Writing On Eagles Wings

Scripture: “And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.” – Ezekiel 34:23

Examination: Ezekiel is telling the religious leaders of Israel that they have not done their job. Now, God Himself is going to become the Shepherd who will lead and care for His chosen people.

Application: Recently, a large part of our country was in the grips of winter storm Fern. The ice and snow that came from this storm disrupted the normalcy of life for many of us. Because the roads were hazardous, most of us who lived in my region of the country were homebound for a few days, and one of those days was a Sunday.

Normally, my family would be at church, involved in Sunday school and the two worship services, but not this particular time. Instead, we were home watching Fern’s progression on the weather channel and settling in for the duration of the storm. A bit later, we were notified via text message that our pastor would be on social media live to have an online service at our normal morning service time!

This reminded me of the responsibilities of a shepherd, which is what pastors are often referred to in the Bible. Acts 20:28 refers to pastors as overseers, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Shepherds are responsible to feed, water, and protect their sheep. In our region, we don’t have many sheep farms, but there are several cattle farms and even a safari park! In each case, regardless of the weather, someone must be there to care for the animals. They must have their food and water, and they must be protected against anything that could harm them.

The same holds true for a church’s congregation. Regardless of whether or not the doors of a church are open or closed, a pastor still has the responsibility to care for his flock, and many are available to their congregations 24/7. The most important duty he has been given is to feed his flock with the Word of God. The example that many pastors faithfully follow is the Lord Jesus Christ, who presented Himself as the “Good Shepherd”. In John 10, our Lord describes His role.

• He protects His sheep.
  • “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.” – John 10:7
• He sacrificially serves His sheep.
  • “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” – John 10:11
• He knows His sheep, and they know Him.
  • “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” – John 10:14
• He saves His sheep.
  • “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” – 1 Peter 2:25

Psalm 23 is perhaps the most familiar and oft-quoted psalm, even among those who do not profess faith in Christ. Written by David, who was himself a shepherd, he notes several duties of a shepherd. In the second verse, he states, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” Feeding the flock is his primary responsibility.

In this day and age, there is much criticism of the church and its leaders. It is a good thing to belong to a church where, even in situations when churches cannot be attended due to the weather or, as in 2020, when a pandemic caused the doors of many churches to close, the shepherd still finds a way to care for his flock. 1 Corinthians 4:2 says this of a steward, another reference to a pastor, “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” It is a blessing for our church to have a pastor/shepherd who finds a way to make sure his flock is well fed, and for that, I thank my Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Memory Verse: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” – Psalm 23:1

When I enter heaven's glory and I see my Saviour's face,
I will offer Him ten thousand years of praise.
Then I'll find that special one in whose life I saw God's Son,
And through tears of joy with trembling lips these words I'll say:

I saw Jesus in you, I saw Jesus in you,
I could hear His voice in the words you said- I saw Jesus in you,
In your eyes I saw His care, I could see His love was there,
You were faithful, and I saw Jesus in you

(from “I Saw Jesus in You” by Ron Hamilton)

Scripture: “He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.” – Psalm 107:29

Examination: Several times this psalm speaks to the distress of men and the help that God gives to them. The Lord is to be praised for His goodness and the works He does for those that belong to Him.

Application: We are now on the tail end of a winter storm, and many of us are struggling with the aftermath. Streets are still covered with a layer of ice making transportation difficult. Power is disrupted leaving some homes without heat or the ability to prepare meals. Additionally, the dependency many have upon their electronic devices generates increased anxiety as phones and computers cannot be recharged for use.

However, in all of these challenging situations, there is God. He doesn’t require an unobstructed road to get to us; He doesn’t need a power source to be activated for use; He doesn’t need to be recharged to communicate with us.

God is as close to us as He can possibly be every second of every day. We don’t need to overcome any obstacles to get to Him. Anyone who has placed their faith and trust in Christ as Saviour has His Spirit indwelling them. When Jesus said, “I am with you alway”, He meant it. (Matthew 28:20). God is always accessible!

God never needs a power source. He is omnipotent – all powerful. Mark 10:27 records the words of Jesus, “With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” He does not need to be sustained by some external source. He is always attentive to where we are, what we are doing, and what we need.

God is always available to listen to or speak with us. When we pray, God hears us. In Jeremiah 33:3, God says, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” God speaks to us through His Word. 2 Timothy 3:16 states, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” Communicating with God doesn’t require a certain type of connection. All it requires is a desire to share what is on your heart and then search the Scriptures for His answers.

As God leads us through life, we never need fear navigating on our own. The Lord is always involved in our lives. As believers, we can find comfort in knowing that we are securely held in the palm of our Father’s hand, and that He will lead us safely through any struggles along the way. There are never any disruptions in God’s availability or accessibility. Great is His faithfulness!

Memory Verse: “And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.” – Psalm 107:7

Trouble knocking on your window pane, stormy weather at your door
And the outlook for the day ahead like the day before
People tell you praying changes things but words don’t stop the fear
A prayer is only pious rambling without a Father’s ear
He will not turn away when His people pray

When God’s people pray and take the pains of earth
To the doors of heaven
When God’s people pray, there is hope reborn
There is sin forgiven
And miracles you can’t explain away
When God’s people pray

(from “When God’s People Pray” by Wayne Watson)

Scripture: “For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.” – Job 37:8

Examination: Elihu, one of Job’s acquaintances, is describing God’s greatness using a storm as an example. Everything is within the control of the Lord; nothing is too difficult for Him; nothing is beyond His understanding; nothing is more powerful! The majesty of God is incomparable! This is what Elihu is stressing to Job.

Application: I awoke this morning to a land covered in whiteness! It was so beautiful, and not at all the ice that had been predicted for my area. There is still a forecast for sleet and freezing rain coming today, but I am reminded that it is God who orchestrates every aspect of the weather. The temperatures in the atmosphere, the winds that blow, the precipitation that falls, and the duration of every storm is all within His control. Despite all the forecasting, Psalm 135:7 speaks of God, reminding us, “He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.”

Imagine what He must be like to have that great power! Nothing on this earth can compare to the phenomenal capabilities of the Lord! This incredible power is seen in Genesis, the first book of the Bible, where God does the impossible! It records the creation of all things by God, who simply used His voice to bring everything into existence! He had no “ready to assemble” creation kit. He just said a few words, and the world was formed. 6 days later, everything God wanted to make was finished, and when He looked it over, Genesis 1:31 records His final thoughts. “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” Six days was all it took, and God didn’t work Himself into a frenzy during those six days. He spoke, it happened, and He was done with His work for each day. He repeated this sequence until the last day, and then it was finished.

When it comes to life, it only makes sense to allow someone to lead us who is more knowledgeable than we could ever be, more able to protect us than we could do ourselves, more powerful than anyone or anything on this planet, and who loves us enough to sacrifice Himself for us that we might have a relationship with Him. There is nothing nor anyone in this world who can equal God in ability, knowledge, power, or love.

Wouldn’t it makes sense to allow the Lord to be the One to lead you through this life?

Memory Verse: “Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.” – Job 37:14

I sing the mighty pow’r of God, that made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at His command, and all the stars obey.

I sing the goodness of the Lord, who filled the earth with food,
Who formed the creatures through the Word, and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed, where’er I turn my eye,
If I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky.

There’s not a plant or flow’r below, but makes Thy glories known,
And clouds arise, and tempests blow, by order from Thy throne;
While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care;
And everywhere that we can be, Thou, God, art present there.

(from “I Sing the Mighty Power of God” by Isaac Watts)

Scripture:  “He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?”- Psalm 147:17

Examination: This is a beautiful psalm describing the majesty and power of God. The writer praises the Lord for who He is and what He is capable of doing.

Application: There are many parts of the nation that are in the grips of a massive winter storm. Where I live, we are facing a huge ice storm, which could disrupt power, transportation, and the normalcy of life. According to the National Weather Service, it takes as little as ¼ inch of ice build-up on trees and power lines to cause damage!

It is so easy for fears to escalate within us as we worry about what might happen to us, our extended families, or beloved friends during these times. In an attempt to seek some sort of control, we rush to the markets to buy bread, milk, and toilet paper, which seems to provide a wee bit of peace to our souls, albeit temporary. The moment we scroll through social media or turn on the weather channel that fear returns! What can we do to dispel the anxiety that threatens to overcome us?

Fortunately, there are ways to lessen the concerns that we all experience in challenging times, and they are found in the Bible. Here are a few things to remember when we need help managing those worries.

1. Remember that it is God who controls all things, including the weather!
   1.  “He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.” – Psalm 147:15
2. Remember that it is God who protects us.
   1. “There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” – Psalm 91:10
3. Remember that God is faithful to His Word.
   1. “Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.” – Psalm 119:90
4. Remember that God can do anything.
   1. “Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:” – Jeremiah 32:17
5. Remember that God loves you.
   1. “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” – Jeremiah 31:3

This weekend, be sure to remember that no matter what happens during this winter storm (or any other storm in your life), you can rest assured that our God is in control, loves you, and watches over you 24/7. When your fears become overwhelming, take time to pray and seek comfort through His Word. His Spirit will calm your heart and fill your soul with His peace.

There are many other verses in the Bible that provide peace and comfort. If you have some favorites, please share them in the comments. It may help someone else!

Memory Verse: “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” – Psalm 56:3

When peace like a river, attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul.

It is well (it is well), with my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well (it is well), with my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.

(from “It is Well With My Soul” by Horatio Spafford)

Scripture:  “For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.” – Deuteronomy 20:4

Examination: In today’s culture, total destruction of the enemy in a war is often viewed as unacceptable. However, God knew that the intermixing of cultures would bring sins such as idolatry and immorality, and ultimately disaster to His people. In Deuteronomy 20, Moses gives clear warfare instruction to the Israelites, but reinforces that their strength and victories will come from the Lord.

Application: While it would seem that the world is against all believers, it is important to remember that our battle is not against the physical world; it is a spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6;12 states, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” These evil forces are led by Satan, who, as a formidable enemy, is relentless in his attack on Christians. We are warned in 1 Peter 5:8 about Satan. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

As soldiers of the cross, we must faithfully follow our leader, the Lord Jesus Christ. To rush into our battle without being properly equipped and without following our Commander is spiritual suicide. Because of this, God has given us what we need to be prepared for the fight. In Ephesians 6, we find the description of the outfitting of a Christian warrior.

• Defensive armor: These protect us physically, mentally, and spiritually.
  • The truth (v14)
    • “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” – John 17:17
  • The breastplate of righteousness (v 14)
    • “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness…” – Isaiah 61:10
  • The gospel of peace (v 15)
    • “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” – John 14:27
  • The shield of faith (v 16)
    • “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” – 1 Peter 1:5
  • The helmet of salvation (v 17)
    • “But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.” – Psalm 37:39

• Offensive armor: The Word of God is the only weapon we can use to successfully defeat our enemy.
  • The sword of the Spirit (v 17)
    • “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” – Proverbs 30:5 
    • “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” – Psalm 119:11

• Battle plan:
  • Matthew 4 and Luke 4 record the battle Jesus fought with Satan in the wilderness. The Lord’s only weapon was the Word of God, and with that He was victorious. Satan had to flee! We must continually study the Scriptures so that our arsenal is full, and we are ready when the fiery darts from hell come.
    • Prayer
      • “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” – Ephesians 6:18
      • “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” – Matthew 26:41
    • Bible study
      • “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” – Joshua 1:8
  • Combining the Word of God with prayer, we can go forward in faith, following in the footsteps of our Commander toward victory!

Gear up! It’s time to fight for our faith, so that one future day, we can say, as Paul did, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” (2 Timothy 4:7)

Memory Verse: “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 15:57

Encamped along the hills of light, ye Christian soldiers rise,
And press the battle ere the night shall veil the glowing skies;
Against the foe in vales below let all our strength be hurled;
Faith is the victory, we know, that overcomes the world.

Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.

His banner over us is love, our sword the Word of God;
We tread the road the saints before with shouts of triumph trod.
By faith, they like a whirlwind’s breath, swept on o’er every field;
The faith by which they conquered death is still our shining shield.

Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.

(from “Faith is the Victory” by John Henry Yates)

Scripture: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” – Romans 6:4

Examination: Paul is speaking to the Christians in Rome about their identification with Christ. As such, they are empowered to reject sin and live for the Lord.

Application: The old nature of a person is carnal and does not seek to live a godly lifestyle. When we accept Christ as Saviour, we are “born again”, becoming “new” in Jesus. When Nicodemus approached Jesus, the Lord explained being “born again” to him. “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” (John 3:5-7).

As a “born again” Christian, we are in God’s redeemed family! In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul writes, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” That means that as the saved children of God, a new creature in Christ, we should follow Jesus by living according to His Word. Matthew 4:4 records the Saviour’s words, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” We no longer live according to the world’s ways, but we “walk in newness of life” according to God’s ways.

If you are committed to letting God lead your life, you should be in the Scriptures daily. The Holy Spirit uses Bible verses to guide, encourage, convict, teach, comfort, and more as He leads you on the path God has purposed for your life! Start simple. Even one verse a day will not return void!

Memory Verse: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” – Romans 8:14

You may think it′s foolish what I'm going to say,
I′m not ashamed, no not ashamed,
One day I prayed Jesus, take my sin away,
And that's when I was born again!

Born again, there's really been a change in me,
Born again, just like Jesus said,
Born again, and all because of calvary,
I′m glad so glad that I′ve been born again!

One man came to Jesus, John and chapter 3,
Oh so afraid, oh so afraid,
Master you’re from God, I really do believe,
And Jesus said, “Be born again”.

(from “Born Again” by Andrew Culverwell)

Scripture: “Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.”- Psalm 143:10

Examination: David is going through a time of despair. He is overwhelmed by circumstances and crying out to the Lord to lead him and restore his joy.

Application: Sometimes I find myself struggling to control certain situations. It seems like whatever course I take, I find myself on a slippery slope to failure! Like David, I cry out, “Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.” (v4). In those times, when I am hopelessly at my wits’ end, I find myself turning to God for guidance. Unfortunately, my actions are backward. I should have gone to God at the onset of trouble instead of as a last resort. This is a problem many of us face. We trust in ourselves first, and when that trust fails us, then we turn to the One who never fails.

Proverbs 3:5-6 are very familiar verses to many. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Letting God lead removes any doubt of being on the right path. Isaiah 30:21 confirms this, “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” God never leads us astray!

The Bible gives us many other verses explaining the wisdom in allowing God to lead us through life. Here are a few of them:

• Psalm 119:133 – “Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.”
  • Allowing God to lead helps protect us from sin.
• Deuteronomy 5:33 – “Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.”
  • Following God promises a long life that is satisfying.
• Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
  • Letting God lead us helps us serve Him better.
• Colossians 1:10 – “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”
  • Walking in His ways allows us to serve Him with good results!
• John 8:12 – “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
  • Following Christ protects us from the evil and chaos in a sinful world.

“Walking worthy” takes a strong foundation to keep from being shaken off the path of righteousness. This year, make time to study His Word and strengthen the bedrock of your faith. Then, walk worthy with confidence and boldness as you follow in our Saviour’s footsteps serving Him each day.

Memory Verse: “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.” – Psalm 143:8

It is glory just to walk with Him whose blood has ransomed me;
It is rapture for my soul each day.
It is joy divine to feel Him near where'er my path may be.
Bless the Lord, it's glory all the way!

It is glory just to walk with Him. It is glory just to walk with Him.
He will guide my steps aright,
Thro' the vale and o'er the height.
It is glory just to walk with Him.

(from “It is Glory Just to Walk with Him” by Avis B. Christiansen)

Scripture: “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;” – Colossians 1:10

Examination: Paul is commending the Christians in Colossae for their faithfulness, and he is also reminding them of what God has done for them through His Son, Jesus Christ, to discourage them from following old customs and traditions.

Application: When we follow the Lord, we must be sure that we are following Him according to His Word. It is easy to veer away from the path He desires for us, especially if we think we can manage our Christian walk ourselves. We have the security of knowing we are saved; we attend church regularly, and we live a fairly decent moral life. Is that enough to be able to say that we are letting God lead us? No, it is not.

There is an old saving that goes, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” While those who have accepted Christ as Saviour do not need to fear hell, they often unwittingly fall into the trap of “I’m a good person, therefore, I’m a good Christian.” One of the biggest lies that Satan has fed us is that being “good” or “moral” is enough. That is not what the Bible tells us.

“Good” is a very relative term. The definition of a “good” person varies depending on who is doing the describing. Here are a few examples of the world’s definition of a “good” person:

• One who doesn’t lie
• One who is kind to animals
• One who gives money to the poor
• One who is faithful to a spouse
• One who is dependable
• One who is a hard worker

This list can go on and on and on, but in God’s eyes, these definitions mean nothing. Romans 3:10 states, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:”, and Isaiah 64:6 reminds us, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” I may be a “good” person in the eyes of the world, but in the eyes of God, I am anything but that.

A person becomes “good” to the Lord in only one way. Paul explains that in Philippians 3:9, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” It is ONLY by trusting Christ as Saviour and having His righteousness imputed upon me that God sees any good in me. 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains the reason God sent His beloved Son, Jesus. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” In regard to that righteousness, Romans 4:24 goes on to state, “But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;”

Once we have placed our faith in Christ for our salvation, we then are “good” and ready to be used by God. We are to “walk worthy” to what God has called us to do, and that is accomplished through His power, not our own. John 15:16 records Jesus’ words, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” Jesus saved us for a purpose, and that purpose was to represent Him to the world so that others might know Him.

This year, determine to walk worthy to that which the Lord has called you to do! Pray without ceasing, meditate on His Word daily, and share Jesus with others!

Memory Verse: “Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” – Philippians 1:11

Heartaches, broken pieces
Ruined lives are why You died on Calvary
Your touch is what I long for
You have given life to me

I will serve Thee because I love Thee
You have given life to me
I was nothing before You found me
You have given life to me

(from “I Will Serve Thee” by Bill & Gloria Gaither)

Scripture: “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” – Galatians 6:14

Examination: Paul explains that he is not focused on receiving any worldly praise for anything he has done, but that his reward is the glorification of Jesus and the cross. Keeping the Jewish traditions and laws are not the things for which he would want to be held in high esteem, but rather he wanted to be known as a servant of God, who shared the gospel of Christ. 

Application: Paul’s desires are so far removed from what the world seeks. Our culture praises the ones who are beautiful in appearance, excel in sports, perform well in the arts, and even those who happen to have large followings on social media platforms. Those who faithfully serve God behind the pulpit, on the mission field, in Christian schools, in Sunday school classes, on their knees, etc., receive no praise from the world… nor should they seek it. Simply put, we serve God because we love Him.

Reflecting back on my life as a young girl, I see so many sacrifices my mother made for me. I had nothing with which to reward her except my love and gratitude. That was enough for her. When I had children, it was the same for me. Moms do so much for the children without expectation of anything in return. Both of these scenarios are rooted in love. That is how we need to be with God. We ought to serve Him because of the love we have for Him.

Jesus cautions us against serving God to receive earthly recognition and praise. In Matthew 6:1, He states, “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.” We should serve with a humble heart, seeking no glory for ourselves from the world, but seeking praise for the Lord only. Revelation 22:12 assures us that in the future, Jesus Himself will reward us for our service to God. “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” We can be sure that if Jesus said it, He will do it.

One day, we will stand before Jesus, and the Bible tells us that will be the day of our reward. 1 Peter 1:4 states that we have “… an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.” I cannot imagine anything better than Jesus’ gift of forgiveness and eternity in His presence, but we are told in Scripture that we will be rewarded in heaven! In that moment, Matthew 5:12 will become a joyous reality. “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven:”

Until then, as we follow the Lord, let us put our faith into action. Tell others how God sent His only Son to be crucified on a cross to pay for our sins and provide the gift of eternal life for anyone who puts their faith and trust in Jesus. Continue to seek His face, study His Word, and represent Him to a lost and dying world. One day, our faith will become sight, and our service to Him will be rewarded with two simple words spoken by our Saviour, “Well done.” Oh, what a moment!

Memory Verse: “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” – Colossians 3:24

If when you give the best of your service,
Telling the world that the Savior is come;
Be not dismayed when they do not believe you;
He understands, he'll say, "Well done."

If when this life of labor is ended,
And the reward of the race you have run;
Oh! the sweet rest that's prepared for the faithful
Will be their blest and last "Well done."

Oh, when I come to the end of my journey,
Weary of life and the battle is won,
Carrying the staff and the cross of redemption,
He'll understand and say, "Well done."

(from “He’ll Understand and Say Well Done” by Lucie Eddie Campbell)

Scripture: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” – John 14:15

Examination: Jesus is speaking to His disciples during His last Passover supper with them. In this chapter, He offers them assurance as to who He is, His expectations of His followers, and the promise that they will be comforted by God’s Spirit despite what the future holds.

Application: God leads us through His Word. When we seek to follow Him, questions often pop up where we wonder if we’re doing what He wants us to be doing. The answers are always found in the Scriptures, but sometimes it takes a focused search to find them. Most of us are familiar with the “10 Commandments”, which were given to Moses by God (Exodus 20), but they don’t always help us in specific situations… or so we think. The Jewish people had over 600 laws they needed to obey in order to please God!

In Matthew 28, Jesus seems to have simplified the commandments when he gave us the two greatest commandments upon which He stated hinged all the other commandments. “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matthew 22:28-30). Sounds simple, but it really isn’t. It’s not as easy to live love as Jesus did. Therefore, we have many other verses that spell out in greater detail how we can manifest the love of God in our lives.

Here are a few of those verses.

• Read the Bible daily for guidance.
  • “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” – Joshua 1:8
  • God’s Word teaches us what love looks like in the person of Jesus Christ. Along with the instructions the Scriptures provide, we have the perfect example in God’s Son in whom we can model our own lives.
• Attend church services to encourage and edify others.
  • “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:25
  • Serving God can be as simple as gathering together with other believers. Your presence, your smile, your warm hugs can be so encouraging to others who may be in need. Additionally, church attendance places you in an environment where you can learn more about God’s love for you and how you can, in turn, share it with others.
• Pray for the needs of others.
  • “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” – Ephesians 6:18
• Put your faith into action.
  • “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” – James 1:22
  • The Bible makes it clear that faith without works is not a living faith. God instructs us to help others, to support the ministry of His church, to pray for others… and so much more! We don’t have to do it all, but we do need to do something!
• Tell others about Jesus.
  • “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” – Matthew 28:19
  • Remember that Jesus is coming soon. If you knew He would be here today, would you be more fervent in telling others about the Saviour? Guess what? He really could come today!
• Be kind and forgiving toward others,
  • “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:32
  • Harboring grudges against others is destructive. It definitely hurts you more than anyone else. Forgiveness is liberating and restoration of one’s spirit is so worth it!

There are so many other verses in the Bible that lead us in following the Lord. This year, spend time in the Scriptures finding ways to bring yourself closer to God as you follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

Memory Verse: “Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.” – Psalm 119:34

When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word,
What a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

(from “Trust and Obey” by John H. Sammis)