“Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn.” Deuteronomy 10:16

In gardening we see an example of this cutting away of the old to make way for the new.  It is called deadheading plants.  Deadheading is the process of removing faded or dying flowers from plants to prevent the plant from going to seed, redirecting its energy toward growing new foliage and producing a fresh flush of blooms rather than expending effort on seed production.

We also see it in our own grooming when we take care of our hair’s split-ends.  Split ends occur when the hair's protective outer layer, the cuticle, wears away. This exposes the inner cortex, causing the strand to unravel and split.  The only permanent way to get rid of split ends is to cut them off.

But this is not the worst situation in which we find ourselves.  There is another drought which has spread across the globe.  We find ourselves today in a spiritual drought due to the lack of knowledge of the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY’s Word.

“Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord God, when I will send a famine on the land, not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, but rather for hearing the words of the Lord.” Amos 8:11

Oh, we have Bibles, commentaries, devotionals and all kinds of literature.  We have Facebook, YouTube, podcasts, movies and all kinds of social media.  We are inundated with people sharing about GOD and JESUS.  And yet most people are scripturally ignorant about who JESUS is and how He tells us to live.  We do not know nor understand Him.

“People will stagger from sea to sea and from the north even to the east; they will go to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, but they will not find it.”  Amos 8:12

This idea of interaction is nothing new.  The LORD GOD ALMIGHTY created an interactive world.  It is a world in which He can interact with creation whether it is with nature, the weather, animals, or men.  YAHWEH desires to be a part of our lives, involved and participating.  He also wants us to be involved and participating with Him.  He walked in the Garden in the cool of the day, seeking out Adam and Eve.

“They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.  Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” Genesis 3:8-9r 4.

He has given us His Word through which He is revealed to us and we can know Him and understand Him, His thoughts and His ways.

”All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”2 Timothy 3:16-17

When I think of the Word of God, when I read the Word of God, when I listen to the Word of God, I always think of ACCEE.  Whenever the Word of God is spoken or heard it should Admonish us in our lifestyle, it should Convict us of disbelief and disobedience, it should Challenge us to change and adjust our life, it should Encourage us to live holy and righteous, and it should Equip us to do so.

If we regularly spend time reading and meditating on the Word of God we will be amazed in the change the Holy Spirit affects in our life.  We will begin to think like Jesus and to behave like Jesus.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” Ephesians 6:10

I am reminded of the early church of Jesus in the book of Acts.  They were persecuted, beaten and imprisoned.  Yet they boldly prayed for steadfastness to continue in the work which Jesus had left them to accomplish.  They were motivated by their love for Jesus and commitment to Him.  Read about it in Acts chapter 4.

I had mentioned scrubbing the tires and that I had never known that we had whitewall tires before.  I did not understand the excitement over my comment until later when my father explained that I had shared with the barber just how long it had been since the car was last washed.

Allowing things to be so dirty for so long we become used to the dirt and think nothing of it.  The dirt becomes normal, even natural.  It becomes a part of our everyday life.  Such is our flesh and its desires.  When we allow our flesh the freedom to roam around in our life it will slowly hang out until it becomes normal and natural to us.  We reach a point where we don’t see anything wrong with it and even defend it as ‘this is the way God made me’.

Now back to the Body of Christ.  Without any instruction and guide we would all be doing our own thing in our own way, determining what is right according to our desires and not the LORD’s.  But praise the LORD, He has not left us without His word of revelation and instruction.  He has taught us and we must listen and obey the rules of the Kingdom.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

But Jesus is gracious and knows that we will falter in our obedience.  So once again, praise the LORD for He has also given us a guide.  Just like the red lights, if we will pay attention, the Holy Spirit directs traffic among the members of the Body of Christ.

“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10

Jesus tells us that His Kingdom is not of this world.  It is a spiritual kingdom, an otherworldly kingdom.  It does not function nor deal with the things of this world.

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Romans 14:17

The authority and power of Jesus’ Kingdom on earth reside in the presence of the Holy Spirit in each believer.

“Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:21

The integrity of their life was their whole being and held the hope of their life.  Even in private they held fast to their integrity.

“I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house;” Psalm 101:2

“Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?” Job 4:6

These men would not vary even a little bit.  No, they would rather die with their integrity intact than live without the trust of others.

“Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.” Psalm 26:1

“In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom.” Luke 16:23 

Realizing his helpless and hopeless eternal situation, the man in hell finally becomes burdened with his condition and others who are following his example. 

“And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’” 

Luke 16:27-28

We cannot limit our gratitude for the work of Jesus and the Holy Spirit to save us from the penalty of our sin to the Body of Christ.  Living daily, with gratitude to Jesus, we find ourselves in our homes talking and singing about Jesus and His awesome love for us among our family members.  Praise the LORD. 

“I will tell of Your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation, I will praise You:” Psalm 22:22

In order for our lives to be stable, our believe system must be founded and rooted in someone or something which is in itself stable and unchanging.  The Creator of the universe has revealed Himself to us in His Word and His Spirit.  As creator of all He is absolute, all knowing, all powerful, and ever present.  He does not change nor even waver in the slightest.  He is the absolute foundation in which we can place our faith and trust for a securely stable life.  It is a life of calmness, peace, joy, and love which nothing else can sustain.  It is a life of purpose and success, filled with hope.

AA newborn is totally dependent on their parents.  They have certain qualities of trust which in order for a person to enter into the Kingdom of Yahweh they must possess.  Qualities which with age we can lose. 

Their trust is unwavering 

Their willingness is undeterred 

Their loyalty is unquestioning 

Their love is unconditional 

Agape is the type of intimate love Yahweh has for mankind while philos is the type of friendship love men have for each other.  Twice Jesus asks Peter if he agaped Him and instructed him to feed and pastor His sheep.  Peter’s reply was that Jesus knew that he had philo for Him.  The third time Jesus asked His question He changed agape for philo, asking Peter do you love me as a friend.  Upon Peter’s affirmative response Jesus instructs him to feed His flock.  What Jesus is impressing upon Peter, as well as other disciples, is that if we love Jesus with a God love then we will love and care for other believers.

Peter admonishes the followers of Jesus to be holy because our awesome God is holy.  The Greek word Peter uses for holy is hagos, an adjective which describes the believer.  The meaning of hagos is an awful thing, relating to the sacred. 

Hagos – meaning an awful thing, sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated):—(most) holy (one, thing), saint. 

All four Gospels record Jesus calling and setting apart twelve men to follow Him in life and practice [Matthew 4:19, 8:22, 9:9, Mark 2:14, Luke 5:27, and John 1:43].  He told them strange things, such as they would fish for men [Mark 1:17] and that they would become the light of the world [Matthew 5:14]. 

All four Gospels record Jesus calling and setting apart twelve men to follow Him in life and practice [Matthew 4:19, 8:22, 9:9, Mark 2:14, Luke 5:27, and John 1:43].  He told them strange things, such as they would fish for men [Mark 1:17] and that they would become the light of the world [Matthew 5:14]. 

So, in Esther Yahweh is always there moving and shaking things up to get people where He wants them to be in order to accomplish His will.  There are seven events in Esther in which we can see the hand of Yahweh in such a manner.

So, in Esther Yahweh is always there moving and shaking things up to get people where He wants them to be in order to accomplish His will.  There are seven events in Esther in which we can see the hand of Yahweh in such a manner.