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!
You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
Jesus wrote this stern rebuke to address the heart and mindset of the Laodicea church. This scripture is very much applicable to our lives today. Jesus is reminding us that being rich in this world can easily lead us to worship our position in life and disregard the God who provides the "rich and affluent" life that we live. Are you in a position where you feel that you have reached the top and are in no need? Has your success become the focal point of your life? The scripture above is a reminder if our lives are not God focused, we are doomed for eternal disappointment.
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal rock.
As you read this scripture, you might be experiencing a difficult trial where you are discouraged and feel defeated. You might find yourself saying, why am I not in perfect peace when I trust in God? This passage makes me think of the story in Mathew 14: 22-33 when Peter walked on water. The scripture says Peter got down and walked on water but when he lost his focus on Jesus and started focusing on the wind that is when he started sinking. The question we need to ask ourselves during the difficult times in our lives is, who or what are our thoughts fixed on?
A person's wisdom yields patience; it is to one's glory to overlook an offense.
Do you often find yourself offended by others’ opinions, thoughts, and actions? For me, there was a time in my life when the answer would have been a resounding yes, I do get offended often by others. Through many mistakes and trials in my life, Jesus through the Holy Spirit has allowed me to grow in this area. There was a time in my life, pleasing people and people liking me was highly important for my self-esteem and self-worth. I struggled with this burden for many years in my spiritual journey. I said Jesus is my Lord/Shepherd and I profess to believe that I lack nothing (Psalm 23:1), yet internally I was consumed by others’ opinions, thoughts and actions toward me.
When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
Who and what do you turn to as you face hardship in your life? Every solution that is offered by our society is temporary. Oftentimes, most solutions that the world offers to our problems are conditional. God is the only solid and genuine solution to all our hardships without any condition. Whether we messed up or misused his solutions or blessings, he still loves us and seeks a relationship with us. When God is on your side your situations have no power over you. If you have not done so, cry out to the Lord and watch him deliver and set you up to win. Your spacious place will not just be on earth but in his eternal kingdom.
Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
Do you ever find yourself using this statement? Everyone sins. You are correct! We are all sinners. If we were not sinners, then we would not need a Savior. Therefore, Jesus dying on the cross would be pointless. There are two groups of sinners. One group lives their life with no boundaries or regard for God's authority.
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
When you are told to be strong it is because you are going through a difficult time. I don’t know what is going on in your life but whatever it is God is saying be strong and courageous! Joshua was getting ready to lead God’s people who were not always easy to lead. As God was commanding Joshua, he made a point to repeatedly remind him to be strong and courageous. We all know when courage and strength are needed, fear is not absent. God provided Joshua and the people of Israel with the path to success as they are getting ready to inherit the promise land. The instruction from God was simple, obey me and you will be successful. No matter what your trials might be today, do not give into the temptation of disobeying God’s commands. The enemy has a way of making us believe that God’s way is hard or takes too long when in reality the Devil’s ideas might seem easy or perhaps a faster route, but it always brings pain and heartache that are long lasting. "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 14:12-KJV).
