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INHERITING  A  BLESSING

12/30/2017

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December 30, 2017                          INHERITING  A  BLESSING
1 Peter 3:8-9 “To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.”
Those who believe in Jesus as Savior have been made new, the old has passed away, and now have the power and ability to live in such a way that their life resembles the life Jesus lived while on earth. It is in the heart of God for His people to live out of the new creation that He has made them, reflecting His very nature; in the Scriptures, we discover the characteristics and qualities of this new nature. Even though believers live in the world, they are not to live according to the ways of the world, but according to the ways of God. When the admonitions in the above verse are taken to heart and put into practice, amazing things happen-discord and strife cease and peace and joy flourish. These admonitions are not high and lofty unattainable goals, but are practical outworkings of Christ being in us. The commands and admonitions in this scripture, along with many other New Testament scriptures, are not things we ‘have to work on’ but are descriptions of who we are, revealing our new nature. Many believers would likely confess that the directives in the above verse are not a definition or description of the life they live on a consistent basis. Even within Christians families, and in the churches they are a part of, there is conflict, strife, disagreement, and ‘hurt feelings,’ that comes as a result of individuals not living out of their new identity. There is only one reason that any believer would not be living according to this verse. As alluded to above, contrary to popular belief, living this verse out is not difficult, but is a natural way of living once the ‘eyes of our heart’ are opened and we understand in our innermost being that God did not ‘refurbish’ us at salvation, but made us brand new creations-with a new heart, a new mind and a new spirit. Even though the Scriptures are abundantly clear on this point, it still remains as a mystery to many. Not understanding this reality of being new creations has major consequences. Most believers believe with their mind that God has made them new creations, but all too often, their actions contradict what they say they believe. Many view the Christian life as a life where you gradually improve by continually working on your weaknesses. That sounds logical-but it’s not the way of the gospel. Do not misunderstand-there is a maturing in the faith, but the maturing is all about discovering more about our new identity as a child of God. As often said, the life of a believer as depicted in the Scriptures does not happen automatically, but becomes a reality only as he understands the truth of the gospel and walks according to the Spirit. Our salvation is far greater than we currently understand; with our salvation comes the power to live in a way consistent with the gospel, reflecting the very nature of God to those around us. It is incumbent upon us to daily put on the new self and walk according to the Spirit if we are to live according to the gospel of God and experience the blessings He has for those who walk in His ways.
Colossians 2:6-7: “As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed and overflowing with gratitude.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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FINDING  BY  LOSING

12/27/2017

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December 27, 2017                        FINDING  BY  LOSING
Luke 17:33 “Whoever seeks to keep his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life shall preserve it.”
This verse, in just a few words exposes the great difference in the philosophy of the world and the truth of the gospel. This verse is a tell-tell sign as to whether one knows God or not, and also whether a believer is walking according to the flesh, or according to the Spirit. The very nature, the core of man, is that of finding and keeping his life. The culture in which we live elevates to the highest level the right of man to do whatever pleases him-whatever is right in his own eyes. However, Proverbs 14:12 tells us: “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” The words that Jesus spoke were counter-culture in His day just as they are in our day; what Jesus spoke was considered radical and often contradicted what many considered to be common sense. (For example, Jesus said that it was more blessed to give than to receive-most would think that it is better to receive.) This one verse perfectly summarizes and exposes the difference in the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the world, and it is a truth that every person must contend with. We must first realize that the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of the world are two separate kingdoms and that the two cannot be blended or co-exist. We also must realize that a believer can choose to not walk or live according to the Spirit and can revert back to the thinking of the world-but not without cost. This passage of scripture is all about trust. Any given person is either pursuing their own life according to their own dictates, or they are building their life on the basis of the word of God. If honest, many would confess that pursuing the self-life is a life that proves to be empty and unfulfilling. A fulfilled, meaningful life begins when we understand that God is our creator and that because He is our creator, He knows exactly what we need in order to experience abundant life. This is where the sinful nature of man stands in direct opposition to life in the kingdom of God. Man, apart from God, believes with all of his being that he knows what it takes to be happy or what is best for him, and that is the pursuit of his life-but like the rabbit chasing the carrot, he never catches it. The great divide is whether one trust in himself or in what God has said. The life that we are to lose is the old man-the person we were before our conversion to faith in Christ. The believer is made new-given new life, and this new life satisfies our innermost being. We thought we had life before our conversion, but once we are made new, we realize that our old, or former life, does not compare to our new life; the old life is well worth the losing. But beware! The believer can revert back to living according to self, or the flesh. The scriptures admonish us to put off the old man and put on the new man and to walk according to the Spirit, and not according to the flesh. This ‘putting on the new man’ is something we do as a way of life-choosing to walk in the ways of God. As we walk in the ways of God, we discover our true identity, and we find our real self-the self that God made. God made each of us unique and only in Him can we find the person that God made us to be. “For in Him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:28. Let us not walk in who we use to be-let us loose our old life. Only when we walk in His ways will we find our life. It’s a fact-we find it by losing it!
Ephesians 4:22-24: “that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lust of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”
Blessings,
Buddy
 
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FOR  UNTO  US  IS  BORN

12/24/2017

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December 24, 2017                          FOR  UNTO  US  IS  BORN
Luke 2:10-14: “And the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger. And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased.’”
This news proclaimed by the angel is the greatest news man has ever, or will ever hear!  Even the angels were excited about the news that was announced to the shepherds-and to all of mankind. Because of the sin of Adam and Eve, fellowship with God was broken mankind became alienated from God. In the times before the birth of Jesus, man lived under the law-the old covenant-and the only way to be forgiven for his sin was by offering a designated animal as a blood sacrifice. Even though life under the old covenant was burdensome, God was using the law, the old covenant, to show that man could not keep the laws of God. From the very beginning, God had a new and better covenant in mind, and this new covenant was inaugurated with the birth of Jesus. This Jesus was God incarnate! God, through His Son Jesus, humbled Himself and became a man and was born in a manger, not in a palace. This baby, wrapped in cloths, was destined to be the sacrifice for the sins of all the people-this baby was Christ the Lord! On a certain day in time, at a certain hour and at a certain place, the Savior of man was born. No longer would blood sacrifices be needed for the forgiveness of sin. No longer would man be separated from God. No longer would sin have dominion over man. (Our sins are forgiven, but scripture teaches that when we sin, we are to confess our sin and turn from our sin. As believers, we are to live free from the dominion of sin, as sin breaks our fellowship with God-sin is not to be taken lightly.) This baby grew and became a man who was without sin, and at age approximately thirty three, He was crucified as the sacrifice for our sins. Through the death of Jesus, the penalty for sin was paid-no longer would sin separate man from God. Jesus died for the sins of all, but some reject Jesus and thus remain in their lost state, separated from God. But those who receive Jesus as Savior, are born into the family of God, and by receiving Jesus as Savior, one is made new with a new heart, a new nature, and a new mind, and sin no longer has dominion over him. To be freed from the power of sin is no small issue because man is born with a sin nature; only by the work of God in us do we have dominion over sin. In Christ, not only do we have forgiveness of sin, we also have uninterrupted fellowship with God and we have God as our Father! In Christ, old things have passed away and new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17. The more we learn about our salvation, the more we understand why the angels rejoiced and the heavenly host praised God at the birth of Jesus. I’m sure that Joseph and Mary, and others, did not understand the magnitude of the birth of this baby, who was conceived by the Spirit of God, being born that night in Bethlehem in a manger. But God understood, and the angles understood what the birth of Jesus would mean for mankind. As we celebrate this Christmas season, may our celebrations be centered on the fact that unto us, a Savior was born. No matter our status in life, no matter our present circumstances, no matter about our past, you and I can rejoice in the birth of our Savior-we can receive Jesus, the Savior of the world.
Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Hebrews 2:14-15 “Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is the devil; and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.”
Blessings, and Merry Christmas!
Buddy
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LIVING  AND  ACTIVE

12/21/2017

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December 20, 2017                           LIVING  AND  ACTIVE
Hebrews 4:12-13 “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword, and piercing as for as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden form His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”
What a verse! I can’t help but wonder to what extent we, even as professing believers, believe and understand the impact of the truth revealed in these verses. There is a tendency to see the bible as a history book, a book that records the works and teachings of God, but according to this verse, the bible-the word of God-is much more than just a book. To begin with, the word of God is “living and active”- unlike any other book ever written. When one reads the word of God, he discovers that the word addresses, and is relevant to the issues he personally faces in life; the Holy Spirit, who indwells each believer, makes the word alive and applies the truth of the word to each of us individually. The word being “sharper than any two edged sword” means that the word can cut through to the core and get to the heart of any issue. One may try to deny or cover up what is going on internally, but the word goes unhindered to the depths of our inner most being-“the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow.” The word is even able “to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” If one truly believes and takes to heart what these two verses say and receives the word of God for what it is, his life is dramatically affected for the good. The fact is, whether we believe it or not, nothing is hidden form God-“all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” And do not miss the last six words-“with whom we have to do.” Like it or not, or agree with it or not, man is held accountable to the word of God; should he reject the word of God, he is lost and forever separated from God; should he receive the word of God, he is able to have the wisdom of God in this life, and he is adopted into the family of God and will forever be with the Lord. The believer is accountable to God for how he lives out the word of God; it is a dangerous and costly thing for a believer to choose to live in a way that contradicts the word of God. If we believe the verses above, then it behooves us to study the word of God and obey what God says in His word-not out of fear, but because in the word of God we find life and we are introduced to the love of God. There are many potential pit falls we encounter in life, and we all know that life can become complicated. However, in the word of God, we find the keys to life; we find guidance; we find hope; we find wisdom for living; and we find our new identity in the Lord. We may be masters at disguise and justifying and rationalizing why we do what we do, and may hesitate to reveal our deepest thoughts, but the word of God exposes and brings to light what is in the heart-in order that we may be cleansed from the inside out. Some see the word of God as condemning, but the truth is that the word of God liberates us from the things that bind us and cleanses us of all that originates from the kingdom of darkness. Let us hunger for God’s word and may our life be guided by the infallible truths revealed in His word.
Matthew 7:24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house upon the rock.”
Luke 11:28 “He replied, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.’”
Blessings,
Buddy
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
 
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WITHOUT  BLAME

12/18/2017

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December 18, 2017                             WITHOUT  BLAME
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24: “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”
We can thank God for the verses throughout the bible that keep our focus on the simplicity and comfort found in Christ. Even as believers who know the Lord, we can become overly burdened with life and lose sight of the fact that our part is to love and serve the God who rules and reigns. God has done all that is necessary for us to live life in peace and to be found without blame when He returns. The verses above address not just our spirit, but our soul and body as well. God, being our creator, understands and makes provision for the spirit, soul and body of man. When we understand who God is and who we are-His sons and daughters-life is not complicated. Life becomes complicated and burdensome when we stop being responders to God, and cease trusting in His love for us, and begin living according to our ways and our own human wisdom and understanding. In 2 Corinthians 11:3 Paul was concerned that some of the believers had turned away from pure, simple devotion to Christ: “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve, your minds might be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” It is not over-simplified to say that our call in life is to be devoted to Christ and live in such a way that our life is pleasing to Him. This is not saying that God is simple or that we are to be naïve or shallow in our thinking and in our quest to search out the deep things of God. God is omniscient and beyond human understanding, yet He sent His Son, who humbled Himself and gave His life that man might be saved and adopted into the family of God. One of the great elements of the salvation of man was that of man being saved from himself. Apart from God, man is lost, without hope, and on a downward spiral that leads to death-both spiritual and physical. The beauty of our salvation is that we no longer live as mere humans-we now live in the kingdom of God, and in His kingdom there is security, peace, confidence, purpose, and a absence of confusion, doubt, discord, and complications. The words that Jesus spoke while on earth, came from the Father, and the message was that life is found in Him. The words of Jesus were pure, easily understood, (for those who had ears to hear) refreshingly simple, life-giving, and made plain the path that leads to abundant life that is found in God’s kingdom. Jesus’ words and the life He lived brought the Kingdom God to the doorstep of man, and those who receive the message of Jesus are made new and are made a part of His kingdom, and in His kingdom, we live and reign with Him in life. Our overriding focus in life is now to live as the sons and daughters of God, pleasing Him in all we do-and the Scriptures, and the Holy Spirit in us, tells us the things that please Him-all we have to do is-do them!  It’s that simple. How refreshing-just read the Scriptures and do what they say. God has set the stage; He has done all that needs to be done in order for us live in a way that pleases Him. The operative word for us is ‘DO.’
1 John 5:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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CHRIST BEING FORMED IN US

12/15/2017

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December 15, 2017              CHRIST  BEING  FORMED  IN  US
Galatians 4:9,19: “But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is that you turn back again to weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?                                                                                                                                                                              My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you-.”
 There is obviously a prevalent belief or viewpoint among many believers that contradicts scripture and the end result of this viewpoint is that one remains immature in the faith. It’s possible, and even likely, that we view salvation-going to heaven when we die-as the ultimate goal. Certainly the salvation of man is the big issue-but there is more. Our salvation is a beginning point-it’s our introduction into the kingdom of God-and life in the kingdom of God is clearly defined. It is God’s desire that we trust Him for our salvation, but it is also His desire that we be transformed into His image even here on earth. As you read the writings of Paul and other New Testament writers, you see that there great passion was to see believers maturing in the faith-becoming like Christ. The error that many fall into is the belief that because they are ‘in Christ,’ there is nothing else required of them and nothing else really matters. However, BECAUSE we are in Christ, we have a part to play in our being transformed into His image. 2 Corinthians 3:18. Because we are in Him and He is in us, and because we are righteous in Him, we are to live righteously; our actions, out thoughts and our attitudes are to flow out of our relationship with Him. In 1 John 4:17 we find an amazing statement: “as He is, so also are we in this world.” My point is, that we are not like Him automatically, but we become like Him when our heart is turned to Him and we come to understand that we have been made new and that we can now walk in the Spirit, thus pleasing Him in all we do. The tendency of man is to find satisfaction by keeping certain rules or laws, and this tendency can also be the case for believers as they feel that if they keep the law and certain rules, they will feel better about themselves. Paul’s message to the Galatians, and to us, is that we have freedom in Christ; He has already received us; we are now in Him-it’s a done deal. We cannot ‘get closer to God’ or be more spiritual by the keeping of laws and rules; Christ has fulfilled the law on our behalf. Now, the issue is that of Christ being formed in us. When one comes to know Christ as Savior, he is immature in the faith, but he is not to remain immature, but rather is to grow in the Lord, and as He grows in the Lord, he is being transformed into the image of God. Paul is telling us that with the passing of time, we should be looking more and more like Christ-Christ is to be being formed in us. This being the will of God for us, we should guard against living on a spiritual plateau where Christ is not being formed in us, and we must avoid the tendency to think that by the keeping of the law, we are accepted by Him. We must cling to the fact that Christ is already in us, and we are in Him, and because of this reality, it is His life in us that we are to express. Because He is righteous, we are to express righteousness in thought, word, and deed. Let us have as our chief goal in life, that of Christ being formed in us. None of this is done by the works of the flesh, but on by and through the grace of God.  
2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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ALWAYS  ABOUNDING

12/12/2017

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December 12, 2017                              ALWAYS   ABOUNDING
1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain.”
There are times when we may wonder, or question whether or not we are for sure doing the work of the Lord, and there are times when we may become discouraged by not seeing any fruit for our labor. The truth is, that at times, there is a ‘toiling’ or laboring that comes as we are about the life and the ministry that God has called us to. If we have the expectation that life should be free of trials and tribulations, we set ourselves up for disappointment and discouragement. All believers, not just ‘full time ministers’ are called to be about the ‘work of the Lord.’ Our culture, even including the church as a whole, has erroneously come to view that it is the ‘clergy’ or paid ministers that do the work of the Lord. As believers, we must reject this error and embrace the fact that God has given each of us a ministry that we are to fulfill. 2 Corinthians 5:18 tells us that “all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; And in Ephesians 4:11-13 we are told that God has gifted the body in such a way that each member is equipped “for the work of the ministry.” It is abundantly clear form the scriptures that each of us have been called to a ministry. Since it is God that has given us a ministry, fulfilling that ministry is our highest calling in life. When our ministry is our heartbeat, we will discover that we are actually ministering in all we do. This is true because God has given each of us a spiritual gift, and this gift is part of our new make-up-it’s who we are-it’s now our natural response to all of life. It is not ‘us’ blessing others and ministering to others, but God doing it through us! Sure-there are difficulties and heartaches that come-but when we understand that it is God in us expressing Himself to those around us, we find the energy and the desire to “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” And because we know that God is faithful, we know that our toil is not in vain. Knowing this truth, we see beyond the immediate circumstances; we see that His ways are perfect and that His word never returns to Him void-His plans are fulfilled.  As believers, we need to have the eyes of our hearts opened that we might see all that God has done and that He has joined us to Himself and has given each of us a ministry-and that He has equipped us for that ministry. Ephesians 1:18. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul is reminding and explaining just how great our salvation is and what God has in store for those who love Him-Christ will rule supreme, sin will be no more, and our mortal bodies will become immortal and we will be with Him forever! May this truth, this vision, be the core of our being-the motivation of our life.
1 Corinthians 15:1-2: “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.”
Blessings,
Buddy
 
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GREAT  GAIN

12/9/2017

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December 9, 2017                          GREAT  GAIN
1 Timothy 6:6 “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.”
The scriptures were written by men, but what they wrote was inspired by God. One amazing thing about the scriptures is how just a few words speaks volumes, and when received, drastically impacts a life. Such is the case above; in just thirteen words, we find a truth that has the power to alter a life; a truth that reveals the way of finding great gain. You have to wonder why anyone would not want to have great gain, but you also have to wonder why it is that anyone would not believe the word of God. For those who believe what the scriptures teach about God and who know Jesus as Savior, this verse should serve as a primary motivation of our heart. We know that godliness means ‘according to God’, or ‘being like God in action’. There are two key words in this verse that must not be over-looked. One word is contentment. Many professing believers are giving their best effort to be godly-memorizing scripture, not missing a meeting at the church, avoiding any action that others may consider to be un-godly-and the list goes on. These qualities are not bad qualities, but if we consider them as actions that will make us godly, we are mistaken and we will certainly not experience contentment. The truth that is so widely missed, even within the church, is that at the point of salvation, believers are given a new nature and because the Holy Spirit lives in the believer, they are godly. When we know our true identity and we understand just how great and all-encompassing our salvation is, and we live out of our new nature, we have contentment and being godly is natural. Thank God for this truth! The second word is “means.”  Living according to our new nature, or walking in the Spirit, is the means to abundant life with no regrets; there is no greater gain than that of living according to the ways of God. Living godly because we are godly, is without a doubt the best, most fulfilling life that can be lived on planet earth! The scheme of our enemy is to bring discord, strife, sin, failure, bitterness, dis-contentment, and all manner of troubles. But thanks be to God, our enemy has been defeated and we have been given power over him; sin no longer has dominion over us. We have been given the green light and have been equipped to live godly in this present world; the door has been opened to experiencing great gain. Living in peace, joy, hope, forgiveness, love, faith, wisdom, acceptance into the family of God, knowing God as our Father, having a destiny, and knowing that we will spend eternity with God is indeed great gain. Let us know that nothing stands in our way to live just as God has designed-a life of godliness with contentment.
Titus 2:12-13 “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;”
Blessings,
Buddy
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THE  PURSUIT

12/6/2017

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December 6, 2017                             THE  PURSUIT
1 Timothy 6:11: “But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.”
Proverbs 11:19: “He who is steadfast in righteousness will attain to life, and He who pursues evil will bring about his own death.”
The choice is clear. What we are pursuing in life has monumental consequences to say the least. At the risk of sounding over-simplified, we have only two choices of what we can pursue in life. Either we are pursuing God and the life that comes from knowing Him, or we are pursuing our own desires apart from God-selfish desires. Even though some who do not know God may do good deeds for their fellow man, but their actions or nonetheless based on self as their good deeds causes them to feel good about themselves. It is impossible to know the motives of another’s heart-why he does what he does-but the motivation of the heart is the critical issue. Two people may be pursing the same thing and yet for one it is a work of righteousness that pleases God, and for the other, it is a selfish act, or a work of the flesh, that has nothing to do with God. The amazing thing is that when God is the pursuit of our heart, we can bring honor to Him in all that we do and our actions can be righteous. The key is, just as Paul instructed Timothy, that we actively pursue certain things – righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. It’s refreshingly simple-we can actually pursue-begin to practice these things now! The scriptures above, and many others, serve as a warning to believers. It is very possible for a believer to find a disconnect in what he is pursuing and having a pursuit that is energized by what God has called him to pursue.  One, who is a believer, may be pursuing a promotion at his place of employment, or whatever pursuit, but that pursuit should flow out of his relationship with the Lord. Colossians 3:23 is a familiar verse to many and it is a verse that speaks to the motivation of the heart: “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for man.” We need to consciously realize that ‘whatever’-means whatever! It is liberating to learn that we can do whatever we do “as for the Lord.” It is not that we have to get God’s direction for every action we take, but God is saying that as we go about our life and as we are about our activities, whatever we do, should be done in a way that pleases the Lord, and that others could see in us a resemblance to Jesus. Obviously, this does not mean that what we do does not matter; there are some things that we must not do because it would not be pleasing to the Lord. Again, the good news is that we can start this very moment pursuing the very things Paul instructed Timothy to pursue-righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. The instructions we find in scripture are not intended just for good reading or something to think about, nor are they suggestions; the scriptures come from the heart of God to His people and they are given for our good and they reveal, and are in keeping with, our new nature. May we examine the motives and desires of our heart, and make sure that we are pursuing the right things with the right motive-that of honoring Him in all we do. “
Proverbs 21:21: “Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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GOOD  MEDICINE

12/3/2017

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December 4, 2017                           GOOD  MEDICINE
Proverbs 17:22 “A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16 “Rejoice always,”
We live in a serious-minded, somber world. In the natural, there are ample reasons to be somber in spirit; there are more troubles and problems in the world than we could ever count. The admonition to have a cheerful heart and to ‘rejoice always’ may sound like a genuine pipe-dream to many. However, when one is transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, as is the case for believers, as Colossians 1:13 tells us, he has every reason to experience joy and every reason to have a cheerful heart. Christ in us is enables us to live in a fallen, broken and lost world with a view of the bigger picture that is unfolding. As believers, we can have joy and peace because we know that God’s plans and purposes will come to pass, even though it may look dark at the present and it may seem that evil has the upper hand in the current circumstances. Because we have the Spirit of God in us and because we have been made new, we can see through the crisis or the difficulties, knowing that God has allowed it for a purpose that is designed for our good and the furtherance of His kingdom. A cheerful heart? Really? Yes-because of all that God has done, and because of what He is doing now, and because of all He is going to do, we can live this life with a cheerful heart. Don’t misunderstand-we will experience times of grief and there are times we need the comfort that God gives-but even in the most difficult times, we can deep within know that God is able and that He will see us through the trial. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him. A cheerful heart is tied to faith and hope in God-not the world and not circumstances.  Without faith and hope in God, we are in darkness and have every reason to be in despair and discouragement. If we truly believe what God has said in His word, we cannot help but be cheerful. Believers must be aware of the fact that they have a roll of working with God as He works in us. In other words, the blessings and benefits of knowing God, such as having a cheerful heart, do not happen automatically. As believers, we are called to exercise the faith that God has put in us, and we are called to seek Him first, and called to study the word of God that we might know Him better and learn of our new identity in Him. There is no place or time for being apathetic and no time to coast when it comes to our spiritual health. To walk in the Spirit is a scriptural command; walking in the Spirit is something we choose to do.  On a very practical note, as believers, we need the healing power of good clean laughter and the benefits of a cheerful heart-it is actually beneficial to physical health-really! We need to guard carefully what we let into our minds and what we set our eyes on, and what we choose to listen to. Many need to ‘lighten up’ a bit in life and acknowledge that God is in control and His plan is being worked out. Life brings with it some peaks and some valleys, but life goes on, but nothing can separate us from His love. Joy is one of the hallmarks of the Christian faith. We live in a dark world, but we are now a part of the kingdom of God, we are light, and for us, old things have passed away and new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17. If our trust and our faith is in the God who created us and who has called us to Himself, we have every reason to be of good cheer!
Proverbs 4:20-22: “My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to My words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them with your whole heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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    Buddy Fitzgerald

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