Ephesians 5:17-21 – “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.” NKJV

I have been told more times than I would care to recall, “Roy, you are full of it.”  It was not always codified, but I understood what they meant.  Truthfully, we are all “full of something,” so why not make that something the Holy Spirit of God?

Some are full of drink that destroys life.  Some are full of themselves, which destroys relationships.  Some are full of ambitions that drive them to attain a particular pinnacle in life, even at the expense of others.  Then some are full of the Spirit of God and exhibit a life that is exemplary and draws people to the Living God like honey attracts flies.

As we are “filled” with the Spirit of God, we maintain that fullness, as verse 19 describes, by “speaking to one another in psalms, and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”  We can then walk in a lifestyle and a condition of thankfulness and submit to one another without fear of being used and abused because we are a people saturated with the Spirit of God.  There is peace and comfort in that environment, knowing that God is “in control.”  That is not utopia but the normal reality in the Spirit-led world of God’s Kingdom.  That should be our target objective, not fame or even fortune.

My daily prayer is that the Lord will “fill” me with His Spirit to the point that I am overflowing with Him.  I want to manifest Jesus as well as represent Him to the world.  That can only occur as my life, like a sponge soaked with water, is saturated with the Spirit of God and the Word of God.

So, as you go through this day, I recommend that you ask the Lord to saturate your life with the presence, person, and power of the Spirit of God, who knows the deep things of God and can bring us into a deeper relationship with the Lord than would otherwise be possible.  In so doing, we will have a far more significant impact on our world.

God be with you as you go through your day

Colossians 3:12-17 – “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.  14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”  NKJV

When the Bible tells us to “put on something,” it gives us a directive that we should undertake in practice, not just theory.  It will never be something that the empowerment of the Spirit of God is not available for, nor something for which the Grace of God is not provided. 

When Paul tells the Colossians to “Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another….” he is not suggesting something optional but a direct commandment from the Lord and possibly in our human lives.

Paul takes it further and says, “Put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”  He also says, “Let the peace of God rule our hearts.”  None of those are possible without full surrender of our lives, hearts, minds, and wills to God.  We must become His completely, or this will never be possible to walk out in reality.  Our carnal desires, attitudes, and egos will subvert those character traits, and selfishness and self-centeredness will overrule every time. 

How do we accomplish this?  Look at what he tells them and us in verses 16-17, and you see the key.

• The Word of God dwells in us richly and enables our fellow believers and us to teach and admonish one another spiritually with the full intent of restoration and forgiveness.

• Whatever we do, we are to do it “in the name of the Lord Jesus” with a thankful heart.  This is not just uttering the name of the Lord but doing it as if we were Him or as his representatives and manifestations of His nature and character so that all can see. 

That means everything, including our jobs, homes, and business relationships – EVERYTHING and EVERYWHERE!  Is that easy? Heaven’s no!  Is it possible?  Yes, we can attain this condition and position only by following the prescribed attitudes and actions in the preceding verses.  Therefore, it should be our ambition to be Christ-like in all that we do!

May the Lord be with you as you go through the day, and may your life and mine be a positive testimony of His love, grace, and goodness!  Blessings

1 Peter 1:22-25 – “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 24 because

“All flesh is as grass,

And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.

The grass withers,

And its flower falls away,

25 But the word of the LORD endures forever.”

Now, this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.” NKJV

I love the simplicity that Peter uses in his writing.  Simple yet filled with incredible truth!  Here he calls on us to come face to face with the temporal nature of man in the flesh and the eternal nature of God’s Word.  So, when you make that comparison which do you trust?  Do you trust the arm of flesh or the Word of God?  That should be a no-brainer!

Our souls are purified through Truth, and Jesus said, “Thy Word is truth.”  He calls on us and reminds us that our obedience is the result of our sincere love for God and His love for us.  We are born again or Saved through the incorruptible sacrifice of Jesus and taught the principles of life by the incorruptible Word of the Lord, which abides when all else fades away.

So, for me, I will take what God has to say on the subject over what any man has to say.  I will take God’s principles over man’s reason.  I will take God’s Promise as described, declared, and detailed in His Holy Writ over any promise made by any man, no matter his power or position.  I know that God’s Word is true. Therefore, I can fully trust it. 

Therefore, as you go through this, know that you have God’s Infallible and Incorruptible Word to rely on.  Make it a daily part of your life just as you do the natural fuel for the body we call food.  It is Spiritual Food and vital to our Spiritual Health and Well Being.    

May God be with you and bless you as you navigate through this day in your life.  Blessings!

1 Peter 1:3-5 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” NKJV

When I read this, it makes my heart begin to pound, my mind fills with anticipation, and deep within my spirit, there is leaping for joy; this is it!  Wow, Peter, you spoke such a powerful truth of hope that anyone should be uplifted and encouraged by your words regardless of what generation they are or have lived in.  Tears of Joy are flowing as I type!

An Inheritance Incorruptible and Undefiled that Does Not Fade Away!  That is exciting, but the rest of the verse says, “reserved in Heaven for you!”  You who are kept by the power of God through “faith for salvation,” and it is ready to be revealed in the last time. 

What a glorious day that will be when our Jesus we shall see!  He has given us a Living Hope!  A hope that does not fade!  A hope that cannot be diminished!  A hope that is not dependent on circumstances, current conditions physically, financially, relationally, or politically.  It is all because of and through Jesus Christ!  HALLELUJAH!

I never cease to be amazed that God would love somebody like me enough to inspire people to go to the lengths they did to bring me into an encounter with Him so that I could experience the Joy of Salvation!  I never cease to be thankful for that and shall never forget where He brought me from and where He is leading me to!  Had it not been for a Hill called Mount Calvary, I would be lost and without hope in this world. 

Thank you, Lord, for loving me that much!  I know that you did not just love me but everyone in this world who has ever lived, is living, or will ever live. You Love All!  Thank you for the Greatest Gift that could have ever been given to mankind!  Thank you for being Love Eternal!

As you go through this day, I pray that you will continually remember what we have to be thankful for!  Give thanks always! 

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

1 Peter 1:13-16 – “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”  NKJV

Through the years, holiness has become a word that many in religious circles desire to avoid.  There are many reasons, including the desire to become more acceptable to the world and lower expectations of discipline and commitment in our individual lives.  In each case, I do not know what the reason is, in each case, I do not know, but I know that holiness is not a bad word to God.  It is something that GOD not only desires but expects because we have Christ living in us, and Christ is HOLY!

Peter’s message to all of us is one for daily living.  He urges us to guard and allow the Holy Spirit to guard our thought lives and to place our complete hope, trust, and confidence in the Lord of Hosts and God’s Amazing Grace!  He warns us not to be conformed to our former lusts and the world but allow the Holy Spirit to transform us into the image of Christ in which holiness is produced in life. 

I am not talking about simply an outward demonstration but something that flows from the inside and becomes worked out in our daily lives.  It becomes part of our nature and character.  It becomes an expression of what is in our hearts that cannot be hidden.  It becomes a spring of living water that refreshes others around us.  I am not talking about becoming Pharisees but Christians who represent the Lord and manifest Him to others around us through our lives. 

Holiness is something to be desired in every facet of our lives.  Do I fall short? I would be lying if I said no.  But I am still pressing toward the mark.  I still find myself needing to repent when I allow the flesh to override the spirit.  But that does not prevent me from desiring and pursuing holiness.  It is my passion to be “like Christ;” if I am “like Christ,” I will live a HOLY LIFE!  It really is that simple!

Therefore, as you go through this day, consider these thoughts I have presented and ask the Holy Spirit to help you “Be holy, for God is holy.” 

May God’s blessings be upon you!

Galatians 5:1 – “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore, keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”  NASB

Through the maturation process (which is still happening) in Christ, I have moved through many phases.  Some of them have been beautiful and beneficial to me, but those I came in contact with, and others have been virtual prisons.  I am thankful that today God has “set me free to be free.”  I am a willing servant of the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is not what He forced me to do but what I have willingly chosen to do. 

I have willingly given up “my rights” for “His will and purpose.”  I do not have a place or position to defend, just a heart full of love for the Master.  Long ago, I came to the place where I was willing to be “whatever He wanted.”  I know we all say that, but I meant it completely, and He has tested me on that commitment on numerous occasions. 

I do not have to be “in front of everyone;” I can follow.  I am willing to do either and have done both.  I do not have to be recognized else my feelings and ego will become so wounded that I pout or separate myself from others.  If what I do is never acknowledged or recognized, and it is what the Lord has ordained, I am perfectly content with that.  I am doing what I do for Him and His Church, not for some popularity or recognition I might achieve.

When Jesus set me free from the bondage of sin, it was like the entire world lifted off my shoulders, and for the first time in my life, I knew real joy and real peace.  That is not to say I had not been happy because my childhood brings back so many good and wonderful memories. I can only imagine what it would have been like to grow up in a home where love did not rule the day.  There was discipline and sometimes very stern discipline, but it was always out of love to shape me into a productive member of society when I grew up.  I thank God for my parents and grandparents; God used them to fully condition me to receive His Love, Authority, and Grace.

After becoming a Christian and entering the ministry, I bought the company line and became a legalist. I was a Pharisee and an exceptionally good one!  I do not doubt that my rigid and unbending stances and demands on people made many of them terribly uncomfortable and even miserable.  Long ago, I repented and continually asked God to help me never return to that place spiritually. 

It was for “freedom that I was set free,” not for “bondage.”  I have been guilty of judging others from time to time.  In those times, the Holy Spirit constantly reminds remind me of my flaws and failures and that God loves them too!  There are things that I hold strong convictions regarding, but some of those things fall into what I would call gray areas biblically, so I keep them to myself and do not try to impose them upon others. 

I have some strong opinions, and an opinion is just that, an opinion.  It is personal, and we should never attempt to impose it on others.  I will share my convictions and opinions with people in the right setting and when given the right opportunity, as the Lord gives me liberty. 

On more than one occasion, I have sensed the “still small voice” of the Spirit of God saying to me, “Roy, this is for you.  I don’t want you to do this or that, but it is not something that I want you to attempt to impose on others.  I will speak to them about what I want them to do.”  I am thankful that God is the Ultimate Judge, and I do not have to assume that responsibility. It would be too burdensome and make life a living hell for me and everyone else.

Therefore, as you go through this day, know that if you are “in Christ,” you are FREE, so live that way!  I do not mean make that a license to do whatever you want because God will bring conviction to your heart. You should always consider a “weaker brother or sister,” knowing that everyone is not at the same experience or maturity level.  People were patient with all of us as we grew into adulthood naturally, so why should we not do the same spiritually?  WE SHOULD!

Blessings upon you are my prayer!

Romans 12:1-2 – “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” NASB

The New American Standard Updated Version renders this ‘spiritual service of worship.’  The KJV and NKJV – – ‘reasonable service.’  I believe both are correct in translating the verbiage and applicable.

The idea presented by the apostle Paul is that we Present to God our bodies or these temples of clay that house our spirits as Living and Holy sacrifices of service.  We are also instructed to reject Conformation with the world and receive the Transformation that comes through renewing our minds and thereby prove or demonstrate the Will of God for our lives in our present world.

Suppose we are to fulfill the Great Commission and take the Gospel message to the world.  And if we, as living stones in the Body of Christ, are to be fitly framed into a Spiritual House for God’s service and purposes.  We must seek to have Paul’s instructions become practical and daily realities in our lives.  We are told in Scripture that “we are not our own but have been bought with a price,” thus identifying that we belong to God and His purpose, will, and desire to be paramount in our lives.

When we present these temples of clay to the Lord, we must be mindful that defiling these temples is not an acceptable option.  We are to be cognizant that while, as Paul declared, bodily exercise profits little, he did not say it profited nothing, and seeking to be fit and healthy should be a reasonable objective physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  We need to be whole to be the best we can be for the Kingdom of God.

I am not a fitness freak, so please do not think that this is my focus, but I have learned after years of neglect and lack of discipline that when I discipline my physical body, I am better able to walk in spiritual discipline.  I have made a lifestyle choice that includes a desire and effort to walk in health. 

I still battle sickness from time to time, but my desire and effort are to present God with the best temple of clay I can give Him and expect Him to develop in me the best spiritual man that can be viewed from this temple.  I press toward the mark of the prize of God’s high calling in Christ.  I have not arrived, but I see the goal, and I am looking for a city whose builder and maker is God.  I want what the angels declared in the field to the shepherds the night of Jesus’ birth – – “Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward Men.”

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

1 John 4:18-19 – “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.”  NKJV

I have often been told that the opposite of Love is Hate.  However, the more I study the Bible, the more convinced that it is Fear, not Hate, is love’s opposite.  When I review passages such as 2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind,” I become more convinced of this possibility. 

Hate is an emotional response to a stimulus, whereas love is far more than an emotional response, although emotion is assuredly a part of it.  Love is a condition of the heart, whereas hate is a reaction.  Hate is a byproduct, and love is the product.  Fear is the antithesis of Love because it completely turns the heart away from God, who is Love. 

Hate causes paralysis of faith, and according to John, a person that is made perfect in love does not fear, or one who fears is not made perfect in love.  He tells us that there is no fear in love, whereas, in hate, that can exist.  If fear is allowed to survive, it will destroy the heart.  Paul tells Timothy that there is a Spirit of Fear which is the opposite of the Spirit of Power, Love, and Soundness of Mind.

We are repeatedly warned about hate, but there is a heavy emphasis on dispelling fear even more than hate. If we dispel fear, we will give love a place to grow; as love grows, hate cannot find fertile ground to grow.  Allowing fear to dominate will drive out love and open the door to hatred, bitterness, strife, envy, and evil.

A heart can’t live in fear and love at the same time.  That strengthens my view on this matter.  I am not talking about what the Bible speaks of as reverential fear of God but of Torment that challenges the very existence of God, Good, and Biblical Reality.  Fear imprisons like almost nothing else known to humanity. 

I do not question the power and vileness of hate.  I know firsthand and have observed the completely dominating power of fear!  Hebrews 2 advises us that the fear of death places lives in perpetual bondage, whereas the love of God causes us to look at death as mere sleep in the Lord.  One brings peace the other brings torment.

If you are a fearful person, I urge you to call to God and allow the Holy Spirit to shed the Love of God abroad in your heart so that fear is completely banished.  Allow the Holy Spirit to give you the Spirit of Love, Peace, Power, and Soundness of Mind.  Allow God to enable you to LIVE LIFE ABUNDANTLY!

May God bless you as you go through your day!

Luke 12:22-32 – “And He said to His disciples, ” For this reason, I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on.  23 “For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.  24 “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds!  25 “And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span?  26 “If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters?  27 “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.  28 “But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith!  29 “And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying.  30 “For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things.  31 “But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.  32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”  NASB

Recently I had a conversation with a person that I care about deeply, and they were struggling with the condition of things in government, the state of the economy, and the future.  They were wringing their hands and lamenting that the future was so dim and dismal that they were despairing of life.  This person is a Christian, albeit, at that moment, their faith was in another dimension, not on the promises of our Lord.

I shared with them this passage, which they were very familiar with, and said, “This is why I refuse to worry about life.”   You see here, in simple language, our Lord Jesus said, “DO NOT WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE.”  Do not fret over what you are going to eat, drink, or wear, and in the context of that truth, where you will live. 

He reminded us of the birds of the air and the flowers of the field and the fact that God cares for them the way He does.  He also cautioned against worry, saying that we cannot add even one hour to our lifespan through worry.  We now know through medical science that we can shorten our lifespan by it.  Jesus told us in the familiar verse 33 what we are “not to seek” and what we “are to seek.”  He then concluded the statement by saying, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”  In that Kingdom, there is the King and with the King are all the resources that we could ever need.

If I worry about life, I am not placing my faith and confidence in God.  I am not suggesting that we make no preparation for our latter years or that we nonchalantly go through our days with no labor or effort to earn a living.  I contend that would be Presumptuous!  I am saying that once we have done all we know to do, then we Trust and Rest in the Promises of God and take Him at His word. 

He said Do Not Worry!  I believe He meant what He said, so I have chosen to refuse to worry!  I believe, as David declared, “I was young, now I am old, and I have not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging for bread.”  God has promised to take care of us, and He will.

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