Versaday

LIFE IN HIM

In him was life; and the life was the light of men. John 1:4

Gen. 2.7 ``And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”  We still have physical life, but when we sinned we died spiritually; that is why Jesus said, ``I am come that ye might have life.”  We have physical , life and we have soul life, but we are dead spiritually until we come to Jesus who alone can impart life to us by means of His work on the cross, in dying for the sins of the world. ``In him was life.” We are certainly alive to politics, the SUPER BOWL, finances and physical needs, but without the new birth, we are dead to the things of the Spirit. Talk to someone about heaven, the Bible, or Jesus and they are soon fidgeting, looking at their watch and remembering some other pressing appointment that calls them away. Tell them that our sins were laid on Jesus; that his righteousness was placed on us, that we are accountable to God, and you will soon see that some other business needs their attention and they must go. Jesus said ``I am come that ye might have LIFE and that ye might have it more abundantly.” Have you come to Him for LIFE?

Borrowed Light

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Matthew 5:14

Jesus said, ``I am the light of the world.” So as we live the Word and obey the Savior we reflect His light even as the moon has no light of its’ own  but reflects the sunlight. Many wish to hide their light under a basket or covered up so as not to be noticed. ``Go along to get along.” ``Don’t make waves,” but Jesus said if we are ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of us. Maybe your light is feeble, but it is the only light the world has to show them their pitfalls and danger and to point them to safety and salvation in the Savior. Jesus said,  ``Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Jesus said ``If you confess me before men, I will confess you before my Father which is in heaven, but if you deny me before men, I will deny you before my Father which is in heaven. Remember and FOLLOW the words of the child’s song, ``This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.”

The Light of the World

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalms 119:105

The Bible says in 1 John that the whole world lies in darkness; THE WHOLE WORLD. This refers to complete confusion and mystification about spiritual things; why we are here, what happens when we die, and what life is all about. The unsaved live solely for self-gratification and life is spent fulfilling the lusts of the flesh, seeking pleasure and self-promotion without a clue as to the real issues of life. The Bible calls this walking in darkness. In this dark night of the soul, God has given us light to guide us; His precious word, the Bible. It is the only spiritual light on our path and it leads us the one who is THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD; JESUS.

Grace and Truth from Jesus

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:17

Moses was as great a man as any in history. Through him God gave us the Law which tells us what we should and should not do, and thusly reveals to us  our character as law breakers and transgressors against the will and law of God. Because of our natural character of sinfulness, willfulness and rule-breaking which we everywhere witness in all places and at all times and as reported in our daily newspapers and newscasts, the law can only show us what we are, but can give us no power to change. What a dark and somber picture. Then we see the Lamb of God, our blessed Savior Jesus Christ! What a contrast! No longer the dark, gloomy thunderclouds of God’s wrath because of our willful disobedience, but grace and truth, forgiveness, blessing and acceptance with God. Jesus fulfilled all the demands of the law by obedience to the Father’s will, and then paid the price for our disobedience by His death on the cross. When we come to Jesus, we are born again, born from above, born of God and we are made a new person in Him. Moses was a great man and God used him to reveal the law that can only work wrath and reveal guilt and shame but GRACE AND TRUTH CAME BY JESUS CHRIST! Blessed be his name forever. Amen

Reason to Praise

Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Isaiah 12:5

We are exhorted here to sing praises to the LORD. Then we are told the reason; for He hath done excellent things. When He beheld our world seething in lust, sin, and rebellion against God, he could have left us to the awful consequences, but God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son to save us from our sins; sing praises to the LORD. He was willing to be crucified in our place. Sing praise to the LORD. He triumphed over death and rose from the grave. Sing praises to the LORD. He is preparing a place for us in heaven and is coming again to receive us unto Himself. Sing praises to the LORD.

Following Christ's example

Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. Romans 12:17

This is a tough one. It is in our nature to lash out when offended. When we do it starts a cycle of evil that goes back and forth, sometimes grows to huge proportions with lasting damage and consequences. It is like the well known feud of the mountaineers the Hatfields and McCoys; it goes on and on. God says that we should not render evil for evil. Let us look to the example of our Savior 1Peter 3:21-24. ``For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”  Let us walk in the Spirit.

Using the Key

So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding. Proverbs 2:2

There is information out there to tell you how to do what you need to do; information about everything. There is wisdom in the Bible, the living Word of God to make you wise unto salvation through Jesus Christ, and to give you understanding about why we are here, what God expects from us, and how to live our lives. If this knowledge is available in the Bible, how come there is so much moral corruption, deceit, crime, broken homes and marriages, misery and regret?  The answer: Because we do not read and obey the Word of God. A key only works if you use it. There is a proverb in Spanish that  says, ``There is no worse deaf person than he who will not  hear.”  God says, ``How long will you not hearken to my word.?”  And ``Turn ye, turn ye, for why will you die?” Come to the Lord with a willing heart and an open mind and a new universe will open up to you. Jesus stands with outstretched arms and says, ``Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

God's School

Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Psalms 34:11

Are we not all like children in regard to our knowledge of God? David addresses us as such and reveals to us that the curriculum in this school is ``the fear of the LORD’’.  Being a man of war, David could have instructed in the use of the sword; being a musician he could have instructed in music; being a king, in statecraft. Instead, he teaches the most essential, the most vital and useful thing to learn; THE FEAR OF THE LORD. This word fear doesn’t mean a slavish dread, but reverence and respect. Elsewhere the Bible says that ``the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” To honor God, instruct your children and TRAIN them in the Word of God; bring Him tithes and offerings, keep yourself from all impurity and lasciviousness and serve Him with your whole heart. And now…… the Postgraduate course in this school is found in John 5:23. Jesus said ``That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which has sent Him.” What have you done with Jesus, and in what grade are you in this school?

Training A Child

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

One of the biggest problems of our age is undisciplined and unruly children. They grow up to be undisciplined and unruly adults ungoverned by principles of morality, hard work and fair play, but guided by self-will and the desire for pleasure and self-gratification. There are two sides to today’s verse; negative and positive. First, correction and discipline is necessary to get a child to mind, that is, to obey his parents and his elders. ``Honor thy father and mother.”  Just a little tap on the wrist and a look and a word of displeasure is enough. Do it in love, and be consistent and firm, and stick with it until the child is ``trained” and obeys you and desires to please you. You don’t have to be a brute or monster and beat the child. USE COMMON SENSE.

The 2^nd part is POSITIVE, that is, habits that you guide him into forming. Take him to church. Let him see that you fear God and believe in God. Teach him to pray and read his Bible. Guide him in these things until they are habits, and: and when he is old, he will not depart from them. If we are in chaos and problems in our society, you can trace it to the parents and the training, or lack of it that was administered or neglected.  Parents have an awesome  responsibility. ``The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.”  Love your children, pray for them and with them , take them to church to worship and honor God, and may God Bless America.

Standing Firm

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12

Remember Peter’s SELF confidence. ``If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise.” Yet before the rooster crowed two times, he had already denied Christ three times. His confidence was in himself; in his own strength and determination. The Bible says cursed be he that trusteth in an arm of flesh; and Paul said, ``I know that in me, that is in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing.” What is the solution? Fellowship with Christ; morning prayers and devotions, reading and meditating on the Word and….. The Bible says: ``Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”