2 Corinthians 13:14, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
When anyone constructs something, or you hang pictures, there is something you hope to accomplish. Is it level? There are many things we can do to help us level an object but there is a handy tool that works the best. We know it as simply a level, but it is also called a bubble level. When we set this against any surface horizontally or vertically the bubble will move around and when it's level it will stop right in the middle. Do you think the level could ever be wrong? It's pretty accurate in telling you if the object is level or not. There's no other way, it's right or it's wrong, it's dead-on level or it's crooked, no in between.
This reminds me of a story in the Bible. Matthew 25 tells us any parable that the Son of Man will come with His angels, and they will separate the people like a shepherd separates the sheep and goats. It's that simple, there will be no middle ground. Jesus is saying, on this earth there are only two types of people walking around. Those who love Jesus and those who don't. We either love the Savior or we don't, Matthew 12:30, “Whoever is not with me. Whoever does not work with me is working against me.” The sheep on the right are promised salvation, the goats on the left punishment.
In this parable Jesus is talking about the hearts of man. Jesus is our Shepherd and calls us His sheep (those who try to live right with God). There is no in between, to live righteously is to be in balance with God, level and right. Those who live following their own desires and what the world calls good are unbalanced and the bubble is not squarely in the middle
We all are imperfect, and sin tempts us daily and we do fall. So, how can we stay level? First, through God's Word and prayer. Prayer keeps us connected to Jesus and the Bible helps us learn and understand how to live a life in Jesus and how to be more Christ-like.
Second, we have been given someone wonderful to keep us level, the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised once He was gone, He would send a Helper, the Holy Spirit, to help us know Gods truth and how to be right with God- John 16:8 and John 16:15. The Holy Spirit is our level helping produce a Christ-like character in us- Galatians 5:22, and He helps us know when our bubble isn't centered on Jesus. The Holy Spirit works in us by renewing our minds to be like the mind of Christ by convicting us of sin and leading us to repentance- 1 Thessalonians 5:23 and
1 Corinthians 6:11. When our thoughts become a little unbalanced the Holy Spirit guides us back to a perfect level, but we have to choose to listen to Him and His promptings.
Sometimes it is hard to understand the Holy Spirit’s working in our lives and that's okay, the disciples struggled to. We just have to remember the Holy Spirit is part of Jesus as Jesus is part of God the Father- 1 John 1:18, and He is the greatest gift given to us when we follow Jesus.
It's interesting because in England they call the level a Spirit Level. Maybe we all should try to listen to the Holy Spirit more closely as He can keep us level and right with Jesus. Have a great day!
I have spent a lot more time reading and studying my Bible as I have been getting older and it has drastically changed my life. It’s been the key to transformations in my perspectives and attitudes, and God has healed and restored my spirit, soul and body through the power of His Word. Even now, I’m still continually amazed by all of the benefits we have access to in God’s Word!
The Bible is no ordinary book. The words within its pages are like medicine to your soul. It has the power to change your life because there is life in the Word! (See Hebrews 4:12.)
Jesus says in John 8:31-32 (AMP), “If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples. And you will know the truth...and the truth will set you free....”
These verses have shown me a simple conclusion: If we don’t study God’s Word consistently and apply this truth to our lives, we will lack the power we need to mature in Christ and glorify God in this world.
So no matter where you are in your walk with God, I want to encourage you to start spending time in His Word today and be determined to stick with it! You’ll find that every time you study the Bible and pay attention to what you’re reading, you’re learning something.
We need to get into agreement with what God wants us to do because, as the writer of Proverbs says, these words are life! When you need an encouraging word, or you’re in a negative environment, it’s good to know that you can find life (plus healing and health) in God’s Word. So let's continue our study through Proverbs today. I hope you haven't felt yourself too overwhelmed with ten chapters every week. That's okay if you want to take it a little slower. The studies I have set up will always be a link away ;) and you can go at a pace that works for you and brings you closer to God. Have a great day as we read Proverbs 11-15
Study 3- Proverbs 11-15- https://www.docdroid.net/YC9cGaz/study-3-docx
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog and if you'd like take a few more minutes to look around or click on my other links, God bless.
If you haven't already please subscribe to our email list on our homepage https://www.connectwithgoddaily.com/ or join any of our media, and please feel free to visit us on Facebook and join our group. https://www.facebook.com/dailyblessingblog/
Also come visit and see what is new in our bookstore. dswells.weebly.com
Don't forget to share with your friends some inspiration today and brighten up their day too.
For those new to our emails, if you would rather receive these via text or on messenger please let me know through my email, dswell123@yahoo.com or our FaceBook page.