Tag: God’s Word

Oops! God’s Word as my Shield

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Chapter 44 of Isaiah begins with another powerful No Fear passage. God is sending the Israelites more encouragement to help them face those long years that were coming during their exile in Babylon. The words of encouragement are just as real and profound for us today! Ancient words with help and love written all over them from our God. Isaiah 44:1-3

“But now listen, Jacob, my servant,
    Israel, whom I have chosen.
2 This is what the Lord says—
    he who made you, who formed you in the womb,
    and who will help you:
Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant,
    Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
    and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
    and my blessing on your descendants.

Here are truths and promises I can claim as a believer in Jesus from this passage:

  1. I am chosen by God and special to Him verse 1. 1 Thessalonians 1:4 “For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you
  2. God created me and knew me before I was even born verse 2. Psalm 139:13 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”
  3. God promises to help me during my life verse 2. Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.“
  4. God says I can live without fear because He chose me, blesses and helps me verse 2. Romans 8:15 “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Galatians 3:26 “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,”
  5. God promises to pour out His Spirit upon me and bless me verse 3. John 16:3 “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”
  6. As a child of God, my descendants and I will receive blessings verse 3. Deuteronomy 30:19 “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”

God meant for us to find and claim these verses as God had placed them repeatedly throughout scripture. Which of these will you claim in your life today? Are you in need of feeling special to God? See verse 1. Are you doubting that God created you for a purpose in a special way? See verse 2. Are you doubting God will help you in your current circumstances? See verse 2. Are you living in fear because of your current situation or pressures in your life? See verse 2. Do you need an outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit upon you today? See verse 3. Are you concerned about your children and grandchildren? See verse 3.

God’s Word is complete and has answers and hope for all of life’s situation! Praise God 2 Samuel22:31 speaks of the flawlessness of God’s Word and how it can be our shield for living. “As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.” David gives the same idea in Psalm 18:30,“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.” Solomon also says in Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” Why not claim God’s promises over you life today and use His word as your shield for living?

Linda

Isaiah 40, Treasures for Living

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Before I leave Chapter 40 of Isaiah, I want to draw your attention to my favorite verses that give me strength, courage and a feeling of being loved by God.

Isaiah 40:8 shows me the strength I am assured of through God’s Word. “The grass withers and the flowers fall,  but the word of our God endures forever.” God and His Word are eternal and will not change, fade or die out. I can use His Word as an anchor for my soul as God and His Word do not change. Hebrews 13:8 speaks of the immutability of Jesus and confirms our trust in Him. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Proverbs 30:5 speaks of the perfection of God’s Word and its ability to protect us. “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” Hebrews 4:12 speaks of how the Word of God is alive and will help us discern our own hearts and the world around us. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” The Word of God is eternal and provides grounding and hope in any situation.

Isaiah 40:11 “He tends his flock like a shepherd:
    He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
    he gently leads those that have young.” This verse is very comforting as God reveals his heart of compassion and love for me. I know that in times of heartache, joy and desperation He will hold me close to His heart and never let me go. There is no one or nothing like our God. He alone can hold and comfort me. However, He uses other believers to come alongside me and bring tangible comfort right when I need it. Thank you God for you exquisite care of me.

Lastly, I love Isaiah 40:28-31. This portion of scripture is a favorite of so many. Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

There is such strength in knowing God is creator of all, sovereign and everlasting. Nothing can outlast God. He is tireless and in my human weariness I can know that God will not give up or not help because He is too tired or preoccupied. He gives strength and power in Jesus’ name. He uplifts when I grow tired and always will renew my strength. He will cause me to soar and not grow faint. God is an amazing God who loves me and will always support me. I am reminded of Lamentations 3:21-23 when reading these verses, “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning;  great is your faithfulness.” We know that God always loves us and each and every day His mercies are new for us. We can count on His Faithfulness!

I pray you have seen God in new ways as we have spent time in Isaiah Chapter 40.

Linda

Two Key Attributes for Daily Living

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The attributes God reveals to us today from Chapter 40 of Isaiah are: God is glorious and God’s Word is eternal. These are two profound attributes of our great God that can have direct meaning for our lives today.

Why should I care that God is glorious? Isaiah 40:5 “And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,   and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” By definition God’s glory is the sum total of all His attributes. God displayed His glory in the beauty and wisdom of His creation. Throughout history, God has revealed His glory to His people through His power, mercy, grace, judgement, holiness, love, etc. In the Old Testament God showed his people His glory in a cloud and it was known as the Shekinah glory. The cloud was used by God to lead his people in the wilderness for 40 years and then filled the tabernacle and later the temple in Jerusalem. The key factor about God’s glory is that Jesus Christ, the Son, reveals to us completely God’s glory. We can know and feel his glorious presence with us each day by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Jesus shows us all about God’s glory. Here in Isaiah 40:5, God tells us He will be revealing to the world His glory and we would see it. Jesus is that glory God spoke of, He was coming and would show us all about God the Father. John 1:18 “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” Jesus made Him known to us.

I am so thankful that I can know God the Father and His glory because of the work of Jesus on the cross. He came to reveal God to us and to save us so we could have a relationship with His Father and ours. All that God is Jesus made known to us in His Word so we can see and feel His glory in a new and personal way today. Christ is the Holy one, the Only one, who can Save us.

God’s Word is eternal. Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withers and the flowers fall,  but the word of our God endures forever.” Recently, I was working with a group of teens to study Chapter 40 and several of us chose this verse as one of our favorites. It is so important to know that God’s Word is eternally true and does not change from generation to generation. The Bible is filled with affirmations of God’s Word being eternal. Here are a couple of my favorites; Psalm 119:89 Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Psalm 119: 160 “All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.” John 6:68 “Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” 2 Peter 3:5 “But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.” God’s Words brought the world into existence as He spoke “Let there be…” in Genesis. John called Jesus the Word of God in John 1:1-3 “ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. and verse 14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” As in the case of God’s glory, the world has experienced God’s eternal Word from the beginning as He created all the heavens and the earth. We have experience the fullness of His Word in Jesus, the Word, the one who saves us and lives today after being raised from the dead. We have the assurance from God’s character that His Word is eternal and will endure for all generations. Praise God! That is an anchor for our soul and affirmation of our faith as we seek to live each day for Him. We do not need to worry that God will change His mind about loving and saving us. He is eternally true and keeps His promises.

May you have a day permeated by His glory.

Linda

Light or Dark, Another Choice Jesus Gives

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A stunningly beautiful portion of scripture is before us in Chapter 9 of Isaiah. We’ll go thought it slowly so we can absorb and appreciate all God has for us. Isaiah speaks poetically about the coming Messiah giving wonderful insights into this Savior who is to come.

Isaiah 9:1-5

Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory. The people in northern Israel from the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali suffered greatly when the Assyrian attacked in 734-732 B.C. God is encouraging them that their time of suffering will not go on forever but will be followed by a time when God will bestow glory and honor on their region around Galilee. This of course refers to Jesus and his ministry centered in the region of Galilee and Capernaum where he spent a great deal of time ministering with his disciples.

2 The people who walk in darkness
    will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
    a light will shine. They were a people in darkness and Jesus will be the great light that comes to live and walk among them! He will shine his light of salvation for both Jews and Gentiles. Praise God as we too benefit from that light given long ago.

3 You will enlarge the nation of Israel,
    and its people will rejoice.
They will rejoice before you
    as people rejoice at the harvest
    and like warriors dividing the plunder. The nation of believers will be multiplied by Jesus which it was when Jesus invited both Jews and Gentiles to be a part of the family of God.
4 For you will break the yoke of their slavery
    and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.
You will break the oppressor’s rod,
    just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.
5 The boots of the warrior
    and the uniforms bloodstained by war
will all be burned.
    They will be fuel for the fire. God promised to break the yoke of slavery to sin and oppression. He gives victory so there is always hope in Him.

This prophecy of Messiah’s coming as a light to the world that would be centered in Galilee and Capernaum shows the specificity of God’s prophecies. He gave the where and what this message would be about. This prophecy in verse 1-2 is quoted again in Matthew 4:14-16. Matthew gives us the details in verse 13 of how Jesus came to that region. “Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— . The idea of Jesus being a light to and for mankind in relation to God was stated by John the Baptist in John 1:9 “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” Jesus confirmed he was the true light in John 8:12 “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Amazingly, God gave the place where Messiah’s ministry would be centered and the results of that ministry – bringing light to a people in darkness. Those who believe in Jesus are called out of darkness into His light. 1 Peter 2:9 “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.” God also promised to break their yoke of slavery which He did by sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Hebrews 10;10 “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Jesus paid for our sins so we can live in His light. Paul puts it this way in Romans 10:10 “The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.” These prophecies were given 600 years before Christ was born. God is amazing, Sovereign and Omniscient!

How does this speak to us today during this Lenten Season? We need to ask ourselves if we are availing ourselves of His light in our lives. Do we see His truth as light? Do we pursue His truth and light in His Word daily? God was specific about where Jesus’ ministry would be centered. Have you asked yourself where your ministry is centered? Do you purposefully seek to influence those around you for Jesus? Are you asking God to increase your area of influence? God has you where you are for a certain purpose. Don’t let it be wasted. Focus and be intentional about sharing Jesus with those around you. Lastly, keep repentance in mind as Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for our sin by dying on the cross. Am I taking advantage of the relationship Jesus made possible with God? How can I seek to deepen that relationship and make it more applicable to my every day life?

As you marvel at God’s intentional words included in Isaiah that were to give hope to the Jews and to us as well, let these facts grow your faith and trust in who God is, what He knows and what He does on your behalf.

Linda

Keep Seeking Your Word, God will Provide!

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It has been a slow start to 2023 for me. After giving the challenge on January 2, I have been silent on my choice of a Word for the year. I have been in prayer and the Word God has given me is Obedience. There are lots of good connotations that are connected to this word as well as hard one too. So I went in search of related words that would help me refine and define more fully obedience. I took the words and placed them in a graphic to give me a visual representation to post in my office. My related words of heart and soul, love, keeping commandments, fear of God, blessings, heart, service, love others and love Him have really helped me see a broader aspect of Obedience. The related words came from verses I referenced on obedience.

The scriptures I found that spoke to my heart were:

Deuteronomy 10:12 “ And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,” I personalized this verse and put my name in the place of Israel so it reads for me: “And now, Linda, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,”

Psalm 128:1 “Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him.”

1 Samuel 15:22 “ But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
    as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
    and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”

2 John 1:6 “And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.”

As you can see the words in my graphic came from scripture and helped me see a direction for my obedience. The Lord will define more fully what He means for me this year in the way of obedience first to Him, then my obedience to love and serve others as I am serving Him. I am looking forward to what God will show me this year, 2023, and how He will use my obedience to Him to bring blessings into my life.

I pray you have found the Word God has given you for the year already or are still pursuing it. God promises if we ask he will answer, and if we seek Him and we will find Him. Keep on knocking.

Linda

The graphic can be done on a free website, http://www.wordart.com Enjoy!

Looking to God for A Word from His Word in 2023

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As we enter this New Year of 2023, it is time to think about what God has in store for you. One way to do this is to have a Word from His Word to be your focus. I have done this for several years now and have found it to be uplifting for my faith and walk with God. God amazes me how the Word He gives me is repeated continually thought-out the year. Many times it is encouraging to my walk, sometimes instructive but always guiding.

I would challenge you to pray about this as you read and study this week. Ask God what Word He would give you from His Word for this new year. He may give you more than one word to pursue so do that and see where He leads you. The Word you have for your focus has others that are or will be related to it. Make a list of your main word and then 5-10 related words. God will guide you to hone and zero in on the Word He has for you. Now that you have your list, look to scripture for verses that use your word or words and see how God guides in choosing focus verse for the year. I generally end up with 1-2 verses.

Here are some verses and words to get you started:

Joy- Psalm 16:11, Psalm 63:7, Habakkuk 3:18 or James 1:2

Hope–  Psalm 62:5, Psalm 147:11, Jeremiah 29:11, Lamentations 3:21-22, Romans 5:4-5 or 1 Timothy 4:10

Trust- Psalm 28:7, Psalm 31:14, Psalm 37:5, Proverbs 3:5-6 or  Jeremiah 17:7

Grace– John 1:16-17, Romans 3:24, 2 Corinthians 12:9, or Ephesians 1:7

Peace- Isaiah 26:3, Matthew 5:9, John 14:27 or Philippians 4:7

Or you may choose to examine words like: unity, compassion, mercy, steadfastness, stability, generosity, service or enough. When examining words like these you need your list of 10 related words to aid you in your search. Have fun with this and make it an adventure in listening to God and hearing what He has to say to you about your New Year!

May God encourage you as you seek His face this week and look to Him for your Word from His Word.

Linda

God’s Promises, Alive in My Life!

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I have truly enjoyed the series God has led to write on favorite Bible verses submitted by my friends. I noticed that the verses are reflective of the person’s life and show a glimpse of their heart for God. I want to end this series with my own favorites. I hope these verses will show my heart for God and my dependence upon Him.

Let me start with my ‘go to’ verse when I’m stressed or facing difficulties in life. 2 Corinthians 12:9 “ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” This verse grounds me in the fact that nothing is above or beyond the power of God and He promises me sufficient grace to meet the challenges of life. God also assures me that my struggles and weaknesses bring glory to Him when I rely upon Him and His sustaining power!

Isaiah was a book I studied when I was struggling in my personal life. Everything in life seemed in shambles and I found much comfort in Chapter 49 of Isaiah. 16 “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;” This verse assures me that God sees me and knows me personally. I’m literally in His hands.

23 b Then you will know that I am the Lord;  those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.” This verse reminds me that like the Israelites, who were in Babylon at the time, separated from their homeland, God will not leave me. Good things are in store for me if I am patient and wait for His time and His answer. Results will bring honor and glory to God and good to me.

25 b For thus says the Lord,
for I will contend with those who contend with you,
    and I will save your children. The second part of this verse speaks hope to me. In my situations of life, I know God is on my side and will fight for me. I don’t know about you but many times I feel defeated and like life is an uphill battle. Knowing that Almighty God will do the fighting for me and in addition He promises to save my children. I derive strength and hope from these promises. All three of these verses from Isaiah brought hope and confidence for living in knowing that God has my back and is with me fighting, uplifting and encouraging me all the way. He brought light and hope into my life at a very dark time. I can gladly say “God is good, all the time.” He knows where I am and what I need. Thank you Jesus.

I came across Jeremiah 33:3 while doing a study of the life of Jeremiah. This verse spoke to my heart and really encouraged me. 3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.‘ This is a promise that is personal! God is accessible and will answer when I call out to Him. When in prayer or study or fellowship, God will reveal Himself to me in new ways. What wonderful promises!!

Lastly, I have 3 verses that I call my life verses. They have been favorites of mine for years and years. They are all promises of God that I can claim in my life. Jeremiah 29:11 “ 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.” I can always trust God for His plans are good for me and will bring glory to Him. Even when things look dark all around me, I can proceed with hope and claim God’s goodness and plans over my life. Joshua 1:8-9 “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” God promises that His Word will be a guiding force in my life, if I will study and cling to it. God also promises to be with me wherever I go! This has been proven to me over and over as I study and seek God’s truth in His Word. 1 John 1:9 was one of the first verses I memorized as a young Christian. It is so affirming and reassuring. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This give practical advise on how to stay right with Him so I can abide with Him and He in me.

I pray that the verses God has laid upon my heart will be meaningful to you. As you can see, God’s promises are important to me. I seek to claim and cling to them daily. Year after year, God has been faithful to multiply His grace to me, keep me in the palm of His hands, contend with those who are opposing me, answer when I call upon Him, openly reveal His character to me through His Word, hears my confession, cleanses me over and over and always has good plan for my life that will bring Him honor and glory. I have seen over and over again that I can trust God. He has me and I can rest in Him. What an amazing God!
Linda
    

How do we win? Christ has us!

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It does not take long when walking the Christian walk to encounter opposition. Satan would like nothing more than to discredit us, destroy our witness and bring us down with the temptations that surround us. My friend Marilyn, has chosen as her favorite verse 2 Corinthians 10:5. “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” We know that God has equipped us for all good works with His Word and empowered us with His Holy Spirit which indwells every believer. When we immerse ourselves in His Word with study, prayer, meditation, and memorization we begin to think biblically (like God would have us think). When we pray and ask guidance from the Holy Spirit, we are applying His power to our lives. But, What about our minds? This verse speaks of taking every thought captive. What does that mean to you? The goal is to take all your thoughts and run them past God and see if they are good ones leading to His glory and my good or not so good leading to my destruction. Taking every thought captive would only be possible if we walked continually with His Spirit and allowed the Holy Spirit to be active and working in our lives at all times. We have a sin nature that generates those poor thoughts so we need to submit them to Jesus though the power of His Holy Spirit.

As I looked at this verse, I backed up to get a bigger picture of the context and reasons for this need to captivate of our thoughts. Paul explains we are people walking in this world with our sinful nature as a part of us. We need to consider ourselves in a constant spiritual battle with Satan. God assures us that He has given us spiritual tools to use, divine weapons. He has given us words to combat the thoughts and ideas that would discount and seek to destroy our God. They cannot succeed but we need to use our spiritual weapons of the Word and Prayer to align ourselves with God, so that we can overcome through the power of Christ and be obedient to Him. Here is 2 Corinthians 5:3-5 in the Amplified translation to help us see more clearly what this means.

 For though we walk in the flesh [as mortal men], we are not carrying on our [spiritual] warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man. 4 The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ, 

Knowing this is a powerful fight, we must cling to Jesus each day. We must pray diligently and be in His Word so that we can be strong in Him. I find that being aware of the enemy helps me to see the forces I am facing and to better be on guard. Paul speaks of this in Ephesians 6:10-13 “ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” Remember Jesus’ words and do not be overwhelmed or discouraged, just be patient and dependent upon Him. John 16:33 ” I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

We serve a mighty Sovereign Savior! With His Spirit within us, we too can overcome and hold those thoughts captive to Him!

Linda

Paul’s Therfore’s lead us to Christ

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My friend Cheryl has chosen Romans 12:2 as her favorite verse. This is one of the most well known and quoted verse in the book of Romans for good reason. Here are verses 1-2:   Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Starting with Therefore, Paul is saying because of all I have said in the previous 11 Chapters this is how God’s wants you to live. Paul has told us in Romans 1:16-17 of the power of the gospel leading to God’s righteousness.  “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” In Romans 3:22-23 that faith comes through Jesus and no one is righteous on their own “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” In Romans 5:1 Paul concludes that we are justified by faith. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” I particularly love Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” In Romans 7 we hear of Paul’s own smuggles with his sin nature but he reaches another conclusion in Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, In Chapter 8 Paul tells us we are son’s of the Father (14), coheirs with Christ (17), all things in our lives God can work for good (28), and nothing can separate us from the love of God (37-38). Paul tells us in Romans 10: 9-10 that confession of Jesus as Lord will bring about salvation. “ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Given all these facts about God and what He has done for us Paul reaches the conclusion stated in Romans 12:1. Think about God’s mercy towards us and commit yourself to a life of loving Him sacrificially. It will be pleasing to God.

In verse 2, Paul goes on to tell us that we need to let God transform our body and minds so that we will not be led astray and seduced by the world’s motives and standards. When your mind is renewed through faith in Jesus you will be able to discern what is worldly and stay away from it. You will be able to test things against His Word of truth, pray for discernment through the power of the Holy Spirit and call upon the name of Jesus for help. Then you will be able to walk with Jesus doing what is pleasing to God and aligned with His will. Faith in Jesus is the key to this transformation.

Thanks Cheryl for pointing me to this verse. I can see how you use this verse to give you strength to reject world culture and seek alignment with God’s Word. Leaning on God’s mercy, clinging to Jesus and using His Word to lead us in life will lead us to pleasing God.

Linda

Night to Day, that is You in Christ!

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This has been a few stress filled days as I traveled to Los Angeles to attend and speak at the Celebration of Life for my dearest friend Joan. I am home now looking at our picture on my desk, remembering her smile of encouragement, her faith and her being family to me. She encourages me to write and keep speaking out about our beloved Savior.

In today’s passage, Romans 13:12-14 Paul is speaking to the Roman Christians about their behavior. Since they belong to Christ, much is expected because they no longer walk in darkness and have been given the fortitude by Jesus to meet the new high standards He has set for all of us. “The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

The Roman Christians had just come out of idolatry and the worship of pagan idols. They were asked to give up those practices that focused on the fleshly nature of man and live morally upright lives based on love for one another in Christ. It was a tall order then, and is today too. There are many ‘idols’ that pull us away from focusing on Jesus and, they seek to occupy our time, talents and monies. Paul exhorts the Roman Christians to put on the armor of light. What is the armor of light? I have been pondering this and I feel it is God’s character that was shown to mankind in Jesus. In verse 14, Paul tells them to ‘put on the Lord Jesus Christ’. Both of these phrases, suggest we need to put on the godly character of Jesus in place of our old nature. His godly character has support, armor and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirt that makes it tough enough to withstand than anything we can ever face.

How do we put on this armor of light? First, we need to be committed to Jesus and firmly believe Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” We need to believe in Jesus and His saving work on the cross on our behalf.

Second, we need to spend time in God’s Word getting to know who He is, what He has done, what He will do and how we are to live lives for Him. Psalm 119:105 “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Secondly,(again) we need to spend time in prayer talking with God- Adoring Him for who He is, Thanking Him for all He does or has done, Confessing what you know and He reveals to you as sin and seeking His help by asking Him to intervene in the circumstances of your life. Psalm 46:10 ““Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Thirdly, we need to seek the fellowship of other believers so as to encourage and strengthen each other in Christ.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can put on Christ’s armor of light to successfully live each day. With His armor of light, you will be as different as night is from day in your new life in Him!

Linda