Live in peace

(Rom 12:17 KJV)  Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. (Rom 12:18 KJV)  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

We are instructed to not repay evil with evil. What is one of the first responses we feel when we are done wrong?  We are going to even the score, pay them back.  As Christians we are instructed not to get even, not pay back evil for evil. This passage tells us to “Provide things honest in the sight of all men”, or as another translation renders it, Take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.  We are to make sure the way we respond is fitting of one who takes the name of Christ.  We represent Christ before a watching world.  There is something more important than our own rights; …it is the reputation of Jesus Christ and His salvation. (Rom 12:18 KJV)  If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. As much as lieth in you, as much as it depends on you, seek to live at peace with everyone.  Do your part to insure peace and right relationships with everyone.  Let’s show the world the change that salvation brings.

My God shall supply ALL your needs

(Phil 4:19 KJV)  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 Paul was thanking the church at Phillipi for remembering him and helping supply his needs. Paul was unable to repay them for their love and care, but he was confident that God wouldn’t overlook what they had done.  The promise was that “My God shall supply all your needs”. This isn’t limited to things spiritual. My God shall supply all your needs, ALL our needs. ALL our needs, all those things we are tempted to worry about. God will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory. Does God have enough to get the job done?  Enough wealth, enough wisdom, enough love, enough grace? Resist the temptation to worry. Resist the temptation to focus your time and attention on the things of this world. Continue faithful, continue to trust God. My God shall supply all your needs.

Our Father

(2 Cor 6:18 KJV)  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

 God identifies Himself as our Father, the Supreme Being, the Creator of the universe, is our Father.   What more could we ask for?  We have been brought into a special personal relationship with the very creator of the universe.  The One who knows all, sees all, the very Creator of all, has promised to take us as His children.  Is there anything too hard for our Father?  Is there anything beyond His knowledge?   Is there any need to great for His resources?  Trust your Father, He loves and cares for you.  He is truly all we need. 

Fear not

(Isa 41:13 KJV)  For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

 There are many things in life that can cause us to fear and worry.  The promise of this passage is that we need not fear because God will help us.  Like a parent takes hold of a child’s hand, God takes hold of our hand and says “Fear not, I will help thee.” There is no fear when we have His very presence with us to protect us and to guide us.  There is no fear when He is guiding and directing us.  There is no fear when God is keeping us.  There is no fear though we are in the very midst of danger when our hand is help tightly by His.  Keep reaching up; keep your hand in His.

Pray

(1 Th 5:17 KJV)  Pray without ceasing.

 Don’t let anything keep you from maintaining your prayer life.  This is how our relationship and faith grows, by talking to God, by seeking what we need, by seeing God answer our prayers. We are to be consistent in our prayer, and we are also to be continual in our prayer.  By that, I mean we are to learn to live with God throughout the day.  Talk to God all day long as we live out the day, seeking His help in everything.  This is how our relationship grows and how we experience the felt presence of God in a greater way.

Compassion

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 sins who despises his neighbor; 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.        

God cares

Luk 12:6  Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? Luk 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 ourselves.  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 replace our worries and fears.  

As faithful as the morning sun

(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 and discouragement 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.  

Peasce is better

Pro 15:17  Better 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.  

Hope in God

(Psa 42:11 KJV)  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

 There are times when we find ourselves mired down in worry, discouragement and restlessness.  As the Psalmist, we need to remind our self of God’s care and faithfulness. We can revive our hope in the midst of our difficulties by knowing that God is our God and will never forsake us.  We can praise Him now for who He is and in confidence that He will once again prove faithful.       

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.        

How much more

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. 

Believe and trust in 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 ourselves 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.

Waiting

(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.

Still on track

(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.   

Joyful

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 still loves you, and He is faithful and trustworthy.  Allow God’s faithfulness to restore the joy of your salvation.

Let all things be done 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.   

Our Great God

1 Ch 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.

Not just for Christians

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.  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.    

In deed

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.