… Next Time Won’t You Sing With Me!

Ephesians 4:25-5:2

Children learn the ABC’s, for the purpose of developing an understanding of word formation, pronunciation and other grammatical concepts, they’ll find important as they mature in knowledge. At times, it’s difficult for a child to grasp certain concepts of learning, so teachers and parents develop methods to make learning fun. During my childhood years, I always enjoyed watching, The Letter People, during elementary school classes. This was a show, dedicated to helping children learn the ABC’s, by using music and small skits, to keep us interested. I’m not sure how the other children turned out from those experiences, but it worked wonders for me!

Learning is always fun, especially when it’s applied, and yields positive results. The same can also be said in reference to Bible learning. In the same way children take instruction from teachers, to grow in knowledge, Christians grow in grace, from studying the Scriptures. God’s Word holds the ABC’s of life, and all who meditate on it, day and night, will be better equipped to maneuver through this evil, and perverse world.

Our text lists a number of simple commands the apostle Paul admonished the Ephesian church to follow, that would assist them in maintaining righteous living. These include:

-put away lying
-speak only the truth with one another
-control your anger, and don’t hold grudges
-settle disagreements quickly
-NEVER give the devil an opportunity to influence you to sin
-don’t steal, GET A JOB!
-if possible, give to those in need
-let no corrupt communication proceed from your mouth
– speak words that edify, and make others better
– don’t disrespect the Holy Spirit by partaking in evil acts, instead appreciate Him for all He does for us
-put away malice, bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking
-be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to one another

Following these simple commands could prove extremely beneficial for babes in Christ, and seasoned Saints alike. No one ever “arrives”, or reaches their peak in godliness, instead, we continue to grow daily, and develop in our spiritual maturity. “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children”, and never forget the importance of the Bible ABC’s.

Walk in love,

Ell

Money Can’t Buy Love

2 Corinthians 2:5-11

The love that God offers, in comparison to what men teach, are on two totally different levels. Where the culmination of how men define love is comprised in a certain day (Valentine’s), God introduced His definition of love, by giving up what was most precious to Himself. While it’s nice to treat a significant other to things like sweets, flowers, and even time away from the norm, true love is defined by sacrifice.

Many get married for the purpose of love, yet they lack the understanding of what it truly represents. God sent Jesus to the earth, in love, to unite all men back unto Himself. God also instituted marriage between a man and woman, so that the same love He imparted into His creation, could join in a combined love, where He could get greater glory from their union. Love is more than feelings, and emotions; it involves all things exhibited in the character of Christ. This same love that’s to be practiced between a husband and wife, is developed over time. The more each person grows in their knowledge and understanding of godliness, coupled with learning each other, the better their union should be, in the long run.

Do you ever wonder why marriages aren’t lasting as long as they did in the past? Well, there are many reasons why divorce rates have skyrocketed, but one of importance is, the abuse of the word love. When God says He loves us, He means it, but many often use the term loosely, which causes it to gradually lose its value. Love is action, and when there’s no evidence of what is spoken, trust and all other virtues begin to fade away. These are reasons why it’s imperative that we understand love more from God’s perspective, rather than what’s promoted through the media. This world has painted a rather deceiving picture of what love represents, by flashing expensive jewelry, perfumes and colognes, and other items on TV, in order to gain riches, for love’s sake, but real love doesn’t cost a thing! It’s proven not only in words alone, but in consistent acts of sacrifice, selflessness, commitment, trust, and all those things Christ taught while in the earth.

Walk in love,

Ell

Forgiveness Is Key

Luke 17:1-4

In our lesson today, Jesus brought to light, something of extreme importance to His disciples, that could also prove valuable to all believers today. In His own words, Jesus said, “It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!” (vs. 1). This is quite interesting, because Jesus understood, despite being joined with Himself, there will ALWAYS be those who will place impediments in the way of believers, to cause them to stumble, or fall.

While it’s no surprise when an enemy of the Gospel attempts to block the paths of the righteous, it’s extremely disheartening when a fellow believer commits heinous acts against their own. How sad it is, knowing the world already hates you (as it did Jesus), then to discover, those whom you expected to fight alongside you, attacked you more than your enemies. That’s just wrong on all levels, but if you think that’s high on God’s naughty list, Jesus added, “It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones”. (vs. 2). When men block little children from growing in the knowledge of God, it would be better for them, and the world, if they would just die, and leave the earth. That’s intense, but I get it. I don’t enjoy hearing about anyone dying, nor experiencing pain, but when you hinder a child from learning the truth about God’s Word, or distract your brother or sister from maturing in the faith, you deserve nothing but the worst punishment (unless you repent wholeheartedly, and change your behavior… yeah, I’m all about that “forgiving” life).

Jesus desired unity among the body of believers, and stressed the importance of forgiving those who admit their mistakes, and seek to return to right standing among the brethren. These days, it’s obvious to tell when a person is sincere in their apology, or if they’re just talking out of their “bleep bleep”, because their actions, following their confession, will reveal what’s really in their heart. As Jesus did with His disciples, I also advise all who abide in God, to take heed, that they keep forgiveness readily available to all who seek it, but to also guard children, and fellow believers, against men who seek only to block their path to God’s glory.

Walk in love,

Ell

Don’t Tempt Me!

James 1:12-15

Of all the ingredients that go into satan’s recipes of sinful ploys, only two are required, that allow for temptation to be effective; enticement, and the lust of men. There’s not one thing the devil can do to tempt God’s children, except they first reveal their hidden desire for what he offers. God tests His people, to prove what’s in their hearts, and to help make them better for His purposes, but satan tempts Christians, in order to pull them away from their allegiance with the Father, and keep them bound in sin.

There are times when men assume that God is tempting them, but our Father would never do anything to cause intentional harm to those He loves. On the other hand, the enemy would do everything within his power, to see that the followers of Christ are all destroyed.

Temptation is very powerful, and can sever even the most solid godly relationships. Don’t believe me, just ask Adam and Eve how powerful temptation can be. The first humans placed in the earth, who inhabited God’s very presence, gave in to satan’s wicked scheme. After conversing with that unusual couple, call and chat with Lot’s wife, and ask, what was so valuable in Sodom, that caused her to look back, and lose her very life. The key to understanding temptation is, recognizing that satan knows what we desire, even those secret things, because oftentimes, we speak our thoughts into the atmosphere. So, when he tempts us, it’s usually with something we’ve always yearned for, but probably don’t need.

Anything that will lead you to sin, is not a blessing from God, but a trick of the enemy. I often wonder, how Judas was so close to Jesus, yet couldn’t overcome his lust for money. The hidden greed in his heart, was coupled with satan’s allurement, which led him to his eventual demise.

Be wise in these last and evil days, because our adversary, the devil, is trying harder than ever, to keep us out of God’s will. All who endure the temptations of the enemy, along with his wicked schemes, will one day receive the crown of life, God promised to those who love Him. Always remember, sin brings eternal death, but obedience brings eternal life.

Walk in love,

Ell

Out With The Old…

Romans 8:12-17

There are countless people today, who are haunted by the sins of their past. Many of them have made mistakes that have been long forgotten by some, yet they continue to allow them to affect their present, and future. It’s hard, at times, for some to move on and build a better future, because they feel so lost in the dumps, from unhealthy choices made in their past, but when a man accepts Christ as his Savior, and repents of his sins, God literally wipes away all his sins, then accepts him as His own child. No longer do an individual’s past sins have the power to affect their new life, once they have mortified the deeds of the body, through God’s Spirit. The “new man” owes the “old man” absolutely nothing, because all who abide in God, are considered His sons, and are treated as such, on a daily basis.

A very effective strategy satan uses to distract God’s children is, to remind them of their past errors. It’s hard enough to move on from mistakes, even with God’s help, but to be constantly reminded of them, is a different story. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV). The enemy desires to keep God’s people living in fear, and enslaved to their past, but through God, they have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby all the strength and wisdom they need to overcome evil, is readily available.

As the children of God, we are united with Christ, as joint-heirs, which grants us all the same benefits bestowed to Him. We have God’s protection, grace, everlasting mercy, godly wisdom, liberty of His Word, the guidance and comfort of His Spirit, and all the character traits it bears (fruit of the Spirit).

Believe it, or not, you are an absolutely AMAZING individual, despite what happened in your past, but in order for you to realize it, you have to let go, and let God. Release those things satan brings to your mind, that only weigh you down, and allow God’s Spirit to imbue you with confidence, that will keep you striving to make Him proud to call you His own.

Walk in love,

Ell

God, The Potter

Isaiah 63:15-16, 64:8-9

A potter, or pottery maker, is a craft artist who uses their artistic talents to create pots, dishes, mugs, vases, and other types of artwork. Most potters create functional pieces that are meant to be put to everyday use. However, they can also create pieces that are decorative, and meant to be appreciated purely as works of art. A potter can train for decades to become a true master of the art of making pottery; forever learning and improving their craft (https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/potter/).

A potter takes his time, molding clay into its desired shape, and keeps it moist, until he’s satisfied with its final design. At times, pieces may break off, or the potter decides to alter a section of the piece, in order for it to properly display what he intends for it to look like. When the pottery maker is fully convinced that a piece is to his liking, he places it in an oven, and allows the heat to solidify it into its permanent form.

Understanding the concepts of a potter and his craft, makes it very easy to also understand the relationship between God, and His people. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Genesis 1:27 KJV). After creating man and woman, God was done with those works of art. Nothing needed to be added, nor taken away from His final products (from the natural perspective), but after sin infiltrated man’s domain, man had to be placed back on the potter’s wheel, to be molded properly into good spiritual form.

While I’m forever grateful, Christ came to redeem us back to God, I’m also grateful God is wise enough to understand, we’re still susceptible to making mistakes. Thankfully, God’s pottery wheel runs continually, and He’s always available to mold us back into good shape. At times, we’ll find ourselves doing some foolish, and dirty things, but God doesn’t mind getting His hands dirty, to help us look good again. So, we should learn to develop a greater appreciation for God’s mercy, and the patience He has, that allows us time to repent, and retake our desired form. Equally important is, the Holy Spirit, that acts as the water that keeps us moist, so that we’ll never harden with our mistakes, and blemishes.

No matter how scarred, or marred you get in this life, always remember, “🎶🎵 the Potter wants, to put you back, together again 🎵🎶” (The Potters House – Song by Tramaine Hawkins).

The Glory of Men

Matthew 6:1-8

How can you tell, whether or not a man’s confession to being born again of the Spirit, is indeed valid? Do his fine garments, fancy suits, or clergy collar, deem him the righteousness of God? Does the fact that he gives to the poor always, yet to be seen of men, make him the model Christian? Even when he prays, he does it without hesitation, but uses vain repetitions, in order to seem dignified and righteous before men. Is this proof that his love for God is genuine?

The easiest way to prove whether a person is true to their confession to God’s salvation is, to monitor if their actions are done in humility. Believers are to NEVER do things to gain the glory of men, because God blesses us from a different platform. Seeking to win man’s approval, rewards one with simply that (man’s approval). God desires to bless His children with an abundance of natural and spiritual things, which man can never offer. So, in our daily dealings, we are to do things in secret, so that we remain humble, God gets the glory, then He honors us for our obedience.

Hypocrites have been prevalent throughout the Scriptures, and live on even today. Men make claims to be doing the work of the Lord, and even dress the part, but their motivations are led by another spirit. When a man’s steps are ordered by the Lord, his actions and behavior mirrors that of Gods character. Conversely, when a man operates under the spirit of pride, he behaves as satan did, before he was cast out of Heaven; prideful, haughty, and puffed up. Pride causes men to desire more than they deserve, and strive for the glory that belongs to God. I’ve witnessed this on multiple occasions, as men would preach, or pray hard and loud (and even use big words), but never said anything relevant to the people’s needs. Some would even make large donations to charities or needy families, but only to promote their own agendas. God shuns this type of behavior, because He sent His Son to teach us that humility is what gets His attention.

To those who claim to be sons and daughters of God, make sure that your actions are motivated by love, and not pride. Also, never seek to boast in yourself, but rather boast in the Lord, and in His awesome power! “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen”. (1 Peter 5:6-11)

Walk in love,

Ell

Dust In The Wind

Matthew 6:16-21

Fasting, is a spiritual tool that has been utilized for centuries by men and women of God, that has helped to strengthen their focus on the Lord’s will for their lives. The traditional fasting method involved putting aside natural food for a time period, so that one could fine tune their spiritual hunger for the things of God. Fasting according to Scripture, has ALWAYS yielded amazing benefits to those who endured, but to those who took it lightly, they had far different rewards. God’s desire for His people is, that we maintain focus on pleasing Him, but when we do things to gain the attention of men, God will withhold what He had planned to bestow upon us, until we rectify our approach.

Another benefit associated with fasting is, it helps the believer concentrate more on the value of eternal treasures, rather than earthly ones. Have you ever considered the fact that all the things you deem valuable, and keep stored in special places in your home or somewhere else, will someday be either stolen, or corrupted by natural decay? Yeah, those 200 dollar autographed Jordans, or Lebrons, that are kept in a glass case in your trophy room, won’t be worth a hill of beans, sooner or later. Men today place value in cars, clothes, jewelry, money, precious stones, animal skins, and all types of carnal things, that will soon lose all its value. Knowing that our earthly treasures will someday be blown away in the winds, should provoke men to invest in heavenly treasures instead.

There’s a scene in Marvel’s Avengers Infinity War movie, where Tony Stark (Iron Man) and Peter Parker (Spiderman), shared a moment of sad embrace. A few seconds after Thanos snapped his fingers, Tony found himself holding on to the ashes of the young Peter, as he had been snapped out of existence. In a similar fashion, all the things we hold on to in this life, that have no spiritual value, will be turned to ashes, so why devote so much time into storing them up? Rather than selfishly accumulate mounds of earthly treasures, I suggest we do things in this life that will add to our heavenly rewards. For example, love your neighbors and your enemies. Do good to all men. Take care of, and provide for the poor and needy. Share your experiences and knowledge with the younger generation. Always invest your time into doing things that please God. This way, there will be no doubt He’ll have heaps of treasures awaiting you in the future.

Walk in love,

Ell

I Am Forgiven

Matthew 18:21-35

As a believer, it matters not how hard men try to hinder, or distract you from living holy, you must conduct godly behavior in all situations. Whether you are met with challenges at work, home, or even in the grocery store, Christians are expected to be holy always. Even more so than being holy, the body of Christ is expected to produce fruit that represent his character, on a consistent basis. Have you ever approached a tree that appeared ripe with fruit, but found it to be bare when you arrived? I have plenty of times. As a child, I would often collect fruit from trees in the neighbor’s yards, in my neighborhood. It was awfully disappointing to climb a tree that looked to be full of fruit from a distance, but had only leaves and wasps nests to offer.

God expects His children to not only look righteous on the outside, but to bring forth righteous fruit as well.  Even in the midst of storms and torrential weather, trees that are firmly planted in the ground are capable of withstanding those storms, and can continue to bring forth fruit during, and after the storms have passed. When the storms of life blow through our lives, we ought to be so firmly planted in God, until we are not affected by the distractions. We should continue to produce the fruit of holiness and righteousness, regardless of challenging seasons.

One of the toughest storms men face is, situations that call for forgiveness. Many people find it hard to forgive others, because they may still be experiencing hurt, or disappointment caused by the person seeking forgiveness. So, in order to forgive them from the heart, they’ll need time to digest the previous situation or circumstances, before they’ll be ready to forgive.

When Peter asked Jesus, how many times should he forgive someone who sins against him, Jesus replied, everytime! Who are we to withhold forgiveness from another, when Christ never hesitated to forgive us? When men come to us seeking forgiveness, this presents the ideal opportunity to produce the fruit of love, joy, and peace. It’s through forgiveness, that we were given another chance to enjoy the blessings and benefits God had prepared for us. So, the next time you have second thoughts about forgiving someone, think about where you’d be, if God never forgave you.

Walk in love,

Ell

Power In His Hand

(1 Chronicles 29:10-13)

Men who’s lifestyles are unaligned with the will of the Father, oftentime boast in their riches, accomplishments, pride, and vainglory. These persons seek only to build up their own names, and make them great in the earth. They attach their names to business, schools, and even churches. Pride can cause even the most elect, to succumb to pleasing self, rather than directing all attention to the Lord. This is what causes many to fall, because they grow accustomed to receiving attention and praise from the world, until they prefer the glory and honor that belongs to God.

Conversely, men who have joined in union with God, acknowledge the fact that He alone is worthy, and deserving of all glory, honor, and praise. Rather than bask in the spotlight, they turn the light in the direction of all the goodness of the Lord. Even king David understood the importance of giving God all the praise, as he took advantage of opportunities to share amongst great crowds of people, how awesome God is in His greatness, power, glory, victory, and majesty. The ancient king continued to express how men ought to take notice that all riches and honor are byproducts of God’s grace, and cannot be gained the right way, nor prove profitable, except by His hand. “But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day” (Deuteronomy 8:18 KJV).

God desires to make all men great, but only for the purposes of promoting His kingdom, His power, and His holy agenda. Be not deceived by the world, nor its many deceptions, but glory in the Lord, and seek only to make His name great.

Walk in love,

Ell