Kingdom – Page 3 – Praying Pint

26.a “This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.”

2 Corinthians 12:19 Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

Galatians 5:15    But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Galatians 5:19-21   Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,  idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,  envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Ephesians 4:31-32   Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

James 3:14-16    But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.  This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

Proverbs 16:28    A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

Romans 1:29   They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,

The purpose of God’s Word is not to make us squirm, but to bring us to our senses, to help us rid ourselves of worldly influences, to cancel the narcotic effects of worldly pleasures/desires, to set our feet on solid ground, to light the path we are to walk, and to give us discernment between right and wrong, truth and false, good and bad, eternal and temporal, heaven and hell, Holy and unholy, Godly and godly, etc….When there is neglect or lacking desire for His Word our hearts will take on and be filled with what our culture and society think is right in its own eyes. We should not think we are immune to the troubles affecting the Corinthian church. When God’s Word is being neglected all sorts of unholy thoughts and actions will manifest in our lives. Our hearts, minds, and souls will be filled with something. We get to choose what that is. Intentionally choose to be filled to overflowing with His Word, the Grace, Love, and Mercy of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit for His honor and glory.

20.u. “In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.”

Romans 11:30 For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11  Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,  nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Ephesians 2:1-2   And you were dead in the trespasses and sins  in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

Colossians 3:7    In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.

Titus 3:3-7   For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.  But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,  he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,  whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,  so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

For just as you were at one time disobedient to God”, “And such were some of you”, “ And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked”, “In these, you too once walked when you were living in them.”, “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures”. Sometimes we forget where we came from. We were once lost and following and chasing after the pleasures of this world and then we were changed, made new, and old things passed away. After a time, it is easy to think of ourselves as never being like this. We have a tendency to think we have reason to criticize others harshly for their actions. Paul knew this better than anyone. He knew that he arrested Christians, through them in prison, separated families, and gave support to their floggings or death. He knew what he was like before becoming a believer. He knew it was the work of God in him. He knew what his heart was like before and after. He knew it was only because of what God had done that He was a changed person. He saw those who were like him before as lost and in need of a savior. He did not think he was better but that what he had in Christ was. He knew how easy it was to be conformed to this world and not see things of God or the need for salvation.

We all were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, and slaves to various passions and pleasures. We do well to keep this in mind as we see others around us who are still lost and pray for God to open their heart to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Remembering this work of God builds four things in us. First, gratitude for how God changed us. Second, humility as we see that it was His work that changed us. Third, kindness to others in the same place. Finally, faith that God can change those who are still in that place.

20.m. “Has God rejected his people?”

Romans 11:1 I ask, then, has God rejected his people?

Psalms 77:7     “Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable?

Amos 9:8-9    Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground, except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,” declares the LORD.  “For behold, I will command, and shake the house of Israel among all the nations as one shakes with a sieve, but no pebble shall fall to the earth.

Hosea 9:17   My God will reject them because they have not listened to him; they shall be wanderers among the nations.

When a person, city, town, state, or nation has an attitude of deadness towards spiritual things of God it is easy to see how people would ask Has God rejected His people? These “people” are those who should know God and what is pleasing to Him. Rather than have an attitude towards spiritual things of God, they have replaced this attitude with an attitude of human origin – doing what is right in their own eyes – and they have a deadness towards things of God. In this deadness, their eyes have become blind and their ears deaf. It is not that God has rejected them first and they had no choice, but rather, they chose to reject God and His plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. It is in this state of rejection that Paul says “has God rejected his people?” Is there no hope for them? Has it been set in stone? Loving parents will discipline their children for willful disobedience. Does this mean the parents have rejected their child? Does this mean the parents have abandoned their child? God will discipline in order that some may come to their senses and call out to Him and when they do He is there with open arms. Others will remain the course they are on and continue rejecting the spiritual things of God. They will keep trying to perform their way into good favor with God. They will try to do it on their own, doing what is right in their own eyes and thereby remaining spiritually dead in these attempts of self-reliance. Though they may feel good about themselves, they are blind and deaf to God’s rejection of them. Any human claim of being good enough to receive salvation through Jesus Christ is to reject the sufficiency in what He has done. Sin carries the penalty of death in this life and carries forward into eternity with eternal hell and torment. Though the curse of sin results in our physical death, it does not need to result in eternal hell and torment. We can have eternal life in heaven. “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Spiritual blindness and deafness happen when we try to add anything other than complete humble surrender, belief, trust, reliance, and obedience in/on Jesus Christ. In no way can we ever be right with God by any other means or approach to salvation.

14.c. ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,”

Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts

Matthew 11:10-11    This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’

Luke 7:26-28    What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.  This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’  I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

John 1:6-7    There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.

Acts 13:24-25    Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.  And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

Isaiah 40:3-5  A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Acts 19:4    And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.”

After the prophet Malachi, there was no prophetic voice heard for approximately 500 years. With a prophet at least the people had a choice to listen to and obey what was being said. Amos foretold of this time; 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. Without a prophet, there were multiple groups formed who were claiming the right to interpret scriptures and lead the people. The understanding of God diminished and confusion ruled. New traditions and rules were common. Along comes John the Baptist and though he was clearly revealed in scripture, John was not recognized as the prophet/messenger preparing the way. The famine of hearing the word of the Lord has an effect on mankind. Jesus Christ was not recognized.

Imagine what it must have been like for that first generation to have no more prophets. Generations after this one surely must have been looking for one to come for scriptures were full of examples of prophets sent by God to lead, warn, plead, and encourage the people. Yet, when John the Baptist arrived he was not recognized as the messenger preparing the way for the Messiah. A famine of God’s Word has an effect. It starves the heart mind and soul of the Bread of life and living water. Today there is a famine but it is not caused by Jesus Christ but rather by intentional choice. The intentional choice to neglect God’s Word. Self-induced famine. What do you suppose replaces this eternal life-giving food? Things of this world and it’s shallow satisfaction of the present and denial of the future cost to the heart, mind, and soul is what it replaces. After a while of self-induced famine the heart, mind, and soul live on the dung of this world and think it tastes good. Their hunger for the bread of life and living water is not even a memory anymore. Do you find yourself unsatisfied, confused, anxious, and worried? It could be a sign that you are starving. Come to the Word of God and eat freely from its words. You will find a fulfilling satisfaction with an unending hunger for more.

10.j. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

Obadiah 1:19 Those of the Negeb shall possess Mount Esau, and those of the Shephelah shall possess the land of the Philistines; they shall possess the land of Ephraim and the land of Samaria, and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. The exiles of this host of the people of Israel shall possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath, and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad shall possess the cities of the Negeb. Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.

Judges 2:16    Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them

Judges 3:9    But when the people of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel,

Joel 2:32   And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.

Micah 5:4-9     And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.  And he shall be their peace

Isaiah 19:20    It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry to the LORD because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them.

Ecclesiastes 11:9   Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

How many times in the bible has God delivered people out of their troubles and trials? You can read throughout scripture where God has either both judged and rescued or rescued His people from enemies. Yet the biggest rescue is not from outside influences. It is from ourselves and sinful nature. How many times do we seek God’s intervention into affairs affecting us but give no thought to our inner self? We need rescuing from self-centered, self-reliant, self-gratifying, self-worth, and self-seeking ways. These are sins born out in our hearts, mind, and soul. We easily come to Jesus Christ when our lives are affected but why is it so hard to look inward with scripture eyes? It is by far better to live persecuted, poor and despised with a pure heart that humbly serves, seeks, thirsts, trusts, relies upon, and obeys Jesus Christ. Try thinking about inward thoughts and motives and asking yourself if these are in-line with God’s Word. We should be humbled by what the Holy Spirit teaches us today when our thoughts go inward heart deep.

8.x. I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.

Revelation 22:12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

We should never be so easily fooled by our culture and the lukewarm, complacent, and self-approving approach it seduces people to believe toward what it means to be a Christian and follower of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ came from heaven to redeem those He called and those who responded to this call with belief, repentance, faith, and trust He. This call for repentance and turning away from sin also calls us into action, putting our faith into action, living for and to honor Jesus Christ in all that we do, think, and say. Yet many stop at the call and accept deliverance but over time are seduced by the ways of this world and completely lose sight of Jesus Christ. Their lives mimic what is approved by the culture they live in rather than by and through the Word of God. If we are not in His word, then His word is not in us. If His word is not in us how are we to know and do what is pleasing, honoring, and glorifying to Him. We so easily accept what the world says it is rather than spend time in His word and let it speak into our life. We do well to be in His word and seek to be led by Him, to be used by Him, and to do that which honors Him.

7.y. They did not repent and give him glory.

Revelation 16:8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory. The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.

The fourth and fifth bowl shows the power of God over His creation. It is hard to say what will take place that allows the sun to scorch people with fierce heat. It is not just part of the world, it is all people in the world who have taken the mark of the beast, who have denied God, and would not repent. This scorching heat is followed by a darkness so dark that people are in anguish over it. We can speculate on what will take place but in the end that is all it will be, men trying to speculate about what God can and will do to cause these events on those who have rejected Him. It is important to note that the wrath and anger of God do not draw people to Him. It seems as though they harden their hearts more rather than having them soften. Paul put it like this as a warning: Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? It is God’s kindness that leads to repentance, not His wrath and anger. God’s kindness is not to be taken lightly, His offer of mercy and grace are not to be taken lightly, His redeeming love, and salvation found in and through the suffering and death of Jesus Christ is not to be taken lightly. Paul said; “What manner of person ought you to be in light of the great price paid for your salvation?” There should be no room in our heart and mind for what we allow to be in there. There should be no room for neglect and complacency. There should be no room for things of this world to replace the fullness of Christ in our life. Our lives have been bought with a very high cost and we should be living in light of the price that was paid. Do not forget for a single moment the grace, mercy, and love God has poured out on us. Keep this thought close to your heart and mind when you wake and when you go to sleep and live to honor and glorify Him by growing more mature in your faith and love for Him.

7.n. But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

Revelation 12:7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

The roaring lion, father of lies, deceiver, accuser, tempter, murderer, destroyer, stumbling block, crafty, and schemer all describe Satan. He is now cast out of heaven and turned loose on earth. He knows his end is near and comes in great wrath. Can you imagine what it will be like on earth with the Holy Spirit removed and Satan turned loose? We will see in later chapters what it will be like for those who are living during this period of the tribulation time. Everything God had done previously in terms of His anger and wrath was done by His power and might. Now He has released Satan for a time on earth, and earth will experience his wrath too.

There are many fictional movies that try to give a picture of what life is like at the “end of the world” scenarios. They show very hard times, murderous times, and strange happening and people in the worst conditions possible. These will not even come close to revealing what it will be like during the time of God’s wrath and the time of Satan’s wrath. Just know that these end times come upon mankind for the rejection of Christ and the intentional choice of self-sufficiency, self-reliance, and self-satisfaction. The acts of wrath that come on earth and the people of the earth will get more and more intense and severe. Each progression throughout the tribulation period will be worse than the previous. Each act of wrath brings the final judgment seat of Christ closer, where those who have been born again will live eternity in heaven and those who have rejected Him (have not sought forgiveness of their sin, redemption, and salvation through Christ, repentance) are cast into the lake of fire that burns forever and ever. where there is constant torment beyond what we can imagine forever. Denying that this will happen will not stop it from happening. Denying Christ into your life will usher in this judgment at your death and there is nothing you can do to change this outcome. Now is the time of salvation. Now is the time to seek forgiveness of sin, repent, and trust in, rely on, follow, and obey Jesus Christ.

5.x. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

Revelation 1:9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.

Revelation 3:10     Because you have kept my word about patient endurance

Revelation 13:10     If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.

Romans 5:3-4    Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,  and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,

Romans 8:25    But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

2 Thessalonians 3:5    May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

James 5:7-8    Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.  You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Hebrews 10:36    For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

Patient endurance is something I am drawn to today. I wonder how this fits into our lives right now. Doesn’t it seem like we living in a time of blessing? Many of us categorize “endurance” as not speaking our mind to someone who has done or said something to us that is not what we expected. We then go about our day and we stew, complain, and we might even tell someone else of the encounter. we tell them in such a way that we hope they will join in on our pity party and validate our thoughts. For sure this is NOT what patient endurance is. I know I fall into this trap and though I don’t speak up I surely keep the thoughts rolling around in my head. We all have seen people and how they are responding to situations in their lives. We admire their response or how they act in times when they are going through a trial or testing. They seem to have a shield around them that stops the “bad” from affecting their walk with Jesus Christ. They honor Him through it. The shield (intentional commitment to living to honor, glorify, follow, obey, trust, rely on, and cling to Jesus Christ) in their life overcomes the self-centered person. They are kind to others. They do not complain when trials come their way. They cling to Jesus Christ through it all and praise His name.

What should patient endurance be like in our lives?

3.j. ‘Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!’

Ezra 1:1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:

“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

Jeremiah 29:10 “For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place.

Jeremiah 33:7-13 I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first. I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me. And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it. “Thus says the LORD: In this place of which you say, ‘It is a waste without man or beast,’ in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man or inhabitant or beast, there shall be heard again the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the LORD: “‘Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!’ For I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the LORD. “Thus says the LORD of hosts: In this place that is waste, without man or beast, and in all of its cities, there shall again be habitations of shepherds resting their flocks. In the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the Shephelah, and in the cities of the Negeb, in the land of Benjamin, the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, flocks shall again pass under the hands of the one who counts them, says the LORD.

The prophecy of Jeremiah spoke the word of God and I doubt there were many remaining in Babylon from Jerusalem who remembered or were alive at the time of capture. Those who did listen and knew the outcome of God’s wrath upon them, and believed what Jeremiah said had to have their heartbroken. They were able to witness this first hand and more than likely die before seeing the restoration of Jerusalem. Some of these parents certainly spoke of Jeremiah’s prophecy to their children to give them hope, strength, and courage. And to those who believed in what God had said, and were alive at the time of this proclamation from Cyrus, this had to be a very glorious blessing to hear and see the hand of God at work. Can you imagine hearing this and knowing it was foretold to you. All you had to do was believe it your eyes would be open to seeing God at work. Obviously, there were those who did not believe and because of this did not see this as God’s doing but rather because of chance and good fortune.

When we read God’s word there are many both blessings and warnings given to us. Promises of His hand of protection, leading, and peace. Likewise, there are words of wrath, anger, and judgment. Just because we might choose to not believe them does not make them less truthful. How would our lives change if we spent time in His word and believed what we read? Would our thoughts and actions be different? Would we see God’s hand at work more clearly? Would we have a more thankful heart and mind? Would things in this world have less influence? Would our eyes remain focused on honoring Him? Would we consider living in light of Him? Would we be more grateful? Would we seek and desire to hear and see Him?

If we spend more time in His word we will certainly be starting at the right place every day. If we seek to be led by His word we will be starting at the right place every day. It is a personal, intentional, daily choice. We should not take this commitment lightly or the benefits from it without a grateful and thankful heart.

Oh God, open our eyes to Your word and lead us on paths that glorify and honor You.