Date:
Tuesday,
July 21, 2015
Chapters: Ecclesiastes 5-8
Message Title: Vow To Trust God
Hello My Friend,
If we take a look at our lives, none of us can honestly say that we are where we really want to be. Sin, sickness, reckless lifestyles, or circumstances will take a dream and turn it into something completely different than what we imagined with our lives. Sure, we may be happy, but deep down there is something we wish we did or didn't do in hopes that things would have turned our differently. Can I tell you that we can't do anything about the past, but we can do something about today. The first step is thanking God for a new day, He has you exactly where He wants you to be, and He will turn any situation around if we just trust Him. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” - Romans 8:28,29.
Sin, as much as most of us do not want to sin, it's in our nature, and that is why God does not base our salvation upon our good works, but upon His Son, the one and only person who never sinned. A vow is a bond upon the soul, when we accept the Lord, Jesus Christ as our Saviour, God vows to save our souls from death and hell, no matter how many times we sin after we are saved. Many times Christians get caught up in lifestyles that are not as they planned because they make vows to follow Christ, but live a worldly life.
“When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God. Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.” - Ecclesiastes 5:5-7,18.
Of course, God wants to give us things and loves to see us enjoying the things that He gives us, but we can take it too far. We can lose sight of God, and do things that we know are wrong just to get the things we want, thinking they will fill that void. When that happens, God will place some problems in our lives to get us to see that what we have now is not so bad. “Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he. Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?” - Ecclesiastes 6:9-12.
Life can end in an instant, we can't keep dwelling on the things or life that we do not have, we have to learn to make the best out of what God has given us at this moment. God does have a purpose for allowing the things we go through in life, and believe it or not, it's not a punishment, it's a test. He is testing you to see if you will trust Him in all this. We're going to face stuff whether we are saved or not, we can trust God and let Him help us through it. “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” - Romans 5:3-5.
Patience, it is our lack of patience that causes us to make some unwise decisions sometimes. When we tire of waiting for something, especially if we have been waiting a long time for it, our spirit becomes broken. When our spirit is not right, naturally we are going to become more impatient, and that's when God puts a halt on things and waits for us. “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this. Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.” - Ecclesiastes 7:8-12.
God has no problem waiting for us to come to our senses before He starts showing back up in our lives. Of course, God is always with us, even when it appears He is not, and yes, He places those circumstances in our lives to get us back on track. Some of us figure it out, some do not, but thank God for His patience because we would all be in trouble. “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” - Hebrews 10:35-37.
Christians can get into the world and get pretty wealthy in doing so, but eventually all of that will take a toll on us. Like it or not, we are not of this world, and because of that we are going to suffer more than them, sin brings death even upon the Christian who continues to live in the world. No, we will not end up in hell, but we will suffer here before God takes us home if we live sinful lives. “Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God. There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity. Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.” - Ecclesiastes 8:12-15.
Christians are by far sinless, but they do know God will be there for them when they acknowledge and confess their sins to Him. The worldly Christian cares less about what God thinks, let alone what we think, they are in it all for themselves. In the end, we who love and honor God, even though we may have thrown in some different ingredients, will have a great cake for Him to enjoy. “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. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:7-9.
Today's Prayer: Jesus, You are a treasure that is rich beyond measure, the things that You have done for me and continue to do are numberless, especially since I do not deserve any of them. I want to live my life the best I can, giving You the recognition, honor, and praise that you deserve. Lord, as I allow You to live in and through me make me a vessel of honor to not only remain committed to You, but bring others to You as well. Give me patience to wait for the things You have for me as I endure my trials for Your glory. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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Chapters: Ecclesiastes 5-8
Message Title: Vow To Trust God
Hello My Friend,
If we take a look at our lives, none of us can honestly say that we are where we really want to be. Sin, sickness, reckless lifestyles, or circumstances will take a dream and turn it into something completely different than what we imagined with our lives. Sure, we may be happy, but deep down there is something we wish we did or didn't do in hopes that things would have turned our differently. Can I tell you that we can't do anything about the past, but we can do something about today. The first step is thanking God for a new day, He has you exactly where He wants you to be, and He will turn any situation around if we just trust Him. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” - Romans 8:28,29.
Sin, as much as most of us do not want to sin, it's in our nature, and that is why God does not base our salvation upon our good works, but upon His Son, the one and only person who never sinned. A vow is a bond upon the soul, when we accept the Lord, Jesus Christ as our Saviour, God vows to save our souls from death and hell, no matter how many times we sin after we are saved. Many times Christians get caught up in lifestyles that are not as they planned because they make vows to follow Christ, but live a worldly life.
“When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God. Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.” - Ecclesiastes 5:5-7,18.
Of course, God wants to give us things and loves to see us enjoying the things that He gives us, but we can take it too far. We can lose sight of God, and do things that we know are wrong just to get the things we want, thinking they will fill that void. When that happens, God will place some problems in our lives to get us to see that what we have now is not so bad. “Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit. That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he. Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better? For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?” - Ecclesiastes 6:9-12.
Life can end in an instant, we can't keep dwelling on the things or life that we do not have, we have to learn to make the best out of what God has given us at this moment. God does have a purpose for allowing the things we go through in life, and believe it or not, it's not a punishment, it's a test. He is testing you to see if you will trust Him in all this. We're going to face stuff whether we are saved or not, we can trust God and let Him help us through it. “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” - Romans 5:3-5.
Patience, it is our lack of patience that causes us to make some unwise decisions sometimes. When we tire of waiting for something, especially if we have been waiting a long time for it, our spirit becomes broken. When our spirit is not right, naturally we are going to become more impatient, and that's when God puts a halt on things and waits for us. “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this. Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.” - Ecclesiastes 7:8-12.
God has no problem waiting for us to come to our senses before He starts showing back up in our lives. Of course, God is always with us, even when it appears He is not, and yes, He places those circumstances in our lives to get us back on track. Some of us figure it out, some do not, but thank God for His patience because we would all be in trouble. “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” - Hebrews 10:35-37.
Christians can get into the world and get pretty wealthy in doing so, but eventually all of that will take a toll on us. Like it or not, we are not of this world, and because of that we are going to suffer more than them, sin brings death even upon the Christian who continues to live in the world. No, we will not end up in hell, but we will suffer here before God takes us home if we live sinful lives. “Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God. There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity. Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.” - Ecclesiastes 8:12-15.
Christians are by far sinless, but they do know God will be there for them when they acknowledge and confess their sins to Him. The worldly Christian cares less about what God thinks, let alone what we think, they are in it all for themselves. In the end, we who love and honor God, even though we may have thrown in some different ingredients, will have a great cake for Him to enjoy. “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. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:7-9.
Today's Prayer: Jesus, You are a treasure that is rich beyond measure, the things that You have done for me and continue to do are numberless, especially since I do not deserve any of them. I want to live my life the best I can, giving You the recognition, honor, and praise that you deserve. Lord, as I allow You to live in and through me make me a vessel of honor to not only remain committed to You, but bring others to You as well. Give me patience to wait for the things You have for me as I endure my trials for Your glory. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Subscribe: Daily Devotion
Ready To Follow Jesus?: God's Price
Visit Our Website: I'm Following Jesus
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Copyright © 2015 I'm Following Jesus, All rights reserved.
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