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Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness {moderation} be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.          Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord—Paul’s familiar theme through out the whole epistle which has already been heard in chaps. 1 & 2. This however, is the first time he adds “in the Lord.” This signifies where the believer’s joy exists—a sphere that is unrelated to circumstances of life, but rather to the unchangeable and never ending relationship to the sovereign Lord. And let us not forget where Paul was during this time in his life, in a Roman prison cell. This is one of four prison epistles or letters Paul had been allowed to write while being a prisoner in Rome. The others were Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon. Paul was guarded by soldiers (Acts 28:16), was permitted to receive visitors (Acts 28:30), and had opportunity to preach the gospel (Acts 28:31). None of which ever enabled Paul to view his life as a failed attempt for witnessing for Christ. In fact, everywhere Paul went, people heard the gospel to the point of members of Caesar’s elite palace guard, were getting saved being chained to Paul. In fact Paul never referred himself as a prisoner of Rome, but in fact referenced himself along with Timothy as bondservants of Jesus Christ. There is always cause for us to rejoice in the Lord if you are a Christian today. We can rejoice that He wrote my/our names in His Book of Life before the foundation of the world. Yet, I know there are real times of sorrow and sadness in our lives. Times of despair and constant pain, I’m not disclaiming how hard and difficult it is to ignore this fact. But for the person whom looks to Christ, and Him alone, God has a way of bringing to us comfort by His Spirit that has a most profound effect upon us. That often times by choosing to rely upon the Lord, will rise up within us a joy that is so unspeakable, that when seen upon the face of the Lord’s afflicted one’s, it cannot be denied. For it is supernatural and comes from Jesus Himself, For He is near, at hand.

Let your gentleness {your moderation} be known to all men—This is a word picture of the attitude of “moderation” which implies “peace under pressure” and refers to the calm and deliberate strength with which we meet the disquieting circumstances of our life today. Our world’s disappointing ways, friends we’ve relied upon who have now let us down, relationships: marriages and families which have splintered. Yet, we can still have peace. How you may say? By remembering that the Lord is at hand—Jesus tells His disciples in the gospel of John 16: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (v.33) So really He is saying, “Don’t get too involved in the things of this world, it’s politics, or religious political correctness. These things will bring tribulation. Know rather, that I am near, and I will be coming again soon.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God—The answer for worry is prayer. Fret or worry is an indicator that we have not brought our problems to the Lord. Think of what it means to be plagued with burdens and then bringing them to the highest authority man has to bring them to. You can’t get any higher authority for which to bring your concerns to than to the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Who breathed the breath of life into man, who spoke into existence the universe as we know it, yet cares enough about us to know every strand of hair on our heads. He knows when one sparrow has fallen to the ground, and says to us: “Therefore I say to you, ‘do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than birds?” (Luke 12:22-24) So it is with prayer and commitment that I bring those things to God in prayer. I personally begin when I arise from bed, I start thanking the Lord for another day. I ask for His guiding me by His Spirit, for His filling me with His Spirit, then as I begin my day I read a few Scriptures and ask Him to bring to my memory His promises that I may need through out my day. Everyone who is a believer is different in how you cast your cares on the Lord. But its those things that make me prone to worry, or cause me to be afraid of, these very things I need to be bringing to the Lord. I realize that once I’ve committed these concerns into His hands, they are His now, they belong to Him and He will work out those things for His glory and for my good. For sure it is not for my glory. It is never for my own personal pleasure as often times I may not like the way things are in my life. Here is where I put my trust in Him, by saying, “Father, not my will, but Your will be done in this matter.” God is in control, and thank God I’m not. If I only could rely upon myself, if I were in control of my own circumstances I probably wouldn’t be writing these words today. I would have for sure messed things up a long time ago. All of these years the steadfast and sovereign Lord has enabled me to find confident strength and trust in His ways for my life. Teaching me to trust in God even when I can’t see the way.

Peace of God—An inner calm and tranquility is promised to the believer who has a thankful heart and displays an attitude of trust in the Lord. An unwavering peace in all my circumstances because the sovereign Lord has taken my circumstances and is working all things because He is able for my good (Romans 8:28), and my faith and trust in Him is growing and maturing in His likeness as His Spirit is working in my life. Transforming me into the image of Christ. Far from it as to being perfect and sinless, but nevertheless has been at work in me yesterday, today, and will be tomorrow when I arise Lord willing. If this all sounds too good, or perhaps too easy in my complexity of life? Just believe that God’s peace surpasses all understanding in its divine origin of peace. It transcends human intellect, and gives us powerful discerning insight and awareness of the nearness of the Lord.

Beloved friend, Paul was making a reference to the whole of man that can have peace today, even in the most trying circumstances, because our peace is in the Person of Jesus Christ. He has overcome this world by paying the ransom for us by dying for our sins which had previously separated us from a relationship with God. But now has restored us to Himself through His sacrifice. Believing by faith that this was done so we can have peace in our lives today. If you are still in doubt, why don’t you try once more? Cast your cares upon Him who cares for the things which concern us. Don’t be lacking today of something God so freely gives to anyone who asks. He loves you with an eternal love that can be depended upon with all of your life’s cares.

May the Lord bless your walk with Him today!

 

 

No one has ever seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:12-16

When we first read “No one has seen God at any time.” You may think, “What about Moses? And I would say, well, I have to believe John writing here, that no man has ever seen God at any time. What about Moses? The Scriptures tell us that Moses was only able to see the afterglow. God says, “You can’t see Me Moses, or you will surely die. I will place you here in the cleft of this rock and I’ll pass by. And I will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen” (Exodus 33:19-23).  And the grace of God was radiate on the face of Moses, so much that he had to put a veil over his face. Jesus said on the Sermon on the mount, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” But before I can see God, I have to have a new glorified body, which the Bible says is promised to every believer in Christ. So the saying is true, in this mortal flesh, this old body will not be able to see God at any time. But, If we love one another, God dwells in us, and His love is perfected in us. And that is a work of the Holy Spirit within our lives. Perfecting us in the love of God. John introduces us to the third of five reasons Christians love: Because love is the heart of a Christian’s witness. Nobody can see God loving since His love is invisible. Jesus no longer is in the world to manifest God’s love, the only demonstration of God’s love then is the love of God in the church. It’s a huge part of our testimony, that God’s love has gotten a hold on me. And As I yield to the Holy Spirit that dwells in me, as I am filled with the Spirit so that work of His love for me is ultimately perfecting God’s love in my life. That I will indeed love as He loves.

And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world—In chapter 1 of this Book 1 John, That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life (v.1). That we might have fellowship with the disciples who were with Jesus, and were eyewitnesses of His death, and resurrection; The purpose of His coming: That He might take away our sins—Now here again he gives another reason for His coming: ” That He might be the Savior of the world.”

Whoever confesses—The importance that Jesus is the Son of God, and (a) son of God as the Mormons would make Him, one of many. Or as the Jehovah Witnesses would make , a son of God. Our testimony is that Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten Son of God the Father, and God dwells in Him, and He in God. That is truly what separates millions of people in our world today. We all can’t be right. The Scriptures must be interpreted correctly, for the consequences are eternal. And dealing with these truths, how can we know who is right? There are a lot of false prophets in the world that have come. Jesus, before He went to the cross, had been preparing His disciples for what was to come. “I still have many things to say to you, but you can not bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”  (John 16:12-13) This verse points to the supernatural revelation of all truth by which God has revealed Himself in Christ. In the Old Testament which speaks of His coming, and the New Testament claims of His deity.

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us—-Let me point something out on what the Scriptures say that is not love. Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good (Romans 12:9).  A Christ-like love Christians are to have is to be shown purely and in sincerity. And is to be without self-centeredness and without hypocrisy. I’ve said here before: People are not going to care how much you know, until they know how much you care. This kind of love is seen in Christ, and is revealed to us through the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Another reference about love is: Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5); Paul was revealing to Timothy what he is to be revealing to the church; Because the goal of preaching the truth and warning of error is to call men to true salvation in Christ, which produces a love for God from a purified heart (1 Peter 1:22), and a cleansed conscience (Hebrews 10:14), and genuine faith (Hebrews 10:22). This is the love of choice and the will that is characterized by self-denial and self-sacrifice for the benefit of others, which is always the mark of true Christianity.

Beloved friend, God is love. Indeed and for sure. But love that is without truth is not love at all. People are so quick to judge what God is like by believing a lie of God’s judgment as taking away their freedom of choice. They will not be told what they can or cannot do in this life, even though everything about this life involves the consequences we face when choose not obey the law, nor the commandments of God. In 1 John chapter 5 we read, For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome (v.3). In contrast to the burdensome man-made religious traditions of the Jewish leaders (Matthew 23:4), the yoke of Jesus is easy and the burden is light to follow and learn from Him (Matthew 11:28-30). Let us be in that place of victory over sin and the deceitful lusts of this world, and be about our Father’s business of sharing our faith in Jesus Christ. He is coming soon! There is no denying it in our world today. Every believer should have their eyes on Christ, and His love for them will make a difference in the lives of those who need to know these truths who are all around us.

May the Lord bless your walk today!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.  1 Timothy 2:1-7

I want to talk about our Mediator, our Lord Jesus Christ. For this is merely one of His titles, and yet, we could not live without His intervention for us, He is our Comforter, He is our Healer, but today I’d like focus on this passage brought to us by Paul, because it is the right time for us to know these truths.

The Ephesian church had evidently stopped praying for the lost, since Paul urged Timothy who was their pastor, to make it a priority again. I believe that it is important that we pray for our leaders in government. Our apathetic view some Christians have toward government officials who have failed us in their promises  cannot be what we make our decisions by. Or justify it as the reason they won’t even register to vote. No, If you are a Christian today, your viewpoint has to be biblically correct. And Paul here is exhorting us to begin by praying for these people we have in authority over us. Supplications—The Greek word is from a root word that means “to lack,” “to be deprived,” or “to be without.” So we can say, “This kind of prayer subject occurs because of need.” Now the purpose of the prayers is that we might lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. The real purpose of government is not to tax people, but to preserve what is good. All laws were meant to be designed to preserve what is good, yet, because of all the evil influences and powers in government in our world, government actually is ordained to preserve what is good, by keeping out all of the evil influences. So what has happened instead? Study your history books and you will see it is true over and over again. Most governments begin with high ideals of preservation of good for the people, but in time, the corrupt forces moved in. The laws were liberalized to where good was no longer being preserved but evil was being allowed, being tolerated and then being protected by laws. We are at that stage in the United States today, where evil is being protected by law.

The lost have a great need of salvation, and believers should always be asking the Lord to meet that need. And so why not ask the Lord to bring more Christian believers in government leadership positions, it could be the only way for God to preserve our nation from its self destruction. Intercession—This word comes from a root word meaning “to fall in with someone,” or “to draw near so as to speak intimately.” The verb from which this word derives is used of Christ’s and the Holy Spirit’s intercession for believers (Romans 8:26) and in (Hebrews 7:25). Paul is saying, That the Ephesian Christian’s is to have compassion for the lost, to understand the depths of their pain and suffering by coming intimately to God pleading for their salvation and conversion. That they all would live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness. Shouldn’t that be our prayers today?

How many of us know of someone who is suffering by the consequences of their lives? Yet, without ever coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, they will perish in their sins. Sad, so sad that people who have this great need of peace in their life, won’t come to the One who offers us His peace. And so we know that this is good and acceptable in the sight of our all seeing God, and our Savior, who desires all men to be saved. Who also desires that all men should come to the knowledge of truth. And what is truth?

There is one God—There is no other way of salvation (Acts 4:12); hence there is many gods in our world today, but there is only one God for those who are lost can be saved! And one Mediator between God and men—This refers to someone who intervenes between two parties to resolve a conflict or ratify a contract, or in this case a covenant. Jesus Christ is the only Mediator who can restore peace between God and sinners (Hebrews 8:6, 9:15, 12:24). We can remember from the Book of Job, of all of his afflictions, his loss of possessions, children, his own health. Lying in misery even his own wife told him, “Why don’t you just curse God and die!” Then we read his friends came to comfort him. But rather than bring him comfort, they became accusers, and condemners. The gist of which was to say to Job, “Why don’t you just confess your sins and get right with God?” Job saw the enormous task of trying to bridge the great gulf between God the infinite One, and man the finite one. The only way Job could see it happening is that there be a source of mediation between God and man. Someone who can touch God and touch man. Jesus Christ is that Mediator who comes between us and God, by giving Himself as a ransom as our substitutionary death for believers, which He did willingly, and to fulfill the purpose for which He came to our world for; That we may have our relationship to God restored and be in right standing before Him on the Day of judgment. How thankful every Christian should be, that we have Jesus Christ interceding for us as we live our lives in this world. Even when we blow it, and sin against God, He intercedes for us to Father, that we might be restored into right fellowship again with Him. Jesus stands between God and me/us who are believers, and puts His nail scarred hand upon God, and reaches down and puts His hand upon us, and brings us in touch with God. Amazing is the love of God that is found in Christ Jesus our Lord. Simply amazing grace!

Beloved friend, Now what does that mean? That means if you who are reading this want to come to God today, you don’t get there because of me, or any Pastor/teacher, were not the mediator between God and you. If you want to come to God today, you must go to Jesus Christ, He alone is the mediator between God and man. You can’t get there praying to saints, or the virgin Mary, or any other entity. There is only one mediator, the Man Christ Jesus. And He alone can bring you into touch with God. He said in the gospel of John, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: and no man comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

May the Lord bless your walk with Him today!

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”   Matthew 25:1-13

The parable of the Ten Virgins is given to underscore the importance of being ready for Christ’s return in any event—even if He delays longer than expected. For when He does return, there will be no second chances for the unprepared. Paul wrote for us in first Thessalonians chapter five, he said, “of the times and the seasons you have no need that I write unto you, for you yourselves know perfectly well that the coming of the Lord is as a thief in the night, but you are not the children of darkness, so that day should overtake you as a thief.” (v.1-5)  Now the Lord does expect us to know or be aware of the times and seasons we are living in, however, we do not know the day, or the hour of Christ’s return. Therefore Jesus words to His followers then, and for us today is, to be watching, and to be ready for His appearance.

The parable of the ten virgins are representative of the whole church. And the five wise virgins represent the true body of Christ. No doubt you’ll find others who disagree with this, and that’s fine, this text is not a matter of doctrinal compromise, but rather the interpretation of a coming event. But we can agree that there is a vast church system in our world today, as Jesus said in the parables of the kingdom, how the mustard seed grew into a tree, and every bird came and lodged in its branches. There are all kinds of birds lodging in the overall tree of the church, with some of them not in Spirit and truth. As we look at the church today, And as we know from Scripture the times and seasons we are in. There is very few who would not agree that we are living in the last days events, and one of those events is the apostasy of the church. There are surely many apostate ministers, Paul said, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4)  And we know that today, you can hear the unbelief and skepticism that is expressed by so many ministers behind the pulpit of unbelief in the Word of God as inspired and holy, whose doctrinal issues of great concern, give doubt in the virgin birth of Christ, or unbelief in the atoning death of Jesus Christ, and yet, they call themselves ministers. They are in part of major denominations, and are embracing all kinds of ungodly doctrines.

So the church encompasses a broad spectrum of people; some converted and truly saved, and some still unconverted in which if Christ would return today, would be likened to the five foolish virgins who were not ready when the bridegroom came. Jesus makes this clear in the messages to the seven churches in Revelation chapter’s two and three: In fact, He said plainly to the church in Thyatira: “I gave her space to repent of her fornication, but she repented not, therefore I will cast her into the great tribulation, and those who commit fornication with her, unless they repent.” (Revelation 2:21)  The church unfortunately is not a true representation of Jesus Christ. Yet, there are those who are keeping true to the Word of God, true Bible believing pastor/teachers and rightly dividing the Word of God. These are in essence, the true body of Christ, and are witnessing to the world today.

Now the oil in Scriptures represent the Holy Spirit. There are those trying to do the work of ministry in the energy of their flesh. Their own strength, their own wisdom, their own abilities. Trying to help God grow their church, instead of simply feeding His sheep, they orchestrate all kinds of programs to rather entertain the flock, but that’s not what God ever intended for it to be. He will bring the increase, He will cause the growth of the church by adding to it. Our part is to be faithful in the calling to teach His Word, line upon line, precept upon precept.

Beloved friend, It says in the Book of James: Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast or lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:13-18)  Now depending on which camp you are in, I believe you can tell who are the five wise, and who are the five foolish virgins awaiting the bridegroom’s return. Let us come out of our comfort zone’s and be about our Father’s business until He comes, you will not regret but probably one thing when we get to heaven, And that is why I didn’t tell more people about Jesus Christ! And His love for them.

Dave and Sophia, Thank you!

May the Lord bless your walk today!

Be diligent to come to me quickly; for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. Bring the cloak that I left in with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. You also must be aware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words. At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

The Lord fulfills His promise to never “leave or forsake” His children. Paul here is writing from the perspective of the end of his ministry days. There are several points we can find here that are helpful to any of us serving the Lord. First off, Paul is asking help to come quickly. There is an urgency we must have in ministry that allows for the members of the body no time for idleness. Paul also reveals those among him who have forsaken him in ministry, Demas joined Paul and was mentioned in previous epistles, but here he was pointing out that it wasn’t because like Paul, who was a prisoner awaiting execution, Demas left him having loved this present world. Tragic to say the least because of this reason. No doubt hanging out with Paul was dangerous. The work of ministry today, in some parts of our world will cost you your life! And yet, when God has called you into ministry, this is part of counting the cost of being His disciple.

Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you—This Mark that was nephew to Barnabas who created a fight between Paul and Barnabas earlier. When Paul and Barnabas left on their first missionary journey, Mark went with them, but when they had passed through Cyprus and were heading into still some rough territory, Mark got scared and went home and Paul and Barnabas went on alone. Barnabas wanted to give Mark another chance on their second missionary journey, back through some of the same areas to strengthen the brethren that had been converted earlier. That’s when Paul said in effect, “Oh no!” He doesn’t have what it takes. So instead, Barnabas took Mark and headed for Cyprus and Paul took Silas and headed on back into Asia Minor again (Acts 15:36-41). It is interesting that in the Christian body, the church, you will have differences and have disagreements, but the Lord always brings us back. And now years later, Paul is writing of this same Mark, to bring him to me, for he is useful to me for ministry. There is a maturing factor for the Christian saint. One must go through much hardship, Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12).

Cloak, books, parchment—Paul had very few possessions and only cared for what he might have needed to benefit others. He was an avid reader, and had great learned skills.

Watch out for Alexander the coppersmith—Pray for those, the Lord said, who despitefully use you, so when Paul makes the statement; May the Lord repay him according to his works. Could have been the way Paul prayed for him. Paul was totally forsaken by all of his friends. And this I love most. All the men forsook me but nevertheless, the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, and that is all I or you need to remember. That the Lord stood with me. That the message might be preached—When the goal of your life is to be pleasing to God, then you can be assured that God will be supplying what you will need. Grace is unmerited favor God gives to all those who are His. Mercy is not getting what deserve, and the message of the gospel is that mankind does not have to suffer the judgment of their sins. We can have our lives be transformed by the washing and regeneration the Holy Spirit brings into our lives. By proclaiming the gospel to such a cosmopolitan, pagan audience, Paul could say that he fulfilled and reached the Gentiles with the gospel for which he was sent to, and this was a fulfillment of his commission given to him by the Lord. When his work of ministry had reached it’s fulfillment, he was called home to be with the Lord. Irony is, that every work we commit to do, to serve Christ by serving others, in this case, Paul’s writing his letters to the church, will be rewarded by God one day for all those who have come to Him for forgiveness and salvation.

Beloved friend, The Lord will deliver us from every evil work, on the basis of the Lord’s presence through His Spirit at work in me, He will never leave me nor forsake me. His strength is in His Word of promise, and the fulfillment of our destiny, that is, to be with Him forever. Paul had this assurance, and so can we. Jesus Christ, by His death and resurrection has gone ahead of us, only to return for us, until then, He has preserved me for His heavenly kingdom—Paul knew, like we can know, that the completion of our work here on earth, means our entrance into the Lord’s glorious presence and eternal kingdom. Amen.

May the Lord bless your walk and work for Him!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Therefore brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.  Romans 8:12-17

When we placed our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we were born again. We were made new in Christ. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). It was prophesied from the Old Testament: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you.” “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” (Ezekiel 36:26-27) We received a new spiritual heart as this promise to Israel is proclaimed. We have been chosen by God to live as His redeemed people, in the newness of life. Now, how does a new creature in Christ grow in a life of obedience? Our natural thinking might assume that a Christian could grow in obedience by simply doing his best to walk in the will of God. But then, how would you interpret Ezekiel’s prophecy: “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes.” It is through the help of the Holy Spirit that we put to death the deeds of the body or that they become subservient and the spirit becomes dominant. The Holy Spirit is to be the heavenly dynamic in developing a life of obedience.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God—Is my life being led by the Spirit of God? One of the ways I can tell is when the Spirit is leading me sometimes through fiery trials, there is given illumination divinely clarifying Scripture to make it understandable for me that enables me to withstand the ground I’m on. Meaning God has given us a life that is to remain steadfast in the places for which He has placed us in, To be still, and know He is God (Psalm 46:10). He is delivering me, and He is entrusting me with these circumstances I’m in, so that I will remain faithfully strong in dependence on Him. Divinely enabling us to obey Scripture. As you look at you life, can you honestly say, “Yes, my life is being led by the Spirit?” The Scripture does warn us not to be deceived, The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. We ought not to deceive ourselves into thinking more highly ourselves than we ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith (Romans 12:3). For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.

For you have not received the spirit of bondage—That is, the bondage to our flesh (old life) any longer. A disobedient life would include attitudes and actions that our fallen sinful physical bodies would naturally crave. These are to be taken the cross, to be rendered as crucified with Christ. Paul, in his epistle to the Colossians wrote: Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them (Colossians 3:5-6). The Holy Spirit dwelling in every believer wants us to respond properly by His enabling us concerning such matters. They are overcome through our yielding to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).

But you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”— The work of the Holy Spirit is not automatic nor robotic. Rather, it is a relational matter. God is a superior trinity: Father, Son, and Spirit. Man is an inferior trinity: spirit, soul, and body. And man meets God in the area of the spirit, and it is there realized in our lives through humble dependence on His power that we now can and will overcome this flesh by faith in believing in Him and His Word. When the Samaritan woman asked Jesus “Where do we worship God?” Jesus answered her, “Woman, the day is coming, and now is, when they that worship God neither worship in this mountain nor in Jerusalem. For God is Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23). God is a Spirit, so the place I meet God is the place of the spirit. Now if I am living for self, then I am a living body, soul, and spirit. Yet, I cannot have then no fellowship with God, as long as I’m being dominated by my body appetites and natural lusts. This is our problem. Our old nature still wants to rule! I have no fellowship with God, because God will not deal directly with my flesh, my body. If I’m ruled by my body I have the mind of the flesh, which is spiritual death, and separation from God.

Beloved friend, It is when we depend upon the Holy Spirit to lead us in the path of obedience that we truly live as obedient children of God. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” (Romans 8:14) Thus I am united with God, and I have fellowship with God. He speaks to me through the Holy Spirit by revealing His Word to me. I have all the assurances  the Bible promises to those who are born again. And so do you, if you have surrenderd your life to Him. Being led by the Spirit is truly the only way to live this earthly life. You will be a great blessing to your families, neighbors in your community, and also to your co-workers and friends. I am now a child of God, and heir of God, and co-heir with Christ. Indeed, I will suffer in this life, but God will always be with me. A true independence day, is when someone gives their life to Christ, for he is then set free from condemnation of sin, and is born again of the Spirit of God. And therefore have been enabled to enter His rest and become His righteous children. Praise the Lord! And Happy Independence Day!

May the Lord bless your walk with Him today!

 

Then they said to Him, “Who are You?” And Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.” They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father. Then Jesus said to them, “when you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.   John 8:25-30

The Jews here, especially the Pharisee’s were willfully ignorant in not believing even though there were many witnesses to support Jesus claims. What we have here starting at the beginning of verse 1, where Jesus makes the statement, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Jesus is not holding back by using any innuendos, He is squaring off with these Jewish leaders. He is laying things straight out on the line, He is declaring very plainly to them the truth, and what is the truth? “If you don’t believe in Him you’re going to die in your sins.” But provision is made by God for the forgiveness of our sins, but that provision is believing in Jesus Christ, and if you don’t believe in Him then there is no provision and you will die in your sins. And if you die still unrepented and in your sins, you are eternally lost and separated from God. Jesus emphasized that the fatal, unforgiveable, and eternal sin is failure to believe in Him as Messiah and Son of God. In truth, all other sins can be forgiven except for, the sin of unbelief. Jesus here is referring Himself as (Yahweh—the Lord)   of the Old Testament, and directly claimed full deity for Himself, prompting the Jewish leaders their questioning His claims.

When you lift up the Son of Man—The term “lifted up” is reference to the cross and Jesus impending crucifixion. Having refused to accept Him by faith and having nailed Him to the cross, they would one day awaken to the terrifying realization that this One whom they despised was the One whom they should have worshiped. Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:6-11)  Jesus emptied Himself of all the privileges of His heavenly glory, yet unable while on earth to enjoy His face to face relationship to God the Father, He continued to display the outward and personal enjoyment of that glory.

Think about it, these men in our text were trying to trick and manipulate the incarnate God, creator of the universe and all of life? Christ became more than God in a human body, but He took on all the essential attributes of humanity, even to the extent that He identified with basic human needs and weaknesses. He became the God-Man: fully God and fully man.  The first step in the progress toward true discipleship is belief in Jesus Christ as Messiah and Son of God. I always do those things that please Him—Now the Father testified that, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” And Jesus said, “There is no unrighteousness in Me, I do always those things that please Him.” And we also know from the Scriptures, that He says, “Which of you convicts Me of sin? And If I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?” (John 8:46) Although the Jews argued that Jesus was guilty of sin, the sense of His perfect holiness being demonstrated before them brought silence at Jesus question to them. Only a perfectly holy One who has the closest and most intimate communion with the Father could speak such words.

Beloved friend, The Book of Romans says: What shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? For those who believe in Christ, who have given their lives over to Him, who are born again according Scripture, The Lord is so willing to give you all things that you have need of while here on earth. And has your future destiny secured to be with Him forever. Who would not find that comforting in this unstable world environment? Let us praise God this day for His provision of grace in bringing salvation to completion for all who are chosen and believe–our hymn of security.

May the Lord bless your walk with Him today.

Nevertheless you have done well that you have shared in my distress. Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:14-19

Praise the Lord! I love the fact that Paul was thanking them for their gift, what they sent, “not because I desire a gift. I desire that fruit might abound to your account.” Now God has a very interesting bookkeeping system, your investments that you are making into His kingdom will bring fruitful dividends to your account. Jesus tells us, “Don’t lay up for yourself treasures on earth where moth and rust can corrupt and decay and thieves can break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where these things cannot happen, rust, corruption, etc. For where your treasure is there will be your heart also.”  (Matthew 6:19-21)  God accounts to the person who supports the missionary the fruit that comes from the missionary’s service. He wrote in Romans 10, How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:14-15)  And because a clear message of the gospel must precede true saving faith, and true faith always has content—the revealed Word of God. So that is why God says, those that send out these missionaries, share in whatever fruit there is from their ministries. Which ultimately is salvation. Salvation comes to those who hear and believe the facts of the gospel.

Concerning giving and receiving—Paul used 3 business terms. “Concerning” could be translated “account.” “Giving and receiving” refer to expenditures and receipts, Paul was a faithful minister/steward of God’s resources and kept careful records of what he received and spent. Though Paul had planted many churches, it was only the Philippians who sent Paul provisions to meet his needs. We can find from the studying of the maps recorded in the Bible for us, usually kept at the last pages of the Bible, how Paul traveled more than 5 thousand miles by sail or by land. That is like traveling from California to New York and about a third of the way back. So you can see why Paul was emphatic as to remind the Christians at Philippi, your giving to me did not go unnoticed by God. The fruit—The Greek word can be translated “profit.” Abounds to your account—The Philippians were in effect storing up for themselves treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20). The gifts they were giving Paul were accruing eternal dividends to their spiritual account: There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty.  The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.  (Proverbs 11:24-25) The one who gives unto the work of the Lord, receives far more than any other investment in this life.

A sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God—In the Old Testament sacrificial system, every sacrifice was to provide a fragrant aroma and be acceptable to God only if it was offered with the correct attitude toward God. In the New Testament, the Philippians gift was a spiritual sacrifice; Paul wrote an example of a spiritual sacrifice in Romans 12: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (v.1). For those in Christ, the only acceptable worship is to offer themselves completely to the Lord, and bring their whole body under God’s control, and offer themselves as an instrument of righteousness. Spiritual sacrifices mean God-honoring, and like Christ under the direction of the Holy Spirit and in guidance of the Word of God.

And my God shall supply all your need—According to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now who can measure that kind of riches? What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32). Would God do less for His children than He did for His enemies? Freely give—This word means “to bestow out of grace.” If the Lord is leading, if the Holy Spirit is prompting us, you will need faith to continue in the work of the Lord. When it is man leading, the flesh response is to focus on what it doesn’t have, usually money. And that onus is placed like a burden on the church. There is no biblical finding that whatever God has started, it never got completed because they ran out of money. God is our provision in yet so much more than just mere monetary assets. He gives to us the true spiritual riches of faith, hope, and love, the greatest of these being love (1 Corinthians 13:13), so that we will be fruitful men and women in the church, the body of Christ.

Beloved friend, Jesus is our sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. The gospels record of a woman who breaks an alabaster jar of fragrant oil over the head of Jesus, some where indignant because they deemed it to be a waste of what was costly, Jesus rebuked their thoughts and actions by saying this was done to prepare for My burial. Jesus knew He would be going to the cross, to suffer and die for our sins. Jesus did say this: you have the poor with you always—meaning we will always have a chance to minister to those who have less than we do, but Jesus Himself we will not always have. This means that in our lifetime, Jesus will always make Himself available to us, to those of us who come to Him in faith. But if we continue believing that one day, some day I’ll come to Him, That day might not come to you. Do put off another day if you have not been reconciled to God yet. How foolish for anyone to assume we have tomorrow! Tomorrow might not come for some of us. But for those who are in Christ, continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and do not be moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard and was preached to every creature under heaven (Colossians 1:23), always know how much more God has in store for us, for those who are willing to give themselves over to Him. Praise God, for His work of salvation in us!

May the Lord bless your walk with Him!

 

 

How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your Word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.  Psalm 119:9-11

Internalizing the Word of God is a believer’s best weapon of defense to ward off the encroachment of sin. The practice of daily reading and meditating on the Scriptures, the power of the Holy Spirit to renew us in our mindset. It is said, seven days without your Bible makes one weak. So how does it all work? What does it mean to hide God’s Word in my heart? Let’s have a closer look. In the Book of Genesis, we read the account of Cain and Able: And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat (the best animal). And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And was very angry and his countenance fell. Now 3 questions God gives to Cain: Why are you angry?  Why has your countenance fallen?  If you do well, will you not be accepted?  And if you do not do well (which means to repent), sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it (Genesis 4:3-7).

Now why is it that God accepted Abel’s sacrifice and did not accept Cain’s sacrifice? Abel’s offering was acceptable not just because it was an animal, nor just because it was the very best of what he had, nor even that it was a culmination of a zealous heart for God; but because it was in every way obediently given according to what God revealed to them. In the Book of Hebrews, we are told that by faith Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, so of the two brothers we find one offering up his sacrifices to God in faith, while the other was not. That’s the basic difference between two men then, and that is the difference between two men today. One has placed their faith and trust in God, the other not really believing, offers up what he thinks is good enough. Now Cain disdaining the divine instruction just brought what he wanted to bring, some of his crop. But when God pointed this out to him, rather than being repentant, and grateful for another chance, he was hostile toward God whom he took revenge on with prideful jealousy on Abel.

God reminded Abel and God reminds us, faith with obedience to His Word are required of us, it wasn’t for a personal preference between the two, or because of Cain’s vocation, God is not a respecter of person, meaning He doesn’t favor one man’s offerings over another, unless it is without faith. So God is saying, If your doing the right thing with the right attitude in serving Me, I will accept you. He’s encouraging him to the right kind of action. But if you don’t do well, then sin lies at your door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it. Here is an example of the free moral agent of man. God did not design us as robots, programed to do His will, but has given us the choice in life, to follow Him by faith and receive salvation and eternal life in Him, for the forgiveness of our sins. And yet, we see here with Cain, God revealing to him that if you don’t want a second chance with Me, sin awaits you and to have dominion over you.

The Discipline of God—For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” If you endure chastening, God deals with you as sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:3-11)

God is always watching us. But not as a policeman to put handcuffs on us when we do wrong, but as a loving Father so concerned with His child that He just can’t take His eyes off you. Let us not despise chastening, it is proof that God loves us. During the chastening process it isn’t pleasant. It isn’t joyous, but afterwards what great fruit it brings into our lives. The release of guilt, the load of pressure taken off our shoulders, we are not longer carrying this heavy burden of guilt or shame, the remarkable way you feel when God removes the guilt of your sin and restores you into fellowship with Him. The participation of being in the family of God with other believers who have all come in the same way. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (Psalm 133:1) God knows this is what we need. This is what He wants for us, He has taken away the punishment for sin in the death and crucifixion of His Son, Jesus Christ. Then He destroyed our greatest enemy which was death, and eternal separation from Him, by raising Jesus up from the grave the third day. This is the good news of the Gospel, that God sent His Son to die for our sins, so that we can have a place with Him in the family of God.

Beloved friend, If I will accept this as God’s correction for me because He loves me, no matter what the offense, I can be forgiven! But if I hold on to bitterness, and resentment; The choice I am making is that sin will be always lying at my door, and in this life will  always be unfulfilled desires and without true peace. But the choice is mine. Will I respond to God in faith? Or choose my own will and way without faith in God, but instead in myself. Give over every concern to the loving and sovereign hand of Lord. Only He can answer your heart’s cry from a vast wealth of His heavenly resources. Trust in Him, Lean on Him. And He will lead you into all righteousness.

May the Lord give you strength today!

 

 

 

But those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not be faint.   Isaiah 40:31

To the human mind, God’s wisdom is not fully comprehensible in how He chooses to fulfill His promises to deliver Israel. Wait upon the Lord—There is a general principle here that patient, praying believers are blessed by God with strength, His strength in their trials. We can through prayer, as simplified as just admitting, “Lord, I can’t. But You can, lead me and direct me in the way I should go.” It is all of a matter of our heart. God’s Word reveals truth. Truth about Himself, and truth about ourselves. If I take the Scriptures to heart, “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5) How beautiful that is that our great God who created the universe will strength me and help me in my weakness. The psalmist wrote: He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite. The Lord lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground. (Psalm 147:3-6) God doesn’t expend any more energy in healing a brokenhearted man, than He does in counting the stars in the sky.

Shall renew their strength—The prophet Isaiah’s promise to the people of ancient Israel still holds true for us today. The Hebrew word for “renew” means to substitute, to exchange, to show newness, to sprout. But the kind of waiting that renews strength is active, not passive. It is a deliberate exchange of human effort for divine strength. We are not expected to dig deep and tap into an unknown reserve of our own willpower and determination. Instead, we are to ask God to give us His energy—supply His strength. And when we ask, we ask Him in faith. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6) Without faith this text is telling us, it is impossible to walk with God (as Enoch did) or please Him. The emphasis here is on “He is” the true God, and that genuine faith does not simply believe that a Divine being exists, but that the God of the Scriptures, the Word of God, is the only real truth and only real and true God. Not believing that God exists is equivalent to calling Him a liar (1 John 5:10). A person must believe not only that the One true God exists, but also that He will reward man’s faith in Him with forgiveness of their sins, and God’s righteousness which is found in Jesus Christ. Who became sin for us, and paid the penalty for our sins, which was death. Even death of the cross (Romans 5:10). And finally, Because God said it would be this way, Is to believe in His promise towards us.

They shall mount up as wings on eagles—In the Book of Exodus, While Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt and had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped there: And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you shall speak to the children of Israel.” (Exodus 19:3-6)  With a most appropriate metaphor, God described the Exodus and the journey to Sinai. Eagles are known to have carried their young out of the nests on their wings and taught them to fly, catching them when necessary on their outspread wings. Moses, in his final song, employed this metaphor of God’s care for Israel and especially noted that there was only One Lord who did this. God’s loving care is today in the finished work of Jesus Christ, who hung on the cross, was buried, and on third day, rose from the dead. By His resurrection and the empowering of the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer, we can find our strength to endure and walk with peace from God, as New Testament believer’s who are of His kingdom and are priests of our homes (1Peter 2:9-10).

Beloved friend, As we seek to spend time with God, who better to look at as our example than Jesus? During His life on earth, we read that Jesus limited the exercise of His divine powers. Although fully God, He depended on the Father and the indwelling Holy Spirit working through Him. That dependence was demonstrated by the way Jesus sought time alone with His Father. The Gospels record multiple times when Jesus left the crowds and His followers behind for solitary communion with the Father. Jesus used His alone with God His Father for meaningful fellowship as well as for renewed strength and direction to carry on with His mission “to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). Meeting only those needs directly in front of Him would have been to ignore God’s concern for all who are lost. If time alone with God is seen as a once a day merely something to be checked off a “things to do list” we need to be careful of not separating our spiritual life with the rest of our life. Time with God is our spiritual lifeline. Waiting upon Him is reality on a daily basis, yet our faith is strengthened by this. From the Garden of Eden until now, God has desired to walk with His people in every part of life’s journey. We have need of endurance to be sure, but that very need is fulfilled by the virtue of God’s promised Word, of renewed strength for now, and an eternal and heavenly rest in Jesus Christ,  secured for us in the heavens so our perseverance is guaranteed. Even unto the end of the age.

May the Lord bless your walk with Him!