“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

We need to repent of the worldliness which has found it’s way into our beliefs and therefore into our life.

‍ ‍“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4‍

 “….Oh turn back, each of you from his evil way, and reform your ways and your deeds.’” Jeremiah 18:11

The more I discipline my life to listen to and follow Jesus, the more natural it becomes.  After a while it becomes so natural that just like breathing air, I find myself dwelling on Jesus, talking to Jesus, and walking with Jesus without even thinking about it.

This is truly abiding in Jesus, praying without ceasing and living in the Spirit.  Whether physical discipline or spiritual nothing comes easy, but the reward is most precious to our souls.  Practice spiritual disciplines and naturally walk in the garden of life with our awesome God every day.

“Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” John 15:4

The Bible speaks of highways and paths by which we transverse the different chapters of our life.  One is called the Highway of Holiness by which all the redeemed travel to their destination.

“A highway will be there, a roadway, and it will be called the Highway of Holiness.  The unclean will not travel on it but it will be for him who walks that way, and fools will not wander on it.” Isaiah 35:8

Jesus speaks of two gates and ways by which we enter into eternal life or eternal destruction.  He warns us not to take the wrong path through life.

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.  For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13–14

Some people are just wandering along on the path of life not heading anywhere or for any purpose in particular.  They are just traveling along entering and exiting the highway with no apparent direction.  We might refer to them as ‘Sunday driver’.  But scripture warns us not to just wander through life unaware of our final destination.

“Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established.  Do not turn to the right nor to the left; turn your foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:26–27

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

When we enter into eternity we all will find ourselves in a bad position.  Therefore how should we prepare to meet the Lord God Almighty?

We need a substitute to stand before God on our behalf.  Because He loves us, God Himself provided a substitute, Jesus the Christ.  By His death He gave His life as a substitute for ours and by His resurrection He provided us with a hope of eternal life through and with Him.  It is by the shedding of His blood that He offers us mercy and forgiveness for our short comings in belief and obedience.

“and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood—“ Revelation 1:5

This fervent spirit in which we love Jesus fills us with a love which is fervently extended to others.

“Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8

A fervent love for Jesus and others infiltrates our prayer life and fills our prayers with fervent expectancy as we await answers to our calling upon Jesus.

”Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16

If we are to be strong minded about anything it must be having a mind set on the Spirit and His presence and work in others.  We sincerely set our minds to the work of the Kingdom as well as other Kingdom servant which we find in the Body of Christ.

We should be diligent in our abiding in Jesus, our life filled with His Spirit.

“So take diligent heed to yourselves to love the Lord your God.” Joshua 23:11

“We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you.” 2 Corinthians 8:22

We should be diligent in our Christlikeness.

“Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,” 2 Peter 3:14

We should be diligent in our life of love and obedience.

We have been warned in Scripture about Satanic desires and attacks.  We should not be taken by surprise when they come upon us.

“so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.” 2 Corinthians 2:11

In Jesus’ plans for our life as we follow Him, He has supplied all the help we need to overcome the schemes of the devil.  Even though we are weak, his temptations will not overcome us.

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

Even though we may seem like a little weak child, defenseless before such a great adversary, we need to remember that the Spirit of Jesus is greater than the spirit of Satan.

Jesus places the command to love others as the second of the two basic commandments.  If we love the Lord God Almighty and others then we will be righteous in all of the law of the Lord.

“For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” Galatians 5:14

How should each believer express their love for others?  We are to do it by treating them just like we want to be treated.  We should respect them like we want to be respected.  We should care for them as we wish to be cared for.

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12

Today, now, is the opportunity Jesus has given to you to love and do good for someone else.  Take hold of the opportunity for Jesus’ honor and glory.

“So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” Galatians 6:10

“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