Vines and Branches

Have you ever had the pleasure of walking through a vineyard? I have, and it’s a happy memory.

I once lived in a house surrounded by acres of green grapes. My father-in-law knew one of the owners, and it was our pleasure to glean after the harvesters were done.

In my memory, I still see the strength of the vine along the top, full of branches hanging down. And on the branches hung clusters of beautiful grapes.

It wasn’t hard to understand Jesus’ teaching that He is the vine, we are the branches, and that if we remain in Him and He in us, we will bear much fruit (John 15:5).

There is beauty in a cluster of grapes. Each grape hangs individually while being part of a bunch. That’s the beauty I see in the spiritual life of a church family.

My husband and I were once on staff serving a large congregation. I always called it “a world-class” church, because we had a wide variety of ethnic groups, cultures, and economic levels. What a joy to worship and serve the Lord together.

After serving there for many years, I could still say, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers (and sisters) live together in harmony (or unity). (Psalm 133:1).

One thing we need to remember about the vine and branches is their production of a unified fruit. Spiritually speaking, let’s call it “love.”

Love produces unity. The reasons are many, but let’s consider Ephesians 4:1-16:

• First, we are reminded to be humble, gentle, and patient, while bearing with one another in love (v. 2).
• Next, we must endeavor to keep the bond of unity in peace (v. 3).
• We are also to build ourselves up in love as each of us does our part to serve in the body of Christ (v. 16).

So, hang in there! Enjoy clinging to “The Vine” while being one of the “branches” and bearing much “fruit.”

It brings much joy to Jesus, Master and Owner of His spiritual vineyard.

Pixabay: Vineyard, Wine, Vine Image; Kranich17.  

Love is More Than a Feeling

In marriage ceremonies, my minister husband always included these words: Love is more than a feeling. It was followed by a few simple reminders that love also included actions of caring and kindness. I’ve never forgotten how he put those words into action.

As a newlywed, I was heating spaghetti sauce in a Pyrex container with the required little wire underneath. Suddenly, the container exploded and spaghetti sauce was everywhere! I was not only shocked, but horrified. What a mess!

My husband came to check on the explosion. When he saw the mess, he said, “You go ahead and sit down. I’ll clean this up.”  What a guy! Right then, I knew his love was more than words or just a feeling.

Let’s focus on the practicality of love. Feelings of love are wonderful, uplifting, and exciting. We need them; however, love’s feelings need to be grounded in action.

It’s like a hot air balloon ride. You can enjoy the feeling of floating above the earth, enjoying the beauty of the day. But at some point, the balloon must land. Then you’re back to where actions are needed as well as feelings.

First Corinthians, Chapter Thirteen (1 Cor. 13:4-8) provides guidelines for love in action. If you haven’t read it lately, I urge you to do so.

Have you ever prayed, “Lord, help me to love by helping others in practical ways?” Here are some examples of this kind of love:

•   God loved the world and sent His Son, the perfect sacrifice for sin (John 3:16)
•   Jesus loved us and gave up His life for our salvation (John 10:17-18)
•   Joseph loved his brothers with forgiveness (Genesis 50:18-21)
•   Dorcas loved others by making clothing (Acts 9:36-42)
•   Paul loved by suffering hardships and persecution to share the gospel (2 Cor. 11:24-28)
•    Four men loved by lowering a friend on his stretcher to ask Jesus for help (Matt. 9:1-8)

You can probably think of your own Biblical examples.

This week, remember:

Love is more than a feeling!

What will you do to show love in practical ways?

Pixabay: Amour; OpenClipart-Vectors.

How's Your Hearing?

 

Have you ever heard this conversation?

 “Hey, did you hear me?”

“What? Oh. Sorry. I wasn’t listening.”

Or, how about a radio ad? “We’re presenting (whatever kind of music) for your listening pleasure.” In other words, relax, keep us in the background. You don’t have to concentrate on us. 

I had a good relationship with my mother-in-law. She was easy to talk with, and I remember she would say, “Now, listen!” whenever she wanted to say something she felt was extremely meaningful---usually a good piece of needed advice.

Hearing and listening have been considered inter-twining acts throughout the ages. Listening is lightweight; hearing implies a deeper level of understanding.

My *Bible dictionary had a very brief, but interesting, article under EAR. Here are three examples from those mentioned:

         1. To incline the ear was to hear (2 Kings 19:16)

         2. To give ear was to pay careful attention (Job 32:11,12)

         3.  Covering the ears was a refusal to listen (Acts 7:51, 57)

As I studied my Bible lesson today, Jesus had some important, but hard, teachings. He knew not everyone would incline their ear. His opening line was “to those of you who will listen, I say . . .” (Luke 6:27-36).

Then came simple teachings that even a child could understand. But simple does not mean easy, and to this day, only those willing to truly hear, obey them.

What do YOU think of Jesus' teachings? (1) Love your enemies, (2) Do good to those who hate you, (3) Bless those who curse you, and (4) Pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27,28).

He also said: (5) Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and (6) Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful (v. 31, 36).

How’s your hearing? I’ve been asking myself that question today.

Do I truly incline my ear to hear ALL of Jesus’ teachings? Or, do I casually listen, then pick and choose what I want to hear and obey? It matters!

In the Parable of the Sower, the seeds on good soil are those who hear the word, cling to it, and by persevering produce a crop (Luke 8:15).

*EAR, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 448; Copyright 2003 Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, TN. All Rights Reserved.

Pixabay: Sound, Listening, Man; OpenClipart-Vectors.

Do It Yourself

In earlier days, it was popular to be considered a “Renaissance Man.” That meant you were proficient in several areas of life. Leonardo da Vinci was considered the greatest of his time, a mathematician, artist, and inventor.

In our day, we admire self-sufficient, productive people. To admit a need for help seems like a failure. Some would even say that makes us “less than” those who seem to have their lives in order independently.

From the beginning, we were created to be involved with others. God, Himself, came to talk with Adam in the Garden of Eden, and He created Eve so Adam would have companionship.

On the other hand, as we mature, we learn to become more independent, make choices, and take care of ourselves.

David understood self-care. In Psalm 42:5, 11 and Psalm 43:5, he asked himself a couple of probing questions: (1) Why are you downcast, O my soul, and (2) Why the unease within me?

When life seems extremely challenging, how do you respond? Do you try to keep busy and avoid thinking about it? Do you drink alcohol, overindulge in food, go shopping, or self-medicate in some way?

David’s response to himself was this: Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God (Psalm 42:11, 43:5).  

Do you try to truly absorb God’s word and put it into practice? How many Christian songs could you sing if separated from your electronic devices?

Paul and Silas understood the importance of *DIY encouragement. They were beaten and jailed after rebuking a spirit of divination in a young girl who kept following them, shouting a good thing, but for the wrong reason (Acts 16:16-24).

In the darkness of midnight, Paul and Silas encouraged themselves in the Lord by praying and singing spiritual songs (Acts 16:25).

The other prisoners weren’t the only ones listening. God was, too, and He responded with a mighty earthquake that set them free and resulted in the salvation of the jailer and his family (Acts 16:26-34).

Faith offers hope. Scripture says God rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). 

Have you learned to “do it yourself?”

 Pixabay: Steam, Vintage, Engine; Artsy Bee.

 *DIY: Do It Yourself 

A Healthy Choice

Today I was inspired by Proverbs 17:22. A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.  

Three references explained a broken spirit. One indicated it could be sorrow, another anxiety, and the third mentioned bitterness (Proverbs 12:25, 15:13, and 14:10).

I thought back to 2007 when I was in Phoenix for treatments of Stage 3 Breast Cancer. We had purchased a small co-op the year before, thinking it would be a nice vacation place two hours from our place of ministry.

There, on my own, I pursued a daily Bible Study. *Intervarsity Press had some nice **inductive, topical study booklets with about eight lessons each.

I learned to appreciate the Psalms. David poured out his heart to God, and so did I. To this day, I thank God for the nearness of His Presence during nine months of chemo, surgery, and radiation.

But one day, the “merry heart” verse from my childhood came to mind. I was already practicing being thankful. At bedtime each night, I would count off ten things I was thankful for from THAT day, no matter how small.

I was at peace, but to me, a merry heart meant laughter. I thought back to some old sitcoms I had enjoyed, and purchased a season of Mary Tyler Moore. Then someone gave me some “Mayberry” episodes. It felt good to laugh out loud.

I refused to be downhearted, homesick, or depressed. I looked to the Psalms for help and focused on Psalm 34:4-5: I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces shall never be ashamed.

Make a healthy choice. Choose to let go of despair. Seek to be cheerful. Improve your outlook. Perk yourself up and improve your mood.

Seek God in His word and through prayer. Do your part, and He’ll do His.

Pixabay: Emoji, Face, Smile; Mohamed_hassan.

*Check online for Intervarsity Press study booklets. I purchased mine from ChristianBooks.com.

**Inductive Bible studies are not complicated. They ask a question, you read the recommended scripture, draw a conclusion, and write your answer in the space provided.

 

Your Day, Your Way

Ok, let’s get personal.  Have you ever had someone ask, “What’s wrong?” You may feel like thunderclouds hang over your head, but you’re not ready to share. So you say, “It’s personal,” expecting them to drop the subject.

Let’s face it. Emotional discomfort is real. We all have a conscience that tries to get our attention from time to time.

You may have heard the saying, *“Most people are as happy as they make up their minds to be.” In other words, we live our lives as a matter of choice.  

David said that when he refused to acknowledge his sin or wrongdoing, he was miserable; he felt drained (Psalm 32:3-4). Sin is not always a biggie like David’s sin with Bathsheba or against her husband, Uriah (2 Samuel 11-12).

Sometimes sin is simply “missing the mark” . . . knowing God’s will, but choosing to do it “my way,” instead.  

Is your day lacking joy, a feeling of well-being, or contentment? Joy is also a Fruit of the Spirit that comes from faith in God’s character and His promises, and gives us hope. It differs from happiness, which can be circumstantial.

You can see by the heading on my blog that I believe in a God of second chances, forgiveness, and new hope day by day. David said that when he acknowledged his sin and confessed his transgressions, God forgave him (Psalm 32:5).

To have our sins forgiven is a blessing from God, a fresh start. But again, it’s personal (Psalm 32:1-2).

Only YOU can offer the sacrifices God desires: (1) A broken spirit, and (2) a contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). Six out of eight **Bible translations used these exact words.

A broken spirit is another way of saying, “I’m humbling myself before You, God.” And a contrite heart means, “I’m sorry for my sin. I’m repenting and turning away from it.”

So, it’s your day, your way! Confession is a personal choice, and forgiveness brings personal joy!

Pixabay: Thunderstorm, Thunderclouds, Clouds; Bernhardjaeck.

*This quote has often been attributed to President Abraham Lincoln, but it cannot be proven. It did appear in a newspaper column in 1914 by Dr. Frank Crane; Ai overview.

**See Bible Translations on the YouVersion Bible app.

 

The Value of Tenacity

A vineyard full of grapes ready to harvest is a beautiful thing. It’s amazing how one vine can support many branches full of fruit. Living in central California gave me a special appreciation of this.

Grapes have been valued since ancient times. They are tasty fresh off the vine, dried in the sun for raisins, or pressed into juice and made into wine.  

Jesus used this valuable resource to illustrate a Biblical principle. It is found in John 15:1-11. I hope you take time to read those verses. But He starts by saying God is the keeper of the vineyard, Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches (v. 1, 5).  

We must cling to Him if we want to bear good fruit. Apart from Him, we can do nothing of spiritual value (v. 5).

We cling to the vine in various ways. First, by faith we believe He is the Son of God. Then we continue in faith to receive Him as our Savior (John 3:16-18).

By faith, we then show our love to Jesus by commitment to obeying His commands and lovingly relating to other believers (v. 10, 12). In Him, we are fruitful in good works which glorify God (v. 8).

Abiding in Christ can keep us level-headed. In times of hardship or trial, we need not despair. When we’re down and our joy seems gone, abiding in Christ will give us the victory. Paul said, “We live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). It’s also wise not to live by our fluctuating emotions.

To abide in Christ is to trust in Him. We submit to Him, follow His ways, and pursue a lasting relationship with Him.

"Tenacity" is a valuable character trait. Somebody who is tenacious keeps a firm hold on something they don’t want to lose.   

When God prunes us by allowing challenging or hard times into our lives, tenacious people hang on by faith. Careless, unproductive followers fall away and become worthless branches good only for fire (v. 6)

Don’t be a worthless branch! Be tenacious and enjoy a fruitful, eternal relationship with The Vine!  

Pixabay: Purple, grapes, grapevine; MARINOPHUC.

  

Words of Interest

I enjoy reading both the Book of Psalms and the Book of Proverbs. Over the years, I’ve read them in several translations. No matter which one, as a writer, I’m always interested in words and their power.

Today, I’m sharing a few thoughts about two that caught my attention.

The first word was “promised.” The psalmist’s request was, “O LORD, give me the discerning mind you promised” (Psalm 119:169 NLT).

A person with discernment can judge clearly between two things. Biblically speaking, this would mean an ability to judge truth from error, good from evil, or the sacred from the profane.

When we’re reading God’s word and something seems to stand out or keep coming back to our mind, it’s like God is saying, “Consider my words now. Or, look what I’ve promised to do.”

Psalm 145:13 NLT says, “The LORD always keeps His promises.” I’m very thankful to serve a trustworthy God.

A word that puzzled me was “wandered.” Why would the writer of one hundred and seventy-six verses extolling the wonders and value of God’s word, say in the last verse, he wandered from it?  

To me, “to wander” means to aimlessly move around. But then I thought, we can easily wander from God’s word when we don’t take it seriously.

We may read it regularly, and even know it intellectually. But if that’s all we do, we miss the point. God put His will in writing, and if we want to please Him, we’ll do more than just read it. We’ll choose to live by it.

There is a redeeming factor in that last verse. In total, the verse says: “I have wandered away like a lost sheep; come and find me, for I have not forgotten your commands” (V. 176 NLT).

The shepherd can hear the bleating of one lost sheep. If you’ve wandered and lost your way, call out to the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, today.

God will never reject a repentant heart (Psalm 51:17).

Pixabay: Scrabble;EstateAgentNetworking.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

 

Hope and Perseverance

I enjoy being part of a non-denominational Bible study. Last week’s lesson included the challenge of waiting on God.

A lady in my group said, “God is not a short-order cook!” I liked that. I said, “We go to the restaurant, place our order, and wait for our food. Why do we think God should answer our prayers at the snap of a finger?”

The psalmist had mentioned hard times before, but this time he says he’s worn out waiting for God to rescue him (Psalm 119:81). Have you ever felt that way? I have, but I also have learned that God does answer prayer in His own good time, and it’s worth waiting for (Ecclesiastes 3:11).                                                       

The psalmist was a realist who chose to focus on God, not his circumstances. He said, “I’ve almost been wiped from the earth, but I haven’t forsaken your precepts (v. 87). How well do we know God’s word? How committed are we to waiting on the Lord to fulfill His promises?

Like the psalmist, we should refuse to give up or give in. He believed God loved him and could revive him (v. 88). Because he had faith in God and His word, he was willing to stake his life on it, though it required waiting. (Read: Psalm 119:81-88).

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial. Because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him (James 1:12).

Under constant threats of death, Charlie Kirk persevered in his public testimony. His murder in broad daylight in front of thousands of witnesses was not the end. His death caused people worldwide to rally around his message of faith and freedom.

Charlie is an example of missionary C. T. Studd’s famous quote: “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.”

Now the challenge is ours. How are we responding to it?

Pixabay: Adult, Alone, Bible; Pexels.

 

A Good Life by Choice

Have you ever wondered which direction your life is to take? We constantly have choices between good and evil, and sometimes better or best.

The psalmist noted it this way: “Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart” (Psalm 119:34).  

Jesus taught about the narrow gate to life and the broad way to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). We all know that narrow things require us to slow down and pay more attention.

But narrow or broad, they have one thing in common - - - we must choose.

Our earthly choices count for eternity. One day, God’s books will be opened, and we will be judged by our actions. It’s not enough to give mental assent to God’s guidelines for right living. We must do them.  

Scripture gives us fair warning:

·         I will deal with them according to their conduct (Ezekiel 7:27)

·         We will give an account to Him who is to judge the living and the dead (1 Peter 4:5)

·         Books were opened, and one of them was the Book of Life (Revelation 20:11-15; John 3:16-18)

In all of Creation, God’s work was declared “good” (Genesis 1). We, as believers, were given new life in Christ Jesus to also do good works (Ephesians 2:8-10).

We are to use whatever gift God has given us to serve one another, so that in all things Jesus Christ may be glorified (1 Peter 4:10-11). One of the gifts mentioned is speaking.

This past week, we lost a man who boldly proclaimed his faith. The testimony of his life will long be remembered. He not only knew God’s word, but he chose to live it.

Proverbs 10:7 says, “The memory of the righteous is a blessing.” Charlie Kirk knew the dangers in his public forum. When previously asked, “How would you like to be remembered?” He replied, “For courage and faith.”   

Because of his daily choices, he will be remembered exactly that way.  

Let’s remember: 1) Our choices matter, and 2) we have no guarantee of the number of our days.   

Pixabay: Choices; geralt.

  

Shut In On Purpose

Usually, “shut-in” makes us think of someone who’s ill or has limited mobility. But did you notice the title lacked a dash? Today, I’m talking about being shut in by choice.

During devotional time, hymns or choruses often come to mind. Today, it was a chorus led by my dad. He had a good voice and would often lead the congregation in a chorus before preaching. No music needed.

I learned “Shut in with God” as a chorus. I didn’t know it was a song with three verses until I did a web search today. I found no record of who wrote it or when, but I’m retired and my memory of this song goes back about fifty years.

Let’s look at it closely:

Shut in with God in a secret place,

There in the Spirit beholding His face,

Gaining new power to run in the race.

I long to be shut in with God.

It came to mind today when I shut off my cell phone so I could concentrate on prayer.

Corporate prayers have their place, but private prayer is not to be neglected. Jesus often went by himself to pray (Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35, for example).

In *Matthew 6:6, Jesus taught that we, too, should have a time of private prayer. He said, “Go into your room, shut the door, and pray to your heavenly Father. He will see your secret private prayer and reward you openly.”

Prayer is a healthy spiritual choice. Jude says we are to keep ourselves in God’s love and build ourselves up in our holy faith by prayer. (Jude 20-21).

It’s great to go to the gym and make healthy food choices for our physical bodies. But we need to apply the same care to our spiritual lives. The truth is that we make time for things that are important to us.

Do you make it a point to be shut in on purpose? Yes? Great! You know what a blessing it is.

No? Why not? It’s an important spiritual decision. Plan to make a change today!

Pixabay: Window/Door; AILes.

*Based on this scripture, the Kendrick Brothers created a popular movie called “War Room.” If you haven’t seen it, check it out online. It’s well worth your time.

  

How to Kill Off Stupidity

When and where did you learn life principles? Or, did you? When I was growing up, I not only learned such things at home, but also in church and at school.

I hear people complain that our culture is short on moral principles today. But my question is, “Who is teaching them?”

Reading Proverbs is not THE answer. But I think it’s ONE small step in the right direction for ALL mankind.

I have met many people who read a chapter of Proverbs a day. Some have done it for a lifetime. It’s thirty-one chapters, imagine that!

When you tire of reading it in one translation, why not try reading it in another? *It’s not hard to do these days.

Are you familiar with 2 Peter 1:1-10? It says by faith we receive the righteousness of God through our Savior, Jesus Christ. We are blessed with grace and peace, but there’s more!

Peter lays it out clearly in verses five through eight: Make every effort to add to your Faith.  As we mature in our Christian life, we should see growth in these areas: (1) Virtue, (2) Knowledge, (3) Self-control, (4) Perseverance, (5) Godliness, (6) Brotherly kindness, and (7) love.   

The Book of Proverbs has some things to teach us in the above areas. 1 Kings 4:29-34 says Solomon’s wisdom was known worldwide. Kings weren’t the only ones who sent envoys to listen to his wisdom.

The Queen of Sheba came to test him with hard questions, too. You can read all about it in 1 Kings 10:1-13.

The **Book of Proverbs is known as wisdom literature.

I believe we can kill off stupidity, but the best advice, even from the wisest man in the world, will do you no good just by reading.

The real value comes when you put it into action!

Pixabay: Puzzle, Sense, Non-Sense; geralt.

*I have the YouVersion Bible app on my phone, but there are others.

 **The majority of The Book of Proverbs is written by Solomon, but in later chapters, credit is given to two others.

  

I'm Not You

I’m not you, and you’re not me. Thank God we are not all alike. What a boring world that would be!

You would not want me to be your tailor! Neither would you want me to cut and style your hair, or bake your wedding cake! But if you’d like someone to read out loud to your kids, or teach them how to read, I’m your gal. I had teacher training.

God’s wisdom and creativity brought variety into this world. We enjoy it not only in the animal and plant kingdoms, but in humans as well.

We have different temperaments, gifts, abilities, mental capacities, and interests. Some of these are genetic, others develop from the families or even the countries into which we are born.

For example, France is known for its culinary schools, Australia for its sheep, and Argentina for its beef. So, we might see more chefs, sheep shearers, and ranchers in those places.

One person is no better than the other. Each of us has a place to fulfill, and we should appreciate and enjoy one another’s skills.

Don’t discount what you can do. A lady in one of our churches was known as “the cake lady.” She brought joy by remembering people’s birthdays with a cake. Another retired lady enjoyed taking to appointments those who could no longer drive. A woodworker created small crosses with JESUS beautifully carved in them.

In his wisdom, Solomon recognized a need for various skills. While requesting cedar and cypress logs from Lebanon to build the temple, he told King Hiram he would pay wages. Why? He said no one in Israel was as skilled in logging as the Sidonians. (I Kings 5:6).

Later, King Solomon built a fleet of ships. Once again, Hiram helped by sending seamen who knew the sea to help Solomon’s servants. (I Kings 9:26-27)

Have you thanked God for variety? Take a moment now to think of the interests, abilities, and skills you enjoy in your family and friends.

The old saying is, “Variety is the spice of life.” I, for one, say, "Thank God for that!"

 Pixabay:

 

Make Up Your Mind

Would you believe we are as happy as we make up our minds to be? When I was fighting breast cancer in 2007, I learned an important lesson: You can’t be both positive and negative at the same time.

Jesus said in the world we would have tribulation, but that in Him we could have peace, take courage, and overcome the world (John 16:33).

We can overcome in several ways. But one way is by carefully choosing what we let into our minds. To “let” means to allow something to happen. Thoughts, whether positive or negative, are what we choose to allow, tolerate, consent to, or even put up with at any given moment.

Here are three important overcomer guidelines:

1.    Don’t be anxious, pray to God about your concerns (Philippians 4:6)

2.    Let the peace of God rule in your hearts (Colossians 3:15)

3.    Let the word of Christ richly dwell in you (Colossians 3:16)

Question: How can the word of Christ dwell in you richly unless you know Scripture well? We can’t get by with only Sunday sermons and small group studies. Have you ever thanked God for a Bible in your language? Have you shown your appreciation by reading it daily?

We can get frustrated when non-godly thoughts, emotions, and attitudes seem to grip us.

But, we can also: 1) acknowledge our thoughts, 2) know God’s word, 3) ask the Holy Spirit to guide us to truth, and 4) speak appropriate scriptures out loud to rebuke Satan.

That’s what Jesus did in Matthew 4:1-11.

Joshua advised the people to: First, choose whom they would serve, then choose to serve Him in sincerity and truth (Joshua 24:14-15).

It’s not a one-and-done decision . . . it’s moment-by-moment…day-by-day.

Pixabay: Choice, Select, Decide; geralt. 

Inside Out

We don’t go around wearing our clothes inside out. Why not? I’d say it's because they were not made to be worn that way.

The inside is where seams, darts, hems, and thread marks exist. The outside only looks good because of the work done on the inside. That concept is well expressed in Psalm 51:10-12.

After his sin with Bathsheba, David was confronted by the prophet Nathan. Then he humbled himself before God with a prayer of repentance and several requests:

·         Create in me a clean heart, O God

·         Renew a right spirit within me

·         Cast me not away from Your Presence

·         Take not Your Holy Spirit from me

·         Restore to me the joy of Your salvation

·         Sustain me with a willing spirit

 

David looked good on the outside. After his sin, he still walked around in his kingly clothes, and people continued to give him honor. But scripture says, "Man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).

God’s word speaks of sins which separate us from Him in a lake of fire instead of heaven for all eternity. One example is Revelation 21:9.

When we repent of our sins and ask God to give us a clean heart, He does not just alter and make spiritual things fit better.

David had it right when he asked God for a clean heart and a right spirit. Paul declared, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17).

God sees us from the inside out.  Jesus said we’re to love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37). And Paul told Timothy that our love is to come from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5).

Are you feeling a little unsettled spiritually? Something inside is starting to make you uncomfortable? Perhaps it’s time to review David’s prayer. 

If anything strikes a chord, sincerely make his words yours. Let God give you a clean start.

Pixabay: Shirt, Clothes, Fashion; IdeaTivas-TLM.

  

Keep On Walking

Don’t lose momentum! Serious walkers and runners stay focused. Standing or sitting around does nothing to enhance their consistent daily discipline to achieve their goal.

Psalm One talks about the gradual decline of momentum from walking to standing to sitting, but let’s look at the context.

Things worth pursuing require some kind of effort. Paul not only encouraged us to fight the good fight of faith, but at the end of his life, declared that he had also done it (1 Timothy 6:13; 2 Timothy 4:7).  

Psalm One, in only six verses, contrasts the godly and godless. Consider some of the differences:

The Godly are Blessed as They: (Verses 1, 2, 3, and 6)

• ·         Do not walk in the counsel, plans, or purposes of the ungodly.
• ·         Do not stand submissively or inactively in paths where the ungodly walk
• ·         Do not sit down to rest and relax with the ungodly who mock and scorn morality and spirituality
• ·         Desire God’s word, studying and meditating on it, keeping it in mind day and night
• ·         Prosper spiritually and are blessed as a healthy, maturing, fruit-bearing tree
• ·         Are fully known by God in all their ways, judged righteous before God

 The Godless, Wicked, or Morally Evil Are: (Verses 1, 4, 5, and 6)

• ·         Capable of doing great damage morally and spiritually
• ·         Disobedient, living without any consideration of God
• ·         Like chaff, worthless, no substance, easily blown about
• ·         Will not be able to stand before God’s righteous judgment
• ·         They and their ways will perish

Do you desire to be blessed by God?

Remember: Spiritual momentum is never lost all at once. It’s a gradual decline.

We let our choices get lax in things like Bible reading, prayer, church attendance, Christian fellowship, or moral purity.

To be blessed:

• ·         Choose wisely and keep on walking in God’s ways.
• ·         Choose to stand after you’ve fought a good fight of faith, wearing the armor God has provided (Ephesians 6:10-18).
• ·         When you choose to sit, remember to be careful about your choices of relaxation---where you go, what you see, hear, or do.

Pixabay: Walkway, Sidewalk; Openicons.