He Will Prevail

"That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

"Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

"Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."

1 Corinthians 2:5-8 KJV

It's interesting to think about the wisdom from God as hidden. Not all who hear it understand it. The Romans who crucified Christ, and those in the crowd who shouted for His death, did not know the hidden wisdom of God. While Christ could have revealed Himself in true form to all that day, He didn't. He allowed those blinded by the world to stay blinded, not understanding the hidden wisdom of God. "For had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord" and He would not have died in our place.

It is an interesting thing to think about: the Lord does not force us to obey Him. He does not force us to believe in Him. He does not make us to understand or follow Him. He will bless us beyond our wildest dreams if we do...

"But it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV

However, God will still make good out those who deny Him. What the Devil means for evil, the Lord can turn into something good. While He does not control the world like a puppet master, He does orchestrate the current situation into something useful.

"But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive."

Genesis 50:20 KJV

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Romans 8:28 KJV

The Devil may think he is winning when evil strikes, but in the end it is the Lord who is victorious. Our God has a bigger plan we couldn't begin to fathom. So take heart when trouble arises. He in all His righteous wisdom is sure to prevail.

Longing After Him

"As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

"My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?"

Psalm 42:1-2 KJV

I am reminded of those lyrics inspired by this Psalm.

As the deer panteth for the water

so my soul longeth after Thee

You alone are my heart's desire

and I long to worship Thee

You alone are my strength my shield

To You alone may my spirit yield

You alone are my heart's desire

and I long to worship Thee

This is how we ought to strive for God everyday, every waking moment of our lives, just as He strives for us. We are the center of His attention from the beginning of creation. He gave everything so that we might be able to be with Him for eternity in paradise. Despite our downfalls He loves us without regard, unconditionally. If the Maker of the universe will go to such lengths to be with us, shouldn't we reciprocate? Shouldn't we strive to follow Him, to dwell in His midst, and be near Him?

When you have a crush it seems they consume your thoughts. They keep you up at night, and they occupy your dreams. When they are absent, the room feels empty and amiss. You become anxious like their is something you're missing out on somewhere else. Yet as soon as they walk in that all changes. Suddenly, you can't imagine yourself anywhere else. Just being there near them makes you happy. Their presence almost gives you a sort of high. You look for any excuse to be around them, and get to know them. You want to, no, you have to know everything about them.

This is how we should think about Christ. He is our first love, and the more we seek Him the more we want to be near Him. He should dwell in our conscious day and night, and through everything we do. He IS the fire that lights up the room, and without Him every room becomes dark. In His midst you find peace and unfathomable love. You find that you have to know everything about Him, and you relish every word recorded in His Bible. The moment you start seeking Him will be the moment you find you need Him in your life. All you have to do is open your heart and let Him in, every new morning.

Let us seek Him as He sought us...

Forever and Always

"For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's"

Romans 14:8 KJV

Our relationship with the Lord is eternal. It is not a fling that we pursue for a season, only to discard and pick back up again when it is convenient. He is always with us, in our hearts and in our midst. Through thick or thin, better or worse, sickness or health, death will NOT part. He is the groom and we the church the bride, for eternity. Though all will fade away, the glory of the Lord will be steadfast. By His side we will stay forever.

What Is Built On Our Foundation?

"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;"Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is."If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward."If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 KJV

     This passage hit home when I read it the other day. What am I building upon my foundation? Like the three piggies and the big bad wolf, the house that withstood his blow was made of stone. Building a strong home is not an easy task, just as it is not easy to build a strong relationship with our God. It takes work. It takes time. It takes sacrifice, to give up what we want to choose Him.

God has laid the foundation, Jesus Christ, in our hearts, but what we choose to build thereupon is our choice.

     Where do we go from there? What occupies our attention? Do we seek out the Lord everyday, desiring to draw closer to Him more and more? Are we building with gold, silver and precious stones? Or do we mindlessly live for ourselves, taking little thought to grow in our walk with God? Do we let greed, jealousy, and the lusts of the flesh control us? Are we building with wood, hay, and stubble?

     Our faith will be tried. Our relationship and faith in God will be tested. When the fire of trial consumes us, what will remain? When we hit rock bottom, what will stay steadfast?

Verse 15 explains that we may suffer loss. However, we are also promised that we shall still be saved. Despite how unquenchable the fire, or how blistering the heat, there is nothing that can burn away our foundation in Christ. No thing can ever take away what God has laid for us. In this, we can rest assured.

     What do people see when they look at us? What do they think? How do they view us? Despite common belief, we are not invisible to those around us. When we least expect it, there is often someone watching. We proclaim one thing with our mouths, but do we prove another with our works? Do they see Jesus in us? What does the world see us building upon our foundation?