In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and He was God… He created everything there is. Nothing exists that He didn’t make. Life itself was in Him, and this life gives light to everyone. The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. (John 1:1-5 New Living Translation)
The Word was first; the Word present to God, God present to the Word. The Word was God, in readiness for God from day one. Everything was created through Him; nothing – not one thing – came into being without Him. What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out (The Message).
In the beginning was the One who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God… And with this Word, God created all things. Nothing was made without the Word. Everything that was created received its life from Him, and His life gave light to everyone. The light keeps shining in the dark, and darkness has never put it out. (Contemporary English Version)
Some people know God, and some just believe in Him. Knowing is belief beyond doubt. True confidence in the Lord comes to those who have moved beyond their doubts. When we defeat doubt, we can enter into a whole new relationship with God. We need to know beyond a doubt that He will truly help us. Like Job we need to confess regularly our belief that God can do anything.
“I know that You can do anything, and no one can stop You. You ask, ‘Who is this that questions My wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I. And I was talking about things I did not understand, things far too wonderful for me. (Job 42:1-2).
Jesus Christ is the answer to knowing God. Jesus stated that anyone who had seen Him had seen the Father (John 14:8-9). Similarly, “If you knew Me you would know My Father also” (John 8:19). Jesus is “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being” (Hebrews 1:3). The whole essence of the Christian revelation is that God is best seen in His Son.
The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches (Matthew 13:31-32).
Matthew 17:20 and Luke 17:6 show us that too often we miss the point of the mustard seed. We think that quantity of faith is the determining factor in getting our prayer requests answered. The mustard seed shows us we all have at least that much faith, and if we learn to employ it, we will see miraculous things happen. Because of Christ Jesus, nothing is impossible for us.
In Luke 17:6, faith is identified as that which makes a difference in one’s circumstances or surroundings – something to happen vs. something felt. This form of faith opens door to God’s transforming us so we can move mountains.
It’s not the quantity but the quality of our faith that makes us survive the circumstances around us.
In John 9:2 we see not all suffering is due to personal sin. Some is, and the person who violates God’s moral laws must not be surprised when those moral laws kick back. In Luke 13:2 Jesus points out that calamities can stem from men’s inhumanity to man or from natural accidents like the collapse of a tower, and the people who suffer because of these are not especially sinful. Since all have sinned (Romans 3:23). Some are just at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Basically Jesus is telling us, “Don’t spend too much time trying to understand the reason for suffering. Instead focus on how you deal with it.” Luke 21: 1-13 gives nine sources of suffering that we are not just to bear up under, but use. The worst thing that can happen to a man – crucifixion – turns out to be the best thing that can happen, since it leads to perfection. This is the attitude we must cultivate if we are not only to face but use suffering.
Imminent judgment and destruction is at hand. The only thing delaying it is God’s willingness to provide one more opportunity for faithfulness (Luke 13:8).
Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21), a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted (Luke 12:33).
He cannot save himself by his treasure (Job 20:20). A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions (Luke 12:15).
I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread (Job 23:12). So look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure (Proverbs 2:4). In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age (1 Timothy 6:19).
Treasure comes in many shapes and sizes. What do we treasure most?
God’s promises are there for us to dig out and use. Herbert Lockyer, in his book All the Promises of the Bible, informs us that there are over 7000 promises to be mined from the riches of God’s Word. In his collection, Mr. Lockyer “hopes that he has succeeded in marshalling a comprehensive and representative number of the promises which are like an arranged museum of ‘gems and precious stones and pearls’ of inestimable value in God’s cabinet of spiritual jewels, and which constantly remind the Christian of his true, abiding riches. All of these gracious promises deserve to be ‘bound upon our fingers and written upon the table[sic] of our hearts’.”
So I will attempt to bring to this blog a timely promise for living in today’s world. God has shown me many of “His great and precious promises,” and I hope to find a way to share them with you so you may write them on the tablet of your heart.
What better way than to start with the Sermon on the Mount? It is said to be a “Gospel in Miniature”, a synopsis of the teachings of our Great Teacher. May this blog bring you closer to God’s Word; and May God’s Word bring you closer to God’s love for you.
God’s Word is there to direct us in our daily walk. May we all learn to rely on Him.
Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).
The meek shall eat and be satisfied (Psalm 22:26). The meek shall He guide in judgment, the meek will He teach His ways (Psalm 25:9). The Lord lifts up the meek (Psalm 147:6) to save all the meek of the earth (Psalm 76:9); and He beautifies the meek with salvation (Psalm 149:4).
The meek will be filled with fresh joy from the Lord (Isaiah 29:19). I will leave within you the meek and the humble (Zephaniah 3:12). The meek shall inherit the earth and delight themselves in the abundance of peace (Psalm 37:11).
Learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:29).
Meekness is to know our limitations, and at the same time know the greatness of our God.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted (Matthew 5:4). Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh (Luke 6:21). Grieve, mourn and wail… Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up (James 4:9-10). Come near to God and He will come near to you (James 4:8).
He has sent me, to announce the year of the Lord’s good will… to comfort all those who grieve. (Isaiah 61:2). I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them. I will give them joy in place of their sorrow (Jeremiah 31:13).
My people have been lost sheep (Jeremiah 50:6). Go to the lost sheep… As you go, spread this message: The kingdom of heaven is near (Matthew 10:6-7).
What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short (1 Corinthians 7:29).
We are to mourn those who are still lost. None should be denied the choice.
Blessed are the poor in spirit – for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3). How happy are those who know their need for God, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs! (Phillips)
A poor man pleads for mercy (Proverbs 18:23). The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the Lord will praise Him (Psalm 22:26). This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles (Psalm 34:6).
From Your bounty, O God, You provided for the poor (Psalm 68:10). He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor (Psalm 112:9).
Yet I am poor and needy, may the Lord think of me (Psalm 40:17).
Many of us are addicted to something. My sister is addicted to worrying. If she doesn’t have something to worry about today, she feels like there is no reason for her to be breathing today. I know a woman who constantly fears: she is afraid her house will burn down while she’s sleeping, or her children will get into a serious accident, or her dog will mess up the carpet while she’s gone. I personally am addicted to judging others: the way they drive, the way they handle their children, the way they speak at meetings – as if I do any better and any of these things. Worry, fear, anger, judgment, mockery, to say nothing of drugs or alcohol or gambling – there are so many things in this world that we can be addicted to. The point is – you and I are not made for this world! So we don’t have to be addicted to anything. The Lord Jesus came to save us from such things, and to give us a better life to live than what the world says we are supposed to want and have and strive to attain. The verses included here are meant to help us reach above our addictions and trust in Jesus to save us from our personal sins. To give us encouragement to strive for the life Our Father wants for us.
Lead me beside peaceful waters, Lord. Please keep my soul quiet and listening to You.
Heavenly Father, I battle the addiction to _____ in my life. I believe You are more powerful than any addiction, and I believe You are able to deliver me. You have revealed Your truth to me through Your Word (John 17:17), and I believe Your promise which tells me that I shall know the truth, and the truth will set me free (John 8:32). I also believe that since Christ Jesus sets me free I am free indeed (John 8:36). Therefore I seek Your deliverance and I express faith in You that You will bring it to pass in my life. So I pray.
Father, I realize my addiction is a sin, and I confess it to You now. Thank You for Your promise that assures me that when I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive me my sins, and to cleanse me of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9) by simply asking You. I gratefully receive Your forgiveness and cleansing now as I repent of my sinful addiction. Gracious God, I will stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ Jesus has set me free, and I ask for Your Spirit to help me stand firm and to never again be entangled with the yoke of bondage that addiction brings (Galatians 5:1).
Father, I praise You that the law of the Spirit of life has made me free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). I surrender my life to You entirely, completely, wholly, because You have freed me from my sin. From now on, I wish to be Your servant, O Almighty God, and I want so to enjoy Your fruit in my life unto holiness, and I know I have already received everlasting life (Romans 6:22). Thank You, Father, for giving me continuing power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy. I now know that nothing shall by any means hurt me (Luke 10:19). I also know no weapon formed against me shall prosper, because this is my heritage as Your servant (Isaiah 54:17). Thank You, for complete and total deliverance and freedom from the addiction that used to come between me and You.
Father, I believe You Word. You have not forgotten one word of Your promise; You are a covenant keeping God (1 Kings 8:56). It is You who will bring me out from under the yoke of bondage and free me from being a slave to _____ (Deuteronomy 26:8). Father, I ask You to keep me dedicated to this vow to stay free in You. I thank You that You are able to keep that which I commit unto You (2 Timothy 1:12).
I will be strong and of good courage and do the work; I will not fear nor be discouraged, for You, my God, are with me. You won’t leave me or forsake me until all the work is finished (1 Chronicles 28:20). Apart from You I can do nothing (John 15:5). But with You – we can do all things!
I am confident of this: God began a good work in me and will carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6). I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13). God raised me from the dead along with Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). I need neither to fear nor worry; I simply need to concentrate on being completely devoted to Jesus in my heart (1 Peter 3:14-15).
I bless You, O Lord. All that is within me blesses You and Your holy name. I will not forget all Your benefits to me. You have forgiven me all my iniquities, and healed all my sicknesses. You have redeemed my life from destruction, and You have crowned me with love and compassion, and tender mercies. You are my satisfaction, O gracious and generous Father (Psalm 103:1-5)!
God’s love is meteoric, His loyalty astronomic, His purpose titanic, His verdict oceanic. Yet in His largeness nothing gets lost, not a man, not a mouse, slips through the cracks. How exquisite Your love, O God; how eager we are to run under Your wings, to eat our fill at the banquet You spread as You fill our tankards with Eden spring water. You’re a fountain of cascading light, and You open our eyes to light. (Psalm 36:5-9 The Message)
God's Word on That 