Open Our Eyes

2 Kings 6:16 Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them…And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man.

The odds don’t appear to look good. It appears that the enemy of our soul is getting the best of us. We take one step forward and two steps back. At every turn in the road, we face another set back. We find ourselves surrounded by unfortunate events. The enemy surrounds us with discouragement, disappointment, and desires to destroy our faith and trust in God. What appears is not always what it seems. Faith is the evidence of things not seen. Behind the scene of this temporal world, God is working on our behalf. We but need to open our eyes and see what God is doing. He is the God of impossibilities and has us surrounded by “horses and chariots of fire”. We need not fear for tomorrow or our current blight. The Lord of host is with us. He will fight the battle for us. At the right time, He will show himself in our behalf. May God open our eyes and see that God is for us. Seize the day, for God is in control.

Second Change

Jonah 2:1,7-   Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly… When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.

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The life of Jonah demonstrates that serving God sometimes requires us to make hard choices, choices not always to our liking. When we avoid making the right choice we often find ourselves in the “belly of the fish” praying for another chance. Jonah was a man in earthen vessel, his heart wanted to do right, but the flesh was weak to do what God wanted him to do. The story is not given to us to show the imperfection of man, but to show the mercy and grace of God. For even in our weakness, we can be made strong to do the will of God. Doing the will of God is at the heart of full obedience and surrender to God. Just because we love and serve Him, does not mean that it will be easy to follow His will.  Jonah realized that not doing God’s will led him to an undesirable situation and circumstances. But, Jonah was given a second change. He is a God of second changes.

Come Now To God

Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Yes, no one is perfect. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away from his own desires. Satan walks around seeking whom he may devour. Everyone is subject to temptation and even good people in a moment of weakness can succumb to temptation. And if we sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, who is faithful and just to forgive all who come to him in humility and confession. Such is the love and promise of God who is full of grace and mercy. We also have a way of escape when tempted if we avail ourselves to the grace of God. Allowing the Holy Spirit to help us make choices that will lead us in the light. The grace and mercy of God extend even to those who have left the path and now walk in darkness. To the hypocrite, who outwardly appears to be religious, but is full of dead men’s bones. God says “Come now”. No matter your condition, no matter what you have done, He wants to make your heart as white as snow.

Whatsoever You Do

Colossians 3:17  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

The standard of conduct for a Christian can be measured by the words given to us here. The words we speak and the things we do matter. The book, “In His Steps-What Would Jesus Do?” written by Charles Sheldon, paints a vivid picture of the actions of Christians to follow the example of the life of Jesus. The hymn, “O To Be Like Thee” written by Thomas Chisholm, describes to us what it means to do all in the name of Jesus. The prayer of all who call themselves Christians is be like Jesus. For Christ, who died for our sins and deliver us from the bondage of our sin, has forgiven us from the wages of sin. We who are undeserving, have received grace and mercy from God. In turn, we are to show the same grace and mercy to all that cross our path. This is the standard by which we are judged. By the help of the Holy Spirit it is possible to live a holy life in this vessel of clay. Some scoff at the idea that any can live such a life, the scripture is clear that we are to do ALL things as if Jesus was doing them. 

Evidence of Faith

James 2:17- Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Truth is validated by evidence. Without evidence, claims are just speculation and opinion. The discovery of evidence is more likely to lead to truth. The heavens have declared the glory of God and His creation demonstrates His existence. I believe God is because I see His handiwork all around me. I have seen Him work in the hearts of lives of people. People who have come to faith in God, just don’t say they now believe, but there is a change in the way they live. Their faith is evidence in the works they do. It is a simple cause and effect reaction. I believe, I therefore do… The fruits of their lives will demonstrate what they believe. If you say you are a Christian and believe that Jesus is Lord of your life, then the evidence will be seen in the way you treat people and the love you show by giving of yourself to help others. Our works is the life we live. It is the evidence seen by the world that we are who we say we are. Without faith it is impossible to please God, the evidence of our faith in then demonstrated in the works we perform.