First things first

Mat 6:24  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Living a successful Christian life requires that we keep our priorities in order.  The things which pertain to this life only thrust themselves upon us….things like making a living, acquiring things, taking care of our things.  If we are not careful, we can begin to believe that life consist of things and making a living.  Our life can be consumed worrying about material things, and cause us to forget the most important things of life.  Instead of worrying about and pursuing money and things, our spiritual life and the things of God are to be the most important pursuits of our life.  This passage reminds us that God does a good job looking after the needs of His creation.  If He takes such care of the birds and the flowers of the field, how much more can He be depended on to take care of His children.  Don’t let your life be consumed with pursuing material things….this is how those who don’t know the Lord live.  Instead, let’s give priority to the kingdom of God and God can be depended on to supply what we need.  Let’s keep our priorities in order.   

God knows

Luke 12:6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? Luke 12:7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

God sees all, knows all.  He sees everything that happens in His creation.  Even the little sparrows, which have little value or significance in this world, are seen of God.  Not one of them falls to the ground without God seeing and caring.  God knows all about us.  He knows more about us than we know about our selves.  He knows every detail, even insignificant details like the number of hairs on our head.  Jesus reminds us that we need not fear, need not worry.  If God concerns Himself with these lesser things, how much more can He be depended on to take care of His own children.  I pray our faith take in God’s great concern and care, and allow our faith to grow to replace our worries and fears.  

Waiting for the morning

(Psa 130:5 KJV)  I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. (Psa 130:6 KJV)  My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

There are times when disappointment, discouragement and trouble seem to come in like a flood.  In such times, our hope is in God and in the promises of His Word.  The Psalmist expresses an intense longing for God’s help.  The expectation and intensity is even more than that of those who are waiting for the dark night to pass with the dawning of morning. We share that same longing during times of intense or prolonged trouble and trials.  Notice in this passage that we have more than hope; we have an expectation.  There is an expectant waiting and looking for His help and deliverance.  Stay steady, continue to trust and expectantly wait; God’s help is as certain as the bright morning of a new day after a long night

The goodness of God

(Psa 27:13 KJV)  I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Hope is essential to faith and courage.  If we lose hope, our faith and courage will fail, we will faint, give up.  The foundation of our hope is our confidence that God is good and that, in time, we will experience His goodness.  No matter how difficult the situation we find our self in, we must continue to believe and trust in the goodness of God.  God’s goodness is not reserved for the life to come, we will experience His goodness in this life, in the land of the living.  Keep your hope and confidence in the goodness of God.

Happy

Pro 14:21  He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

Being a Christian is more than just having our sins forgiven.  The experience of salvation changes us from loving our self above everything else to loving God supremely and loving others as our self.  One who despises his neighbor sins; despises them by words, scorn or by ignoring their needs.  On the contrary, one who shows mercy, has compassion on the poor will be blessed.        

Wise words

Pro 12:18  There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

There probably isn’t any area that gives Christian more trouble than controlling our words.  We often talk without thinking, or let our emotions spill out in our words.  Our words are very important.  They can cut and pierce and do much damage.  On the other hand, wisely chosen words can bring health and healing.  Let’s purpose to wise in our words, to build up and not tear down.        

Live in love

Pro 15:17Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

How easy it is for us to get our priorities mixed up!  Too often we strive to obtain things, to get ahead, to accumulate money, to live the good life.  However, these are not the things that really make life good and pleasant.  What makes life good and pleasant is the warmth and security of being loved, the joy of an atmosphere of love.  It is better to have fewer of the finer things of life and enjoy love, than to live the “good life” and contend with bitterness and ill will.  Let us strive for the best life, to show love, to promote love, to build those things that make life truly good.  

God gives good gifts

Mat 7:11  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

How often Satan tempts us to believe that God is hard, difficult to move, tight fisted.  God is good, all the time, perfectly good, in every way.  He is compassionate, tender hearted toward His children.  We know it is not difficult for our own children to get those things they need from us.  God is so much more holy and good than we are.  How much more, then, should we trust Him to give us those things that we need.  Trust Him, as a good and compassionate heavenly Father.    

Wait on the Lord

(Psa 130:5 KJV)  I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

Waiting is the hard part.  Waiting for answers to prayer, waiting to see God’s promises fulfilled.  Delays test our faith.  Waiting tests our faith.  This Psalm describes waiting in faith.  The waiting in this passage has expectation, anticipation.  It is like waiting for a bus, with an expectation that it will come.  Waiting in faith has the same expectation…we are waiting, looking and expecting the Lord to come, to answer, to move.  This waiting in faith hopes and expects God to honor His word.  Wait on the Lord in faith, in anticipation, in expectation. Rely on His Word, rely on His promise…..wait on the Lord.

There is none like our God

(Isa 46:9 KJV)  Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,  (Isa 46:10 KJV)  Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

Our God is indescribable; there is none like Him, nothing that He can be compared to.  Only God knows all there is to know; only God knows the end from the beginning.  Only God knows everything that has happened, everything that is happening and everything that will ever happen.  For that reason, God will accomplish everything He intended to accomplish in this world.  This is our God, our Savior.  Trust Him, He is still working His plan.   

Our God is trustworthy

Psa 5:11  But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

Our God is faithful and trustworthy.  He is our provider and our protector.  He can be depended on in every situation, every time.  There is a thrill, a joy, that comes from knowing God is watching over you, caring for you, loving you.  There is a deep joy and happiness that comes from knowing God loves us and we love Him in return.  In the midst of difficulty, don’t forget that God is still loves you, and He is faithful and trustworthy.  Allow God’s faithfulness to restore the joy of your salvation.

Do everything with love

1Co 16:14  Let all your things be done with charity.

We have many responsibilities in life, duties to our family, to our employer and to our God.  There are many “do’s and don’ts” commanded us.  There are also many opportunities in life, many things to pursue.  In everything we do, both religious and secular, we are to conduct ourselves in love.  Everything we do should be done with love, love for God and love for our brothers and sisters.  It is not enough to just do or not do.  It is essential that we do all things with the right motive, the right intention.  We are to be governed by an overriding spirit of love to God and good will toward our neighbor in everything we do.  

Worthy of praise

 1Ch 29:11  Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.  1Ch 29:12  Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.  1Ch 29:13  Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

Our God is an incredible God, indescribable in every aspect.  Everything in creation is by Him and for Him.  Every good thing, every mighty thing is from Him.  To Him belongs all glory, honor and praise.  For all that God is, and all that He does, He deserves great praise and thanks.  The glory and greatness of God is beyond compare.  He is worthy of great praise and honor.  He is worthy of a standing ovation, not just a smattering of applause.  May we better take in the enormity of His glory and greatness, and may our hearts well up in praise befitting that greatness.

All men every where

Act 17:30  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Act 17:31  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Christianity isn’t just for Christians.  In a world hostile to Christianity, we can begin to think we will just do our thing and let everyone else do theirs. This is God’s world, all of it.  God was patient until His revelation was complete in the sending of His own Son.  He gave infallible proof of His truth in the sending of Jesus Christ.  Now, God no longer overlooks the unrepentant and unbelieving, but commands everyone to repent. There is a day appointed, already circled on God’s calendar when all people everywhere will be called to account.  For that reason, Christianity is for everyone…in fact it is an absolute necessity.  Let’s not be ashamed, but rather be bold in our call for people everywhere to repent and believe the gospel.    

Love sincerely

1Jn 3:18  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Our love must go beyond warm words and good intentions.  Our love must be shown in how we act and behave.  Our love must be sincere enough to be acted upon.  Love is known by how it behaves. Let us live our lives demonstrating our love for God by our obedience and our love for one another by our treatment of those around us.

Quench the flame

Pro 15:1  A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Dealing with anger is a major lesson in life to be learned, both our own anger and anger of others.  Anger is often expressed in words, and also is often provoked by our words.  Part of dealing with anger is learning to control our mouth.  Learning to speak calmly, with reason and kindness, will help to diffuse anger, much like throwing water on a fire.  However, responding with bitter hateful words will lead to more anger, much like throwing gasoline on the fire.  Let's learn to be firemen, quenching the flames of anger by our words.

Be wise

Pro 10:8  The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

Let us never get so wise that we can’t be instructed.  Those who are truly wise are open to being taught and instructed.  It is a fool who thinks they know best that will fall, that will bring harm and loss on themselves.  We need to learn to live with humility that acknowledges that we don’t know it all, and remain open to instruction, particularly in the things of God.

Beware of bitterness

Heb 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Being a Christian does not exempt us from loss and disappointment.  One of the dangers of disappointments and loss is bitterness.  There is a certain pain and discouragement that naturally accompanies loss and disappointment.  However, we need to learn to seek God’s grace, to rely on His love and care, to be able to overcome our discouragement.  To allow our self to seek comfort in self pity exposes us to spiritual danger and bitterness.  Bitterness is a poison that will prove to be spiritually fatal to our self and a great hindrance to those around us. Don’t fail the grace of God; seek comfort and refreshing in His love and care.  

On guard

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

The idea of a real and living Devil has lost favor in the modern church.  However, we are warned in God’s word that there exists an evil being who is intent on destroying us.  We have one who opposes us and works to see us lost eternally.  For this reason we are to be diligent and alert, on guard for his deception and opposition.  Live a careful life; be aware that we have a dangerous and powerful enemy who is intent on our destruction.

Hold on

(2 Th 3:13 KJV)  But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

One of the dangers of this Christian life is that we just get tired, weary, and want to quit.  In times of discouragement, often our greatest danger is the temptation to just quit. When we have been in a long difficulty, or been disappointed, we can begin to think that living this Christian life just isn’t worth the effort.  When it looks like those who have no regard for God are prospering and we are struggling, we are tempted to quit.  Don’t grow weary of doing what is right.  God is just and good.  In due time you will see that His way is best.  Are you tired and weary?  Hold on a little longer, continue to do what you know pleases God.  God is faithful.