Two Nations—Jacob and Esau If you were promised a great inheritance from your father, how would you treat it? An example can be found in Genesis 25:29-34, where we read the story of Jacob and Esau, and how Esau despised his birthright The Lord told Rebekah that two nations were in her womb and the older child would serve the younger. Esau and Jacob were twins, with Esau being the older. Esau Despised his Birthright We discover that Esau, after coming in weary from working in the field one day, was willing to sell his birthright for a bowl of stew that Jacob had prepared. He even swore an oath to Jacob that he would do it. In verse 34 we are told Esau treated his birthright with " contempt ". The word "contempt" here means that he scorned or despised his birthright. Esau treated something holy as if it were common and of no importance. Esau despised his birthright. God seemed to be unimportant to him. Later in life, he ignored God's instructions by marrying Hittite women, which saddened his parents because God had plainly told the Israelites not to do this. What is a birthright? A birthright usually went to the first born son. It was a double portion of the inheritance. It also gave a head of household status to the son. For Esau it meant also that the promises that God made to Abraham and to his father Isaac would pass to him. Why Would Esau Sell His Birthright? For Esau to sell something so incredibly important, both in a spiritual and a literal sense, for a bowl of stew seems ridiculous. Esau was living in the moment. His physical needs seemed more important than any double portion of the inheritance he might get when his father died. Either he thought that swearing to Jacob meant nothing or he didn't realize the significance of what he was giving up or worse he just didn't care. Swearing An Oath In Numbers 30:2, Moses tells the people that if they swear an oath and bind themselves to an agreement, that a person must do everything they swear they will do. Swearing an oath was not taken lightly, unlike how it is often viewed today. In Ecclesiastes 5:5, Solomon says it is better to not make a vow at all than to make it and then break it. There will be a price to pay unless a person confesses their sins and accepts their guilt. Esau would have known all of this. He would have known what could happen if he gave up his birthright and what would happen if he tried to say the oath was not serious. The Legacy of Esau The end result was that Jacob received the inheritance and Esau did not. Jacob became one of the fathers of the nation of Israel and is in the lineage of Jesus. In fact his name was changed to Israel in Genesis 32:28. Esau became the father of the Edomites (Genesis 36). The Edomites, who became pagans, hated the nation of Israel. They often sided with Israel's enemies. However, Israel was forbidden by God to hate them because they were close relatives (Deuteronomy 23:7). Eventually the Edomites were conquered and faded into history. New Testament Perspective What does the New Testament tell us about Esau and his choice? The writer of Hebrews in Hebrews 12:16-17 tells us to pursue holiness, to be careful not to fall short of the grace of God "lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright." A profane person is one who is disrespectful towards sacred things. We should not look to the world to satisfy our needs but we must look to God, this is what Esau did not do. Esau had a wonderful inheritance that he casually renounced because he wanted to gratify his worldly needs. By sinning, Esau fell short of the grace of God. He did not feel convicted that he needed to confess his sins and repent. His sorrow was not over breaking God's laws, but over what he lost. It was not Godly sorrow . He continued to blame Jacob for his bad decisions. Christian Inheritance As Christians we are told repeatedly that we also have an inheritance, a birthright. Romans 8:17 says we are coheirs with Christ. 1 Peter 1:4 says we have an inheritance in Heaven. Jesus tells us in Matthew 25:34 that we will inherit the Kingdom. Galatians 3:29 lets us know we are heirs according to promise. Colossians 1:12 says there is an inheritance of saints. To inherit something, someone must die. Jesus is referred to as the first born of God six times in the New Testament. Jesus is called the " first born of many brothers " in Romans 8:29. We are God's children (Galatians 4:7). Because of this, we share in Jesus's inheritance. This eternal inheritance is only made possible by the death and resurrection of Christ. It is made possible by the unmerited and unexpected grace of God that He gives us through His Son. Hebrews 12:16-17 reminds us not to take our inheritance lightly as Esau did. Our inheritance was bought with a price: the death of the Son of God on the cross. God forbid that we should " despise " our birthright, our inheritance, as Esau did. God forbid that we should fail to repent and acknowledge our sin as Esau did. When we fall into unrepentant sin, when we live for the moment, when we treat our salvation with " contempt " we need to acknowledge our sin and trust in God's grace and forgiveness. Look Forward To That Living Hope Our inheritance means so much more than anything the world has to offer us. As 1 Peter 1:3-4 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you," I am looking forward to that living hope, that incorruptible inheritance, the one that never fades away, that Christ provides for me in Heaven. It is our hope of glory . I hope you are too.

From Receiving a Blessing to Becoming a Channel When I was a child we sang an old hymn called, " Make Me a Channel of Blessing ". Part of the song goes like this, Is your life a channel of blessing? Is the love of God flowing through you? Are you telling the lost of the Savior? Are you ready His service to do? Chorus: Make me a channel of blessing today, Make me a channel of blessing, I pray; My life possessing, my service blessing, Make me a channel of blessing today. Instead of a prayer that asks God to bless us, perhaps we should pray more that God will make us a blessing to others. Dear Father, make us a channel for living waters. Rivers Of Living Water In John 7:38 Jesus says, "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” What are these living waters that the Lord is referring to? He is talking about the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not a gift given so we can keep it to ourselves. The Holy Spirit is a gift given so that we can be a channel, a mechanism or a route, to share God's love with others. Blessed So We Can Bless Others From the very beginning in Genesis 12:2 when God speaks to Abram to leave Haran, God tells Abram that, " I will bless you and make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. " God doesn't bless Abram and then that's it. No, he blesses Abram so that Abram will be a blessing to others. Through Abram's line (Abraham) comes our greatest blessing, Jesus. We don't become Christians to " hide our light under a basket " (Matthew 5:15). We become Christians to love and serve others, to tell others about Christ, to show His love to others and we do this because we have the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us the strength and the power to serve others when we think we can't. He gives us abilities that we don't have in ourselves alone. He pushes us to do more, be more and give more. As Christians we shouldn't be concerned about how much "me time" we have. We shouldn't be worried about "burn out". We shouldn't be worried that "people are using us". We should should give and continue to give, because that is our purpose on this Earth. We are blessed so that we can be a blessing. The Holy Spirit Is The Living Waters The living waters that Christ is talking about, the Holy Spirit, springs up into everlasting life (John 4:13). These living waters will give us comfort (John 14:26), the Holy Spirit teaches us and helps us remember God's word (John 14:26), He gives us power (Acts 1:8), He is our Helper (John 14:16) and the Spirit of Truth (John 16:13). We are convicted by the Holy Spirit (John 16:8). Truly we are blessed with all spiritual blessings . Acts 5:32 says that the Spirit is given to those who obey Him. We should be diligent Christians in our obedience. Fruits Of The Spirit These blessings don't just stop with us. Paul tells us to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16). Galatians 5:22-23 tells us that when we do this we produce fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These fruits are for us to use when we interact with others. We show people love; we show joy; we seem peaceful; we display patience; we aren't cruel, but kind; we are good to others; we are faithful, not just to God, but to those around us; and lastly, we display control over our actions and emotions when we deal with others. This is how we serve. This is how we show Christ to the world. The Holy Spirit Draws Man Water brings life, just like the Holy Spirit brings life. The Holy Spirit shows the world a different way of living, one lived for others, in humility and service to others. The Holy Spirit draws people to Christ. If our lives don't show the Holy Spirit, then how can we expect to draw anyone to Christ. The will of God, according to our Lord, is "that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life ."(John 6:40). When we live our lives according to God's will, living waters will flow out of our hearts. In this way, other people may behold the Son and believe. We Are God's People Filled With Power The Holy Spirit provides us with what we need to fulfill the will of God on earth. But we have to be willing to do it. We have to be obedient to our calling. 1 Corinthians 6:19 says that the Holy Spirit lives in us and because of this we are not our own. A price has been paid for us (1 Corinthians 7:23). 1 Peter 2:10 reminds us that "once you were not a people but now you are God's people." Let that sink in. We are God's people! We are sent to serve those still in darkness who don't know Him. Maybe this seems impossible to you. Is it impossible to live a life with these fruits of the Spirit: to serve when we are tired and worn, to love when we are hated and despised, and to forgive when we receive no apologies? Truly, it would be impossible if not for the gift of living waters—the Holy Spirit. The Lord turned the meager offering of a few fish and loaves of bread into a feast for thousands. This same power lives in us. Through the working of the Holy Spirit He can also turn our meager offerings into blessings for those around us, we just have to believe and let Him work through us. In Romans 8:26, Paul says that the Holy Spirit helps us when we are weak. He continues to say that we don't know how to pray as we ought to, but the Holy Spirit actually intercedes for us on our behalf. The Holy Spirit even helps us to speak to God in the way we ought to! 1 Corinthians 1:27 reminds us that the foolish are used to shame the wise and the weak are used to shame the strong. As Paul says, " we glory in the Lord, not ourselves. " We pray that the Holy Spirit will truly make us a channel of blessing to others. Praise to God for the gift of His Spirit, a gift given to us, whose gifts are shared by us, so the world may believe.

What the Torn Veil Means I remember well when I was a young child hearing for the first time about the tearing of the temple veil at the death of Christ. What an image that is. Today when we hear the word veil we often think of some wispy, see through material. This veil wasn't like that. This torn veil was enormous, a reminder that access to God was not open to just anyone. ~Our High Priest is seated at the right hand of the throne of Majesty in the Heavens.~ The Barrier Between God and Man The Bible tells us the veil was approximately 60 feet tall, 30 feet wide and approximately 4 inches thick. It was adorned with cherubim like the ones Ezekiel saw guarding God's throne. It was made of blue, purple and scarlet yarn with finely twisted linen. When it was torn it wasn't from the bottom up, but the top down. Only the hand of God could tear a 4 inch thick, 60 foot tall veil from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). Why Was The Veil Torn? As amazing as all of that is, the true significance is found in why the veil was torn. The word veil in Hebrew means " to separate ". That was its function - to separate humans from the holiness and majesty of God. Behind this veil was the Holy of Holies and the Mercy Seat. The mercy seat was where the blood of the sacrifice was placed that would reconcile God and his people. Only once a year on the Day of Atonement, did a high priest enter this area behind the veil. From the moment the veil was torn, a priest was no longer was needed to bring the blood of animals to atone for our sins. We could, through the perfect sacrifice of Christ on the cross, go directly to our Lord. The blood of Jesus allows us to enter into the presence of God. Christ is our Passover. Hebrews 10: 19-22 tells us that we can go boldly to God through the blood of Jesus. We no longer need a Jewish high priest to atone for our sins. Jesus's sacrifice on the cross is our perfect atonement. We enter into God's presence through the veil that is Christ's flesh. He is our high priest. He is our perfect sacrifice. Hebrews 8: 1-2 says the main point is that our High Priest, Jesus, is seated in Heaven and is the minister of the true tabernacle. We no longer need a man to stand between us and God. Jesus has torn down the veil between man and God. It is his righteousness, not ours, that allows us to approach God. Because of Jesus, we can come before God boldly. "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4: 16 The New Covenant The tearing of the veil signifies the beginning of the New Covenant. The Old Covenant has been fulfilled and has passed away. The Old Covenant was based on obeying the Laws of Moses. Ezekiel 36:26-27 speaks of the New Covenant this way, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them." The Perfect Sacrifice When we celebrate Easter, the Resurrection of our Lord, let us be mindful of the fact that Jesus our High Priest was tempted in all points just as we are and yet He was sinless (Hebrews 4:15). He was the perfect sacrifice, once for all. Because Jesus’ sacrifice was perfect and complete, it not only secured our forgiveness but also opened a way for us to live in close fellowship with God. This shows us the full power of the access we now have through Him. The Power of Bold Approach Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we are invited into God’s presence with confidence. We no longer approach Him cautiously or through ritual; we come as children welcomed by a loving Father. This bold access is not earned by our efforts, but given freely through the righteousness of Jesus. Every prayer we lift, every act of worship we offer, is empowered by the blood of Christ. The torn veil reminds us that God desires intimacy with His people and has provided the perfect way for us to experience it daily. Please pray with me: We bless you, Lord, and we thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus, who has become our great High Priest, our intercessor, before Your throne for the forgiveness of our sins. By His Cross and Resurrection He has set us free. In your Son's name, Amen Jesus our High Priest

When Human Love Fails Us We can probably remember many times when love has failed us. From parents who weren't very good at showing love, to first loves that didn't last, to failed marriages that should have been forever. The Bible tells us that God's love never fails us (1 Corinthians 13:8). Scripture says we are to know God's love. But it doesn't mean know like, "I know it's raining outside." It means know deep in your bones, in your soul—something experienced, something living in you—because it quite literally does. We may try to find love through social media likes and hearts. But no matter how many we receive, we know deep down that the person on the other end does not truly know us. They might not even like us if they did. But there is a love that is available to us that surpasses knowledge, one that can only be known through experience. Fully Known and Truly Loved To quote author and pastor Timothy Keller, "To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God." Our spouse may love us but never really know us. Not true of God. Our spouse may learn to truly know us and then decide they don't love us. But God—oh, what a God He is! He knows our worst and He knows our best and He loves us still. But Divine love is not like ours. It begins with something deeper—He knows us completely. And because He knows us so completely—from our first breath to our last thought—Scripture shows us just how deep that knowing goes. Known Completely—Even the Worst of Us God told the Prophet Jeremiah, " Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. " (Jeremiah 1:5). Just as God knew Jeremiah before he was born and had a plan for his life, so He does for ours. God tells Jeremiah, " I knew you. " And indeed He knows us completely like no other. He knows the number of hairs on our head (Luke 12:7). He knows the number of years we will breathe on this earth. He knows the good works He has called us to. Ezekiel 11:5 tells us that God knows the " things that come into your mind; every one of them. " We cannot be more known than that. But in spite of knowing not just the good but all of the bad, He still loves us. Would we love our spouses if we knew everything they ever thought? God's love is incomprehensible to us because it is so much more than our own. When we know His love, it is only the outskirts of it—like knowing New York City from a small suburb 50 miles away where on a clear day you can make out the skyline. To be known this completely should unsettle us because we know what is actually within us. Yet here is the astonishing grace: even with full knowledge of our hidden darkness, God does not turn away He actually draws near in love. Loved While We Were Still Sinners The truth is that Jesus loved us so much while we were still sinners, He died for us (Romans 5:8). When we were slaves to sin He loved us. When we had no thought of Him He loved us. And even this was not a reaction to our sin, as though God adjusted His plan after we failed. In fact, in Revelation 13:8 we are told that Jesus is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. God knew we would sin before He ever created any of us. But He had a perfect plan born out of love. He would send us His own Son as a perfect sacrifice for the world. This eternal love is so immense that what we see now is only a faint hint of its true depth Grasping the Love That Surpasses Knowledge This reminds me of a beautiful verse: " Behold, these are but the outskirts of His ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of Him " (Job 26:14). We hear a small whisper, see a small glimpse, feel a small touch, and understand His love accordingly. Yet Scripture does not leave us with the conclusion that God’s love is simply beyond us and unknowable. In Ephesians chapter 3 Paul prays a heartfelt prayer for the believers of Ephesus. He prays that they, together with all of God's people, be " rooted and grounded in love " and that they could grasp or comprehend the true extent of God's love for them. He wants them to " know this love that surpasses knowledge " so they may be " filled with the fullness of God ." Knowing God's love is knowing the nature of God. The more we understand God the more we will be filled by Him and His love. This love will spill out, as it was always intended to, and be lavished on all those we come in contact with. But what does it mean to " know this love that surpasses knowledge "? We may know something is a fact but still not know it in our hearts. We may know that our parents love us because they clothed us, fed us, and protected us but we have never experienced the tenderness, the deep emotional connection that goes beyond simple knowledge. Many people know God loves them. They have been told this since they were babies. They know in their head that He sent His Son to die for them, but what they know is only in their head. The reality of God's love has never sunk deeper than if it were a fact like 2 + 2 = 4. Paul, however, doesn't leave us with mere facts, he describes God's love in vivid ways that he himself lived every day. The Breadth, Length, Height, and Depth Paul speaks of the breadth, length, height, and depth of His love. Paul uses this language because for him God's love is not just facts, but what He experienced every day He lived. The breadth of His love is the whole world and all who are in it, the length of His love " endures from everlasting to everlasting " (Psalm 103, 136), the height of His love reaches to Heaven, and the depth of His love reaches down into the mire of sin to pull out those who call on Him. At the very beginning of Paul's prayer he is on his knees pleading that they would be strengthened with the might of the Holy Spirit and that Christ would live in their hearts. Without Christ in our hearts there is no possibility of comprehending God's love for us. Experiencing Christ dwelling in us should bring us ultimate satisfaction. And because this love is so deep and enduring, God promises to carry it with us through every season of life, no matter how long or hard the road. A Love That Never Ends and Never Lets Go In Isaiah 46:4 God declares, " Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. " Young or old God's love sustains us. He sustains us with the very same love He has for His own Son. Loved as the Father Loves the Son—Now Go Share It When Jesus prays for us in John 17, he says this to the Father, " I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me " (John 17:23). Can you actually begin to understand His love? That He loves us as much as He loves His Son? If this is true—if we are loved in this way—then it demands something from us: to love others as we've been loved. Our love must be a love in action . We have no greater need than to be loved and that is why God offers us His perfect, everlasting love and gives it to us to dwell in our hearts so we can share Him with others. It is not given to us to hoard, keep to ourselves, or as "our little secret." God's all-knowing love is given to us to share with others so that the fellowship we have with God can be known by all who call on Him. As we close, let's let the words of this beloved old hymn, " Make Me a Blessing ," become our prayer. Give as 'twas given to you in your need, Love as the Master loved you; Be to the helpless a helper indeed, Unto your mission be true. Refrain: Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing. Out of my life may Jesus shine; Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray. Make me a blessing to someone today. God's love is the love that surpasses knowledge. May it be so, Lord—today and every day. Amen

The Comfort of a Child Who Knows Their Parent Is Near One of the sweetest things about children is their need to know that their parent is close by. If you go to the park, or sometimes even just to another room, you will often find your child checking to make sure they know exactly where you are. They need to know you can see them. They become uneasy if they can't see you. As soon as they know where you are they relax knowing they are safe. Psalm 139: Experiencing God's All-Knowing Love The psalmist speaks of God in similar ways. In Psalm 139:1-6 he tells us that God knows everything about us. Not just us as a member of the human race, but us as an individual on an intimate level. What does God know about us? This is exactly what we discover in Psalm 139: Experiencing God’s All-Knowing Love—a God who is never distant, never unaware, and never absent. He knows the most boring and mundane things about us. He knows when we get up and when we sit down, he knows all of our ways, the things we do, and the words on our tongue. Are we praising Him? He knows. Are we cursing in frustration? He knows that too. God’s Protection and Guidance Verse 5 says that "You hedge me behind and before" . This means He protects us and when something happens it is because He has allowed it to happen. His hand is always guiding us, whether we realize it or not. Even when we feel weak, we can trust that He is near to strengthen us. All of this is too much for the psalmist to grasp. Although we should learn as much as possible about God, absolute understanding of who He is, is impossible. God is Always Present In verses 7-12, the psalmist explains not only does God know everything about us, no matter where we are or what we are doing God is near to us. I remember as a young person reminding myself many times, that if I was doing good or doing bad, God was there. If we really believed this in our heart of hearts it would give us pause when we choose to do bad. He continues and tells us spiritual darkness can't hide from God because the "night shines like the day" . Nothing we do is concealed from God. Everything, good or bad, is seen by Him. God as Creator and Sustainer In verses 13-16, we discover that not only does God know everything about us and is always present with us, He also is the One who formed us. While we were still in our mother's womb, God Himself cared for us and knew us intimately. Before we were born we mattered to God. He purposefully created each of us. David says, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Even though David knew little of the science we call biology, he knew that the human body was a masterpiece of God's design. The more we learn about the workings of the human body the more amazing it is. All of this points to a creator God, not just accident. In verse 16, the psalmist tells us that God knows everything about us, from the womb to the grave— everything we ever will do. The length of our lives, the impact we will have on others, for good or bad, He sees. This should fill us with humility. Proverbs 27:1 says we shouldn't boast about tomorrow because we don't know what tomorrow will bring. Each day we live is a blessing. Our Response to God’s Greatness How do we respond to the greatness of God? In verses 17-18, the psalmist rejoices. "How precious..." , he begins. How precious, indeed, is the creator of the universe, who knows and cares so deeply for each one of us. Do we want to know Him better? Dive deep into His words and He will reveal Himself to us, His will for us, and how we should bless Him all of our days. In this world we are often impressed when someone of power or influence notices us. We tell others when we meet such people. "I remember when I met the President" or "I remember when I went to a party with ______." How much more should it mean to us that God's thoughts towards us are so many they are like grains of sand, immeasurable, according to David. Divine Justice and Transformation David's focus shifts in verses 19-22. Because He is so overwhelmed with love and adoration for God, he calls on God for swift justice for those who " speak against you wickedly. " Many times we don't understand how those who do evil things or speak against God are not punished, but often God's patience is greater than ours. Paul committed many evil acts against Christians until He met Jesus. From then on he was a transformed man who became a great missionary for our Lord. The Call to Self-Examination To end this beautiful psalm, David cries out in verses 23-24, and with humility asks God to " Search me, O God, and know my heart." The prophet Jeremiah says this about the heart, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" David knew only God could truly understand His heart. God knew him even better than he knew himself. We shouldn't ask God to search us if we haven't first searched ourselves. Have we examined our heart? Have we acted upon what we found out about ourselves? Guarding Our Thoughts and Anxieties David called on God to "know my anxieties" . Why? Because these things are often proof that we have not placed our trust in God . Some translations say, "know my thoughts." Our thoughts can become fully formed into sin if we are not careful. Our Lord says in Matthew 15:19, "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." God needs to be in control of our actions and our thoughts. The world is busy today stoking our fear and anxiety. But Peter says to "cast your cares on Him for He cares for us" (1 Peter 5:7). Do we really believe that? Even the Lord's return, which should be a joyful time, has seemingly been turned into a source of worry for many. Let God show you the things that are causing you anxiety. With the help of the Holy Spirit we can truly give our cares to God.  Uncovering Hidden Sin David knew that we don't always recognize the wickedness that lies within our hearts. He knew that we often deceive ourselves and think we are much better than we actually are. Humbly, he requested God to "see if there is any wicked way in me." David wanted God to expose any secret sin that he should repent of. We also should see the truth of Psalm 139 by experiencing God's all-knowing love, living each day with the knowledge that nothing is hidden from Him. The Courage to Embrace the Truth David's prayer takes courage. God may show some things about ourselves that we would rather not know. He may expose things that we have been doing that we have tried to deny. Our Father may show us that we have to take off our mask and face the truth about ourselves. We have to remember to thank Jesus that He is faithful and just to forgive us when we ask (1 John 1:9)! The Invitation to Follow God’s Way Finally, David asks God to, "lead me in the way everlasting." Contrary to the way of the wicked which leads to everlasting destruction, David asks God to lead him down His path. This is the way to eternal life with the God who David knew, knew everything about Him, was always with Him, and cared for Him more than He could comprehend. Paths that don't lead to God are dangerous paths. When we love God like David did, we will be like that little child, always wanting to keep their eyes on their parent. When our eyes are on our Father God, then we can rest and feel at ease, knowing it is He that cares for us. It is He who is in charge of us and will lead us on right paths. Do we want to be led in the way everlasting; the way of holiness that only the Holy Spirit offers us? Like Paul, we want to be able to say that we have kept the faith and that a crown of righteousness has been laid up for us (2 Timothy 4:6-8). In the end, Psalm 139: Experiencing God’s All-Knowing Love calls us to live like that child—eyes fixed on our Father, confident that He sees, knows, and leads us.

“God Loves You”: Truth We Hear Often but Rarely Grasp "God Loves You." How many times have we heard this from friends, strangers, preachers and others? When you hear those words do they mean anything to you? Or do you just hear them and think, "So, what else is new?" Or maybe you hear them and think that is just impossible because of whatever sin you are participating in at the moment. God Loved Us So God does love us, in Romans 5:8 Paul says he loves us so much that Christ died for us " while we were STILL sinners. " God became flesh and died on a cross for us before we ever repented or believed. His perfect Son died for you and me. Truly this is love divine. God Wants To Protect Us He longs to love and protect us from the evil one, Satan. "He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; " Psalm 91:4 I always loved the imagery of God as a mother hen covering us with His feathers and giving us refuge under His wings. There is something so touching and so tender about this illustration of God's love. Jesus uses the same imagery in Matthew 23:37, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!" The Metaphor Of The Hen According to an article in the journal, Animals (1), a mother hen provides many important things for her chicks. Her maternal care influences the behavior of her chicks, she helps reduce fear and stress in her young when they feel threatened, she trains them how to find food that is nourishing and the mother hen's clucks help the unhatched baby recognize their mother when they are born. The Bible tells us in Psalm 139:16 that God knows us even before we are born; that his Holy Spirit influences our behavior (Galatians 5: 22-23); that we are nourished by Him. God will provide for us (Matthew 4:4) and if we belong to Him we hear His voice and follow Him (John 10:27). He keeps us from fear (Psalm 34:4). God is our dwelling place. Divine Love It is not surprising that the Lord picked the image of a hen to show how He loves us. When we realize, maybe for the first time, that in spite of our failings, He truly loves us, it is both humbling and thrilling at the same time. We realize that our worth comes from Him. That He longs to cover us and protect us. We repent and seek His face and the divine love of His Holy Spirit fills us and trains us, guides and protects us, nourishes and feeds us and in all things, because of His love and forgiveness, we give Him the honor and the glory. The Love of God is Greater Far - Frederick Lehman "Could we with ink the ocean fill, And were the skies of parchment made; Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade; To write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry; Nor could the scroll contain the whole, Though stretched from sky to sky." (1) Edgar J, Held S, Jones C, Troisi C. Influences of Maternal Care on Chicken Welfare. Animals . 2016; 6(1):2. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani6010002

Understanding Biblical Love As Christians we talk about love a lot. Sadly, for many, that is all we do, talk. The Bible tells us to love God and love one another. Paul explains that love is longsuffering, kind, not envious, not proud, or rude. Love doesn't want things for itself, it isn't provoked, it doesn't think about evil. He says love doesn't rejoice in sin but in truth, and that it bears, believes, hopes and endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). But what does that mean in practice? So, in other words, love doesn't lash out at people when they aren't nice to us. It isn't envious of other people's success or possessions or beauty. Love isn't rude to people when we have had a bad day. Love doesn't have to have its own way all the time. Love doesn't let people make you get mad. Love doesn't sit around thinking about doing bad stuff. Love isn't happy when it sees sin. Love is happy because it knows what is true. True love can put up with suffering and still love. Love in Action, Not Just Words The evidence that we love others is in our actions (James 2:14-17). The evidence is not that we walk around talking about how much we love others, but the evidence is that we actually do things for others. If your brother is in need and you tell him or her you will pray for them but do nothing to actually help them yourself then all you have done is talked about your love. Jesus loved us while we were still sinners. He loved with a sacrificial love. Do we love, do we forgive, those who sin against us? How can I love someone, really, if I can't forgive them. Sometimes in our own strength it is nearly impossible to forgive but in Christ we can forgive the unforgivable. Love Covers a Multitude of Sins Peter says our love for each other should be fervent or with passionate intensity. According to him love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). We read something similar in Proverbs 10:12. "Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins." Proverbs 10:12 What do Peter and the author of Proverbs mean when they say that "love will cover a multitude of sins" ? As John Piper says, " Love wants peace, not conflict. Love wants holiness, not sin. Love wants the good of the sinning person, not public vengeance." Love will overlook hurts and misdeeds. It will make us eager to let go and overlook the sins of others towards us so that the person we are dealing with will see God's love in our patience and endurance. The Good Samaritan: An Example of True Love Jesus himself gives us a story that exemplifies what love towards others really means. Love isn't just offered to our family, to our church family, to people who are the same color as us or to people with the same socio-economic status. Love is action and it is to be given to anyone who needs it. We are to serve because He served. In the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 Jesus answers the question, "Who is my neighbor?" Three men pass by an injured man but only one stops to help. We see that the Jewish man, lying naked and beaten by bandits on the side of the road, was bypassed by two other Jewish men - a priest and a Levite. These men would have been considered his neighbors. The very people who were supposed to be most knowledgeable about God could not be bothered to help, whether out of fear or simply lack of love. The Samaritan however, who belonged to a group of people that were hated by the Jewish people, saw simply a human being in need. The Samaritan people were so despised Jewish literature says this about them: “ He that eats the bread of the Samaritans is like one that eats the flesh of swine.” (Mishna Sheviit 8:10) The Samaritan is the last person a Jewish man would consider his neighbor. The Samaritan bandaged his wounds, placed him on his animal, brought him to an inn and took care of him. When the Samaritan left the next day he left money for the man's care and promised to repay the innkeeper if the man's expenses were more than that. The Samaritan went far beyond what many would have done. What situation have you been in where you went the extra mile for someone that you knew didn't like you? Maybe even hated you? The scripture never says that the man thanked the Samaritan. The Samaritan is our Lord's example of someone who loved, who was a neighbor, not just in word, but in deed. The Samaritan didn't just pause on the road to pray for the man, he didn't just bandage his wounds and leave him, he didn't just get him a room for the night, but actually took care of him, and he didn't just leave him with nothing, but made sure there was money for the man's continued care. Can you think, right now, of someone that doesn't like you? Maybe someone who hates you. Now imagine that you help this person, a lot, and they don't even thank you. Can you imagine still showing love to them? Jesus says we must. Being a Neighbor in Today's World In today's world, we see so much division and separation. Jesus says we are each other's neighbor and that we need to act like it. Can you imagine a world where what Jesus taught was put into action? Instead of people tearing each other down they would lift each other up. Building up our neighbor is expected. Instead of people waiting for someone else to help they would reach out and help others themselves to the best of their ability. Do we look at others and see a different color? See a different religion? See a different sexual orientation and say NO I can't help that person; I won't serve that person. I can't be their neighbor. Jesus asks hard things from us sometimes. Jesus washed the feet of the man He knew would betray Him. Think about that.... We Truly Love When We Act On It

The Broad Path That Leads to Destruction There are only two paths in this life, but most people never stop long enough to ask which one they are on. One path feels easy, affirming, and widely accepted, but it leads to destruction. The other is narrow, difficult, and often lonely, yet it leads to life. Jesus does not leave room for a third option. The question is not whether these paths exist, but which one you are walking right now. ~ There are two paths - the broad one to destruction and Hell. And the narrow way to God and to Heaven. ~ The easy path is broad and the gate is wide that leads to destruction. It is made to make us feel good about ourselves. On that path the focus is on myself. I am successful. I am beautiful. I am happy. I am wise. The broad path seeks to flatter us. The broad path is popularity. "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:13-14 What the Broad Path Teaches About Truth and Sin The broad path tells us we must tolerate evil. It says we must accept evil and never speak against it because doing so is "judging". The broad path says there is no absolute truth. The broad path says your truth is yours and my truth is mine and it doesn't matter. The broad path beckons us with temptations to sin "just a little". "No one will know," it tells us. No one will see. No one will get hurt. And then we are sucked into a pit of destruction that is difficult to crawl out of. The broad path says to just "be nice" and everything will be fine. The broad path says faith in Jesus isn't necessary. "All religions teach the same thing," you will hear people say. We'll get to Heaven (or someplace good) just by being a nice person. The Narrow Path: Humility, Sacrifice, and Following the Shepherd The narrow path with the narrow gate is a path that is lonely. Few people are on it. It makes us humble ourselves. It tells us others are more important than we are. This path doesn't seek fame or fortune. This path requires sacrificial love . This path has someone in front of us, a Shepherd who leads us. A Shepherd we must look to so as not to stumble along the way. In Psalm 125:5 David says, "As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, The Lord shall lead them away with the workers of iniquity." So for the wicked their way is crooked, but for the righteous, we follow God in whom " there is no variation or shadow of turning " (James 1: 17). Why the Narrow Way Is Difficult but Right The narrow way is a path that is difficult for many reasons. When we take the narrow way, we testify to the love of Christ in our lives and to love our enemies, the very enemies of Jesus. We take the narrow path knowing that " we are more than conquerors " (Romans 8:37), and yet we face our enemies unwilling to do wrong to any of them. We take the narrow path and acknowledge that there is sin and weakness in others (and in ourselves) and at the same time not judging them. It is hard. If we look at the path and not at the shepherd, if we look to ourselves and not at the shepherd, and if we are afraid all the time, always trying to find our own strength to walk this path, then we are doomed to failure. But our shepherd promises to guide us. Sadly many won't let Him guide them. Few Will Follow: The Reality of the Narrow Way There were few disciples that followed Jesus. Many of His followers turned away when His words were too difficult for them (John 6:66). Many turn away today. Why do we pin our hopes on numbers? There were few disciples in the beginning and there will always be few. We know that the path is narrow and the way is right when we focus on the One who is the Gate. This narrow way is the only Way to our Father. Our Jesus is the truth! Without Jesus there is no life with God. Only Jesus can remove the burden of sin from our life by his Cross and resurrection. He told us there is no way to Heaven except through Him. As we travel our narrow path there is someone else lurking in the byways. This evil one requires us to "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Jesus tells us that Satan is the great deceiver . In fact, he is the " deceiver of the whole world " (Revelation 12:9) and the " father of lies " (John 8: 44). Why would anyone knowingly follow a liar and a deceiver? Maybe because following the liar takes a person down the easy broad road that has few obstacles. The road that is all about themselves. Jesus, however, promises us an abundant life. This life that Christ promises us in Him is beyond our expectations, beyond even our imaginings. "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us," Ephesians 3:20 Paul acknowledges that the way is difficult. He says that he has " fought the good fight " (2 Timothy 4:7). Paul didn't just drift, easily down the narrow path. He fought his way to the end. Why do we think our way should be easier than Paul's? We must strive to enter the narrow gate (Luke 13:24). The narrow way is not easy. It is marked by tribulation, distress, persecution, and hardship. But this is the path that leads to life, and we do not walk it alone. No trial, no enemy, no suffering can separate us from the love of Christ. The world may choose the broad road, but we are called to endure on the narrow one, always fixing our eyes on Jesus, trusting Him to lead us all the way to the end. Few may find it, but it is the only path that leads to life. The Narrow Way

Counting the Cost Before You Begin Following Jesus is not presented in Scripture as an impulsive decision or an emotional moment. It is a deliberate commitment that requires understanding, surrender, and endurance. Christ never hides the cost of discipleship. Instead, He calls His followers to consider it carefully before they begin. Many begin the journey, but not all continue to the end. My other job is remodeling homes. I often find a home for sale that has been gutted, and some remodeling done, but not finished. Often tools and supplies will be left lying around the home, everything in disarray, as if someone just dropped everything and ran. The previous remodeler didn't count the cost very well. He thought he knew how much it would cost but since he didn't inspect the job thoroughly he was surprised. In order not to lose any more money on the job he just quit. A House Unfinished In Luke 14: 28-30 our Lord relates a sobering illustration, "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’?" Jesus is not speaking about construction alone. He is speaking about discipleship. The question is not whether we begin, but whether we are prepared to finish what we start when following Him requires everything. Jesus teaches us that obedience and the way of truth is the way to life. Hate my family? What costs are Jesus alluding to? Quite plainly, just prior to this, Jesus says in Luke 14:26, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." Several times in the Bible this talk of hating family, even hating your own life, is used as a way to show preference. It is seen in the Old Testament in Deuteronomy 21:15, Malachi 1: 2-3, and Romans 9:13. All are examples of showing preference, not as actual emotional hatred towards someone. Our preference should always be God, no matter the cost. Christ Above All Are we counting the cost? When we count the cost are we willing to forego our relationships with our mother or father, with our children, to put Christ first? Are we willing to give up our own lives, either literally or figuratively, for the calling of God? In the west we have been very spoiled. We rarely sacrifice very little to follow God, but that seems to be changing. Sometimes even our parents may think we are stupid for believing in God. Our children may make fun of us for our quaint, old fashioned beliefs. Society may view us as uneducated or unloving because we won't accept bad and call it good. A Hopeful Promise For those called to sacrifice their families or perhaps even their lives, Jesus promises this in Mark 10: 29-30, “No one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life” Jesus calls us to " strive to enter the narrow gate ." His narrow way is the only way to life. Giving it All In Matthew 22:37 Jesus declares the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. The cost is high to serve God. Our Lord's expectations are high. We will love God with all of our heart, soul and mind. Are we prepared to do that? Have we counted the cost? Are we willing to finish after we have laid the foundation or will we run away. Our God of hope is with us to give us the strength to continue, no matter the cost. Thanks be to God.

What Does It Mean to Strive for Salvation? Many people assume they have plenty of time to think about their salvation. Others assume they are already safe because of what they believe or where they go to church. But Jesus was once asked a direct question: how many will actually be saved? His answer is not comfortable and it is urgent: how do we strive to enter the narrow gate? We know our works don't gain us Heaven. In Luke 13:23 a person asks Jesus whether many will be saved or not. In Jewish tradition the belief was that very few people would be, but Jesus doesn't answer his question in the abstract; He answers it specifically. Jesus responds in Luke 13:25, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able." I was immediately struck by His use of the word 'strive'. The word strive means to make great efforts to achieve or obtain something. The word used here in Greek harkens back to the practice and effort put into participating in Olympic Games. To prepare for the Olympics, participants would train for months or years. Winning was the only goal. They endured extremely difficult physical preparation, dietary and lifestyle changes, and also prepared their minds. They believed a strong body required a strong mind. The Danger of Passive or Superficial Faith When we think of our Christian life and living for Jesus, do we often imagine striving for a goal? Or do we think that simply agreeing that being a Christian is a nice thing and Jesus was a great guy? Perhaps people look at Christianity and think they might check into it one day, but that day never comes. There is little sense of urgency and even less sense that striving is a necessity. Or perhaps they are faithful churchgoers who believe, wrongly, that mere church attendance will assure them Heaven. As Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges puts it, "they wish for Heaven, but will not abandon earth." This is not simply a suggestion to try harder as Jesus immediately shows us what happens when that striving is absent. The Narrow Gate, False Assurance, and Final Rejection Many people might try to rush into the gate at the last moment but will find they can't get in and then it is shut, never to open again. He continues the story with the people at the gate calling to Him, " Lord, Lord, " and saying that they had been there when He ate and drank and taught in their streets. The people "knew" Him and yet never really knew Him because their hearts were unchanged. And so, sadly, He tells them “ I do not know you… depart from me, all you workers of iniquity. ” Scripture makes it clear that this narrow gate, or door, as He is referred to in John 10, is Jesus Himself. To understand why they are turned away, we need to look more closely at what Jesus means by “iniquity." What Is Iniquity and Why It Leads to Judgment Let's pause for a moment and look at that word "iniquity". We often think it is synonymous with sin but it isn't. Where sin is missing the mark of God's perfection, iniquity is a premeditated willful rebellion that is ongoing. Sin can happen intentionally or unintentionally but iniquity is always intentional. Iniquity is sin but not all sin is iniquity. David's sin with Bathsheba was an example of iniquity. And so these workers of iniquity will weep and gnash their teeth when they find themselves unable to enter Heaven. The weeping will be because of their great sorrow for not being able to be where they thought they belonged and gnashing of teeth represents their rage and hostility for being excluded. They thought their own morality would gain them Heaven. In Acts 7:54 those surrounding Stephen gnashed their teeth as he witnessed for Christ, which resulted in them stoning Stephen to death to silence him. He was " full of faith and power ." Are we? This warning hits hard, doesn't it? But praise God—Jesus immediately shows us the other side: while some who presumed on their place are shut out, the door swings wide for those who truly seek Him, no matter where they come from. A Surprising Reversal and the Urgency to Respond Now Instead of the self-righteous who felt no need to strive or work for Christ, people will come from all over the world, some of the least expected, and " sit down in the kingdom of God. " Those who assumed they were first in His kingdom will become last. Even the Old Testament warns us to " seek the Lord while He may be found " (Isaiah 55:6). Isaiah 49:8 tells us " in an acceptable time I have heard thee. " 2 Corinthians 6:2 reminds us not to " receive the grace of God in vain. " The narrow way is open to us now but for how long we do not know. Why We Fail to Strive—and What True Effort Requires But why do we not strive for Christ as we should? Is it because becoming a Christian is portrayed as so easy there is absolutely nothing we have to do after that decision? Don't misunderstand. We never earn our salvation. But Christ expects to see a changed heart when we say we live for Him. With that warning in mind, the question turns back on us. Isn't living for Christ at least as important as the Olympic Games? My excuse when I fail to strive is that I say, "Well, I am just not a disciplined person and never have been." So what am I saying to God by this? I am saying, in effect, that I don't think He can change my heart enough for me to be disciplined, either that, or I must not think discipline is that important. Paul uses yet another Olympic analogy when he talks about running a race. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Paul says to run the race as one who wants to win. He explains that when they run the race in the Olympics they exercise self-control, they are disciplined, as we read earlier. Paul says he disciplines his body to bring it under control. Our rewards will be given to us by Christ Himself, no mere mortal prize or crown, but a crown in glory. How to Strive to Enter the Narrow Gate If we are not disciplined here, we will not stand. So in the real world how do we discipline our body? How do we exercise self-control? We must remain steadfast in prayer. This means not an occasional nod to our Lord for things we want but an intense time of thoughtful, focused, relationship building prayer. Prayer where we don't just talk but we listen as well. Bible study is not optional either, because it helps us learn self control. In Psalm 119:11 the psalmist tells us he has " hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. " Knowing God's Word arms us against sin. The more we are in the Word the more we will recognize God's will in our lives. We must learn to control our bodies. How much and what we eat, what we see with our eyes, what we listen to with our ears, where our feet take us, how hard we work, and how tamed our tongue is, all influence us either for God or against God. Jesus goes one step further. He tells us we must go so far as to " die to self. " All the things we want must be put aside unless they align with God's will. It may seem unfair. We may think, "Well those people get to do this or that and I never do." But He tells us to " count the cos t " of discipleship before we make that decision. What spiritual blessings await His faithful saints! And part of the reason this striving is so necessary is because we are not striving in a neutral environment. We strive for another reason. We have enemies that never let up. These enemies contend against us at all times: the world, the flesh, and the Devil. The Devil seeks to kill, steal, and destroy those who love Jesus. He prowls the world looking for those He can devour. To strive here means to agonize as if it is life or death, which it is. In our flesh we could never fight this battle, but Jesus has given us His Holy Spirit who empowers us to live for Him. We strive against sin and we strive for the truth. This kind of striving is not temporary; it continues for a lifetime. The fact that we strive shows that we are His. Our faith is there to do the good works that God has called us to for His glory. 2 Peter 1:5 describes the importance of being a diligent Christian, one who is hardworking and unrelenting in doing the will of God. Hebrews 4:11 tells us " to be diligent to enter that rest ." We do not give up when the going gets tough because Christ strengthens us; we can be tougher than the world, because He lives in us. As Jesus says in Matthew 10:22, " he who endures to the end will be saved." You have the ability to endure because you ARE saved. No matter the persecution, rejection or ridicule you will endure because you belong to Him and you strive because of that. That is why Jesus so often connects striving with watchfulness. Jesus Commands Us to Watch Jesus frequently commanded us to Watch! What are we watching for? We are watching our own lives to see if we are ready to meet Him. We are watching to find ways to show love to others. We are watching to be ready to strive and not give up, no matter what difficulties come our way. We are watching our lives and diligently guarding ourselves against sin that wants to destroy us. We strive because we love Him. So let's not be among those who assume they have plenty of time or who think mere agreement is enough. Jesus is still asking: Will you strive to enter the narrow gate—today? Because the door is open now, and we strive because we love the One holding it wide for us.

Spiritual Warfare: The Battle Between Truth and Deception From the beginning of Scripture to the present day, one of the most consistent realities is that spiritual warfare is fought with truth and lies. The battle is not always loud or obvious. It often begins quietly, with a question, a doubt, or a subtle shift in how we view God’s Word. The Bible identifies the source of this distortion clearly: Satan, the Great Deceiver. Deceive means to make someone believe something that is not true. The Bible describes Satan as the Great Deceiver. His one goal is to make people believe things that are not true about God. He wants to make us doubt God. The Great Deceiver God says He loves you.... Satan says God could never love you. God says He makes you worthy....Satan says you are worthless. God says sexual sin is wrong and bad for you....Satan says that sexual sin is fun, even good and no harm will come from it. God says to honor your parents....Satan says your parents aren't worthy of honor because they didn't love you well enough. God says to give to the poor....Satan says they are lazy and don't deserve help. God says to forgive your enemy....Satan says to get revenge on your enemy. God says not to talk about or slander others....Satan says to tell every bad thing you know about someone to your friends. God says not to envy....Satan makes you wonder why you aren't as "cool" as they are. God says to have no other god before Him....Satan says that money isn't a god it's just something you really need a lot of. God says not to lie....Satan, the Father of Lies, says a little lie won't hurt anything if it is said for the right reason. Our Lord says to the Pharisees in John 8:44. "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it." Who among us would willingly want to call the Devil their father? Who would want to admit that our desires would be to do the bidding of the Devil? These people have been deceived. Paul explains in 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, "But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them." Paul refers to the Devil as the " god of this age ". It is the Devil who has blinded people to the truth of the Gospel. We can only be convicted by the Holy Spirit . He can bring them to the true knowledge of Christ. Listen To God The cleverness of the Devil is his ability to twist God's words. He is the great deceiver. He convinces us to believe a lie. In the very beginning, in the garden, he suggests to Eve that maybe God's intentions weren't really for her own good. (Genesis 3) First he suggests to Eve that God said something God didn't really say, "‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” he questions Eve. When she corrects the Devil's mistake, she adds something that God never said. She says that God told them ‘ You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die. ’ She heard God but didn't listen to God because God never said not to touch it. Listening to God is so important, not just hearing. Then the Devil calls God a liar. He tells her, “You will not surely die." He even gives Eve a reason for the supposed lie, that God just didn't want her to have the knowledge of good and evil because then she would be like God. He plants the seed of doubt in her mind that God is truly loving. The Devil Appeals To The Flesh Notice that Eve then looks at the tree and begins to see its appeal to her flesh. First, she sees that it was " good for food ". However, she had many, many other trees to eat from but somehow, she convinced herself that she needed that one to eat. Then she sees that it was " pleasant to the eyes, " something so lovely and appealing surely couldn't be bad. The devil usually picks beautiful things to tempt us with. Finally, she sees that it was " desirable to make one wise, " so believing the lie of the devil, that she would be like God, sounded pretty good. She coveted wisdom. Not just anyone's wisdom, but God's wisdom. There is good reason for the warning in Proverbs 3:7 that says this, " Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. " How To Avoid Temptation To avoid temptation what should Eve have done? First, she should rely on God for her food. There was no need to eat of the tree. She was surrounded by God's provision. Secondly, she lived in a place that was created for her by God, a place totally pleasant to the eyes. She should have been thankful for all that beauty. And thirdly, she needed to realize that she was the created, not the Creator. Isaiah has this to say: “ Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight! ” ( Isaiah 5:21 ). If Adam had been watching over her, as he should have been, she would not have been so easily tempted. The two together, encouraging each other as husband and wife should do, might have resisted the temptation. Adam didn't even protest what she did. He just took the fruit and ate it. Haven't we been tempted as she was? Haven't we been lured into believing God said something He didn't. Haven't we sometimes said, "God said....", when we don't know scriptures very well and He never really said it. Beauty can sometimes attract us for the wrong reasons. We often find our own excuses for sin. Don't we all want to be wise, but whose wisdom do we seek— ours or God's? The Devil "walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8. Sin crouches at the door waiting for just the right moment to pounce. Let's try not to be on his menu. Let's listen to God. Let's know His Word. Let's stay humble. Enjoy Devil is a Liar by Colton Dixon. Click here The Devil is a liar!

Loving Friends or Friendly Enemies I heard a pastor say recently that we have confused love for people with being friends with our enemies. I thought about this a lot. Can we love someone and not be friends with them? The Bible says yes. James 4:4(b) says this, "Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." James acknowledges in chapter 2 verse 8 that we should love our neighbor as ourselves. So James knows the requirement for love of others. What the Bible doesn't say is that we have to like them, or for that matter, even respect them except to acknowledge they are made in the image of God, as are we. Jesus Speaks Truth Jesus spent much time with worldly people. He didn't "hang out" with them like a buddy. What He did do was speak truth to them out of love. Sometimes it was a harsh truth, sometimes not, but always it was the truth they needed to hear that only someone who truly loved them would speak. The World Will Hate You In John 15: 19 Jesus says that because we are not of this world, because we belong to Him, the world will hate us. But are we different ? That doesn't sound very much like we can become friends with the lost. In fact, Paul tells us that when we try to become friends with the world that " bad company ruins good morals. " (I Corinthians 15:33). When we are in Christ we will be strangers in the world . One of the lies of the Devil is that we need the love of this world. In the churches today this lie is rampant. The Devil tells God's children if we truly loved others, we would be accepting of their choices. Satan would have us believe their behavior is "just how they are". We would forget about the necessity of repentance; the necessity to turn from sin and seek the holiness of God. Whose Praises Are More Important? Sometimes we desire the love of the world, because as John 12:43 says, the praises of men are more important to us than the praises of God. When we become friends with the world we get praised. We are praised for being non-judgmental, because we no longer speak truth. We no longer talk of repentance. The Gift Of Discernment The Holy Spirit gives us the gift of discernment for a reason. We are to discern, to understand, the true motives of people. Is this person really as they appear or are they working against us in very subtle ways to undermine our relationship with God? As we deepen our relationship with God, we are better able to extend sacrificial love to others without granting the closeness or affection reserved for true friendship. Sacrificial Love When Jesus speaks of loving others the Greek word, agapao , was often used. This word has a meaning that includes self-sacrifice, not affection or even emotion. This love puts others before yourself even when you have no ' loving ' feeling toward them. This word means a totally unselfish kind of love. Think of the worst kind of sin you can imagine, murder or child molestation. Now imagine loving that person, sacrificially. God commands us to have sacrificial love because this is how He loves. He doesn't command us to be friends or be accepting of their behavior. We confuse love with acceptance. At One Time We Were Enemies Of God God's sacrificial love for us is that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. (Romans 5: 8) Or as Paul tells us in Romans 5:10, God reconciled us to Himself through Jesus while we were God's enemies. Therefore, God loved us while we were still sinners, but we were not His friend, we were His enemy! The word used for reconciled here means to " change completely ". In this case to change from enemies to beloved friends. Thank you gracious Father for calling us to repent and reconciling us to you. Amen Enjoy the beautiful hymn, "Blessed Redeemer", by Casting Crowns here .