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!
Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" "Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?"
Which side are you on? We live in a society where the norm is to choose a side when it comes to almost everything. The interaction between Joshua and the commander of the Lord’s army challenged my inner core as a person who identifies myself as a soldier in the army of God. There is an incredible lesson that every follower of Jesus Christ could learn through Joshua’s interaction with this man in the scriptures for this week. We were not saved by God to take sides in this world. Jesus, during his earthly ministry, demonstrated for us what the commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua as he reminds us that God’s will was his purpose (John 4:34). Our sole purpose is God’s mission! We live in a world that thrives on division. Can you imagine what it would be like if all Christians took a stand that they are not for either side in a society that is always divided? You may say this is impossible to do because there is too much going on. It's not impossible because Jesus overcame the world when he was in the flesh and left us an example for those who desire to follow him. For example, politics were around during Jesus’ time. When Jesus was asked a question about tax, read what he says in Luke 20:25. You don't think Jesus knew how the government at the time was abusing the poor and cheating people? Yes, Jesus did, but he did not let the earthly distractions interfere with his purpose which is to seek and save those who were lost. His purpose was not to fight the earthly battles but the heavenly war that is raging for the soul of humanity. I'll give you another example. According to God, marriage is between a man and a woman. The world says if you believe this truth, you are not being loving toward the other group of people because God loves everyone. Another group says if you do not embrace the people who believe in same-sex marriage, you are not a Christian. Do you see how the enemy uses division to throw us off focus? As a soldier in God's army, we believe that God’s son died for the entire world (John 3:16). In the same chapter of John, God says those who recognize the light and live by truth will benefit from the sacrifice he made. Both groups have some truth but not the whole truth. That is why it's important we stay in the Word of God instead of choosing sides. The world will hate you for the truth but that is one of the costs of being in God's army. In God's truth there is no grey area or agree to disagree line, it is simply truth according to God's commands. Whose army are you fighting in?
Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
How does one cross over from death to life? According to Jesus, whoever hears the word of God and believe in God who sent Jesus has eternal life. This passage is part of a bigger puzzle in understanding the process from death to eternal life. Many people read this passage and believe it's the entire picture of Salvation. Jesus later during his ministry explained what hearing and believing his words looks like in John chapter 14 and 15.
For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.
In my opinion, Apostle Paul’s conversion is one of the most mysterious and complex experiences of all the apostles who were called to follow Jesus (Reads Acts Chapter 26). As I continue to learn about Paul’s incredible journey with God through his writings such as this week’s scripture, it makes me think of the consumption of unhealthy food. Paul’s ambition was initially driven by the world standards (power, education, influential life, jealousy, etc.).
It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God's mercy.
As I read this passage, it took me back to a dark moment in my life that God turned into a miracle. It was late winter of 2004, I became extremely sick and was hospitalized for 10 days. My symptoms were out of control and there were no answers. But God! He allowed my doctor’s eyes to open beyond her norm. My doctor was determined to learn the root cause of my infection. While she was meditating and staring at my x-ray, she told me that out of the corner of her eyes she saw something on my x-ray which prompted her to turn my x-ray backwards and upside-down. While I was resting one late afternoon feeling like this could be the end of my earthly journey, a knock came on my door and a young man said, “Ms. Dastine, your doctor called and ordered an emergency x-ray." I replied that I had already done the x-ray. He said, “this time she wants us to take it backwards." I did the x-ray, and they found the infection was hidden behind my lung in a very unusual spot. I started targeted therapy with some strong antibiotics and here I am today. The story did not end there. After I was discharged from the hospital I went for my follow up visit with my doctor, with a smile on her face she said we thought we were going to lose you, but I could not accept that. I knew it was God who allowed her to discover the root cause of the infection because He was not done with me yet.
After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits--- to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.
God's plan is for everyone to get the opportunity to be redeemed. As humans, we are all spiritual beings who God desires to bring back into his eternal glory. I have always been amazed by the fact that Jesus went to minister to the spirits who were imprisoned by God because of their disobedience (Genesis 6:5-8). Reading this passage, God opened my eyes to see the incredible power in the mission that Jesus left his disciples which is “to Go and make disciples of all nations" (Mathew 28:16-20). When Jesus was made alive after his death, he went to minister to the Spirits of the dead from long ago. Jesus did what he knew no mortal men could do to start the completion of God's plan. Through the power of his second life after he was made alive, he started his ministry to restore and revive the world where humankind initially broke God’s heart. The passage says in Genesis 6:6,9.
Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.
I often hear some parents say my child was a mistake and they did not plan to have a child out of wedlock. Or a parent going as far as telling a child you are a mistake, or I was not ready for you! Yes, in our disobedience to the word of God and living under the authority of the flesh (sinful nature- Romans 8:6-8), we make mistakes. And, even in our disobedience God blesses us with rewards. Children are rewards, they are not the reason your life is not what you want it to be. Stop blame-shifting our sinful decisions onto our children!
