Month: August 2023

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Enjoying Life Part III

The Battle (there is always a battle before a Victory, but the Victory for us starts and is won via our mindset).

Colossians 3:1-4 (our hope and His promise to us) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth (why?).

For ye are dead  (no longer controlled by the carnal man), and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

“For ye are dead” spiritually, it is true; the Holy Spirit has come to indwell us. However, His strength in us must grow because the carnal man sometimes feels very much alive. Living this out is dependent upon who we spend the most time with. We will see change by spending time with the Lord and in His Word consistently. As we do, the Holy Spirit strengthens us, and the carnal man weakens. Another way to say it is the Bible talks in Truth; it has happened because the Cross makes it so. 

We are in the beloved, but for the application of it to become a reality, it takes time. This is where we can receive mixed messages. Indeed, it is a mindset: do I believe my emotions or God’s Word? Faith in God’s Word or what I feel, to whom will I give my attention? This is where the battle is. When we look at our reality and what we read in scripture, there is sometimes a massive chasm between the two. The enemy uses this to defame the Lord and the scriptures and discourage us.

Look at the Bible stories, Gideon 300 men to defeat an enemy army, or Moses having to cross the Red Sea. So many, if not all, stories are ridiculous from man’s perspective. The odds are so against them. And this is done on PURPOSE. God wants us to have no confidence in ourselves. Our faith must grow; as it does, we begin to live out the truth of what the scriptures say. Two examples, let’s say I’ve been given the most expensive race car. It has won the India 500 multiple times. It has all the power I need to win again and again. Only one problem, I do not know how to drive it. So I must learn, and as I do, I begin to win races until I am racing in the India 500 (remember, we will also lose races as we seek to win them; therefore, humility and repentance are essential). The power is there, but our faith must grow to appropriate His power.

The second example is the Redwood Tree. It grows quickly to a hundred feet but barely a foot. The potential is there, given by God, but it needs to dig deep into the earth in search of water and stretch for the sun, especially if other trees block some of the sun. Via the Holy Spirit, we, too, have the potential to grow to great heights in Christ, but we, too, must root out into His Word and apply His Word to everyday trials and problems and gain victory. Peter walked on water as long as he focused on Christ, the supernatural, but sank when he focused on the waves and wind, which is true with us.

As we meditate on and obey the scriptures, we become cleansed and empowered by the Spirit. The old man/woman in us weakens, and as it does, God’s power grows in us. That victory comes through this process of getting the Word in me and the world and my carnal desires out of me (crowding out my flesh with God’s Truths). Whoever we feed the most wins; it’s as simple as that. This is all done with the help of the Holy Spirit. That’s why scripture says not to grieve the Holy Spirit, which we do when we disobey.

Col. 3:4

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Be alert and aware, walk circumspectly (like a lighthouse, always searching or exposing danger), and do not be swept away by the enemy’s lies. They may sound like truth, but within them is the lie that takes you a little farther from depending upon and trusting in the Lord. Be discerning; know the scriptures.

Ephesians 4:20-24

But ye have not so learned Christ;

If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Ephesians 4:30

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Our response….

Matthew 7:13-14 The Narrow Way (Luke 13:24),

Enter ye in at the strait (narrow as in tight, confining, unpopular, difficult) gate: for wide (easy, popular, it makes sense ) is the gate, and broad (easy, people agree with you, they applaud your

choices) is the way that leadeth to destruction (eternal ruin) and many there be which go in thereat:

Because strait (confining) is the gate, and narrow is the way (only one way, only one belief, only one Savior) which leadeth unto life, and few (small amount, not many) there be that find it.

As unpopular and unwelcoming are these words, they are not my words but Christ’s words. So depending upon who you think Jesus is will determine whether you will listen to His words; however, know that you are being given an invitation to know Him this day. Either for the first time or to know Him more intimately.

Could it be that “many there be which go in thereat:” are those with a seared conscience? It’s a terrible travesty that most of the human race will not be in God’s Book of Life (Rev. 20:15-20) though Jesus gave His Life so we could all spend Eternity with Him irrespective of person. The thief on the Cross repented, and “Jesus said this day you will be with me in paradise,” talking about last minute.

Revelation 20:12

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their deeds (our “deed” is to believe in Christ’s Atonement).

Revelation 20:15

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (this verse is so fearful and hard to quote). It involves people whom Christ loves and died for yet remained hardened against Him until it was too late).

The verses in Revelation that we just shared are challenging, yet my goal in sharing them is to cause us to stop saying, “oh it’s just a little compromise, or just a little lie, or I’m going to marry her so it’s okay that we sleep together or I’m good with God, I’m not a bad person, etc..” We say a million of these “little lies” to appease our conscious, and if we say them habitually, they are soon said without a sense of guilt. We are in the process of searing our consciousness. It is like a person with stage 3 cancer saying at least I’m not stage 4. That would be such the wrong answer. The correct answer would be to get medical help NOW so it doesn’t progress into stage 4 and treat it until it is in complete remission. Don’t you agree? 

All these deceptions and lies, all they do is build a fortress in us, walls of excuses and alibis, and they keep us from surrendering to the conviction of the Holy Spirit that only seeks our good. We must repent, stop justifying our actions today, and obey The Lord. Our ignorance and, at times, our arrogance is shameful. Pride and sin have one vowel in common: “I.” As long as “I” am in charge of my life, The Cross cannot save me.

**The Church, or The Body of Christ, comprises all walks of life. 

Different churches, economic structures, and cultures, but all with one single truth that binds us together: our confession of Faith and adherence to Christ as our Savior. The second person of the Trinity is equal to God and, as the Bible says, “very God.” In so believing, we become the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, His Temple, and we are family. Christ has taken our judgment, so the Church is not in these verses, but via these verses, we get a glimpse of the Throne Room of God. This needs to motivate us to seek Christ more so that, in turn, we can be the best witness possible for Him.

On a more personal note, as you read this, are you sure of your Salvation? Eternity is not something to gamble with. To hope that you are right with God when you can be sure of your salvation is not wise at all.

2 Corinthians 6:1-2

We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Jesus said to the wealthy farmer who thought he did not need God, “ you fool, for this day I will require your soul from you (Luke 12:13-21).” Wealth, as then as it is now, is anesthesia to our need for Christ. We are unaware of our spiritual needs because we can buy whoever we want. This has a numbing effect, and like the proverbial donkey chasing the carrot, we think if we only get this next “thing,” be it a promotion, a job, a lovely house, or an object, etc., that we will have the peace and love that we are seeking. 

Yet Peace and Love, which can only be found in union with God via faith in Christ, can’t be bought because it is not for sale. I can’t give you my peace or the love with which He loves me, though He loves you just as much. We each individually need to be in relation with Him. It is the same with security; there is no better way to feel secure than to know your right with God. PLEASE, PLEASE consider this if you are not sure.

God wrestled with me for months before I surrendered to Him. I had gone to church my whole life and believed I was saved. I didn’t disagree with any of the teachings. Even my mother believed I was saved. I sang in the choir, attended evening Bible studies, and even went to church camp, and I enjoyed them, but God knew the actual condition of my heart. Subconsciously I felt I was right with God because of my actions. I am so grateful that He continued to pursue me until finally, I acknowledged that if He was convicting me, then I must not be saved despite all the things I was doing.

In those days, the pastor would invite you to step out of the pews and walk up to the front of the church, as the pastor would then lead you in the sinner’s prayer. I carefully listened and said the pastor’s words and accepted Jesus into my heart. By far the best decision “I” ever made, marrying Lisa was the next best decision. I wish we still had altar calls, where we come forward to accept Christ in front of the whole church. 

When a pastor says, ” I don’t want to embarrass you by asking you to raise your hand or come forward to the altar, ” that gives the wrong impression. I’m coming forward because I’m tired of embarrassing myself, and I need Jesus, who was not embarrassed to hang naked on The Cross for me. A few weeks after I accepted Christ, I messed up, and the first thing the enemy s; looks, “ your not a Christian, look what you did.” I replied that I may not be a good Christian, but I am a Christian because I accepted Christ. That morning in church, I had put a stake in “ the ground” that would forever be my victory against the enemy’s condemnation. By doing away with altar calls, new believers do not have that, and now it’s way too easy to fall into condemnation, that I didn’t truly accept Christ. It all boils down to whom you spend the most time feeding (via activities done), the carnal or spirit man?

Enjoying Life, the title of this series is meant to make us take time and thought, a prayerful examination that we are right with God and not just going with the flow. Going to church and attending home Bible studies is excellent, but it’s not a sign that we are right with God. Having the indwelling Holy Spirit is proof of genuinely accepting Christ. Those of us who have spent many years with Christ can fall into a routine, losing our edge and passion for Christ, similar to the church of Thyatira, and entertaining other teachings.

Revelation 2:18-20

And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

Jesus always praises what we do right, but He wants it all. So we are to bring all of our struggles, the things that frustrate and defeat us, to be transparent before Him, and when we do, that pleases Him. Living transparently before Him is a sign of maturity. None of us have it all together, and we all have our journeys, and it is essential for us to be comfortable with the Lord seeing “our dirty laundry.” This is a sign of maturity and humility (there can be no maturity without humility). It means He and I know that I struggle or have struggles in these areas of my life, but His Holy Spirit is there to help me, and His love for me does not lessen because I struggle. 

If we try to hide our sins from Him, it means I’m not sure of His love, and this is a commonplace that many Christians find themselves in, but it’s not a good place. It’s like having one foot on the ice and the other on the ground. We are unstable and unsure of ourselves, and in this state, the enemy can lie to us, making us feel isolated, that God doesn’t love us and can’t forgive us. It is not our perfection that He wants, but our imperfections so that we can receive His perfection and forgiveness, learn of His love, and, in so doing, gain victory over our sins.

Mark 2:16-17

And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole do not need the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

He knows our struggles and strengths, and He is always patient with us. God likens us to clay, and it takes time to knead the clay and get the air pockets out of it, for without that, and regardless of how beautiful the greenware work (un-fired clay) is, if the air pockets are not kneaded out of the clay before shaping it, then when it is fired in the oven the air pockets will explode blowing up the pot. He can’t work with us if our pride dominates. We will self-destruct and injure others in the process. He works with our imperfections and brings them to Him.

Many believers get stuck in a “nomad’s land of guilt and shame, or the land of justification, giving excuses for their sin, feeling that God does not love them. It can last for the whole of our Christian experience. We who have made it through this phase must help others through it. I have observed that those that grew up with a father that loved them pass through this phase easier, but those whose growing-up experience felt unloved struggle much. 

It is a difficult journey to get to the belief that the Lord does love me, especially when my father, whose supposed to have loved me, didn’t. In other words, my dad did not find my life of enough worth or value to spend time with me, teaching me, or just being my dad. So if he didn’t find value in me, how can I know that a God who I cannot see, who died for me 2,000 years ago, does? It’s a big jump that we ask of those who find themselves in this situation. Though my dad was not Christian, he loved me, so when it came time for me to accept Christ, I could believe that God loved me because my dad loved me. This is the purpose of family, to love them so when it comes time and they feel God’s call, they can believe that God loves them and answer His call.

Deuteronomy 6:6 &7

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Therefore, helping our brothers and sisters get to the spiritual maturity that they know that God loves them (irrespective of age) is the honor and duty of those of us who know His love. We are the Lord’s ambassadors to them, showing them patience, loving-kindness, and forgiveness, and through our actions, they will begin to have the confidence to approach the Lord. As they do, they will find His Grace, that they are loved and have worth before Him. This is such a critical step, and a good upbringing is critical. It makes it so that as adults, we know He loves us, and we can give HIS love to our kids, spouse, and others. Those of us that are parents and grandparents are to love and teach our children. Doing it right feels good.

Father God,

Thank you for this study. This one is more practical and down to earth. Help us to learn and grow, but most importantly, be fully convinced that You Love Us.

If you’ve come this far, please consider taking a look at my book on Amazon.

https://a.co/d/hB5StWk

Thanks!

Arthur Navarrette

Vida4U.com is the website where all past Vida’s are archived. In addition to the weekly devotionals, the yearly inspirational writings featured in December’s House2Home Magazine are archived under “Faith Talk.”  Please use this site for your benefit and refer your friends to it as well. If they would like the weekly series emailed to them, they can send their requests to Arthur@Vida4U.com.

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Enjoying Life Part II

Over 13,000 people view the introduction this way each month and find it to be a helpful beginning.

Luke 18:36-38

Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice “of the truth,” the ability to recognize Jesus as God’s Son, the Second Person of the Trinity, our Messiah). 

Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

At times Jesus’ words make no sense to a casual reader. To understand Him, one must understand His reason for coming. Without that as the basis, His words can become confusing. He came to bare witness to the Truth. As in Pilates day, so is Truth today. It’s a moving target if you reject Jesus’s words, who spoke the Truth because He spoke of Himself. There is no truth regarding Life, our purpose in Life, and the future of our life apart from Him. Pilate’s words “What is truth” points to his emptiness, a war-hardened man whose “Truth” was his sword. Rome had conquered many nations and the gods of those nations, so much for their gods and their truth. 

Yet he would learn through some painful and soul-searching experiences with Christ that Truth is not the sword but the peaceful person of Christ. Christ was unlike any man he had ever questioned or met. Would he later regret killing an innocent man when he had the power to free Him? He feared the Jew’s report to Caesar; therefore, who he really cared about was himself and his position, not the innocent man standing before him. Christ was and is a King from another world that Pilate’s heart was blind to even though his wife said to him “that she had suffered much in a dream and that he was to have nothing to do with that innocent man (Matt.27:19).” Would he come to understand this after Christ’s resurrection? The centurion who oversaw the Crucifixion came to believe.  

Why would Jesus answer Pilate, “Thou sayest that I am a king”? Pilate never said Jesus was a King; Pilate asked if He was. Yet behind Pilate’s questioning of Jesus was the concern that Jesus might be a threat to Rome since he had such a large following. When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, Nicodemus knew Jesus came from God because of His miracles, but he never asked Jesus about salvation; being a Jew, he assumed he had it. However, Jesus knowing that Nicodemus was blind to the Truth of Salvation, spoke to him, saying that he needed to be born again. 

At times Jesus’s comments do not make sense. They do not follow the dialogue that is occurring. Yet Jesus, by speaking as such, creates the dialogue that needs to occur. He did it with Pilate and with Nicodemus. God allows situations to occur, sometimes very painful, so that we press into Him and ask hard questions that make us uncomfortable asking. Desperate needs give rise to desperate questions, which causes us to be uncomfortable, but cause us to seek Him with greater earnestness. 

It makes us push aside our daily routines, comforts, and shallow living and seek Him. He longs to answer, but not always then and there. At times, time has to pass. Like water that runs over jagged rocks are smoothed, so pain has a way of humbling us, helping us to get our priorities straight, and now, He has our full attention. As we continue to search and seek, we position ourselves to be loved by Him. He can love us, teach us, and in time we may get the answer, or we no longer need the answer because we know He loves us (Amen). 

Next question, what would you consider the Christian Faith’s biggest objection? Is it not because of its one-way “one-way” stance? That there is only One Way to be saved, to have Eternal Life, that there is only One True King, only One Truth, One True Confession, and only One Name in which we must be saved “under Heaven” (no other faith, no other name) no other teaching, doctrine or belief, One Name for the forgiveness of sin and only One Way to live life. There’s only ONE. Those statements are offensive statements to most people. 

Equally offensive is that Christianity absolutely denies that all religions lead to God, and it denies that all faiths lead to the same place (Heaven). Also, the statement, ” It doesn’t matter what you believe, it just matters that you believe,” is probably one of the most ignorant statements I’ve heard. It’s just another lie that is so ridiculous that it sounds profound—one of many from satan’s bag of lies. Just think how many soldiers died in wars for their belief in this nation. Their beliefs were specific. 

Therefore the posture of Christianity is all religions are just that, a religion. They are a way of belief, codes of conduct, means of thought, and ways of interpreting life and living life, but none of them can actually “grant” Eternal Life, forgiveness of sin, or the Abiding Presence of the Holy Spirit, which seals the deal when it comes to Salvation. That is the guarantee that one’s faith is genuine and authentic and has been honored by God Himself. 

The Holy Spirit is the Heavenly down payment of His presence now and of much better things to come – so cool. And there is no middle ground; you have been given the Holy Spirit, or you haven’t, you are not “half saved,” and there are no negotiations. It’s either you have believed and confessed Christ as your Savior and repented of your sins, or you haven’t (we have all sinned and often need forgiveness). Is God being mean by having such strict requirements? Does He have the right to require a One Way belief; “It’s His way or it’s no way?”

John 3:14-18

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so, must the Son of man be lifted up:

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

(I love story pictures to explain the truth. Man’s drowning in his ocean of sin, the ship’s captain called Salvation, sees us drowning and throws a Life Saver to us named Jesus. Is the Captain throwing us His Life Saver condemning or trying to save us? And if we do not grab unto His Life Saver and drown, whose decision was that, His or ours?) 

**So God does not force anyone to believe, but He has the absolute right to establish the standards to which one can have a relationship. He absolutely has that right. If we have requirements for people to be our friends, how much more does a Holy God, Creator of the Universe, have? We make God into “our image” when we question Him or judge Him as if He was one of us. If we got one glimpse of His Majesty, we would pass out as dead men or tremble in fear (28:1-4). 

Only Christianity leads to Eternal Life, other faiths proclaim Eternal Life, but only Christianity “lays the groundwork for it.” Why? Because Christ paved the way via His death. Only in Christianity is God Exalted, “High and Lifted Up” a Holy God, Pure and Righteous, and cannot look on sin or be approached by a man in his natural state. Still, because He (Jesus) took on my sin and your sin and paid the penalty for it on the Cross (death), He, God, can now engage with us (all other faiths emphasize our good deeds as if we could earn or gain our salvation). 

Therefore because of what Christ has suffered on our behalf, He does have every right to set a standard of Holiness, “You are to be Holy as I am Holy ( Lev.11:44).” However, His Holiness is impossible for us, it’s unattainable, but it is in Christ, the sinless Lamb of God and His Holiness is “imputed” to us when we confess Him as our Savior and receive forgiveness for our sins (that’s the definition of Grace, God’s unmerited favor, just as an orphan adopted by the King becomes heir to the throne). 

Another word picture. I have a nursery background, and part of my experience dealt with grafting specialty trees such as Japanese Maples. We would use the seedling for the “host” and graft on our tree (a tiny branch or bud). The two would become one as the cells of the two healed. The minerals and water from the rootstock would flow into the graft giving it life. This is precisely what happens when we abide in Christ.

John 15:4

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

It’s incredible, this invitation is from God Himself!! Hence the reason why the Gospel is called the Good News. We now have 24-7 access to Him. It’s beautiful, beyond words to describe and comprehend. To have a relationship with The Father is Thee Pinnacle of this Life, there is nothing better, period! If you disagree, that’s okay for now, for we have all felt that way; however, it is wrong, and you need to mature in Him.

***We fail at ever being pure enough EVER to approach a Holy God on our merits; therefore, He has instituted Grace. Grace is very costly to God because it cost Him the death of His son, but because of that, He can grant us His Atonement, “the payment for my sin.” Grace then comes, and through years of trials and victories, growth occurs, and I begin to take on His likeness. Yet we all know that I’m not righteous and that you are not, but via His Grace, His Presence with us, we are given a most beautiful gift called Sanctification (just as if I’ve never sinned). It’s somewhat challenging to explain, but here’s a simple explanation. It’s when you take a street child (me, you), poor and dirty, uneducated in the ways of the Kingdom, and the King adopts us for no reason other than He has chosen to love us. We did nothing to deserve it, nor could we. It’s a gift from the King, and it is given to us when the Holy Spirit is sent upon confessing Christ as our Savior. The Holy Spirit is the proof of our adoption.

Early on, I thought, as many do, that I could earn God’s favor by being good. I never took to heart that I already had His favor, and now all He wanted was for me to spend time with Him in prayer and reading the Bible, getting to know Him. This proves how blind and ignorant I was; we are of God. As soon as we accept that He loves us just because He loves us (which is problematic because it’s very humbling, we want to be loved for something), we then become more submissive to His will. His love changes us. As clay in the potter’s hand, He seeks to form His nature in us. And I did say clay, moist dirt, not gold, silver, no precious metal, just moist dirt, but what He can do with moist dirt in His hands is amazing! 

Isaiah 57:15

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the “contrite ones” (crushed into dust, pulverized). 

Isaiah 66:1-2

Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is — the house that ye build unto me? And where is the place of my rest?

For — all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word (poor, contrite and trembleth at my word; to walk and exist in Awe of God, to be consumed with wanting to please Him. To this man or woman will God “look,” which means “looking somewhat intensely in a focused way at something;” to regard or watch).

He gave up His life for us because we could NEVER be good enough, holy enough, or pure enough ever to merit seeing the face of God, which means we stood condemned. Yet He could not have that, why? John 3:16 

“For God so loved the world that HE sent His only son.” Question, how much love would you need to sacrifice your only son or daughter for someone else?

It’s way beyond me. I could not conceive of sacrificing either of my daughters for someone else. Therefore since He did, it only stands to reason the following; God sets the standard, the requirements for us to know Him. Of that small group of people (narrow is the gate and few there be that find it…Matt.7:13&14), no man or woman can meet the standard without the intervention of the Holy Spirit. So then, where does that leave all the other beliefs and good deeds and actions of good men and women? THEY ALL FALL SHORT because there is no deed done and no heart pure enough that can ever be equal to the Holiness of God. WE must repent, for only judgment awaits if we don’t, but it all can change. Once we understand our sinful state before a Holy God and see His love for us, we have hope.

John 14:23-24

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man loves me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him ( we are not just anybody now we become God’s Temple! Amazing!

**He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the

Father’s which sent me.** (in that day of judgment, no one can stand before GOD and say that GOD did not do all to save them). 

John 10:14-15

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

As the Father knoweth me, even so, know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

John 10:27-30

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them to me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand (talking about being security). My Father and I are one (Jesus is not “A” God, He is GOD, part of the Trinity). 

We are so well protected when we come under God’s righteousness. Trials and hard times don’t stop, they are just part of Life, but they teach us to trust Him, and we learn that He is Big enough to make all things work for our good.

Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to those who are called according to his purpose (many times it doesn’t seem like it, but that is where trust/faith comes in and understanding the Cross, He paid way too much to fail us. It may take time to see “behind the curtain,” but as we trust Him, we mature our faith. And as we mature, we may come to understand the purposes of our hardship, or we may never understand, but knowing that He loves us is all we need to know.

John 14:26

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (there is perfect harmony in the Trinity of God). And similar when we are right with God, abiding in Him. 

Father God, 

Thank you for these words. They are hard to read, but they are Life and said in love and for our good. Removing cancer is painful, but it is necessary to save a life. If we are willing to go through so much pain to save our temporal life, should we not care the more to pursue Christ for our Eternal Life? Cause us to heed Your words and follow in Your way. Help us to say no to our flesh and pride and understand that it is my honor to forsake the wants of this life to pursue You, my Savior. Nobody loves me like You. My greatest satisfaction comes from being in a relationship with You and doing Your will. Nothing can touch that. 

Thank you, 

Your son by Grace, 

Arthur

Author’s note – I was sharing with my friend who edits Vida that this Vida reminds me of searching for crawfish with my grandson. We walk along the edge of streams, especially where there is a collection of rocks, and begin to turn them over. As we do, all the dirt and muck trapped under the rocks get washed away by the stream, and when we put the rock back down, it’s all clean. God wants to do the same, turn us over, expose all the sin and shame we are hiding, allow His Holy Spirit to clean us, and then set us down clean and pure. Please allow Him to, there is nothing He does not already know about me or you.

Arthur Navarrette

If you’ve come this far, please consider our book on Amazon:

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Vida4U.com is the website where all past Vida’s are archived. In addition to the weekly devotionals, the yearly inspirational writings featured in December’s House2Home Magazine are archived under “Faith Talk.”  Please use this site for your benefit and refer your friends to it as well. If they would like the weekly series emailed to them, they can send their requests to Arthur@Vida4U.com.

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Enjoying Life Part I

Psalm. 119: 9-12

How can a young person stay on the path of purity?

    By living according to your word.

I seek you with all my heart;

    do not let me stray from your commands.

I have hidden your word in my heart

    that I might not sin against you.

Praise be to you, Lord;

    teach me your decrees.

Walking in harmony with God or being in agreement with God is my definition of enjoying life.   This verse is David doing just that. There can be no enjoying life the way God intended it to be when my life is in conflict with the Life Giver. We are plagued with guilt, insecurity, fear, pride, loneliness, and doubt. How can there be a union? These emotions result from wanting to do life my way instead of His way, which is what the scriptures teach. How do we cope with these negative emotions if we do not want to submit to the Lord? It varies between individuals, but one way is by achieving goals. If I do this or become that, I will not be so insecure or afraid, and I will be happy. Or if I can get in with this group or date this girl/guy, then I must be somebody, and I will not doubt myself. Or if I could get along with my spouse, I would be more secure about my marriage. Or if I get that promotion, I know I will be a good provider, and people will think I’m important.

We believe attaining these goals will rid us of these negative emotions. Things will be better when we get them, right? It becomes a day of reckoning when we do attain our goals, and the happiness we achieve does not last. We then set other goals, never realizing that the problem is the absence of God in our life. We visited the Oregon Coast (camping) early in our marriage, and I loved it. We were living in Fresno, and I felt that our lives would be better if we could only move there. We were seeking a simpler life, especially since we both came from a coastal environment. The ocean always gave us peace. However, I learned before moving that my flaws and personality quirks follow me. The Lord showed me that Peace, true peace, is not in a place but in focusing more of my attention and time on knowing Jesus. Goals are admirable, but they are not the answer the soul needs.

“Taking heed” means to guard, to watch, to listen to with the purpose of obeying. Here’s a word picture of taking heed. Imagine you are lost, cold, and hungry in the wilderness, and night is fast approaching. You need to light a fire and only have two dry matches. You would be so careful lighting that fire, being sure that the kindling you selected will lite, and once lit, you would tend to it carefully. You would also ensure you had enough wood to keep it going. Your next meal, warmth, and survival depended upon that fire. If we attended to God’s Word and prayer with the same kind of attentiveness and dependency, we would be less apt to stumble and be less apt to believe that things, people, or places were the answer. We would be stronger, defeating deceit and temptation. Our lack of commitment to knowing His Word gets us in trouble. As we do take heed to His Word, we grow the spirit of man.

Zechariah 4:6

Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

Unfortunately, many of us are easily distracted and do not have that kind of dependency on the Lord. We go to church and maybe even pray over our meals, but that’s as far as we go. There is no conviction to With my whole heart have I sought thee: we are not 100% in. We are not concerned about O let me not wander from thy commandments. We lack the fear of God that causes us to seek and change. Our hunger and thirst are not 100% for Him; it is mixed with the passions and desires of the carnal man.

Psalms 42:1-2 Thirsting for God

As the heart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL VERSE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO SEEK HIM FULLY, TO SEEK HIM AS IN HAVING A … “LONGING” or “THRIST” for God.

And though David is very much on the right track of seeking God, it didn’t exclude him or us from the struggles of this life.

Psalms 42:5

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted ( troubled, stressed, worried) within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God ( health in this usage means protection, fortified walls, security). As human beings, we need that!

What does maturity as a Christian look like? As the verse says, as we battle against worldly fears, insecurities, temptations, and just the general “stuff” of life, we know that we shall praise Him. As we mature in Him, we see more, and as we say, hindsight is 20/20, and so is spiritual maturity. Faith becomes our road map; we trust God for the journey, and the victories come as we believe. David is a man of war, couples two concepts together, the pleasure of feasting and defeating one’s enemy…

Psalms 23:5-6

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil (symbolic of the Holy Spirit) ; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

On our worse day, in the presence of my enemies, I can focus on my Lord and know He has me, so with joy my cup runneth over…

Here’s a saying, “Small God, Big problems, Big God, small Problems, though the problems be the same. His presence nourishes us.

There can be periods of fun living in this world, especially when one attains a goal, but that cannot compare to the peace and love that God gives and at what cost to ourselves or our family are we paying to attain a worldly goal, a goal that is passing. And what happens to our goals when something terrible happens? Car accidents, sickness, death, stress, and arguments happen to all of us, yet we are less affected by them when we walk in harmony with the Lord. When we go out from under the Lord’s umbrella, we compromise that. When we compromise our Godly values to attain a goal that is contrary to God’s Word and do it enough times, we soon no longer feel God’s conviction over it. The Bible calls this “searing your conscience.” It now becomes a pattern of behavior, and a stronghold is formed in us. A stronghold or fortress that the enemy operates from. 

As in war, the enemy seeks to develop a “beachhead” where he can continue to make assaults on our soul and take more ground. If, as a man, I am tempted with sexual lust, that can be a “beach head” if I yield to it. The enemy wants to exploit that weakness and develop other roads of captivity. We need to war against our carnal nature with God’s Word aggressively. Use the superior armor God has given us. Proverbs 5, 6, 7, and 8 are God’s heavy artillery against lust. We need to realize that the enemy seeks to compromise our life. He loves the lie that says, “Oh I’ll just do this once, it’s no big deal.” Say this enough times, and it’s how another “beach head” is established, and more and more of your freedom is being eroded. Our best defense is a strong offense. Focused on growing in Him and allowing Him to close these roads of lust and deceit by spending time in His Word. Become His son of Grace, “man up!”

For my sisters, what I have learned from being married for 42 years and raising two daughters is that women struggle with insecurity, “the feeling of being less than.” The Lord has excellent verses for this, but first, you must ask yourself what I am focused on. Is all my security based on my looks, clothing, outward approval, etc., for then you are like the parable of the man that built his house on the sand? That is precisely what you are doing. You must change your focus and be like the man that built his home on the rock. You must change your focus to pleasing Christ. Focus on being God’s daughter by Grace is the best decision you will ever make. You are en route to multiple victories.

Proverbs 31:10

Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.

Proverbs 31:30-31

Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD shall be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.

This is where we need to use our heads and not our emotions to guide us. How many famous attractive women get married and end up in a divorce? What happened? Did they become less attractive? No, they just proved that it takes more than “looks” to have a successful relationship. This is the outcome when we follow the world’s values more than God’s. Rather receive your “fullness and identity” from the Lord. YOU are His Daughter, can there be any title, fame, or importance greater than that? Now grow in the joy of what it means to be His daughter. I promise you; you will never regret this decision. 

Psalms 42:8

Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life ( is my response to Him). 

Enjoying life is something so much more than just everything going my way. It’s having favor with God and knowing that brings confidence and peace when faced with difficulty. When you live this truth, that alone helps us surmount life’s hard things. Therefore searing your conscience by repeatedly and purposefully disobeying God’s injunctions is much like burning your fingertips; pretty soon, they have no feeling. It’s a pretty stupid thing to do. Remember, He convicts us for our good; the sin in us separates us from Him. Sometimes we have reasons for why we ignore Him. We are hurt, we feel He has let us down, etc. I think we all have felt this, so talking to a friend who is a firm believer or a pastor would be wise because keeping our distance from Him will only incur more pain. 

Proverbs 1:5

A wise man will hear and will increase learning, and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

God will not do life our way; He’s not that stupid. He will do life His way, the right way, and it’s up to us to get on His agenda, not vice versa.

If we continue disobeying the Holy Spirit soon, the conscience becomes silent. This, to me, would be a terrible place to arrive too. I’ve met unmarried couples that sleep together. It’s almost expected in today’s world; some even claim to be Christian. People say the Bible is outdated, which is their reason not to obey. Yet God made marriage and sexual union a specific way, always for our best. Ignoring this or “trample on His way” is only to hurt ourselves. 

Hebrews 13:4-5

Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Let your conversation( your life) be without covetousness ( and sex outside of marriage is just that) and be content with things you have, for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor — forsake thee.

“whoremongers and adulterers” refers to all sexual misconduct, from opposite sex to same-sex. So maybe it’s a “cost” to obey God, but God promises never to leave or forsake us, and what is that worth? To repent and then seek Him to help me straighten out my life would be the most intelligent decision I ever made and the hardest thing I’ve ever done. However, to have Him as my Lord, Savior, and Friend is worth every bit of the struggle and more. Remember, a wise decision now means fewer regrets, with Eternity awaiting.

However, if we continue to disobey, this is another area of our life where we can sear our conscience. 

1 Timothy 1:18-20

This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightiest war a good warfare;

Holding (keeping) faith, and ( hence) a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith (doing away with their faith) have made shipwreck of their conscious of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Father,

I come to you convicted by Your Word regarding my sins. Though I feel bad and ashamed, I know this conviction is because You love me and want to become my spiritual Dad. I’m so grateful that my sins do not lessen or deter your love for me. Thank you. According to John 3:16, I accept Jesus as my Savior and ask for forgiveness for all my sins. I ask for your Holy Spirit in my life now to walk with me. Please help me not to grieve the Holy Spirit or sear my conscience by living contrary to your will. Give me the desire to read your Bible, go to a Bible-teaching church, and make Christian friends that want to live a life pleasing to You. These are the things I need to do to grow my faith in You. Please help me to do them. Lastly, let me not become discouraged by the battle ahead of me. The devil has always hated me, but now that I belong to You, I have become his enemy. He will do his worse to cause me to denounce You. Thank you for your love that caused you to die a gruesome death on the Cross for me, something that no one else would ever do for me. Amen.

Thank you beyond words, 

Arthur

If you’ve come this far, please take a look at our book of message on Amazon.

https://a.co/d/7gQU1FR

Arthur NavarretteVida4U.com is the website where all past Vida’s are archived. In addition to the weekly devotionals, the yearly inspirational writings featured in December’s House2Home Magazine are archived under “Faith Talk.”  Please use this site for your benefit and refer your friends to it as well. If they would like the weekly series emailed to them, they can send their requests to Arthur@Vida4U.com.