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.

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.

“By placing one’s faith in Jesus the Christ a person begins a life path which is immersed in the awesome promises Yahweh made to Abraham.  Abraham was promised an inheritance from God for which he longed while on this earth.  Believers also long for and seek the city of God, heaven, their eternal abiding place.”

The Christian Dream is to experience life which is all in Jesus and about Jesus.  It is to live in and through Him.  He is the believer’s life and joy. According to John chapter fifteen this life is experienced in abiding in Jesus.

As believers who have put their trust in Jesus for their salvation and sanctification, we should most definitely commit ourselves to a year of consecrated overcoming of all that hinders our walk with Jesus. The writer of Hebrews in chapter twelve verses one through three admonishes all believers to live well. As we begin the new year let us live faithfully abiding in Jesus, committed to one another as we walk in Jesus’ Spirit together. Let us not forsake meeting together in worship and service during our regular meetings.

Every election is important and every elected position is important from the president on down to local school boards. Since God sets up governments and rulers we must diligently seek Him that His will be done. We cannot allow politics to divide the Body of Christ. So let us pray, seek the Lord, and vote responsibly for that which is right.

When our hearts are humble and pleasing to the Lord, then we have no problem in making sacrifices for Jesus and His Kingdom. We realize that not only is life all about Him, but it is also all for Him. As believers surrender their lives to Him in sacrificial love testifying praise comes easy and often. Our praise once voiced ascends to the Lord like the aroma of a holy sacrifice. Our praise becomes pleasing to our awesome God.

As believers in Jesus the Christ and therefore a part of the Body of Christ we must stay focused on Jesus and remember that this is all about Him and for Him. He is to be glorified in all we do. If we lose this focus, we will tire ourselves out and feel overburdened.

As believers joyously go through each day their faith in Jesus grows as He continually works in and through their life.  Their trust in Him allows them to anticipate and wait on His goodness. 

We must continue to be faithful to burn brightly with the glory of the gospel becoming salt in the lives of those around us who are unbelieving