Hear The Word Of God

"And it came to pass, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret."  Luke 5:1.  Jesus constantly was teaching.  There was no particular place or occasion that He chose to teach the word of God.  Jesus taught the word.  Today, we are to teach the word of God.  Some teach custom.  Some teach tradition.  Some teach opinion.  The true teacher of God teaches the word of God.  Nothing else matters.  Only the word of God can save the soul.  Only the word of God can enlighten the soul.  Not all want to hear the word of God.  Some want to hear what will sooth the conscience.  Some want to hear what makes one feel good.  The word of God will prick the conscience.  The word of God will not always make one feel good because the word will cut the heart.  Even though the people pressed upon Him to hear the word of God, not all obeyed what Jesus taught.  Why would someone want to hear that which will not benefit them in a spiritual way?  Why would someone want to hear that which will not save the soul?  The word of God is the most powerful instruction in the world to make people right with God.  The word of God is the only instruction that will direct someone to heaven.  Hear the word of God!

Hard To Be Understood

"And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction."  II Peter 3:15-16.  Peter acknowledges that Paul is also an author of the scriptures.  Peter considered Paul to be a beloved brother.  Those in Christ are brethren, and all should be beloved.  The apostle Paul had written some things concerning the salvation that is offered by the longsuffering of our Lord to be hard to understand.  Some truths of the Bible require more deliberate concentration than do other truths.  But, there is no truth that cannot be understood.  We must be students of God's truth.  We must read and meditate longer upon some truths.  God has given us a book that can be understood and known.  By this truth, we come to know the salvation that is in Christ.  Truth that is not learned will be to our own destruction.  Some choose to twist or change the scriptures.  This also will be to their own destruction.  May we study, learn, and practice the scriptures so that we might be saved.

Be Not Partakers

"Be not ye therefore partakers with them."  Ephesians 5:7.  Our walk in Christ avoids all sinful activities.  The writer of this verse has described sins that characterized his time, and our time as well.  Those who walk in Christ are not to partake with those who engage in these sins.  We are to avoid them.  Those who walk in Christ are to separate themselves from the sinful of the land. Evil has a powerful influence, and we must flee from that which might entangle us.  The followers of Christ are to exert an influence of good and right.  We seek to alter the lifestyle of the sinful.  We shun any engagement of sin.  If we partake, our life will be tainted.  Our walk with Christ will be harmed.  We no longer drink from the fountain of evil, but perfect that life that is light rather than darkness.  The words of the evil must not entice us.  We must not share in their folly.  We have removed ourselves from the wrath of God.  Let us remain in that safe haven.

Thy Word Is Truth

"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."  John 17:17.  God's word is truth.  God's truth is powerful.  The salvation that God offers to man is in a word.  God does not lie.  He speaks only truth.  The word that He speaks to us has the power to save us.  We hear the word, believe the word, and obey the word.  The word of God has the power to sanctify us.  We become fit for the service of God.  The word of truth makes us worthy to serve God.  As we obey the truth of God's word, our sins are cleansed.  God's sanctification makes us pure.  We become the agents of God's marvelous work of salvation.  We not only believe His truth, but we live by His truth.  The truth controls our choices and our actions.  We teach that truth to others so that they might know the sanctification of God.  As we are sanctified by God, we are used by God for His glory.  Truth sets us apart.  We become the special people of God by truth.  As we live according to the truth, we are unlike the world about us.  And, by the truth, we seek to make the world responsive to God.  May the truth of God live in our hearts.

Truth Dwelling In Us

"The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth: and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us forever."  II John 1-2.  The church of Jesus Christ abides in the truth.  The truth is known by those who come to Christ and are accepted as children of God.  Only through truth can Christ be known.  God has chosen preaching to make His truth known.  The truth is to abide with us so that we might continue to be His children.  The truth brings those who learn and obey the truth into fellowship with one another.  These truth seekers who acknowledge the truth in obedience are bound together in love for each other as well as love for God.  The truth is a powerful force that has atoning and uniting power.  Truth remains.  Nothing can ever destroy God's truth.  The truth is protected by the God of heaven.  From God the truth has come and with God the truth will abide.  Our relationship with God is decided by truth.  Seek the truth so that you might find this precious gem.  Gain hold of the truth.  And, then love all those who are in the truth.

Excellent Is His Name

"Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent: his glory is above the earth and heavens."  Psalm 148:13.  All are to praise the name of the Lord.  The whole host of creation is to praise His name.  The Lord has created.  The Lord sustains His creation.  Order prevails.  The Lord has given a decree by which His creation functions.  This decree abides through all generations.  In everything the glory of the Lord is seen.  His glory excels above all.  God's fingerprint is seen everywhere.  Therefore, let the creation of God praise Him. His creation is a testimony to His excellency.  God is above all and over all.  Let every heart sing His excellent name.  Unto the God of heaven and earth, let praises be heard throughout all generations of time.  His name is excellent.  His creation is excellent.  His people is excellent.  Praise Him.  Praise Him now and forever.

Liberty In Christ

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be entangled again with the yoke of bondage."  Galatians 5:1.  There is absolute liberty in Christ.  Christ does not break the physical bonds that might bind us, but He does break the spiritual chains that enslave us.  Christ has given us liberty from the bondage of Satan through an obedient faith.  This freedom in Christ removes sin.  We are forgiven in Christ.  Therefore, we are made free from the guilt of sin and the penalty of sin.  We can rejoice that the burden of sin is lifted in Christ.  Our minds are then renewed in Jesus as we commit to Him and God's direction for our lives.  Jesus empowers us to overcome the temptations that come from Satan as we live by the strength of the Holy Spirit.  We know a law that provides peace and comfort.  But, we must stand fast in this liberty.  Liberty can always be lost.  We must be vigilant.  We must watch so that the devil does not entangle us in the ways of the world and his deceits.  We are free in Christ.  May we ever hold to this liberty.