HAPPY WEDNESDAY!
Today’s scriptures are about walking in the ways of the Lord. Yesterday I wrote about how to follow the Lord, and shared with you the Sermon on the Mount. Did you take some time to read it? In Jesus’ sermon, we learn what He expects from us, and how to live according to the Principles of the Word of God. Today we must learn how to take action, by walking in the way of Jesus Himself. Reading the gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (you don’t have to read them all in one sitting), gives us an account of His life. It teaches us how He handled everyday situations, faced adversity, temptation, and gave His unrestricted love to every human being. I know what you might be thinking – “Jesus was perfect, so how am I supposed to follow that?” – Well I’ll tell you how… Try your best!
Okay, let’s go over some important facts about Jesus: He was perfect –the only man who walked this earth that never sinned against God, He had power to perform miracles, and let’s not forget that He was the wisest man who ever lived. God proclaimed His love for His Son openly, when Jesus was transfigured in front of Peter, John, and James on the mountain top. It’s written: While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matt. 17:5) Now if our goal is to be righteous, and to make God proud, who better to follow than Jesus Christ? It’s not rocket science, and you don’t need to be a Theology Scholar to figure out the best ways to please God, and how to have an abundant life, the answer lies right here. How many of you have role models; people you look up to, and reverence? We all have people we admire, and wish we could be more like. For some of us it’s an old teacher, for others it’s our Pastor. Most people look up to, and admire, their parents, siblings, or grandparents, but for me it’s a combination of many, but not really based upon man at all. I admire anyone who’s following the will of God for their lives, those people who loves generously, and gives unselfishly. I admire those who make a difference in the lives of others, and help people who are less fortunate. I love to be around people who have positive attitudes, and an unspeakable joy in their heart, because those things come from Jesus Christ, and His position in their life. I strive to be like Christ, and pray that each day I become a step closer to pleasing Him.
It’s really very simple, get to know Jesus Christ, and in the words of God Himself “Hear Him!”, furthermore do your best to be like Him. Jesus taught us: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matt. 6:24) The reason why Jesus, and so many other righteous men and women that follow Him, are able to stay that way is because they know who they are–loved Children of God. They’ve chosen to serve God, and not the flesh. It’s written: This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:5-7) Jesus had a direct connection to God, because He is a part of the Holy Trinity, which gave Him an amount of power that was underestimated by everyone around Him, but He still served and loved God with all of His heart. The reason so many of us fall short so often is because we don’t realize that we too have an underestimated amount of power, by the Blood of Christ. As long as we stay focused and follow His lead, righteousness will come, and we’ll be able to teach others who come after us.
In the story of when Jesus went to the Mount of Olives, and the scribes and Pharisees brought him the woman who committed adultery, wanting to stone her. Jesus told them, “He who is without sin cast the first stone” (John 8:7), so they all dropped their stones and left. When He found that no one had condemned her, He said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” (John 8:11) What do you think Jesus meant by telling her to “sin no more”–do you think He really expected her not too? If we were capable of never sinning, Jesus wouldn’t have had to die for our sins; nonetheless, He genuinely wanted her to try. Jesus died to give us freedom from sin, not a license to sin and get away with it. He went on to say: “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Salvation rests in the blood of the Lamb, who was the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ. When we’re living a life full of sin we walk in darkness, but Jesus can, and will, bring us back into God’s marvelous light, by any means necessary. If you’ve never confessed Jesus as Lord, take a few moments to do it right now. If you have, but feel like you’re stuck in darkness, then repent, and follow Jesus back into the light. Take a few moments to take the God Quiz, and see if it’ll help answer more of your questions. My favorite verse today is: The ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein. (Hosea 14:9)
ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455504&dtype=Scripture
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http://www.intouch.org/magazine/daily-devotional
I love you!
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