Entering the Promised Land

When we succumb to hopelessness and anxiety, this is a sign that we are not seeking our comfort from God. We are wandering in the wilderness of desires, rather than in the Promised Land, which God prepared for us. In the Wilderness, Israel constantly struggled with discouragement, toil and deprivation. Their rebellion and unbelief brought this hardship upon them. They even despised the food God provided and were not grateful that their belongings never wore out (Numbers 11:1-5; Deuteronomy 29:5).

Our unbelief in God causes us to suffer from the stress of life too, because we rely on our self, rather than on God. We use our human effort to attempt to procure what we deem is necessary for our happiness. However, if we abandon human reasoning and rely totally on the Spirit of God, He gives us direction, provision and hope. The divine life of Christ abides in our spirit (2 Peter1:4; Colossians 2:10), expresses through our soul, which in turn strengthens our biological body.

When we come to the end of our self, to our wandering in our wilderness, to our attempts to equip our self and to succeed at life, we place our complete faith and trust in God, who deserves more than we could ever repay. We relinquish all, in order to receive the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:45-46), to win the race (1 Corinthians 9:24; Philippians 3:14), and to come into His divine presence, never to leave again. We enjoy fellowship with Him and His Saints each moment of our life.


We resist all desires birthed by the finite, carnal nature, which is dead in Christ (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3), and pursue the realm of the Spirit instead. Peace comes as we completely trust in God. We live in faith, as we serve our Living Lord (1 Thessalonians 1:3), and He provides for us in every area of life, which concerns us (Psalm 138:8). We enter God’s rest (Hebrews 4:10) and find contentment regardless of any emotional, mental, financial or physical issues.

Prayer:

Father God, You are worth so much more than anything or anyone that we hold precious in this life. You deliver us from darkness and bring us into Your Kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13). You rejoice over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17). Your mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:33-23). When we enter into the place of perfect rest in Christ, You give us all things as co-heirs with Jesus (Psalm 62:1-2; Romans 8:17). Help us to walk worthy of the calling You placed on our life (Ephesians 4:1), and always remind us to seek first Your Kingdom (Matthew 6:33).


Thought for the Day:

We receive infinite fulfillment and joy in this life, corresponding with the extent to which we surrender to God. – 1 Samuel 2:30

 

Life Changing Experience

Read: Proverbs 3:5-6

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9

The gospel in a nutshell contains only a few words, but they are powerful and life changing. Through them, we see our sin, repent and surrender our life to Christ. We simply ask in faith for Jesus to justify us as our Savior. It is so effortless; yet, so profound. This uncomplicated act opens the door for God’s welcoming grace to flood our soul, and to begin the sanctifying process of holiness.

There is no penance to perform, no searching journey to take around the world and no monumental feat to accomplish. Salvation is not accomplished by works, which we can do, it is a free gift for us from God (Ephesians 2:8-9). When we ask Him to save us, Jesus instantaneously breathes His Spirit into our dead spirit (John 3:6) and we are "born again" (John 3:7). He makes us a "new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Old things pass away and everything about us gradually is made new. Then He calls us to diligently seek Him with all of our heart, so He can teach us all things (Proverbs 3:5-6). 

So often, we mistakenly think that once our salvation is secure, we must start to impress God with our goodness. We work to deserve His love. We take copious notes on Biblical imperatives and we use them to create a set of rules to live by. Paul watched the Galatians do this very same thing, and he called them foolish (Galatians 3:1-3). All God wants is our praise. We trust Him with our life and we do not rely on our own devices (Proverbs 3:5-6). As we abide in His presence, and as we allow His Holy Spirit to direct our steps, we will bear much fruit and further God’s Kingdom in the earth (John 15:5).

Paul exhorted his spiritual son Timothy to trust in the grace of Christ (2 Timothy 2:1). Grace saves us and keeps us in its grasp (Colossians 2:6) as the Holy Spirit equips us with everything we need to live godly in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:12). Grace is unmerited favor from God that makes us victorious over every temptation and strengthens us through every trial. With this grace operating in our life, we learn contentment sitting at Jesus’ feet (Philippians 4:12).

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help us to live in Your grace with a life of wisdom, honor, holiness and victory. Our soul hungers and thirsts for more of You (Psalm 42:2, 63:1, 84:2, 143:6). Keep us ever faithful to You, and remind us to show our gratitude for everything You do in us, through us and for us. You are gracious to us, Lord God Almighty, and we are eternally grateful.

Thought for the Day:

We did not earn our salvation, and we do not need to earn God’s love.

Our True Inheritance

Read: Luke 15:11-32

“In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents." - Luke 15:10

The parable of the prodigal son is really a message about our Heavenly Father who watches for our homecoming to Him. He rejoices every time a sinner turns his/her heart to Him and repents (Luke 15:10).

We all know this story. One son rebels against his father’s rules and despised the need to work for his living. In his selfish state of mind, he demanded and squandered his inheritance before his father even died. Yet, upon his repentant return home, he received a party, a ring of authority (like a credit card) and a new robe and shoes from his father.

Now, the second son faithfully served his father with respect and deference, never causing him any heartache or distress. Then, when his errant brother returns home, we detect jealousy and resentfulness in this young man because of his father’s mercy and grace toward his brother. He said, "All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat" (Luke 15:29).

This dear son walked in obedience and service to his father for his whole life. He felt slapped in the face by his father’s apparent disregard for his wayward brother’s reckless behavior. We do this too. We see other people who have more material blessings than we do, and we accuse God of loving them more than He cares for us. The faithful son focused on the meager offering the father gave his rebellious son and forgot the immense treasure that lay in wait for him. We forget too. These people are receiving their meager blessings now, but our immense treasure awaits us in heaven (2 Corinthians 4:7).

The father had to remind his faithful son, "‘My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours’" (Luke 15:31). Everything our Heavenly Father has belongs to us as well. No matter how much or how little of their life a person squanders, when they come to Christ they receive His equal inheritance (Luke 23: 32-43). If this bothers us, we have to go to our Father for an attitude adjustment, just like the jealous son did.

We are joint heirs with Jesus (Romans 8:17) and all that is His belongs to us as well. He freely shares his treasure with those in His Body. We too should freely share our treasure – physical, spiritual and emotional – with all of those God places in our life. We reach out to everyone in order to win those that Jesus is calling to Himself.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, only in You do we find the true riches of righteousness, peace and joy (Romans 14:17). You gave us the opportunity to follow You all the days of our life and to reap the benefits of righteous living and the inheritance we share with You from our Heavenly Father. Keep us on the narrow road of Truth. We submit our lives to You and resist the world, our flesh and the devil. Thank You that when we do, Satan must flee from us (James 4:7).

Thought for the Day:

Bitterness and gratefulness cannot coexist, because negative emotions blind us from seeing God’s true gifts in our life.




Thank you, Elisa Hall, for the use of your photo.