Walking alone?

Often times in our Christian lives we feel that we are walking alone. Not only are we walking alone, but when it comes to following the direction of God, we feel that we are standing alone. We feel as if there is no one who will stand beside us. We just feel alone.

But are we alone? Do we want to be alone?

There will be times where we must Stand Alone, but that does not mean we are really standing on our own without without Christ or without his Father, our God, the divine Creator Who as a Spirit is everywhere every time. God is always with His creation.


The apostle Paul did know that he had to do a big battle, but that he was not left alone to do it.
Luke was mentioned as being present with Paul at the end, but Paul still did felt “at my first answer no man stood with me…” except “…the Lord stood with me…”

We may have no guilt in life, no fear in death because we can find the power of Christ in us.
From life’s first cry to final breath Jesus should command our destiny. By following Christ Jesus, Jeshua the son of God, no power of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck us from Jesus his hand nor from God His hand.


Like the apostle Paul and the first Christians we have to do more than our part at first. We might feel alone in this big world of materialism which does not seem to be interested in a future life nor a god.

Often we are thinking we are important in this world. But are we really that? Are we not just like a little grain of sand on the beach?
We may become of certain importance but than we also have to make others feel important – because they are. We should be concerned about their future and let them feel that we are not only interested in ourselves.


When we are willing to willing to get uncomfortable, at the same time trusting in the Creator God, we should not worry so much. We may trust that He Who started to work in us will bring us further on our way. (Philippians 1:6)

We also mostly forget that when we need a helping hand, we may find one at the end of our arm.

As you grow older you will discover that you have two hands.  One for helping yourself, the other for helping others.”
- Audrey Hepburn

“What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?”
- George Eliot

“Determine never to be idle… It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.”
— Thomas Jefferson

How bouncy are you? Can you use setbacks to spring you into new realizations? Use insults or criticisms to lift you into new heights?
The next time you get knocked down, remember that you have a choice whether you want to rest first, or bounce right back up.
Try it right now. See if you can bounce off any resistance or bad feelings. See how high you can go. See if you can shift your view.
- From Thought For Today.

In the power of Christ we shall be able to stand .



Please do find:

Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #6 Prayer #4 Attitude 

Stand Alone

Taming the Beast

Thinking Like an Elephant

+++

Related articles

• Teachings of Jesus
• Learn how to go out into the world and proclaim the Good News of the coming Kingdom
• When we are weak, His strength is made perfect
• Stand Alone
• Understanding God's
• How Jesus' Death Can Save You
• 7.1.13 - Slavery To A Perfect Master

Honesty beginning of holiness

Walking in the light

To walk in light means for everything that we hide nothing for God. We tell Him everything, exactly such as it is. To those that or not sincere God does have aversion. God does not ask firstly that we are holy or perfect, but first of all to be honest. That is the beginning point of real sanctification, and from this source of honesty already the other originate. And if there is one thing for us all what we can do, then it is to decide to be honest. Confess for this reason your sins directly to God. Call sinful ideas no longer at beautiful names to excuse for them. We will never get to know victory over sin if we become not honest.

Dutch original / Nederlands origineel > Eerlijkheid begin van heiliging
+++
2013 update

Honest (soundtrack) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Related articles

• Honesty
• In all honesty...
• Honesty is a Paradoxical Policy
• The Importance of Honesty in Your Personal Brand
• What Does Honesty Mean to You?
• Honesty
• Honesty.
• Honesty

Honor your own words as if they were an important contract

Honour your own words as if they were an important contract. Once you've said it, you have to keep it.

"He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but one who talks too much comes to ruin.
He who despises a word will suffer for it, but he who respects a command will be rewarded." (Proverbs 13:3,13 Complete Jewish Bible version)


“The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool will fall.” (Proverbs 10:8, King James)

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hears counsel is wise.” (Proverbs 12:15)

“A reproof enters more into a wise man than a hundred stripes [of the whip] into a fool.” (Proverbs 17:10)

“A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked.” (Psalms 37:16)

“A righteous [one] hates lying: but a wicked [one] is loathsome, and comes to shame.” (Proverbs 13:5)

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)

“My son, if you will receive my words, and hide my commandments with you so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry after knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom: out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding; he lays up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to those who walk uprightly. He keeps the paths of judgment, and preserves the way of his saints. Then you will understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yes, every good path.” (Proverbs 2:1-9)

In the daily reality, words are like pennies - going from hand to hand, mouth to mouth. Sometimes we have a break in our "brain to mouth" connection. Soul, heart and brain should be in harmony, and words not more than a good tool which is used wisely.

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Eer uw eigen woorden alsof zij een belangrijk contract zijn

Heroes and saints

Perhaps we want to be  Heroes and saints at the same time.

"The hero is the one who kindles a great light in the world,
who sets up blazing torches in the dark streets of life for men to see by.
The saint is the man who walks through the dark paths of the world,
himself a light."
- Felix Adler

"Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future."
- Author Unknown

The mark of a saint is not perfection, but consecration.
A saint is not a man without faults,
but a man who has given himself without reserve to God.
- W. T. Richardson

"In Jesus' situation we have the story of the holiest man that ever lived,
and yet it was the whores and the thieves who worshiped him,
and the religious who denounced him."
- Rebecca Manley Pippert

Sanctification is glory begun.
Glory is sanctification completed.
- F. F. Bruce

"Therefore be careful how you walk,
not as unwise men but as wise,
making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
... understand what the will of the Lord is."
Ephesians 5:15-17

In winter the world is beautiful white,
but it can be dangerous slippery.
Let me know the dangers of this seemingly beautiful world, Lord.
Let me deal with the right people
and let me be a light in dark days for many,
that I ask you, my God, in Jesus name.

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Helden en heiligen

+++

2013 update:

Billboard advertising Heroes World Tour, Changi Airport, Singapore. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Related articles

• Lessons from the Saints
• Saturday (January 19): "I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."
• The Key That Fits the Lock, Part Thirteen
• A Choice in the Matter
• Feast of the Confession of Saint Peter

Coming to the end of the year

exhort from Bro John Aldersley ( NZ )

SOMETHING TO CHEW ON

A little boy was counting the number of times the malfunctioning clock chimed and much to his amazement, the clock struck thirteen times. He quickly ran to his mother exclaiming, "Mother, its later than it has ever been before!"
Although the clock may be incorrect, the little boy's statement is truer than he realizes. It is later than it has ever been before. Paul put it plainly when he said, "now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."
As we come to the end of each year, we realize that we are nearer to the return of our Lord than we have ever been before. Wev'e heard some complain when they hear talk like this and they almost parrot the words that Peter attributes to the scoffers which say, "where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."
Now of course, no true believer would say this, yet if we become impatient when we hear of the coming of the Lord and say, "we have heard this since we were a child and he still has not come," we might not be looking for him with the eager anticipation that Paul and Peter wanted us to have.
Actually the return of Christ is only a heart beat away for any of us. For those who have died, (fallen asleep in the Lord) Christ has come, for their next conscious moment will be in the presence of their Lord. We which are alive and remain, need to feel the urgency of the times and realize that there is a day "when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ." That day is nearer than it has ever been before and we are well advised to prepare for it as if it were tomorrow.

As we count down the few remaining days of each year, we should be thinking: "what have we done in the 360 plus days behind us that really mattered eternally?" We have lost count how many times we may have brushed our teeth or the number of hours we slept away, but what did we do for Jesus? When we face him at his judgment seat he will expect us to be able to answer that question. Can we answer it now? If we have trouble answering the question now, it can serve as a warning, so that we will be able to have a better answer for the days that may be ahead of us in the new year to come.

Many firms find that goals are more easily accomplished if quotas are set. They have production quotas, sales quotas, etc., and perhaps if we set a few quotas of our own we would accomplish more.

Visit a needy soul, read at least one good book every month, do our Bible readings every day. We can all think of many more to add to our list.
Now, of course, we can do these things without the aid of a formal quota but perhaps we would be more efficient in the use of our time if we rationed it out.

When it comes right down to it, we are each going to be accepted or rejected by Christ according to the way we used our time. We each have been created equal in this one respect for we all have 24 hours each day, but some place a higher value upon it than others. Our future is going to be determined by the way we spend our time.
As we see the years draw to an end, can we be accused of having filled them with eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting and building? None of these things are a sin in themselves but they are all things that take up our time, our energies and our thoughts. If this is all we did in the year we had better plan to put God first in our lives in the days that are ahead or we will be no better than the citizens of Sodom who were accused by Jesus of doing these things and having no time for God.

"See then that you walk circumspectly," says Paul, "not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." "Knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."

As each new year approaches, we wonder what will happen during the new year. It could very well be that it will be the year of the start of circumstances in Israel that will shortly lead to the return of our Lord. We are living in a great age whether or not we are of a great age. Let us each live each year as if it were our last, whether we are 16, 60 or 101.
How can we do that? By realizing that there is really only one purpose for our individual existence. When Jesus comes to call us to his judgment seat, that moment is the end of our mortal life as we know it. At that point we will either become immortal and live forever, which will make 101 seem like a tiny speck of time, or we will be destroyed; and that will mean that our entire life of however many years will have been a total waste.
We are now determining which verdict will be ours. It is the Father's good pleasure to give us the kingdom, so we know He wants us in it.

What does the future hold in store for us that is more important than the kingdom? A new job, money, a sport, a new home? These things will seem unimportant when we face the Lord Jesus Christ and he asks us, "What have you done for me?"

How wise we are to decide to make the start of the year our year for the Lord. It will be a great year if we do. It will be a disaster if we don't, no matter what else we may achieve.
If we completely surrender ourselves to God in the new year, He will cause all things to "work together for our good" for "the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry."

Some of the things that would have upset us and many of the trials that would have caused us concern will no longer bother us, for we will have learned in whatsoever state we are in, therewith to be content.
Yes, the year ahead can be the best year of our life if we live it as if it were our last. Even if it isn't, it will be better because we lived it wholly and totally for the Lord. Let us decide right now that we will do our ultimate best to surrender our lives to God. We join Paul in exclaiming, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

* * * * * * *

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Nu wij naar het einde van het jaar komen

Humility and the Fear of the Lord

By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honour and life . . . with the humble is wisdom . . . The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.  (Pro 22:4; Pro 11:2; and Pro 9:10)Walking in humility is the pathway for living by the grace of God. "God . . . gives grace to the humble" (1Pe 5:5). In our present verses, we see that humility and the fear of the Lord are related. Humility and the fear of the Lord result in the same blessings. "By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life." The closing trio ("riches and honor and life") are an Old Testament description of a life that is fully blessed by God. The New Testament counterpart would be fullness of spiritual life. "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (Joh 10:10). Humility and the fear of the Lord also result in wisdom. "With the humble is wisdom . . . The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." Humility is the candid acknowledgement of our absolute need for the Lord to work comprehensively in our lives day by day. The fear of the Lord is respect and reverence toward our great God. It is not a fear involving terror or apprehension. Rather, it is based upon profound admiration and dependent devotion. Those who humbly fear the Lord (by placing their admiration and devotion in Him) also embrace His perspectives and values.  They develop a hatred for the things that He hates. "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate" (Pro 8:13). Correspondingly, those who have respect and reverence for the Lord develop a love for all that He loves. The Lord loves for His people to walk in righteousness and justice. "The LORD loves the righteous . . . the LORD loves justice" (Psa 146:8 and Psa 37:28). The Lord loves Israel, His chosen nation. "The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples" (Deu 7:7). The Lord loves His church, the children of God. "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!" (1Jo 3:1). The Lord loves the world, those who need to know Him. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (Joh 3:16).

Lord God almighty, I humbly bow before You, acknowledging my absolute need for You to work comprehensively in my life day by day. I want to walk in the fear of the Lord, placing my admiration and devotion in You. I want to hate all that You hate and love all that You love, in Jesus name, Amen.

- Hoekstra

People should know what you stand for

"People should know what you stand for.
They should also know what you won’t stand for."
- Author Unknown

"How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers."
Psalm 1:1-3

Lord make that I always make the right choices in my life.
Give that I be a good example of a Christian
thereby attracting others to the faith.

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Mensen moeten weten waar je voor staat

+++

2015 update

Related articles

• Further
• Choices
• Choose Healthy Accountability, Avoid Stupid Competition
• I Choose You.
• Choose Life and Not Death - Do It Now
• Choose To Proclaim
• Saturday Night Thoughts
• I choose to be me.
• What do you choose fear or love?
• You choose

Fellowship

"FELLOWSHIP is an important Bible word. It is particularly prominent in the New Testament. Fellowship means sharing, partaking and having in common. The word is translated in all of those ways as the following, fully representative selection of passages will indicate:

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized ... and they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." (Acts 2:41-42)

"That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." (1 John 1:3)

"God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:9)

"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? for we being many are one bread and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread." (1 Corinthians 10:16-17)

"If there is any ... participation in the Spirit ... complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind." (Philippians 2:1, R.S.V.)

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14)

"If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth but if we walk in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1:6-7)

"That I may know him (Christ) and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:10, 11, R.S.V.)

"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased ..." (Hebrews 13:16, N.I.V.)

"Command those who are rich ... to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share." (1 Timothy 6:17, 18, N.I.V.)

"Our hope of you is steadfast, knowing that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation." (2 Corinthians 1:7)

"I (Peter) ... am ... a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed ..." (1 Peter 5:1)

"He has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature." (2 Peter 1:4, R.S.V.)

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all." (2 Corinthians 13:14, R.V.)

From the foregoing it will be seen that fellowship has many elements. Some parts seem to be the foundation for the others. Let us set out these different parts under the headings of foundations and life:

Foundations

The apostles and their teaching
The promises of God
The forgiveness of sins and the blood of Jesus Christ

Life

The Body of Believers
The Breaking of Bread (Communion)
The Unity of believers in love, purpose and mind
The life of the individual believer in association with Christ
Living close to the Father and the Son

In addition to these two parts, there is the promise of ultimately sharing the divine nature by being blessed with immortality.

Fellowship becomes a very practical and living thing when based on these principles. It embraces all that it means to be a disciple
Discipleship is fellowship.

Let us suppose that someone outside this fellowship came alone and asked how he might share it. What would the answer be? We could at once assure him that such fellowship is possible for anyone, because the way has been made known for us in the Bible.
We could say also that it is not a mysterious process by which we wait for God to impart something to us from heaven. Some people have burdened themselves with this latter notion, and have waited for God to act directly upon them. This is not the process described in any of the verses we have quoted. Fellowship is made possible through the Word of God.

To be specific, the way to fellowship is through the apostles' doctrine or teaching. This teaching is the challenge to our existing fellowship outside Christ. When we learn of the great and precious promises of God made certain by the sacrifice of Christ, the moment of choice comes along sooner or later. Am I to remain walking in darkness in fellowship with the world? Am I to stay in the fellowship of death? Or, shall I step into the light in response to the call of the Gospel, and come to the new fellowship in Christ?
Fellowship comes by enlightenment and belief, by repentance and baptism, and by commitment to the new way of life. In this way the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin and we enter into the fellowship of God and His Son. We share the apostles' doctrine and the hope which they proclaimed.

The believer's fellowship is both inclusive and exclusive. He does not choose his companions in the fellowship; they are chosen by the very process which brought him into a relationship with God. There can be no artificial barriers of sex, colour, race, class or caste. All who hold the same faith in truth and submit to its discipline by baptism share a common heritage. They are members of the commonwealth of Israel and have a common hope.
The Lord makes believers one in him:

"There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female: for ye all are one man in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28, R.V.)

"There is one body and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4:4-6)

From these declarations, it follows that there should be one united Christian community throughout the world. Throughout history this unity has suffered from the ravages of false doctrine and the human lust for power over one's fellow men. This evil was already at work or threatened in New Testament times:

"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers ... and all that believed were together, and had all things common ... and they, continuing daily with one accord ... did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God." (Acts 2:42-47)

"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement. For it hath been declared unto me ... that there are contentions among you." (1 Corinthians 1:10-11)

"But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?" (1 Corinthians 15:12, N.I.V.)

"Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character. 'Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God ­ I say this to your shame." (1 Corinthians 15:33-34, N.I.V.)

"For I (Paul) know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." (Acts 20:29-30)

"I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; which is not another gospel: only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ." (Galatians 1:6-7, R.V.)

"For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ ..." (Philippians 3:18)

"They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." (1 John 2:19)"

---------------------------
Brother Harry Tennant
Fellowship
The Christadelphians - What they Believe and Preach

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness

Dutch version / Nederlands> Voor aantrekkelijke lippen, spreek woorden van vriendelijkheid

"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you'll never walk alone.
God is always there."
- Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993)

""Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also,
and he praises her, saying:
"Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all."
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates."
Proverbs 31:28-31

God bless my wife and let her works be for the blessing of her family.

Preferring to be a Christian

What more can I wish than that, while my brief term on earth shall last, I should be the servant of Him who became the Servant of servants for me?
I can say, concerning Christ's religion, if I had to die like a dog, and had no hope whatever of immortality, if I wanted to lead a happy life, let me serve my God with all my heart; let me be follower of Jesus, and walk in His footsteps. If there were no hereafter, I would still prefer to be a Christian, and the humblest Christian minister, to being a king or an emperor, for I am persuaded there are more delights in Christ, yea, more joy in one glimpse of His face than is to be found in all the praises of this harlot-world, and in all the delights which it can yield to us in its sunniest and brightest days. And I am persuaded that what He has been till now, He will be to the end, and where He had begun a good work, He will carry it on.

In the religion of Jesus Christ, there are clusters even on earth too heavy for one man to carry; there are fruits that have been found so rich that even angel lips have never been sweetened with more luscious wine; there are joys to be had here so fair that even cates ambrosial and the nectared wine of Paradise can scarcely excel the sweets of satisfaction that are to be found in the earthly banquets of the Lord. I have seen hundreds and thousands who have given their hearts to Jesus, but I never did see one who said he was disappointed with Him, I never met with one who said Jesus Christ was less than He was declared to be. 

When first my eyes beheld Him, when the burden slipped from off my heavy-laden shoulders, and I was free from condemnation, I thought that all the preachers I had ever heard had not half preached, they had not told half the beauty of my Lord and Master. So good! so generous! so gracious! so willing to forgive! It seemed to me as if they had almost slandered Him; they painted His likeness, doubtless, as well as they could, but it was a mere smudge compared with the matchless beauties of His face. All who have ever seen Him will say the same. I go back to my home, many a time, mourning that I cannot preach my Master even as I myself know Him, and what I know of Him is very little compared with the matchlessness of His grace. Would that I knew more of Him, and that I could tell it out better!

Charles Spurgeon

 

+++

2013 update:

Related articles (January 214 update)

• Preaching Tolerance
• 7 things that change when we follow Jesus.
• Everything I thought about being a christian was wrong!
• So what does it take to be a true Christian? You might want to share this important message.
• Learn how to go out into the world and proclaim the Good News of the coming Kingdom
• Bond Servants of Jesus Christ
• Don't Seek the Approval of Christians; Seek the Approval of Christ
• John 02:01-11, "Believing"
• Christian Masculinity and Confidence
• Peace Through Christ

Obtain favour from Yahweh

Dutch version / Nederlands > Verwerf de gunst van Jahwe

 
 “For whoso findeth me findeth life, And shall obtain favor of Jehovah.” (Pr 8:35 ASV)
“For he who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD;” (Pr 8:35 RSV)
“Leave off, ye simple ones, and live; And walk in the way of understanding.” (Pr 9:6 ASV)
“Leave simpleness, and live, and walk in the way of insight."” (Pr 9:6 RSV)
“For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.” (Pr 9:11 RSV)
“He who heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof goes astray.” (Pr 10:17 RSV)
“"Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Mt 7:13-14 RSV)
“"Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” (Lu 13:24 RSV)

The giving and protecting God

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

Psalm 84:11, New International Version

Dutch version / Nederlands > De gevende en beschermende God

---

    God doesn't hold back on his goodness! In fact, the Father loves to give his children gifts. These gifts are all encompassing. These gifts are gladly given. How do I know? Three ways: 1) I've been repeatedly blessed; 2) I've seen what God has done to bless his people through the centuries; and 3) his Word promises this to be so.

    Father, I want to thank you for the many blessings you have poured into my life. I want to list several of them by name today. (Make your own list of things for which you are thankful.) Thank you most of all Father, for the gift of your Son and my Savior, Jesus. In his name I pray. Amen.