Thomas E Meyer Jr

A New Identity in Christ? My ego is no longer central? Christ’s life will show me how and enable me to do it. Galatians 2:20-21

Galatians 2:20-21 Revised Standard Version

²⁰I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ²¹I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification^[a] were through the law, then Christ died to no purpose.

Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Some biblical verses reach so deeply into the heart of the gospel that they change the way you see everything.

Galatians 2:20 stands among the most powerful declarations in Scripture.

Paul describes a life reshaped, redefined, and reborn through union with Christ.

He invites you to see that the Christian life is not powered by our efforts but by Crucified Savior Christ living in you.

This is not a theory.

It is reality.

A new identity, a new power, and a new way of envisioning being in the world.

Paul’s words remind us that the old ways of life built on striving, fear, and self-righteousness has come to an end.

A new life, empowered by the Son of God who loves you and gave Himself for you, has begun.

When this truth settles into your heart, it changes not only what you believe but how you live.

Today, we step into the beauty of a life shaped by Christ within.

Big Idea 1: Your Old Life Has Ended Through the Cross

Paul begins with a powerful truth.

You have been crucified with Christ.

This does not mean you lose your personality or your humanity.

It means the old system of earning righteousness, carrying guilt, and chasing identity has been put to death.

The cross is not only an event that saved you.

It is the place where your old self was laid down and a new self was raised.

Many believers struggle because they try to live the Christian life with the old mindset.

They fear failure.

Believers often try to earn what God freely gives.

They cling to old labels, old wounds, and old patterns.

Paul reminds you that the person who lived under the weight of sin is no longer there.

In Christ, the old is dead, and the new has come.

Seeing yourself through the lens of the cross changes the way you approach everything.

You are not fighting for victory, you are fighting from victory.

You are not earning acceptance; you are living from acceptance.

Freedom grows when you believe what Christ has done in you.

Big Idea 2: The Life You Live Today Is Christ Living in You

Paul says, It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.

This is the heart of Christian transformation.

The Christian life is not self-improvement.

It is Christ-empowered living. Jesus does not simply inspire you.

He indwells you.

He strengthens you, guides you, convicts you, and equips you.

This means change is possible because Christ is present.

Holiness is achievable because Christ is your power.

Obedience becomes joyful because Christ is your strength.

Your life does not depend on your willpower but on His presence.

When we pick up our bible’s, study scripture, pray Proverbs 3:5-10 to understand this transforming truth, spiritual growth becomes less and less about striving and more and more about what it means to authentically surrender self to God.

Proverbs 3:5-10 Revised Standard Version

⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not rely on your own insight.
⁶In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.
⁷Be not wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
⁸It will be healing to your flesh^[a]
    and refreshment^[b] to your bones.

⁹Honor the Lord with your substance
and with the first fruits of all your produce;
¹⁰then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.

The life you now live, you live by faith.

Faith keeps you connected to Christ.

It invites His power into your weakness.

Faith reminds you that you are not walking alone.

Christ in you is the hope of glory and the source of your transformation.

Big Idea 3: Grace Becomes the Foundation of Your Identity and Confidence

Paul ends this passage with a warning and a promise.

He will not nullify the grace of God.

If righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

This truth guards your heart against replacing grace with effort.

Grace secures your identity, anchors your confidence, and reminds you that Christ’s sacrifice was complete and all-sufficient.

Grace does not make you passive.

It makes you grateful.

Grace frees you to obey out of love rather than fear.

It removes the pressure to perform, replaces it with the joy of living in Christ.

When grace becomes your foundation, prayer life deepens, hope strengthens, and your confidence rests no longer in yourself but in the One who loved you and gave Himself for you (Philippians 2:5-11).

Philippians 2:5-11 Revised Standard Version

⁵Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant,^[a] being born in the likeness of men. ⁸And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. ⁹Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

You and I live in the freedom of a love which cannot be earned, won at any high stakes poker game or with a spin from a roulette wheel, will not be withdrawn.

Christ’s death declares your worth.

His life within you declares your purpose.

When I reflect on my life and who and where I once was, it’s easy to see how I’ve tried to define myself by my past, my mistakes, and the roles I’ve played.

There were times when I thought my whole identity was tied to my job, my achievements, or even how others saw me.

I struggled as I compared myself with others, thinking that who I was could only be measured by external success or someone else’s approval.

But then I found freedom in Christ.

Galatians 2:20 became a truth that I can hold on to—I no longer have to define myself by my past or even by what I’ve done.

I am now defined by the life Christ lives in me.

In him, my identity is secure.

No more striving to earn a sense of worth; no more living under the weight of expectations that I cannot hope to meet.

In Christ, I am a new creation.

This new identity in Christ does not mean I don’t/I won’t still struggle with old habits or old thoughts.

But it does mean I have a foundation that is not built on shifting sand.

Matthew 7:24-29 Revised Standard Version

Hearers and Doers

²⁴“Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; ²⁵and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. ²⁶And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; ²⁷and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it.”

²⁸And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, ²⁹for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

I can live with peace because the indelible truth is that I belong to Savior Jesus.

My identity is wrapped up in his love, his grace, the work he has done for me.

Galatians 2:20-21 pulls you into the center of the gospel and your identity.

You are crucified with Christ.

You are raised with Christ. Christ lives in you.

His grace sustains you, his love defines you, and his presence empowers you.

This is more than belief.

It is reality.

It shapes your decisions, your relationships, your purpose, and your confidence.

As you walk with God today, let this truth settle deeply into your heart.

John 14:22-27 Revised Standard Version

²²Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” ²³Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. ²⁴He who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word which you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

²⁵“These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. ²⁶But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Christ died for you, He was resurrected for you, Christ lives in you, those truths changes everything.

“In the name of God, the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen”

Praying ….

Psalm 91Revised Standard Version

Assurance of God’s Protection

91 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High,
    who abides in the shadow of the Almighty,
²will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress;
    my God, in whom I trust.”
³For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
    and from the deadly pestilence;
⁴he will cover you with his pinions,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
⁵You will not fear the terror of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
    nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

⁷A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand;
    but it will not come near you.
⁸You will only look with your eyes
    and see the recompense of the wicked.

⁹Because you have made the Lord your refuge,^[a]
the Most High your habitation,
¹⁰no evil shall befall you,
no scourge come near your tent.

¹¹For he will give his angels charge of you
    to guard you in all your ways.
¹²On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you dash your foot against a stone.
¹³You will tread on the lion and the adder,
    the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.

¹⁴Because he cleaves to me in love, I will deliver him;
    I will protect him, because he knows my name.
¹⁵When he calls to me, I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will rescue him and honor him.
¹⁶With long life I will satisfy him,
    and show him my salvation.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? Walking, Living and Loving in Newness of Life. Romans 6:1-7

Romans 6:1-7 New American Standard Bible

Believers Are Dead to Sin, Alive to God

6 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? ^2 [a] Far from it! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? ³Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? ⁴ Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. ⁵For if we have become ^[b]united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be ^[c]in the likeness of His resurrection, ⁶knowing this, that our old ^[d]self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be ^[e]done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; ⁷for the one who has died is ^[f]freed from sin.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Romans 6:1–14 explores how Christians should think about and respond to sin now that we are in Christ and our sins are forgiven.

In explaining this, Paul reveals new information about what happened when we put our faith in Christ. In a spiritual sense, we died with Him, and to our sin.

What does it mean to let sin reign in your body?

Sin remains in the body and if it is not kept in check, it will reign in the body.

Sin is not dead, but the Christian must be diligent to remain dead to sin.

The Christian is encouraged to yield the body as a slave to righteousness and holiness and not allow sin to reign, for God provides a way out.

What does Paul mean when he says we are dead to sin?

Being “dead to sin” means we renounce it once and for all.

This is called “repentance,” or changing your mind toward sin.

It means you were once the lord of your own life.

However, from this point forward, you are going to do a 180 degree about-face, follow Jesus as the Lord of your life. Repentance is the essence of conversion.

What does Romans 6 verse 4 mean?

Paul means to communicate a real spiritual transaction took place when we were saved.

On a spiritual level, we experienced death and burial with Christ.

Then God gloriously raised us from that spiritual death just as He raised Christ from physical death.

I. A Whole New You

What do you think of when you hear the phrase, “a whole new you”.

What if we were to type that phrase into an online search engine?

What kinds of sites do you think we would be directed to by that phrase?

Well, I did just that the other day and I bet you can guess the kinds of subjects, the kinds of services, that were being promoted with that very phrase.

There were sites, of course, about health and fitness and dietary wellness.

There were sites about all manner of cosmetic surgeries.

There were sites recommended having to do with continuing education, and time-management, fashion, an idea called “the power of conscious breathing”.

But why…why are people interested in discovering “a whole new you”?

And will any of those things I just mentioned from those search results, will anything of those things really, authentically, produce “a whole new you”?

Let’s bring these very questions to God’s word this morning.

Turn with me back to Romans 6.

II. The Passage: “Walk in Newness of Life” (6:1-7)

Romans 6:1-7 Christian Standard Bible

The New Life in Christ

6 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? ²Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? ³Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness^[a] of life. ⁵For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be^[b] in the likeness of his resurrection. ⁶For we know that our old self^[c] was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin^[d] might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, ⁷since a person who has died is freed^[e] from sin.

One of the most powerful truths of the Christian faith is that we don’t have to stay the same.

Through Jesus, we have been given the gift of new life—right here, right now.

We are not just slightly improved versions of our old selves.

We have been made new from the inside out.

Paul’s words in Romans 6 remind us just as Jesus was raised from the dead, we too are invited into resurrection living.

That means the habits, thought patterns, and shame that once held us back no longer have to define us. The past no longer has the final word.

Grace does.

Of course, walking in newness doesn’t always feel instant.

Often it means taking one small step of faith at a time.

But every step forward in obedience is a declaration that you belong to the risen Savior Christ and that your life is a living testimony to his transforming power.

Have you ever felt “undone” in the presence of God?

If so, what happened or what came as a result?

Is there a space for you that feels holy?

Where and what is it about that space?

HEART
How can we live a life which is more sensitive to the holy that is all around us?

Why do you hold the site of true Godly holiness may cause a fear response in us?

When we feel undone, unworthy before the almighty, how should we respond?

HANDS
If love and holiness are tied together, how may you be able to seek to be more loving like Jesus is loving (turning the other cheek, praying for those who will persecute you/your enemies, forgiving, involvement ministry and mission?

Matthew 10:1-8 New American Standard Bible

The Twelve Disciples; Instructions for Service

10 Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.

²Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; and ^[a]James the son of Zebedee, and his brother ^[b]John; ³Philip and ^[c]Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; ^[d]James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴Simon the ^[e]Zealot, and too Judas Iscariot, the one who also betrayed Him.

⁵These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them, saying, “Do not go on a road ^[f]to Gentiles, and do not enter a city of Samaritans; ⁶but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. ⁷And as you go, ^[g]preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ ⁸Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.

The 1981 movie The Blues Brothers, small-time criminals Jake and Elwood Blues receive a vision in church to reunite their band in order to save their former orphanage. To convince some of the band members to join them, they have only one message to convey: “We’re on a mission from God.”

In a sense, Jesus was doing the same with his disciples. He gathered them together and told them they were on a mission from God.

What was the mission?

They were invited to change lives in the name of Jesus.

Jesus empowered those twelve disciples to do amazing things in his name..

They were authorized to drive demons away and heal people from all kinds of sicknesses.

Jesus was not interested in making a name for himself, or building up his poll numbers.

He was announcing that the kingdom of God was on the move.

It was time for God’s agenda to be known in the life and actions of the Savior.

He gave his followers a mission from God, and the world will never be the same because of it.

That includes you and me too.

We have been sent into our neighborhoods to share the story of forgiveness in the name of Jesus. We have been sent into the places of trouble and despair to model the life-affirming witness of the Savior. We are on a mission from God!

Who in your life needs a gesture of God’s love this week to strangely warm their souls, how will you participate in helping God communicate HIs love for them?

You are not who you used to be.

By God’s grace, you are becoming more of the person he has called you to be.

“In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen”

Praying ….

Psalm 15 New American Standard Bible

Description of a Citizen of Zion.

A Psalm of David.

15 Lord, who may reside in Your tent?
Who may settle on Your holy hill?
²One who walks with integrity, practices righteousness,
And speaks truth in his heart.
³He does not slander ^[a]with his tongue,
Nor do evil to his neighbor,
Nor bring shame on his friend;
⁴A despicable person is despised in his eyes,
But he honors those who fear the Lord;
He takes an oath to his own detriment, and does not change;
⁵He does not ^[b]lend his money ^[c]at interest,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
One who does these things will never be shaken.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Recalling, Reflecting the enduring promise of God’s unfailing love in Every new day. Psalm 118:21-25

Psalm 118:21-25 Revised Standard Version

²¹I thank thee that thou hast answered me
    and hast become my salvation.
²²The stone which the builders rejected
    has become the head of the corner.
²³This is the Lord’s doing;
    it is marvelous in our eyes.
²⁴This is the day which the Lord has made;
    let us rejoice and be glad in it.
²⁵Save us, we beseech thee, O Lord!
    O Lord, we beseech thee, give us success!

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Good morning this is the day the Lord has made!

Depending on how your day or week is going, you may not be too excited for me to give you this awesome welcome to a new day.

Still, as the scriptures do proclaim His truth; today is the day the Lord has made.

We all have days which rain down mixed blessings and Psalm 118 is all about finding the blessing in the midst of trials that bring those feelings of anxiety.

So let’s rejoice in the promises of God’s blessings and still remain glad in them.

How can our struggling countenance rejoice and be glad in our days when your life feels full of unlimited measures of both chaos, frustration and sadness?

What does it mean in Psalm 118:24 that this is the day that the Lord has made?

Psalm 118 is a very important Messianic psalm points directly to God whose goodness and grace lasts forever, and it identifies Jesus as Israel’s coming Messiah who has become their strength and stay.

And Jesus is our Redeemer as well. This is a psalm that rejoices over our great salvation and points directly to the Lord Jesus as our mighty Deliverer.

This is a song that is attached to the very core of God’s own heart, for it is referring to the scheduled day when the Lord Jesus Christ will sit upon His heavenly-ordained throne as David’s rightful heir in the holy city of Jerusalem.

THIS is the day the Lord has made.

THIS is the day of Christ.

THIS is the day of Israel’s redemption when His people cry out to the Lord Jesus: “Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna!”

THIS is the day when the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of our GOD and of His Christ.

This is the song of rejoicing and praise which Israel will sing on that thrilling morning when their long-awaited Messiah rides into Jerusalem in power and great glory at His second advent.

Then He will set up His eternal kingdom in the midst of His people Israel, as King of kings, Lord of lords, the Messiah of Israel and Savior of ALL.

What a day that will be.

When the psalmist says, “This is the day that the LORD has made,” it’s not just about sunny skies and good vibes. It’s a declaration that no matter what the day holds, it is still God’s.

It means that God’s love, mercy, and faithfulness are already waiting for you in this day. Even when life feels unpredictable, God’s love doesn’t waver or stop.

Rejoicing doesn’t mean pretending that everything is fine. It means choosing to trust the One who made the day—and who holds you in it.

Each morning brings a new opportunity to rest in God’s love, to find joy not in perfection but in God’s presence.

You don’t have to carry yesterday’s weight into today. God’s love is new each morning—and it will meet you again tomorrow.

What rejoicing will flood the earth for this is the great day towards which the Lord’s plan of redemption has been steadily moving for millennia.

This is the day when God’s favor towards mankind will reach its fulfilment.

This is the day when there will be a resounding chorus of great joy, as all God’s people unite together with one great chorus of praise, as we sing in unison:

“This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His mercy endures forever.”

At His first coming Jesus came to His own people, but they rejected Him; and yet He was the royal Son of David, the Anointed of God.

He was the Stone which the builders rejected, yet He is the One who became the chief Cornerstone.

The man who falls on the Stone will be broken to pieces (saved by grace through faith) BUT on whosoever that Stone falls (unbeliever) will be scattered like dust.

At His first advent, they disapproved of His birth.

They criticized Jesus because He was from Galilee.

They disapproved of His lack of formal education and were highly critical when He exposed their hypocrisy, religiosity and man-made traditions.

They condemned Him for being a friend of tax collectors, lepers, crippled, and of talking, drinking water with a Samaritan woman and eating with prostitutes.

They closed their ears to His teaching, their eyes to His miracles and their heart to His Truth, .

At His first coming, a Roman spear pierced His side, from which poured out redemption’s blood-red stream over the sinful race of fallen man – as a dying, sin-cursed earth, groaned beneath the weight of sin, waiting in fervent hope for this special day of redemption.

And the sharp, double-edged sword which proceeds forth from His mouth at His second coming will destroy the wicked in the day of wrath, and the earth will be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.

What does it mean this is the day that the Lord has made?

“This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:24.

Each day is an unmistakably rich and precious gift from God, with new grace and new opportunities.

Jesus says that we have only this one day, and we must not be anxious for the day tomorrow.

This will be a day of great rejoicing and much joy; a day of blessing and grace; of health and happiness; of righteousness, justice; prosperity; peace and pardon.

This is the day when crowds will gather at the glorious second advent of Israel’s long-awaited Messiah, all nations will join in the joyous celebrations to honor the Lord most high.

This is the day of Christ’s glorious exaltation, which began with His rejection and humiliation at Calvary’s cross, but will climax on His great coronation day.

How we look forward to that day, when together we will sing: “This is the day that the Lord has made. We WILL rejoice and be glad in it!”

How can I apply Psalm 118:24 today?

Psalm 118:24 infuses meaning into today to know that God has made the day and has a purpose for it. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. The God who made us made everything that’s around us on this day that we have to experience. He’s made this day, so let us all rejoice.

In the name of God, the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 103 Revised Standard Version

Thanksgiving for God’s Goodness

A Psalm of David.

103 Bless the Lord, O my soul;
and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
²Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits,
³who forgives all your iniquity,
    who heals all your diseases,
⁴who redeems your life from the Pit,
    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
⁵who satisfies you with good as long as you live^[a]
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

⁶The Lord works vindication
    and justice for all who are oppressed.
⁷He made known his ways to Moses,
    his acts to the people of Israel.
⁸The Lord is merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
⁹He will not always chide,
    nor will he keep his anger for ever.
¹⁰He does not deal with us according to our sins,
    nor requite us according to our iniquities.
¹¹For as the heavens are high above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
¹²as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
¹³As a father pities his children,
    so the Lord pities those who fear him.
¹⁴For he knows our frame;
    he remembers that we are dust.

¹⁵As for man, his days are like grass;
    he flourishes like a flower of the field;
¹⁶for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
    and its place knows it no more.
¹⁷But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
    upon those who fear him,
    and his righteousness to children’s children,
¹⁸to those who keep his covenant
    and remember to do his commandments.

¹⁹The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
    and his kingdom rules over all.
²⁰Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
    you mighty ones who do his word,
    hearkening to the voice of his word!
²¹Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
    his ministers that do his will!
²²Bless the Lord, all his works,
    in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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I am convinced I will always/never see God’s goodness in the exuberant earth. Walk with God! Take heart. Do not quit. Do confidently say it again: Walk with God/I will give up on God. 2 Kings 20:1-11

2 Kings 20:1-11 New American Standard Bible

Hezekiah’s Illness and Recovery

20 In those days Hezekiah became ^[a]mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Set your house in order, for you are going to die and not live.’” ²Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, ³“Please, Lord, just remember how I have walked before You wholeheartedly and in truth, and have done what is good in Your sight!” And Hezekiah wept ^[b]profusely. ⁴And even before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, ⁵“Return and say to Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David says: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I am going to heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. ⁶And I will add fifteen years to your ^[c]life, and I will save you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will protect this city for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.”’” ⁷Then Isaiah said, “Take a cake of figs.” And they took it and placed it on the inflamed spot, and he recovered.

⁸Now Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I will go up to the house of the Lord on the third day?” ⁹Isaiah said, “This shall be the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will perform the word that He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?” ¹⁰So Hezekiah said, “It is easy for the shadow to decline ten steps; no, but have the shadow turn backward ten steps.” ¹¹Then Isaiah the prophet called out to the Lord, and He brought the shadow on the ^[d]stairway back ten steps by which it had gone down on the ^[e]stairway of Ahaz.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Hezekiah Walked With God

Hezekiah “did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his [ancestor] David had done” (2 Kings 18:3).

Hezekiah’s father, Ahaz, had been a king who did evil in God’s sight.

Hezekiah tore down the altars and sacred stones his father had used to worship other gods, and the Lord blessed Hezekiah’s devotion and his zeal by giving him victories over enemy oppressors who tried to ruin God’s people.

But then Hezekiah became critically ill, the Lord said that he would soon die.

So Hezekiah cried. pleaded with God for healing, reminding the Lord in prayer he had always walked before him “faithfully and with wholehearted devotion.”

And he wept bitterly.

God answered Hezekiah’s prayer by adding fifteen years to his life. Hezekiah was thankful, but he did not always use his extra time wisely.

He had a weakness in that he was proud of all the treasures of his kingdom. And when visitors came from Babylon, he proudly showed them all his treasures.

Later the prophet Isaiah said that one day those treasures would be carried off to Babylon. God’s cure of Hezekiah’s illness did not cure him of his pride.

A mountain-top spiritual experience doesn’t protect us against a fall back into the valley of sin. If you have been to the mountaintop, pray for sustaining grace.

And if you have fallen, Psalm 51 repent knowing God’s forgiving grace is great.

Since the days of David and Solomon, there had not been a king of Judah as faithful as Hezekiah. Not only did he purge idolatry from Judah, but he also humbled himself, trusted the Lord to deliver him from the Assyrian Empire.

Given Assyria’s successful imperial expansion, it would have made more sense, humanly speaking, for Hezekiah to surrender and ask for mercy. But Hezekiah walked by faith, not by sight, and Assyria was turned away (2 Kings 18–19).

We see another example of Hezekiah’s trust in the Lord in today’s passage, which tells us of a critical moment when the king almost lost his life.

At the point of death, King Hezekiah received a visit from Isaiah the great prophet who played a critical role during the righteous monarch’s reign.

Isaiah delivered a message from the Lord that Hezekiah was about to die (20:1).

But Hezekiah did not take God’s words as an unalterable decree; instead, he chose faith over fear, courage not timidity, went to the Lord in prayer (vv. 2–3).

In the vulnerability of King Hezekiah’s desperate prayer, we see the essence of our relationship with God. It’s not about eloquence or perfection but coming to Him just exactly as we are: spiritually broken, seeking strength, being hopeful.

God’s response to Hezekiah isn’t just about the promise of healing; it’s a crystal clear declaration of His congoing, continuous nearness in our deepest struggles.

This interaction reminds us that our tears are never invisible to God. Each one a silent prayer, seen and too understood by Him. In our moments of helplessness, as words fail us, our tears speak volumes to the heart of our Father. Psalm 56:8

This illustrates the reality that not everything the prophets declared from God was part of His unchangeable decree that determines whatsoever comes to pass (Eph. 1:11).

Sometimes the Lord, through His prophets, announced things that He knew would not ultimately occur in order to spur His people to action.

Consider Jeremiah 18:5–10, that the Lord will relent and not fulfill a warning to sinful people when they repent, or He will bring judgment and not fulfill an announced blessing when men and women turn away from heeding His law.

In light of the Lord’s omniscience—He knows all things past, present, and future—God obviously knows how people will respond confronted by crisis.

In Hezekiah’s case, His ultimate intention was to heal the king and not to end his life through the illness described in 2 Kings 20:1–11.

But our actions are one means through which the Lord brings His plans to pass, He makes our decisions meaningful by acting in ways that prompt us to pray.

So, the Lord called for Hezekiah to be restored to health through the means of a poultice made from figs, He even added fifteen years to the king’s life (vv. 4–7).

Moreover, God did not refuse Hezekiah’s request for a sign the healing would be accomplished. This request shows that Hezekiah’s faith was true but imperfect, for he needed confirmation of God’s words when the promise should have been enough. But our Creator is kind, and He bolstered Hezekiah’s faith with a sign (vv. 8–11).

When we pray, we must remember God is sovereign, will answer us according to His eternal purposes. That does not mean, however, we should not be earnest in prayer. Hezekiah prayed earnestly, and he was healed. We should express our needs to God earnestly as well, knowing that He just may grant us what we ask.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Praying ….

Psalm 16

Confidence in the Lord

A Miktam of David.

¹Protect me, God, for I take refuge in you.
²I^[a] said to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have nothing good besides you.”^[b]
³As for the holy people who are in the land,
they are the noble ones.
All my delight is in them.
⁴The sorrows of those who take another god
for themselves will multiply;
I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood,
and I will not speak their names with my lips.

⁵Lord, you are my portion^[c]
and my cup of blessing;
you hold my future.
⁶The boundary lines have fallen for me
in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

⁷I will bless the Lord who counsels me—
even at night when my thoughts trouble me.^[d]
⁸I always let the Lord guide me.^[e]
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

⁹Therefore my heart is glad
and my whole being rejoices;
my body also rests securely.
¹⁰For you will not abandon me to Sheol;
you will not allow your faithful one to see decay.
¹¹You reveal the path of life to me;
in your presence is abundant joy;
at your right hand are eternal pleasures.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Meanwhile, living in such a way that the Gospel Message being witnessed to reflects, mirrors, His glory alone. Philippians 1:27-30.

Philippians 1:27-30 Amplified Bible

²⁷Only [be sure to] lead your lives in a manner [that will be] worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I do come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit [and one purpose], with one ^[a]mind striving side by side [as if in combat] for the faith of the gospel. ²⁸And in no way be alarmed or intimidated [in anything] by your opponents, for such [constancy and fearlessness on your part] is a [clear] sign [a proof and a seal] for them of [their impending] destruction, but [a clear sign] for you of deliverance and salvation, and that too, from God. ²⁹For you have been granted [the privilege] for Christ’s sake, not only to believe and confidently trust in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, ³⁰[and so you are] experiencing the same [kind of] conflict which ^[b]you saw me endure, and which you hear to be mine now.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Here, Apostle Paul focuses on how we represent the gospel in our lives. This is a personal challenge on how we reflect and defend the faith of the Gospel (v28).

While Paul is chained to a Roman soldier, he saw this as our primary purpose as God’s believers here and now. This idea builds up to Philippians 2:15 writing:

‘that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked, and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world’

In this 21st century technology dependent age, we need to raise our awareness level and realize that as believers, we are on full satellite display to the world.

How we reflect the gospel is important.

Is our ‘conduct’… ‘worthy of the gospel of Christ’? (1:27).

I like this poem:

You are writing a Gospel,

A chapter each day,

By the deeds that you do

And the words that you say.

Men read what you write,

Whether faithful or true:

Just what is the Gospel

According to you?

(source unknown)

The best Christian witnessing material, whether tracts or YouTube links are no substitute for your own Biblically correct witness, by the way you live your life.

In a number of places Apostle Paul continually reminded the church:

‘walk worthy of the Lord’ (Col 1:10)

‘walk worthy of your calling’ (Eph 4:1)

This representation can also be carried into Christian unity.

Paul writes our public behaviors must stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, (Philippians 1:27)

Our unity (one faith, one Gospel, one God, one mind) should be wrapped up in our purpose (The faith of the gospel).

Jesus final prayer for the church before His betrayal solidifies this lesson.

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:20-21)

Is this what we are actually, authentically, genuinely ‘striving together’ towards?

The way we dress, the way we smile or scowl, the way we carry ourselves, the tone and content of our speech… Every day, we are always making statements to all of those around us about what really matters and what life truly consists of.

For Christians, such statements should be in harmony with the gospel.

So Paul called the Philippians to close the gap between their beliefs and their behavior—between the creed they professed and the conduct they displayed.

Christ’s call to us today is no different. Even so, however mature we are in our faith and however much we close the gap, there always remains more to do.

Paul’s phrase “let your manner of life” comes from the Greek verb politeuesthe, which the NIV translates as “conduct yourselves.”

The root of this word comes from polis, which means “city,” and gives us other words like police and politics.

In a very real sense, Paul is concerned with Christian citizenship and conduct.

As we understand ourselves to be members of the city of God, we learn what it means to live as strangers and ambassadors in that other city, the city of man.

When we close the gap between belief and behavior and actions, others will get a foretaste of heaven through their interactions with us.

So what kind of statement should our actions make?

Simply this: the gospel of Christ is a gospel of love.

We see this in the words of John: “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:10-11).

In other words, just as God loves us, so we should love God and those around us—even those whom we, or others, tend to see as unlovely or unlovable—should do it with hope and joy! This message of love is the challenge that Paul gives us.

Not merely in the words you say,
Not only in the deeds confessed,
But in the most unconscious way
Is Christ expressed.[1]

1 Attributed to Beatrice Cleland, “Indwelt,” in, for instance, Our Aim: A Monthly Record of the Aborigines Inland Mission of Australia 68, no. 7 (17 March, 1955), p 1.

Isaiah 64:6-7 The Message

Can We Be Saved?

64 ^1-7Oh, that you would rip open the heavens and descend,
    make the mountains shudder at your presence—
As when a forest catches fire,
    as when fire makes a pot to boil—
To shock your enemies into facing you,
    make the nations shake in their boots!
You did terrible things we never expected,
    descended and made the mountains shudder at your presence.
Since before time began
    no one has ever imagined,
No ear heard, no eye seen, a God like you
    who works for those who wait for him.
You meet those who happily do what is right,
    who keep a good memory of the way you work.
But how angry you’ve been with us!
    We’ve sinned and kept at it so long!
    Is there any hope for us? Can we be saved?
We’re all sin-infected, sin-contaminated.
    Our best efforts are grease-stained rags.
We dry up like autumn leaves—
    sin-dried, we’re blown off by the wind.
No one prays to you
    or makes the effort to reach out to you
Because you’ve turned away from us,
    left us to stew in our sins.

Pray, about how you will dress today, when you will smile, when you will scowl, how you will carry yourself today, the tone and content of your speech today.

What kind of statements are you making to the world?

Let them be ones that are worthy of the gospel of love.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit …..

Praying ….

Psalm 16 New American Standard Bible

The Lord, the Psalmist’s Portion in Life and Salvation in Death.

A ^[a]Mikhtam of David.

16 Protect me, God, for I take refuge in You.
^2 [b]I said to the Lord, “You are ^[c]my Lord;
I have nothing good besides You.”
³As for the ^[d]saints who are on the earth,
^[e]They are the majestic ones; all my delight is in them.
^4 [f]The pains of those who have acquired another god will be multiplied;
I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood,
Nor will I take their names upon my lips.

⁵The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You support my lot.
⁶The measuring lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
Indeed, my inheritance is beautiful to me.

⁷I will bless the Lord who has advised me;
Indeed, my ^[g]mind instructs me in the night.
⁸I have set the Lord continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
⁹Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
¹⁰For You will not abandon my soul to ^[h]Sheol;
You will not ^[i]allow Your ^[j]Holy One to ^[k]undergo decay.
¹¹You will make known to me the way of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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We were all reportedly taught, with regard to our former way of life, to put off our old selves which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitudes of our minds. Ephesians 4:17-24

Ephesians 4:17-24 New American Standard Bible

The Christian’s Walk

¹⁷So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, that you are to no longer walk just as the ^[a]Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds, ¹⁸being darkened in their understanding, ^[b]excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; ¹⁹and they, having become callous, have given themselves up to indecent behavior ^[c]for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. ²⁰But you did not learn Christ in this way, ²¹if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, ²²that, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old ^[d]self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, ²³and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴and to put on the new ^[e]self, which ^[f]in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

There comes a time when carrying the luggage of our old life just weighs too much.

I remember more than just a few seasons where I kept rehearsing past failures, clinging to shame like a heavy coat in summer. I knew God was calling me to move forward, but it felt safer to stay in the familiar—even if it was painful.

Ephesians 4:22-24 hits a grand slam here. Paul reminds us that the old self—the habits, thought patterns, and lies we’ve believed—must be put off.

Like clothing that doesn’t fit anymore, or has a multitude of holes in the back and front, we are meant to take it off so we can live in the freedom God offers.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 New American Standard Bible

³For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle according to the flesh, ⁴for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but ^[a]divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. ⁵We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, ⁶and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.

Letting go is not always a dramatic or hallelujah moment. Sometimes it’s just quiet and deliberate. It includes choosing not to respond the way we used to.

It means surrendering a mindset that has held us captive.

It involves refusing to let guilt define us when grace is freely offered.

We can’t fully embrace the new if we are still clinging to the old.

What is God inviting you to release today? Whatever it is, trust that his grace is enough to carry you forward.

As a believer in Christ we are to kiss our old selves good bye and say hello to a new life. It is important to see that the structure of these verses goes like this:

Say goodbye to the old self, RENEWAL IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MINDS, then put on the new self.

The new self is covered and full of God, which also includes living out His righteousness and holiness.

However, it is important that we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior so that we can have a renewal of our minds in order for the new self to be lived.

Paul said that to walk as the Gentiles walk is to walk after the old ways of the flesh (self) instead of the new way of the spirit.

It’s living in response to the natural world (what we see, hear, and touch). The futility of their mind ruled them. (Futility (mataiotes) means vain, empty, and devoid of truth.) It is a disillusioned and disconnected way of thinking and living.

The natural life is devoid of the truth of God.

The natural mind can only process what is in the natural world- feelings, experiences, self-will, etc.

It is like trying to make a meal in a dark room; the utensils, food, and oven are there, but all you have are instincts and self-will, but no direction because of the darkness.

You drop the knife on the floor, but it slipped under a cabinet; the oven is gas and requires a match but you don’t know where the matches are stored.

While you search for the matches, you realize the room is beginning to have a sick-sweet smell.

The gas had been left on too long, and the room was a ticking bomb; one light of the match and all would be lost.

This is what it is like to live in the futility and darkness of the mind.

When one lives based on feelings and self-will, all they have is their own smarts to get them by.

Some may do better than others based on intelligence and family background, but “self” will always deceive them.

Paul said to live in the futility of the mind is to be excluded from the life of God.

Excluded in the original word (apallotrioo) means to be “shut out from fellowship and intimacy” or a “non-participant.”

To be included in Christ is like trying to make a meal with all lights turned on.

Not only is the room brightly lit, but it is even better than that.

Grace is like Jesus coming into the kitchen, telling you to sit down while He makes the meal for you and cleans up!

People are fumbling around in the dark because they don’t know the kitchen is wired for light- they are ignorant of reality.

All can experience the light, but they have to be aware of the truth and receive it.

Stubborn unbelief keeps people in the dark; they either have never heard that there is some good news (the kitchen has been wired for light), or they all just want to keep fumbling around doing it their way.

The old way is destined for failure.

Paul said, “Lay aside the old self.”

When someone has received Christ, their old self was crucified with Christ. So why are we exhorted to lay the old self aside?

It is because many Christians, unaware that they died with Christ, are trying to reform their old selves.

It’s a lost cause.

Our flesh cannot be improved. What we need and what Christ offers is a brand new life-His life.

The supernatural and abundant life we’re called to live can only be received by faith and experienced by walking in the spirit.

We don’t put off and put on to become spiritual; we do this because we are spiritual.

Everyone born again is born of the spirit.

Since we are already in the spirit, let us walk after the spirit.

“and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,” Ephesians 4:23

To be renewed means that we are completely changed.

We go from making choices based on “self” to making choices based on what the Spirit spoke to us.

We start making wise decisions, and our lives go from hard to restful.

This doesn’t happen just by chance.

We have some work to do; this “work” is to change how we think.

On the day you were born again, a lot of things changed, but your way of thinking probably did not change.

If you liked vanilla cake and drove recklessly before you were saved, then you probably liked vanilla cake and drove recklessly after you were saved.

This is why the scriptures exhort us to put off the old and put on the new and be renewed in the spirit of our minds.

What you do follows what you think, what you think follows what you believe.

Renew your thinking so that your thoughts align with what God says about you.

You are what you believe.

“and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” Ephesians 4:24

You are righteous and holy, so act like it.

See yourself as God sees you.

Be who you truly are.

To put on the new man is choosing to walk in the new way of the spirit instead of the old ways of the flesh.

We don’t put off and put on to become spiritual; we do this because we are spiritual.

You are Created in righteousness.

You have been made into a new person, as righteous and holy as Jesus.

You are not being made righteous or righteous by your behavior- that is what is called man-made religion.

Manmade religion defines righteousness as morally good behavior or holy and right living according to God’s standard.

These are poor definitions for they suggest we can become righteous through proper performance.

Provided we live according to God’s standard or laws, God will judge us righteous.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Righteousness in the new covenant is the state of being right with God.

It is being able to say, “In Christ, I am holy, just, and right with God. I am loved by God, and God is for me.”

Jesus was made to be sin on our behalf so that we might become the righteousness of God in him (2 Cor 5:21).

Jesus was not made sin because he was a sinner, and you were not made righteous because you acted righteously.

God did it all.

You were stamped righteous for all eternity when you put your faith in Jesus.

At one time, you were unrighteous, but you were washed, sanctified, and declared righteous in the name of the Lord.

To be made righteous means you have had a complete renovation.

Righteousness means you are no longer the crooked person you used to be. While in Adam, you had inclinations that led you towards sin, no matter how hard you tried to avoid it.

In Christ, you are inclined to walk straight and true.

You desire to please the Lord.

It’s not that you are incapable of sinning.

It is just that sinning no longer appeals.

When you sin, it bothers you—“I wish I hadn’t done that”—testifying that this behavior is contrary to your new nature.

God wants us to discard our old lifestyles as we begin a new life with Him.

Every day, we get fresh mercy from above that gives us the chance to do better.

As long as we live, we’ll struggle with our sinful nature.

The Lord knows our trials and tribulations and gives us the Holy Spirit to help us renew our minds, put on the new self with true righteousness and holiness.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit

Praying …..

Psalm 93 New American Standard Bible

The Majesty of the Lord.

93 The Lord ^[a]reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
The Lord has clothed and encircled Himself with strength.
Indeed, the world is firmly established; it will not be moved.
²Your throne is established from of old;
You are from eternity.

³The floods have lifted up, Lord,
The floods have lifted up their voice,
The floods lift up their pounding waves.
⁴More than the sounds of many waters,
Than the mighty breakers of the sea,
The Lord on high is mighty.
⁵Your testimonies are fully confirmed;
Holiness is pleasing to Your house,
Lord, ^[b]forevermore.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Our Resolution? Leaving Last Year’s Bitterness far Behind! Imitation – is the sincerest form of modeling faith. Ephesians 4:29-5:2

Ephesians 4:29-5:2 Amplified Bible

²⁹Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak]. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [but seek to please Him], by whom you were sealed and marked [branded as God’s own] for the day of redemption [the final deliverance from the consequences of sin]. ³¹Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor [perpetual animosity, resentment, strife, fault-finding] and slander be put away from you, along with every kind of malice [all spitefulness, verbal abuse, malevolence]. ³²Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave ^[a]you.

Be Imitators of God

5 Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]; ²and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Bitterness is a deeply rooted issue, difficult to eradicate completely especially when injustice, hurt, suffering, and other forms of pain are involved.

If it remains and is never uprooted, it has the ability to grip us so tightly that it will squeeze the life out of us, preventing us from experiencing the goodness of God and the joy available to us.

It’s definitely a life-killer, destroying us from within, if we don’t rid ourselves of it, which, of course, we can’t do on our own because we need God’s strength to overcome it.

Because we aren’t strong enough on our own, Philippians 4:13 reminds us, “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”

Forgiveness Frees Us from Bitterness

The Apostle Paul explains in Acts 8:23 when bitterness invades our lives, it places us in the clutches of sin: “For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

Even with all our culture’s trendy self-help programs, improvement courses, and counseling opportunities, it’s impossible to rid ourselves of bitterness without forgiveness, we need to forgive those we hold bitterness towards.

It involves our forgiving others, often those who aren’t sorry, think they have nothing to be sorry for, and believe they don’t have anything to be forgiven for.

Proverbs 14:10 describes how personal bitterness is in each person, with no one else truly knowing what we’re holding in our hearts: “Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.”

Like Mary Poppins’ song says, “Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down,” we need God’s sweet forgiveness to wash away the bitterness from our hearts.

Even though our fallen human nature clings to bitterness as alligators cling to their pray, because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have all been given the ability to let the bite forces of bitterness go and resist the sin of holding onto it.

As Romans 6:14 reassures us, “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”

Okay, self! It’s Time to “Let It Go!”

The New Year is a time for us to strain, to further stretch our faith to new limits, ultimately surrender, let go of all bitterness and resist the need to carry it over to another year. Hebrews 12:15 warns us, “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

Because God calls us to let go of all bitterness, we need to obey. Just as Paul urges us in Ephesians 4:31, it’s time for us to agree with God as we all sing the Frozen song, “Let It Go.”

Sadly, many of us struggle too hard with letting go of bitterness towards others, resisting the tug of forgiveness of self and other’s in our hearts, while also not praying, studying the WORD of God, knowing how or where to begin, wrongly believing there is far too much bitterness built up inside us to be freed from it.

However, we still need to face the issue of bitterness head-on as Christians, because God unconditionally loves, forgives us; we really have no legitimate excuse or justification for holding any measure of bitterness against anyone.

Jesus urges in Mark 11:25, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

Luke 23:33-35 Amplified Bible

The Crucifixion

³³When they came to the place called ^[a]The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. ^34 [b]And Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” They cast lots, dividing His clothes among themselves. ³⁵Now the people stood by, watching; but even the rulers ridiculed and sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others [from death]; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) of God, His Chosen One.”

Jesus didn’t just preach it, He lived it by forgiving the people who crucified Him.

Dying, upon the cross, “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up His clothes by casting lots” (Luke 23:34).

Letting Go of the Past

Philippians 3:12-14 The Message

Focused on the Goal

^12-14I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.

It’s easy to get trapped in the past, isn’t it?

We hold on to things we wish we could undo, replaying those moments in our minds again and again.

It’s as if we are carrying a heavy bag full of regret, guilt, or past mistakes—constantly reminding ourselves of our shortcomings.

I know I’ve struggled with that—especially when I have wished I could turn back time and do things differently.

But here Paul reminds us that the past is behind us, and that dwelling on it doesn’t help us to grow.

In fact, that can hold us back from the new things God wants to do in our lives.

There’s a freedom in forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, just as Paul describes in this passage.

God is continually calling us to press on— to pursue the goal he has for us.

This doesn’t mean forgetting the lessons of the past, but it does mean no longer letting the past define our future.

There’s a prize ahead, and it’s waiting for all of us who are ready to leave our old life behind.

Be it Resolved: In God’s name above all names. let us press on towards the newness God has for us, not letting our past mistakes or regrets hold us back.

In the Name of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

Praying ….

Psalm 86:1-13 New American Standard Bible

Pleading and Trust.

A Prayer of David.

86 Incline Your ear, Lord, and answer me;
For I am afflicted and needy.
²Protect my ^[a]soul, for I am godly;
You my God, save Your servant who trusts in You.
³Be gracious to me, Lord,
For I call upon You all day long.
⁴Make the soul of Your servant joyful,
For to You, Lord, I lift up my soul.
⁵For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,
And abundant in mercy to all who call upon You.
⁶Listen, Lord, to my prayer;
And give Your attention to the sound of my pleading!
⁷On the day of my trouble I will call upon You,
For You will answer me.
⁸There is no one like You among the gods, Lord,
Nor are there any works like Yours.
⁹All nations whom You have made will come and worship before You, Lord,
And they will glorify Your name.
¹⁰For You are great, and You do ^[b]wondrous deeds;
You alone are God.

¹¹Teach me Your way, Lord;
I will walk in Your truth;
Unite my heart to fear Your name.
¹²I will give thanks to You, Lord my God, with all my heart,
And I will glorify Your name forever.
¹³For Your graciousness toward me is great,
And You have saved my soul from the ^[c]depths of ^[d]Sheol.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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How all Nature Reveals God’s Truth: The voice of Jehovah is upon all the waters: the God of glory thundereth,—Jehovah upon great waters. Psalm 29

Psalm 29 Darby Translation

A Psalm of David.

29 Give unto Jehovah, ye sons of the mighty ones, give unto Jehovah glory and strength;

²Give unto Jehovah the glory of his name; worship Jehovah in holy splendour.

³The voice of Jehovah is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth,—Jehovah upon great waters.

⁴The voice of Jehovah is powerful; the voice of Jehovah is full of majesty.

⁵The voice of Jehovah breaketh cedars; yea, Jehovah breaketh the cedars of Lebanon:

⁶And he maketh them to skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young buffalo.

⁷The voice of Jehovah cleaveth out flames of fire.

⁸The voice of Jehovah shaketh the wilderness; Jehovah shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.

⁹The voice of Jehovah maketh the hinds to calve, and layeth bare the forests; and in his temple doth every one say, Glory!

¹⁰Jehovah sitteth upon the flood; yea, Jehovah sitteth as king for ever.

¹¹Jehovah will give strength unto his people; Jehovah will bless his people with peace.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

The Voice of the Lord

³The voice of the Lord is on the waters;
The God of glory thunders,
The Lord is over ^[a]many waters.
⁴The voice of the Lord is powerful,
The voice of the Lord is majestic.
⁵The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
Yes, the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon in pieces.
⁶He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
And Sirion like a young wild ox.
⁷The voice of the Lord divides ^[b]flames of fire.
⁸The voice of the Lord ^[c]shakes the wilderness;
The Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
⁹The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple everything says, “Glory!”

The voice of the Lord features prominently in the Bible, from “Let there be . . . !” in Genesis 1 to “I am coming soon!” in Revelation 22.

Like any voice, the voice of the Lord can whisper or shout.

In 1 Kings 19, a gentle voice consoles the prophet Elijah, whose spirit is in turmoil.

Psalm 29 describes a roaring voice that rips forests apart.

The voice of the Lord speaks to Jesus when he is baptized.

It says, “You are my Son, whom I love” (Mark 1:11).

That’s an echo of Psalm 2 and Isaiah 42.

And it assigns a destiny to Jesus. He will be a king who rules as a servant.

Jesus embraces that destiny in obedient, faithful trust.

In Psalm 29 the powerful voice of the Lord breaks cedars in pieces, “twists the oaks,” and “strips the forests bare.”

Following the voice that calls to him, Jesus himself will be stripped bare and twisted.

He will be broken in pieces on a tree.

Crowned with thorns, he will be God’s suffering servant, the Savior of the world.

The voice of the Lord still speaks.

If we listen carefully, we can hear it.

From the cross the voice of the Lord whispers, “This is what power looks like.”

This statement also holds with God. His body of work is all around us, giving us a glimpse of His true nature and character.

1. The Galaxy Put on Full Display God’s Wisdom

Looking up at the heavens, we can’t help but be amazed and dumbfounded by how massive, intricate, majestic, and awesome our universe is.

So mind-blowing that even Albert Einstein, who doubted the very existence of God, couldn’t fathom that this vast universe, the way it’s created with such sharp precision and with all its endless number of milky ways and galaxies, could come into being by accident.

You see– the slightest miscalculation can throw the whole solar system into utter chaos, endangering everyone’s lives here on earth.

It’s no wonder, Einstein, with all his qualms and doubts about God, was once quoted as saying that there must be an Intelligent Being behind its creation.

Considering God’s wisdom, His precision and meticulous way with which He carries out tasks, should anyone then be vilified for having any skepticism or mistrusting God’s ability to manage our lives, trusting Him to take complete control of our future?

The way He masterfully brought forth everything into existence, down to the tiniest details, goes to show that we have no reason to doubt, nothing to fear.

We can entrust everything to His care, and breathe easy knowing that He’s all too powerful, wise, dependable, and trustworthy.

2. The Cyclical Nature of the Seasons Shows That God Wants Us to Rely on Him

The changing of seasons is a humbling reminder our lives are also governed by the cyclical seasons of life.

Just as a proud tree shoots out its green leaves and shiny fruits in spring, the autumn season, however, can then decimate everything it produces, losing everything in the process.

If you’ve passed by a naked tree stripped to its last leaf, you know what I mean.

God wants us to realize that difficult seasons don’t last if we continue to rely on Him, seeking His guidance in everything we do, so even during the driest spell of our lives, we will remain standing.

Just like that naked tree in the meadow, seemingly worn out and withered as it struggles to weather the autumn and winter seasons, it will remain undeterred because it knows and realizes God will bring its big comeback come the spring.

3. The Ants Show That God Abhors Laziness

Before the rain comes, I would often notice an army of tiny ants going out and about, carrying anything they can grab onto, shouldering morsels of food twice their size, and dumping their loot inside the tiniest holes no one can enter.

They are preparing for the rainy days ahead.

That’s why I am not at all surprised God Himself used the ants’ diligence, resourcefulness, perseverance as an example for people to follow and emulate.

God Himself is hardworking.

Didn’t He work for six full days and ‘rest’ only on the seventh day?

We’re not saying that we ought to work 6 days a week.

It only shows that we too are created for good work, we’re not brought into this world to couch away in laziness but use our God-given talents to contribute to its growth advancing God’s kingdom here on earth, both in small and big ways.

4. God Shows His Relentless Spirit in Nature

God is simply relentless.

If there’s one thing I’ve realized about a side of God I didn’t notice before, it is His utterly relentless nature.

You can see God’s relentless nature in the way a butterfly rips itself out of its chrysalis after months of brutal, silent fight.

In the way ants carry morsels of food twice their weight for weeks or for even months, the way a seed pushes through dirt and mud to flower, refusing to die.

Reading, studying, the Scripture, we would realize once God puts His heart into something, He is relentless.

He will make sure whatever He sets His heart on, He will accomplish it in His own time, His heart’s desires will inevitably come to fruition.

Did He not declare a long time ago that He would bring the Jewish people back to their homeland? True enough, despite those thousands of hard years of exile across many different nations, Jewish nation still ended up returning to Israel.

This happened despite the Jews’ refusal to go back to the land.

Can we blame them?

Israel, before their return to Eretz Israel, was mostly desert, it was infested with malaria-causing mosquitoes. Marshes and swamps were poorly drained before their arrival, turning many areas into a breeding ground for a type of mosquito, Anopheles, which is responsible for the spread of malaria disease in the region.

It’s a desert country where even a cactus struggled to thrive, according to Mark Twain, something he had noted in his diary during his visit to the land in 1867.

But God is relentless.

Whatever He set out to do, He brings to life.

A barren desert for more than two thousand years, the land has once again reverted back into what it was known for, land of milk and honey, land of many grazing cows and flourishing havens of fruits, veggies, and flowers of all kinds, a few years after the Jewish people had cultivated the fields and settled in their homeland.

“But you, mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home.” Ezekiel 36:8 NIV

And He is relentless in His pursuit of you.

Moment by moment, day after day, year after year, He is shaping you into the kind of person He aspires you to be.

He shapes your character through life experiences, the people He sends into your pathway, the souls He meant for you to meet.

That is why we’re confident that “ He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6 NIV

5. God’s Gentleness Is Visible in Nature

Whether it be a soft rain falling into the meadow, a mother swan guiding her young, a gentle stream flowing over rocks, a mother bird feeding her babies 100 times a day, dandelion seeds drifting in the wind, or the random kindness of strangers–we can observe, we feel a smile on our faces at God’s gentle nature.

Atheists and even some Christians often describe God in the Old Testament as wrathful and vengeful, exacting severe, insufferable punishment against those who defied His commands.

Truth is, some Christians even think that the God of the Old Testament seems different from the God of the New Testament.

It appears as if God has a contrasting character.

Wrathful as a lion in the Old Testament, gentle as a dove in the New Testament.

If we were to scrutinize the reason behind God’s wrath in the Old Testament, we would inevitably realize those gravest circumstances compelling Him to exact a severe judgment against His people.

Before punishing a person, group of people, or a nation, God would send out repeated warnings not for days or months but for years, even decades, before executing judgment.

The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah came about due to the rampant sexual immorality and other immoral acts that ran rampant throughout those cities.

God was merciful and gracious enough to send His prophets throughout the years to warn people about the impending catastrophe that would befall them if they would not turn away from their misbehaviors to repent of their many sins.

Yet, time and again, for decades, the inhabitants remained defiant, stubbornly rebellious.

And when the judgment was about to be carried out, did not God agree with Moses’ proposal several times as the latter pleaded with God to seek out those few righteous people, grant them mercy, and spare the city from His wrath?

In the end, those 10 righteous people in the land were allowed to leave and live.

And Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, but only after decades of warning.

God is not wrathful.

He is a God of justice. That is His nature, and as such, He carries out what only a just God is drawn to do: to exact judgment when dire circumstances demand it.

Being intimate with God isn’t just about carving out time to spend with Him in prayer; it’s about cultivating a deeper personal relationship with Him.

It’s also about knowing God for who He is.

And we can do so by observing His wonderful works around; nature has a way of revealing God’s heart.

The more we know Him, the more our love for Him is engraved deeply in our sin stone hardened hearts, enabling us to be transformed into kinder, gentler souls.

“He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:8 NKJV

“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” 1 John 2:3-6 NKJV

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit …

Praying ….

Psalm 19 New American Standard Bible

The Works and the Word of God.

For the music director. A Psalm of David.

19 The heavens tell of the glory of God;
And their expanse declares the work of His hands.
²Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
³There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.
⁴Their ^[a]line has gone out into all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.
In them He has placed a tent for the sun,
⁵Which is like a groom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices like a strong person to run his course.
⁶Its rising is from ^[b]one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the ^[c]other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

⁷The Law of the Lord is ^[d]perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
⁸The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
⁹The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
¹⁰They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much pure gold;
Sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
¹¹Moreover, Your servant is warned by them;
In keeping them there is great reward.
¹²Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
¹³Also keep Your servant back from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me;
Then I will be innocent,
And I will be blameless of great wrongdoing.
¹⁴May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Now is the appointed time to just Go! Behold! From the very Beginning: its all about The Creator And The Word. Genesis 1:1-6

Bereshis 1:1-6 Orthodox Jewish Bible

1 In the beginning Elohim created hashomayim (the heavens, Himel) and haaretz (the earth).

²And the earth was tohu vavohu (without form, and void); and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Ruach Elohim was hovering upon the face of the waters.

³And Elohim said, Let there be light: and there was light [Tehillim 33:6,9].

⁴And Elohim saw the light, that it was tov (good); and Elohim divided the ohr (light) from the choshech (darkness).

⁵And Elohim called the light Yom (Day), and the darkness He called Lailah (Night). And the erev (evening) and the boker (morning) were Yom Echad (Day One, the First Day, Mk 16:2).

⁶And Elohim said, Let there be a raki’a (expanse, dome, firmament) in the midst of the mayim (waters), and let it divide the mayim from the mayim.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

In the Bible we have God’s great story of the world from its beginning to its end.

This story includes not only mind numbing complexity and wondrous beauty but also great tragedy and sorrow.

One of the golden threads woven into this story focuses on the world’s true King. Who is this King, and what does true kingship look like on the earth?

In the Bible’s opening verses we can hear God speaking.

In the ancient world, no one could make things happen the way a king could by just speaking.

If the king said, “Let there be a banquet,” the obedient servants jumped into action. “Your wish is our command,” they would say.

In Genesis, God speaks as King, and the cosmos itself springs into being.

God can even make something out of nothing!

Light and darkness, day and night, water and sky, sun and moon, vegetation and creatures.

Whole arenas of life are formed and filled.

And the King says, “It is good.”

This Creator King builds by speaking, and his lordship over all things is put on display.

Ancient kings in their earthly kingdoms would build temples, palaces, and vast gardens. Creator King has spoken, built the marvelous temple-palace-garden complex that is creation, the whole universe, including our own earthly home.

The world in which we “live and move and have our being” exists because our King continues to speak and uphold its existence (Colossians 1:16-17). Amazing!

Appreciate this thought: There is, was will never a time when God did not exist. Before there was time, before there was anything at all, there was always God.

Hebrews 13:8 Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

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

And since His nature is unchanging, so He has also always existed in the Trinity—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Amen!

When we are reading the Bible, we discover each member of the Holy Trinity was involved in creation: God the Father took the initiative, God the Holy Spirit is described as “hovering over” the proceedings, and God the Son was the agent of creation in all that was made (Genesis 1:2-3; John 1:3).

“All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small”[1] should leave us in awe; they were all fashioned by God’s command.

1 Cecil F. Alexander, “All Things Bright and Beautiful” (1848).

And He is not only the Creator of all; He is also the King, the Lord of all that He has created. All of nature is quite literally, by, in His hands, under His control.

As we visually try to picture waves crashing against ancient shorelines, it’s wonderfully encouraging to know each one is there as a direct result of God’s sovereign rule. He hasn’t stepped away from His creation, nor will He ever.

It’s so vitally important to remember God is also transcendent. He is sitting on His throne, above, beyond, fully unique and distinct from all that He has made.

This is what distinguishes Christianity from pantheism.

It is the idea that the natural world is a manifestation of God and therefore literally every single thing is somehow a part of Him.

With this belief, we dare not kill a fly, step on an ant – those insects are divine.

Similarly, we should not chop down a tree or eat meat, because these too are “parts of God.”

Teachings like these are mistaken and misguided and tend to lead to idolatry.

Scripture makes it crystal clear that time and time again that people will choose to worship “the creature rather than the Creator” (Romans 1:25).

When we see a great painting, we rightly admire and enjoy the painting, and then we praise the painter. All of creation is God’s canvas, and all of it speaks of “his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature” (v 20).

Only God is to be worshiped, for creation exists by His power and for His glory.

His existence knows no beginning or end, and He will reign forever.

He is the King.

Today, exalt Him as He alone deserves.

Go for a walk or look out of the window and sing praises to Him as you see His beauty displayed in what He has made.

Humble yourselves! Praise Him, Honor Him, Glorify Him, Worship Him, as He continues to rule over His creation, and for holding you in His sovereign hand.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit …

Praying ….

Psalm 23 Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

23 On the first day of the week, a psalm for David. The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof: the world, and all they that dwell therein.

²For he hath founded it upon the seas; and hath prepared it upon the rivers.

³Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord: or who shall stand in his holy place?

⁴The innocent in hands, and clean of heart, who hath not taken his soul in vain, nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbour.

⁵He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God his Saviour.

⁶This is the generation of them that seek him, of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob.

⁷Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates: and the King of Glory shall enter in.

⁸Who is this King of Glory? the Lord who is strong and mighty: the Lord mighty in battle.

⁹Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be ye lifted up, O eternal gates: and the King of Glory shall enter in.

¹⁰Who is this King of Glory? the Lord of hosts, he is the King of Glory.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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As as we are all making resolutions: Bring the Greatness of God to others this coming Year of our Lord 2026. Luke 1:26-30

Luke 1:26-30 Authorized (King James) Version

²⁶And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, ²⁷to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. ²⁹And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. ³⁰And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Somehow the body of Christ seems to think that if we are humble we should never desire or even confess the desire to be great. Why is this? Is it because we think or have been taught that to desire such a bold thing is sinful or carnal?

So often in the body of Christ some teacher or pastor says something that the audience thinks is brilliant because it’s provocative or new without knowing whether what was said was biblically sound or not.

Sometimes it’s a simple thing and other times it a deep idea that fascinates people’s interest.

All too often a solid ministry has gone off the rails biblically because some pastor or teacher has an unhealthy appetite for being on the cutting edge of some “New Concept” to wow their audience.

They keep trying to have provocative “New” ideas, resolutions to gain a greater audience or notoriety versus helping people become better followers of Jesus.

Now mind you, some of what the body of Christ has believed for hundreds of years could be wrong and therefore, challenging such ideas with the scriptures may sound original and provocative but in truth it is returning to the original intent God had all along.

Scripture is always our bottom line as believers in terms of how we evaluate new and old teachings in the body of Christ, not our own feelings or desires.

Luke 1:26-30 Complete Jewish Bible

²⁶In the sixth month, the angel Gavri’el was sent by God to a city in the Galil called Natzeret, ²⁷to a virgin engaged to a man named Yosef, of the house of David; the virgin’s name was Miryam. ²⁸Approaching her, the angel said, “Shalom, favored lady! Adonai is with you!” ²⁹She was deeply troubled by his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Miryam, for you have found favor with God.

In one moment of time, young Mary’s life was forever changed.

As the angel of the Lord spoke about her future, Mary went from an obscure Jewish teenager to the hand-selected mother of the long-awaited Messiah.

Everything changed when she understood her destiny.

Mary didn’t know power or popularity, wealth or fame; we don’t even know her last name.

Yet she was favored by God, chosen above all the women throughout time to bring the fullness and greatness of God’s salvation and healing into this world.

It’s the kind of salvation needed by both paupers and presidents, rich and poor, black, white, known and obscure.

And such healing would become the spark of life in the darkness of dead men’s souls, and bridge the great divide between our lost humanity and a loving God.

Yet her journey was not without difficulty as she had to deal with practical facts:

not fully understanding God’s plan, judgmental people speaking lies about her, her own doubts and fears, and trusting God to vindicate and protect her.

Mary’s story was a trial of faith.

Yet she made it through and so can we.

Because like Mary, we are all, in our own God-ordained way, called to bring something indelibly, extraordinary (the Glory of God) straight into the world.

Matthew 5:14-16 Amplified Bible

¹⁴“You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; ¹⁵nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.

But to do so, we must learn from Mary’s experience.

1. Commit to Personal Righteousness

“Personal righteousness” refers to a commitment by believers to live consistent with God’s high calling to carry His light into a lost world.

We must commit to display integrity, purity, honor, respect and holiness. Our lives should be examples for others to emulate – not perfect lives without fault, failure or division, but lives consistent with being on mission for God Himself.

We must hold grace, not as an excuse to sin, but as a motivating force to live honorably before God.

We should neither become judgmental nor a stumbling block unto those who desperately need Christ’s forgiveness.

Personal righteousness is a long drawn out battle that we commit to fight in order to be model examples of God’s love that helps lead people to salvation.

And I believe “personal righteousness” was a significant factor in Mary’s selection to bear the Messiah for mankind:

Luke 1:26-34 Amplified Bible

Jesus’ Birth Foretold

²⁶Now in the sixth month [of Elizabeth’s pregnancy] the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷to a virgin ^[a]betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸And coming to her, the angel said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” ²⁹But she was greatly perplexed at what he said, and kept carefully considering what kind of greeting this was. ³⁰The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹Listen carefully: you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. ³²He will be great and eminent and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; ³³and He will reign over the house of Jacob (Israel) forever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end.” ³⁴Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin and have no intimacy with any man?”

These verses imply that Mary, who was divinely chosen for this extraordinary task, was chosen partly because of her commitment to personal righteousness.

In fact, the Word makes it clear that there is a connection between personal righteousness and God’s decision to entrust great responsibilities to people.

This also directly, decisively, implies our inattention to lackluster personal righteousness limits the effectiveness of their individual in their success.

Hebrews 12:1-3 The Message

Discipline in a Long-Distance Race

12 ^1-3Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

Anything less than focused commitment to personal righteousness will become a weight that stands in the way of our God-given assignment.

I am convinced if we would fight as vehemently for personal righteousness as we do for social righteousness, or pointing out the sins of the world, we would steadily, but also inevitably, impact the world in much more profound ways!

2. Be Available

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 The Message

^26-31Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don’t see many of “the brightest and the best” among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these “nobodies” to expose the hollow pretensions of the “somebodies”? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That’s why we have the saying, “If you’re going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God.”

Translation – you don’t have to be great to do great things for God!

Mediocrity is just as acceptable, is just as highly valued by God.

What does being a mediocre mean?

The definition of mediocre is “of ordinary quality,” “merely adequate,” and “average.” Another word that shares the same root is mediocracy, which means “government run by mediocre people” — an all-too-common, daily condition.

Definitions of mediocre. adjective. moderate to inferior in quality.

Notice here what Mary says of herself:

Luke 1:46-55 Authorized (King James) Version

⁴⁶And Mary said,

My soul doth magnify the Lord,
⁴⁷and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
⁴⁸For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden:
for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
⁴⁹For he that is mighty hath done to me great things;
and holy is his name.
⁵⁰And his mercy is on them that fear him
from generation to generation.
⁵¹He hath shewed strength with his arm;
he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
⁵²He hath put down the mighty from their seats,
and exalted them of low degree.
⁵³He hath filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich he hath sent empty away.
⁵⁴He hath holpen (helped) his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy;
⁵⁵as he spake to our fathers,
to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

“Low estate” means someone who is low in rank, considered vile, or who is humiliated.

It describes a person who is down and out, rejected, despised, overlooked or simply not popular!

Although it can’t be proven, some people believe Mary was the least in her father’s house, as if she were under some particular contempt and disgrace among her family – like the Cinderella of ancient Israel.

Regardless, it is clear that Mary felt there was nothing extraordinary about Mary! Yet, God chose her.

Why?

The Word demonstrates she made herself available to God; to be used by Him to carry out His extraordinary mission.

She was willing to make room, in her life and in her womb, for God to use her.

But I would guess if we took a hard look at our busy schedules, most of us would mirror Martha, sister of Mary and Lazarus rather Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Luke 10:41-42 Amplified Bible

⁴¹But the Lord replied to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered and anxious about so many things; ⁴²but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part [that which is to her advantage], which will not be taken away from her.”

Translation – your schedule is packed too full to focus on the things that matter most in life.

At times, our lives get so cluttered, so over-burdened that we don’t have time or mental space to be available for God to use in any significant way.

If that resonates with you, it’s time to reorganize and reprioritize some things; we must intentionally make ourselves available so that we are able to carry out anything He asks.

3. Understand the Purpose of Favor

One of the most memorable words of the angel’s announcement was “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you…” (Luke 1:28).

Many times, we misunderstand favor in our society.

God’s favor is not all about blessing, good breaks and open doors in order to increase personal or social status.

Rather the purpose of divine favor is to allow us to accomplish what God needs done in our lives.

– Joseph found favor with Potiphar,

found favor in prison, and found favor with Pharaoh…because his purpose was to serve as Prime Minister over Egypt in a time of great famine.

– Young David found favor in the eyes of the prophet Samuel, and God touched David’s sling shot with favor to defeat the giant Goliath in battle…because his purpose was to serve as King of Israel.

– Daniel found favor in the courts of the wicked King Nebuchadnezzar…because his purpose was to serve as the prophet of the LORD to the nations.

– Esther found favor in the eyes of the King of Persia…because her purpose was to serve as an intercessor to save her people from destruction.

Favor is not as much for our person, as it is for our purpose.

Even so, when we commit ourselves to God, that favor does positively affect our lives in many forms.

4. Be Willing to Risk Everything

Think of what Mary risked to bring the salvation of God into the world.

Imagine dinner conversation with her parents. Or the angry, hushed argument raging between her parents and Joseph’s parents. Imagine what it felt like to walk to the marketplace, sit in synagogue or look into Joseph’s wounded eyes.

For Mary to fulfill her God-given assignment, she had to release control, risk it all: her reputation, family and friends, her financial security – even her life.

In the culture of that day, she could have been stoned to death for adultery while betrothed to Joseph.

Whatever God entrusts you to bring into the world, regardless of influence, be aware there will be a hefty personal cost.

Jesus did not try to hide this aspect of being His disciple.

Matthew 16:24-27 Amplified Bible

Discipleship Is Costly

²⁴Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]. ²⁵For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake will find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity]. ²⁶For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world [wealth, fame, success], but forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? ²⁷For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory and majesty of His Father with His angels, and then He will repay each one in accordance with what he has done.

How was Mary able to accept the high price and high calling of bringing and too, raising the Son of God into the world?

Luke 1:38 Amplified Bible

³⁸Then Mary said, “^[a]Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel left her.

One of the greatest challenges for many of us, especially in Western society, is seeing ourselves as God’s servants.

We forget as believers, we have willingly given our lives over to Christ, and we are no longer our own; rather, we have been bought with an irreplaceable price.

The Christ who created us and redeemed us from death now has the right to direct our lives and our actions in it, regardless of perceived risk to our plans, social standing or financial well-being.

From God’s perspective every person who impacts the world in a significant way for God understands this truth.

For example, you’ll observe Paul in his epistles constantly reaffirms his continuous submission to Christ.

Romans 1:1-4 Amplified Bible

The Gospel Exalted

1 Paul, a ^[a]bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative), set apart for [preaching] the ^[b]gospel of God [the good news of salvation], ²which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the sacred Scriptures— ³[the good news] regarding His Son, who, as to the flesh [His human nature], was born a descendant of David [to fulfill the covenant promises], ⁴and [as to His divine nature] according to the Spirit of holiness was openly designated to be the Son of God with power [in a triumphant and miraculous way] by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

A “bondservant” was someone who had been purchased as a slave.

At the time appointed for them to be set free, they elected to stay with their master for life and serve them, because of love.

Ultimately, that’s what it takes to bring divine greatness to the world in an impactful way.

It requires we love Jesus so much that, even though we must reprioritize things in our lives to reflect His character, intentionally make room in our schedules to answer His call at any time, and be courageous enough to step out in faith well beyond our comfort zones.

We devote our lives and everything we do to serving Him as our master.

It may seem impossible now, but nothing is impossible with God!

He is greater than our human limitations, and He can, moment by moment summon us, prepare and position us for every good thing He has planned.

Psalm 62:5-8 New Living Translation

⁵Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
    for my hope is in him.
⁶He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress where I will not be shaken.
⁷My victory and honor come from God alone.
    He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
⁸O my people, trust in him at all times.
    Pour out your heart to him,
    for God is our refuge.

The disarming song of Psalm 62 gives us a beautiful invitation: “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”

In a mysterious way, being vulnerable and pouring out our hearts opens us up to receive the rock-solid foundation that God’s loving character provides us.

We may not be able to control what happens in our lives, but we always have the invitation to rely fully on God.

No matter what, even if we feel as if we could be toppled, we will not be shaken.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Praying …….

Psalm 46 The Message

46 ^1-3God is a safe place to hide,
    ready to help when we need him.
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
    courageous in seastorm and earthquake,
Before the rush and roar of oceans,
    the tremors that shift mountains.

Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

^4-6River fountains splash joy, cooling God’s city,
    this sacred haunt of the Most High.
God lives here, the streets are safe,
    God at your service from crack of dawn.
Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten,
    but Earth does anything he says.

⁷ Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

^8-10Attention, all! See the marvels of God!
    He plants flowers and trees all over the earth,
Bans war from pole to pole,
    breaks all the weapons across his knee.
“Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
    loving look at me, your High God,
    above politics, above everything.”

¹¹ Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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1. Commit to Personal Righteousness

Jesus’ Birth Foretold

Discipline in a Long-Distance Race

2. Be Available

3. Understand the Purpose of Favor

4. Be Willing to Risk Everything

Discipleship Is Costly

The Gospel Exalted

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A ^[a]Mikhtam of David.