Astronomers estimate there are more than 100 billion galaxies. And each galaxy has more than 100 billion stars! And each of those hundreds of billions of stars was personally hung in space by the Creator Who has not only numbered them all but knows each of them by name! The very first words of Genesis tell us, “In the beginning, God created the heavens. . . .” I can’t conceive of any activity much bigger than that!
What big things are you facing? A big decision about a career change or a child’s schooling or a marriage proposal? A big commitment like buying a new house or beginning a new job or becoming a new parent? A big responsibility such as caring for elderly parents or supervising an office staff or being the sole provider for your family?
God is active in big ways!
The fruit of the Spirit is . . . kindness.
The humble … shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. § Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. § The incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit … is very precious in the sight of God. § Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up.
Pursue … gentleness. § Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart. § He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not his mouth. § Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return … but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.
Gal. 5:22; Isa. 29:19; Matt. 18:3–4; 1 Peter 3:4;
1 Cor. 13:4; 1 Tim. 6:11; Matt. 11:29; Isa. 53:7; 1 Peter 2:21–23
If anyone desires to come after Me,
let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
By honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report. § All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. § The offense of the cross.
If I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you … But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
To you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake. § If One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. § If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.
Luke 9:23; 2 Cor. 6:8; 2 Tim. 3:12; Gal. 5:11; 1:10;
1 Peter 4:14–16; Phil. 1:29; 2 Cor. 5:14–15; 2 Tim. 2:12
Jesus, the Living Logos, is enduringly the same today as He always has been: “He was in the beginning with God” (John 1:2, NKJV). There was no personality change in this Person from the beginning of time until John’s day to our day to the last day of human history on into eternity.
The One Who spoke all things into existence and then transformed Planet Earth from a formless, empty, dark, water-submerged blob dangling in space to a beautiful place that reflected His own image is the same Person Who has power today to transform your life and mine.
The One Who offered all men of Noah’s day salvation from the storm of His judgment if they would come into the ark is the same Person today Who offers all men salvation from His eternal judgment if they come into Him at the cross. So . . . extend His offer to someone you know.
The free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.
Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. § I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins. Put Me in remembrance; let us contend together; state your case, that you may be acquitted. § I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. § But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. § And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Rom. 5:16; Isa. 1:18; 43:25–26; 44:22; John 3:16; Rom. 5:15; 1 Cor. 6:11
Do business till I come.
It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. § To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.
I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. § Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business? § Leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. § Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it. § Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Luke 19:13; Mark 13:34; Matt. 25:15; John 9:4;
Luke 2:49; 1 Peter 2:21; 2 Tim. 4:2; 1 Cor. 3:13; 15:58
The first seventeen verses of Genesis 9 are a direct quotation in God’s own words giving principles for you and me and the entire human race to live by. If we want to live a life that works, overcoming the weakness that resides in all of us, we must heed these principles. If we do not want to heed these principles, we have that freedom, but we will never live a life that works as it was created to work in the beginning. It would be similar to having a new computer with the most cutting edge technology, but using it only as a typewriter. It would do the job, but it wouldn’t even come close to fulfilling its potential. If we do not heed God’s principles for our lives, you and I can exist on this planet yet not even come close to fulfilling our potential or experiencing the abundant life God intended for us.
One primary reason for the collapse of society all around us is due to indifference and outright rejection of God’s principles. Our human weaknesses have become dominant, and life just does not work. So . . . for your own good, read God’s Word and live by God’s principles and enjoy a life that works!
