Walking With God

One of the major lessons I have learned as a follower of the Lord is to allow God to do what He does in my life. I find peace when I step back and let the Lord lead. It’s tempting to seize control, grab the wheel, and try to steer my ship. Unfortunately, when I do, I often create a mess and find myself walking in frustration and chaos.

The early Church grappled with similar desires in its infancy. However, when they stepped back and allowed the Spirit of God to take the lead, they grew and became strong. Luke commented on this in Acts 9, which chronicles the conversion of Saul. Before his conversion, Paul zealously targeted believers, hunting them down to kill or imprison them. He had scattered the church in Jerusalem and was on his way to Damascus to continue the disruption when God called Paul to cease his persecution and become His final apostle.

Verse 31 makes an observation that serves as encouragement to me and many who follow the Lord. The verse simply states that the church enjoyed a time of peace as they lived in reverence and were “encouraged” by the Holy Spirit. However, that translation does not fully capture the essence of the verse or the role of the Holy Spirit.

The term “paraklēsei” comes from “paraclete,” which means the one who comes alongside and helps. This term is the term adopted for the Holy Spirit, as Jesus told us that when He ascended, He would send a “paraclete,” a “helper” to comfort and guide His chosen.

In verse 31, Luke conveys that the Church grew when it lived in the Fear of the Lord and was “paraklēsei” by the Holy Spirit. In effect, the church was living in reverence and allowing the Holy Spirit to fulfill His role. As followers of the Lord, we understand that this is so much more than mere encouragement.

The Holy Spirit comforts those in pain and teaches those seeking knowledge. He imparts strength to the weak and bravery to those who fear. He serves as our guide, our compass, and often our spokesperson as we seek to share the Word of God.

When Luke explained the work and growth of the Church, he was telling us that as the church stepped back and allowed the Holy Spirit to fulfill His purpose, there was peace and growth.

As we go through our days, we must step back and allow God’s “paraclete” to fulfill His role in our journey. Similar to the early church, we will face trials and struggles. However, as we permit the Spirit to do His work, we too will experience His strength, His peace, and growth in our walk with God.

God Bless You. 

 31   

παρακλήσει
paraklēsei

Then, the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

Christians often grapple with balancing their faith in the Lord and their actions as believers. This struggle includes a desire to maintain control in our Christian walk. It’s tempting to point to our deeds as proof of our relationship with God. Yet, we must remember that salvation isn’t achieved by our actions. Instead, we should live in a manner that honors God and demonstrates His influence in our lives.

Charles Spurgeon, a renowned preacher and theologian, encapsulated this concept eloquently: “The Christian should work as if all depended upon him, but pray as if all depended upon God.” Embracing God as the Lord of our lives compels us to act differently. This idea is reflected in Paul’s teachings in Romans 6. Addressing the question of whether we should continue sinning to let grace abound, Paul resolutely answers, “By no means!” He explains that baptism into Christ symbolizes not only our union with His death but also our resurrection to a new life in Christ. Furthermore, in 2 Corinthians, Paul asserts that we are new creations in Christ, called to live as His ambassadors.

Scriptural teachings consistently urge us to live in ways that mirror God’s true nature, characterized by selflessness and a fervent devotion to following Christ closely. Our faith is a direct reflection of who the Lord is. If our lives still resemble our pre-Christian existence, we remain disconnected from Christ. In contrast, living in a way that mirrors the Lord in both word and deed is a true representation of our faith.

As we navigate through this week, let’s strive to work as if everything depends on us, while praying with the knowledge that everything indeed depends on the Lord.

God Bless You.

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 

We, as Christians, have learned to cleverly disguise most of our sins in plain sight. Unlike the past where sins like drunkenness, murder, or adultery were more apparent, today’s transgressions are subtler yet equally harmful. Often, we find ourselves guilty of loose speech, uttering mean or hurtful words that betray and wound those around us, including our loved ones. This very issue was addressed by Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5:21 and the verses that follow, He teaches that sins are not just physical actions. Our words can be as deadly as murder, our gazes can equate to adultery, and our judgments can reveal covetousness.

This is why James’s teachings are so vital and practical for leading a righteous life. His advice is straightforward yet profound: be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. This guidance is arguably the cornerstone of holiness. I often find myself spending hours in prayer, seeking God’s forgiveness for the thoughts and words that not only cross my mind but also escape my lips. Despite striving for wisdom, I too often fall into the trap of playing the fool.

Our adversary, the enemy, knows us well. He has numbed our senses to the impact of our thoughts and words through constant exposure to certain media and cultural norms. We justify our ‘minor’ sins, like telling a ‘harmless’ white lie or spreading a rumor, without considering the harm they cause both to ourselves and others. The disregard for the aftermath of such actions is alarming.

As believers, we should strive to be listeners, encouragers, and those who welcome people judged and ostracized by the world. By embodying these qualities, we can transform the church into a refuge that people are eager to seek. James was right: our words and thoughts can either be a powerful tool for ministry or a significant obstacle in our spiritual journey. Each day presents a choice to use our minds, ears, and mouths in service of the Lord or to succumb to selfish, sinful desires.

This week, let’s remember the old saying: God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason—to listen twice as much as we speak.

God Bless You.

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19 [u]This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all [v]that remains of wickedness, in [w]humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his [x]natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, [y]he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but [z]an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in [aa]what he does.

My Friends, Please Welcome Joni, my incredible wife! today’s devotion is all Her’s!

Please view the YouTube video after reading the devotion.

Every little girl ever born dreams of becoming a princess with a glittering crown.  If you’ve ever seen a Disney movie, dug through a girl’s toybox, been a girl, had a girl, loved a girl or ever knew a girl, you know this. Big girls sometimes call them tiaras and we wear them to prom or as a bride, but they’re still crowns.

 James 1:12 shares great news for anyone who’s ever dreamed of wearing a crown – boy or girl.  In fact, many of the sacred writers of the Bible also share the same good news….we shall receive a crown for all eternity!  Scripture tells us how to get the crown, how to keep the crown, and what we will do with our crowns forever and ever.  In James, we are told that those who endure temptation and trial will receive the crown of life the Lord has promised to them that love Him.  

Barnes’ Commentary makes this comment about that phrase: “Them that love Him…a common expression to denote those who are truly pious or who are His friends.  It is sufficiently distinctive to characterize them, for the great mass of men do not love God.” If you have lived in this world long at all, you know this is a true statement.  Romans 1:30, written 2000 years ago, rings as true today as it did then – “…they are slanderers, haters of God, full of arrogance, inventors of evil, disobedient, conscienceless, faithless, heartless, loveless, and merciless.” 

So, there are two camps – those who love God and those who hate God.  Those who love Him, obey and honor Him to the end of their days, come what may.  Trials can make you turn from God.  You begin to wonder where is God?  Why doesn’t He help? What is He doing with all that considerable power? You are tempted to give in to sin or give up on God.

Picture yourself, owner of the crown of glory – and don’t forget the crown is real, eternal, and comes with power, dominion and riches in heaven. Along comes your game show host, Satan, and he says, you can keep your crown or trade it in for what’s behind Door No. 1 – unimaginable earthly wealth! (Pay no attention to the expiration date in the small print) Or, perhaps Doors 2 or 3? Perfect health, perfect life? Again, pay no attention to that expiration date in the corner. What exactly is that crown worth? 

You work through that crisis of faith until you understand God’s best blessings are not wealth, health and all your earthly dreams coming true…they are to know Him as a friend and enjoy Him forever.  Don’t give up!  Keep your crown!  Get right with God and stay right with God. That’s what Paul urges us to do in 2 Timothy 4:8. In the Book of Revelation, we catch a glimpse into the unspeakable delights of heaven that await the faithful.  There are those glittering crowns again, on the heads of those who love Him.  

But wait – no, the saints are casting their crowns down before the Lamb with shouts of praise – “Worthy, Worthy Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory, honor and dominion!” That’s the point. We get the crown because we love Him.  We keep the crown by being faithful and we lay the crown down in the end to the One who gave us EVERYTHING.

God Bless You, Princes and Princesses!

12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Faith is a funny thing. It is so easy to discuss when things are going well, but excruciatingly difficult to maintain when circumstances are crushing and overwhelming.  The year 2023 has been an especially challenging year for many, including the Smiths.  So, as I reflect on James’ words about asking in faith, it feels as if he wrote the passage for me, for this particular time. 

When we trust God, we have to trust His entire plan, not simply our limited expectations and desires. I am the world’s most prolific pray-er as it relates to what I think God’s plan should be.  James tells me that in those circumstances, I should expect nothing.  I am no better than a wave being tossed about by the wind. Instead, when I ask for God’s will to be done, I need to be grateful for the circumstances that follow especially when they are humbling,

James is pretty direct:  when life is humbling, it is confirmation that God trusts our faith and is preparing us for what is ahead. Conversely, when life seems easy, we need to accept that God is either giving us a break to recoup or is using us to assist and exhort others. If neither is happening, then we need to prepare for the next battle or tribulation for they are certain to follow.

Walking by faith was never intended to be easy, as the stakes are too high. Our enemy wants us neutralized. He cannot afford for God’s chosen to live faith-driven lives.  Those lives impact others and lead to revival. So, as we walk by faith – real faith – we can expect difficult times.  We can be grateful for the blessings interspersed in the circumstances, but never expect the circumstances to get easier.

God Bless You

But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.

10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.

11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.

15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.

In school, I always strove to excel. I diligently studied and pushed myself and was fortunate to finish with respectable academic achievements. However, as intelligent as I believed myself to be, my understanding of wisdom was limited. As a young man, I mistakenly equated intelligence with wisdom and assumed I had an abundance of both. Time has taught me that, as a youth, I was merely clever and when it came to wisdom, I was barely on the scale.

Walking with the Lord and immersing ourselves in His word, we soon recognize how little we know and the distance we must travel to attain wisdom. Fortunately, even a small amount of wisdom can take us far. Facing trials is part of the blessing, as the wisdom we gain from enduring them is invaluable. We learn from our mistakes and remember the strategies that lead to success.

Each trial and test serves as a foundational block in constructing our tower of wisdom. Often, this tower may collapse, necessitating a rebuild. Yet, this process is encouraging as it further enriches our wisdom. When we ask the Lord for wisdom, He generously provides it without favoritism. Frequently, He does so by allowing us to experience trials and temptations. Each serves as a measure of our progress and a guide towards greater wisdom.

As we age, we transition from merely receiving wisdom to sharing it. Regrettably, those to whom we impart wisdom often need to learn through their own experiences, just as we did. Wisdom also teaches us to withhold judgment and remain open, teachable, and transparent about our failures and triumphs. Sharing our experiences can be profoundly beneficial.

God Bless You.

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes who are [b]dispersed abroad: Greetings.

2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various [c]trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces [d]endurance. 4 And let [e]endurance have its perfect [f]result, so that you may be [g]perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and [h]without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a [i]double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

9 But the [j]brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; 10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like [k]flowering grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with [l]a scorching wind and withers the grass, and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.

The core of the struggle between religion and a relationship with Christ centers around a common word: “Obey.” This word appears nearly 400 times in the Bible, and its significance is highlighted in Acts 5, during a confrontation between Jewish leaders and Apostles Peter and John. Arrested for sharing the Gospel, Peter and John were brought before the religious authorities. There, Peter essentially argued that while the leaders could debate the legality of proclaiming salvation, they themselves could not refrain from speaking about Christ.

Subsequently re-arrested and questioned about their non-compliance with strict religious rules, Peter responded with a profound principle: “We must obey (Peitharchein) God rather than men.” The Greek term for ‘obey’ manifests in two forms. The first, Peithesthe (Πείθεσθε), implies adherence to a law or rule, akin to stopping at a stop sign. In contrast, Peitharchein, used by Peter in this context, signifies obedience to a ruler, not merely to rules. It embodies submission to the Lord rather than adherence to God’s laws.

This distinction was at the heart of the conflict. The religious leaders were fixated on following a multitude of rules derived from the original Ten Commandments. Their path was marked by defeat and misery, constantly striving to obey (Peithesthe) these regulations. In contrast, Jesus brought fulfillment to the law by offering redemption from humanity’s inability to adhere to these rules.

The leaders failed to comprehend this critical difference. Salvation comes through surrendering our lives to Christ, acknowledging Him as Lord and Savior, as stated in Romans 10:9-10. From that point, the Spirit of God dwells within, guiding and transforming us. This new life in Christ liberates us from the obligation to merely follow rules (Peithesthe) and calls us to submit to the Lord’s authority (Peitharchein), effectively obeying the ruler rather than the rules.

This dilemma persists in many lives and churches worldwide. Focusing solely on rules leads to a checklist approach to Christianity, where the emphasis is on our actions rather than on our relationship with the Lord. Like the religious leaders of the past, we risk becoming rule keepers “human doings” instead of submitted followers of Christ, “human beings.”

As we approach the Christmas season, let us shift our focus to our identity in Christ rather than our deeds as Christians. Our calling is to submit to God (Peitharchein), not merely to adhere to a set of rules (Peithesthe).

May God Bless You.

Πειθαρχεῖν—Obeying the Ruler

Peitharchein

πειθαρχοῦσιν
peitharchousin

Πείθεσθε—Obeying the Rules

Peithesthe

27When they had brought them, they had them stand [t]before the Council. The high priest interrogated them, 28saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and [u]yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this Man’s blood upon us.” 29But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging Him on [v]a cross. 31He is the one whom God exalted [w]to His right hand as a [x]Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32And we are witnesses [y]of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”