How can you be sure that you are a Christian?  Romans 12:9-21

Here are some true Christian traits that you can rest assured on that you are born again and that the Holy Spirit is living inside of you, working in you, and providing solid, Biblical evidence that you are a Christian and that you can know that you are saved.

First of all a true Christian understands the plan of salvation and has a great desire to share it with those who are lost.

Secondly, they love and honor Jesus above everything else. While Christians love their family and friends, they put the Lord above all else and it’s evident in their priorities. Everyday happenings may be a part of their lives, but things and material needs never come before Christ and following His Word.

It is their controlling desire to abstain from sin and live a humble, holy life; to honor Almighty God, our Creator and Savior.

They are selfless and sacrificial. True Christians always put others first and put someone else’s genuine needs before their own. This is evident in the follower of Christ selfless deeds and acts of kindness.

Humility and modesty are key traits of a true Christian. To be humble is to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, because the Lord Himself was truly humble. Even though He was God, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:8). Christ’s disciples are also modest, in appearance and in the way that they live and act. People can always know when they are in the presence of men and women after “God’s own heart”, because, Jesus is always the center of attention.

They have self-control of their emotions and actions; which is evident in the way they behave, regardless of how others act toward them. If they are criticized, ridiculed or persecuted for their faith, they respond with kindness, just as Jesus did.

A true Christian professes Christ to be God and holds Him in the highest esteem (1 John 4:1-3, 1 John 4:13-15). They practice righteousness (1 John 2:28-29) and do those things that conform to God’s righteous standard.

A child of God has the Holy Spirit living inside of them empowering them to live a pure, clean, honest and holy life. They feel deeply convicted when they sin and immediately confess, repent and ask God for forgiveness (1 John 1:8-10).

People who live and work around a Christian see the humility and holiness of Jesus expressed in their daily life and know that they are Christian because they walk as Christ walked (1 John 2:4-5); they see their desire to imitate Christ and grow in conformity to Him.

Christians love other true believers, Jesus said that “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35). They desire each other’s fellowship, and seek to help each other grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

True believers pray regularly and are in fellowship with God. They love to learn more about God and the Savior, and hunger and thirst for God’s Word. This is a strong indicator that the Holy Spirit is actively working in their life.  In the Beatitudes, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6).

Christians long and desire to pursuit of holiness because, without holiness no one will see the Lord  (Hebrews 12:14).

Believers obey the Lord as the wise and not the foolish builder (Luke 6:46-49). They do not want to hear what Jesus said to the hypocrites “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”

Those that are born again have a great desire and burden to seek those who are lost and share the love of Christ with them; they have the same desires that God has for those who will perish without Christ (John 3:16).

If we have these qualities, and they are increasing in us, we have evidence that we have come to know the Lord and are bearing the fruits of a child of God. However, if these qualities are absent from our life, we should have a great concern for our soul. We should be diligent to seek God regarding our salvation. We should reexamine ourselves to see if we are in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5); and, we should be diligent to make our calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:8-11).

If you would like to know how to be saved and have everlasting life with Jesus Christ click on the following link: ABOUT SALVATION.

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Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away… Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. (Psalm 37:1-2, 7-8)

The truth is that we can’t know all the reasons why God lets bad things happen. We know some, because we cause them ourselves. We live in a world that is affected by sin, so difficulties and disappointments will sooner or later cross our path. Nevertheless, if we ask God for discernment, we can begin to understand why He allows some things to occur. We can also discover how God can convert the situation and bring benefits to our life as a result of suffering.

Scripture teaches us that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28) And Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

When bad things happen to us we should search for God’s answers and see if He is trying to get our attention to teach us to develop spiritual maturity. We need to remember that “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

When we trust in God, we can be confident that He will not allow anything to happen to us without His permission, and He will not let any “bad thing” happen that will not ultimately bring us more good than destruction. As the Scripture teaches us: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

It is hard for us to understand God at times as Isaiah writes “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (55:8–9). 

Jesus suffered much. He was “despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). He was ridiculed, betrayed, beaten, humiliated, abandoned, and falsely accused. Do you think that Jesus was ever tempted to be resentful toward those who caused His suffering? Of course He was. In fact, the Bible says He was “in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15), but He remained obedient to the Father.

“Without sin” – Here is the difference between man’s responses which is anger and bitterness (sin), and Jesus Christ’s response of trust and perfect obedience to His Father’s will. How, then, can we face temptation without sinning? The next verse in this biblical passage gives us the answer: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Jesus showed us the right way to respond to suffering. In our hard circumstance, tragedy or heartbreaking disappointment, we can learn to respond as Jesus did. As we study God’s Word, be alert to Christ’s responses when He suffered. We need to follow His example as God guides us by His Holy Spirit, in each situation we encounter.

God wants us “to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29). During this process the Lord gives us grace to respond to every circumstance as Jesus would respond, and we develop the divine character. The Bible tells us that even the Son of God learned obedience through what He suffered (Hebrews 5:8)

If bad things happen to us we should be asking: “Is this situation that I am in God’s discipline to correct me? Is God trying to get my attention before it is too late? Have I disobeyed my heavenly Father?” Because God loves us, He will chasten us as a Father chastens a son (Hebrews 12:5-11). It is important to remember that “no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11).

If the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, we need to repent, and as a result: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

In the Old Testament we read about Joseph, who went through terrible suffering, being sold into slavery by his brothers, he was unfairly accused and falsely imprisoned. Finally, after about 12 years, he was put in a role of great authority where he could save the lives of his family and many others. This is what he said to his brothers: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20). 

As we see, if we are committed to God, He promises that He can and will take whatever pain we are experiencing and produce something good from it for His honor and glory. 

The book of Job is another one that deals with the issue of why God allows bad things to happen to good people. Job was a righteous man (Job 1:1), yet he suffered in ways that are almost beyond belief. God allowed Satan to do everything he wanted to Job except kill him and Satan did everything to make Job’s life unbearable. What was Job’s reaction? “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” (Job 13:15). And, “the LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised” (Job 1:21). Job did not understand why God had allowed the things He did, but he knew God was good and therefore continued to trust in Him. Ultimately, that should be our reaction as well.

We live in a fallen world, and we experience the effects of the fall. One of those effects is injustice and seemingly senseless suffering; and when wondering why God would allow bad things to happen to good people; it’s also good to consider the following: 

• Bad things may happen to good people in this world, but this world is not our final destination. Christians have an eternal perspective: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16–18). We need to always remember that we are like a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes, and will some day have a great reward.
  

• Bad things happen to good people, but God uses those bad things for an ultimate, lasting good. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). When Joseph, innocent of wrongdoing, finally came through his horrific sufferings, he was able to see God’s plan in all that happened to him (Genesis 50:19–21).
  

• Bad things happen to good people, and equip believers for a deeper ministry. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:3–5). Those with scars can better help those going through conflicts.

As we see, God allows things to happen for a reason. Whether or not we understand His reasons, we must remember that God is good, just, loving, and merciful (Psalm 135:3). Often, bad things happen to us that we simply cannot understand; therefore, instead of doubting God’s goodness, our reaction should be to trust Him. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5–6).

Jesus said “in the world you shall have tribulation.” Suffering is the price we pay for living in a fallen world. “Don’t be surprised by the fiery ordeal as though some strange thing were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12). As tragic as some of life’s circumstances are, Jesus warned the people to quit being so concerned about temporary tragedies and start being concerned with the greatest tragedy of all – dying and being separated from God.

Although God truly cares about the difficulty you might be experiencing, He promises that all suffering for the believer is temporary. What is much most important is that you be delivered from the ultimate suffering – separation from God – and that your final deliverance from suffering comes when you are ushered into heaven because you are a truly born again child of God.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled…

and blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.

(Matthew 5:6, 8)

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It is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” (1 Peter 4:17-18) 

As we get familiar with God’s word, we see that judgment is a recurring theme throughout the Bible. God’s plan includes a final judgment on the wicked and all who reject the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as payment for their sins (Hebrews 10:26–27). As we read 1 Peter 4:17 we see that God’s judgment begins at the household of God and that Christians face God’s judgment, too: “For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?”

As we look at this verse, Peter is urging the church—the house of God—which was facing persecution, to persevere. The believers were also struggling to separate from the former worldly sins that had once enslaved them:  “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you” (verses 1–4). Peter reminds them that the wicked will face God’s judgment and that they will have to give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead (verse 5) but that believers in Christ must hold themselves to a higher standard than they once did. The “fiery trials” that they were facing were to help refine them like gold (verse 12).

God allows difficulties and suffering in the lives of His people to purify them. When we are persecuted for the cause of Christ, we share in His sufferings as Peter writes in verses 13–14: But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. And when we share His suffering, is because we want to know Him better (Philippians 3:10). Paul also repeats this same theme in Romans 8:17: “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.” Part of God’s judgment upon sin is physical suffering. When His children experience such suffering, it is not to harm us, but to make us more like Christ. “Judgment” for the children of God can be considered discipline (Hebrews 12:4–11), and is designed to purge the sin from our life and teach us obedience.

A loving father does not discipline other kids, because they are not his. A father disciplines his own children. Likewise, the discipline of our heavenly Father begins at His own household, with His own children, the church. He is reserving for the wicked an ultimate, final judgment that His children will never experience (Romans 8:1). Scripture makes a distinction between God’s purifying discipline of the church and His ultimate condemnation of the wicked: “Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world” (1 Corinthians 11:32).

In this present age, God allows painful circumstances in the lives of His own household, not to condemn but to mature, convict, and bring repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10). Through suffering we learn patience (James 1:2–4). This kind of judgment is to encourage us to abandon selfishness and draw nearer to Him (James 4:8). The ultimate, final judgment for unbelievers will be eternal separation from God, from life, and from all that is good and pure (Matthew 8:11–12; Revelation 21:8).

The judgment that begins at the household of God also includes church discipline. Church discipline is not for unbelievers but for believers: “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?” (1 Corinthians 5:12). Believers are commanded to take responsibility for other followers of Christ who may be wavering and headed toward sin (James 5:20). And many pastors and church leaders need to also be disciplined.

First Corinthians 5:11–13 commands us to avoid fellowship with anyone claiming to be a brother or sister in Christ but who insists on maintaining a sinful lifestyle. Jesus lays out the process for church discipline in Matthew 18:15–17. Someone who has been confronted multiple times and warned that the choices he is making are in opposition to God needs to repent. If he refuses to listen to the church, we are to turn away from him in the hope that this drastic action will bring about repentance. As believers, we are to pursue holiness and encourage each other to pursue it, too (1 Peter 1:15–16).

In verse 18, Peter seems to be quoting from Proverbs 11:31 – If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner! And reinforces the point that if the justified sinner is saved only with great difficulty, suffering, pain and loss what will be the end of the ungodly?

The shallow professing, so-called Christian thinks how much sin can I get by with and not be judged? While a true born again Christian longs to honor Jesus in everything that they say and do and they want Jesus to be the center of attention, every moment that they live.

As we see, God’s desire is that His people learn to walk in holiness and fellowship with Him (Romans 8:29). As any loving parent would do, God will bring unpleasant consequences upon His children for rebellion. He expects the ones He has redeemed by the blood of His Son to set the example for the rest of the world. If the church is not in pursuit of holiness, the world sees no need to change their life style; therefore, judgment begins in the household of God, with His own children, as He teaches us to live like Christ.

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The apostle John writes: “Dear children, guard yourselves from idols.” 1 John 5:21

According to the Webster dictionary, the definition of idolatry is “the worship of idols or excessive devotion to, or reverence for some person or thing.” An idol is anything that replaces the one, true God. Whatever we treasure more than God, whatever drives our thoughts and actions, becomes an idol, and these idols dull our heart and turn us away from God.

Idolatry extends beyond the worship of images and false gods. It is a matter of the heart, associated with pride, self-centeredness, greed, gluttony and love for possessions. Jesus said: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24).

Since an idol can be anything that takes the place of God as the most important focus and priority in our life, let’s take a look at some things that are or can become idols in our life.

PRIDE by definition is an excessively high opinion of oneself. This results in that the status of the person; their needs, desires, greatness and public image are his main interest and concern, regardless of how it affects others.

Proud people think that they are important or superior because of whom they are, what they have, or what they have done. Pride is when we take the credit for our accomplishments and forget that God is the One who has given us our ability. God hates this kind of pride and sooner or later there will be consequences as we see what happened to king Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4:28-37.

If we don’t recognize that pride is an idol and a constant temptation and do not repent of it, we will not grow spiritually to the measure God wants for us. “This is what the Lord says: Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight, declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

SELFISHNESS comes from the world, the flesh, and the devil, and greatly impedes our spiritual growth because the whole emphasis of Scripture is on our relationships to God and to others.

The desire to be first; the longing to have the most are not the characteristics of a person under the control of the Holy Spirit; in fact, the opposite is true. Scripture tells us, “If you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual and demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice” (James 3:14-16).

Only through surrender to our Father can we break free from the idol of self and selfishness and in so doing, find the freedom to be all that God created us to be; men and women of purpose designed to glorify our Creator God.

GREED could be described as an unquenchable desire to have more money or possessions for self-gratification, while ignoring God, eternity and the need of others. Paul states “the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10).

Greed puts a wrong value on temporal things. It treats temporal things as if they, and we, will endure on earth forever. But, in fact, we could die today or all our possessions could be taken from us instantly, as we read in the biblical example in parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:13-21.

SELF-CENTEREDNESS, a self-centered person is excessively concerned with themselves and their own needs. They are selfish and tend to ignore the needs of others and only do what’s best for them.

Jesus addresses the very core of the sin of self-centeredness with this clear declaration: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). To deny oneself means letting go the material things that are used to gratify self. To deny oneself is to let go of selfish desires and earthly security and focus instead on the interests of God (Matthew 6:33); it literally means to turn from self-centeredness to God-centeredness where self is no longer in charge and God is, with Christ ruling our hearts.

We all have a tendency toward self-centeredness which is another idol worship practice. The question is, which will we allow to have control of our lives; the flesh or the Spirit? (Romans 13:14; 1 Peter 2:11; 1 John 2:15-16)

GLUTTONY Eating and drinking are not contrary to God’s will. However, the purpose that drives our desire to eat and drink can be. If we are eating and drinking excessively for the purpose of escaping hardships in life, we are gluttons. We should not substitute eating and drinking for dependence on God to sustain us through times of trouble. The purpose of eating and drinking is to sustain our bodies and not to make food or drink an idol that subdues our senses.

God has blessed us by filling the earth with foods that are delicious, nutritious, and pleasurable. We should honor God’s creation by enjoying these foods and by eating them in appropriate quantities. God calls us to control our appetites, rather than allowing them to control us. The Scriptures warns us that “their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things” (Philippians 3:19).

LOVE OF POSSESSIONS – The Bible is clear about material possessions.  If they are a higher priority in our life then God is; we need to repent!  God gives us blessings so that we can be a blessing to others, not to maintain a luxurious lifestyle to benefit our greed. 

We need to be reminded that life is not about the here and now, but about eternity.  We can’t take our things to Heaven, but we can definitely use them to benefit others while we are still living.  Jesus said: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26)

And on another occasion He warned us: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

Idols are not only made out of material things like stone, wood, etc. People that don’t know the word of God make people their god also, like worshiping their leaders, musicians and performers. In the Bible we see where people tried to make a god, an idol out of Herod; and God killed Herod with a very shameful and painful death right in front of them. God showed these wicked, idol worshippers how stupid they were, because “on the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people.  They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God continued to spread and flourish” (Acts 12:21-24).

Our hearts and minds must be centered on God and on having a kind heart towards others. This is why when asked what the greatest commandment is, Jesus replied, “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-39). When we love the Lord and others with everything that is in us, there will be no room in our hearts for idolatry.

“Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry”

1 Corinthians 10:14

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“Grandchildren are the crown of old men, and the glory of children are their fathers.” (Proverbs 17:6) 

A good father is one who provides and is always there when the child needs him. 1 Timothy 5:8 tells us “…if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

We live in a day in which many men have abandoned their responsibility of providing for their wives and children. But being a good father is more than just bringing home a paycheck and meeting the physical needs of your children. It’s not enough to just be a good father according to the world’s standards; because, they also need to be the spiritual leaders in their homes.

Currently we are suffering from a lack of “fatherhood” in the world. Fathers are abdicating their responsibilities and leaving children to be reared solely by their mother, grandmother, relative, or the state system. And while these do their best, a dad cannot be replaced.

The Bible teaches that, “the glory of children are their fathers,” however, this does not happen automatically. It requires a father who looks at his responsibility to lead his family and who seeks to fulfill that responsibility not for just a day, or a week, or a year; but seeks to do his best before God throughout his life.

The Bible tells us that men should bring up their children “in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4) and the warning is to “not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged” (Colossians 3:21). Biblical messages to fathers frequently reflect the very real societal need for family discipline and godly leadership in the home; “train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Remembering that correction is good and will bring a child to their senses by removing their foolish thoughts (Proverbs 22:15). Every parent who loves their children establishes rules. We need to teach our children that there are boundaries, rules and regulations.

When a father establishes boundaries his child’s character is strengthened. Our children need to know there is a difference between what the world says is okay and what God says is okay. They need to know that there is an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, unchanging God who has given us a standard of conduct to live by. The Bible teaches that keeping God’s commandments and standards invites God’s blessings and that violating them invites His discipline.

Although this verse certainly implies godly leadership, the immediate focus is on the children. We are told that children, receive “glory” from their fathers! So how is this to come about?

When this verse speaks about glory, in the biblical sense, it centers on the value, the worthiness, or the reputation of the person. For instance, the Scripture teaches that the Lord Jesus “shall come in the glory of his Father” (Matthew 16:27; Mark 8:38), and that the reputation of God the Father was conferred on Christ Jesus: “For He received from God the Father honor and glory” (2 Peter 1:17).

So, fathers need to learn this critical principle. Your reputation is reflected onto your children. Your behavior in the workplace is assumed to be an indicator of your children’s potential. What you say or do in moments of unguarded or uncontrolled passion will pass on to your children; for good or bad. The common saying “like father, like son” is recognized across time and culture as an accurate measure of human existence.

We also need to remember that the old saying that actions speak louder than words is so true when it comes to teaching our children. The example we live has much more influence on them than anything we could ever say. Children learn by what they see their parents doing.

The Lord warns that “the iniquity of the fathers” will be passed “upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation” (Exodus 34:7). Would it not be far better that children receive glory from your righteous life than shame from your iniquity? (Psalm 89:45)

So let us follow the beautiful example the Bible gives to us in Deuteronomy 6:5-9 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

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“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice  and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. (John 5:24-29) 

What happens when you die depends on what happens before you die. The Bible categorizes the human race into two categories, the saved and the lost. The saved are those who have trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, while the lost are the ones who haven’t trusted in Him; and what happens to the saved is radically different from what happens to the lost. 

The Bible is abundantly clear on this subject that when the saved person dies, their soul goes directly into the presence of the Lord. This contradicts the teaching called “soul-sleep,” which implies that at death a believer “sleeps” in a kind of suspended animation until the day of the resurrection.  

Jesus told the thief on the cross, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). The repentant thief passed from life into the realm called “paradise.” How could the thief be that very day in paradise as Jesus told him, if his soul went to sleep when he died? The apostle Paul wrote: “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8); therefore, at the moment of death the believer’s soul passes immediately into the presence of Jesus Christ.  

We also need to understand that the Bible uses the term “sleep” to describe death only in the case of true believers, and never for non-Christians as we read in a couple of Old and New Testament examples in 1 Kings 2:10 and John 11:11.  

Paul tells us: “I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). 

So as we see, mankind is composed of body, soul, and spirit, and the three are not the same.  

• The body is purely physical and will pass on someday but while in this life it is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), for the believer.
• The soul is the animate life, or the seat of the senses, desires, affections, and appetites; and will live after death in one place or another, meaning heaven or hell.
• The spirit is that part of us that connects, or refuses to connect, to God. Our spirit relate to His Spirit, either accepting His promptings and conviction, thereby proving that we belong to Him (Romans 8:16) or resisting Him and proving that we do not have spiritual life (Acts 7:51).

Now that we have clarified the composition of man, let us focus on the aspects of physical death, spiritual death and eternal or second death. 

Physical death is “separation” of the immaterial part of a person from the material part of a person.  Ecclesiastes 12:7 tells us that “the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.” 

Death is not a cessation of consciousness (e.g. “soul-sleep”). However, the Bible describes physical death for the believer as “those who are asleep” (1 Thessalonians 4:13‑14), referring to the body, not the soul. As an analogy, in physical sleep there is a temporary cessation of physical activity, but not spirit‑soul activity; and the finality for physical death will be a physical resurrection as stated in 1 Corinthians 15:52 for the believer and for  the unbeliever in Revelation 20:11-15. 

Spiritual death on the other hand is separation from God. “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). 

In Genesis 2:17 God warned Adam that, on the day that he disobeyed the commandment, he would surely die. Obviously, Adam did not die physically the day he sinned, but he did die spiritually. Their nature had become contrary to God’s nature, because it had fallen. And because it was fallen, it could no longer share the same level of fellowship that it had before the fall. As a result, all the descendants of Adam are born spiritually dead, because; “the person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:14). Although the “natural man” may not feel spiritually dead, he is; and the remedy for spiritual death is to be made alive by faith in the Messiah (John 5:24; Ephesians 2:5; Colossians 2:13).  

Eternal death or the second death as mentioned in (Revelation 20:14, 21:8) is a separation from God in eternity (Matthew 25:41; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Revelation 14:11) and it is permanent. This type of death is a result of not believing in Jesus Christ as one’s Savior (John 3:17-18; John 8:24; Acts 4:12). The place of eternal death or the second death, the place where the unbelievers will be for eternity is the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8). 

To summarize: For the believer in Jesus Christ, the Bible tells us that after death believers’ souls are taken to heaven, because their sins have been forgiven by having received Christ as Savior (John 3:16, 18, 36). And at the resurrection of the believers, their physical body is resurrected, glorified, and then reunited with their soul. This reunited and glorified body-soul-spirit will be the possession of believers for eternity in the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21-22). 

Conversely, for those who do not receive Jesus Christ as Savior, death means everlasting punishment. Revelation 20:11-15 describes all the unbelieving dead being resurrected, judged at the Great White Throne, and then being cast into the Lake of Fire.  

Please give this some serious thought, because, physical death is not the end of the road. For the believer, it is the doorway to heaven. For the unbeliever, however, it is the beginning of a passageway into unimaginable suffering. These are all biblical truth, even if you don’t believe them. Therefore, be ready to make your choice while you can, so you won’t be surprised by what happens next. 

If you would like to know about how to be saved click on this link; ABOUT SALVATION and remember that every second that we live is precious; “we have only one life that soon will pass, only what’s done for Christ will last.”

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“We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” (Acts 2:11)

Let us start by first clarifying that the gift of speaking in tongues in the New Testament occurred 2000 years ago when a Christian was given the gift by the Holy Spirit to speak a language he did not know in order to teach someone the gospel of Jesus Christ, (1 Corinthians 14:6).

The gift of tongues was present for only a while, because the Scripture tells us that “as for tongues, they will cease” (1 Corinthians 13:8). However, if the gift of speaking in tongues were active in the church today, it would be performed in agreement with Scripture. It would be a real and intelligible language (1 Corinthians 14:10). It would be for the purpose of communicating God’s Word to a person of another language (Acts 2:6–12), and it would be done “in a fitting and orderly way” (1 Corinthians 14:40), “for God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people” (1 Corinthians 14:33). 

Sadly, due to pride, like in the church of Corinth, a phenomenon referred to glossolalia or “ecstatic utterances,” which means making unintelligible sounds while in a state of ecstasy, is occurring in a number of churches today.  

Please understand that glossolalia is babbling in a nonexistent language, while xenoglossia is a supernatural ability to speak fluently a language the speaker has never learned. In contrast to speaking a real language, studies have shown that glossolalia is a learned behavior.  

There are basically two aspects to glossolalia. First, it equates to making ecstatic sounds, which practically everyone is able to do or mimic, and is an easy learned behavior. The other aspect of glossolalia is ecstasy or the demonstration of trance-like elation, which is very dangerous. Sadly many have been taught and believe that the chief purpose of the gift of speaking in unintelligible ecstasy or glossolalia is to manifest the Holy Spirit who is being poured out upon them just as it happened on the day of Pentecost. To think in this way is to slap the face of Jesus who sent us the Holy Spirit to guide us. Instead some choose to mock Him with this kind of performance; or maybe they do not realize that they are being dominated by a demon. 

Please read the Scriptures for yourself and do not be mislead by so many false prophets of today, remember Jesus warned us of them in (Matthew 7:15; Matthew 24:24). 

We receive the Holy Spirit through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When we believe that He died for our sins and that He was raised from the dead, at that moment we are born again. At that same moment we receive the Holy Spirit “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body” (1Corinthians 12:13). 

Simply put, there is a tremendous difference between what happened in Acts 2 and the practice of glossolalia in the church of Corinth and many churches today. 

Let me explain that glossolalia is a phenomenon of psychiatry and language studies, generally linked to situations of religious fervor, in which the individual believes to express himself in a language unknown to him, and non-existent, but which he considers to be of divine origin; however, these speeches are characterized by repetition of the sound chain, with no systematic meaning and still with rare predictable language units, and the speaker is unable to repeat any of the pronouncements already pronounced, unless they were practiced beforehand by the desire to speak in an unknown languages. 

Paul made it perfectly clear that the chief purpose of the gift of speaking in tongues (understandable languages) was to be a sign for those who did not believe and to spread the good news, the gospel of Christ with others (1 Corinthians 14:19, 22). You don’t do this with ecstatic speech, yelling, confusion and falling on the floor like a drunken person out of their mind.

Remember that it is dangerous to seek something that God is not giving, because you’re wide open to Satan’s counterfeit. Research has been completed where 50 supposed tongue speakers were speaking in unknown tongues, the interviewers demanded that the speakers identify themselves; 95% of the speakers were identified as a demon manifesting itself, the other 5% were mentally unstable people.

In Corinth, the counterfeit practices of heathenism had taken over the church. Sadly, the same thing is happening today. Ecstatic, feeling-oriented experiences are never associated in the New Testament with the true work of the Holy Spirit, never! Paul says: “But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way” (1 Corinthians 14:40).  It’s not the Holy Spirit’s way to have a worship service where everybody jumps up and starts praying in unknown tongues, rolling on the floor, laughing uncontrollably, barking like dogs and having a total chaotic state. Beware; this kind of behavior is nothing more than the confusion of paganism that has engulfed the church and Satan and his demons are rejoicing over this kind of performance.

When we read the Bible, it offers no evidence that Jesus ever spoke in tongues. If Christ were going to speak in tongues, it would have been reasonable by the logic of some of today’s false teachers, for Him to do so at His baptism when “the Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove” (Mark 1:10). However, as we continue reading verse 11, the Father spoke from heaven in words that all could understand, and we have no record of Jesus ever speaking in tongues.

We do however have record of Jesus speaking in Aramaic, the common language spoken in Israel at that time (Mark 5:41 and Acts 26:14), besides His native language of Hebrew.  

The first occurrence of the true speaking in tongues occurred on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-4. When this happened, the apostles went out and shared the gospel with the crowds, speaking to them in their own language: “We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” (Acts 2:11). The Greek word translated tongues literally means “languages.”

According to the apostle Paul, and in agreement with the tongues described in Acts, speaking in understandable tongues is valuable to the one hearing God’s message in his or her own language, but it is useless to everyone else unless it is interpreted or translated.

The apostle Paul who spoke several languages explained it this way: “But in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue” (1 Corinthians 14:19). Meaning, if he spoke, Latin, Greek, Aramaic and Hebrew to name a few, why would he speak Hebrew to his Latin speaking audience in Rome? 

Mission Venture Ministries has been gifted by God to teach, interpret and translate in more than one language. So to explain further, if you would read our weekly post in a language other than the one you understand what good would it do? It would just be gibberish and you wouldn’t gain anything from it.

Remember, that if the gift of speaking in tongues were active in the church today, it would be performed in agreement with Scripture. It would be a real and intelligible language because: “Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me” (1 Corinthians 14:9-11).

God most definitely can give a person the gift of learning to speak in different languages to enable him or her to communicate with others and to share the gospel.

Just imagine how much more productive missionaries could be if they did not have to go to school to learn a foreign language, and were instantly able to speak to people in their own language. However, today the speaking in tongues does not occur in the manner it did in the New Testament, despite the fact that it would be immensely useful if it were so.

As we have learned so far, the gift of tongues at the time of the apostles was the supernatural ability to speak a foreign language that the speaker had never learned. We see this gift in use in Acts 2:4–12, as the Jews in Jerusalem heard the gospel preached in a wide variety of languages.  

The goal was that all could understand and benefit from the truth being spoken. According to the apostle Paul, and in agreement with the tongues described in Acts, the gift of tongues was meant to communicate God’s message directly to another person in his or her native language. Of course, if those present could not understand the language being spoken, the tongues were useless—and that’s what made the interpreter, necessary; because, the goal was the edification of the church (1 Corinthians 14:5).

One of the problems in the Corinthian church was that people who spoke gibberish interrupted during the service, drawing attention to themselves, but their words made no sense because no one could understand them. This was very frightening, presumptuous and disrupting to those that were there to learn. 

Paul told the Corinthians that, if two or three real tongues-speakers wanted to speak in a meeting, then a spiritually gifted interpreter must also be present. In fact, “if there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God” (1 Corinthians 14:28). 

It is unfortunate that many today see “glossolalia or ecstatic utterances” as a form of supernatural discourse that comes from God, when it is a lie of the enemy and an offense to God.

Many church goers have been taught that a person has to learn to speak in tongues to prove that they are really saved. Then, after studying Paul’s letters and the scriptural teaching concerning the cessation of the gift of tongues, they ask, “What should I do now?” Simply: Stop! Stop babbling because this does not come from the Holy Spirit.

There are many warnings in the Bible, and this is one of them that gives us a lot to think about. In Matthew 7:22-23 Jesus said: “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

They were falsely prophesying in Jesus’ name, they had not cast out demons, because demons do not cast out demons and they were lying when they claimed to have done miracles in His name. That is why it is so important that our faith is based on the Word of God and that we only do the will of the Father who is in heaven.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Matthew 5:8

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“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”  (Luke 19:10) 

Jesus is stating this, in response to the crowd, which where grumbling that He had gone to be the guest of a man who was a sinner, the chief tax collector, Zaccheus. They did not understand that this was the reason He had come to earth to seek and to save the lost. 

Tax collectors were not popular; they were looked upon as the scum of the earth. They served Rome for personal gain and took unfair advantage of their own countrymen. Zaccheus was not just a tax collector, but a chief tax collector, which made people despise the man even more.  

In light of the public hatred of tax collectors, Jesus picked Levi or Matthew as one of His twelve apostles! This shows Jesus’ love for the lost and the transforming power of His saving grace.  

God was definitely tugging at Zaccheus heart to fight the crowds and finally to climb into that tree so that he could see Jesus. He probably had heard that this Teacher had chosen a tax collector named Levi, to be one of His disciples, and that Jesus socialized with notorious sinners. Perhaps his guilty conscience nagged him, and he thought, “Maybe Jesus could forgive my sins.”  

Jesus Himself plainly taught, “No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” (John 6:44) And again He repeats it in the same context, “No one can come to Me, unless it has been granted him from the Father” (John 6: 65). If Zaccheus was in that tree to seek Jesus, it was because the Father was drawing him to Jesus. 

Jesus easily could have passed under that tree and never looked up. The crowd was all around Him as He was passing through Jericho (Luke 19:1), on His way to Jerusalem and the cross (Luke 18:31-34; 19:28). But when our Lord came to the place, He looked up and said, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house” (Luke 19:5). Zaccheus had wanted to see Jesus, but he had no prior knowledge that Jesus wanted to see him! Out of all the people in that great crowd, the Savior focused on this little man; Jesus invited Himself to his house and wanted to talk to Zaccheus personally. 

Have you had an experience, where the Spirit of God was dealing with your soul? Perhaps you were listening to a sermon and you felt that it was being aimed directly at you, and Jesus was calling you personally. Perhaps even now you can hear the Savior calling you and saying, “follow Me.”

Many churches have forgotten the Savior’s purpose, to seek and to save those who are lost. Therefore it is our duty as disciples of Jesus Christ to remember that:

• Love changes people, that is what Jesus did and it should become our way of emulating the Savior as well.
• No one is beyond the power of God’s grace to reach the lost. Christ is able to save “to the uttermost.” We should offer the Gospel boldly to the worst and most wicked of sinners, and say, “There is hope.”
• We see here a picture of Christ’s compassion toward sinners, and His power to change human hearts. We cannot emphasize strongly enough that Jesus stands ready to save those who are ready to receive Him as Lord and Savior.
• A converted person is a transformed person. People who are genuinely converted will give outward evidence of their inward conversion. A converted sinner will live a life completely different from their former life; and the words of Zacchaeus, “The half of my goods I give to the poor,” are an unmistakable proof that Zacchaeus was a new creature.
• Our Master’s mission is active, not passive. He doesn’t wait for people to come to Him; He actively seeks the lost in order to save them. Therefore, God can give us both natural and supernatural insight into people so that we might help them.
• Our ministry must require boldness and not fear, trusting in the Holy Spirit to guide us in what He is calling us to do.

We are His disciples, and His mission is our mission. Rescuing souls from an eternity in the Lake of Fire is the greatest purpose of the universe, time and eternity. True men and women of God and servants of Jesus yearn as He does to “seek and save the lost.”

As Charles Thomas Studd wrote: “Two little lines I heard one day, traveling along life’s busy way; bringing conviction to my heart, and from my mind would not depart; only one life, twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”

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“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:27)

Anxiety, worry, fret, distress, agitation, tension, irritability are emotions that we experience, and that effect our life, our decisions, and ultimately the direction of our life. Jesus addresses this issue in Matthew 6:25-34. He does not want us to be anxious and full of worry; He wants us to live life trusting in Him. He does not want us making decisions based on fear of the future; rather, He wants the direction of our life to be established on eternal truths instead of temporal things and empty promises that the world offers.

The Bible tells us that to worry and be anxious is not good; and it basically means that we fret because we don’t trust God. We don’t trust that He will help us through the situations that we’re facing and we don’t depend on Him to take care of us.

As Jesus was teaching, the word “worry” is found at least six times! The main thought in each occurrence is that we should not worry about the future. We shouldn’t worry about what we’re going to eat, drink, or wear (verse 31), for God knows all about these “needs” (verse 32) and He will surely provide for all our needs if we “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (verse 33).

Jesus asks a question in verse 27: “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” The argument is very realistic, because, anxiety doesn’t get you anywhere; it doesn’t do you any good to worry. Whatever problem is causing you to feel anxious, you can be sure your anxiety will not lessen the problem. It will only make you miserable while you try to deal with it; so learn not to be anxious.

The truth is, no amount of worrying can lengthen your life. Instead, worrying robs you of sleep, health and many other things. In fact, it is only when you are worry-free that God’s anointing flows freely in you, strengthening, healing, and restoring to you the years that the locust has eaten, (Joel 2:25).

Secondly, it is foolish to be anxious, because, it demonstrates that we are “men of little faith.”

Our anxiety level is a good indicator of how much we really trust the Lord. It seems incredible, but we seem to have an easier time trusting that God will save our soul from Hell because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross than to trust that He will provide for our daily needs. If we can trust God for our eternal salvation, can’t we also trust Him for our daily needs? Jesus said, ‘Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself,’ (Matthew 6:34). 

How can we avoid anxiety? First, trust in God. If God provides food for birds and clothes flowers with beauty, will he not provide the necessities of life for humans who make obeying Him a priority in their life? (Matthew 6:25-26, 28-30). Second, take one day at a time. Jesus said to never be anxious about the next day, because, the next day will have its own concerns.

So what is the remedy for not worrying? There are many Bible verses that provide the answer to this question one of them being Philippians 4:6-7: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Not to anxious about anything means we won’t be worrying about something and this is possible only through prayer and thanksgiving. If there is any concern about food, drink, clothing, or any other need we have, we simply need to bring those needs to the Lord in prayer. We need to ask and after asking we need to start thanking God for His provisions because He will provide for us. If we do this, worry will vanish from our lives and it will be replaced by “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding.”

Make sure of your commitment to Jesus Christ. Then ask Him to help you put your worries into His hands every day. When anxieties come, bring them to God in prayer. When worries threaten, answer them with God’s promises by casting “all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). 

We may not be able to prevent anxious thoughts from entering our mind, but we can count on the Lord to provide for our needs, protect us from evil, guide us, and keep our soul secure for eternity. Remember that God will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in Him, (Isaiah 26:3). And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). 

Jesus said: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly and to the fullness. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:10-11). 

Are you serving the thief who wants to kill and destroy and steal your life and joy? Or are you serving the “Good Shepherd” who is longing to give you an abundant life overflowing with joy and peace?  

People who worry and fail to trust God merely exist; however, the people who love and trust God are living abundantly and to the fullest. 

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“My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work” (John 4:34).

 Why is obedience to God so important? Because it proves our love for Him (1 John 5:2-3), demonstrates our faithfulness to Him (1 John 2:3-6), glorifies Him in the world (1 Peter 2:12), and opens avenues of blessing for us (John 13:17).

By faith, Abraham obeyed God’s call even though he didn’t know where he was going (Hebrews 11:8). And that’s exactly how we should obey the Lord. He doesn’t reveal the entire way because with each step into the unknown, He’s strengthening our faith.

Faith is necessary to please God (Hebrews 11:6), and if our faith is genuine and true, we will live a lifestyle characterized by righteousness, modeling the example set for us by Jesus Christ. We obey His commands, not because we have to, but because we want to, because we love Him. Once we believe in Christ and are saved, we are a new creation and we want to obey Him because: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

When we obey the Lord, we can live a life of joy, without shame, rooted deeply in the Lord and confident in our eternal hope. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17).

When God’s children obey their Heavenly Father, He is glorified. Jesus told us that His purpose and desire is for others to “see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Of course, performing “good deeds” requires obedience to the One who calls us to good deeds. A Christian’s testimony of holiness is a strong witness that God is at work in the world. “Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to Him” (Psalm 128:1).

Christians must take a stand against worldly practice and obey the Lord. Daniel has given us an outstanding example of how to do this, not only courageously, but graciously and successfully. “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” (Daniel 1:8)

As one of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility (Daniel 1:3), he realized that he had the responsibility of maintaining a godly standard as a testimony for the true God when he was asked “to serve in the king’s palace” (Daniel 1:4); after he and his friends had been carried into captivity.

Daniel knew that the king’s wine would be harmful were he to partake of it. Also, the king’s meat would certainly be prepared in an unlawful way and come from unclean sources that would be prohibited for him, as a Jew, to eat (Leviticus 11:7-8; 17:10-14). Therefore, he determined in his heart to take a stand against it and not to defile himself.

The Babylonians thought they were doing him and his friends a great favor, and Daniel appreciated this; so, Daniel handled the situation in a very wise and courteous manner and suggested: “Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king’s delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants” (Daniel 1:12-13).

God honored Daniel’s graciousness, as well as his courageous faithfulness, and so will He do for us as well. Being assertive like Daniel was, is what a Christian should learn to do in a non-Christian world. We must “be ready always to give an answer,” and it should be done, not arrogantly, but “with meekness” (1 Peter 3:15).

Being obedient to God means living by the Spirit and walking in His love, as we abide in Him, trusting Him to guide our life, to train us to live righteously and to empower us to be all He created us to be.

We need to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, trust the law He has written on our hearts, and obey from a heart that is filled with God’s love.

Jesus was teaching us that obeying the Father brought Him fulfillment. It wasn’t the approval of the crowds who came to hear Him speak, but the joy of pleasing the Father that satisfied Him. It would be good for us to learn this important lesson from our Savior, so that He can use us to accomplish His purposes in this world.

We need to understand that God works all things, according to His purpose. Nothing can happen without God permitting it. Psalm 57:2 says, “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me.” God has numbered our days and will fulfill every purpose He has for each one of us if we are obedient to His calling.

Like the prodigal, if we have gone astray we can always choose to be obedient and come back to Him and He will welcome us with open arms.

Keep in mind that when we choose to obey God, He will bless us. Therefore, let’s obey the Lord and watch Him work in our life.

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