Author: Travis Manhart

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth (Agape – God’s love) is born of God, and knoweth God. 

1 John 4:7 

Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up — his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 

Ecclesiastic 4:9 &10

And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him. Genesis 2:18

**Agape is the supreme love of the four different types of love. There’s Eros, passionate love, stroge, family love, Phileo, when in love, and Agape. A supreme love that loves unconditionally, with no expectations; these words are used in Greek and scripture. It is humanly impossible to Agape others unless one is yielded and filled with the Holy Spirit; even then, it’s challenging. As we mature in Christ, Agape deepens, becoming more permanent, and we find our anchor and security in that. There is nothing more prized in scripture than for one to abide in His love. 

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. – John 15:9-11

Currently, I am living out the truth of Ecclesiastics. I injured myself on a hillside landscape, having herniated a disc and having a vertebrae slip, which greatly limits my mobility; the pain that shoots down my right leg feels like fire. Those of you who have dealt with this or have had Sciatica concerns know what I mean. Icing several times a day allows me some movement and relief from the pain, and hence I am able to work. Nonetheless, it is very debilitating. I stand like a stork on one leg and walk with the assistance of a walker. I am getting early practice for when I turn 80. 

To get relief from the pain, I lift my right leg onto the seat of the walker, which definitely brings relief. I’m sure I’m quite a sight. When I get home from work, my wife and granddaughter have a much fuller plate. They are tasked with the chores that I normally do, e.g., taking out the trash, to name one, which bothers me so much. Yet I see the wisdom of these verses. Having people that love you, helping you, really helps. In His wisdom, God intended marriage and family to be a union where each member is committed to the others.

That being said, this period in my life is quite a switch. I used to come alongside them and help them with their tasks, butnow they are helping me. So I only share this to say that it is worth every effort to stay married and work on your marriage so family life benefits all members. It saddens me greatly when the kids tell the father to divorce their mother and take them with him. Maybe a separation for prayer and fasting only, a chance to think and pray about it. I know myeldest daughter felt it would be better for Lisa and me to separate; she felt we would be happier. 

I don’t know now if she remembers telling me that 28 years ago (she was 14 then, she’s 42 now), but she is now reaping the benefits of me abiding by God’s Word and not listening to her, for we are raising her daughter. We are going on our tenth year; we’ve had her since she was two, and she’s 11 1/2 now. Both Lisa and I are “all hands on deck” in raising her; a second wife or husband would not nearly be as committed to Shawnee, especially if they have children of their own, and raising her has brought all of us closer. 

God says He hates, not dislikes, but hates divorce. So, if God hates it, there must be a reason for it, even if I don’t see it or understand it. This is where faith “works” because it’s not easy, and it takes dying to self to obey the Lord. The expression “I shouldn’t have to put up with this, I deserve better,” is saturated and dripping with pride. Sorry to say that, but it’s true. All I can say is I am grateful beyond measure that when Christ foresaw His whipping (39 lashes, 40 was the death sentence) and then the Cross, and then the separation He would experience from His Father, “My God, My God why have You forsaken me,” when the Father laid upon Him my sin and yours and the whole of humanity, I’m glad He didn’t say that He deserved better, aren’t you? A thousand years (approximately), Isaiah, via the Holy Spirit, wrote of The Cross. 

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised (hated), and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs(sin causes our griefs), and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But he was wounded(pierced) for our transgressions; he was bruised (crushed) for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes(His whippings), we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way, and the LORD hath laid on him — the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:3-6.

What did John The Baptist say of Christ when he saw Him? “Behold (take note, understand) The Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the World.” He became God’s sacrificial Lamb for us. The word “take” means to lift off, to take up. Interesting that it doesn’t mean to take away. He lifted off our sin as the Father placed it on His Son. All sin, as gross as this sounds, requires a blood sacrifice to be atoned for.

It’s a huge offense to a Holy, Holy God. It can’t just be swept under the rug, so rather us paying for our sins and being damned for Eternity, God provided His own sacrifice in the Person and Body of His Only Son, The Lord Jesus Christ. There are foreshadowings of Christ in the Old Testament. If you know what to look for, here’s one. 

And Isaac spoke unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the Lamb for a burnt offering?

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of themtogether. Genesis:28:7&8 

So here’s a question: If we have all turned to our own ways, why does God hold His Son responsible? I will let you think about that. 

For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away (divorce): for one covereth his garment with violence, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously Malachi 2:16 (in God’s mind divorce is an act of violence; the rejection one feels through a divorce is as if one was raped). 

Don’t say to your spouse, “If you could change in this area, we would get along better,” which might be very true, but also seek change within your own self. Say, “Father God, what can I change that would make me more like You? How can I exemplify more of Your love, Your peace, and Your wisdom to my wife/husband and kids? Help me to sow seeds of truth within my marriage and family, and by doing so, it becomes a win-win for everyone. And be patient; so many of the problems start with us. Being so flawed, it takes time to allow the Holy Spirit access into the major rooms of our heart, especially the secret rooms that, unbeknownst to us, contaminate the whole house.

If you want a “shortcut” to spiritual growth and you are willing to endure the cost, start praying for humility. This prayer, said in earnest, puts you closest to the Father’s heart, and He will answer it. 

If we were fortunate enough to have good parents who valued us above their careers, then we would be most blessed. Normally, as we grow up, we grow up with insecurities, fears, feelings of unlove, etc., and parents are busy with their own careers. Unknowingly, we are teaching our kids that work is more important—a terrible and injurious message that just soaks into their little souls and becomes part of the fiber of their being. 

If you are unknowingly doing this, please find time to turn work off each day. I work a lot of hours, but at 5:30 pm, I leave (starting at 7), working 5 1/2 to 6 days. These are the hours the Lord has assigned me, and what does not get done does not get done. It requires me to greatly depend upon the Lord to help me be as efficient and effective as possible, and He does help me. However, He also stresses me by allowing my work to get right up to the due date, and then He comes through. 

My week never goes as I plan it; there are always interruptions upon interruptions, but such is life.

Now, back to family. Being a grandparent and raising a second family brings joy and has its advantages (the disadvantage is your energy level). You are calmer and internally stronger, and you just love these little souls (our other daughter has two). You are more mature in yourself and your career (I’ve been the owner and manager of Executive Care Landscape now for 32 years.) and in your faith. We have had UPS and DOWNS… and through it all, especially the downs, The Lord has taught me that He is faithful and can be trusted implicitly. After you have learned that lesson a few hundred times, life becomes more like an adventure.

Like sailing, you can enjoy the winds that would normally capsize you, but because you have learned how to position yourself, they now propel you forward.

We all seek a successful and loving marriage. However, the reality of marriage is it is a struggle. You have two adults, and or just one, that was wounded as a child. The son, now a man, could have had an overbearing father who showed his disapproval when his son dropped the football or missed the basket. Or a daughter who was not as attractive as her girlfriends who came over to the house, and the father made over them but ignored his own daughter. There are many, many scenarios, absent parents because of work is another common one, so it is a wonder that our kids turn out at all. 

If this devotion is convincing you, you probably also feel condemnation that you failed or failed as a parent. You are hearing two voices. You must not listen to the condemning voice, for that is not of the Lord. The convicting feeling, which seeks to draw you to repentance and seek help from the Lord, is the Lord’s voice. 

There is, therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (we seek obedience to Christ). For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1&2

As you surrender to Him, obeying and following Him, He will begin to heal your wounds. He wants to draw you unto Himself; till you know and sense His love for you. Once He has reached you, giving you hope, He wants to work through you to help you reach your family, helping you to undo the wrong that has been sown into their souls. Today, ask the Lord to forgive you for putting other things before Him, and acknowledge to Him that you need His love (we all do so desperately and do not know that is in itself spiritual and emotional blindness). Start spending time every day reading His Word (Bible); I read during my lunch hour. This begins our emotional and spiritual healing, and so, in time, we can become agents of healing.

If you commit to this, know that all hell will break out. That’s how you know you’re on the right track (sorry to say that, but it’s absolutely true). 

Stay with it, stay committed, and things will calm down in time. Your resolve is being tested. Soldiers are not built on the plains of ease and comfort but in the storms and deserts of life that try your every fiber. Through this period, you will feel failure and guilt. Again, these are not God’s mode of working with His kids; conviction and love are. Guilt, shame, blame, confusion, etc., are in satan’s bag of tricks, not God’s. As you see me add specific verses to back up my points, you can also google what the Bible says about what you are struggling with. I put these verses in my phone and tape them to my bathroom mirror and my truck’s dash. 

The more you know what God’s Word says about a specific struggle, the sooner you will defeat it. Some struggles disappear as you apply God’s Word, and some come back (repeat), but now you have God’s Word in you, and victory comes more readily. That’s how we grow.

Weight lifting builds muscle because it’s based on resistance. Pushing against the weights builds the muscles. Soon, you can add more weight as you are consistent in your workouts and grow in strength. 

That’s life with the Holy Spirit; responding to life’s challenges in a Godly manner, leading by faith (God’s Word) instead of emotion, is a good sign that you are growing in your faith. There are believers who have been going to church for their whole lives, yet in knowing the truth, they are still baby Christians.  Don’t be like that. Paul had to admonish the Hebrew and Corinthian churches for this. 

Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For by now you should all be teachers, ye still have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk (likening the churches to suckling babes), and not of strong (nutritious) meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness ( the scriptures); for he is a babe. Hebrews 5:11-13

Remember these three practices and do them, and you will not be “babes” in your faith. Reading (plus memorization), prayer, and fellowship are all necessary aspects of growing your faith. You must do all three, not two of the three, but all three. 

But he giveth more Grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud but giveth Grace (strength, insight, victory) unto the humble. Submit yourselves, therefore, to God. Resist (stand against in faith, quoting scripture) the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:6&7

I can think of no better Christmas gift than to forgive each other as Christ has forgiven us, bring Christ’s love into our marriage and family (make it a goal and a prayer), and press forward. The outcome is well worth it, beyond words. And to the degree that I have attained it (His fellowship is so sweet), I have more to attain, too. So, I strongly encourage you to press forward. 

“The High Calling of God”

It is not as though I had already attained or were already perfect, but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which I am also apprehended by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of God’s high calling in Christ Jesus.

** Press- the picture is of runners coming close to the finish line, almost in a dead heat, but the one that presses the hardest will win. Life is tough as a believer; you are running against the way you are wired, your carnal mind (which we all have), and society’s Christian values. These are at war against the spirit man (woman) that is seeking God’s Righteousness in you. The Spirit Man will absolutely win if we continue to feed it. Just like lifting weights, it increases our strength and ability to overcome. 

Merry Christmas! I can think of no better Christmas we can give to our family and ourselves than to put our walk with Christ first in our lives. Remember, Christmas is because of Him.

Father, 

Thank you for this deep study into our life and marriage, the most scarce relationship we can have next to our relationship with You. Help us honor it as you planned.

Thank you, and Amen,

Your son by Grace,

Arthur

Philippians 2:1-5

“Therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind, let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,”

If you have been a believer for any time, you know this verse is nearly impossible. This is when we are nearing our purity as God’s gold. Most of the trash (the impurities, the me-first complex, and conceit) has risen to the surface and been scoped out. The saying goes that the Refinner knows the gold is almost purified when He can see His reflection in it. Can our Lord see His reflection in us? If so, it’s a time of rejoicing, where the flesh has taken a back seat, and when it decides to jump forward, it’s not difficult to make it sit down again. It’s so nice to meet others with this kind of maturity; you both know that all the credit goes to Jesus. The Word via The Holy Spirit moves mountains of resistance and pride in us. Without reading the scriptures, the Holy Spirit cannot produce change. The scriptures are that powerful. A garden grows because it is tended to; our spirit man (or woman) grows because it is tended to. As Paul said, “One sows and one water, but the growth is of the Lord.” 

1 Corinthians 3:6-8

“I planted (Paul), Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then, neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but God who gives the increase. Now, he who plants and waters is one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor (and what they are planting and watering are God’s truths).”

Another challenging scripture, like the first one, is…

Colossians 3:12-15 Character of the New Man( how close do we come to it?)

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”

Who can do this, be kind, humble, forgive, no complaining, no self-interest, etc? It is impossible to do apart from the Holy Spirit. Often, instead of surrendering to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to do the work through us, we seek to do the work in our own strength and confidence. We seek to prove to God and ourselves that we are good people worthy of Heaven. We tell ourselves to be positive, send out good “vibes,” and work hard, and God will see us and reward us accordingly. This path is too burnt out, and many have fallen prey. When do you know you’ve done enough “good works” to procure your salvation? And then what happens when we mess up? Does the bad erase the good? Works-based salvation is a hard road to take. 

We do not understand the Holiness of God, nor have we received His forgiveness (“even as Christ forgave you,” once His forgiveness has touched you for you, you’ve changed, and it is not difficult to forgive others). Jesus asked the Father for another way to procure our salvation besides the Cross. Do you not think that the Father would allow the Son if there were another way? There was no other way. Hence, the Cross was necessary, and now, through our good works, are we really trying to find another way for our salvation? We are acting just like the Pharisees in Jesus’ day. 

Galatians 2:16

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified (it could not be more clear).”

Galatians 3:1-4 Justification by Faith

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched( put you under a spell) that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?”

Through the centuries of Christendom, people have struggled with this, seeking to prove their worth before a Holy God when He has already established our worth: the Life of His Son. Anything outside of this is so far inferior that it simplymakes no sense.  Getting this right is critical; it makes life so much easier to deal with. Life’s problems do not fit into a tiny, predictable mold. Life can be messy, and being unclear about your salvation makes it that much more challenging. Like having a hard drive laden with spyware, it makes everything work so much slower. 

Even our expectations can make life hard. We expect a good marriage, a faithful spouse, good health, good kids, a rewarding career, being treated fairly, etc., but as we know, that does not always happen. Sometimes, people “luck out,” but most of us don’t. Everyday life for the majority of us is challenging. We have car accidents, we get sick, we have struggles with our spouse and our kids, some being serious. We have issues at work, and overall, life can be a grind. Yet despite all this, Paul says, “We can be more than conquers.” 

Romans 8:37

“Yet in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

How does this verse help us? I don’t know if you heard of RFT tires. I didn’t until we traded in our car and bought a newer one. It had RFT tires, meaning run-flat tires. Apparently, these tires can get flat, but the sidewalls are such that even without air, they support the car’s weight until you can get it repaired. I thought that was pretty cool. When we reallyconsider that God truly loves us, I take it to heart; that truth is like the supportive sidewalls on the RFTs. It’s what gets us through a crisis. Knowing that God loves me, I mean truly loves me, the Devil can’t work me over with his lies, especially his most destructive one; if God is a God of love, why does He allow this to happen to you? Maybe God wants me to grow up, turn to Him, actually read His Bible, maybe even prioritize Him in my life, and trust Him more. These are five good reasons right off the cuff; this next promise follows them.

Romans 8:28

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (this is His promise to us, do YOU believe it?).”

Sometimes, I feel like we are spoiled. All of our other brothers and sisters around the world suffer hardship, but if we do, then God doesn’t love us. The Christian walk and confidence in it is founded on how well we know the Father. Phillip said to Jesus, “Show us the Father, and it will suffice us.” Do you remember Jesus’ answer? 

John 14 :8-9

“Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”

Intimately knowing Jesus means we know the Father and the Holy Spirit, and in that knowing is our confidence and peace. If we know Him marginally, then our peace will be marginal, and our struggles and temptations will be greater. If we know Him as a best friend, then life will definitely get better, but even best friends can falter. However, if we know Him as our Father, then even fear flees, and temptation and or trials, be they what they may, worry, family, the lust of the flesh, low self-esteem, insecurity, etc., are subdued. Instead of being controlled by them, we control and conquer them. Isn’t it worth the sacrifice to become this free from our flesh? I think so! 

Ephesians 2:8-10

“For by grace, you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship( He does the work in us, we give Him the tools He needs by being daily in the scriptures) created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Please allow this verse to sink in. Many faiths teach that you have to earn your salvation, which is in direct conflict with this verse and many others. Salvation is a gift that cannot be earned. Even if it is taught correctly, our normal human psychic says that if I do good, God will like me more, and that is simply not true. 

Romans 5:8-10

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood ( Because of faith in His work) we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

This verse, like the one before, is a treasure that, if taken to heart, will produce a radical change in us. Instead of being on the hamster wheel of good works, these verses actually allow us to enjoy the Lord, feeling secure in His love, which we will ever be growing in. 

Dear Father, 

Thank you for the freedom You offer to us. Forgive us for the cages we put ourselves into or were put into at a young age, which still entrap us today. There is no need to remain trapped, but we will continue to be trapped if we ignore Your Word and spend time with You. Help us to understand that freedom is found in only one direction, and that is towards You. It’s just You, not in more money, a better job, more activities, or being more attractive. You complete us, for You made us to know You and define Life by being connected to You. Help us to listen and keep it simple. 

In Christ’s name, 

Your son by Grace, 

Arthur 

Proverbs 4:10-14

Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And the years of your life will be many. I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in the right paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble. Take firm hold of instruction; do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. (What a gift it is to  be able to walk with such confidence!) 

Proverbs 4:23-27

Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil( the how too of this confidence). 

Statistics say that pornography in the church almost equals the amount seen in the nonchurch, which is terrible. Porn is a huge stumbling block that is rarely talked about in Christian circles. It affects the members and the leadership. It’s interesting that porn comes from the root word for wickedness. Porn is pervasive in our culture, and it is accepted as normal activity. Just  like all the vices of our flesh, we tend to normalize them; “everybody else is doing it.” However, we have a huge problem with that; God’s Word and God do not normalize any sin, least of all porn, a destructive force that tears apart families and reduces men and women to objects, stains and profanes the intimacy God created to be shared only between a husband and wife, and it profanes the Temple of Christ in us.

Yet, in whatever form sin comes in, sin is sin. Whether it is “small sins or big sins.” All sin separates us from our Lord. Yet certain sins are more addicting, damaging, and damning to the human soul. They lay a far deadlier and deeper trap, porn being one of them. Along with drinking and drugs, these sins can reduce the human soul to a shell of a person (I have personally seen men and women as such). What was once considered “freedom, it’s my choice”  becomes a trap, enslavement, bondage, and apart from Christ, it is unbreakable. Chains and fretters around a soul that was made in God’s image and for God. 

Only with the cleansing power of Christ can it be broken. If this is you, while you still have fight left in you, fight these deadly addicting sins. Meditating upon God’s Word, specific verses that address these sins, and being in fellowship with men or women (men with men, women with women) who are strong in their Faith, these strongholds can and will be beaten (for sexual sin read Proverbs 5,6,&7, & 1 Corinthians 3:16&17) they are key. 

Put these verses on your bathroom mirror, in your phone, and tape them to the dashboard of your car. This is similar to what God commanded the Jews to have tassels hanging from their clothing to remind them of God’s Word. 

Joshua 1:7-8 (Freedom starts here)

Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses, My servant, commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Satan messes with our identity; he wants us to feel like losers, that he has us, or that we don’t need “religion.” Yet emptiness, feeling defeated and insecure (scared), or feeling inferior are not good emotions, and these emotions belong to him. He ( satan) also wants us to feel that there is no sense in trying, no hope. These are all lies, and Jesus called him the father of lies and that there is no truth in him (John 8:44). Jesus went to the Cross to free us from the power of sin, and as we apply His Words, we find freedom. 

What would have happened if Christ had not finished His course but said, “Father this is too hard, I can’t do it,” having the same attitude we are tempted to have? We would all be damned. Instead, He finished his course so we could have victory and eternal life! So be a little nasty and tell the devil to go to hell and stay there! And remind him of this verse.

2 Corinthians 5:17-18

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed ( passing) away; behold, the new has come( and continually grows stronger as we seek Him). All this is from God, who through Christ ( obedience) reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation ( there is nothing stronger than the blood of Christ coupled with His Word that forgives, saves, and changes broken sinners). 

Hebrews 12: 3&4

For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners ( the Pharisees and Sadducees) against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted bloodshed, striving against sin.

By Christ’s Glorious work on the Cross, the internal workings of the Holy Spirit, and a purposeful and consistent meditation on God’s Word (both specific verses that deal with our vices and general, page-by-page reading), we can and will become free of whatever vices that hold us.

It takes earnest effort; we have to become good sponges. You might say this is too hard, but what are the alternatives? Drugs, pills, depression, loss of hope, multiple divorces, kids on drugs and or suicidal thoughts, or early pregnancy are not suitable alternatives. Instead of living life as slaves to our sins, Christ brings hope and life back into our souls. We just need to give The Carpenter the materials He needs to build His Temple in us. Isn’t this a much better alternative?

The power of the Cross via accepting Christ is the forgiveness of our sins, which then ushers in the Holy Spirit and, when coupled with His Word, begins to break the chains that bind us and seek to control us. The Word empowered by the Holy Spirit will give us our victories, and by humbling ourselves and being accountable to our brothers or sisters, the victory will come. He will tear down the invincible walls for us, and in time, we become undefeatable. From hopelessness to full of hope!

Do you believe me? Faith or belief is the key to the engine of the Spirit; putting the key in the ignition is Faith in action or obedience, and movement is setting aside a daily devotional time with Him.

Romans 10:17

So then Faith comes by hearing and hearing( or reading) the Word of God.

So, if you spend 30 minutes of your personal time answering your emails, 1 hour on Facebook or Twitter, and only 20 minutes daily in the scriptures, guess who will win? Every day, we feed our carnal man, and many of us starve our spirit man. Reverse that; it’s evident that the activities we spend the most time with will influence us the most. We must make purposeful decisions to spend more time in the Word if we are to be “more than conquerors (Romans 8:31-39, a very goodread). 

Romans 8:5-9

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can it be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now, if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His (this is where religion fails; it gives you a false hope that you are right with God when you are not; read John 3:1-21).

1 John 4:4 

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

*Consistency is what most Christians lack. We NEED consistent Bible study and prayer time. However, we do not want to make Bible study legalistic; that’s the wrong heart, and no beneficial change will result. The right heart is to acknowledge our need for Him; we are empty apart from Him. All the world is searching for His love and peace and in all the wrong places, and we have it right here. Read the Word from that perspective, and you will grow. 

Those of us who say we have no time to read know that we make time for what is important to us. We are able to keep doctor appointments, school activities, dates, etc. Keeping time with the Lord on a daily basis is the most important appointment we have, period. No meeting on our schedule is more important! 

If we truly have no time to fit in a twenty-minute to half-hour Bible study, then we need to lose an activity or delegate the activity to someone else.  Ask Him to help you with your schedule, and as you take a step of Faith by making time for Him, watch Him help you get more done. Remember, if being busy is our excuse not to spend time with Him, then satan will make sure we are always busy. Being busy is an ego booster; it makes us feel important. Check your motives, yet know the importance we feel from being busy or needed is but “fool’s gold” compared to sensing God’s love and approval over your life; that is the Real Gold. 

1 Peter 1:22-23

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of God which lives and abides forever,

Know that if we do not change our allegiance to the Lord, then we ourselves send ourselves to a place that was never intended for man. Long ago, Bob Dylan sang the song “You Got to Serve Somebody,” a secular song but very accurate. God made us and designed us to be filled with His Holy Spirit. That’s how Adam and Eve started life with God. That’s our design, so if God does not indwell us, then emptiness is what we have. Since our youth, we instinctively seek to fill it with achievements, goals, money, vices, friends or people, etc., yet our emptiness returns. We become servants to our passions, our insecurities, and or fears. We are not free because of it. We are serving somebody or something. 

1 Peter 1:14-15

as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

Only by the Holy Spirit working in us and cleansing us can we be Holy…. outside of Divine intervention, the best we could be is good, but being good is not our calling; sanctified, holy, and redeemed is.

Psalms 51:7-13 ( a great prayer of repentance). 

Purge me with hyssop( a plant used in ceremonial cleansing), and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken(God’s conviction) may rejoice.

Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.

Father, 

Thank you for this personal and convicting study. We all have ground in us that, by rights, belongs to You. Help us to surrender those parts of us over to You.  Open our eyes and let us see how much you love us, and by surrendering, we are gaining; we are not losing. Make us willing to fight for our life with You. As You gave it all to forgive and love us, let us be willing to give to You our allegiance. Let us invest our time and energy wisely. Let us care about what we do with our money, time, and talents. This world is temporal, but our soul is Eternal. Let’s invest wisely, say no to our carnal desires, and put You first. Amen.

Lastly, there is only one irreversible and eternal decision: the rejection of Christ at death. Many times, death comes suddenly, and there is no time for reflection or repentance, so if you are reading this now and are not a believer,  consider this God’s love for you and seriously consider your future and your life right now. Do you have peace? Are you content, or are you empty and searching? Emotions are not always wise to gauge your eternity on, but they are indicators. Just like lights on the instrument panel of our cars that tell us something is not right under the hood, your emotions of restlessness, emptiness, and no peace are the same. Things are not right under the hood. You are of great value to Him; that is why He paid so much for you. If you still doubt, read deathbed comments from well-known atheists; that should make you think. 

Saved by Grace, 

Arthur

This series has been a wonderful heart-cleansing series. The Lord has put verses and scriptures together for our benefit, and I am honored to be His pen. Let’s discuss an important word, the word repentance. Unfortunately, instead of being viewed as freeing, a very positive action, it has a negative connotation in our society. We do not like to admit or be told we are wrong. It’s like, “I got caught, now I must confess, repent, and say I’m sorry.” Which, truthfully, is not a bad thing at all. It’s the only way to get rid of baggage and self-destructive habits. It’s the only way to move forward and feel good about who you are. Men and women of honor know they are imperfect and are willing to take ownership of their errors or character faults. 

James 5:16

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much

The person we confess to is the one we offended, but also to a more mature believer who can counsel us and pray for us. We need help to get free of our addictions, habits, bad attitudes, etc. It is very doable, and we are not “Lone Rangers in our battle against sin; we need each other.”

This is where understanding and valuing “humility,” supposedly another “bad” word in our society, needs to be valued. I never hear the request for more humility whenever we ask for prayer requests. Yet half of our prayer requests would disappear if we did. We are so focused on our world, needs, and wants that God’s wants become second. If we could take our eyes off ourselves and align with God’s agenda, things would improve, and our self-inflicted problems would clear up. Humility makes God big and me small, which has excellent benefits. 

There’s a great example of this in scripture. What would you say if God told you to ask Him for whatever you wanted? What would you ask for? Money, wealth, a great job, brains, good looks, and a sexy or strong body. He did this with Solomon, and Solomon asked for wisdom to rule God’s people, which pleased God so much that He also gave Solomon that which he did not ask for. 

2 Chronicles 1:7

On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask! What shall I give you?”

2 Chronicles 1:9-10

Now, O LORD God, let Your promise to David, my father, be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude (God’s promise to Abraham fulfilled). Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?” Then God said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life—but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king— wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like.”

These verses give us some critical insight into God’s value system. If one asks for “self,” make me famous, wealthy, intelligent, rich, beautiful, etc., all for self’s glorification, nothing will likely happen. However, if one makes humility the heart’s passion to see better and serve God, this pleases God greatly. It’s from this posture that we pray the most effective God-honoring prayers. This is the secret to all of God’s Great Treasures, treasures that money cannot even come close to possessing. 

1 Peter 5:5-7 Submit to God, Resist the Devil

Likewise, you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you should be submissive to one another and clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

An inner healing occurs when we confess our sins, mistakes, and selfishness to God. It brings healing and closeness to our relationship and is also true to human relationships, be it best friends, husband and wife, or parent and child. A closeness is gained when we humble ourselves and confess we were wrong. Also, we should honestly commit our concerns to Him and trust Him. 

He may not give us the answer we want, but it will be the answer we need. Picture a diamond just mined. It is truly a diamond, but the beauty of it is not seen. Only the lapidary sees the true beauty, what it could be, and what it will take to bring out its true beauty, “Christ in us.” This beauty is wholly determined by the cuts it will receive. Some cuts are easy and light, and some cuts are hard and transforming, but they are all made with skill, with the end goal of bringing out the true beauty of the diamond, which, for us, is glorifying Christ.

Colossians 1:27

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 

The Image (or stamp) of the Immortal God via His Holy Spirit dwelling within mortal man is His greatest treasure, costing Him His Life. Man represents God’s greatest creation, and now redeemed through faith in Christ worshipping and serving Him proves the Eternal Plan God always wanted, God walking in relationship with man through the Garden of Life. God wins, satan loses. Which side are you on?

Father God, 

Thank you for this powerful devotional, and its power is found in the reality of How Much You Love Us. That’s what makes this devotional convicting. It bids us to change, surrender our will, pride, and ambitions, and follow You. Father, help us to count the cost. 

Your son by Grace

Arthur

Please watch my video introduction here:

Why are forgiveness and repentance so important? As we will learn, they were critical to David’s life. For him and us, they are pathways to greater joy, peace, victory, and increased presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It’s a win-win. It’s why He died: to free us from the bondage of guilt and shame. 

David had solved his problem; the death of Uriah in battle was a natural way out, enabling him to conceal his adultery with Bathsheba and save both their lives (stoning was what God’s law stated as the punishment, “if a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then both of them shall die. Duet.22:22). How would that go over today? We probably would reduce the population by 40%. Now, the concern of his sin and its consequences was over. He would marry Bathsheba and look like a hero. No one would know except for his general and some soldiers. He was free, but was he? It might be over because Uriah was dead, but guilt can’t be killed. I believe his guilt was crushing him. Guilt is an emotion that can break you and change you into somebody that you do not want to be. The T.V. program called the “Walking Dead” is an excellent example of how one feels. Guilt makes you feel dead inside while you live. All joy, all laughter, all peace, and emotions that make life worth living are hijacked as long as guilt reigns. 

David was so ashamed of his behavior. He felt unworthy to come to God, and all the Psalms he wrote were praise and adoration to God. How could he come to God; could God even forgive him? Did he commit the unpardonable sin? Have you ever felt like this? We all sin, but then there are these evil ones. Can God even forgive those? Galatians lists some of these sins. Can you find yourself?

Galatians 5:16-21 Walking in the Spirit

I say then: Walk in the Spirit (“fill up” on God via daily Bible study), and you shall not fulfill (“or fill up” & succumb to) the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts (or wars) against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are contrary to one another so that you do not do the things you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit ( more filled up on God’s Word than the world’s values), you are not under the law(under the power of the flesh). 

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice ( make a habit ) of such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Romans 7:10-11

And I found the commandment, which was (meant) to bring life, brought death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me (the law holds us to a standard of behavior that none of us can fulfill. When God told Adam and Eve they could eat everything in the garden EXCEPT the tree of good and evil what happened?). 

And that is how it always is in life. What we can’t have, we want, and after we give in and the passion is over, or the object wanted is purchased, guilt and common sense return. We realize that we made a bad decision. It is not based on logic, morals, or our budget but on our insecurity and selfishness (which is not the best combination of emotions). It is nice to have nice things to enjoy, but to buy something because we need it to make us feel important is sad. We’ve blown our budget all for the admiration of others. I wonder if they would help us with our new monthly payment? Things and people can quickly become vain idols. 

Luke 12:15

And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

The only people who will envy possessions are those who have exchanged true life for idols. People trying to fill the void in them with things or possessions do not understand that God made us for God. He has put within us a longing for love, significance, peace, and truth. These qualities are not found in things or in us.

Psalms 115:3-5

But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. Their idols are silver and gold (or cars, houses etc.,) The work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see;

Psalms 115:8

Those who make them (and worship them) are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them (lifeless). 

They live for the “Ah ha” of others. We were made to be in a relationship with Him. It’s His approval and validation that we genuinely need. I had to mature to this understanding, which is the human struggle we all share. Living according to the desires of our carnal nature can be summed up in this funny rhyme, “get all you can, can what you get, and then sit on the can.” 

Instead, for a believer, the bullseye for being secure is abiding in the love of Christ. Nothing else is eternal or so personal. If we do not choose Christ, our hearts will be open to many sins and temptations. A very dangerous and damning sin that affects our oneness with Christ is lust. Many of us have committed adultery and or fornication, especially if you define it by how Jesus defines it.

Matthew 5:27-28 Adultery in the Heart

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman ( or man) to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Adultery or fornication is nothing more than idol worship. That person is taking the place of God in our life. If you realize that, you can fight it and refuse to worship another person instead of God. Once I understood that, it was much easier to defeat it. I will not worship a person or thing in place of God. God showed me a vision a long time ago regarding lust. I saw a dam, and to give in to lust was to allow the dam to break. The dam could be repaired, but that patched area would never be as strong as prior. It would always be the weak point of the dam, and if I gave in. It would be where the enemy would always push on, so I stayed strong and quoted verses in Proverbs 5 that I had memorized and found the strength to resist. That vision helped me. 

And now for “contentions and jealousies.” We have all experienced these emotions, but the question is whether these emotions control us. If so, that is another step in the wrong direction that can lead to opening Pandora’s box of sins. Once opened, it leads us to other sins, as we saw with David. I’m sure he never for-saw all the ramifications of his one-night stand. 

Imagine how David must have felt being an adulterer with the wife of one of his valiant warriors and then giving the order to kill him because he was a better man than himself. When David calls Uriah from the battlefield, feigning an interest in the battle, he does not go home to have relations with his wife while his comrades are at war. Yet David would take his wife to bed. Enormous guilt, crushing; unless you have been in a similar situation (and I hope not), it is hard to imagine how he felt. David had never felt alone, abandoned, ashamed, and separated from God. Satan had him checked mated. God saw him and knew He needed to intervene.

So God did as He did for us via The Cross; we, too, were and are helpless and in need of salvation. God sent Nathan, the prophet, a good friend of David, to save David from the checkmate satan had him in. Nathan was not surprised when he saw the deadness and grief in David’s eyes. God gave Nathan a story to tell David, one that David could relate to. 

2 Samuel 12:1-4 

Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him and said: “There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds. But the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food and drank from his own cup and lay in his bosom; and it was like a daughter to him. And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”

Up to this point, we have been focused on David, but what does this tell you about God? It was God who called Nathan, it was God who told Nathan what to say, and it was God who told Nathan that though David would pronounce death on himself, God did not, “you shall not die.” Do you know this kind of a merciful God, that He still wants us even when youhave sinned, violating serious commands? So repent, and return to Him before you make a bigger mess of things.  

2 Samuel 12: 4-13

So David’s anger was incredibly aroused ( literally boiling over)  against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.”

Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!” Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I anointed you King over Israel and I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! Why have you despised ( to hold in contempt, to disdain) the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have [despised Me,] and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’

A complex but proper understanding of why we sin is because our carnal nature despises God’s rule over us. To walk with God, we must conquer our carnal nature, daily and hourly, which is possible. Compare Joseph’s response to a similar situation. Potiphar’s wife was making daily advances on him(Genesis 39). She wanted him, and our carnal nature is just like hers; we want what we want, even if it comes in conflict with God’s will for us. It should be no surprise to anyone who knows themselves to read this verse.

Jeremiah 17:9-10

“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.

How did Joseph overcome this?

Genesis 39:9-10 (Joseph speaking to Potiphar’s wife) 

There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”

So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.

***The Holy Fear Of God ruled in Joseph’s heart, and this fear( not frightened of God but a fear of being without God) guided his steps.***

Proverbs 16:6

In mercy and truth, Atonement is provided for iniquity (His part), And by the fear of the LORD, one departs from evil( our part). 

The fear of the Lord is to have such a love for God that to sin against Him brings a shutter in one’s soul. It takes time and trials to develop this closeness, but it’s worth it! Think of a diamond or gold, all the cutting or excessive heat to purify it or make it shine before it becomes part of a ring. 

Many of us sin because of insecurity and low self-esteem. Memorize Isaiah  43:1-2 and Proverbs 3, and for sexual lust, Proverbs 5 & 6. Feed on God’s Word and see the Holy Spirit change you. Now, back to David. 

2 Samuel 12:14-15

So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die ( though we are forgiven AND our sin is washed away because of Christ there are consequences, yet even in the consequences God will walk with us through them). Then Nathan departed to his house.

Here’s the relationship God is seeking with each one of us…

Psalms 32:7-10

You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.

Selah

(God speaking) I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you( God’s promises). 

Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him.

Father,

Thank you for this study. Your love for us is in our faces, but at the same time, it is felt. You are no different than a parent who deeply cares that his or her children go the right way in life, making decisions that build them up and not tear them down; choosing with wisdom their friends, knowing the influence friends have. Help us to see and understand You clearly so that we may follow You wholeheartedly. 

Thank you, and Amen,

your son by Grace,

Arthur

Arthur NavarretteVida4U.com is the website where all past Vida’s are archived. In addition to the weekly devotionals, the yearly inspirational writings featured in December’s House2Home Magazine are archived under “Faith Talk.”  Please use this site for your benefit and refer your friends to it as well. If they would like the weekly series emailed to them, they can send their requests to Arthur@Vida4U.com.

John 10:10

The thief does not come except to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

What Jesus says and, at the same time, what He does not say needs attention. What Jesus says is there are two lives. The one He offers us and the one satan offers. If satan showed us the life he has for us and its end, none of us would follow. So, he has to cloak it with pleasure, greed, pride, lust, or self-accomplishment. It’s similar to fishing. If you just fished with a hook, no fish would bite. So you have to disguise it with a meal fish would like. Satan does the same. He easily figures out our weaknesses and baits us with them. 

Christ’s next important point is that there are only two fishermen in life, ONLY two fishing styles. Learn their styles and methods, and you will avoid the hook you don’t want. So, in one sense, it’s easy; there are not many fishermen. However, it’s difficult in another sense because many kinds of bait are masking the hook. How do we know which bait to bite? Once we bite, we get hooked!

What do fish do? How do they decide what to bite and what not to bite? I wish I knew the answer to that; I would be a heck of a fisherman. However, the most straightforward answer is certain types of fish, like certain baits. Bass like little fish, so we use lures that mimic them. They also like worms, but they also like salmon eggs. So, how does this apply to us? Easy, what is your appetite? Do you hunger for baits that stroke your ego, excite you sexually, or make you feel important, or do you prefer quieter, more real, and more nourishing to the soul? David said something in Psalm 23 that is worth noting.

Psalms 23:1-3

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

Righteousness is a type of bait; it’s the only bait that Christ uses. Righteousness is right living, but it’s more than right living; having a right relationship with Christ is foremost. As Jesus told Nicodemus, he MUST BE BORN AGAIN. It’s not about doing good works; the Pharisees were all about good works, but God is all about a New Nature. A New Nature because it’s His Nature in us, and it’s FROM THAT NEW NATURE THAT GOOD WORKS COME FROM NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. 

John 3:3

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus, a Pharisee of Pharisees (meaning he was revered), met with Jesus privately. Having seen and heard of Jesus’ miracles (“no man can do these things less God be with him”), he wanted to meet with Jesus without the crowds and without his sect knowing. Nicodemus represents the best of us, the best we can offer God. The rich young ruler was also a moral man. Many of us take pride in our moral code, and Jesus said to these two men that, as good as they were, they still had much to lack. We are incapable of seeing and understanding the Holiness of God.  It’s “something other,” unattainable in our sinful, unregenerate nature. So to the rich young ruler, He revealed that though he appeared to be “moral,” his life consisted of loving his riches. He chose his riches over following Jesus. Just exactly what we do, be it riches, our jobs, our family, sports, lusts, good deeds, etc. We must mature to the point that Jesus is simply number one. 

What I say next might be offensive, but I am not trying to be. Remember, I have my own business, which consumes enormous amounts of time. If we are not regularly making time for Jesus, reading the Bible and, praying, talking to Him, then are we more talk than truth? If we are off doing this or that, going here or there, pursuing our agenda even though it is work-oriented or family activities (sports), are we allowing these things to crowd out our time with Christ? We all have the same 24 hrs., and we can’t give Him 30 to 45 minutes daily? Jesus bids us to surrender these desires that become obstacles and hindrances in following Him. 

This is what being a Christian is; remember you are modeling your relationship with Christ to your children. What do you want them to remember when they are grown and out of the house? All the baseball(sub in the activity) games you took them to, or remember you praying and reading your Bible? What activity do you want them to remember? We must continually surrender our schedules to The Lord our schedules. If our activities interfere with loving Him and spending time with Him, then we must be willing to re-evaluate our choices and make corrections. We must learn to do things with Him, not apart from Him.

Nicodemus was also well-to-do (Jesus never addresses his wealth) but focused solely on calling him to be born again. It was a statement that confused him but created dialogue and questions between them. Nicodemus’ heart was as good as a human’s, but no human could be righteous. For the heart to be the Temple of the Most Holy, NO AMOUNT OF GOODNESS CAN MAKE IT RIGHTEOUS. RIGHTEOUSNESS OR SINLESSNESS IS NOT WITHIN MAN’S ABILITY, “FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD (Romans. 3:23).” We must repent of our sins and at which point the Holy Spirit comes into us causing us to be Born Again.

Mark 10:17-22( Rich young ruler)

Now, as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do so that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One that is, God (Jesus was calling his attention to a new nature). You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.'”

And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”

Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the Cross and follow Me.” (take up the Cross, willfully crucify your flesh with its passions and desires and follow me, make me your new life with me). But he was sad at this word and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions (that possessed him, and do we know what possesses us? Is it just Christ?)    

John 3:3-5 (now speaking to Nicodemus) 

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born? Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water (our natural birth) and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.‘

Jesus is teaching a new life that is not built on wealth or good deeds but solely dependent upon repenting of our sins, God forgiving us, and accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior. When completed in sincerity, The Lord sends His Holy Spirit to live within us. We now become born again. This is completely absent of any efforts or works that we do. It is completely the Cross which ushered in this Grace.

This is the only way to have salvation and a relationship with the Lord. There is no other way. 

John 10:7-9

Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

To say no to Christ is the worst decision one will ever make. There is no worse decision, for this only this one has eternal consequences. By not saying yes, one has invariably said no and has condemned oneself to everlasting condemnation. There’s always hope that people will change their minds, but it would be nice to enjoy His peace and love now and not be at your last breath. We can be a terrible human being; kill, lie, cheat, and rob, but repent like the thief on the Cross and receive Eternal Life, or be a Pharisee of Pharisees and die in our righteousness and wake up in hell. We decide, and we choose our destiny based on our choices here. People say stupid stuff like I want to die with my friends and party in hell. I can guarantee you there will be only torment and misery; there will be no partying. 

***Now, to study another well-known character in the Old Testament, King David. The second King in Israel’s history. He was a righteous king for decades until he disobeyed the Lord and fell into gross sin. Always remember purposeful disobedience opens the door for satan to attack us. We lose the abiding Holy Spirit that protects us. David committed adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of one of his warriors, which would have never happened had he obeyed the Lord and led Israel into battle. 

2 Samuel 11:1

It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David (stayed and) sent Joab (his general, in his place) and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem (seems like an innocent action? Maybe David was tired of fighting; letting the younger men fight is probably what he thought, but no disobedience ever so mild is without its consequences). We use the term it was a “white lie,” something supposedly innocent, but it is a lie nonetheless. Yet I feel this was not David’s innocent action but a direct disobedience. He was getting prideful and comfortable in the palace. In other words, he was “backsliding.” Even when he was old, he never failed to lead Israel into battle after this egregious mistake.

2 Samuel 11:2-5

Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed (he couldn’t sleep?) and walked on the roof of the king’s house. From the roof, he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 

(At this point, David should have walked away or called for one of his many wives to be with, but disobedience becomes an open door to satan’s attacks, and he (satan) wastes no time. David was weak, for he was in sin already and unable to resist. In essence, he was now a lamb to the slaughter, and satan was going to make sure he would hurt David) so he sent messengers and took her (to grasp or seize), and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house. And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, “I am with child.”

So it becomes more than just a one-night stand, she conceives. So David calls Uriah home from the battle and pretends to care about the battle. He feeds him, gets him drunk, and sends him home, assuming he will lay with Bathsheba – problem solved, or so he thought. In the morning, David finds out that Uriah never went home, so he calls Uriah in…

2 Samuel 11:10 &11

So when they told David, saying, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Did you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house? And Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.”

David finds out that Uriah is a better man than himself. Now, his plan having failed and laden with guilt and frozen by his sin, David sends him back with his death order in his hand. This is how far one can sink into sin if repentance of that sin isn’t dealt with. 

Why did David sink so deep after enjoying such a platform with God? Do you have any ideas? Why do we not repent or apologize for our wrongs? Is it that we fear what someone or people will think if we tell the truth, could that be?

Proverbs 29:25

The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe. 

There is no indication that David repented to the Lord or besought forgiveness before Nathan comforting him. What would have happened if David had repented? What consequences would have changed? Did he feel that these sins were so bad (and they were) that God could not forgive him? Isn’t that exactly what satan wants us to think? We will never know. 

What does the fear of man mean? The simplest definition is simply to say we care more about what others think of us than God. This becomes a huge paradigm switch that leads David and us into doing things that we would never think we could do. How far will we go to cover our sins? In our culture, serious sins are only a fingertip away. With all the different types of media available and no societal absolutes to hold us back, we can go deep into sin without even leaving our sofa. Our greatest protection and treasure is our gratefulness for our salvation, our reverence for God, and our daily time spent with God. 

The fear of God is a deep appreciation and reverence for what He did for us, which keeps us from sin. In the Old Testament, we have several examples of this. Joseph and Daniel displayed it, even Uriah when he would not go home to be with his wife, and these are men without the Holy Spirit indwelling them as He does us (in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit came upon individuals for a period, e.g., like when prophesying or writing scripture, then left).

So David was stuck; his plan had failed; what would he do next?

2 Samuel 11:14-15

In the morning it happened that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die.”

How many other men died because of David’s sin, and how many men’s consciences were offended because they abandoned a brave warrior, a comrade, amid battle because of David’s order? It’s no wonder why Joab, David’s general, deserted David and sided with Absalom, David’s son when he wanted to take the throne from his father (which was part of David’s punishment). This offense went deep. A note to take away from this. If we have offended anyone, it is imperative, not optional, that we confess and seek forgiveness. The other party may not accept it, but we have sought to do what is right. 

2 Samuel 11:26-27

When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah, her husband, was dead, she mourned for her husband. When her mourning was over, David sent her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done [displeased] the LORD.

So, in David’s mind, his problem was over; he cleaned up his mess, but did he? Has David forgotten about the Lord and that he has to answer to God?

The word “displeased” that God uses to describe His reaction to David’s sins is only used one other time in Isaiah, referring to the destruction of Moab. The word means to quake, to shake, or tremble inside. The sin was so grievous and hideous to God that He was left with no peace. A synonym would probably be repulsed, to convulse over, be made sick, to vomit. The Author of all Peace lost His peace, so badly affected by David’s egregious sins. We must learn from David’s sins.

We will end here and consider our ways before God. Do we take our disobedience seriously? Do we understand that every time we purposely sin, it is as if we crucify our Lord again (Hebrews 6:60)?

Father God,

This is a strong rebuke for your church. You are not angry or upset with us, but like the shepherd who knows the wolf is just outside his protection. He deals lovingly but firmly with the sheep, especially those who wander. He seeks to keep them close to him, so You do with us. For if they (or we) wander, You know that danger awaits. Thank you for your passionate and intense love; help us not become offended and mirror Your love to others. 

Amen and Amen, 

Your son by Grace.

Arthur

There are many contemporary messages on self-improvement (both inside and outside the church) that appeal to our intellect but have little to no power to change the soul. If satan can convince us to take a watered-down version of righteousness (which does not exist; it’s like saying, can white be just a little black and still be white), then he can affect whole congregations. As church leaders seek to grow their church, the temptation is to preach a populous message, placating our ego and making us feel good about ourselves with no spiritual gain. These messages allow sins to be excused. Instead of being called sins, they are simply part of our human nature, such as anger, lust, greed, insecurity, or fear, rather than being called sins as God’s Word does. In this venue of populous messages, little is said, if any, of these struggles. 

If people come to church emotionally bleeding or spiritually dying, they leave the same or maybe with a bandaid, whereas what they needed were stitches so the wound can close and be healed.

The church is meant to be a hospital for the spiritually hurting, a place of refuge from the onslaught of our carnal nature. Healing from emotional strife and found hope. How does this happen? The teaching of God’s Word brings conviction. Conviction is God’s strong medicine that brings healing. That way, repentance is sought, and wounds that are continually being reopened can close; infection and carnal desire unchecked are destroyed as God’s Word brings healing. Teaching must be strong so the path onward and upward is clearly seen. If sins remain unrepentant, character flaws remain, and wounds continue to fester. Strongholds of anger, lust, unacceptance, insecurity, fear, etc., remain, hindering us from experiencing the love and forgiveness that Christ offers. It’s a vacuous place to be.

A murderer in the days of Rome, if he was not crucified, would be punished by having his victim’s body tied to his back, wrist to wrist, arm to arm, torso to torso, and leg to leg. Then, the murderer would carry the corpse until the gangrene killed him. It’s precisely what Paul alludes to when he says….

Romans 7:23-25

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin (sin is not to be excused, but dealt with via prayer and God’s Word).

Therefore, what is the point of going to church if I cannot see myself progressing, getting free from my sinful nature, and sensing a closer walk with Christ? If I didn’t want to get free of my sins, I could easily fill my ear with motivational speakers and gifted cheerleaders and seek to change myself, failing to see my sins from God’s perspective. This is not the church’s calling; cheerleaders are for sports and those who think well of themselves. 

The church is called a beacon, a light of Truth and Hope to those who are tired of their way and hungry and looking for answers and hope. The church is to be a hospital for the sick wanting to get well. Where the medicine of God’s Word is applied, and actual healing of the soul and body is felt and seen. The anointing oil of Truth does not always feel good, like removing cancer from the body. Recovery is painful; changing and hating your sin comes at a price, but in the end, healing, peace, and inner joy are felt. The Truth is like that. Jesus put it this way….

Matthew 5:29-30

If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out (ouch!!) and cast it from you, for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you (now I’m partially blind and crippled, and that’s precisely what Christ is saying, cripple the carnal man), for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Christ HAS THE PERSPECTIVE OF HEAVEN, WHERE SIN DOES NOT EXIST, AND PURITY, ONENESS AND JOY RESIDE. We do not come close to living in that realm, at least not yet. It’s like comparing pristine mountain water to sewage. We drink and live in the sewage, and He seeks to lead us to the purity of the water He gives.  

John 4:13-14

Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Truth is a Light on a hill that speaks of home, security, peace, and love. Therefore, since the church is the Bride of Christ, when one goes to church, he or she should be meeting The Groom of the Church, The Lord Jesus Christ. 

Psalms 22:22-25

I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly, I will praise You.

My praise shall be of You in the great assembly; I will pay My vows before those who fear Him.

Early in my Christian walk, I couldn’t wait till worship was over and the preaching would begin. I didn’t understand the importance of thanking and praising the Lord with my lips in song. Now, I love to worship. Worship alone could be the whole service for me. There is so much truth in the lyrics, especially the hymns. As we worship, we clear our hearts of care and concern, preparing our hearts to hear the message from the scriptures. If done earnestly, conviction of sins are brought to mind, and repentance and forgiveness are found. For some sins, repentance alone is needed; for others, it ismore attached to our soul (e.g., my dad had a temper, or my mom was critical, so I struggle with these), which takes time to overcome. 

These are specific fears, insecurities, and lusts that are entrenched in us, and freedom is won and maintained by memorizing specific Bible verses that address this specific sin. Freedom will be gained as the spirit man is fed God’s Word, and the carnal man is starved by not engaging in sin and repenting quickly if we fall. Regardless of how we were raised, we cannot excuse ourselves; sin is sin (THOUGH CONVICTION DOES NOT FEEL GOOD, IT PAINFUL, IT IS BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE FOR YOU AND ME THAT HE DOES SO). Therefore, Straight, Gay, or Gender Identity concerns do not matter; it’s NOT ABOUT US, WE ARE ALL TO BECOME CONFORMED TO HIS IMAGE, HIS STANDARD OF HOLINESS (not our definition of Holiness) THAT WITHOUT IT NONE OF US WILL SEE THE LORD.

Hebrews 12:11

Now, 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 12:14-15

Pursue peace with all people and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this, many become defiled (the importance of forgiveness). 

Romans 12:1-2 Living Sacrifices to God

I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Do not conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may prove what that good and acceptable and perfect will of God is.

To not pursue holiness because we simply believe we cannot change, that the sin or the flaw is too great or genetic (it’s in our D.N.A) is to say that Our Creator is weak. That the Blood of Christ shed on the Cross to make us holy and righteous cannot help me. This is an absolute lie, and it comes from the pit of hell itself, AND it’s a popular one that many want to believe, for it excuses us and allows us to justify our sins. However, it also keeps us from experiencing His love, hope, and peace, not to mention the people we hurt because of our unwillingness to fight against it. Keeping my sin, JUSTIFYING IT, IS NOT WORTH the price (image a dad with a temper yelling at his wife and kids, the damage he is causing because of his unwillingness to fight for the freedom he could have in Christ because he believes the lie of satan THAT HE CAN’T change rather than believing God’s promise.

John 8:44( this is what Jesus said of Satan, so think twice before you believe something that contradicts the scriptures).

You are of your father, the devil (referring to the Pharisees, the religious leaders of his time [the church]), and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie (e.g., you can’t change), he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it ( is this who you want to follow, and become part of his casualties? I know I don’t).

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (to make strong, to fortify, vigorous, able to conquer by His empowerment). 

So, as harsh as this sounds, if you believe an untruth (any belief that seems true but comes in conflict or contradicts scripture) is a lie, period! It’s hard work to reprogram our brains from utterly believing one thing to completely believing the opposite. It threatens our sense of well-being and security, but if you or I could truly understand God’s love for us, which sent Him to the Cross while we were yet His enemies (Romans 5:8), what fear is there? To surrender an untruth, a lie that will hurt me and others, for a Godly truth that will help and bless others, is that a loss? No, it’s a gain because the indwelling Holy Spirit combined with His Word, the sword of the Spirit, can and does bring deliverance and freedom.

Now, let’s clarify something else. The Church is only part of the equation. I’m the other part, and I talk about this with every Vida4U. The other part is our time with God, reading the Bible, taking notes, and praying. An hour or two on Sunday and maybe an evening of midweek study is not enough spiritual food to carry me through the week successfully.Trials and temptations, deadlines and kids, events of life and my carnal nature, etc., the “spiritual food supply” is used up. The scriptures say we are to meditate upon them. To meditate comes from the word that describes a cow chewing its food. This may sound gross, but the cow has four compartments in its stomach, and each compartment helps the cow digest food even better. The second compartment of the stomach upchucks the food back into the mouth of the cow, and hence, we get the saying, “the cow is chewing its cud.” This is partially digested food that has already been in compartment 1, the Rumen. This second chewing enables the cow to get all the nutrients from the food, and this is our word: “to meditate.” 

It definitely is not a casual read. No, it’s looking up the words in their original language, cross-referencing with other verses, etc. This would be like us “chewing the cud of the Word.” This is my part and my responsibility, as it is yours. It’s fascinating because it’s like digging for gold. Except this gold is Eternal, or if you fancy being a pirate, it’s like searching for buried treasure. This process takes some time, but for me, it’s only 1/4 of the time it used to take. Now, with my iPad, the Strong’s Dictionary, and Greek and Hebrew Lexicons all loaded into it, it is super quick. I used to have three books open, plus my John MacArthur Bible. Now I just switch from different screens. 

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Now, here’s the confusing part. You feel no different. You feel like the same old sinner that you have always been. Since “truth” is what we feel, we must change and understand that truth now is not our feelings but God’s Word. It’s an entirely different way to live life. That’s why we must spend time in the Word daily. 

Our walk with God is not feeling-based but Faith-based, and quoting God’s Word that contradicts or comes against what I feel is how you use your armor. A series we just finished. Feelings and Faith are not friends, feelings must submit to Faith. Faith must be the Master. If feelings dictate our life, we will have one result, and it will not be good, but if faith becomes that which dictates, then the promises of God become our inheritance, being regularly nourished by God’s Word. Whoever we feed the most will be the master. 

This time of study we spend together helps us to live wisely, choose appropriate friends and activities, and say no when necessary. And best of all, to be a better husband, father, and most importantly, a better son or daughter to our Eternal Father. A Great and Loving King that only deserves the very best we can give Him through the aid of The Holy Spirit. 

Father, 

Thank you for this study. It’s a beautiful journey as You spend time with us, teaching us the truths that free us and bring us closer to You. Help us to understand that our carnal nature wants us to feel hopeless, trapped, that we can’t do this Christian life. That the carnal nature is too strong. Yet that is not true, for You say, “All that are in You are a new creature, old things have passed away, behold all things have become new.” Father, help us to exalt Faith and Your Word over and above feeling or even logic and simply trust You. 

Amen and Amen

Until next time,

Arthur

If underneath our armor we have doubt, even just a veneer of it, it will not allow us to receive the Lord’s full blessing, fully accomplish His purposes, or defeat our flesh. Doubt is a robber of what would normally be an easy victory. Peter walks on water, which is an impossible feat, while he looks at Christ, but then, he takes his focus off Christ and looks at the waves. Fear entered in, and he sank. The same things happen to us. We can do some pretty cool things as long as we are focused on growing and serving Christ. If fear, doubt, disillusionment, pride, etc., “our waves,” and we all have them, cause us to doubt, the victory that should have been ours is lost. Now, we need rescuing. At times, not understanding what Christianity is about is part of the cause. 

We have Christian terms, and many times, they are not given enough definitions. We probably don’t even fully understand them ourselves. We say to someone struggling, let the joy of the Lord be your strength. God’s joy strengthens us, but how do I get it? Or, just have faith, and things will work out. Again, I agree, but how? Do I have faith in myself, as many teach, or how do I increase my faith in Jesus? These sayings are true, but they are short sayings of complex truths that need a better explanation, and they are not without their “problems.” For example, “I’ve had faith before and it didn’t work out, I still ended up getting a divorce.” 

I’ve got faith in something that does not work out. It can be discouraging; I’m sure we have all experienced this. However, as one matures in the Lord, you gain understanding. You begin to understand that any trial from mild to hard that brings you closer or more dependent upon Christ is a win for us, including the times when things are super painful (if you’re in a situation as such right now, I know it’s hard to believe that good will come from it. However stay faithful to the Lord, trust Him, and He will be faithful to you. Please believe me). 

Only in trial, in loss, in hardship, when life seems ugly and unfair, does it make us call out to The Lord, and as we do, we begin to see His faithfulness to us. In turn, those experiences grow us, and we begin to willingly surrender over all the superficial stuff of this life. Stuff that, before our trials, seemed so important to us. These things hold us so close that we don’t see how they hinder us until they are stripped away or we surrender them (which can also be painful). He allows us to see that it is His presence that we truly need, not the other stuff that we thought was so important. 

‘Without these hard trials, we can be “religious,” believing we are “good Christians.” However, we will completely miss out on the real relationship that we can have with Christ. I have come to trust Christ with every fiber of my being, and when things are hard and painful, and I do not understand, He does not owe me an explanation. He owes me nothing because He already has given me everything I could ever want: His love (bear in mind I’ve followed Christ for 40 years, reading the Bible daily). It’s been His Grace and Love that has carried me. My only part is that I made sure to be in His Word daily. 

Romans 3:10-12

As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.

All have turned aside; together, they have become worthless; no one does good,

not even one (man without the Holy Spirit).

This is a hard verse because we cannot understand righteousness from God’s perspective. His perspective is sinless, and no one comes close to that. We all measure each other by each other; it’s like grading on a curve, and because of that, it is easy for us to feel good about ourselves, and sinful habits go unchallenged. True Holy conviction is lacking in us unless the Holy Spirit brings it or reveals to us our sin. Sinful habits, thoughts, or ways develop easily. 

Like barnacles on the bottom of ships, they develop because the ship’s hull is constantly in the water (as we are constantly in the world). From time to time, the ship needs to have the barnacles cleaned off. It’s hard work but a necessary job. Once completed, the ship travels faster and is much more efficient in everything it does. Our sinful nature and its habits are just like barnacles to our souls, and they need to be removed. It’s hard work, and because we don’t understand what the Lord is doing (wanting to remove the hindrances and blindness that keep us from seeing Him clearly), we get mad at Him, blame Him, or become so offended that we fall away. That is a wrong response. 

This is a bad example, but it’s like beating your dog because he’s biting your pants and pulling you, but he sees the rattlesnake, and you don’t. Many times, God’s faithfulness appears to be just like this dog; we do not see the danger that awaits us. 

He removes someone or something from us, and we get so mad at Him, but we don’t see how that person or thing stood between us and Him. So in love, He removes it or them, so now we can become direct recipients of His love. I can tell you that this was the reason 100% of the time in my life. 

Idols are things that we put before God; they can be people, things, and or sinful habits, though we would never admit they are idols. The trials show us. We want them more than we want Christ. He must remove them, or we must repent and remove them by His strength. Insecurities, fears, and patterns of thought many have developed since our youth (normally from our parents or events that happened to us) we are blind to. For these, we need His help. Both are barnacles to our soul, with the latter being the most difficult to remove but not impossible. 

If you are aware of these “stumbling blocks (another term for barnacles) in your life, pray first, asking the Lord to show you the verses in scripture that speak of them. With google, or any search engine, you can just ask, “where in the Bible does it speak of fear, insecurity, lust, or loneliness, etc., you will get several scriptures. Look them up, find the ones that speak to you, and copy them. Put them in your phone notes; you must also write them out, taping them to your bathroom mirror and the car dashboard, read them as much as possible, and share your struggle with a trusted friend, seeking prayer. DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS WITHOUT GOD’s WORD. THE VERSES YOU WILL FIND ARE YOUR SWORD AND SHIELD AGAINST THE SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE YOU WILL FACE.

James 5:16

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

With each trial conquered, specific stumbling block(s) are removed. The superficial (that which the world pursues) is replaced with true life as Christ comes into clearer focus. God immensely values us, but we do not even have a clue as long as we pursue our wants and pleasures. We always put our happiness into things, people, or situations we believe will make us happy. Sometimes, He allows us to get them and let these things fail, allowing the emptiness to grow inside. He teaches us that true contentment is not in things, people, or favorable circumstances, for we are all empty vessels apart from Him. 

It’s nice to get things we want, but they are never to be a substitute for Christ. I learned this lesson 30 years ago and have never forgotten it. It is a hard lesson for American Christians, but once learned, oh my, what freedom opens to us. So let’s settle this issue of having faith, not just faith, but trust, forgiveness, joy, peace, all these terms. They find their answer and ability to do in knowing Jesus and nothing else. As we get closer to Him, these attributes, promises, and blessings become more active and permanent. We then begin to fulfill a key truth of becoming a witness of Christ. 

1 Timothy 4:15-16 (ESV translation) 

Practice these things, and immerse yourself in them so that all may see your progress. Keep a close eye on yourself and the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers (see how complete the Bible is; a Bible verse follows up every statement I make)

**** There are several key points that this verse makes, but I only want to make one. Long ago, I read something that, when witnessing, you need to use words. I didn’t understand it at first because of the witnessing I had done; I always used words. I began to understand as I thought about it and studied the scriptures more. As a true believer in Christ, you are always witnessing. Your actions, your kindness, your care, your smile, your calm and joyful spirit (this may be harder for some of us) is constant communication that all points to a life filled with God’s Holy Spirit (if you are not experiencing this then I would be cautious when witnessing. Only speak of what is true in your life. For example, don’t speak of the “peace that passes understanding” if you do not have that). So that when you use words, belief is easy. Your hearer may not completely believe the full message, but there will be no doubt of the sincerity and truth of your words because, day in and day out, your life has demonstrated it.

To know Jesus and pardon me if I offend some of you is to be intimate with Him. The word “to know” in scripture has two meanings; it references the sexual relationship between a man and his wife (sexual relationship between nonwedded people is referenced as fornication; it is not given any honor in the scriptures). As an act in marriage, it is the most intimate and personal relationship that can be had, and it shadows the intimacy Christ seeks with us. 

So, in “knowing” Jesus, we refer to a most personal, intimate, and open relationship. Upon accepting Christ, The Holy Spirit comes into us (the exact words the Bible uses to describe intercourse) to dwell, and it’s not a one-and-done. It is just the beginning of our relationship. Growth happens as we spend time in His Word; in reading and prayer, you feel His presence and hear the Holy Spirit speaking to you. Whatever words you hear in your mind, as in thought, start writing them down, write neatly, date your notes, and review them before starting your next devotional. I always learned more in the review. Vida comes from this background. You will find that He is quite talkative. Also, let me stress that there are times when you do not hear or feel Him; it becomes a walk of faith. Provided you are not concealing any unconfessed sin, or He’s asking you to forgive or be kind to someone, and you are saying no. Any No on our part will put a stop to our growth.

Another analogy that is much less intimate is the example of planting a seed. We plant a seed in the ground, which needs water once planted. Jesus wants us to water our seed of faith through hearing Godly messages, reading His Word, and hearing Godly music. Music is so colored with sexual language that it is very important to listen to Christian music with clean lyrics. It may not have the beat, but sacrifice it for clean lyrics. If you do this as “unto the Lord,” you will be rewarded as your faith grows. Also, the frequency of hearing the gospel is important. 

Imagine if you only hear a Godly message once a week, and the rest of the week, it’s all secular influences, friends, music, and news. Do you think that you will grow “Godly?” Like a seedling getting only 2 hours of sunlight a day. It will be anemic and eventually die. The more “Son-Light” we get, the more strength and growth will occur. Our spiritual intake will not compare to all the secular influences we take in, not to mention our carnal nature that we have to engage with daily, but that’s okay. My walk with God has been built on a half hour a day and an hour on the weekends. God has honored the time I had and matured me. He will use whatever time you give freely. Don’t become legalistic in pursuing Him, for it will not work. Even in doing this, it’s a tug of war at times, and you will sin, but repent and learn from it and get going. 

Therefore, The Holy Spirit seeks permission to put out “roots” in every part of us. That means we must choose to position ourselves in situations and or opportunities where Holiness and Godliness are exalted. And vice versa, we must position ourselves away from and out of situations and circumstances that displease the Lord. Whether at work in ungodly conversations, at home, in my thought life, what I do when I’m alone, in the most personal times, etc. Growth also means allowing Him to throw out what doesn’t please Him. That’s called conviction. 

It’s a most uncomfortable feeling. It’s when you feel uncomfortable, even dirty, and you know that what you’re doing doesn’t please the Holy Spirit that abides/dwells in you. It’s like having sex with someone else who’s not your spouse with your spouse watching. We forget that God sees everything we do. Again, this maturing takes time, but nothing like shocking us into spiritual sobriety. Here’s a great verse that exemplifies the close relationship God wants with us. Listen to His tenderness. 

Psalms 32:8-9 

I will instruct and teach you how you should go and counsel you with my eye upon you. (Only) Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding (stubborn is being implied) which must be curbed (guided) with bit and bridle, or else (the promise of God’s) will not stay with you.” Do you ever wonder where God is? Maybe the better question is, where are you? Imagine that God Almighty will instruct us, teach us, and give our life direction and purpose, and it’s personal, with His eye guiding us. It does not get any better than this. Talking about security and assurance! If you feel lost, guess who got off the path? Repent and return to obedience. 

Also, there is this truth. You could be doing everything right but still lack peace, joy, trust, forgiveness, hope, etc. It is because we do not know Jesus intimately enough, compared to the conflict that faces us; we don’t have peace for the same reason. The roar of the lion, be it of fear, insecurity, lust, worry, etc., is louder than His voice, “peace be still.” Our struggle is greater than my confidence in Him. When I join the gym, I cannot lift 100 pounds; I have to work up to it. Just continue to present your heart and mind to Him, and growth will occur. So, if we struggle with forgiveness, we lack understanding of what He suffered to grant us forgiveness. 

I can guarantee it will not cost you or me what it cost Him. He also suffered God’s wrath as He was hanging there being punished, the Innocent for the guilty; my sins, your sins, and the sins of all who would come unto Him. We will never experience God’s wrath; I can’t imagine that. It is reserved for the devil and his demons and the unrepentant. Joy, peace, freedom, etc., are our reward, though we don’t deserve them, and it’s found in knowing His love for you and me, which deepens as we walk with Him. So, if your only resolve and take away from reading this Vida is the absolute need to know Jesus better through Bible study, prayer, and fellowship, you got it! Praise the Lord! The rest is the Holy Spirit’s job, provided we continue to study, “water the seed.” I would add one more thing: pray for a soft, willing heart. 

As we approach Easter, if you haven’t seen The Chosen, a wonderful, very believable depiction of Christ’s life and the disciples. Most of it can be seen under The Chosen app, which can be downloaded from the App Store. I would strongly encourage you to see it. It is also showing in some theaters, the app will tell you. 

Father God, 

Thank you for this devotional. It’s hard-hitting, seeking to cleanse the soul from all the vices, sins, bad habits, and addictions. Be it porn, alcohol, pride, or gender identity confusion, it’s all set right in knowing your love for us. It may take time, but the answer is found in your love for us. Now, Father, help our weaknesses as we turn ourselves to You, knowing that a repentant heart you will in no wise turn away. 

John 6:35-37

Jesus told them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

The evidence of God’s presence is felt in the reading of Vida. I know that, not as a credit to me but to Him. As I write, I feel His Spirit in me and hear His Words, not mine. So please heed His Words. Thank you, and Amen. 

Have a blessed Easter. This even be your first Easter celebration as a new believer, son, or daugng. I’m so happy for whoever comes to meyou!!!

Thank you, Father, 

Your son by Grace

Arthur