Free Will

Hello my dear friends! It’s sunny and hot here in Florida! Here in the “sunshine state” the summer season extends from mid-spring thru early fall. The weather will pretty much be the same, sunny and hot. Why? God’s natural order with the weather during the different seasons will be the same year in and year out. With every season comes the expected weather patterns. God is the creator of the weather and its natural order.

It is the same with humans. We fall into a natural order of things too. One of the main things about a human that was given to us is “free will.” This “free will” thing is quite extraordinary. It means that we can pick and choose what we want and do not want to do. We get to choose who we want to have a relationship with and who we do not want to have a relationship with. This includes whether we choose a relationship with God.

God created humans in His likeness. “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 (NIV) Our God-given likeness is the ability to think and make choices on our own. Our responsibility with this ability is that as we make the choices we make we need to remember that attached to them are consequences. Whether they are good or not we are the ones who have chosen to do them.

This is the natural order of “free-will.” We were not created to be God’s puppets. We have been given the freedom to make our own choices. Why? So that we can have the choice to accept God’s terms for the salvation that He offers us. So that we can have the choice to fellowship with God. So that we can have the choice to live in obedience to God. The importance of believers living in obedience is ultimately for what? “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15 (NASB) Believers in Christ demonstrate their love for God through their obedience. This freedom to choose obedience or not is up to us. My dear friends’ “free-will” is not to be taken lightly. As believers in Christ our choices demonstrates our love or lack thereof for God.  

 

Thank you for reading this devotional! It is such a blessing to share these with you. Have a blessed day!

Should you or someone you know would like to read these devotionals in Spanish please visit my other blog: www.ministerioreflejandolaverdad.blogspot.com

The Daily Decision

The Lord will never force us to choose what we do not want. He may nudge us towards a decision like a good parent would but, as any parent knows, children will end up doing what they want to anyway. Why is it that God doesn’t force us? It is because of “free will.” He will not break His own natural order. He created “free will” and He will not break His own natural order of things.

This is why Jesus offers us salvation instead of forcing it, “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.” Titus 2:11 (NIV) Our decisions whether big or small are in the end our decisions. No one, including God (again, because of “free will”), forces us to make these decisions. This is why we need to own up to our decisions, the good and the bad ones. It is when we take responsibility over our decisions that we truly appreciate the importance of them. It is when we truly understand how important our decisions are that we do not make them in haste. My dear friends the most crucial decision of all is this one, is the one and only true living God your, the God of your salvation or not? With that decision there’s another crucial decision that has been made by you and me and we will continue to make them daily. What is that decision? To take up the cross daily or not to. “If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.” Matthew 10:38 (TLB)

What does this mean to take up the cross? It means to put Jesus first. It means to live in faith daily, “for we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NASB) It means to be willing out of love for God to stand up for Him and do what is right no matter the cost. “When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don’t quit. Don’t cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you’ve run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived.” Matthew 10:21-23 (MSG)

My dear friends thank you for reading today’s devotional! Know that you and your families are in my daily prayers. Thank you for your support and your prayers. Have you shared this page with anyone? If you or someone you know would prefer to read these devotionals in Spanish please refer www.MinisterioReflejandolaVerdad.blogspot.com

God bless you and your families!

Summer Time!

Hello my dear friends! Hope you have all been doing well. It's that time of year again. School's are about to break for the summer. Graduation time for many. Days full of heat and kids whining about the heat  I am looking forward to the summer, how about you? 

I know that I haven't consistently posted on this site for the past few months. For those of you that have been checking and waiting patiently for my post's-thank you for your patience.

This page is a tool that I use to try and reach out to others with the Word of God. Discipleship training is the purpose of this ministry. Submission to God is where it all starts and ends. That's my platform. This word, "submission," has taken on a whole new meaning in our society. The reaction to it is worst than if you were to use the worst of profanity! It never ceases to amaze me how many are against this word.

I have created this page because I submitted to the Lord's prompting to do it. It's gut wrenching sometimes to share these devotionals with you all. They come straight from the heart and are prayed over before I hit the "enter" button to post them. I try my hardest to not sugar coat God's truths but, I also try my hardest to share these teachings with lots of love and care.

I plan to post a lot more frequently this summer. In one way or another these postings will have to do with submission. I'm looking forward to all the Lord will be leading me to do. Please leave your comments. I love to read them. Feedback is always a good thing. Also, I love it when you "share" these too. These postings are not meant just for you so do not covet them. They are meant for many to see  

I love you guys and I've missed you! Have a great summer! God bless you and your families!