A living relationship

Posted on jan5 CommentsPosted in Covenant, Relationship

                                                … with Him!

      I have come that they may have life,
      and that they may have it more abundantly.
      John 10 10

A life changing statement,
but how do I get to live this life,
… and to live that abundance Jesus spoke of?

In explaining to us what this life is that we have in Him,
Jesus said …

      I am the way, the truth, and the life.
      No one comes to the Father except through Me.
      John 14 6

Telling us that it is only through a living relationship with Him
… that the way becomes accessible,
… that the truth becomes clear,
and that LIFE becomes real!

      for in Him we live and move and have our being,
      Acts 17 28

For it is out of this life in Him,
… out of a living relationship with Love Himself,
that life becomes a life in abundance!

      A life in abundance in which,
      … whatever comes towards me
      … or whatever comes against me,
      will be turned into a victory for me!
 

Sowing …

Posted on janLeave a commentPosted in Expectations, Potential

                                                  … or just giving?

The Bible tells us quite plainly that

      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 38

No the Bible does NOT say
.. that all you need do is give so that you will receive.
But what it does say is that,
with the same measure and intent with which you give,
… is the same measure, intent or standard
with which you will receive!

      If you give with the intent to receive
      … because of your giving,
      what you have actually done
      … is to have made an investment.
      Which simply means that
      … you are also responsible for the outcome.

On the other hand,
… if you are sowing a seed
… with the intent that others will be blessed,
the natural law of seedtime and harvest
… based on the super-natural law of increase,
is activated …
… and the law of seed time and harvest
… becomes responsible for your giving
and thus also for you receiving –
… good measure, pressed down,
… shaken together and running over!
 

Eat the good

Posted on janLeave a commentPosted in Love, Promises

                                                 … of the land!

The Bible tells us quite plainly that

      If you are willing and obedient,
      You shall eat the good of the land;
      Isaiah 1 19

However, many will tell you
… that they are obedient to God’s Word,
… and willing to do what it says,
yet they don’t seem to be eating the good of the land.
Why not?
We always want to do something to deserve God’s goodness
… but all that doing brings us nothing.

      Come now, and let us reason together, Says the Lord,
      Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
      Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
      Isa 1 18

So what is God telling us and what are we supposed to do?

Simply receive what God has already done through Jesus,
… and live that life that expresses what He has done.

      You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
      with all your soul, and with all your mind.
      This is the first and great commandment.
      And the second is like it:
      You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
      Matt 22 37-40

If you are willing to receive God’s love through Jesus,
… and live love as Jesus taught us …

      You WILL eat the good of the land!
 

The reality…

Posted on janLeave a commentPosted in Faith, Trust

                                                … of faith!

In the Bible we read about God,
… about the love He has for us,
… about His goodness and His promises to us.
Promises that the Bible also tells us
… are ours by faith.

But what is the reality of this ‘faith’?
When do these promises become REAL in our lives?
Obviously not just by accepting, reading or confessing
… as we have all tried that with little or no success.

Jesus made this statement…
      I have come that they may have life,
      and that they may have it more abundantly.
      John 10 10

Clearly telling us that through Him we can receive life,
… a life that has the potential of abundance
… as we actively live that potential with Him!

How do we do that?
Simply by doing what the apostle James said,

      Thus faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
      James 2 17

In other words,
… only as we live what we say we have received,
what we confess as being ours,
… only then does what we believe become real.
That is when our step of faith becomes real,
… and when God’s promises become a reality
because we are truly living life,
… that life Jesus came that we may have,
that abundant life that is ours in Him!
 

I heard God …

Posted on jan1 CommentPosted in Relationship, Trust

                                                                   or did I?

When praying for direction from God,
… or simply praying in my heavenly language,
and something comes to my mind,
how can I be sure that it is God speaking to me?

      That is actually not so difficult.
      If what you hear is in line with Scripture
      … then it was most probably God.
      If there is no scripture that confirms that thought,
      … then keep on praying and listening.

Having found a scripture, study it
… and listen for a next step from God.
Until you have a clear step,
… keep praying, expecting and listening for His direction.

      In all your ways acknowledge Him,
      And He shall direct your paths.
      Prov 3 6

How will I know when it is NOT God?
      When there is pressure or fear.
      God gave you a free will so He wants you to decide,
      … and will always allow you to make your own decision!
      Then when you choose to go His way,
      … there is peace and not pressure or fear.

Remember, God is a GOD of love,
… whose only desire is to bless us.

      Therefore submit to God.
      Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
      Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
      James 4 7-8
 

The Royal Law

Posted on janLeave a commentPosted in Challenge, Love

                                                … of love!

There are many great promises in the Bible,
… that seem to be conditional to observing certain laws.

      My son, do not forget my law,
      but let your heart keep my commands;
      For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.
      Proverbs 3 1-8

Everyone wants to live a long healthy life,
… but how do you live God’s law?
And since we are no longer under the Old Covenant
… are we not free from the LAW and living under grace?
Yes we are…
So what law can there possibly be in the covenant of grace?
Jesus summed it up in one word …
LOVE.

      If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture,
      ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you do well;
      James 2 8

      The Royal Law as the apostle James tells us … is love!
      And how do you live this love?
      By valuing others, by reaching out to others,
      … by being there for others
      in the same way as God has been and still is there for us!

God loves us and gave us His best through the Lord Jesus,
… demonstrating the royal law of love to us.
As we start living our lives for others,
… we will be fulfilling that law,
and God will fulfill His Word, His promises to us!
 

Walking in…

Posted on janLeave a commentPosted in Commitment, Life

                                          … His footsteps!

Jesus, in ministering about living life,
… explained that the way He lived His life on earth,
is exactly the same way we should live our lives!

So how did Jesus live His life?

      But He answered and said, ‘It is written,
      Man shall not live by bread alone, but
      by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’
      Matt. 4 4

This simply means that we need to get to know the Father,
… to build a relationship with the Father,
spending time with Him so that we hear His voice for our life,
… in the same way that Jesus did in His life.

      Then Jesus answered and said to them,
      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.
      John 5 19

It is only by knowing Him and His plan for your life,
… that you will be able to live in the fullness of life.
Therefore, simply follow instructions,

      My son, give attention to my words;
      Incline your ear to my sayings.
      Do not let them depart from your eyes;
      Keep them in the midst of your heart;
      For they are life to those who find them,
      And health to all their flesh.
      Prov 4 20-22
 

Love…

Posted on jan1 CommentPosted in Commitment, Love

                                                          … the elixir of life!

Love, the elixir of life!

The whole world, it seems, is preoccupied with the quest
for prolonging life.

What does the Bible say about it?
      With long life I will satisfy him (us),
      and show him My salvation.
      Psalms 91 16

When will God do that?
      Because he (we) has set his love upon Me,
      therefore I will deliver him;
      Psalms 91 14

To love, and loving God, is the key to living a long life!
But how is that possible?
Jesus answered a certain lawyer with these words,

      You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
      with all your soul, with all your strength, and
      with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.
      Luke 10 27

And, Romans 5 5 tells us that …
      the love of God has been poured out in our hearts
      by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

In other words, God has made it possible for us to love,
… to love Him and to love our fellow man,
by pouring His love in our hearts,
… and showing us the way of love!

As the apostle John concluded,
      We love Him because He first loved us.
      1John 4 19
 

Relationships…

Posted on janLeave a commentPosted in Love, Relationship

                                                 … that last!

Science has discovered what God has always known.
      As a basic requirement for a good relationship,
      science prescribes – kindness and generosity.

However, a relationship that is not only good,
… but is real and lasting,
needs more than kindness and generosity,
… because it is what you put in that will make it last!

What is the main enemy to successful relationships?
… SELF … ME … what I want, what I expect!
The very thing that also broke mankind’s relationship with God!

So… how did God deal with that?
      For God so LOVED mankind He gave … without expectation.
      John 3 16

God reached out to mankind, not with emotion or condemnation.
… but God reached out with LOVE, giving His best to man,
and saying to man…
Let Me do for you what you cannot do yourself!
Let Me restore the trust and the relationship between us,
… and man, all you need to do is to receive!

How does a relationship begin and grow?
What is it that makes a relationship REAL?
LIVING LOVE!

      And we have known and believed
      the love that God has for us. God is love,
      and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
      1 John 4 16

If you want your relationship(s) to last, and in particular with God,
Add LOVE …
 

Draw from…

Posted on janLeave a commentPosted in Covenant, Relationship

                                                     … the source!

There are many promises in God’s Word,
and God wants to be the strength
… and the source in our lives,
but for that to happen,
… is up to us, NOT God.

Remember, God wants to be our source,
… so if we are far from Him,
His guidance, direction and help,
… is far from us.

It is easy to say…
God, give me peace about this situation,
… or about this doctor’s report, etc.
BUT…
… for God to be your solution,
He first has to be your source!

You cannot draw from a source you DON’T have,
and …
God will not do anything where He is not the boss!

If you make God the source
… of your health, peace, relationships… of and in your LIFE,
THEN God can and will be,
… the solution, the peace and the strength of your life!

      Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from
      Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma,
      an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.
      And my God shall supply all your need
      according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
      Phil 4 18-19