glory of God!  Our God is able.

Be Ye Kind

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."  Ephesians 4:32.  The new man in Christ is the point of discussion.  This new person is to take the qualities of Christ and make those his own.  God is kind to us.  Therefore, we are to be kind unto others.  What God does for us, we also are to do unto others.  This rule will change society and improve the world in which we live.  Kindness comes with an act, a smile, or a greeting.  Kindness cost nothing, and yet, can do so much.  Kindness takes little effort.  We live in a world with so much unkindness and unfriendliness.  We live in a world where so many are aloof.  A small act of kindness can change a person's day.  A small display of kindness can alter an attitude or an outlook on life. Kindness comes from a heart that has felt the love of God.  Kindness seeks to make the world a better place.  Kindness seeks to improve the lives of others.  Kindness has as its only desire to change and make better.  Kindness does not expect anything in return.  Kindness is its own reward.  Kindness is God-like.