As you start your journey into 2016, are you willing to yield all of yourself to the Lord…conforming yourself to His ways, not yours? Are you willing to give Him that secret part of you that you’ve been holding on to…hiding from Him…unable to give Him fully? Obedience is the fundamental key in our relationship with God…for His love is truly made complete in it. ( I John 2:5)
Tag: power of god
Psalm 94:11 ” The Lord knows the thoughts of man; He knows that they are futile.”
The Lord knows them all…every ill-intended, evil thought. He sees every vain and worthless plan, and will listen to every ridiculous scheme when we’re trying to impress Him with our wisdom. To paraphrase I Corinth. 3:20, The wisdom of the world is utterly absurd and ridiculous to God is so very true. Every time we think we know it all…we need to remember that we know nothing.
II Chronicles 20:20 ” Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in His prophets and you will be successful.”
On this last day of 2015, whose report will you believe today? The pessimistic and slanted world’s view, or the Lord’s divine perspective on things? The most reliable truth comes from God and His people. His Word will sustain you, and cause you to prosper…to be happy and victorious in this next coming year. Look to Him and His people for this guidance as you move into 2016.
II Peter 2:20 ” If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.”
So why do Believers fall away…even after experiencing the saving grace and mercy of Jesus? Is the pull of the world too strong, or is their confidence in this new-found faith too frail? Has the self-centered human nature triumphed over the newly gained eternal perspective? And why does Peter tell us they are worse off than before they knew Jesus…could it be that they may spend eternity lamenting their decision?
Jeremiah 14:7 ” Although our sins testify against us, O Lord, do something for the sake of Your name. For our backsliding is great; we have sinned against You.”
Backsliding…slipping from good behavior to bad. Most times it’s slow and insidious…our waywardness creeping steadily towards what’s wrong…and before we realize it, we’re caught up in evil. Rarely do we see a Believer blatantly plunge into the deep end of wickedness without regard of the consequences for themselves and their relationship with God. Backsliding is rationalizing away God and putting ourselves in control…and that never ends well.
Acts 18: 9-10 ” One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid; Keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.’ “
After this revelation, Paul boldly stayed in Corinth for almost 2 years preaching and teaching the Word of God. Even when the Jews attempted to bring Paul before the Proconsul, Gallio, he refused to listen to the case. Proverbs 16:7 states, “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies live at peace with him.” The very safest place to be is in the center of God’s Will.
I Chronicles 16: 31 ” Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns! “
All authority, dominion and power belongs to God. His throne is established from everlasting to everlasting… His glory displayed for all. Let the heavens and earth shout for joy, for the Lord reigns!
Revelation 19:9 ” Then the angel said to me, ‘Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb!’ And he added, ‘These are the true words of God.’ “
Jesus illustrated this passage in Luke 14: 15-24 in the Parable of the Great Banquet. When the invited guests declined dinner, the master had his servants go out into the streets and bring in the poor, crippled, blind, and lame. But with room still left at the table, the master then told his servants to, ” Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in so my house will be full.” Those who will be gathered around that magnificent banquet table some day will be exalted, glorified, and redeemed of God.
Lamentations 5: 19 ” You, O Lord, reign forever; Your throne endures from generation to generation.”
Over the course of time, kingdoms rise and fall. Mighty Rulers are in power, and then fade from history. But God’s all-powerful throne is established forever, His Kingdom permanently fixed and rooted from everlasting to everlasting.
I Corinthians 15: 10 ” But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect…”
Every time you discount the work of the Lord in your life…every time you treat with insignificance the miraculous things He’s done in and through you…you are maligning God. In effect you’re saying to the Lord, ” Your unearned favor towards me means nothing .” So today, think about just how far the Lord has brought you, and then thank Him…for you are who you are today because of Him.
Safetypinlove 