January 9: REMEMBER….

If my response to a divine instruction is to debate with myself, make a list of “pros and cons”, or check to see what others are doing, a dangerously unholy attitude is revealed to the world. I must confess it to the Lord at once in order to avoid slipping back into the lifestyle of defaulting away from God. We are living in a world that has been under the influence of Satan for six thousand years. Because of that fact, we are born into a world of paganism and godlessness. The Lord is engaged in the operation of our rescue, and the direction of each life is either toward Him or away from Him. That direction manifests itself in influence upon others: for or against. The most effective agents for Satan are professed believers who live according to the world’s ways.

Satan is busily at work inside the church to effectively instill a “herd mentality” among Christians. But we must remember that God is building His kingdom by saving people individually. It is essential to be freed from wrong beliefs about God. That begins with desiring to be free from them. If that is your desire, the power of God’s Holy Spirit will bring to your mind that which is most needed to guide you in your moment-by-moment and life plan decisions.

The great lesson behind the renaming of Jacob following his struggle with the Lord is for each of us. Jacob determined then and there to follow God with all his heart and received the name Overcomer with God* (Genesis 32:28). Take a few moments to review the promises to him who overcomes spoken by Jesus in Revelation 2 & 3.

Jesus said: “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me to give to every one according to his work.” Revelation 22:12 (see also Isaiah 40:10 & 62:11)

*The name Israel means Overcomer with God.