Be… So That God Can Do…

Various Scriptures

Oftentimes, we pray to God, seek His face, and hope for change in our lives, but we hardly see immediate results. Most of the time, all we have to do is, be who God called us to be, so that He can do what He promised to do for His people.

Love the Lord… and he will preserve you.
-Psalm 31:23

Be of good courage, and he will strengthen your heart…
-Psalm 31:24

Delight in the LORD, and will give you the desires of your heart.
-Psalm 37:4

Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land.
-Psalm 37:34

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
-Psalm 1:1-3

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
-Matthew 5:3-11

In your daily living, be who you were called to be, so that God can do what He promised He would do.

Wise Counsel

2 Timothy 4:9-18

Times have changed from the days of old, to now, when the young would glean wisdom and wise counsel from the elderly. It always amazes me, how a child can claim to know more than anyone who’s lived more than twice the years they’ve been alive. But, I digress, and allow all to get enough bumps and bruises necessary to force them to seek after wisdom. Wisdom is a coveted virtue, for anyone seeking a productive and blessed future. Unfortunately, the years of knowledge and counsel the younger generations need to be successful (in God’s eyes), are shunned away for the cares of the present world.

The apostle Paul proved to be one of the most influential of all godly men mentioned in Scripture. He was not only motivated by his humiliating and regretful past, but his drive to spread the goodness of the Gospel was fueled by the sincere love shown to him by Christ Himself. Paul’s 180 degree turn from darkness to light, was a miraculous event, but he would soon learn that the journey set before him would not be as smooth as he would hope. The apostle Paul was bold, and sure of that which he preached, and he never allowed any situation or circumstance to deter him from his mission. He was inspired by the Spirit of God in all he set his mind to do, even when establishing churches. God guided Paul’s hand, and gave him strength and wisdom on how to teach those who sought after righteousness.

Along his journey, Paul’s message wasn’t well received by everyone, especially those whom he assumed would offer their support. Demas, once a minister and fellow laborer with Paul, had surprisingly forsaken him. Paul mentioned that Demas “having loved this present world, departed unto Thessalonica.” (vs. 10). It’s easy to get over losing people who were never there for you, but being forsaken by someone who fought beside you, leaves a sting that is not easily relieved.

There were many others who stood against Paul during his ministry of preaching the Gospel, but God sustained him long enough to fulfill the will He set before him. Many of the valuable lessons Paul learned throughout his life, he made sure to pass them along to young Timothy. Paul knew, just as he faced ridicule and rejection from men of the “cloth”, Timothy should always be prepared for similar experiences.

Living a godly life will present the church with challenges and struggles, but it’s unfortunate when those struggles come by way of those who are supposed to be fighting alongside us. The Bible teaches that we are to pray for our enemies, but we should routinely set aside time to also pray earnestly and fervently for those who claim to be children of God.

“Despite how young or old you are, seek after wisdom, and allow the Spirit of God to give you understanding.” – Ell

Because I’m Happy!

Psalm 1

Some people consider happiness to be a temporary state everyone experiences throughout their life, but I’ve learned that some temporal moments of happiness can actually last an eternity. While that may sound oxymoronic, allow me a brief moment to indulge you with an explanation.

Our text actually begins with the term, “happy”, as the original definition of “Blessed” is happiness (according to Strong’s Concordance with Hebrew and Greek Lexicon). So, rather than read, “Blessed is the man…”, we can read, “Happy” is the man…”. That’s rather interesting, as this supposed temporal state of being can be enjoyed and appreciated every day. When we develop a desire to yearn for, and appreciate the Word of God, we’ll gain a greater understanding of the value of His written Word. When a man values a thing, he literally gets joy and jitters whenever he’s exposed to, or thinks on it. This is similar to a man who falls for a woman, and the more he learns of her, the more excited he becomes to desire her even more.

God’s Word is the richest, and most relevant source of knowledge on the planet, but I fail to understand how men can know what’s in the Word, and willingly reject it. I’m happy every day, because God offered me His free gift of salvation. I’m happy every day, because all my sins (past, present, future) were washed away, by the blood of Jesus (this doesn’t give us a right to sin willfully, and abuse God’s grace). I’m happy every day, because I can freely read, and study the Bible, without being persecuted, as many are in other countries, even to this very day.

It’s because of my happiness in the law of the Lord, that I willingly choose not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scornful men. Instead, I prefer to meditate daily on God’s inspiring and fulfilling Scriptures, so that I can always be positioned to produce good fruit, the works of my hands will prosper, and I’ll forever operate in the favor of our heavenly Father.

Are you happy, knowing that you have been made the righteousness of God, through Christ Jesus? If so, appreciate that state of being forever.

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

Ell

Unbearable Yoke

Acts 15:10-17

Disagreements amongst believers are never fun occasions, but how those disagreements are handled is what God focuses His attention on. The church should always handle matters with love, especially when seeking resolution during times of controversy. In our text, certain men were teaching that in order for the Gentile nations to be saved, they had to be circumcised after the manner of Moses. This group of Jewish Christians insisted that following the law was necessary for salvation. Notice, the law was only to act as a mirror, for man to see the error of his ways, and strive to live a holy life. Unfortunately, no man has ever kept all the law, so forcing the Gentiles to base their salvation on the law, was unfair.

During this discussion, the apostle Peter arose and added, “And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?” Isn’t that something? Members of the Pharisees desired that the Gentile converts adhere to a standard they themselves were unable to keep. Men are now saved by grace, and the apostle Paul confirmed this in the book of Ephesians when he wrote, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast”.

Thankfully, the men gathered in discussion, used God’s Word to settle their disagreement, and gained a better understanding of what God expected from His people. When you encounter a situation where you and another believer express disagreements, be sure to use the Word of God as the standard, by which you seek to find resolution.

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

Ell

Are You God-Approved?

Deuteronomy 17:18-20

To those with aspirations of becoming a leader in any capacity of life, the best measure of whether or not you consider yourself fit for such a position, should be compared to the requirements God set for choosing a leader for His people in Scripture. There are men and women all over the globe, who hold positions of power, yet are unfit to lead. Many of those who have led, or are presently leading “unworthily”, were more than likely placed in those positions based on family name, illegal efforts, or some other means. However, when a man or woman meets God’s requirements of a qualified leader, their reign will have a positive, and lasting impact on all who are under their watch.

First off, God must approve of the man, before He’s even considered for the position. After being God-approved, one must handle all matters with the Spirit of humility. A good leader seeks not to puff themselves up, nor do they strive to accumulate excessive wealth. Instead, their priorities are centered on the needs of those they watch over, and how they can make life better for the people, long-term. Keeping the people’s needs as their primary focus, will allow for God to provide for the needs of the leaders. When God sees His people diligently working to make the lives of others better, He’ll always be sure to meet their needs, before they even ask.

Another major characteristic of a good leader is, they have a genuine fear, and reverence for God. When a man respects God, his behavior and actions will prove it. He’ll attend to God’s Word, study His precepts, and await all judgment until it’s affirmed through God’s wisdom. How many times have you rushed to conclusions, without first seeking God’s wisdom through prayer? Leading God’s way will always produce benefits, with little room for error. In addition, God honors good leaders by building their faith and character, blessing their family, and allowing their reign to last, so that His goodness can be on display, as long as the leader obeys God’s commands, and refuses to turn to the left, or the right.

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

Ell