Let Us Believe As We Say And Live As We Believe

Prayer-Soldier

Let Us Believe As We Say And Live As We Believe

Scripture:

Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people wickedly transgressed according to all the abominations of the Gentiles: and they defiled the house of the Lord, which he had sanctified to himself in Jerusalem. And the Lord the God of their fathers sent to them, by the hand of his messengers, rising early, and daily admonishing them: because he spared his people and his dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused the prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, and there was no remedy.

And the enemies set fire to the house of God, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burnt all the towers, and whatsoever was precious they destroyed. Whosoever escaped the sword, was led into Babylon, and there served the king and his sons till the reign of the king of Persia. That the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremias might be fulfilled, and the land might keep her Sabbaths: for all the days of the desolation she kept a Sabbath, till the seventy years were expired. But in the first year of Cyrus king of the Persians, to fulfill the word of the Lord, which he had spoken by the mouth of Jeremias, the Lord stirred up the heart of Cyrus king of the Persians who commanded it to be proclaimed through all his kingdom, and by writing also, saying: Thus says Cyrus king of the Persians: All the kingdoms of the earth has the Lord the God of heaven given to me, and he has charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judea: who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up. (2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23)

But God, (who is rich in mercy,) for his exceeding charity wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together in Christ, (by whose grace you are saved,) And has raised us up together, and has made us sit together in the heavenly places, through Christ Jesus. That he might show in the ages to come the abundant riches of his grace, in his bounty towards us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, for it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man may glory. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus in good works, which God has prepared that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:4-10)

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believes in him, may not perish; but may have life everlasting. For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believes in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting. For God sent not his Son into the world, to judge the world, but that the world may be saved by him. He that believes in him is not judged. But he that does not believe, is already judged: because he believes not in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the judgment: because the light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the light: for their works were evil. For every one that does evil hates the light, and comes not to the light, that his works may not be reproved. But he that does truth, comes to the light, that his works may be made manifest, because they are done in God. (John 3:14-21)

Reflection:

As peoples and nations drift from Him and the ways of His Word, they fall to troubles, turmoil and strife. The evil one lays in wait to claim their hearts and to set them against their Creator. Blinded by the ways of the world, many are seduced to paths of evil as they fail to see the darkness before them.

It is through hearts, stirred by their love for the Lord, through which dark days are brought back to the light. As love is shared from heart to heart, so too do blessings flow to fill the days. The people, though, must be wary, for the evil one will continue to lie in wait to seduce weak hearts back to the darkness.

If we have a talent or a gift, we must remember that it comes to us through His will. For this reason, then, we must become stewards of it and seek to put it to the purpose for which He made us. If there is glory which comes from our works, we should not boast, for it only comes from what He created within us. We must be careful to recognize who we serve, for if our ambitions become contrary to His ways, then, we no longer serve His will, but we serve the will of the master of darkness.

Jesus came to teach us the blessings of His ways so that we all might share in love. The choice is before us, to believe in Him and follow His Word, or to turn away and, therefore, to the emptiness.

God sent His only begotten Son into the world for the salvation of all who believe in Him. If we are to be saved by our belief, we might consider how we demonstrate such belief. Beliefs are not found only in words, but also through deeds, for our deeds are guided by our beliefs. We must consider that our actions reflect our beliefs far more than our words, for words are easy, but actions require effort.

What do we think others will observe of our beliefs if we say one thing, but live by the opposite? Will they interpret our belief by our words or by our actions? How do we expect God to interpret our beliefs, by what we say or how we live? If, though, our words and our deeds are in accord, there is no doubt by anyone. Let us, then, live as we speak and speak as we live; for in this way, we leave no doubt through what is heard and what is seen.

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier