The simple lesson here is that we become like those whose company we keep. And it’s very evident in the two Hebrew words used here for “walks with” and “companion.” When we walk with someone, we’re doing life together…there’s depth and direction, learning and discipleship…as iron sharpening iron. But when we’re just companions, we’re simply spending time together with no focus, aim, or growth. And sadly, this time is usually spent doing things contrary to the Will of God, which end up injuring not maturing us.
Author: kezha1
A Christian mother, grandmother, and retired nurse living in Illinois. Called into a ministry of encouraging others to find their ultimate plan and purpose in life through Christ.
I Peter 4:8-10 ” Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administrating God’s grace in its various forms.”
Peter’s letter is addressing Believers in the early Church and exhorting them in the practical matters of living within the Body. Even in the middle of Church we’ll encounter people that we find hard to love, but hatred dissolves relationships, and unity in the Church is vitality important. That’s because sacrificial love (Agape love) seeks the best for others and is the greatest expression of order in the Church…promoting harmony rather than friction. The next thing Peter hits on is practicing hospitality…not to fellow Church members but to visiting Believers that have come into the Body as guests. He desires the Body of Believers to be welcoming and make an effort to create a comfortable environment. Finally, he writes about caring for other’s needs before their own as they use the gifts of the Spirit…humbling serving one another eagerly and appropriately.
Acts 20:27 ” For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole Will of God.”
No matter who his audience was, Paul declared openly & freely the Gospel Message…whether it was to the Jew or the Gentile. His focus was always to point the crowd to God’s divine plan & purpose…giving them the whole counsel of God. Paul never suppressed any truths of the Gospel…but always preached the full Gospel Message. Yet throughout his ministry, he always employed tact & discretion…but never once watered-down or compromised the Word of God. When you speak the truth in love to someone it would be wise of you to use the same method of Paul’s…which means to listen attentively & with intention, patience & wisdom… but never concession.
Psalm 89:1 “I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make Your faithfulness known through all generations.”
When grief & pain are real…when each day is hard to bear and hope is elusive… this is the time we should counsel our soul on the faithfulness of God. We must bring into remembrance who God is & what He has done. We need to bring to memory all of God’s former acts of faithful love to us, His Covenant promises, and His glorious might & power. And as we reminiscence, our soul will be filled with all the memories of His steadfast love & devotion towards us…and with it then will come the certianity of His merciful kindness.
And God spoke…
In Genesis 1:3 God spoke the universe into being…creating everything out of nothing, just by His Words. We see in the Old Testament that God “spoke” to His people through the prophets…His Presence made known by way of His Word. But Psalm 29:3 & Job 37:4-5 tell us that God’s “Voice” is as thunder and beyond human comprehension. But then there came a time when God’s voice became silent…and for 400 years He did not speak. The last time God spoke in the Old Testament was in Malachi 4:5-6…with His silence ending 400 long years later with the coming of John the Baptist in the New Testament.
Hebrews 4:12 “For the Word of God is living and active.”
God is the source and ultimate author of all Scripture. His Word is alive & powerfully at work, bearing the results He desires. Isaiah 55:11 tells us, “My Word that goes out from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” In addition, the Holy Spirit uses God’s Word as an instrument to bring sinners to a knowledge of God’s grace in Jesus Christ.(I Peter 1:23 & I Thessalonians 2:13) The Word of God is a divine message for all of us to dwell on daily…for we will never outgrow or ever completely understand the inerrant & infallible Word of God.
John 6:27 ” Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”
Today you will probably eat a lovely meal…but hours later you’ll be hungry again. But feast on the Spiritual food of the Gospel and you’ll be completely satisfied. Isaiah 55:2 tells us that Spiritual things can’t be bought for money, that’s because Salvation is a free gift for anyone who desires it. And the primary qualification for receiving it is to first acknowledge that we are a poor & needy sinner… and that we don’t have the resources to save ourselves. So when Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life.” He was speaking of the Spiritual food that leads to Salvation & eternal life through Him.
Isaiah 28:16 ” So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.”
In Paul’s letters to Timothy he called God’s foundational truths the pillar and foundation…a solid bedrock that stands firm…and the only solid and sure shelter and refuge in the days of distress. Charles Spurgeon once penned, “He who has been with God in the closet will find God with him in the furnace.” And that’s so true. If we haven’t established ourselves firmly in the Word of God our soul is as dry as the arid desert…and so when trouble finds its way into our lives we have no solid footing to stand on. But if we have a strong foundation of God’s truth under our belt, no matter what comes into our life we’ll never be discouraged.
Ecclesiastes 2:26 ” To the man who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God.”
The wealth of the wicked is only temporary and filled with frustration…for they gather riches without Spiritual wisdom and knowledge. They never fully enjoy their assets, for they are constantly striving to amass more & more, yet never satisfied…and in the end sadly they find their great wealth to be nothing more than a vapor. But for those who please God, He gives Spiritual insight, discernment, peace & hope and the eternal benefits of His blessings…not only today here on earth, but forever. And with that all comes true joy as we find our delight in Him.
Matthew 8:23-26 ” Then He got into the boat and His disciples followed Him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke Him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’ He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.”
Jesus used that little phrase quite often, “You of little faith!” Here were His disciples, close friends that had spent years with Him, witnessing first hand incredible miracles, signs and wonders, but still doubted and didn’t trust Him. And so when an intense storm suddenly hit…they panicked. But this storm didn’t bother the Lord of all creation one bit…Jesus instead confronted & took authority over it and, “He stilled the storm to a whisper; and the waves of the sea were hushed.” (Psalm 107:29) Remember this the next time a unexpected storm comes into your life…where does your confidence, faith, and trust lie?
Safetypinlove 