James 1:2-8 – “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”  NKJV

Let me ask, “How many of you have been tempted?”  “How many have been tempted in any area and failed or succumbed to the temptation?”  I am sure everyone has, and when that resulted, you were probably flooded with guilt, or you shrugged it off, saying, ‘Well, I’m only human.’

Temptation is something that every human being encounters.  It does not respect age, gender, position, or ethnicity.  There is nothing we can do to prevent temptation from attempting to rear its head, and that head is sometimes quite ugly.  It comes! 

I have used an illustration about a teenager being left alone at home for years.  The car was in the driveway, and the keys were in a bowl on the kitchen counter.  Temptation!  The young man said, “Dad, while you were away, I came very close to breaking my promise that I would not drive the car.  You left the keys on the kitchen counter, and I even carried them in my pocket for three days fighting temptation.”  The father responded, “Son, there is nothing like the temptation to show you what you will do if given the opportunity.”  Temptation can be viewed from several perspectives, and we usually view it from only one, the negative.

• TEMPTATION FROM THE DEVIL’S PERSPECTIVE…

It is an opportunity to defeat the purpose of God.  Truthfully, he can only succeed in tempting us in those areas if we have something in common.  In John 14:30, Jesus told the disciples that the devil was coming, but he had no claim on Jesus.  Jesus told them that there was nothing in Him that belongs to the devil; therefore, the devil had no power over Jesus.

• TEMPTATION FROM MAN’S PERSPECTIVE…

It is a severe test and an attempt to destroy faith and commitment.  Man views it as a bad thing!  Man sees temptation only in the light of it, pulling and tugging at his own evil thoughts, bents, and wishes. 

James 1:13-15 declares, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” 

• TEMPTATION FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE…

Is that it can be and often is a valuable and vital service in the lives of men.  It shows three things about us:  what we are, where we stand, and what we will be in the future.  

Temptation is a factor in both the psychological and spiritual growth process that every human being must go through ‘IF’ they are to become mature individuals capable of living a full, meaningful, and victorious life.  In that light, Temptation’sreal purpose is Always to trigger a choice and provoke a definitive stand or action!  Consider the illustration of the teenager and the car keys again, if you will.

The keys presented a temptation that forced him to make a very difficult but vital decision.  He had to obey or disobey.  To disobey would be to commit an act of irresponsibility that would make it easier to do similar things in the future.  To obey would help create a pattern for mature and wise decisions in the future and make it easier to resist temptation and produce victory and liberty. 

Temptation could be called a dividing line between innocence and awareness.  Temptations come and always present a lesson to be learned.  Our choices in temptation demonstrate whether the lesson has been learned or must be repeated, “The Wilderness Principle.”  How many times did Israel take another lap around the mountain?

For example, we teach children not to cross the street alone, but temptation comes into play the moment the child has the opportunity to disobey.  There is no one around to see, the street beckons and promises intriguing adventure.  The response to temptation will determine if the child can be trusted to play near the street or if more supervision and training are required.  Thus, how we face temptation affects every area of our personal life.

May the Lord help us to realize and learn the lessons rather than becoming stuck in an almost perpetual process of repeating or “making laps around the mountain.” 

God bless you richly as you face today with confidence and boldness in Jesus!

James 1:2-8 – “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”  NKJV

Another passage I will suggest is 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”  I have learned and believe there are some explicit promises in God’s word that we can expect as a part of our Spiritual Inheritance in Jesus.

            GUIDANCE – – The Holy Spirit will guide us into all Truth. (John 16:13)

            INSTRUCTION – – The Holy Spirit will teach us God’s Truth.  (John 16:13)

            PROVISION – – God will supply all our needs. (Philippians 4:19)

            COMFORT – – We will never be left comfortless. (John 14:18)

            DEFENSE – – The Battle is not ours, but God’s. (2 Chronicles 20:15)

We are told that when we do not know how to pray as we should, the Holy Spirit will make intercession for and through us.  God’s word informs us that people are defeated and destroyed because of a ‘lack of knowledge’ or ‘understanding.’  We have the incredible promise that ‘IF’ we walk in the Light as He is the Light, we can ask what we will and expect an answer. 

Please understand that I believe the Bible teaches that it is imperative that both the motive and request are wholesome and pure.  If we ask anything According to His Will, the Bible informs us that IT IS DONE!  Therefore, it is incredibly important for us to know the following:

• The Will of God. 
• The Principles by which He works.    
• What God Desires to do IN us.

That is no small undertaking, and without His help, impossible!  Temptation is one principle that affects us significantly in our walk and warfare and is often overlooked or completely misunderstood.  I refer to it as the “Wilderness Principle,” and in that, we must become aware of the following:

• The Purpose or Work of Temptation.
• How to Receive God’s Promises.       
• How to Stand Steadfast During a Problem.  
• How to Enter into God’s Provisions.

Again, that is no small undertaking; without God’s help, it is Impossible!  The Bible teaches that God’s desire for us is Conformity with the Person and Image of Christ Jesus our Lord.  He wants us to know, enjoy, and live what I call Full Salvation and Complete Deliverance. He wants us to enjoy His Abundant Provisions daily and continually walk in Victory, pulling down strongholds. 

Life is a process that begins in infancy, progresses through adolescence, and to fullness in adulthood.  Our Spiritual Life and Walk involve numerous tests and encounters that help develop our character and give us a mark, a barometer, or an identity point that enables us to recognize where we stand spiritually.

Hosea 4:6 informs us, “My people perish for a lack of knowledge….”  That is a powerful truth, for if we do not Know God’s Will, we cannot Do God’s Will.  If we do not understand what He is doing, we may resist and rebel when we should be resting and learning.  But, if we understand the Principles of God, we know what to look for and what to do.  Victory comes from understanding and obedience. 

Thus, we have the exhortation of James “…count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations….”  Honestly, that is not difficult; it is impossible Without some understanding of the Purpose of Temptation in our lives and without the careful guidance and assistance of the Holy Spirit.

I dare not stop there but will pause in this devotional and pick up in the next more on Temptation’s Purpose and Function in the believer’s life.   

God bless you richly as you embark on this leg of Life’s Journey. 

Psalm 56:3 – “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.”  NKJV

Isaiah 12:2 – “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.'”  NKJV

We are repeatedly directed to Trust in Scripture.  Psalm 37:3 instructs us, “Trust in the Lord.”  Isaiah 26:4 directs us to “Trust ye the Lord forever….”  Then in 1 Peter 6:17, we read, “Trust…in the Living God….” 

The immediate question for me is, “What is there in God that is specifically to be depended on or trusted so completely that we can roll our entire souls and eternal destiny upon?”  Let me offer the following thoughts hoping they will encourage your hearts.

• We are to Trust God’s Self-Existence, Independence, and Eternality.

He is!  He was and is before all things.  He is totally without dependence upon anything outside Himself.  He is eternally existent.  HE IS!  We must learn to trust that reality.

• We Can Confide in and Lean upon His Dependability and Infallibility.

We read in:

John 14:6 that He is Truth. 

Numbers 23:19 tells us that He is not a man that He should or could lie.

Romans 3:4, we find that God is truth and every man a liar in comparison. 

Therefore, if God declares it, it is true and trustworthy, forever settled in heaven.

• We Can and Must Depend on God’s Omnipotence.

God is without limit in power, and there is nothing He cannot do.  Ephesians 3:20-21 tells us, “Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all the ages, world without end. Amen.”  Not only is God able He is active and involved in our lives.

• We Can and Must Trust with Great Hope in His Expressed Love and Availability.

There can be no better passage to anchor that than John 3:16. God is not only love by nature, but He consistently and continually expresses that love to us and makes that love unceasingly available to us.  Therefore, we are to Commit (galal) our way unto the Lord; Trust (batach) also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:5).  We are to roll our way or lives and our cares upon Him, run to Him for refuge and He will bring it to pass.  He Is Trustworthy!

Trust forms a basis for Faith but is not faith in and of itself.  Trust is a basis of reliance, faith, and hope.  Faith is the assurance that God will do what He says and is who He says He is.  Trust is an inner confidence that patiently waits for God’s time and action.  In that sense, we need strength in Faith and Trust to move into that realm God has designed and desired for our lives.   

Trust is the confidence that God will do what is best because of Who He is, even without a specific word from Him.  Trust is a key ingredient for mature victory, producing faith.  God is not a man that He should lie; if He says it, He will bring it to pass.  Therefore, Trust Him in all things and at all times!

May the Lord richly bless you as you embark on today’s journey in Him!

Psalm 56:3 – “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.”  NKJV

Isaiah 12:2 – “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.'”  NKJV

Let us consider the matter of Trust and how it relates to Faith and our Christian walk.  I would like to briefly consider the “Five Separate Words” translated as Trust in Scripture.

• Galal (To Roll.) – – Psalm 22:8, “He trusted on the Lord.”

It speaks of Christ in the hours of His crucifixion, and David wrote, “He, Christ rolled Himself on the LORD.”  He Trusted or placed His full confidence in the Father.  This is the confidence of complete and total dependence.

• Chul (To Wait or Stay Upon) – – Job 35:14, “Therefore trust thou in Him.”

This confidence exhibits patience borne out of that confidence and trust.  Elihu said to Job, “Wait for Him.”  Trust, be patient, and Wait on the LORD—one of the most difficult tasks we are ever assigned in times of difficulty and uncertainty.

• Yachal (The Hebrew word for HOPE) – – Job 35:15, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him….”

Even in the face of death, Job refused to relinquish His confidence in God and affirmed that even if it meant death, He would die trusting God’s character, nature, power, and promises.

• Chasah (To Flee for Refuge) – – Psalm 91:4, “He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt though trust….”

God is our strong tower or refuge in the time of storm.  He is our shelter and our rock. If we cannot trust Him, what can we trust?

• Batach (To Confide in or Lean on) – – Used in multiple places and is the most commonly used word, Trust.

Therefore, Trust seems to be a rolling of our needs upon God, followed by a patient waiting for Him to act in His want and time.  It is Hope even when things seem hopeless, and it means to flee to God and His Promises for refuge when doubt and fear make a frontal assault on us.

David and Isaiah are both correct!  The difference is not in that they Trusted. It is WHEN they trusted or got around to trusting.  David trusted after fear had made a frontal assault and was gripping him.  Isaiah trusted before fear took control.  There is a difference, and it illustrates another powerful reason to study the Word of God, pray, and develop a deep relationship with the LORD.

Trust is somewhat inherent in our natures, for we are made in the Image and Likeness of God.  We could not live without some level of trust.  For example, we sit in chairs without thinking of them not holding us up.  We flip the light switch expecting lights to come on in our homes.  We turn on the ignition in our automobiles, trusting it to start and become our conveyance to where we wish to go.  Trust is a part of life.

Paul instructs in 2 Corinthians 1:9 that we should not trust ourselves but God, and he instructed Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:17, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded or trust in uncertain riches, but in the Living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.” 

Dwight L. Moody suggested the following:  Trust self and be doomed to disappointment.  Trust friends, and they will leave you.  Trust money, and you will have it taken away.  Trust reputation and some slanderous tongue will blast it.  Trust God, and you will never be confounded in time or eternity. 

There is more to communicate, so I will pause here and pick this up next time as we consider my final words on the matter and activity of Trust. 

God bless you richly as you embark on today’s wonderful journey into the realm of the unknown in life.

Psalm 56:3 – “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.”  NKJV

Isaiah 12:2 – “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.'”  NKJV

In these two passages, we have the words of David in Psalms and the words of Isaiah, and they reflect two different conditions and perspectives at a particular time in their lives.  Both passages address “fear” and “trust.” 

It is good that David could say, “In the time I am afraid, I will trust….”  But I would suggest that the perspective from which Isaiah spoke is superior when he says, “I will trust and not be afraid….”  I do not mean to diminish the faith or commitment of either of those men but seek to point out that there is the good and then the better in our faith relationship with God. 

Charles Spurgeon said, “All who get on board heaven’s train will arrive in heaven, but those who follow the mindset from which David spoke will ride ‘third class,’ while those who follow Isaiah will ride ‘first class.'”  Again, not to diminish the faith or commitment of either but to point out the difference in perspective.

Trust is not and will never be a product of ‘fear’; it is a preventative of ‘fear.’  I recall some years ago hearing an illustration that has benefited me numerous times in seasons of difficulty. 

There was a commercial airliner flying in a violent storm.  The passengers panicked, and even the flight attendants reached for the airbags.  The passengers were in a state of panic and terror.  Some were crying, some were cursing, and a few were praying.  Everyone was in a state of total disarray except one lady in 1st Class.  Someone noticed she was unmoved by the storm and asked WHY?  She calmly replied, “My husband is the pilot and is well qualified to get us to the airport safely.”  She Trusted!

Another story I have often related is one reportedly about Stonewall Jackson and his sister-in-law, who were crossing the river below Niagara Falls. In somewhat of a panic, his sister-in-law began to question the boatswain. Finally, Stonewall took her by the arm and said, “Unless you feel better qualified than the boatswain to ferry us across the river, sit down, be quiet, and TRUST HIM.”

Webster’s Dictionary defines TRUST – – Assured reliance on the character, strength, or truth of someone or something and lists confidence and dependence as synonyms.  Isaiah said, “I will have assured reliance on the character, strength, and truth of the Almighty God and therefore will not be afraid.”  In the general usage of scripture, Faith is “Trusting in God’s Testimony.”  It is receiving all God has revealed and resting in that revelation.

Let me give you something to muse on.  Faith is not an Old Testament word.  It is used only twice in the Old Testament, but Trust is used over 140 times, yet Hebrews 11 credits many Old Testament characters with having faith and powerful faith.  The Old Testament does not speak of their faith but their trust.  Therefore, we understand that they were men and women who exhibited Complete Reliance on God, which affected their attitudes and actions.  That is a powerful revelation we all need to grasp, for it can be liberating.

Someone once told me, “God said it, so that makes it true.”  I said, “No, God said it because it is true.”  I am not trying to split hairs, but I believe there is a difference, and when we realize that what God says is true because it is true, we can Totally Trust what He says.  We must develop unrelenting confidence in the person, character, nature, power, and promises of God.  Trust is what we need to propel us to the realm of faith that moves mountains.

I want to address more on the matter of Trust but will pause here and pick up next time considering five separate words translated trust and hope to inspire confidence in each of our hearts.

God bless you richly as you venture forward into the unknown of this day!

Colossians 2:8-10 – “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”  NKJV

Let us return to yesterday’s concluding question, “Is there an answer?”  God is the answer! However, the outworking of that is much more inclusive and expansive.  It is my observation and belief that many churches that could bring healing and resolution for many of today’s problems are not doing so. 

That is partially because they have allowed themselves to become overburdened with busyness or become so frustrated that they have essentially given up trying.  It is a sad indictment or realization that, too often, the entity that is supposed to be God’s Glorious Church has frequently turned the problem over to the world to deal with Symptoms when we are the only ones with a real Solution!

It is not the outside of the cup that is important but the inside.  It is not the exterior but the interior or the heart that is important.  But if we are asserting there is an answer, what is the problem?  

I believe there are several problems in the Church not taking the battle to the devil and breaking down the barriers, walls, and chains the forces of hell have placed upon lives, communities, homes, churches, and nations.   I have talked with pastor after pastor and church leader after church leader, and a consistent theme is “Lack of Vision.”  It is not that there is no vision, but there is no corporate or identified vision that people can rally around. 

Another issue is Fear.  In today’s politically correct world, with the threats and accusations being hurled at churches, believers, and ministers, too many are operating out of fear, and timidity has taken control.  There is fear of the PC world, but there is also hesitancy because of fear of failure causing many to be unwilling to venture beyond the known and safe.  The fear of rejection is a powerful tool used by the devil, and it can produce paralysis, which is tragic.

I have also discovered that with the availability of information and the power of technology, some have allowed it to replace anointing.  There was a time in the church when ministers dared not ascend to the pulpit without knowing they had heard from God, and when they spoke God’s word, the anointing opened the door for holy conviction. The demonstration of God’s power was present powerfully. 

I am also fully aware that there have been those who have misused the gifts God has given and become manipulative for their own purposes.  That is a problem with the heart, not the gift. 

I have also realized that we have relegated training to institutions rather than men of God making disciples and, as Moses of old, training people to function according to Ephesians 4.  We need to inform, but we also need to give a practical place for people to develop their gifts and callings in God.  Where better than in the protective shelter of the local congregation under the watchful eye of the leaders whom God has appointed, called, and released?

Our society appears to have fallen prey to the mentality of consumerism, and that is impacting the church negatively.  Through advertising and technology, people are conditioned to ‘shop around’ for the best deal or that which is most pleasing or interesting.  That has spilled over into how people find a local church to become planted in.

I do not know where I saw this questionnaire, but it has validity.  I believe it was a questionnaire that a pastor presented to his congregation, and I offer it to you for your consideration.  Pastor, if you choose to use it, feel free to do so.

Honestly Evaluate Your Fellowship or Church: [Rate each category 1-10, with 10 being the best possible and 1 being the worst.]

• Is it genuinely open to the Holy Spirit?
• Do the Bible teachings presented stress practical daily living?
• Is there a healthy emphasis placed on relationships?
• Is the church still rigidly encumbered with flattering titles, or is there an openness to informality?
• Does the church understand the family, its problems, and needs?
• Do the members share their faith through their words and deeds?
• Does the church recognize and value the ability of both men and women?
• Does the church place a high value and emphasis on Worship?  (Not just singing songs but worship).
• Is the church diverse or open to diversity without compromising its core principles?
• Is the church action-oriented more than program-oriented?

What is the score?  Here is the key given for them to evaluate the local congregation:

65 or Less – – Dramatic improvement needed.

66-80 – – – – – -Not too bad.

81-100 – – – – -People will miss the NFL pre-game show and arrive early to get a good seat.

Obviously, he placed a bit of humor, but the message is impossible to miss.  We can either become rigidly religious or pursue righteousness.  We can focus on symptoms and miss the disease or problem and direct our focus, efforts, and energy wrongly, or we can move beyond symptoms and address the root problems.

Many believers want to be invested and active in The Glorious Church Jesus declared He was building and is now building.  My prayer is, “LORD, I want to decrease so You can increase in my life, and I want to move from simply being religious to being a living, breathing manifestation of You!”

God bless you as you enjoy this day in our LORD!

Colossians 2:8-10 – “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”  NKJV

Before I venture into this and explain what I am talking about, let me ask that you read:  Colossians 2:8-3:2 and Ephesians 4:11-16and then continue reading what I am going to write.  I ask that because I believe that those, and many other passages, are vital foundations upon which I hope to build my thought in the hopes of inspiring, encouraging, and helping some break free of what I can only call the “religiousness of religion or the religious” which is often nothing more than a rekindling of the mentality and philosophy of the Pharisees and Secularist. 

The fix I am speaking of is not drugs, albeit Karl Marx said, “religion is the opium of the people,” usually translated as “religion is the opiate of the masses.”  Sadly, for some who profess to be followers of Christ, Marx’s definition may be more accurate than we care to acknowledge.  While I understand what many are saying when they decry religion, I believe it is not religion but the ‘religiousness of the religious’ that is a more significant problem. 

Spiritually, our world is at war!  Tragically, that is often also a description of the condition of the flesh in the interactions of man to man and nation to nation.  In the church today, I am not sure that we always realize where the real battlefield is or what the real battle is. 

I have become convinced that we, too often, focus on symptoms and believe them to be the disease or the battle.  The only consistent result is frustration, disappointment, despair, disillusionment, and defeat.  That is not the Church Jesus described in the Gospels that He was building. We have problems in the world today, but making war on symptoms will not solve the problem. It will only frustrate our purposes.

Jesus declared in Matthew 24:14, “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations and then the end will come.”  That is truth and being fulfilled powerfully through technology, but let me ask a probing question.  “What is the Gospel of the Kingdom?”  

I am not trying to get into a lengthy debate over an issue that has divided much of the church today but to suggest that the Gospel of the Kingdom focuses on LIFE, not symptoms.  It is the Life of God that is to be lived in each of our hearts.  It is more than salvation and going to heaven when we die. It is about LIFE NOW!  The words of John in 1 John 4:17 ring in my mind as I write, “…because as He is, so are we in this world.”  AS HE IS, not was or will be, but IS, and that is IN THIS WORLD right now!

As I study the Book of Acts and the First Century Christians, I realize that what they had would be and is called radical today, but it was the norm of the Christian life, and that norm has not changed.  It could be called Traditional Christianity, and if that is true, what would you call what we have today or what most have today? 

They turned the world upside down with their religion or Christianity!  I argue that what we call Radical Christianity is actually Normal Christianity, and that kind of Christianity is always innovative and captures the hearts and minds of people.  It does not do so with entertainment but with truth, life, and power.

Inside and outside the realm of the Church or Christian circles, our world is ravaged by divorce, betrayal, child abuse, addiction, battering, and many inadequacies.  Many within our churches are ensnared by some destructive sin or thought process, beaten down by rejection, wounded like caged animals, and filled with despair. 

The problem is of epic proportions and demands the question, “Is there an answer?”  The immediate and obvious answer is, “Yes!”  The answer truly is in God, but there must be more to the pursuit of a remedy if we are to become the Church Triumphant that Jesus spoke of that the very gates or powers of hell would not be able to resist. 

I want to say more on this matter but will pause here and pick this up next time as we focus on the War, Warriors, and Warfare in which we can pull down strongholds and see the captive set free, the blind eyes opened, and true deliverance comes in lives spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically, and in every way.

God bless you as you embark on today’s leg of your life’s journey in Christ!

Matthew 16:24-27 – “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.”  NKJV

A pressing question we should ask ourselves is, “Am I truly committed?”  Are we committed in our finances?  Are we committed in our attitudes?  Are we committed in our actions?  Are we willing to DO whatever Jesus asks us or commands us to do?  Are we willing to BE whatever God wants us to be?  Are we willing to GO wherever the Spirit of God directs us to go?  Is the LORD truly NUMBER ONE in our lives? 

I have long believed that we have had enough preaching about Who God is and an incredible amount of preaching about who we are in Him.  Knowledge is lacking if it is not applied, and knowledge of God and who we are in God is not complete without and until we come to a place of TOTAL COMMITMENT!  Grace is Free but not Cheap.  We are not called to membership in a church but to be committed disciples and members of the Body of Christ.

It is the expressed desire of God to come into our lives and enable us to live out His will in our lives daily.  I talked to a person some time ago who expressed a fear that God would ask Him to do something he could not do.  That is a tragic error in thinking, for the Bible is expressly clear that God is not asking us to DO what He would DO, but He offers to come into our hearts and live His life through us.  His grace ‘enables’ us to fulfill His purposes.  It is not us but Him. 

Remember Paul’s explanation in Philippians 2:13, “…for it is God who works in you both to will and do His good pleasure.”  Therefore, it is imperative that we totally commit ourselves to Him, not just believe in Him.  I would suggest that what we need to do is follow the prescription of Scripture and ask Him to fully possess and enable us not just to DO but to BE what He desires.  We must ask Him to come in and live His life through us.

When we make that commitment and receive the LORD as Savior and LORD, we will find Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory.  We will find peace and joy that the world cannot give, take away or explain.  I will not sugar-coat the issue but will openly tell you that if you make that commitment to God, you will find sorrow and suffering; trials and difficulties will be familiar companions in your life.  Jesus warned us that the world would hate us and we would have tribulations and trials.  Christianity is not the absence of problems, but it is having the heart and mind of Christ so that we can respond to problems as God responds.  Suffering is a reality in this world. 

I have learned the truth and reality that God sometimes gets angry, and when we commit ourselves to Him fully and totally, we will know His anger in a very real and personal way.  John tells us in 1 John 3:8 that one of the major purposes of Jesus was to “destroy the works of the devil.”  I get angry when I see the works and deception of the devil.

The Gospel is not simply that we go to heaven when we die.  The Gospel is much more than that.  The Gospel is about living a life where Jesus in the here and now comes into our hearts and begins the process of removing those things that are not harmonious with His word, will, and way.  What we need today is a Jesus invasion that will transform us into something quite other than what we have been in the past.  My prayer is, “Lord, shape my attitude, mold my will, and direct my life so that who I am and what I am is pleasing in your sight.”

God bless you as you go through this day in Christ!

Matthew 16:24-27 – “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.”  NKJV

Through the years, I have been amazed at the number of “self-help” books that are in print and the soaring sales of those books.  I have found it interesting how the church has gravitated to preaching, teaching, and promoting programs designed to help people feel better about themselves.  I have heard scores of people in church talk about their desire to “find themselves” and discover the “real them.”  People are flocking to conferences and seminars searching for answers and, often, finding none.  It is like the old country song, “Searching for love in all the wrong places” We are searching for answers in the wrong places.

I heard a story (I believe told by Tony Campolo) about the reply a college professor gave to one of his students who had decided he was going to go on a quest to ‘find himself.’  The student informed the professor that he would not return to school the following semester.  The professor inquired about the reason for that decision, and the student informed him that he felt the need to ‘find himself.’ 

He said, “Doc, I’m tired of playing all these roles that society says I must play.  I am tired of being the me my friends expect me to be, the me that my family and church expect me to be.  So, I have to peel away each of these socially prescribed identities.  I feel the need to peel away each of these socially constructed roles society imposes upon me.  I have to come to grips with the core of my being, the essence of my personality.”

The professor mused on that statement momentarily and then gave an incredible response.  He said, “Young man, just suppose that after you peel away each of those socially prescribed identities and you peel away each of those socially prescribed selves, you discover you are an onion!”  That is an incredible response, for when you peel away all of the skins of an onion, what is left?  NOTHING!  An onion is nothing more than the sum total of its skins.

We do not find self; we create a self, and the only real way to create that person, character, or being and meaning in life is GOD or COMMITMENT to God.  The call of God is COMMITMENT in totality to Jesus.  The most real reality that exists is Spiritual Reality and that which we are in God. 

I have used an illustration for years about the tightrope walker Charles Blondin, who, in the late 1890s, strung a cable across Niagara Falls. As thousands of fans gathered to watch, he inched his way from the Canadian side to the U.S. side, and as he completed the task, the crowd was chanting his name.  After a short time, he silenced the crowd and shouted to them, “I am Blondin… Do you believe in me?”  They chanted back, “We believe… We believe… We believe…”  Then he informed the crowd that he was going back across the falls with someone on his back and asked if they believed.  They chanted, “We believe… We believe… We believe…” 

Then, he stunned the crowd with his next question and asked, “Who will be that person?”  There was an eerie silence, and finally, one man stepped out of the crowd and climbed on the shoulders of Charles Blondin, and for the next 3 1/2 hours, he inched his way back across the falls.  One person’s belief was manifested in COMMITMENT! 

It is one thing to declare our belief but often quite another to translate it or demonstrate it in COMMITMENT.  True faith is not simply saying, “I accept the facts.” It is “giving ourselves completely over to what expresses our belief.”   True Believing involves Commitment!  

I believe that one of the most serious and pressing problems in the church today is that while multitudes profess belief, there is a very large void of those who have and will make a total commitment of themselves.  Believers are everywhere, but commitment is not everywhere apparent.  In America, many know about God and believe He is real, but that does not make them Christians.  What makes a person a Christian is not professing to believe the right stuff. It is COMMITMENT to the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is surrendering our lives to the LORD and becoming His disciple.

I want to address more about commitment but will pause for now and pick up next time. 

May the LORD watch over you, guard and guide you as you embark on today’s journey. 

Psalm 8:1-9 –“O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens! 2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? 5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, 7 All sheep and oxen — Even the beasts of the field, 8 The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!”  NKJV

Many factors shape who we are, and our ‘World View’ is a definite contributor.  If we believe that all reality is physical and material and life is limited to whatever we experience in this natural body where death ends it all, we will be MATERIALISTIC.  Our focus will be the physical and material in both possessions and pleasure because that is all we will have.  There is no hope of a future beyond the grave. 

Another view is that the Present is Primary, and therefore the focus is on instant gratification.  Yet, another view makes a person willing to postpone some gratification for a richer and more meaningful life later or ‘Delayed Gratification.’ 

Yet another perceives not only the Physical, Material, and Temporal but also the Spiritual and views Eternity as holding paramount significance.  Within that view are two views.  One is Futuristic or “Some Day, Some Way.” 

The other is Eternal Life Now, where the belief is that the Life that we now live in the flesh we live in Christ Jesus, and we are not waiting for Eternal Life. We have experienced it and are living it in the present, waiting for our transition to that other world beyond this one.

Victor Frankl said, “Everything can be taken from man, except the last of human freedoms, his ability to choose his own attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose his own way.”  

Consider this illustration or description.  There was a fine person who was honest and dependable but incredibly negative and focused on what they do not have rather than what they have.  He focused on what is wrong, not what is right, looked for defects, and noticed flaws and corruption rather than concentrating on the incorruptible.  He had a teenage son who worked in the yard for 2 hours, totally unsolicited.  He came home, changed clothes, and went to work in the yard, criticizing everything the son had done and was doing. He defeated the initiative in the teenager and failed to value the beauty of the development of the investment parenting had achieved in the son. 

Attitudes are a part of our character, and every great achievement comes from a progression of small accomplishments.  We eat a meal one bite at a time, read a book one page at a time, and take a journey one step or mile at a time.  Our attitude, not our aptitude, will determine our altitude. In a very real sense, we are what we think.  We are not necessarily what we think we are but are a direct product of what we think.  We open the door by filling our minds with lovely, wholesome, uplifting thoughts and planting the seeds of peace, joy, and fulfillment. 

There are two primary sources of motivation – FEAR and LOVE.  People find motivation through fear of failure, opinions, rejection, etc.  Through love comes a powerful and healthy source of motivation that brings life.  If we grasp who we are in God, we will learn to value Imagination because that is an ability God gave us that allows the soul to put the mind or the reasoning component of our being in places where we cannot be physically present.  Every designer or artist sees the product and then does it.  Noah saw the Ark and then built it.  Then we will allow our WILL to play the God-designed role and enable us to make the right choices and stick to the prescribed path.

Do You Know Who You Are?  You are created in the Image and Likeness of God and are unlimited in your potential in Him!

God bless you as you enjoy this day’s journey in Christ!