Free But Not Cheap

 

Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV)
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

        When we come to Christ and ask Him to be our Savior, we are truly amazed of the free gift which God has given. True repentance helps us to realize that we did deserve a harsh and painful eternal death. But the free grace of God will now lavish upon us the greatness of God Himself. God’s grace makes it evident that all we need is faith. Paul says, “⁸For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it isthe gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9).

        Even though the gift of salvation is free, it cost the Lord Jesus His very life. Anything in life that is free ends up costing someone to pay the price. Jesus was willing to go to any length to insure a place in heaven for you and me.

        After coming to Christ, we need to realize that the freedom that is in Christ is free and an extremely freeing way to walk, but it also is not cheap. When we take a stand for Christ, there is freedom in obedience, but this may separate us from friends and/or family. We need to examine what we value most. Is it the approval of men or the approval of God?

        When we stand firm in temptation, we will find true freedom in obedience, but it will not be easy. Looking to God in faith when all else around us either looks bleak or enticing. Forsaking sin may be one of the most difficult trials that we will face. But, the price that we “pay” for standing firm has much greater benefits. When we stand firm now instead of yielding to lust or the many other evils that our heart can imagine, we will find greater strength and blessing by trusting in God other than yielding to compromise. Once again, obedience is free (and freeing), but it is not cheap. We may have to pay the price of rejection or the price of bearing a cross for a time. But the blessings and benefits are always worth it.

         We need to realize that sin is enslaving, but obedience frees us and empowers us unto righteousness. Paul says, “¹⁵What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! ¹⁶ Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?”(NKJV, Rom 6:15-16).

        Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests?

Daniel A. Smith

Study Takes Diligence

2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV)
¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

        Following God in a way that is upright and pure takes much diligence and commitment. Paul is urging Timothy that God’s representatives must be disciplined and be willing to put in time and commitment to the study of the word. We need to commit to daily reading and study in order to find out what is the truth of the gospel so that we can pass it on to others and thus be accurate representatives of Christ.

        The word that Paul used for “approved” is the same word that was used for the process that the money-changers used who knew the true from the counterfeit tender. There were more than eighty laws for which coins where approved and considered legitimate. The money-changers had to study diligently to know what the laws were and how to recognize the counterfeit coins. Many of the money handlers of lesser integrity knew the counterfeit coins, but they would circulate the counterfeit tender anyway. But, the true men of God would only put the true money into circulation. By this they were not dishonestly treating others and society in general by giving the fake in place of the real.

        The same is true with the word of God. If we are going to share the word with others and walk in integrity and truth, we will have to stay in the word daily. We need to diligently study it in order to find the real gems of the fruitful word of God. As we pass on the pure and vibrant word to others, God will truly approve of this and be delighted in our path. But this will take time, diligent, study and commitment to find what God is actually saying in His word.

        When we find the truth of the word of God, we can confidently share the word, without shame. This is because the rightly divided word of truth will encourage and stimulate our life so that we want nothing other than to share it and get some more for ourselves and others. Seek the Lord this day as to how He wants to use you. Commit to His desires for your life and scour the scriptures daily for what He is saying to you. Then share it.

        Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer request.

Daniel A. Smith

Endure To The End

Matthew 24:13 (NKJV)
But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

        Endurance is a very common subject within the word of God. We will see that endurance is applied in different ways and for different purposes. Endurance is not a very popular subject among many people. In our instant society, we don’t want to wait for anything. Patience and longsuffering are two aspects of the fruit of the Spirit which require much endurance.

So many people want God to fix all their problems for good. They want Him to make all things right and never have life be difficult again. But, if we look at this verse in Matthew 24:13, we see that these people in the tribulation period will endure much difficulty for the name of Christ. The Lord wants us to remain faithful and believe Him no matter what life throws in our path. As we grow in Christ, we can think back in life. We will then realize that when we have allowed God to work out the difficulties, He has made us stronger and created great memories of victory. Working through the difficulties with God becomes a victory and not a problem when we trust Him.

        There is also endurance in love. Paul says that love, “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things”, (I Cor. 13:7, NKJV). God’s love does not fail and if we are to show the love of Christ to a dying world, we must also not fail in loving others. This is an impossible task without the Lord Jesus.

        Timothy reminds us that we are soldiers for the sake of Christ and we must be willing to fight for Christ. “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ”, (2 Timothy 2:3, NKJV).

        There are times that we are extremely tempted and it is then that we must trust God and remain faithful to Him. James says, “Blessed is the man whoendures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him”, (James 1:12, NKJV).

        Jesus is our greatest example of endurance. Hebrews says,” For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls”, (Hebrew12:3, NKJV). Since Christ was able to endure to the end, He will also strengthen us to do the same if we believe Him.

        When we endure for the sake of Christ, He will bless us abundantly. James says, “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” (James 5:11, NKJV). When we fix our eyes on Jesus and we value heavenly treasure over the treasures of this world, God will definitely bless us and reward us.

          Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.

Daniel A. Smith

Where is Your Boasting

I Corinthians 1:27-31 (NIV)

²⁷ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰ It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. ³¹ Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

        So many people are very willing to boast about their children, their job or their achievements. This may not be bad, but God’s children’s greatest boasting should be in the Lord. There is nothing greater in our life than Jesus, when we know Him as savior. But, so many people stay silent and say nothing. As God’s children, we are His representatives to a lost and needy world.

        We can be thankful. God’s qualifications for His representatives are much more different that what the world would demand. God wants to use us no matter who we are. As long as we are willing to follow Him, and humbly submit to His will, He will use us. People in the world view true godly actions as weak or foolish. This is because God’s child, who is walking by the direction of the Spirit of God, will not act or react according to the flesh. Those in the world know nothing but fleshly reactions. So in comparison, godliness is foolish and weak. It is foolish to them to be patient, kind or sacrificially love.

        God can use the most humble person the greatest. When we use the gifts that God gave us, the fruit of the spirit becomes evident. It is only because of Christ Jesus that we receive these qualities at salvation, and we can only display them in His power. When we realize this, our boasting will be in the Lord. He is our righteousness, our holiness and our redemption, so without Him we are nothing. In Christ we have everything, but in ourselves we are bankrupt. This is why Jesus needs to be the focal point of our day and our lips. We need to brag on Jesus.

        Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.

Daniel A. Smith