Love + Obedience

"Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.'" ~ John 14:23

Love isn't love if it isn't accompanied by submission. There's a lot of people who claim to love God. My question is, but are they submitted though? Are they obedient?

That is the difference between a saved life and a changed life. It's the difference between our current world and a completely transformed world.

What type of world do you want to live in? What type of life do you want to have?

Here's the secret formula: love + obedience.

God bless,

J.W.

The Helper

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." ~ Romans 8:26

In the beginning, God gave Adam a helper in the form of Eve. But when Jesus came, we all gained a helper in the form of the Holy Spirit.

You are not alone in this world. If you are a believer, God has implanted Himself in you through His Holy Spirit. Help is available. His whole purpose is to help lead and guide you even when you don't know how to lead and guide yourself. 

The question is, are you tapping into this power? In Proverbs 3:5, God promises to direct our path. But there is a caveat. That is, we have to trust and acknowledge Him. In other words, we have to let Him lead.

Are you letting the Holy Spirit lead your life today? If not, you probably aren't really living your best life.

God bless,

J.W. 

Sheep of His Pasture

"Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture." ~ Psalm 100:3

Many times throughout scripture, we are described as sheep and God is our shepherd. 

But often times, we want to claim to be God's people without actually letting him be our shepherd. 

The only way to truly walk in God's protection is through one word we often don't like to hear - submission.

A sheep submits his life and his will to his shepherd. Are we doing the same with Jesus?

God bless,

J.W.

Where To Place Your Trust

"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" ~ Jeremiah 17:9

The Bible tells us to trust in the Lord with all of our heart and lean not to our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). Why? Because of this scripture.

If we put trust in ourselves, we will inevitably fail. Why? Because we are not sufficient on our own. We were born sinners and we were born to fail in the absence of God. It's only when we place our trust and reliance in and on God that we become all God has called us to be - that is, more than conquerors in Christ.

Where are you placing your trust today?

God bless,

J.W.

It Is Really Quite Simple

"Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." ~ Romans 13:10

Often, we make things so complicated. But the Gospel is simple. Love God and love others. If we'd just follow these simple commands, how much better our families, communities, cities, country, and world would be. 

God bless,

J.W. 

Where to Place Your Confidence

 

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." ~ Ephesians 6:10

Culture often tells us to be confident in ourselves, to believe in ourselves, or to put ourselves first. And while it might sound good, it's actually the opposite of what the Bible tells us.

The Bible tells us to be confident, not in our weak, sinful, flaky selves, but in our God who has all power in His hands and who never changes. The Bible tells us not to believe in ourselves, but to believe in God and His power. Finally, the Bible tells us not to put ourselves first, but first to love God.

Culture has it twisted. Confidence in one's self only goes so far. It's at the mercy of our feelings, our circumstances, and our limited strength. Ephesians 6:10 tells us to find strength in the strength of God that never runs out.

God bless,

J.W.

Judgment vs. Fruit Inspection

"If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom." ~ James 3:13 

In today's culture, there's a certain sensitivity around judgment and "being judged." So much so that any critique, criticism, or words of wisdom is characterized as one person judging another. 

But be clear, there's a difference between judgment and fruit inspection. God cautions us against judgment - that is, making a final determination about someone or something based on a limited set of facts. The key word there is final. We should not be saying a person is going to hell, for instance, if we don't really know what's in the person heart. And even if we do know what's in their heart, we don't know how God might change that heart.

We can, however, inspect fruit. In James 13:3, the Word challenges us to live out what we claim through our conduct. So if someone asks you to trust them, but their conduct isn't trustworthy, it's perfectly ok to say so. Sometimes we can act as mirrors to others to show them where they really are in life. God calls us to live in truth. Knowing the difference between living in truth and living in judgment will be key to us living out our purpose.

May what you claim in word show in your conduct. And if it doesn't, may God send people and revelation into your life to show you the discrepancy. 

God bless,

J.W.

Heart Check

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." ~ Matthew 6:2-4

There's a part of us that will always seek recognition for the good things we do or the accomplishments we achieve. It's just a part of our sin nature. The key is to deal with that part of ourselves and keep it in check.

Here, Jesus is saying, we need to check ourselves to make sure our motives are right and that our actions follow pure motives. Even mixed motives can be dangerous because they can drive our actions.

In all you do, make sure you make time for a heart/motive check. 

God bless,

J.W.

Walking According to His Purpose

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." ~ Romans 8:28

Yesterday we talked about Romans 8:28 and God's ability to turn bad things around for good. Today, we want to talk about the B clause of this verse. 

Because this promise isn't made to all people or even all Christians. It has a very specific caveat added to it. It says that the promise is made "to those who are the called according to His purpose."

What does that mean? God has a purpose and will for your life. He calls us to walk in that purpose in various ways. The question is, have we answered that call or are we making our own calls? Are we following his will or are we following our own will?

If bad things are happening and there doesn't seem to be anything good coming out of it, we would be remiss to not ask ourselves these questions. Some bad things are created by our own disobedience, stubbornness, and awkwardness. 

Make sure you're walking in His will and according to His purpose.

God bless,

J.W.

All Things

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." ~ Romans 8:28

Most people read this scripture wrong. Or at least walk it out wrong. 

The scripture says that all things work together for good. Most Christians read or live this scripture as "all GOOD things work together for good."

The problem with the second way is that it doesn't account for the "bad" things that might happen to us. Jesus told us that in this world, we will have trouble (John 16:33). No doubt about it. It will happen.

But just because something bad happens, doesn't mean that God can't work it out for good. In fact, Romans 8:28 says that He certainly will.

So if bad things are happening in your life, don't worry. That's not the end of the story. God is still in control and can turn it around for good.

God bless,

J.W.

The Real Question

"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

Often times we want God to bless us, but we haven't prepared for it. We are asking God when is He going to show up. But He's asking us, when are we going to show we're faithful enough to handle more.

The parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14–30) comes to mind. God gives more to those who are good stewards over that which He's already given.

So the question is not when is God going to give me more. The question is, when are we going to manage what He's already given.

God bless,

J.W.

Are We Ready?

 

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." ~ Ephesians 3:20-21

He is ABLE to do exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or think.

But the real question is, are we READY?

More to come tomorrow! 

God bless,

J.W.

Come Back To Peace

"Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble." ~ Psalm 119:165

Oftentimes, we talk about us having peace. But we don't talk about peace having us.

See, peace never changes. It doesn't go anywhere. It doesn't leave us. We leave it. Through our thought patterns, behaviors, habits, and generally through just being distant from God.

It reminds me of the parable of the lost (or prodigal) son (Luke 15:11-32). In the parable, the father never leaves the palace. It's the son that leaves and when he comes to his sense, realizes that his father was right where he left him - in the same place.

May you rediscover peace and come back to it today.

God bless,

J.W.

Measuring Greatness

"But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant." ~ Matthew 23:11

We often measure greatness by the title we hold, the money we make, or the accomplishments we achieve. But God measures greatness through servanthood.

What is servanthood? Simply it's living a life that provides services for the benefit or assistance of another.

How are you defining success? Is it based on culture's definition? Or Jesus'?

God bless,

J.W.

He Commands It All

 

"The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me— A prayer to the God of my life. The Lord will command his lovingkindness." ~ Psalm 42:8

What a powerful statement. That no only does God command tangible things like the wind and the waves. He doesn't just have the power to turn hearts of stones to hearts of flesh. He doesn't just have power to move mountains. But He commands His lovingkindness. Which tells us that no matter what we're going through, God can change it just like that. 

God commands it all. Which means we don't have to. Let go today and let God's command take over.

God bless,

J.W.

Beyond Our Feelings

 

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." ~ James 1:2-3

What a statement! 

Count it all joy when you fall into trials? What type of other worldly, counter cultural thinking is that? The world teaches us to act based on our feelings. But this scripture shows that God challenges us to think and act beyond our feelings and abide in truth.

No matter what you're going through, there's a reason to be grateful and to even find joy. For even when it doesn't look like it on the outside, God is doing a mighty work on the inside. Man looks at the outward appearance but God sees the heart. It's where he does his best work.

God bless,

J.W.

Blessed Assurance

"For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s." ~ Romans 14:8

This scripture proves that no matter our lot in life, we don't have to be afraid. We can be assured that God has us in His hands and have worked everything out for our good (Romans 8:28).

Walk in this assurance today fam.

God bless,

J.W.

 

Peace Follows Obedience

 

"The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." ~ Philippians 4:9

Ouch. This one hurts.

How easy things would be for us if we would just do the things that Jesus has taught, spoke, and shown to us. So many times we lament the chaos in our life. But the true question is, are we being obedient? In everything?

Really though? 

This scripture proves once again that peace follows obedience. If we want to increase our peace, we must increase our obedience. 

God bless,

J.W.

God's Workmanship

"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." ~ Ephesians 2:10

The term workmanship is defined as the degree of skill with which a product is made or a job done.

How amazing it is that we are the workmanship of the Creator of all things, the Almighty God.

The question is, why would He spend so much time and use so much skill to create us?

The answer is found in the rest of the text. We were created to do good works and walk in the path that God prepared before we were even created. In other words, we were created for a specific purpose, or more accurately, purposes.

Let's do the things that God created for us and walk in our purposes today.

God bless fam!

- J.W.