FaithfullyFiredUp

Psalm 37: 23-24

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

Do you think that following God is always easy and simple? I have started a new devotional for the year and today’s devotional was talking about how sometimes according to “culture” or the world what we are doing doesn’t make sense at all. Imagine being Noah one of the only righteous men and being asked to build an ark when it hadn’t ever rained. People mocking and saying you are crazy because they don’t serve or hear the living God like you do. Imagine being Moses and asked to go rescue a whole group of Israelites from a tyrant that is never gonna listen to you. How important is your faith to you? What are you willing to lose? If your faith is important then that means so is obedience. God can equip you for any job He calls you to do. You never have to worry God carries you through it.

I think that a question many people wrestle with is why is there evil in the world? When God created the world He never intended there to be evil and pain in the world. The fall of man is what introduced sin into the world and created a broken world. In Genesis 3 the serpent slithers into the garden of Eden and twists the truth just enough so he succeeds in getting Eve to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. She then pulls her husband into the mess as well. This ends with the serpent and Eve being cursed, and Adam and Eve exiled from the garden. Guys when Satan was cast out of Heaven, he made it his personal mission to take down as many people as he possibly could. Ephesians 6:12 tells us we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Guys I have good news, when God sent His only Son to die for your salvation, He offers reconciliation and restoration. Revelation 21:4 reminds us of God’s promise to believers to take away sorrow, pain, death, and more. Because of the first sin life can be really hard, but Jesus can help you through it all. If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior I challenge you to get to know Him. He changes lives and shows love we can’t even begin to comprehend.

During my recent bible study in Ephesians one section really stood out. Ephesians 4:1-3 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of your calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. God through His Son Jesus has given us these fruits of the spirit. Once you are saved by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior and surrendering all to Him, you are made new. You will begin to see things change in your life and you will begin to show love, joy, peace, self-control. patience and more. Once you are saved God sets you apart and there is a standard to live by, In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he urges us to walk worthy and to be a light in the darkness. Walking with these attributes help point others to Christ. This verse really stepped on my toes. I struggle with some of these things daily. I struggle daily with things like patience and gentleness and self-control. It’s always important to remember in Luke when Jesus tells us to take up our cross daily and follow Him. I have to fight my flesh and desires. I saw a post that said David defeated Goliath, but was defeated by Bathsheba. Our desires can really send us off course. We have to fight daily against what we want and what’s comfortable and follow God’s will. Are you walking worthy? Is your life reflecting Jesus in your life?

I was watching a video online recently and a person was talking about how Christianity is not inclusive. Jesus is the only person I know that came willingly to suffer and die on a cross to save an entire world. I have been reading in the New Testament and in Acts Peter is in a trance and sees a sheet that is let down from heaven and all things that were considered unclean are encompassed as well. Peter tells the Lord he has never eaten anything unclean. But the Lord tells Peter to never call anything unclean that He has cleansed.. When he leaves, he then runs into a centurion that also was given a vision and was instructed to find Peter. Peter then shares the gospel and then he was saved. It is revealed to Peter that the gospel is not just for the Jews, but is to reach everyone. Everyone has the ability to be included in the family of God. You just have to be willing to surrender your life to Jesus Christ. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and Savior you shall be saved. Believe in your heart that Jesus is the Son of God, was crucified, and rose three days later. Jesus did all of this to reconcile you to God. Be bold and share the good news.

I saw a post online the other day and it said you can’t beg God to heal you and stay loyal to what’s killing you. I do think that everyone struggles with something and absolutely none of us are perfect. This is why we have Jesus. But how often do we do this? Beg for something to be taken from us and continue to turn back to it and end up where we started. I think it’s about total surrender and obedience. If we are going to ask God for help we also have to be willing to do what He says.

I was reading a devotional this morning and it used a verse I think we are all familiar with. Philippians 4:13 that states for I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength. It discussed knowing God’s strength and Him equipping you with what you need. I thought yes that was a good idea to keep in mind but we also need to apply this truth in the not so good times as well. As followers of Jesus Christ we should remember that even when things feel dark and like we are not gonna get through it, that if you lay this at His feet He will pick you up and carry you through it. Jesus lends His strength in all areas you just have to ask and lean on Him.

Can you imagine not being able to feel the presence of God and feeling abandonment? The story of the crucifixion always has me in tears because I can’t ever comprehend just the amount of love this act took. I cry every time I get to the verse Matthew 27:46 when Jesus cries out saying My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Jesus in this moment is having to go through the agony of separation from God because He is carrying the sins of the world through His sacrifice. I never want to take for granted the pain and suffering that Jesus went through for me. Because of His great act of love for us we are given the gift of salvation if we put our trust and faith in Jesus Christ. Each and every one of you are given the opportunity to live eternally in Heaven with the Father. The alternative is eternal separation and eternity in hell. Don’t let this gift pass you by.