By Pastora Beth Lee
The theme of Jesus Reigns this year is intimacy with the word. What does intimacy mean? It is your nearness to God. Your heart and God’s heart are one. It is having a strong foundation as a Christian when you have an intimate relationship with God. This is very personal. It cannot be expressed through words. People will not understand you. Only God and you will understand you. God knows your heart and everything you are going through. Reason why you have peace and joyi n your heart no matter what the circumstance is because of your intimacy with God.
Psalms 1:1-2 says, “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.” Psalm one is the introduction of the entire book of Psalms. It is a Psalm of faith. This promise of prosperity is not a pledge in exchange for man’s good behavior but rather, as you continue to believe in God, the promise of God is made whole. What is the meaning of blessed? Blessed doe snot necessarily mean material world that is of the world. It means that you are under the care of God since you believe in Him. It is a by-product of your commitment to God.
Christianity is a heart thing. Many Christians struggle with their heart and their character. But if Jesus is in your heart, you will not get lost. If you continue sinning, your life wil begin to falter because your heart is not in the right place. Matthew 12:34 says, “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” What comes out of your mouth is what is in your heart. This line leads you to reflect on the importance of words and how it can impact the lives of those around us.
The Bible considers the heart to be the hub of human personality, producing the things we would ordinarily ascribe to our mind. The heart is the center of your life. Donot accept the negative things said to you becaue you are children of God.
1 Corinthians 8:1 says, “Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.” Some Christians still practice rituals of other religions. Things not of the Lord should be avoided. Follow what the Lord tells you to do.
Ephesians 1:18 says, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.” Man has something to look forward to in the future: it is the glory of the Lord. God revealed what is going to happen to man in the future so that he does not have to worry about anything. Jesus finished it all on the cross in Calvary so man is already victorious in all things.
Ephesians 3 :16-17 says, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love.” Thisis Paul’s prayer and first request. The spirit of God is already in you. God makes you strong through His spirit. If your heart is full of prayer and you continue to stand in your faith as a Christian, you will become strong.
Psalms 119:2 says, “Joyful are those who obey His laws and search for Him with all their hearts.” The word of God is central to the life of His people. That is where you understand what He is trying to say to you and that is also what you obey. When you obey, there is joy in your heart. Your problem becomes small because your God is bigger than all your problems. Meditate on His word day and night to have an intimate relationship with Him.
“I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you,” continues David in verse 11. The only thing that has the ability to stop sin is the revelation of God’s grace. For you to be able to see what God is saying to you, fill your heart with His word. If you are doing something that is not pleasing to God, you need Him in your life all the more. The Holy Spirit is the one who will move in your life. And when He does, it is your time to go back to Him.
You should not be benchwarmers in church. Stand up and do something. Be excited to do things for the Lord. Verse 34 continues with, “Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart.” Everybody is a struggling Christian. Nobody is perfect. The Lord will move in mysterious ways in your life. Verse 161 says, “Powerful people harass me without cause, but my heart trembles only at your word.” Persecution will come in the life of every Christian, sometimes even within their own family. But if you have a relationshsip with God, it is nothing. God’s treasured word in your heart will make your heart constant. Love will always be there. And if you love God, you will have, joy, peace, self-control, patience, kindness and generosity.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 says, “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” Such is a Christian. Always fresh and never getting tired.
1 Samuel 16:6-7 says, “When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Sometimes, God is alrady calling you but you do not want to obey. You make all sorts of excuses to get away from your calling. But when God calls you, there is nothing or no one who can stop that calling. There is no excuse. God chooses special people to do His will. When God calls you, the answwer should always be “Yes Lord!”
God called David "a man after His own heart." Who wants to be close to God’s heart? He can see your hands raised. Get ready because Jesus is coming soon. Be ready to go out into the world and spread the gospel.