First Thing's First

Who is God?  Who is Jesus Christ?  What is the Holy Spirit?  Well, for many individuals these questions come easily answered.  However, for others, these questions are difficult in nature to believe or answer.  Peoples’ personal backgrounds help shape them into how they are able to answer these questions.  As children, many individuals are taken to church by their parents or grandparents and taught all about the Lord.  For others, church was not that big a deal for their families growing up.

So back to the main questions:  Who is God; who is Jesus Christ; and what is the Holy Spirit?  God is our Father, who art in Heaven.  Yes, our Father, who created the heaven and the earth (Genesis 1:1 KJV).  Everything that ever was, ever is, and ever will be is fashioned by the hand of God.  He is the one true being in existence who sees all, hears all, knows all, tells all, shows all, assists all,  blesses all, and even disciplines all according to His Will, glory, and benefit. 

Next, who is Jesus Christ?  Jesus Christ is God made flesh, into the form of man, to come down and use His earthly created body as a sacrifice for everyone’s sins (John 3:16 KJV).  These sins are for everyone that existed during his time as he walked the earth, and for future individuals like you and me, and for many, many more generations to come after us, until the end of the world.    

The Holy Spirit, or Holy Ghost, is the essence of God as if He were still here as man in the flesh, Jesus Christ, giving us insight and knowledge of the truth of His word.  The Holy Spirit is the soft calling-feeling we feel whenever we are called to do something good for another.  And, on the contrary, it is the disapproving voice on the inside of us when we know we are not doing the right thing (Romans 8:9 KJV).

Take Heart; Delight in the Lord

Have you ever wondered how often people tend to doubt themselves throughout the day?  How ineffectual they sometimes must feel whenever compared to another person?  Or doubt their personal characteristics and abilities whenever they see someone else who seems to have it all?  If you answered yes to any of these, then do not fear; take heart, and delight in the Lord.

God has you perfectly and intricately designed just as He would have you to be.  For He created your inmost being, knitting you together in your mother's womb (Psalm 139:13-14 KJV).

So often times we tend to forget God is in charge of our lives.  All accomplishments, praises, and things given to us in good gifts are from God, our Father (James 1:17 KJV).

As trials and tribulations work their way into our lives, we should consider them all as joy, for the Lord is testing us in that He may strengthen us in accordance to His good works, glory, and Will (James 1:2-4 KJV).  And, during the times whenever life becomes difficult, always reflect on this one thing about yourself:  take heart, and delight in the Lord!

The Heaven and the Earth

Is it not a  great delight to awaken unto a bright, sunny morning?  Or to smile from a song bird's sounds?  To feel a loved one near you, close by?  Many of us would agree with these factors.  However, as most of us sleep throughout the night, our areas probably resemble dark, quiet, and still places; absent of light, peace, calmness, or love.  Such can be like in our own existence today.

Just as how  we rest at night, so was the like manner in how the world was formed.  In Genesis 1:2 it is written, "The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was  upon the face of the deep."  As humans, we have a lot of darkness surrounding us, and sometimes within us as well.

Nevertheless, in all our darkness, God is able to mend us into what it is He would have us to be, for His glory, benefit, and Will.  As the earth was transformed and made whole and given light, so can our lives be through the goodness of Christ Jesus (Genesis 1:3 KJV).

Many of us often feel unworthy to ask the Lord for help out of our dark places.  He is our Father, and desires to help us through our faith, and wants us to accept His continued grace and mercy (Romans 5:2 KJV).  But living out of darkness can only be done by accepting God's gift of light for our lives.

God's Own Fear

Have you ever wondered why your life might not be going your way?  Why your children are disrespectful, or frustrations present themselves so?  Why one minute situations arise in negative fashion, or in another days are more happy-go-lucky?  Do these things make you afraid?  Do they make God?

In apprehension, it is human nature to have fear and doubt.  However, God tells us not to fear because He is with us always (Psalm 115:11 KJV).  The Lord longs to be our provider and protector, and promises these truths to us as well.  It is His desire for us to come to Him for assistance in times of need and anxiety.

The Lord is gracious, slow to anger, and exceedingly patient (Psalm 103:8 KJV).  His love for us is perfect, and drives away all fear within us (1John 4:18 KJV).  In complete love, there is no fear.

Being as how God is perfect, so are His ways perfect, and He shows us this perfect love by how we love others.  And, by how the way we love others, we have no fear of them because we love them through Christ who first loved us, by dying for our sins on the cross (John 3:16 KJV).

So, does God have fear?  No.  He has an everlasting desire for us to love Him, and for us to love each other through His example; to come to repentance and righteousness through His unfailing love for us, by His most everlasting, wonderful doctrine, bestowed unto us, His Holy Bible.