Having Bible knowledge and understanding is great, however if the scriptures are not living and active in our lives, it is all in vain (Hebrews 4:12-13). The life application selections contain thoughts provoking, real life challenges that will prayerfully transform us to be more like Jesus in our spiritual journey. James 1:23-27 challenges us to not just merely listen or read the scriptures, it says “But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.” Do not miss your blessings my friends!
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Have you ever struggled with having faith that God can do miracles for others but when it comes to your life, the lies and doubts from the enemy fills your mind? When my journey with the Lord ends, I am confident that he will not charge me for lack of faith in his ability to do or allow things to happen for the world and people around me. My struggle is, will he do it for me? During a recent transition in my life, the Lord taught me a lesson about my character that I will never forget.
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
This week we will be celebrating Thanksgiving in the United States. I hope every day is a Thanksgiving Day for each of us because Jesus died and rose from the dead so that we can be set free from the bondage of sins. That is a gift we should be thankful for every day! Nonetheless, it is something special when a nation allows a national day to focus on gratitude! Let us make every effort in this season of thankfulness to be set apart by striving to draw near to Christ through our words, actions, and service to others.
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
When you read this scripture what comes to your mind? We live in a society that invests so much energy attempting to suppress the truth that Hell and Heaven are real. 1 John 5:19 reads, "We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one". How often do you talk or study Hell or Heaven? Unless you take the time to learn about the two options, how would you know the risk that you are taking by choosing either one?
Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.
What citizenship are you defending and fighting for in your life? Apostle Paul in the scripture above was reminding the disciples in Philippi about what is worth fighting for as soldiers in Christ army. Do you know when you became a Christian your citizenship is bound to heaven not to this earth? “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29).
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
Can you relate to King David? When he wrote this Psalm he was stranded in a desert. You heard me, things were not going great for David. In that moment, we can certainly guess David did not feel like someone who was ordained to be King. As a matter of fact, he was stranded and hiding in the desert because the man he once served was coming to kill him (read 1Samuel 23:14-29) out of jealousy and bitterness. In all this, I love how David praised God by acknowledging only God can give him the water he longs for amid his trials. This passage was given to me in a season in my life where I felt stranded. As a matter of fact, every time the Spirit told me this is what I want you to study and write about, I deleted it. My attitude was nowhere near what David's attitude was during the entire chapter of Psalm 63. If I am honest, I was angry, bitter, and annoyed with God each time he reminded me about the verse. Then the Spirit of God led me to a series of reminders as I cried out to God, he opened my eyes to see the message. Do I (we) only seek God during the sunny and raining days. Or do (I) we praise God and seek him earnestly during the storms and difficult trials in our lives as well. As David was put to the test of trusting God during a difficult situation, I love how in 1Samuel 23:14 the scripture says, "David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands." We might be fighting many strongholds in our lives but as long we seek God and trust him through the storm, he will protect us against our enemies (Psalm 27:1-3). We all know the outcome of David's life, despite the trials that he endured. Our God is faithful! That is why Jesus to the point of death in 1Peter 2:23 reminds us “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." God might seem invisible in your time of droughts, but he is right there with you until the right hour arrives. Just as he sent Jesus to rescue us at the right time while we were powerless and ungodly (Romans 5:6-8), he will see you through until the end. Hold on to your faith, our God is faithful!
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
How often do you think about dying? When you think about it, what are your internal struggles? In my line of work, I have the privilege of encountering some people who are at this crossroad in their lives. I have some who are ready because they believe through their faith in Jesus Christ and the life they have lived, death is the beginning of another Journey with the Lord. I also encounter many who are bitter, scared, regretful, and expressing I am not ready. Lastly, I have had a few encounters where individuals were faking their walk with Jesus by taking advantage of their status in the congregation they serve. As they approached death, they were consumed by guilt, remorse, fear and internal agony. I recalled one experience I had where an individual who was of a high status in their congregation could not be comforted because the people in his life that he had hurt and lied to were deceased; therefore, he was in great distress as he could not confess or ask for forgiveness. We all know that death will come to all of us. We also know that Galatians 6:7-8 reminds us, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Each of us will face God one day whether we claim his supremacy over our lives or not. The question is, will Jesus be your defender to obtain the eternal life that he promises to those who believe in him whether you are dead or alive when he returns? Believing in God is not about the knowledge of knowing him or being familiar with his commands. It's a matter of living life with and for God's glory through our gratitude that he has set us free from bondage. Is God Lord over all of you Not just part of you (John chapter 14 & 15)? When Jesus asked Martha, do you believe this? What if God ask you this question today? Are you ready to confidently answer God?
