Matthew Gaither – Page 18

Why We Are Called And What We Should Be Doing About It

November 3, 2014 by Matthew Gaither

There was a time in my life when I would have considered the following verse to be intimidating:

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, a people for His possession,
so that you may proclaim the praises
of the One who called you out of darkness
into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9 HCSB)

I would look at it and think “me? a chosen person? a priest? holy? And I was called to do what?” At that point I would probably shake my head and conclude that I was woefully inadequate for the description given in 1 Peter 2:9.

But then I realized, I already AM all of those things. The verse says “you are” as in right now, present tense. I am chosen, I am a priest, I am holy and I am His people because God made me all of those things at the time of salvation. All of those were God’s free gifts to me without any effort on my part and despite of my past failures and mistakes. I am redeemed and that redemption is the process by which I am called out of spiritual darkness and into spiritual light and life. Amazingly enough my weakness and inadequacy is no obstacle to God’s selection of me or His ability to work in my life. Praise God for that!

And according to 1 Peter 2:9, why was I called? Why did God want me in particular? What is it that He wants me to do? He called me “so that I may proclaim the praises of the One who called me out of darkness” (I’m paraphrasing here but I hope you see where I’m coming from).

What exactly does it mean to “proclaim”? Well, I looked up the definition and here it is: Proclaim – declare something one considers important with due emphasis.

Do I consider it important that God has called me personally out of darkness? You bet I do! And I like the last part of that definition. I not only need to declare this important thing but I need to make sure I do it with “due emphasis”. How much emphasis is due God’s greatest gift to me as I declare it? I dare say, there is no such thing as too much emphasis on salvation.

I write because it is one way that God has called me to proclaim His praises and tell of the all the wonderful things that He has done for me. I teach Sunday School because I have been called to instruct others in the reading and studying of God’s Word as guided by the Holy Spirit. I sing in the choir because God has given me a voice that I can use to sing praises to Him in such a way that inspires the congregation to get ready to worship. All of these things and others I do to proclaim His praises.

So what about you? Are you a saved child of God? What are you doing to proclaim His praises? Whatever talent or ability that God has given you, use it to declare His work in your life with due emphasis. Proclaim His praises with the work of your hands. Proclaim His praises with the words in your mouth. Proclaim His praises with the direction of your life. This world needs all of us who are called out of darkness to shine our lights brightly for Jesus so that there is no mistaking its source. Proclaim His name!

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: 1 Peter 2:9, called, proclaim

5 Things We Must Teach Kids After They Are Saved

October 27, 2014 by Matthew Gaither

1. You have a responsibility to grow: Whether you are a teacher, a pastor, a blogger, a family friend or a parent this is the primary message that you need to be giving the kids around you. Being saved is not an ending or a destination, it is a beginning. We who are in the position to do so need to be stressing how important it is that people start young in learning to love God’s Word and spending time each day alone with Him. We must encourage growth and we need to be consistent with our message and in helping those coming up after us in developing discipline and spiritual wisdom.

We love our kids, we provide for them and care for them the best that we know how. And we assume that because biological growth comes naturally that spiritual growth will also. This is not the case (far from it) and we would do well to spend as much time encouraging spiritual growth in our kids as we do caring for their earthly needs. If we don’t do this then we are doing a disservice to our children and we are going to be called into judgement over it one day as we stand before the Lord. Our responsibility is a serious one and it’s time we started making it a priority.

2. Be humble: Humility is not often modeled in our society, especially by the athletes and stars that our kids view as role models. The Bible says “God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6) Not only do we need to teach our kids what the Bible says about humility, we need to model it in our own lives and in our interactions with others. We stress personal accomplishments, team sports, high grades and the uniqueness of the individual but what if we spent just as much time stressing meekness and humility as character traits in our kids? What kind of change would that make in the world of tomorrow?

3. Find and develop your gifts: We are in a unique position to see our kids grow and to get to know the people that God is making them to be. We should be helping them identify their gifts and talents and then encouraging them to use them for the Lord. If we teach our kids to love to serve the Lord with gladness while using their gifts and abilities then we will leave a legacy of workers who are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ and understand the importance of a unified body of Christ working together. God richly blesses those who joyfully serve him and the sooner our kids discover this the richer and fuller that their lives will be.

4. Life is not about having fun: Despite what the world tells us and the constant bombardment on television for toys and games that appeal to our kids, we were not put on this planet simply to play and have fun. For many of us, this is a tough message but the sooner we learn it, the better off we will be. We need to instill a strong work ethic in our kids and students and teach them how to study and be wise with their time and talents. With the advent of smart phones and the rise of the technology age our kids have more distractions and more games to play than any generation that came before them. Unless we teach them the value and the pleasure of working hard then we are robbing them of their full potential.

5. Pray without ceasing: Prayer for the Christian should be as natural as breathing. This takes time to develop and is not something that will occur without training, instruction and more importantly, example. The best way to teach a strong prayer life is to have and live a strong prayer life. Yes, we need to pray in our prayer closets and in our quiet times but if we are in a position to teach and instruct young people then we also need to pray boldly and unashamedly in front of them. We need to tell them to be honest before God and to take everything to Him. A Christian with a strong prayer life is a Christian that is experiencing a vital life of faith and that is something that we all need.

My people are destroyed (perish) for lack of knowledge. (Hosea 4:6) We teach and instruct because if we don’t our students become easy prey for the evil one and are prone to all kinds of heartache and error. We teach and instruct to keep our kids close to the Lord and to provide them with the tools they need to grow and flourish as men and women of faith. It is our responsibility and we must take it seriously if we are to raise the next generation up to be strong for the Lord.

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: discipleship, instruction in righteousness, teaching

Mercy The Beautiful

October 14, 2014 by Matthew Gaither

Mercy. What a beautiful word when heard and understood by the one who has sinned. God’s mercy is completely inseparable from God’s grace and they can be thought of as two sides of the same coin. Mercy is when we don’t get the punishment that we deserve and grace is when we are given favor that we have not earned. So not only does God withhold sin’s terrible punishment he also blesses us with His favor and ultimately with His only Son, Jesus Christ the Savior of the World. It is by grace through faith that we are saved and the opportunity for God’s grace to be shown is only because he first showed mercy on sinful man.

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

God’s mercy never fails and never falters. Were it not for His mercy this world and everything in it would be consumed and destroyed. Not only does God’s mercy never fail it is also new and sufficient for each new day. Whatever mistake or error we may find ourselves in, God’s mercy has provided for us a way back into fellowship with Him.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

Mercy and grace are available from the Lord at all times and we are invited to come boldly before God in search of it. God wants His people to trust and rely on Him completely and constantly. There is never a time or a circumstance that can keep us from coming boldly before our Heavenly Father who loves us so much. His invitation is open and He waits for us with arms wide open and angelic helpers ready to come to our aid if only we will ask.

Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. (Luke 6:36)

Because we belong to God we are to imitate Him as His dear children. And because He is merciful so to must we be merciful with those around us. We must be merciful when we are wronged and we must forgive those who seek to harm us, be it physically, emotionally or financially. God’s mercy is big enough to cover any sin that we lay at His feet and our mercy must be big enough to cover any sin that is done against us.

Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. (Matthew 5:23-24)

It is so important that we be merciful and forgiving that Jesus specifically said that we should be reconciled to our brother or sister before we make our next offering to God. I believe this verse covers not only our monetary offerings but also our time and talents that we use for the Lord. In other words we must do everything in our power to strive for unity among the brethren and take the initiative in making things right. Only then will we be in a right place to serve the Lord with gladness and to receive His mercy with a clear conscience and a glad heart.

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: grace, mercy, offerings

Defined By What?

October 7, 2014 by Matthew Gaither

I have at least two different sets of circumstances in my life that I wish were completely different. On one of them a minor change would be all it takes to make things right. On the other one, without being too specific, I think the problem requires a larger and more complex solution. In both cases the answer to the dilemma is frustratingly out of my reach.

What do you think has been my response to these problems?

If you said “a lot of prayer” then you would be exactly right. I keep asking the Lord to change my circumstances or, if that isn’t His will, to give me strength to get through it. So far, His strength has been sufficient for me and based on His word I know that it will continue to be. (2 Corinthians 12:9) I am learning to trust in God one step at a time even when I don’t like the looks of my current surroundings and I look forward to seeing the good that God will work from such a time as this.

Unfortunately I have also started to realize that I have let my circumstances define me for far too long.

I have made excuses as to why I can’t love more, pray more and serve more based on how tired and weak I am instead of acting in faith and believing that God would grant me strength to carry out His will, as it is revealed to me. Instead of walking by faith I have walked by sight and I have looked more like a broken down child of the world than a spirit-filled child of the King. Even as I have appeared to be outwardly fine my internal attitude and outlook has been completely colored by my situation.

I am not ok with this.

I am not to be defined by my circumstances nor I am called to expend my time and energy to change them. I was not saved in order to live a trouble free life but in order for God to show His mighty power through my troubles. And my circumstances may not change any time soon but God has granted me the wisdom to just be still and know that He is in control. (Psalm 46:10)

Starting today I choose to be defined by something different. Starting today I choose to be defined by my Heavenly Father, my relationship to His son Jesus Christ and the work that He desires to do in my life. This is what defines me.

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: circumstances, trials, tribulation

Great Desire, Good Direction

September 30, 2014 by Matthew Gaither

You may have heard this phrase before: “You have to want it”. It means that in order to really succeed at something you must desire it and put your heart into the pursuit of it. In human terms this can be a beneficial motivational tool for when we set a goal and then do whatever it takes in order to accomplish that goal.

This also applies to our relationship with Jesus and our spiritual growth. In his book Storyline, author Donald Miller says that “God is a great respecter of boundaries”. If we set a limit on how close we want to be to the Lord and put boundaries on our love and devotion to Him then our spiritual growth is going to fade and our relationship to Him is going to stagnate. This happens to us all too often and many times is unintentional. We begin to slip away and falter when our heart’s desire becomes something other than Jesus.

But when we want more of Him, more of His truth and more of His love then He will always gladly give that to us. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8) Notice the steps here that James lays out for us. We must first draw near to God and then ask for forgiveness with a purity of purpose and a heart that is focused on God. Again it comes back to what we most want and most desire.

And what does the Bible call that which we most desire? “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:20-21)

Our heart will always follow our treasure and our treasure, in this context, is that which we most desire. When we desire the Lord above all He will bless us with His presence and we will grow in Christ. When we desire earthly things we may or may not acquire them but we will most definitely miss God’s best for us as we put our time and energy into temporary things that will not last.

That’s not to say that God does not want us to have affection for anyone or anything other than Him. I truly believe that He wants us to live an abundant life here on Earth and if our priority is Him then we will care about and put our time and attention in to things that He cares about. Our God is a God of love and by loving Him above all we will have the strength to love others and to love truly good things.

It takes discipline and focus to maintain a life that is aimed towards God. It is a growing process that takes prayer, bible study, the encouragement of other believers and most of all a fervent desire for God. Never forget, in order to accomplish it you have to want it. You have to want Him. How much of Him do you want?

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: Desire, James 4:8, Matthew 6:20

How to Survive, Thrive and Prosper in Spiritual Warfare

September 23, 2014 by Matthew Gaither

Do you ever feel like everything is against you? Do you ever feel like no matter how hard you try you end up defeated and discouraged as a Christian? If so, it could be because you aren’t fighting the right battle. And make no mistake, you are fighting a battle whether you realize it or not.

If you are a saved child of God then you have a very real enemy who is not physical but spiritual. Just as God is spirit, so too is the enemy and his minions. This enemy is doing everything in their power to distract, confuse and ultimately discredit you as a Christian. The Apostle Peter said it like this: ⁸Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8) The enemy is in constant search mode looking for Christians who are not vigilant and are not prepared. These are the ones who are easy prey and all too often it is you and I. So then, how do we prepare for and gain victory against such an enemy?

⁴For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (physical) but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

The Apostle Paul understood the battleground. Although the consequences are all too often in the realm of the physical the actual battleground is spiritual. The war is waged in our hearts and minds first and foremost. Sin is birthed in the heart, in our innermost places. The enemy knows our weakest areas and he is just waiting for us to have a vulnerable moment, a bad day or an urge for something or someone so strong that it overcomes our defenses.

Therefore we must have a strong defense. We must have a heart that desires God above all and a mind that wants to know Him more and more. And we must be grounded and rooted in God’s Word so that we do not remain ignorant about our enemy or more importantly, where our victory comes from.

Notice again the verse above: “for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God”. Paul is trying to tell us that even though we won’t be picking up a physical sword or gun to fight the enemy, we still have weapons available to us that are powerful enough to “pull down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God”. God has given us everything we need to be victorious but it is up to us to grow in strength and maturity in Christ.

Prayer is where we must start. A vital prayer life keeps us connected to God in our spirit and helps us to keep our minds centered on God and away from temptation. I pray every single day that God would place a hedge of protection around me and deliver me from the evil one because I know how vulnerable I am without His protection. I recognize my own weakness and in doing so, ask God to give me His strength.

Quoting scripture is also an excellent defense against the powers of darkness. Whenever I am tempted to complain or become discouraged I can always find a verse in God’s Word that lifts me up and encourages me to keep going. I have my own favorites that I have memorized but I urge you to study the Bible and find those verses that really speak to your heart. If you are earnestly searching the Bible for a special word from the Lord then He will always give you exactly what you need.

Bolstered by prayer and armed with God’s Word in your heart you will find your outlook on life much improved. You will succeed where once you failed and you will not be a victim but a conqueror through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: spiritual warfare

Heavenly Hardcore Heroes – Wolves at the Gate Revisited

September 16, 2014 by Matthew Gaither

Sometimes a song touches you so much that it continues to resonate for days and months after you first heard it. Such is the case with “In Your Wake” by Wolves at the Gate.

I have no doubt that Wolves at the Gate is not everyone’s preference in terms of musical style but for those of us who enjoy the harder stuff they are truly a Godsend. “In Your Wake” is my favorite song by Wolves at the Gate in terms of the message and lyrics. I’ve placed the video here so you can listen to the song but even if you don’t care to listen, please at least read the lyrics. I guarantee that they will bless you.

A selfish man, a wretch I do stand, just as you we are
the same
But how is it that justice follows in Your wake and
grace remains?
And grace remains? Your grace remains! Still grace
remains!

This is justice for my wickedness with your Son
descending
Onto this world bearing our sin
We’re helpless in need of Your grace
This freedom is not in our hands
Still Your grace remains

It was not nails that kept You there on that tree
It was not thorns that caused You your pain (fully)
For it was my sin, it was Your burden
It was my sin, it was Your love for me
It was not nails that kept You there on that tree
It was not thorns that caused You your pain (fully)
For it was my sin, it was Your burden
It was my sin, it was Your love for me

Then at the cross You bore my sin
And as You bled You thought of me
And still these bones will cry
Who am I that you would give Your life and die for me?

Not just a myth and not just a story
Becoming my sin and all for His glory
Not just a martyr, not just a saint
He’s risen, alive
Death had no restraint!

Bride, arise! And lift up His holy name
Oh yea bride, arise! And life up His name
It was not nails that kept You there on that tree
It was not thorns that caused You your pain (fully)
For it was my sin, it was Your burden
It was my sin, it was Your love for me

Then at the cross You bore my sin
And as You bled You thought of me
And still these bones will cry
Who am I that you would give Your life and die for me?

The line that always gets me is “And as you bled you thought of me”. Imagine, the King of the Universe and the Creator of Life itself bruised, broken, bleeding and dieing. During his agony I was in his thoughts. And so were you. So great was His love for His precious children that was willing to endure unspeakable agony and humiliation. This was the price he paid for my redemption. Praise God!

Thank you once again, Wolves at the Gate, for writing a song that blesses and inspires God’s people. My heart is full today because of your music and the meaning behind it.

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: "In Your Wake", wolves at the gate

Is Baptism Part of God’s Salvation Plan?

September 8, 2014 by Matthew Gaither

Despite salvation and baptism being core beliefs for most Christians there are still many who do not understand them and why they are so important. God’s plan for salvation should not be confusing or difficult to understand and with a careful study of His book (The Bible) we can know and understand the truth. And once we know and understand the truth, we can walk in it.

Salvation is many things. Primarily it is the way in which God redeems or “saves” sinful man from death and hell and unto life eternal. But salvation is also the way in which we who were once spiritually dead are made alive in Christ. When we are saved we receive the Holy Spirit who in turn regenerates our spirits so that we can commune with God Almighty. (1 Peter 4:6) We have instant and forever access to the very throne room of God in prayer because of the sacrifice on the cross by Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 4:14-16) And we are changed day by day in a process called sanctification to be more like Christ. (Romans 6:22). This is just a small overview of what salvation does in the life of a human being. Words alone are not sufficient; salvation must be experienced and lived. Only when you have been changed from the inside out through God’s continued presence in your life can you really begin to understand salvation.

Baptism is the act of immersion in water which is often found in scripture at or near the time of salvation. The first recorded baptism in scripture is when John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the river Jordan. At Jesus’ ascension after his resurrection he commanded his disciples to baptize all nations in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Baptism is a picture of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. The act of going under the water for a few moments and then being raised out of the water is a way we show that our old life has been put to death and our new life in Christ is beginning.

It is important to note that in the New Testament whenever someone was baptized it was always after they had expressed belief and thus had experienced salvation. In other words, salvation is God’s gift to us when we believe and baptism is how we show others that we have started a new life in faith. Baptism does not save and being immersed in water by a ritual will do no more than get you wet if you have not believed in your heart and confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. Here are some example scriptures showing the order of salvation and baptism: Acts 2:41, Acts 8:35-38, Acts 10:47-48 and Acts 16:31-33. Notice that in all cases, belief and confession occurred before baptism was was carried out.

Finally, it is also important to point out that baptism is not required for salvation to occur. Romans 10:9-10 gives the complete process for salvation:

“if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; ¹⁰for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

Baptism is important to God. He instituted the practice through his Son Jesus Christ. We are baptized to show our faith in Him and to identify ourselves with His death, burial and resurrection. I would never downplay or minimize the importance of baptism in the life of a believer. But according to God’s own Word baptism is not salvation and is not required for a person to be saved. Furthermore, baptism always follows belief and confession in the New Testament and that is the order that God would have us to follow as well.

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: baptism, salvation

Defense Against Bad Ideas

August 12, 2014 by Matthew Gaither

Now that we have established where bad ideas come from we need to carefully consider how we can defend against them. Despite the best efforts of the powers of darkness and despite our own fallen nature we can have victory over evil in this life. We live in a corrupted world and we inhabit corrupted bodies of flesh with an inborn sinful nature but God has not left us without the power to overcome.

What is this power to overcome and what are the tools that God has given us to do good and not evil? Here is how I see it:

Our first line of defense is and will always be our salvation and regeneration made possible by Christ’s sacrifice. Because he died in my place my spirit has been born anew and in my body of death I now hold the spirit of life (2 Corinthians 4:7-12). This is a powerful truth and it is the foundation for our eternal hope and our assured victory.

Even so, just because we are born again does not mean that God will not allow us to make bad choices or fall to temptation if we are bound and determined to do so. Even as a saved child of God our ability to choose is sacrosanct. And without proper training and maturity in God’s word we will continue to make bad choices even while we are on the path to life eternal.

After salvation, we must commit ourselves to growth and maturity. Just like a baby animal is no match for a predator, we are no match for the schemes of the evil one while we are still babes in Christ. We need knowledge of God’s word (The Bible), we need to develop an active and vital prayer life and we need to surround ourselves with mature believers who can hold us up and keep us accountable while we grow.

Study of God’s word accompanied by prayer will allow the Holy Spirit to speak directly to our hearts and grow us in grace and truth. God’s word is alive and is able to speak to us right where we are as it teaches us and improves our weak areas. (Hebrews 4:12) In this way we develop a strong foundation that is able to withstand times of trouble and temptation.

We must also surround ourselves with those who can teach us and guide us in this life of faith. Believers who have been through what we are going through and can provide Godly wisdom will keep us in good stead as we grow. We are commanded by God’s word to help each other and support each other (Galatians 6:2) in love and an active, vibrant life of faith is made possible by the support of other believers.

These are the foundation on which we build our defense against bad ideas and temptation to sin. Still, as we grow in faith and maturity we must also learn where we are weak and what we need to avoid. There are more distractions than ever for Christians in the world today and nothing will choke our desire for God faster than the cares of this life. We must guard our hearts and keep our desire for God and His law above all else. If our main goal is always to love the Lord with all we have then we will not find ourselves often going wrong. (Mark 12:30)

We can have victory because Christ has already won the war. Our part is simply to continue in faith and make good choices based on God’s word and the Holy Spirit’s instruction to us. Our defense is sure when we stand on the rock of truth.

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: bible study, church attendance, prayer, salvation

Where Do Bad Ideas Come From?

August 6, 2014 by Matthew Gaither

As I was heading out to get lunch one day this week I had an unusual thought pop in to my mind. I was thinking about the movie “Amazing Grace” and the whole topic of human slavery (the movie’s central theme is the abolition of slavery in England) and I had to ask “where does such a horrible idea come from?” Who first came up with the idea of treating human beings as objects to be used and abused for free labor or worse? What makes one person completely strip the humanity from an entire people group and then decide to forcibly remove them from their home so that they can be used as slaves on a different continent?

The easy answer would be to say that humans come up with bad ideas all on our own. We’ve been practicing slavery in one way or another since the beginning of recorded history and it’s still going on today in some parts of the world. And of course as horrible as slavery is it is by no means the only bad idea that we’ve come up with. Our history books are littered with people who had bad ideas and the terrible fallout that came after beginning with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

But even that wasn’t the original bad idea. The original bad idea came from the place where bad ideas still come from today. The original bad idea came from Lucifer who wanted to set himself up higher than God. Before mankind existed Lucifer decided that his way was better than God’s way and rebellion entered his heart. His fall his recorded in Isaiah 14:12-14

“How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’

His “I will” statements are a case study in how bad ideas are formed. Anytime you or I or any created thing decides in our heart to act outside of God’s law and God’s way, evil occurs. The beginning of evil is Lucifer himself who was the original rebel against God. All rebellion against God since that time can be traced back to his influence including man’s fall in the Garden where he played the part of the serpent who tempted Eve.

The application is this: Lucifer is still plotting and whispering bad ideas to anyone who will listen and with our rebellious nature he has found willing participants for his schemes. But, as we discovered last week we have the power to choose to do good and not evil. God has given us everything that we require if we will only put it to use. He has given us new life through His son Jesus Christ and He has put His Spirit in us as a guide and teacher. He has also given us His instruction book in the form of the Bible as well as our brothers and sisters in Christ who comfort us and share in our journey.

Next week we will examine more closely the tools that God has given us to overcome evil and to choose the right path in every situation. Until then, may God bless your faithfulness.

Filed Under: Daily Tagged With: Choice, Evil, Isaiah