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After Jesus healed the man with with leprosy, the man fell down on his face at Jesus feet, giving Him thanks. Luke 17:16

Believers are grateful to God for His personal concern, mercy, and help. Not only does Abba, Father, forgive, protect, and guide us, everything we need He provides through His creation.

 Recognizing the advantages of knowing God enables us to appropriately convey our gratitude towards Him. By thanking God often, we develop spontaneity in our prayer life. Grateful Christians deepen their understanding of God’s grace.

 While God does not demand gratitude, He is pleased by gratitude and uses gratefulness to teach us about himself.

In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not withhold your hand; For you do not know which will prosper, either this or that, or whether both alike will be good (Ecclesiastes 11:6).

Solomon in Ecclesiastes 9:10 says “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.”

We reflect God’s character through faithfulness, forgiveness, patience, and kindness. One’s self-worth comes from being made in God’s image, not from possessions, achievements, looks, or fame.

As His image bearers we share some of His characteristics thus we can appreciate our self-worth and know He values us. Knowing that we are valuable to our Heavenly Father, helps us love and connect personally with Him and serve others.

Some say that as His image bearers the people of God can reflect His glory, with their creativity, speech, self- determination, and reason. God is our Creator therefore we will never be fully like Him.

Thank you, Father, for creating us in your image and giving us the Holy Spirit to reflect your character.

Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2:8

Only Christ not man-made approaches or solutions that disregard God is the answer to the problems in life. In resisting heresy study God’s words and keep your eyes on Christ.

 The idols of the nations are silver and gold,  The work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; they have ears, but they do not hear;  Nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them are like them;  So is everyone who trusts in them.” Psalm135: 15-18 NKJV

So listen and your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. Isaiah  30:21 ESV

“Oh yes, people of Zion, citizens of Jerusalem, your time of tears is over. Cry for help and you’ll find it’s grace and more grace. The moment he hears, he’ll answer. Just as the Master kept you alive during the hard times, he’ll keep your teacher alive and present among you. Your teacher will be right there, local and on the job, urging you on whenever you wander left or right: “This is the right road. Walk down this road.” You’ll scrap your expensive and fashionable god-images. You’ll throw them in the trash as so much garbage, saying, “Good riddance!” Isaiah  30:19-22 MSG

Then follow TheWay of Jesus Christ the path of life that is right. John 14:6; Acts 9:2; and Isaiah 35:8.

When thinking like Christ believers must avoid hatred and anger and have right relationships with God and others. Jesus did not associate or follow all the traditions of wicked notorious people such as the Pharisees who rejected Him, even though He was committed to God and respected the law. Jesus had compassion on multitudes of people and healed many of their afflictions and diseases.

Remember what the word of God says “But we have the mind of Christ” meaning believers share Jesus’s purpose, plan, and perspective.

The mind of Christ? 

1. Having the mind of Christ means understanding God’s plan for the world. 

2. Sharing His compassion, humility, and obedience. 
3. Identifying with His purpose to save and seek what was lost. 
4. Having discernment in spiritual matters.

  Mark 2:6,16; Matthew 5:20-22; 14:14; Matthew 23:1-36; Luke 6:2; Luke 7:36-47; 1 Corinthians 2:16

Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls. Proverbs 25:28

Self-control may limit us; However, self-control is essential in Kingdom leaders and people. An out-of-control life is open to all types of attacks from the enemy. Think of self-control as a barrier for protection and defense.

Self control is achieved by:

• Submitting one’s feelings and thoughts to the Holy Spirit 
• Seeking God for strength and perspective to manage your emotions 
• Saying “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions
• Living a godly, upright, and self-controlled life

 

“God alone knows the way to Wisdom, he knows the exact place to find it. He knows where everything is on earth, he sees everything under heaven.

After he commanded the winds to blow and measured out the waters, Arranged for the rain and set off explosions of thunder and lightning.

He focused on Wisdom, made sure it was all set and tested and ready. Then he addressed the human race: ‘Here it is!
 Fear-of-the-Lord—that’s Wisdom, and Insight means shunning evil.”

Job 28:23-28 MSG

Psalm 46:1-7

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.  

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; He lifts his voice, the earth melts.The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Throughout biblical history, the word of God teaches that God is pleased with various aromas from burnt offerings, grain offerings of baked pieces of bread, and wine. He no longer is pleased with aromas from sin offerings or other offerings described in the Old Testament because Jesus was our sin offering (Hebrews13:10-12, CSB).

Pleasing Aromas?

God wants to smell aromas that are pleasing to Him, aromas that are spread through His gathered people who serve Him and whom themselves have been a pleasing aroma to Him. These aromas arise from faith, the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and Him, and the movement of the sweet message of the gospel.

May we give off the aromas that are pleasing to God and give life.

Genesis 8:21; Exodus 29:18; Leviticus 1:29; 6:19-21; Numbers 15:7; Ezekiel 20:39-41; Hebrews 11:6; 2 Corinthians 2:14-16