Wow! This stuff really works

Should it be any surprise to us that the principles of the Bible actually work? But how often are we still surprised when we see how efficiently the truth can actually bring results when we exercise it?

It is all by Grace through faith

It is so important that we come back again and again to the fundamentals of what it means to walk by faith in the grace of God, and not get all tied up in theological knots trying to be a good Christian. Even Jesus said when someone called HIm ‘good’ teacher, “Hey, quit with the good thing – only One is worthy of that accolade and that is God HImself!

“Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”” Matthew 19:16-17

Now, we all know that Jesus Himself was perfect, and deserving of this attribution, yet He gave us an example here to follow – It’s not about us or our goodness – its all about Him and what He has done for us and is doing in us.

The Cart before the Horse syndrome

Ever present is the religious pitfall of hitching the cart and the horse the wrong way round. Our outward life follows our inner reality. We don’t get right with God by doing right – we do right because we are already right with God apart from our own efforts – through plain and simple faith in Jesus Christ.

Once that inner reality is established, the rest will naturally follow.

Getting that horse to go in the right direction!

And so to another truth that never tires however many times we revisit it. Just as any vehicle needs to be steered in the right direction, so our life has a rudder that turns the whole ship, and we have our hand on the rudder together with the Holy Spirit.

Proverbs 18:21 puts it this way:

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.”

James says:

“A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse.
A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds.
A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!”
James 3:3-5

The words we choose to speak have such a profound affect on the direction our emotions, out thoughts and our life will take.

Are you like Joshua, looking across to a promised land and wondering how to cross over from where you stand today and finally taste those grapes and honey? God had an answer for Joshua, and He has one for you and I today…

“This Book of the Law (the Word of God) shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate (think on, speak out) in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8

Certainly the Bible is not shy to say that without God’s help we will find it difficult (impossible is the word) to keep out tongue in check, but praise God, with HIm all things are possible.

Here’s to your prosperity and good success in all the affairs of life. And that by grace!