It’s said “you can’t walk forward looking back” and while this is true I can’t help but look over my shoulder at how I used to live.
Deceit; envy; lying and foul language was something which held me back for years as a young adult. It caused all kinds of drama and mistrust. Romans 8:5
So I can say with certainty that getting rid of this type of living gave room for me to experience more goodness.
When His Word at first was preached to me and it begin to transform my understanding, reaching me where nothing else could. It sounded like a sermon on Grace. <Video link>
So reading the Word of God eventually became a daily habit.
At first I’d read it to try and find out what I needed to do or what it was saying about me.
It was His Word that called me to truth and clean living.
To letting go of bitterness and shame.
No more looking to be better then others but instead praying for them, as He did. John 17:20
No looking for acceptance in others because Jesus accepted me, even with all my imperfections He became my new habit.
His Word fed my soul and it changed my thinking.
Every misplaced longing for love and acceptance was met by His Word. He showed me what it means to have loyalty and serve others as He did. He changed me, it was Him working out my salvation in me. Eph 2:10
And then He served me the best news; I was forgiven and loved forever.
He has taught me to stay close and feed on His Word daily.
It grows you spiritually strong and when you feed on the Word of God ~ you will find out how good God really is!
The purpose of the Bible is so that we will know God and grow in a relationship with Him. This is how we decide if we want to be with Him eternally. If we fall in love with Him we will want this relationship forever. John 5:39
We also learn in our reading of His word that it is about His law and the message of His love towards us the gospel. All one.
The law is the gospel embodied and the gospel is the law unfolded.
Another words when we read about who God is – He is the law. And who Christ Jesus is- He is the gospel.
God is the root, His son is the fragrant blossom and fruit which it bears.
Let this understanding sink in.
Once we understand that while yes Jesus is the fulfillment of the law. This means He is stepping in as God in flesh, never taking away from but giving Himself to anyone seeking a relationship with God. John 14:6
When you become one with Him, there is a special promise given John 14:15-18 you will have the Spirit of truth.
Because we open the door of our hearts to know Jesus Rev 3;20 we are given a heavenly gift.
This begins the dwelling of the Father and the Son.
We don’t get this promise, unless we submit to first knowing and accepting the law in the gospel. John 14:19-24.
Now this is how we will have “direction” in life:
“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”
Friends the promise is a choice. Don’t delay in taking the steps to know the truth of God’s Word.
I once thought I understood the scene where God tells Moses “and I will harden his heart..” Ex 4:21
I truly didn’t understand why God would say this because it seems contradictory to who He is, so in my little brain it had to mean when someone doesn’t want the presence of God near them.
My reasoning was because God is LOVE, and where love abides it is pliable – filled with good thoughts.
But take away Gods love and you have a heart of stone.
After this study here’s what I understand better now, when a person keeps ignoring what they know is right ( this is what Pharaoh was doing. God knowing this is what he would do, foretold this to Moses..) because it conflicts with what they want, A hardening of the heart is something happens over time. Look at all the plagues, warning..warning..warning.
1 Sam 6:6 repeats the lesson from Exodus which the Prophet Samuel said they didn’t learn – “Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He did mighty things among them, did they not let the people go, that they might depart?”
He was warning them again..
The Word says their ability to tell right from wrong became weaker. The mind becomes darkened — Ephesians 4:18 says people can be “darkened in their understanding” when they turn from God.
The conscience grows dull. 1 Timothy 4:2 describes a conscience that becomes “seared,” meaning it no longer responds clearly.
The heart becomes hardenedHebrews 3:13 warns that sin can harden the heart over time.
Separation from God follows Isaiah 59:2says sin separates us from God.
Put simply:
When we repeatedly choose our desires over what we know God is asking, we slowly lose our sensitivity to truth.
What once felt wrong no longer does, and that distance leads us away from God.
When we ignore what God shows us is right, our hearts harden, our conscience dulls, and we begin to lose the ability to recognize truth.
Friends – check your hearts as the Holy Spirit says: “ Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness,” Hebrews 3:7-11
It takes a simple step.. approach the throne of God in your heart and ask for forgiveness in Christ name, then let Him lead you through this life in a surrendered heart.
I remember growing up in the country, climbing trees using each branch like a monkey bar, hoping it would hold me and not snap if I didn’t find the right branch. We had a rope swing that was used to swing off into the creek on summer days, it was there for many years until the limb eventually gave way.
There was another one that held a bench swing that lasted longer then expected it was supported by a very strong tree.
Years later my own kids had a rope swing, which at one point became a dogs tug-a-war toy, eventually that tree started to die and the branch grew weak with no support for it.
I tell you all this to say ” the branch” I am learning about in my study of the Word on the “vine” turns out is only as good as the tree it’s on.
So in my desire to have eternal life it means I need salvation and this is only good through Christ Jesus because of who sent Him and who He is connected with and of course born from. The Creator of Heaven and Earth, God the Father, calls Jesus His Son.
And He also calls Him the “BRANCH” in Zech 6:12-13 which means God is the strong tree.
According to the Word, this Branch IS Christ who is the foundation for all truth, which is the true church of God.
Those whom hang onto the Word of God – which is Christ – whom it says was before the world John 1:1 God was with the Word – made all things that are made through Him, and in Him was life and the life which is the light of men.
Friends, I have found “the branch” for LIFE.
It was whom Moses in the law and also the prophets, wrote about, Jesus of Nazareth.
And because He is God in flesh He is not just for looks, You can hang onto Him because He is in the Father and the Father is in Him. John 17:21
Big tree = strong branch. But hey don’t just read this- go explore the Word and you will find it is true for you too!
Most do not understand the truth of God’s love for His creation.
When I read the Word and see the clear evidence of the long suffering, merciful, gracious love of God, my mind cannot understand how great a love this is.
He was accused of not being fair and called venegful by the lair, one of His own.
I believe He would have reasoned with the fallen angels had they wanted to be reconciled.
He would have shown them the truth of His Word and thus spared all humanity the experience of sin.
Sit with this a minute. Sin is the cause of all evil.
The world we live in today is a result of not yielding, not trusting in the authority of God’s Word.
Thankfully there is a small remnant left of those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus.
Otherwise we would have all become like Sodom and sin would make us like Gomorrah. Isaiah 1:1-20
Even so – God still made a way for us to battle for truth and it is simply by yielding to Him to be transformed in Christ.
Our heart must be yielded to God’s love toward us or the change can never happen in us – by doing this we are restored into His likeness.
It is by nature of sin, that we are alienated from God..but He desires to heal us and set us free from living in sin nature.
He works ever so carefully as a loving parent would to a child learning how to live safely.
I am so thankful to have made my decision to give my heart to Christ Jesus, and I implore you to do the same.
Have you ever heard the 10 commandments of the laws of God described as the laws of love?
Maybe you understood when the son of God ( Christ Jesus ) answered in Matthew 22:34-40 this question;
“Teacher which is the great commandment in the law ? ”
He says you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the first and great commandment, and the second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Did you know the first four commandments are about loving God, and the last six are about loving your neighbor?
This is why the ten Gospels are also pointing to how all the law and the prophets are shared!
Most understand the gospel is the story of God, the message of God’s love.
The book I am linking here today is one I hope you will consider looking into today. It speaks to the truth of God’s Word and the whole matter like verses 40 in Matthew says.
“On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Studying this will help us in the battle for truth.
The final events in earths history is coming.
You will be more prepared if you would only seek the truth of God’s Word. His greatest desire is to write this law of love on our hearts and minds!
And did you know you in this very moment you could be fighting on the wrong side?
Why do I say this, because Jesus asked the Father in Heaven “forgive them ~they don’t know what they are doing”, as He was dying on the cross. Killed by God’s own people, not wanting to do the deed of crucifying Him, they turned Him over to the law enforcer of their time, Rome, which ridiculed Him.
And in that battle Jesus said forgive them.
Today I am convicted that I must share the reality on the subject of sin because all have fallen short of the glory of God, ALL.
Most do not understand that we are falling down on a spiritual battlefield, which is a war over our lives.
It’s the great controversy between Jesus and the Heavenly Angels verses Satan and his demons.
You see there’s a loud battle cry going forth from the soldiers of Christ, this battle cry is for our souls.
God would have not one lost, but He gives the choice over our own lives to us.
This is why it is not “predestined” as some would say. You get to chose.
The invisible battle being waged on ALL the children of God daily has been going on since the beginning of time.
In this present time where nation is against nation, and violence is the theme every day. We must battle for the truth, the Gospel of Christ must be talked about.
In 2 Timothy 3, we are told of dangerous times in the last days, which are even worse than the days of Christ and His apostles.
So how do we battle?
First we must know the Author and the Finisher of our faith. It is the difference between walking in darkness and having God’s light in the darkness.
You must look to whom this light is, it is Jesus Christ the Son of God, without His light you remain in darkness.
God‘s Word is the light that divides day from night.
This is meant to be understood both figuratively and literally.
The whole matter of light will be found throughout scriptures, all we have to do is seek out the Word, He will give you light to understand the truth of this battle of darkness and how to walk through it.
Secondly, your battle stance is not on your feet.
It’s on your knees. It is having a heart posture of humbleness towards the Lord and leaning on His Word, not your understanding.This is where God offers forgiveness and healing.
Give Him all that is yours, daily. Your cares, your troubles, your future and your past. Give Him access to your mind, your whole life. He will not trespass, He knocks on your heart and waits for you to let Him in.
Understand this , all your treasures and all your own ways belong to you until you give it to Him.
Once you surrender, you will learn how to wear His armor. You will become a soldier for Him. Unburdening yourself in surrendered service, means you will no longer fight alone or on your own.
To battle for the Lord is to share the truth of His Word.
It is to lay down your own version of right and wrong. It means giving our will to the Lord and choosing His ways in place of ours.
When we realize that we need repentance, He provides.
He gives grace and mercy.
Sounds like a lot, but it’s nothing compared to what He will give you. You will not out give the Lord, He is the ultimate gift giver.
His ways are higher and He plans good for us.
With Him in charge, there is no future of harm to us. He plans to heal us and to set us up to succeed.
Even though the darkness remains at this time, His light gives us a firm footing in the battle.
I will continue to share more battle plans, however right now look to Christ Jesus the Savior, give Him your heart, commit to study His Word. You will need to do this, in order to trust The Victorious Commander and Chief.
I’m going to describe the morning I wrote this post, and it is my hope that you will see the “intersecting truth” this is the message I hope to convey to you today.
When we look around at the scenes of life, the beauty of God’s love gets overlooked as the details of life are often distracting.
The picture window I’m sitting at this morning is presenting a new day dawning. The scene is full, life is happening. The birds are flying from limb to limb in the tall trees, the branches are swaying in the wind. Below those trees are neighboring homes which start to become vividly contrasting in the light of day. One home looks like it’s well cared for, maintained from what I can see on the outside, and then there’s the neighbor next-door which appears like it struggles. Projects piled up in the yard, maybe they ran out of time or energy. Maybe they were more concerned with the chores inside. I don’t pretend to know, this is just an observance, a small part of the bigger picture.
While in the background the sun is rising in slow procession upwards, its rays are breaking through the fabric of the clouds. And as the light travels out in each direction it gives more light with each passing moment bringing with it warmth.
I observe the wildlife continue to hunt for their breakfast, while keeping watch for harm. The grass is receiving its morning dew drops and the sun continues to cast rise upwards with with it the wind moves around, in response the tree branches become subject to the sun’s presence in the air. And the rest of nature plays out to the changing of the day.
All that I witness is because the sun gave light. Without the illumination of this light from the sun, we would not experience the picture before us.
Without light, we would remain in darkness.
Nothing would be seen that is seen, just as it is, with the Lord.
1 Corinthians 1: 26- 31 says only when we seek to know the Lord, will we be able to see his glory ( His light) this is how we become believers. He chose us to see Him.
We did not choose Him.
He gives light that He may be seen, revealing that He is the truth. It is how we learn. It is how we become partakers of the truth of His Word.
God is not the author of confusion, He paints with perfect strokes the picture of completion each new morning. He designed it so that all who look will see and be acquainted with Him the perfect Creator.
It is the very same in that those who seek to study the Bible will know the will of the Heavenly Father.
He gave men the pure word of prophecy, angels to help guide and even more His son who is God Himself in flesh, which made what would come to pass. The Gospel message. The God – story. The Good news. The message of Salvation.
Salvation is not a mystery, the Word of God studied plainly with a prayerful heart will reveal what is to come and how we must work with Him to store up in heaven our treasures. Just like the morning picture.
Only when we surrender our worldly plans for the cares of our Redeemer we will want to invest in the work purposed for us, His will. Revelations 1:3
Blessings will come to those who hear and keep His word.
But to those who, instead stay invested in this world, who buy silver and gold, which will corrode. Those who refuse and remain unrepentant, living unrepented lives, they are treasuring up for themselves wrath in the day of judgment. James 5:2-6
Since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen and understood. Romans 1:20
No one denies the suns shining presence when seeing it rise each morning.
It is the same with God. We only need to be willing to abide in His will as children, to be patient and surrendered to His leading so that in the day of His coming, we will stand unashamed and ready to meet the Savior.
One day Jesus will return to get His loved ones, whom chose Him and served Him only, don’t be deceived, give your life and every new day to Him that you may be saved.
Lately I’ve been watching a lot of body cam videos on law enforcement officers. I’m sure I have only scratched the surface of what happens but I have seen enough to spot the character differences of those who are rebellious and those who are humble. This is not about the justice system but about the citizens reaction towards it.
The common thread of the rebellious citizen is that most are not law abiding; they are quick tempered and most of the time will try to lie their way out of a situation and act as if they are entitled.
Their attitudes are hostile even at the onset, when others are using common courtesy. I understand good manners don’t make up for stressful situations, however it should deescalate any type of defensive attitudes. But this is not the case with a rebellious attitude, which seem to behave ugly in nature, and most often abusive. It makes perfect sense as to why there’s so much lawlessness and aggravated events.
And even before the law is involved these rebellious characters are subjective and demanding towards the public in their nature with irrational attitudes which cause unrest and disrupting the peace.
These are those who have no regard for others, and no respect towards civility in the law of the land. They want all the considerations, and are unwilling to be humble.
The other side is this, those who confess and admit to wrong or foul play. They are better able to listen, their behavior demonstrates they made a bad choice but it doesn’t define them.
In every situation if we handled ourselves in humility we would deescalate and attract better outcomes. A lesson I am learning.
The problem is we are quick to anger, quick to speak and slow to listen. We believe the lie in our mind that says we will be treated unfairly unless we control of the narrative.
This never works out – and it’s actually the scheme of the devil to cause this kind of stinking thinking which causes division. James 4:7 tells us.
While those who are humble minded will submit to God’s will – in that they can resist the devils lies and he will flee.
We are told to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger. That’s the fruit of humility. James 1:19
And most of all God is a shield to all who trust Him.
This is why I need to give my battles to the Lord, you should also.
And let’s be mindful to pray for those whose jobs it is to keep the peace, it’s a hard job to keep balance, they are faced with more then you could imagine. Without law, we have no order.
I am guilty of looking at and listening to misinformation, scrolling along I’ll give a few seconds to platforms that continue to give their opinions of what they perceive as truth in the times we are living in.
Some even sound legit but then I’ll hear or see something that registers as an untruth and I’ll know it is time to move on.
Those of you who know what I’m talking about. Even if you are not well studied in the Bible, in our little understanding we know because of the we are given spiritual discernment, which the Word of God gives to those who accept and read it. Proverbs 2
The same happened in the days of Noah before the great flood, you see a message was sent from heaven to the world in Noah’s time, He shared it and listened to God about building an ark to save that which God appointed. The creatures, and those who would respond to the message. Their salvation depended upon how they accepted it, yet only Noah’s family escaped because the rest of humanity rejected the warning of God. Gen 6
The Spirit of God was withdrawn from the sinful race and they all perished. By choice.
The same happened again in the days of Abraham who pleaded for Sodom.Gen 18: 16 Only three survived. By choice.
The same fate is true for those in the days when Christ comes back again. Those who do not have the love of truth, but reject Christ Jesus the Lord and Savior, who delight in unrighteousness.
Matthew 23:37 is how Jesus expressed His lament over Jerusalem’s rejection. Continue reading through 24 and you will see what He says about His coming.
Those who reject the teachings of His Word. God will have no choice but to withdraw His Spirit and leave them to the deception which they love.
Friends, the way we spend our time is showing what we love.
Let’s purpose to put down those things that distract us from learning the truth of God’s love towards us.
Let’s ask God to help us learn to put away foolishness and instead nourish our minds to have the love of the truth.
