Fully committed

Dan 3:16  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. Dan 3:17  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. Dan 3:18  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

 We need a determination to fully follow God, no matter what.  Our confidence should be that God is able to do anything.  He can deliver out of any situation and He can protect us from anyone.  But whether God chooses to deliver us, or whether He chooses to walk through the fire with us, our determination should be to follow Him fully.  In a time of wickedness and apostasy, let’s determine to follow God fully.      

Freedom

Gal 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

 I am thankful for the freedom we enjoy.  I am especially thankful for the freedom that Christ has provided for us in salvation.  We are admonished in this passage to not slip back into bondage after we have been set free.  We become angry at the erosion of our freedoms in our country, yet at the same time, too many today are losing their spiritual freedom.  Too many are not living careful lives and are once again becoming a slave to sin. In the context of this passage, many today are losing the liberty and freedom of a real relationship with God, and settling for the bondage of religious ceremonies.  May God help us to keep the liberty He has purchased for us. 

Prepared to help others

2 Co 1:3  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 2Co 1:4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

 Do you want to be used by God to help others?  That path often leads through hardships and trials.  It is often through our difficulties and trouble that we experience the help of God necessary to equip us to help others.  When we have been through the hard places and found our help in God, we are better equipped to encourage others to also trust God in their trials.  When we can speak with the assurance that comes from experiencing God’s help, we will be more able to inspire faith in God in those who we desire to help.

Teach your kids

Deu 6:5  And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Deu 6:6  And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: Deu 6:7  And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

 We have a responsibility to teach our kids about God.  I want us to notice, though, that responsibility begins with loving God with all our heart.  We cannot truly teach our kids about God without a real relationship with God.  When we have a real relationship with God, when we love Him, we can teach our children.  Notice that we are to teach our children about God in the everyday things of life.  When God is truly the focus of our life, talking about Him will be normal and natural.  Don’t fail your kids.  Give them the life saving knowledge of a real relationship with God. 

In the midst of wolves

Mat 10:16  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

 Living right in the midst of a wicked and godless society is difficult.  It is also dangerous.  We are to be alert to danger and aware of what is going on around us.  We are to be wise, not gullible, not uninformed.  But we are also to be harmless, to not develop a fighting spirit, to not become bitter.  Evil and wickedness around us can cause us to become hard and harsh; don’t let it happen. Don’t let the wickedness around us cause us to fail to be what we ought to be.

Can't even imagine

1 Co 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

 The things that God has prepared for those who love Him is beyond our deepest thoughts and wildest imaginations.  God is good, He is love, He is fair, He is holy, He is just and He is merciful and compassionate. The depths of those things God has in store for those who love Him cannot be fathomed.  Both in this world and in the world to come, there is no limit to the goodness and grandeur of God.  We can’t even imagine! We must experience this for ourselves.  Follow Him fully, trust Him completely.  

A higher plane

Hab 3:19  The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.

 Habakkuk lived in a time of apostasy, a time of the impending judgment of God.  Yet he knew where to find strength and stability.  Our God, the mighty Creator, the Lord of all the earth is our strength.  He can help us to find stability, that our feet can walk steady along a treacherous path.  He can help us to rise to walk on a higher plane, when all around seems to be in decline.  Trust Him, rely on Him in this shaking time.

God takes note

.  Mal 3:16  Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.  Mal 3:17  And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

 In a time of wickedness, God takes special note of those who remain faithful.  This passage was written to ones living in a time of apostasy and wickedness.  Notice that they spoke to one another often and kept their thoughts turned to God.  We too live in a time of wickedness and apostasy, as we have been reminded again recently.  The temptation is to discouragement and to give up.  Instead, we need to encourage one another and keep our heart and mind focused on the Lord.  God takes special note of His faithful remnant in a time of apostasy.  He will not forget or forsake those who are faithful.  God claims such ones as His special prized possession, and will protect and preserve them.  

More with us

2 Kings 6:16 “And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” 

 Often when we look around, evil and trouble seem overwhelming.  Elisha’s servant could see the army surrounding them, and Elisha had to remind him of their help.  When we are overwhelmed, we too must be reminded of God’s strength and presence as Elijah pointed out.  No matter the troubles we face, God’s power is always more than enough to face the challenge.

God's care of His own

Isa 27:3  I the LORD do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.

 What assurance! God keeps His own.  He will keep and care for His people, nurturing them always.  He never tires or sleeps, keeping them day and night.  Trust Him, rely on Him, flee to Him for the help and comfort you need.

Family of God

1 Jn 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.

 Love is at the heart of Christianity.  God’s love is the center of all things. God is love, and all of His children also love.  It is a distinguishing trait of the family of God.  In fact, if one does not love, they don’t know God.  This passage encourages us to love one another; to put real effort into living and acting as love acts.  Let’s show that we know God and belong to the family of God by exhibiting the family trait.   

Beware of discouragement

Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

 One of the great dangers of a time of apostasy is discouragement.  It is discouraging to see evil triumphing.  It is discouraging to see wickedness abounding.  We are in danger of losing our zeal and excitement about the things of God when we are discouraged.  When the things of God cease to thrill us, our love begins to cool.  Take heed to keep your zeal and hope in the Lord during this time of wickedness.  Take heed to cultivate your love for God.  This time of apostasy will pass; let’s make sure we are still on fire when light breaks again.      

What God desires

.  Act 7:48  Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Act 7:49  Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Act 7:50  Hath not my hand made all these things?

 God is not impressed with all the pomp and ceremony that goes into much religion.  What can we offer to impress the God who made heaven and earth?  It isn’t our great sacrifices or gifts that God desires.  God is interested in what is in our heart.  God desires that we know Him, love Him and worship Him.  Don’t get so caught up in religion that we miss knowing God.  

God remains faithful

Psa 48:14  For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.

 In this constantly changing world, there is one constant: God remains faithful.  He has been our God in the past, leading us and guiding us, protecting us.  He will be faithful today.  We can trust Him to take care of us tomorrow, and every day, all the way to the end.  God will lead, guide, protect and care for us all the way to death, through death and into our eternal home.  Trust Him.

Our refuge

.   Psa 9:9  The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Psa 9:10  And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

  What reassurance is given us in God’s Word!  Again, we are assured that God will never forsake us.  Through the difficulties and dangers of this life we have a safe hiding place.  In times of turmoil and distress, we have a safe retreat.  We can put our trust in Him.  Those who know the Lord, know His goodness, His love, His trustworthiness.  Put your whole trust and confidence in Him.  Run to Him to find that place of safety.  Run to Him to find the help you need.  God will never, never forsake those who seek Him.  

He will not forsake His own

1 Sa 12:22  For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.

 Over and over God bolsters our faith with an assurance that He will never forsake us.  In this promise we are assured that God will not forsake His own people.  We are reminded that it pleased God to make us his people.  It was God’s doing to make us His people, not our initiative.  Therefore, God will never bring disgrace to His own name by forsaking His own people.  Take courage and faith, persevere, God will not forsake His own.

None like Him

Isa 46:9  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  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:

What an awesome God!! There is none like Him! God knows everything that has been, everything that is, and everything that will be.  He knows the future just as clearly as the past. Nothing has taken Him by surprise.  God in His infinite wisdom and foreknowledge will accomplish everything that He intended to accomplish in this world.  He will accomplish everything when He intended to accomplish it.  We can trust Him, we can trust His Word.

Happy life

Eph 5:19  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Eph 5:20  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

 Here is one of the keys to a happy life and a winsome spirit.  It is singing in your heart, singing to yourself hymns and songs of praise, keeping a song in your heart to the Lord.  Couple this with thankfulness, and you will be well on your way to living a happy life.

Our delight

Psa 40:8  I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

 This passage exemplifies the attitude of one who truly loves the Lord.  There is a readiness, an eagerness to please Him.  One of our great joys in life should be in doing God’s will.  Pleasing God involves keeping His commandments.  One who truly loves God is committed to knowing and doing the will of the Father, which is contained in His word.

Our piece of the pie

Lam 3:24  The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.  Lam 3:25  The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

For a Christian, God is our portion in life; He is our “piece of the pie”. Because God is our portion in life, our hope is in Him. In our search for satisfaction, safety and help in life, our hearts and minds should be turned to Him who is our portion in life.  This passage assures us that the Lord is good to them who look to Him and expectantly hope in Him.