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In the message “Look Back From Eternity” we saw how one day, when we stand with our Heavenly Father, we will see the awesome purpose in the path we have traveled. If we continue to trust and follow His leading, we will see how each twist and turn in His path was designed to navigate us through the jungle and keep us moving toward a closer relationship: “As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord is flawless” (Psalm 18:30). His way is perfect and without flaw; but, by God’s sovereign will, we are given the freedom to choose whether to follow.

Many times we see what appears to be a shorter route, and we leave His path. These perceived shortcuts are filled with weeds that entangle us and slow our walk with Christ to a pathetic crawl; “But the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22). All our time spent away from God’s path clearly hinders our relationship and diminishes our ability to produce anything of lasting value for the Lord.

Psalm 1:1-3
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His Law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.”

To remain on God’s path and continue to bear good and lasting fruit, we must be wise regarding the counsel we seek. Many people willingly give advice on following a “successful” path and yet ridicule any path directed by God. This counsel must be avoided since the very definition of success is in error! A truly successful path IS the path directed by God!!

Staying free of the weeds requires an active pursuit of God; “on His Law he meditates day and night.” If we do not consume ourselves with the ways of God, we will, by default, become consumed by the ways of the world. Jesus made a similar statement to His disciples: “I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit” (John 15:5). Remaining in the vine is a process of clinging to Christ and loving Him with ALL our heart. Our life then becomes defined and consumed by the life of the vine.

As we allow God’s Word to flow through our life – as we become planted by the stream of His water – we develop deep roots. These roots become a solid anchor which will not be pulled up during the storm nor dragged along by the swift currents of temptation.

God’s path is perfect and His burden is light; but remaining on His path and staying free of weeds requires commitment, perseverance, discipline…and a strong reminder that there are NO shortcuts!

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Apr 5 Deut. 28:1-68; Luke 11:14-36; Psalm 77:1-20; Proverbs 12:18
Apr 6 Deut. 29:1-30:20; Luke 11:37-12:7; Psalm 78:1-25; Proverbs 12:19-20
Apr 7 Deut. 31:1-32:29; Luke 12:8-34; Psalm 78:26-45; Proverbs 12:21-23
Apr 8 Deut. 32:30-52; Luke 12:35-59; Psalm 78:46-58; Proverbs 12:24

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Ruth lived in the land of Moab just east of Canaan. She was not an Israelite but she married one of the sons of Naomi who had recently moved to Moab from Judah because of a famine. After ten years, Ruth’s husband died. Naomi was going to return to her homeland and thought Ruth should remain with her people in Moab. But Ruth loved Naomi and desired to stay by her side.

Ruth 1:16-17
“Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried.”

Life back in Canaan was difficult for Naomi and Ruth. Without anyone to care for them, Ruth had to pick left over grain from the fields simply to have enough to eat. Fortunately, Jewish law made provisions for this type of charity to the poor. As a poor foreigner in a strange land, this was a very humbling time for Ruth.

After two harvesting seasons of faithfully gathering food for herself and Naomi, Ruth married Boaz who owned the field where she worked. They soon had a son, and Naomi was allowed to help care for the boy. Their life had suddenly, and wonderfully, improved. And though Ruth must have been relieved and pleased to have a son, imagine her amazement when she is allowed to look back and view the results of her life from God’s perspective.

Ruth’s husband, Boaz, was an Israelite from the tribe of Judah. Their son was named Obed: “He was the father of Jesse, the father of {King} David” (Ruth 4:17). From this same family line (fourteen generations later), Mary would give birth to a boy named Jesus.

Our view of God’s Kingdom is VERY limited. No matter how much we desire otherwise, there are simply pieces of the puzzle we are unable to fit together. While we walk this earth and breathe this air, we most likely will never see the purpose of our struggles. Yet, we must closely follow the One who leads and give ourselves wholeheartedly to each task we are given. We must learn to trust His perfect plan!

A shining light will always penetrate the darkness. And though we may not see the impact we have on others, one day we will stand with our Heavenly Father and rejoice as He reveals how we were used for His glorious purpose. One day we will watch our life unfold and clearly see the use of every helping hand, every encouraging word, and even every smile we shared in the midst of our trials. The shining light of our life has great meaning and purpose – true meaning and purpose which we will joyfully witness when we are allowed to look back from eternity.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Apr 4 Deuteronomy 26:1-27:26; Luke 10:38-11:13; Psalm 76:1-12; Proverbs 12:15-17

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Why are so many “believers” content to live a life of mediocrity in Christ – a life partially devoted to following God and partially devoted to following the ways of the world? Without question, some have only put on the face of a Christian and have never given their heart to God through a saving faith in Jesus. But others are true believers in desperate need of a spiritual kick in the pants!

Paul’s letters comprise much of the New Testament. They were written to give instruction on the Christian faith and to encourage perseverance through times of testing. Paul often wrote of the simplicity of the gospel message; “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). But he also wrote to encourage those who truly put their faith in Jesus to live a life of service, holiness, and unity.

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we begin a new life. We are set free from the bondage of sin (Romans 6:22) and are called to follow Christ as we are conformed to His image (Romans 8:29). But Paul saw many believers sitting on the sidelines of the Christian life; “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (Ephesians 4:1).

Paul gives encouragement by “urging” a life worthy of Salvation. This has nothing to do with earning our way to Heaven; rather, we are encouraged to live in holy thankfulness for the gift we have received. The word Paul uses for urge can also be translated as beseech, beg, implore, exhort, or challenge. He’s not giving a gentle pat on the back which says, “You’re doing well, keep running a good race.” Rather, Paul is presenting a firm challenge to draw nearer to God and give our lives more fully to Him. Paul uses the same word in his letter to the Romans.

Romans 12:1
“Therefore, I urge {beg, implore, exhort, and challenge} you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.”

We have been set free and made new! We are a new creation and CANNOT continue to walk with one foot on God’s path and the other being allowed to tiptoe along worldly desires. These simply have no place in the life of a worshipper of the One True God!

Today, we are being urged (challenged) to trust God more; to talk with Him more and seek His presence more diligently; to not get pulled away by the lies of the world! We are being challenged to love Him with ALL our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). As we face this day with its multitude of struggles, let’s live a life worthy of the calling we have received and forevermore answer the challenge!

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Apr 3 Deuteronomy 23:1-25:19; Luke 10:13-37; Psalm 75:1-10; Proverbs 12:12-14

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In the message “Put On The New Self” we saw how we become a “new creation” when we place our faith in Jesus Christ. When we are brought into a right relationship with God through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, we begin a process of learning what it means to “put on the new self” (Ephesians 4:24a) and live a life of “true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24b). But many still struggle with the idea of holiness.

Some view holiness as an unnecessary set of rules and cling to “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Others simply don’t give holy living any thought. They take Jesus to church on Sunday morning but then return Him to the shelf for the rest of their “normal” week. In either case, the point of true freedom and a loving relationship with the eternal God has been sadly missed.

Romans 6:2-4
“We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

Salvation involves death and new life! When we truly believe in Jesus, we become united with Him in His death; “our old self was crucified with Him” (Romans 6:6). But we also become united with Him in His life; “count yourself dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11).

A child of God is no longer controlled by the sinful nature; “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life” (Romans 6:22). The result of being set free is eternal life but the benefit is holiness. How often do we recognize holiness as a benefit – a gift to all who believe?

Holiness is a wonderful privilege (not a burden or obligation) and can only be accomplished by living a new life in Christ. When Jesus truly resides in our heart, His thoughts become our thoughts and His desires become our desires. Without Christ, a holy life is not even possible. When Jesus said “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10), He was talking about the blessings in this present life which come though a life of commitment and trust. Following Jesus in all things is truly living life to the fullest!

Jesus Christ is the Creator Who gave His life so we can be restored. Let’s walk with Him every moment of every day. Let’s begin to truly live the new life in Christ and gratefully receive the privileged gift of holiness.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Apr 2 Deuteronomy 21:1-22:30; Luke 9:51-10:12; Psalm 74:1-23; Proverbs 12:11

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How does (or should) a Christian live? We might say a Christian is “made” by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; and we might define a Christian as a child of God who will spend eternity in His presence. And while these are true statements, it still seems there ought to be something about a Christian which makes him different from the rest of the unbelieving world; “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

The moment we truly believe in Jesus Christ and accept the forgiveness offered through His sacrifice, we are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit and become a “new creation.” But at the very instant of what we call our new birth, there is little recognizable difference between the old creation and the new. The transformation is done on our heart when we receive His Spirit, but there still remains a long process of maturing and allowing this transformation to consume every area of our life.

Much of the letters written by Paul were devoted to this same subject. He spent most of his ministry preaching the good news of Salvation through faith in Jesus; but most of his writing was to Christians, instructing them on how they should live.

Ephesians 4:22-24
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

These verses are part of a three chapter passage (Ephesians 4-6) which begins with “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (Ephesians 4:1) and includes teaching about unity, love, humility, anger, purity, husbands, wives, parents, children, slaves, masters, and the full armor of God – all teaching about what is meant by the new self! Some find it hard to understand that a Christian must be taught and urged how to live, but Paul understood. In fact, it’s clear in the original language that Paul is saying to put on the new self…and to KEEP putting it on!!

This is perhaps the most important, yet also the most neglected, teaching of the church today. We seem to have lost the understanding that the Christian life is designed to be a radical transformation which lasts all the rest of our days. The call to “come as you are” is also a call to prepare for, and expect, change.

The new life we have been given is not like the old; it is “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Let’s rise up every day and be determined to put away the old and live according to the new. Let’s show the world that our walk is different, that we walk hand in hand with Jesus, and that we have and will continue to put on the new self.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Mar 29 Deuteronomy 11:1-12:32; Luke 8:22-40; Psalm 70:1-5; Proverbs 12:4
Mar 30 Deuteronomy 13:1-15:23; Luke 8:41-9:6; Psalm 71:1-24; Proverbs 12:5-7
Mar 31 Deuteronomy 16:1-17:20; Luke 9:7-27; Psalm 72:1-20; Proverbs 12:8-9
Apr 1 Deuteronomy 18:1-20:20; Luke 9:28-50; Psalm 73:1-28; Proverbs 12:10

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Do you ever wake up and wonder if you are where God wants you? Do you ever wonder if you are really following God’s plan for your life? These are normal questions and ought to be asked by every true believer in Jesus Christ. We should desire to follow His plan; and the only way to know is to ask, listen for direction, and obediently follow.

The most important part of God’s plan is that we trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin; “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God wants us all to repent, turn to Jesus, and receive His gift of Salvation. He wants us to step from eternal death to eternal life through faith in His one and only Son!

But many people receive His gift and then continue life with no real change, no new direction. This should not be! When we receive God’s gift of Salvation, something wonderful occurs; “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). When we place our life in His hands, He wipes away the ugliness of our sin and begins to grow and mature us into the likeness of His Son (Romans 8:29). This process of maturing growth IS His plan!

Ephesians 2:10
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

When we become a new creation in Christ, we become God’s workmanship. The Greek word for workmanship is “poiema” – it’s where we get the word poem. And though it might be difficult to think of our life as a poem, the idea being presented is that God is creating something beautiful, something almost poetic which touches His heart.

It might be easier to switch analogies and think of God as the Master Painter. When we give Him our life, we hand Him our old canvas covered with the grotesque ugliness of sin. But by grace, the canvas is wiped clean, and the Artist begins to paint a work of art with Jesus as the model. Every stroke of His brush is to make our canvas look more and more like Christ.

Are we where God wants us? Are we following His plan? To help find the answer we should ask: Is the likeness of Christ beginning to form, or is my canvas still filled with ugliness and confusion? Am I allowing Him to paint, or am I trying to take the brush at every opportunity?

God really is the Master Painter, and He really does know what He is doing. If we will allow Him to finish His work, the end result will be better than anything we can imagine!! Let’s give Him our canvas and allow Him to paint. Let’s follow His plan and allow our life to become His work of art.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

**** Reading Plan ****

Mar 28 Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22; Luke 8:4-21; Psalm 69:19-36; Proverbs 12:2-3

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