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So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people complained against Moses saying, “What shall we drink?” So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all of His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.” Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters.  Exodus 15:22-27

After the Israelites miraculously crossed the Red Sea, they were led into the desert. How strange that God would lead them from a place of revelation and power to a place of disapointment and dire need. But God wanted to show them that life is a combination of bitter and sweet, of triumph and defeat. When the Israelites arrived at Marah, they complained because their water was bitter v.23, after Moses interceded v.25, God reminded them to keep His commandments v.26. Then He brought them to the abundance and refreshment of Elim v.27. Why? The Lord wanted to teach them that each experience on their journey would reveal their hearts. This test showed they were living by sight and not by faith in what Moses was giving them, as God’s instructions. They also learned that God is involved and does care about their daily needs. He who parted the Red Sea could be trusted to provide water for their survival. He knew their needs because He planned their way. As Christians today, we can learn from this same lesson. If you, or someone you know who is going through a wilderness trial of bitterness and disapointment right now, trust in the Lord. He knows exactly where you are right now, and even more important, what you need. As you learn from obeying His voice through His Word, He will guide you through it all, and into a place of spiritual refreshment where you’ll find healing and spiritual rest in Christ our Lord.

Beloved friend, There is a great verse of promised deliverance. The Lord showed him a tree. When he cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet v.25). This tree represents to us today, the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, who took away from us, the bitterness of our sins, and gives us an abundance refreshing living waters which is sweet to our soul. You receive this simply by faith, and that from God!

May the Lord bless your walk!

 

 

And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek {first}the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. “Do not fear, little flock, for it’s the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.Luke 12:29-32

There is something about the way I always want to be the first one to say to one of my kids, when something in their life has gone wrong, I like to say to them, “No matter what, It’s going to be alright.” Of course my words of reassuring have no guarantee that things always will get better, but my intentions are always sincere, and is of course because I love them. In our text, Jesus stressed the Father’s tender care over His little flock as a remedy to their fear and anxiety. And it’s His good pleasure to give us His kingdom, as our inheritance. Our world has many things for us to be fearful of, or at least give us reason for anxious thoughts to the uncertainties of life. But if you have made Christ your Lord and Savior, then you also have God as your heavenly Father, because Jesus has said, ” I and My Father are one.”(John 10:30) Because God wanted us to know what He is like, He chose to emphasize His Fatherhood. With every intention by Him to  love, God our Father, has demonstrated His care in regards to our eternal security, by sending to us His Son, Jesus Christ to become our substitute for our sins and pay the price which was His own life in our stead, so we may have our relationship restored to the Father, and enjoy all the benefits as His very own child of God. Which among other things, His providing for us of all of our needs. His forgiving us of all of our sins (1 John 1:9) and His protecting us from evil. While our role as earthly dad, is similarly based, we fall short of what a perfect Father God is to us. Who when He speaks tells us only the truth, He cannot lie. When He tells of a reassuring future, it’s because He knows it altogether, He knows the end from the beginning. So whether we’ve been blessed by an earthly dad, or for the so many who have not, we’ve been redeemed through Jesus’ life given for us, and now have  a perfect heavenly Father, who knows us, and calls us by name, and reassures us not to be afraid, for I am with you. (Isaiah 41:10)

Dear Friend, May the Lord give you the reassurring life of His love and bless you this day. A Father’s day that glorifies and honors Him, in how we recognize and honor our own earthly dads. For those who have not any longer a father in their life, I pray the Lord will give you a father figure to which you may call upon. He is faithful, and wants us to enjoy our Father’s love!

May the Lord bless your walk. 

 

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Now when they had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them,’You go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them,’Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’ “So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ ( Matt. 20:1-8)

Now what is Jesus seeking to teach by this parable of sending forth the laborers into the vineyard? Well, we should all take notice what really counts for us as Christians, as we serve the Lord in His vineyard what really counts is the fact  that the Lord sent me. Notice that these people  didn’t go in on their own accord, the Lord sent them into the vineyard. And because they were sent of God, they each one received from the Lord that same portion. Everyone received a full day’s wage, to their shock over the Vineyard owner’s (who is God) generosity as he overpaid some who did not have to labor as long as the earlier ones. This was no slight against those whom he paid a full wage for a full day’s work. That was precisely what they agreed to in the beginning of the day. But it was the Vineyard Owner’s priviledge to extend His grace to the underserving one’s who were just standing idle! Sometimes we see people who on their deathbed receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and they enter into eternal life. And we who have served the Lord all of our lives we enter the same eternal life. It’s God’s to give, and He always does what is right and what is fair to every living being. The last will be first, and the first last- – – Everyone finishes the same, in a even plane. No matter how long each of the workers worked, they each received a full day’s wage. Similarly, the thief on the cross will enjoy the full blessings of heaven alongside those who have labored their whole life for Christ. Such is the grace of God.

Beloved friend, If you are serving the Lord in the vineyard of your life, don’t stop laboring, continue just a little longer! The Lord sees everything that your doing. He will be fair and just with His reward. And let us never be judging the work of the Lord in other men’s lives, they too will get their reward and what what is fair and just.

May the Lord bless your walk!

For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” And so, after he had patiently endured,he obtained the promise. (Hebrews 6:10-15)

The persecution and trials which believers face requires patient endurance relying upon the promises and commitment of God that He will uphold His end, and bring to His children the inherited promise of eternal life. The writer of this epistle is unknown, but he was encouraging these believing Hebrews to continue in perseverance and faith for it would be rewarded by God who sees everything a Christian saint’s life has to face, regardless of their circumstances they were to remember, that God is faithful. To encourage the Hebrews to rely upon faith as opposed to the Levitical system of worship with sacrifice offerings, the writer cited Abraham, who as a great model of faith should be imitated. I love the fact that God, can not, nor does not need to go to any higher authority than His own words of promise. If He said it, it will happen just as He said. God’s Word does not need any confirmation from someone else. It is reliable because God Himself is faithful. People confirm their witness to the truth by appealing to someone greater (especially to God) as witness. This is not so with God, He can only provide an oath from Himself, since there is no one greater than God.

Beloved friend, Has the trials and testings of your Christian walk become too tough? Remember how faithful God is to us, He sees everything and knows what lies ahead. For us who by faith, patiently wait for our Redeemer, Christ the Lord, we too shall obtain His promise of eternal life with Him. But for now, during times of suffering trial, remember who is watching you! You are leaving a legacy of faith for your children,  A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous (Proverbs 13:22) + The righteous man walks in his integrity (Who live what they believe); His children are blessed after him (Proverbs 20:7). Why all the fuss about remembering all this? God’s reward is not just for you, but through your faithful witness, to the generations after you. There will be great reward for those who embrace God’s viewpoint from here.

May the Lord bless your walk!

 

 

You who love the Lord, hate evil! He perserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, and give thanks at the remeberance of His holy name. (Psalm 97:10-12)

Biblical truth: Wisdom hates what God hates! The highest Christian virtue we possess as a believer in Christ, is humility (submission to God), and thus God’s Word hates pride and opposes self-exaltation above all. Why? We should have good reason to hate evil, for consider what harm it has already done. Not just in our world, but in the human heart. Sin which can substitute here for evil has blinded countless people from seeing the beauty of our Savior, Jesus Christ! It makes so many deaf so as not hear the invitations God has given to look for it in Christ, our promised Redeemer and Messiah. Paul wrote to the believers in Rome, For when you were slaves to sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things you are now ashamed ? For the end of those things is death (Romans 6:20-21). We were all heirs of the wrath of God and dead in our sins and trespasses. We loved doing those things His Word warns against, the law of His commandments. In fact, it is our nature to do such things. Such were all of us; but then Paul reminds us: “but you were washed, you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of our Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God ” (1 Corinthians 6:11). We have good reason indeed for hating evil when we look back and trace its deadly workings in our B.C. days. We we destined for hell had it not been for our great Redeemer’s love that interupted that vicious cycle of sin and set us free from such things. And even now, today, evil is waiting its chance to bring harm to us. But what a mighty God we serve! He preserves us from the evil one, we are His, and nothing can separate us away from our Savior’s redeeming love (Romans 8:35-39).

Dear friend, Jesus paid the penalty for all of our sins by His death on the cross. When you admit you are a sinner, your spirit is in agreement with God’s Holy Spirit, and then by placing your faith in Him alone for your forgiveness, you will be reconciled to God. No longer a statistic of sin and evil’s destructive forces who have already claimed enough victims. Let us go on to a life that gives thanks and praise to His name, and glorifies God in all that we say and all that we do. Amen.

May the Lord bless your walk!

 

But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra —What persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:10-12

Faithful believers must expect persecution and suffering at the hands of the Christ–rejecting world. Jesus told His disciples, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19) The lines have been drawn already. If you are choosing a life of obedience to the virtues of Christ, then expect opposition to come, and when should you expect it? Since Satan is the one who dominates the evil world system in rebellion against God, the result is that the world not only hates Jesus, but those who follow Him. So then every day as a follower of Christ , You and I must put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20). The Christian life is likened to that of a soldier’s life, a life of warfare that is of a spiritual nature, therefore our weapons must be of a spiritual nature. Enter into prayer with your Father in heaven, ask Him for His hedge of protection over yourselves, your families, and to be with you in the work place. As Paul wrote this letter to his younger in the faith Timothy, he reminds him to stand firm in what he has learned from Paul, and to trust in the same Lord who was so faithful to him, to deliver him from every trial and test of persecution. To stand firm in the Lord, is be about doing His will for your life. We must study the Word of God to know what His will is for our life. Our spiritual maturity is to bear the fruit of righteouseness even during times of trial and persecution. And that cannot happen unless we study the Bible which will make us strong in Him and we will find grace to be our strength in our time of weakness.

Dear friend, If you were the only one who could witness what Scriptures say to others near you, would they be convinced that Jesus Christ has overcome this world, and we have overcome this world by placing our faith and hope for eternal life in only Him, and His finished work of the cross. Even if suffering and persecution is often a part of our existence. Do you remain steadfast in Him? In His unfailing love for you?

May the Lord bless your walk!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making right the simple; The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.  (Psalm 19:7-11)

This law might be better translated , “His teaching,” or “a direction,” or better yet, “instruction” The word ” Testimony ” derives from the root word “to bear witness.” Overall, it bears testimony to its Divine Author. So we can see Jesus being characterized who is perfect, sure, right and pure. The reality of all Scripture is that it is God breathed: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The psalmist David understood that it was His God, and His Word who was making his life as king over Israel, enriched by his trusting in the Lord. God’s Word in the life of a believer brings much growth and spiritual maturity. But only when it is obeyed by the believer. David had this true and intimate relationship with God because David spent time before Him in His Word, and in prayer. Some people might be saying to themselves, “If God would just speak to me directly . . . Then maybe I would believe more.” Maybe if we obeyed His Word more, we would hear more. The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous — When a country declares war on another country, it first brings home it’s ambassadors. The Bible says that we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God  (2 Corinthians 5:20). Jesus will return for His church first, then after a seven year tribulation period will return again and this time, bring swift judgment to this earth. We will be with Him to start what the Scripture declares as the millienial reign, in which Christ will reign and rule over all the earth, and we the church, the body of Christ will reign with Him.

Beloved friend, The fear of the Lord is clean enduring forever. The Lord has taken away your sins by dying on the cross, we are washed and clean and made new before Him. Don’t live a defeated life of sin anymore, God has more for those who look to Him and His Word which is described as being Perfect, Sure, Right and True. Which is what our Savior, Jesus Christ is! Praise the Lord!

May the Lord bless your walk today!

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervant prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:13-16)

God’s Word to us indicates that there is a spiritual remedy, or antidote if you will to suffering, whether it be caused by evil treatment from those in darkness or persecution from abroad, seeking God’s comfort in prayer is our answer. The suffering servant of Christ, has not been forgotten. On the flip side of that, the natural response of a joyful heart is to sing praise to God. The Bible says, our Lord inhabits our praises and a heart that seeks Him and loves Him wants to let God know all the time. Singing songs of praise is just one way of showing your love and appreciation for a loving God who cares so much for us. God wants us to to pray for each other. James directs those who are “sick” weakened by their suffering to call on the elders of the church for prayer, support , and strength. The anointing with oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit’s welcomed presence to bring healing or deliverance making one whole. Prayers offered on their behalf deliver them from being weakened from their infirmity. This is a picture of the body of Christ. Your church family is made of brothers and sisters in Christ who demonstrate their love for Christ by being availiable for others. Confessing our sins to another believer is the first step of healing. The physical body is going to start breaking down with age, but the inward man is being made new everyday through the washing of the Word and the cleansing power that is in Christ Jesus, through the Holy Spirit.

Beloved friend, This life is but for a moment, it will soon pass. It is what we do for Jesus Christ is all that lasts. Are you praying for anyone in particular right now? Don’t stop just because you don’t see any results yet. The effective prayer is a deepened belief that God not only hears your cries, but is also able to answer your prayers of fervancy on behalf of others. Because your righteousness is from Him!

May the Lord bless your walk!

Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!” Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant. ‘Go quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.‘ Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’ ”  Luke 14:15-24

The pre-invited guests refer to Israel, who all through the O.T. were told to be ready for the arrival of their Messiah. The excuses being made are the examples of what happens to those who possess an idolatrous heart, where possessions and even relationships are being put before the Lord. Through this parable the Lord exposes the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and those who were synagogue leaders by how they treated the poor, and maimed and lame and blind in how they regarded them as unclean or unworthy. And even condemned Jesus for His associations with prostitutes and tax collectors. So God opens His kingdom wide to those who are not originally chosen, yet, by faith are excepted and found worthy to receive forgiveness through Christ. The highways and hedges might not seem to you and I as places of significance, but it is meant that the disciples were to go quickly to the Gentile regions and bring the good news of the gospel, by compelling them with His love for them, and not by earnest persuasion. And still there is more room- – – God is more willing to save sinners, than sinners are willing to be saved!

Beloved friend, God is still wanting His house to be full. While we don’t know when Jesus will return for His church, it is clear from a Scriptural prophetic stand point, that nothing more has to be accomplished before He returns. Having said that, and giving Israel’s lack of support from it’s allies, including unfortunately the U.S. What manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness. For these are the lives who live for Christ, and His kingdom, and are telling others about Him through their life lived as well as through their words. Indeed, these are Christians who are counting the cost to be His disciples, and are forsaking all to follow Him. Worthy to be called to eat bread in the kingdom of God!

May the Lord bless your walk !

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14)

Pauls uses the analogy of a runner running a race to describe the Christian’s spiritual growth. The believer has not reached their goal of Christlikeness in this life, but like all participates in a race, have determined to give everything they have to finish in a way that will continue their pursuit of it. This is the goal of all of us who are Christians today. We’ve entered in our race when we asked Jesus to forgive us of our sins, and now with the help of the Holy Spirit that is in us, we are being conformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Now the race toward Christlikeness begins with a sense of honesty and dissatifaction. Being honest before God our Father is to be in agreement with His Word that our human sinful nature is opposed to His Spirit in us (Galatians 5:17), therefore we must discipline ourselves to not allow our old self, our sinful nature to dominate our thoughts, or our words, and our actions. All these bring opposition to running an effective race for Christ. The dissatisfaction must come from not compromising our purity. Whether in success or in times of suffering, our obedience to the Word of God must be settled, that first, God’s Word must be obeyed, and second, God’s Word must not be compromised by my own interpretation when it comes to holiness and purity of heart. These are both commands from God for every believer. Paul here in our text, used a sprinter, and refers to aggressive , energetic action. Paul pursued sanctification with all his might, straining every spiritual muscle to win the prize (Hebrews 12:1). lay hold…laid hold of me. —“Lay hold” means to make one’s own possession. Christ chose Paul for the ultimate purpose of conforming Paul to His glorious image (Romans 8:29) and that is the very goal Paul pursued. The goal—Christlikeness here and now in this life. Upward call of God—When our race is over, God calls each believer up to heaven and into His presence. The prize—Christlikeness in heaven, which is where we receive the prize which has been an unattainable goal in our earthly life.

Beloved friend, “One thing I do” remember these words in your walk with Christ, forgetting what is behind, important for us because the discouragement from our past failures, but always look ahead to your future in Christ. Press toward your upward call in Christ, remember as I have said before in this blog post, it’s not how we start out in our race that counts, but it is how we finish that is important. Finish well, my faithful friends.

May the Lord bless your walk!