Show Me Something!

James 2:14-26

Whenever I hear someone brag or boast about their skills, abilities, or accomplishments, I tend to back away from those types of conversations, and eventually maintain my distance from those persons altogether. Men who puff themselves up, are usually consumed with pride, and have little to no desire to walk in humility. Then, there are those who are capable of making others feel beyond special with their honeyed words, but they fail to contribute what’s necessary to see that those persons truly attain their desires. My siblings and I were raised to let our works speak for us, rather than toot our horns loudly to impress others. Talking means very little, especially when works aren’t attached to them. This applies heavily in the Christian faith. The Bible teaches, faith without works is dead, and I highly doubt it could get any more plain than that.

God judges us not by faith alone, but by the works, or lack thereof, associated with what we profess. You can tell any person you love them, or that they’ll make it through their struggles, but the sign that you truly believe what you say, would be revealed in the actions you take to make those words manifest. The Bible also equates dead faith with the human body without the spirit: it’s lifeless, and incapable of producing anything.

A wise woman taught me, “Talk is cheap! Show me something!” Those words ring loudly everytime I hear someone give advice, or offer wise counsel. Nowadays, people care less about what you say, and more about what you do. So, make sure if you’re bold enough to say something, be ready to back it up with your works. If you told God you love Him, and He’s first in your life, then how you live from now on, should reflect those very words that left your lips.

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold… don’t become one of them.

Ell

Hard Proof

Genesis 22:9-19

In the life of every child of God, there will come a season when the faith they claim to have in Him, will be tested. Throughout the Bible, you can read about the lives of men and women from the Old, and New Testaments, who proved their allegiance to the Father, through their lifestyles. Abraham proved that he feared God, by not withholding his only son from Him. When commanded by God to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice, the “father of faith” did not hesitate to do as the Lord had spoken. King David made a few MAJOR mistakes during his reign as ruler of Israel, but he never allowed his errors, nor his fame and fortune to cause him to turn away from the God who supplied all his needs. Of all those in Scripture, who were selfless, and willingly sacrificed all, so that the will of God could be accomplished, none can compare to Jesus, who gave His very life, so mankind could be redeemed.

Abraham, king David, and Jesus Christ, all knew that their lives only had purpose, when lived fulfilling the will of God. Even when faced with opportunities to turn away from God’s seemingly hard instructions, in favor of taking a more uncomplicated route, these great men allowed God’s will and purpose to supercede all else that would have eventually caused major issues in their personal lives, and in God’s divine order of things. But, God knows who He can trust, and has confidence in them to not rob Him of His glory.

Can God trust you with hard instructions? Are there things in your life so valuable, that you wouldn’t give them up, so that God’s will could be accomplished through your life? Would you be willing to sacrifice time, money, or even disassociate yourself from those you love, in order to fulfill God’s will? These may be hard questions to answer, but in this life, the only things that matter, are what God says matters. If you place anything in this earth before God, then I hate to tell you but, your love for God is superficial. While your profession of love to God may appear true, after further examination, that love will never be revealed.

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

Ell

Salvation That Excites!

1 Peter 3:13-19

Aren’t you glad that the Lord saved you from a miserable life of sin? Do you get joy when you consider, Christ suffered and was put to death, so that you could be made the righteousness of God? When you look at the state of this present world, do you rest assured, knowing there’s a better place reserved for you in the next life? Many today are losing faith in God, not because they deny the truth of the Gospel, but because they’ve allowed their suffering to consume them to the point they’ve lost sight of its purpose. Being constantly criticized, falsely accused, or even put to shame can cause anyone to faint or lose heart, but when we sanctify the Lord in our hearts, His Spirit will equip us with what we need to withstand all that comes against us.

Doing good doesn’t omit the church from suffering. In fact, it attracts more attention from the enemies of God. But, we don’t have to faint or become weary while doing the works of the Lord, because in time, we’ll reap a great harvest from our good works.

The church should get more excited concerning their salvation, because it’s the only free gift, by which we were redeemed back to God, and through it, are able to exhibit consistent good behavior amongst a world of evil men. If it had not been for Jesus, where would you be today?

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

Ell

The Invisible Man

John: 14:15-17

In this life of inevitable suffering, there’s one thing no man will ever willingly pass up, and that’s comfort. On a daily basis, we see people struggling from challenging circumstances, that most seem to never recover from. Not only do worldly men suffer but, believers experience uncomfortable situations, many of which are not the cause of their own doing, but they struggle to overcome them nonetheless. During childhood, some of us have been forced to deal with lack of provisions like food and clothing, and possibly being embarrassed by those who judged us by our outer appearance. As we grew older, the real challenges of life begin to manifest in the forms of dealing with the education system on the collegiate level, finding a job, dealing with unruly leadership or subordinates, and the struggles of raising a family based on godly principles. All men are positioned to face certain discomfort in this life, but for those who love God and abide by His Word, there’s an invisible man who provides comfort in all uncomfortable circumstances.

Jesus was fully aware of the state that this world would eventually become, so He prayed to the Father, so that He would send us help to endure these end-times. Without the Holy Ghost, many would have given up years ago, but because we have that divine comfort, we can make it through trials and situations that oftentimes cause men to wonder. The world can never understand, nor receive the Spirit of God, because they can’t see Him. Carnal men usually have to see something, in order to give it relevance. But, the Comforter is as real as life itself, and He guides the children of God throughout each day, encouraging them to strive to please God, because their labor is never in vain.

In those moments when you feel sad and alone, the invisible man is there to remind you, you’re never alone. When you’ve lost all hope, and are tempted to throw in the towel, the invisible man will remind you of how strong you really are, and can overcome all things, through Christ who gives you strength. When you are about to give up on love, and refuse to trust in relationship anymore, the Comforter will guide you through the Scriptures, of all who have suffered greatly, yet never gave up on love. Always be reminded, the invisible man is there, to bring you comfort, in all uncomfortable situations.

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

Ell

Keep On Teaching

Mark 6:1-6

I wrote a blog nearly a year ago concerning the dangers of familiarity, and how many people have misjudged, and dishonored some whom they should have given more respect to. For example, growing up with siblings who eventually become famous, doesn’t change the fact that they are still your brother or sister. Therefore, you wouldn’t see them as the world would, and probably could care less about their fame. On the other hand, those who only know of famous people from listening to their music, or watching them on the big screen, tend to have a greater appreciation for their work.

After hearing about all the incredible miracles Jesus had performed outside of His hometown, from casting demons out of some, to raising others from the dead, it’s sad to know that those in His own community refused to accept the fact that He indeed was the Son of God. The text mentions, “And he marvelled because of their unbelief” (vs. 6a). After touring many different lands, spreading the goodness of His Father, Jesus no doubt expected to return home with a more appreciative welcome. Those He blessed while He journeyed through various lands were extremely grateful for the love Jesus had freely shown to them, but those in His own country could do no more than criticize, and doubt who He really was. This was so disheartening to point that Jesus could do no mighty works there, except lay His hands on a few sick folk, and heal them. Although the people in His town proved to be unthankful, Jesus made certain to not allow the people’s unbelief, keep Him from teaching.

While we live to please God, we’ll also experience doubt and unbelief from those we assume have our best interests at heart. But, after overcoming the hurt and pain of those you thought would support you, don’t allow their unbelief to keep you from spreading the goodness of the Gospel.

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

Ell

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

My Endearing Heart

Colossians 2:1-5

I am proud of all those who have made Christ their reason for living. I am proud of all the men and women, who gave up their lives of sin, and decided to follow after the things of God. I am proud of everyone who willingly presents their bodies as living sacrifices to God daily, and do so without murmuring or complaining. I am proud of the fathers, who take charge in their homes; leading, teaching, and covering their wives and children in constant prayer. I am proud of the mothers, who understand their role in the family; to be the help, meet (suitable) for the husband, and submit to God’s order of the family. I am proud of the children who obey their parents, in the Lord; who will live long and prosperous, for their obedience. I am proud of those who lead congregations, operating in the fear and admonition of God, who teach the Word, and preach the Gospel boldly in season, and out of season. I am proud of those who remain faithful, even while working in spirituality hazardous environments. I am proud of the people who choose to be modest in their choice of clothing, and refuse to advertise their flesh to the world. I am proud of the men and women who have decided that living for God outweighs living for anything or anyone else. I am proud of those who sacrifice, so that others can benefit from their time, prayers, and other contributions. I am proud of all who are grateful for the blessings God gave to them, and don’t become jealous or envious of the blessings others receive. I am proud of those who remain strong, even during times of great loss. I am proud of those who mourn with those who mourn, and weep with those who weep. I am proud of the people who are not easily provoked, nor stricken with fear, from the biased and corrupt news, broadcasted throughout media streams. I am proud of the Saints, who boldly go where many refuse to, during the good times, and the bad (before the throne of grace). I am proud of the few who walk the narrow path, that leads to life. I am proud of the remnant, who suffer persecution for righteousness sake. I am proud of those, who will not bend or break in these end times. I am proud of those who refuse to quit, despite the pressure pressing against them. I am proud to be a Son of God; saved by grace, filled with His Spirit, and prepared to stand against the wiles of the enemy.

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

Ell

Follow In His Steps

Matthew 11:1-6

Sin left unchecked, can cause a man to commit some of the most damnable, and heinous acts. For this reason, those who have obtained knowledge of God, and are aware of the mysteries of the scriptures, should avoid sin at all costs. Salvation was granted to men, not for the purpose of abusing God’s unmerited favor, but so that mankind could be restored to their rightful place in God’s kingdom, and then have their true potential unlocked, so that God could get the most, and best out of their lives.

In the words of the infamous Earl Carter, “sin makes you stupid”. This is indeed factual. When we give in to the devil’s temptation, he sets us up for failure, then sits back, and watches us make fools of ourselves. I won’t even go into details explaining that, because… you know. All have sinned, and been left looking stupid, falling short of God’s glory. The more we mess up, the less time we have to perform good works. God wants us to make His name glorious in the earth, but only until our lives mirror the life of Christ, can we even begin to impact the kingdom of God in a positive way.

Contrasting the aforementioned results of sin by Earl Carter, walking in obedience to God makes one wise. When a believer acknowledges God in all their ways, then makes decisions based on the wisdom from above, it’s not likely they’ll slip and trip very often. In fact, they’ll probably be hated more than anything, by the world, and those who appear as sheep, but are wolves in disguise.

God guides His people on the paths of most resistance. This isn’t done because He wants to see innocent men suffer, but it’s because satan is anti-God, and will try everything within his power to use the church, to tear down God’s great name. What better way is there to defame the name of a parent, than to taint the names of their children?

The Saints of the most high God, must maintain His holy and righteous standard in these last and evil days. While we may not be able to give sight to the blind, make the lame walk, heal lepers, or restore hearing to the deaf, we can expound on the opportunity to preach the Gospel to the poor. Jesus was able to do all those miraculous things in His own divine power, but we, through His Spirit, can continue His legacy of winning men’s hearts to the Lord, through our bold and unadulterated proclamations.

Let your light shine, by promoting the message of the Gospel to the world. Your life is relevant, and has great purpose, but you must first realize, God allowed you to be in existence, not for your own pleasure, but to bring glory to His name. When our thoughts become subject to God’s authority, and our ways begin to follow after the footsteps of Christ, then we’ll begin to realize the true meaning of life; heaven and earth will soon pass away, but the Word of God will save us from eternal damnation.

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

Ell

This Is He…

Luke 7:24-28

Are you familiar with the phrase, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”? As a kid, I preferred to select books that had cool, colorful, and appealing covers. This was because, I expected the contents of the book to be worth reading, if the cover was enticing enough to catch my attention. Unfortunately, that wasn’t always the case. In essence, this phrase warns of the danger of passing judgment on a person based on their outer appearance, without gaining full knowledge of who they really are.

Take a moment to think back over your life, and consider those whom you prematurely passed judgment on, then found them to be pretty cool characters. One such character in the Bible who was prejudged because of his appearance was, John the Baptist. Unlike men who “preach” or “prophecy”, while choosing to dress in the finest apparel, eat choice meals, and make themselves known for self gratification and status, John chose rather to adorn himself in the most modest of garments (camel’s hair and a leather belt), eat rustic food (locust and wild honey), and preferred to preach and prophesy in the wilderness, rather than from the pulpit. Jesus, Himself was recorded as quoting, “For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist:” (vs. 28a). This comparison of greatness is not absolute, but relative to certain aspects of the parties involved. In other words, there were other prophets who’s ministries were great as well, but Jesus was referring to the simple fact that John’s privilege and position to represent the Messiah made him greater than all the other prophets.

You and I may not have been called to be great prophets or the like, but we were commanded to be great in our duties as representatives of Christ. In this life, men may not recognize you for moral character, holy living, or obedience to God, but rest assured, God has read all the pages from the book of your life, and He knows how great your end will be!

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

Ell

Contrasting Lives

Proverbs 9

Saints and sinners live contrasting lives. On the one hand, sinners strive for long life in the earth, to accumulate large amounts of material resources, while aiming to live their best lives now. Conversely, Saints are blessed with long life, as they operate in wisdom, while preparing to live their best lives in the next life. The wisdom of God is the most essential element that guides the children of God, as they are led along the righteous path. It’s by God’s wisdom, believers are able to leave the ways of the simple, in favor of the truth. Many have died, even in God, for making foolish mistakes, because foolishness has the power to cause men to fall into sin. In addition, just one error, can open the door for all types of sinful habits.

It’s important that the children of God allow His wisdom to spearhead every decision they make. This is key to avoid veering too far off the path of the righteous, as well as having a greater possibility of an extended life. Many desire to live long, but why would God grant a person long life, if they have no intentions of living it to please Him? Without wisdom, we have no clue of what God expects from us, and this could cause us to develop unhealthy lifestyles. The text mentions how even foolish women are known to be clamorous (loud), simple, and lack knowledge (vs. 13). Not only does foolishness affect women, but foolish men are well-known for exhibiting acts of cruelty, shame, and dishonor as well. I often mention, these types of behaviors are expected from sinners, but Saints ought not be seen doing unseemly things.

God is real, and His wisdom is extremely effective, but we must be willing to receive it, and apply it in our lives accordingly. “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” (Proverbs 3:7)

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

Ell