The Law was A Bully Who Forced us to Our Father

"Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith." (Galatians 3: 24)

In this verse, "schoolmaster" is a stylish interpretation of the word:

paidagógos: a trainer of boys, i.e. a tutor

Original Word: παιδαγωγός, οῦ, ὁ

This "pedagogos" was a strict person, one who would harass the young people going to and fro from school to home, making sure that under no circumstances did they deviate or fall away from their proper path.

In a sense, the law, this "pedagogos" was a  "bully" of sorts, a standard which no one could ever meet, an ever-demanding and unrelenting pushy piece of stone that would brings us to the end of ourselves.

We are not defenseless, though. The law may bring us to the end of ourselves, but then:
"But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3: 25-26)

We were alienated, beaten down, but the Jesus Christ our Savior has come, and He has taken all of our hits for us, He took our beatings, He fulfilled the law, whose requirements were beyond our capacity to fulfill:

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

"And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2: 13-15)

This same law was the weapon of Satan, which he wielded against us because God could not go back on His covenant with Adam, in which the moment that our first parents ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they would surely die. God does not impart sickness and death into our lives, but Satan had this power because Adam bowed to him and let him take Adam's place as the God of this World.

The same faith that makes us Sons of God is the same faith that protects us from the fiery darts of the Enemy:
"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. " (Ephesians 6: 16)

Know that you are a child of God, the "bully" of the Law can never hurt you again! Just believe on Him!

 

Identify with Christ Your Life

I believe that many youth and young adults are lost and frustrated.

We are called to depend on God, yet at the same time the world sends the message that we are on our own, that we are expected to take care of things for ourselves.

No message could be more mixed, more frustrating, more untrue.

The first mention of "father" indicates the telling steps that we are called to take in our lives:

"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

"And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed." (Genesis 2: 24-25)

I have often found this passage intriguing. I mean, Adam and Eve were the first humans, and therefore they did not have any earthly parents.

Therefore, this passage sets out the standard, the life that men and women are called to leave.

We are called to leave our earthly parents, and be formed into one flesh with Eve, the Hebrew word of "Life".

So, if we are still depending on our parents to lead us, to guide us, to protect us, then we are missing out on life.

Now in Christ, we have Life, and that more abundantly (John 10: 10). He has called us to be one with Him:

"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

"And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

"I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." (John 17: 21-23)

Abide in Christ your Life, your vine (John 15: 4-5), and He will thrive and live in you.

No Longer Foolish, Because We Know the Way

"Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD, nor the judgment of their God." (Jeremiah 5: 4)

To not know the way of the Lord is to bring upon ourselves poverty and folly. In the days of Jeremiah, the people of Israel and Judah had backslidden to the point where the Lord had no choice but to punish them, for they insisted on trusting their own efforts instead of resting in the truth of God's grace and mercy.

The first mention of "way" appears in Genesis 3: 24, in which the sword of the cherubim blocked the pathway to the Tree of Life. Jesus our Lord took the sword into his own breast (Zechariah 13: 7), enduring all the judgment for our sin, that the way to the Tree of Life would be opened again to us.

The Old Covenant has been fulfilled in Christ Jesus, who is the Way, as well as the Truth and the Life (John 14: 6)

After his Resurrection, Jesus chastened His followers on the road to Emmaus:

"Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

"Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

"And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24:25-27)

They were foolish and slow of heart, they were poor in their understanding, that Jesus came not just to redeem Israel, to redeem all of mankind from their sins and bring them back into Sonship, into fellowship with God their Creator and their Savior.

We also know the judgment of God, that God has poured out all of His wrath on His Son.

We now have the Way in our hearts, the Truth who establishes us, and the Life which empowers us. Because we know the way, we need never be poor or foolish:

"That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge" (1 Corinthians 1: 5).

Look Not To Your Parents, But To Christ and God Your Father

"Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually." (Hebrews 7: 3)

This describes Melchizedek, King of righteousness, the Priest of God Most High.

Jesus is our priest-forever, according to this same blessed order (Hebrews 7: 17)

Now, we are made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21), and as He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4: 17).

In the Body of Christ, we are called no longer to identify with our parents on earth, with Adam, but with Christ Jesus, our life:

The first mention of "father" in the Bible is found here:

"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." (Genesis 2: 24)

We are called to leave behind our old-Adam identity, and become one with Life, with our Life Christ Jesus (Colossians 3:4).

We have received a spirit of adoption through the Holy Spirit:

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8: 15-17)

Grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord, and behold you will see your Father prepare your way in the new family.

Fight Doubt with the Word

"And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted" (Matthew 28: 17)

There the resurrected Jesus stood in the midst of His disciples, yet even then "some doubted".

If that were not bad enough, consider the case of John the Baptist:

"2Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. " (Matthew 11: 2-6)

John the Baptist was there, on the spot, when He saw the Holy Spirit descend like a dove on Jesus (Matthew 3: 16)

The issue of doubt, in both instances, therefore has more to do with us than with Christ Jesus.

He does not have to prove Himself, for in the case of John the Baptist, He was apparently Messiah.

Then what is the issue with "doubt" and "what if"? These sentiments are a matter of unbelief, pure and simple, and unbelief can be provoked in us through Satan.

Just as Jesus fought of the temptations of the devil with the Word of God (cf Matthew 4: 1-11), so Jesus responded to John's doubts by giving Him the Word:

"Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

"Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert." (Isaiah 35: 5-6)

Yet we can resist the enemy when we rest in Jesus, who is the Word made Flesh (John 1: 14) . This same exhortation Jesus gives to His disciples in the same chapter of Scripture:

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11: 28-30)

If you doubt, it is merely a matter of getting more of the Word -- see Jesus your Savior, and all your doubts will dissipate!

In His Righteousness, the Enemy's Weapon, the Law, Does not Prosper

"But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;" (Ephesians 2: 13-15)

"Abolish" is a strong word -- Yet in Christ's death and resurrection, we are set free from the law, made righteous by faith, and empowered by His grace to live out His life within. The law no longer has any hold on us, because Jesus fulfilled the law once and for all forever:

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." (Matthew 5: 17)

That's why Paul wrote:

"Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers" (1 Timothy 1: 9)

Righteousness people do not need the law, because we have now received the Spirit of adoption (Romans 8: 15)

The law is but a shadow of the Life that we receive in Christ Jesus:

"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect." (Hebrews 10: 1)

and

"Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." (Colossians 2: 17)

The law, the set of ordinances, was nailed to the Cross along with all our sin, and thus the Devil and his messengers lost the one weapon that they had against us:

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

"And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2: 13-15)

"Having spoiled" means that the Enemy lost his weapon - the law, which ministers condemnation, and that is why he is called "Ha-Satan" or the "Prosecutor"

Yet Jesus fulfilled the law, and thus made it of no effect.

Now we can be established in His righteousness (Isaiah 54: 14; 2 Corinthians 5: 21) and withstand all the wiles of the Enemy:

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD." (Isaiah 54: 17)

and

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

"(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

"And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled." (2 Corinthians 10: 3-6)

The "obedience of Christ" is His righteousness given to us through His Holy Spirit, that thus established every weapon falls weak and beggarly at our feet.

Past Right and Wrong -- Rejoice in Righteousness

The fear of failure is the last vestiges of the law still operating in our lives.Do not busy yourself with right and wrong, because it will just drive you crazy:

"For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." (Romans 7: 19)

“Is it the right thing or the wrong thing?" This inner dialogue you will drive yourself crazy.

For me, I had spent so much of my life believing that nothing was worth it, because the sense of “wrongdoing” would never go away in my life. Nothing then seemed worthwhile to me.

The sense of “wrongdoing” is a conscience of sin, something which we have been set free from.

"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9: 14)

Yet as long as that sense of “wrongdoing”  persisted, then why try anything? It would never be worth it!

 Let  us consider that sin has no power over us:

""For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." (Romans 6: 14)

Sin cannot stop grace in our lives:

"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:" (Romans 5: 20)

Why does Satan use the law against us? To distract us from the unsearchable riches within us!

The law is not for a righteous person, but for sinners (1 Timothy 1: 7). You and I , who are in Christ, we are no longer sinners, but we are saints. Saints do not need the law, which belongs to the world, full of men and women who are dead in their trespasses:

"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?" (1 Corinthians 6: 1)

The law is a done deal, as far as God is concerned The law is a done deal, fulfilled in Christ Jesus! (Matthew 5: 17) Now, we have his love to empower us from within!:

"We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4: 19)

Do not busy yourself with right and wrong—get busy in righteousness, and let his life live through you!

Rest in Righteousness to Release His Grace

"Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

"A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

"Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

"Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them."  (Matthew 7: 17-20)

If we do not rightly divide the Word of God (2 Timothy 2: 15), we may be tempted to think that we must strive to bear good fruit in order not to be wicked.

We do not need to try to bear better fruit. We need to be made into a new tree:

"Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit." (Matthew 12: 33)

Trees do not strive to bear fruit. The tree by its very being and nature bears fruit.

In the Bible, the Lord speaks of righteousness in connection with a vibrant and fruitful tree:

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

"But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

"And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper" (Psalm 1: 1-3)

and

"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise." (Proverbs 11: 30)

and

"The wicked desire the plunder of evil men, but the root of the righteous flourishes." (Proverbs 12: 12)

How do we change from bad trees to good? By the Power of the Holy Spirit, whom we receive by grace through, who convicts us of righteousness (John 16: 8, 11):

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

As we rest in our righteous standing in Christ, His grace is released in us:

"That as sin has reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5: 21)

and

"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 21)

This grace is to a tree of righteousness as sap is to another tree - its very life.

Be the tree of righteousness that you are in Christ, and through Him bear much fruit.

Our Heart Speaks Good News

"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee." (Proverbs 23: 7)

The  heart of man is wicked:

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17: 9)

But God promised to give us a new heart:

"And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 11: 19)

This "new spirit" is His Holy Spirit:

"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

"Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." (Galatians 4: 6-7)

This Spirit speaks Good News to us, because all our sins are forgiven, and as a result we receive the adoption of children.

This same Holy Spirit also convicts us of righteousness (John 16: 8, 11), the righteousness that we have become in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5: 21).

Yet even in Ezekiel's prophecy, this heart of "flesh" indicates a heart of "good news", for the same word "Basar" in Hebrew speaks of our own soft flesh, but also declaring Good Tidings, the Good News that all our sins are forgiven.

Your New heart speaks Good News, Beloved. Rejoice!

God is On Your Side

"If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say. . . .

"Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. " (Psalm 124: 1, 8)

God is on your side, because Jesus became sin itself in your place:

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

and

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:" (1 Peter 3: 18)

We are reconciled to God through the Blood of His Son, Jesus:

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1: 9)

"Faithful and just" -- God is faithful and just to forgive because Jesus Christ has paid for all our sins, "once for all" just as Peter wrote.

God is on your side:

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8: 312-32)

Just in case you do not have this clear in your mind:

"Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth." (Romans 8: 33)

"Justifieth" -- justifies, even now -- God is justifying you and me, and we have this witness through His Holy Spirit, who convicts us of our righteousness in Him (John 16: 8, 11)

God is on your side because of His Son. Rejoice!

Faith -- Easier Than Feeling, Better than the Facts

"For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5: 7)

Walking by faith may seem like an effort, as if we must still "do something" in order for anything to promptly manifest in our lives.

But we are called not to walk by our faith, but rather by God's own faith:

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2: 20)

Faith is seeing with our inner eyes, the eyes of our understanding what is true and eternal (Ephesians 1: 17-19):

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11: 1)

Jesus witnessed to the distraught father in the Gospel of Mark that His faith would carry over for the man:

"And Jesus said to him, 'If thou art able to believe! all things are possible to the one that is believing;'

"and immediately the father of the child, having cried out, with tears said, 'I believe, sir; be helping mine unbelief." (Mark 9: 23-24, Youngs Literal Translation)

Jesus is believing, in us, for us, through us!

The man needed help to believe, and Jesus readily supplies it. He supplies His faith to us, that through Him we can do all things (Philippians 4: 13)

We are not called to live by feelings, because feelings are all about us, when we are to be focused on Him:

"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6: 11)

and

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3: 1-2)

Regarding facts, the things that we see and prove on this earth, they are also subject to change:

"The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (1 John 2: 17)

What remains is God's Love, which we witness in His Word:

"Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away." (Luke 12: 33)

Have faith in His Word, easier than feeling, and better than the facts.

He Is Taking Away the Sins of the World

"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1: 29)

This was the one mission of John the Baptist, to be the forerunner for the Messiah, the Holy One of God who takes away the sin of the world.

He announced it a second time

"Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;

"And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!" (John 1: 35-36)

What happened between verses 29 and 35? John the Baptist baptized Jesus, and witnessed the Spirit of God descend upon Him.

The inner witness of seeing the Holy Spirit, who had rested on John the Baptist before he was even born (Luke 1: 41)
The second time, John announced "The Lamb of God!" for it was evident to him that Jesus takes away the sins of the world.

Indeed, He still does:

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1: 7)

Cleanses -- His blood cleanses you right now, Beloved!

Indeed, Jesus -- the Lamb of God who takes away, and keeps taking away, the sins of the world!

Faith -- He Said So -- (No Validation Needed)

Faith is believing on Him whom He hath sent (John 6: 29).

Faith is believing on Him, in His Word, without resorting to something or someone else in order to verify or substantiate the Truth:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1: 1)

This Word made flesh (John 1: 14) is Jesus. Faith in Him alone profits:

"For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." (Hebrews 4: 2)

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. " (John 8: 32)

Who (not "What?") is the truth:

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14: 6)
Jesus Christ and Him alone, and nothing else: this is what Paul preached:

"For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2: 2)

There is a great error pervasive in the Body of Christ, that Jesus alone is not sufficient:

"For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

"Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things." (Philippians 3: 18-19)

To be an enemy of the Cross is not just disputing that it every happened, but also asserting that more is required:

"Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

"(Touch not; taste not; handle not;

"Which all are to perish with the using;" (Colossians 2: 20-22)

and

"But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

"Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.

"I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain." (Galatians 4: 9-11)

Let us therefore trust in Him, and heed His simple command:

"As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe." (Mark 5: 36)

See Jesus, and You Have All Truth

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.

"And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." (John 1: 50-51)

Nathanael was well-versed in the Scriptures, questioning Philip's enthusiasm when the future disciple claimed that he had found the Messiah:

"Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

"And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see." (John 1: 45-46)

Only God is good (Mark 10: 18), and Nathanael knew well that the Messiah would come out of Bethlehem (Micah 5: 2).

For this reason, I believe, Jesus referred to Nathanael thus:

"He saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" (John 1: 47)

When we read the Word of God, we see Jesus (Luke 24: 25-27). He is the Truth (John 14: 6), and He is full of grace and truth (John 1: 14).

See more of Jesus, and you will have all the truth.

Destined to Do More For Him Through Him

Did you know that you are called to do greater things than even Jesus did while He was on this earth?

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." (John 14: 12)

These works have been prepared for us form the very beginning:

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2: 10)

He also works in us:

"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." (Philippians 2: 12-13)

This salvation is Christ in us:

"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:" (1 Corinthians 1: 30)

Through His grace and righteousness, we reign in life, as well:

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17)

We reign as kings and priests through Christ Jesus (1 Peter 2: 9).

He lives in us (Colossians 1: 27), and through Him we can do all things (Philippians 4: 13).

What are you waiting for? You are destined to do so much and more through Christ Jesus!

Think on Things Lovely -- Himself

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

To the degree that we are taking thought, to that extent that we are still learning the powerful extent of God's grace and righteousness in our lives.

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The peace of God guards the hearts of men, like a sentinel. We are called to renew our mind the truth of who we are in Christ Jesus (Romans 12: 2), that we may be transformed from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3: 18).

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Who represents all of these wonders? Our altogether lovely Jesus, in whom we are to grow in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3: 18)

"Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.(Philippians 4: 6-9)

Now, how did Paul live?:

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-21)


Christ is our life, and He is the one living in us. He is our Life, He is our Love, and in Him we find all lovely things and all things lovely.

The Poor Widow -- Rich With Great Faith

"And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

"And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

"And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

"For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had." (Luke 21: 1-4)

What's going on here?

This verse used to puzzle me greatly.

Was the widow prized because she gave all that she had?

God has declared in His Word that He needs nothing from us:

"For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.

"I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.

"If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof." (Psalm 50: 10-12)

and

"And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,

"So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:" (Genesis 28: 20-21)

Jacob expected God to meet his needs, and thus he would trust the Lord.

We have something better than material needs met:

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8: 31-32)

In a shadow of things to come, this widow gave all that she had because she trusted that the Lord would provide for her, just as Abraham trusted that the Lord would provide a sacrifice in place of Isaac (Genesis 22: 8)

So, we can cast all that we have, all our cares, all our needs, on Him who gave His own Son for us. This faith so pleases God (Hebrews 11: 6) and the Lord causes us to prosper with a little or with a lot (1 Samuel 14: 6)

His Love Means "Never Having to Say I'm Sorry" Ever Again

A famous line for a movie classic went:

"Love means  'never having to say your sorry'".

In Christ, His love is the certainty that we will never have to atone or perform any works to make up for our sin:

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4: 10)

This propitiation is for all our sins:

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses" (Colossians 2: 13)

We need never apologize for our sins in order to be forgiven.

In fact, because Jesus is -- present tense -- the propitiation, the mercy seat now and forever for our sins (1 John 1: 7), there is only one sin that men and women are convicted of:

"And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

"Of sin, because they believe not on me." ( John 16: 8)

The sin of not believing in Jesus Christ -- that is the one sin that will send us to hell, because God cannot receive men who remain dead in their trespasses after death.

We confess our sins once, that we may receive His life (John 3: 16) and righteousness:

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1: 9)

Because of His love, we are no longer called to keep confessing our sins in order to restore fellowship with God, but instead we are convicted of our righteousness:

"[The Holy Spirit will reprove the world] ofrighteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more" (John 16: 10)

and

"Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?

"Know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

"Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" (1 Corinthians 6: 15, 16, 19)

No More Law - Live By Grace

"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;"

"The law of commandments" -- yes, folks, Paul was talking about the Ten Commandments

Need more proof:

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

"And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2: 13-15)

The Law is no longer for us:

"But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?" (Galatians 4: 9)

The law produced bondage, and for those who live  by faith, we no longer need the "schoolmaster" to keep us in line (Galatians 3: 24-25)

Then how are we supposed to live? Paul answers that question without hesitation:

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

"Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

"Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2: 11-14)

and

"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15: 10)

It is the grace of God that teaches us and leads us and blesses us -- God's unmerited favor, which we keep receiving along with the gift of righteousness.

With Christ's Righteousness and Love Comes Respect

"Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband." (Ephesians 5: 33)

and

"Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ." (Ephesians 6: 5)

Respect is a top priority for people.

They want people to respect them, not to treat them with dishonor, but to cherish them.

Yet the favor of men is fleeting. To seek the favor of men is downright contrary to pleasing God.

"For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." (Galatians 1: 10)\

What pleases God is faith:

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11: 6)

This faith gives us access to His righteousness:

"For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1: 17)

With this righteousness is love perfected:

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

So we are in Christ Jesus, with the same standing, and thus:

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

We receive His righteousness, His standing as the Beloved (Ephesians 1: 6). When we receive how loved we are in Him, then we in turn love and respect others (1 John 4: 19)

Stop demanding or earning or demand respect from others. We receive His love and acceptance (His respect), which empowers us to give the same to others.

Stop Wandering -- Be Established in Your Heart

Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. (Hebrews 3: 10)

Why were the Israelites wandering in the desert?

They were wondering in their hearts whether God was for them or not.

In short, they did not believe Him:

"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

'For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." (Hebrews 4: 1-2)

We rest in his righteousness, certainly:

"In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee." (Isaiah 54: 14)

and

"If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him." (1 John 2: 29)

But our hearts do not have to wonder or wander, either:

"Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein." (Hebrews 13: 9)

"Divers and strange doctrines" have no place of the believer, who is established at the core in grace:

"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. " (1 Corinthians 15: 10)

Defined and empowered by grace, we no longer need to wonder if God will come through for us or wander in our own efforts.

Believe in Him, not Yourself

"And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight." (Number 13: 33)

This world attempts to raise itself up through its own efforts, through man;s confidence.

Yet John indicted this passing world:

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." (1 John 2: 15-17)

If we trust in ourselves, we will end up seeing ourselves in response to what we see in the world

When the twelves spies saw the giants, then they saw themselves, and in comparison to the giants, they saw themselves as so small, that they would be crushed without any resistance.

If we look to ourselves,  we will see ourselves to small to take on any challenge in our lives.

Caleb refused to be dissuaded:

"If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.

"Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not." (Numbers 14: 8-9)

He looked at the Lord, and He remembered His promise, that He had already given them the land (Deuteronomy 1: 8).

We have not only a greater champion than the Twelve Spies, but He now lives in us:

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John : 17-18)

For us, Beloved, the Lord is not only with us, but He is in us, and we are as He is in this world!

Believe in Him, not yourself, and walk in the land, more than a conqueror! (Romans 8: 37)

Established in Righteousness -- Standing Against Reproach

"In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee." (Isaiah 54: 14)

What comes first? Righteousness!

Who establishes us in righteousness? Jesus does:

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." 2 Corinthians 5: 21)

What does His righteousness, His full acceptance of us, cause us to withstand?
.
Oppression, in the original Hebrew, means "extortion." Normally, extortion only works if someone  has done something wrong, and for fear that their wrongdoing will come to light, they pay someone off. In effect, the root cause of the terrors and fears is an inner reproach, an inner shame which we fear will see the light of the day

Yet "righteousness" saves us from this "extortion" because through Jesus' death we are cleansed, and still more cleansed, from all sin:

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1: 7)

We walk in the Light, which is Jesus (John 8: 12), and in His Light there is no shame or darkness, for all our sins have been paid for and continue to be washed away.

Jesus has paid for any and all sin in our lives, so therefore anyone who would threaten us with reproach will get nowhere, because we are covered in Him.

Then Isaiah prophesied:

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. " (Isaiah 54: 17)

"No weapon prospers against you" -- so, the threats may rise up, but by resting in His righteousness, you will prosper and their reproach will fail.

"Every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn." The reproach of men against you will fall against them. Peter explains:

"But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

"If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified." (1 Peter 4: 13-14)
By the reproach of men, the Spirit of God is manifested in our lives, and His grace abounds to our favor (2 Corinthians 12: 10).

This righteousness is an inheritance from God, not something that you have to earn. So, stand firm in God's righteousness, and watch as all reproach falls flat.

Wealth is Within, then Without

 John the Beloved the disciple is crystal, pure-gold clear on where wealth begins

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." (3 John 2)

There is nothing wrong with money, but if a man has no life within, then all the wealth in the world without is worthless.

"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16: 26)

We must prosper on the inside so that we can enjoy God's goodness on the outside.

Prospering depends on truth within:

"Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom." (Psalm 51: 6)

This Truth is available to us through Christ Jesus:

"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8: 31-32)

and

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14: 6)

"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (John 17: 17)

Jesus is the Word of God from the beginning (John 1: 1), and we prosper on the inside to the degree that we are walking in the truth:

"For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 3-4)

Know the Truth of who you are in Christ, of Christ in you, and then the wealth and health that the world seeks will come to you, and these blessings add no curse with them.

How to Be Lead from Inside -- Know Christ and Him Crucified

10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)

Many people want to know the Will of God.

We know the will of God as we renew our minds to the truth of the Gospel:

"1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12: 2)

We present our bodies a living sacrifice, in that we allow Jesus Christ to live in us and through us (Galatians 2: 20-21, Ephesians 2: 10; Philippians 2: 12-13; Colossians 1: 29).

We do this because we have peace with God (Romans 5: 1). We trust Him because He sent us Son to die for us, even while we were still sinners (Romans 5: 8). As we learn to reckon, or more simply recognize that we are dead to the condemnation of sin (Romans 6: 10-11), we see ourselves separated forever from the curse of Adam and alive in Christ (Romans 7), that there is no condemnation in Christ (Romans 8: 1)

As we grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord (2 Peter 3: 18), we allow Christ to lead us from the inside, seeing that He has and is and ever will take care of all things for us.

Cast Your Cares in Order to Receive Grace

"Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble."

"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

"Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." (1 Peter 5: 5-10)

What is the important of "humility" when it comes to God exalting us? Peter explains in the verse five -- God gives grace to the humble.

What does  it mean to humble ourselves? Peter explains it perfectly

"Casting all your care upon him"

Why do we cast all -- not some, not most, but all? Because He cares for us.

God wants us to trust Him, and let Him "worry". If we are living in fear, holding on to all our cares, then we are sending the loudest message of unbelief, presuming that God does not care, or that we can care for ourselves better than He.

"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

"For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

"Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4: 9-11)

We are called to "labor" or rather:"make haste" make it a priority that we rest in His Work, for in Christ everything has been taken care of (John 17: 4)

and

"For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world." (Hebrews 4: 3)

What are we supposed to "do" then as we are "laboring to enter this rest"? Paul explains in Romans:

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive [lit. are receiving] abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17)

Keep receiving the gifts of righteousness and grace. Now, if we are still holding onto our cares, then we cannot receive His grace and righteousness!

Cast every care on Him, and receive His gifts to reign in life over all your problems.

Renew Your Mind -- Reject the Attacks

The issue is not "thinking the right thoughts" -- but instead renewing our minds to the truth of who we are in our Spirit.

Because of God's love, we are taken from dead in our trespasses but alive in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2: 1)

We have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1: 3)

Paul also prayed that we would ask God to open our eyes to all that God has given us (Ephesians 1: 17-19; Philemon 6)

But scorning the shame and rejecting the lies of the Enemy.

We do this by faith.

and faith works through love (Galatians 5: 4)

This is why Paul prayed to the Ephesians, who were the most "spiritually mature" Christians, according to most historians:

" (Ephesian 3: 16-19)

The more that you know how  much God loves you, the more that you will see God move in your life:

(Ephesians 3: 20)

So, the Enemy cannot take from us what God has so freely given, so the only thing that the devil can do is -- distract us. Yet in the two instances, where Satan attacks, our faith is the answer:

"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:" (Ephesians 6: 16-17)

The fiery darts will not last second if we rest in faith, which access God's grace in our lives.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

"Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." (1 Peter 5: 8-9)

Renew your mind to truth, stand in faith on it, and the lies of the enemy will fall.

Do Not "Take Thought": Receive Righteousness

"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?" (Matthew 6: 25)

Why do we not take thought for these things?

Because we who believe on Jesus' death and resurrection have His Holy Spirit:

"To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word." (Acts 10: 43-44)

and then

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

Paul was not implying that we must do without meat and drink, of course, but that we need something more than food -- we need life, and that more abundantly (John 10: 10)

So, in the Holy Spirit we have life, and we receive the Spirit by faith:

"That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Galatians 3: 14)

The opposite of faith is works in the flesh, and when we look to ourselves, to our flesh, to our works, then we take thought:

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." (Galatians 2: 16)

We do not need to take thought, but instead keep receiving the gifts of righteousness and grace:

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6: 33)

and then

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5: 17)

Do not take thought for anything -- keep receiving His righteousness and grace, and the rest is added unto you!

His Kingdom is Bigger than Your Needs, Your Life, and Your Everything Else

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."  Matthew 6: 33)

Let us review what the Kingdom of God is all about:

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

and

"For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." (1 Corinthians 4: 20)

The Kingdom of God is brought to us by the Holy Spirit, who is God:

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." (Romans 15: 13)

The Holy Spirit is not merely limited to within the Body of Christ. Joel prophesied:

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions" (Joel 2: 28)

This prophecy was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost in Acts:

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:" (Acts 2: 17)

"On all flesh" has the Holy Spirit been released, with no limit based on time or space or person or power, just like the grace of God, which has been revealed to all men (Titus 2: 11).

So, the same Kingdom which we have received is everywhere throughout all time -- past, present, future.

This is why Jesus said:

"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?" (Matthew 6: 25)

and

"Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." (Matthew 6: 34)

Rest in the Spirit of God, who brings the His rule in every area of your life, that through His righteousness and grace you may reign in life (Romans 5: 17).

To Prosper -- Let Jesus Live in You

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." (3 John 2)

Know that you are Beloved in Christ Jesus --

"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1: 6)

This wish -- this prayer -- is God's top priority for you: "above all things".

Let's take a closer look at "prosper":

εὐοδόω -- prosper -- means to have a good journey.

This word is based on two elements:

eú, "well, good" and 3598 /hodós, "a journey on a particular road")

Jesus is our Good:

"And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

"And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God." (Luke 18: 18-19)  

Jesus is our and our Journey, our Way:

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14: 6)

Jesus is your Good, and Jesus is your Journey.

Jesus is the Beloved of God the Father (Matthew 3: 17), and God sees you just as His own Son (1 John 4: 17)

When we rest in the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9: 6), when we let His righteousness, peace, and joy (Romans 14: 17) thrive within us, we will see our lives prosper.

God Teaches us to Love

"But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another." (1 Thessalonians 4: 9)

God teaches us to love, or better yet, we are divinely instructed.

Theodidaktos: taught of God --  θεοδίδακτος, ον "taught by God, divinely instructed." How does God do this? By the power of the Holy Spirit: "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: "And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12) God has written His laws in our hearts and minds, and the key element that makes manifest in our lives -- that all our sins are forgiven. That is the surest sign of God's love for us: "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4: 10) This love transforms us into His sons (1 John 3: 1), and Jesus is the first-born of many brethren (Romans 8: 29): "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17) This love is perfected in us because through this love we are made a new creation: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthianss 5: 17) and "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." (Galatians 6: 15) When we are established in Christ's perfection righteousness (2 Corinthians 5: 21) and His perfect love (1 John 4: 17), then we will see every fear cast out of our loves (1 John 4: 18). When we have received the full and growing knowledge of God's love for us, then we love others: "We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4: 19) "He first loved us"  We learn how to love when we understand how much God  loved us: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16) So,  God is love (1 John 4: 16), and God has manifested His love to us in His Son, and the  more that we are instructed of His Son and all that He has done, then we love others.