Mark 12:31 – “The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” NASB

It is very interesting to me that the Greek word used here for ‘love’ is (agapao) which comes from a word that means much and can be seen in contrast to (phileo) or brotherly love.  It is a deeper love than just a casual social appreciation of someone.  It was not (storge) which is a fondness through familiarity or (philia) which is friendship or (eros) the romantic attraction but (agape) which is unconditional love or a God-kind of love.

That being said, if everyone were to take this passage literally from a personal viewpoint regarding how they regard themselves the world would be in a world of hurt.  Why do I say that?  Because some people have anything but LOVE for themselves and then others have nothing but LOVE for themselves. 

Some have an unhealthy un-love, and some have an unhealthy love for themselves and to love others as they love themselves would be dangerous and difficult.  Yet, if we are ‘in Christ’ and His love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit and we do not think higher of ourselves than we should then we can love others in a wholesome and balance the way that produces a beautiful interaction and relationship.

Imagine a world where people viewed others through the eyes of the Spirit of God.  Imagine a world where people realized that we are all creations of the Father.  Imagine a world where people followed what is called the Golden Rule and truly reacted and responded to others like we desire to be treated.  I am convinced that we would find more peace than turmoil in our relationships. 

It is when we attempt to love others without first coming to grips with who we are and having the who we are settled in Christ we have difficulty.  For most of my life, I have heard people say, “You have to look out for old number one” to justify whatever it was that they did and the way they treated or took advantage of others.  That is not ‘loving your neighbor as yourself’ that is disregarding your neighbor for yourself.  It is contrary to what Jesus called the 2^nd Great Commandment of God.  If we get the 1^st one right the 2^nd one is easy but until we get the 1^st one right the 2^nd one is almost impossible.

I cannot love you on an equal plane with myself if I have not first learned to be comfortable with who I am in God.  It is only as I find myself in God and know that I can trust Him, that I can make myself vulnerable and love you as I do myself.  The self-defense part of our nature prevents that, and it is only as we move from the survival mode to a life hidden with Christ in God that we can move out of our inner sanctuary of self-protection and LOVE biblically.

May God be with you as you go through this day!

Matthew 4:4 – “…It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'”  NASB

Did our Lord have anything to say on political matters during His time on earth?  That depends on whether you read His teachings for specific direct quotations regarding political matters or His implied statements in what He taught.

An example would be ‘fair wages’.   In Matthew 20 our Lord told of the conscientious vineyard owner who was concerned about his crops being harvested and hiring idle laborers.  He, at different times of the day, went to the marketplace and hired laborers.  At the end of the day, he took those he had hired last and paid them but when he came to those who had worked the full day he paid them the same amount and they were furious shouting and murmuring ‘unfair’ or in today’s world they would be calling for ‘wage and salary’ laws to be mandated to any employer. 

Notice what the business owner said, “Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own?  Or is your eye envious because I am generous?” (v.15) Our Lord was, by telling this story, implying that it is the right and privilege of the laborer and the employer to come to an agreement as to wages and no outside entity should legislate differently.

The Bible speaks about caring for the poor, the widows, and orphans as well as giving a clear directive regarding laziness and idleness.  Therefore, indirectly, and directly He speaks of the entitlement world’ and gives a biblical directive on how we should operate regarding those in our family and communities.  He did not mention, nor did any of the New Testament writers, a government program of welfare but a personal and community one.  Jesus spoke of unjust weights and measures speaking of unjust trade and there was a prescription for each of those and it always came back to the church, the community, and the individual to police.

Jesus did say to Peter regarding the taxes that were mandated, “Render to Caesar that which belongs to Caesar and to God that which belongs to God.”  We are told to pray’ for those that rule over us.  Yet, our Bible speaks to every aspect of life and teaches that our lives should not and cannot be regulated or legislated into holiness or morality.  That is a matter of the heart not a matter of some man-made law. 

Of course, we need laws and yes mankind is morally bankrupt enough that we cannot be a law unto ourselves with regard to life and property.  But with regard to how we earn our livings, care for the needy, and do business we have a guidebook that is impeccable and if followed by individuals and the Church our world will dramatically turn from the present path of decadence and depravity toward a godly way.

Before you adamantly proclaim that Jesus was never involved in politics you might want to read what He taught and realize that He dealt with life and politics is a part of life.  I trust what Jesus said not what man thinks about what He said.           

May God be with you as you go through your day!

Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.”  NASB

I have heard this passage used to decry the use of profanity, but I believe its reach is far beyond foul language.  Merriam-Webster defines ‘unwholesome’ as detrimental to physical, mental, or moral well-being.’  A sub-definition includes the idea of shady unwholesome dealings and loathsome.  Another dictionary renders it ‘not wholesome; unhealthy; deleterious to health or physical or moral well-being.  Not sound in health; unhealthy, especially in appearance.’ 

As believers and moral people, we should have as our objective to make our words those that lift up and inspire not tear down and deflate.  I pray with David, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14).

The writer of Proverbs declared, “Wholesome speech is a tree of life, but dishonest talk breaks the spirit.” (Proverbs 15:4). The words of Titus 2:8 provide a needed reminder, “Use wholesome speech that cannot be condemned.  Then any opponent will be ashamed because he cannot say anything bad about us.”  Then Paul issues the wonderful declaration in Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech at all times be gracious and pleasant, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to answer each one [who questions you].”

We need to be reminded of the words of Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequence of their words.”  The apostle James brought to light the incredible power of the tongue and its tendency to be unruly in James 3:6, “And the tongue is [in a sense] a fire, the very world of injustice and unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our members as that which contaminates the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life [the cycle of man’s existence], and is itself set on fire by hell (Gehenna).”

But if we are to have sanctified tongues more than self-control is required.  We must have right hearts.  Jesus reminded us in Matthew 12:34 that it is out of the ‘abundance of the heart’ that the words are presented.  David cried to the LORD in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”  The Psalmist declared in Psalms 26:2, “Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind.”  The heart is the key!

The apostle Paul instructed us in Romans 12:2 that we are not to be, conformed to this world: but transformed via the renewed mind.   David declared in Psalms 119:11, “Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”  Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks and what the mouth speaks first is filtered through the gate of the mind.   Paul made an amazing statement in Ephesians 4:23, “And to be renewed in the spirit of your minds…”

Many, if not most of the problems, in this present world have their root in an unsanctified heart, which produces an unsanctified mind from which an unsanctified tongue is allowed to spew forth its death, discord, and destruction.  If our hearts are sanctified, our minds will be renewed, and our tongues will be brought into captivity and we will demonstrate sanctified tongues.  Tongues that bless rather than curse are might weapons in the Kingdom of God.

I pray that each of us will seek the LORD and ask Him to sanctify our hearts and our minds and as He does the tongue will become sanctified and be a fountain of life not a cesspool of unwholesomeness.

God bless you as you pursue His Person, Peace, and Power.  Have a great day in Him!

Galatians 5:4 – “You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.”  NASB

Contrary to the opinion of some, you cannot earn your salvation.  I appreciate the desire to live holy, it is my desire as well.  The Bible makes it clear that holiness is God’s desire too. Well, it is more than a desire it is His requirement. (1 Peter 1:16; Leviticus 11:45, etc.).  In Hebrews 12:14 we read, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the LORD.”            

Purity is a big deal to God because He is Pure and has made the provision to enable us to live lives of consecration to Him.  Jesus made a statement in Matthew 5 that always causes me to meditate upon and examine my own heart and life.  He said in Matthew 5:20, “For I say to you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” 

I am concerned that sometimes, we believers, gravitate to legalism, and as did the Pharisees and develop our list of rules to demonstrate our holiness, righteousness, and purity through what we do.  If we trust our rules, our lists, and our prescribed way of living avoiding all the listed taboos and doing all the prescribed things we will move outside of God’s Grace to our own strength.  That will prove to be a colossal failure and incredible disappointment.

I was once a Pharisee of Pharisees!  I was not that way when I first became a Christian, but after a few years of ministry and the influence of some sectarian legalists, I became one.  I was miserable and made people around me miserable.  I judged everyone by their outward appearance and actions more than I sought to know their hearts.  I hung out the clothesline and took in the wash in many of my sermons.  I became quite adept at identifying all the wrongs and failed to mention all the right.  I saw few saved and had one church member tell me, “Pastor, nobody here today was lost but you made us all feel like the vilest of sinners.”

I am not shy about calling sin what it is, but many years ago, the Lord took me to the spiritual woodshed and changed my way of thinking about many things.  No, I did not abandon my core convictions and foundational beliefs.  Let me give you one example of my legalism and hypocrisy that the LORD spanked me good over.  I preached that it was a sin to work on Sunday.  Imagine that!  Yet, I would go out to lunch after service.  The Holy Spirit challenged me and asked, “If you believe it is a sin to work on Sunday, why do you create a need for someone to engage in what you are calling a sin?”  He then called me a hypocrite and I realized that I was.

I had a list of things that a Christian could not do.  I had a non-churchgoing man in my community invite me to do several things that were on my list and I told him no because it would violate my faith.  After he attempted to include me about a dozen times and I refused each time, he said, “What can you do other than eat and sleep?”  I had attempted to witness to him, and he visited the church on a couple of occasions.  After one service he asked, “Preacher, I have been here a couple of times and I know what you don’t believe, what do you believe?”  That was all the Holy Spirit needed to get my attention.

I believe, as the declaration of 2 Corinthians 6:17 states, we are to come out from among them and be separate.  However, I believe that does not mean isolation from the world it means to become insulated by the peace of God and live in such a manner that God’s love is demonstrated.  Jesus said that we are to be the light of the world.  He said that we are to be salt and light.  I am convinced that God intends for believers to influence their surroundings and world rather than to be influenced by the world.  We are to be agents of change and advocates for the Kingdom of God.

For years, my focus has been on the Love, Grace, Mercy, and Peace of God.  I am a strong advocate of Covenant Relationships and believe that God is a Covenant making and Covenant keeping God.  I have ceased trying to clean the fish before I catch them.  I have learned that God can change behavior to His liking in a moment whereas I may coerce the desired behavior, but the heart has not been changed. 

Holiness and Righteousness are not a list of rules kept but a condition of the heart.  The Pharisees kept the rules, but their hearts were far from God.  God’s desire is for us to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.  If our hearts are right our behavior will become right and we will not need a list of rules.

Someone asked what can you do?   I usually say, “Anything I want, but there are some things I don’t want to do because I know they would not reflect properly on God and would disappoint Him.”  I want the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart to be pleasing and acceptable to the Father.  I want to be light that draws to Him!

God bless you as you walk in His peace and allow Him to be Who He is through you!

Psalm 55:22 – “Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”  NKJV

David said in Psalm 37:25 – “I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.”  In verse 24 In speaking of the righteous he said, “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand.”  I do not believe there is any conflict in the three passages cited here or in the remainder of the biblical message. 

Is this a guarantee that we will not have problems or that we could not as Paul described in 1 Corinthians 9:27 become a ‘castaway’ or ‘disqualified‘?  Is this a guarantee that we will not or cannot as described in Hebrews 10:35 – “…cast away our confidence…”?  Is it a compilation of the promise in Romans 8:28 that “all things” are working together for our good?  I believe, strongly, that God has promised to keep us against that day, and nothing can separate us from His love. 

I am very aware that circumstances, conditions, events, and assaults on our lives can bring us to the brink of despair that God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.  I also believe that this is descriptive that IF we ‘cast our burden on the LORD’ He will sustain us.  Do you see one small caveat or possible problem here?

The instruction is to cast our burden(s) on the LORD and that is a requirement for the remainder of the promise.  If we refuse to gather under the shelter of his wings as Psalm 91 describes and we trust the Arm of flesh rather than coming to him, taking His yoke upon us and allowing Him to be supreme in our lives we place ourselves outside the scope of the promise of the second portion of the verse.  But if we do Cast our burdens on Him then we are assured that He will not permit us to be moved!  That is a powerful promise!

Therefore, If we believe the Bible then would that not be an encouragement for each of us to be obedient in casting our burdens on the LORD?  In my humble opinion, If one believes that by turning to the LORD, rolling our cares on Him, and allowing Him to engineer the course of our lives according to His plan would afford security, safety, and victory what sense would it make to not do so?  The only reason we would not is that we do not truly believe the Bible, nor do we truly trust God’s promise.  I know that is a bit harsh and strongly stated but examine it before rejecting it.

When I consider the life of David, I can readily understand how he would have developed a mentality of trust toward the LORD.  God repeatedly demonstrated His faithfulness to David and David either trusted or repented for failure and ran to the LORD.  Most of us, if not all of us, have experienced God’s faithfulness.  I know that in the times I have truly cast my burden(s) on Him He has proved His Promises!  It did not always transpire as I thought it should or even in the time frame, I had in mind, but God Never Failed and He Never Will!

May God be with you as you go through this day!

2 Corinthians 7:10 – “For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”  NASB

The idea of sorrow is anathema to the world.  Most people seek to avoid sorrow like it was the Black Plague.  Many seek to drown sorrow with stimulants such as alcohol, drugs, busyness, work, music, revelry, therapists, and even medication.  Sorrow is considered counterproductive to life and happiness therefore it is deemed a condition to be avoided at all costs.

Yet, Paul speaks of sorrow that is according to the will of God.  He speaks of a type of sorrow that produces repentance without regret leading to salvation.  Contrastingly he identifies a sorrow that should be avoided, worldly sorrow which leads to death.  It may be the death of hope or dreams.  It could result in physical death but assuredly produces spiritual death.  The mantra of much of the world and many in the church is, “If it makes me sad, it must be bad!”

Can there be a benefit in sorrow?  It is clear from the text we have chosen the answer is, Yes!  Paul wrote a letter to the Corinthian church identifying issues and problems in the body and it initially caused them sorrow, yet he declared he did not regret it. Why?  Why would make other people unhappy and sorrowful not produce a sense of guilt or regret in the one causing that pain?  Simply, it brought them to repentance and that was the purpose of God.  He could rejoice in their temporary sorrow because it led them to the light and freedom.

What is repentance?  One of the most common definitions is a change of mind.  That is a literal, etymological definition of the Greed word for repentance: meta (change) and neo (to think).  But it is far more than an intellectual activity or simply a condition of the mind.  It involves a change of the heart.  The mind that is to be changed is the inner consciousness of the whole person.  Frequently the Bible uses the heart and the mind interchangeably.

Repentance begins with a recognition of the sin and in that it involves the intellect.  The truly repentant person is moved by their sin and broken hearted.  It is more than having the mindset, “Oh, I broke the law of God again.  Sorry, God.  So glad you are gracious!”  No, no, ten thousand times no!  If one is truly repentant, they are broken hearted because they have missed the mark and failed God in that matter.  They are broken hearted that they disappointed the Creator.  They are sorrowful that they have not lived up to the purposes of God.  That leads them to repentance and reception of God’s Grace and the rejoicing of being forgiven.  They then set their goal and heart to not sin again.

Worldly sorrow, on the other hand, is not usually beneficial.  Those who genuinely repent will have sorrow over their sin.  Some equate sorrow and tears with repentance.  Sadly, there are times when the tears and sorrow or from the shame or embarrassment of being exposed and the fear of punishment not because they failed God.  Worldly sorrow is fundamentally self-centered.  It is rooted in the pain that their sin causes to themselves rather than the offense and the dishonor it brings to God.

Some who have worldly sorrow are frequently defensive about their sin.  They attempt to excuse it or justify it or lessen it.  Godly sorrow will always cause a person to own their sin and offer no excuses.  One example in the Bible of worldly sorrow is Judas.  He felt remorse for betraying Jesus, returned the thirty pieces of silver, and confessed, “I have sinned betraying innocent blood.” 

At that juncture, the actions of Judas are virtually indistinguishable from genuine repentance.  He confessed his sin, felt remorse over it, and changed his course.  But his next acts reveal that he was following worldly not godly sorrow.  He went to the chief priests and elders and they refused to take back the money.  He threw the money into the temple and left. Then, he did something that revealed his sorrow did not lead to genuine repentance and salvation.  He went and hanged himself.

If Judas had been mourning over the offenses he had committed against the Son of God and his grief was God-centered his response would have been much different.  He had walked with Jesus for three years.  He knew that he could find forgiveness and restoration in Christ.  He knew that Jesus had come to die for liars and traitors just like him.  He knew that forgiveness was available to whosoever would abandon their sin and place their faith and trust in Jesus.

That does not appear to be his concern.  His grief looks as though it was fundamentally self-centered.  He could not bear his shame, the humiliation, and embarrassment for having betrayed Jesus.  Rather than swallowing his pride and going to Jesus for forgiveness, he sought to atone for his sin through his suicide.  Worldly sorrow produced death.

If you have sinned, we all have, then allow the Holy Spirit to bring conviction to your heart, own your sin and repent.  If you do, God has promised to forgive you and promised He would reject no person that came in genuine repentance.

God bless you as you enjoy this day in Jesus!

Ecclesiastes 11:3b – “…and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies.” NASB

I do not like to take portions of verses to build a truth upon but make an exception here because I want to utilize the imagery and idea rather than the overall context.  If you remember what Pilate said regarding the inscription over Jesus on the Cross – “What I have written I have written.”  He spoke of the finality of his words and in reality, we cannot Unlive Life any more than we can recall words that we have spoken.  The life that we are now living is unchangeable in the sense that we cannot undo it so that it never happened.  We can, however, have our past wiped clean by the Blood of Jesus and the Grace of God and be transformed from darkness into light.

A tree, as the write of Ecclesiastes said, cannot alter where it falls. Once a deed is done, a word spoken, or a life lived it cannot be changed.  It is only while we are living that we can alter the eternal destiny and destination of our souls.  We are told in Scripture that each of us has a date with death and after that, we will be judged by the Almighty God for our lives here on planet earth.  It is not just important but imperative that we take care of the eternal business of our souls today for we do not have any promise of a tomorrow.  All of us are aware of someone who was here one minute and then gone in an instant without warning.  Life is like a vapor that appears for a time then is gone so no wonder the Bible declares that ‘Today is the Day of Salvation!’

Some who are living their lives as if someday and somehow they will be able to unlive those lives.  They live as though they are invincible.  They take little care in how they speak to or treat others and focus their energies upon whatever moves them at the moment.  It is all about me or them and some have even told me that “before I die, I will get it all straight.”  My normal response is, “I hope so!” 

That being said, my heart says, “I doubt it.”  I told my sons, ‘The type of girls you date will be the type of girl you marry and the kind of boy you are is the kind of husband you will be.’  I tried to teach them that it is a two-way street and that you are more likely to become like those you associate with than changing them into something else so carefully choose your friends and dating partners. 

We all make mistakes and most of us learn quickly that once the gate is open and the cows are out it is far more difficult to put them back in than to have kept them in, to begin with.  So, while we are living life, we should live it with a view of eternity and in so doing we will live in such a manner as to have no regrets and not have things we would like to unlive.

Today is the day of Salvation, now is the accepted time!  I urge you to evaluate your life and take any areas of deficiency to the Lord and allow Him to transform’ you. 

May God be with you as you go through your day!

Proverbs 20:6 – “Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man?”  NKJV

Through the years I have met people who, when asked about their relationship with Christ, declared I am a good person.  They usually tell me what they do not do, some tell me about their acts of benevolence, civic contributions, or something of the kind.  Others will tell me that they go to church regularly and others relatively regularly. 

I have found this passage to be incredibly reflective of how many people view themselves. Basically good or as good as the next fellow.  I recall one occasion when the person who said this, was a regular in church but had a propensity to hit the nightspots and cavort with the ladies while his wife and children remained at home.  He made little secret of his lifestyle but because he considered himself “as good as the next fellow” he felt little reason to change. 

In the many conversations with this individual, he would point out the flaws in other people in the community, the church, and especially those in leadership.  He mostly compared apples with turnips but nonetheless, it was his justification for allowing his conscience to become calloused guarding against conviction.  I understood his argument for I too held those views at one time. 

The rural church I grew up in had flawed people (as do all churches) and I wrongly determined that if some of those people were going to heaven God could not send me to hell for I was “as good as the next fellow”.  I went to Vietnam with that mindset.  It was terribly wrong, but it was the view I adopted because it allowed me to not deal with the pricks of the Holy Spirit.

I had occasions to talk to this individual and in the course of one conversation the account in Mark 10 came up. I read to him the words of Jesus when He was called “Good teacher or Good master” and Jesus stopped the individual and said, “Why are you calling me good?  No one is good except God alone.”  The man was shocked and I continued the account of how this rich individual had proclaimed his personal goodness when Jesus told Him to keep the commandments.  Jesus then informed the rich young man that he still came up short and this individual was a captive audience at that point.  I read to him the words of Jesus, “One thing you lack, go, sell everything you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. THEN come, follow me.”  The ruler was heartbroken and turned away because his possessions held his heart and his personal goodness was insufficient to save him. 

While many, if not most of us, would like to compare ourselves with others and declare that we are “as good as the next fellow” if we are honest, we know that is a flawed view. Salvation is never earned. It is by Grace through Faith.  God does not measure my life against your life, but His standard is Himself, the Lord Jesus, and His Holy Word.  In that light, everyone knows we have been weighed in the balance and found wanting.  If we understand the standard, we know all have sinned and come short of God’s glory.  If we understand the standard, we know that the invitation of Jesus to “Come unto Me” is our only Hope of Salvation!

May God be with you as you go through this day!

Genesis 15:1 – “After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.”  NASB

I thought about calling this The Bible’s Three Step Program but decided to leave it as the “Awesomeness of God” because He is, and the elements listed here reveal that awesomeness powerfully. 

Let’s take this one step at a time or one element at a time and see if we find comfort and encouragement in this passage.  Since I believe the Bible in Galatians that the Blessings of Abraham belong to the believer, I can take this passage and make it personal and mine.  If you are in step with me, I believe it will be powerful for you.

THE DIRECTIVE – – “Do not Fear.”

God came to Abram in a vision and the first thing that He said was, “Do not Fear!”  I have discovered in my walk with God that anytime He says, I am about to encounter something that could, should, and would make me very afraid.  The potential for disaster and danger is always present.  It may be an encounter with the forces of darkness or with man but there is something that would lend to being fearful. 

God’s directive was “Don’t Do It, don’t be afraid!”

THE PROVISION – – “I am a Shield to You.”

That doubles my concern about what is about to transpire, because if I need a shield to protect me from that which I am not to face and that shield is God Himself, it must be incredibly daunting.  But it is also incredibly comforting for God to say, “I (Jehovah God) am a Shield to You!” 

The Bible tells us in Romans 8:31 that if God is for us, who can be against us?  I like to rephrase it and say, “If God is for me, what difference does it make who is against me.”  God is a majority no matter how many are in the hordes that seek my destruction or hurt.  Someone said, “God and me, make a majority.”  I say, “Nope!  God is a majority with or without me, but He allows me to tag along and watch His stuff.”

I immediately think of the promise and provision found in Psalm 91 and take heart that I have nothing now to fear because God is a wall of fire about me.  I do not have to be afraid of the terror by day or night.  I do not have to be afraid of the multitudes who seek my destruction.  I know that I have the angelic hosts of God assigned to keep me safe.  I can rest in the comfort that I am in Him and in Him I am safe.  He is my shelter in the time of storm.  He is my shield therefore for anything to touch me it has to go through Him.  Fear then is laid to rest.

THE PROMISE – – “Your Reward will be Very Great.” 

Not just Great but Very Great!  The reward of not allow fear to shipwreck my obedience will be very great.  The reward for having God as my Shield will be very great.  I immediately think of the words of our Lord in Luke 12:32 – “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s GOOD PLEASURE to give you the kingdom.”  (Emphasis mine). 

When I consider the vastness and comprehensiveness of the Blessings of Abraham I am elated.  I think back to the declaration of Galatians 3:29 – “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”   We are heirs of God, joint heirs with Jesus, and the Blessings of Abraham are ours through faith.

Jesus totally defeated the devil at the Cross and in the Resurrection and He is in us, with us, and we are in Him.  We are more than conquerors through Jesus and the Power of the Holy Spirit.

CONCLUSION:       

We have no reason to fear because God’s word never fails.  We have no reason to fear because the devil is defeated.  We have no reason to fear because His angels are encamped round about us.  We have no reason to fear because God is our Shield, our Defense, our Protection, and our Provision.  We are invited and encouraged to live every day in the Awesomeness of God!           

I pray that this day and every day will be a day of blessing and victory for you!