One Heart Daily Word

One Heart Daily Word . 2/23/22 . Psalm 27:13-14

"I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage..."
Psalm 27:13-14, ESV

At a time when David was going through deep waters, he could confidently say, "I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!"

Strong faith is "I believe." The question is, Do we really believe deep in our hearts​ that God is good and does good? We must say as the Psalmist, "I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken."

When we set the Lord—His great and lovely character and ways before us—the sight will be so wondrous that it will take our eyes off ourselves. "Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh always dwells secure" (Ps. 16: 8-9). No gazing at experiences or self can give such steadfastness, rejoicing, and assured stability. Our assurance will not come from ourselves but from God.

Faith believes and waits upon God, regardless of the circumstances. Our faith is in God Himself. He will cause even the most painfully hard things to work together for good. Faith never sees the circumstances or even the evil in the circumstances. It sees the hand of God and His Sovereign rule behind them. They are all under His control. Everything depends upon us knowing the Living God and waiting on HIM.

The story of Joseph and the evil done to him by his cruel brothers is the greatest illustration of this in the O.T. His brothers put him in a pit and sold him, and he was taken into slavery in Egypt. The Bible records that the Lord was with Joseph, showing His steadfast love and granting him favor (Gen. 39:21). Joseph had a confident assurance of God's presence amid adversity.

Joseph was put into prison in Egypt and then sent to the palace. He did not know what would happen when he was sold and put in prison, but he trusted God. The greatest hardship became the greatest triumph and blessing under the hand and control of God. In the end, Joseph said, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good." Joseph's spiritual eye of faith could say, "I am in the place of God" (50:19-20).

Joseph saw God's goodness in his dealings with him. He suffered hard and unjust treatment, and yet he saw God's hand. It would appear to the physical eye that the evil of Joseph's brothers sent him to Egypt, but because Joseph had spiritual sight, he knew it was God Who sent him there.

It's wonderful to rest in faith. No circumstance, not for one moment, can take us out of God's blessings. We can always give thanks for His love and goodness and care of all things. He will cause even the most painful things to work together for good for those who love HIM and are called for His purposes. As a result of Joseph being in Egypt, God brought about this: "many people should be kept alive."
Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is good ... Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love, for His wondrous works to the children of man! And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy." Psalm 107: 1, 21-22 (2195)

January 19, 2022 . Psalm 34:8

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in HIM." Psalm 34:8, ESV

Anyone can discover the goodness of the Lord for themselves. The Lord is a storehouse of abundant goodness for all who seek shelter in HIM.

"Taste" is a metaphor for personal experience. When we taste the Lord and experience HIM in our own personal lives, we discover that "He is good."

How many truly understand that they are in the care of such a good God and that they can "taste" to see for themselves that He is good.

When David wrote Psalm 34 his life was full of trouble and heartache, but he learned in his own personal life that God is good in every circumstance of life.

Have you made that same discovery? It's easy to say "the Lord is good" when things are going wonderful, but can you still say "the Lord is good" when your health fails and your heart is broken with sorrow. Believing that He is always good gives confident faith.

Those who have indeed tasted His goodness, have no craving for earthly delights.

Blessedness is not found where most seek it, in the regions of the earth. To be blessed requires a higher good. Only in the love and favor of God and His friendship is blessedness, and it can only be found in the ways of godliness.

"Refuge" is defined as "shelter from danger or distress." Knowing God to be our refuge because the Bible tells us so is one thing, but proving God to be a true refuge in all things in our own lives is a very different thing.

The one who takes refuge in Him is truly blessed because God Himself is the blessing. God does not exempt believers from trouble, but He does promise to be their refuge in it. He is not a mere temporary retreat but an eternal refuge, and He will provide His strength in any circumstance.

Those who have tasted the sweetness and kindness of God's love in Christ have their hearts composed in comfort and rest. They taste of His goodness and are made like HIM. God is gracious to us in Christ.

His goodness and love are found in the Gospel, and no one can taste except in the Person of Jesus Christ. As we taste HIM, our lives should be a display of His beautiful Person.

Have you tasted for yourself the sweetness of the Lord's love? If you have, then you only desire more. What more wonderful privilege could we have then for our lives to be a display of our lovely Lord. This truly is amazing grace.
Loving Father, my joy knows no bounds as I realize the work of amazing grace in my life. Forgive me because I have wasted so much time in empty and fruitless pursuits. My blessed Lord has called me to follow HIM and be made like HIM. May the Spirit enable me to arise to such a wonderful privilege. I ask this in the wonderful Name of Jesus. Amen. (1686)

One Heart Daily Word . January 17, 2022
Romans 12:2

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2, ESV

In verse one, Paul makes his appeal based on God's mercy to present your bodies as a "living sacrifice." He uses the word "brothers," appealing to those in God's family to make the supreme offering of themselves in devotion and dedication to God.

In view of God's mercy towards sinners through Christ, believers who have experienced such mercy will offer themselves completely and totally to God.

Paul gives the keys to knowing God's will: (1) offer your bodies to God (2) do not conform to the world (3) have your mind renewed.

He uses three words to describe God's will: "good, "acceptable, perfect." These words are taken from the O.T. sacrifices and are used to describe lives that are spiritually moral and spotless--holy lives which God approves. Old Testament sacrificial animals had to be spotless and without blemish.

Another image comes from the O.T. sacrifices with the words "spiritual worship." The O.T. priestly spiritual service was viewed as a service and worship of God. Every believer in the N.T. is seen as a priest and can serve God by the sacrificial offering of his body to God in an act of worship to HIM (1 Peter 2:9).

The word "transform" (literally metamorphose) is also used in reference to the transfiguration of Jesus (Matt. 17:2). The word is used here to describe the "changing" of believers into the image of Christ by the Holy Spirit as they reflect the glory of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18).

This transformation takes place within, but believers will reflect His image outwardly to those around them. Transformation happens as the Holy Spirit changes our thinking, making it consistent with God's Word.

The renewed mind is directed and controlled by God's word to live holy lives--the kind of lives that are well-pleasing in His sight.

We must develop a spiritual mindset--the mind of Christ: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:5).

The goal of such continual renewal is that one can, by testing, discern what is the will of God. The word "test" means to examine with a view to approve.

In actual practice through obedience to truth one can know and prove for themselves what is the "good" and "acceptable" and "perfect" will of God.

This is amazing! Deep within the inner being of those who are being transformed by God's Holy Spirit, they can recognize and do God's will in everyday life.
O God, my Father, I am so thankful for Your truth. I can go on ignoring it or choose to respond to Your mercy by offering my whole life to You. May the Holy Spirit teach and enable me to be a living sacrifice for You. I offer myself to You today. Glory be to Your Name. Amen. (1681)

One Heart Daily Word . November 25, 2021 . Psalm 40:1, 3

"I waited patiently for the Lord...He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to my God."
Psalm 40: 1,3, ESV

On this Thanksgiving Day let's listen and learn from David, a man after God's own heart, who spoke from personal experience. David lived in close, intimate relationship with the Lord. His difficult circumstances brought him to a place of complete dependence on God. He expressed his personal relationship to the One whom he praises: "O Lord my God."

David was completely helpless. In a deep pit, struggling in the miry clay, he poured out his heart to God in prayer and waited patiently and expectantly. God heard his cry and answered: "He drew me up from the pit of destruction... and set my feet upon a rock, making my feet secure. He put a new song in my mouth... Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord."

Praise is glorifying God; it is being occupied with His blessings and giving thanks and praise to the One who alone is worthy of praise. God's multiplied "wondrous deeds" express His abundant goodness that flows from His steadfast love and faithfulness and His enduring Character of gracious love in keeping His promises. This is the foundation of joy for God's people. David had a God-given new song flowing from a thankful and rejoicing heart, and his life was a living testimony. He expressed praise by telling others of the Lord's wondrous deeds and thoughts towards His people—too numerous to tell—and that no one is like our God.

"Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust." God is good, and He does great things, but to personally experience these things, we must trust HIM to know how good He really is. One must taste and see for himself that "the Lord is good" (Ps. 34:8). "Only when His love and presence touch our hearts can we know Him in His unspeakable goodness" (M. Campbell).

David "delighted" to do His will with a fully surrendered heart as he listened with an "open ear"—one willing to listen and obey. God's law is "written" in the heart, and obedience takes priority over sacrifice. The sacrifices of God are a broken and contrite heart: a sincere, faithful heart filled with humility, devotion, delight, and gratitude.

God's love, grace, and mercy have taken us from the depths of sin and lifted and set us securely upon the Rock of our salvation, Jesus Christ. God's steadfast love is a marvelous thing. He has given us a new song of grace to sing continually, a song of praise for what He has done and continues to do for us.

May we seek the Lord on this Thanksgiving Day and every day. May we love and rejoice in the salvation God has so graciously given us in His Son. May we continually speak of it and tell others with a heart full of praise: "Great is the Lord."
"I will exalt You, my God, O King, and [with gratitude and submissive wonder] I will bless Your Name forever...Every day I will bless You and lovingly praise You... I will praise Your Name forever and ever... Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised..." Ps. 145: 1-3 Amp. (Thanksgiving Day 2021)

One Heart Daily . November 24, 2021 . Philippians 4:4

"Rejoice in the Lord always." Philippians 4:4, ESV

The words "rejoice" and "joy" occur 12 times in this letter written by Paul as he suffered injustice in prison. However, Paul's inner life soared and knew joy and peace because of the Presence of His Beloved—the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul's constant, abiding, spiritual joy was not dependent upon his circumstances because its source was "in" the Lord. Joy came from Paul's love relationship with Christ, his knowing Him personally, closely, intimately. Paul's entire life was wrapped up in a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ.

For Paul, to live is Christ.

"Though you have not seen HIM, you love HIM. Though you do not see HIM, you believe in HIM and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory..." (1 Peter 1:8). Peter adds insight into spiritual joy with two words, "inexpressible" and "glorious." It is inexpressible and glorious because it comes from a union with Christ, the most high and glorious Person. Because of His Presence living in the depths of one's being, glorious joy is divinely and supernaturally given by the Holy Spirit.

When speaking of the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22 one writer says it is "an inspired one; first love--love is preeminent, then joy--joy comes as a result of love; and then peace--peace is a joy grown quiet and assured."

The secret of such a fruitful life is a life of abiding: "Abide in me and I in you" (John 15:4).

Earthly joys are not glorious. Glorious rejoicing is rooted in loving and believing in HIM. Spiritual eyes move from the things that are seen to gain the greatest treasure the heart can possess-—the Pearl of great price. It is looking at Christ that causes the heart to believe and experience His love, to hope and so rejoice.

The soul that looks to HIM above everything else and is firmly persuaded of divine truth spoken about HIM in the Word views Christ spiritually. God's Holy Spirit reveals HIM in the Word.

Peter writes about loving HIM and experiencing inexpressible and glorious joy. One who has tasted Calvary's love, where the Savior bled and died for him, can do no other than love HIM in response to such love: "We love HIM because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19).

Paul's desire for his readers is found in the prayer below.
"...I bow my knees before the Father...that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend...what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God..." Ephesians 3:14-21. (1647)

One Heart Daily Word . November 18, 2021 . James 2:8

"If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing well."
James 2:8, ESV

When James mentions the "royal law" he gets right down to the heart of the matter. When believers actually practice the royal law they are really completing and perfecting what Jesus said: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind...You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matt. 22:37-39).

Note carefully that the royal law to love is not according to how we feel but "according" to the Scriptures. Many are living in their feelings, and if you are, then you are deceiving yourself and believing lies.

The need of every human heart is to know the boundless measure of God's love and grow in it. Love lays at the root of all other fruits: "joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Gal. 5:22-23).

We who have been redeemed and bought with the precious price of Christ's blood often walk past the self-giving, sacrificial love of the cross. God's love is no mere sentimental feeling or some idea God has about love.

God's love is not a love from this earth but a love from heaven, and it was demonstrated on this earth when Jesus laid down His life on the cross. Unless God reveals His love we cannot know or receive it. The Holy Spirit pours out into our hearts God's very own love (Romans 5:5).

"See what kind of love the Father has given us, that we should be called the children of God; and so we are" (1 John 3:1). God's message of love is a Person—the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Father has "given" us His love, and we are now His beloved children. Are we living today as beloved children of the Father?

John adds, "By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers" (1 John 3:16).

"By this we know love "—not feel, or think but know with certainty "that He laid down His life for us." Oh yes, we like that part but what about what follows: "we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers."

That, my friends, is the real mark of God's love.

Since this is true what then is the problem? The old selfish and unloving nature has to die. The old nature only thinks of itself and lives to please self.

God's self-giving love explains the cross, and since such love is in His heart, it must be in ours also. I must lose myself in order to find it.
Dear Father, how blessed I am to be Your beloved child. I could never love others in my own strength. However, I can love with Your love as the indwelling Holy Spirit reveals and pours out Your love in my heart. Teach me, I pray, to love as Jesus as loved me. Amen. (1643)

One Heart Daily Word . November 17, 2021 . James 1:21-22

"Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." James 1:21-22, ESV

The key to understanding our passage today is the word "implanted." The seed of the Gospel of Christ is first implanted in the heart when Christ comes into a life. Those who receive the seed and cultivate it will grow and produce a harvest.

The weeds, the evils that so naturally grow in the human heart, must be rooted out for the Word to be effectively received.

James compares the Word to a plant— "the Word...which is able to save you." The last phrase refers to progressive sanctification until the completion of His work on the last day.

The Word is the most excellent plant that causes one to grow. Those who teach man's wisdom in a human way miss this most excellent way. God's wisdom and the deep truths that His Word opens up is greatly neglected today.

In contrast to the prideful, self-deceived man, who is only a "hearer" and not a "doer," James gives a picture of a growing and maturing believer: "But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing" (25).

The word "looks" in this verse comes from a Greek work "parakuptoo," which means "to stoop down." One who is maturing will stoop down and humble himself before the Word. He studies, meditates, absorbs and applies it allowing it to become a part of his life. He has an intimate, personal relationship with the Lord. He is able to discern the Word.

He "acts," and as a result, "He is blessed in his doing." God is looking for a practical life of godliness that expresses itself in actions: compassion towards others and keeping one's life clean and undefiled by the world. The secret to real and lasting blessings and joy is found in selfless, daily service to the Lord.

"If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scriptures, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing well" (2:8).

"Fulfill" means this: "to bring to a place of perfection or completion." We who are entrusted with God's love are responsible for bringing that love to completion by loving others.

According to James doers of the Word are those who "act." What actions are you taking today to bring your life in line with the truth?
O God, my Father, Your Word is indeed truth not just to read but to apply daily to my life. I can live a blessed life by humbling myself and doing as it says. Thank you for Your precious Word, that Divine mirror You have graciously given that so powerfully works to transform lives. In the Name of our Blessed Lord. Amen. (1642)

One Heart Daily Word . November 15, 2021 . James 4:10

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.
James 4:10, ESV

If one honestly and sincerely humbles himself "before" the Lord, there is true repentance of sins, and in due time, "He will exalt you."

This last command, which I will repeat, "Humble yourself before the Lord, and He will exalt you," sums up all the other commands, that are the marks of a truly humble person.

"Humble" comes from a word meaning "to make oneself low." We see this in Isaiah when he saw the Lord high and lifted up and said this: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Host." (Isa. 6:5).

The consciousness of being in the presence of a majestic, holy God humbles one.

I don't know if many believers truly understand anymore what it means to give the Lord your whole self. He is not just Savior but Lord. In people who make him Lord, God is able to lift up and make a shining example of His grace and mercy.

Jesus said, "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted" (Matt. 23:12). It is truly the secret pride and selfishness in the heart that robs Christians of the rich bounties of God's grace. The more we let go of ourselves, the more we receive from the Lord. How foolish we are to refuse so blessed an exchange.

James takes our inner selfish motives and outward behavior and links them to humility towards God. Peter takes it further and links humility to anxiety (1 Peter 5:6-7).

"Worry is a form of pride because it involves taking concerns upon oneself instead of entrusting them to God. Believers can trust God because, as their Father, 'He cares' for them" (ESV Bible).

The humble trust in God and not themselves, and they believe His gracious hand guides all things and works together for good (Romans 8:28-29). From this springs unbelievable peace (Phil. 4:4-7). "He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble His way" (Ps. 25:9).

David understood what rejoices the heart—walking humbly in the right path in an upright manner in God's eyes. The humble one is the one who the Lord leads and teaches.
Holy God, Your redeemed must never forget that we are forgiven sinners. Your commands must be humbly obeyed. Your beloved Son's humble heart is the complete opposite of our proud hearts. We go day by day without discovering the real problem of sin. Forgive us, and may Your Holy Spirit draw us close to His gentle and humble heart. All glory be to Your Holy Name. Amen. (1640)

One Heart Daily Word . November 12, 2021 . James 4:8

"Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." James 4:8, ESV

The term clean hands refers to outer, innocent actions towards others. To purify the heart is repentance. It is confessing any known sin and forsaking them. Only He who has made the heart can cleanse and purify it and make it new again and one with HIMSELF.

God sees the heart, and these are not suggestions but commands. People wait for a miracle to happen, but this is what God requires: REPENTANCE.

Two phrases are seen here: "you sinners" and "you double-minded." The double-minded have within their hearts mixed thoughts, motives, and desires.

People often neglect to see how these inner things are so important in confession. As sinners, we need thorough confession and forsaking of sins.

James goes on to express the process of deep repentance. First, "be wretched and mourn and weep." How often do we witness such deep conviction of sin? Deep conviction over sin is deep repentance.

People begin to view sin as God sees it. It is a time to humble oneself and mourn over selfishness, worldliness, and sin, both inwardly and outwardly.

Where would we be without God's mercy and grace? Mourning is the inner response to brokenness, and weeping is the outer response to that inner sorrow over sin. Godly sorrow over sin will be produced and seen in the truly repentant one.

"Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom" (9). "Laughter" indicates how lightly and causal sin is regarded. The things we once laughed at are not just the things we now become convicted about, but a change takes place in the way we now mourn over those sins. The things we once thought joyous are now the things that cause gloom.

Without this last step, there is no true repentance. Repentance means a whole change of direction of one's life. This becomes true when one receives the Lord at conversion and continues to be ongoing when sin invades our lives.

Sadly, because the Gospel is so casual today, we do not see godly repentance as James presents it here. The real change is this: now one is walking with the Lord, growing in His thoughts and ways and conforming to His image and will.

In his wanderings, the prodigal son never knew the abundance of the Father's house until he renounced and repented of all former things and returned to His Father and was brought by the Father into His home.
Gracious and loving Father, Your word challenges me today. No defense can be given against Your powerful Word to my heart and my need of repentance. Too long I have waited for some kind of deliverance, but I see that grace is given to the humble. Humbly, I confess my sin with the desire to turn from evil and return to You. Cleanse and purify my heart, I pray, Thank you, Father. Amen. (1639)

(Re-post because it’s so true!” Anyone going through some rough waters? Real trials?)

“God is all-powerful and could prevent trials, but He allows them because He is Sovereign and at work in our lives with things that we in our present state cannot comprehend. What He does ask of us is to trust Him and to believe that "in all things God works for the good of those who love Him" (Rom. 8:28).”

One Heart Daily Word . June 9, 2021
Isaiah 30:15

"In quietness and trust is your strength" Isaiah 30:15, NIV

There can never be inner strength and peace in the soul unless it rests in God. Your strength is quiet faith: "in quietness and trust in your strength." To know the genuine calm within, one must experience it because it cannot be understood.

We can trust and rejoice in Him, knowing that a wise and loving God is in control and that in the midst of the most difficult times there is a good and wise purpose at work. God loves us too much to allow anything that happens not to work out for good and His purposes.

People say the words, "God is good," but at the core of their being, they really do not believe this. You cannot trust and worship a God you do not believe in.

God is all-powerful and could prevent trials, but He allows them because He is Sovereign and at work in our lives with things that we in our present state cannot comprehend. What He does ask of us is to trust Him and to believe that "in all things God works for the good of those who love Him" (Rom. 8:28).

If your faith depends upon a particular thing happening then it is unstable. If faith is placed in the character of God and His goodness, then it can remain steadfast whether a particular thing happens or not.

The three Hebrew men who were thrown into the blazing furnace said, "the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us out of your hand, O King, But even if He does not—we will not serve your god or worship the image of gold you have set up" (Daniel 3:17-18).

Note these words: "even if He does not." Even if God did not deliver them from the fire, their strong, confident faith in God was not shattered. Their faith did not depend on the outcome of their trial. Even if God does not deliver us, "we trust Him, we will still believe in Him."

FAITH PLACED IN THE CHARACTER OF GOD DOES NOT DEPEND UPON HAPPENINGS AND CAN REMAIN STEADFAST NO MATTER WHAT.

Some think that strong faith is getting an earthly abundance, but they are poor in the riches of Christ and living as heirs of the Kingdom.

Christ chose the poor and rejected disciples, without wealth and honor, to build a mighty Church upon the wisdom and power of God. They did not have "influential" members but people in "one" accord with awe and devotion to God (Acts 2:42-47).

When the Gospel was preached it was not in man's wisdom but the wisdom of God, in demonstration of the Spirit and power, so that their faith would not rest on man's wisdom but in the power of God.

As a result of the first Gospel message the people were "cut to the heart" and asked, "what shall we do." Peter responded, "Repent and be baptized..." (Acts. 2:37-38).

They were convicted in their heart and the answer to their question was to "repent."

O God, indwell us with Your power so that we can walk in Your ways and move forward not timidly but triumphantly. Revive Your Church again, we pray, O God. All honor and glory be to Your Holy Name. Amen. (1527)

One Heart Daily Word . November 11, 2021 . James 4:8

"Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you."
James 4:8, ESV

We must be clear about what James is teaching because people just declare words today and think everything is just fine. Drawing near to God is more than declaring words and waiting for God to shower everything down. James teaches that it involves taking personal responsibility for our own spiritual lives before God.

It is a commitment of our will to submit to God, cleanse our hands, and purify our hearts. We have a personal responsibility to repent of our sins with mourning, tears, and true humility (8-10).

There is one thing God cannot resist, and that is a broken and contrite heart. This opens the door to grace and God's rich blessings and, praise God, opens the door to exaltation: "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you" (10).

"Draw near to God." It is so important to realize that we who have been born again and given this great salvation can have an intimate relationship with God. This is what gives real meaning and purpose to life: Jesus Christ is Lord.

The greatest Biblical revelation is that man, as undeserving as he is, limited and sinful as he is, can have a close relationship with the heavenly Father.

Salvation means more than submitting to God and resisting the devil; it means our hearts can be united with God, and we can have fellowship with HIM.

Drawing near to God is through Christ, His word, and prayer. When we draw near to HIM, we see ourselves for who we really are. Many times the reason people stay away is because of sin and worldliness, but we can draw near to the throne of grace to find grace and mercy for every need.

"Cleanse your hands and purify your hearts" (8). James clearly identifies people as "sinners" and "double-minded." When they come to HIM recognizing and confessing their sin, He forgives and restores them, and He draws close to them.

The "double-minded" are wavering, unstable ones who have a divided loyalty. They waver between two opinions, God and the world.

One writer says this of that kind of man: "He is spiritually two-faced. His life is one compromise after another." These people refuse to choose who they will serve. They are not wholeheartedly devoted to the Lord.

James calls them sinners. That's why we have the command to cleanse and purify. Repentance is needed.
O God, my Father, Your love is so abounding that it reaches to the very depths of my being. In sincerity and humility, I confess my need for cleansing and purity of heart. I submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. I draw near to You and have Your blessed promise that you will "draw near to me." For Your honor and glory. Amen. (1638)