What do you see?

The instruction of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the  testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad; the commandment of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up. 9 The  fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous. 10 They are more desirable than gold— than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey— than honey dripping from the comb. 11 In addition, Your servant is warned by them; there is great reward in keeping them.

Psalms 19:7-11 (HCSB)

When you look at the Bible what do you see?  Do you see in the Bible a bunch of rules?  Maybe it is folklore to you.  Perhaps you find it an ancient book with not much relevance to a modern person.  Well, there are many who may view the Bible in such a way.  To me, I see it as King David saw it here in Psalm 19.  Check out his description:

Perfect

Reviving

Trustworthy

makes wise

Right

makes one glad

radiant

illuminates

pure

Enduring

Reliable

Righteous

Valuable

Sweeter than honey

Warning

Rewarding

Take a look again at the Word!

Renewing the mind

Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 (HCSB)

In today's culture there are a lot of people "preaching" the need to be careful what we put in our bodies.  We are urged to be healthy and guard what we place in our bodies through our mouths.  But what about our minds?  Are we guarding what goes into our minds.  The Apostle Paul challenges that we must renew our minds.  Check ourselves on how we think.  To guard against what we put into our minds.  Christ followers must remember to consider their spiritual diet of the mind.

I'm with Him!

For you are a holy people belonging to the Lord your God.

Deut 7:6 (HCSB)

As a Christ follower we are a holy people.  Holiness means that we are set apart for a particular reason and purpose.  We belong to Him.  God has set us apart for His purpose.  We belong to Him.  That really does make us holy.  Live today for Him as a servant set apart who belongs to the Master.

Gladness

 Serve the Lord with gladness;

Psalms 100:2 (HCSB)

How do you serve the Lord?  Did you wake up today intent and excited about serving Him.  Or has your service become a drudgery.  We sometimes begin to feel serving the Lord is a duty and it loses its excitement and appeal.  Here is a simple challenge.  Remember how good He is and serve Him with gladness!

Marks of Love

The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him.”

John 14:21 (HCSB)

 Our love for God is demonstrated in our obedience.  Henry Blackaby writes, "(some claim) I love God, but I'm having difficulty obeying Him in some areas of my life.  That is a spiritual impossibility."  If we love God we will obey Him.  Genuine love will produce obedience.

The question for every Christ follower is do I really love God?  Is it demonstrated in my actions.

The God We Serve!

The heavens, indeed the highest heavens, belong to the Lord your God, as does the earth and everything in it. 15 Yet the Lord was devoted to your fathers and loved them. He chose their descendants after them—[He chose] you out of all the peoples, as it is today. 16 Therefore, circumcise your hearts and don’t be stiff-necked any longer. Deut 10:14-16 (HCSB)

These verse here in Deuteronomy tell us about this wonderful God we serve.  It tells us three very important truths.  God is God of all.  The world and everything in it belongs to Him.  He is master and ruler.  Whether He is acknowledged or not He is over all.  It also tells us He loves us and chose us as His people.  Here in the Old Testament He is speaking of the Isrealites, His chosen people.  The principle also applies to us as the people of His new covenant.  He loves us and chose us all the while He gave us our free will to chose.  These verses also tell us that He expects and wants our obedience.  He wants our hearts to be right with Him and responsive to His leading and convicting.

Don't take for granted this wonderful, awesome God we serve.

Watching or Alert?

32 “Now concerning that day or hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven nor the Son—except the Father. 33 Watch! Be alert! For you don’t know when the time is [coming] . 34 It is like a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his  slaves, gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert. 35 Therefore be alert, since you don’t know when the master of the house is coming—whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning. 36 Otherwise, he might come suddenly and find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!”

Mark 13:32-37 (HCSB)

Are you watching or Alert?  You may be asking isn't it the same thing?  No in this case it really isn't.  There are many Christians who are watching for Jesus to return.  They are sitting back, and waiting.  They want to get all the information (prophecy) to know when that final hour will be like, what will happen before that day, they are anxiously waiting Jesus return.

But the Christ follow is to be Alert.  Very different!  Being alert is not passively sitting by watching the skies.  Alertness is to be busy, it is activity it is working, it is fulfilling His purpose for us because we know our King is coming.  The Christ follower is busy doing the assigned task until He returns.  What is the assigned task.  It is bringing as many into the Kingdom as we can.  Sharing the message of our King and His Kingdom until He breaks open the eastern sky.

Are you watching or Alert?