Have you not known?

(Isa 40:21 KJV)  Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?(Isa 40:22 KJV)  It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: (Isa 40:23 KJV)  That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. (Isa 40:24 KJV)  Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble. (Isa 40:25 KJV)  To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. (Isa 40:26 KJV)  Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.

Many things are in happening in our world that can cause us to fear… the rise of Islam, the unrest among many nations, the moral decline in our own nation. If we are not careful, we can begin to fear the future. What is going on in our world should cause us to be awakened, but not cause us to lose our faith, or despair. We can trust the future to our God. The future belongs to God. This is God’s world: God planned it; God created it; God sustains it. God will accomplish His purposes while the world stands. God will end this world according to His plan and wisdom, in His time. Nothing has taken God by surprise. We can trust the future to our God. He is truly in control.  Our God is the one and only great Creator and God.  Trust Him.

Generous

Pro 11:24  There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. Pro 11:25  The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

Generosity is a Christian attribute.  It is a Christian attitude toward those who are around us. We are cautioned against selfishness.  Notice the Proverb, it’s a bit of a riddle: Scatters but increases, holds tight but tends to poverty.  Verse 25 tells us why:  God is at work, God takes care of those who take care of others. We are called to be generous in meeting the needs around us; It is a visible example of love.  This is not a call to give away all, but a call to generosity, “withholdeth more than is meet”.  Our heart ought to be moved with compassion on the needs around us. One of our responses should be generosity, sharing what God has blessed us with.  Let’s strive to be good stewards of what God has blessed us with, and be generous in meeting the needs of those around us.

Cheerful

Php 2:14  Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

Perhaps very few things are less attractive than a complaining Christian.  It is not enough just to do what we ought to do…we are to carry out our duties with a good attitude and good motives.  This scripture admonishes us to obey without murmuring and disputing.  We are to obey without grumbling, arguing and complaining.  If we are not careful, we can leave the impression that the Christian life is difficult and unpleasant.  Let’s endeavor to carry out our Christian duties cheerfully and willingly.

Confident

Deu 31:7  And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. Deu 31:8  And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

As God’s children, we can live confidently and courageously. Why? Because we have God. The Lord will be with you.  He will not fail.  He will not forsake. God will not call us where He cannot take us. God will not take us where He cannot keep us. We are safe with the Lord.  Is there anything too difficult for the very living God of all creation? When the fear comes, go to the One who has promised to never leave us or forsake us. When you know the path the God has chosen for you, start down that path confidently.  When fears come, go to Him for your help and strength. Not only will God be with us, He will prepare the way. For God to go before us means that He knows already what the future holds. He knows and He has made provision.  He has already fought and won the battles we will face.  He has already made a path through the confusion we will encounter.  He has broken down the impassable places we will come to.  In these dark days, let’s live like we have a God who can be depended on.   

Compassion

Mat_14:14  And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

Compassion is one of the attributes of God which we see clearly in the life of Jesus.  Most of the recorded miracles of Jesus are accompanied by the phrase “moved with compassion”.  Compassion is a deep sympathy for another who is suffering, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.  The love of God in our heart should cause us to have compassion on those in need around us.  The love of God should cause us to move beyond just seeing the need; it should move us to do what we can to help.  Let’s show the love of God by being moved with compassion to help those around us who are in need and suffering. 

Visible love

1 Jn 3:16  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 1Jn 3:17  But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 1Jn 3:18  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

We know God loves us because Jesus was willing to suffer and die for us.  We know He loves us by what He has done.  In the same way, those around us will know our love by what we do.  One of the measures of our love is how we respond to our brothers and sisters needs.  True love will be moved with compassion, as Jesus was.  If we are not moved to help, our claim to have the love of God is simply not true.  Let’s be challenged to show the reality of God’s love in how we live and how we respond to the needs around us

Commit it God

1Pe 4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Being a Christian does not exempt us from suffering, from disappointments and hardships.  It is possible to be fully following the will of God in your life and come into a place of suffering or hardship.  Often this is a very discouraging and confusing place for a Christian.  We know that God is sovereign, all powerful, the God of all creation.  So why did He allow this?  These questions can cause us to be tempted to quit, or at least back off of a close walk with God.  This passage gives us instruction for such a time:  Commit ourselves to God’s keeping and continue in well doing, in living right, in doing right.  We can commit our keeping to Him because He is faithful, and He is the great Creator.  God is faithful; He can be depended on to do what is right, even if we can’t understand what is happening.  He is the great God, the almighty Creator.  We are perfectly safe in His care.  Trust Him.  Commit yourself to His care.

Life is short and fragile

Psa 39:4  LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.

It’s good sometimes to remind ourselves how short and fragile this life is.  I don’t think we ought to think on it in a morbid way that leaves us depressed and causes us to lose our zest for life.  However, it is good to be reminded so that we keep things in proper perspective.  This life is short; a preparation really, for the life to come.  All of this life should be measured in the light of eternity.  The fact that life is so fragile should cause us to cling to our God, to trust Him for everything.  We need His wisdom and His help.  Life is short and fragile.  Keep heaven in view and rely on God for His protection and help. 

Walk as He walked

(1 John 2:6 KJV)  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

The evidence of the reality of salvation is in the life that we live.  If we claim that we live in Him, and He lives in us, then that reality will be shown in the way we live.  We will live our life like He lived His life, endeavoring to have His attitudes, to talk and act as He would.  If we claim to live in Him, our life should give evidence of His presence with us.    

Walk worthy

(Phil 1:27 KJV)  Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Our lives are to be lived in a way that is worthy of the gospel of Christ.  Part of the life that shows the effect of the gospel is our unity with one another.  We are expected to stand firm in one spirit, with one purpose, with oneness of mind.  We are to be contending for the faith, for the truth of the gospel.  Let’s make sure we walk worthy of the salvation that we have been given.

While He is near

Isa 55:6  Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

There is an accepted time to seek the Lord.  We are to call on God while we have the opportunity.  If you have a need, don’t put off seeking God.  Whatever the need is, seek Him while you have the opportunity.  If we neglect to seek Him when we have opportunity, we don’t have a promise of that opportunity returning.  It is a trick of Satan to get us to procrastinate in seeking God.  But in doing so, we risk missing out on His help.  Whatever the need, seek Him now, while He is near and accessible.      

The Word of God

(Rom 10:17 KJV)  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

God’s Word is vital to our salvation.  It is the word of God that awakens us.  It is the word of God that shows us God and His great salvation.  It is the word of God that convinces and produces faith in our heart to accept the offer of salvation.  It is by the word of God that we have faith for the battles and challenges of life. We are privileged to have easy access to God’s Word.  Don’t allow your faith to wither for lack of the nourishment of God’s Word.  

Keep His commandments

1Jn 2:4  He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1Jn 2:5  But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 1Jn 2:6  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 1Jn 2:7  Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 1Jn 2:8  Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 1Jn 2:9  He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 1Jn 2:10  He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 1Jn 2:11  But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

This passage is very plain and easy to understand.  We cannot be right with God if we don’t obey His commandments.  Obedience leads to love; love for God and love for our brothers and sisters in the Lord.  Our claim to have the truth and the light is a false claim if it hasn’t produced love for our fellow believers.  God’s Word is very plain on this subject:  the reality of our claim of salvation can be measured by the love for God and the love for one another that it produces.  Let’s be careful that we maintain our love for God and our love for His children.  Check your attitudes.  Check your words.  Check your actions.  It is vital that we know we are walking in the light at this dark hour.

Love one another

Joh 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.   Joh 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to love one another.  Notice the measure of that love:  we are to love as Jesus loves us.  That is a high standard indeed.  Our love is to be a visible love, so much so that everyone can know we are His disciples, His followers, by the love they can observe.  I am afraid that we have much room to grow in obeying this commandment.  Judge your attitudes toward your brothers and sisters in the Lord in light of this commandment.

Christian love

1Jn 3:14  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

1Jn 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 1Jn 4:8  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1Jn 4:9  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 1Jn 4:10  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1Jn 4:11  Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

1Jn 4:20  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 1Jn 4:21  And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Christian love is a natural attribute of one who has experienced the new birth, and has spiritual life.  Our love for God extends to God’s children, all those who have also experienced this great salvation and new life.  A love for our fellow believers is one of the evidences that we have experienced salvation.  On the other hand, a lack of love for our fellow believers gives evidence that our claim to know God is false.  Cultivate your love for your fellow believers, your brothers and sisters in the Lord.  Pray for them and their needs.  Allow your love to be lived out in actions and words in accordance with that love.  Let’s make sure our attitudes, words and actions fall in line with this commandment.    

Greater

1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

We often forget that we are not alone in the battles of life.  As God’s children, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit living in us.  He is with us in everything situation, in every temptation, in every difficulty, giving us the strength and help we need.  Take courage.  God is with you.  In everything we face, remember that the One who is with us is greater than anything that we face.

Pray for one another

Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Prayer is the heartbeat of our Christian life.  It is to be a continual part of our relationship with God.  We are to persevere in prayer and supplication.  Supplication is prayer that holds on, continues to plead with God.  We are to pray for one another.  Prayer binds us to God and to one another.  Let’s make sure we don’t neglect to pray, to hold on to God for what we need, and to pray for one another.

Prayer

Mat 6:5  And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. Mat 6:6  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Mat 6:7  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Mat 6:8  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Prayer shows our dependence on God and our trust in Him.  Prayer is not to show others how spiritual we are.  Prayer is not a religious exercise that the mere performance of moves God.  God knows all about us.  God knows our needs before we ask.  Prayer brings us before God in a right attitude of trust and reliance on Him.  Prayer makes us aware of God’s love and care when we see His response to our prayer.  God wants a real relationship with us.  Prayer is one of the primary means by which that relationship is built.  As we see God’s love demonstrated to us in answer to our prayer, our love for God grows deeper and our trust and faith more full.  Pray.  Prayer is between you and God.  Let Him show you His faithfulness.  

The good life

Rom 12:12  Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

In this passage we find a good prescription for a happy and successful Christian life.  First, rejoice in hope.  We have a hope, a hope of God’s help in this life, a hope of eternal life.  Our hope is of a life without end, without any sorrow or difficulty, in a place without any sin or evil of any kind.  Rejoice! Let your heart be overjoyed!  We have a hope no matter what else is going on.  Next, be patient, persevere in difficulties and trouble.  This present life is a mixture of good and evil.  Bear it patiently, in light of our hope.  Then continue instant, or continually, in prayer.  Bring your burdens and perplexities to God.  Trust Him to guide you safely home.  Come into His presence to find peace and assurance.    

Sincere prayer

Psa 17:1  Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.

Prayer isn’t something we do out of religious duty.  Prayer is a sincere call to the almighty God.  God is faithful to hear and answer sincere prayer.  We are in danger of our prayer becoming just a form, just a religious habit.  Let’s stay aware that we are coming into the presence of the very Ruler of the universe.  Let’s make sure our words are sincere, from our heart.  If they are, we can be certain that our God will hear.