God said, “I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me In righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, and you shall know the Lord.” A relationship, where believers will have a personal and intimate communion with God.
And neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’
All believers are called to “Be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that [they] were called to this, that [they] may inherit a blessing.
For He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.”
Our Heavenly Father has emphasized in His word to fear not, for He has redeemed you. He has called you by name. You are His. “I am the Lord your God, the holy one of Israel, your savior.” Because you are precious in my eyes and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, people in exchange for your life” (Isaiah 43:1,3, 4-5 ESV).
God said He will call everyone who is called by His name, whom He created for His glory, whom He formed and made. He will bring all the people who are blind yet have eyes and who are deaf yet have ears, gathering the nations and assembling the people to testify the truth. “You are God’s witnesses, declares the Lord. And my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am He (Isaiah 43:6-10).” Jesus is the “Chosen One” (Luke 9:35), and His mandate is the “Great Commission” to advance the gospel globally (Matthew 28:19-20). The Holy Spirit is granted to all believers, both male and female, whom He empowers for witness (Acts 1:8).
As witnesses of God in advancing the gospel, it is a believer’s duty always to uphold integrity before the world. This is demonstrated in scripture by the many remarks from the authorities in Acts about followers of Christ, such as Apostle Paul, who gave no evidence of any wrongdoing, who could not be charged with any criminal activities, or with nothing deserving death or imprisonment (Acts 18:12-15; 23:29).
In the Old Testament, God informs Solomon to walk before Him, as his father David walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, according to all He has commanded and keeping His statutes and His rules (1 Kings 9:4). Showing oneself in all respects to be a model of good works and in one’s teaching, to show integrity …(Titus 2:7). This responsibility and accountability should inspire us to uphold integrity in our daily lives in glorifying God and advancing the Kingdom of God.
Jesus’ heartfelt High Priestly prayer to God in John 17, Jesus prayed to the Father that those who are His be kept in the world and kept from the evil one, for they are not of the world, just as He is not of the world, but sent into the world (John 17: 10,15-16, 18). Jesus prayed, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me” (John 17:21-23).
Jesus’ prayer in John 17 also reveals the purpose of believers’ existence in the world. He asked the Father to sanctify them with the truth (John 17:17), and He sent them into the world with a clear mission. This mission includes not loving the world, as the world system, with all its desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not from the Father but from the world (1 John 2:15-17). This underscores the distinctiveness of believers and their mission to live according to the truth, not conforming to the world’s ways. But be one even as Jesus and the Father are one perfectly, so that the world may know that God sent Jesus and loved them even as God loved Jesus (John 17:21). Being united as one. The union with God may cause the world to believe the Father sent the Son. This unity is shown by loving one’s brothers and sisters in Christ, proving that one is His disciple (John 13: 34-35). Read and study Jesus’ High Priestly prayer in John 17 and reflect on what it means to you as one of Christ and the Father’s own. Blessings and love from the Father.
God said to Moses, “Iam who Iam” (Exodus 3:14). I am your shield… (Genesis 15:1). I am your Lord is anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27). Iam God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless (Genesis 17:1). Iam gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:29). Iam the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst (John 6:35). Iam the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh ( John 6:51).
Iam the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life (John 8:12). Iam the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me (John 8:18). Iam the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live (John 11:25). Iam the door of the sheep, Iam the good shepherd, I know my own, and my own know me (John 10: 9,14). Iam the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6). Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, Iam (John 8:58).
‘Iam the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob (Matthew 22:32). And Iam with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). Iam the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, “Who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty, “Fear not, Iam the first and the last, I died, and behold Iam alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades (Revelation 1:8, 17-18). Iam he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works (Revelation 2:23). Iam coming soon. Hold fast to what you have so that no one may seize your crown (Revelation 3:11).”
“Behold, Iam coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on so that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed (Revelation 16:15). Iam making all things new ( Revelation 21:5), and then Jesus will say, It is done! Iam the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty, I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment (Revelation 21:6). And behold, Iam coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book (Revelation 22:7).”
“Who do you say that Iam? (Matthew 16:15). What is your answer? Will it be “You are the Son of God, Messiah, High Priest, Good Shepherd, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords (Mark 9:7; John 10:36; John 4:26; John 10:9; Hebrews 4:14; Revelation 19:16).
In Christ, who are you imitating? Apostle Paul explains to the Corinthians that he became their father in Christ Jesus, and they were to be imitators of him (1 Corinthians 4:15-17, ESV). And that was the reason he sent Timothy to them. Timothy was his faithful and beloved child in the lord to remind the Corinthians of his ways in Christ. Apostle Paul goes on to say, give no offense, just as he tried to please everyone in everything … they were to be imitators of him as he was of Christ (1 Corinthians 10: 32—11:1).
Apostle Paul expresses to the Philippians, as brothers, they are to join in imitating him but keep their eyes on those who walk, according to the example that they have seen in him and Timothy (Philippians 3:17). He encourages the Philippians by emphasizing that what they have learned, received, heard and seen in him they should practice those things (Philippians 4:9). Paul warns against idleness in 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9, to the Thessalonians that they themselves know how they ought to imitate him and Timothy, that he and Timothy were not idle. Therefore giving them an example to imitate. Apostle Paul exhorted Timothy and told him that he had followed his conduct, his patience, his teaching, his goal in life, his faith, his love, his steadfastness, his persecutions, and his sufferings (2 Timothy 3:10-11). So, who are you following or imitating? Is it someone who imitates Christ?
Witty, wondrous, and wise. Don’t be surprised. Ominous, osculating, outspoken. She is no token. Meaningful, mellow mentor. She is no mere vendor. Amorous, awesome, accredited. There is no way she can be edited. Nurturing, novice, and notable.
Woman
Reading: Proverbs 31:19, 20, 25, 26
She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
Wind Gust 