Fulfill All Righteousness

Matthew 3:13-17

Jesus, the Son of God; mighty in power, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. Jesus, the Savior of the world, made no reputation of Himself while in the earth, yet fulfilled His assignment flawlessly. Jesus, the matchless king, and only begotten of the Father, submitted Himself to the authority of the land. Jesus, the first Comforter, walked in unparalleled humility, while not losing His status as God’s gift to mankind.

John the Baptist saw first-hand, the ultimate act of humility, when he was approached by Jesus, to be baptized. John was effective in fulfilling his act of righteousness, commanded by God, to prepare man to receive Jesus. So, when asked by the Son of God to baptize Him, John immediately forbade Him saying, “I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?” In other words, John felt unworthy to baptize the One who has the power to save his very soul. When God gives you an assignment, you’re expected to carry it out. John’s assignment was to baptize, and prophesy of the coming Savior. Fortunately, Jesus was wise in sharing with John, they both were sent of God, and had to fulfill what they were sent to do. This freed John to then carry out the baptism of the Savior.

Has God called you to do something special, but you’re hesitant to fulfill it, because you are intimidated by the titles and prestige of those you are to serve? If God called you to do something, He’ll give you the strength to carry it out. John wasn’t wrong for feeling the way he did toward Jesus, but God called him to do a job, and that job had to be fulfilled. Take pride in doing what God created you for, knowing that in your obedience, you’ll be fulfilling your part in God’s plan of righteousness.

“Set your mind on doing your best, and allow God to do the rest.” – Ell

Christmas Every Day

Matthew 17:9-13; Malachi 4:4-5

As we near the end of the Christmas holiday celebration, it’s important that we continue to teach the true meaning of the season; not only gift giving, but the greatest gift that was given to all mankind. Children in every corner of the world, are having their fill of joy and laughter from the presents they received, but imagine the effect, if that joy was directed toward God’s best gift to the world. Jesus is the reason for every season, not only during Christmas, and His message is relevant every day of the year. Man was born in sin, and in need of a savior. Jesus came to the earth, died for man’s sins, arose from the grave with all power, and sits at the right hand of the Father, awaiting His cue to return to the earth, to gather the Saints.

While everyone starts to remove all their beautiful lights, garland, snowmen, and other decorations from around their homes, apartments, and stores, the church should continue to let their lights shine bright, so that men can see God working through their lives continually. December 25th is only a day, but Christmas should be every day, for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Can You Hear Me Now?

Matthew 17:1-8

Hearing the voice of God has been misunderstood for ages, and many have taken advantage of others, by claiming to hear from God, while taking money in exchange for a “word from the Lord”. Throughout the Old Testament, God spoke to men in various ways; from a burning fiery bush, to even using a donkey to get a man’s attention. In the New Testament, God spoke though His Son, Jesus, and gave Him all the instructions required, to guide men back into the fold. Today, the Holy Ghost is in the hearts of those who have received God’s gift of salvation, to offer strength, comfort, and bring back to remembrance, the teachings of Christ.

God would never leave His people to traverse these perverse lands alone, so He made sure to give us His Spirit to keep us on the right track. Men who claim to hear from God on the behalf of others, typically have motives to manipulate them for selfish reasons. God doesn’t speak to men as He did in the past, so for those who yearn to know God’s plans for them, read His Word. Also, for those who want to hear the voice of God audibly, read the Word out loud lol (credit to Justin Peters).

The Bible entails all the instructions and tools the church needs to keep themselves occupied, until Christ returns, so I admonish all to be mindful of those who claim God gave them a Word for you, because everything God wanted you to know, is written in His Word. While God can bring people to your heart and mind, He will hardly ever tell someone what you need, without first revealing it to you.

Be strong, be vigilant, because the enemy is still trying to take us out before this year ends. We’ve had ups, and downs, but by the grace and mercy of God, we are still here. Continue to guard yourselves against the evil one, and keep your faith in the Lord. Study and meditate on the Word of God daily, so that you can prove to Him, your love and dedication to His will is solid.

Respect My Rep!

John 1:19-34

The most telling sign of a true born-again believer is, humility. Many who claim to be witnesses for Christ, are professing and showing outward signs of what Christianity is supposed to be, but for all the wrong reasons. Men and women alike, pride themselves on wearing a title in the religious community, but desire only to promote their own names, rather than the name of the Lord. Televangelists flood “Christian” networks, preaching and teaching diluted doctrines, and selling all types of vain things. Unfortunately, those who aren’t mature in faith, can easily be seduced by men who have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof. Rarely will you find a man behind the camera, who purposely humbles himself, and truly glorifies the name of the Lord, over his own.

Humility is the mark of a Saint, and this character trait was evident in our text, as John the Baptist proved how a child of God should represent themselves in the midst of those who come with bad intentions (as well as among men in general). In the past, the Pharisees were known for their wicked and conniving schemes, but they were in for a rude awakening when they encountered John the Baptist. During the time when John’s reputation for baptizing in water, while also foretelling of the coming Savior began to be spread abroad, the Jews sent a group of Pharisees to investigate the identity of who this man really was. The stone-hearted men questioned whether John was “the Christ”, the prophet Elijah, or another prophet. John’s response was an example of how all children of God should respond, when being baited for information, but with the wrong intentions. John confessed that he was not Christ, the prophet Elijah, nor any other prophet, rather he mentioned, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said by the prophet Esaias” (vs. 23). The men continued to press John for straight answers, and he remained true to his confession. Yes, he baptized in water, but he made known, Jesus (who was among them, yet they didn’t know who he was) would baptize with the Holy Ghost.

When people come against you to set you up to fail, respond to them in humility, and with the Word of God. In the same way Jesus dealt with satan by using the Scriptures, after He had fasted 40 days, we must use God’s Word as a defense against all who come to us with bad intentions. The Word of God is a keeper, protector, shield, and sword, so use His Word daily, and not only when you’re in trouble, or to make yourself seem righteous to men. Grow your faith stronger in Him through the Word, and make His reputation known to the world.

“Image is nothing, God is everything. Respect His Rep!” – Ell

No Doubt

Matthew 11:2-15

Have you ever doubted God? Facing life challenges in the earth are handled differently between the Saint, and sinner. When a Saint prays, it’s not his words that move God, but the faith behind what was spoken is what gets the Father’s attention. God’s Word is indeed truth, and His promises are sure, but there will be moments in the life of the believer, when they will struggle with the human emotion called, doubt.

Doubting isn’t inherently sinful, but wallowing in it for extended periods of time can cause one to lose faith in God, and turn to unreliable sources for assurance. From the babe in Christ, to the very elect, Christians on all spiritual levels must grow their faith, to avoid doubting, and eventually losing their faith in God. One man in Scripture, who was deemed by Jesus Himself, as the greatest prophet who ever lived, had a moment of doubt. While behind prison bars, John the Baptist heard more news about the great works his cousin Jesus had been performing, yet such great events weren’t well received by the prophet.

I’m not sure how John was able to give orders to his disciples from behind bars, but he sent two of his disciples to make certain, Jesus was indeed the Savior he prepared men to receive. Whether John was suffering from the effects of prison isolation, or some other thing, Jesus was sure to ease his doubts. When the disciples arrived and delivered the message from John, Jesus kindly told the men, “Go and show John those things which ye do hear and see” (vs. 4b). Now John had already baptized Jesus a few chapters prior, and had heard of the great miracles He was performing, so I struggle with understanding his reason for doubt. Jesus had healed blind eyes, made the lame walk, cleansed lepers, opened deaf ears, raised the dead, and preached the gospel to the poor. Not only did John’s disciples hear of such great things, but they also saw the power of Jesus manifest before their very eyes.

During these times, the words of scripture were still being written, so men took seriously miraculous events, as signs of God’s amazing power. Today, God still performs miracles in people’s lives, but the greatest miracle, besides salvation, is having access and liberty to study His preserved and inspired book. When we have doubts, and many of us most certainly will, open God’s Word, and read how faith in Him, moves His hand to act on our behalf. Jesus didn’t judge John the Baptist in a negative way (nor did He judge doubting Thomas) for having doubts, instead He eased John’s doubt, by reminding him of the goodness and everlasting mercy that comes from the God of all creation.

The Comforter

Isaiah 40:1-5

How can one find peace, in the midst of a storm? Where do you go for direction, when wandering aimlessly through the wilderness of life? Who can give comfort, in situations that are uncomfortable? This present year is nearing its end, and many have struggled to crawl out of valleys, climb over mountains, and even stand firm during stormy seasons, since the year began, and of all the things lacking in life, trouble is far from being one of them. But, regardless of how tough this year has been, we who have made it this far, can have hope that God will reward us for our perseverance. Although the prophecy in this text was directed toward the people of Judah, the power of God continues to work in favor of those who love Him, and keep His commandments. God promised to bless those who obey Him, and knowing this should bring great joy to the believer, because “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22). It is indeed hard, at times, to find comfort in the midst of suffering, but the love that comes from the Father, is strong enough to penetrate through our situation, and give us peace, as we go through whatever comes against us. Be strong, and trust in the power of the Lord, because if He was loving enough to deliver Judah from years of oppression and persecution, He’ll freely carry us safely out of this trying year, and into a promising new one.

“Look back on your past, only to push you into a better future.” – Ell

Secret Service

Matthew 2:7-15

Did you know, satan hates you? He literally despises the fact that you even exist. Were you also aware of the fact that every day, evil entities try extremely hard to turn your focus and attention away from God? If the Lord revealed to you all the dangers He daily protects you from, I can guarantee with 100 percent certainty, it would startle your mind.

God has assigned predestined purpose to all who willingly accepts His free gift of salvation, but walking in that purpose can never be attained by any other means. When a man or woman is plugged into God, only then are they granted access to His divine wisdom, knowledge, and protection. This earthly habitation is temporal, and will soon cease to exist, but there is a life, beyond what we see, which God set in place, for all who are obedient to His holy Word.

God had a predestined purpose for His only begotten Son also. Even before Jesus was sent to the earth, prophecy of His arrival was written throughout the Old Testament. During the time when the birth of the Savior was finally fulfilled, king Herod became troubled at the news, so much that he gathered all the chief priests, scribes, and the people of Jerusalem together, to inquire of the startling news. Rather than acknowledge and try to better understand the prophecy of the birth of Jesus, the wicked king felt more threatened for his throne, above all else. Unfortunately, Herod plotted an attempt to have baby Jesus killed, so that his reign would not be hindered. Despite the king’s evil intentions, God’s plan of salvation would not be stopped, as He made certain to keep Jesus safe, by giving words of wisdom to all who watched over Him, to keep the child out of harm’s way.

In your life, you may never know it, but God has people watching over your life, and protecting you also. Many times, we should have been exposed to all sorts of danger, but God had someone standing in the gap, to keep us safe. In your daily prayers, ask God to give strength and peace to those who fight for you, even though it may never be revealed who they are.

“I pray for those who fight for me, even whom I cannot see.” – Ell

Tis’ The Season

Matthew 2:19-23

Christmas time is a wonderful season, despite its pagan roots and undertones. The true reason Christians acknowledge the season of “Christmas” is, to commemorate the birth, and celebration of Jesus into the earth. Jesus is the reason for this season, but modern society views this special day from a different perspective. From the eyes of the unbeliever (and many Christians, surprisingly), the icon of the Christmas holiday is Santa Claus, and gift giving is the real purpose for gathering together. Sharing gifts amongst family, friends, coworkers, and strangers isn’t inherently bad, but it has the tendency of drawing the focus away from the purpose of Christ coming to the earth.

For God so loved the world, He gave His only Son, so men could be saved from the consequences of sin. The worldly gift giving theme presents many problems, because while some families are blessed with the ability to purchase and exchange presents with many, there are countless others who can barely afford to eat, and keep their lights on, let alone buy their children gifts for Christmas.

The Christmas season is the prime time when depression and suicide rates skyrocket, and many have difficulty finding things to be grateful for, but if the church would take the time to express the true meaning of God’s gift to adults and children alike, rather than promise them loads of gifts (which they’ll probably forget about in a few weeks), the Christmas holiday would more than likely be embraced from a more meaningful perspective.

Family gathering is good, giving to the poor is righteous, showing kindness to strangers is divine, but celebrating what the birth of Jesus truly means, is more important than anything else.

“During this season, share with others the love of God, and the knowledge of His Word. That’s the best gift anyone can receive.” – Ell

Equal Opportunity

Galatians 3:25-29

Are all men created equal? I use to think so, until I witnessed some being born into the world with physical handicaps, or mental disabilities. Being born into sin has put man at a disadvantage in some respects. For example, one of the biggest issues concerning society today is race, and ethnic background. Some people are restricted from receiving certain jobs, simply because of the color of their skin, or their gender. Others are turned away for being born with a disability, that hurts their chances of being productive with a company or business. Are all men created equal? Not at all, but all men who are born again into the body of Christ, have equal blessings, and opportunity to become one in Christ Jesus.

Unlike the world, who sees your shortcomings, and refuses to extend a helping hand, God ensures that those who have faith in His Son, are treated with love, respect, and are positioned to receive all the promises associated with being His child. Despite how the world treats you as a believer, keep your faith, hope, and trust in the Lord, and continue to assume His character, while going through your daily lives, working together with your brothers and sisters in the Lord.

“Put on Christ, and allow Him to rule your life.” – Ell

Undefiled

Daniel 1:8-17

Throughout life, we often feel as though God doesn’t notice our suffering, and we wonder whether or not He actually hears our prayers. As believers, we face continual persecution for our faith, men slander and defile our good reputations, and the world mocks us for what we believe. Some even go so far as to inflict physical pain on those who claim the name of Christ. But, in those moments when we feel as though God has forgotten about us, we should stop and read about the struggles men of God dealt with in Scripture.

One example of men who suffered for righteousness sake, can be found in our text. Because of their continual disobedience, God allowed Israel to be taken into captivity by Babylon. While being held captive, the king of Babylon called for children from Israel, who were without blemish, well favored, skilled in all wisdom, cunning in knowledge and understanding, and were able to learn their language. Those who were selected included Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. The king even decided to change the names of the young men, as a sign of placing them under subjection. It’s one thing to be abducted against your will, and it’s even worse when you are given another name, then forced to learn pagan customs.

To make a long story short, Daniel and his brethren went against the kings commands, in order to obey the commands of God, and his three friends were forced to face the death penalty. God delivered the young men from the fiery furnace, and proved that no matter what comes against the children of God, if they remain faithful, He will deliver them with a mighty hand.

It matters not what you’re going through in life, because if you stay true to God, and obey His words over man’s, He’ll always come through for you, and your haters will have front row seats to witness it.

“Trust God through the good, the bad, and the in-between.” – Ell