It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. Proverbs 25:2

Posts tagged ‘choices’

God’s Kingdom Laws: Submit to Others, Do Not Retaliate and Do Justly   1 Peter 2:13-25

There are natural laws and spiritual laws that are in place that dictate natural and spiritual outcomes. There are the laws of the various nations and countries that the citizens must abide by or they could be, in danger of paying the penalty for their failure to obey. We are more familiar with the natural laws that govern this world, such as the law of gravity. As followers of Christ,we are called to humble ourselves, submit to others and to do the right things.  

1 Peter 2:13-17 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.   For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.   Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 

Most people do not have a good understanding of God’s spiritual laws that govern the spiritual realm such as the act of submitting to those in authority, because it is the will of God for His people. When we are doing the right thing even when others are offending us we are showing the world we trust in God’s faithfulness to provide and protect. We are to give honor to all people because they are image bearers of God. Jesus told the people to render unto Cesar the things that belong to Cesar which was respect, that is due all who are in authority but we are to fear(obey) God. If it is not illegal, immoral, against our health and safety, or God’s laws, we are to submit to those in authority. 

1 Peter 2: 18-22 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.  For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.  For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”;

We often see people who want to seek revenge or demand an eye for an eye when it comes to their injuries or injustices. Some people feel they are justified in wanting harsh penalties of others because of what they experienced,or because of the unequal treatment done by others.  They want just as much, if not more, punishment to be given to       the perpetrator or violator, but God tells us that He will be the vindicator and judge. 

Some people are punished more harshly because of their class, culture or socioeconomic background and they feel cheated.  But this is all part of the pride of life, in that we want to be esteemed just as great as others, or at least be vindicated to the same extent. God has told His people to trust Him to vindicate us and to love mercy in whatever form it may arise, knowing God is the ultimate judge who will judge justly in the end. 

1 Peter2:23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. NKJ

God has shown us His way and that is for us to do justly, just do the right thing. We are to give everyone, unbiased and unprejudiced treatment, doing the right thing for the right reasons. This is how we are to walk truthfully and in integrity, without looking for anything in return, not even right treatment in return. This is the requirement that the true followers of Christ should set for themselves. We are to love mercy; we should be devoted to showing forgiveness and celebrate it with passionate, open-hearted gladness when it is shown to others. We should not seek out punishment toward others, but should always look to show mercy and forgiveness no matter the situation, as God has forgiven us. 

Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

Jesus showed us how-to walk-in mercy and forgiveness. On the night Jesus was betrayed He washed the feet of His disciples including the one who betrayed Him, to be put to death. Jesus gave broken bread to those who were with Him as a symbol of His body that would be broken for them and He poured the wine as a representation of His blood that would be poured out for humanity.  We are told to remember Christ every time we take part in the act of communion, the one who gave His life for many. For this reason, God requires mercy of His children. We also can follow His examples of being broken bread and poured out wine by forgiving others and loving others in spite of what they do to us.

The world is living life in fear of lack, in scarcity and in self-focus, while the true followers of Christ are giving out of their hardship, and sharing their resources and loving those that were unlike themselves. Christ is the One who gave Himself for others, the One who became poor that others may be rich, the One who died that others might have abundant and eternal life and the One who forgave and loved those that abused and reviled Him. 

2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. NKJ

1 Peter 2:23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. NIV

Those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord, God has called them kings and priests on the earth. These are God given earthly positions that have certain roles, functions and responsibilities upon the earth. As kings we hold the position of royalty as in the family of God and should conduct ourselves accordingly. As priests we offer prayers and petitions for the people that are in our sphere of influence.  

 We see these roles displayed in the life of Christ, the One in whom we are to get our identity and should also mimic, impersonate and imitate while we live on this earth. As image bearers of God and Christ followers our purpose is to display the love, mercy and the forgiveness of God which brings glory to His name on the earth.  

 1 Peter 2:24-25 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.   For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

We are now part of a new family, citizens of a new country and our allegiance is to our Sovereign King, Jesus. Many get stuck in their own ideas about their rights and ethnicity in the flesh that they fail to be transformed in their minds into the image of Christ and to make Jesus the Lord over all. There is so much division in the church, in the body of Christ because many refuse to let go of the old nature, old life and its priorities. When Jesus is King over our lives He will reign in every area of our life regardless of our past, affinities or affections.

For all who by faith believe in Jesus as their Lord and King, God has given them the Holy Spirit to help them in their weaknesses. God knows our heart and mind and the Spirit of God intercedes for us that we may walk according to His will. Though our life choices may not be perfect, God knows how to take our bad choices, and what the enemy meant to be evil against us, and turn it around and to work it for our good. It will then become as a testament of God’s goodness, mercy and His glory. 

When we have knowledge of God the Father and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, then we are able to see more clearly the Godly nature and workings of God in the earth and in the spiritual realm. Satan’s major attack is against the people of God, while trying to tempt them into rebelling against God. But God in His Sovereignty and purpose will use the very things the enemy has brought against His people to transform them and develop them into the image of His dear Son.  

God has always had representatives in the earth to show His way, His word and His righteousness. From the beginning with Abel, to the laws of the Jewish nation, to the prophets and now through the word of Christ, God has always provided an example to the world and to show them the way of salvation.  It has always been the choice of every person to us their will to choose whether they will remain in their fallen mind set or to let go and choose to obey the light of God’s word. 

Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain but He washed me clean as snow.

 

 

 

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The Enduring Word 1Peter 1:19-24

God’s purpose for humanity is for us to be in a close personal relationship with God as our Father, Jesus as our Lord and Savior and with one another in love. Because Christ died for all, we are called to be His ambassadors to bring other into salvation and become His disciples.

God’s truths are revealed to us by His word and through the life of Jesus. By faith we believe Jesus is the Son of the Most-High God and accept and trust His truths until they are established in our hearts and minds. Then comes the testing of our faith, to show if we really and truly believe God’s word, whether we will obey it or not.  Truth that is not tested is only a theory, but a truth that is tried and has been tested and proven trustworthy, will be established in our hearts and becomes fact. Standing in faith under pressure is like metal being refined with fire, it removes the impurities but leaves a genuineness of faith to the praise and glory of God. 

Jehovah, is the Almighty God and He is Sovereign over heaven and earth and yet Satan is called the prince of this fallen world. Satan is most responsible for the evil, hate and problems in this world.  These truths sound as though they are conflicting statements or an oxymoron. God is ultimately the Sovereign King over the world and as a just and holy God He has limited Himself to His word. God in His Preeminence and excellent love for mankind created them in His image and gave them dominion over all He created. At the same time God gave them a free will, the ability to choose their allegiance and loyalties, and thereby allowing mankind the power to determine their own destiny. God in His Righteousness and Holiness had to respect the will and choice of mankind, as they turned over their dominion to Satan when they disobeyed him.

1 Peter1:19-21 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.   He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Philippians 1:20 For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. NIV

God in His Omniscient, all-seeing and all-knowing power knew mankind would be seduced by Satan into rebellion and disobedience against their God and King. But God made provision to redeem this fallen world system and mankind before the world was formed. Though sin, Satan and the fleshly cravings of mankind created a fallen world system that is geared to destroying and ensnaring humanity, God had made provision that the Son of Man, Jesus, would redeem this world with His precious blood. 

1 peter 1:18-20 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.   He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you  NKJ

God’s word will forever stand and there are no “take-backs” with God. Even though Satan became prince of darkness, God was bound by His word and His truth. It was man that relinquished dominion of this natural world to Satan and it would take a man, Jesus The Son of Man, to redeem their authority and dominance back to the former natural and spiritual world. Now there are two kingdom powers operating in the earth, the fallen world with darkness, principalities and powers of Satan, and also the Kingdom of God, which functions in both the natural and spiritual realm. 

God’s kingdom on the earth is both natural and spiritual. Many people are confused or blinded to the spiritual aspect of God’s kingdom and how His spiritual operation functions through faith in the earthly realm. 

Many people lose hope, lose sight, lose faith and lose confidence in God when they go through hard, horrendous or catastrophic experiences. This is because their perspective is only on their natural view or stance regarding their situation, such as the death of a love one, or a terminal illness or the loss of finances. Their attention is self-focused and overly concerned on what they have lost, and their belief that God did not intervene or stop those things from happening to them. These are very natural thoughts and as human beings our first response is in the natural, but the Holy Spirit of God is there to help the spirit of man to navigate through these life crises according to God’s word with a supernatural perspective. 

This old-world system has lost sight of mankind’s created purpose and has been taught to live a lie as to why they exist. People are naturally self-seeking, self-serving and full of pride. Many people are blinded by the lies of this world and are living as though this is the only life they have. Many spend themselves on these fleeting moments that are like passing vapors and they build their lives as castles on sand that will soon be washed away. We are to pass our time here as foreigners and sojourners, people who are passing through this space and time to do the will of God who created us to fulfill His purpose, to show God’s love and reflect His Glory.  

Luke 6:47-49 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:  He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.  But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”

It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that our souls are purified and it is through the truth of God’s word that we can love one another enthusiastically, eagerly and energetically. The heart is deceitfully wicked, full of greed, selfishness and hate, and only God can purify the heart through His Spirit and His Word. 

Jeremiah17:9-10 “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; Who can know it? The Lord, search the heart, /test the mind even to give every man according to his way. KJV

 How would we live if we truly understood that this time on earth is but a moment and only the trial run for eternity. So many people live this life as though they will live on earth forever, making homes and legacies thinking they will last, while neglecting the true eternal destiny of the soul. 

What do you spend your time on? Where is your time invested? Will impact your eternal future?  

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 Our Forgiveness Was A Great Cost To God 

We may come to God in an emotional state of despair, anguish and hopelessness because our sins are so overwhelming to us.  Some may have given up and have lost heart in believing that they will ever be made right with God or forgiven. But in every situation God has provided a way of escape.

Sin is a serious matter to a Holy and Righteous God and it cannot be taken lightly. It was of a very high cost to God, at the expense of the blood, death and resurrection of Jesus His Beloved Son. At this great cost, God was able to atone and pay the costly sin debt that all mankind owed because of their rebellion against Him.  

Romans 3:25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— NIV

I Corinthians 10:13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. NLT

Sin cannot stand before God’s Righteousness and Holiness; light and darkness cannot occupy the same space. The wages of sin is death and thereby a Just and Holy God must requires the payment of life blood for the remission and forgiveness of sin. We all owe this debt to God because of our sins and only the blood of Christ can atone for it and make us once again right with God.

Romans 5:6,8 While we were still helpless [powerless to provide for our salvation], at the right time Christ died [as a substitute] for the ungodly. 

But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. AMP

All have sinned and come short of living rightly before God. Therefore, everyone must pay this debt owed to God for their acts of rebellion and sin.  No person can live a perfect life and they are not able to pay the debt that is owed to God because of their own sins.

But God in His lovingkindness, great compassion and mercy chose to provide forgiveness for all humanity and gave us the only sacrifice that could be made. It was His Son Jesus and through His life lived, His blood shed and the death He took on our behalf that paid our sin debt.

Romans 3:23-25 or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, NKJ

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. NKJ

Sin that resulted in rebellion against God is no light matter. It is not something that God can turn a blind eye to and still be a Holy and Just God. Because of the sins of Adam and Eve an animal died, its blood was shed and clothing was made for them. The blood of animals could only cover their sins for a while but it did not remove them.

God’s grace came at the appointed time through Christ Jesus to pay the total debt of sin by the shedding of His blood, His deathand resurrection. Every sin debt will be paid for, but whose blood and death will stand before a Holy and Just God to make that payment? 

God has provided a payment for all sin debt through faith in Christ. It is every person’s free will to choose whether to have faith in the blood of Christ’s or not, and then they must stand before God for their own sins. 

Hebrews 9:22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

Everyone will stand before a Holy God for judgement, because we all have sinned; our sinful blood cannot atone for our debt. If we try to stand before God on our own we will be weighed in the balance and will be found lacking in not having lived a perfect life before God in our own strength. 

Daniel 5:27 TEKEL: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting;   

Romans 2:6-8 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

Even after our fall God was moved by His great love for all mankind and provided another chance of salvation for humanity. God has given us another chance to escape the second death, which is total separation from God Himself. Thischance is done with a simple choice of our will to believe andhave faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God. 

Revelation 20:11-15

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. NKJ

Many people are confused because of God’s love and forbearance toward us, thinking God will not judge sin andrequire mankind to pay for their sins eternally. But, a Holy, Just and Righteous God must require payment for sin or He will no longer be true to Himself and no longer be a Holy God. 

In God’s great mercy He provided another way for forgiveness to pay the debt mankind owed. God in His enormous and abundant love for us, He became the ransom and payment through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  

Romans 3:24-26 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

God who is a Just and Righteous God, became the One who judges sin and then He Himself provided the justification forthe sinner, through faith in Jesus.  It is an extreme insult to reject Jesus, it is a great offence and rudeness to a Holy God for mankind to refuse to accept such a great gift. Jesus came to rescue and deliver us that we may escape eternal death. Again, God does not take sin lightly and it was at a tremendous cost to Himself and His Son to make this provision of salvation to all humanity.

2 Corinthians 5:18-18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. NIV

To have this faith in God’s plan and provision of Salvation through Christ is so simple, and yet so profound!

Psalm 85:10 Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed.NKJ

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CHOICES

CHOICES

As we discussed, our lives are the sum total of our choices. Though we may not have realized it when we were young, it was the choices we made as youth and young adults that set the course of our lives. This is one of the created gifts from God, man’s ability to choose. The choices we make will not only affect our life but it will influence our eternity. What we fail to associate with our choices are the consequences that follow.

In the natural physical world there are principles and natural laws that flow, some call it Karma or cause and effect, for every action, there is a reaction and for all choices there are corresponding actions or results of those choices. We do not like to hear the word consequences because it brings a negative connotation to mind, but good or bad there are results with every decision we make in the natural. But God has provided a supernatural way of escape from our past through the blood of Christ.

Many people do not want to be responsible for their own actions and want to believe the things they are going through just happened or are someone else’s fault. Some things we experience may not be a direct reflection of our choices but they may be legacies from our parents and past generations. Some people call them generational curses or children living on the blessings of their parents.

We have seen if fall both ways children end up in poverty because of the poor choices of their parents and children undeserving inheriting wealth as the result of their parents work and dedication. These are natural principles that flow like gravity will naturally pull things to the earth. It is only when we implement a great law or principle can we move beyond the impact of the lesser law.

Gravity will pull everything to the ground but when a greater law of flight is implemented then gravity must give way to the greater law. The same principle with the natural law of the sins of the father will be on the children or cause and effect. If we implement the greater law, Jesus’ payment for our sins then the consequence of our natural parents and our own actions are cancelled. When we accept Jesus we have a new Father, a new inheritance, we are a new creation and old things are passed away.

We cannot predict the future but, we can learn from the past, from the choices we made and where they lead us, we can choose to make different choices. Those that choose to study and advance their education most times have a greater chance at making a comfortable living. This is a rule of thumb not absolutes because we have seen the opposite on both sides of the spectrum.

Just as those who choose to pursue God’s word and walk in it tend to live life with meaning and purpose. Life may never be perfect or without challenges but it can have meaning. We want to be careful with how we define God followers, they are not those who go to church and claim to be religious. They are those who actually seek to know the true God, develop a relationship with their creator and walk in His way, He has promised the things the world goes after.

There are the naysayers who refuse to believe the Word of God and they tend to allow life experiences, their culture, and other people to define truth for them. We are all given a life to live with a created purpose, and that is to bring glory to God on the earth. God did not change His created purpose for man even though mankind chose not to follow God but obeyed Satan.

Throughout time people change, time changes, life experiences differ, and our culture changes but God stays the same. We also at times allow our culture, which magnifies a particular way of living life experiences and even other people to define truth and direction for us. If we do not have a compass that points to the “true north” (the Bible) to direct us we can be blown in any direction. We have seen it too often with the decisions leaders make and have the masses follow, Hitler to name one. People are led to destruction because they lack the knowledge of God’s truth.

We have heard it said, “Raising children is guess work, they did not come with a manual?” That is culture speaking because God has given us a guide book, His word; in it we find directions and instruction on how to raise our children.  The Bible is like most manuals, people do not read the instructions and then wonder why things are not working well. Since the fall of man, when he ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, man thinks he has all the knowledge he needs to live life. This is another lie from the enemy.

God never changes, He did not change His created purpose, and all men were created in His image.  With the fall of man, we no longer looked like or acted like what we were created to be. Man had lost the image and the character of God. God said His ways are not man’s ways. Man is so far removed from what he was created to be. It took Christ to come and reinstate us back into the family of God and show us our created purpose and our true character.

Jesus had compassion for all the people especially for the least in society. Those who were without the best things, people who were sick and hungry. He loved others more than He loved His own life.  He died to give us grace, mercy and to show us the love of God through His words and actions.

If we must take a position or a stance on a belief, let it be the infallible Word of God, the Creator and Sustainer of all that exists. We should not let our limited knowledge, life experiences or the things we go through define who we are. The world is in a fallen state of chaos and sin. We have an enemy who comes to try to kill and steal our identity and the purpose we were created to be, in the image of God. There is a struggle, we have opposition but we can live this life victoriously.

We are the beloved children of God. This world system will try to destroy our purpose, our hope, and our future. The Most High God did not leave us in that state of depravity, thank you Lord. Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. God has given us His written word in the Bible to give us light in this dark place and it gives us understanding to know how to live this life victoriously.

Proverbs 34: 12-14 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. NIV

 

Psalms 1:1-3   Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither, whatever they do prospers

 

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

 

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

 

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NIV This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before your life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 

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