Lights in the World

Written by Henry Morris

"The sons of God, without fault, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world." (Philippians 2:15)

The Hebrew and Greek terms for "sons of God" are essentially the same, but the Old Testament always uses the phrase in reference to angels, whereas the New Testament always references the twice-born saints of God.

Our text for this day emphasizes the precise reason that our Lord Jesus prayed: "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world. . . . They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world" (John 17:15-16). We who share this marvelous relationship bear both the "love the Father has bestowed on us" and the unique rejection that "the world does not know us, because it did not know Him" (1 John 3:1).

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12), and we who are His disciples are "the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14). We, unlike the angels, are to remain in this unfair and distorted world as lights. Consider this! We are the light that the Lord Jesus left in this world to represent Him and His message after He returned to heaven (John 9:5).

That is why the Scriptures refer to us as saints (holy ones) and disciples (followers); even the pejorative "Christians" (Acts 11:26) identify us as representing the King! We must therefore shine with the truth (John 3:19) and shed the "light of the glorious gospel of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:4), attempting to "give light to every man that comes into the world" (John 1:9).

Finally, we are surely commanded to "walk in the light, as he is in the light" (1 John 1:7). Our light should never be covered in a "bushel" (Matthew 5:15), but set on a "hill" for all to see (Matthew 5:14).

The Independent Spirit

Written By Curt Klingerman

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven" Matthew 5:3 .

Those who are poor in spirit realize that they are spiritually helpless. They comprehend they do not possess the righteousness necessary to enter the Kingdom. They recognize they need the Holy Spirit for sanctification and power for living. As a result, they humble themselves before God, which positions them to receive the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ. Even while moving from darkness into His marvelous Light, they will be ever mindful of the paradigm found in Zechariah 4:6, “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts” (KJV). They embrace the reality that their sufficiency is unequivocally reliant on God, which is the complete opposite of those who have an independent spirit.

In a number of cultures, the independent spirit is celebrated. It ties in with the “power of pride” that declares I can do it myself. This self-reliance snubs its nose at humility, even though it feigns to have it when necessary for public relations. While a number of people consider the independent spirit to be an asset, it is actually a detriment. Proverbs 16:18 makes this clear, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (KJV). Because they will not bow their knees, those with an independent spirit will not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, much less be able to function there. Because this attitude is incapable of submission, the Holy Spirit cannot lead those with it. Only those led by the Holy Spirit are the sons of God (see Romans 8:14). That means if a person is not a son or daughter of God, their spiritual daddy is the devil. If they continue to keep him as their father, while rejecting God the Father, they will follow him all the way to his eternal destiny –the lake of fire (see John 8:39-47; Revelation 20:1-15).

James 4:1-5 describes the independent spirit this way, “From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy”(KJV)?

Clearly, those with the independent spirit are selfish. They may do things for others, but it is usually on their terms with impure motives. Even while “blessing” others, it still about them: “Look what I did!” Whom do they glorify when they take pride in doing things? A sad part is they have difficulty honoring others when honor is due to them. They practically choke on words of congratulations to people when they are promoted or accomplish something major. Worst of all, they would rather honor themselves than God.

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (KJV). The True Free Spirit is the Spirit of the Lord. Without the Spirit there is no freedom. Those of the world will never know freedom because they cannot know the Holy Spirit (see John 14:17), unless they become poor in spirit and choose life. Those who walk in pride will fail to fully enjoy the freedom God intended them to have. Blessed are the poor in spirit indeed!

Sojourners

Written by Henry Morris

"For we are strangers before you, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding." (1 Chronicles 29:15)

All of God's people, whether ancient Israelites or latter-day Christians, need to recognize that we are mere "strangers and pilgrims on the earth" (Hebrews 11:13). This world is not our home, as the old gospel song puts it, and we must not let our roots get down too deep in this materialistic world.

The words of our text are in David's last recorded prayer before his death. He was a great king and very wealthy in material things, but he still recognized that his real home was not in the earthly Jerusalem, but in heaven.

So should we. The apostle Paul wrote, "For our conversation |the Greek word here literally means 'citizenship' is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:20). We are merely serving in this world as "ambassadors for Christ," and our business here, representing the court of heaven, is to urge men, "in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Why should we spend so much time and money in beautifying a home on earth when Christ has gone to prepare a mansion for us in heaven (John 14:2)? Remember Abraham, who by faith "sojourned . . . in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob" (Hebrews 11:9). "But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city" (Hebrews 11:16).

Also remember Paul who had "no certain dwelling place" (1 Corinthians 4:11), not to mention the Lord Jesus Himself who had "not where to lay his head" (Matthew 8:20). We do well, therefore, to "pass the time of our sojourning here in fear" (1 Peter 1:17)--that is, reverential fear of God (never fear of man), as good citizens of our heavenly country.

They took prayer and Bible from public schools and now they have shootings!

Written by Shaila Touchton

America was founded upon the Bible and now has forgotten the God of the Bible. Early American schools taught the moral values from the Bible, with school prayer, today's public school system prohibit teaching moral values from the Bible, or even allowing students to pray to a God that a majority of faiths in this country recognize. The result is America has become a land with much looser morals then four decades ago, which is having a negative affect on all sectors of our society. 

The U.S. is at the top of the world’s divorce charts on marital breakups.” The United States Supreme court made a terrible decision when they ruled to have prayer removed from schools in 1962. Statistics show that rebellion and violence have dramatically increased since that time. When prayer and Bible was removed from the schools cases of sexual transmitted diseases increased, Divorce rate increased, (Now U.S. is at the top one of the world’s divorce charts on marital breakups) unwanted pregnancies, immodesty, abortions, premarital sex, single parents, Vandalism, suicides, Adultery, prisons are full with criminals, arrogant and rebellious childrens, unmarried couples living together, violent crimes , drugs, alcohol, Gun and school shootings, sexual predators, sexual abuse ,pornography, nudity bars, sexual perversions, immorality, Unrighteous ways, Unrighteous philosophies, Unrighteous desires, decline of education, economy and society has been increased. Since God is gone from Schools Higher Education is lowered. Sin has fascinated them. As a result now America is a lawless, sin filled nation, full of abominations such as Homosexual acts, Hands that shed innocent blood, Wickedness, Violence, etc 

Bible is the foundation of our life, if that foundation is not there in the life there is a decline in righteous living and increase in sin living. Paul indicated in his letter to Timothy that "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16, 17. 

When you remove God you invite everything that is wicked to come in and destroy. Because some people are destroyed from lack of knowledge and there is a continuous attempt to take God out of everything we do. Here is what the bible says for them:

Hosea 4:5 - You stumble day and night and the prophets stumble with you. So I will destroy your mother-- my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. "Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children. 

Amos 2:4 this is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Judah, even for four, I will not turn back [my wrath]. Because they have rejected the law of the LORD and have not kept his decrees, because they have been led astray by false gods, the gods their ancestors followed, I will send fire upon Judah that will consume the fortresses of Jerusalem." 

“In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:6). 

Even some of the kids who go to public schools are very arrogant, rebellious, and ungodly. Home is the first school, even in their home there is no Godliness, no prayer, no respect, and most of the kids come from dysfunctional families, broken families where there are crimes, violence, broken relationships, drug abuse etc. Even in their homes they don’t fear God and parents have forgotten to discipline their children according to Gods word and they live according to world’s word which has caused all the chaos and moral decline in our society. God's word provides the best way to raise children and God expects parents to raise their children to serve Him. Before that parents must be good examples for their children in everything, because children are natural imitators, we must put God's Word first pray in faith, obey God, and walk in love, God will work in our children's lives and change them. 

There are lots of people who do not believe in God, who never repented of their sin in our society. The Bible is a closed book to them and they cannot understand it. A lost person without God's Spirit cannot understand the Bible. Lost people tend to seek out and find a false god to worship that will not condemn their lifestyle. If their lifestyle includes porn, sexual immorality, drinking, rock music, or the occult practices such as Halloween etc a lost person will seek out a false god that will approve of such things. When you rebuke their evil life styles they say Judge Not in order to justify their sin and rebellious ways. Public schools and even some private and Christian schools can be spiritual battlegrounds for our children. They may be inundated with anti-Christian doctrine, relative morality, and secular humanistic theories. Children tend to adopt the values of those with whom they spend the most time. In schools, they are exposed to the value systems of non-Christian students, teachers, and faculty. They may be told that homosexuality is simply an "alternative lifestyle," that abortion is acceptable, and sex before marriage is normal and healthy. Killing is not limited to our schools. Street gangs are fighting it out and senseless murders are taking place in our major cities every day in our society. The family structure in our nation has been breaking down over the last few generations with so much divorce leaving children without the proper supervision and home environment to keep them safe.

Blindness is God’s judgment on a rebellious and disobedient people this is how Jesus quoted the verse in John: “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them” (John 12:40). God blinded Israel because they had continually rejected God’s word until the Lord gave up trying to reveal Himself to them and caused them to be blinded. That is exactly why some people, even Christians, just don’t get the message no matter how much you explain it, or try to convince them that they need to change. They have been blinded and are under God’s judgment. 

A Department of Education Survey which analyzed violence in U.S. schools reported that public schools nationwide experienced more than 11,000 fights in which weapons were used, 4,000 rapes and other sexual assaults and 7,000 robberies. Other reports from Time and Newsweek magazines tell us the suicide rate among U.S. teens has risen 120% in the last 15 years while drug use has risen almost 80% since 1992. The youth of any nation are simply reflection of the parents of that nation. When sin is not dealt with in any society, the result of those sins will always produce violence. The generation living in the days of Noah was similar to our day. 

Israel was instructed to teach their children the statutes of the Lord and the essence of that teaching is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-7: “Hear O Israel: The LORD our God is One LORD.” This is known as the Shema, which is the first word of verse four. Instructions to teach children are also found in Deuteronomy 4:10 and Deuteronomy 11:19. The teaching of God’s truth to children was the job of the parents and was done in the home. Sadly, this practice is no longer a priority in the homes of many believers, and many leave the instruction in God’s Word to the church or a school or daycares or teachers. The society, school and home need to work together to educate our children in the faith and their by raising Godly children a godly Nation. A Nation that refuses to teach its children right from wrong, good from evil will become a corrupt nation, where sin prevails, evil abounds, and children do as they please according to their own free will. When we remove God's standards, then man is free to substitute his own standards of morality. God's word in Judges 21:25 says, "In those days every man did that which was right in his own eyes." 

We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism. 

We have endorsed perversion and called it alternative lifestyle. 

We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. 

We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. 

We have killed our unborn and called it choice. 

We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. 

We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem. 

We have abused power and called it politics. 

We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. 

We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. 

We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. We are mocking God's Word, we are offending him more than ever, we are allowing women to kill their babies, we are allowing a minority to re-define marriage and family in order for them to please their selfish and abnormal desires, we are allowing people to take drugs legally, we are telling children that masturbation, pornography, prostitution, lesbianism, homosexuality, bisexuality, transsexualism and other deviant practices are fine and even good and healthy. We are clearly living in the last days, as the Bible says: 

"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding the form of religion but denying the power of it. Avoid such people." 2 Timothy 3:1-5. 

We MUST defend Godliness, marriage and family. We MUST defend religious freedom. We MUST combat drugs. We MUST speak out without fear. And we must do it NOW. Today is the day that we can change things. The foolish, ungodly people are going to fight back and persecute us. Yet we should not be afraid of them, for the Holy Bible says: "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1. ""Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:10 

This is what God wants us to do. He commands us: "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret; but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light." Ephesians 5:11-13

Expose the evil actions. Be a "good soldier of Christ Jesus" 2 Timothy 2:3. 

GOD BLESS YOU ALL & STAND ON THE TRUTH FOREVER!

The New Creation

Written by Henry Morris

"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creature." (Galatians 6:15)

In the original Greek text of the New Testament, the word translated "creature" is the same as "creation," so the apostle Paul, in our text, is stressing the vital importance of being a "new creation" in Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is nothing less than the mighty Creator of heaven and earth (Colossians 1:16), and the very same creative power which called the universe into existence must be exerted on each lost sinner to create in him a new nature, capable of having the eternal fellowship with God for which man and woman were created in the beginning.

This new creation is not only for the purpose of saving their souls, but also for transforming their lives. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Although good works can never bring salvation, salvation must inevitably bring good works, for we are thereby "created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). Paul exhorts us to continually "put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Ephesians 4:24).

Adam and Eve were originally created "in the image of God" (Genesis 1:27), but that image has been grievously damaged by unbelief and overt sin. Although still resident in man--in fact, distinguishing him from the animals--this divine image must be renewed through saving faith in our Creator/Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Therefore, the Scripture reminds all true believers that they "have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (Colossians 3:9-10).

Knowing Christ

Author : Kevin Probst

My wife and I have been married for many years. We have both recently been made aware that after so many years of living together in the deepest intimacy a marriage relationship can offer, there are still things about each other that we don’t understand. Is it possible to ever know all there is to know about your spouse?

Likewise, many have enjoyed an intimate spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ for many, many years yet hardly know him. Do you really know him? Not just as a personal savior but do you really know Him for who he is? We can know him through the word he has given us but we cannot know him by accident. Just as it

takes effort to know and understand a spouse, it also takes effort to know and understand Christ. He is so vast in his nature and so complex in his person that he can never be fully known. It will be our greatest challenge throughout eternity to try to know Him.

But we do know a little about Christ. We know that he is exalted about all others. We know that he is supreme.

Christ is Supreme in His Diety – He is equal with God in all of his attributes. He is radiant in His glory. Christ is the exact image of the nature of God the Father.

“If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well.” – John 14:7

Christ is Supreme in His Eternal Nature (eternality) - This is incomprehensible. Think long on it and it will drive you crazy. Jesus Christ never had a beginning. It is an imponderable truth.

“He was with God in the beginning” of the creation.” – John 1:2

Jesus is God! The whole world and all the worlds unknown and all of creation and its creatures are frail and vulnerable and fragile and could be shattered into a million pieces by a simple word spoken by the eternal One.

He lived eternities before the beginning and he will live eternities after the end.

Christ is Supreme in His Unchangeable Nature. Is Christ holy? He shall always be holy. Is Christ love? He shall always be love. Is Christ good? He shall always be good. His holiness will never be overcome by carnality. His love will never be replaced with hatred. Throughout all of eternity, his goodness shall reign and he shall never, never be touched with the darkness of evil.

His character is constant.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” – Hebrews 13:8 The seasons come and go. The sun shines and then the sky darkens. Friends change. Families fluctuate. Circumstances are unpredictable. Relationships evolve. The cards are always being shuffled. Transition is a norm in the American lifestyle. But Jesus Christ never changes. His feet are firmly fixed in some unknown foundation of the vast universe and he cannot be moved.

Christ is Supreme in His knowledge. We revel in our knowledge. The information age makes available a never ending source of knowledge. There seems to be nothing Google does not know. Gather all the billions and trillions of bits of information together and compare it to the knowledge of Christ and it’s like comparing a single drop of water to all the water held in all the oceans of earth multiplied by a trillion quadrillions. His knowledge knows no limit.

Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, why would you ask me any question at all. You know ALL things.” – John 21-17

“His understanding is infinite.” – Psalm 147:5

There are some things God has never experienced. He has never been confused. He has never been perplexed. He has never been puzzled. He has never been surprised. He could never be a scientist who searches out the meaning of natural laws. God is the source of all those laws. He could never be a historian to search out the story of man. God wrote the story and he knows every single detail. God could never experience the thrill of the archeologist finding a buried artifact. God hid all those pieces and he knows exactly where they are and what story they tell. God has never made a mistake. He has never experienced sickness. He has never explored anything. He has never investigated. He has never discovered. He is infinite in all his knowledge and wisdom.

Supreme wisdom flows like a great river from the heart of God. Those who drink of its waters are blessed with understanding and they comprehend His eternal truth. Americans find themselves in terrible moral decay: our financial system is in ruins, our legal system is plagued with unfairness, our leaders are diseased with the cancer of greed and corruption, our population is blinded by a lust for material things. Why have we murdered 51 million unborn babies? Why do Americans incarcerate more or its population than any other nation on earth? Why are 35% of our children born out of wedlock? It is because we do not drink from the waters of everlasting wisdom made available by an omniscient God.

Christ is Supreme in His Authority. He is qualified and he is worthy to have all authority. He is all wise, he is all powerful and he is morally perfect. No other can offer those qualifications. He can never do the wrong thing. He can never make a wrong decision. He can never be corrupted by flattery or bribed by money. It is not possible for him to show favoritism. He cannot be selfish and self-serving.

He never seeks a majority vote. He never has to seek approval or get permission. He never has to sit down and ponder and reason regarding a solution to a certain problem. He knows how to end warand poverty. He knows how to cure cancer. Christ is supreme in his authority because he is worthy.

Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” - Matthew 28:18

Ten thousands of angels sang, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” – Rev. 5:12

Jesus does as he pleases and we must be forever grateful that what he pleases to do is always good and honorable.

“All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?" – Daniel 4:35

Christ is Supreme in His Providence. God knows everything there is to know about you. “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” – Luke 12:7

Christ didn’t just plunk you down on this earth and make some provisions for you and then walk away. He has a plan for you. You may not know his plan. It may take time for you to understand and you may sometimes experience doubt. Rest assured and do not doubt that God has a plan.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

Do you sometimes feel he has forgotten you? Do you sometimes feel he isn’t listening? Know this; He knows every time a bird falls from the sky. He is fully aware every time one of his creatures becomes more road kill along the highways. He is fully aware of the smallest fish in the most remote area of the ocean where the eyes of men have not yet seen.

“Look at the birds of the air…your heavenly Father feeds them.” – Matthew 6:26

We have not yet scratched the surface of what it means to know Christ.

The Morning Hour

Written by Andrew Murray

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up (Psalm 5:3)

From the earliest ages, God's servants have thought of the morning as the time especially suitable for worshiping Him. It is still regarded by Christians both as a duty and a privilege to devote some portion of the beginning of the day to seeking seclusion and fellowship with God. Many Christians call it the Morning Watch, or the Quiet Hour. Others use the name, the Still Hour, or the Quiet Time.

All these believers, whether they think of a whole hour or half an hour, or even a quarter of an hour, unite with the psalmist when he says, "My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O Lord."

In speaking of the extreme importance of this daily time of quiet for prayer and meditation on God's Word, Mr. Mott has said, "Next to receiving Christ as Savior, and claiming the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we know of no act attended with larger good to ourselves or others, than the formation of an undiscourageable resolution to keep the morning watch, and spend the first half hour of the day alone with God."

At first sight, this statement appears too strong. The act of receiving Christ as Savior is of such infinite consequences for eternity, and the act of claiming the Holy Spirit works such a revolution in the Christian life, that a simple thing like the morning watch hardly appears sufficiently important to be placed next to them. If, however, we think how impossible it is to live out daily life in Christ, or to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, without daily, close fellowship with God, we shall soon see the truth of the sentiment. The morning watch is the key by which the surrender to Christ and the Holy Spirit can be unceasingly and fully maintained.

To realize this, let us look first at what ought to be the object of the morning watch. The morning watch must not be regarded as an end in itself. It is not sufficient that it gives us a blessed time for prayer and Bible study, and so brings us a certain measure of refreshment and help. It should serve as a means to an end. And that end is: to secure the presence of Christ for the whole day.

Personal devotion to a friend or a pursuit means that the friend or pursuit shall always hold that place in the heart, even when other activities occupy the attention. Personal devotion to Jesus means that we allow nothing to separate us from Him in a moment. To abide in Him and His love, to be kept by Him and His grace, to be doing His will and pleasing Him--this cannot possibly be an intermittent thing if we are truly devoted to Him. "I Need Thee Every Hour," "Moment by Moment I Am Kept in His Love"--these hymns are the language of life and truth. The believer cannot stand for one moment without Christ. If we are devoted to Him, we will refuse to be content with anything less than abiding always in His love and His will.

Consider the morning watch now as the means to this great end: I want to secure absolutely the presence of Christ for the entire day, to do nothing that can interfere with it. I feel that my success for the day will depend upon the clearness and the strength of the faith that seeks and finds and holds Him in the inner chamber.

The link for the day between Christ and me must be renewed and firmly fastened in the morning hour. True Christianity aims at having the character of Christ so formed in us, that in our most ordinary acts His personality and disposition shall show themselves. The spirit of Christ is meant to possess us so that in our association with others, in our relaxation, in our business, it shall be second nature to act according to His will. All this can be because Christ Himself, as the Living One, lives in us.

Your purpose will especially have its influence on the spirit in which you keep the morning watch. As the grandeur of the aim (unbroken fellowship with God in Christ through the day) and the true nature of the means to secure it (a definite conscious meeting with Christ, securing His presence for the day) possess us, we will see that the one essential thing is the fixed determination, whatever effort or self-denial it may cost, to win the prize. When studying or on the sports field, a student knows the need for vigorous will and determined purpose if he is to succeed. Christianity needs, and indeed deserves, not less but more intense devotion. If anything, surely the love of Christ needs the whole heart.

Above everything else, it is this fixed determination to secure Christ's presence that will overcome the temptation to be unfaithful or superficial in the keeping of our pledge. It is this determination which will make the morning watch itself a mighty means of grace in strengthening character, and enabling us to say "No" to every call for self-indulgence. It is this determination which will enable us, when we enter the inner chamber and shut the door, to be there with our whole heart, ready at once for our communication with Christ. And it is this determination that, from the morning watch on, will become the keynote of our daily life.

The Christian who makes personal devotion to Christ his watchword, will find in the morning hour that day by day insight into his holy calling is renewed. This is the time when his will is braced to walk worthy of Christ. His faith will be rewarded by the presence of Christ waiting to meet him, and take charge of him for the day.

Stand Strong!

“And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentils: and the people fled from the Philistines. But he stood in the midst of the ground and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.” – 2 Samuel 23:11-12

We are told very little about Shammah and Bible commentaries generally refer only fleetingly to this Old Testament character. Yet his name is preserved in the Word of God for a purpose and there are some vital lessons that we can learn from the record of his life.

The chapter in which Shammah’s name is found lists David’s “mighty men” whose exploits are recalled at the end of the life of Israel’s illustrious king. Shammah is the third man to be mentioned. He lived at a time when the cruel enemies of God’s people (the Philistines) were making inroads into Israel’s territory. He was a Hararite, which means a mountaineer. This suggests that his ancestors lived in the hills – perhaps having been forced there by earlier Philistine oppression. Shammah’s own name means ruin, and by implication it can mean distress or dismay. It seems very likely therefore that Shammah had been born at a time of great difficulty when the Philistines were oppressing the people of God. The Israelites could well have been living in constant fear of the marauding armies. As Shammah appears on the scene, the Philistines were mounting another attack. The enemy presented a united front, being “gathered together into a troop,” as yet again they invaded Israel’s territory. God’s people were all too familiar with this kind of situation and simply “fled from the Philistines.” Some past attacks may have been thwarted, but this latest one looked well organized and was too much for the Israelites to contemplate. But one man stood his ground – alone. Shammah would not flee with the rest! Bravely he took his stand right “in the midst” of the ground. Why was he prepared to be different and take this lone stand?

Shammah recognized something that nobody else seemed to remember. The land that the Philistines had entered was not theirs but belonged to Israel! The God of heaven had given the land to their forefathers centuries before. It was His – and it was not to be surrendered! Lentils had been eaten at least since Jacob’s day (Gen. 25:34). Someone had planted and tended that crop. Was it to be lost to the Philistines as well? Were they simply to trample upon it as they took possession of the territory or would they be allowed to exploit someone else’s labors and enjoy the harvest themselves? As far as Shammah was concerned, it was unthinkable! Bravely he took his stand to defend that ground because he appreciated its value. We are living at a time when many precious things are being regarded as cheap. Liberties to worship God have been won, precious doctrines have been uncovered, and God’s people possess a rich and priceless heritage. The enemy (the devil) today threatens to rob us of these prized possessions. Many treat sacred truth lightly and think nothing of allowing the trends of the world to find a welcome in the church. Others see no harm in ecumenical ventures and are unaware of the peril of joining forces with those whose beliefs and practices deny the truths of Scripture. We need men and women of God today who will value their heritage and take that lone stand for the glory of God.

In Shammah’s case “the Lord wrought a great victory.” Without regard for his own safety, he stood his ground – right at the center of the field. As he defended the land single-handedly, he “slew the Philistines” who had tried to dispossess him. What a great victory was wrought that day! It was great because the enemy did not prevail. Super-human strength was given to God’s “man for the moment.” Ultimately, the victory was traced to what the LORD had done!

For Shammah, more than a field of lentils was at stake. The challenge for all believers is this: Are the things of God precious to us? In this day of spiritual compromise and cheapness are we prepared to take our stand for Him? If we, like Shammah, are ready to defend His interests he will use us to win great victories in His name.

Written by Martin Girard

God’s Secret Plan: Christ Lives in Us!

I am going to let you in on a divine secret. It is the secret to living a victorious life. “For this is the secret, Christ lives in you” (Colossians 1:27).

How did we receive Christ as Lord? By faith. How do we live out our Christian life each day? By faith. Hebrews 11:6 tells us, and without faith it is impossible to please God.

Faith is our first response to God. We put our trust in Christ by faith and by faith alone. We cannot depend on our abilities. We must depend on His abilities. We can never gain acceptance from God by our own morality or good works. Our efforts to “try harder” at being a better student, a better spouse, a better cell group leader, or a stronger Christian witness can never gain for us more acceptance from God. Placing our faith in God alone for everything is the only way to please Him. We place our faith in the living God and serve Him for one reason, because He is God. He is worthy of our praise and our complete allegiance.

When we received Jesus as our Lord and placed our faith in Him, something drastically changed! Christ is now actually living in us. Galatians 2:20 tells us clearly…Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Why is this so important to understand? Because when I realize that Christ lives in me, I begin to see life from a different perspective. I see it as it really is. Christ actually lives in me. The same Holy Spirit who dwelt in Jesus Christ two thousand years ago, who gave Him the power to live a supernatural life, is also in me enabling me to live a supernatural life. When I lay my hands on someone to pray for them, it is actually Christ praying for them through me. When I encourage someone in my cell group, Christ is actually encouraging them through me.

Romans 4:3 tells us clearly…Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. The word accounted literally means credited. The Lord credits our account with righteousness when we believe Him! Imagine someone depositing money in your account at the bank each week. You may say, “I don’t deserve this.” But your bank account would continue to grow whether you deserved it or not! That is exactly what God does. The Bible says that if we believe God, like Abraham, the Lord puts righteousness into our account! So, being right with God and living a victorious life in Christ does not depend so much on our performance, it depends on our faith and trust in Him.

Christians often make the mistake of relying too much on their feelings. One day we feel close to God and the next day they don’t feel Him. We cannot trust our feelings. We have to trust the truth of the Word of God. When we are tempted to be discouraged or depressed by our mistakes and failures, we must make the decision to replace those thoughts with the thoughts that God thinks about us. See yourself as God sees you. Remember, Christ lives in you!

It’s like this. If you’re in the hospital and they take out your almost-ruptured appendix, what are you going to concentrate on? The pain? The stitches? Or are you going to say, “Praise God! The poison’s being removed. I’m being healed!” We choose to think of one or the other, the pain or the healing. If we keep our eyes on Jesus and on His righteousness, then God is free to allow the abundant life that He promised to permeate our lives.

It is only by Christ living in us that we are able to do anything. We have absolutely no chance of obeying God with our own strength. We must have faith in Christ living in us. Paul the apostle found the secret when he tells us in Colossians 2:2 “God’s secret plan, … is Christ himself.”

Don’t be afraid to talk to yourself. I talk to myself all the time. The Bible says David talked to himself; he “encouraged himself in the Lord” (1 Samuel 30:6 KJV). We should be doing the same thing. I encourage you to get up in the morning and say, “I am righteous through faith in Jesus. I am a man or woman of God. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me today” (Philippians 4:13). Christ lives in me!

Used by permission of DOVE Christian Fellowship International, 11 Toll Gate Road, Lititz, PA 17543.

A Deeper Relationship with Jesus

He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

More than anything else, Jesus delights in having a deep and abiding relationship with you. Every area of your life is of interest to Him, including daily routines that may seem mundane and insignificant. Some of you doubt that He is concerned with such trivial matters. Because of His invisibility and apparent silence, it is difficult for some people to develop a close relationship with Him. He understands the difficulties you face. Through prayer and Bible study, He can help you overcome them.

It delights the Lord when you take your fears and burdens and place them in His hands, for Him to keep. He has perfect knowledge of you, and He understands you better than your family, your friends, and even yourself. He is aware of your transgressions and weaknesses, yet His arms are open wide to embrace you and forgive you. His love for you is unconditional.

I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. (Jeremiah 31:3)

It delights the Lord when you seek guidance prior to making decisions rather than striking out on your own. So many times we miss the mark and end up on our knees as a last resort. As you witness His faithfulness in your life, you can learn to let go of trusting in only yourself and begin placing your trust in Jesus.

Although you cannot see Him visibly, He is there. It delights the Lord when you open up your heart to Him, revealing your hopes and dreams and seeking His will for your life. This precious time with the Lord yields rich and fertile soil for trust to grow. As trust grows, your relationship with Jesus grows. When you truly grasp His great love for you and the delight He has in you, you can develop a deeper relationship with Him. Jesus Christ is the most important relationship you will ever have in your life.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, help us comprehend the depth of your love and the delight you have in us. Bring us to a deeper and more abiding relationship with Christ. Let us never forget that Jesus is the most valuable relationship in our life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Susan Ferguson

www.knittedtogetherbygod.com

Let the old rags go!

There’s a story told about a beggar who was walking down the road one day when the king approached. The beggar was awestruck, especially when the king invited him to ride along with him to the palace. As they entered the royal residence, the king said, “Today I have chosen you to live in my palace. I am going to give you new garments to wear and all of the food that you can eat. All of your needs will be met.”

The beggar thought for a moment. All that he had to do was to receive what the king promised him. This was too good to be true. He had done nothing to deserve this royal treatment. Of course, he accepted the wonderful offer. From that time on, the beggar lived by the king’s provision, but, “Just in case,” the beggar thought, “I should hang onto my old clothes if the king doesn’t really mean what he said. I don’t want to take any chances.” Therefore, the beggar hung onto his old rags.

Years later, the old beggar was dying, and the king came to his bedside. When the monarch glanced down and saw the rags still clutched in the beggar’s hand, both men began to weep. The beggar finally realized that he had never truly trusted the king. Rather than living like a royal prince, he had lived under a cruel deception.

Sometimes we are guilty of doing the same. We give our lives to Jesus, but insist on hanging onto and trusting in our works and the good things we do, “just in case.” The Bible tells us that…all our righteous acts are like filthy rags… (Isaiah 64:6).

Paul chided the Galatian Christians because they had started out by faith in Christ, but were now trying, through religious dead works, to gain spirituality: You foolish Galatians!…Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? …After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? (Galatians 3:1-3).

If we place our faith in our human effort of witnessing, or Bible reading, or attending cell group or church meetings, these good deeds become “dead works.” Involvement in the church, helping the poor, being a great husband or an obedient child—all these can be dead works if we are trying to gain favor with God through doing them.

The Lord does not receive us because of our good works. He receives us because of faith in Him and what He has done for us on the cross. We are righteous only by faith in Him. Let’s not get caught, at the end of our lives, clinging to our old rags, because somehow we found it too hard to believe that the Lord desires to bless us and fill us with His life, even though we do not deserve it at all.

I have met people who say, “I’ll stop smoking, and then God will accept me.” God does not accept us because we have overcome a bad habit. He accepts us because His Son, Jesus Christ, died for our sins, and when we receive Him, we become His sons and daughters. When we give our lives to Jesus, He will give us the power and grace to stop smoking or discontinue any other habit that does not bring glory to God. He accepts us as we are and gives us the grace and desire to change.

Our goodness does not bring us favor with God. We already have favor with God! God wants us to do good works, but we do them because we already have His favor, not to gain His favor: For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

God has good plans for your life today. He wants you to reign in life through Jesus Christ: … those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17b).

Kings reign over their kingdoms, and we can do the same. Rise up in faith and begin to reign in life through Jesus Christ and His righteousness! You don’t have to wait. You can start today!

Written By Larry Kreider

“Used by permission of DOVE Christian Fellowship International, 11 Toll Gate Road, Lititz, PA 17543.”

Understanding The Fallen Nature

Written by Daniel Moynihan

Once we break out of the bondage of thinking that our tradition or church we were raised in saves us, we are free to cling to the gospel truth that Jesus Christ is our all in all. At the same time, we need to continue to get answers to the issues and questions that plague us. This is a constant process. You may get discouraged along the way, though, as you continue to battle your sin nature.

We are born with a fallen nature into a fallen world. When we are saved or born again, we have a spirit that is regenerated to a relationship with the Father that we were always meant to have. Everything seems new because it is. We know that we have a saving relationship with Jesus, and as a result, we enjoy the things of God. We have a different feeling about other genuine Christians (we like them and want to be around them). The problem is our soul is still encased in this physical body of sin. It wants to sin—it is prone to sin. Look what the apostle Paul himself says about this:

"For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me."—Romans 7:14–20 

Sound familiar? It is the battle we go through once we are truly born again. Prior to being saved, we may be morally annoyed or offended by what we do because we know we have done something wrong and it bothers us. Some call this our conscience. This can vary from culture to culture. What some cultures consider wrong is perfectly acceptable in another culture. But when we are born again, God writes His law upon our hearts. Our sinful nature wants nothing of it, and the war that Paul talks about in the scripture above begins.

We are all tempted by different things. What tempts you to sin may not tempt me. What tempts me may not be a temptation to you. It is extremely frustrating to me that things I don’t want to feel or be tempted by can still be a constant burden. Some Christians fight against their sin nature for a while and then simply give up. They see they have overcome some sins, but cannot fully overcome others. While it is true that Satan and demonic forces can possess a person and control him or her, this is not normally what is causing your battle with sin. Normally the root of any sin is within yourself. Think about whatever sin you are struggling with right now and trace it back to the root. It will always end at the root of self, every time. When the pattern of the particular sin you are struggling with started, it was by something you were coveting for yourself. You focused on it, practiced it, and then it became a persistent sin. It is pure selfishness.

The opposite of selfishness is forgetting about you and focusing on others. Isn’t that how Jesus lived His life down here on earth? Didn’t He leave His heavenly state to take on human form and suffer and die for us? He did that for us. Charles Spurgeon once traveled a long way to preach a sermon. He was quite well known at the time and many hundreds of people had gathered to hear the famous evangelist speak. When it was time for him to speak, he rose to the pulpit, looked out at the people, and shouted the word "others" and then sat down. That was it. He was done. Some people were infuriated. They had traveled many a mile to hear the famous preacher. As mad as they were at the time, I guarantee one thing—they never forgot the sermon.

If we focus on the Lord and others, we will be less prone to give in to our selfish sinful nature. If we do fall, the Bible gives us the remedy: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). As mentioned earlier in this article, some Christians give up the fight against some of their struggles with sin and reason that “it is just the way I am.” However, they end up being miserable as they are going against their new nature by giving in so easily to the old. They become a shell of the person they could be and are ineffective in the world for the Lord. If someone who is living in willful sin is not miserable, then I question whether or not he or she really had a conversion experience. 

The theological debate about whether someone can lose his or her salvation has been raging for centuries. I do not think the issue is whether one can lose it or not—it is whether they ever had it to begin with. So many people get emotional at an evangelical rally or they get pushed down the aisle to “accept Jesus” by overbearing friends or relatives. They respond thinking they need “fire insurance” from hell so they “accept Jesus” and go about living how they want. This is not conversion. Real conversion is being sorry for the state you are in and feeling totally helpless. You realize you cannot save yourself and need a Savior. Not only do you want your sins forgiven, but you want the power to change. Once you understand what Jesus did on the cross, you cast all of your hope on His atonement for your sins. Earlier in this article, I said we must come to the gospel truth that Jesus is our all in all. That means we trust Him for salvation and sanctification (the process by which we are changed to be more like Jesus). Too often, Christians trust Him for salvation but not sanctification. It is a daily process that continues until we die. I like the way King David put it in the Psalms: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23–24). 

From what I have come to understand, David was essentially saying that there was sin in his life he was aware of, but he also wanted to know about sin he was unaware of. He asked the Lord to show him what else he needed to repent of. He wanted to be perfect before God. By this time in his life he had come to realize that his purpose in life was to be what his Creator made him to be. He was determined to fulfill that purpose. David was called a man after God’s own heart. To me, his pattern above is a good one to follow. If you want to be serious about following the Lord, you need to confess any known sin and ask for His grace to repent. No one says it is easy, but by His grace all things are possible.

We only get into trouble when we believe we cannot change our ways or repent. Then after we confess and repent of all known sin, we ask God to point out sin we have overlooked or are unaware of, repenting of that as well. If we will do this on a regular basis we are in effect washing ourselves in the blood of Jesus, confessing our sins as 1 John 1:9 tells us to do, and asking Him for the grace to change. Fight back against your sin nature. When you are under severe temptation, stop what you are doing and start praying for someone’s salvation. Since you are focusing on someone else at this point and not yourself, the temptation will fade. If you are a church leader, you should strive to raise up ministry leaders who are even more effective than you are. This goes against the grain of what the world teaches. Again, think of how unselfish that sounds. Let’s say you are considered a really good Bible teacher. People really learn from you and grow because of the way you are able to teach. Now let’s say you are driven to raise up two or three people to be teachers who are way better than you are. If you are successful, doesn’t the kingdom of God flourish all the more? Now those two or three raise up two or three teachers even better than they. In this way the kingdom of God benefits. John the Baptist had it right when he said he must decrease and Jesus must increase. This is a kingdom principle. It squashes selfishness. 

Author Resource:- Daniel Moynihan has taught Bible studies in prison. He has preached sermons in various churches in New York. While serving as an associate pastor at Abundant Life Fellowship in Boonville, New York he also wrote and directed several plays for the church and community; all which had a Christ centered theme. Dan is the author of Change Agent and Dreamscape. Comments can be sent to Dan at his website danmoynihanbooks.com

Article From Christian Articles; Fallen Nature Category- http://www.christianarticles.net/rss.php?rss=75 

Are you a soldier of Christ?

A soldier is a man or woman enlisted in an army. Soldiers are referred to by designations which reflect their military occupation specialty arm, service, or branch of military employment, their type of unit, or operational employment. In a war, soldiers are involved in combats on the ground, in planes, or from warships. They fight for their country even if it means death. Also, soldiers live regimented lives under the instruction of a commanding officer, and can get deployed to anywhere at any time, going through various difficult situations. Different countries in the world have armies with highly trained and equipped soldiers for defense against threats and attacks, yet none of these armies are invincible. However, there is one army that will ever remain indomitable – the sovereign army of God. Jesus is the commander-in-chief of this army (2 Tim. 2:4). 

The soldiers in this sovereign army are actually humans too, but they don’t wage war as humans do. They use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to pull down strongholds, cast down false arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing into captivity every rebellious thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:3-5). These soldiers of Christ don't just do anything they feel like doing, they take orders from their commander-in-chief. 

Using the armors of soldiers in the old Roman Empire to describe their weaponry, it is clear that each one of them puts on a belt of truth and a breastplate of God’s righteousness. For shoes, they put on the preparation of the gospel of peace. In addition to all of these, they each hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. They wear salvation as a helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Eph. 6:14-17). They stay alert and are fervent in their prayers, standing firm against all strategies of the devil (Eph. 6:11).

They are bold by the power of the Holy Spirit and strong through God’s grace (2 Tim 2:1) and the power of His might (Eph. 6:10). They help their fellow soldiers, encouraging and strengthening each other. Although, they are not yet perfect, they keep striving for perfection (Matt 5:48). They are completely sold out and totally committed to their commander. They are not fighting against human beings with flesh and blood but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in the dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:12). They are engaged in a spiritual warfare between the kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of God. They are vigilant because they know that their great enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (1 Pet. 5:8).

These men and women are focused on the mission given to them by their Great Commander to make disciples of all nations. They go up to the high places, tear down the devil’s kingdom down, reclaim the things he has stolen, pull down the altars of darkness, and enthrone Jesus as King in the different lands where they are deployed, raising up the banner of righteousness. They break down the walls and hindrances that stand against the augmentation of God’s Kingdom and enforce His will on earth. They are soldiers on a raid to take over lands from the hold of the devil, shining the light of the gospel into the surrounding darkness, and delivering souls from the hand of the stubborn god of this world. They don't sleep on the battle field, they are disciplined. They follow the instructions of their Commander. Their greatest honor is to have accomplished their sovereign's command. They seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Rom. 6:33), the salvation of souls is their priority. They go on from strength to strength, wrestling and fighting and praying, treading down all the powers of darkness. 

They endure hardships (2 Tim 2:3), tribulations, afflictions, distresses, persecutions, perils; they are accounted as sheep for the slaughter, yet in all these things they are more than conquerors through Him who loved and called them (Rom 8:35-37). Jesus, their head was once dead but now He lives for ever more. These soldiers have overcome the world because He who is in them is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). In fact, the victory of their warfare had been won at the cross of Calvary thousands of years ago, and their duty is to enforce this victory in the situations they encounter. 

Exactly the same way soldiers at war don’t work at outside jobs, these soldiers don’t get entangled in trying to serve two different masters (Matt 6:24). They are not preoccupied with worldly pursuits to gain the applause of men rather they concentrate on pleasing their commanding officer (2 Tim 2:4). They use their daily work as a platform for transforming lives and standing for the truth. Their motivation is not the advancement of themselves but the advancement of God’s Kingdom. They do not compromise even when faced with threats. Although they have different duty posts: the missionary field, the medical field, the business field, the political field, the entertainment field, the research field, and so on, yet their allegiance is solely to the same Great Commander, the King of all Kings. 

They battle against the desires of the flesh and choose to live by the Spirit keeping their garments unspotted from sin (Gal 5:16). They have dominion and power over all the power of devil (Luke 10:19). They fight the good fight of faith to lay hold on eternal life, to which they have been called (1Ti 6:12). They are the soldiers of Christ.

My friends, there is no demilitarized zone in this battle; you are either on the devil’s side or on the Lord’s side. Which army do you belong to? Are you a soldier of Christ or are you one of the officers in the army of darkness serving Lucifer and his cohorts? Enlist as a soldier of Christ today, don’t look back and you will receive the crown of life.

“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev. 3:21-22)

Who is the driver of your life?

I recall that when I first hired a chauffeur, I did most of the driving even though my chauffeur always sat in the driver’s seat. What do I mean? Well, first, in some false sense of humility, I sat in the front seat beside the chauffeur rather than behind. Second, whenever we were on the road and he seemed to be getting too close to any car, I would notice myself slamming my imaginary brakes; in short, I was usually edgy and often either making imaginary turns, honking my imaginary horn, or accelerating. What’s more? I kept telling him how he should drive - almost every minute.

In a matter of weeks, I noticed I was too worked up whenever my chauffeur drove the car, much more than I used to be when I drove myself. I had to make a decision to either drive the car myself or trust him enough to drive. I was done with trying to make him drive my way. From the day I decided to really let him drive the car, I noted that I had some peace of mind; I could read and work in the car, and at a time, I even dozed off while he drove. Hmmm! He wasn’t a bad driver anyway, I later reassured myself.

Today, as I ponder on the way many “Christians” run their lives, this experience comes to mind. Many believers claim to have given their lives to Christ, but in reality, they do the “driving”. Christ says “let’s go left”; we say “I think right is better, after all, everyone that matters is going right”. Christ says, “My beloved, we need to go slowly right now because there is danger ahead”, but we tell Him to move at 120 miles per hour so we don’t seem left behind. Christ tells us to stop at a fuel station to get a refill and renewal by the Word; we respond – “let’s do it at another station, I’m so busy now and in too much of a hurry”.

Beloved, is Jesus Christ really the driver of your life? If he is, then you should be experiencing what the Bible calls the peace that passes all understanding (Phil. 4:7). The believer has been called into a place of rest, because Christ has given us all we would ever need for life (2 Peter 1:3).If we would truly let Him lead our lives, we would start living life indeed. Jesus said – “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28). Do you experience this rest Jesus talked about? If your answer is no, could it be that you do not trust him enough to drive your life, like I did with my driver? Could it be that you are not learning of him? Could it be that you have not actually surrendered your life to Him as your Lord and Master by relinquishing control over the affairs of your life?

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” John 10:27

- Tope S. Aladenusi (Edited)