THE CERTAINTY IN GOD’S WORD!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 18, 2019.

SUBJECT : THE CERTAINTY IN GOD’S WORD!

Memory verse: "God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should repent, has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Numbers 23 vs 19.)

READ: Isaiah 55 vs 10 - 11:

55:10: For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
55:11: So shall My Word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

INTIMATION: 

The Word of God is certain and cannot be broken; it is constant and stands forever as the Owner. The Scripture, in John 1 vs 1 - 3, says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." God and His Son Jesus are inseparable. And Jesus is the Word. Therefore, God cannot be separated from His Word. Jesus lives, hence every Word of God abides. The word of man is as grass, but the Word of God lives on through the ages (Isaiah 40 vs 8).

It behoves on us to put our confidence and trust in that Word that cannot be broken. 

God, by His nature, cannot lie. The Bible says in Second Timothy 2 vs 13, "He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself" No word from God can ever be defaulted. There never can be any denying of His own Word. We did not ask Him to write the Word, nor is He mindful of our perception of His Word. In Isaiah 45 vs 23 God said, "By myself have I sworn." This is repeating what He said to Abraham (Genesis 22 vs 16). God has made even His throne back of His Word. I wonder how much some of our hearts can take it. It is like God throwing a cable about the throne, dropping the cable over for us to grasp. Think of it this way; He said, "Do you see, I am putting my throne as surety for My Word. My very Self is enwrapped in this." This is awesome!

Have you ever noticed Hebrews 6 vs 18, "That by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation....." The two immutable things are God's nature and His promise. God embodies all truth, you can be secure in His promises; you don't need to wonder if He will change His plans because by His nature He will never change for He said "I am the Lord, I change not." (Malachi 3 vs 6).

Our hope is secure and immovable; anchored in God, just as a ship’s anchor holds firmly to the seabed. To the true seeker who comes to God in belief, God gives an unconditional promise of acceptance. When you ask God with openness, honesty, and sincerity to save you from your sins, He will do it because He has said so. This truth should give you encouragement, assurance, and confidence.

The Scripture, Jeremiah 1 vs 12, says, “...for I will hasten my word to perform it.” 

Impassable gulfs becomes level roads to us when we realize that God watches over His Word and is ready to perform it. We take His Word and carry it into His presence and repeat it and say, "Father, this is what you said." We would not say that we knew that He kept His Word. That is an insult. We just look up and say, Father I thank you." It is in this assurance that Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away." (Matthew 24 vs 35; Mark 13 vs 31; Luke 21 vs 33).

Let us now look at Hebrews 7 vs 22, "By so much more Jesus has become the surety of a better covenant." The better covenant is also called the new covenant or testament. It is new and better because now we have the Father, Jesus, and the Throne back of every word. Is this not tremendous? If the Word should fail, it will dethrone the Triune God. It cannot fail even when the heaven and earth pass away.

The Scripture, in Hebrews 4 vs 12 - 13, says, "For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." The Word of God is living, life-changing and dynamic as it works in us. God's Word reveals who we are and what we are not. It penetrates the core of our moral and spiritual life. It discerns what is within us, both 

How limitless becomes our ministry when we realize the integrity of the Word, when we know we have what He says we have, when we know we are what He says we are, when we know we can do what He says we can do. We step out of the narrow limits of a theology and sense knowledge into the boundless ability of God. Now we understand what it means when we say, "I can do all things in Him who strengthens me." With quiet confidence we face the impossible, knowing that He is the Master.

Prayer: Abba Father, forever Your Word is settled in heaven. All things were made by Your Word. Your Word is true from the beginning, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. Let the light of Your unfailing Word flood my heart at all times, in Jesus’ Name I prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

JESUS THE WAY!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY DECEMBER 17, 2019.

SUBJECT: JESUS THE WAY! 

Memory verse: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14 vs 6.)

READ: John 14 vs 7 - 11:

14:7: If you had known Me, you should have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.
14:8: Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.
14:9: 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’?
14:10: Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I I do not speak of My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.

14:11: Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

INTIMATION:

God has preordained our pathways. God, from the beginning, has 

set each of us apart for a particular purpose or purposes, and particular ways to function respectively. Identifying the preordained pathway for you ensures your leading a glorious, victorious, pleasurable, joyous, and stress-free life, as predetermined by God—our Loving Father. 

Since God has preplanned all things concerning us, it is therefore given, and realistic that all keys to our preordained pathways are with Him. God, in His infinite wisdom, mercy, unparalleled love, and faithfulness sent us His Son to help us identify our predetermined pathways through the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him who fills all in all. 

In our memory verse, Jesus said, “

I am the way, the truth, and the life...." Three principal things are in Him; ‘the way,’ ‘the truth,’ and ‘the life.’ Therefore, outside of Jesus you are in the wrong way, you can’t discover the truth, and you have no life. 

Jesus, as the way, is our path to the Father. He is one with the Father, and the same with the Father. He is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1 vs 15) and the exact representation of God. Jesus is not only equal to God (Philippians 2 vs 6), He is God (John 10 vs 30 & 38). 

As the truth, He is the reality of all God’s promises. He not only reflects God, but He reveals God to us (John 1 vs 18; 14 vs 9). 

Jesus said these of Himself, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner." "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgement is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me." 

"....When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as the Father taught Me, I speak these things" (

John 5 vs 19, 30 & 

8 vs 28).

As the Life, He joins His divine life to ours, both now and eternally. He is supreme over all creation (Colossians 1 vs 15), and has all priority and authority. He came from heaven, not the dust of the earth (First Corinthians 15 vs 47), and He is Lord over all (Romans 9 vs 5; 10 vs 11 - 13). He is, in truth, the only living way to the Father.

Following Jesus is knowing the way of the Father. No one has seen the Father, and no one can see Him. But Jesus Christ came to reveal the Father to us. Observing the ways of Jesus is tantamount to observing the ways of the Father, because He is the same with the Father. Everything you need is in Him, and without Him you can do nothing (John 15 vs 5).

Now Jesus has come, and has gone back to the Father, to come again for the final union in marriage with His people—‘the marriage of the Lamb’ (Revelation 19 vs 7 & 9). While He is away, He has left with us the instructions on what to do, and also has given us an Helper, just to help us to occupy until He comes (Luke 19 vs 13). The instructions are in the Holy Book—the Bible, and our Helper is the Holy Spirit. Outside of these two, you will never discover the way.

The Book of instruction—the Bible—tells us that the starting point is embracing Jesus and declaring Him as Savior and Lord  of your life. When you do this, He will help you to ensure that all other things would fall in pleasant places if you follow His instructions (Psalm 16 vs 6). Therefore, today if you hear His voice do not harden your heart. Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11 vs 28.)

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for the gift of Your only begotten Son Jesus Christ, who gave His life for me on the cross to pay the wages of my sin. I wholeheartedly declare Jesus as my Lord and personal Savior. O Lord, reveal to me the predetermined pathway for my effective functioning according to Your will for my life, in Jesus Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

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SOME FACTS ABOUT THE BELIEVER!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY DECEMBER 16, 2019.

SUBJECT : SOME FACTS ABOUT THE BELIEVER!

Memory verse: "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” (John 1 vs 12.)

READ: John 14 vs 12 - 14:

14:12: Most assuredly, I say to you, he that believes in Me, the works I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 

14:13: And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14:14: If you ask any thing in My name, I will do it.

INTIMATION: 

The “Believer” is a child of God, a new creation. His spirit has been recreated. He has come into the family of God. He is in the realm of the supernatural. He is in perfect union with the Master—Jesus Christ. Jesus says, "All things are possible to him that believes." The believing one has come into the family of God, and has become a new creation, created in Christ Jesus. This is not a hyperbole, this is just a statement of fact. Just as all things were possible with Jesus, all things are possible to the believer through the Name of Jesus.

The Scripture, in First John 4 vs 4, says, "You are of God, my little children, and have overcome them because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." As a “Believer” you grasp it. Your heart knows it. You are of God, born from above. God Himself recreated you, imparted to your spirit His own nature. Now you stand before Him as though you had never been weak, you had never been a failure, orhad never been under condemnation. Of the recreated man He says, "There is now no condemnation to you because you are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8 vs 1.)

There is a perfect union of the spirit of the “Believer” with the Spirit of Christ; he is His representative here on earth. God says that you are an ambassador on behalf of Christ. An ambassador is an empowered representative of a country where his citizenship is located. You are born of heaven; your citizenship is there. You have received your credentials from heaven; God is your Father, and you are His child.

The “Believer” has a mighty ministry given to him or her by Jesus when He said, "Go you therefore and make disciples of the nations," ‘Don't forget to teach them all that I have commanded you.’ (Matthew 28 vs 19 - 20.) Jesus went to the Father to become the Mediator, Intercessor, Savior, Advocate, and Lord of the Church. He is now at the right hand of the Father. He enables the “Believer” to take His place and do the same kind of works that He did before He went away.

In the passage we read today, Jesus gave the “Believer” the power of attorney to use His name: "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do. "If you ask anything in my name, that will I do." This is dealing with demoniacal forces as illustrated in Acts 3 where we see the man lying at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, evidently with infantile paralysis. "And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him said, 'Look on us.' "In the name of Jesus of Nazareth rise up and walk." (John 3 vs 6.) In the name he broke the dominion of Satan over the man. That man had believed in sickness, weakness, and he was helpless. The Name of Jesus broke the dominion of faith in disease and weakness and in its place gave perfect healing and a new faith in health.

Jesus says to the “Believer,” "Whatever you shall ask in my name." That word, "ask," in Greek is "demand." Therefore, He says "Whatever you demand in my name, I shall make good." We are coming into the realm of the supernatural where we see ourselves as representatives of Omnipotence, and where we have an opportunity to draw on Omnipotence to meet Satan in open combat.

In John 15 vs 7 the Bible says, "If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done to you." The “Believer” is in the realm of cooperation with the Father, taking Jesus' place here on earth and acting in His stead; doing the work that He began to do. He came to destroy the works of the adversary, and the “Believer” is continuing that work of destruction. He is a co-laborers, working under His direction, setting men free from the dominion of the black prince.

You see the “Believer” is united with Him in all authority, and ability. You remember that Jesus said just before His accession in Acts 1 vs 8, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be My witnesses." The word "power" comes from the Greek word "dunamis", which means ability. According to His words, the “Believer” has the ability to use His name and cast out demons and heal the sick, deliver men from bondage of want into the liberty wherewith He has made him free. The “Believer” has the ability to understand Him and to make Him known. 

Ability means wisdom. Wisdom is ability to use knowledge and to handle circumstances and take advantage of opportunities. The “Believer” has the very nature of God. God is love, therefore, the “Believer” is a love creation, with the ability to love even as He loved. He has God in him. "For it is God who is at work within him, willing and working His own good pleasure." (See Philippians 2 vs 13.)

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for the awesome privilege of sonship, and joint heir with Christ. Engrace me to witness appropriately for You as an ambassador of Christ, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen. 

PRAISE THE LORD!

YOUR SPIRITUAL HEART RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY DECEMBER 15, 2019.

SUBJECT : YOUR SPIRITUAL HEART RELATIONSHIP WITH  GOD.

Memory verse: "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God."

 (Psalm 42 vs  1.)

READ: Exodus 33 vs 8 - 11:

33:8: So it was, whenever Moses went out to the tabernacle, that all the people rose, and each man stood at his tent door and watched Moses until he had gone into the tabernacle. 

33:9: And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.

33:10: All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each one in his tent door.

33:11: So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend...

INTIMATION:

How is your heart relationship with God? Throughout our lives, we look for those rare individuals with whom we feel relaxed and comfortable and can share our heart and our secrets and know they will not betray us, who will always be there for us, and in whom we can have confidence—individuals we can respect and who in turn admire us and want us to be successful.

God wants to be in that type of role with you, and is even better than any earthly companion. For God is a perfect companion: the One who knows the road you are traveling on and all of the problems that lay ahead; the One who can give you dependable advice; the One who wants to share your life with you and will not put you down when you stumble; the One who will never desert you if you fail or do not live up to His standards. He accepts you just as you are, wants to be with you forever, is able to help you be all that you can be, and can enable you either to avoid or overcome every obstacle or problem in your life.

A wise person once said, "When God measures you, He puts the tape around your heart, not your head." So what is your heart relationship with God? Our memory verse indicates the heart relationship of David, the man God testified thus, "A man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will." ( Acts 13 vs 22.) In the passage we read today, Moses had such heart relationship with God, that he enjoyed the presence of God most times. God spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. 

Spiritual heart relationship can best be explained through a human illustration. Some children grow up in families where their father is a strong disciplinarian. They obey because they do not want to suffer the wrath of their father. Although they may even respect the father and his accomplishments, they want nothing to do with him on a personal basis. It is not unusual for such children to dread the return of their father in the evening. As adults they spend as little time with him as possible. There is a physical relationship with obedience, but not the close heart relationship. Fear and mistrust are barriers to their ever being close.

On the other hand, some have fathers who have definite standards and rules to obey, but the relationship is one of love and respect. They are excited when Dad walks through the door at night. They love the weekends because Dad can be with them and they do fun things together. Such children obey because they love and trust their father, not because they fear him or the consequences of disobedience. 

In our relationship with God we can respond and obey either out of love or out of fear.

When we realize God's desire to be our ‘Faithful Companion’ in our relationship, we find Him less an authority figure and more a desirable companion Who is no less in charge in our lives. We now realize He is on our side, how much He wants the best for us and how absolutely dependable He is. The inborn unhealthy fear of God that stems from our sin nature and is often stirred up by the enemy of our souls, is weakening as we are getting a clearer picture of who He really is.

Unfortunately many people never really seek Him with all their hearts. They are content to learn as a child would. That is, learning and following rules in order to avoid big problems, but not as willing to spend any great period of time with the Lord in the free time they have. There is little delight in the relationship, only obedience out of necessity. They have salvation from penalty of sin, but they will enter heaven "through the flames" (First Corinthians 3 vs 15). They have yet to cross that line of spiritual familial relationship into spiritual heart relationship.

First Corinthians 3 vs 15 states "If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." This means that good work will be rewarded; unfaithful or inferior work will be discounted. Though unfaithful workers will be saved, but like people escaping from a burning building, all their possessions (accomplishments) will be lost. Those are the people Jesus Christ described as the least in the kingdom of God. 

Prayer: Abba Father, I desire You as my companion. Create in me Your steadfast Spirit, that my heart will pant for You at all times. My utmost heart desire is an intimate relationship with You. O Lord, engrace me to accomplish this, in Jesus' Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

 

WHEN GOD SEEMS FAR AWAY!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY DECEMBER 14, 2019.

SUBJECT : WHEN GOD SEEMS FAR AWAY!

Memory verse: "If He goes by me, I do not see Him; if He moves past, I do not perceive Him.” (Job 9 vs 11.)

READ: Job 23 vs 8 - 12:

23:8: Look, I go forward, but He is not there. And backward, but I cannot perceive Him; 23:9: When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him. 

23:10: But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.

23:11: My foot has held fast to His steps; I have I kept His way and not turned aside.
23:12: I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

INTIMATION: 
There are times when God seems far away, and you eventually feels abandoned. You may have been working in righteousness, and obedience to God, but still nothing seems to work for you. Worst still, you may look around you and see the wicked and unrighteous prospering. People may even be asking you, “Where is your God.” When God seems distant, you may feel that He is angry with you or is disciplining you for some sin. In fact, sin does disconnect us from intimate fellowship with God. We grieve His Spirit and quench our fellowship with Him by disobedience, conflict with others, busyness, friendship with the world, and other sins. But often this feeling of abandonment or estrangement from God has nothing to do with sin. It is a test of faith, and is obvious we all must face this test. In such situations, will you continue to love, trust, obey, and worship God, even when you have no sense of his presence or visible evidence of His work in your life? That is just the right thing to do!

The most common mistake christians make in worship today is seeking an experience rather than seeking God. They look for a feeling, and if it happens, they conclude that they have worshiped. This is very wrong! In fact, God often removes our feelings so we won't depend on them. Seeking a feeling, even the feeling of closeness to Christ, is not worship. When you are baby Christian, God gives you a lot of confirming emotions and often answers the most immature, self-centered prayers, so you'll know He exists. But as you grow in faith, He will wean you of these dependencies. 

God's omnipresence and the manifestation of His presence are two different things. One is a fact, the other is often a feeling. God is always present, even when you unaware of Him, and His presence is too profound to be measured by mere emotion. 

Of course, God wants you to sense His presence, but He's more concerned that you trust Him than that you feel Him. Faith, not feelings, pleases God. 

The situations that will stretch your faith most will be those times when life falls apart and God is nowhere to be found. This happened to Job. On a single day he lost everything—his family, his business, his health, and everything he owned. Most discouraging, for thirty-seven chapters in the Book of Job God said nothing! The realization of the fact that God, at some points in our lives, tests us with His deliberate silence to observe our commitment and trust in Him, gave Job hope when he could not feel God's presence in his life. He said, "Look, I go forward, but He is not there. And backward, but I cannot perceive Him; When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him. But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold." (Job 23 vs 8 - 10.) What a great and awesome faith!

Job declared his confidence in his integrity and God's justice. We are always likely to have hidden sin in our lives, sin we don't even know about because God's standards are so high and our performance is so imperfect. The Scripture states in Isaiah 64 vs 6, "But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags." If we are true believers, however, all our sins are forgiven because of what Christ did on the cross in our behalf. 

The Bible also teaches that even if we feel guilty or our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our feelings and hearts, "For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things" (First John 3 vs 20). If we are true believers, however, all our sins are forgiven because of what Christ did on the cross in our behalf (Romans 5 vs 1; 8 vs 1). God has forgiven and accepted us, and we are forgiven indeed. His forgiveness and cleansing are sufficient; they overrule our nagging doubts. The Holy Spirit in us is our proof that we are forgiven in God's eyes even though we may feel guilty. 

How do you praise God when you don't understand what's happening in your life and God is silent? How do you stay connected in a crisis without communication? How do you keep your eyes on Jesus when they're full of tears? You do what Job did: "Then Job arose,......and fell to the ground and worshiped. And He said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong." (Job 1 vs 20 - 22.)

Job didn't hide his overwhelming grief. He had not lost his faith in God; instead, his emotions showed that he was human and that he loved his family. God created our emotions, and it is not sinful or inappropriate to express them as Job did. Even the Lord Jesus expressed His when He wept (John 11 vs 35). If you have experienced a deep loss, a disappointment, or a heartbreak, admit your feelings to yourself and others, and grieve. Job had lost his possessions and family, but he reacted rightly toward God by acknowledging God's sovereign authority over everything God had given him. Job proved that people can love God for who He is, not for what He gives.

Prayer: Abba Father, forever Yours I am and Yours I want to be. Do to me and with as it is pleasing to You, in Jesus’ Name I prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE BEST GIFT OF LOVE IS YOUR TIME!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY DECEMBER 13, 2019.

SUBJECT : THE BEST GIFT OF LOVE IS YOUR TIME!

Memory verse: "When I passed by you again and looked upon you, Indeed your time was the time of love, so I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you and you became Mine,” says the Lord God.” (Ezekiel 16 vs 8.)

READ: Hebrews 13 vs 1 - 3:

13:1: Let brotherly love continue.
13:2: Be not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.

13:3: Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.

13:4: Marriage is honourable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
13:5: Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”

INTIMATION:

Your love is best expressed in your time. A time of love is very precious, even to the Lord. In our memory verse, when the Lord observed Jerusalem and saw their time of love, He pitied the people and entered into a covenant with them to be their God and the people His. The importance of things can be measured by how much time we are willing to invest in them. If you love someone or something, you obviously spend more time thinking and relishing it. The more time you give to something or someone, the more you reveal its importance and value to you, and your love for it. Your priorities are usually expressed in your time allocation. 

Time is your most precious gift because you only have a set amount of it. Time lost is irredeemable. You can make more money, but you can't make more time. Therefore, when you give someone your time, or allocate more of your time to something, you are giving them a portion of your most precious gift, a portion of you life that you'll never get back. Your time is your life. 

Love is expressed in action, not just word. Action requires time. It is not enough just to say something or relationships are important; we must prove it in action by investing our time. Words alone are worthless. The Scripture, in First John 3 vs 18, says, "My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth." How clearly do your actions say you really love others? Are you as generous as you should be with your money, possessions, and time?

In the parable of the Final Judgement in Matthew 25, Jesus said, “For I was hungry you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visitedMe; I was in prison and you came to Me.” (Matthew 25 vs 35 - 36.) The parable describes acts of mercy we all can do every day and require our most precious gift—our time. These acts do not depend on wealth, ability, or intelligence, they are simple acts freely given and freely received. Jesus demands our personal involvement in caring for others’ needs. Those who did not do these things will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. Make sure that your love runs deep enough to affect your hospitality, empathy, fidelity, and contentment. And all these require your time!

Real love for others produces tangible actions. Some people say they cannot be hospitable because their homes are not large enough or nice enough. But even if you have no more than a table and two chairs in a rented room, there are people who would be grateful to spend time in your home. Are there visitors to your church with whom you could share a meal? Do you know single people who would enjoy an evening of conversation? Is there any way your home could meet the needs of traveling missionaries? Hospitality simply means making other people feel comfortable and at home.

The essence of love is not in what we think or do or provide for others, but in how much you give of yourselves. Men, in particular, often don't understand this. Many think that when they have provided the needs of their family, they have done it all. You will hear comments from men like; "I don't understand my wife and kids. I provide everything they need. What more could they want?" They want you! They want your most precious gift—your time. Nothing can take the place of that. The most desired gift of love is not diamonds or roses or chocolate. It is focused attention. 

Whenever you give your time, you are making a sacrifice, and sacrifice is the essence of love. The Scripture, in Ephesians 5 vs 2, gives us a model of this by Jesus Christ, "And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice for a sweet-smelling aroma." Just as children imitate parents, we should imitate Jesus. His great love for us led Him to sacrifice Himself so that we might live eternally. Our love for others should be of the same kind—a love that goes beyond affection to self-sacrificing service, offering your best—your time.

God created you to worship and serve Him. This requires the best of you—your time. How then do you give God your time? Most people will wake up in the morning, and are in a hurry to rush out into their daily pursuit without making out time for the Lord, to worship Him which is the reason we are created. Even when some worship, they don't give quality time to the Lord. It is most unreasonable! Their daily pursuit will take better of their time than their Creator and Owner of all things, including the things they are rushing after. For some, there is no time to worship in the night, it is for their rest. Some don't have time to read the Bible talk less of meditating on the Word, forgetting that the Lord said, only in doing so that you prosper and have good success. (See Joshua 1 vs 8; Psalm 1 vs 2 - 3.)

Many people believe that they offering in church, and meetings are enough sacrifice. Do not be deceived, offering or sacrifices not made out of love profits you nothing. You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving. The Scripture, in John 3 vs 16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave...." Remember God owns all things, and has only put some in your care. If you are bringing back what He gave you without a show of your love to Him, you are a time waster. Love means giving up; yielding my preferences, comfort, goals, security, money, energy, or most especially your time for the benefit of someone else.

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace for the best use of my time for You and others, that I may always offer my best gift of love to You and others, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

YOUR LOVE IS BEST EXPRESSED NOW!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY DECEMBER 12, 2019.

SUBJECT : YOUR LOVE IS BEST EXPRESSED NOW!

Memory verse: "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." 

(

Galatians 6 vs 10

.)

READ: Proverbs 3 vs 27 - 28:

3:27: Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so. 

3:28: Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it," when you have it with you.

INTIMATION:
The opportunity to showcase your love is all around you, and now is the best time to show it. Sometimes procrastination is a legitimate response to a trivial task. But because love is what matters most, it takes priority over all other things. God's command is for you to do good, and right. It is inconsequential whether you receive word of thanks or not. Though it is discouraging when you don't receive any encouragement or acknowledgment, but it is not a reason not to do good. We are challenged to keep doing good and trust God for the results. In due time, we will reap a harvest of blessing.

The Bible stresses repeatedly, saying, "The time is now," to show love. In the passage we read today, the Scripture clearly states that we should not withhold doing good from those whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so. Some of us are better blessed materially or financially than others, and God blesses us to bless others (Genesis 12 vs 2). Therefore, if God has given you an advantage in possessions over others, don’t hesitate to favor others when you are aware of their handicap and their needs it is in your power to give. 

The time to show love is now. Delaying to do good is inconsiderate and unfair, whatever it is; whether it is showing appreciation, giving thanks, returning a tool, fulfilling a promise, or even offering useful advice. Procrastination or withholding destroys trust and creates a great inconvenience. Be as eager to do good as you are to have good done to you. 

Why is now the best time to express love? Because you don't know how long you will have the opportunity. Circumstances change; people die, children grow up, you have no guarantee of tomorrow. If you want to express love, do it now. It is for this reason that the Scripture, in Ephesians 5 vs 15 - 16, says, "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

Knowing that one day you will stand before God, here are some questions you need to consider: (1) How will you explain those times when projects or things were more important to you than people? (2) Who do you need to start spending more time with? (3) What do you need to cut out of your schedule to create time to show love to God, and people? (4) What sacrifices do you need to make? The sincere, and right answers to these questions is the starting point to doing right, and good. It doesn't end in right answers, but you must be a doer. The act of not doing is being rebellious, and stubborn to God, and rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. (See First Samuel 15 vs 23.)

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace of promptness in my expression of love to others. O Lord, let nothing come between You and I, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!