Renew Our Commitment

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

Audio version at http://tinyurl.com/27fdfa

Divorces are unfortunately a part of our culture. Various studies have been done to determine why marriages fail and why divorce is so often the course of action after a problem. Infidelity, money problems, lack of intimacy, fell out of love, problems with children and many other reasons could be cited. However, the number one cause for divorces today is simply a failure to live up to our commitments.

Religiously many relationships fail as well and for the same reason. People forget and fall out of love with God. They forget their promise of fidelity and follow after other gods. They fail to have the intimacy with God as they stop speaking with Him in prayer and stop listening to Him from the Bible. Sometimes they separate from God because they can’t get along with some of His children.

But unlike a marriage where certainly one and most likely both parties share in the blame, our failure to keep our commitments to God is totally ours. God is faithful in all things. We are not. Friends, we need to renew our commitment!

God offers us so many blessings, yet we often leave them unclaimed. Notice what David writes in Psalm 34:8-9.

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;

Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints!

There is no want to those who fear Him.

It is possible for us to love God and then forget about it. The church in Ephesus did this. In Revelation 2:1-5, Jesus praises them for their good works, but says, “Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”

Isn’t that terrible to think that even though they had been doing so many good things they had forgotten about loving God? Friends, that could happen to any Christian, any church, any where. We must be careful to renew and maintain our commitment to God!

The church in Laodicea was also addressed by Jesus, this time in Revelation 3:14-15. “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”

In both situations Jesus is speaking to Christians. In the first passage they had done great works, but had lost their love for God. In the second, they were not doing the right things and were repulsive to the Lord. In neither case was the Lord satisfied with their standing. Friends we need to renew our commitment to the Lord!

How shall we go about to renew our commitment? Here are three suggestions.

1. Humble ourselves. James says in James 4:7-10 that if we humble ourselves that He will lift us up.

2. Purge all sin from our lives. You can read about the sins of Achan in Joshua 7. His attempt at keeping back and hiding some of the spoils of war cost Israel a defeat at Ai. There was sin in the camp and that goes against our commitment to God.

3. Call on God for renewal and restoration. Pray, ask, receive. David prayed for renewal in Psalm 51:10. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” David had just been exposed for his sins and he turned to God for renewal.

In marriages, many people will say “I do” and never mean it. Others will say “I do” and mean it, but later will lose that commitment. Some will say “I do” and mean it and work a lifetime to keep that commitment going.

The same is true of our commitment to God. Some never intend to be faithful. Others intend to do so but stop growing and fade away to other loves. Few will mean it, keep it and live as they should.

Friends, the choice is entirely up to us. Are you ready to be committed to God?

On Our Daily Walk today, may we pray our thanks to God for sending His Son to die for us. May we not take lightly the sacrifice made on our behalf and may we act today to obey that precious gospel which is the power of God unto salvation.

Our thought for the day: “He who would be great must be fervent in his prayers, fearless in his principles, firm in his purposes, and faithful in his promises.”

May God bless you on your daily walk.

© Our Daily Walk, Mike Baker, 2007. Permission is granted to copy these articles provided they are not sold and the author's name and copyright are included.

Renew Our Joy, Peace, Happiness

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

Audio version at http://tinyurl.com/25sztc

It is a really good question. “If you Christians are supposed to be going to heaven, then why don’t you act like you are happy about it?” Some Christians don’t appear to be happy about anything. It would seem that they really don’t have the joy, peace and happiness that Christians should possess.

Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence, that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Notice that the right we have is to pursue happiness, not to be happy. There is a difference.

Some people think that happiness comes in the form of things. “If I just get that boat then I’ll be happy.” But true happiness does not come from things, emotional hype or shallow religious experiences. True happiness comes from having the assurance that your life is found to be pleasing and righteous in the sight of God.

Let’s spend a moment to define these three words: joy, peace, happiness.

Joy: 1) the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires, 2) a state of happiness, 3) a source or cause of delight.

Peace: 1) a state of tranquility or quiet, 2) freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions, 3) harmony in personal relations.

Happiness: 1) a state of well-being and contentment, 2) a pleasurable or satisfying experience.

If we are to ask how to renew our joy, peace and happiness, we probably should first answer how we lost them.

Any action apart from God’s will robs us of the ability to have joy, peace and happiness. For all of recorded history mankind has thought that his ways would prove to be the way to happiness. But the pursuits of sex, money, power, and material things have left mankind with an empty feeling.

In Psalm 51 David pours out his heart after his sins with Bathsheba were exposed. Listen to his words in verses 10-13.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from Your presence,

And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,

And sinners shall be converted to You.

David understood that true joy, peace and happiness would elude him until he made things right with God. He prayed for a clean heart and a renewed spirit in order to live in the way that God desired him to live.

Obedience to the way of God becomes a critical key to our future joy, peace and happiness. Listen to the words of Moses in Deuteronomy 28:1-2.

Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God.

Imagine that! If we obey the commandments of God we can expect that blessing shall come upon us and overtake us. Friends, the key to being full of joy, peace and happiness begins with obeying the will of God.

On Our Daily Walk today, may we take a critical look at ourselves and where we stand with God. May we make adjustments today that will allow us to better obey God and be better positioned to find joy, peace and happiness in our life.

Our thought for the day: “Grief can take care of itself; but to get the full value of joy you must have somebody to divide it with.” Mark Twain

May God bless you on your daily walk.

© Our Daily Walk, Mike Baker, 2007. Permission is granted to copy these articles provided they are not sold and the author's name and copyright are included.

Renew Our Strength

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

Audio version at http://tinyurl.com/2ryoeq

I never understood the frustration of someone seriously ill until I also became ill. I had heard others speaking of their loss of strength and the long recovery time to regain their energy, but I didn’t fully appreciate it until much later on.

It’s no fair to have your strength drained from you overnight. Neither is it a pleasant thought to think about rehabilitation, training and weeks or months of effort just to return to where you were before you became ill. But then, if you really want to renew your strength after an illness, there is no shortcut. You must follow the plan.

When we think about our spiritual strength we need to understand that our strength comes from God. Samson is a good example of this. In Judges 16:15-17 we are told that his strength was in his hair. His enemies exploited this and shaved his head. Powerless, they were able to take Samson captive.

Satan seeks to exploit our strength as well. He seeks to find where we are the weakest and nibble away until he can find a way into our lives. Once there, he will continue to drain us of our spiritual energy. We must not allow this to happen.

God granted great victories and strength to His people. They obeyed God and the walls of Jericho fell in Joshua 6. But then the spies from the Promised Land in Numbers 13-14 chose not to believe in God’s strength and the ten bad spies die. And don’t forget about Aaron and Hur in Exodus 17:8-16 helping Moses to keep his hands held up so the victory would be theirs. Friends, God offers us strength and victory. We need to choose to accept it.

To renew our spiritual strength we need to remember that the source of our power comes from God. There is assurance in knowing that we have a redeemer, salvation and a reward waiting for us. (Heb. 2:1-4, 2 Tim. 4:6-8). There is great value in knowing that there is strength in numbers. Synergy causes us to be stronger together than apart. (1 Cor. 12:12-14.) Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 4:12, “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

We also need to remember to grow in our faith. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” We need to take the necessary steps to grow in our faith. Peter tells us that if we add the things listed in 2 Pet. 1:5-11, that we will not falter nor be unfruitful in our efforts on earth.

We also need to remember that God is protecting His people from temptation. Listen to what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13.

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Isn’t that wonderful news? There is no temptation that we face but what God is there to help us through it. Now, most people may not realize just how powerful they can be as God’s children. With His help, there is nothing that we can’t overcome in the way of temptation. Now that’s power!

The next time you feel weak in the face of temptation just remember that your strength comes from God and He is equipping you with enough strength to say “no” to any temptation you face.

Paul said in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” That didn’t mean that he could do everything, but rather that he could accomplish all that God desired due to the strength from above.

Friends, rather than disparage our weaknesses, let’s play to our strengths. Remember that you are a part of the body of Christ. Not everyone will be an ear, eye, hand or foot. There are different talents, abilities and needs. Play to your strengths. Find your part in the body and do your part with all of your strength.

On Our Daily Walk today, may we learn to trust God more each day and learn to gain strength, wisdom and power from His word as we read it frequently. May we never become fearful of anyone because the Lord is the strength of our life!

Our thought for the day: “Do not pray for an easy task. Pray to be stronger!”

May God bless you on your daily walk.

© Our Daily Walk, Mike Baker, 2007. Permission is granted to copy these articles provided they are not sold and the author's name and copyright are included.

Renew Our Love

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

Audio version at http://tinyurl.com/2v3nzh

Og Mandino once said, “I will make love my greatest weapon and none on who I call can defend against its force. My love will melt all hearts liken to the sun whose rays soften the coldest day.” Do you believe that your love is powerful? How about God’s love for you?

Notice these two passages from 1 John 4:7-8 and 20-21.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

These passages tell us that love is tied to God and to others. Love is not optional as some may assume. Love is commanded.

What do we need to renew about our love? I would suggest three areas: our love to God and Jesus, our love to the church and finally our love for the lost.

A gift of love is not always expected and often is not even deserved. That’s the kind of love that God and Jesus demonstrated for us. John 3:16 tells us that God sent Jesus to die for us because He loved the world so much. Romans 5:8 tells us basically the same thing. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Why do we deserve God’s love? Well, we don’t! No one does. It is a gift that is freely given, but not deserved. Friends when we remember this important fact it will help us to renew our love to God and to Jesus for what they have done for us.

We also need to renew our love to the church, the body of our Savior, Jesus. Divorce rates are way too high. Conflicts and disagreements go unchecked and cause division in business, families, neighborhoods, even churches. Ira North once stated that most church splits occur not because of doctrine, but rather on personalities. I think he’s right.

Some people forget about the role of love in their life. They think too highly of themselves and they have forgotten that they, too, are sinners, and were redeemed by the blood of Jesus. Others struggle to accept God’s love because their sin is ever on their mind. When love is absent from the body, the church, nothing good will last.

To renew our love for the church, which includes the members as well as the church collectively, we must begin with the love for the head of the church, Jesus. Paul writes of the church as a body in 1 Corinthians 12:25-27.

(T)hat there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

Everyone should anticipate a reception of love, acceptance and help when they approach the gathering of the church. If they don’t find it, something needs to be renewed.

Friends we must also renew our love for the lost. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, so why shouldn’t we be more focused on the same?

Sadly, some people just don’t care about the ones who are separated from God. They may not say it outwardly, but their actions speak volumes. Paul spoke in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 about being all things to all men in the hopes of saving some. Now, Paul didn’t save anyone of his own power. That was reserved for the blood of Christ. But Paul’s actions did allow for multitudes of people to see the gospel and to be able to obey it. Without love for the lost Paul would have never sacrificed himself as he did.

Friends, conflicts and disputes are a fact of life. Don’t allow them to remain as you find them. Work within God’s instructions and resolve as many as you can.

On Our Daily Walk today, may we come to understand that it is impossible for us to sing, “Oh How I Love Jesus” and not also learn to love one another. May we find some way every day to show our love for others as well as for God.

Our thought for the day: “It is impossible for two persons to hate each other and both of them to love God.”

May God bless you on your daily walk.

© Our Daily Walk, Mike Baker, 2007. Permission is granted to copy these articles provided they are not sold and the author's name and copyright are included.

Renew Our Relationships

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

Audio version at http://tinyurl.com/3cf6l5

Problems with relationships date all the way back to the Garden of Eden and the Bible is full of examples of people who had difficulties with one another. Some killed. Some argued over who was the greatest. Some churches were dysfunctional because of jealousies, factions, gossip and doctrinal impurities. Relationships are a key factor in Christian living, yet many of them need to be renewed.

Isaiah 9:6 calls Jesus the Prince of Peace, yet Matthew 10:34 states that Jesus came not to bring peace but a sword. Some conflict is to be expected in the world. Good and evil will always be in conflict.

Solomon anticipated conflict in the Proverbs and he offers great solutions. We are told to hold our tongues, avoid slander, tell the truth, speak gently, think before we talk, listen carefully, don’t gossip, avoid flattery, trust in God and the list goes on. (See Prov. 10:18-19; 12:22; 13:3; 15:1, 28, 31; 16:24, 28; 17:9; 19:22:24:26; 26:20; 29:23, 25.)

Additionally the New Testament also deals with renewing our relationships. The Sermon on the Mount and Paul’s writings are full of excellent instruction. Forgive, don’t be quarrelsome, live in harmony, show love, replace bitterness and wrath with kindness, forgiveness and tender heartedness. (See Matt. 6:14-15; 2 Tim. 2:14, 24; Phil. 4:2; 1 Thes. 5:13; 1 Cor. 13:4-8; Eph. 4:31-32.)

Problems in relationships generally spawn from one or more of the following areas.

1. The influence of Satan is evident in the world around us. Adam and Eve fell victim first and each of us has followed.

2. Personal attributes, attitudes and actions also cause problems in relationships. Greed, hypocrisy, jealousy, seeking to do evil to others all have their place in destroying relationships.

3. A lack of commitment will also cause problems. This is true not only of our relationship to God, but also in our relationship to our spouse, country, or employer. If we are not fully committed to keep our word, then our relationships will suffer.

4. And then there are communication failures. Jesus speaks very clearly on resolving conflicts in Matthew 5 and Matthew 18. He says to go and quickly communicate with someone who is in conflict. In one passage he tells the offender to go and the other passage he tells the offended to go. Sadly, many times relationships fail because these communications are cut off.

So how are we to overcome problem relationships? Here are four suggestions.

1. Remember the basics. Love, esteem others better than yourself, love one another as Christ has loved us. (See Phil. 2:3; 1 John 3:23 and Eph. 5:25.)

2. Change ourselves. Don’t accept the saying, “I’m just that way,” or “I’m no worse than the other fellow.” God doesn’t want us to be satisfied with less than what we can be. Neither will He be happy with us just to be marginally better than our adversary. He wants us to put away improper behavior, rudeness, and seek humility, meekness and a life in submission to His will.

3. Model good relationships. Look for those good examples in the Bible as well as in the world around you. Read the Bible as if the people of the Bible were speaking directly to you, instructing you in your life. Talk with those who are highly respected in business and who have a great reputation for what they do. Learn to imitate what is good and put away things that take away from your ability to give glory to God in everything you do.

4. Learn to resolve conflicts. Unfortunately we are not born with the ability to right wrongs or to resolve conflicts. We must learn these actions. Read the account of Paul, John Mark, Silas and Barnabas in Acts 15:37-41. Their contention was very severe, yet they found a solution. Later we can read of a reconciliation of those who were estranged.

It may be our human nature to strike back when hit or to reply hatefully when hurt. But God expects more from us than that. Consider Paul’s words from Romans 12:18.

Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

On Our Daily Walk today, may we learn the power that God has granted us to be peacemakers on the earth. May we learn to love, forgive, guide and encourage as we struggle through the adversities of this life. May we understand that peace with others largely depends on us.

Our thought for the day: “A person cannot be a peacemaker until first he finds peace for himself.”

May God bless you on your daily walk.

© Our Daily Walk, Mike Baker, 2007. Permission is granted to copy these articles provided they are not sold and the author's name and copyright are included.

Renew Our Spirit

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

Audio version at http://tinyurl.com/2nwxen

Are these ever on your mind? “I don’t pray anymore.” “Worship has lost its meaning to me. I just feel like I’m going through the motions.” “I feel like there should be something more to all this.” “I don’t think I care anymore about the lost.” “Have I allowed my love for God to grow weak?”

We all need spiritual renewal from time to time. Even people in the Bible needed renewal. One such example was David. Listen to what he wrote shortly after Nathan had exposed David for his sins with Bathsheba. This is in Psalm 51:1-3.

Have mercy upon me, O God,

According to Your lovingkindness;

According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,

Blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

And cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my transgressions,

And my sin is always before me.

Certainly sin causes a need for spiritual renewal. When we sin, and everyone does, we become out of step with God. We need to be renewed.

Renewal is needed if we have stopped growing or don’t anticipate the joy of living for God. Some become apathetic toward the work or mission of the church. They no longer find joy in looking to God’s word or God’s people. Renewal of spirit is needed.

Renewal is also needed when we see “dreary duty” of God instead of “sanctified service.” This often occurs in a person that is going through the motions of worship or Christian living instead of concentrating on living a godly life each day.

So how can we renew our spirit? Renewal cannot be forced, dictated or commanded. A church leader or preacher cannot twist your arm and make you be renewed spiritually. It must start within each of us. We see the need, and then we seek renewal from God.

To renew your spirit simplify your life. Untangle the complexities and focus on the main things. Keep first things first. Your soul is more important than your job. Keep God at the top of your list.

Moses writes the following excellent instruction in Deuteronomy 10:12-13.

And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good?

What is it that the Lord requires of us? Notice those five important foundations that Moses included. 1. Fear the Lord. 2. Walk in His ways. 3. Love Him. 4. Serve Him with all of your heart and soul. 5. Keep the commandments.

I would suspect that each of us would find at least one of these areas lacking when our spirits are in need of renewal. Perhaps we no longer fear or respect God as we should. Then our spiritual life will suffer. Or maybe we choose to walk our own path instead of the one He illuminates for us. Then too our spiritual life will suffer.

In a world with so many problems why would we want to create more problems by turning our backs on God? I know that we don’t intentionally do this—at least not all the time. But, friends, when there is a spiritual deficiency in our lives it is not because of a lack of power on God’s part. It is because we have become disconnected from our spiritual source. Are you in need of spiritual renewal today? Look to God.

On Our Daily Walk today, may we determine to look to God and His word today in order to lift and renew our spirits. May we learn to help others find renewal as well in their lives as we continue to strengthen our own spiritual lives.

Our thought for the day: “A place of worship should be of such character that it is easy for men to find God and difficult for them to forget Him.”

May God bless you on your daily walk.

© Our Daily Walk, Mike Baker, 2007. Permission is granted to copy these articles provided they are not sold and the author's name and copyright are included.