Few of us have experienced the opulence, power, responsibility, and influence that goes along with being appointed a king over millions of people. In the Old Testament, Saul was the first king anointed by God to govern God’s people. He loved the favor of Heavenly Father and all the other perks that came from this role. But Saul began to do what many of us do when things in our lives are going well, he started to veer off the path of God’s leadership and direction. He started to do his own thing, so much so that the Lord God rejected him and anointed David as the new king of the people of Israel. One of the many and most important lessons we can learn from Saul’s record is understanding the importance of following God’s plan, and the devastating results that occur when we don’t.
God tells us through King David, the psalmist, in Psalm 24:1(NLT), “The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.” Everything that exists was created by our Heavenly Father. Colossians 1:16(NIV) says, “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” Nothing escapes Heavenly Father’s attention. There isn’t the tiniest of details that slips by Him. He sees and knows all, and He alone has all power in His hands. Faith dictates that we not only understand this truth, but that we trust it with our whole being.
Faith is the glue that begins and maintains our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith, it is impossible to please God. We can participate in all kinds of ventures, experiences, and encounters in life, but nothing will be as meaningful and life-affirming as fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives. Creating the space for this critically important truth means that we must understand we’re wired to partner with God in a fundamental way. As human beings that were created in His image, and as His children, we’re fashioned and formed so that God can live through us. God living through us means we can be effective at achieving infinitely more than we could without His help. God living through us is accomplished through us living by the example of Jesus Christ. This is how we experience a more fulfilling and abundant life, and it is how we introduce God’s Kingdom on earth. When we live through Christ, we will avoid devastating failures and walk in his victory over evil and darkness.
It is also important that we stay continually mindful and thankful of what Christ has accomplished for us. He gave his life as a sacrifice for our sins, and because of him, we are rescued from darkness and all its ugly cousins—like fear, sadness, loneliness, shame, low self-esteem and insecurity. In order to rescue believers from the pit of hell and purchase us back from the ruler of darkness, Jesus had to die the most horrific death imaginable. And although we could never have paid the price that he paid, we should understand that he’s set a pattern, and it’s one of sacrifice. Through his example, Jesus Christ has demonstrated pure faith. He showed us that sacrifice is endured gladly when the joy of the reward is believed wholeheartedly. In the eyes of Christ, our lives were the joy of the reward. He did it all because of his great love for us. This is the good news every believer has been commissioned to share.
When it comes to the gospel of Jesus Christ, sharing is caring. It’s caring enough about others to want to freely pass on what has been freely given to us all. Jesus Christ said in John 15:13(KJV) , “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” We’re his friends, and there is no greater honor in all of eternity than to be the friend of God. There is also no greater way to demonstrate our care for others than to want them to come into this friendship, and to have the gift of eternal life that is only available through Jesus Christ. He said in John 14:6(NLT), “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
Sin is anything that is opposite of God’s nature and love. It takes us away from being the children of light that we were created to be. Sin doesn’t come from God. It is spun from satan. Whenever someone chooses sin, they reject the truth that God has spoken to us through His Word. Adam and Eve did this when they disobeyed God. They took satan’s word over God’s Word, and this action sold them and us into the slavery of darkness. Ephesians 2:2(NLT) says, “You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.” Sin requires a payment, and Romans 6:23 tells us that this payment is death. The blood of Jesus Christ was so pure and perfect, that when he gave his life and was crucified on the cross, his blood cleansed our sin for all eternity, and purchased us back from darkness. He brought us into the light.
John 3:16 tells us that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to be a payment for our sin. God loves the world, not just the saints and believers, but the entire world. Everyday presents a unique opportunity to celebrate and remember what God did for us through Christ. Just as the blood of the lamb was spread on the doorposts in Old Testament times, so that the curse would pass over God’s people, we have this unique opportunity to continually remember that Jesus Christ is the Passover Lamb. He restored what Adam and Eve lost and made it possible for us to have the Holy Spirit living inside all who believe.
Again, we must remember always that the Father loves us so much that He gave the most precious thing He had, His only begotten Son. This is because of His all-encompassing, unconditional, and overwhelming love. We must allow it to saturate our hearts and to spill over into the lives of others. We can do this because as His children, God has given us the distinct honor and privilege to share the good news that Jesus Christ died for all, and he did it because of his enormous love for his friends.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Please forgive me for all the things I have done that were contrary to Your Word. Forgive me for not walking in Your Will and neglecting the call You have appointed for my life. I apologize for not seeking Your counsel before making a move, for not checking in with Your Holy Spirit first, and for not walking in faith. Father God, please realign my footsteps to Your Word and Will, so that I can walk in the goodness of Your wisdom, grace, love, strength and power.
I thank You, Father, for everything You have done and are doing for me. I thank You for sustaining my health during this pandemic. I thank You for steering me away from the disease and for steering any carrier of it away from me. I thank You for keeping me on the straight and narrow path of Your righteousness. You have continued to bless me and my loved ones, and I am so grateful. Please always keep us in Your loving care.
Thank You for sending Your powerful Son to be the payment for a sinful world. Through his sacrifice on Calvary, we can have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside our temples. Father, thank You for allowing us to step into this period of rest. We must use it to remember our precious Passover Lamb; for just as the blood of the lamb was spread on the doorposts during Old Testament times so that the curse would pass over Your people, the blood of Christ was shed for the remission of our sins. Thank You for protecting everyone from the virus, for healing those that have been infected with it, and for comforting those that have suffered loss because of it. You are good! You are awesome and amazing, and I thank You for continuing to pour out Your grace upon us all. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“God’s Friendship”, written for victoryinjesuschrist.life. Copyright© 2020. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
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