A New Day

Grief touches us all at some point in our lives. Whether it is the death of a loved one, being rejected by friends and family, or any number of countless troubles that afflict us throughout this life.

It can be easy to become self-focused during these times. If we let it, grief will take root in our hearts and turn into anger and bitterness with a never-ending ideation that God is against us or that perhaps there is no God at all.

It's during these trying times that we must lean on God all the more, trusting Him to carry us through these days of pain. He may not give us all the answers, and we may never know what His plan was during these trials, but we can have faith that He was working out all things according to His glory.

This life will always be tainted with heartache, pain, and the consequences of a sinful world, but this does not mean we must live in unrest and bitterness. We must continually look forward to the finish of life, to the glory that lies beyond, to the promise of healing and everlasting peace.

For a believer, death is not the end. It is merely setting sail for the distant shore where we will be in God's embrace forevermore in everlasting love, perfection, and beauty.

Being rejected because of our faith and testimony does not mean we are alone. There are countless other brothers and sisters in Christ walking this same path. We must come together and walk toward Christ together. The world does not reject us but is rejecting the God we have faith in. If we declare Christ to the world, Christ will declare us to His Father.

If you are weighted down by grief and despair, cry out to God. Look for the sunrise, the beginning of a new day. His promises are renewed each morning and will never fail. Through the darkest days and happiest times, He will be with us every step of the way. Life may beat us down, but we are never alone.

His grace and love are freely given. His strength and perseverence will never fail. All we must do is reach out to Him and accept His sacrifice to pay for our sins, and He will freely give us all He possesses. There are no words to express the magnitude and beauty of such a gift. His blessings are new every morning, with every breath we take, and when we have breathed our last, His greatest blessing will then be realized when we are accepted into His Father's kingdom and given life anew with no more sorrow, pain, or death.

John 14:1, 3, 6
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 6 Jesus said to him [Thomas], “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

The Birth of a Child

The birth of a child, is there anything more wondrous? The birth of a child who would one day save mankind from sin’s unrelenting grasp, is there anything more miraculous?

One child, one infant soul born: Innocent, trusting, dependent upon another’s tender care. One child which would change the world from the moment He was born. One child: Poor, humble, and of lowly place; the world never noticing His arrival and not prepared with riches, honor, and glory due to Him. Their hearts cold and souls dead to the Word of God come to earth. The most precious gift ever sent from a Father who loves His children with immeasurable love went unwanted and rejected.

He sacrificed riches, love, and praise to become a lowly, forgotten, and despised man. One could feel pity for such a child, but that would be forgetting the loving purpose with which the child was sent. The choice He, Himself, made to come and the acceptance of becoming common instead of being adored by thousands. The child who loved man, though man was sinful, fallen, and ungrateful. The child who willingly chose to bring hope to a dying people by dying Himself. The child came to earth though He knew He would be rejected and trampled upon. Is there anything more Beautiful?

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Jesus Paid It All

John 14:6

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.'"

This is a powerful and definitive statement of Jesus Christ.  In answering Thomas' question in verse five, "'Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?'", Jesus didn't tell him that he had to work hard, to do good deeds, or to even follow the Mosaic Law given in the Old Testament. Instead, He said, "I AM the way."

Only through Christ can we know the truth - Only His dying sacrifice on the cross can cleanse us from our sins and make us righteous (holy) in God's eyes.  Only through Christ can we know true life - Earthly life is fleeting.  True life is what is coming:  Eternal life.  Deciding on whether or not to trust in Christ during our earthly life will determine if we will have eternal life in Heaven with our Saviour or eternal life in pain and suffering separated from our Saviour.

God does not ask us to do "religious" deeds in order for us to get to Heaven.  He has already done everything and done it perfectly.  It is human pride and independence if we think we need human rituals and religion to make us perfect before God.  That would be the same as saying Christ's work on the cross wasn't good enough to cover our sins and that we need to help Him out.  Definitely not!  God has provided the ONLY way - His Son, Jesus Christ.  The ONLY thing we need to do is accept this gift - Accept that Christ's death is sufficient to cover all our sins, admit there is no way that we could get to Heaven on our own "good" deeds, confess our sins to God our Father through Jesus Christ alone, and declare that Jesus is Lord, that He has risen from the dead, and that He lives at the right hand of God.  Let your burdens be lifted for Jesus Paid It All!

Romans 10:9,10,13

"That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Children of Blessing

Ephesians 1:3-6

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved."

How blessed we are!  When we come to God in repentance of our sins, we are forgiven through the innocent blood of Christ Jesus which He shed for us on the cross many years ago.  Through this willing act of sacrifice and taking our sins upon Himself, we have become the heirs of God and have thus become the recipients of "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places."

According to God's desire and will, He planned in ages past that mankind would come to Him for salvation through His Son.  This in itself is completely amazing because we are mere creations of dust with nothing of value to give to God.  We sin against Him and deny Him every day by our willfully going against His will.  Yet despite our ugly sin, God sent His beloved and holy Son to die a painful death so that we might claim the purity of Christ and become holy in God's eyes.  What undeserved grace and blessing He has given us!

However, not only did He provide us with salvation from our sins, but He has also made us His beloved children so that we might partake in all of His riches and be showered by His blessings!  He has cleansed us from all of our past sins, and He provides continual cleansing throughout our journey in this world so that we may continue to grow in our spiritual walk and become more like His Son, Jesus Christ.  While we are on this earth, He blesses us with His grace, love, protection, guidance, and every good thing according to our needs and His perfect plan.  When our life on this earth is finished, He will bring us up to Heaven to live with Him for all eternity.  Heaven is a place that cannot be described with mere human words, but in a feeble attempt I can say that it is a place of complete joy and happiness with no more tears or pain or sorrow.  It is a place of blessing and peace were we can praise God, enjoy His eternal love and blessings, and speak with Him face to face.  It is a place of untold beauty where the pavement is the purest and finest gold.  The city gates are made from precious gemstones, and we will be able to partake of fruit grown from the tree of life and drink from the living water.

How blessed are we that God has taken us from children of darkness and sorrow and given us such great blessings and hope!  May we live our lives in a way that please our Lord who has given us everything good and wonderful.  May we strive to follow His word and trust in Him in every trial.  May we never cease to praise Him for His undeserved grace and blessings!

Wisdom of God

James 1:4-8

"But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.  For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

As a believer is set upon by various trials throughout his life, he will come to realize how important the wisdom of God is to combat those situations.  This wisdom cannot be found in the world for it is a wisdom that comes only from God's Word.  This wisdom helps the believer to know the purpose of the trial he is facing, how God will use this trial to further His will in the believer's life, and will allow the believer to joyously submit to God in all circumstances because He knows that all is for God's glory.

Although God gladly and freely gives of His wisdom, He desires that His children come before Him in submission and ask for His wisdom when they come to the realization that they are inadequate at handling the various trials and situations in their lives.  A believer is to ask for God's wisdom in complete faith with no wavering doubts on whether God can or will answer his prayer.  God is faithful to answer every believer's prayer if he asks in confident faith.  His answer may not always be what the believer was expecting and at times His answer may be "no," but He knows every believer's needs and what is needed in every trial and every circumstance to help His children grow and to further His own will.  Because we can trust God fully to bring about provision and answers at the correct time and in the correct manner, we can be joyful and stand firm on His Word as we know that everything is in the hands of God and He has power over all!  Praise God!

Romans 11:33

"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!"

Fourth Beatitude - Blessed are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

Matthew 5:6

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled."

If we try to have a close, personal relationship with God through our own personal merit and works, we will never succeed because as fallen sinners we have no righteousness in ourselves and are at enmity with God spiritually.  Before salvation, God says that we are the children of the evil one and do not have the truth in us; therefore, we cannot rely on our own "good" works, for they are seen as filthy rags in God's sight.  If, however, we place our faith in Christ's righteousness and blood sacrifice on the cross alone for our salvation and then seek after spiritual growth as a new believer by following God's commands in the Bible, then He promises to grant us peace and joy as we grow closer to Him.

James 4:8 states, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."  As newly

Third Beatitude - Blessed are the Meek

Matthew 5:5

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

Meek: Meekness is the opposite of out of control.  It does not imply weakness or laziness but great restraint and control over one's thoughts, desires, and actions by the power of the Holy Spirit.  It is demonstrated by having restraint over words said, control over emotions when aroused, the ability to forgive when wronged, reigning in one's thoughts when temptation comes knocking, etc.  It is the hidden strength of the spirit that monitors our first reactions of what we feel like doing, thinking, or saying when a situation arises and then changes our desires to what would be pleasing to God and in obedience to His commandments.

Inherit the earth:  At times, it may seem that everything that is evil prospers and everything that is good fails.  While God is always working His sovereign

Second Beatitude - Blessed are Those Who Mourn

Matthew 5:4

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

"Mourning," in this context, speaks of sorrowing greatly over personal sin.  It is a feeling of such strong regret and hatred over your sin that you run to God seeking forgiveness and never desire to go back to your previous lifestyle.

"Be comforted" refers to the joy felt during the time of forgiveness and a sense of peace knowing that God's salvation is eternal and not based on whether we deserve it or not.  There is security in the knowledge that God sends the Holy Spirit to help and guide us in our spiritual growth.

First Beatitude - Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

Matthew 5:3

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

In the next few blog posts, I will be exploring the beatitudes listed in Matthew 5:3-12.  The word "beatitude" is defined as "supreme blessedness or happiness."  In this passage, "beatitude" refers to a declaration of blessedness that was made by Christ Jesus.  Each beatitude begins with the word "blessed" which means happy, fortunate, and blissful.  These emotions do not come from earthly pleasures, however, but from an inner well being that results from being faithful to God's Word.  As such, it is not temporary or taken away, for God freely bestows it on all who continue in His ways.

The first beatitude deals with "the poor in spirit."  This describes someone who is acutely aware of his own spiritual depravity.  He recognizes that he is hopelessly lost without the grace of God and is therefore humble before Him.  Those that realize their desperate need for God's grace because of their spiritual poverty and humbly seek for God's forgiveness, He shall bestow upon them salvation and eternal life in His kingdom.

Matthew 5:10

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." 

The Perfect Gift

Zephaniah 3:17

"The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

The Lord will rejoice in gladness over His people in whom He delights.  His love and mercy have nothing to do with any merit that we may possess in ourselves, but simply come from the fact that we are His creation and, as Christians, are also His beloved children.  Despite our innate wickedness and constant rebellion against His Word, He has made it possible for us to be in union with Him once more.  By our sin, we were separated from our loving Creator, but by His own blood, we can be brought back into fellowship with Him.

Every good and wonderful thing that we experience in this life and the life to come is a direct gift from our Heavenly Father, and not only are His gifts freely given if we ask, but they are also eternal.  Never do we need to worry that He will take away His love, salvation, or help in our day of trouble.  Although we truly deserve punishment and eternal separation from Him because of our defiling sin, the Lord has such great love and compassion for us that He has provided a way that we may come to Him, for He desires fellowship with His people and delights in caring for His children.  His love truly is inexpressible, and His mercy is unsurpassed.  Therefore, let us praise Him for His everlasting grace and compassion!

James 1:17

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."

He Supplies Every Need

Proverbs 13:12

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life."

How often do we get bogged down with our own desires and become impatient, angry, or depressed when they take so long in coming?  Likewise, how often do we forget to thank God and repent over our own selfish lack of faith once our prayers are answered?  Although it is natural to feel anxious about matters that we wish to come to fruition as soon as possible, we must learn to leave all those matters to the Lord in prayer for He is the One who makes all things come to pass.  Ecclesiastes 3:1,11 - "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven... He has made everything beautiful in its time..."

Furthermore, when our prayers are answered or if another opportunity presents itself, we must always remember to thank the Lord for He has made all things come together at the perfect time.  Often we may become so caught up in the joy of finally obtaining what we had so long desired that we may forget that it was by God's grace that we attained it.  He is loving to those who serve Him out of a pure and faithful heart and desires to bless us according to His perfect will.  So let us truly take to heart the phrase "according to Your will, O Lord" and realize it not only refers to God's way of bringing it to pass but His timing as well.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Wisdom - Knowing God's Will

Ephesians 5:15-17

"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

Do you ever wonder what the will of the Lord is for your life? Although it varies from person to person, there are a few standards that apply to every born-again believer, such as salvation through the blood of Christ, being filled with the Holy Spirit, sanctification (literally meaning to be set apart from this world unto God), submission first to God and then authority, suffering for the sake of Christ, being thankful for all that God has provided, etc.  All these are commanded of God's people, and He desires that we follow in them.

While God has given us many abilities to carry out His commands in our daily life and wishes for us to use them wisely, He also desires that we bring every matter, concern, and request before Him. Only through Him are we able to live, breathe, accomplish His will, and persevere through the Christian life as we are daily tempted by the powerful adversary of God. Our strength is not sufficient to compete in the spiritual warfare surrounding us, but with the shield of faith and sword of the Spirit, we will be prepared to meet our foe.

Therefore, come before His throne! Be bold in your salvation through the blood of Christ. Lay your burdens at the feet of the most high God, and let Him lift you up. He is our provider, our hope, our salvation, our rock, our shepherd, our fortress, and our God.  He is the Lord of lords, the King of kings, and the Ruler over all that is in earth and in heaven. He will always provide the perfect way for those who love Him.

James 4:10

"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."

My Psalm of Praise

I will bless the Lord in this day.  I will sing His praises from on high.  His holy name shall be declared to the peoples and His mighty works demonstrated amongst the generations.  His salvation comes to all races; it spans the ages of time.  From everlasting to everlasting, His power and grace abound.

From the beginning, His creation has forgotten Him; in sin and shame do they delight.  But ever still, His love remains constant for any who come in humble repentance.  We are no more than fallen creatures with no hope in ourselves, but God in His patient mercy has reached down from on high to make us into His children by the blood of His precious Son.

I will bless the Lord with all my soul.  His glory shines bright in this age of grace.  Amidst the chaos and emptiness of this world, He is working all out unto a triumphant end.  All we see are troubles and sorrows, but God sees the glorious end result - The mature faith of His unified people and the completion of His perfect will.  By the name of Jesus Christ, only Son of the living God, ever knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord alone!

Romans 11:36

"For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.  Amen."

Faith or Works?

James 2:14-19, 26

"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,' but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith, and I have works.' Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble! For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

While it is true that our "good works" do not save us or make us holy in God's eyes, if we are true followers of Christ, then we will manifest outward evidence of our inward faith.

vv. 16,17 - Just as spoken compassion without evidence is useless, faith that is empty of godly works is mere profession and not genuine salvation.

v. 19 - Belief in God is a beginning, but even the demons believe in God and tremble in awe of Him. Faith consists of so much more than a mere acknowledgment that God exists.

It is a realization that we are lost sinners and nothing we do can earn merit in the eyes of God. It is admission and repentance of our sins and accepting the substitutionary sacrifice that Christ provided on the cross for our salvation.

It doesn't end there, however, for God gives us a living faith - one that we are to live day by day so that we can be a testimony of the forgiveness of God before all men. Our purpose in life is to glorify God and that is done through our personal thoughts, our every word, and our daily actions. Faith is not simply a belief that there is a God; but it is a living, daily application of the gracious love of God that we show through our obedience to His word in every aspect of our lives.

Ephesians 2:8,9

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

6 Characteristics of Godly Wisdom

James 3:13-18

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."

Spiritual wisdom is not offensive, rude, selfish, envious, or proud, for those are the characteristics of our former sinful life. True wisdom is from God and has His characteristics, of which 6 are mentioned in this passage.. 

First, it is pure: We must be upstanding in the way we act out our Christian life and must have constraint on our personal thoughts and desires.

Second, it is peaceable: Essentially meaning that we should not be argumentative with one another or wish to cause strife.

Third, it is gentle: We should be willing to go through mistreatment for the cause of Christ in all humility and kindness.

Fourth, it is yielding: We ought to be teachable and obedient to God's Word, knowing that we are always to continue to grow and become more mature in our faith.

Fifth, it is merciful and helpful: We are to be compassionate on all who need, whether spiritual or physical, and to always be willing to forgive.

Sixth, it is without partiality: We are to demonstrate Christian love and fairness to all men, making no distinctions, for all are equal in God's eyes.

If we love peace, seek it out, take hold of it, and live it daily, and if we do not cause strife, are gentle to all, even to those who disagree with us or wish to harm us, then the result will be the righteousness of Christ and the wisdom of God.

Proverbs 16:16

"How much better to get wisdom than gold!
      And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver."

Reflections in the Water

Proverbs 27:19

"As in water face reflects face,
      So a man’s heart reveals the man."

Just like a tea bag releases it's contents when placed into hot water, in a similar manner we reveal our true nature when faced with overwhelming trials. God peers intently into the hearts of His people to seek its hidden motivations and desires. He accordingly sends trials and permits us to be tempted in order to help refine our spiritual character. If our hearts are full of anger and disobedience towards God, we will often react with harsh words and actions when faced with heavy trials. If, however, we have the peace and joy of God hidden deep within our hearts, we will react in humble prayer and faith. We may not be "happy" when faced with trials, but if we understand that they come from God in an effort to purify and encourage spiritual growth, then it will enable us to respond in a more joyful manner. Therefore, let us submit to the trials that God allows us to endure with all patience and faith, knowing that He will never give us more than we can handle. Ultimately, let us hide God's word deep within our hearts so that when we are brought low by various trials our hearts and lives can reflect the character of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Revelation 2:23b

"... I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works."

Unwavering Prayer

James 1:5,6

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind."

As we are overcome by various trials, we begin to realize how vital the wisdom of God is to combat the hard situations we find ourselves dealing with. The wisdom of God reveals the purposes and results of trials and, therefore, allows us to joyfully submit to God in all circumstances.

Although God freely gives of His wisdom, He desires that we would seek diligently for it as we realize our own inadequacy at handling the trials of life. We, as believers, are humbled by the trials we face, for we cannot bear them alone. God is attentive and responsive to the cry of His humble people as they request His strength and guidance. A believer is to ask in complete faith with no wavering on whether God can or will answer his prayer, for God is faithful to answer every believer's prayer! 1 John 5:14,15 "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." His answer may not always be what we were expecting, but He knows what is needed in every situation to help us grow stronger in our faith and to refine our character. Therefore, we must stand firm in His Word and pray for His wisdom and guidance with a doubtless faith so that we may glorify Him even in the midst of life's fiery trials.

Proverbs 2:6-8

"For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints."

True Heart of Faith

Hebrews 10:19-25

"Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."

When Christ offered Himself for us, He tore away the veil that separated us from God so that we may now enter boldly into His presence without fear. No longer must we rely on another to pray for us and offer sacrifices for our sins, for by Christ's shed blood and the forgiveness of God, our sins have been washed away, and we are free to go directly to God in prayer because He sees us as pure and righteous. Never must we worry whether our salvation is secure, for Christ's sacrifice covers all of our past, present, and future sins. If we ask for God's forgiveness and repent of our past ways, He is faithful and just to forgive us, and He promises that He will never let us go - "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." John 10:28. Let us, therefore, live with confidence because not only is our salvation secure in God's hands, but we may also come to Him daily for guidance and strength.

Walk in the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-18

"I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law."

If we live according to God's Word and remain sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, then we will not fall into the sins of the flesh. However, we cannot simply empty ourselves of our former sins and expect to succeed. Instead, we must replace our former sinful thoughts and actions by meditating on the pure Word of God and living to glorify Him in faithful service. If we desire to live righteously before God and become more like Christ, then we must make a daily effort to put away our own sinful nature and follow after the purity of God. Therefore, think on His word and be renewed daily, seek to become more like Christ in obedience and selflessness, go often to God in prayer and be refreshed by His love and forgiveness, and serve God in everything you do with all joy, thanks, love, and godliness. By our faithful service and our continued spiritual growth, our life will be full and complete by God's grace. Although we will never reach perfection on this earth, we can take hold of the promise that when we are brought before God in Heaven, He will glorify us so that our sinful nature will be no more. What better way to praise and glorify God than by giving Him the entirety of our lives and letting Him use us for His perfect will!

Philippians 4:8

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."

No Law

Galatians 5:22,23

 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law."

If a Christian incorporates all of the fruits of the Spirit into his life for the purpose of glorifying God, then there is no law which can condemn him. He has already claimed the righteousness of Christ in salvation, so he is accepted before God. He puts the needs of family, friends, and coworkers before his own, so no one can accuse him of selfishness or hate. Finally, he commits no crime against another because of the testimony that he wishes to live out for the sake of Christ.

These virtues encompass who Christ is and what He wishes for His people. He desires that love, purity, and goodness would unify His people into a pure and harmonious church so that they will be able to serve Him to the utmost of their personal and group abilities. For as a Christian matures, these fruits, which are the characteristics of Christ, become more evident as he is renewed daily by the Word of God and transformed into the image of Christ. Ultimately all of these virtues can be boiled down to one commandment - Matthew 22:37-39 "Jesus said to him, '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.'" God's glory must always come first, then your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, then those whom you must reach for Christ, and then yourself as you realize that your purpose on earth is for God's glory and not your own.

1 Peter 4:11

"If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. 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, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."