Very Good

After God had finished creating the world, the universe, the plants, the animals and the humans, He looked at the things He had made, and they were very good. That's true of everything that God does. He's designed the plan of salvation to rescue us from sin. It is very good. Jesus is preparing a place in heaven for us. It will be VERY good. Here on earth, we need to be concerned, when we make a purchase, about the quality of the item we are buying. Not so with God. He does everything very well.

 
 

Thank You, God, for all the good things You do. Thank You that You are dependable will never fail us. Thank You for Your wonderful plan of salvation. Lord, help us to grow more like You.

 

P. S. This will be my last post for a while. I have had other things come up in my life that keep me from updating this blog. May God bless you and keep you inspired to serve Him.

After Their Kind

During the creation, God was careful to mention that he made animals that produced other animals after their kind. This runs completely counter to the theory of evolution, which says that some animals do not produce after their kind. So, we have a contradiction between a theory by Charles Darwin and the Word of the Almighty God of the Universe. Which will we believe? I choose the God of the Universe. His Word is always true. His prophecies have never failed. He is the very embodiment of truth.

 
 

Lord, thank You for showing us truth in the Bible. Thank You that we don't have to wonder about the origin of the earth and all the wonderful animals that You have placed here. Thank You for all the beautiful diversity on our planet.

The Power of the Word of God

I Genesis 1, we have the amazing account of the creation of the world. In six days, the earth went from a formless void covered by water to a vibrant place, teaming with life. What a miracle! It all happened by the power of God's Word. I just had to think what would have happened if mankind had taken on such a project:

1. Get financing for the project. God doesn't need financing for anything. He has unlimited resources
   
2. Years of design work. God only needed to speak and it happened.
   
3. Permitting and legal approval. God is the ultimate authority in the universe. He needs approval from no one.
   
4. Years to build the project. God did it in six days.
   
5. Inspection. God inspected His own work and said it was good.
   

    
    

   Lord, You are such an amazing God. We stand in awe as we look at what You have done. Help us to remain humble, because in Your site, we are nothing. We praise You for all Your majestic work.
   

   
    

   P. S. I am taking up Sunday School teaching for the next year. So, my posts may not be as regular in the future, but I'll do my best.
   

The Triumphant Church in China

http://www.charityministries.org/audio/3023.mp3

Divorce and Remarriage - The Words of Paul and the Early Church

http://www.charityministries.org/audio/4174.mp3

Speak Not Evil One of Another

James 4:11-12

 
 

11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.

 
 

12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

KJV

 
 

This is a reminder that every human being needs from time to time. Which of us is not guilty of speaking evil or judging someone? There are plenty of opportunities to speak evil of people because no one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. Also, people have different preferences and ways of doing things. Just imagine what a different place this world would be if everyone only spoke well of each other for one week. What an amazing difference it would make! Relationships would improve. Estranged people would be able to get along again. More souls could be saved. Although this may never happen, let's begin with ourselves. Let's purpose in our hearts not to speak evil of anyone, ever. We will find good things happening to us when we're willing to drop our grudges and fault-finding.

Humble Yourselves

James 4:10

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

KJV

 
 

We live in a world where pride is praised, self-promotion is expected and humility is rejected. So, what does the Bible have to say about pride and humility? This verse tells us to humble ourselves so that the Lord can lift us up. It may seem counterintuitive, but if the Bible tells us to do it, then we should do it. But, humility is a lost art. So, what should we do about it? We need to go back to the Bible. We should read all the condemnation that the Bible has for pride. We need to realize how dangerous it is to our Christian life, and we need to give God the glory for everything. Everything that we can do is only made possible by God. We are no good in ourselves.

 
 

Lord, help me to live humbly. Help me to remember that, without You, I am nothing. All I have comes from You. Help me to give You the glory for all my accomplishments. Help me to point people to You.

Draw Nigh to God

James 4:8

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.

KJV

 
 

God is calling to this world that is tired and deceived by sin, "draw nigh to Me." He wants to help the weary. He wants to save the sinner. He wants to heal the broken-hearted. He wants every person to be His child. Yet, why do we resist? So many people refuse His help. They disobey His commands that He has put in place for our good. They turn their back on Him and go their own way.

 
 

Lord, help me to draw nigh to You. Help me to live my life for You. Help me to bring others to you.

Joy in Temptation?

James 1:2

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

KJV

 
 

When I read this verse, it caught me off guard. What. We're to rejoice when we fall into temptation? I thought we were to flee temptation, but verse 3 holds the key to verse 2:

 
 

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

 
 

So, that is why we can rejoice in temptation: it helps us learn patience. But, there are several requirements. We must have victory over temptation, and the only way to have consistent victory is through the power of the Holy Spirit living within us. Also, we must be willing to learn. We may never allow difficulty to make us bitter. We must have a teachable spirit. We must be willing to learn from our mistakes. Thus we can emerge victorious from temptation and even be rejoicing. And, every time we win over temptation with God's help, we will be stronger for the next temptation that will come our way.

 
 

Lord, help me to rely on You in times of temptation. Help me to realize that in my own strength I cannot win. Give me the faith to rejoice in times of temptation realizing that it will strengthen me and teach me patience.

God's Sovereignty - The Story of Esther

http://www.charityministries.org/audio/4189.mp3

Obey Them That Have the Rule Over You

Heb 13:17

7 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

KJV

 
 

We are here commanded to obey our church leaders but why? It's because God has put them in place to watch for our souls. They will need to give an account for our lives. They are our spiritual shepherds. They are responsible to ensure our spiritual safety, and they are accountable to God for the job they do. If we are living right, they will be able to give account with joy. Let's live so that our leaders don't need to be ashamed of us.

 
 

Lord, help me to be submissive. Help me to make the life of my leaders easy. Help me to be supportive of them. Help me to grow in areas where I am not supportive. Help me to understand the importance of their position. Help me to understand why they require what they do. Help the leaders to fill their place as they should. Help them to remember that they are guiding souls to eternity. Give them wisdom for the place they fill. Help them to reach out to the hearts of their people and move them closer to You.

Let Brotherly Love Continue

Heb 13:1

Let brotherly love continue.

KJV

 
 

The Bible is full of commands to love each other. We should be looking out for the good of others every day. It requires us to be unselfish and put others first. Yet, sometimes we need a reminder to let brotherly love continue. It's easy to become lax. We are humans and we forget. We can so easily slip back into selfishness and fail to show love to those around us. So, how can we let brotherly love continue? One way is to continually remember what Jesus has done for us. He has done so much for us that we should be ready to sacrifice for the good of others. Also, if we remember that God has created us all equal, we will realize that we are no better than anyone else and everyone else deserves equal treatment. Their rights are just as important as mine. So, in our lives today, let brotherly love continue.

No Chastening Seems Joyous

Heb 12:11

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

KJV

 
 

All Christians experience God's chastening from time to time. We all make mistakes and suffer for them. It's God's way of helping us learn our lesson. He does it for our good. It's not a joyful thing. We don't enjoy it at the time, but afterward we can realize that it helped us to be a better person. However, it does not automatically help us. We need to learn from it. If we don't take the chastening as we should, it will cause us to become bitter. So, next time you face difficulty, will you allow it to make you better or bitter?

Looking Unto Jesus

Heb 12:2

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

KJV

 
 

In this life we face trials and difficulties. Life isn't always easy and we don't always know what to do, but this verse tells us something that we can always safely do: Look to Jesus! He is the only perfect example of a life lived exactly according to God's will. He was perfectly humble. He served others His entire life. His life was never tainted by sin, and the crowning work of His life was His death and resurrection that saves us from sin and ensures us a home in heaven if we follow in His steps. What better example is there to follow? Who else can we look to Who has no failures?

 
 

Lord, help me to live my life as Jesus did. Help me to live my life for the good of others. Help me to be patient and loving. Help me to sacrifice so that others can learn about You.

God Gives Wisdom - To Those Who Believe

http://www.charityministries.org/audio/4191.mp3

Choosing to Suffer

Heb 11:24-29

 
 

24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

 
 

25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

 
 

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

 
 

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

 
 

28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

 
 

29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

KJV

 
 

Moses in an incredible example of someone who sacrificed to serve God. He had the opportunity to be the next Pharaoh in Egypt. Yet, he chose to identify with the people of God and suffer as part of a nation of slaves. He led these unruly people through a barren wilderness and to the land of promise. What a sacrifice! Am I willing to sacrifice for God like that?

 
 

Lord, help me to be willing to suffer for You instead of enjoying the pleasures of sin. Help me to faithfully serve You through both the hard and the easy times.

He Looked for a City

Heb 11:8-10

 
 

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

 
 

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

 
 

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

KJV

 
 

We are called to be pilgrims and strangers here on this earth. We won't always live here. We, as Christians, have our citizenship in heaven. So, how should this affect our lives? There are many things that we will do differently if we know that earth is only our temporary home. It will affect the things we do, the things we buy, the way we spend our money and much, much more. If we are laying up treasures in heaven, we won't be as worried about amassing a fortune here on earth. We will realize that investing in God's work is a much better investment that anything here on earth. If we know that we're going to heaven soon, we'll spend less time making a comfortable life here and more time preparing for an eternity in heaven.

 
 

Lord, help me to remember that heaven is my home and I'm only here on earth to serve You for a short time. Help me not to get caught up in making a living and making a life here. Help me to spend most of my time preparing for heaven. Help me not to be distracted by the seemingly urgent things here in life that tend to crowd out the important things. Help me to serve You here so that I can live with You in heaven.

This Testimony: That he Pleased God

Heb 11:5

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

KJV

 
 

Is that my testimony? Is it yours? Most important of all, is God pleased with my life? These are questions that we should ask ourselves. We could say, "But, how do we know?" Here's how: read the Bible to see if our life matches with God's directives. We must make sure that our life is in sync with all the practical teachings as well as the principles in the New Testament. There is nothing there that is not for our day. The Bible is timeless. Everything taught in it is for us just as much as it was for the people in Jesus' day. So, what if we find inconsistencies in our lives? Can we make excuses or try to duck responsibility? No, we need to make changes in our life so that we can please God.

 
 

Lord, help me to have this testimony that I please You. Help me to read the Bible and apply it to my life. Help me to allow Your Holy Spirit to examine my life. Help me to be willing to change and grow closer to You so that at the end of my life, You can say, "You have pleased Me."

Faith: the Evidence of Things Not Seen

Heb 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

KJV

 
 

There are many things in the Bible that we need to accept by faith. This is one reason that so many people don't believe it. Yet, if we can have faith and believe the Bible completely, it will be a huge blessing to us. God has made many promises that may seem impossible to the human mind. Yet, we see that in the past He has faithfully fulfilled everyone to the minutest detail. So, we can know that He will fulfill all His promises that He has made for the future as well.

 
 

Thank You, Lord, for all Your great promises. Thank You that we can trust that they will all be fulfilled. Help me to have faith and believe that You will do everything that You've promised. Help me to share that faith with those around me.