As we look around us today we often see people in fear and confusion as they watch TV and listen to the fear mongers in the media. But fear and confusion should have no place in the life of the Christian. “God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind”(2 Tim 1:7; NKJV). 

God says that perfect love drives fear from our lives (1 John 4:18). Fear is the opposite of faith; faith believes God, fear believes the reports of the devil. If our lives are driven by selfishness and evil motives then confusion easily results (James 3:16) but “God is not the author of confusion but of peace”(1 Cor 14:33). 

How do we walk in peace? In Isaiah chapter 26 and verse 3 it is written: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You”. Let's commit to walk in love, focus on God's word and believe it, not the noise in the world around us. Let's cut through the confusion in our world and be beacons of God's life, peace and truth. “And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free”(John 8:32)! 

True life and freedom are not to be found in rushing after everything the World says is important. God's greatest desire is to bless us, but His word says: “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (God's provisions and blessings) shall be added unto you”(Matt 6:33). We need to put God first and do things God's way! Wow, I don”t know about you, but I needed to hear that! If these words have helped you, please share them with a friend. 

“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Phil 3:10; NKJV). 

Paul says that his goal in life is to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. Think what power (Greek Dunamis) was needed to raise Jesus from the dead (Eph 1:20)! 

We get our English word dynamite from the Greek word Dunamis! That same power dwells in us (Ro 8:11), brings life to our mortal bodies, empowers us to be witnesses for Him (Acts 1:8) and in fact, makes us like Jesus (2 Cor 3:17-18)! Wow and double Wow! 

Eph 1:18 also indicates that Gods power (Greek Kratos) in us is the power of dominion or authority. As born again believers in Jesus we walk in the authority of Jesus over the devil, authority which Jesus took back from satan through His (Jesus) death and resurrection (Eph 1:21-22). 

What a victory we have in Jesus! But Paul does go on to say, in Phil 3:10, that we also must be willing to fellowship in Christ”s sufferings and death. We have to die to self and live for Christ, no matter how much persecution or difficulty this may bring; are we willing?

I am always struck by the story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). There we see the stark contrast between the cold, cunning of the unforgiving Pharisees and Jesus’ consummate wisdom, compassion and forgiveness. However, Jesus did not overlook the woman’s sin but told her to sin no more!

 Isn't it wonderful to know that Jesus paid the price for our sins through His sacrifice on the cross (Rom 5:8). As Christians we are forgiven (Col 1:14), given new life (2 Cor 5:17) and righteousness in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:21). As Christians we do still sin (1 John 1:8) as our spirit (spiritual heart or conscience) is made new but not our body or soul (1 Thess 5:23). However, we should not habitually or willfully sin (1 John 3:6) as God has made us new spiritual creations in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:17).

 Our spirit is to govern our soul and body. When we gave our lives to Christ we were born again spiritually (John 3:1-6) and our spirits were made new (Ezek 11:19). When we do slip and sin, because we allow our souls to get the upper hand, we can repent and ask God’s forgiveness. God forgives “us and cleanses us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9; NKJV).

 What an advantage we have over the woman caught in adultery; how God loves us, in that He has placed His Holy Spirit on the inside of us to enable us to change  and help us not to sin (John 14:16-17). All we have to do is cooperate and walk in obedience!

Luke 16:16 (NKJV) “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is PRESSING INTO it.” Matt. 11:12 (Amp) “And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force (as a precious prize; a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion)". So who are the “violent men”? We are!!! These verses speak of an urgency and a passion in following after God and I believe this urgency is birthed in prayer. The apostle Paul also talked about "pressing in" in Philippians 3:12 and 14 - he tells us that he is pressing in to win the prize and he then encourages us to do the same thing. People who are seriously training for any kind of athletic event will give it all they've got to win the prize and that is how we need to be about pressing in to God. If we are going to make an impact on our society, our Christianity cannot be halfhearted.

When it comes to humility, Jesus is our example. In Phil. 2:5-9 (Amp) we have the description of how Jesus gave up all the privileges of heaven and came to earth, "assuming the guise of a servant". In verse 5 of that chapter we are told to let Jesus be our example in humility.

We have another great example of Jesus humbling himself and becoming a servant in John 13:14 (Amp): "If I then your Lord and Teacher (Master), have washed your feet, you ought (It is your duty, you are under obligation, you owe it) to wash one another's feet". We also learn from this verse that we need to do the same thing for our fellow believers.

If we want to be like Jesus and be obedient, then we must serve one another. For some people serving comes naturally; they have a "servant's heart", others of us have to work at it a little harder. Nevertheless, there is great blessing in serving others, because "inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to me" (Matt. 25:40; NKJV). Let's obey God, humble ourselves and serve each other. What a witness to the world around us this will be.