Tag Archives: God

All Things That Pertain to Life and Godliness

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There is so much more in the words of our title than our finite minds can grasp. As believers we already have everything that pertains to life and godliness. Why do we so often live like spiritual paupers? What more do we really need? In possessing all things can we possibly not have enough? Oh that He would help us to better take hold of our spiritual possessions; that our lives and character would reflect His perfect will.

“As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.” – 2 Peter 1:3 (NKJV)

The key to being the kind of people God wants us to be is in putting to use all that which He has already given. The believer stuck in the swamp of sin is living below his or her capabilities. Living a godly life would not be that difficult, if we would learn to draw upon His resources. Growing in godliness is not a matter of obtaining something new, but of using what we have in Christ.

“If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” (NKJV)

God’s Guidance and My Resistance

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I often pray for the Lord to lead me, guide me or show me what to do – and I think that many others do the same.  What I now wonder is how often the Lord has tried to lead me and found me an unwilling follower.  In Psalm 32 David perceived God saying this to him:

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.
Do not be like the horse or like the mule,
Which have no understanding,
Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,
Else they will not come near you.”
                              – Psalms 32:8-9 (NKJV)

This is perhaps an overlooked point.  It might be wise for us to pray, not only for the Lord’s leading in a given matter, but for our own sensitivity to that leading, which He says will surely come. 

May we all receive His instruction, His teaching and His guidance this day.  And may we respond with complete willingness to whatever He reveals.

Simple Trust

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Truth does not have to be complicated to be deep.  Our relationship with the Lord is often made strongest by the simplest, most straightforward concepts.  The Psalms are full of them.  Take the following:

Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the Lord.
                       – Psalms 31:24 (NKJV) 

The first portion is something of a command: “Be of good courage.”  In any time of trouble or need, in the midst of any difficulty, this is what we have to remember.  It’s a decision not to fear, but to trust.  We can remain confident that our God is there, is watching, understands, and will give us all the grace and help that our specific situation requires.

Then comes the Lord’s part: “He shall strengthen your heart.”  This is a promise.  He is committed to strengthen your heart, to build your faith, to increase whatever courage was there to begin with.  The first step to “be of good courage” may have seemed difficult, but now the Lord supernaturally gives it momentum.

And to whom is this promise given?  “All you who hope in the Lord.”  No exceptions, no asterisks.  If we hope in Him we have access to the promise. 

Trust Him, simply trust Him.  Place your hope, your expectations, upon Him.  Our own resources will inevitably prove to be inadequate.  Let’s take advantage of all of His resources this day by exercising simple trust.

God’s Selective Memory

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Here’s a little encouragement from the book of Hebrews. 

On the one hand, the Lord remembers all of your faithful service:

For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. ” – Hebrews 6:10 (NKJV)

On the other hand, He has decided to forget all of your sins:

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” – Hebrews 8:12 (NKJV)

And just in case you happen to forget that last fact after reading it once, the same truth (quoted from Jeremiah 31:34) gets repeated just two chapters later.

Then He adds, ‘Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.'” – Hebrews 10:17 (NKJV)

Let’s give the Lord this day much in the way of ministry to remember and nothing in the way of sin to forget!