save – Page 2 – Praying Pint

120. The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms

2 Samuel 10:15 But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together. And Hadadezer sent and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the Euphrates. They came to Helam, with Shobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head. And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together and crossed the Jordan and came to Helam. The Syrians arrayed themselves against David and fought with him. And the Syrians fled before Israel, and David killed of the Syrians the men of 700 chariots, and 40,000 horsemen, and wounded Shobach the commander of their army, so that he died there. And when all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Syrians were afraid to save the Ammonites anymore.

Psalms 18:38    I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise; they fell under my feet.

Psalms 46:11    The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Psalms 46:1   God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Deuteronomy 33:27    The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, ‘Destroy.’

Jeremiah 16:19   O LORD, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge in the day of trouble, to you shall the nations come from the ends of the earth and say: “Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies, worthless things in which there is no profit.

How many times in our life do we limit God as our refuge, our strong tower, our fortress, our strength? God has not and does not change. God is and will continue to be God, author, and finisher, alpha, and omega, beginning and end. All things have been created by Him and He is in control of all things. At His voice light was created, heaven and earth were created, life was created, and galaxies and universes were formed. Great deeds and wonders have occurred. And yet we still limit what God can do in our life. Take a look at the first 10 minutes of this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J6yeIxKmJ4&feature=youtu.be You will have a refreshed look and understanding of how limitless God is.

Don’t limit God, but choose to seek and trust God for in Him alone we will find peace, joy, hope, and strength for today and tomorrow.

21. “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Numbers 11:23 And the Lord said to Moses, “Is the Lord’s hand shortened? Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not.”

Genesis 18:14    Is anything too hard for the LORD?

Psalms 78:41    They tested God again and again and provoked the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 50:2    Why, when I came, was there no man; why, when I called, was there no one to answer? Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, by my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a desert; their fish stink for lack of water and die of thirst.

Isaiah 59:1    Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;

Micah 2:7     Should this be said, O house of Jacob? Has the LORD grown impatient? Are these his deeds? Do not my words do good to him who walks uprightly?

Matthew 19:26    But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Luke 1:37     For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Ezekiel 24:14    I am the LORD. I have spoken; it shall come to pass; I will do it. I will not go back; I will not spare; I will not relent; according to your ways and your deeds you will be judged, declares the Lord GOD.”

When God speaks do we trust what He says? Do we believe what He says? Do we cling to what He says? Do we listen to what He says? Do we rely on what He says? Are we changed because of what He says? Are we wanting to hear Him speak through His word? Are we living according to His word? Are our thoughts and actions in accordance with His word?

Many of the answers to these questions can be rooted in how we view God. We believe we are not good enough for Him to save us or work in our life. We put limits on God’s power, His love, His calling, His purpose, His judgment. These limits are rooted in our lack of understanding and knowledge of God and much by the influence of our culture. Our belief in who God is and what He can do, how He can do it, and if He is alive and present, get sidetracked and confused because of our belief, trust, faith, hope, and love needing to be grounded in His word are grounded instead by the words of man.

Man can do many things but there are always limits. Some things are possible but others are impossible. With God all things are possible. God can do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine. God is awesome in power and might. God is steadfast in His love for those called by Him. God is righteous and holy. God’s judgment is never wrong. God’s grace and mercy in and through Jesus Christ have given us new life. In this new life our sins, though they be red as scarlet, shall be white as snow. In Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven.

Because in God all things are possible we find in His word strength for today and hope for tomorrow. In trusting and relying on Him our days are never burdensome but rather filled with a never-ending reliance, fulfilling satisfaction of knowing we are in His loving hands. His word gives life, strength, hope, and purpose to those who seek and desire to know, understand and serve Him.

While they are yet speaking I will hear

Exodus 16:9 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, Come near before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’” And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. And the Lord said to Moses, “I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’” In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.

Numbers 16:16     And Moses said to Korah, “Be present, you and all your company, before the LORD,

Ezekiel 34:30    And they shall know that I am the LORD their God with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 39:22    The house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God, from that day forward.

Joel 3:17     “So you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain.

Zechariah 13:9    And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”

Zechariah 10:6     “I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back because I have compassion on them, and they shall be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them.

Psalms 34:15-19     The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.  The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.  When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.  The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.  Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.

Psalms 50:15    and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Psalms 91:15     When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.

Isaiah 65:24    Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.

Jeremiah 29:11-12    For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.

Romans 10:12-14    For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.  For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

I am intrigued by these verses. God, showing His love, mercy, awesome power to a nation of grumbling people. They were not calling on God but rather grumbling against Him. They were not believing in Him, trusting in Him, relying on Him but rather living in the circumstances and the situation they were in. They are just weeks from where God showed 8 great wonders prior to delivering them out of the hands of Egypt, days past when the Red Sea was parted and fewer days from water being supplied. Still, these great wonders of God did nothing to change there heart. Did they see these things as works of an Awesome God or just flukes of nature? Did they not question how these things could happen apart from God?

When you think about it, complaining and grumbling does not take much effort. It comes easy. It does not need much of a push to get us there. This seems to be our natural state of mind if left unchecked. Still, it is a choice.

Just as it is an intentional choice to grumble and complain, it is an intentional choice to believe (trust in, rely on, cling to) God. For those who do, they will see the Mighty hand of God at work. They will hear His whispers of leading, encouragement, hope, peace, and joy, with eyes and ears wide open. They will cling to His promises. They will call on Him. They will pray to Him. They will rely on Him. They will trust in Him. They will seek and desire Him. They will honor and glorify Him. They will humbly serve Him. They will wait on Him. They will follow Him. They will obey Him.

What shall be the sign?

Genesis 15:8 But he said, “O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?”

2 Kings 20:8 And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the LORD on the third day?”

Luke 1:18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”

Psalms 86:17 Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

Genesis 24:2-4 And Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his household, who had charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh, that I may make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”

Genesis 24:13-14 Behold, I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Let the young woman to whom I shall say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who shall say, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels’—let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.”

Judges 6:36-40 Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.” And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.” And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.

1 Samuel 14:9-10 If they say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place, and we will not go up to them. But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for the LORD has given them into our hand. And this shall be the sign to us.”

Isaiah 7:11 “Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.”

Matthew 12:38-40 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

There are certain aspects of our christian life that definitely do not need a sign from God for us to follow.

2 Peter 1:4. Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

One thing is clear, if we do not spend time cultivating a life with these foundations being hammered solid through reading and applying His word, how its it expected to see a sign from Him in whom there is not daily desire to honor, glorify, serve, follow and obey. Walking with God this side of eternity has questions which requires living active faith. Faith that is grown and cultivated through His word.

We can ask God to give us a sign but I have found many times that He confirms directions for us to follow without us needing to ask. We just need to have our heart and ears tuned in to listening for the quiet small whispers of God through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Do you want a sign?

Do you want to hear Him speak into your life through His word?

Do you want to see things unfold knowing God’s hand is active in plans and purposes in your life?

Faith is the substance of things hoped for and evidence of things not seen. In our life of instant everything we seem have lost the ability to seek God with expectant faith anticipation.

Doer of Good

“But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him”

“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”

Psalms 106:1 Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Who can utter the mighty deeds of the LORD, or declare all his praise? Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people; help me when you save them, that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance.

Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

Job 26:14 Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?”

Job 5:9 who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number:

John 14:23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Romans 2:7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;

Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Revelation 22:14 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.

James 1:25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

God is powerful and mighty. His steadfast love endures forever. He does so much more than we can comprehend. What we see of Him is but a vapor of His unsearchable wisdom, knowledge, and majesty. His promises are to those who love and honor Him. We are encouraged in scripture to have patience in doing good, not growing weary of doing good, and to not just be hears of His word but doers with action. Give thought today on hearing the whispers of guidance from God and being a patient doer of good for His glory and honor.

Establish the work of our hands

“so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever.”

Psalms 102:28 The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you.

Psalms 22:30-31 Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.

Psalms 45:16-17 In place of your fathers shall be your sons; you will make them princes in all the earth. I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations; therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.

Psalms 69:35-36 For God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah, and people shall dwell there and possess it; the offspring of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall dwell in it.

Isaiah 53:10 Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Isaiah 59:20-21 “And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the LORD “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from this time forth and forevermore.”

Isaiah 65:22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

Psalms 90:16-17 Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

“Establish the work of our hands” I think much of the time we think about this and only apply it to our jobs. We ask God to bless us in what we do. We try to find meaning and purpose in what we do. There will be no blessing from God if we are pursing our own path in life. We should not take a job anywhere if we are not confident this is where God wants us. We will find no purpose in life if we go our own way, seeking what ever it is to please us. Purpose in life and blessings in life come from being in God’s will and seeking to honor and glorify Him. Seeking to hear His quiet small voice leading you in family and work will light your path and allow you to see blessing and give you purpose. How can we expect to give our offspring and generations to come anything to hang on to if we are not clinging to, relying on, and trusting in, and proclaiming the mighty glorious power, love, grace, and mercy of God. We don’t have to look very deep into our society / culture to see that our lack of commitment and complacency toward humbly serving, honoring, following and obeying God has terrible results upon our children and the next generation. Our life can be one filled with purpose and blessing if we would seek Him alone with our heart, mind and soul.

Kicking and Screaming

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. The LORD is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed.”

Psalms 86:16 Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant. Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

Psalms 69:16 Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.

Psalms 90:13 Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants!

Psalms 119:132 Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name.

Psalms 84:5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

Psalms 138:3 On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.

Isaiah 40:29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Zechariah 10:12 I will make them strong in the LORD, and they shall walk in his name,” declares the LORD.

Ephesians 3:16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Why is it important to have the right source for inner strength? Where does true inner strength come from? How does it appear in our life? Living this side of eternity will have it’s battles. Walking into these battles there are times we walk with God, times God carries us through them, and times when He drags us kicking and screaming through them. In Him alone will there be strength to face whatever comes our way. In Him we have no fear of tomorrow. In Him there is peace that passes all understanding. The times we walk with God to face head that which is before us are during times when His Holy Spirit fills us, we are listening and in tune with His leading, we walk fully trusting and relying on His power. The times He is carrying us are during those times when life hits us with a punch so hard it takes the wind from our sail and we can’t seem to move or find out way through it. He picks us up and carries us in His power, strength, might, and love. His arms wrap around us and we find comfort, refuge, and hope. The times He drags us is when we don’t listen, we shut Him from our life, we walk apart from Him and try to go our own way. We think we are in control and have no need for Him or His word of truth. It seems as though God drags us into a battle so big with so much uncertainty, where we truly can’t seem to find our way through it. Our own strength is drained to a point we quit kicking and screaming and seek Him for we have tried to handle it on our own. We find peace, hope, joy, and comfort. I don’t know where you are but the best place to be is humbly serving, honoring, following, and obeying God. Spend time in His word and build your faith in Him who can do all things. In Hi who can do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine.

Decision – Crucify Him

John 19:16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

Psalms 22:18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.

Acts 13:26 “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers,

1Corinthians 1:20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Corinthians 2:8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Many things done by rulers and even us seem right to do. Are they really the right thing to do? How do we know? What is guiding us to the decisions we make? What do we use as a the foundation to which we build our decision? Depending on the circumstance some may say if it is good for me or if it is good for others. If the decision is based on something or someone that hurt us financially, emotionally, or physically, some may use what is allowed by the culture they live in. The problem is the decision is not based on the word of God and being led by the Holy Spirit in their response. We have a sinful nature and it wants to believe and act in ways that do not humbly serve, honor, follow, or obey God. We need to be mindful of this sinful nature. We need to test each of our thoughts and decisions against the word of God. His word is able to lead us properly. His word gives us power and courage to forgive, encourage, help, and make decisions according to His purpose and plans. Spend time in His word. Desire to be led by Him. Listen for His whispers of guidance. Build your foundation for decisions on His word. Do not trust the first thought that comes to mind, test it against His word and either the conviction or confirmation by the Holy Spirit in your heart.

Tell you plainly

John 16:25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

Acts 1:9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Luke 24:51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.

Hebrews 1:1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

Can you imagine what it would have been like to have been there with Christ at the time of His ascension . Many scriptures come to my mind when I think about His last minutes on earth; “I have come to give you life more abundantly, I have come to set the captive free, I have come to give sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf, I have come to give light unto the world, I am the way the truth and the life, I do what the Father tells me, I free the demon possessed, I love you, I give my life freely, I forgive you, I am the spring of living water, I go prepare a place for you so that where I am there you will be also, I am coming again, You have believed in the Father believe also in me, Father forgive them they know not what they do, I will send a helper to you….. Being mindful of His death, and resurrection for salvation to all who trust in this redemptive sacrifice but, there is more to life than salvation. Salvation is the corner stone of our faith and from this we grow (or at least we should. Our purpose on earth is to humbly serve, honor, follow, and obey Him. Growing needs the flow of living water found in His word. Apart from it we are prone to wonder and follow diluted truth. Our culture tries to pull and direct our efforts towards things of this world that certainly do not last. The only thing that lasts is that which is given and done in honor and glory of Him alone. There is not room for complacency and neglect in our walk with God. His word is a light to our soul and a beacon to lead our way through this life. Leave no room for Satans lies to filter in and essentially make your life meaningless in God’s work this side of eternity. There is not much spoken of anymore about sin and a Holy God. God’s word is able to divide our thoughts and intents. It convicts us of sin and leads us into His arms. It gives us peace, strength, power, courage, hope, joy, and assurance of eternal life. Commit to spending time in His word and growing in understanding and knowledge of Him and His plan and purposes. He speaks whispers of guidance through it. Give time each day into His word and speak of His work in your life. Bring Hope to the lost and dark world. Be a light shinning in the darkness. He is coming again.

Obedience to the Truth

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness”

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Isaiah 53:11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.

Jeremiah 33:9 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.

1 John 1:4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

1 Peter 1:8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,

Romans 12:10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

1 Peter 1:22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

Obedience to the truth is fundamental for us to continue on a path that honors God. Where do we find truth and once you find it what good is it? Jesus Christ is truth – “I am the way, the truth, and the life”. “No one comes to the Father except through me.” Through Christ we are saved and not of our own works but by His grace, mercy and love. When this truth is believed redemption, salvation and new life are born. – “you are a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself ” – “He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age.” – “he will guide them to springs of living water and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” – “my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation” – “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. … You are my shelter and my shield” – “I will be glad in the Lord, my joy will be in the God of my salvation” – “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” spend time in His word and learn of His love, purpose and plan for your life. Humbly serve, honor, glorify, rely on, cling to, trust in, follow and obey.