New day dawning...

A few days away and it seems as though it has been months...actually it has been months. But I went ahead and returned to the board to share what I have been learning in my Bible studies and searching for a deeper understanding of the LORD.

An interesting passage is found in Ephesians 4:1-3,17-19; 5:1-2, 15-16 - I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3) This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should not longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. (Ephesians 4:17-19) Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. (Ephesians 5:1-2) See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16).

The interesting link between these passages, as you may have noted already, is the likening of the Christian life to a "walk". Probably the closest term in today's language to equate with this would be one's lifestyle. Are we as Christians "walking the walk that we are so good at talking"? That is what most people are looking at as soon as they know that we are Christians. We are being measured against either what the world assumes a Christian should look like and act like, or we are being measured against the Word of God and how it says a Christian should behave.

The two measurements are of course polar opposites in most cases. We know, if we have read our Bibles, and have been properly discipled, how to act or at least how the Lord expects us to act. (Trust me, there are expectations from God as to how we should behave! Romans 5:20-6:2, "Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Shall we continue to sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?") Are we prepared today, Christians, to pursue holiness and righteousness before the Lord?

That is the message that I would suggest that we begin the new week with, ..."A new day dawning..." - don't worry what happened yesterday. Don't let the devil cast stones at you and make accusations towards you before God. Remember that while Satan may be the Great Accuser; Jesus is the Great Advocate for our souls. (1 John 2:1 - My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.)

May the Lord and Master of All Creation Bless your day!

Peace & Grace to you,
Bro. Jon