Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

Clearly, these are perilous and ambiguous times in which we live.  It is in such times of advancing godlessness and lawlessness that “easy” Christianity simply will not do. To live the counterfeit lifestyle while calling it the genuine article of living for Christ is to enhance or enable the downward slide of society. The wisest move to make is to turn to the true standard and live it out with a newfound gusto. God’s way is the only purely magnetic and flawless solution. There is no one but Almighty God (Lord & Commander) who could issue the absolute (not obsolete) commandments in stone.  He is the only One who could promise prophetically to write them on the Spiritual tablets of our heart (Jer 31:33).  He stands alone to personally die in our place to pay for our sins and fulfill His promise to redeem us.  Amazingly, by faith in Him, His grace makes us righteous and re-energized to live as over-comers during this crazy time and in this fallen world.

Living a Christian life is anything but easy.  If you are like me and find yourself drifting from the faith because of any number of disturbing winds: anger, arrogance, lust, pride, or pure selfishness. then we’re in this battle together.  So, during this pandemic, political, and racial unrest, how do we remain secure in the challenging journey of a fulfilling life?  The same prompt always stirs inside me that I sincerely hope will come across as an empowering wake-up call for us in today’s message.

Let’s take an honest look at our calendar and checkbook to assess if some lesser “thing” or The Lord is first in our life. The Biblical God, Commander and Savior also named Jesus said the following: “Where your treasure is there will be your heart be also (Matt 6:21). You are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you (John 15:14). This is love, that we walk after His commandments (2John 2:6). This new commandment I give you that you are to love others like I have loved you (John 13:34).”

Family and friends, when we read and hear the Spiritual life-giving words of the true God or Lord and Commander Jesus Christ, everything relational about us in Him must uncompromisingly move, adjust, and reconfigure in obedience to His unchanging and perfect standard or command.  It’s not a matter of how badly we’ve drifted – it’s a matter of how God can pull us back in by His grace, straighten us out, and empower us to do better.  He is also best at helping us to do that, so sharing in prayer…

Dear Father in Heaven,

In the midst of these threatening and perilous times, please let us live, move and be in the divine reality of You being our Lord, Holy Commander, and Shepherd.  May we surrender our lives, not to retreat, but to prosper in our entire being.  Your genius is perfectly authoritative and whole.  No one is before You, behind You, below You, or above You.  It’s not by our might or power but by Your Holy Spirit that works in us both to will and to do Your good pleasure. You promised to write Your commandments upon our hearts. As we hold You near, we receive Your standard promise right now.  We pray and receive this amazing blessing, in the name of Jesus and in the ultimate Word of His power.  Amen!

Philippians 4:13; Joshua 1:9; Isaiah 40:3; Hebrews 12:1-2; Jeremiah 29:11-14