Colossians Chapter 3

 Chapter 3

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God;

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

A Saint's Prayer, Part Four

 Know The Way

We are currently going through a Saint’s Prayer. We are in Psalm 25 if you want to turn there. We ended last time at verse 9. We will pick up at verse 10. Amen? Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, Lord God, we come before you with thanksgiving and love to you for all that you have given us. From the greatest to the smallest, even to the unknown. We thank you for your Grace and mercy and ask that you forgive us of our sins and stupidities. Father, as we enter into your word, we pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and the Spirit to reveal your great mysteries. May your word feed our spirit as the food you bless us with feeds our bodies. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Ok, Psalm 25:10

“All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.

What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way [that] he shall choose. His soul shall dwell at ease, and his seed shall inherit the earth.”

How do we know the way? How do we know how to live according to God and His will? Obviously this. (Holding up the Bible.) Without this, what do we truly have as a moral compass? What does the world decide is right and wrong? That changes all the time. Not this. Not God.

Without the Word of God, we could never know this.

“Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

What does the world say He is? A prophet. A teacher, A good man. Oh, that may not have even existed. With all the writings, extraneous to the bible, that say Jesus was real, and He existed, that argument is void. But what do we say He is? He is the Christ. The Word of God in the flesh. He says He is the great “I Am.” God.

How do we know?

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm119:105

Simply put, we know the way, because He is the Way. Jesus is our salvation and our Lord. How do we get to know the real Him? This. Talk to Him. Ask Him questions. Read His Word.

God says:

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

We cannot possibly know what God is thinking, unless He tells us. Look here, in Isaiah 55:6-9

"Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”

Stop. Remember, God is being patient. He is not coming back to destroy the world as we know it until He gives as many a choice to be saved as possible. Remember,

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

“Not wishing that ANY should perish, but that ALL should reach repentance.” The next time someone tells you that God is evil and waiting to throw you in hell for the littlest slip-up. Tell them this, back to Isaiah.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

We cannot know God’s thoughts or His plans, not even for us, because our puny little minds cannot even comprehend. We need to ask Him.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:5

For those of you who feel you are not worthy to hear God speak, understand that you are His child. Oh yes. He IS the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, and The Great I am. But He is also now your Abba Father. He sees us as such. He calls us as such. He said this.

“And said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3

Why?

“Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away.” Matthew 19:13-15

I’ve used this analogy before, but it really does apply here. I have four children. Well, two adults and two children. But at one time, they were little too. I have always taken this passage to heart.

“Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.” Matthew 5:37

If they ask me for something, or I tell them something, they have no doubts whatsoever. It will happen. Why “Daddy said so.” If I told them, which I never would have, of course, but if I told them to go on the roof, and jump off, and they would soar to the sky like the Angels, guess what? I would have a lot of explaining to do to the Police when they come to take me away. They would take that leap of faith for no other reason than “Daddy said so.”

This is the kind of relationship God wants to have with us. God said. It is so. Why? “Daddy said so.” I am forgiven. “Daddy said so.” I am a new creature. “Daddy said so.” I am not a child of God. “Daddy said so.”I will leave this earth one day, and I will go to be with Him. Why? How am I so sure? “Daddy said so.”

This is why He gave us His Word. So we can learn. His way is the only way. The best way. Simply put, THE Way. Oh, as a side note. This passage;

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

“So great a cloud of witnesses,” is not talking about Angels watching us 24/7 as some suggest. I will even admit I thought this way, too. This is not the case. That’s a common thought, and it’s easy to see why. The imagery of a "cloud" and "witnesses" certainly has a celestial, angelic vibe. However, in the context of the Bible, specifically Hebrews 12:1, these "witnesses" are generally understood to be human, not angelic.

Here is the breakdown of who they are and why the distinction matters: Who are the Witnesses? The "cloud of witnesses" refers back to the people listed in the previous chapter, Hebrews 11 (often called the "Hall of Faith"). This list includes figures like:

Noah, Abraham, and Sarah
Moses and Rahab
Gideon, David, and many others who suffered for their faith.

Why "Witnesses"? The term doesn't necessarily mean they are "spectators" looking down from heaven like fans in a stadium, though many people find comfort in that interpretation. In the original Greek, the word used is martys, from which we get the word martyr.

It carries two main meanings:

1 - Their Testimony: They are witnesses in a legal sense. Their lives "testify" or prove that living by faith is possible and worth it.

2 - Their Presence: Because they have already finished their "race," they serve as an encouragement to those still running.

This is also a call to action. The verse encourages believers to "throw off everything that hinders" and to run with perseverance. This implies that, inspired by the examples of those who have gone before, we should actively work to remove obstacles in our spiritual lives and remain focused on our faith journey.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Believe it or not, He does know better than us. He is smarter than Us, and if we are called according to His purpose? Romans 8:28. Say it with me.

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

We will wrap up this series next week with Part Five. What do we have so far? David praises God. Then he asked for Truth, and discernment of Truth. He was seeking God. Asking God. Not man. He acknowledged he was a sinner and asked forgiveness for his sins. Then He asked God to show him God’s way. So far

“Psalm Of David. To you, O LORD, I lift my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.

Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love, remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!

Good and upright is the LORD; therefore, he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. For your name's sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great.

Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will be instructed in the way that he should choose. His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land.”

Next time, we will wrap it up with Psalm 25:14-22, Jesus, aka Word of God, over the world.

Remember, you can always find this, and so much more, in the archives, over at TAG

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the peace of our Lord Jesus be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Colossains Chapter 2

 Chapter 2

1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Alive in Christ

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Let No One Disqualify You

16 Therefore, let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

A Saint's Prayer Part three.

 Asking Forgiveness 

We are currently doing an in-depth study of Psalm 25, looking at it for what it is—a Saint’s Prayer. Don’t worry if you missed any; you can always go to the archives, and we will wrap it up in the end. Today we will be going through Psalm 25: 6-9. Let us pray.

Father, we come before you today with thanksgiving for all that you have given us, continue to give us, and your Word declares you always will. Blessings we cannot even count. As we enter into your Word today, we ask for eyes to see, ears to hear, and a spirit to receive your truth and revelations. Help us to understand you better, grow closer, and be strong in our faith through your Word. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen!

Psalm 25:6-7

“Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!.”

We all sin. Say “all.” This means me, you, them, and everyone else that ever has, or will, walk this earth, save one. His name is Jesus. Look here.

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8-9

This is one of those things that unbelievers LOVE to attempt to use to discredit or defect any judgment of sin. “Oh, it must be great to be sinnless.” “So you never sin, right?” “Well, you know what Jesus says, ‘He without sin cast the first stone.” No, this is not the truth. The truth is what? ALL have sinned.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23

There is that word again. All. Look at those passages again. King David is asking for forgiveness. Did he think he was sinless?

He is asking for forgiveness. We actually have an advantage over King David. We have Jesus. We have the Grace of God through Jesus Christ. We are forgiven, and our sins forgotten through grace.

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-- but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.” Romans 5:6-9

Jesus came and became the final sacrifice.

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

Now, does this fact mean we have a licence to sin? I mean, Jesus died and paid the price for all. And I have been taught once saved always saved, so all I have to do is say I accept Jesus, and I can live however I choose. Right? Wrong. Do not be taken in by false doctrine, no matter how great it may sound.

“For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.” Hebrews 6:4-6

If you have truly been saved, you will not continue to willfully sin. Repent means to turn away. To stop sinning and start following.

Back to David’s prayer.

“Good and upright [is] the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.”

Remember, we did nothing to receive salvation. We did nothing to even try to repent. We were in the middle of our sins when Jesus died on our behalf. Romans 3:21-25

“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.”

Wait. There is that word again. All. Say “all.”

“For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

We have been taught a lot; however, keep reading.

“and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.” Romans 3:21-25

We have Jesus. We are “justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Again, does this mean we do not sin? Of course not. However, it does mean God can and will discipline His children.

“And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard the discipline of the Lord lightly, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." Hebrews 12:5-6

We are not on our way to Hell anymore. But be careful. Like an earthly father who loves his children, God loves us. Does that mean we can do whatever? Of course not. Remember, David was what? "a man after God's own heart." David sought to align his life with God's commands and was quick to repent when he sinned. He demonstrated unwavering reliance on God rather than on his own strength.

While David is celebrated for his heart for God, he also faced moral failures, illustrating the complexity of his character. He lusted, coveted, committed adultery, and murder. Was it all ok with God? No. It cost David dearly. Do you think you can do whatever you want and all is ok because you said a prayer ten years ago, but never changed? Sorry, that is not the way it works.

Why did Jesus come to die?

“It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:26

Jesus is our redeemer. He is our Savior. He is our advocate, and HE is LORD. We have an in. We have a justification for the ability to walk into the Throne room of God boldly, and be “sinless” because Jesus covered the cost.

So to recap so far, Psalm 25

“To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame;
Let not my enemies exult over me.

Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
They shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
Make me know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.

Lead me in your truth and teach me,
For you are the God of my salvation;
For you, I wait all day long.
Remember your mercy, O LORD,
and your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.

Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
According to your steadfast love, remember me,
For the sake of your goodness, O LORD!

Good and upright is the LORD;
Therefore, he instructs sinners in the way."

David first praises God. Then he asked for Truth, and discernment of Truth. He was seeking God. Asking God. Not man. He acknowledged he was a sinner and asked forgiveness for his sins. He even took the Word of God into account when he asked God to forgive his sins.

He knew that the Torah taught that forgiveness is based on sincere repentance rather than the mere absence of sin. It commands confession and repentance, indicating that acknowledging one's wrongdoings is essential for atonement.

Before Jesus, God's forgiveness is portrayed as a merciful act, but it is not unconditional; genuine remorse is required. The concept of atonement is central to Jewish teachings, focusing on the importance of recognizing and regretting one's actions.

As I said before, we have an advantage. We have Jesus.

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the peace of our Lord Jesus be with you all. May God bless and be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Colossians Chapter 1

 Chapter 1

Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7 just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8 and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The Preeminence of Christ

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Paul's Ministry to the Church

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

A Saints Prayer Part Two

Ask God, not Man

We are currently going through David’s prayer as depicted in Psalm 25. Last time we went through this.

"To you, O LORD, I lift my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous."

We talked about recognizing God as God and being in total control. We talked about praying for Truth and discernment of Truth. Today, we will pick up on Verse 4. Let us pray

Father, we come before you with thanksgiving and praise for all you have given us. We know that you are still in charge even though the world grows darker. Our faith is in you. As we re-enter your Word, we pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and a spirit to receive what you want us to know. We ask and thank you for all in Jesus’ name, Amen.

OK, so we are in Psalm 25, start at verse 4

“Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.”

King David began his prayer, and you will see a trend, if you will, by recognizing God and His authority over all. He recognized that God's truth is far greater than man’s, and he prayed for discernment. Now he is asking god, as we just did, not in the same words, but for eyes to see. He prayed,

“Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.”

This is not a new prayer. Turn to Exodus 33:13

"Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me your ways, that I may know you to find favor in your sight. Consider, too, that this nation is your people."

Moses prayed this. King David prayed this. Look how King Solomon prayed this.

“And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day.”

Which is Solomon.

“And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people, whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude.”

King David has died, and Solomon is now in his place. He is very intimidated by this great responsibility and wants to do the best he can, so he asked God.

“Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

If you know the story, God was impressed by this and made Solomon the wisest, richest, most powerful King in history. Now we can have a better understanding when we read Proverbs, like this one.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, 

and do not lean on your own understanding.

 In all your ways acknowledge him,

 and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

This is exactly what God did for Solomon, because Solomon did this.

God explained to Isaiah, and to us, this fact.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.: Isaiah 55:8-9

There is little to no way, no possibility, no capability, for our little human brain to even fully comprehend God, Truth, reality, or even ourselves. Why are we even here? What is God, and where did He come from? What truly awaits after? Forget about after, what about tomorrow? Later today?

What plans does God have for us? How should we go? Some have this false sense of entitlement to a nice, enriched, problem-free life because we accepted Jesus. Not only is this naive, but completely oppositeite of reality.

This is why Jesus told us this.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:33-34

We have no idea what tomorrow will bring.

“Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’-- yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.“ James 4:13-17

Again, we do not know what tomorrow will bring, how it will come, or how we should even respond to it. God does. Jesus does. God is already there waiting on you. But what if what comes is bad? “Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

What if I lose my job, house, or a loved one? What happens if I find out bad news from a Doctor? What happens if???

STOP!

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

 Not everything in life is rosy. Not everything in life is easy. There is a storm coming. A storm just passed. Perhaps you are in a storm right now.

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

Remember this.

“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.”

That is a hard lesson for some. It truly is. With us alone, of course, we will not stand. We will buckle and bow to the trial or tribulation. We will be lost and confused. Not with God.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:2-5”

God knows what is ahead. God knows what we will face. God knows how we may better serve someone else. We go through our days at the speed of life, without slowing down to even take a look around. That does not serve God well. It does not benefit us well either. We miss so very many things.

So let's recap. So far, the Prayer Goes like this.

“To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.”

Next time, we will continue with this.

PART 3

Asking Forgiveness

“Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they [have been] ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.”

Along with the fact that we are forgiven, and our sins are forgotten through grace

“Good and upright [is] the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.”

Won’t you join us? Remember, if you miss anything or want to learn more, there is a VAST archive right here at TAG.

Remember, you should always ask God, not man. Oh, it is ok to ask an elder or Pastor something in the Word. It is ok to research and look up information. However, to be the most accurate and to cut down on misinformation, pray first. Let God give you the answers He wants you to know.

Then and only then, will you learn and fully understand that God has always been, is now, and will always be, in charge of, well, everything! Everything. Nothing catches God off guard. Nothing is too big for God. Ultimately, it is God you will answer to. Not a man. Not anything in creation. Not the devil. God alone.

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the peace of our Lord Jesus be with you all. May God bless and be with you always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Coming Right Up: A Conversation with Peter

 Next up here at TAG

Hey folks, if you have been with us here at TAG, {The Truth According to God} for the past 34 weeks, congratulations, you just read through the entire book of Deuteronomy. That's right, we wrapped up Deuteronomy last week.

Here is a reminder. Some people find it truly difficult, and some see it as nearly impossible, to read through the Word of God. They struggle to stay on target and find themselves falling away, failing to complete what they set out to do so badly. There are a few reasons for this.

1 - The Word of God is not natural. It is supernatural. It is alive. It is real and ever working in this world and in people's lives.

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17

We are natural, l and we crave the things of the flesh, which is the opposite of and even opposed to the things of God. Sometimes we pick up the Bible and try to read it with our carnal minds. This is a problem.

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God." Romans 8:5-8

When you pick up this book (Holding up the Bible), you should pray about it. Ask God to give you eyes to see, and a spirit to receive His Word. Ask Him to give you the Holy Spirit to interpret and to understand what His Word is telling you. The word declares that God is willing to give wisdom and understanding to those who ask Him.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." James 1:5

2 - The Cares for this world.

“Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” Matthew 13:18-23

Again, when you read God's Word, you should pray to Him and ask for guidance and even time to do so. Set a routine. Get up an hour earlier. Go to bed an hour later. Skip that TV show. Miss that next newscast. Make it a priority to read God's Word, His guidance for your understanding, and never forget that God's Word is absolute and just. Therefore, if it says something that offends you or goes against what the world says, it is true. The world is wrong. It IS just that simple.

3 - Offensive content

To elaborate a bit more on the last topic, you may become offended at something you read in the Word. Abortion is murder. Psalm 139:13-18, Exodus 21:22-25, Homosexuality is sin, Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, Ezekiel 16:48-51, {Think America} Romans 1: 18-32. Jesus IS the only way to Heaven? John 14:6, Matthew 7:21–27, John 6:63, He promised that those who believe in Him will have Eternal Life, John 3:14–15. He is the gate of the sheep, John 10:7; The Bread of Life, John 6:35; and the Resurrection, John 11:25.

It really is simple. It is in the Book. If the Bible tells you it is sin. It is a sin. It does not matter one iota what you may think about it. What Man says about it. What even the Courts say about it. It does not matter what world leaders, the news, or famous people say about it. If the world chooses to ignore the Word of God, it doesn't change sin to good. Rather, it heaps up the punishment that will eventually come. If you become offended at something you read, pray about it. Ask God why. Seriously, look in the mirror. God is always right and just. His Word is always right and just.

4 - Compassion for others.

Wait. What? Yup. Having a false sense of compassion for others can stop you from reading God's Word. Why? See above. I believe in God. I even believe in Jesus. However, my mother believes in Buddha, or that my best friend is gay, and believes in a loving God where all are welcome and encouraged to just be themselves. There is nothing wrong with that in my eyes. Or you may have something in your past, or know someone that you know the Bible will talk against. Well, I just do not believe that this or that is really sinning. I'm just going to live my life and let God sort it out in the end. That is simply judging the Bible based on what others have told you.

In today's society, Jesus would have detractors on every side. Pretty much like He did then. Jesus does not measure compassion in a merely temporal, circumstantial way. His measure of compassion is eternal and transcendent. His goal, His mission, His compassion, is rooted in something deeper than a feeling. It is based on holiness and goodness. Absolute righteousness. Try reading it for yourself and ask God to put it in proper context and help you to understand. It will change your life.

The Book of Colossians

The Book of Colossians is essentially a "Correction and Connection" letter written by the Apostle Paul while he was in prison. It’s short, punchy, and packs a massive theological punch, primarily focusing on one big idea: Jesus is enough.

Paul had never actually visited Colossae. The church there was likely started by his colleague, Epaphras. However, Paul heard that the believers were being swayed by "hollow and deceptive philosophy"—a mix of local mysticism, legalism, and the idea that you needed "secret knowledge" or extra rituals to truly reach God.

Back to what I was saying, if you have been here for the past 34 weeks, you read through the entire book of Deuteronomy. Congrats. We will be diving into the book of Colossians starting next week. One chapter a week. That's it. That's all. Not too tough if you choose you really want to do it. Remember, pray. Ask God to show you what He wants you to see as we go through Colossians together. 

Until next time. Be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus IS Lord!