“Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way,we never give up. We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.” (2 Corinthians 4:1-2 NLT)
A young man is often told by his father when he announces the destination to which he is headed, “Be careful.” The father’s two words as a phrase seem little, but they have a much longer meaning, “Watch out that you maintain your witness. Avoid the luring of the world, the lust of the flesh, and licentious temptations of the deceiver, Satan.” The son fully understands the father’s two words and the offspring’s response, not to be outdone, is a short sentence of his own, “I always do.”
You may not be my offspring, but you are of the offspring of God through Jesus Christ; a child of God. So on this Saturday morning, my message to you is identical to the one that the father above speaks to his son, “Be careful.” You know what I mean! Let your response be the same as the offspring’s response, “I always do!”
Now, when you worship tomorrow, thank God for giving you the strength, the sure wisdom, and the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit that enabled you to be careful yesterday and express your confidence that He will do the same thing tomorrow and forevermore. Be blessed!
“I hate the two-faced, but I love your (God’s) clear-cut revelation. You’re my place of quiet retreat; I wait for your Word to renew me. Get out of my life, evildoers, so I can keep my God’s commands. Take my side as you promised; I’ll live then for sure. Don’t disappoint all my grand hopes. Stick with me and I’ll be all right; I’ll give total allegiance to your definitions of life. Expose all who drift away from your sayings; their casual idolatry is lethal. You reject earth’s wicked as so much rubbish; therefore I lovingly embrace everything you say. I shiver in awe before you; your decisions leave me speechless with reverence.” (Psalm 119:113-120 MSG)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King