Rejoice in His Word

Psalm 119:14, 15.16 “  I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Thy precepts and attend unto Thy ways. I will delight myself in Thy statutes; I will not forget Thy word.”

Sometimes reading and mediating on God’s Word is like a sword. It pierces the heart with convictions and reveals what lurks in the shadows when the light of His Word searches the soul. Rejoicing is not the first emotions that comes to my mind. His law, His commandments show us how sinful we are, and how bad we need a Savior. His Word does not leave us without hope. The testimony of the Lord is to show us that we don’t have to live in darkness and sin, that we can rejoice that He has provided a way to live and to live more abundantly. His Word becomes light that shine before us, leading us day by day to walk close to Him. We have a heart of gratitude, we give Him praise for giving us His Word that we can learn to walk in His precepts. His Word, that became flesh can now dwell in our hearts and fill us with joy beyond riches. 

Born Again in Christ

39 years ago today on a Thursday evening, February 21st, 1974 I knelt at an altar of prayer in Cucamonga California confessing my sins and asking Jesus to come into my heart. My life changed forever more on that Thursday evening. Rev. J.E Cook was preaching revival. I remember coming home that night with Pattie and telling my mother that I had accepted Jesus as my Savior. Things are different now, my coarse was set and I have never seriously looked back.

Enriched in Christ

1 Corinth 1: 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— 6 because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. 

Before life in Christ, the quality of life is based on survival and societal harmony. We live in a world where every man does that which is right in his own eyes.  The values of man are based on human gratification. There are many who seek meaning in life by obtaining power, prestige, and riches. And there are those who find life’s meaning by doing good things to make the world a more peaceful coexistence. Improving or enhancing the quality of life is not achieved by any efforts that man is able to accomplish, enrichment of life is found only through life in Christ. The former state of our life before Christ is one of depravity and hopelessness. Paul wrote to the Romans and said, “but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do”.  All our works are but filthy rags and come short compared to the value that is given to us through Christ. 
How is life made better in Christ? The scripture indicates that every aspect of our life is enhanced when Christ becomes part of our life. It is because of His grace that we can now look at life through different eyes. Before the enrichment of Christ, we lived our life to please ourselves. That is not to say that we still did not do “good works”, but life to the most part is centered around us. The transformation that Christ performs in our life is not done in one day, but daily he adds to our life enrichments that make us more into the image of Him. One of the things that Paul notices about the Corinthians was their speech was different. Words have meanings, and reflect what is in the heart of man. Jesus said, “From out of the heart a man speaks”.  Before I became a Christian, I remember using words that were laced with foul language and cutting remarks. My brother and I would write letters to each other that were filled with hurting and slanderous words. It was not until the grace of Christ reached my brother that I received a letter that was respectable. Christ had enriched his life in the way he now communicated.  It is always good to think before you speak. Are my words kind, helpful, true, and edifying? Are they words that you think Christ would use? By no means am I saying that we should be in bondage to this thought process, but the grace of God in our heart will often show us that the words we are about to speak do not conform to the image of Christ. 
We all have a testimony, a witness that will reflect the kind of life we live. Let our testimony speak of the enrichments of the grace of God that was given to us when we accepted Christ into our hearts. He wants to make us a lighthouse and a witness of His grace to a world that also needs to be enriched.

As Strangers and Pilgrims

1 Peter 2:11-25

Review: Hope is made alive by the resurrection of Christ. He calls on us to wait with patience and accepting the trails we face as a test of our faith in that hope. It is in the trails that God can help us to grow and add to our faith. Please be patient, God is still working on me and no doubt, He is still working on you.

Temporary Dwelling
• We our only sojourners
• The balance- So heavenly minded, not earthly good
• Set you affections and treasures above
Temptation of the Flesh
• The pull of the world- the devil will work on our weak
• We must be masters over our natural fleshly desires
Testimony to the World
• The world is watching to see how you live
• We ought to please God 1st regardless of what the world thinks
• We are judge by God’s standard, not the world
Total Submission to God and Man
• Obeying the rules of man- Keeping the law
• We ought to obey God…. Make sure it is God, not you
• Honor those who are in authority- Your duty
• Subject yourself to the good boss and bad boss
Thankworthy in God’s sight
• Your actions will be honored by God
• Suffer for the Cause of God and not your mistakes
Taking up the Cross
• Jesus was persecuted for doing good.
• Follow His example- We should follow His footsteps
• Jesus did not retaliate when spoken against
• O’ To Be Like Jesus…
The Tree of Life
• His death on the tree brought forth life to all
• As pilgrims we must also take up the cross and follow
• True life and happiness comes only when we yield to God our all and see this world as a temporary dwelling place