Steadfast - Part 3

 

Despite the darkness of the world around us, the Apostle John said, If you walk in the

light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. Even though the trial of faith will test us, through the trial, the testing will reveal the true character of Christ within us. For tribulation works patience and patience experience (proven character) and experience hope, and hope makes us not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us. Therefore, quench not the Holy Spirit. Allow God to work within you to keep the fire of the Holy Spirit ignited, for we have this treasure in an earthen vessel that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us.  

Many recreational water parks around the nation have a “lazy river” float experience to enjoy. Metaphorically, the light of the spirit of life in Christ will counteract the “lazy river” Christian mentality that tends to float aimlessly along through life. Many so-called Christians are drift down the lazy river of the world’s main-stream secular currents. They are like the luke-warm church of Laodicea in Revelation spoke of by Jesus. The angel said, because they are neither hot nor cold, God will vomit them out of His mouth. When we’re struggling with difficult decisions, the age-old question still applies: What would Jesus do? At the age of twelve, Jesus’ parents found him in the temple speaking with the top professors of Old Testament law, who marveled at his questions and his deep understanding of Scripture. Although his parents had been searching for him for a day, Jesus said to them, “Don’t you know that I must be about my Father God’s business? Jesus said, I always do my Father God’s will.  

When faced with a dilemma, the best course of action is to ask our Heavenly Father. God has made an offer to His people to accept His covenant. The covenants, conditions, and requirements of His offer are according to His terms, not ours. It has been said, “the future is as bright as the promises of God.” Acceptance of God’s promise is according to His terms. God is the almighty Creator; we are the created creature. God is infinite; we are finite. He does not want us to promise to keep His covenant. He is not interested in an exchange of promises, for all men are liars. Instead the only way to accept God’s unilateral contract is by performance, by obedience according to his terms; for God is not faithful to us as much as He is faithful to His word.

Each day, God gives us a clean slate to rekindle the fire of the Holy Spirit. As Jeremiah said, morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed thy hand hath provided. For God is steadfast [Fast fixed; firmly fixed and established. Constant; resolute; not fickle or wavering]. He is faithful to His word and great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me. We make our will His will and our desire His desire, for the Lord is good, His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endure the to all generations that we may ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!

Your brother in Christ, Michael