Trust The Lord Above All

Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.

For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.

For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

                                                                           (Jer 17:5-8 KJV)

A confession for this morning:  As I child I trusted just about everyone. As a young adult, who got burned many times by others, I began to trust no one. But, as I grew to know the Lord I began, once again, to trust others. I could trust others not because humankind is so trustworthy or good; but, because God is. Too often human beings will take the road that they think will benefit them no matter how much it might damage others. But, the Lord does not. He who loves us and cares for us was willing to die that we might be forgiven for the very sins that we commit against our neighbors out of selfishness and greed. 

I trust the Lord to take care of things that I cannot control and the things that others would take control of to the detriment of not just myself but humankind as a whole. I have been able to regain trust  in others because above all my faith, my love, my trust is in the Lord. While others would lead us to useless salt lands the Lord will make us to lie down in green pastures and lead us beside still waters. (Psalm 23)

I have learned the lesson, though, that when others willfully go against God's good will for others it is not the time to sit back and allow them to have any type of authority over myself or anyone else. There are times that we must stand up for what is good and right even if it requires a sacrifice on our part. God; after all, often does work through his people. 

We can live and work and even play with others because before them all we trust the Lord who loves us and gave himself for us.

Blessed are those who trust in the Lord "for he is good and his mercy endureth forever!" (Psalm 136)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Follow And Serve As Jesus Serves

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

                                                                          (Philippians 2:1-8 KJV) 

It is not easy! A war often wages within our very beings. Although we may desire to be more Christ-like, we find ourselves looking after our own interests rather than the interest of others even to the detriment of others. This world offers a lot of enticements and encouragement to be all that we can be for ourselves. But, that is not the way of the cross. That is not the path that Jesus took.

Jesus, who being in very nature God, was willing to humble himself, even to death on the cross for our sakes. He took on the nature of a servant putting our lives before his. Likewise, St. Paul reminds us that being united with Christ we are to humble ourselves and to serve one another with like minds. We are to love one another.

It is not easy, this following in the footsteps of Jesus. Our egos often get in the way. But, for his sake and for the sake of all our brothers and sisters in Christ, we ask God to help and guide us to love as He loves.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Resist and Repent

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7 NIV

Are things going badly for you? Does it seem like you're being attacked because you're not getting your way? Maybe, it is time to consider that you've managed to become partner with the devil. Maybe, your focus has been solely on things of this world rather than seeking the kingdom of God. Maybe, just maybe, it is time to repent.

John wrote, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:8-9)

Acknowledging that we have sinned against God; that we have put ourselves before God and before our neighbors is necessary for us to be able to turn our lives around. If we cannot acknowledge that we have been following the devil and seeking riches, power, glory for ourselves than there is no understanding that we might even need to repent; to turn away from the devil, and we will continue to be pulled into his ways to the detriment of ourselves and the people around us; even to the detriment of the church on earth. But, if we repent, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins.

The devil has no power over us except for the power that we give to him. Resist the devil in the mighty name of Jesus and he will flee from you. Resist the temptations to lift yourself above God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and you will know and live an abundant life beyond what you can possibly imagine. It is not a life of wealth and power and glory for yourself; but, of living in the presence of the glory of God.

Submit to God and know the peace that only He can give.

God's Peace - Pr. J