Thrrough the Blood

 Ephesian 2:13
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
We all were born in sin and are far off from knowing Christ. All our human efforts to draw close to God are made impossible because of the enmity of sin in our hearts toward God. There is nothing we can do to break down the wall of partition that separates us from God. He is holy, we are unholy, He is just, we are unjust, He is righteous, we are unrighteous. We are all unclean things, what righteousness we have are as filthy rags. It is all because of God’s amazing grace that we can draw close to Him. Christ, who came to earth, gave His life on the cross, paid our debt of sin when He made the supreme sacrifice for sin shedding His blood. Redeemed by the blood of the lamb, He removed the middle wall of partition and gave us access to the throne of God. Through the atoning blood of Christ we have been set free from the bondage of sin. We now have fellowship with the Father, His Spirit ever makes intercession for us, and through His blood we have been born again and are made new creatures in Christ.

Spiritual Darkness

 Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
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We often see our enemies as those who fight against us. People who have little regard for the Holy Scriptures. They see God’s word as some relic of fables, or stories that have been twisted over the years to fit someone’s philosophy of life. It is challenging for the believer to see past their spiritual blindness and see a lost soul in need of God. Yes, they fight against the truth and resist God, but they are controlled by an unseen spiritual wickedness that has darkened their hearts to believe a lie. There are those who have allowed this spirit to infiltrate their lives to the point that they embody the very spirit of Satan. Jesus, who has power over darkness was able to rebuke such spirits from people and cast out such devils. We, who are filled with the Holy Spirit are told to put on spiritual gear that will protect us from the enemy’s attack. It is the source of our defense and offense as we fight against the rulers of the darkness of this world.  Satan is out to destroy all who name the Name of Jesus. We must be ready, we must put on the whole armor of God. Prepare for battle, God is with us!

A Still Small Voice

 1 King 19:11,12
a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
It is most often in the still small voice that God speaks to us. Pulled away from the hustle and bustle of life. During our trysting place, alone with God, He speaks to our heart. He assures us that He is in control, and everything will work out according to His will. It may not be the way we think it should be, but God is good and He knows what is best. It is ours to trust Him. There are a lot of things that clamor for our attention, that is why we need to find a place of solitude, a quiet resting place to listen to what God has to say. “Speak Lord, thy servant is listening.”

Let Us Ponder

 Luke 2:19
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

We all find ourselves pondering from time to time. Sometimes our thinking is carried away with things that could have been, if only. We stop and often think and dream of the possibilities in life. As the word went out that a baby was born in Bethlehem, and this baby was to be the Savior of Israel, Mary wondered and mused to herself what all this would mean. How would all this come to pass? How could this baby save the world? We often face situations in life that cause us to wonder what will happen next. Mary really had no idea what the future would bring. She only knew that this child was of God, and her life was dedicated to raising this child. We don’t know what the future holds, we only have today to do what is best. To follow the light that God gives us and to do as He commands. Let us ponder on faith to believe God to take care of our loved ones and trust Him that all will work out to His Glory.

His Word is Profitable

 2 Tim 3:16

 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Many find inspiration from God’s word. Words of encouragement, promises of comfort during difficult times, words that lift the spirits. The word of God brings hope to many in a world that is lost and hurting. But His word has much more to give. It is God’s instructions for life. It is our manual for living, teaching us how to act and treat others, how to talk, how to make good decisions, things we should do and things we should not do. The world is no friend of God, and is opposed to anything that is holy and righteous. It may have a form of godliness, but they deny the power of God, and the truth of the Gospel, that Jesus is the only way to heaven. No man can come to God, except through Christ.

Every Knee Shall Bow

 Philippians 2:10,11
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;;; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

He is exalted above every name. There will come a day when every knee will bow to Jesus. There is a coming day when every nation, every religion, every atheist will confess that He is the Lord and the true God and Savior of this world. It is not arrogance and self-righteousness that Christians hold this truth to be self-evident. It is the absolute and undeniable truth that Jesus is King of kings, and Lord of lords. He will return to earth some day to receive His church, all that is washed and covered in His blood. He will set up His Kingdom and there will be no end to His reign.

Godly Counsel

 Psalm 1:1

Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly…

The wisdom of a person that is not grounded in the word of God can lead to disaster. This is not to say that a person has to be a Christian to give good advice, but if such advice is not based on Biblical principles, then one needs to discard it. All advice should be grounded in prayer and seeking the will of God. His will is revealed in His word. It may not always seem logical, but it is the right thing to do. We are all faced with decisions each day, some of them are small, and others are big that are difficult to retrace. The decisions we make may not always turn out the way we thought they should have, but knowing we made them with pure motives and a right spirit can give us peace in the aftermath of events. May we always seek God’s wisdom found in His word, seek godly counsel from those that know God, and let the Holy Spirit direct our path.

Contentment

 1 Timothy 6:1

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

People seek many things to find contentment. Like the rich man in the Bible, they seek to build greater “barns” to store the things of the world they have gained. The love of money is said to be the root of all evil. Seekers of earthly things. Houses, cars, computers, phones, clothes, and all that money can buy cannot buy contentment. The love of family is to be cherished, but even with that, true contentment cannot be obtained. We all enjoy our creature comforts, they do bring a measure of contentment and a sense of safety. But we bring nothing into this world, and we will leave this world empty-handed. Like the rich man, Jesus says. “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of you.” Our contentment is found in knowing Jesus, knowing that our treasure is not of this world, but of the other world. Living a life of godliness and righteousness towards God. Knowing that each day we live to please and glorify God. Knowing that our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus, and our names are written in the book of Life. This is real contentment with great gain.