Articles for March 2017

Matthew 6:20,21, “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Matthew 6:20 is probably one of the most ignored principles in the Scriptures.  We are so focused on the here and now that we forget that this life is only temporary.  Often people ignore eternal values for earthly accomplishments.  They plan and invest so much of their time and life into pursuits that really have no value for the long run.

God is not saying that we are not to pay attention to our lives here on earth. He knows we need jobs, a place to live, cars to drive, etc.  He wants us to live a joyful, abundant life.  (John 10:10b,  “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”)  The problem arises when these necessities become the entire focus of our lives.  It is when we are making decisions only on the basis of what we want versus where God is leading and what will please Him.

We can lay up treasure in heaven in many ways:

• By obeying what God says in His Word.
• By leading others to Christ.
• By trying to please Him before ourselves.
• By choosing right over wrong.
• By focusing on God and eternity instead of the ever changing circumstances of life.
• By trusting Him and believing He is in control of all things.

If we make every decision with eternity in mind, (seeking to lay up treasures in heaven) our choices will be God honoring and we will be living the abundant life – here on earth as well as when we get to heaven!

Proverbs 25:28, “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.”

This is a verse that I quote often. It makes me think about my responsibility in the Christian life.  This verse (and many others) definitely seem to imply that I have a part in the decisions that I make concerning my walk with God.  God did not make us puppets.  He has given us a free will – the ability to choose our own course of action.

So, basically this verse is implying:

Be self disciplined – control your spirit. Willingly be in subjection to the will of God.  Never choose to go contrary to God’s directives.  Following God’s ways, will result in a wall of  protection surrounding you.

You have an active part in the decisions you make every day. When self controls you, watch out, your life is open to all of the outside forces that want to destroy you and rob you of your joy and service to God.  (You are a city with no walls of security protecting you.)

Ask God to give you the ability to rule your own spirit so that you will live the way that He desires for you to live! Remember it’s your choice to go God’s way OR to go your own way!

Proverbs 2:20, “That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.”

Path – a trodden way, a route or course. (Webster’s Dictionary)
Righteous – Purity of heart and life; holiness.  (1828 Dictionary)

Righteousness is a theme that runs throughout the entire Bible.  Live right, do right, choose right – we see it over and over again in the Scriptures.  It’s God’s way;  it’s how God wants us to live as we walk through this life.

(To clarify: our righteousness is as filthy rags before God. [Isaiah 64:6] We become righteous in God’s sight when we are born into His family because of accepting Jesus as our Saviour.  Read the ‘Good News’ section at top of this page if you have any questions.)

God has a way that He has laid out for all Christians. This is a path that is clearly shown in the Bible – this is the path of right, holy living.  If we love God and are truly trying to live for Him we will not deviate from this way.  Don’t fudge on God’s standards.  Don’t impose your own ways and choices over His.  Read the Bible and study the Bible – this is the only way that YOU will see for yourselves what God expects of YOU.

Follow His path in:  how you talk, how you dress, how you act, how you spend your time.  HIs path is forever leading upward and will result in the happiness and contentment you are looking for in this life.  Remember –

Psalm 128:1, “Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.”

Proverbs 2:20, “That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of righteousness.”

Are you considered a ‘good man’ or a ‘good woman’?  Would the way you walk and live be an example for others to follow?  You’ve heard the statement that ‘no man is an island’ meaning none of us live unto ourselves.  What you do and how you live affects others and reflects on God (whether you want it to or not).  We cannot compartmentalize our lives – part of the time living for God and the other part living for self.  The world will not accept this and neither will God.

I don’t think any of us would steal or murder someone. This is not what I am talking about.
BUT – do you get angry and fly off the handle?  Are you impatient?  Do you murmur and grumble about life.  Is your continence sad and full of worry?  I could probably go on for a long time talking about ways we can be a poor testimony before the world.

Often we do not even think about how our actions affect others and reflect on God.  We can say that God will meet all our needs and that He is always with us to help us, but are we living like we truly believe this?

Think about what kind of example you are being before others, as you start each new day. Ask God to make your life a ‘good testimony’ for Him and seek to walk in the way of a ‘good man’ or a ‘good woman.’

The second half of this verse will be discussed in tomorrow’s blog.

Philippians 4:8, “Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

I could easily say – devotional done for today. This verse says it ALL.  This is God’s list of what He desires for us to think about.  This is how He wants us to occupy our minds.

Look at that list again. What you think about should be:

True,     Honest,    Just,     Pure,     Lovely,     of Good Report,     Things of Virtue and Praise.

Now think about the things that you DO think about. More than likely it is quite different.  Often our minds are filled with worries and concerns, problems of life, even pleasures of life, but they do not always fall into the category of the things that God desires for us to be thinking about.

God knows that what we fill our minds with will eventually dictate our actions. So…He in His great wisdom and love for us is telling us (quite clearly) what types of things He wants us to be thinking about.  Learn to squelch any thought you know is displeasing to God.  When the Holy Spirit prompts you, listen to Him, and change the direction of your thoughts.

You know that kind, thoughtful, God honoring person, that you would like to be – it can happen…if

YOUR THINKING IS RIGHT!

Galatians 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Being tired is a natural part of working hard, but this verse is talking about something else.
It’s talking about getting tired from doing good deeds. It’s about getting weary trying to follow God’s ways in an ungodly world.

• It’s about choosing right over wrong.
• It’s about doing good works that are a testimony for God.
• It’s about helping others and being kind.
• It’s about showing God’s love through your life.
• It’s about putting self in the back seat and putting others first.

Often times there is no one out there saying thank you or appreciating the efforts that you are putting forth. Always remember, that God knows all about it, and He tells you quite simply – don’t get weary and don’t give up.  Keep on keeping on. You are doing it for Me and I care.  I see the work you are putting forth because you love Me and I will bless your life and your efforts.

You sow the seeds of doing good and God promises you will reap – if you don’t give up!

Proverbs 10:9a, “He that walketh uprightly walketh surely.”

 Webster’s 1828 dictionary definitions:

Upright – Honest, just, not deviating from correct moral principles.
Surely – firmly, without danger of falling.

Do right, do right, do right. In other words, walk in an honest and just manner and don’t deviate from God’s ways.  This will ensure that you will not be in danger of falling down in your Christian life.

To do right is a theme that runs throughout the entire Bible. It’s God’s way.  It’s God’s commandment.  There should never be a quandary over which way to go when confronted with a choice between right and wrong.  (Be careful, our mind likes to play games when we want to do something.  We can justify our choice by moving it into the ‘right’ category, when it really belongs in the ‘wrong’ column.)

Man is an interesting creature when it comes to manipulating. BUT, God’s ways are clearly presented in His Word and He never wavers or changes.  Right is right and wrong is wrong.  Make sure your choice/choices  line up with the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit’s promptings.

    You need to know the Word and you need to live the Word if you want to walk ‘surely’ before the Lord.

Proverbs 6:23, “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life;”

The commandments of God are a lamp–they light up the way and show us what God expects of us. We would never know what displeases God or what God considers sin if we did not have His Word and His commandments.

God does not leave us in the dark concerning how He wants us to live.  He desires that we walk in light and provides that light in His Word. Not only do we need to be in the Word regularly but we need to be open to what God is teaching us.

People fuss about rules. They do not want to be told what to do.  Unfortunately,– some even don’t want God to tell them what to do.  BUT, God does tell us in His word what He expects of us – many times, over and over again.  He makes it perfectly clear how we are to live in a manner that will please Him.  This should not be a burden for the Christian but it should make us thankful that we can KNOW what God wants from us.

The last part of this verse says that the reproofs of instruction are the way of life. This verse is saying that when we stray from God’s way, He is there to show us the error of our way and encourage us back into the fold.  (Sometimes gently and sometimes more forcefully.  It all depends on how well we are listening!)  For our life to stay on track for God, reproof is often necessary.

   Know the Word and follow the Word and your path with be lit by God Himself as you walk through each day!

Proverbs 24:10, “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.”

I believe that we all desire to be strong, but how can we prepare ourselves to stand in the storms of life?  Where can we find strength to meet the trials that may be hurled at us?  It is for sure that our drummed up self-will won’t hold us up during these times.

There is only one answer and that is our strength must come from the Lord.

• We must be fed and nourished daily by the Word of God.
• We must develop endurance by walking with the Lord and keeping our eyes upon Him.
• We must learn to depend on Him and trust Him in all the trials of life.
• We must pray and ask God to increase our faith and help us to stand.

There are a whole lot of ‘must do’s’ in those preceding sentences but they are all necessary if we are to be able to stand in the day of adversity.

God is the only one that can hold us up when there is a threat to us and our faith. I fear that hard times may be ahead for the Christian.  We may be called upon to stand up for Jesus as we never have had to before. We can be confident that we will not faint because our strength is not our own but it is coming from God.  Isaiah 40:29,  “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that hath no might he increaseth strength.”  Claim this promise!

Isaiah 40:31, sums this truth up nicely. “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.”

Remember this promise of strength is to them the WAIT UPON THE LORD.

Proverbs 28:9, “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.”

God expects something from man, but man wants something for nothing. These are two opposites of the spectrum.

This verse is basically saying that if we want our prayers answered, we must be willing to follow God’s ways and laws. There are many instructions for life in the Scriptures;  there are many directives in the Bible concerning how a Christian should walk and live.  When God says do this, we need to do it.  When God says don’t do something, we need to not do it.  Sounds simple enough, but our minds seem to be able to justify (or ignore) the things that we do not wish to obey.

The ‘I want’ part of man sometimes seems to be stronger than the ‘I want to obey’ part.  It can be hard to put self down, but we need to have respect for the laws of God and we need to follow them.  Salvation is a free gift from God, Romans 6:23, but after that, God expects us to live differently.  John 14:15 seems to say it all,  “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”  If we desire to fellowship and communicate with God in prayer then we must be in the Bible and we must obey the Bible.

There is no way we can live contrary to God’s Word and receive blessings in our lives!