The Private Walk

 “I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.” (Psalms 101:2)

David’s resolution to behave himself wisely not only included how he would conduct himself in the throne but how he would walk in the privacy of his own home. True christianity and holiness is not just what is displayed in public but what is lived at home. The man after God’s own heart determined to walk wisely within his home, in a perfect way and with a perfect heart.

Beloved, the measure of our christianity is not how we behave in public but how we conduct ourselves in our home. The real man of God is revealed in the living room, the dining room, the kitchen and in the garage. The real man of God is the one in front of the tv or the one behind the computer screen. Our phones and devices tell of our purity. Our music speaks of our holiness. Our words and secrets expose our heart.

The real man of God is not the one our peers know, it is the one that our family knows. Our faith is not what we proclaim at church, our faith is what we demonstrate at home. If the walls of our homes could speak what would be their testimony?

Hypocrisy is the great troubler of the home! The best kind of Christian is the one that determines to walk wisely with the Lord both publicly and privately. Friend, commit to walk today within your home with a perfect heart.

Your Father Knoweth

 

“For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.” (Luke 12:30)

Growing up, I never had to ask my parents to feed me or clothe me, they daily did those things for me. Oh, There were times I may have asked for certain foods, treats, or types of clothing but my parents were aware of my needs and though many of my wants went unanswered; they provided my necessities. As a child my priority was never providing myself with food or clothing, it was obedience. 

As the Creator of heaven and earth, God abundantly feeds the ravens and He gloriously adorns the lilies of the field. He may be the caretaker of birds and flowers but He is much more for the believer; He is their Father. How much more important to the Father are His children than birds and flowers! Child of God, the Father knows your necessities and He delights in PROVIDING them for you. 

As Child of the Heavenly Father, our main priority is never seeking after food and clothing, the Father has promised to provide them. Our main PRIORITY is to live in the will of the Father and obey Him. The child that is walking with the Father is never too far from the Father’s table. 

Child of God, the Heavenly Father has more for you than food and clothing. Those are the least of His provisions. It is His PLEASURE to give you the Kingdom of Heaven. Don’t make your life about the things that are soon spoiled and thrown away. Have faith in God and live your life for what is Eternal!

SEEK THE FATHER FIRST!

I Did It My Way

 “And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!” (Proverbs 5:12-13)

Reading a chapter in the book of Proverbs is a good way to start your day! It is a spiritual x-ray of the heart revealing whether you are being foolish or whether you are being wise. It is a productive spiritual self-examination! 

In the father’s lesson to his son concerning  the dangers of strange women, we are reminded of the danger and consequences of being UNTEACHABLE. OH, the tragedies and heart aches that could have been avoided if only we had a teachable spirit!

Here are the warning signs of having an “unteachable spirit”:

1) When you hate instruction. Instructions of any kind, from anyone are an irritation. Your response is “I know” while thinking, “I wish they would mind their own business.”

2) When you despise reproof. You hate being told you are wrong. Not because you are striving to do right but because in your mind you are always right. 

3) When you refuse to obey any authority. Your belief or opinion is your highest authority. 

4) When you never listen to or ask for advice. You have no desire to hear the advice of others. What could they possible teach you?

The consequences of being unteachable: The bitter groaning of “I wish I would have listened!”

“And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,” (Proverbs 5:11)

Don’t forget to examine yourself!

Keeping Your Word

“In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.” (Psalms 15:4)

In verse 1, The question is asked, “LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?” This is a question that every man should ponder. The LORD is altogether righteous and holy and who is the man that is able to fellowship and communion with Him? The question is proposed and then it is answered in the next four verses by describing the character and integrity of a godly man. 

Verse four describes the man that is walking in sweet fellowship with the LORD as a man of his word. “...He sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.” He is an honest man because of his desire to fellowship with the LORD and he is an honest man due to his fellowship with the LORD. As a result of his walk with the LORD he would rather have a good name at cost than great riches by a lie.

The ungodly lie and break their word in hopes of profit and personal benefit but not the man that walks with God. His yea is yea and his nay is nay. He is honest in all his relationships even when it comes with a price of personal loss. The child of God is honest because his Heavenly Father is honest.

The child of God would rather keep his word to his “own hurt” and continue to have fellowship with the LORD than to lie for his own benefit and forfeit that sweet communion.

“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;” (Colossians 3:9)

With God All Things Are Possible

“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

There was a day a young man came to Jesus asking him, what was the one good thing that he could do to obtain eternal life. In order to prove this was impossible, The Lord responded, keep the commandments. Rather than responding, be merciful to me a sinner, the young declared, I have keep them all from my youth, what could I possibly then be lacking? He was self-righteous.

Jesus takes another step to reveal the man’s true condition and need of a Saviour. He tells the young man, go and sell all that you own and give to the poor, and in doing so you will lay up treasure in Heaven. The young man turned away from Jesus, no longer interested in obtaining eternal life. He was very rich.

Jesus begins to explain to His disciples the difficulty of a self-righteous, rich man entering into the kingdom of Heaven...It is easier
for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. The puzzled disciples asked the question, “Who then can be saved?”

I am grateful for the Lord’s reply, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

Brethren, we may label that acquaintance, that friend, that relative as a “impossible case”, and think to ourselves, they will never get saved. Look up my brother! There is nothing to hard for God! With God ALL things are possible!

Good Ground

 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.” (Luke 8:11) ...But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:15)

In the parable of the Sower, the Sower sowed seed and the seed fell on different types of ground. Some fell by the way side, some fell upon stony places, some fell among thorns, and some fell into good ground. The ability to produce fruit was not determined by the seed; for the seed was perfect and powerful. The ability of the seed to produce fruit was determined by condition of the ground and whether the seed was by the way, upon, among, or into the ground. The seed is the Word of God and it is perfect and powerful and the many types of ground represents the many hearts of man.

The production of fruit is the result of the good seed falling INTO GOOD ground. The good ground is a heart that is upright and tender. It is the heart that receives the Word; the seed is in the heart where it cannot be snatched away. It is in the place where it is not scorched by tribulation or trouble and it is in the place where it cannot be choked by worldly cares. The good heart obeys the Word with all patience and longsuffering. The result is FRUIT. The Word of God in us doing the Will of God through us! 

Spiritual fruit is not determined by who and what is happening around you; spiritual fruit is determined by the Word of God happening IN you.

Oh That Men Would Praise the LORD!

“Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalms 107:8)

This Psalm begins with the exhortation for the redeemed of the LORD to give thanks unto the Him, for His eternal benevolence and His enduring mercy. The Psalmist then repeats the above verse 4 times throughout the chapter. Proclaiming the LORD is good in all that He does. He has blessed fallen man with His wonderful works and He alone is worthy of praise!

The verses following each repetition offer us some wonderful insight!

Vs. 9, Praise the Lord for Salvation! Every confessing and repentant heart that calls upon Him, He saves and makes righteous. 

Vs. 16, Praise the Lord for Deliverance! The redeemed are not only saved from their sins, but they are also delivered from their sins. Jesus Christ tore the bars away!

Vs. 22, Praise the Lord with Humility! The redeemed are to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and declare His works with rejoicing. This is an offering that exalts the Lord over self and the spirit over the flesh. It is an offering that confesses, I am what I am by the grace of God. 

Vs. 32, Praise the Lord Publicly! The redeemed of the Lord are never ashamed of the testimony of the Lord. His name is written in their hearts and proclaimed from their lips. It is in the heart of the redeemed to assemble with the LORD’s people and to exalt His name together! 

Let the Redeemed of the Lord say so!

Thou Doest Faithfully

 “Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;” (3 John 1:5)

As our oldest son grew, he was required to wear corrective braces on his legs. The braces helped to support his legs and correct his walk. Without them he would be in a wheelchair. 

In this epistle written by John, Gaius is called a wellbeloved brother and fellow believer in the Lord. He has a wonderful testimony of believing the TRUTH and walking in the TRUTH. Like my son’s braces, the TRUTH strengthened his stand and corrected his walk.

What was the proof?

Vs. 4, Gaius walked according to the Word of God.

Vs. 5, Gaius served faithfully in the Church of God.

Vs. 6, Gaius gave cheerfully to support the people and the work of God.

Anyone could observe the difference it made when our son wore his braces and quite honestly it was much easier on his mother and I when he did. There is an obvious and tremendous difference when a man puts on Christ! He believes the truth and he walks in the truth. 

The truth has the same results in the believer as it did in Gaius. A faithful life of personal holiness, a faithful life of serving God with others, and a faithful life of giving for the ministry. Like Gaius, every man wearing TRUTH becomes a beloved brother and a fellow helper.

Do you have your “braces” on?

Without them you become a Diothrephes. (Vs. 9)

Walking in the Dark

 “He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.” (1 John 2:10-11)

Once as a child, I awoke in the night and in my half-state of slumber and in the darkness of my room I could find neither the light switch or the door. I remember beginning to panic as I stumbled around the room; lost in a place that I knew so well. My father heard the commotion and simply reached in through the doorway and guided me out. I had become confused in the dark. 

The Scripture states that a man “abides” either in the light or he is in the darkness. What is it that determines where a man abides? It is not what he says, his intellect, his prosperity, or his position. The determining factor is love and hate.

A man that loves his brother walks in the light and is in less danger of stumbling. For the path ahead is clearly illuminated before him. He is assured of the way and is confident in his steps. In the light he enjoys fellowship with the Father and the Father’s children. 

A man that hates his brother has many occasions for stumbling. He is in great danger of falling. Hatred has confused his direction and bitterness has blinded his eyes. He simply does not know where he is going.

It is the Father that reaches into the darkness and leads the stumbling brother into the light. As the confused man yields to the Father’s hand, he will find himself loving more and hating less.

I Thought Wrong

“These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.” (Psalms 50:21)

Today, Psalm 50 captivated my attention and I was compelled to read it again and again. Verse 1 begins, “The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken...(vs.7), Hear, O my people, and I will speak.”

God testifies against His people and gives a list of their offenses. He rebukes them for their hypocrisy, their neglect of God’s Word, and their participation in wickedness. They are warned of His judgment unless they repent.

Among the many offenses listed there is one that stands out. The great error of God’s people is they thought wrong, “thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thyself.” They had the audacity to think, God is like me! God likes what I like. God loves who I love. God hates who I hate. Whatever I do, that is what God would do. They misinterpreted God’s gracious silence for God’s participation. 

They thought wrong. 

This awful perversion of thinking corrupts the heart and mind of man. It is a cancerous pride that concludes, God is like me. Believer, God loves us but God is not
like us! Our thoughts are not God’s thoughts and our ways are not God’s ways. God’s thoughts and ways are higher than our thoughts and ways. To think for one minute that God is like me...is to think wrong.

God will never become like us but we are called to become like Him. It is only through His Word and the power of the Holy Spirit that we are conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.

How’s your thinking?

Daily Routines

 

DAILY

“Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.” (Proverbs 8:34)

Life is made up of daily routines and repetitions. There are some chores and activities that we do almost every day of our lives. Like a good habit they are done over and over again.

Some daily routines are our preferences and if they were missed for a day or two we would be hurt none the less for it. Some daily routines are essential and our health and well-being greatly depend on it. Daily routines like; eating a balanced meal, taking medications, or going for walk.

The children of Israel, while wondering in the wilderness for 40 years, had one such daily routine. They were required to daily gather manna or they didn’t eat. Their well-being depended on a daily routine. 

There is a daily routine required for man in order to be blessed. The Scripture says that it is to hear the Words of Wisdom. It is to daily watch at her gates and to daily wait at the posts of her doors for instruction.

The child of God longing for God’s blessings, dailyattends to God’s Holy Word. Daily the child of God approaches His throne anticipating His Word, waiting for His instruction. For His Word is like manna. It is essential for life and from it is found God’s favor.

Child of God never grow weary of daily devotions, they are an essential daily routine.

 

Destroy and Deliver

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2:14-15)

What is man that he should glory in his flesh? What is man that he should boast of his strength or wisdom? It is vanity to glory in flesh that is subject to bondage. It is arrogance to boast in flesh held captive by sin. This flesh is neither man’s glory or his strength. This sinful flesh is man’s captor and his condemnation. 

But the Word was made flesh. Jesus being made lower than the angels became a partaker of flesh and blood to deliver man from his captor and his condemnation. This MAN did not become a king of nations, he became a suffering Savior. 

The Word was made flesh to destroy. What generals would call a miserable failure became the greatest victory of all time! Jesus Christ in His death destroyed him that had the power of death. Satan’s doom is forever sealed. His resurrection declared that death had no more sting and the grave had no more victory. He holds in His nail-pierced hands the keys of hell and of death.

The Word was made flesh to deliver. Jesus Christ tasted death for every man that He might deliver every man from the bondage and condemnation of sinful flesh! All that are in bondage only need to turn to Him and believe! 

“He that believeth on HIM is not condemned...”

Set Apart

“But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.” (Psalms 4:3)

Hear the words of the Psalmist beloved, the LORD hath set you apart for Himself; your secret place is under His special protection. Satan assails you with his hatred and fiery darts of temptation but you hath the LORD set apart for himself. Ungodly men hate and despise you, they would turn your glory to shame but you are the LORD’s and He will hear you when you call. Stand in awe, and sin not for you are loved and protected by the Father. No enemy is able to pluck you out of His hand. 

The child of God is favored by the grace of God. Never think for a moment that you are forgotten or forsaken for the LORD hath set you apart for himself; you are under His special favor. You hath He chosen and made a royal priesthood, a holy nation and a peculiar people. You are His; purchased by the blood of His Son, separated to Him by faith, and sealed by the Holy Spirit, until the day of redemption. You are the LORD’s, commune with your own heart and rejoice, for you bear His image, and your name is engraved in His Book.

Believer, knowing that the LORD has set you apart for Himself changes everything. He has brought you into His presence, He has favored you with His graces, and He has made you to dwell in safety. Put your trust in Him and abandon your all upon His altar.