Author: evangelist_breland

Romans 8:28-30

No matter what we go through in life, “we know that all things work together for good to those who love God.” (v.28a). If we love Him, we will keep His commandments. As a result, He promises that through all the heartaches and pains we endure, He uses them to work it out for spiritual good to those, who not only love Him, but also“are the called according to His purpose” (v.28b). Second Timothy 1:9, paraphrased, declares that before the beginning of time, God saved us and called us with a holy calling, and not according to any works we have done. He prepared His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus. We are to live so that our lives will glorify God. Jesus promised on an occasion that if any man serves Him, His Father will honor him.

Paul continued by talking about the called or chosen. The Lord knows those who belong to Him. Paul, here, declared that those whom God knew beforehand, He also predestined, or ordained beforehand, to be conformed spiritually and morally to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn and most beloved and honored among many brothers (v.29). God has called all to freely accept or reject His plan of salvation. “Those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified” (v.30).

Clap your hands and praise the Lord for what He has done for us.

Luke 18:9-14, NKJV

Believers have many plans of the heart. Proverbs 16:1 tells us that God prepares those plans, and we depend on Him to direct our paths, giving the answer of the tongue. It is self-righteousfor believers to think that in their own eyes all of their ways are pure (Prov. 16:2a). Jesus taught a parable about the Pharisee and the tax collector who went up to the temple to pray. He addressed some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else (vv. 9-10, NIV).

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, thanking God that he was not like other people – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector (v.11). He boasted offasting twice a week and giving tithes of all he owned (v.12). The tax collector stood way off and would not even look up to heaven but with an attitude of repentance prayed, “God, be merciful to me a sinner” (v.13)!Jesus declared that the tax collector went home justified rather than the Pharisee; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled (put down), and he who humbles himself will be exalted (v.14). The Pharisee prayed about his good works; the tax collector acknowledged that he was a sinner and asked for God’s mercy in forgiving his sin.

Let us humble ourselves before God and acknowledge our sins; He will forgive us and make us righteous. Then by faith, we can walk in His righteousness and trust Him to lead us in fulfilling the plans of our hearts according to His purpose. 

Shout, “Glory!” and give Him praise.

Proverbs 16:1-2

Believers are to be loyal to God in every aspect of their lives. He is purposeful in all His creation; therefore, Believers should trust Providence to manifest all those many plans of the heart. 

In v.1 the author declares that the preparations of man’s heart belong to him, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord (v.1). Enduring Word Commentary says “because man is made in the image of God, it is in his nature to make preparations of the heart.” Proverbs 19:21 (NIV, paraphrased) says that man may have many plans in his heart, but he must trust Providence to manifest these plans into His purpose. Believers are called to love God with all of their being; therefore, out of loyalty to our Creator, we must trust Him and follow His guidance. He will clear the right of way, stir the hearts of believers, and bring our plans to fruition.

The writer continues: “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
But the Lord weighs the spirits” (v.2). How amazing it is that in everyone’s own eyes he / she thinks what he / she does is right! However, we have a just Father Who weighs the heart of man by the Spirit; He knows when our motives and attitudes are pure or when they are self-righteous. If we hold on to our self-righteous attitude, we refuse to accept the work of the Holy Spirit in us. He has just what we need when we need it to accomplish our goals. 

Shout, “Glory!” and give Him praise.

Every February 14^th people all around the world celebrate Valentine’s Day, a day in which people express their love to others in a variety of ways. How beautiful and special is this! But love is not a one-day a year act for believers; it is a daily life of obedience. Believers are commanded to love the Lord their God with their total being and to love their neighbor as they love themselves. We are commanded in Ephesians 5:1-2 “to be imitators of God as dear children (v.1). And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering, and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” (v.2). Deny yourselves and obey God; walk in love and become a sweet-smelling aroma to Him. 

Brothers and Sisters, love comes from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Therefore, let us love one another as we love ourselves (1John 4:7, ESV, paraphrased). In the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5:44-45a, Amplified Bible, paraphrased): Jesus told the congregation to “love your enemies.” In other words, He told them that to love their enemies meant they were not to be selfish but seek the best or higher good for their enemies. He went on to say, “and pray for those who persecute you” (v.44), “so that you may [show yourselves to] be the children of your Father who is in heaven…” (v.45a). Above all,Chosen People of God, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony (Colossians 3:14, NLT).

Give God glory!

Matthew 22:34-40, NKJV

There’s a song and film – What’s Love Got to Do with It? The film is based on the life of Tina Turner, a popular American singer / song writer. The movie portrayed Tina’s life of abuse at the hands of her husband, Ike Turner. Frankly, I am not sure if the title question is rhetorical or not. I am sure that according to Scripture love has everything to do with it. It is God’s primary command to believers – love Him and others. 

Here the Pharisees had heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees when they questioned Him about marriage in the resurrection (vv.23-33). Jesus literally shut down the Sadducees’ wrong thinking, telling them that there is no marriage in the resurrection. However, the Pharisees got together, and the one, who was a lawyer, asked Jesus, “Teacher, which of the commandments is the greatest in the Law (v.36)?”

And Jesus replied to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ (v.37). This is the first and greatest commandment (v.38).The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself (v.39).’ He told them that the whole Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments” (v.40). That’s what love has to do with it. The Pharisees’ motive for asking Jesus what the greatest commandment of the Law is, was not genuine. They wanted to trap Him into contradicting the Law so they could use it against Him. Brothers and Sisters in Christ, that is how the devil works; therefore, stay alert to the wiles of the devil. Love God and your neighbors. 

Give God a hand clap of praise.