WALKING WITH GOD: FAITHFULNESS, DELIVERANCE, AND PURPOSE

Week of 6/22/2017 entry from Bible Promises for You Men’s Group: Faithfulness - “David’s Song of Praise”

Scripture:  2 Samuel 22:26-27

To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.

Thought:  God rewards all who are true to his laws. 

• He is a shield for all who take refuge in him (2 Sam 22:31). Shrewd: having or showing sharp powers of judgment

• He shows unfailing kindness to his anointed (2 Sam 22:51)

• Anointed = chosen.  Now all Christians are anointed, chosen for a specific person purpose in furthering God's kingdom.  “But you have the anointing that comes from the holy one, and you all have knowledge (1 John 2:20 - NIVUK).” 

Application:    - no entry in 2017 -

Response:  Father, thank you for delivering me from "stuff” that made me unhappy, bitter, impatient, and many other vile traits. I choose to walk with you.

Looking back Today (2025):  

Honestly, looking at the prayer above, I don’t think I’ve been delivered from the things that me unhappy, bitter, or impatient.  However, I am more aware of them and want to change them more as each year passes.  I can be thankful for the ability to discern my actions, my feelings, and my willingness to not always participate in these things.  Perhaps my ability to periodically discern that I should not participate in an argument or show impatience is my purpose in sharing the kingdom in that moment.  

https://www.bible.com/bible/113/2SA.22.26-27

THE POWER OF FAITH: SEEKING GOD AND PERSEVERING FOR YOUR ETERNAL REWARD

Week of 6/16/2017 entry from Bible Promises for You Men’s Group: Faith

Scripture:  Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Thought:  Edited from journal entry for context.

This follows the chapter “Call to Persevere” from the journal entry found here: https://myfaithfulmanlessons.blogspot.com/2025/04/celebrating-easter-finding.html 

We did not evolve from a “box of rocks.”  Verse 3 tells us “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”  I ask, who doesn't want a reward for their hard work? In verse 6 we learn that “... without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."  We must perservere.  By definition persevere is to continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success.  We must persevere  knowing that we will sin… we will be unsuccessful on the journey.  Without faith it's impossible to please God. If you seek, you must believe and God rewards those who earnestly seek Him.  When you prepare yourself for God by faith, imagine what He will prepare for you.

Application:  Stay hungry and seek God

Response:  Father, I pray that I continue to seek you daily and dig deeper into your world weekly. May your spirit make the words come clear to me so that my life is pleasing to you. 

Looking back Today (2025):  Never stop seeking the Lord.  Forgive yourself when you feel that you “are not worthy.”  Throw those words in the trash!  We are persevering with faith to be ready to move into the room prepared just for us!   In John 14:13 Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."  

We are paying rent today as we seek Him, to live in glory with him for eternity

Heb 10:23-  Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

(We have faith in a God that is faithful to us!)

Heb 10:36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 

(Attain free room and board for all your tomorrow's with how you live today)

https://www.bible.com/bible/111/HEB.11.1

A QUESTION THAT NEEDS OUR INPUT

How can we be a modern day disciple and share the good news?

Last week a question was asked in the comments of my post that has echoed in my mind all week on how to best respond.  I’d like to share the comment, provide my response, and ask that you thoughtfully consider adding your thoughts in the comment section at the bottom of this post.

The Post

I know several people that are not very “religious” but live in a way and act in a way that mirrors what we believe - especially love (sacrificial love) of neighbor. My challenge is how to express these kinds of messages in a way that attracts them rather than turning them off. Many times I think the key is language but not language in the sense of English, Spanish, Italian. Any ideas how to express this message in non religious language? My hope and belief is that when we do that we start pulling them in with us.

My Take

It seems to me that you are asking how to tell someone that you believe in Jesus, without saying I believe in Jesus.  

Personally, when you find something that can bring joy to others and you can freely give this gift to others, it’s hard to not share this joy.  I have had many challenges with this on my journey; however, my answer to your question is to use ACTIONS and BOLDNESS on GOD’S TIME.  If you are consistent in subtly showing others how your faith makes you happy, and brings you joy, they may initiate the conversation.  Simply living like a son or daughter of Jesus is spreading the message that He wants us to spread… it is being shared with our ACTIONS.  

Using words can be difficult.  I struggled for years about how to share Jesus with a friend who lives his life with the “sacrificial love” you describe, he’s a good dude!  To use words you must prayerfully consider when to have BOLDNESS.  Your faith will tell you when it is time to shift gears from ACTIONS to WORDS.  If you are meant to use words you will know it, because you’ll won’t be able to contain yourself anymore.  If you don’t reach that point, it's likely not time, it’s not God’s time!  Perhaps the person is not ready to receive the message… who knows.  We are called to share the good news, and leave the rest to the Lord.  So share the message with your ACTIONS and use WORDS if you need to, but remember that the work of conversion of that person’s heart is solely the work of Jesus… we are just tapping them on the shoulder and asking if they want to meet a dear friend of ours.

Let me leave you with Proverbs 3: 5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

https://www.bible.com/bible/111/PRO.3.5