Follower of the Way

Thought for Today - May we be zealous for good works

Titus 2:1-15 (ESV)
But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.  Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.  Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.  Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.  Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.  Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.  For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.  Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

 

May we be those who seek sound doctrine.  May we be sound in the faith, in love, and steadfast always in the Lord.  This passage shares many traits that we should seek to have in our life.

 

May we be those who seek to honor God and who seek to show the love of God to everyone we come in contact with.  May we seek to be servants of all, not seeking our own, but that which is best for others.  May only that which is good and upright be seen in our lives.  May our hope be for the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ.  May we be zealous for good works.

Thought for Today - Faith, Hope and Love

I Corinthians 13:13

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Romans 5:1-5 

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we^[ have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

I John 2:5-6

but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

I John 2:15-16

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

I John 3:1

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

I John 3:18

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth

I John 3:23

And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

I Corinthians 13:4-8a

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends.

Matthew 25:34-40

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Matthew 5:16

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Reading for Today - Ephesians 1:1-10 - In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ

Ephesians 1:1-10 (ESV)
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

 

Before the foundation of the world God chose us in Christ.  God desires for us to serve Him and to live for Him.  God has chosen those who have put their faith in Christ and are walking according to His will.  God has predestined us for adoption as sons.  How wonderful and awesome to think that God has chosen us for adoption.  What marvelous grace God has bestowed upon us to give us forgiveness through the blood of his son.  How amazing his grace that he would adopt us.  How wonderful that we have been born in this time that we can become Christians and that we can know the mystery of his will that were not known and understood before Christ and the deliverance of the new testament.  May we seek each day to live a life that glorifies him that we may be found in Christ when he returns.

Reading for Today - II Timothy 1:1-7 - I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day

2 Timothy 1:1-7 (ESV) 
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.  I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.   As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.  I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.  For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

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What a moving greeting from Paul to Timothy.  Grace, mercy and peace.  Could any of us hope for more in our lives!  How great is God's grace and mercy to us that He gave His son to die for us.  Can anything surpass the peace we have in Christ!  Paul remembered Timothy in his prayers night and day.  Wouldn't you have wanted to be in the prayers of Paul.  We each need the prayers of others and should remember others daily as well. 

What a great example of faith that Timothy had from his mother and grandmother.  We too should seek to be an example to our children in faith and should desire for our children to have a strong faith.  May are daily lives be an encouragement to those around us and may our example encourage and build faith in our children.

Reading for Today - Matthew 8:1-9:37

           Throughout Christ’s ministry he did many miracles.  Christ demonstrated by his acts that he was the Son of God and that he had all power on earth.  Christ healed the sick, made the blind see, made the lame walk, calmed the sea and wind, and raised the dead.  Christ showed by his works, life, and deeds that he was indeed God’s Son.  John writes about his gospel that, ”many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”(John 20:30-31)

            Can you imagine being around Jesus at this time and seeing these acts?  Leprosy was a terrible disease during this time, which banished an individual from society, yet Jesus could heal this terrible disease.  Or can you imagine being out on the rough sea with Christ and seeing him calm a great storm because you are scared.  Or can you picture yourself there when Christ put the evil spirits out of man that no man could control.  Christ did many miracles and today we have many of these recorded in the gospels.  Christ said of those to come, “Blessed are those who have not seen yet believed” (John 20:29), referring to those who had not seen him after his resurrection.

            Reading of the great works of Christ should cause us to have more faith and trust in our savior.  Reading of how he controlled the sea and wind should reassure us of his great power.  Faith is important.  As Christians, it is our faith in Christ which allows us to be seen as righteous before God.  Without faith it is impossible to please God, we must believe in him and believe that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  (Hebrews 11:6)  Each of us should work daily at growing our faith and this can only occur by us reading the scriptures and seeking to know our savior better through the written word.  Paul wrote in Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  Through faith we become God’s children, (Gal 3:26-27), “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”  It should amaze us and give us peace that we have a Father who desires for us to trust him and that if we will trust him he has promised to reward us.  This reward is so great that we should want to share it with others.

As Christ’s heart went out to the people so should ours. It was written that “they were in distress and helpless, as sheep with no shepherd”. (John 9:36) Truly these words are applicable today for those without Christ and as the Lord said, “The harvest is indeed abundant, but the workers are few.”

Our Citizenship is in Heaven

Philippians 3:17-21 (ESV) Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Is your citizenship in Heaven? We need to be those who are following the example of Christ. Paul urged the Philippians to imitate him as he followed Christ. People should be able to see Christ in us. The world follows after their fleshly desires and is focused on the things of this world. We need to be those who have our mind set on Heavenly things.

We have a lot to be hopeful and thankful for as Christians. Our goal and focus should be on Heavenly things. Our daily goal should be to grow to be more like Christ in every way.

Among Whom You Shine as Lights in the World

Philippians 2:12-18 (ESV) Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.  Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

How strong is your faith in God? Do you trust his goodness? Do you trust his love? Do you believe God wants what is best for you? Those of us who have children understand that our children don't always see things as their parents do. Parents want what is best for their children, but children don't always see this. God does want what is best for us. This doesn't mean life will be easy. This doesn't mean that God will stop bad things from happening to us. What is does mean is we need to trust God because he has promised us that all things can work together for good for those who love him and who are following his will.

Romans 8:28 (ESV) And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

We need to see every challenging moment as a way to build faith. We need to see every blessing as an opportunity to show gratitude to God and ask how we can use this blessing to be a blessing to others. Paul noted that all things should be done without grumbling or disputing. When things are hard, it is easy to grumble and fight. Satan wants us to give up when it gets hard and wants us to doubt. We need to be those who even in the hardest of times stand by our faith. In the hardest times we need to pull together. Our faith and Christian example will shine as a light to the world drawing them to Christ. Our example of faith will influence others to seek the faith that we have in Christ. We do not always know how our life can influence another life for good. We do not know the type of soil that another heart is. All we can do is sow the Gospel and allow the word of God to work in the hearts of men. All we can do is be the example to others that Christ would want us to be.

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?

James 2:14-26 (ESV) What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So 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 apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

It we believe the promises of God our faith should result in action. James notes that "faith without works is dead". Our faith needs to be a working faith. James points out that even the demons believe. As an example of a working faith James describes that Abraham was justified by works when he offered Isaac on the alter. Our faith should manifest itself in works. You can't have a saving faith and not be living a life acceptable to God. Our faith should cause action in our life that is in alignment with that faith.

Romans 6:1-23 (ESV)

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.  For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.  So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.  But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Galatians 3:23-29 (ESV) Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God

James 1:5-8 (ESV)   If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.   But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

In approaching trials and gaining steadfastness to endure trials James encouraged his readers to ask for Wisdom. Many times it can be difficult to count our trials as joy. When we look at the experience through God's wisdom we can see how these trials can make us better servants for God.

God is no respecter of persons, loves us, and wants the best for us. We must at all times remember that all things can work together for good to for those that love God (Romans 8:28) and that God will not allow us to be tempted above what we can bear (I Cor. 10:13). We must look at the experiences we face and seek to understand how God can use the trial for good and look for the way of escape in temptation.

Romans 8:28 (ESV)

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

God gives liberally. James writes that God gives "without reproach". God doesn't get upset that we ask several times. God doesn't remind us of a mistake we made with something that He has provided and deny our request. God is the loving father who cares about our needs. God hears and answers as needed in the moment. An answered prayers isn't always a yes. Answered prayers come in many different responses -- no, later, something different, and yes.

We don't always like to hear no. God knows our needs and sometimes the best answer to a prayers is no. We do not have the infinite wisdom of God to be able to see what we really need. We have limited vision and we must trust when God answers our prayer with no. Sometimes we need to wait and God's answers is to wait. Other times our needs are different than what we are asking and God answers our prayer as needed.  Sometimes God surprises us and the answer is even more than we could have imagined.  Many times looking back at answered prayers that were not yes we are able to see how God provided just what was needed at the time, even though in the moment we couldn't see that.

Let us always turn our concerns over to God. Let us trust his answers to our prayers and may we always seek the wisdom from above as we face life's challenges. Our Heavenly Fathers know our needs, cares about us greatly and desires what is best for us.

Count it all joy . . . when you meet trials

James 1:2-4 (ESV)

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

The trials that James refers to here are the outward trials of life that we face. We may be tested to stand up for what is right. We may be ridiculed for voicing the truth. When we face these outward trials and overcome them our ability to stand again increases -- it increases our steadfastness. Each and every test we face helps us to face another challenge.

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world - I John 5

1 John 5:1-4

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.  For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.

Do you believe God's word? Do you believe that God loves you? Do you love God?

If you answered yes to all three of these questions you should see results in your life that show you believe. If we love God we should love those who love him. We should love his word. We should seek to do his will. What God asks of us is not too heavy. God asks for our obedience. God asks that we love our fellow man. God asks that we are just, merciful, kind, and humble. God asks that we have faith, hope and love. God asks that we show forgiveness. God asks that we care for the souls of others.

Life provides us many challenges as we seek to live the life that is pleasing to God. We need to seek help through studying the Bible and seek help through prayer. Our faith in God can give supply the victory over doubt. Faith in God gives us the ability to look past the ways of the world and to take the higher ground. When we realize the love of God for us it enables us to show that love to others.

We must never lose sight of how great God's love is for us.

Growing in Christ - II Peter Chapter 1

II Peter 1:5-11 (ESV) For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Because of the great promises that God has given us we should be working at growing. As Christians we should be constantly striving to grow in faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, and brotherly affection with love. Peter tells us that if we possess these qualities and are growing in them we will be effective and fruitful in the Kingdom of God.

When we look at vs. 5 we see Peter's exhortation to make every effort. Yet, while we are making every effort to grow in these traits, what we do only comes along side what God has already done for us. We should always be humbled by the great love God has for us. Jesus paid the debt of our sin. Yet we must live after the example of Christ to be pleasing to God. There are many references in the New Testament teaching us to give our all in pursuit of the Christian life.

Faith is a key element in being pleasing to God.

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)   And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

It is our active and living faith that shows we believe God and are following after him. The Hebrew writer noted that to be pleasing to God we must both believe in Him and believe that He rewards those that seek Him. We must be those who are seeking God according to His will.

Faith is the foundation for all of the other characteristics we should have in our life.

Virtue is the determination to do what is right.

Knowledge, as referenced in these verses, is the discrimination to know right and wrong. We need to be sure we are training our conscience to ensure that we hate evil and love good. Is important to note that while we hate evil and love good, we love the souls of all men. We may not like that actions that people take; however, we are all made in the image of God and we desire that all men would come to know God's word and will and seek to follow it. Because of our love for our fellow man we will teach them about God's word and we will bring sin to their attention. We do this because we love their souls. We will speak out against evil and sin because we care for the spiritual wellbeing of others.

Self-Control is keeping our actions and speech under control. We have the power to choose how we react to people, conditions, and events. When we use this power of choice we are exercising self-control.

Steadfastness is resistance to evil and bearing under evil, persecution and challenging circumstance. Steadfastness will build patience.

Godliness is humble reverence and deep piety toward God.

Micah 6:8 (ESV)   He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Brotherly affection is love for the brethren. One of my favorite scriptures describing the qualities of the love of a Christian is I Corinthians 13.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (ESV)   Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

The qualities that Peter mentions in II Peter chapter 1 should be ever increasing in our lives. We need to be asking ourselves frequently -

Am I a stronger Christian today than I was a month ago, a year ago, five years ago, and when I first obeyed God's call?

Am I bearing fruit (Fruit of the Spirit)?

Galatians 5:22-24 (ESV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.   And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we are growing and living in these Christian graces we will be living in a way that brings honor to God and is pleasing to him.

Be Careful Not To Take Your Eyes Off Of Christ

The blog this week has been from I Peter. There are many events of Peter's life with our Lord recorded in the New Testament. One of those is when Jesus came to his disciples walking on the water.

Matthew 14:22-33 (ESV) Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”   He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.   But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”   Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.   And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

We tend to think about what we focus on. Have you ever woken up in the night and heard a noise in your house that is always there, but you normally don't pay attention to it? If you focus on it you may not be able to go back to sleep, because that may then be all your mind is hearing. When Peter asked the Lord to command him to come to Him on the water -- Jesus said, "Come". Peter then got out of the boat and walking to Jesus "saw the wind" and he became afraid. In our Christian life it is important to keep our focus on our Lord and Savior -- Jesus Christ and God's love for us. When we lose that focus we open the door for doubt.

Proverbs 3:5 (ESV) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Faith, Hope and Love

Faith, Hope, and Love are three words we find numerous times in the New Testament.  We know that without faith it is impossible to please God.  We know that love is a critical element in everything we do and we know that the promises of God should provide us with great hope if we will seize them.

I Corinthians 13 is ofter referred to as the passage on love.  In this passage Paul mentions Faith, Hope, and Love and how that Love is the greatest.

When I think of passages where we find Faith, Hope, and Love mentioned at the same time I am drawn to I Thessalonians 1.  Here Paul commends his fellow brethren for their Faith, Hope, and Love and mentions how he has them constantly in remembrance in his prayers.  As Paul commends these three attributes of his fellow brothers he describes the actions that are being invoked.  Paul mentions their "Work of Faith", "Labor of Love", and "Endurance of Hope in our Lord Jesus Christ".  I only hope when others think of Faith, Hope, and Love they see those same attributes in me.  We should be diligently serving our Father and others through Faith with all of our actions a Labor of Love.  At the same time our Faith should provide us an Enduring Hope.

I challenge you to think about your Faith, Hope, and Love.  Is your Faith at work so that you are seeking to serve God with you whole being?  Is Love manifested in your actions?  And does the Hope of Christ provide you the ability to endure and persevere in challenging circumstances? 

These are challenging thoughts we should consider daily.  We have a great Hope.  Christ is our righteousness.  Christ died for us to pay the price for sin so that we could be reconciled to God.  Moreover, God has made us his children.  How awesome.  Because of this great sacrifice and great hope we should be manifesting works of faith and labors of love seeking to be pleasing to our Father.

We can praise God in all of our actions.  At work we can be diligent and faithful workers who give a good days work with loyalty and honesty.  At home we can be the example for our families that is needed.  In the world we can be the light and the salt that shows the love of God to all those around us.  May each of have a life full of works of faith and labors of love that are sustained by our endurance of Hope due to the love God has shown for us and the great promises He has provided to us.