coram Deo

Yes, that title is in Latin. No, I haven't gone and learned Latin on you. However, I did learn what this means recently. Would you like to know? It means essentially living in the face of God. Ok, what does that mean, you ask? It means living out our lives, each day, as though we are right in front of God's face.

A Christ follower should already be doing this, but how often have you actually stopped to think about this? Are you living your life as though God is watching your every move, your every step, and your every action? He is, you know. What does He see?

Because I am a sinner, I know that there are some things God sees in my life, that I'm sure He does NOT want to see. Though I do live my life each day, trying not to do these things. What kinds of things does God see in your life, that you think He wouldn't want to see?

For me, these are just a few of the things that I am aware of, that I know He doesn't want to see. Sometimes, I am selfish. I think I deserve more than I'm getting, and I even if I don't let the feeling be known to the people around me, He knows. Sometimes, I'm not honest. I can justify it all I want, and call it a little white lie, but a lie is a lie, period. Even lying by omission, is still lying. Sometimes I exaggerate. Guess what...That's lying too. Sometimes I'm lazy. Ever heard of the "deadly sins"? This is one of them. Sometimes I'm proud, and unsubmissive. Sometimes, I'm judgemental. Sometimes, I'm angry and say hurtful things. Sometimes, I'm covetous. I want things I don't have, sometimes. Come to think of it, I am constantly sinning in some way. I don't mean to, and I don't want to, but I do it nonetheless. How about you? Got any sins you need to acknowledge?

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but [how] to perform what is good I do not find. Romans 7:18 NKJV

Now being a sinner, does not necessarily make you what we humans think of as a "bad person". However, remember what Scripture says:

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 NKJV

Guess what, that means that as far as God is concerned, you are a "bad person." So, does this then mean that we can continue on the way that we do, just because it's not humanly possible to be perfect (for those of us that are not Jesus)? Um, NO!!! We must endeavor each day to be sinless. Though we are justified by faith, because of our faith, we do works. Through these works, we prove that our faith is genuine. So, today, I'd like to challenge you to really live coram Deo. I'm going to be praying that God gives me a spirit of humility, and submission to His will for my life, so that each day I get closer and closer to righteousness. I'll never get there of my own will, that's for sure. One last Scripture for you to meditate on:

I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me. Jeremiah 33:8 NKJV

Just remember, this is God speaking. He will cleanse us, He will pardon our iniquities. But we must acknowledge them first, and we must be willing to let Him do His work within us. Blessings to you!

There is no "MORE" to this post.

photo courtesy of 0 W8ing

Jars of Clay

Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? Romans 9:21 NKJV

Did you know that we are like jars of clay? That God has made us each, one for honor and another for dishonor? It's true. There are some jars of clay used in ancient times that were used to house valuable scrolls, and others that were used for human waste. The jar was not what was of value. The contents were the thing of importance (or non-importance, as the case may be), always.

So it is with us. It is not our outward appearances that hold value; or the things that we own, or the things that we can do. It is what is inside of us. Our love and hope in the Lord. The Holy Spirit inside of us that gives us our value as Christ followers. What then should we do with this knowledge?

As we know this, we should always seek the Holy Spirit's guidance, in everything we do, so that we can always have valuable contents. It is what we do with the talents, gifts and material wealth that He has given us, that gives our "jar" it's value. Do you listen to the Holy Spirit's convictions of you daily? Do you read your Bible, so that you may know what the will of God is in your life? If not, I pray that you meditate on this thought today.

What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. As it is written: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." Romans 9:30-33 NKJV

I put this before you today, because recently, I have had the opportunity to study about Levitical law, and whether or not it applies to believers today. (I'm not talking about the "Ten Commandments"- that's Mosaic law.) And I have learned that it is not the law that is the important contents. It is faith in Him. Righteousness is by faith, just as it was for Abraham. Remember, he did not have the law to follow. What is in your jar??? Blessings to you!

There is no "MORE" to this post.
Photo courtesy of merfam

Choosing This Day by Shalene

...choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15 NKJV (emphasis mine)

In the days of Noah, there was sin rampant on the earth. (Genesis 6:5) Only Noah was found to be righteous. (Genesis 6:8) Why is that? Because he walked with God. (Genesis 6:9) What does it mean then, to "walk with God"? It means to choose every day, every moment to be in continued communion with God. Nelson's NKJV Study Bible describes this verb halak as having connotations "of a habitual manner of life or a constant relationship with God."

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Galations 5:16 NKJV

He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. 1 John 2:6 NKJV

How then can we be righteous in the eyes of the Lord? By walking with Him continually. You must "choose this day", everyday.

How is it that we do not "walk with the Lord"? We do this by bowing down to our sinfulness, our "gods", if you will.

To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal
And compare Me, that we should be alike?
They lavish gold out of the bag,
And weigh silver on the scales;
They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god;
They prostrate themselves, yes, they worship.
They bear it on the shoulder, they carry it
And set it in its place, and it stands;
From its place it shall not move.
Though one cries out to it, yet it cannot answer
Nor save him out of his trouble. Isaiah 46:5-7 NKJV

By choosing each day to walk with God, we are choosing each day to die to ourselves, and our sinful natures. We cannot go wrong if we remember that nothing is outside of God's plan, that there is nothing that God can't do. We can say that about no other thing or person. Won't you choose today, to walk with God? Choose righteousness today, choose it every moment, every minute, and you will become Christlike.

Pray with me:
--Lord, today I pray that you help me to walk with you every minute of every day. That I can be seen as walking with You, in everything I do and say. I pray that I am a Light to Your Truth, and that Your Name be glorified alone. I pray these things in Jesus Holy Name. Amen

There is no "MORE" to this post.