We’ve got to stop! We’ve just got to cease all foolish thinking at the door!  We must stop thinking we have control over anything on earth and can handle life on our own! To continue is placing worship of self over God!  Instead, bow to God who made us in His own image and sent His One and Only Son to save us from our sins, so we could grow to be more like Him in every way!

Diligently disciplining ourselves daily to first seek God, offer ourselves as an offering to Him with trusting surrender to His will, His “good, pleasing, and perfect will” as Paul writes in Romans 12:1-2 is the only way to walk humbly with God in a relationship that is holy, everlasting, loving, compassionate, and growing!  Losing self to gain Jesus as Lord of our lives with the hope of eternal life brings peace to our troubled souls with  unspeakable joy in tough circumstances that are unexplainable to most unbelieving humans. Our Creator knows us and knows all our needs before we know them and provides at just the right time with wisdom that is beyond our thinking.

Consistent Faith, Hope and Love for God lead us from self to more knowledge of God who saved us and set us free to live the promised abundant life with God.  But the greatest of these, that must be our first thought and response to God, each other, and Life is Love—God’s love that permeates our hearts, minds, and souls.  ALL of God living within every part of our being is the secret Jesus revealed to all when He came, healed, taught, served by putting our interests above His own comfort.  Then He demonstrated the love of God when He died for our sins, then three days later rose victorious over sin and death.  There is nothing we have done that God, who gave Jesus, does not forgive. THIS is the God who so loved the world! (John 3:16-17)

Life is different, opposite most times of our culture when God’s Love in us leads us in all we think, say, and do.  We discover our behaviors changing to responding more and reacting less, to loving more and judging less, to hoping more and fearing less, as we watch our faith growing and bearing the fruits of God’s character—all because of Christ in us! (1 Corinthians 1:27)

To God be the glory.  God is sovereign and reigns victorious over death cause by sin.

God rules; and I am glad He does!

Psalm 97, The Message

God rules: there’s something to shout over!
On the double, mainlands and islands—celebrate!

² Bright clouds and storm clouds circle ’round him;
Right and justice anchor his rule.

³ Fire blazes out before him,
Flaming high up the craggy mountains.

⁴ His lightnings light up the world;
Earth, wide-eyed, trembles in fear.

⁵ The mountains take one look at God
And melt, melt like wax before earth’s Lord.

⁶ The heavens announce that he’ll set everything right,
And everyone will see it happen—glorious!

^7-8 All who serve handcrafted gods will be sorry—
And they were so proud of their ragamuffin gods!

On your knees, all you gods—worship him!
And Zion, you listen and take heart!

Daughters of Zion, sing your hearts out:
God has done it all, has set everything right.

⁹ You, God, are High God of the cosmos,
Far, far higher than any of the gods.

¹⁰ God loves all who hate evil,
And those who love him he keeps safe,
Snatches them from the grip of the wicked.

¹¹ Light-seeds are planted in the souls of God’s people,
Joy-seeds are planted in good heart-soil.

¹² So, God’s people, shout praise to God,
Give thanks to our Holy God!

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We grow to respond with faith, hope and love in all we think, say and do, asking for God’s wisdom in all the details. It is in the seeking that resisting evil becomes prevalent and stronger.  A relationship with the Overcomer is foundational to our growing faith.  We must lean on God’s Holy Spirit who comes in power to live in us to guide us truth with God’s way to live Truth out loud.  When God’s Holy Spirit leads us; we cannot help but shine His light to the world in darkness!  It is God who gives us the Power and Light of His Love!

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.”—Paul’s words, inspired by God, to tell the church then and write it down for us now as believers. Philippians 2:14-16

The Apostle Paul wrote this to the church in Philippi, encouraging believers to stand out from a negative, cynical culture by maintaining a positive, pure, and obedient attitude.  Attitudes driven by the love of God never fails.

Need back up?

“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” –Daniel, prophet of God, centuries earlier. Daniel 12:3

Need a song to sing? One of my favorites from Newsboys sung a decade ago is SHINE! Here is the chorus that is catchy and will last all day long…

Shine.
Make ’em wonder whatcha got.
Make ’em wish that they were not
On the outside looking bored.
Shine.
Let it shine before all men.
Let em see good works and then
Let em glorify the Lord.

(Source: LyricFind, Songwriters: Angel Taylor / Kevin Hammond / Michael Blue / Mikal Blue; Shine lyrics © Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc)

Lord,

I’m prayerfully singing a chorus of my youth to you, “Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me, All his wonderful passion and purity, O thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine, Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.”  Cleanse my heart, remove all that does not belong and fill me with the Light of Your Love. Let the morning bring Word of your unfailing love for all my trust, faith, hope, and love is in You. I believe.

In Jesus Name, Amen