Author: Brian Burdett

“Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous works.”
– Psalm 119:27

The more we read God’s Word, the Bible, for ourselves, the better we understand it. The more we invest in learning to understand the Bible, the better we appreciate its elegance, truth, and perfection. The more we understand God’s Word, the easier it is to worship and praise God for in it we see His beauty, wisdom, kindness, mercy, grace, justice, holiness, righteousness, power, and goodness unfold from beginning to end across all of time.

The more we meditate on God, praise God, and worship God, the more we want to understand the elegance and beauty of God’s Word. There’s a beautiful, beneficial spiral of spiritual growth between our reading and studying of the Bible and our love, devotion, and worship of God. Our personal reading and study of the Bible fuels our worship and our worship fuels our hunger for God’s Word.

It can be hard work to begin reading the Bible for yourself. It can feel intimidating. Read it anyway. Find a daily reading plan and start reading part of the Bible every single day. If you’re a Christian, you already have the most important thing you need to understand the Bible – the Holy Spirit. The more you read and study, the easier it will become to read and understand. The more times you read the Bible, the more it will make sense. As you read and study, your awe and love for God will grow. As your awe and love for God grows, you will more eagerly read and study. Don’t delay – read the Bible today!

“Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” – Ephesians 1:14

Everyone who trusts in Jesus Christ as their Lord is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. We are sealed by the Spirit as proof that we are authentically children of God, adopted by our Father in Heaven. The Holy Spirit does many things in and through us. One of the most basic, and precious, aspects of having the Spirit is that He is our certain proof of an infinitely greater tomorrow. During our brief mortal life, the Spirit is the constant presence of God in and with us. In this respect, He’s also the proof and guarantee that our eternal future will be spent in the visible presence of God.

The work of the Spirit in us – comforting us, convicting us of sin, transforming us, gifting us, and producing fruit in us – reminds us that while our current blessings in Christ are extraordinary, our true inheritance is our forever home in the presence of God. During this life, we’ll have struggles and setbacks, triumphs and tragedies. Through it all, the Spirit’s presence reminds us that our greatest blessings and our inheritance which can’t ever be taken from us are with the Lord. The Spirit gives us confidence that soon enough, we’ll spend unending years enjoying the glorious presence of God the Father and Jesus the Son.

In this life, we’re called to cultivate the life and work of the Spirit. We’re to avoid quenching or grieving the Spirit, instead walking in step with Him. This isn’t just for temporary earthly gain, but to assure us of the glorious inheritance that awaits us!

“For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” – Galatians 6:8

Many people who profess to love Jesus, faithfully attend church, and serve consistently still continue to sow to the flesh rather than the Spirit. They make excuses, explain away bad behaviors, or claim that’s just how they are. Of course, that’s how you are if you’re still spiritually dead in your sins! However, if you’re alive in Christ, your old nature is the opposite of how you’re called and empowered to be in the Spirit. Jesus saved you and now He plans to change you!

Consider carefully… Are you:

• Routinely angry, argumentative, contentious, or engaged in conflicts? If so, you’re still sowing to the flesh!
• Indulging lust or practicing sexual immorality? You’re still sowing to the flesh!
• Selfishly ambitious, uncaring about those around you? You’re still sowing to the flesh!
• Envious of others and what they have? You’re still sowing to the flesh!
• Creating, supporting, or participating in factions and divisions within your church? You’re still sowing to the flesh!
• Abusing alcohol or other drugs? You’re still sowing to the flesh!

We all sin and if we repent and confess our sin, there’s plentiful grace to cover anything. Nonetheless, if Jesus really is your Lord, you must work diligently in the power of the Spirit to sow to the Spirit. Be honest with yourself and stop sowing to your flesh!

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” – Galatians 5:13

If you are in Christ, if He is your Lord, then you have been set free! For what purpose? How should you use your blood-bought freedom in Jesus Christ??? By going wild and doing whatever you feel like? No! By sitting around in leisure, entertaining yourself to death? No! By making it clear to everyone that nobody is the boss of you except yourself? No!

The precious freedom we enjoy in Jesus Christ – freedom from death, freedom from sin’s power, freedom from the burden of the law – is meant for far better purposes than all that. Our freedom isn’t about us at all. Our freedom is given to us so that we can live like Jesus, including the really hard and painful parts. We’re set free to practice love toward all in the church (including the unlovable folks) and to voluntarily serve one another, regardless of whether anyone “deserves” to be served.

Every Christian is a citizen of God’s Kingdom. In God’s Kingdom our calling is to freely love and serve each other. Not ourselves and not merely those we prefer to serve or enjoy serving. We must love and serve each other throughout the church. Freedom is a wondrous gift that unlocks not the joy of selfishness, but the joy of selflessness. Submit to one another freely. Serve one another voluntarily. Love one another unconditionally. Use your freedom as Christ intended!

“The Lord preserves the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
Return, O my soul, to your rest;
for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.”
– Psalm 116:6-7

Earthly life in Christ isn’t going to look like an unending series of successes and happy days. There will be hard times, seasons of pain, and long days of doubt and despair. But God is with you in those times! He hears your cries and knows when to strengthen you for the battle and when to rescue or restore your hope and your heart.

Whatever the backstory is to Psalm 116, the psalmist clearly went through a terrible trial. Nonetheless, God was faithful and never abandoned him. At the right time, God provided rescue and the psalmist could clearly see Him at work. This psalm provides a great example of how to suffer through and reflect on difficulties in a spirit of faith. Looking back, the psalmist can see God’s presence and sustaining power. He can see God’s hand at work in his rescue and know that God never abandoned or ignored his suffering. He is able to rest peacefully in the assurance of God’s steadfast love.

Likewise, you can be confident in God’s wisdom, presence, and power, even when you feel all alone. Don’t let your feelings fool you! If you are in Christ, God is with you. He hears you. He loves you. He is for you. Pray for your soul to find rest in Him during times of turmoil.