Devotion: Jesus Does Not Force Us Out Of Our Boat

More information on “the power of choice.”  Scripture tells us to “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind” (Romans 14:5).  We all must walk our own path, one that no one else can walk for us.  That is exciting and scary all at the same time.  What if I choose the wrong path?  What if the path I choose leads me to a place that I really do not want to be?  How can I know, beyond any shadow of doubt that I am on the right one?  Every day we are faced with choices, a sort of crossroad if you will, where we have to decide to go right, go left, do a U-turn, or simply stay the course by going straight ahead.

Most of us solicit advice from friends and loved ones and we carefully weigh out the options before deciding which path to take.  But the bottom line is, regardless of the influences in our life, we choose our own paths in life.  This makes us totally responsible for the choices we make and the consequences that go along those choices, be they good or be they bad.  Life is all about our choices and the consequences that follow.  Think about judgment day when“each of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of God” (Romans 14:10).  How do you think you will be judged?  Do you think you will be judged based on the things that you have done and the choices that you have made?  Or do you think you will be allowed to pawn those choices off on another?  No, we will not be able to pawn our choices off on anyone else, not even God.  “Each person will have to give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12).

Wouldn’t it be great if we had a road map that would help us to choose the right paths for the best results?  But we do.  God has provided us with a road map for that very purpose.  This road map is given to us “to tell us what to believe (for doctrine), what is wrong (for reproof), how to correct wrong (for correction), how to live (for instruction in righteousness).”  We are to rely on it because “it contains everything we need to grow in maturity, to be perfect (meaning proficient or capable), and to do what God wants” (II Timothy 3:16-17).  And if we carefully adhere to this roadmap, “we will make our way prosperous and we will have good success” (Joshua 1:8).  But once again, it comes down to choice, your choice.  You can choose “to accept the free gifts of grace (forgiveness) and righteousness (acquittal) that Jesus provided for us (Romans 5:15-19), “this gift of salvation” (Romans 10:9-10), which leads “to life everlasting” (John 3:16-17) or you can choose an entirely different path.  The beauty of choice is that you get to make it.

“Immediately after this, Jesus told his disciples to get into their boat and cross to the other side of the lake while he stayed to get the people started home.  Then afterwards he went up into the hills to pray.  Night fell, and out on the lake the disciples were in trouble. For the wind had risen and they were fighting heavy seas.  About four o’clock in the morning Jesus came to them, walking on the water!  They screamed in terror, for they thought he was a ghost.  But Jesus immediately spoke to them, reassuring them.  “Don’t be afraid!” he said.  Then Peter called to him:  ‘Sir, if it is really you, tell me to come over to you, walking on the water.’  ‘All right,’ the Lord said, ‘come along!’  So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.  But when he looked around at the high waves, he was terrified and began to sink.  ‘Save me, Lord!’ he shouted.  Instantly Jesus reached out his hand and rescued him.  ‘O man of little faith,’ Jesus said.  ‘Why did you doubt me?’  And when they had climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.  The others sat there, awestruck.  ‘You really are the Son of God!’ they exclaimed” (Matthew 14:22-33 TLB).

Most of you are familiar with the story of Jesus walking on the water.  But here is a little something that you may not have thought about.  Even though Peter asked Jesus to bid him to come to him on the water and Jesus did bid Peter to come, Jesus did not do anything to force Peter out of the boat.  Peter choose to step out of the boat of his own accord.  And if you did not notice, it was the same with his faith.  When Peter stepped out of the boat, his faith was, “strong, completely maxed out.”  Who among you have faith strong enough to step out of a boat and then expect to walk on water?  Somewhere along the way, Peter chose to allow his faith to wane and that was when he “began to sink.”  The beauty of choice is what he got to make.

God has given you the power or authority to choose and with that power comes the responsibility for the consequences that accompany those choices.  We hope today’s message will get you out of that comfort zone and help you realize that God has so much more planned for us in this life than we could ever imagine.  But in order for us to discover these wonderful things, we must first find the roadmap that God has provided for us; it has the ability to change our lives, if we choose to adhere to it.  If this message is a blessing to you, please share it so that others may be blessed by it as well.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Does God Choose When We Die?

Yesterday, we found that God had given us “the power of choice, the power to choose life or death, blessings or cursings” (Deuteronomy 30:19).  According to the scripture, we are told “to therefore choose life.”  Sometimes when studying the scriptures, it is important to see what the scriptures are not saying so that we can determine and fully understand what the scriptures are saying.  In this case, what this scripture does not say is that God is going to make or has already made the choice for us.  This is something that God has given each one of us the power, the ability, and the freedom to do, to choose between life and death.  But doesn’t God decide or choose when we die?  This is one of the many highly debated topics in Christianity and many religious circles, with each position clearly grounded in their beliefs by what they have determined to be scriptural evidence to support their argument.

According to scripture, “Death came into the world because of what one man (Adam) did” (I Corinthians 15:21-22) when he disobeyed God’s prohibition, “causing death to be king (reign) over all” (Romans 5:17) and “causing many to be made sinners” (Romans 5:19).  We see from scripture that death, which was “passed to all men,” is a direct result of one man’s disobedience (Romans 5:12).  And because of Adam’s actions, “it is appointed once or destined for each of us to die” (Hebrew 9:27).  Most people know that Jesus claimed “victory over death” (I Corinthians 15:55-57), but most people do not know that “death is an enemy to God” (I Corinthians15:26) and that “Jesus Christ was manifested that he might destroy the works of him (I John 3:8) that had the power of death and to deliver them, who through this fear of death, were subjected to a lifetime of bondage” (Hebrews 2:14-15).  You will have to read the passages to see whom it is that has the power of death.  The answer just might surprise you.

Because of a statement by Job, many believe that “the Lord gives and he takes away” (Job 1:21), which has strongly been associated with life and death.  There is no debate that God is the giver of life, which in itself is a gift from God.  However, God tells us that his “gifts are without repentance” (Romans 11:29), which means that God does not take back his gifts.  Scripture also tells us that “the number of our days be three score and ten,” which translates to seventy years and “if by reason of strength they be fourscore years,” which is eighty years (Psalm 90:10).  But does any of this translate into God choosing when we die?  Or, do we actually have a say it the process?  This is a determination that you will have to make.

Clearly, we support the belief of choice as opposed to the belief of predestination.  This is not to say that we can stop death from coming because scripture tells us that we are destined to die.  There are choices that we make throughout our lifetime that dramatically affect our lifespan, either by shortening it or by lengthening it.  But regardless of what you read here in this commentary, you need to thoroughly examine and check out all of the information that has been shared with you to make sure that none of it is contrary to the word of God.  Never accept anyone’s interpretation for something that you have not investigated yourself.  Words can be manipulated to say many things, just make sure the ones that you accept are those of God and not those of man.  God tells us that knowing the truth will make us free (John 8:32) and hopefully today’s message will do just that, help you to seek the truth.  If this message is a blessing to you, please share it so that others may be blessed by it as well.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: You Choose!

Most people do not believe that we choose what happens to us.  Regardless of how things appear in the world, the truth of the matter is that we do choose what happens in our life.  But this is something that the devil does not want you to know.  You see, the devil wants to steal your divine inheritance and he wants to steal all of your rights (John 10:10).  He does not what you to prosper in this life at all.  He is out to devour you, so he tries to keep you blinded to the truth (II Corinthians 4:4) with deception and lies.  The Bible tells us that “death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21), which suggests that with one’s mouth an individual can speak death into his or her life or the same individual can speak life into his or her life.

Did you know that the words that you speak will produce a crop much like that of the farmer who plants a field?  If you plant death, then death is what you will reap, in its full measure.  And if you plant life, then life will be what you reap, in its full measure.  If you plant sickness, then sickness will be what you will reap or if you plant health or healing, then health or healing will be what you will reap, all in their full measure.  The words that we speak are like seeds that are planted in the ground.  And from those seeds, we reap that for which we have sown.  This is why the words that we speak are so important; they really do control the things that happen to us.

We know some of you will find this notion of words controlling what happens to us hard to accept and unfortunately, we do not have enough room to fully cover the topic here but consider this.  If it be possible “for you to be saved by a confession of your mouth” (Romans 10:9-10) not to forgo the believing in the heart part, then do you think it be possible “for you to be condemn by a confession of your mouth as well,” provided the belief in the heart is there?  God has built a system that works based on what a person says, which is an interesting thought in itself.  However, more interesting is “the power that our tongue has” (James 3).  And if that be the case, then death and life are truly in the power of a person’s tongue.

“You have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth” (Proverbs 6:2 NIV).

Scripture tells us that we have been trapped by what we say.  And you still think what you say is not important.  Scripture tells us that we have been ensnared by the words that come out of our mouth.  There is more scriptural evidence that bear witness to a system that hinges on what you say, be it saying something good or be it saying something bad.  We pray that this message will help you to understand that you really do, “choose.”  Knowledge is power, misinformation leads destruction; always seek truth.

Enjoy your blessings. - KW

Devotion: God Will Save Your Family

There are some believers who share in the belief that they themselves can save those family members or friends that are not saved.  They believe that they have the power, as a believer in Christ, through prayer or other means, to do certain things that will guarantee or ensure a person’s salvation.  We are not attempting to diminish the power or the importance of prayer, but do want to add some clarity to a very much misinterpreted, misunderstood, and very sensitive subject.

We all want to save our unbelieving loved ones and there is nothing that we will not do or try to accomplish this, but in all of our attempts, we must follow the instructions that God has put in place in order for them to be saved.  According to the scriptures, we see that “God is not a respecter of person” (Romans 2:11), which means that God treats everyone the same.  And no, nothing has changed, because God says “he changes not” (Malachi 3:6), which means that whatever God did in the beginning, he is still doing today.

The criteria that God has instituted to receive the free gift of salvation are very clear and very specific.  A person must “confess with his or her mouth, believe in his or her heart that God raised Jesus from the dead in order for that person to be saved” (Romans 10:9-10).  The scriptures go on to say that “it is with the heart that a person believes unto righteousness and with the mouth that the confession is made unto salvation.”  Some believe that prayer or other religious rites or traditional ceremonies will provide salvation to others, but there is nothing scriptural to support such beliefs.

As you meditate on this message, please note that there are things that can be done to help bring a loved one or friend, who is not saved to salvation.  The truth of the matter is that salvation can only be achieved through the acceptance of God’s free gift.  Salvation is not something that can be placed upon or passed on to an individual; he or she must accept the gift according to the instructions found in scripture.  Because of free-will, God will not force anyone to accept him, accept his love, accept his son, or accept his free gift of salvation.  All of these things must be accepted by a free-will choice, not by force or threat.

Therefore, continue to pray, continue to minister, and continue the share to word of God that all who need salvation may be freed from their spiritual blindness and spiritual bondage.  God needs our help to help him save our loved ones.  We are the hands and feet of God, “the laborers that are sent into his harvest” (Luke 10:2) but we must go fully armed and prepared with the truth.  Hopefully today’s message will do just that.  “Knowing the truth will make us free” (John 8:32).  If this message is a blessing to you, please share it so that others may be blessed by it as well.

Enjoy your blessings. - KW

Devotion: God Is Bigger Than Your Box

Are you one of those people who think God can do anything he wants to do?  Well, there is a little more to it than that.  First, we know that an omnipotent, all-powerful, and sovereign God has the ability to do whatever he wants.  But have you considered that anything an omnipotent, all-powerful, and sovereign God does, he does because he chooses to do it?  While his sovereignty has never come into question, we have to understand that God chooses to do all of the things that he does.  We have to realize that there can be no limits to God’s abilities other than those he places or imposes upon himself.  We see that “God obligated himself to himself,” when he made his promise to Abraham (Hebrews 6:13).  According to scripture, because there was no one greater by which he could swear, “God swore by himself, obligating himself to himself.”

It is important for us not to confuse God’s ability to do with God’s choice to do or not do.  Choice implies the ability or power to choose one whatever in preference to another whatever.  God has chosen to be the god that he is by defining his characteristics and not his abilities.  Scripture tells us that “there will be absolutely no injustice, immorality, unrighteousness, or wrong doings with him” (II Chronicles 19:7).  God has chosen not to make these characteristics part of the distinctive qualities that makes God who he is.  By defining his characteristics, God has placed restrictions on his abilities; self-imposed restrictions upon his abilities and himself.  Again, this has nothing to do with God’s abilities, for his is fully capable of doing anything he so chooses.  This is why it is important that we understand the difference and not confuse his abilities with his choices.

On the other hand, are you one of those people who have placed God in a box?  Do you limit his abilities?  Most of us do so without realizing that we do this very thing, put God in a box.  But in order to see this, what we have to do is to get our mind right.  We have to get our thinking right.  We are told to “be not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our mind that we may prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).  The Message (MSG Bible) puts it this way, “Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.  Instead, fix your attention on God.”  By not being conformed, we are talking about not behaving or thinking as the world thinks, which lends itself to social acceptability, conventional thinking, and traditional ways.  By not being conformed, we are talking about letting go of the past teachings and opening your mind to other possibilities, truly thinking outside of the box.

Maybe it is time to take the limits off God by taking the limits off our thinking.  Hopefully, this message will do just that.  If this message is a blessing to you, please share it so that others may be blessed by it as well.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: No Christian Bats 1000

God is so awesome, especially when validates a message.  God tells us that “in the mouth of two or three witnesses let every word be established” (II Corinthians 13:1).  For the past week or so we have been sharing a similar message with others who have had questions about pastors, teachers, spiritual leaders, and the like, who have supposedly “missed the mark.”  And so we share our message once again.

None of us are perfect nor do we have a perfect understanding of all of the scriptures.  So many of us are at different levels of understanding in our walk to discover the truth about the things of God that we should not discount anyone’s ability to help propel us to the next level.  Just because a person makes a few questionable statements does not mean that he or she cannot contribute something to help in our understanding.  God tells us “that his people are destroyed because they lack knowledge” (Hosea 4:6).  This lack of knowledge has not come from a shortage of knowledge but from our rejection of knowledge.

If we reject every person who makes statements that we do not agree with, then we limit the amount of knowledge available to us.  If the amount of knowledge is as vast as the oceans, it would be like dipping a cup into the ocean and using what is in the cup as your only source of information.  Everything that you could possibly know would be confined to the limits of that cup.  And just as the ocean has things that can be harmful to us, it also contains things that can be beneficial to us.

Knowledge works the same way; there are things harmful as well as things beneficial.  It is through “studying God’s word” (II Timothy 2:15), using every available resource that we gain the wisdom and understanding to rightly divide the word of truth and pick the harmful item out of the ocean of knowledge.  In this age of information, we who seek the truth have no reason not to be able to find it provided we do not limit ourselves to the walls of traditionalism or denominationalism.  A closed mind can only grow within the limits of its enclosure; an open mind grows with endless possibilities.

So, while you may not be a follower of a particular pastor, teacher, spiritual leader, or other, it does not mean that they cannot contribute an idea, thought, or interpretation that will bring things together and help in the understanding of the things of God.  We come from a diverse group with religious beliefs that run the gamut from A to Z.  And while we share some commonalities, we are as different as the many religious doctrines, theologies, and beliefs that can be found grouped under the umbrella of Christianity.  In our walk to discover the truth about the things of God, should we discount someone’s ability to help propel us to the next level, even though our beliefs differ from one another?  The only way to get to truth is to listen to each other, respect the beliefs of others that differ from our own, and take those things that help propel us to the next level of understanding.

Of course, all should be done in a manner that promotes unity and the common good; nothing should be done in a manner that allows the enemy to divide and/or create bad/ill feelings, which tends to happen, as we, the members, collectively get closer to revealing the truth.  The closer we as group get to sharing revelation knowledge, the more active the enemy gets in his attempt to divide and conquer us.  There is only “one truth” that God has for his children and only those who have an ear to hear will hear the truth.  Within God’s word are buried treasures that hold God’s truth, but to discover that truth, we must challenge ourselves to re-examine many of the so-called truths that have supposedly been established.  As seekers of truth, “we really should check out every piece of information for ourselves” so that we can make the determination as to the truthfulness of the source (I John 4:1).

We are so blessed to have this opportunity to share our message.  God is so awesome, especially when he wants his children to get a message.  Remember, it is always your choice to accept or to reject anything that does not fit into your belief system, but at least listen to the full message before making that determination.  Know this, “A closed mind can only grow within the limits of its enclosure; an open mind grows with endless possibilities.”  God tells us that “knowing the truth will make us free” (John 8:32) and hopefully this message will do just that.  If this message is a blessing to you, please share it so that others may be blessed by it as well.

Enjoy your blessings - KW

Devotion: Giving Money Is One Way To Show Honor

Money and religion is like oil and water, they supposedly do not go together.  The scriptures teach that “the love of money is the root of all evil” (I Timothy 6:10).  There are messages that speaks of honoring those who deserve it with money.  The message makes it clear that this is not the only way but one of the ways to show honor.  The scriptures tell us specifically who to honor or in other words, “who to give support to.”  The scriptures also tell us, “to give and it will be given back to us, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, will men give unto you, for in the same measure as you give, it will be given to you again” (Luke 6:38).

Now, many do not believe that man should prosper financially or have wealth because it goes against the so-called teachings of Jesus.  Based on the story surrounding his statement, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24) many have interpreted this passage to mean that a person with riches cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  And as you read the famous story of the young rich man, you see that Jesus told the man to “go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor” (Matthew 19:21).  Most do not make the connection between when Jesus told the young rich man "to give” and when he told us "to give” when giving to the poor.

“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again” (Proverbs 19:17).

“He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse” (Proverbs 28:27).

One does have wonder what would have happened to the young rich man had he followed the instructions of Jesus to give.  Would what he had given been returned to him in the same measure as he had given?  The scriptures clearly tell us “to give” and what happens when we “obey.”  Scripture also makes it very clear that “every man must make up his own mind as to how much to give, because God loves a cheerful giver and does not want anyone to give grudgingly or out of necessity” (II Corinthians 9:7).  The next time the topic of financial prosperity comes up, please keep these thoughts in mind, even though they be contrary to what you have been taught; they just might prove to be the keys that helps you to unlock the truth about financial prosperity and wealth.

It is always your choice to accept or to reject anything that does not fit into your belief system, but at least listen to the full message before making that determination.  Know this, “A closed mind can only grow within the limits of its enclosure; an open mind grows with endless possibilities.”  God tells us that “knowing the truth will make us free” (John 8:32) and hopefully this message will do just that.  If this message has been a blessing to you, please share it so that others may be blessed by it as well.

Enjoy your blessings - KW