In Step

Sometimes when we walk together, I find myself walking ahead of my wife. Due to some ailments, she just doesn’t walk as fast as I am comfortable walking. So I try to slow down to keep in step with her. Have you ever been out walking or jogging and come across a jogger with a dog also running next to him or her? Some dogs get distracted and roam far to the right or left, while other dogs stay right in step with the jogger and are not distracted.

In John 14:16-17 Jesus says, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, who the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” Jesus walked with the disciples, but now He gives the Holy Spirit to live within believers. Walking in step with Jesus was fairly easy as they saw Him and kept near to Him. Now believers have the Holy Spirit within us. If we listen to His voice and follow what He says to us, we walk in step with Him. If we stay in step with the Holy Spirit, He will guide us, comfort us, heal us, and empower us to become like Jesus.

Truly Living

I retired nine years ago, so I am reaping the rewards and consequences of how I lived these seventy plus years. Looking back, some things bring tears of joy and satisfaction, like raising a wonderful family of three children and six grandchildren. But it is also the good things that God allowed me to do that bring joy and thanksgiving to my heart and mind. There were times when He blessed me so that I could bring encouragement, help, service, compassion, kindness and the gospel message to others.

I Timothy 6:18-19 says, “They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so they may take hold of that which is truly life.” Real treasures and true life is found in doing good works for others and sharing good things with others. When we become old, we will look at these things with joy and satisfaction of a life well lived. Once again, God is our example as He blesses us with good things and true life in Jesus Christ, giving us the reason and means to do good for others.

Don’t Go Back

I have lived many different places in my lifetime. Generally, I have not gone back to see the places that I have lived. It is somehow disappointing to see your old stomping grounds as the reality of the current conditions does not match in your mind, the memory and the romance of that place. Things change over time and often deteriorate.

Romans 8:2 says, “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” The evidence that believers are in Christ is that the power of sin has been broken by the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Live as a free child of God, and do not resubmit yourself to the chains of sin and death. Why would we choose sin and death over the freedom that Jesus gives us through redemption and the new birth?

Doing The Right Thing

We hear promises all the time, from politicians, companies, friends, family, and acquaintances. Some people are pretty good at keeping their promises and their word. They do what they say they will do. Others are constantly seeking ways to get out of their promises. These same people try to skirt the law and do the things that only benefit themselves.

Isaiah 11:5 says, “Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.” God is always dwelling in perfect righteousness and is always faithful to His Word, His promises, and His people. As we become more like Him in the power of His Spirit, we will walk in righteousness and also be faithful to His Word, glorying in His promises, and encouraging others also to walk in righteousness.

Vault of Goodness

Before I retired, I was an internal auditor for a large bank. My responsibilities were to review operating procedures and accounting records to make sure that the bank was protected against loss and risks were mitigated. One of the units that we regularly examed was the cash vault. Armored trucks came at all hours of the day to deliver cash and coin and to receive cash to deliver to other locations. As you can imagine, security was of highest importance.

Zechariah 9:17 says, “For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty!” Another limitless attribute of God is His goodness. Psalms 23 tells us that His goodness follows us all the days of our lives. We must share His goodness with others through love and kindness. God has an immense storehouse (vault) of goodness from which He delivers blessings to us each day and from which we can withdraw from His goodness to bless others.