Instructions For Daily Living

Hebrews 13:1-8

1 Let brotherly love continue.

2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Mindless Paparazzi

Mark 7:1-8

When people deliberately go out of their way to get on your nerves, how do you respond to them? When some of those same people join themselves with others who have nothing better to do than disturb your day, and make attempts to find fault in your life, when their own lives are torn up from the floor up, what method works best to get them to think twice about approaching you ever again? What do you do, when the people who seek to bring you down, confess to be followers of Christ? Believe it or not, Jesus dealt with these same issues more often than He would have liked to, but the way He handled His haters were always priceless moments.

I love Jesus so much! He always knew the perfect words to say to those who often made attempts to set Him up for failure. The scribes and Pharisees would usually follow Jesus and His disciples, in the same way the paparazzi hover around celebrities today. Rather than commit their hearts solely to obeying the commandments of God, they took more delight in holding the traditions of men. Thus, their worship to God was in vain, because their hearts were set on keeping to traditions, instead of sincere worship and obedience to God’s commands.

In our text, the Pharisees were so concerned about the disciples washing their hands before eating, that they failed to see how dirty their own hearts were toward the ways of godliness. Jesus confronted the pesky men with Scriptures, to counter their failed attempt to ensnare Him in their futile trap.

The Word of God is the best defense, against any trick or trap the enemy sets against us. The next time someone boldly accuses you of not following a tradition that means nothing to God, slap them with a few verses of Scripture, showing them that their souls are more important than dove-washed hands, and febreeze fragranced clothing.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Overcome Evil With God

Esther 7:1-10

“When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it. When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people; He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm” (Psalm 105:12 -15 KJV). God protects those He loves; who diligently seek after Him, and keep His commandments. In the same way a father guards his children from robbers and thugs, or a lion protects its cubs from hungry predators, God will always clear the path of those who are purpose-driven, and seek only to fulfill His will for their lives.

While it’s not laid out in plain text what every man is supposed to do in the earth, the basic instructions written in Scripture, are fairly simple to grasp. We learn in the book of Ecclesiastes, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:12-13). Those who are fulfilling the whole duty commanded by God, will receive His divine protection and provision, while traversing their journey. Proof of this is evident throughout the Bible, but more specifically in our recent lessons concerning Mordecai and Esther. Despite the overwhelming obstacle set before them in the form of the wicked Haman, God imparted heavenly wisdom into the hearts and minds of Mordecai and Esther, that allowed them to devise a plan to destroy the enemy’s evil plot. With careful planning, patience, and fasting, the trap Haman set for Mordecai, was turned around against his own self. This is how God works through us today. While some are under the impression, God is like superman, who will swoop down from the skies, and rescue those in need (as they believed Jesus would do when He entered Jerusalem), through His Spirit, God imparts wisdom into us, that helps us plan, and develop strategies that will allow us to overcome the plans of evil.

The body of Christ has a job to do, and that’s for each member to carry out their individual assignments, until the end. Whether you are skilled in teaching, preaching, arts and crafts, or any other area, ask God to give you wisdom from Heaven, to aid you, as you use your gift, talent, or special ability, to win souls for the kingdom.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

The Perfect Sacrifice

Leviticus 22:17-25

Rendering offerings to God, was a major part of the ancient Israelite culture. The sacrificial system between God and His chosen people, was set in place as a means of restoring unity, or amending their relationship. When the perfect God required offerings from His imperfect people, He only accepted perfect sacrifices. Some may be led to believe, nothing in life is perfect, so how could God expect something from Israel, that was impossible to accomplish. Well, God’s definition of perfect differs from man’s. According to the text, perfect is defined as, without blemish. Blemishes are small flaws that spoil the appearance of a thing, so God expected the people to thoroughly inspect their offerings, before presenting them to Him. I can picture in my head, Moses and the people inspecting every little detail of a sheep or goat, ensuring that there are no flaws, which could cause God to reject their offering. L

Animal sacrifices have been replaced by the perfect sacrifice, Jesus Christ, but that doesn’t let us off the hook. God still demands a perfect sacrifice from our very own lives. While we may not appear perfect in the eyes of men, we have the power of God’s Spirit working within us, to keep us spotless, and free from all blemishes.

Walk in love,

Ell

Nothing But The Truth

Ezekiel 33:1-9

Proclaiming the Word of God, is what all disciples of Christ have been commissioned to do on the earth, but preaching from a position of authority, brings a different level of responsibility, the average believer isn’t bound to. Many were called by God, to do great things in His kingdom, but few were chosen to carry out special assignments. Men who desired to be leaders in the church, were given instruction to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 2:4 KJV).

Those God called to lead others, are to be bold, direct, and honest when delivering His Word to the people. In the same way Ezekiel, the watchman, was commanded by God, to warn men to turn from their evil ways, leaders today are tasked with the same command. It’s never wise to withhold rebuke from those who need it, because it could ultimately save their lives, but refusing to give warning to those in sin, could cause men to die without salvation, causing their blood to forever be on your hands. This is why I don’t understand why men are so eager to become pastors, or church leaders, because such positions require much responsibility. The souls of the people are what matter to God, and if any leader teaches doctrine contrary to what’s in God’s Word, he’ll be in danger of harsh punishment. When a man truly loves God, he’ll do all within his power, to take care of God’s people.

If you’re in a position of authority in your local church, or other organization, do you give the people the whole truth of God’s Word, or do you withhold the harsh truth, in order to appease their itching ears?

Walk in love,

Ell

Take a Break

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

Suffering is inevitable on the earth, and hard times lay on the path of all men. The wicked perish, and the good die young. We work to make a living, and strive to be consistent in our effort to maintain a balanced lifestyle. The God of Heaven and earth understands that life presents challenges that weigh on the strength of His people, so He doesn’t mind when we take time to enjoy the fruit of our labor.

Men and women work hard for companies who care more about their business, than the total health of those who keep their business producing, so every now and then, it’s alright to schedule moments to bask in the good of your labor. Many people take vacations to escape the routine of their everyday lives, while others find pleasure in staying close to home, to appreciate times of peace, rest, and relaxation.

It’s important for the believer to not only maintain a healthy spiritual balance, but to also keep their natural living in good standing as well. While there’s nothing wrong with taking time to enjoy the blessings of God from your consistent hard work, how you enjoy that time is what matters. God allows us times of peace and rest, but we should never become lax, and forget holy standards during our relaxation. The body of Christ is still obligated to maintain a righteous standard, even during times of rest. Some feel that drinking, smoking, and enjoying other worldly methods are necessary habits of down time, but we are to eat and drink things that are proper, and kept within the bounds of God’s law, and what’s best for our health.

As we enjoy God’s blessings, we are to be temperate, and stay within holy limitations. This way, our lives will remain pleasant to God, and we’ll continue to enjoy a wonderful experience in His divine glory.

Walk in love,

Ell

As the Wind Blows

Ecclesiastes 5:1-6

Have you ever rode past a car lot, or saw on a TV commercial, one of those inflatable wacky tube men flipping, flopping, and flapping in every direction? Those things literally crack me up, and if you stare at one long enough, you’ll momentarily forget about your worries. Although they’re stationed in one position, their movements are beyond wild, and uncharacteristic. On the other hand, when you look at a statue, you notice it firmly planted, solid, and erected to portray the sculptor’s desired vision. Unlike the wacky tube man, who’s blown in all directions by the air from its base, and the winds that blow by, the statue stands strong, and is sustained in all situations and seasons.

There are many today who bear the title, “Christian”, yet are as unstable as the inflatable wacky tube man. Their righteous claim is accompanied by undisciplined behavior, including speaking rashly, showing no respect for the House of God, and breaking vows. These persons are easily caught up in every wind of doctrine presented to them, and find it hard to differentiate between the truth, and lies. Then, there are those who are true to their confession, as a statute is true to its form. Men who are grounded in God, aren’t easily beguiled by deception, and have a tendency to actually change the hearts of those who intend to distract them. Their faith is strong, hearts pure, motives good, and can stand firm in all situations and seasons. Those who follow after righteousness, carry themselves with the utmost integrity. In addition, they have a sure reverence for God, control their tongue, and always keep their word.

Are you more aligned with the inflatable wacky tube man, or are you solid and strong, like a well-built statue?

Walk in love,

Ell

Fighting Temptations

Matthew 4:1-11

One of the most valuable words of advice I’ve ever received after giving my heart to the Lord was, never underestimate the power of the devil. There’s a misconception that’s been going around for years that satan is powerless, and can do nothing to harm the believer, but if you study the Word carefully, and even look back over your own life, you’ll discover that the devil is more powerful than you can imagine. Satan is the master of deception, and he delights in twisting God’s Word, in order to serve his devilish purposes. Not only is he skilled in his deceptive arts, but He knows the Bible better than many of God’s own children (sad, but true). One of satan’s most successful strategies is, confronting the believer with temptation. If the devil can get the believer to focus on his distractions for only a few moments, that’s long enough to ensnare them in his traps. For this reason, it’s vital that the children of God know the Word for themselves, so that when temptation comes knocking, they’ll be strong enough to resist.

In our text, Jesus gave the perfect example of how to effectively resist temptation. After fasting 40 days, Jesus was “led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil” (vs. 1). Why would God purposely lead His Son into a trap? Could it be, because He knew Jesus was strong enough to overcome what lay ahead of Him, and also needed us to see how we are to handle the temptations in our own lives? Yeah, I think that’s about right. God also wanted to prove that His Word was more precious than anything satan could offer, and that even in a weakened physical state (Jesus), the strength of God’s Word was enough to drive evil away.

I mentioned earlier that satan has power, and in our text, we see two instances where the devil took Jesus into the holy city, and set Him high, atop a pinnacle of the temple, then took Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world. If you ask me, that sounds like more power than the average super hero. In all his desire to see Jesus submit to his own will, satan was disappointed, as Jesus dealt with the scheming serpent by using God’s written Word.

When facing temptation in our own lives, how we approach it can mean the difference between overcoming it, or being overwhelmed by it. If Jesus had given in to His “hangry” pains, He probably would have turned those stones into barbeque ribs, macaroni and cheese, and corn on the cob, but His spiritual hunger far outweighed the natural, and He was able to easily deflect the devils temptation.

Allow this lesson to be strength to you, as you face your daily struggles. Never give in to temptation, no matter how appealing it may seem, because the grass may be greener on the other side, but it might be overrun with serpents, waiting for the right moment to strike you down. “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 6:41 KJV).

Walk in love,

Ell

Light It Up!

Matthew 4:12-17

Jesus is the light of the world! He lived a selfless life on earth, shed His innocent blood to guarantee salvation for all mankind, arose from the grave with all power in His hand, now sits next to the Father, as He intercedes on our behalf daily, and awaits God’s command to return to the earth to claim His people. Have you ever wondered why Jesus did all that for us? I’m all for loving my neighbor, and treating all men with kindness, but to die for people who are arrogant, stiffnecked, hard-hearted, hardheaded, and plain wicked, takes a level of love I’m striving to attain.

The sole purpose of Jesus leaving His place in Heaven, taking on human form, and living among men was, to be light in a world of darkness. In more simple terms, Jesus came to expose the evil revealed to mankind (darkness) with the light of God’s Word (knowledge), and to reestablish the union between God, and His precious creation.

Every breath Christ took while in human form, was dedicated to making others see, and come into the knowledge of His Father’s plan. Christ knew full well that in order to grasp any understanding of the will of God, men were to first repent, turn from their evil ways, then they could freely receive, digest, and properly apply God’s Word in their lives.

When we walk in the light of God’s Word, and live in ways that please Him, people who sit in darkness will see our light, and be forced to make a life-changing decision. Others who are on the verge of giving up, or at the point of spiritual death, can be influenced by our lives, and possibly renew their strength, simply by gleaning from our holy living. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 KJV).

Walk in love,

Ell

Keep On Striving

Matthew 3:13-17

It’s the year 2020, and you’ve had your share of life’s ups and downs over the years. Along your journey, you’ve crossed paths with people who have either inspired you to be better, or made you think twice about being in their company again. As the days progressed, you grew in the knowledge and wisdom of God, and made applying the teachings of Christ habitforming. The path you walked was not always easy, yet you continued to strive to do good, despite inevitable challenges. Up to this point in your life, can you truly say that God is pleased with the way you’ve lived? When your name is mentioned in Heaven, what assessment will God submit of how your life compares to what He expects?

God commissioned the church to love Him, and keep His commandments, and in doing these alone, you’ll develop a more clear understanding of what God expects from you, and how to carry it out. Just as John the Baptist, and Jesus were sent by God to “fulfill all righteousness” (complete what they were sent to do), the body of Christ also bears the responsibility of fulfilling their individual assignments as well. Before an adventurer sets off on any journey, he makes certain to gather the necessary tools and supplies, that’ll assist him throughout his endeavors. Of all the things the adventurer collects, the most important is his compass. Without knowing which direction he’s traveling, the adventurer would no doubt find himself in unfavorable territories, and possibly run out of supplies. When we attempt to navigate through life without God’s Word, we assume the same position as an adventurer, without his compass. Eventually, we’ll get lost, and desire the help of someone to guide us back on track.

It’s been said, there are many paths to God, but the one way to reach that final destination is through Jesus, the Son in whom God is well pleased. We all have a job to do while on this earth, and staying in the will of God, will ensure that job is completed. Just as the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs players are preparing mentally, and physically for the Super Bowl on Sunday, the Saints of God should prepare themselves daily, to walk the path of righteousness, and strive to carry out their purpose, despite the distractions that are set to hinder them.

Let the recent death of Kobe Bryant serve as an example that tomorrow is indeed not promised to anyone, and our days are numbered, so spend your precious moments in this life trying to please God, and He’ll ensure that all your labor will not be in vain.

Walk in love,

Ell