Flourishing in Knowledge – A Summary

    This has been far from an exhaustive study on knowledge, but I hope that the previous posts and this post will encourage you to pause and take note in your reading and study each time you come across “know,” “knowing,” “knowledge,” and “made manifest” (which means, ‘made known in a clear and obvious way’), so that your study continues; allowing your growth in this area to continue as well.

    Proverbs 1:7 tells us that “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,” and I believe that as you continue to flourish in knowledge it will lead you to humble obedience and loving service. You will come to eagerly await Jesus’ return (2 Peter 3:11-13; 17-18, Philippians 3:20-4:1) and anticipate the Day when faith will become sight (1 John 3:1-3), when hope will be realized (Hebrews 6:17-19, Romans 8:18-25), and when love will carry you through eternity (1 Corinthians 13:13, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 John 4:17-19).    

“…the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.” (Ecclesiastes 7:12b NKJV)

Why should we flourish in knowledge?

    Without knowledge of God’s righteousness, we risk making up our own (or following someone else’s, i.e. doctrines/creeds of men) – Romans 10:2-3. Knowing of God, but not pursuing His righteousness, will prevent others from knowing the truth and obeying it (Romans 1:18)!

    Refusing to grow further in knowledge reveals a complacency about God and His will (Proverbs 1:32-33, Revelation 3:15-16, Matthew 24:42, 1 Peter 5:8). Without proper knowledge we may teach and/or guide others incorrectly (Acts 8:14-24, 13:45, 14:1-2), we could be a roadblock to their understanding (Galatians 2:11-13, Luke 11:52, Hebrews 5:12-13), and we, ourselves will inevitably become weak (Hebrews 5:12-14).

“…attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:2b-3 NKJV)

As you read and study the Bible you can discover:

• The knowledge of salvation (Luke 1:77, Acts 2-16)
• The knowledge of the glory of God (2 Corinthians 4:6)
• Knowledge of God and His Son (Romans 11:33, Ephesians 3:4, 4:13, Philippians 3:8, 2 Peter 1:2-3)
• Knowledge of God’s will (Colossians 1:9-10, Ephesians 5:8-10, 15-17)
• Knowledge of God’s righteousness (Romans 1:16-17, Matthew 6:33, we need to know His righteousness so we don’t make up our own, Romans 10:2-3)
• Knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4, John 14:6)
• Knowledge that renews you and keeps you on the narrow path (Colossians 3:10, Ephesians 4:17-24, 2 Peter 1:3)

And you will discover the veritable storehouse of assurances – all the things we can know - declared within the epistle of 1 John, who wrote these things (through the Holy Spirit) “that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13):

• We know we know Him if we keep His commandments (1 John 2:3)
• We know that we are in Him because when we keep God’s word, His love is perfected in us (1 John 2:5 ,6)
• We know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him (who is righteous, 1 John 2:29)
• We know that when He is revealed we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2)
• We know this is the last hour (1 John 2:18)
• We know that [Jesus] was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him is no sin (1 John 3:5)
• We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren (1 John 3:14)
• We know love, because He laid down His life for us (1 John 3:16)
• We know we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before Him if we live in deed and in truth (1 John 3:18-19)
• We know that He abides in us, by the Spirit He has given to us and we keep His commandments (1 John 4:2, 12-13)
• We know the Spirit of God (every spirit that confesses that Jesus has come in the flesh is of God, 1 John 4:2)
• We know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error (1 John 4:6)
• We have known and believed the love that God has for us (1 John 4:16)
• We know we love the children of God when we love God and keep His commandments (1 John 5:2)
• We know we have eternal life (1 John 5:13)
• If we know God hears us, we know we have the petitions that we have asked of Him (1 John 5:15)
• We know whoever is born of God does not sin, but keeps himself and the wicked one does not touch him (1 John 5:18)
• We know we are of God (1 John 5:19)
• We know Him who is true because the Son of God has come and has given us understanding (1 John 5:20)

John also wrote about the things that were made manifest (made known):

• The antichrists are made known (that they were not of us) by going out from among us (1 John 2:19)
• The Word of life was made known - the apostles have seen and bear witness (1 John 1:1-2)
• The Son was made known that He might destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8)
• God’s love was made known towards us in sending His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him (1 John 4:9)
• The children of God (and the children of the devil) are made known in this: whoever does not practice righteousness and does not love his brother is not of God (1 John 3:10)

    Isn’t that comforting – and exciting! We can know these things! We can grow in our knowledge of these things! And we can tell others about them too!!

    Please take time over the next couple of weeks, as the Lord wills, to read and think on the epistle of 1 John. Reread the list above and, throughout your day, try to recall a few of the things ‘we can know and be assured of.’ Try to keep them in mind so that if anyone asks you the reason for your hope you can make mention of these assurances and point people toward God and the truth found only in His word!

    You can know. You can grow and flourish even more in 2024 in knowledge! From wherever you are right now – BEGIN!

You can do it! So can I!!

Flourish in Knowledge: From Knowing of God to Knowing God

    My Mom was a nurse, so we grew up being comfortable with medical terms and we were more familiar with the pharmaceutical names of over-the-counter medicines than with their popular brand names. When people would remark about my supposed medical knowledge, I would joke and say, “I only know enough to scare myself.” I had not studied medicine, nor pursued any training in the medical field; I only knew what I had heard from my Mom. I knew enough of the medical terms and conditions that I recognized them when I heard them, I sometimes knew what they meant, but that’s where my knowledge ended, I didn’t always know what could be done for those conditions, nor did I know enough to offer any real information or comfort to myself or anyone else dealing with them.

    We can be like that with God and His word. We can be familiar with terms because we’ve heard them all our lives, but not really know what they mean or how to explain them to others (consider Hebrews 5:12-13). We can be content with whatever our parents have told us, and never develop our own faith and understanding. Some have only learned enough to be scared of God but have not sought more knowledge to better understand God and His great love for His creation. Others have only learned enough to allow them to carry on in whatever path they choose with what they deem a clear conscience, “because as long as I’m a good person, God’s grace will take care of the rest.”

    At some point in our life we may have stopped gaining knowledge because we went away to school, started a career, met a man and got married; simply put, our time and focus shifted. Yes, we may hold on to the basics but end up struggling in our day to day because although we know that God exists, we are oblivious to His promises of help in times of need (Philippians 4:6-8, Hebrews 4:16, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

    Consider Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:15-21. Paul wanted the Ephesian brethren to grow in knowledge of God, so that they would know…

…the hope of His calling. God calls us through the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14), and hopes we will hear (Romans 10:17), believe (Mark 16:15-16), and obey (Matthew 7:21-23, also think on Ephesians 1:4, 2:10).

…the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. We are God’s inheritance (think on Deuteronomy 32:9, Psalm 33:12). God is looking forward to receiving the saints to Himself when Jesus presents us faultless to Him; there will be exceeding joy (Jude 24-25)!  

…the exceeding greatness of His power toward those who believe. God can revive us (Ephesians 2:1-10), He can strengthen us (Ephesians 6:10), and just as He raised up Jesus (Ephesians 1:19-23), He can raise us up on the Last Day (1 Corinthians 6:14, Philippians 3:20-21)!  

    We all may know about the “armour of God” (Ephesians 6:10-18) – many Sunday school classes spend time on it – but without further knowledge they are simply words on the page and do us no good. We are told to put on the whole armour of God, and that can only be done when we grow in our knowledge of each piece:

We need to know the truth (John 8:31-32, 16:13-15) in order to gird our waist (protect our innermost parts) with it.

We need to know God’s righteousness (Matthew 6:33, Romans 1:16-17) to wear it as a breastplate (guarding our vital parts, e.g. our heart)

We need to know the gospel of peace to shod our feet and walk in it (Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:14-18)

We need to develop a faith (through learning and application, Hebrews 11) to shield ourselves from the devils attempts to harm us (2 Timothy 3:16-17, James 4:7, 1 Corinthians 10:17)

We need to know the value of salvation to know how important the helmet is that will guard our mind from impure pursuits.

We need to know the word of God (“the sword of the Spirit”) in order to know how to properly wield it/use it (consider Hebrews 4:12, 5:14, 1 Peter 3:15)

    Take time this week to read the whole of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians – a little bit each day, as the Lord wills. Don’t be content with what knowledge you have – great treasures of wisdom and knowledge are at your fingertips! Pray for knowledge and understanding, and then open your Bible each day and read carefully to gain it. Read and apply – a little bit each day – develop your appetite for it (Matthew 5:6, Isaiah 55:1-3, 5) – and grow toward flourishing in a knowledge that is beneficial to both you and those who see/hear you (1 Timothy 4:12-13, 15-16). Grow from simply knowing of God to truly knowing God! Keep learning, keep applying, and keep growing (Hebrews 5:12-14)!

You can do it! So can I!! 

Flourish Even More in 2024… in Knowledge

“Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10 NKJV)

    Knowledge in this passage means knowledge and discernment in its highest sense which includes obedience. Fearing the LORD is the wise thing to do, and gaining knowledge of Him – the Holy One – will lead us to understand why He should be reverenced, respected – and obeyed – at all times.

    If the Lord wills, for the remainder of the year, we will learn to Flourish Even More in 2024 in Knowledge. It is important that we do not become content or complacent in what we think we already know of God and Jesus because “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” are hidden in Them, and we are to work toward “attaining to all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ” (Colossians 2:2-3).

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7 NKJV)

    When we look to God to seek Him, and in hearing His word, respect it “not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God” (like the Thessalonian brethren, 1 Thessalonians 2:13), we will begin our journey in gaining life-changing (Ephesians 4:17-24), life-preserving (Proverbs 2:10-12), and life-giving knowledge (John 17:3)!  

“…the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.” (Ecclesiastes 7:12b NKJV)

    Take time this week to read and think on Proverbs 2, 3, and 4. Read each chapter at your normal pace and then go back and read each one slowly; make notes of all the benefits of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding that are mentioned. Recall these benefits throughout your day – while you’re driving, tidying, or doing the dishes – let these truths about knowledge prepare your mind for this study and for each day!

“If you seek [wisdom] as silver, and search for [wisdom] as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding…” (Proverbs 2:4-6 NKJV)

    Let’s be thankful to God that He made His will available to us! Let’s be filled with gratitude that He prepared it, preserved it, and provides it to us so we can know Him! Let’s determine to show full and proper appreciation by reading and studying His word, the Bible, to gain a better understanding of who He is and to learn and meditate on everything He has done, continues to do, and promises yet to do, so we can flourish even more in knowledge - in its highest sense - of our Most Holy God and loving Father!

You can do it! So can I!! 

Sing and Make Melody - Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart

    This week let's think on a simple song of praise:

"Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart"

(written by Henry Smith, 1978)

Give thanks with a grateful heart;

Give thanks to the Holy One;

Give thanks because He's given

Jesus Christ, His Son.

(Repeat)

And now let the weak say, "I am strong",

Let the poor say, "I am rich",

Because of what the Lord has done for us.

And now let the sick say, "I am whole",

Let the bound say, "I am free",

Because of what the Lord has done for us.

Give thanks (give thanks),

give thanks (give thanks),

give thanks!

    A simple song that reminds us of a vitally important part of our daily life - giving of thanks to the Lord.

    There are 33 verses throughout the Bible that include the term "give thanks." In Psalm 107 alone, it shows up 5 times in this way: "Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men." In every case, the thanks is directed to the Lord.

"Now let the weak say, "I am strong""

    Paul recounts his pleading three times to the Lord for a "thorn in the flesh" to be removed, in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. Jesus answered Paul in this way, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

    How does Paul respond to this? "Therefore most gladly, I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak then am I strong." (NKJV)

    When we wholly lean on God in our physical troubles, He shows us His strength and upholds us and helps us. He makes us strong and able to endure!

"Let the poor say, "I am rich""

    James instructs us to not show partiality toward people. In Chapter 2, verse 5 he reminds, "Listen, my beloved brethren; has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom of heaven which He promised to those who love Him?"

"Let the sick say, "I am whole""

    Similar to the account of Paul and his physical ailment, we need to be able to look past the temporary and see the big picture. If you are a Christian, a child of God, you are whole. God has made you whole - spiritually. Your body may fail, but it is only a tent/jar/vessel for your soul. Focus on keeping your soul healthy and whole by reading, studying, and applying God's word and being thankful to Him for the hope we have through Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10)!

"Let the bound say, "I am free""

    "For you are all sons of God though faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26-29) This neutralizes/does away with every "class" the world has ever created to categorize/separate people - religious, social, and gender. God sees His children. He has told us to see fellow Christians as brothers and sisters. Equal. Joint heirs (Romans 8:16-17).

    All of these statements can be boldly declared because the Lord has provided us with strength (Ephesians 6:10-18), riches (Colossians 2:2-3, Ephesians 2:6-7), wholeness (1 Timothy 3:16-17, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 3 John 2), and freedom (Acts 2:38, Romans 6, Galatians 5:22-23, "against such there is no law")!

"The LORD has done great things for us, and we are glad." 
(Psalm 126:3 NKJV)

    I encourage you to give thanks to the Lord this week - in abundance! He has blessed us with so much, let's show appreciation for it!

"The LORD is my strength and my shield;

my heart safely trusted in Him, and I am helped;

Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,

and with my song I will praise Him."

(Psalm 28:7 NKJV)

    Fill your heart up with praise and thanksgiving and join in singing with understanding!

You can do it! So can I!! 

Link to hymn:

"But God Has Chosen the Foolish Things..." (Part 1)

“For you see your calling brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the mighty…” (1 Corinthians 1:26-27 NKJV)

    I love these verses because it states that all can find/access God. We don’t have to worry about whether we were born with great knowledge and wisdom, or had wealth with which we could readily attain these through higher education. We needn’t concern ourselves with class or caste systems where birth locks us into a societal category of standing. We don’t have to work ourselves to death in the gym to gain might and strength. No, because God chose simple things so that we would glory in Him – His wisdom, His majesty, His power and might – and not glory in ourselves.

“Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, not let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness in the earth. For in these I delight,“ says the LORD.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24 NKJV)    

    God made mankind so that we might seek Him and find Him (Acts 17:26-27). He calls us through the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14) out of the darkness of sin and into His marvelous light (Acts 26:17-18, 1 Peter 2:9). The gospel was preached by simple men: fishermen, tentmakers, tax collectors. It was recorded and preserved on papyrus and it is now in something completely common, accessible, and simple: a book – the Bible – most every household may already have one. Side Note: Consider that the New King James Bible is written at about a Grade 7 reading level, making it accessible for reading and comprehension for most everyone aged 12 years and older.

    Our responsibility is simply to submit to His Word and way. To read/listen/hear the gospel message (Romans 10:17), to believe it, and to humbly obey God’s instructions (Mark 16:15-16, Acts 2:38, James 1:25) all the days of our life (Matthew 10:22, Revelation 2:10)!

    If the Lord wills, next week we will look closer at the “lowly” things God has chosen and how through them He has provided us all access to hope through Jesus, His Son!!

 

The Blessings Found in Fearing the Lord

“The LORD is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works. The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will hear their cry and save them.” (Psalm 145:17-19 NKJV)

     In fearing the Lord – reverencing Him as Almighty and fearfully respecting Him by obeying His commands – we can attain true knowledge, true wisdom, and spiritual understanding that shows us the path to Life. On that path we will find freedoms (Galatians 5:22-23, “against such there is no law”) as well as boundaries, both of these God has lovingly provided so that we can do good works and avoid the snares of the devil.  When we respect God as Creator and Sustainer of all, put our trust in Him, and begin to rely wholly on Him, we will discover the wonderful refuge that is our God, a shelter in the time of storm and the only place where all help and blessings are found! 

     God desires that you fear Him, fully understanding who He is and who you are before Him. He created mankind to seek Him and find Him (Acts 17:26-17). He preserved His word over all these centuries so that you could read/hear His Truth. Please fear God enough that you seek out HIS word, HIS truth, stop allowing yourself to be satisfied with man’s interpretation of His word (Matthew 15:9, 2 Timothy 4:3-4)! If your church adds anything to, or takes anything away from, God’s word, it is no longer God’s word – and that is a dangerous position to side with (Revelation 22:18-19) – respect God enough to find a church that teaches and adheres to His pure truth! There you will find people who take refuge in God and declare thanksgiving to Him during troubles and in times of joy, fully appreciating His loving care in their lives each day!! Those who fear God will be nourished and strengthened by His word (John 15:4-5, 1 Peter 2:2), they will be abundantly satisfied with His blessings of every good thing (Colossians 2:3, Ephesians 1:3-14, Psalm 68:19)! It is worth every effort and every sacrifice!

"Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.” (Psalm 34:9-10 NKJV)  

 

You can do it! So can I!! 

From wherever you are right now – BEGIN!  

The Fear of the Lord is a Fountain of Life

“The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snare of death.” (Proverbs 14:27 NKJV)

    During our study so far we have found that fearing the Lord means revering Him in both awe and trepidation of His power, might, and majesty. Having a wholesome fear of God is the first step in gaining true knowledge, wisdom and understanding. When we properly fear God we will see that He has provided all we need to be pleasing to Him and we will obey His instructions with determination and gratitude.

    Today, let’s consider that the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life. The very image of that statement is appealing and refreshing, isn’t it? When we fear the Lord, humbly submit to Him and obey Him, we have access to an unending spring of sustenance – WOW! How amazing is that! – in God’s word we learn of the path that leads to eternal life and with that we find guidance, strength, encouragement, and hope to help us as we journey on that path! We discover that God provides for our daily physical needs (Matthew 6:25-34), our daily spiritual needs (John 3:16-21, Hebrews 4:16, 1 John 1:9), and loads us with abundant daily blessings (Psalm 68:19)!

    God provides this continual spring of sustenance, this refuge from the sinful ways of the world, a place where we can gain knowledge and wisdom, so that we may avoid the bait and lures of the devil, seeing them for what they really are we can resist them (James 4:7). The snares of the devil lead to spiritual death, and he will use every trick in the book to gain our attention and interest: anger/revenge, lust/sex, jealousy, greed, pride, apathy, the list goes on and on.

    The devil deceives us with lies that lead to death. His deception decays our life now and condemns us to everlasting destruction later. Everything he does is for our harm and downfall; he baits us with lures that when chased will draw us to the depths of despair, but what God provides is LIFE, life through His Son, a better life now, and eternal life later!! Everything God gives by way of instructions for what we need to be doing and by way of boundaries to keep us from things we should avoid – all of His doing is always for our good! God provides all the help we need to grow, develop, and succeed!

    Are you desiring refreshment and revitalization? Seek God, submit to Him and His way, approach Him with fear and trembling and awe-filled adoration and gain access to His abundant provision of sustenance!! Let the knowledge and understanding you gain help you avoid the lures and temptations of the devil. Humbly obeying God’s way will keep you away from the snares of death!! It is worth every effort and every sacrifice!!

You can do it! So can I!!

Understand The LORD So You Can Properly Fear Him

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, 
and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” 
(Proverbs 9:10 NKJV)

    Let’s break this verse down in as simplified a way as possible, beginning with the second statement.

    Knowledge of the Holy One, God – according to the Hebrew, this is the highest form of knowledge one can attain – this knowledge will lead to understanding Him because He does not change (Psalm 33:11, James 1:7); the God of Old Testament times is the same God we see in the New Testament scriptures, and the same God we serve today. The more we know of Him, the more we understand of His love for mankind, His faithfulness, His grace, His mercy, His power, and His majesty.

    Understanding God will lead us to fear Him – be in reverent awe of His all-powerful ways – at least it should, that is choice we all have to make when we learn of God and begin to understand Him: do we submit to His way or do we refuse to submit and walk away?

    Fearfully submitting to God, knowing that He has provided all the instruction we need to walk worthy of Him and be fully pleasing to Him (take time to think on Colossians 1:9-11), and knowing that He will bring us all into judgment one day (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14), is the first necessary step in gaining wisdom.

Knowing God ---> Understanding God ---> Fearing God ---> Wisdom from God (James 1:5-6, 3:13-18)

    Which would you rather: Worldly wisdom that elevates you for temporary reward or wisdom from above that elevates God and comes with eternal reward? If you desire knowledge, understanding, and wisdom, your very first and needed step is to reverently seek God and His way, He will provide all you need to attain these things and more!!

From wherever you are right now - BEGIN!!

    

Learning to Fear the LORD is the Best Place to Begin

    It’s hard to admit that we don’t know something, isn’t it? We would like to be regarded as wise and learned having something to offer others by way of information or advice. We read newspapers, webpages, and self-help books, we may watch the news and all the current TED talks; we even save up money to send our children to college/university because we want them to be educated and have “a good start in life.”

    There is nothing wrong with any of these pursuits as long as first and foremost we learn to fear God and we teach our children to also fear the Lord (consider Deuteronomy 31:12-13, Psalm 78:4-7)!

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have those who do His commandments.” (Psalm 111:10 NKJV)

    The proverbs declare that fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7, read vv28-32 to see their result) and that the fear of the Lord is the very first – and necessary – step in attaining knowledge and gaining wisdom.

    How do we fear the Lord and attain knowledge?

    We need to humble ourselves before Him and acknowledge that everything we see – everything we need in order to exist – was brought about through God’s wisdom, knowledge, and understanding – EVERYTHING (Genesis 1, Proverbs 3:19-20)! God did all this so that we might seek Him (Acts 17:24-27), fear Him (Psalm 33:8) and tell our children of His wondrous ways (Deuteronomy 4:10, Psalm 145:1-7, 10-13)!

    We also need to acknowledge that although there are many pathways that have been devised by man through the centuries, that there is only ONE path that leads us toward God (Matthew 7:13-14) and access to that one pathway is found only in His Word (John 8:31-32, 14:6)! Compare what you are being taught at church services to what is found in the Bible. Are things being left out? Are things being added? Divergences from the path is no longer the path!  

    Obedience to God’s commands will give you good understanding. For example, there are promised blessings that can only be received through obedience of His commands. Consider the command found in Philippians 4:6-7, ‘Be anxious for nothing, instead pray and be thankful,' the blessing from obeying is that ‘you will receive the peace of God that surpasses all understanding and it will guard your heart and mind through Jesus.’

    When we obey and see the result we will gain understanding of God’s wisdom, His faithfulness, and His love; we will grow to respect and trust Him more, leading us toward greater wisdom and greater understanding as we grow and develop our faith in obedience to Him!

    The very best start you can give yourself is to humble yourself and fear God enough to seek HIM, through HIS word and in obedience to HIS way and in doing so gain wisdom and good understanding, teaching your children through word and example to do the same! Gain the type of wisdom that will be valuable to all generations!

“The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom and before honour is humility.” (Proverbs 15:33 NKJV)

From wherever you are right now – BEGIN!

Fix It So You Can Flourish: Are You Repaying Evil or Regarding Good?

    I've been thinking a lot lately on Romans 12. It's a great chapter, jam-packed with great instructions and so much information to meditate on! This week in our "Fix It So You Can Flourish' series, I would like you to consider Romans 12:17-18:

"Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men." (NKJV)

    Have you heard this before: "Don't sink to their level."  This phrase (which I heard often growing up) always brought an image to my mind of people standing in thick, slimy mud - the more upset they got, the more they struggled, the further they would sink into the mud.

    It's a simple statement that restates the biblical admonition we find in Romans 12:17 - "repay no one evil for evil." It's an instruction telling us to not 'follow suit.' Do not sling the mud back at the mud-slinger.

    God requires us to be different (Romans 12:2). He desires for us to choose His way - a path different from the common heavily traveled one we find in the world. How do we walk on this good pathway? By having regard for good things in the sight of all men!

    God does not want us wasting our mental energies on retaliation plans (Micah 2:1) or thinking up the perfect thing to say that 'would put them in their place.' God does not want us abusing our verbal skills by uttering hurtful/harmful/hateful words (Ephesians 4:29-32, Titus 3:2, James 3:9-10). Instead, God wants us to hone our skills in thinking on and speaking up with suggestions that provide good in all situations.

    Rather than adding to the negativity of any situation (our own or that of others), God wants us to offer a suggestion that will bring resolution and peace. God does not want us to be part of the problem, He wants us to be part of the solution!

"If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men."

    Plain and simple - If it is possible live peaceably with all men. The important bit is the 'as much as depends on you.' All interaction is akin to a tennis match - a game of back and forth. When you have a negative, hurtful interaction and the 'ball' is in your court ("as much as depends on you" - your response is a big factor in how the game will play out!) you have the choice to either hit back with the same behaviour/words that are hurting you (repay evil for evil) OR provide good to the situation by responding with grace, mercy, and kindness -     

    Romans 12 finishes with a clear instruction in verse 21:

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

    So from this day onward, provide good. Build your skills in peacemaking and use your mental prowess to develop good suggestions that could make for peace. And as much as it depends on you, step skillfully and carefully out of the mud puddle and help your companion out of it too!

    Leave the rest up to God. Go to Him in prayer, ask for wisdom (James 1:5). He will help you if you desire to obey His instructions. God is AWESOME like that!! :)

    If you have been in the habit of repaying evil for evil - or simply dwelling on imaginary scenarios that revolve around such - please consider the instructions in Romans 12 and fix it so you can flourish! Read, study, and pray to better appreciate the grace and mercy God continues to extend to you each day, so that you can extend it, yourself, more willingly to others! Grace and mercy enables good solutions to flourish and good solutions bring glory to God (Matthew 5:16, Titus 3:8)! Are you ready to flourish in your regard for good?

You can do it! So can I!!

Fix It So You Can Flourish: Do You Wear the Armour of God?

    As we continue our series in taking a close and honest look at passages so we can make be sure we are doing what God has commanded, let's take time this week to consider Ephesians 6:11-18:

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints..."  (NKJV)

    Do you wear the whole armour? Are you familiar with each piece and know how it protects you? God wants us to put on the "whole armour" He has given us. Why? Does God want us to be burdened? Not at all! He wants us to put on His whole armor so that we "may stand against the wiles of the devil" and "withstand in the evil day".

    Let's take a closer look at God's armor and better understand the benefits of putting it on each day:   

• Your heart is protected when you put on the breastplate of righteousness (living right before God, 1 John 2:28-3:8)
• The very core of your being is guarded when you wrap your waist with truth (2 Timothy 2:15, John 8:31-32; 14:6)
• Your walk is secured with the preparation of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 2:14-18; 4:1-3)
• You are shielded with faith and able to extinguish the devil's attempts to harm you (Ephesians 6:16, 1 Peter 5:8-9, 1 John 5:4-5)
• Your mind is safeguarded with the helmet of salvation, as you meditate on God's glorious grace and His abundant blessings while pressing toward the goal. Meditating on these things also allows you readiness to talk about your hope through Jesus (Titus 2:11-14, Philippians 3:12-15, 1 Peter 3:15)
• You can defend yourself with God's word, the sword of the Spirit. When you study God's word and wholly obey it, you will do all that is good and profitable and no one will be able to bring an accusation against you (1 Peter 2:11-12; 3:15-17) 

    Put these pieces of armor each and every day you are blessed with! Prove them and test them by using them! Know how they work, learn how they can help you!

    Now, when you wake each day and put on every piece, pray! "Praying always with all prayers and supplication in the Spirit (according to God's word) being watchful to this end with all perseverance (constant determination) and supplication (asking for supplies/needs/help) for all the saints." Pray not only for your own strength to stand and withstand but also for your fellow Christians strength to stand and withstand!! We're all in this together (Galatians 6:1-2)!

Prepare yourselves and bravely stand for Christ! It's worth every effort!!

You can do it! So can I!!

Walking in the Spirit: Faith, Hope, Love

 "For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness
by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision
avails anything, but faith working through love." (Galatians 5:5-6 NKJV)

    Last week we looked at the first mention of the vital trio: faith, hope, and love. Let's take some time to look at the next mention (as seen above) found in Galatians 5:5-6.

    It is beneficial to this study that you take the time to read the whole of Galatians 5 as the command to "walk in the Spirit" has as much to do with the beginning of the chapter as it does with the end of the chapter.

    Christians, those who follow Christ (1 John 2:6), are to "walk in the Spirit" so that "you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16). It is only when we are so walking by faith - trusting God and His way - that we can eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness!

    What is this 'hope of righteousness' that we can eagerly wait for? 

    It is the confidence and assurance of God's promised eternity with Him if we diligently seek to do what He has declared to be right (righteous).

    The apostle Paul was writing to the Galatian brethren who were struggling with their faith (under the New Covenant) because they were being told by others that they needed to become like Jews and keep the Jewish laws (Law of Moses, Old Covenant, see 1:6-10 and chapters 2-4).

    Paul declares to them that in Christ Jesus (the body of the Christ, the church, Ephesians 1:22-23), being circumcised in the flesh (Jewish custom from OT Law) or uncircumcised (often used to denote a Gentile, anyone from outside) doesn't matter; what now matters is faith working through love. 

    We, as Christians, have conviction that there are certain things that are proper for a Christian to do and we do these because we love God first and foremost, and because we love mankind and our fellow brethren. We honour God through obedience and exhibit a good example to those who may observe us (Romans 12:1-2, 1 Timothy 4:12-13, 15-16, Matthew 5:14-16). 

    Faith leads us to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26). The fruit of the Spirit is developed in us when our faith works through love. When we have faith working through love we will diligently seek God and do what God has commanded us to do (and avoid what He has told us to avoid) and we can build confident hope/assurance that we are right and pleasing in His sight!

"But 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 diligently seek Him."
(Hebrews 11:6 NKJV)  

    Are you flourishing in faith, walking every day in the Spirit, because you love God and those around you?  Do you have hope and confidence because you are doing what God has declared to be righteous? If you do, then keep going, keep doing His what He has commanded - live in faith with love and hope!! It is worth every effort to do just that!!

You can do it! So can I!! 

Preparing to Walk in Peace

    Who among us doesn’t like shoes?

    It’s stereotypical for women to like shoes, but we do! We like to be prepared for any occasion with the right pair of shoes! Whenever I am about to travel or make a public presentation, my mind always generates this recurring dream in which I get to my destination and find I only have one shoe and I fall into panic mode... whether that means I’m shoe obsessed or simply unsure of my packing capabilities, I don’t know, all I know for sure is that “missing a shoe” and not being fully prepared is fearful to me!

    God, in His great wisdom and love for us, gives us all we need to be prepared – including shoes!

“…having shod your feet with the 

preparation of the gospel of peace…” 

(Ephesians 6:15 NKJV)

    I have found that this is not a part of the armour that is often talked about, so I want to learn more about this shoes that God has prepared for His people to wear!

    “Preparation” (Strong’s G2091) means foundation, firm footing, readiness. By this we know that God has provided something that we can wear confidently! These shoes have a sturdy, gripping base that won’t let us down! We can stand for as long as it takes (Ephesians 6:11, 13)! We can go through valleys (2 Corinthians 12:9-10), we can climb mountains (Psalm 18:31-33), we are ready!

    The “gospel” (Strong’s G2098) is ‘the good news of Jesus Christ.’ “Peace” (Strong’s G1515) means ‘one, quietness, peace of mind.’ It carries with it the idea of ‘to join, tie together in a whole, wholeness when all essential parts of joined together.’  God is essential. You are essential. You coming to God through Jesus Christ is essential (John 14:6, Romans 6:1-13)! Put them all together and you have peace, being joined with God! You maintain that peace by continuing to learn and grow and humbly obeying God’s commands (Psalm 37:37)!!

    The “gospel of peace” specifically in Ephesians 6:15 expresses ‘the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lots, of whatsoever lot that is.”

    When we live this way, in peace with God, standing on the firm footing of faith, others will notice the difference! And when they do, we are PREPARED and READY to help them to pursue the same peace, by telling them how we came to have it, by sharing with them the GOSPEL OF PEACE!

“…Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, 
and always be ready to give a defense 
to everyone who asks the reason for the hope 
that is in you, with meekness and fear.” 
(1 Peter 3:15 NKJV)   

    Shoes that remind us of all our blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14) and makes us ready and prepared for the occasion when someone asks about our hope? Well, those are without a doubt the best pair of shoes we could ever put on!!

    Are you wearing the shoes God has provided? Are you prepared to share the gospel of peace with others? Let’s remember to put these shoes on daily (along with the rest of God’s armour, Ephesians 6:10-18) as we continue to pursue peace each day!!

You can do it! So can I!!

Follow Jesus and Flourish

"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honour." (John 12:24-26 NKJV)

    Over the course of this year's study - Be More Like the Son in 2021 - we have found that in order to flourish we must let go. Let go of our own notions and ideas and dig into God's word for the truth, let go of our stubborn independence and submit to God and His wisdom and instruction, let go of our selfish desires and live lives that are pure and holy and helpful to others. 

    Like the seed of grain we must have a willingness to be buried (in baptism, Romans 6), so that we, in full submission to God and His commands, can flourish and bear abundance of fruit! We must learn to hate our life in this world ('hate' meaning to love God more than the things in this life), and to look forward with earnest regard for life eternal with Him (2 Peter 3:10-18)!

    Jesus said, "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me..." Follow His steps (1 Peter 3:20-24), don't turn from the path He has created for us (Matthew 7:13-14, Hebrews 10:35-39, consider also Joshua 1:7), carefully learn His steps, His character, His care, and allow yourself to be conformed to His image (Romans 8:29-30) as you put His ways into daily practice!

    "If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honour."  Just reading that statement is thrilling, but it is a promise that God can/will/does fulfill! Read and think on passages like Romans 8:12-17 where we find that we, who are led by the Spirit (letting God's Word, the Bible, be our guide), are children of God "and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together" (v17) and also Ephesians 1:3-14 where we discover all the spiritual blessings we have when we are in Christ (in the church, His body, Ephesians 1:22-23)!

    Are you determined to Be More Like the Son in 2021? Are you willing to follow Jesus's steps?

You can do it! So can I!!

     

Jesus Didn't Seek Status, He Sought Souls - We Should Too!

    Jesus was often criticized for being "a friend to tax collectors and sinners" (Matthew 11:19) because the world often looks for greatness in status, rank, and popularity, but Jesus did not come to seek prestige - He sought prisoners, He did not seek rank - He sought rejects, He did not seek popularity, He sought plain men and women like you and I.

    Jesus went to the sick, so they could know the Great Physician (Matthew 9:10-12). He spoke to sinners, so they could hear of redemption (Matthew 9:13, Titus 2:14). He taught the lost so they could find the way home (Luke 19:10, Romans 6)!

     To be like Jesus we do not need to have a big house, we do not need to attain high levels of education, we do not need to have high-paying/high-status jobs or mingle with the rich and famous - we can do as He did wherever we are! We can tell our neighbours of God's greatness! We can educate ourselves in God's holy word simply by reading, obeying, and praying for understanding and wisdom! We can share the rich blessings we have received from God when we mingle with our friends, family, and co-workers!

    We need to be careful how much focus and attention we give to earthly pursuits! We need to look around us right now and see the souls that surround us. We can help those around us and those who come into our lives through our every day activities! 

    As a Mom I have a household of souls that I need to be looking to and teaching (and reinforcing my husband's spiritual instruction). My children's friends, their parents, their teachers are all naturally in my realm, as well as near neighbours, my own friends, the grocery cashier, the pharmacy clerk  - all souls in need of a Saviour!     

    Who is in your realm? How can you encourage them today? How can you turn their attention to God and His way? By being more like the Son in 2021!! By simply talking to them, telling them of God's love and care for them!!

You can do it! So can I!!

 

Jesus Knew The Scriptures - And We Should Too (Part 2)

     Jesus used His scripture knowledge to disarm the devil and nullify the temptations set before Him (Matthew 4:1-11). He truly exemplified Romans 12:21 in this encounter! In so doing He also teaches us how we too can avoid temptation: by putting our focus on God and keeping in mind our spiritual growth (Psalm 119:59-60, Colossians 3), by trusting God’s love and patience rather than testing them (Romans 6:14, 2 Peter 3:9), and dedicating ourselves wholly to Him, giving Him due honour and respect through proper worship (John 4:24).

    We need to be prepared to do what Jesus did – use Scriptures to counteract the devil’s lures – but also hear what these Scriptures teach – prioritize God and humbly honour and obey Him - so we are wise to temptations! Consider:

• Man should live by every word that proceeds from God's mouth. Prioritize the spiritual over the physical (Matthew 5:6, John 4:31-34; 51, 57) 
• You should not tempt/test God. Use your time in proving God's wisdom through humble obedience, don't waste your time trying to disprove or question God (His existence, nor His commands) through man-made doubts and theories (Deuteronomy 6:16, Exodus 17:2, 7)
• Worship God and serve only God.  Give your time and devotion to your holy Creator not anything created by men (consider Matthew 6:19-21; 24, 33, 1 Timothy 6:3-10; 17-19)

    Those who work in identifying counterfeit currency do not study every aspect of the counterfeits, they study the authentic! They know the genuine article so well that they can spot deceptions and discrepancies quickly.

    The devil is a master counterfeiter. He tries to pass off his lies as truth so we need to know the genuine article – we need to know the Truth (John 8:31-32), not a man-made version of it (Matthew 15:8-9), not a hearsay version of it (Matthew 7:21-23) – we need to read God’s Word, the Bible (Psalm 119:160, John 17:17); we need to know it so we can understand it, and use the knowledge we have gained from it to be wise to the devil’s lies and resist him (James 4:7, Hebrews 5:14)  

    Jesus knew the authentic – Jesus was the authentic! – but we can be like Him by diligently studying God’s word, to understand Him better, so we can worship and serve Him more accurately and mindfully! So that we can know the Truth and not be lured away by the lie!

    To Be More Like the Son in 2021 let’s do all we can to increase our Bible knowledge!

    From wherever you are right now - BEGIN! 

Helpful Links

Bible Reading Plans:

• Classic Read-through-the-Bible (365 days, find it here)
• Read through the New Testament (90 days, find it here)
• Read Old and New Testament (365 days, find it here)
• Stay on Track Plan (364 day, weekday only, weekends can be used to catch up, find it here)
• The Busy Life – 2 year Read-through-the-Bible Plan (find it here)
  

Note: Six years ago, I followed the classic plan (at top of list), the next year I followed a chronological reading plan (find it here). I felt well-established in my new daily habit by that time so for the past four years I have made up my own daily reading plan  (one chapter from Old Testament and one chapter from New Testament) that allows me to read through sections of the Old Testament and the complete New Testament 3-4 times in a year.

Find one that works for you so you can get into God’s word every day! Do your best to create new reading habits - it is well worth your time and effort!! You can do it! So can I!!