Walk In the Light

"If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin"(1 John 1:7). Through the gospel, as believers see the truth of Christ by the Holy Spirit. We are able to walk daily in the light of Christ.

"For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4: 6). That is the light of the Holy Spirit. Our hearts are enlightened to see the glory of God in Christ.

Light comes to our hearts through the gospel of Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:5). The change is sudden and abrupt. It's like turning on a light in a dark room. That's the way the Spirit of light changes those who have lived in darkness. New birth scatters our darkness into light. 

The Holy Spirit brings us out of darkness into the light without any resistance. It comes by new birth, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not our achievement. Rather, illumination of the Spirit comes from without, changing our hearts within. Jesus is the light, as the Holy Spirit opens "the eyes of your understanding"(Ephesians 1:18).

When We Trust God

The first lesson a baby learns in life is to trust. The bond between a mother and the infant is trust. The baby learns to trust the mother to be there. The cry is heard and mother's loving arms lift the infant for nurture and care. So all who are born again know how to trust God.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding"(Proverbs 3:5). None of us can understand all about the greatness of God. Our understanding is limited. Like an infant who does not understand the mother, yet trust is developed. There is so much that we don't understand about God. Trusting God means we don't lean on our own understanding.

Trusting God is based upon His word of promise. He is faithful to all of His promises."God who has promised cannot lie"(Titus 1:2). Our bond with God is based upon His word of truth found in your Bible. When we trust God, we are trusting His word.

Trusting God is trusting His word of promise in the Bible. Read the promises of God. Pray the promises of God. Trust God to always keep His word of promise in your life. Trust God when you understand and when you don't. Are you trusting God with all your heart?

Your Spiritual Battle

Temptation is part of our spiritual warfare, and it comes through thoughts. We have a spiritual enemy who tempts with thoughts. When those thoughts are not rejected, they become strongholds, leading to bad habits and addictions. Your spiritual battle is won or lost in your thoughts. 

Your spiritual battle involves tempting thoughts. The Bible warns of thoughts that become strongholds, hindering your relationship with God. Those thoughts must be pulled down and brought captive to Christ. This is the spiritual battle within you. Bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Ask God to bring your attention to any pattern of thinking which opposes his good will for you. Pray that all such thoughts be pulled down and brought captive to Christ. The power of temptation is broken as strongholds are destroyed. O LORD, You have searched me and known me ... You understand my thoughts afar off (Psalm 139:1-2).

Thoughts make a difference in our relationship with God. He gives thoughts that will encourage, strengthen, and comfort you. Those thoughts are found in the Bible. Feed your mind on the thoughts of God. In our spiritual warfare, God will give victory through thoughts of love, grace, mercy and peace. Think God's thoughts, according to the Scripture.

Living Faith Works

Living faith takes action to do God's will. Faith works through us. God can do anything that He chooses to do without us. However, God has chosen to work through us. Living faith confesses, prays, and does the the will of God. "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also"(James 2:26).

Living faith says, "I will do the word of God. He has put it in my heart. He is working through me to the praise of his glory. I am a doer of the word." The Bible says,"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves"(James 1:22).

Some may think that faith does nothing, and depends upon God to do everything. However, the Bible teaches that we are laborers together with God (1 Corinthians 3:9). It is God's will for living faith to work through us. Let me illustrate. Put a glove on your hand to do the work before you. The glove does not do the work alone, neither can it. The hand works through the glove. So, God works through us (Philippians 2:13).

Maybe you are in a situation where you are asking God to do something about it. If so, pray like this, "God, what would you have me to do?" Living faith is a doer of the word. It rises up to do something about it. Living faith is doing God's will.

Will God Show Partiality?

The apostle Peter learned through divine revelation that God is not partial. He was a Jew sent by God to preach to Gentiles. "Then Peter opened his mouth and said, 'In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality"(Acts 10:34).

God shows no partiality, because of His love for the world (John 3:16). The good news is that God loves sinners, and He proved it at the cross of Jesus. Jesus did not die for good people, because there are none (Romans 3:10, 23). We have all sinned and come short of God's glory. Jesus died for sinners (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Once and for all, God proved His love for us at the cross of Jesus.

God shows no partiality, because His mercy and grace is toward all nations. The Bible declares: "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men" (Titus 2:11). There's abundant mercy in God for all nations (Revelation 5:9). 

God's mercy is for all nations. Jesus sent the apostles into all nations to preach the gospel and make disciples (Matthew 28:19). The invitation of God the Father, through Jesus Christ, is offered to all people with no partiality. "Whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins" (Acts 10:43).

How to Walk with God

Every believer may walk with God. Yes, we walk with God daily by faith. The walk of faith is our walk with God. He welcomes us to walk with him. Believers can walk with God daily. "For we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).

You may say, "I don't feel worthy to walk with God." Neither do I. We don't feel worthy because we are not worthy. Yet, faith in Jesus Christ enables us to walk with God. He died for all our sins upon the cross. He forgives our sins. In Christ alone, we become worthy to walk with God. Walking with God is by faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.

You may say, "I don't know how to begin the walk with God." The Holy Spirit initiates the walk in our hearts. He gives us the faith to walk with God. He sustains our faith day by day. Walking with God is walking in the Spirit. "I say then: Walk in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:16). His gift of faith enables believers to walk with God today.

All believers walk with God, as we walk in love. The love of God is the constant companion of all who walk with God. Love will lead you each step of the way. Love will walk with you on the right path. Love will walk with you through every valley. Love will keep you all along the way. "And walk in love as Christ has also loved us" (Ephesians 5:2). 

Concurrent Sovereignty

Sovereignty without human responsibility leads to fatalism. On the other hand, teaching human responsibility while neglecting God's sovereignty leads to deism, where God is simply not ruling in our world. Then, God is nothing more than a spectator. Neither can ever be acceptable according to Holy Scripture.

Concurrence is God's sovereignty plus our responsibility. The Bible teaches both. Consider this illustration. The farmer plows the soil, sows the seed, and continues to cultivate the field. Yet, only God can give the increase. This was the illustration given by the apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 3:5-9). Here we understand the sovereignty of God concurrent with our responsibility.

God is sovereign over all. He is the Almighty, beside whom there is no other. He is the Creator, sustaining and ruling over all. Yet, God has given us choice that makes us responsible and accountable to Him. Therein, we find the basis of God's judgment. Therefore, God speaks to us in the Bible with exhortations and commands.

Concurrence is God's sovereignty including our responsibility. Theological systems that teach God's sovereignty without our responsibility will lead to the error of fatalism. God's sovereignty and our responsibility are always concurrent.