Fellow Citizens with the Saints

 "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." - Ephesians 2:19

We are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints. If I am a fellow citizen with Abraham, Daniel, and Paul, then one day we will meet in our city, the Architect of which is our Lord. We are members of God's household, so we eat from His table, we have communion with Him, and we will live with Him. It's a big family, many of whose members we haven't seen, but one day we will.

We are fellow citizens with the saints; we are saved by the same grace, have the same goals, the same King, and enjoy the same privileges. We have the same responsibilities. Therefore, we must act, speak, and live like saints. For this great privilege, let us be eternally grateful to our King and Father, in whose Family we are born again, receiving heavenly citizenship.

Mary of Bethany and I are fellow citizens; I want to sit at the feet of Jesus like her. Hannah and I are fellow citizens; I want to pray like her. Priscilla and I are fellow citizens; I want to serve the Lord like her.

From my diary,

March 31, 2024

Perfect Worship: Honoring Christ's Perfect Sacrifice

 "Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." - Galatians 1:4, 5

Jesus' sacrifice was voluntary, so I want to voluntarily give my life to Him. His sacrifice was perfect, so I will worship Him with perfect dedication. His sacrifice was according to God's will, so I want to do God's will; His will is our sanctification. His sacrifice had an important purpose: to save us from this present evil age and from sin, so I want to separate from this evil age and hate my sins.

Praise can never be too much; it will last forever and ever. There will come a day when prayers will end; there will be no need for prayer in eternity, but praise will never cease. We will give Him glory forever.

From my diary,

March 30, 2024

From my diary, March 27, 2024

 "How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore, the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings." - Psalm 36:7

Words will never be enough to describe God's lovingkindness or to express our gratitude and admiration for it. Our minds can never fully comprehend the preciousness of God's mercy, and eternity will not be long enough to sing of His lovingkindness. A saved sinner has not seen a greater miracle than His lovingkindness, and every person who has tasted His mercy has found nothing more precious and desirable.

From my diary,

March 29, 2024

Wholehearted Obedience: Key to God's Blessings

 Only if you carefully obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe with care all these commandments which I command you today. For the LORD your God will bless you just as He promised you…" - Deuteronomy 15:5, 6

Blessing and obedience always go hand in hand; obedience comes first, and blessing follows. The promise of blessing is from the Lord, but it comes with a condition: only if we observe with care all His commandments. It's simple: just do what the Lord says, without adding or taking away from His words with your own imagination and interpretations. If I disregard God's Word, no amount of praying for blessing will bring it.

I want to obey God’s Word wholeheartedly, willingly, and consistently, in all aspects of life.

From my diary,

March 28, 2024

Love tested

 "You shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul." - Deuteronomy 13:3

This serves as another indicator of our love to God. If a prophet, despite performing miracles, advocates serving other gods or promotes teachings contrary to God's Word, our response reveals our love for the Lord. Those who truly love God will reject teachings that deviate from God’s Word. A sermon that leads us to worship the one true God reflects a message worthy of those who love Him wholeheartedly.

From my diary,

March 27, 2024

Grateful obedience

 "But your eyes have seen every great act of the LORD which He did." - Deuteronomy 11:7

Moses reminds God's people of God's great works for Israel and His punishments against Israel's enemies. The purpose of this reminder is for Israel to be grateful and obey God's commandments, not under compulsion, but out of love.

Our eyes have seen the works of God, so our hearts are filled with gratitude. Our hands participate in God's work, and our feet walk in His ways. 

From my diary,

March 26, 2024

The Lord listened again!

 "But the LORD listened to me at that time also." - Deuteronomy 9:19

Moses had prayed many times for his people: he had prayed for their sins, idolatry, hardness of heart, and unbelief. If I were him, I might have thought that the Lord would no longer hear my prayers. Yet Moses persisted in prayer and testified, "The LORD listened to me at that time also.”

We can offer the same testimony. However, the fact that the Lord heard us again should never lead us to sin again or to assume that the Lord will hear us this time also. Instead, it should lead us to fervent prayer and strengthen our faith that He always listens to His children's prayers.

I want to pray continually and testify with a grateful heart about the answered prayers: "The LORD listened to me again.”

From my diary,

March 25, 2024

God is faithful

 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, He is God, the faithful God. Deuteronomy 7:9

God's faithfulness assures me; thus, my faith remains steadfast. Worries dissipate, peace endures, and true joy abides. He always keeps His promises. Through His faithfulness, His children find assurance of salvation. His elect are safeguarded from deception. In every circumstance, I recall this truth: God remains faithful.

From my diary,

March 24,   2024

The Spirit's Guidance: A Sign of God's Family

 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." - Romans 8:14

The word "for" shows that this verse is related to the previous verse. The previous verse talks about putting to death the works of the flesh by the Spirit. He who leaves the works of the flesh alive is not led by the Spirit. He who tries to mortify the works of the flesh by his own strength is not guided by the Spirit either.

God's children are led by God's Spirit. He who is led by the Spirit of God is led by the Word of God. God's Spirit leads God's children to look into the mirror of God's Word. There they see themselves as impure and in need of purification.

The Spirit of God then leads them to the throne of grace to receive mercy, to receive forgiveness of sins through the blood of Jesus.

God's Spirit guides them in the way of heartfelt obedience. God's Spirit leads them to where Jesus is.

From my diary,

March 23,   2024

Finding courage in past victories

"Your eyes have seen all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings; so will the LORD do to all the kingdoms through which you pass. You must not fear them, for the LORD your God Himself fights for you." - Deuteronomy 3:21-22

Joshua and God's people could be encouraged and look forward to new victories, remembering that the Lord had already given them victories in the past. Their eyes had seen victories, so their heart could wait for new victories. "So will the LORD do to all the kingdoms through which you pass."

I have already had victories in my spiritual life. If my eyes have seen that God has granted victory against some sins and temptations, then He will also grant more victories in the future. My eyes have seen; therefore, my heart is at peace. I should not be afraid of the enemy, and I should leave the war to God. When He fights, I win.

From my diary,

March 22,   2024

 

Encouragement: A Command from the Lord

"Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it." - Deuteronomy 1:38

The Lord commanded Moses to encourage Joshua. He did not command the angels to do this. God's servants, God's children, should encourage one another. God's Word commands the same to all His children. " Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as also you are doing. " (1 Thessalonians 5:11) He who does God's work should encourage those doing the same work. He who is encouraged by God should encourage others. Those who have doubts should be encouraged with the promises of God; those who are discouraged should be cheered with words of hope. Those who are weary should be encouraged by the Word of God to gain strength to continue the journey. Those who fear must be encouraged by the Word of God to be filled with faith.

Encouragement should be our daily work.

From my diary,

March 21,   2024

 

Encouragement from the Lord

 "The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, 'Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.'" - Acts 23:11

How could Paul be discouraged or afraid if the Lord Himself said to him, "Take courage"? It doesn't matter how many people stood against Paul; the Lord stood near him, and that was enough. The Lord encouraged him by reminding him of Paul's previous works: witnessing about Jesus in Jerusalem, and confirmed that he will do the same thing in the future, testifying about Jesus in Rome.

So Paul was going to live and testify about Jesus, no matter that more than forty people conspired to kill him. The Lord had given him a work to do; how could people interfere with that work?

Those who do the work of the Lord may be forsaken by men, but not by the Lord. Jesus stands beside them and says, "Take courage."

From my diary,

March 20,   2024

Journaling the Journey: Lessons from the Travel Journal

"Now Moses wrote down the starting points of their journeys at the command of the LORD. And these are their journeys according to their starting points." - Numbers 33:2

This chapter caught my attention because it is a travel journal, written by Moses and commissioned by God.

If God commanded to write a diary of the journey of God's people, then it is necessary, and there is something to learn.

What can I learn from this chapter, where we repeatedly see these words: "they moved from," "they camped," "they departed from," "they journeyed from," and a long list of hard-to-remember place-names?

Of course, I cannot remember all these place names, but I can notice that during the entire journey, the Lord guided them, forgave them their sins, freed them from enemies and dangers, and took care of them.

Remembering all this prompts gratitude: when you remember what the Lord has done in your life, your heart is filled with thanksgiving. It also strengthens faith: when you see what miracles the Lord has done in the past, you believe that He will do them in the future. It also prompts caution: when you remember your past sins, you are careful not to repeat them again.

My gratitude journal, prayer journal, and scripture meditation journals are also travel journals that remind me of the progress of my spiritual journey.

From my diary,

March 19,   2024

No Exceptions: The Assurance of Forgiveness for Believers

 "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses." - Acts 13:38, 39

Is there any happier news for a person who sees his sins, repents of his sins, and strives to get rid of them, than this: your sins are blotted out, forgiven? There is one who has completely paid off your debts. Satan loves to read the list of our sins; he knows them by heart, and he has not forgotten any sin. But our Lord has promised those who believe in Him that He will erase and forget our sins; He has removed them from us as far as the east is from the west. Every believer can rejoice, because it is not written, "Many of those who believe are justified," but "everyone who believes." There are no exceptions.

From my diary,

March 18,   2024

A model meeting

"Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God." - Acts 10:33

The meeting at Cornelius' house serves as a good model for any gathering in the Church of Christ to follow. Here, we see punctuality; everyone was ready, with no absences. Cornelius said, "We are all present before God." They were aware of God's presence, and this awareness led to sincerity, reverence, and worship.

They had the right purpose: they had come to hear the Word of God, not just the things that Peter had to say, but everything that God had commanded him. They were willing to listen to not just a few things, but all the things that God commanded. They were not only physically present; their hearts were also present, with no one sleeping or allowing their thoughts to wander. The result was wonderful: the Holy Spirit came upon everyone while they were listening to God's Word. Where there is a longing for God's Word, there is the presence of God's Spirit.

 From my diary,

March 17,   2024

Fueling zeal and overcome

 

Therefore be zealous and repent. Revelation 3:19

If I want to be among the overcomers, I must be zealous. That zeal should be expressed in hatred of sin and false teachings, wholehearted love for God, longing for God's Word, seeking God's blessing, zeal in serving God, constant prayer, mortification of the works of the flesh. If I have that zeal, I will happily participate in God's work, the purpose of all my work will be the glory of God and the edification of God's children.

That zeal must have the right motives: the shortness of time, the increasing of iniquities in the present age, the constant vigilance of the devil must drive me to zeal. The love of God, my gratitude for His works, my meditations on heavenly glory, the example left by Christ will make me zealous.

From my diary,

March 16,   2024

May I live and keep Your Word

 "Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word." - Psalm 119:17

Here is a servant who trusts in the bounty of the Lord, expects it in his life, asks for it, and knows that he cannot live without the goodness of the Lord. He asks for God's goodness to live a life that is pleasing to God. He does not want a life for worldly enjoyment, but to live and keep the Word of God. God's mercy keeps him, and he wants to keep God's Word.

From my diary,

March 15,   2024

A separated people

 "Behold, a people who dwells alone, And will not be reckoned among the nations." - Numbers 23:9

Not only is the Old Testament people of God a separated people, but also the New Testament Church is separated and will not be reckoned among heathen nations. God's people is set apart by God because it is His property bought at a great price. The children of God are different from the children of the world in every way. They live on earth apart from the sons of the world, for their heart is in their eternal home; here they are sojourners and pilgrims.

Spurgeon wrote: "Our place is not in their Vanity Fair, nor in their City of Destruction, but in the narrow way where all true pilgrims must follow their Lord."

We do not share in their sins, therefore we will not receive their plagues.

From my diary,

March 14,   2024

Tell me what you say 'amen' to, and I'll tell you what spiritual state you are in

 "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, 'Amen!' Praise the LORD!" (Psalm 106:48)

Sometimes, I notice on Facebook that some Christians say "amen" to posts that are foreign to the Holy Bible. We can say: "Tell me what you say 'amen' to, and I'll tell you what spiritual state you are in." A lover of God's Word will definitely say "amen" when they hear God's Word. They are able to discern God's Word from human interpretations, so they will not say "amen" when people preach their own thoughts.

One who praises the Lord in their heart will say "amen" when they hear others praising the Lord, speaking about His works, and giving thanks to Him. Someone who desires correction will say "amen" when they hear rebuking messages. One who eagerly awaits the coming of Jesus will say "amen" when they hear people discussing the need to be ready for His coming. A person with a prayerful heart will say "amen" when they hear right prayers and desires those prayers to be answered. They will also say "amen" when listening to a song whose lyrics are inspired by the Word of God.

The word "Amen" speaks volumes about the person who utters it.

In this psalm, the psalmist praises God, recounts His works, and expects God's people to respond with "amen".

"Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting!"

Let His children say "amen."

From my diary,

March 13,   2024

The Path to Joy: Seeking the Lord

 "Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD! "- Psalm 105:3.

A heart that seeks the Lord is a heart that rejoices in the Lord. He who seeks the Lord's face, His presence, His power, His Word, has many reasons to rejoice. There is fullness of joy in the presence of the Lord (Psalm 16:11). His statutes rejoice the heart (Psalm 19:8). God's power gives victory over sin, and victory brings joy. So the joy of those who seek the Lord is assured. If there is a lack of joy in the heart, then there is a lack of longing for the Lord.

From my diary,

March 12,   2024