The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: God

  • God Made Me

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    “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”   John 1:3

    Have you ever stopped to think about God’s creation? Have you ever thought, “What is the greatest thing God created?” There are so many wonderful and beautiful things that God made. Picture the mountains, beautiful sunsets, the ocean, a full moon as it rises, and so many other amazing things in God’s creation. But have you ever considered that the greatest thing God created was you? There are a few things we can find in God’s Word that brings us to this conclusion. 

    Remember first that God created the world in six days. At the end of the first five days, God declared that it was good. Even on the sixth day after God created all of the animals and everything that creeps on the earth, God declared that it was good. But on that sixth day there was a special creation. “26. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Genesis 1:26-27). God made man in His image; a man and a woman. After this, we find that God declared that his creation was “very good.”

    God created man perfect, without sin. He made man with the intent that they would be “holy and without blame” (see Ephesians 1:4). But more than that, God created man to have fellowship with Him. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). He wanted to walk with us.

    As we read Genesis chapter three, we find that Adam and Eve disobeyed God when Eve was beguiled by Satan, bringing sin into the word which caused separation from God for all of mankind. This meant that man could no longer fellowship with God as before because of this separation (remembering that before this they had walked and talked with God in the garden). Even though man failed greatly, God promised One would come to bridge the gap between sinful man and God (see the first promise of this in Genesis 3:15) which would restore that fellowship. Although Adam and Eve did not know who that One was, they believed God’s Word.

    Throughout the Old Testament, there were many who watched for that One promised by God to come. Jesus, God’s only Son, came into the world for me (and you). He came so that I could have the opportunity to fellowship with God again – if only I would believe. “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14). When Jesus came, He came to destroy the work of Satan. “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).

    God made each and every one of us. If one would take time to read Psalm 139:1-18, they could understand that even King David understood just how special each person created by God is. One of the most important things that each person should understand is that God created me. He made me a unique individual. And God created me to have fellowship with Him. God has a plan for me. But because of sin that separated man from God, each person must trust Jesus to reconcile them, restoring that relationship.

    Sadly, there are few people in the world today that truly understand their worth in God’s eyes. By remembering the importance of each person, and the great love God has for them in the sending of His only Son, Jesus, to bring them back to Him, we can once again understand the importance on our part to receive the great gift God has made available to us.

    What have you done with this realization?

    Originally posted at: http://lighthouse.pub/blog/2020/04/06/god-made-me/?src=n

  • Have You Been a Faithful Witness?

    “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him”
    Colossians 1:16

    In Colossians 1:16 we read that God created everything, and it was created for Him. It is important to understand that God created us for a purpose. God created man to have a relationship with Him. After He created Adam and Eve, God walked with them in the garden until they disobeyed His Word, and sin entered into the world.

    After understanding that God created us to have a relationship with Him, we look at the Bible from beginning to end. Firstly, we will take a bird’s eye view over all of history to see that God dealt with man in different ways through the ages. The Bible is laid out in certain timeframes, also called “dispensations.” A dispensation is basically a means by which God deals with mankind throughout the ages because of sin and employing God’s divine government. Each of the dispensations may be regarded as a new test of the natural man, and each ends in judgment, marking man’s utter failure in every dispensation. God dealt with His creation in different ways at different times. God created the world as perfect, but when man sinned, he brought the judgment of death into the world. Throughout the ages, God gave individuals many opportunities to have a relationship with Him, but each time they failed. They had to understand that the only way this relationship could ever be restored would be by the atoning death of His Son, Jesus. It is with this understanding that we look at the scriptures as a whole.

    The seven dispensations allow us to see how God worked among the people throughout the years. What began as a face-to-face relationship with God (remember Adam and Eve in the garden) quickly turned to a sinful people unable to approach God. But God, through His grace and mercy, promised to make available to man the opportunity to once again have a relationship with Him. We learn how man fell and was punished, and then how all of mankind was only evil continually, so that God destroyed all but one family. God then gave the governing responsibilities to mankind, and they blew it again, causing God to confuse their language. When God selected a family, they ended up in bondage and needed God to deliver them from Pharaoh. Yet when God laid the Promised Land out in front of them, they were afraid to go. Once they entered the land, they forsook God and needed judges to deliver them from the judgment God sent.

    They then believed they needed a king “like the nations around” to rule them, once again rejecting God and His plan. This kingdom ended with the people in captivity because they did not heed the prophets God sent to warn them. When God allowed them to return to their land, there was great sadness, for they were not the great nation God had intended for them to be. When God sent His Son, Jesus, the fulfillment of the promise was given, if only one would believe. Jesus did many works to reveal God to the people and then laid down His life for our sins. He restored that broken relationship that nothing else through the centuries could do. When Jesus rose from the grave, He sent His disciples to tell the world, allowing His apostles to do mighty works to help establish the church.

    Although the time of the mighty works has passed, today God still uses His people to witness to a lost and dying world. A faithful witness will tell them that the only way to have a relationship with God is through the redemptive work of His Son, Jesus.  

    Have you been a faithful witness?

    First published at: http://lighthouse.pub/blog/2020/03/06/have-you-been-a-faithful-witness/?src=n

  • Our Help in a Time of Need

    “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
    Psalm 46:1

    Have you ever found yourself in a place where you did not know what to do, or even where to go? What did you do about it? Did you cry, did you grumble and complain, or stress about the situation? Or did you take your problem to God in prayer? How often we forget that our first response should be to take our requests to God!

    As Christians, we have the privilege to approach the throne of God with our requests. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Philippians 4:6). This should be our immediate reaction when we need to receive an answer from God. We also must remember that He will answer us in His timing – not ours. Have you ever asked God a question, yet did not wait for Him to answer? How often do we miss God’s plan for our lives when we are too impatient to wait upon Him?

    Recently, I have been a part of a group of people who were seeking God and His plan for us. We had committed to stand by the truths found in God’s Word. However, we needed clear direction. We prayed. We searched for answers. We waited. We continued in the path we believed He had for us to travel. Many other people disagreed with the decisions that we had made. Relationships were lost. New ones have been made. We set a date that we needed an answer from the Lord, or we could not continue. The date came, and God answered our prayer on that day, above and beyond our hopes and expectations! We had put into practice what we had learned: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6)

    Through all of the turmoil during those days, and the negative words spoken against us for standing for the truths found in God’s Word, we understood more about the truths of God’s Word. “2. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3. Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 4.  There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 5. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. 6. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 7. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” (Psalm 46:2-7). We experienced that, truly: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). We recognized that God is with us.

    We witnessed first hand what it is to do the following: “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10)

    Another encouraging word… “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

    “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.” (Psalm 31:24).

    Will you wait upon God?

  • Faith Comes by Hearing

    “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”
    Isaiah 55:11

    God called many prophets in the Old Testament to go forth and declare His Word to people. They mostly went, no matter what happened to them. We all remember one particular prophet who chose to disobey God. He chose to go the opposite direction God wanted him to go. The way he wanted to go. Remember him? Jonah, forever known as the prophet who was swallowed by a whale. Why did that happen to him? Because he chose to do what he wanted, instead of obeying God. But only after he was in the belly of that great fish for three days and three nights, praying, was he willing to go deliver the Word of the Lord to the people of Nineveh. Even with his begrudgingly behavior, thousands of people repented before God, and God spared the people and the city.

    Have you ever considered any of the other prophets God sent forth? Remember Isaiah. God asked who He could send, who would go tell the people. Isaiah said, “Here am I; send me.” God told him to go and tell the people, but Isaiah was warned that the people would hear him, but would not listen to him. They would not understand what he was telling them. They would not take any of the counsel of God’s Word that he gave to them. It might sound good for somebody else, but not them. They would not get it. Isaiah had God’s Word, yet the people would not receive it. When Isaiah asked God how long he would have to tell this people who wouldn’t really listen to anything he said, God told him to continue to tell the people until there was no one left to tell.

    Do you think that would have been a hard thing to do? Isaiah was given more prophecies concerning Jesus, the Messiah that was to come, than any other prophet. He was instrumental in helping the people understand that salvation is of the Lord – not of anything man can do. Isaiah’s name even signifies this, for his name means “Salvation is of the Lord.” Nevertheless, tradition declares that King Manasseh had him sawn in two.

    Many other people declared the truths of God’s Word. One cannot help but think of Peter as he told of Jesus, and many thousands of people give their hearts and lives to Jesus. Paul gave his life telling people about Jesus, and establishing churches to teach the apostles doctrine. He also spent much time in prison. Stephen preached the Gospel message of Jesus, and he was stoned to death. However, these men were faithful to the end.

    Today should be no different. Each Christian is called to go and tell the Gospel message of Jesus. To tell the difference that God’s Word has made in that Christian’s life. No one may hear. No one may understand. They might believe that it is good for someone else, not for them. They might not receive it. Nevertheless, we are called to go and tell – even when people don’t want to hear about Jesus. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). People must hear before they can believe. “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”  (Romans 10:14). The word preacher here means “to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the Gospel); preach, proclaim, publish.” This means anyone can declare or “cry out” the Gospel message. “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11). We are just required to declare God’s Word to people. God will take care of the rest.

    However, no one will know the Gospel message of Jesus if we do not tell it. Have you told anyone about what Jesus has done for you?

  • The Word of Our God

    “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” Isaiah 40:8

     The Bible is the Word of God. It has been preserved for us to read, but very few people read and understand what the Bible has to say to us today. 

    According to most statistics, young people are growing up and leaving the church and faith in God by the droves. The main reason can be found in the lack of knowledge and understanding of what one believes about God and why. There is a mighty gulf between the level of spiritual training in children, youth, and even adults, and the knowledge one needs to live in today’s world.  

    Growing up in a Christian home is no guarantee that one understands the Bible or how to live a Christian life. Being saved as a young child, I learned many Bible “stories,” but it wasn’t until later that I began to understand how all of these stories fit together. My parents had a book of pictures revealing a timeline throughout Bible history. It helped me begin to understand how all of those “stories” were connected together. It also helped me begin to see that Jesus was planned from the beginning of time to redeem mankind because of sin. I wanted to know and understand the Bible, so I began to study.  

    The most important thing about studying the Bible should be to learn the basics of the Biblical interpretation and how it should be applied to our lives. A good Bible study needs to be more than a compilation of “stories” we have always heard. The word “story” even brings to the hearers’ mind that they are make-believe. Many people don’t really understand that the Bible is not just a compilation of popular Bible “stories” or favorite Bible passages. The Bible is not full of “stories” but real events in real people’s lives. Children, as well as adults, need to understand that each of these events all fit together as part of a bigger picture – much like pieces of a puzzle. Not only do these events interlock, but they have a purpose: to reveal Jesus and why He came.  

    All people, especially children, are capable of learning so much more. The Biblical Path of Life is one such study meant to simplify the understanding of the reader and making the Bible relevant to a Christian’s life — young or old — by comparing Scripture to Scripture. The most important thing one can understand is just how important their Bible is. One needs to learn how to take care of their Bible and become familiar with it. Everyone should understand the importance of reading God’s Word! Even beginning readers should be encouraged to read their Bible. At first, even the youngest readers will be hesitant to read. But with a little encouragement and help, they can become excited about reading their Bible. Each week they can become a little more proficient at reading, and that fact will encourage them greatly. No one is too young (or old) to begin to love the Word of God or to learn the principles found within God’s Word!  

    The Bible means nothing to us if we do not apply the principles within to our lives to become more like Christ. In order to understand how to live a Christian life pleasing to God in the world today, we must first know what His Word says. 

    Have you taken time to read your Bible today? 

    Also published at http://lighthouse.pub/blog/2020/01/31/the-word-of-our-god/?src=n

  • The Eyes of the Lord

    God sees all and knows all. He knows the thoughts of the heart. He hears the words spoken in secret. There is nothing hidden from God. This should be great words of encouragement to choose to do good. To choose to do right. To turn from evil. If we would remember and understand that God is ever present, ever watching – not to catch us doing something bad or wrong.  He wants to find someone in whom He can show Himself strong (see 2 Chronicles 16:9a where it says, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.”).Who wouldn’t want God to show Himself strong in their life? But in the rest of that verse, we find that God had wanted to do this for King Asa, but because he had relied upon the king of Syria instead of the Lord his God, he lost the battle. Not only that, but God told him, “Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars” (2 Chronicles 16:9b). How awful would it be to choose an earthly king to help you instead of God? But imagine having God, Himself, tell you that you had done foolishly! And that you would have wars from then on in your kingdom!

    Now relate that to the average Christian’s life. Most Christians do not take into account that “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3). They might occasionally remember that they are to choose to do good and not evil. But they don’t take into consideration that God wants Christians to choose to do good so that he can show Himself mighty in their life.

    But we must remember something else very important. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). God already knows all and sees all, but one day we will stand before Him and give an accounting of all that we have done in this life “whether it be good or bad.”

    Knowing these things, what do you choose?

    Will you choose good allowing God to show Himself mighty in your life?

  • Seek God Early

    The most important thing a human being can do is to seek after God. God loved the world so much that he gave His only Son to die upon the cross – just so we could have a relationship with Him! All we must do is to love Him enough to seek after Him. (Read Romans 10:8-13 to see what to do when you find Him.) Proverbs 8:17 tells us that God loves those who love Him. “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me”(Proverbs 8:17). It also says that those who seek him early will find Him. But did you notice the word “early” in that verse? The word “early” means be up early at any task with the implication of earnestness and by extension to search for painstakingly. One must earnestly seek God early. The best time is to seek God first thing each morning. Not only will you not run out of time during the day to spend with Him, but the course of your day will be better set by seeking Him early.

    It is not only important to seek God early in each day, but early in one’s life. The earlier a child (or even a young person) begins to seek after God, the easier it will be for them to find Him. The older a person gets, the less likely they will find it important enough to seek after God. There are many excuses; too many to even try to list. But the longer one waits in their life, the less likely they will even try to seek earnestly after God.

    But there is so much more than just this one verse. What happens when one loves God and chooses to seek Him early – finding Him? Read what God says in the verses that follow that one: “18. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. 19. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. 20. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: 21. That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures” (Proverbs 8:18-21). God has all of the riches, righteousness, and fruit (reward) better than gold or silver. God leads into the paths of righteousness, causing those that love Him to inherit substance. Our treasures will be filled by God, Himself! What better life could one hope to have?

    But it all begins with loving God enough to seek after him diligently.

    Things in this life should never keep us from seeking God or the things of God.

    Have you sought after God?

  • Things of the World

    “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36)

    “Have you ever desired the things of the world? Everybody has; that’s part of our nature. It’s okay to want stuff here in this world. The important thing is to not desire the things more than pleasing God and to do what is right, according to God’s Word. Should you lie, cheat, or steal to get something? Of course not. Should you want what “everybody” else has? Not if it doesn’t please God. Because we live on this earth, we have to have “things” to live. But we have to be content with what God gives us and not make things our primary focus. What is to be our focus? We should have our eyes set upon Jesus. We must be careful not to allow the desire for the world (see Mark 8:36: For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?) to keep us from serving and pleasing God. We will see how King Solomon learned this lesson as we begin Ecclesiastes …

    “…No matter what possessions we acquire while we live on this earth, one day everyone will die, and we can’t take any of those possessions with us. Solomon, with all of his wealth and fame, came to this realization. As he looked back over his life realizing everything gained in this life was worthless, he wanted to share with everyone what he had discovered. He recognized his sin in turning his heart from God to the things of this world. Solomon learned to be careful what he promised, for God would hold him accountable, and he finally realized that man cannot understand God, but the “ … fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7). By learning to fear Him, Solomon could know Him …”  

    [Excerpt from Year One Quarter Four Lesson 10, Ecclesiastes 1-8: The Vanity of Man, now available through Rock Island Books (www.rockislandbooks).]

  • Saved by Grace, Through Faith

    “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10)

    Excerpt from “The Biblical Path of Life, Year Three Quarter Three” Lesson 8:

    “Paul again reminded them of the life Jesus gave, comparing it to the life they had before Christ. “1. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2. Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others” (Ephesians 2:1-3). Remember that Paul was writing to the saints which means “the sanctified ones who were called out into the service of the Lord and were morally pure.”  But it was important to remember from whence they came. Why? How does the old saying go: “Those who do not remember their history are doomed to repeat it.”  Christians were, and still are, to remember the old life from which Jesus saved them, one of death and promised destruction. By remembering, one would never take for granted the life given by God, Himself. “4. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” (Ephesians 2:4-5). In this verse, Quickened us together means “to make alive as being raised from death to life with Christ.” 

    And one must remember that salvation did not come from anything one could do, for it was a free gift. “8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10). Workmanship means “the result, what is produced, in contrast to the act of making – the doing itself and not that which is made.” Created means “renewal; regeneration; to create and form in a spiritual sense.” God did what man cannot do – produce a regenerated, spiritual, creature, created by God, Himself. After that, God provided a path that He expects these saints to walk in. In this verse, before ordained means “God’s foreordaining for good, as in good works.” 

    God has a plan for each and every Christian’s life.”

  • Lesson 4 (Lesson 43): Psalms 73-89: Book 3

    Key Verse

    “Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?”    Psalm 77:13

     

    Read the Key Verse with your class.  Ask your students if they like to go to church.  According to our memory verse, attending church is important to God.  That is how we know the way to live a life pleasing to God.  Help them understand the word sanctuary:  a sacred place dedicated to the things of God.  The church today is a place where we gather to focus upon the things of God and to learn of the things of God.  There is no one (or any thing) greater to place our focus and attention upon than God, our God.

    Summary Today we continue with the second of the Personal Books, Psalms.  Remember that the Psalms is broken up into 5 books.  We will look at book three of the Psalms (chapters 73-89) today, comparing them to the book of Leviticus.  If you remember, the main theme of Leviticus was the tabernacle.  That was the tent set up to hold the things of God and where man was to go to meet God.

    When the tabernacle was completed, God spoke to Moses from the tabernacle instead of Mount Sinai.  Once the people were free from the land of bondage, they needed to know how to live.  There was great emphasis placed on the importance of being a sanctified people – set apart from the world and the things of the world.  The people were to learn how to live as a people wholly given to God, in every aspect of their lives.  Leviticus showed the ability to have fellowship with God when man came to Him as a sanctified people.  (Because He is a Holy God and we are a sinful people.)

    The first eleven Psalms of the third book of the Psalms were written by Asaph (he was one of the Levites David appointed to minister before the Ark of the Covenant with songs in I Chronicles 16:4-5.)  We see him at one point as he struggled with jealousy over the prosperous wicked, until he went to the “sanctuary of God” – then he understood.

    We also reemphasize the importance of learning from history (again), and what happens to those who forsake God.  Through this book of the Psalms, we will learn the importance of God’s house, and the importance of serving Him.  It ends with a praise encouraging us to make God’s faithfulness known to “all generations.”

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  We are to learn the importance of not desiring the things of this world, but placing our focus (our heart’s desires) upon the things of God.  The one place we can go to achieve this purpose, is the church (the sanctuary – that place dedicated to the things of God).

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 43 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 43 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

     

    Ideas for children:

    Stickers always work well with children. Often times I watch Wal-Mart or Oriental Trading Company for specials or deals on things I can use for crafts for Sunday School (i.e. foam sheets, Bible Story scene stickers, crowns, stick on jewels, construction paper, etc.).  I keep a stash and when I need something, I go search in my stash!  Pinterest always has great ideas!

    You could have a coloring sheet that goes with the lesson.

    One idea for today’s lesson:  (See picture below).  For today’s lesson I took a coloring of a church building.  I cut out the windows and doors.  The students were able to glue different colored pieces of small tissue paper to the back to make the windows look stained glass or just colorful.  They then took time to color the church building.  We are to encourage them to understand that the church building is a special place because it is the place God’s people go to meet together to place our attention on God and the things of God.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.

    By now your class should be in a groove as to the direction and areas in which they need to focus and work on to improve their Christian lives.  Use this knowledge to help you address specific areas in each lesson that your class can discuss and share as you add new things to your mural.  Continue to watch as your class grows in their knowledge of not only God’s Word, but areas in their lives that can be corrected, drawing them closer to the Lord.

    Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall.  Encourage everyone to participate.