Continuing Michael's message: Regardless of the trials of life, Jesus said, in this world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. Joy is not the absence of pain, rather joy is the presence of the Lord. According to 1 Corinthians 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
What men meant for evil, God meant for good. Never let what people do to you affect how you love them in return. Romans 12 says “recompense to no man evil for evil, but overcome evil with good.” Then all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose. The devil will tempt us at our weakest point. The sin is not in the temptation.
The sin is missing the mark of God’s will and purpose in our lives. When we succumb to the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, then we sin by missing the mark of walking in fellowship in Christ. Lust means to desire eagerly; to long; with after. To have carnal desire; to desire eagerly the gratification of carnal appetite. To have irregular or inordinate desires, “over desire.” Lust is anything that we desire over our desire to love God above all. How do we set our affection on things above instead of on the things of this world? How can we control our minds by focusing on what really matters? According to Philippians 4:8, 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. The battlefield is in the mind. It’s a spiritual battle. To control our minds, think on these things that are worthy of praise.
In years gone by, the popular consensus is that the United States is a Christian nation. Our founding documents, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution established the United States of America as “one nation under God”. The Declaration of Independence establishes that Americans are endowed inalienable rights by our Creator. These God given rights include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (based on godly virtue.). These rights are subject to the laws of nature and of nature’s God. For this purpose the signers of the Declaration pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor in firm reliance on divine Providence. They understood that God is our provider. The purpose of the Constitution was to secure God’s blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.
The virtuous things that are upright, honorable, just, righteous, and pure are the praiseworthy ideals upon which our nation’s founding fathers established our nation. However, our nation has been perverted from the truth of God’s righteous standards of excellence and integrity. Like Israel in the time of Jeremiah, God’s people have turned their backs on God and the truth of His Holy Word. God is no respecter of persons. He is a respecter of His word. His righteous justice will prevail according to the righteous standard of His word.
2 Chronicles 7:14 “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
The nature of God is loving kindness and tender mercy. He provides a way of repentance and reconciliation when individuals and nations return their hearts to the Lord. Repentance (turning from their wicked ways) starts with a broken and a contrite heart. If God needs to break our hearts to bring us back to him, then thank Him for breaking our hearts. Then if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The way of reconciliation is through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Our righteousness is not in our own flesh but in His nature we received when we were born again of God’s Spirit. God wants to reproduce children after His kind. He has reconciled us through the innocent blood of His sinless Son. For Jesus Christ who was without sin became the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in Him.
Therefore, yield not to temptation. To turn away from sin, turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace ... that we may ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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