Proverbs 14:30 – “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”  NIV

Depending on the translation we find this rendered “sound, peaceful, and tranquil.”  We can look at it in the natural and the spiritual and glean benefits from both views.  In the natural, a ‘sound, tranquil, and peaceful’ heart identifies a heart that is functioning properly circulating blood throughout the body which is essential for life, health, and healing in the natural.  A heart that is not stressed with labor or worry is a strong benefit in natural longevity but if the heart is diseased and weak life will not be long experienced and the life experience, in the natural, will be limited and restricted.

But when we consider the entire sentence, we realize that although this can be applied to the natural heart it goes far beyond that to the spiritual condition or core of man identified as the Heart.  I have long been convinced that if our spiritual hearts are not whole and healthy resting in the Peace of God that passes human comprehension the natural man suffers as well.  I find the correlation between natural health and spiritual health taught in the Bible unmistakable and powerful both as a caution and a promise or a hope.

A “heart at peace” gives life to the body.  The Shalom of God strips the devil of his power to cause us to ‘fret’ and ‘worry’ over circumstances of life and helps us to ‘rest’ confidently in the Lord.  It enables us to become people who not only can but actually Wait on the LORD.

Paul identifies this kind of heart when he declared, Philippians 4:11-13, “…I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things, I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  This is the heart that is not in turmoil but is content and confident that God is God, and He Will Not Fail!  That heart pumps life into the body both naturally and spiritually.

The contrast to a heart of peace is the heart filled with Envy which leads to Covetousness and rots the bones.  I have been told that there are two kinds of Envy.  There is the benign and there is the malicious.  I am not sure that I can accept that in total, but they argued that “Benign Envy” was healthy and productive for it motivated the individual to perform at a higher level and seek the coveted position desired. 

On the other hand, they contended that “Malicious Envy” was destructive for it prompted and prodded the one envying to attempt to destroy the one they envy.  It seeks to level the playing field by ‘tearing down’ rather than building up self.  It is cancerous in its nature and spreads not only throughout the body with destructive chemical releases in the brain and body but infects others and becomes a root that defiles. 

The Bible offers several passages about the malignancy or rotting effect of iniquity and the absence of peace in a heart.  Leviticus 26:39 speaks of “rotting because of iniquity.” Proverbs 10:7 reveals that “The memory of the righteous will be blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.”  Envy is rooted in Covetousness and Covetousness is the root of virtually every sin man commits. 

The Ten Commandments can be understood in the last commandment, “Thou Shalt Not Covet.”  Adam and Eve coveted God’s position based on the inference and lies of the serpent.  They wanted to “be as God” and in their disobedience, they “Fired God” or “Voted Him Out” as the Sovereign of the Universe and installed themselves as the center of their universe.  That separated them from God and resulted in the decay of their flesh and they began the process of decay. 

Rottenness in the bones and as Psalm 112:10 states is revealed when the Righteous Prosper the Wicked see it.  They become envious or grieved in their hearts and it causes such anxiety of heart that they waste away physically and spiritually. 

Let me ask the question that Paul asked that, in my view, ties this up in a neat package and affords freedom powerfully.  He asked in 1 Corinthians 4:7, “…What do you have that you did not receive?”  Every Good and Perfect Gift comes from God and if we have nothing that we did not receive from Him, why are we envious of others?  That envy is misplaced anger toward God.  We are jealous and envious of others which is an expression that we believe God either blew it or is not just and either produces rottenness in our hearts and bones and eats away at our peace leaving us destitute and hopeless.

God, bless you richly as you enjoy what He has placed in your hands and I urge you to be faithful in a few things and He will, in His time, grant you many things.  Blessings!

Romans 8:12 – “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors — not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.”  NKJV

We often blame Adam for our sin, but I want to suggest to you that it is not Adam’s sin but ours that separates us from God.  Adam opened the door for human depravity and the dominion of the devil, but no person will go to hell for Adam’s sin.  Only Adam will be judged for what he did, and we will be judged for what we do.  This was addressed in Exodus 18:20, “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son.  The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.”  You will not go to heaven or hell based on what your parents or anyone else have done.  You will be responsible for your life and actions.

In Romans 8:1 we read, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”  When we come to Jesus we are governed by a new law, Spirit not Flesh.  We are governed by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus and that liberates and trumps the Law of Sin and Death.  The Spirit triumphs over the flesh. 

Paul continues reminding them and us that IN Christ we do not have to be governed by carnal passions or evil desires, but we have access to the Spirit of Life in Jesus and the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  He identifies that this is a faith choice and involves self-discipline and even an element of willpower, but we are not to be and do not have to walk according to the flesh.  We have a new dimension open to us and the plea is for us to walk after the Spirit rather than the flesh.

Notice Romans 8:9-11, “But you are not in the flesh, IF indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.  NOW if anyone does not have Christ, he is not His. AND if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. BUT if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead gives life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”  AMAZING! 

You are living in a body, a tabernacle of clay but the flesh is dead because of sin but in your spirit, you are alive because of Christ.  Hallelujah! The Spirit of Christ is what is sustaining your mortal body and giving you life, naturally and spiritually.  You are indwelt by deity and alive by the Spirit.  That makes you a debtor.

You are in debt because of sin.  Jesus paid the purchase price for your redemption, a price you could never pay so you are indebted to Him for your salvation.  The flesh did not give us life even though we were born and breathed the breath of the oxygen of the earthly atmosphere and called that life.  The flesh cannot save our eternal souls. The flesh leads us away from God and life not toward and into it.  We are debtors but not to the flesh and therefore are under no obligation to live according to the lusts of the flesh or the dictates of the flesh.  

Our debt is to GOD.  Our debt is to Jesus.  Our debt is to the Spirit and if we commit ourselves to God and determine to Walk after the Spirit of God, we find that He enables us to ‘bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.’  He enables us to have the ‘mind of Christ’ in our daily lives.  He enables us to live free of sin and walk in righteousness.  No, we are not perfect, but we are forgiven and in our state of forgiveness we are able to reject the flesh and embrace the Spirit.

Live Free, in bondage you do not have to be!  Jesus lives in me, and I am set free.  May we all learn to you live by the Spirit not by the Flesh.  You are a Debtor and will ever be for you can never pay the debt you owe.  It is by grace you are saved, not of works.  It cannot be earned, bought, or even deserved it is Given out of God’s Great Love! 

God, bless you as you learn to LIVE FREE in Jesus!

Proverbs 12:14 – “A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, and the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.”  NKJV

As I read and study the words of Proverbs 12, I find some wonderfully exciting thoughts as well as some troubling declarations that are not always easily reconciled in our lives.  We all have opinions, even convictions, and fixed beliefs about God’s Truth or our understanding of our little facet of His incalculable truth. 

Truly His ways are beyond our finding out and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.  Paul taught, “know in part and see through the glass dimly.”  We have not attained perfect knowledge and that may never be a possibility even in our glorified state in eternity.  God is God and we are and will ever be the creature or the created.

The Book of Proverbs offers incredible insight into life and human nature. It gives some valuable prescriptions for advancing in the Kingdom of God or in our personal relationships with Him Who is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  In this chapter, the emphasis is ‘righteousness’ and offers insight into why we do not have it and how we can have it.  If we understand Righteousness as “Right Standing” rather than simply acts or activities, we will benefit greatly in consideration of many truths in God’s word.  I find it interesting that he begins his comments with “knowledge” and “correction.” 

When I consider the second part of that first sentence, I am immediately drawn to the idea that “loving instruction and knowledge” indicates a willingness to receive correction, rebuke, and/or chastisement because we understand the purpose of those in our lives.  If we reject correction, the writer says we are stupid.  I am always cautious about using that term because of the offense it conveys but when we consider the ways and words of God, we must remember the words of Psalm 14:1, “…the fool says in His heart, there is no God.”  Therefore, using that term in this context is not only appropriate but necessary.

When the writer speaks of a good man, the words of Jesus immediately come to mind when He asked in Mark 10:18, “Why do you call me good?… there is none good but one, that is, God.”  I ponder the reality that the only way any man becomes good is through God. We know from Romans 3:10, “As it is written:  There is no one righteous, not even one…”  We also know that our righteousness is as filthy rags before God.  It is His Righteousness that makes us Righteous and His Grace that enables us to walk in Right Standing with Him.

In verse three we discover an incredible truth, simple but powerful.  Wickedness will fail but righteousness will help us become like trees planted by refreshing water and like houses built on a firm foundation.  If we ‘seek first God and His kingdom’ we will find that we are able to ‘think the thoughts of Christ’ and bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ thus making our thoughts right, wholesome, and productive. 

Deceit is in the heart and mind of the wicked. The wicked are devious and treacherous in their interpersonal dealings with others.  What happens to them?   According to verse seven, they are overthrown and cease to exist contrasted to those who ‘seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness’ and walk uprightly before God.  The wicked’s house falls but the house of the righteous is firmly fixed in God’s truth and stands against all storms.

Then we skip down to verses 13-14 and the message there is, in my view, not only powerful but desperately needed in our daily lives.  We need to not only hear but also heed this truth and incorporate it into our lives.  We are told that the wicked are ensnared by the transgression of their lips.  As a friend in East Texas used to say, “They let their elephant mouths overload their peanut behinds.”  Their mouths write checks they cannot cover and thus they are ‘ensnared,’ and God holds us accountable for every word that we speak.  The contrast is that the Righteous will ‘come through trouble.’ 

The Bible never teaches that there will be no difficulty encountered by godly people. Rather it teaches that ‘through it all’ we will come forth and like Job. We need to be careful that we do ‘not sin or charge God foolishly.’  We need to seek for the Holy Spirit to set a guard at our lips and our minds so that we say the right things and agree with God’s declaration and assessment of any and every situation.  Isaiah 57:19 speaks of God creating the ‘fruit of the lips’ and Hebrews 13:15 brings that into our lives, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that openly profess His name.”

The writer declares that the ‘fruit of our mouth’ will bring satisfaction.  Remember what Jesus did when He endured the Temptation in the Wilderness with the devil?  He continually said and I emphasize SAID, “It is written…”  He quoted Scripture.  He rehearsed what God had said.  He declared God’s truth with His mouth, and it defeated the devil. 

If our words match our works, we will enjoy the fruit of verse fourteen and not only be satisfied we will have the recompense of God for our labors. We will demonstrate Faith and Works and the words of our mouth, and the meditation of our hearts will be acceptable in His sight.

May the Lord help each of us carefully guard our words and have our words match our walk, work, and warfare.  We can agree with God and realize the harvest of the fruit of His Promises in our lives.  

God, bless you as you enjoy this day in Him!

Colossians 1:13-14 – “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”  NASB

The NKJV renders this, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His Love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”  I like both renderings and consider them both incredibly accurate and revealing. 

I know believers for whom the picture of their spiritual life is found in the old song, “Hold the Fort.”  They are waiting on Jesus to come on the Grand Rescue Mission and take them out of this troubled world where the devil is on the loose and they are barely hanging on.  Not, all feel that way, but some do. 

Therefore, I want to address what I believe is God’s Real Rescue Mission and it is described in the text above.  Whether you identify Salvation as being ‘rescued’ or ‘delivered’ it is clearly a divine act of the Holy Spirit to bring us into a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ.  Through Grace and Faith, we are BORN AGAIN and that experience ‘transfers’ or ‘conveys’ us out of the devil’s dominion, authority, or power into God’s kingdom.  It is through the NEW BIRTH that we are transferred, transformed, or translated from one kingdom and rule to another.  Redemption through the forgiveness of sin.

From the time of Adam, in the Garden, until Jesus Christ man was under the dominion of the devil who had legal standing to dominate the lives of men.  Adam’s sin, the one who had been given dominion over the earth, transferred that authority or dominion to the devil.  Adam and Eve’s disobedience, and their choice to disobey God brought about the depravity of the race. 

Until Jesus and His work on the Cross, we were subject to the devil.  But, at the Cross Jesus cried, IT IS FINISHED!  That signified that He had broken the power of the devil and in a great sense completed His True Rescue Mission for mankind.  He purchased our salvation with His own blood and truly ‘bought us back’ allowing Him to legally transfer us from one kingdom to another.  HE RESCUED US!  He has opened the door for us to enter if we will.

Later in Colossians Paul gives us a clear description of what Jesus did and what happens in our redemption experience.  In Jesus, we are ‘made alive’ together with Him through the forgiveness of our sin.  His work on the Cross took God’s divine eraser and wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us.  He dismissed all the charges.  He expunged the record through His blood.  At the Cross, He took all that away and nailed it to the Cross.  His sacrificial death ‘disarmed’ the devil, his principalities, and his powers. 

But it goes beyond that, as Paul uses the imagery of a Roman General being awarded a Triumph. He would be placed in a special chariot and parade through the city with the spoils of his victory on display and his conquered enemies in chains walking behind him.  They were made a public spectacle as he triumphed over them.  That is what Jesus has done to the devil.  We must get that image in our minds.  He fully defeated the devil, broke his claim over man, and rescued us. 

If we understand the Victory of Calvary, we will quickly realize the power of the words, “We are more than conquerors through Jesus.”  We will quickly realize that it is now incumbent on us to Enforce the Victory of Calvary.  The devil can only intimidate he has no authority over us.  WE HAVE BEEN RESCUED if we have accepted Jesus as our Savior!

In that light, why are we simply “holding the fort?”  Why are we simply trying to ‘endure to the end?’  Why are we not living Rescued and Delivered?  Why are we not enjoying the fullness of His Promises?  Why are we allowing the devil to continue to operate as though he were still in charge?  Why?  You have to answer that for yourself, but I pray that each of us determines in our heart that since we have been Rescued and Transferred, we will now live Delivered and Free!

God, bless you richly is my prayer and desire!

John 3:30 – “He must increase, but I must decrease.” ESV

Last time we noted that Jesus must increase in our living.  Today I want us to consider additional areas in which He must increase, and we must decrease. 

HE MUST INCREASE IN OUR LOVING…

Jesus gave us the powerful truth in John 3:16 regarding the depth of the love of the Father.  He loved us so much that He gave us the ultimate gift so that we could enter into an eternal relationship of peace with Him and be saved. 

God’s love is sacrificial – He gave His Son.  God’s Love is without prejudice – For the World.  God’s Love is unsolicited – Freely Given.  If we can allow ourselves to develop the mental image of the breadth, width, height, and extent of God’s Love and see what happened on the Cross we will be forever changed.  If we do that, decreasing to self will not be a problem, because we will desire for Him to increase!

He must increase as the object of our love.  The words of Jesus in Matthew 22:37 are germane and powerful.  He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”  We need to remember the charge in Deuteronomy 5:7 that we are to have no other gods before God.  He is worthy of all our love, loyalty, honor, and praise. 

As He increases as the object of our love, He increases our capacity to love!  That is an incredible revelation and an even more powerful experience.  We are enabled to love as He loves, but it is Christ in us loving through us.  We are able to love without bias or prejudice.  We are able to love those whom He loves, and we love with unsolicited and sacrificial love.  That is only possible as we decrease, and He increases in our lives!  He must increase but I must decrease!

Divine love displays patience of great duration. Divine love is not envious or jealous.  Divine love is never proud, conceited, arrogant, or rude.  Divine love does not insist upon its rights and becomes offended when someone touches those rights.  Divine love does not harbor grudges or seek revenge.  Divine love is not touchy, fretful, or resentful.  Divine love is never happy at the hurt of others even those who do us harm.  Divine love is always ready to believe the best of everyone and never fades or dies!  He must increase in our loving.

HE MUST INCREASE IN OUR LONGING…

I recall the words of Paul at the end of his earthly ministry as he wrote to those at Philippi.  He said in Philippians 1:23 – “I am hard-pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.”  As we make Him number one in our lives, we long to be with Him and our hearts cry the cry of Revelation 22:20 – “even so come Lord Jesus” as we demonstrate the mindset of Titus 2:13 – “Looking for the Blessed Hope.” 

As we increase our longing for His return and for Him, we find our lives totally revolutionized and rearranged.  John said it powerfully in 1 John 3:3, that “every man that has this hope in Him, purifies himself, even as He is pure.”

As He increases in our longing relationship becomes a much more powerful pursuit.  We seek to develop our relationship with Him, with family, and with others positively.  Time becomes a precious commodity because we realize the brevity of time and seek to redeem the time for Kingdom purposes. 

As He increases in our longing the Word of God becomes more important in our estimation and consumption.  God’s promises become more, sure and the state and fate of humanity become of major importance.  He must increase! 

As He increases in our lives, we find ourselves not only longing for His return but moved to increase our involvement in His purposes.  We seek to expand our commitment to His call and develop conduct of faithful stewardship.  He must increase!

For Him to increase, I must empty myself more and more of self.  His increase causes our lives to become more Christ-centered.  His increase causes our love to be more heaven centered.  His increase intensifies our longing for His return and leads us deeper into a life of total commitment.

He must increase, but I must decrease!  The question of this hour is – Will we decrease so that He can increase?  Is He truly Lord of all?  Is He the most important in our lives?  The words of Revelation 3:20 echo – “I stand at the door and knock.”  The words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-29 become powerful invitations – “Come unto Me ALL you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  

I pray that as you come to Him you find incredible rest and peace and determine in your heart that your objective and goal is to decrease so that He can increase!  

Have a fantastic day in Jesus!

John 3:30 – “He must increase, but I must decrease.” ESV

Let us continue our consideration of John the Baptist’s declaration, “He must increase, but I must decrease” and its impact and importance for us today.  He must increase!  There are some obvious places where He must increase for Him and us to fulfill our purpose and ministry on this earth.

HE MUSTS INCREASE IN OUR LIVING…

John 10:10 reveals a key to the purpose and ministry of Jesus.  The latter part of that verse declares, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”  If you and I are going to enjoy and possess the fulness of the Life God intended for us, Jesus must increase in our lives!  He must fill our lives in a greater capacity than He now does.  He must fill our lives to the greatest capacity possible. 

Remember His directive, “Seek first (above everything) the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.”  Remember the greatest commandment – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, minds, soul, and strength.”  Those reveal the extent to which God must increase in our lives!

He cannot become larger than He is!  However, He can become larger to us, and He can be reflected to a greater extent and measure in my life.  He must be given a greater position in my priorities.  He must be given a greater position in my desires.  He must be given a greater position in my commitments.  He must be given a greater position in my pursuits.  His increase, His will must supersede mine!

It is vital that we allow the Holy Spirit to fill our minds with Him, His Word, His Will, and His Purpose.  He must increase in my thoughts.  We are instructed in 2 Corinthians 10:5 to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus.  We are directed in Romans 12:2 that the objective is for us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  In Philippians 4:7 we are promised that God’s Peace, which is beyond man’s ability to comprehend will keep our hearts and minds if surrendered fully to Him.

That is important in light of the revelation of Proverbs 23:7, that as we think in our hearts we become.  We are not necessarily what we think we are, but we are a product of what we think.  He must increase!  We must allow the Holy Spirit to help us keep our hearts with all diligence knowing that out of it flow the issues and essence of life. (Proverbs 4:23).

He must increase in our decision-making!  I have a policy that I make no decisions or only rare decisions until I have spent the night praying about them.  As His presence, will, and influence increases my actions desires, thoughts, motives, ambitions, and goals are dramatically altered.  As He increases my carnal appetites diminish and my spiritual appetite increases.  As He increases there is a marked decrease in my self-life and an increase in a sense of His presence, person, peace, and power.  He must increase!

The more He increases the more self becomes secondary.  I suggest that His increase is directly proportional to our implementing Matthew 6:33 in our lives.  The more we seek Him and His Kingdom and Righteousness the less we pursue our own selfish purposes and the more impact we have in this world.

I want to take this at least one more step so I will pause and pick this up in the next devotional. 

May the Lord richly bless you as you walk with the determination to decrease to self and see the increase of Him in your life!

John 3:30 – “He must increase, but I must decrease.” ESV

In Acts Chapter 3, the first sixteen verses we find the account of Peter and John going to the Temple at the ninth hour.  A man, they possibly had seen numerous times was sitting there begging.  The man was lame and had been lame for a long time.  Peter was moved with compassion and instructed the lame man to look upon them.  He then made the incredible declaration, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 

The result of that miracle was the people wanted to make Peter and John gods and worship them.  Peter resisted and began his powerful message to the captive audience regarding Jesus, his life, death, burial, and resurrection.  Peter was empty of self and filled with the presence and power of Jesus!  He and John had just demonstrated the validity of Jesus’ commission in Matthew 28.

The text in John 3 is incredibly powerful.  John said that in order for Jesus to be manifest in His fullness and in the manner needful, “I must decrease.”  For Jesus to receive the proper recognition and be elevated to His place of Lordship, “I must decrease.”  In order for the Kingdom to come and the will of God to be done, “I must decrease.”  Unfortunately, too often, rather than decreasing we elevate ourselves, our desires, and our preferences.

I ask that you consider this truth – John had a successful ministry with a large following.  He was highly regarded by everyone, even kings respected and possibly feared him.  Everywhere he goes, the crowds gather, and people are in awe of his ministry and his message.  This strange man is a prophet in the eyes of the people.  Even those who despised him acknowledged his impact.

In today’s world, most ministers would be doing everything they could to increase their ministry, their following, their offerings, etc.  They would be scheduling more and larger crusades.  They would hire a marketing team and be seeking book deals and developing tele-blogs to increase their popularity and seeming impact.  The natural world would be crying – “More, John.  More, larger, bigger!”  John said, “I must decrease!”

Remember what Jesus said in John 12:32?  He said, “And I when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”  That should be our focus, lifting up Jesus not building our own kingdom, advancing our ministry, enlarging our visibility.  That might be well for business but not for Kingdom ministry.  His increase requires our decrease!

A Natural Law teaches us that for any vessel to be filled with one thing it must be emptied of another.  For a room to be filled with light it must be emptied of darkness.  For a vessel to be filled with water it must be emptied of air.  An increase produces a decrease.  For a room to be filled with hot it must be emptied of cold.  It is a Natural Law!

The increase of Jesus begins with a decrease.  Flesh cannot glory in His presence.  John understood with whom the Hope of Life rested.  He knew that he (John) was only a voice, a messenger, not the message.  He was the introduction, the prelude.  He was temporary, the forerunner, not the star or the message. 

He (Jesus) must increase and for Him to increase I must decrease.  He is the one depended upon for Salvation.  He is the All-Powerful One.  He alone has the power to save.  I on the other hand am the one in need.  I am weak and frail.  I need salvation.  I am a vessel and a voice – He is the Message! 

Jesus is the Hope of Humanity!  He is the solution to every problem.  He is the remedy.  But, for Him to become who He is, we must decrease and lift Him up, and then He draws people to Him.  I can save no one!  I can only point to the one who saves to the uttermost!  Therefore, I must decrease!

I want to take this a step or two further and will do that in the next devotional.  Until then, go with God and He will go with you. 

May the blessings of the LORD flow to your powerfully today! 

1 John 2:15-17 – “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” NASB

I have heard more explanations of this than I care to remember and virtually all of them fell short of bringing me peace and confidence that I had discovered the depth of the truth in this passage.  It is obvious, to me, that Jesus, through John, would not have issued this prohibition without reason.  Here we find the command not to love something, but what?  We are told to not love the World or the things of the world but what is it that we are not to love?

In my study I have found that the word world is used in the Bible in three different ways and speaks to three different things:

• World as in the ‘physical universe’ or God’s material creation.
• World as it refers to and identifies PEOPLE or the ‘world of mankind.’
• World as it refers to the dwellers on the earth who, are ‘by nature without God, acting and living in a way that only has reference to ‘this life.’

If we interpret this passage using the physical universe as the meaning, then we would have to ask does not God love His own creation.  Therefore, would it be wrong for us to love, respect, and appreciate what He has made?  In the second using people as the meaning, we know that GOD loves all mankind so how could we be prohibited from loving them too?  That only leaves us one possibility and that is the world of man outside of God and apart from God.  Clearly, he is telling us not to love the Life of Sin.  The pleasures of sin are of short duration.  We are to guard our hearts and seek Him with our entire being.

Then we notice that he said we are not to love the things of the world and if you pursue the reading, you will see that he beings to talk about the sins of mankind here listing some as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. 

In each case, it is, to me, clear that the prohibition is not referring to people, the planet, or things that we might possess and/or use of this world’s material creation but the Life Outside God!  The World here is referencing a life, mentality, and condition that clearly is a description of a life that ignores God, His Word, and His love.  It focuses on self and is in rebellion against God, His Word, and His Love. 

Therefore, we are not to Love the World meaning the World as represented by philosophy, nature, and character that is apart from and alienated from God.  We are to not love the condition that affords licentiousness, lasciviousness, and lawlessness.  We are to Love GOD first and foremost.  We are to reject the pull of the pleasures of sin and the tug of the devil to be a god unto ourselves.

So, as you go through this day go IN GOD’S LOVE and share that love with everyone you meet!  Blessings abundantly!

Hebrews 11:1-6 – “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old gained approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” NASB

A few years ago, I was in need of a miracle and the timeframe the situation seemed to demand had passed and the answer had not come.  Did that mean that God denied my request?  Possibly.  Did it mean that I was praying outside the will of God? Possibly.   Did it mean either of those or could I conclude that it was not meant to be?  Possibly.

You could conclude those things, or you could conclude that God, the Creator who is not limited by our clock or calendar, has a different timeframe and plan in mind.  I choose the latter because I fully believed that my prayers were within the guidelines of the Word of God.  I was praying and walking in obedience to that Word, and therefore was within the scope of The Will of God. 

We have the assurance that God is our provider, protector, and source, have hoped for the things we have asked, and are convinced that He has heard our prayers.  When we do not see the fulfillment in our timeframe giving up is not the best option.  I am reminded of the record of the patriarchs of old, who kept looking for and standing in Faith knowing He is our Reward!   The Bible said, “They all died in faith not having received the promises.”  In my case, the Answer Came!

What should we conclude when the miracle does not come at the time, we asked for it?  Possibly nothing other than it is in God’s hands and we should remain faithful and resolute in our commitment to Him, obedience to Him, and confidence in Him.  Of course, I always go back to the Father and the Book and seek to know if I am missing the mark in my prayers.

If the Holy Spirit reveals that, as James said, we have asked amiss and for wrong purposes then it is time to head to the altar of repentance and cry out for God’s mercy and allow the Holy Spirit to correct our thinking.  I do not live in a ‘Que Sera, Sera’ whatever will be type world.  That is the way the world operates, but God’s ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts. 

I believe there is purpose and power in prayer and that prayer changes people and as a result, things.  If prayer has no purpose, why did Jesus spend so much time encouraging it?  If prayer does not produce results, why did He tell us to pray with persistence? 

Our problem is that we try to force God into our microwave world mentality and coerce Him to follow our calendars, clocks, and schedules. He Will Not be squeezed into our timeline of demand!  He is God and He will do things His way, in His time, and under His conditions and it is always for our best good.

You cannot bribe Him, coerce Him, force Him, manipulate Him, or cajole Him into doing something.  He is the Shepherd we are the sheep.   He is the Teacher we are the students.  He is the Infinite One we are the finite ones.  So instead of fretting about your timelines and schedules seek His face and if there is a delay it may be nothing more than God following His own timetable rather than denial.

Be encouraged as you go through this day!  Blessings abundantly!