Psalm 71 The Message

71 ^1-3 I run for dear life to God,
    I’ll never live to regret it.
Do what you do so well:
    get me out of this mess and up on my feet.
Put your ear to the ground and listen,
    give me space for salvation.
Be a guest room where I can retreat;
    you said your door was always open!
You’re my salvation—my vast, granite fortress.

^4-7 My God, free me from the grip of Wicked,
    from the clutch of Bad and Bully.
You keep me going when times are tough—
    my bedrock, God, since my childhood.
I’ve hung on you from the day of my birth,
    the day you took me from the cradle;
    I’ll never run out of praise.
Many gasp in alarm when they see me,
    but you take me in stride.

^8-11 Just as each day brims with your beauty,
    my mouth brims with praise.
But don’t turn me out to pasture when I’m old
    or put me on the shelf when I can’t pull my weight.
My enemies are talking behind my back,
    watching for their chance to knife me.
The gossip is: “God has abandoned him.
    Pounce on him now; no one will help him.”

^12-16 God, don’t just watch from the sidelines.
    Come on! Run to my side!
My accusers—make them lose face.
    Those out to get me—make them look
Like idiots, while I stretch out, reaching for you,
    and daily add praise to praise.
I’ll write the book on your righteousness,
    talk up your salvation all the day long,
    never run out of good things to write or say.
I come in the power of the Lord God,
    I post signs marking his right-of-way.

^17-24 You got me when I was an unformed youth,
    God, and taught me everything I know.
Now I’m telling the world your wonders;
    I’ll keep at it until I’m old and gray.
God, don’t walk off and leave me
    until I get out the news
Of your strong right arm to this world,
    news of your power to the world yet to come,
Your famous and righteous
    ways, O God.
God, you’ve done it all!
    Who is quite like you?
You, who made me stare trouble in the face,
    Turn me around;
Now let me look life in the face.
    I’ve been to the bottom;
Bring me up, streaming with honors;
    turn to me, be tender to me,
And I’ll take up the lute and thank you
    to the tune of your faithfulness, God.
I’ll make music for you on a harp,
    Holy One of Israel.
When I open up in song to you,
    I let out lungsful of praise,
    my rescued life a song.
All day long I’m chanting
    about you and your righteous ways,
While those who tried to do me in
    slink off looking ashamed.

The 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.

When I Am Growing Old and Feeble … Stand By Me

When the storms of life are raging
Stand by me
When the storms of life are raging
Stand by me
When the world is tossing me
Like a ship out on the sea
Thou who rulest wind and water
Stand by me

When I’m growing old and feeble
Stand by me
When I’m growing old and feeble
Stand by me
When I do the best I can
And my friends misunderstand
Thou who never
Lost a battle
Stand by me
Thou who never lost a battle
Stand by me

Author: Charles Albert Tindley (1905)

What More Is There For Our “Grey Headed” Spirituality?

Psalm 71:9-18 Authorized (King James) Version

⁹ Cast me not off in the time of old age;
forsake me not when my strength faileth.
¹⁰ For mine enemies speak against me;
and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,
¹¹ saying, God hath forsaken him:
persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.
¹² O God, be not far from me:
O my God, make haste for my help.
¹³ Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul;
let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.
¹⁴ But I will hope continually,
and will yet praise thee more and more.
¹⁵ My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day;
for I know not the numbers thereof.
¹⁶ I will go in the strength of the Lord God:
I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

¹⁷ O God, thou hast taught me from my youth:
and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
¹⁸ Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not;
until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation,
and thy power to every one that is to come.

Psalm 71:18 ( AKJV) reads, “Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.”

This verse is a poignant plea to God for strength and guidance, even in old age.

The unacknowledged , unidentified psalmist acknowledges the inevitability of old age and the challenges that come with it, but also the psalmist expresses a deep desire to continue to serve others and glorify God throughout their life.

There are several key themes and layers of meaning in this verse, which can be explored in detail to gain a deeper understanding of its significance.

One theme that stands out in this verse is the concept of age, resilience and perseverance. The psalmist is acknowledging their age and the challenges that come with it, yet they are not asking, praying, for relief from those challenges.

Instead, they are asking for God to not forsake them, to continue to provide strength and guidance so that they may continue to fulfill their purpose in serving God and showing His strength and wisdom unto future generations.

This speaks mightily to the idea of the psalmist’s enduring faith and dedication, despite the mounting “grayheaded” difficulties and limitations of his old age.

Another theme present in this verse is the irresistible covenant requirement to be passing on of his “grayheaded” faith and wisdom unto future generations.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Amplified Bible

⁴ “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one [the only God]! ⁵ You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your strength [your entire being]. ⁶ These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be [written] on your heart and mind. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your ^[a]children [impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths] and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand (forearm), and they shall be used as ^[b]bands (frontals, frontlets) on your forehead. ⁹ You shall write them on the ^[c]doorposts of your house and on your gates.

The psalmist expresses a deep desire to show God’s strength and power to the next generation and to all who are to come.

This reflects a deep sense of responsibility and a recognition of the importance of passing on the knowledge and experience of grayheaded faith unto others.

It speaks to the idea of leaving a lasting legacy of faith and a commitment to spreading the message of God’s power and goodness to future generations.

The context of this verse is also important to consider.

The book of Psalms is a collection of prayers and songs that express a wide range of emotions and experiences. Many of the psalms were written by King David, who faced numerous trials and challenges throughout his life.

In this particular psalm, the writer is seeking God’s protection and deliverance from stronger enemies, as well as expressing their trust in God’s faithfulness.

In the midst of their struggles, they are also reflecting on the passage of time and the great challenges that come with old age, and they are seeking God’s continued presence and strength to carry them through.

Symbolism is also present in this verse, particularly in the imagery of old age and gray hair.

In many cultures, old age is symbolic of the accumulation wisdom, experience, and the accumulation of knowledge.

By invoking the image of being old and grayheaded, the psalmist is hereby acknowledging the wisdom and perspective that comes with age, the value of that wisdom in serving God and teaching future generations.

The gray hair symbolizes a life well-lived, lessons well learned and the desire to continue to be of service and value to God, future generations, even in old age.

Why Is Spiritual Growth Important? – Senior Living

Romans 12:1-2 Amplified Bible

Dedicated Service

12 ^[a]Therefore I urge you, ^[b]brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. ²  And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be ^[c]transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

Recently, on my Social Media feed, someone posted this story which hit me;

In the mid-1700s, a shipload of migrants landed on the northwest coast of America. Their first year, they established a site on which they’d build their village. The second year, they elected a village government. The third year, the village government made the risky decision to build a road stretching five miles westward into the wilderness.

In the fourth year, the townspeople tried to overthrow their own government because they believed building a road five miles into the wilderness was a waste of money. The very same people who saw thousands of miles across an ocean and overcame hardships to get there couldn’t see five miles down the road!

They had gone too far, reached the outer limits and so, refused to go further.

Many Christians are a lot like those townspeople.

They reach “their limit” a point in their walk with Christ and think they have no further to go, more to offer. It’s they’ve become “close enough with God to be comfortable,” so they go into “maintenance mode” and stop moving forward.

Our comfort in Christ comes from the fact that throughout our life, through our experiences, both good and bad, through faith, we are firmly planted in Him.

2 Timothy 1:3-11 Amplified Bible

³ I thank God, whom I worship and serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, ⁴  and as I recall your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. ⁵ I remember your sincere and unqualified faith [the surrendering of your entire self to God in Christ with confident trust in His power, wisdom and goodness, a faith] which first lived in [the heart of] your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am confident that it is in you as well. ⁶ That is why I remind you to ^[a]fan into flame the gracious gift of God, [that inner fire—the special endowment] which is in you through the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination]. ⁷ For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or  cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].

⁸ So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord or about me His prisoner, but with me take your share of suffering for the gospel [continue to preach regardless of the circumstances], in accordance with the power of God [for His power is invincible], ⁹ for He delivered us and saved us and called us with a holy calling [a calling that leads to a consecrated life—a life set apart—a life of purpose], not because of our works [or because of any personal merit—we could do nothing to earn this], but because of His own purpose and grace [His amazing, undeserved favor] which was granted to us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago], ¹⁰ but now [that extraordinary purpose and grace] has been fully disclosed and realized by us through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus who [through His incarnation and earthly ministry] abolished death [making it null and void] and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, ¹¹ for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher [of this good news regarding salvation].

But as we grow and mature, we surrender daily as we are transformed more and more into His image. We cannot be content in just yesterday’s spiritual growth.

The message from the “grayheaded” Psalmist in Psalm 71 is move continually forward in sharing your faith and surrendering your life to Christ day by day!

Prayer Challenge

From where ever you are in becoming “grayheaded” ask God to show you how, when, why, to surrender each day to Him so you’ll continue growing in Christ.

Questions for Thought

As your “grayhead” becomes more “evident,” why do you think becoming spiritually comfortable is such a common tendency among believers?

As those gray hairs become more obvious to you, others, what are some things you can do daily that will help you continually give your life over unto Christ?

In conclusion, Psalm 71:18 ( AKJV) is a powerful expression of faith, resilience, and a deep, ongoing, never ending commitment to serving God, even in old age.

It speaks to the enduring nature of faith, the importance of passing on wisdom and knowledge to future generations, of future generations to continue to pass on, and the symbolism of old age as a time of continued service and dedication.

However old we are, this verse serves as a encouraging, empowering reminder to all believers to seek God’s strength and guidance throughout their lives, and to continue to be a light and example of faith to those who’ll come after them.

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

Let us Pray,

Psalm 103 The Message

103 ^1-2 O my soul, bless God.
    From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name!
O my soul, bless God,
    don’t forget a single blessing!

^3-5     He forgives your sins—every one.
    He heals your diseases—every one.
    He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
    He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
    He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
    He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.

^6-18 God makes everything come out right;
    he puts victims back on their feet.
He showed Moses how he went about his work,
    opened up his plans to all Israel.
God is sheer mercy and grace;
    not easily angered, he’s rich in love.
He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold,
    nor hold grudges forever.
He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve,
    nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.
As high as heaven is over the earth,
    so strong is his love to those who fear him.
And as far as sunrise is from sunset,
    he has separated us from our sins.
As parents feel for their children,
    God feels for those who fear him.
He knows us inside and out,
    keeps in mind that we’re made of mud.
Men and women don’t live very long;
    like wildflowers they spring up and blossom,
But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly,
    leaving nothing to show they were here.
God’s love, though, is ever and always,
    eternally present to all who fear him,
Making everything right for them and their children
    as they follow his Covenant ways
    and remember to do whatever he said.

^19-22 God has set his throne in heaven;
    he rules over us all. He’s the King!
So bless God, you angels,
    ready and able to fly at his bidding,
    quick to hear and do what he says.
Bless God, all you armies of angels,
    alert to respond to whatever he wills.
Bless God, all creatures, wherever you are—
    everything and everyone made by God.

And you, O my soul, bless 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.

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John 5:1-9 English Standard Version

The Healing at the Pool on the Sabbath

5 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

² Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic^[a] called Bethesda,^[b] which has five roofed colonnades. ³ In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed.^[c] 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” ⁷ The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” ⁸ Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” ⁹ And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

Now that day was the Sabbath.

The 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.

“Would you like to get well?”

Sometimes our biggest disease isn’t what appears in our bodies.

Instead, this disease hides in our hearts.

“Would you like to get well?”

That’s a much harder question to answer than meets the eye — when applied to my spiritual wellbeing. I might have to change.

I might have to give up my excuses.

I might have to adapt to a different lifestyle.

I might have to give up blaming others for my problems.

I might have to take some responsibility for my own condition.

Jesus asked the question because, in this case, the man had a real, physical disease. After 38 years, as the man shows by the end of today’s verses when he made an excuse, he does not sound ready to take responsibility for anything.

What about us?

Do we really want to get well, both spiritually and physically?

Do we really mean it when we utter the words, confess and pray before God?

Taking a brutally honest look at ourselves – are we truly ready to be authentic?

Ignoring our usual irrational array, our cacophony of excuses, weak rationales?

Psalm 51:1-15 The Message

51 ^1-3 Generous in love—God, give grace!
    Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record.
Scrub away my guilt,
    soak out my sins in your laundry.
I know how bad I’ve been;
    my sins are staring me down.

^4-6 You’re the One I’ve violated, and you’ve seen
    it all, seen the full extent of my evil.
You have all the facts before you;
    whatever you decide about me is fair.
I’ve been out of step with you for a long time,
    in the wrong since before I was born.
What you’re after is truth from the inside out.
    Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.

^7-15 Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean,
    scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life.
Tune me in to foot-tapping songs,
    set these once-broken bones to dancing.
Don’t look too close for blemishes,
    give me a clean bill of health.
God, make a fresh start in me,
    shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Don’t throw me out with the trash,
    or fail to breathe holiness in me.
Bring me back from gray exile,
    put a fresh wind in my sails!
Give me a job teaching rebels your ways
    so the lost can find their way home.
Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God,
    and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways.
Unbutton my lips, dear God;
    I’ll let loose with your praise.

Psalm 139:23-24 The Message

^23-24 Investigate my life, O God,
    find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
    get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—
    then guide me on the road to eternal life.

Do we authentically want, in those moments, like David prayed, an answer?

Because, truth be told, we are not even close to ready for God to truly say; “ok?”

Then we need to do some hardcore surrendering within ourselves, refuse Saul’s armor, to come to Christ and be ready for the Holy Spirit to begin changing us!

We had better be ready for God, the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit, is going to arrive when we least expect it, want it, desire it, need it – and begin their work!

Whether we are ready or not … God will make His power and presence well felt!

God is absolutely going to overwhelm us … lead, guide, direct shape, conform us, transform us, move us completely against our wills down His narrow road!

God is Still Asking Us; Would We Like to Get Well?

John 5:7 Amplified Bible

⁷ The invalid answered, “Sir, I have no one to put me in the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am coming [to get into it myself], someone else steps down ahead of me.”

There is a place where our hurt and our healer collide, the irresistible force God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, versus the immovable object – us – our rock hardened hearts.

Do we sometimes hold back from accepting Jesus’ transforming power in our lives? Have we become so used to struggling that we can’t imagine things going another way? Sometimes the crutch we know is easier than the walk we haven’t experienced, and that crutch can become an inconveniently hardcore excuse.

It’s often easier to rely on the ways we are familiar with, rather than trying a new way that means change and transformation.

When Jesus asks this man if he wants to be made well, he does not answer with a yes—only a reason why it can’t happen. He’s had 38 years of only seeing the story one way; the thought of anything else hasn’t still entered his thinking.

But Jesus is offering so much more than this man can fathom or imagine.

When Jesus asks us this question, do we limit him on the basis of our experience, or do we have hope that he can do something more?

When we are confronted with the question of change, of thinking bigger than we have imagined before, can we say yes? Will our answer be .01% authentic?

When we begin to understand that the one asking the question is our Lord and Savior, our Creator, our comforter, our healer, and our #1 best friend, who loves us and cares about all of the details of our lives, can we say anything but yes?

Well, today is a good day to imagine what the Lord can do if we don’t hold back.

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

Let us Pray,

Psalm 19 Amplified Bible

The Works and the Word of God.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

19 The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And the expanse [of heaven] is declaring the work of His hands.
² 
Day after day pours forth speech,
And night after night reveals knowledge.
³ 
There is no speech, nor are there [spoken] words [from the stars];
Their voice is not heard.
⁴ 
Yet their voice [in quiet evidence] has gone out through all the earth,
Their words to the end of the world.
In them and in the heavens He has made a tent for the sun,
⁵ 
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.
⁶ 
The sun’s rising is from one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

⁷ 
The law of the Lord is perfect (flawless), restoring and refreshing the soul;
The statutes of the Lord are reliable and trustworthy, making wise the simple.
⁸ 
The precepts of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
⁹ 
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true, they are righteous altogether.
¹⁰ 
They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
¹¹ 
Moreover, by them Your servant is warned [reminded, illuminated, and instructed];
In keeping them there is great reward.
¹² 
Who can understand his errors or omissions? Acquit me of hidden (unconscious, unintended) faults.
¹³ 
Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous (deliberate, willful) sins;
Let them not rule and have control over me.
Then I will be blameless (complete),
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
¹⁴ 
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable and pleasing in Your sight,
O Lord, my [firm, immovable] 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.

https://translate.google.com/

John 4:31-38 Complete Jewish Bible

³¹ Meanwhile, the talmidim were urging Yeshua, “Rabbi, eat something.” ³² But he answered, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.” ³³ At this, the talmidim asked one another, “Could someone have brought him food?” ³⁴  Yeshua said to them, “My food is to do what the one who sent me wants and to bring his work to completion. ³⁵ Don’t you have a saying, ‘Four more months and then the harvest’? Well, what I say to you is: open your eyes and look at the fields! They’re already ripe for harvest! ³⁶ The one who reaps receives his wages and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that the reaper and the sower may be glad together — ³⁷ for in this matter, the proverb, ‘One sows and another reaps,’ holds true. ³⁸ I sent you to reap what you haven’t worked for. Others have done the hard labor, and you have benefited from their work.”

What is the meaning of talmidim?

SHARE. The Hebrew word for disciple is talmid. This word stresses the total relationship between rabbi (teacher or master) and disciple (student). A talmid of Jesus’ day would freely give up his entire life in order to be with his teacher.

This is the deep relationship between Master Rabbi Gamaliel and Saul/Paul.

The 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.

Greetings, family of God.

As we gather ourselves here in God’s name and for His Glory alone, today, we find ourselves in the strength and presence of the Almighty, our hearts beating in rhythm with His divine purpose, our spirits yearning for His divine wisdom.

We are here to on this day to immerse ourselves in His Word, to drink from the fountain of His truth, and to be nourished by His everlasting love. We are here to grow, to learn, to change, and to become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Today, we are going to focus on a message that is as timely as it is timeless, a message that is as relevant today as it was when Jesus first spoke these words over two thousand years ago. It is a message that calls us to vigorous action, which challenges us to step out of our comfort zones, and which compels us to make the above, beyond most of every opportunity that God places in our path.

It is a message that is encapsulated in the words of Jesus in John 4:35, where He says, “Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”

Let us read this scripture together, allowing the words to sink into our hearts, to stir our spirits, and to ignite a fire within us that cannot be quenched.

John 4:35 (The Message)

^34-35 Jesus said, “The food that keeps me going is that I do the will of the One who sent me, finishing the work he started. As you look around right now, wouldn’t you say that in about four months it will be time to harvest? Well, I’m telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what’s right in front of you. These Samaritan fields are ripe. It’s harvest time!

As we consider these words, let us open the entirety of our hearts unto the Holy Spirit, asking Him to reveal to us some of the vast array of truths which have been hidden within them, guide us as we seek to apply these truths to our lives.

Now, imagine with me, if you will, a farmer who has been given a field full of wheat. The sun is shining, the rain has been plentiful, and the wheat is golden and ripe, ready to be harvested. But instead of going out into the field with his sickle, the farmer sits on his porch, reading his daily newspaper, looking out at the field, and says, “I will wait, it four months more and then the harvest.”

This is the picture that Jesus paints for us in John 4:35.

He is calling us to be like the farmer who sees the ripe wheat and immediately hops into his harvester, goes out to the business of harvesting it, not the farmer who procrastinates and misses the opportunity. He is calling us to be vigilant, to be proactive, and to be diligent in our efforts to increase our witness for Him, to enhance our relationship with Him, and to solidify our relationship with God.

As we delve ever deeper into this message today, let us keep this image in mind, allowing it to guide our thoughts, to shape our attitudes, and to influence our actions. Let us be the farmer who seizes the opportunity, who reaps the harvest, and who brings glory, honor, to God through his diligence and his faithfulness.

May God bless each and everyone of us as we embark on this journey together, and may He use this message to draw us closer to Him, to strengthen our faith, and elevate our wisdom, to equip us for the work which He has called us to do.

Taking Advantage of Every Opportunity

Friends, I believe we are all familiar with the concept of seizing the day, making the most of every opportunity. But how often do we actually rigorously apply this principle to our spiritual lives? How often do we vigorously take advantage of every opportunity to increase our witness for Jesus, enhance our relationship with Him, build and edify His Kingdom, and solidify our relationship with God?

Let’s make a well considered effort to consider the words of Jesus in John 4:35.

He challenges us here to open our eyes and see the opportunities around us.

The fields are ripe for harvest. The enormous opportunities to share His love and truth are abundant. We just need to open both our eyes and seize them.

Now, let’s think about what it means to increase our witness for Jesus.

It’s not about grand gestures or high-profile acts.

It’s about the small, everyday actions that reflect His love and grace. It’s about showing kindness to a stranger, offering a word of encouragement to a friend, or spending much needed time in prayer for someone who is in real need. These are the GOD opportunities we all have every day to shine His light in the world.

When we take advantage of these opportunities, we not only increase our own witness for Jesus, but we also enhance our relationship with Him. Every act of love, every word of truth, every moment of prayer and worship draws us closer to Him. It deepens our understanding of His heart and aligns our will with His.

In the original Greek language of the New Testament, the word for “look” in John 4:35 is “theoreo.”

https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/theoreo.html#:~:text=Theoreo%20Definition,to%20view%20mentally%2C%20consider

It means more than just a casual glance.

It implies a deep, careful, deliberate observation.

It’s a call to pay strict attention, to be alert, to be aware of the opportunities around us.

So, Jesus is not just telling us to look at the fields.

He’s telling us to really see them, to recognize the opportunities they represent.

So, let’s open our eyes. Let’s see the opportunities around us.

Let’s seize every opportunity to increase our witness for Jesus, enhance our relationship with Him, and solidify our relationship with God.

The fields are ripe for harvest.

The opportunities are abundant. Let’s seize them with both hands.

Taking Advantage of Every Opportunity

Scripture Reference: John 4:35 (NIV)

“Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”

In our walk with Jesus, we are called to seize every GOD opportunity that comes our way. This is not just simply about making the most of our time, but it is also about maximum effort, about maximizing our impact for the Kingdom of God.

Firstly, we need to increase our witness for Jesus.

This means sharing the Good News with those around us. We are all called to be ambassadors for Christ, to spread His love and grace to the world. This is not a task for the few, but a very sacred responsibility for all of us who follow Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:20 The Message

^16-20 Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life emerges! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.

Bringing, Taking, Your Christian Values to Your Job

Colossians 3:23-25 The Message

^22-25 Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.

In today’s diverse, dynamic work environments, integrating personal faith and professional responsibilities can be both a rewarding and challenging endeavor.

For Christians, living out their faith in the workplace is a powerful testimony of their beliefs, especially because actions are louder than words.

We will explore further in this message how you can bring your Christian values to your job, balancing your professional responsibilities while maintaining your integrity and faith. 

Understanding the Importance of Faith at Work 

Faith is not just a private affair but a guiding force in all areas of life, up to and including work.

Here are some reasons why integrating faith in the workplace is essential: 

1. Integrity and Honesty: Christian values emphasize integrity and honesty. These principles foster a trustworthy environment, essential for building strong professional relationships. 

2. Service and Compassion: Jesus taught the importance of serving others. Bringing this attitude into work can transform the way you interact with colleagues, clients, and customers. 

3. Work Ethic: Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” This encourages a strong work ethic, aiming for excellence in all tasks. 

4. Conflict Resolution: Biblical teachings on forgiveness and peacemaking can guide you in resolving workplace conflicts effectively and gracefully. 

Practical Ways to Live Out Faith at Work 

1. Demonstrate Integrity 

One of the most potent ways to showcase our Christian faith is thru integrity.

This means being honest, transparent, and consistent in your actions.

Avoid engaging in gossip, deceit, or unethical practices, even if they seem commonplace in your workplace. Your commitment to integrity will not only please God but also earn you great respect from colleagues and superiors. 

2. Practice Kindness and Compassion 

Kindness and compassion are core Christian values. In a professional setting, this can mean offering to help a colleague who is struggling, listening actively when someone needs to talk, or showing empathy towards others’ situations.

These small acts can create a more supportive and positive work environment. 

3. Serve Others 

Adopt a servant leadership mindset, focusing on how you can serve others rather than seeking personal gain. This can involve mentoring junior employees, volunteering for less desirable tasks, or simply being available to assist where needed. Serving others not only reflects Christ’s message of love but also fosters fellowship, friendship, respect, teamwork and collaboration. 

4. Maintain a Strong Work Ethic 

Commit to performing your job to the best of your abilities. Show diligence, punctuality, and dedication in all your tasks.

As Colossians 3:23 reminds us, work as if you are working for the Lord. This attitude can inspire those around you and set a high standard for performance. 

5. Handle Conflict with Grace 

Workplace conflicts are inevitable, but how you handle them can set you apart.

Use biblical principles such as forgiveness, mercy, patience, and peacemaking to navigate disputes. Avoid the obvious retaliations or harboring of grudges.

Instead, strive for reconciliation and understanding, promoting a peaceful and cooperative work environment. 

6. Pray Regularly 

Incorporate prayer into your daily routine, even at work.

Pray for your colleagues, your supervisors, and your organization.

Seek God’s guidance in your professional decisions and challenges. This not only strengthens your faith but also brings a sense of peace and direction. 

7. Share Your Faith Wisely 

While it’s important to share your faith, it’s equally important to do so respectfully and sensitively. Be mindful of your workplace policies and your colleagues’ beliefs. Look for natural opportunities to share your testimony, such as during personal conversations or when asked about your values. 

Overcome Challenges in Integrating Faith and Work 

Bringing your Christian values to the workplace can present unique challenges.

Here are some common obstacles and how to overcome them: 

1. Balancing Faith and Professional Expectations 

Sometimes, workplace demands may seem at odds with your faith.

For instance, you might face pressure to compromise your values to achieve business goals.

In such cases, it’s crucial to remain steadfast in your beliefs and seek creative solutions aligning with both your professional responsibilities and Christian values.

I once knew a Christian who had to leave a high-pressure sales environment that made customers and clients uncomfortable; they found a new job where they were more highly valued, expectations were much more realistic for sales. 

2. Navigating a Diverse Work Environment

In a multicultural workplace, colleagues may have different beliefs and values.

Respect and understanding are key.

While it’s important to live out your faith, it’s important to respect others’ perspectives.

This creates a harmonious work environment where everyone feels valued and respected. 

3. Dealing with Persecution or Discrimination 

Unfortunately, some may face discrimination or persecution because of their faith. It’s important to know your rights and seek support if necessary.

Organizations often have policies against religious discrimination.

Stand firm in your faith, and remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:10 (AMP),  

¹⁰ “Blessed [comforted by inner peace and God’s love] are those who are persecuted for ^[a]doing that which is morally right, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever].

The Impact of Faith in the Workplace 

Integrating Christian values into your professional life can have a profound impact, both on a personal and organizational level. 

1. Personal Growth 

Living out your faith at work can lead to personal growth. It deepens your relationship with God, enhances your character, and builds resilience.

As you navigate challenges and serve others, you develop qualities such as patience, humility, and perseverance. 

2. Positive Work Environment 

When employees bring their values to work, it creates a positive and ethical work culture.

This can lead to increased trust, better teamwork, and higher morale.

Colleagues are more likely to support each other and work collaboratively towards common goals. 

3. Organizational Success 

Organizations that embrace diverse values, including Christian principles, often experience greater success.

Ethical practices, strong leadership, and a commitment to service can enhance the organization’s reputation and attract loyal customers and employees. 

Practical Tips for Integrating Faith

Here are some practical tips to help you bring your Christian values to your workplace effectively: 

1. Start Your Day with Prayer 

Begin each workday with prayer, asking God for guidance, wisdom, and the ability to reflect His love through your actions.

This sets a positive tone for the day and helps you stay focused on your faith. 

2. Create a Support Network 

Find like-minded colleagues who share your faith.

Forming a support group or prayer circle can provide encouragement and accountability.

This network can also be a source of strength during challenging times. 

3. Be a Role Model 

Lead by example. Demonstrate Christian values through your actions and attitudes.

Your behavior can inspire others and create opportunities for meaningful conversations about faith. 

4. Use Scripture for Encouragement 

Keep Bible verses or inspirational quotes at your desk or on your phone.

These reminders can provide comfort and motivation throughout the day.

Verses like Philippians 4:13, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength,” can be particularly encouraging. 

Philippians 4:10-14 The Message

Content Whatever the Circumstances

^10-14 I’m glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you’re again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don’t mean that your help didn’t mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles.

5. Volunteer and Serve

Look for opportunities to serve within your workplace.

This could involve organizing charity drives, participating in community service projects, or simply helping colleagues in need. Serving others not only benefits the community but also strengthens your, your companies witness. 

Integrating faith into the workplace is a journey that requires deep faith and implicit trust in God, Jesus, Spirit and personal courage, wisdom, and grace.

By demonstrating a commitment to integrity, practicing kindness, serving others, maintaining a strong work ethic, handling conflicts with grace, praying regularly, sharing your faith wisely, you bring your Christian values to your job.

Despite challenges, the impact on personal growth, workplace culture, and organizational success is profound. As you live out your faith at work, you not only honor God but also inspire and positively influence those around you.

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

Let us Pray,

Psalm 133 The Message

133 ^1-3 How wonderful, how beautiful,
    when brothers and sisters get along!
It’s like costly anointing oil
    flowing down head and beard,
Flowing down Aaron’s beard,
    flowing down the collar of his priestly robes.
It’s like the dew on Mount Hermon
    flowing down the slopes of Zion.
Yes, that’s where God commands the blessing,
    ordains eternal life.

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.

https://translate.google.com/

1 Corinthians 15:58 Complete Jewish Bible

⁵⁸ So, my dear brothers, stand firm and immovable, always doing the Lord’s work as vigorously as you can, knowing that united with the Lord your efforts are not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Amplified Bible

⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord [always doing your best and doing more than is needed], being continually aware that your labor [even to the point of exhaustion] in the Lord is not futile nor wasted [it is never without purpose].

The 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.

Sometimes it can be really hard, almost impossible to do your best. Maybe you have a teacher at school who never gives out grades that you feel are fair, so you want to stop even trying. Or perhaps you’ve got a boss at work who never seems satisfied, and unable to see how hard of a worker you are and you’re frustrated.

It can be really easy in life, utterly frustrating, to let what others think and say discourage us from doing our best at school or a job. However, we shouldn’t be letting other people have the final say in how hard we work for God judges us.

Whether we are at work or play, we should be doing all things for glory of God.

So regardless of whether your boss or teachers notice, you should always be doing your best for God. God always notices and he will reward you in time.

So challenge yourself to do your best in everything you tackle each day.

Take satisfaction, the sweat on your brow, the dirt and grime on your hands and feet in working hard and you’ll be excited to see how far that attitude takes you.

What should we take from, understand, the message of 1 Corinthians 15:58 is?

1 Corinthians 15:58 serves as a eminently practical call towards perseverance, dedication, and unwavering commitment in our up/down Christian journey.

It emphatically encourages believers to remain strong, steadfast in their faith, immovable in their convictions, the Gospel message, active in serving the Lord.

What does it mean to be “steadfast and immovable?” To be steadfast is to be firmly fixed and not subject to change, to be firm in belief and determination, and to be loyal and faithful. Likewise, to be immovable is to be unyielding and incapable of being moved or diverted.

What is the meaning of “your labor is not in vain”?

Apostle Paul encourages us in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Your labor is not in vain.” This is a potent, refreshing reminder that no matter how difficult or seemingly meaningless our work appears, it brings growth to the Kingdom of God and it is meaningful to God because it brings Him glory, and for that reason, it is not in vain.

How do we become steadfast and immovable? A building or structure that is stable and immovable must be built upon a strong foundation. If you and I desire to become steadfast and immovable disciples of the Master, we must build up our faith appropriately and effectively upon Him as our foundation.

In 15:58, he is calling the Corinthians to participate in this ministry, to give themselves also unto the work given by the Lord of serving and building his church. Throughout 1 Corinthians, then, ‘the work of God ‘and ‘the work of the Lord’ is the particular work extending the gospel and establishing churches.

How do you give yourself fully to the work of the Lord?

We give ourselves fully to God’s work when we work hard at whatever God has given us to do. And, whether we are at work or at play, we give ourselves fully to God’s work when we freely allow the Lord to use the challenges, opportunities, and frustrations of our daily work and play to help us become more like him.

What are the qualities of a steadfast person?

Steadfast implies a sureness and continuousness that may be depended upon. The steadfast leader is dependable, reliable, constant and unwavering. S/he stays on God’s course, follows through, develops good habits and keeps them.

Is steadfast the same as faithful?

Some common synonyms of steadfast are constant, faithful, loyal, resolute, and staunch.

While all these synonyms mean “firm in adherence to whatever one owes allegiance,” word steadfast implies a steady and unwavering course in love, allegiance, or conviction.

What is a steadfast person like?

Someone can be steadfast in a belief, an effort, a plan, or even a refusal. Whatever it is, it means that the person will calmly hold firm to the chosen position and follow through with determination. Definitions of steadfast. adjective. marked by firm determination or resolution; not being shakable.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
– 1 Corinthians 15:58

 I love this verse, I love this chapter. 

The whole of 1 Corinthians 15, is a glorious picture of the resurrection of Jesus. And not just his resurrection, but the resurrection of all who trust in him.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Empowers, Encourages Us to Utterly Trust in the Promise of the Resurrection

This whole chapter is just filled with hope…

With joy over the reality of our resurrection bodies. 

That when we die, when Jesus returns, he’s going to resurrect our bodies to be like his body.

And when you get to the end of this chapter… You see just a triumphant proclamation about death being swallowed up in victory… Death having no more sting, the sting of death, the power of sin is the law… But thankfully to God, he gives us final victory through His Only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Let us Pray,

Psalm 29 Complete Jewish Bible

29 ⁽⁰⁾ A psalm of David:

⁽¹⁾ Give Adonai his due, you who are godly;
give Adonai his due of glory and strength;
² give Adonai the glory due his name;
worship Adonai in holy splendor.

³ The voice of Adonai is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
Adonai over rushing waters,
⁴ the voice of Adonai in power,
the voice of Adonai in splendor.

⁵ The voice of Adonai cracks the cedars;
Adonai splinters the cedars of the L’vanon
⁶ and makes the L’vanon skip like a calf,
Siryon like a young wild ox.

⁷ The voice of Adonai flashes fiery flames;
⁸ the voice of Adonai rocks the desert,
Adonai convulses the Kadesh Desert.
⁹ The voice of Adonai causes deer to give birth
and strips the forests bare —
while in his temple, all cry, “Glory!”
¹⁰ Adonai sits enthroned above the flood!
Adonai sits enthroned as king forever!
¹¹ May Adonai give strength to his people!
May Adonai bless his people with shalom!

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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Genesis 3:6-13 Complete Jewish Bible

⁶ When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it had a pleasing appearance and that the tree was desirable for making one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her; and he ate. ⁷  Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked. So they sewed fig leaves together to make themselves loincloths.

⁸ They heard the voice of Adonai, God, walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, so the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Adonai, God, among the trees in the garden. ⁹ Adonai, God, called to the man, “Where are you?” ¹⁰ He answered, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” ¹¹ He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree from which I ordered you not to eat?” ¹² The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me — she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.” ¹³  Adonai, God, said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me, so I ate.”

The 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.

We came from God. We were made to be like God.

We could not be happy, humbled, joyous, satisfied with this incredible miracle?

So, what was Adam’s problem?

So, what was Eve’s problem?

So, what is our problem?

Genesis, again, holds the answer.

Chapter 3 tells the story.

In the beginning, everything God made was good, very good.

The instructions Adam is given are simple enough, easily understood, no complexity there, the directions we are each handed are simple enough.

Genesis 2:15-17 Complete Jewish Bible

¹⁵ Adonai, God, took the person and put him in the garden of ‘Eden to cultivate and care for it. ¹⁶ Adonai, God, gave the person this order: “You may freely eat from every tree in the garden ¹⁷ except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. You are not to eat from it, because on the day that you eat from it, it will become certain that you will die.”

But then time passes.

But then things change.

But as with any change, then things always seem to get more complicated.

But then, somehow, confusion knocks us upside our heads and we get dizzy.

We were “introduced” to alternatives, to choices and a host of contradictions.

It seems as though there came to Eve this unannounced, most uninvited guest.

There was this tree and now entering the scene is this smooth talking serpent.

There are no formal introductions, no polite greetings, no knocks on any trees.

And neat as you please, as if it were the most natural of acts, they’re conversing.

Nobody seems to be expecting any trouble, no one seems to be on highest alert.

But, here, can anyone sense the incredible tension with is building as a volcano?

God had put Adam and Eve in a perfect place, a garden called Eden, where they could eat from any tree except one, the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

God said to Adam, “Do not eat from it, because in the day you eat of it you shall surely die.” What about Eve? Did anyone feel the need to ensure understanding?

Genesis 3:1-5 Complete Jewish Bible

3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any wild animal which Adonai, God, had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You are not to eat from any tree in the garden’?” ² The woman answered the serpent, “We may eat from the fruit of the trees of the garden, ³ but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden God said, ‘You are neither to eat from it nor touch it, or you will die.’” ⁴ The serpent said to the woman, “It is not true that you will surely die; ⁵ because God knows that on the day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Adam and Eve are in the garden minding their own affairs and tending to the tasks which God assigned to them, and the serpent comes slithering along and a wildly bizarre, strange conversation ensues between the serpent and with Eve.

He speaks to the woman.

Why didn’t Eve think anything was strange here, did all the animals speak?

Why didn’t Eve question the serpents motives behind this sudden engagement?

Taking quick, sudden advantage of the situation, the serpent further asks “Did God really say to you that you shall not eat from any tree in the garden?”

Amazingly, Eve unaware she was being set up, actually answers him. “We can eat from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ’You shall not eat from the tree that is in the midst of the garden, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

Then the serpent replies, “You will not die. God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Right now, don’t you wish Adam had jumped into action and said, “Liar, liar, pants on fire!”? But no! He just stood there and watched as Eve took the bait.

Let’s sum this up… God has spoken: Do not eat of the tree or you will die. The Serpent has spoken: Eat from the tree and you will not die but become like God.

Now they have two messages, one from God and the other from the serpent.

Their choices (did they even have an awareness of what choices are?)- who will they listen to? God who made them? Or this strange serpent who seems to know so much, and accuses God of lying and withholding something from them?

Do you hear voices, words, encounter choices that are contrary to God’s Word?

I’m not talking about a mental disorder, I’m talking about influences that would “smoothly” invite you, entice you to taste forbidden fruit… Watch out!

Who you look to for information and who you listen to for guidance determines more about your God awareness. spiritual wellbeing, than you may now realize.

But back to Genesis 3. We have all the advantage here, don’t we? We get to be the seated audience of this event and overhear the conversations and actions.

We already know this story.

In fact, this story is so familiar we can almost recite the words from memory.

But, strangely enough, when the tempter pulls his smooth talking ways on us, for some reason, things get contradictory, confusing and we can tend to forget.

The serpent’s offer is that they will become like God if they eat. The truth is, they are already like God! He made them to be like him! They can’t become more like God by disobeying God! That’s twisted! Besides, if God is so bad that he lies and withholds good things from them, why do they want to be like him?

But, here comes the text’s real point: The fruit looks good! And when I look to lust after the fruit, my heart becomes clouded and I too lose that good judgment I have when I’m in the audience watching Adam and Eve do the same thing.

There’s a sparkle of temptation and delight in that fruit, one that blinds me from the light of truth, from the simple uncomplicated instructions God gave us. So, Eve stops thinking about God’s warning and starts thinking about her own lusts, wanting’s, her desires, her yearning for this new forbidden wisdom.

Suddenly she decides. She reaches out for it. Was her heart beating faster? Was there excitement of anticipation in her hands? Was she nervous? She took the fruit, ate it, and gave to Adam who was with her, and he ate. And in just that singular moment, the human family fell deep into sin and separation from God.

Their eyes were indeed opened, but not in God’s likeness, but in shame and nakedness, chaos, confusion, fear, sin, punishment that would lead to death.

James describes this scene for us. 

James 1:13-25 Complete Jewish Bible

¹³ No one being tempted should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, and God himself tempts no one. ¹⁴ Rather, each person is being tempted whenever he is being dragged off and enticed by the bait of his own desire.  ¹⁵ Then, having conceived, the desire gives birth to sin; and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death. ¹⁶ Don’t delude yourselves, my dear brothers.

¹⁷ Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father who made the heavenly lights; with him there is neither variation nor darkness caused by turning. ¹⁸ Having made his decision, he gave birth to us through a Word that can be relied upon, in order that we should be a kind of firstfruits of all that he created. ¹⁹ Therefore, my dear brothers, let every person be quick to listen but slow to speak, slow to get angry; ²⁰ for a person’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness!

²¹ So rid yourselves of all vulgarity and obvious evil, and receive meekly the Word implanted in you that can save your lives. ²² Don’t deceive yourselves by only hearing what the Word says, but do it! ²³ For whoever hears the Word but doesn’t do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror, ²⁴ who looks at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But if a person looks closely into the perfect Torah, which gives freedom, and continues, becoming not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work it requires, then he will be blessed in what he does.

Sin separates us from God. Sin distorts and destroys God’s likeness in us.

Listen to what happens next.

They see their nakedness and try to cover themselves.

Then they hear the sound of God coming…

oh no! Not God! Cover Up! Hide! Hide from God! Run to the trees. Get away from his presence! Why? Sin clouds, separates us from God, makes us hide from him.

But it does even more terrible things to us.

Listen both intensely and intently. Adam and Eve run from God and hide, but God calls to them: “Where are you? Adam answers, I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked so I hid myself. God replies, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I told you not to eat?”

Now. Freeze frame!

Here’s Adam’s chance.

God’s questions are clearly for Adam’s sake.

Will Adam bow, broken and repentant before God? Will he confess his sin and seek God’s forgiveness? No. What if Adam had said, “Lord, I disobeyed you, I ate the fruit, and I didn’t protect the woman you gave me, please forgive us.”

What do you suppose God would have done in that case?

We will never know, will we?

And that is an undeniably significant problem …

It is not written down for us in the Scriptures.

Instead, listen to Adam’s response to God:

“The woman that you gave me, she gave me fruit from the tree and I ate.”

In other words, “God, it’s not my fault!

It is her fault and by the way, you are the one who gave her to me.”

What is he doing?

Blaming God? YEP!

Blaming Eve? YEP!

Blaming self – taking responsibility for his own actions? NOPE!

Adam attempts to hide behind blame. In doing so he accuses both the woman and God for his sin. Do WE hear that? Do WE understand what has happened?

Does Adam sound like God with these words?

No! Who does he sound like?

Who in this story blames God of lying, keeping good things from his children?

The conniving, manipulative, gas lighting, smooth talking, slithering Serpent.

Doesn’t Adam sound a lot like that now?

Amazing! What has sin done in Adam?

He sounds a lot more like the serpent, than God.

Sin has turned him into an Accuser and a Liar.

That is what the word Satan means: accuser.

Instead of becoming more like God, they have become like Satan, God’s enemy.

Instead of acquiring the image of God, they are stained with the image of Satan.

Do we understand what is lost when we sin?

Do we see what we become when we take that fruit that looks good, when we know God said, “Don’t do it?” but do it anyway? Sin gives live birth to death.

Listen intently, intensely, to our condition when we sin: 

Ephesians 2:1-3 Complete Jewish Bible

2 You used to be dead because of your sins and acts of disobedience. ² You walked in the ways of the ‘olam hazeh and obeyed the Ruler of the Powers of the Air, who is still at work among the disobedient. ³ Indeed, we all once lived this way — we followed the passions of our old nature and obeyed the wishes of our old nature and our own thoughts. In our natural condition we were headed for God’s wrath, just like everyone else.

[Olam Hazeh (Hebrew meaning “This World“) is the world in which we live, where each of us is given the opportunity to honour the Name of the Lord by performing “Mitzvot” and learning and teaching Torah, according to his or her gifts, behaving in an honest and decent manner with our fellow human beings.]

We came from God, but we have a problem, don’t we.

That problem originated here.

Death began here.

Distortion of God’s image in us began here.

Listen intently, intensely to

Romans 5:12-14 Complete Jewish Bible

¹² Here is how it works: it was through one individual that sin entered the world, and through sin, death; and in this way death passed through to the whole human race, inasmuch as everyone sinned. ¹³ Sin was indeed present in the world before  Torah was given, but sin is not counted as such when there is no Torah. ¹⁴ Nevertheless death ruled from Adam until Moshe (Moses), even over those whose sinning was not exactly like Adam’s violation of a direct command. In this, Adam prefigured the one who was to come.

1 Corinthians 15:20-24 Complete Jewish Bible

²⁰ But the fact is that the Messiah has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have died. ²¹ For since death came through a man, also the resurrection of the dead has come through a man. ²² For just as in connection with Adam all die, so in connection with the Messiah all will be made alive. ²³  But each in his own order: the Messiah is the firstfruits; then those who belong to the Messiah, at the time of his coming; ²⁴ then the culmination, when he hands over the Kingdom to God the Father, after having put an end to every rulership, yes, to every authority and power.

Is this true?

Is this really where sin began?

Is this just a religious story that attempts to explain away the human struggle with evil?

Listen intensely, everything else in the Bible deals with what happened here.

I tell you, that if this is not true, we might as well just simply trash our Bibles, because everyone who knew God in it, including Jesus, believed this to be true.

If it is not true, we have no idea where we came from or what our problem is or what the answer is. But if it is true, and it is, God has revealed to us the root and fruit of our problems in this world!

So, Where did we come from? God! You and I were made in God’s image. What is our problem? Sin. You and I are living in a world made by God but marred by sin.

We are separated from God and therefore we are separated from one another.

The farther we are from God, the awareness of His Truth the less human we are, and all the farther we’ll become from one another. Separation from God causes separation from one another. Unawareness of Sin is the worst human disaster.

God is always aware of sin always grieved by His awareness of our unawareness.

How acute, how severe, lethal to our souls, is our present state of unawareness?

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

Let us Pray,

Psalm 139 Complete Jewish Bible

139 ⁽⁰⁾ For the leader. A psalm of David:

⁽¹⁾ Adonai, you have probed me, and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I stand up,
you discern my inclinations from afar,
³ you scrutinize my daily activities.
You are so familiar with all my ways
⁴ that before I speak even a word, Adonai,
you know all about it already.
⁵ You have hemmed me in both behind and in front
and laid your hand on me.
⁶ Such wonderful knowledge is beyond me,
far too high for me to reach.

⁷ Where can I go to escape your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I climb up to heaven, you are there;
if I lie down in Sh’ol, you are there.
⁹ If I fly away with the wings of the dawn
and land beyond the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand would lead me,
your right hand would hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, “Let darkness surround me,
let the light around me be night,”
¹² even darkness like this
is not too dark for you;
rather, night is as clear as day,
darkness and light are the same.

¹³ For you fashioned my inmost being,
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I thank you because I am awesomely made,
wonderfully; your works are wonders —
I know this very well.
¹⁵ My bones were not hidden from you
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes could see me as an embryo,
but in your book all my days were already written;
my days had been shaped
before any of them existed.
¹⁷ God, how I prize your thoughts!
How many of them there are!
¹⁸ If I count them, there are more than grains of sand;
if I finish the count, I am still with you.

¹⁹ God, if only you would kill off the wicked!
Men of blood, get away from me!
²⁰ They invoke your name for their crafty schemes;
yes, your enemies misuse it.
²¹ Adonai, how I hate those who hate you!
I feel such disgust with those who defy you!
²² I hate them with unlimited hatred!
They have become my enemies too.

²³ Examine me, God, and know my heart;
test me, and know my thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is in me any hurtful way,
and lead me along the eternal way.

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.

https://translate.google.com/

Matthew 13:3-9 The Message

A Harvest Story

13 ^1-3 At about that same time Jesus left the house and sat on the beach. In no time at all a crowd gathered along the shoreline, forcing him to get into a boat. Using the boat as a pulpit, he addressed his congregation, telling stories.

^3-8 “What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed. As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road, and birds ate it. Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn’t put down roots, so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled by the weeds. Some fell on good earth, and produced a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.

⁹ “Are you listening to this? Really listening?”

The 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.

We all get busy, sometimes extraordinarily. Life throws obligations at us from every direction. However, we must be careful to prioritize what matters most.

Here in Matthew’s Narrative, Jesus used the Parable of the Soils to describe how the “daily cares of this life” can quite severely hinder us (Matthew 13:3-9).

A man sows seeds (the Word of God), but the seeds are destroyed in various ways. In one example, thorns rise and choke out the new plant, the Word. Jesus explains the raising thorns represent the cares of this life. Not disturbing or abominable sins, just everyday concerns that slowly replace our first priority.

We are to seek first the kingdom of God, but life sometimes gets in the way.

One key way we see the kingdom is by participating in the local church. We don’t just get involved because there are consequences when we don’t.

We become part of a local church because God calls us to an abundant life, which we cannot experience or receive without joining the body of Christ.

But what are some more specific ways we gain abundant life from a local church? What reasons does the Bible give to prioritize the family of God?

Here are seven reasons to get involved in church even when our schedule is full.

1. Community and Fellowship

The Lord doesn’t call us to live Christianity in isolation.

We need community and fellowship. 

Hebrews 10:24-25 emphasizes this:

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Gathering together with other believers, we encourage, support one another.

God is within himself a relationship.

The mystery of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as one—reveals the importance of friendship.

The only aspect God considered “not good” in the Garden of Eden was Adam being alone.

Genesis 2:18-25 The Message

^18-20 God said, “It’s not good for the Man to be alone; I’ll make him a helper, a companion.” So God formed from the dirt of the ground all the animals of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the Man to see what he would name them. Whatever the Man called each living creature, that was its name. The Man named the cattle, named the birds of the air, named the wild animals; but he didn’t find a suitable companion.

^21-22 God put the Man into a deep sleep. As he slept he removed one of his ribs and replaced it with flesh. God then used the rib that he had taken from the Man to make Woman and presented her to the Man.

^23-25     The Man said,
“Finally! Bone of my bone,
    flesh of my flesh!
Name her Woman
    for she was made from Man.”
    Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and embraces his wife. They become one flesh.
    The two of them, the Man and his Wife, were naked, but they felt no shame.

Being made in the image of God, that perfect creation required Adam to have a relationship with someone like himself and yet distinct, complementary, Eve.

Adam didn’t need Eve because of sin.

On the contrary, God designed them that way.

In the new covenant and the church, no part of the Body of Christ can say to another, “I don’t need you” (1 Corinthians 12:1).

This redemptive community reflects the original design—by the Spirit, we need one another because we’ve been redeemed.

Our brothers and sisters in Christ are a spiritual family, more eternal than our blood relatives alone (although we hope they are saved, too).

Together, we combat division, loneliness and isolation, finding support for our spiritual growth into God’s purpose for us.

2. Spiritual Growth

Active participation in church activities, such as Bible studies, sermons, and discussion groups, youth groups, local volunteer in mission, across the globe, food pantries, clothing outlets, thrift stores, service to the homeless and the marginalized, the impoverished, etcetera provides a structured environment for deepening our understanding of God’s Scripture and Christian principles. This regular engagement with God’s Word fosters a more profound spiritual experience and a depth of spiritual maturity and a closer relationship with God.

Colossians 3:16 highlights the importance of this mutual edification: “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”

Communal learning and teaching enrich our faith.

Through our participating in church, we can learn from others and share our insights, creating ministry, creating a dynamic and supportive environment.

Teaching within the church is also a powerful tool for personal spiritual growth.

Taking on teaching roles challenges us to study the Bible more diligently and clearly communicate our faith.

This process not only strengthens our own understanding but also inspires and educates others within the community.

Engaging in correct biblical teaching transforms theological intellectualism into practical applications, making faith more relevant and actionable.

The church community provides accountability and encouragement, essential components for spiritual growth.

Fellow believers can offer real support, guidance, and constructive feedback, helping individuals, both believers and non-believers, stay committed to their faith journey despite busy schedules.

3. A Space to Use Our Spiritual Gifts

Each of us possesses unique gifts bestowed by the Holy Spirit, intended to serve and edify the church community.

Participating in church activities allows individuals to discover, hone, and employ these gifts for others’ benefit and God’s glory.

Since God gave us spiritual gifts for Christ’s Body, we can’t find or develop them apart from the church.

A spiritual gift isn’t a natural talent.

God imparts supernatural abilities from the Spirit, beyond our human abilities, for mutual edification.

These gifts, mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, Romans 12:6-8, Ephesians 4:11, include wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, interpretation of tongues, serving, teaching, encouragement, giving, leadership, and mercy.

Each gift serves a unique purpose and contributes to the unity and growth of our streets, neighborhoods and local, state, national, and global communities.

Using these gifts as we are summoned, covenanted to do, effectively ministers to one another, build up, edify the church, and ever advance God’s kingdom.

1 Peter 4:10 underscores this responsibility: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” This verse emphasizes that spiritual gifts are not meant to be kept idle but constantly, actively, used to serve the church and its members.

Regular involvement in church offers practical opportunities to develop these gifts and find a deeper sense of our purpose.

This active engagement also allows for mentorship and feedback from more experienced members, further refining and further enhancing these abilities.

4. Worship and Praise

Spiritual disciplines find more power when done with others, especially corporate worship, prayer, and praise.

Matthew 18:20 emphasizes the power of gathering together: “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

God is always present everywhere, but Jesus manifests more in communal worship.

When we unite in praise, worship and prayer, we invite the Holy Spirit to move powerfully among us, bringing encouragement, healing, and spiritual growth.

Psalm 27:4 New Living Translation

⁴ The one thing I ask of the Lord—
    the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
    delighting in the Lord’s perfections
    and meditating in his Temple.

Psalm 133:1 further teaches how beautiful and strong unity can be: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

These verses celebrates the harmony and blessing from both believers, as well as, non-believers in the House God built, being, living and worshiping together.

These psalms compares our unity with the High Priest’s anointing oil. With Christ as our high priest, this represents the Holy Spirit’s anointing upon us when we practice these disciplines. Jesus even teaches how God’s answer becomes more sure when two or more agree in prayer (Matthew 18:19).

Acts 2:43-47 New Living Translation

⁴³ A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. ⁴⁴ And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. ⁴⁵ They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. ⁴⁶ They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity^[a]— ⁴⁷ all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

Participating in corporate worship allows us to join our voices in praise, lifting our hearts in collective adoration of God. This shared experience enhances personal faith and can lead to profound spiritual encounters. Group prayer connects believers, allowing us to intercede for one another and share burdens.

Our full schedules shouldn’t isolate us from God’s power and His own power of transformation available when we participate in corporate praise and prayer.

5. Service Opportunities

John 13:34-35 New Living Translation

³⁴ So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. ³⁵ Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Serving others is a covenanted, very fundamental aspect of the Christian faith, reflecting Jesus’ ministry, teachings and actions. By participating in church-led service projects, we can all impact our communities and embody Christ’s love.

James 2:17 emphasizes the importance of active faith:

“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

Engaging in service opportunities, such as food pantries, feeding the homeless, supporting local shelters, or participating in mission trips, brings this principle to life. It allows Christians to practice their faith in concrete, meaningful ways.

Involvement in service activities helps address pressing social issues and alleviates suffering.

Many churches organize outreach programs that provide food, clothing, education, and medical care, school supplies, after school activities, to the underserved. By volunteering, by contributing time and resources to these initiatives, we can help meet a community’s physical and emotional needs.

These opportunities provide personal growth and fulfillment. They encourage us to step far outside our comfort zones and engage with diverse populations.

In addition, serving alongside fellow church and community members and local businesses fosters an enormous sense of deep camaraderie and shared purpose.

It strengthens the bonds within the congregation and builds a supportive network of people committed to making a difference. This collective effort amplifies each person’s contribution, showing the power of unified action.

6. A Reminder that God Is Our Source and Provision

Psalm 23 Authorized (King James) Version

Psalm 23

A Psalm of David.

¹ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
³ He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
⁵ Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Many times, our schedules become full because we try to provide for ourselves.

Taking time to get involved in church reminds us that God is our source and provision, as we see in the Sabbath principles.

Regular church attendance and participation reinforce the truth that our sustenance and well-being come from God, not from our efforts alone.

Exodus 20:8-10 emphasizes the significance of the Sabbath: “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God.”

This ancient, time honored commandment teaches the need to set aside time for rest and worship, acknowledging God’s sovereign role as our provider.

Under the New Covenant, we aren’t bound by a specific day, but the deeper abiding principle remains. By attending church, we intentionally take a break from our busy schedules to focus on prayer, praise, worship and rejuvenation.

Involvement in church activities helps us recalibrate our priorities, ensuring that our relationship with God remains at the center of our lives.

True rest and true provision come from trusting in God rather than constantly striving on our own. Taking some time for church fosters a healthier work-life balance. It provides an opportunity to disconnect from career pressures and reconnect with our faith community, family, and ourselves. A work-then-rest rhythm is essential for maintaining physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

7. The Great Commission

Jesus gives a universal command and mission in Matthew 28:19-20:

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Attending church isn’t the end goal.

We are sent by the Resurrected Jesus from the church community to the world.

Active participation in church life teaches us how God sends us to others and how in His resurrection power, it enables us to engage in this crucial work.

Church involvement provides numerous opportunities to share the gospel and disciple others. We can spread Christ’s message to people who have not heard it through organized outreach programs, mission trips, and community events.

These structured activities, experiences, make it easier to find ways to witness.

God’s family trains for discipleship, offering resources, education, mentorship that equip believers to grow in their own faith and to help others do the same.

Sunday school classes, Bible study groups, and discipleship programs provide the tools and support for effective evangelism and spiritual mentorship.

The church community acts as an outpost of heaven, the kingdom culture here on earth. Church involvement allows us to model Christ-like behavior, showing the gospel by how we live instead of what we say. This very visible testimony can inspire and encourage, empower, others to seek a relationship with Christ.

The church is not an ordinary organization founded by just anyone. The church is founded by Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior who is the head of the church.

According to the Bible, the church is the body of Christ.

Belonging to the church is a privilege not to be taken for granted.

The church is here to continue the work of Christ on earth and to build God’s kingdom.

You and I need the church in order to be equipped for service, to enjoy the fellowship of other believers, and to honor our Lord through faithful worship.

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

Let us Pray,

Isaiah 1:18-20 Authorized (King James) Version

¹⁸ Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord:
though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
¹⁹ If ye be willing and obedient,
ye shall eat the good of the land:
²⁰ but if ye refuse and rebel,
ye shall be devoured with the sword:
for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Isaiah 2:1-4 Authorized (King James) Version

2 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

² And it shall come to pass in the last days,
that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established
in the top of the mountains,
and shall be exalted above the hills;
and all nations shall flow unto it.
³ And many people shall go and say,
Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
and he will teach us of his ways,
and we will walk in his paths:
for out of Zion shall go forth the law,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
⁴ And he shall judge among the nations,
and shall rebuke many people:
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruninghooks:
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.

Psalm 20 Authorized (King James) Version

Psalm 20

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

¹ The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble;
the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
² send thee help from the sanctuary,
and strengthen thee out of Zion;
³ remember all thy offerings,
and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
⁴ Grant thee according to thine own heart,
and fulfil all thy counsel.
⁵ We will rejoice in thy salvation,
and in the name of our God we will set up our banners:
the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.

⁶ Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed;
he will hear him from his holy heaven
with the saving strength of his right hand.
⁷ Some trust in chariots, and some in horses:
but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
⁸ They are brought down and fallen:
but we are risen, and stand upright.
⁹ Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call.

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.

https://translate.google.com/

Mark 8:14-21Amplified Bible

¹⁴ Now the disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. ¹⁵ Jesus repeatedly ordered them, saying, “Watch out! Beware of the ^[a]leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” ¹⁶ They began discussing this with one another, saying, “It is because we have no bread [that He said this].” ¹⁷  Jesus, aware of this [discussion], said to them, “Why are you discussing [the fact]  that you have no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? ¹⁸ Though you have eyes, do you not see? And though you have ears, do you not hear and listen [to what I have said]? And do you not remember, ¹⁹ when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?” They answered, “Twelve.” ²⁰ “And [when I broke] the seven  [loaves] for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” And they answered, “Seven.” ²¹ And He was saying to them, “Do you still not understand?”

The 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.

Hardened Hearts and Hardened Bread

Psalm 95:8-9 Amplified Bible

⁸ 
Do not harden your hearts and become spiritually dull as at Meribah [the place of strife],
And as at Massah [the place of testing] in the wilderness,
⁹ 
“When your fathers tested Me,
They tried Me, even though they had seen My work [of miracles].

A hard hardened heart is as useless as a hard hardened loaf of bread.

At Meribah the Israelites complained to Moses because they had no water (Exodus 17:1-7). They were so convinced that God couldn’t provide for them that they simply lost their faith in God.

When someone’s heart becomes hardened, that person is so stubbornly set in their ways that they cannot turn to God. Hard hearts don’t turn that way overnight; it is the result of a long series of choices to disregard God’s will.

Because that generation of Israelites persisted in stubborn disobedience, God chose not to let them enter his “rest,” the land he had promised their ancestors.

What would keep people from the ultimate blessing of entering God’s rest?

Unthankful hearts, to begin with.

Not listening to what God calls them to do. Being stubborn about doing things their way and not God’s way. Doubting that God is working in love in their lives.

When the Promises Are Mixed with Faith

4 ^1-3 For as long, then, as that promise of resting in him pulls us on to God’s goal for us, we need to be careful that we’re not disqualified. We received the same promises as those people in the wilderness, but the promises didn’t do them a bit of good because they didn’t receive the promises with faith. If we believe, though, we’ll experience that state of resting. But not if we don’t have faith. Remember that God said,

Exasperated, I vowed,
    “They’ll never get where they’re going,
    never be able to sit down and rest.”

^3-7 God made that vow, even though he’d finished his part before the foundation of the world. Somewhere it’s written, “God rested the seventh day, having completed his work,” but in this other text he says, “They’ll never be able to sit down and rest.” So this promise has not yet been fulfilled. Those earlier ones never did get to the place of rest because they were disobedient. God keeps renewing the promise and setting the date as today, just as he did in David’s psalm, centuries later than the original invitation:

Today, please listen,
    don’t turn a deaf ear . . .

^8-11 And so this is still a live promise. It wasn’t canceled at the time of Joshua; otherwise, God wouldn’t keep renewing the appointment for “today.” The promise of “arrival” and “rest” is still there for God’s people. God himself is at rest. And at the end of the journey we’ll surely rest with God. So let’s keep at it and eventually arrive at the place of rest, not drop out through some sort of disobedience.

Hebrews 4:1-11, we are encouraged to enter the eternal rest that Jesus has won for us through his death and resurrection by being faithful followers of Christ.

The good news of salvation in Jesus is that there are no hearts so hard that the Holy Spirit cannot soften them. Jesus had encountered many hard hearts in his teaching and preaching ministry, yet he lived and died to offer salvation to all.

Reignite Your Passion for the Lord …

Have you ever found yourself abnormally impatient, or more commonly short-tempered, or acting more arrogantly than normal and you’re unsure why?

None of us are perfect, and we all have our less-than-proud moments in life that keep us close to the cross, but if you’ve noticed these tendencies increase for a prolonged period of time, chances are you’re suffering from a hardening heart.

A hardened heart is unmoved by things others would be compassionate about. It is a heart that is rebelling against God.

In Mark 8:17-18 Jesus accused his disciples of having hardened hearts when they did not believe or understand how Jesus could use a small batch of bread to feed a massive crowd, saying, “Have ye your heart yet hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? And having ears, hear ye not? And do ye not remember?”

A hard heart is characterized by an inability to perceive spiritually.

When people are hardhearted toward God, they are spiritually blind and deaf—they can’t see spiritual truth or hear the Lord speak to them.

So how can we ensure our hearts remain “soft” and open to the things of God, and how can we with Holy Spirit intercession, regain closeness with Him after realizing our hearts have indeed become hardened? 

1. Repent and Believe the Good News (Psalm 51)

The first step might seem obvious, but it’s important: we need to repent!

God appears to take hardened hearts very seriously throughout scripture, with the phrase “hardened or hardness of heart” mentioned more than 20 times in the Old and New Testaments.

This can be seen in Matthew 13:15, when Jesus says, “For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.”

We only harm ourselves when we harden our hearts. And since we’re unable to hear fully from God or even receive healing when our hearts are hardened, we need to ask for forgiveness for turning away from Him and re-surrender our whole hearts before even beginning to move back towards the right direction.

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to Reveal the Source of Your Hardness 

Psalm 51:10-13 New American Standard Bible 1995

¹⁰ Create ^[a]in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew ^[b]a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.
¹³ Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners will ^[c]be converted to You.

Have there been wrongful patterns of thinking, lies you’ve believed about yourself, others, or God, or alignment with activities or beliefs that misaligned with Him? Then, it’s time to infuse your mind and heart with revelatory truth obtained through studying the Word and time well spent praying with Jesus.

It’s not enough to decide not to be “hard” anymore. We need to replace an inaction with an action. Kind of like replacing good healthy nutritious food away from junk food when starting a help regime.

Hardened hearts are often a sad consequence of bitterness and unforgiveness towards others or ourselves. Think of the last bitter or angry person you’ve interacted with. Were they kind and warm, or were they cold and dismissive?

We can’t remain close to God and exhibit godly characteristics when carrying unforgiveness in our hearts. So often, we’re unforgiving towards ourselves or another without fully realizing it.

After a time, the resentfulness just builds and takes over, affecting our ability to be open-hearted and loving because we’re so tired by our pain.

When dealing with a hardened heart in the past, I found that it helps to invoke a spirit of thankfulness. When focusing your thoughts and turning your affection to the Lord, meditating on all that he’s done for us and all He continues to be for us -our sources of strength, comfort, and guidance- it’s much easier to reignite the passion for Jesus that softened our hearts in the first place.

If you’ve been feeling a bit hardened or ambivalent towards the Lord recently, consider setting aside times of worship and meditating on the love of God and His faithfulness throughout your life.

It’s almost impossible to remain ambivalent or distant towards the Lord, when sincerely worshipping Him for how good He is!

3. Heart and Soul, Hands, Feet: Love and Serve Others

Psalm 100 New American Standard Bible 1995

All Men Exhorted to Praise God.

A Psalm for ^[a]Thanksgiving.

100 Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
² Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
³ Know that the Lord ^[b]Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and ^[c]not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

⁴ Enter His gates with ^[d]thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
⁵ For the Lord is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.

Another way to reignite a hardened heart is to intentionally love and serve others. I’ve found a direct correlation between seasons of hard-heartedness and my self-absorption. When living for ourselves, with lots of focus on what makes us happy, the concerns of the flesh, we tend to care and serve others less.

When we do not love others, we ignore so many direct commands in the Bible, like 1 John 4:7, that keep us close to God. We are, of course, utterly loved by God regardless of any action we fulfill or any strings attached.

But when we’re in close communion with Him, that love is meant to outpour into the lives of people around us. How we love and care for others serves as a litmus test for the condition of our hearts. (John 13:34-35) A hard heart doesn’t have the capacity to help and serve others. It’s way way too wrapped up in self.

John 13:34-35 Amplified Bible

³⁴ I am giving you a new commandment, that you ^[a]love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.”

If you feel an imbalance between the amount of time and energy you spend either in prayer or physically helping or serving people around you, consider whether this is a result of a hardened heart, and think about ways to begin sowing into the lives of others.

This is a very effective way of reigniting your relationship with the Lord because our LOVE without Him, is nothing but a “clanging symbol,” 1 Corinthians 13:1.

Serving and loving others forces us to connect with God because we really can’t affectively love others without being in relationship with Him.

God cares about the condition of our hearts above all else because we can’t be close to Him without an open and vulnerable heart. If you feel you’ve been hardened for a bit, or perhaps even years, it’s nothing to feel guilty about.

God’s not mad at you.

But He does want access to our whole heart because he knows the only true way to peace and joy is by being in constant, complete intimacy with Him.

Let today be the beginning of your heart-softening process, feel the relief and wholeness that comes when forgiving, letting our guard down, love fully again.

4. Declare His Praises Over and Over Again

Psalm 51:14-17Amplified Bible

¹⁴ 
Rescue me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;
Then my tongue will sing joyfully of Your righteousness and Your justice.
¹⁵ 
O Lord, open my lips,
That my mouth may declare Your praise.
¹⁶ 
For You do not delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You are not pleased with burnt offering.
¹⁷ 
My [only] sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a broken spirit;
A broken and contrite heart [broken with sorrow for sin, thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.

The church is called to be a witness, and a witness is one who declares and demonstrates.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

Notice the structure, You are … that you may. 

This is our primary task as Christians.

We are indwelt by Jesus Christ so that we may demonstrate the life and character of the One who lives within.

The responsibility to fulfill this calling of the church belongs to every true Christian. All are called, all are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, all are expected to fulfill their calling in the midst of the hardened chaotic world. The expression of the church’s witness may sometimes be corporate, but the true responsibility to witness is always the individuals. It is your individual responsibility and mine.

But here a problem re-emerges: the problem of possible counterfeit Christians.

It is easy for the church (or the individual Christian) to talk about displaying the character of Christ and to make grandiose claims about doing so.

However, the image Christians project is not always the true, biblical image of Jesus Christ. Humility, patience, love, unity, and peace — these are the truest marks of Jesus.

Christians are to witness, but not arrogantly or rudely, not with an attitude of holier-than-thou smugness, not in sanctimonious presumption, and certainly not against a background of ugly church fights, Christian against Christian.

The church is not to talk about itself.

The church is to fearlessly sing about the Lord their God and Savior Jesus!

Psalm 27:1-6 Amplified Bible

A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.

A Psalm of David.

27 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the refuge and fortress of my life—
Whom shall I dread?
² 
When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
³ 
Though an army encamp against me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me,
Even in this I am confident.

⁴ 
One thing I have asked of the Lord, and that I will seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life,
To gaze upon the beauty [the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the Lord
And to meditate in His temple.
⁵ 
For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter;
In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
He will lift me up on a rock.
⁶ 
And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
In His tent I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

It is to be lowly in mind, not boasting of its power or seeking to advance its prestige. The church cannot save the world — but the Lord of the church can.

It is not the church for which Christians are to labor and spend their lives, but for the Lord of the church. The church cannot exalt its Lord while it seeks to exalt itself. The true church does not seek to gain power in the eyes of the world.

It already has all the power it needs from the Lord who indwells it.

Further, the church is to be patient and forbearing, knowing that the seeds of truth take time to sprout, time to grow, and time to come to full harvest.

The church is not to demand that society make sudden changes in long established social patterns. Rather, the church is to exemplify positive social change by shunning evil and practicing righteousness, thus planting seeds of truth which will take root in society and ultimately produce the fruit of change.

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

Let us Pray,

Psalm 150The Message

150 ^1-6 Hallelujah!
Praise God in his holy house of worship,
    praise him under the open skies;
Praise him for his acts of power,
    praise him for his magnificent greatness;
Praise with a blast on the trumpet,
    praise by strumming soft strings;
Praise him with castanets and dance,
    praise him with banjo and flute;
Praise him with cymbals and a big bass drum,
    praise him with fiddles and mandolin.
Let every living, breathing creature praise God!
    Hallelujah!

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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