"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16
I wonder why the verse didn't just read-- "Let us therefore come boldly before God" instead of before "the throne of grace"? When we pray, we are coming before the Lord God, but we are also coming before His throne. He sits on the throne. This is where He rules and reigns from.
A throne represents stability and authority. And we are told here it represents grace-- God's favor. So when you go to God in prayer, you are coming before His throne. This means you are coming before that which is stable. It is constant. It is enduring. It never fails. It is dependable, firm, steadfast, solid, faithful, safe and unwavering. It doesn't change because the One who sits on it doesn't change.
When you go before the throne of God in prayer, it also means that you are coming before that which has authority. In this case, it is the authority of God which means there is no greater authority. It all begins and ends with Him-- He is the first and final authority in all matters. There is no power, word, judgment or decree that is above His. No one can come back later and appeal His verdict. It stands and stands forever.
It is a throne of grace. That means it is a place of favor. This also means that you don't have to worry or wonder that He is going to cast you aside when you come. You don't have to be afraid that He will turn you away. You don't have to be anxious that you will have an audience with Him or not. You can go with boldness-- confidence-- that He will hear you and answer you.
Don't sit back when you are in need. Go to His throne of grace to find your help. You can trust that when you get there, you will have an audience with Him. He will not turn you away. His power, favor and faithfulness will meet you there.
Have a great day. Go to the throne of God with your need.
Monday, July 10, 2017
Friday, July 7, 2017
"Live The Word"
"For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." Romans 2:13
We are going to talk about being a doer of the Word and not a hearer (or reader) only again. If we would live by, apply to our lives, walk in, answer every situation with the Word of God, our lives would be more productive. They would be more victorious. We would not be in a constant state of confusion concerning what we should do and what course of action we should take.
Jesus taught the Word, but He lived the Word. He used it against His flesh and the devil in the temptations in the wilderness. He always referred others back to what the Word said. He taught it to the disciples. He taught it to the crowds that followed Him. He taught it to the religious leaders who should have been applying it to their lives-- but weren't. Those leaders knew what the Word said. They had studied it for years. They had taught it to multitudes of people, but there was no evidence of it personally in their lives.
We can't be mere readers, studiers, teachers, and advocates for the Word. We have to be doers. It has to be a part of our lives. We have to do it to the point where it becomes our automatic course of action. We have to apply it to such an extent that we don't even think about it-- it just comes naturally. As naturally as breathing.
Once we do, like I said earlier, our lives will be more productive. They will be more stable. They will be more peaceful. They will be less confused and frustrated. They will be more victorious. We won't feel so defeated. We will have wisdom in every area of life. These are the things we miss if we aren't doing it. Think of it this way. If you were in financial need but you had a million dollars in the bank, or even in hand, and you didn't use it, how would your life be? You would be missing out on seeing that need met. You have something greater than a million dollars in your "hand" always-- the Word of God. It will meet and supply your every need. But you will still be lacking and in want and need if you don't use it.
Have a great day. The Word of God is meant to be lived.
We are going to talk about being a doer of the Word and not a hearer (or reader) only again. If we would live by, apply to our lives, walk in, answer every situation with the Word of God, our lives would be more productive. They would be more victorious. We would not be in a constant state of confusion concerning what we should do and what course of action we should take.
Jesus taught the Word, but He lived the Word. He used it against His flesh and the devil in the temptations in the wilderness. He always referred others back to what the Word said. He taught it to the disciples. He taught it to the crowds that followed Him. He taught it to the religious leaders who should have been applying it to their lives-- but weren't. Those leaders knew what the Word said. They had studied it for years. They had taught it to multitudes of people, but there was no evidence of it personally in their lives.
We can't be mere readers, studiers, teachers, and advocates for the Word. We have to be doers. It has to be a part of our lives. We have to do it to the point where it becomes our automatic course of action. We have to apply it to such an extent that we don't even think about it-- it just comes naturally. As naturally as breathing.
Once we do, like I said earlier, our lives will be more productive. They will be more stable. They will be more peaceful. They will be less confused and frustrated. They will be more victorious. We won't feel so defeated. We will have wisdom in every area of life. These are the things we miss if we aren't doing it. Think of it this way. If you were in financial need but you had a million dollars in the bank, or even in hand, and you didn't use it, how would your life be? You would be missing out on seeing that need met. You have something greater than a million dollars in your "hand" always-- the Word of God. It will meet and supply your every need. But you will still be lacking and in want and need if you don't use it.
Have a great day. The Word of God is meant to be lived.
Thursday, July 6, 2017
"Talk To It"
"But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4
When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, His fight was not against the devil only. It was also against His own flesh. He was tempted in the lust of His flesh, the pride of life and the lust of His eyes. He was battling more than just the devil.
Our biggest enemy isn't the devil-- Jesus already defeated him. Our biggest enemy is our own flesh. It is weak and wants what it wants, when it wants it, how it wants it and will go to great lengths to get it.
So, how do we overcome our flesh-- its desires, cravings, wishes, wants, addictions and bondages. We overcome it the same way Jesus did in the wilderness. When He spoke the Word-- "it is written"-- He wasn't just speaking it to the devil. He was speaking it to His own flesh. His flesh was hungry. He wanted food. But He did not give in to His desire and turn the stones to bread.
Our flesh has to be dealt with or it will destroy us. When Paul said, "I die daily", he didn't mean his body was dying. He meant he was putting his own flesh-- desires, cravings, wants, etc. -- it death. Our flesh has to be denied, crucified, mortified, refused, brought into subjection and submission. That is done by "speaking to it". When Jesus spoke those words in the wilderness to each temptation, He was denying His flesh. He was crucifying it. He was putting its desires that are harmful, against God, and that give place to the devil, to death.
When you are battling with something, chances are it is more your own flesh than anything else. The way to overcome and be victorious over its desires is by speaking to it. Speak the Word of God to it. Use this sword-- the Word-- you have been given. "Tell" it to "mind and get in line". This is the way to victory. It was for Jesus and it is for us.
Have a great day. You have to talk to your flesh and make it line up.
When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, His fight was not against the devil only. It was also against His own flesh. He was tempted in the lust of His flesh, the pride of life and the lust of His eyes. He was battling more than just the devil.
Our biggest enemy isn't the devil-- Jesus already defeated him. Our biggest enemy is our own flesh. It is weak and wants what it wants, when it wants it, how it wants it and will go to great lengths to get it.
So, how do we overcome our flesh-- its desires, cravings, wishes, wants, addictions and bondages. We overcome it the same way Jesus did in the wilderness. When He spoke the Word-- "it is written"-- He wasn't just speaking it to the devil. He was speaking it to His own flesh. His flesh was hungry. He wanted food. But He did not give in to His desire and turn the stones to bread.
Our flesh has to be dealt with or it will destroy us. When Paul said, "I die daily", he didn't mean his body was dying. He meant he was putting his own flesh-- desires, cravings, wants, etc. -- it death. Our flesh has to be denied, crucified, mortified, refused, brought into subjection and submission. That is done by "speaking to it". When Jesus spoke those words in the wilderness to each temptation, He was denying His flesh. He was crucifying it. He was putting its desires that are harmful, against God, and that give place to the devil, to death.
When you are battling with something, chances are it is more your own flesh than anything else. The way to overcome and be victorious over its desires is by speaking to it. Speak the Word of God to it. Use this sword-- the Word-- you have been given. "Tell" it to "mind and get in line". This is the way to victory. It was for Jesus and it is for us.
Have a great day. You have to talk to your flesh and make it line up.
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
"Time"
A time to be born, and a time to die..." Ecclesiastes 3:2a
I came across a poem years ago about time. It started off by saying that the clock of life is wound but once-- meaning we only have a certain amount of time here on earth. Once time is gone, it is gone. It can't be repeated. We call it back. We can't go back and regain it. One man told me it is the stuff that life is made up of.
So the question is-- what are you doing with the time that you have been given here on earth? Time is a gift, are you using it wisely? What are you doing with the time the Lord has given you? The most important thing you should do is use it to get your eternal soul right with the Lord. Don't let time slip away and come to the end of your time and discover that you have neglected the most important thing-- the salvation of your soul.
The Bible tells us to redeem the time. That means take full advantage of it. It also means to take full advantage of it now while you have it. You aren't promised that you will have tomorrow. You aren't promised that your time won't run out today. You and I don't know that. One day our time is going to run out, we just don't know when. Jesus told us that our time of departure is always at hand.
Your time for departure from this life could come anytime. It could come today. It could come tomorrow. There is one thing for sure-- it will come. Are you ready when it does? Have you made preparation for what happens when it comes to an end here? Have you taken advantage of the time you have to get your affairs in order-- namely your soul?
Have a great day. Are you using your time wisely by making sure it is well with your soul when your time on earth is up?
"The Clock"
I came across a poem years ago about time. It started off by saying that the clock of life is wound but once-- meaning we only have a certain amount of time here on earth. Once time is gone, it is gone. It can't be repeated. We call it back. We can't go back and regain it. One man told me it is the stuff that life is made up of.
So the question is-- what are you doing with the time that you have been given here on earth? Time is a gift, are you using it wisely? What are you doing with the time the Lord has given you? The most important thing you should do is use it to get your eternal soul right with the Lord. Don't let time slip away and come to the end of your time and discover that you have neglected the most important thing-- the salvation of your soul.
The Bible tells us to redeem the time. That means take full advantage of it. It also means to take full advantage of it now while you have it. You aren't promised that you will have tomorrow. You aren't promised that your time won't run out today. You and I don't know that. One day our time is going to run out, we just don't know when. Jesus told us that our time of departure is always at hand.
Your time for departure from this life could come anytime. It could come today. It could come tomorrow. There is one thing for sure-- it will come. Are you ready when it does? Have you made preparation for what happens when it comes to an end here? Have you taken advantage of the time you have to get your affairs in order-- namely your soul?
Have a great day. Are you using your time wisely by making sure it is well with your soul when your time on earth is up?
"The Clock"
“The clock of life is wound but once,
And no man has the power
To tell just when the hands will stop
At late or early hour.
To lose one's wealth is sad indeed,
To lose one's health is more,
To lose one's soul is such a loss
That no man can restore.
The present only is our own,
So live, love, toil with a will,
Place no faith in "Tomorrow,"
For the Clock may then be still.”
And no man has the power
To tell just when the hands will stop
At late or early hour.
To lose one's wealth is sad indeed,
To lose one's health is more,
To lose one's soul is such a loss
That no man can restore.
The present only is our own,
So live, love, toil with a will,
Place no faith in "Tomorrow,"
For the Clock may then be still.”
-- Robert H. Smith
Monday, July 3, 2017
"My Understanding"
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Proverbs 3:5
When we are faced with a situation, when we are in the valley of decision, when we have to make a choice in a matter, the thing that often gets us in trouble, or causes us to make the wrong choice, decision or judgment, is when we lean to our own understanding.
Making a decision based on our own understanding of the situation is not always a good thing. Our understanding is not always correct. Our understanding is temporary-- it can't see past the moment. Our understanding is earthly. It is based on our knowledge which isn't always correct, which is limited and which is influenced by our feelings and emotions, traditions, fads, outside forces or popular opinion. It is often based on faulty information that is not always factual. The enemy of our soul (who wants us to do the wrong thing and make the wrong choice) will try to influence us as well.
How many times have you made a decision based on what you thought was right only to find out that it was the wrong decision? Many times, I am sure. There is one way to make sure that your decisions are correct. That would be by not leaning to your understanding but acknowledging God and leaning on His understanding. It would be by letting Him-- who sees all, knows all, sees the end from the beginning, who doesn't move emotionally but righteously and whose wisdom and understanding is so much higher and better than yours. And He knows how the decision will, or won't, fit into His plan for your life-- you don't.
So, in order to make right decisions, don't lean to your own understanding-- it is unfruitful (it doesn't know everything). Trust God's understanding of the situation and let Him direct your path/decision.
Have a great day. Leaning to our own understanding when it comes to making a decision will often lead us to make the wrong one.
When we are faced with a situation, when we are in the valley of decision, when we have to make a choice in a matter, the thing that often gets us in trouble, or causes us to make the wrong choice, decision or judgment, is when we lean to our own understanding.
Making a decision based on our own understanding of the situation is not always a good thing. Our understanding is not always correct. Our understanding is temporary-- it can't see past the moment. Our understanding is earthly. It is based on our knowledge which isn't always correct, which is limited and which is influenced by our feelings and emotions, traditions, fads, outside forces or popular opinion. It is often based on faulty information that is not always factual. The enemy of our soul (who wants us to do the wrong thing and make the wrong choice) will try to influence us as well.
How many times have you made a decision based on what you thought was right only to find out that it was the wrong decision? Many times, I am sure. There is one way to make sure that your decisions are correct. That would be by not leaning to your understanding but acknowledging God and leaning on His understanding. It would be by letting Him-- who sees all, knows all, sees the end from the beginning, who doesn't move emotionally but righteously and whose wisdom and understanding is so much higher and better than yours. And He knows how the decision will, or won't, fit into His plan for your life-- you don't.
So, in order to make right decisions, don't lean to your own understanding-- it is unfruitful (it doesn't know everything). Trust God's understanding of the situation and let Him direct your path/decision.
Have a great day. Leaning to our own understanding when it comes to making a decision will often lead us to make the wrong one.
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