Unbolt The Door To Your Heart

Tag: daily

  • Daily Living

    “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world”. James 1:27 KJV

    “Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world”. James 1:27 The Message

    Pure (katharos): Clean, clear, and genuine, without any hidden motives or mixed quality.

    Undefiled (amiantos): Free from stains, dirt, or outside corruption; untouched by evil or sin.

    The Greek word for “visit” in James 1:27 is episkeptomai (ἐπισκέπτομαι), which means to look upon with helpful interest or to provide relief to those in need. It means much more than a casual social call or drop-in visit. It implies going with a supportive purpose, taking personal responsibility, and actively stepping in to help someone facing hardship or distress.

    Every follower of Jesus should take the time to dive deep into this verse.  Jesus is giving you what He considers the best way to live your life before God the Father.  It is a very simple verse yet deep in its meaning and deep in what it is not saying.

    In its very simplistic meaning it is telling you that God considers the best way to show that you are a son or daughter of Him, is to always put others before yourself and to keep yourself from being corrupted by the world and its ways.  I like the NIV version of this verse where it states, “keep oneself from being polluted by the world”.

    You couple this verse with the verse in the gospel of John and you have God’s idea how you should live each day.

    “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35 NIV.

    Pure and True Religion is Action!

    Action over ritual: True religion is not just about attending services, obeying a set of doctrines, obeying the commandments, or having knowledge of scripture. It requires agape love and daily acts of mercy.

    It is putting your Love for God, your scripture reading, your heart filled with the Spirit, into your daily walk here on this earth.

    It is a purposeful and dedicated way of living in a world that is more corrupt each day.  I purposefully must show Agape love, and I purposefully have to stop doing anything that may let the corruption of the world into my mind and heart.

    It is not an accidental way of living!  It is a deliberate, intentional, determined walk each day with God.

    A lot of very strong and true Christians, who have kept all the commandments and have been a faithful follower of Jesus, will hear His voice at the second coming say to them, “I never knew you”. 

    They never let the words of Jesus change their hearts. They were perfect on the outside but inside they still wanted control.

    Remember it is not a religion it is a relationship.

    Prayers and Love for All.

    Larry

  • Daily Walk

    “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God”. Colossians 1:10 KJV

    “We also pray that your outward lives, which men see, may bring credit to your master’s name, and that you may bring joy to his heart by bearing genuine Christian fruit, and that your knowledge of God may grow yet deeper”. Colossians 1:10 JB Phillips

    In this verse Paul is giving them the instructions for a daily walk with God. 

    It is a great reminder of how we are to live each out each day.

    Paul is describing two aspects of your daily walk.  One outward and one Inward.

    Your outward life should reflect a live that is worthy of what Jesus did for you when He was crucified and then He rose from the grave. He paved the way for you to enter the realm of eternity on the coattails of His righteousness. Your sins are forgiven! Will others see today the positive, outward praise and thanksgiving you have for what Jesus did for you?  Will they see it on your face? Hear it in your words? Is your walk today worthy of what Jesus did?

    Are you producing the fruit of the Spirit in every situation or every circumstance that may arise? In every step today are you making the atmosphere better by exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit? Always reflecting the light of God.

    Then Paul turns inwardly and tells you to spend the day increasing in knowledge with God. The Greek word used here for knowledge is (epignosis).  It implies a deep, personal, and relational understanding, like knowing a person intimately rather than knowing about them.

    Paul is not telling you to increase in wisdom or knowledge about God and His word. He is telling you that each day you should work on becoming more intimate with Him. If you work at becoming more intimate with Him, then all other knowledge will follow.

    “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”. Matthew 6:33 NIV

    Make God’s priorities, values, and His ways your focus. See the world through Jesus eyes and His Love for all mankind.

    This is not accidental but a very intentional, purposeful habit of praying, reading and meditating on Scripture and quieting your mind to listen to His voice of guidance.

    Purposely and intentionally shut off the world and its distractions and open myself to see, feel and enjoy the presence of God walking next to me.

    You habit should be to spend time with God instead of picking up your phone to scroll or post or turn on the TV for more news and programs that are not bringing you closer to God.

    Remember it is not a religion it is a relationship.

    Prayers and Love for all.

    Larry