Monthly Archives: August 2021

law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Romans 13:8-14

This passage of Scripture helps us to understand how we are to treat others. How we interact with people is a chief consideration of the apostle. Let us examine them today.

Paul’s teaching on Christian conduct, among other doctrines, is important in this passage. The preeminent directive that should govern our relationships is love. We owe it to one another to love each other as Christ has loved us. (John 13:34)

All of God’s commandments are summed up in Paul’s statement in verse 10 which states “Love is the fulfillment of the law.” Jesus himself taught us that whole of the law is summed up in the statements “love God and love others.” (Matthew 22:37-40) Love does not harm. Rather, it lifts up, encourages, and comforts us in the truth.

Our lives on earth are brief and passing quickly. Verses 11-14 implore us to wake up, live in the light, and take advantage of our time. We should live properly and not behave according to our old nature. Our time is short and our salvation is near. May the Lord help us to live for Christ and avoid the temptations of our flesh. We should redeem the time knowing that the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16)

Treat others well, child of God. It’s the least we can do.

Tony French

His lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

Matthew 25:23

In Matthew 24-25, Jesus gives several parables to heed as Christians approach the last days. The parable of the talents has one key lesson that all Believers need to heed. What is that lesson? God values and commands us to be faithful to Him. Whether we have little or whether we have much, the principle is still the same—be faithful!

The world’s definition of success is far different than the one found in the Kingdom of God. This world’s interpretation of accomplishment can be summed up in one word, more. This society values more money, more fame, more pleasure, and more everything. The problem, though, is the fact that one can never have enough. Even when one achieves some level of prosperity it never completely fulfills them. There is always a desire for more.

By contrast, the Lord simply asks His people to be faithful. He calls us to be faithful to our Savior, faithful to our family, and faithful to the Kingdom of God. Perseverance equals success in the life of the Christian. As many have said, “let us be faithful to the Lord and trust Him for the results.”

Be faithful, dear Christian. You may not have wild earthly achievements. But, everything you do for Christ will be noted in Heaven. Be faithful!

Tony French

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, And Your glory above all the earth.

Psalm 108:5

David’s words of exultation in Psalm 108 are powerful and worshipful. The psalmist calls upon the people of God to rise up and praise the Lord. The Lord has done great things and is worthy of praise.

Let us exalt the Lord in our lives today. God is great and worthy of exaltation. The heavens and all creation declare His glory. (Psalm 19:1) Worship and praise Him, child of God.  Yahweh is worthy!

Let us exalt the Lord for His glorious deeds. The glory of the heavens cry out in praise of its Creator. Those of us who are made as image bearers of the Almighty should praise Him in song, deed, and the words of our mouths.

May our prayer today be the text of Psalm 108:5. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, And Your glory above all the earth. Our Lord is excellent in all His ways! Praise Him!

Tony French

“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:25-27

In this portion of Scripture, Jesus reveals the coming of the Holy Spirit after His ascension to Heaven. He will send the Holy Spirit to indwell Believers and teach us about Christ. This promise has great impact on our lives as Christians.

The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity. The Spirit is co-equal, co-powerful, and co-perfect with the Father and the Son. He has always existed and has a particular role in our lives as Christians. What is the function of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christ-followers?

1) The Holy Spirit teaches us. He reveals the truth about Jesus so that we may understand the height and depth of Christ’s person. He led the apostles to give us the words of the New Testament. And now the Spirit uses that same Scripture to teach every generation of Christians the truths of God and power of salvation.

2) The Holy Spirit leads us. He live within us and guides each day. He protects and sustains Believers in ways that we can see. Yet, He also guards us in many ways we cannot ascertain. Are you listening to the Spirit Child of God? He will lead you in truth and righteousness. Pay attention!

3) The Holy Spirit comforts us. The Spirit of Truth comes along beside us, comforts us, and carries us through the trials and tribulations of life. Jesus also promises peace in verse 27. The Holy Spirit is the purveyor of that peace as we submit to Him day by day. Christ never promised that life would easy and comfortable. He did promise to send the Holy Spirit to guide us, direct us, and comfort us in every situation.

I give thanks for the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Tony French

My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 3:1-4

The Word of God is precious. It is life, health, and strength for all who believe and trust in Christ. There is no book, no writing, no anything that is quite like the Bible, God’s Holy Word.

Too often we neglect the sacred Scriptures. We lay it aside in favor of other pursuits. The author of Proverbs 3 corrects us and reminds us of the power of God’s Word. Daily reading and study of the Bible is a must for a Believer who hopes to grow and mature in their faith.

In this short passage, God’s people are taught to remember His Word. Christians should keep biblical truth at the forefront of their minds. What we are taught through Scripture should inform our daily lives. It should direct how we respond to others, how we view our selves and the world, and how we make decisions. Read, study, and obey the truths of Scripture, child of God.

Verses 3 and 4 bring to our recall two important truths. As we live by the Word of God, let us be merciful and truthful. The author uses figurative language to help us see the need to keep the truth at the forefront of our mind. Binding the truth to our hearts insures that we are continually in touch with the principles of Holy Writ.

But, we are always to exercise and live in the truth while applying mercy. We are all sinners who need a Savior. Our role is not to be final judge and jury in the lives of others. We are to point them to Jesus, the Truth, mercifully and lovingly. As Ephesians 4:15 tells us, “speak the truth in love.”

Holding truth and mercy in tension will allow us to be faithful to Christ in this present age. When we apply the Scriptures in this way, the truth of God goes forth and lives are changed. Thanks be to Almighty God for His glorious Word!

Tony French

Of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their kinsmen were at their command.

1 Chronicles 12:32

As the Kingdom of Israel is being firmly secured in the hand of David, a roll call of support is given in 1 Chronicles 12. A family clan called the sons of Issachar are included in this group. These leaders of this ancient Israelite tribe were renowned for the ability to discern the times in which they lived. Though there number was relatively small (as compared to the other tribes listed here), the men of Issachar were considered a valued and necessary component to David’s kingship.

How can we learn to discern the times in which we find ourselves? Understanding the times is not an exact science. But, there are steps we can take to help us. Knowing how to read the situations we face will aid us and propel us into taking strides that will honor God and fulfill His desires. Let us examine these truths.

1) Stay in the Word of God. David cries out in Psalm 119:33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, And I shall observe it to the end. God’s people need to continually read and study the Bible. Understanding our times requires us to stay in the Word every single day. The Bible will guard us from sin, guide us to truth, and grant us the peace we so desperately need. God will teach us and transform us as we stay in the Scriptures.

2) Test everything by the Word of God. How can we know right from wrong? By bringing our decisions under the scrutiny of the Bible. If God’s word warns against something, we can trust in Him and go in the opposite direction. If the Bible commands us to do something, we can obey in full confidence. God validates our path as we study and live by His Word.

There will be occasions where discernment will be difficult to ascertain. So verify the truth through the lens of God’s Word.  In Psalm 119:137, we are taught the following principle—Righteous are You, O Lord, And upright are Your judgments. Testing our decisions by God’s standard will keep us in a state of righteousness and holiness all the days of our lives.

3) Pray about everything. Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Prayer is a prerequisite for determining the times. Continual interaction and fellowship with God through prayer will allow us to see our lives better from God’s perspective. And an eternal perspective keeps us grounded in the truth and allows us to see the things that are far better for us.

Understanding our times is not always simple and clean. We need the leadership and guidance of the Lord to truly discern our ways. Dear Believer, stay in the Word and continue in prayer. God has promised to lead us and guide us as we seek Him!

Tony French

And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
Romans 8:23-25

Do you need some good news, child of God? Do your spirits need a lift today? Think on this thought for awhile. We are adopted, redeemed, and saved by faith.

Believers have been adopted into God’s family. We are redeemed from the bondage of sin and we shall receive a new body in the resurrection of the saints. (1 Corinthians 15:51-58) And it’s all because of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone. We can’t see it all at this juncture. We will see the promises of God fully revealed by and by.

Faithful Christians believe even when we can’t see everything. Faith in Christ calls us to trust even when we don’t have all the answers. Faith is necessary to please God and faith is vital for relationship with God. (Hebrews 11:6)

We have the victory through Christ’s great salvation. He has saved us, adopted us, and redeemed us from sin. The Christian’s call and desire is to live by faith each day. May we seek to live our lives through the Spirit of God.  Jesus purchased the victory for us through His death and resurrection. He is worthy!

Tony French

¹ My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. ² He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.

Psalm 62:1-2

David, the author of Psalm 62, went through many ups and downs in his life. He understood the nature of life on this planet as he saw its best and its worst. A man of war, David knew battles, triumphs, and death. But through it all, the psalmist leaned upon Lord and His unwavering providence.

These two verses from Psalm 62 mention three avenues by which God sustained and supported David. The Lord God still uses these means of grace to encourage, comfort, and support Christ-followers today. Let us examine them in brief this week.

**God is our Rock. David’s message here teaches Christians that God is our ultimate Defender. The Lord is our place of defense and our trust in Him is never in vain. Our belief in Christ will be vindicated in the end. God is our Rock! 

**The Lord is our Salvation. The Lord will deliver His people in the end. Though trials and difficulties will arise, God’s people trust in the Lord to bring them through. Believers will be delivered from this life of sin, this vail of tears, and this body of death one day. The Lord is our Salvation!

**The Almighty is our Stronghold. He is our Protector from the storms and our Shield from the enemy. God is with us through our faults and failures. Our salvation is secure through the protective power of God’s grace and mercy. People will let us down and we often let ourselves down in this life. God, nevertheless, holds us in His hand and protects our relationship with Himself to the very end. The Almighty is our Stronghold!

Be encouraged, Child of God. The best is yet to come!

Tony French

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6

Christian, be confident today. God is not finished with you. The Lord will complete what He has begun in you. He will not let you down.

Christian, be confident today. Be confident not in your own works or your own abilities. Be faithful in the Lord. Be assured in what Christ has done and what He has promised. Your life has meaning and purpose because you belong to Christ. (1 Peter 2:9) And you will be with Jesus forever and ever.

Christian, be confident today. The Spirit of God lives within you and you are sealed until the day of redemption. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Ephesians 4:30) The Holy Spirit has the power to keep and sustain you all the way. You can trust Him.

Be confident, child of God. God will sustain, secure, and complete His promises in you in His timing. Of those things you can be sure!

Tony French

And He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

2 Corinthians 5:15

Christ died for us so that we might live. He has saved and rescued us from our sins. The Savior has justified us, taken away our guilt, and given us His righteousness. Jesus is the atonement for sin and by His blood we are cleansed forevermore. The death of our Lord made all this a reality in our lives.

But, what now? How do we live in light of these precious gifts? Paul teaches us to live for Christ. We no longer live for ourselves, we live for Him. We are to seek Him day by day and follow the instruction we find in Scripture. We ought to read and study the Bible because it is God’s word that tells us how to live. Living by the dictates of Scripture will guard us and guide us as we go through our lives.

We do not live for Jesus to be saved or to maintain our salvation. No, Christ has saved us fully and to the uttermost. (Hebrews 7:25) We live for Christ because He has saved us. He has delivered us and set our lives upon the solid rock of Himself. We have been made new creations and we should seek to demonstrate our new status in Christ to others.

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

Since we have been saved and sanctified, we must live our lives to please the Lord. We no longer live for ourselves and our desires. May we follow Him until we see Jesus face to face!

Tony French