Tuesday, August 19, 2008

BELIEF

Earlier, I mentioned that the Lord had convicted me of the sin of gluttony. After I confessed that and turned it over to Him, I decided that I shouldn’t eat anything that day. Not because I owed Him anything, but because I knew I needed to exhibit control.

Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 NIV

I also knew that only God could help me do that. I trusted Him, had faith in Him that He would do that. Twenty-four hours later, I can tell you that I never once thought about eating or experienced any hunger at all. Now that’s a God –thing!

Belief, faith, trust, conviction, principle, confidence, certainty…

Take your pick; they’re all very close in meaning. However, in reality it is what you put your faith, belief or trust in that matters. How dependable is your source of trust?

God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9 NASB

A verse jumped out at me in my reading this morning…


13And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. 14For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:13-14 NKJV

Mordecai trusted that God would deliver His people. Esther had a choice, as do you and I. We can choose to be an instrument of God, submissive and obedient to Him, or we can choose our own way.


5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Thursday, August 07, 2008

CHOICE

Here we are…another day…and more choices to be made. Will we choose God’s way or our own?

When Gideon went to battle against Midian, he took 32,000 men to fight. God wanted to receive the glory, so he had Gideon cut the forces down to 300 men to make it obvious Who had won the battle. (Judges 7)

When Joshua led the people against the city of Jericho, he chose God’s plan which sounded rather bizarre (a bunch of people marching around the walls of the city for several days and then shouting!) but God was glorified through their obedience and the victory over the fortified city. (Joshua 6)

When God led the Israelites out of Egypt, he led them right up to the edge of the Red Sea. How were they going to get out of that one! God said, “Watch” and he parted the waters to allow the millions of people to cross safely. Even if you want to believe it was the “Reed” Sea, God still caused the entire army of Pharaoh that was chasing the Israelites to perish. (Exodus 14)

Which way will you choose today, God’s way or your own? God will be glorified. Make sure you’re part of the bunch giving Him the glory and diligently seek to do His will. He has promised:

  • That if we diligently seek Him, we will find Him. (Proverbs 8:17)
  • We are more than conquerors through Christ (Romans 8:37)
  • He will never leave us (Matthew 28:20)

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

SEEK

I may visit Second Chronicles chapter twenty more than a few times this month. The day that I figured out that was the passage I was supposed to preach on last week, I had read it two times in different versions. Later that day, I was told that some friends had discussed the passage on their way back to Willcox and another friend brought up the fact that they had read it.

I believe there may be special significance and relevance to the time we live in AND the town we live in. Last night, two women came into the SPRING wanting to know how they could volunteer to help. During our conversation it came up how they had never lived in a town (or a time) that spiritual warfare was so elevated. At the same time, we discovered that we all felt God was working among His people and that revival was just around the corner.

When King Jehoshaphat and his people faced a problem with an attacking army they came from all over the country…they united to find out what God wanted them to do…


4So people from all the towns of Judah came to Jerusalem to seek the LORD’s help. 2 Chronicles 20:4 NLT

In our day, in our town, I believe the Lord is calling His people from all the different churches to come together to seek Him, to seek His will and to seek His help. He tells us of a similar situation earlier in Second Chronicles and confirms that He will respond positively when certain conditions are met…


14Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT

WHO

My people – The people who belong to God…the people that God created.

Called by my name – Those who are called, or call themselves, Christians (John 14:6)

WHAT

Humble – to be out of the limelight so that God may shine…to give Him all the glory, honor and praise.

Pray – talk to God…acknowledging His greatness and our weakness

Seek my face – when you are so close that you look into each other’s eyes…nothing withheld…complete honesty.

Turn from wicked ways – anything that is displeasing to God…anything that takes a priority over the things of God…anything that gets between you and God

THEN

God will hear our cries for help

God will forgive our sin

God will restore our land (to peace, to God’s control rather than being dominated by evil)

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

FRUSTRATING

Yesterday I brought the message at a local church and spoke from Second Chronicles, chapter 20. King Jehoshaphat had a big army coming toward him and he asked God what to do, rather than taking matters into his own hands. God brought victory because the King and his people sought his help.

Immediately after service, someone who liked the worship music that we used came up and said they wanted to reach the twenty-something crowd and would like to have that kind of music on a Sunday night to “draw” them.

Jesus said, I will draw all men unto myself (John 12:32). He has power. We do not. Apart from Him, we can do nothing.

What then is our responsibility? As we see the need, we MUST seek God’s way to fulfill the need. Reaching younger folks is probably going to take involving younger folks in the PLANNING phase, not just hoping they are mysteriously “drawn” by sounds of drums and guitars.

As with anything, if we don’t feel a part of something, we feel outside of it and consequently do not participate. Young people must be involved in important roles in the church during their twenties and thirties if the church is to survive after the older generations are gone.

Oh yeah, so why did I call this Word “Frustrating”? Because it was brought out in God’s Word yesterday that King Jehoshaphat turned to God for deliverance. He had the people fast and then he led them in prayer. We all need to understand that the bible isn’t just a collection of cute little stories for encouragement, but that they are living words that are just as applicable today as they were thousands of years ago.

How are we going to reach the twenty-something’s?

  1. Seek God.
  2. Pray for His answer
  3. WAIT for His reply.

Once it is clear what God wants and how He wants to accomplish something, then and only then should we move forward.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Thursday, July 24, 2008

CHANGED

Have you ever watched a movie or heard someone say something that really moved you? You may even vow that you will be a “changed” person because of what you heard or saw.

Perhaps it was a documentary on hunger throughout the world with pictures of starving, dying children. You decide that you will eat less and send money to help them. The truth of the matter is that the feeling will fade and you will gradually go back to the way things were before. It’s not that you don’t care but simply that change is difficult. Real change for the better is just about impossible!

I’ll give you a personal example. I had let myself get overweight. At first, it was just a few pounds but it gradually became more and more until I found myself over 80 pounds heavier than I should have been.

I tried diets, exercise and nothing seemed to work. Stay with me because here is the real deal, the secret to the whole thing…

The Lord convicted me that if I was to be a witness for Him, an example of Christianity, then I should be displaying the Fruit of the Spirit as found in Galatians…


But the fruit of the Spirit
is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 HCSB

Naturally I said, “Well Lord, maybe it’s genetic!” I figured He knew better than I did and besides, what difference would it make to give it a whirl. Why would it be different this time? Because it was part of the fruit of HIS SPIRIT, not mine. He was the power. All I needed to do was yield and let Him do His thing. Now, nine months later I weigh eighty-three pounds less than I did.

Change comes only as a result of allowing God to work in us. If we surrender every area in our life to Him (one at a time perhaps J ) then He will shape us and mold us into the people that we ought to be. We can’t do anything without Jesus (John 15:5).

At the Worship Conference we were at in Glorieta, NM last week, Pastor Wayne Barber, the preacher, put it like this (I’m condensing the story)…

We are a coat. You know, like a coat you’d buy at a store to wear. Without us inside the coat just hangs there and looks good. It can’t wave, it can’t talk, it can’t move. However, when we purchase the coat and put it on, it moves with us. We cause it to wave at people. We give life to the coat.

Similarly, Jesus purchased us with His blood (1 Corinthians 6:20). His Spirit lives in us (1 Corinthians 6:19). For in him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). Through Christ, we can do anything (Philippians 4:13).

Clothe yourself in the righteousness of Christ…

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Thursday, July 17, 2008

MORNING

Here at the Glorieta conference center nestled in the New Mexico mountains, we have worship every morning at 7:30 a.m. It’s called “5.3 Worship.” The text for the name comes from Psalms five and verse three…


Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD.

Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. (NLT)

The main point is, to start your day off by speaking with the Lord. He is the source of strength, peace, love and life itself.

When you look to the Lord as being the authority over you and each day freshly commit yourself or more appropriately, yield yourself to Him, you have an entirely different perspective on life.

  • No longer are you in charge of all the problems that come your way because you have turned them over to God.

  • No longer are you working hard to please everyone around you…you are allowing God to love them through you.

The last part of the verse speaks of taking our requests or our needs before God. The key is the last part of that sentence. We are to

WAIT EXPECTANTLY

Waiting for God’s timing can sometimes be frustrating because we always want things done NOW. We simply have to keep in mind that He knows everything that was, is and is to come. He sees the big picture whereas we see now and can only speculate about the future. But he does not say simply “wait.” He says “wait expectantly.” In other words, wait for God’s timing, but expect Him to answer you in a way that will benefit your life.

Start your day off right by becoming a 5.3 worshipper. That doesn’t mean you have to set aside an hour every morning. You can accomplish that by speaking to Him in the moment before you get out of bed. You can accomplish that by singing a song of praise to Him in the car on the way to work. There are many ways to become a 5.3 worshipper. Be creative. Try different ways to make Him your first thought in the morning. I know you’ll be pleased.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

BISCUITS

Ok, it’s an odd title for a devotion, I know. However, it comes from the message this morning by our Conference Pastor, Rev. Wayne Barber. He was speaking about the Christian life being intertwined with Christ.

The text for his message came from Paul’s letter to the churches in Galatia:


I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20 NKJV

He gave an illustration about how Christ lives in us really works. He took us to Paul’s letter to the church in Rome first…


5For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, Romans 6:5 NASB

There are a couple of words in the Greek for united. He used a baking illustration to illustrate the difference. If one is making biscuits, all the ingredients are put into a bowl. If you want to add more of a certain ingredient to the mixing bowl, you can. If you are skillful, you can remove some of the ingredients as well. That illustrates one meaning of united in the Greek…you can add or subtract to the whole, but it is still the whole. That is one of the Greek words but not the one in Romans 6:5.

The word used in Romans 6:5 has the meaning of inseparable. In other words, after you take those ingredients and put them in the oven to bake them, the product that comes out is it. You can’t take salt out. You can’t add flour. They are united.

We are biscuits for Christ. We are united, inseparably with Him when we invite Him into our lives. Pretty cool, huh?

How does that apply to our every day life? He is ALWAYS with us. He alone has the power, wisdom, righteousness and holiness to name a few things, to make our lives work. Being yielded to Him is our task. Think about it!

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Monday, July 14, 2008

FOLLOW

I read a great article this morning in Worship Leader magazine by a young man named Glenn Packiam. The article was called “Follow the Leader.” He pointed out that the most incredible leader that ever lived on this earth, Jesus Christ, didn’t have marketing strategies, news conferences or a “look-at-what-I-can-do” attitude when he built his team of workers. He simply said, “Follow me.”


18Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19And He said* to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Matthew 4:18-20 NASB

Their response was immediate and complete. They left what they had considered important and followed the One who was all-important. They didn’t ask Jesus, “How shall we eat” or “Where will we live,” they simply followed the Son of God.

As I sit here writing this, a family rode by on bicycles. The Dad looked toward me and said, “Mornin’.” His son who was riding next to him thought he was talking to him and said, “More?” In that moment, it was as if all he lived for was to please his dad as he clung to every word he said. He didn’t want to miss one word, one opportunity to please his father.

Isn’t that the way it should be with our heavenly Father and us? We too, need not ask “How shall we eat” or “Where will we live” but instead, listen to every word He says to us through His Holy scripture, the Bible, and then spend our lives trying to please Him.

To you and to me, the Son of God says, “Follow me.” To His Church He says, “Follow me.” Don’t worry about each other and who has more power or the more glamorous positions…just FOLLOW ME. Don’t worry about who you think is doing it “right.” You simply do what you believe God is telling you to do.

Remember when Peter inquired of Jesus as to what was going to happen to His disciple John…


Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” John 21:22 NLT

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

HOPELESS

The other day I was talking with a teen who had given up all hope. By that, I mean he believed that life as he envisioned it was just not going to happen. He wasn’t going to be happy at home. He wasn’t going to have a normal job, make money and live a productive life. He had given up those hopes. His hope now was to be arrested and thrown into prison so that he would have some “normalcy” in his life. In his mind, he would have three meals a day, people to talk with and somebody to care about him, even though they were correctional officers!

All of us, even the Apostle Paul, give up hope at one time or another. When Paul was on a ship sailing for Rome, a storm came up that endangered the ship and all those aboard…


When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. Acts 27:20 NIV

Notice it says “we.” Paul had given up hope as well just as the teen I was talking to the other day had. None of us is immune to that type of thinking. However, when you know Jesus as your Savior He will make some provision for your hope to be restored.

We only need to look to the Word of God for those reminders, those promises:

  • It tells us in Deuteronomy 31:6 (also Hebrews 13:5) that He will never leave us nor forsake us.
  • In Jeremiah 29:11, the Lord tells us that he has plans to prosper us and not to harm us. He has plans for your life that will give you hope and a future.

We simply need to listen to Him, to God, as He attempts to communicate with us. The main way He communicates with us is His Word (the Bible), but He has other methods too! Through our coming to Him in prayer, He may speak in a voice that only we can hear. He may send the answer through a friend. Paul’s answer came in the form of a message from an angel and he shared the message of that angel with the men on his ship…


22But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me 24and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Acts 27:22-25 NIV

Giving up may be the easy thing to do. It doesn’t require faith in God to lose all hope. I guarantee, no GOD guarantees, that if you look to Him for your hope, to save you from your circumstance, He WILL save you.

The first step is a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Admit you need help, that you have fallen short of God’s perfection for your life (sinned – Romans 3:23, 6:23) and ask Jesus to help you turn that around. Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead and you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

Things are not hopeless. Life is not hopeless. Place your hope in the God of all Creation, the LORD who made heaven and earth and all that is contained therein.

He is worthy of your trust…


9Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 2 Corinthians 1:9-10 NIV

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

UNFAILING

We can often be disappointed by other people. Sometimes it is a loved one, a mother or father, a sister or brother or perhaps just a friend. We expect them to act as though they love us but our expectations may be based on a false definition of love. We want people to love us with an unfailing love, a perfect love.

Is it reasonable to expect unfailing love from someone? Here’s what God’s word says on the subject…


Many a man claims to have unfailing love,

but a faithful man who can find? Proverbs 20:6 NIV

While man’s love is often imperfect (women’s too by the way!), God’s love can be trusted…


8 It is better to trust in the Lord

Than to put confidence in man.

9 It is better to trust in the Lord

Than to put confidence in princes. Psalms 118:8-9 NKJV

God’s love never fails…………………..1 Corinthians 13:8

God is love…………………………………….1 John 4:8

Therefore, God’s love is unfailing!

Let’s look at how realistic our interpretation of what love should be is. We generally want someone to love us no matter what we do, even when we’re selfish and mean to them. We want them to always give us what we want (not necessarily what is best for us). We want to be the center of their attention. We want!

Now let’s look at God’s definition found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, 13

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails.

13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (NIV)

DESIRE TO HEAR (READ) A FRESH WORD FROM GOD ABOUT HIS LOVE...


8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,

for I have put my trust in you.

Show me the way I should go,

for to you I lift up my soul. Psalms 143:8 NIV

THANK HIM FOR HIS UNFAILING LOVE…


31 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for men. Psalms 107:31 NIV

Remember, whereas men can disappoint you, God never will. You may not always get your way, but God in His infinite wisdom and out of His unfailing love for you, will always give you what is best for your life as you seek to follow Him…


28And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Romans 8:28 NLT

You can trust in His unfailing love. You can trust the God of all creation. Seek His will for your life. Seek His help in all things…

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Monday, July 07, 2008

HOPE

I hope I get a good grade in Math. I hope my boyfriend (or girlfriend) likes my outfit. I hope that the person that got hurt is going to be ok.

We all hope for certain things. But what is our hope based on? Is it in fate, karma or some mystical sounding word? Can we affect the outcome of our hope? Can our hope be based on something real?

Some of you may remember the story of Daniel’s friends that were thrown into the fiery furnace. Their hope was in the LORD. Here is their reply to the King regarding their forthcoming punishment…


Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. Daniel 3:16-17 NLT

Was their hope in vain? See for yourself…

“Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Daniel 3:25 NKJV

The three men walked out of the furnace unharmed!

Is your hope in yourself and your abilities or in the GOD of all Creation?

King David put his hope and trust in GOD.

1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;

2 in you I trust, O my God.

Do not let me be put to shame,

nor let my enemies triumph over me.

3 No one whose hope is in you

will ever be put to shame,

but they will be put to shame

who are treacherous without excuse.

4 Show me your ways, O LORD,

teach me your paths;

5 guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my Savior,

and my hope is in you all day long. Psalms 25:1-5 NIV

17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;

despite all its great strength it cannot save.

18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,

on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

19 to deliver them from death

and keep them alive in famine.

20 We wait in hope for the LORD;

he is our help and our shield.

21 In him our hearts rejoice,

for we trust in his holy name.

22 May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,

even as we put our hope in you. Psalms 33:17-22 NIV

5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;

my hope comes from him.

6 He alone is my rock and my salvation;

he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

7 My salvation and my honor depend on God;

he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

8 Trust in him at all times, O people;

pour out your hearts to him,

for God is our refuge. Selah

Psalms 62:5-8 NIV


5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,

and in his word I put my hope. Psalms 130:5 NIV

The Prophet Isaiah put it in these words…


28 Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV

Jeremiah, another Prophet of the LORD proclaims…

11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

For those of us who know Christ as Savior and the reason for our hope, this passage is meaningful…

23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:23-25 NIV

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Friday, July 04, 2008

LIBERTY

Today we celebrate liberty and freedom. Those words mean different things to different people. Here is how those concepts are defined in God’s view…

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,

Because the LORD has anointed me

To bring good news to the afflicted;

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to captives

And freedom to prisoners; Isaiah 61:1 NASB

For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. 6He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 NLT

But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. Galatians 4:4-5 NLT

He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. Ephesians 1:7 NLT


Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17 NKJV

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1 NKJV

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13 NLT

I will walk in freedom,for I have devoted myself to your commandments. Psalms 119:45 NLT

If you love Me, keep My commandments. John 14:15 NKJV

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Thursday, July 03, 2008

CHOICES

Life is filled with choices. We will all make some bad ones, but how can we increase the odds of making right choices, right decisions, more often?


1 Oh, the joys of those who do not

follow the advice of the wicked,

or stand around with sinners,

or join in with mockers. Psalms 1:1 NLT

See, it isn’t just your mom and dad saying it! God said it first through the Psalmist, King David.

2 But they delight in the law of the LORD,

meditating on it day and night. Psalms 1:2 NLT

While we today are not under the law (no one can keep all 613 commandments) because of the grace of Jesus and His sacrificial death on the cross at Calvary on our behalf, we are to study His Word, the Bible (2 Timothy 2:15) and consider how it applies to our lives.

3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,

bearing fruit each season.

Their leaves never wither,

and they prosper in all they do. Psalms 1:3 NLT

Jesus often referred to the results that our lives produced as “fruit.” If we are doing good things, hanging out with good friends and obeying the authorities over us we will produce good “fruit.”


Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. Matthew 7:17 NKJV

The good news is that when we choose to depend on Him (Jesus) and let Him help us…we will produce good “fruit” and everyone around us will notice.


“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5-6 NKJV

Obviously, if choosing to hang out with good friends, studying and meditating on God’s Word and bearing good fruit brings a lasting joy and blessings to our lives, the opposite choice must produce depression, gloom and at the very least, short-lived “joy.” Here’s the rest of Psalms 1

4 But not the wicked!

They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.

5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment.

Sinners will have no place among the godly.

6 For the LORD watches over the path of the godly,

but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

Psalms 1:4-6 NLT

In the words of Jesus from verse six in John chapter fifteen,

6If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

The choice is ours to make. The stakes are high. Think about it…

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD