All Hostile to God

 All Hostile to God

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death. (Colossians 1:21–22)

The best news in all the world is that our alienation from God is ended and we are reconciled to the Judge of the universe. God is no longer against us, but for us. Having omnipotent love on our side mightily steels the soul. Life becomes utterly free and daring when the strongest being in the universe is for you.

But Paul’s message of salvation is not good news to those who reject the diagnosis in Colossians 1:21. He says, you “were alienated and hostile in mind.” 

How many people do you know who say, “Apart from God’s grace, I am hostile to God in my mind”? People seldom say, “I hate God.” So, what does Paul mean that people are “hostile in mind” to God before they were reconciled by the blood of Christ? 

I think he means that the hostility is really there toward the true God, but people do not allow themselves to think about the true God. They imagine God to be the way they would like him to be, which seldom includes any possibility that they might be in really serious trouble with him.

But concerning the God who really exists — a God who is sovereign over all things, including sickness and calamity — we were all hostile to him, Paul says. Deep down, we hated his absolute power and authority. 

That any of us is saved is owing to the wonderful truth that the death of Christ obtained the grace by which God conquered our hearts and caused us to love the One we once hated. 

Many are still learning not to be hostile to God. It is a good thing that he is gloriously patient.

Every day in the God's Word

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY JUNE 05, 2026.

SUBJECT: SPIRIT MIND VERSUS FLESHY MIND!

Memory verse: "For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” (Galatians 6 vs 8.) 

READ: Romans 8 vs 5 - 8:

8:5: 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.

8:6: For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

8:7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

8:8: So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

INTIMATION:

According to the passage we read today, there are two minds, not one mind. There is the mind of the flesh, and there is the mind of the spirit. That does not mean you and I have two brains, it simply means that we receive information from our natural mind (which operates without the Holy Spirit), and we get information from our spirit (through which the Holy Spirit communicates directly to us).

The apostle Paul divided people into two categories: those who are dominated by their sinful nature, and those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit. Those who are controlled by their sinful nature are those who take instructions from their fleshy mind, that is being carnally minded. Their minds are focused on their own desires. In a religious context, they are the ones who focus on their ability to perform law in order to save themselves. The carnally minded person is walking in sin, though he or she may not recognize the fact that he or she is in sin. All of us would be in the first category if Jesus hadn’t offered us a way out. 

Those who take instructions from their spirit mind are those who are controlled by the Spirit of God—the Holy Spirit. They are not led by their carnal minds, but by the Holy Spirit Who indwells them. (Romans 8 vs 14; Galatians 5 vs 18.) The Holy Spirit is the only One who knows the mind of God, and is the revealer of the truth. (John 16 vs 13). Those who are controlled by the Spirit of God daily consciously choose to center their lives on God, using the Bible to discover God’s guidelines, and then follow them. In every perplexing situation, they ask themselves, “What would Jesus want me to do in this circumstance?” And when the Holy Spirit points out what is right, they do it eagerly. 

In First Corinthians 2 vs 16, the Bible says, "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” This Scripture tells us that because the Holy Spirit lives in the believers, they have the mind of Christ. The problem is that although they have the mind of Christ and know the Word of God, they don't listen to their spirit which is being enlightened by the Holy Spirit. Instead, they listen to their natural mind, which relies strictly on sense and reason without the Holy Spirit.

In all situations of life, our head will be trying to give us information. It will be yelling at us so loudly that if we don't turn our attention to our spirit we will never hear what the Lord is saying to us in any situation. That is why we must learn to live out of our spirit and not of our head. You see, evil spirits constantly bombard us with negative thoughts. If we receive them and dwell on them, they become ours because the Bible says that as we think in our heart, so are we. (Proverbs 23 vs 7.) If we accept the lies of the devil as reality, then they will become reality to us because of our "faith," our belief in them.

That is why in moments of worry, stress and turmoil we have to simply take the time to turn to our inner man, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, and say, "Lord, what do You have to say about this?" If we listen in faith, He will speak to us and reveal to us the truth of that situation. You and I have two huge vats of information within us. One is carnal information that comes off the top of our head. The other is spiritual information which wells up out of our heart. One is compared to muddy polluted water, and the other is compared to clean drinking water. It is up to us to decide which source we are going to drink from.

Some people try to drink from both sources. That's what the Bible calls being double-minded. (James 1 vs 8.) Do you know what it means to be double-minded? It means that your mind is trying to tell you one thing, and your spirit is trying to tell you just the opposite. Instead of saying, "I'm not going to believe what my mind is telling me because it's a lie since it is different from what the spirit is saying," you get in a cross-fire, going back and forth between the two thoughts.

If you and I are ever going to live the happy, victorious and successful Christian life the Lord wills for us, we are going to have to decide which fountain of information we are going to drink from. We are going to have to learn to live out of our spirit and not out of our head (our mind). The individual who persists on remaining “in the flesh,” is actually working against the plan of God to have all men trust in Him for direction. Such a person is focusing on himself or herself and not God’s grace. This is the man or woman who seeks to walk by sight and without the faith that is necessary to please God (Hebrews 11 vs 6).  

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace to always listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit indwelling me that knows the things of God, that I may please You at all times in doing the right thing as led by Your Spirit, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Dependable in the Mundane

 Dependable in the Mundane

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

One of the most powerful testimonies to the all-sufficiency of God’s future grace is the “faith principle” that has governed the lives of so many missionaries, notably those of Overseas Missionary Fellowship (OMF). 

Without condemning those who follow a different pattern, it has been the practice of those who follow in the steps of Hudson Taylor and George Mueller to move the hearts of supporters to give by directing their requests to God and not to people. 

James H. Taylor, the great-grandson of the founder of OMF, explains how this faith in future grace, rooted in demonstrations of bygone grace, honors God. 

We . . . begin from a position of faith. We believe God does exist. We have become convinced of this in a variety of ways, but all of us have experienced the grace of God in bringing us to know Himself through Jesus Christ and through rebirth by His Spirit. We believe we have good grounds for believing in Him through the historical fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead: we believe that someone who said He would die and rise again, and did it, is credible in every other way. Therefore we are prepared to trust Him, not only for the eternal salvation of our souls, but also for the practical provision of our daily bread and financial support.

OMF publishes testimonies of God’s amazing faithfulness to demonstrate the glory of his all-supplying future grace. “We want to demonstrate that God can be trusted to do all that He says He will do, by sharing how He has provided for such mundane needs as plane tickets, meals, medical expenses, and the regular support of a whole group of Christian people for well over a hundred years.”

What OMF is devoted to is glorifying the dependability of God — in their message and in their method. Hudson Taylor put it this way: “There is a living God. He has spoken in the Bible. He means what He says and will do all that He has promised.” 

Lives of faith are the great mirror of the dependability of God.

Every day in the God's Word

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY JUNE 04, 2026.

SUBJECT: HEARING AND DOING THE WORD OF GOD!

Memory verse: “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1 vs 25.)

READ: Luke 6 vs 47 - 49:

6:47: Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:

6:48: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded on the rock.

6:49: But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.

INTIMATION:

God’s Word is His laws, and they were given to free us to be all He wants us to be. They restrict us from doing what might cripple us and keep us from being our best. God’s guidelines help us follow His path and avoid paths that lead to destruction. It is important to listen to what God’s Word says, but it is much more important to obey it and to do what it says. We can measure the effectiveness of our Bible study by the effect it has on our behavior and attitudes. Do you put into action what you have studied?

God is our Creator, and Maker of all things. He created us for a purpose which He predetermined even before we were born. He said to Prophet Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you, I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1 vs 5.) The Maker knows the purpose for which you and I are made. And the purpose we would serve can only be discerned appropriately by listening to Him and following His guidelines as enumerated in His guidebook—the Bible. His guidebook helps us to build a solid foundation for achieving His purpose. And achieving your life’s purpose is the only ground for a fulfilled life.

As we travel through life, the Bible should be our road map, pointing out safe routes, obstacles to avoid, and our final destination. We must recognize ourselves as pilgrims, travelers here on earth who need to study God’s map to learn the way. If we ignore the map, we will wander aimlessly through life and risk missing our real destination.

God’s Word is like medicine. It goes to work only when we apply it to the affected areas. The Scripture says, “He sent His word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” (Psalm 107 vs 20.) God’s Word heard can only work when applied rightly in our journey of life. It is full of reviving promises of victory in our cruel and evil demonized world. Our world is full of discouragements but God’s Word gives satisfying eternal answers. Read God’s Word and be revived.

God’s Word makes us wise—wiser than our enemies and wiser than any teachers who ignore it. True wisdom goes beyond amassing knowledge; it is applying knowledge in a life-changing way that matters. Intelligent or experienced people are not necessarily wise. Wisdom comes from allowing God’s teachings to guide us.

In the passage we read today, the two lives Jesus compared at the end of the Sermon on the Mount have several points in common; they both build; they both hear Jesus’ teaching, and they both experience the same set of circumstances in life. The difference between them isn’t caused by ignorance but by one ignoring what Jesus said. Externally, their lives may look similar, but the lasting, structural difference will be revealed by the storms of life. The immediate differences in your life when you follow Jesus may not be obvious, but eventually they will turn out to affect even your eternal destiny. 

Obeying God is like building a house on a strong, solid foundation that stands firm when storms come. When life is calm, our foundations don’t seem to matter. But when crises come, our foundations are tested. Be sure your life is built on the solid foundation of knowing and trusting Jesus Christ—hearing His Word and doing the Word.

Most people do not deliberately seek to build on a false or inferior foundation; instead, they just don’t think about their life’s purpose. Many people are headed for destruction, not out of stubbornness but out of thoughtlessness—not giving any thoughts in following the Maker’s guide. Part of our responsibility as believers is to help others stop and think about where their lives are headed, and to point out the consequences of ignoring God’s Word.

In Psalm 119 vs 9, the psalmist asked a pertinent question, “How can a young man cleanse his way?” He then answered the question, “By taking heed according to Your Word.” For instance, everywhere we look in our morally bankrupt world today, we find temptation to fill our minds with thoughts of sexual relationships that God wouldn’t approve. The writer asked a question that troubles us all; "How do we stay pure in a contaminating environment?' We cannot do this on our own but must have counsel and strength more dynamic than the tempting influences around us. Where can we find that strength and wisdom? By reading God’s Word and doing what it says.

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace for the zeal and thirst for Your Word, and endue me with the spirit of complete obedience to Your Word—to do all that it says, that I may be wise to navigate through life’s circumstances in Your guidance, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

What Makes God Proud

 What Makes God Proud

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:16)

I want very much for God to say to me what he said about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: “I am not ashamed to be called your God.”

As risky as it sounds, does this not really mean that God might actually be “proud” to be called my God? Fortunately this wonderful possibility is surrounded (in Hebrews 11:16) by reasons: one before and one after.

Take the one after, first: “God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” 

The first reason he gives why he is not ashamed to be called their God is that he has done something for them. He made them a city — the heavenly city “whose designer and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). So, the first reason he is not ashamed to be called their God is that he has worked for them. Not the other way around.

Now, consider the reason he gives in the front. It goes like this: “They desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God.” 

“Therefore” signals that a reason has just been given for why God is not ashamed to be called our God. The reason is their desire. They desire a better country — that is, a better country than the earthly one they live in; namely, a heavenly one where God is.

When we desire this heavenly city — this dwelling place of God — more than we desire all that this world can give, God is not ashamed to be called our God. When we make much of all that he promises to be for us, he is proud to be our God. This is good news.

So, open your eyes to the better country, the city of God that he has prepared for us, and let yourself desire it with all your heart. God will not be ashamed to be called your God.

Every day in the God's Word

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY JUNE 3, 2026.

SUBJECT : THE IMPARTIAL GOD! 

Memory verse: "And, behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according as his work." (Revelation 22 vs 12.) 

READ: Galatians 6 vs 7 - 10:

Galatians 6:7: Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

6:8: For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

6:9: And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

6:10: Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

INTIMATION:

Our God is certainly not a partial God. He shows no bias, preference, or prejudice in His judgement. His reward is with Him, to give to everyone according to his work. Although His judgement is already working in our lives, but there is a future, and final judgement when Christ returns (Matthew 25 vs 31 - 46), and everyone's life will be reviewed and evaluated. Jesus will look at how we handled gifts, opportunities, relationships, and responsibilities put in our hands in order to determine our rewards.

It would certainly be a surprise if you planted corn in your farm and pumpkins came up. It's a natural law to harvest what we plant. It's true in other areas, too. If you gossip, and guile is found in your tongue, know it now, you will definitely reap what you sow, and God's final judgement will find you out. There is a result for any actions you take. If you plant to please your own desires, you'll harvest a crop of sorrow and evil. If you plant to please God, you'll harvest joy and everlasting life. 

Life is a gift from God to us, and He also gives us His guidelines on how to live appropriately. Although He gave us the guidelines, He also allowed the choice to take it or leave it. There are apparently no restrictions and supervision, resulting in the common attitude of neglect among all. We hear many people say, “I have my life to live the way I choose.” Although there are no restrictions and supervision, but there are examinations, and evaluations of inherent results. The scores recorded in our scorecard determines our rewards. And His reward is with Him to give to everyone according to their scores.

This is an area that the accuser of brethren—Satan—has always hyped, to incite the Lord against us for any wrongdoings against His laws. The vital question is, “How are you leading your life?”; How is your responsibility and integrity on your assignment or job? Do you neglect your jobs or responsibilities because of poor supervision? For a good scorecard, we should lead our lives as if God is physically present supervising us. 

The onus is on believers, wherever they find themselves, to handle their responsibilities, and do their jobs as if Jesus Christ were their supervisor. For instance, in your place of work, can you be trusted to do your best even when the boss is not around? Do you work hard with enthusiasm? Remember that no matter what you do or whom you work for, the one you ultimately should want to please is our Father in heaven.

God’s judgement starts here with us on earth, and in His final judgement at the second coming of Christ, He will separate His obedient believers from pretenders and unbelievers. The real evidence of our belief is the way we act. We are to treat all persons we encounter as if they were Jesus. Though it is not an easy task. But what we do shows what we really think about Christ's words to us.

For instance, the Scripture says, "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." (Luke 6 vs 37 - 38.)

Now, how is your relationship with other people? What do you give to others? What do you give to God? Are you resentful? Are you always peaking guile? Do you gossip about others? Do you give love and care to others? Are you judgmental? Do you easily condemn others? Are you always returning to others as they did to you, especially in wrong doing? These are not Christlike! 

If we are critical rather than compassionate, we will also receive criticism. If we treat others generously, graciously, and compassionately, these qualities, however, will come back to us in full measure. We are to love others, not judge them. Those who are doing God's commandments are those who are seeking to purify themselves from a sinful way of life. They strive daily to remain faithful and ready for Christ's return. And their reward of eternal life with Christ is with Him to give every one according to their works. The Scriptures note, “But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.” (Colossians 3 vs 25.) And, “Knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.” (Ephesians 6 vs 8.)

A daily personal review of the "Ten Commandments" of God against your performance, will always put you on the guard. Above all, let your guiding principle be the "Great Commandment" of God; Love for God, and your neighbor. In this, all the commandments of God are fulfilled. (see Matthew 22 vs 36 - 40.)

Prayer: Abba Father, Your Word is a light to my path, and a lamp to my feet. Give me the grace to walk in accordance with Your precepts and commandments, strengthen me in my inner man to do Your Will at all times, in Jesus' Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Faith for the Impossible

 Faith for the Impossible

He grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. (Romans 4:20–21)

Paul has in mind a special reason why faith glorifies God’s future grace. Simply put, the reason is that this God-glorifying faith is a future-oriented confidence in God’s integrity and power and wisdom to follow through on all his promises. 

Paul illustrates this faith with Abraham’s response to the promise of God: that he would be the father of many nations even though he was old and his wife was barren (Romans 4:18). “In hope he believed against hope,” that is, he had faith in the future grace of God’s promise, in spite of all human evidences to the contrary. 

He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. (Romans 4:19–21)

The faith of Abraham was a faith in the promise of God to make him the father of many nations. This faith glorified God because it called attention to all the omnipotent, supernatural resources of God that would be required to fulfill it. 

Abraham was too old to have children, and Sarah was barren. Not only that: How do you turn a son or two into “many nations,” which God said Abraham would be the father of? It all seemed totally impossible. 

Therefore, Abraham’s faith glorified God by being fully assured that he could and would do the humanly impossible. This is the faith we are called to have. That God will do for us what we could never do for ourselves.