saved

Are You Saved?

My friend, are you?
God's way or man's way?
You see there is a difference and it's imperative that you should know of this disparity and follow after God's way, because this is the only way into His presence.

Also, let’s dispense with the word “saved” because it has the implication of an event that is past and need not be addressed again.
Instead, we will use “converted” because it describes the event better, as well as being Biblical.

There are no favourites with God.: Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;; (Romans 2:6-12)
Even king David, that most blessed of men, was punished according to the law of the Old Covenant when his firstborn with Bathsheba was killed by God.
This means that there is no other way into God's presence except through the door that He has designated and on the path that He has made for each of us. If we deviate from that path we have done so of our own free will, tempted by that great deceiver, liar and murderer, Satan.

My wife and I came out of the charismatic movement after becoming aware of the falseness in the church, but make no mistake, we were blessed spiritually while there. It was only after a period of time that the 5% of lies was perceived, that the slow insidious poison would kill if we stayed.

Ask anyone if they are a Christian and if they reply "I'm a Baptist (or a Roman Catholic or Methodist or Dutch Reformed etc.)" you can be fairly sure that he or she is a denominationalist before being a Christian. They are proud of belonging to the "right" church.
Meanwhile the right church is you and I and the minister is God Himself - the Holy Spirit,: And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.; (2 Corinthians 6:16-18)
and He wants to teach us Himself.

A person may spend a major portion of her (or his) life going to church, being the church organist or the after church tea maker and never meet her maker; the Bible is a book of fairy stories. This person is lost because the narrow gate will not open.: Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.; (Luke 13:24-28)
Only when we individually search for God will He reveal Himself to us.

The most revealing example of what is meant that this writer knows is the experience of my Christian brother Darryl:
It was during my term as an elder and when I came back from International flying with SA Airways that the desire to know God better, grew in me. During my nightstops, normally one or two nights away from home, I read Christian books, which I had either borrowed from other church-goers and some that I had bought from Christian bookshops. One thing that stood out quite pertinently was that these authors talked about a God who was very much alive and not the 'dead' or 'non-existent' God I had come to know in the churches I had been attending. This God was still doing miracles.
I have been very cautious about accepting just anything that people said since reading in the Bible Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the LORD answered? and, What hath the LORD spoken? (Jeremiah 23:35) Because of this verse, I have always looked to see whether it is really what God said or answered. So it was when Dr James van Zyl of Stanger mentioned that the Lord had told His disciples that they had been taught by God, that alarm bells started ringing for I knew most stories in the Bible and had never seen that. He gave John 6 as the reference so I got my Bible out and started reading it. About two-thirds through the chapter, I came to a place where you could say that it could be thus inferred. I found a reference in that section to: And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD. (Isaiah 54:13) There was again a reference to some six other such statements, one of which really struck me as being very relevant and clear: And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. (Jeremiah 31:34) I have since found six other references in other parts of the Old and New Testaments.
When I saw that God wanted to teach us Himself, I went down on my knees and asked Him to teach me. It came to mind that I must ask Him what He meant by the parable of the talents. I, and I suspect many other church-goers, went to church to be taught by the preacher, pastor or priest, so I had to look for it as all I knew was that it was somewhere in one of the four gospels. When I eventually found it, I started reading it. It seemed to be just the same as I had come to know it! I read it again, but it still was the same. I started reading it for the third time when a voice seemed to say 'My word is the talent.' I immediately saw that He meant that He couldn't teach me if I never read the Bible. As simple as that! How could He give me the increase if I didn't take the time to read the Bible.
When I realised that God had spoken to this no-good guy, I burst into tears and strange words just poured from my lips, what I said, I don't know. I perceive today that I must have been confessing my sins, for it was to me the longest prayer I had ever made up to that point. I remember wondering when I was going to stop. What struck me was the relief I sensed that, on getting up off my knees, it was as though a great weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I must admit that I didn't want to miss out on His next lesson with the result that I spent many hours reading the Bible; no more Christian books for me, thank you! In fact, I didn't even play the radio on my way to or from the airport, some forty plus kilometers away, in case He wanted to talk to me while that which He had taught me was mulling through my mind.

This writer's experience was that of being an unwilling Sunday School teacher in my youth, hearing about the unlikely story of Jesus rising from the dead; but especially, nobody could explain why one was saved by His blood, so I walked away.
Only when faced with a crisis could the Holy Spirit show the choice I had. Either repent of my sins, turning away from my former life, or else He couldn’t reveal the Truth. Only after repenting and coming to God on my knees with plenty of tears, was the gospel of the Blood Covenant and the reason for the spilled blood of my Master revealed.
Hallelujah!

The following is the example of Isaiah’s repentance and conversion:: In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.; (Isaiah 6:1-8)

Paul expresses the difference this way:: For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.; (1 Corinthians 1:17-19)

The apostle John recalls what Jesus of Nazareth said of the religious people of the time:: Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true. Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me. Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come. Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. As he spake these words, many believed on him. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.; (John 8:12-47)

In the church that we came out of, there was usually an altar call after the evening service, where something of what repentance is, was explained, a prayer was said by the minister, repeated by those responding to the altar call and the "New Christians" were led into a separate room to receive a certificate of "Christianship". They now believed that they were Christians. They were in an emotional state and convicted of their sins because of the loud music and impassioned preaching, but had they truly repented? The answer to that lies in the fact that some of them came back six times to altar calls to try and find God, but they wanted Him their way, not God's way. They weren't informed that they had to give everything of themselves to their Creator, with the result that they couldn't find Him.
They were following the form, the procedure of the church, whereas God is expecting something different:: O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.; (Psalms 51:15-17); For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.; (Isaiah 57:15); If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.; (John 14:15-17)

: Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?; (Galatians 4:8-9)

How wonderful God is. He that is so high and pure takes delight in us as we attempt to be righteous in His eyes, out of love for Him and His Son who died for us.
When it's realised what's in store for us one day, that we shall walk and talk with Him, we receive such comfort and strength to carry on with life's difficulties in this evil world.
When we realise our limitations and evil nature, it's a wonder indeed that the Creator of the universe would stoop to know us.: When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!; (Psalms 8:3-9)

The meaning of the relevant phrases of the above Galatians passage is clearer in the Afrikaans Bible, which, translated into plain English means "now that you know God, or are rather known by Him."
Paul exclaims:: For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;; (Ephesians 3:1-5)

It's such a pity that so many professing Christians are missing this wonderful experience because they are following the teachings of men, going to church week by week, continually consuming the milk of the word and never knowing the wonder of being taught by God Himself. They cannot progress because they don't know how, nor will God allow it:: For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.; (Hebrews 5:12 - 6:1-3); For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;; (Colossians 1:9-10)

Many, unfortunately, think that they do God a favour by going to church and if the weather is bad they'd rather not go. Or if they respond to an altar call because their emotions have been stirred, they imagine that they are now born again and have received their ticket to heaven.
Few realise that they get to know God because He chooses to manifest Himself to them, as is stated in the Scripture above, and this because He knows their hearts.: The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.; (Proverbs 20:27)

Few also realise that because of their disobedience, they are led by the deceiver away from the knowledge and truth of God. There are many spiritual manifestations in the churches today and this is encouraging for those who earnestly wait for the coming of our Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, because we are witnessing the beginnings of the falling away spoken of in God's word to us.: Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. ¶ But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.; (2 Thessalonians 2:1-14)

The Road to Redemption
Jesus of Nazareth had to die, to become the final Blood Sacrifice, to undo Adam's sin.
He, who was with God from before the world was, had to take our place, had to bear our sins on His bloody back, be tortured and die for us so that the door into heaven and God's presence could be opened for all those who want to go in and worship.: I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.; (John 10:11-18); Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.; (John 15:13)

How can we therefore in our selfishness and worship of the great I, expect God the Creator to change His laws for us?
There are no exceptions with Him.: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.; (Ephesians 6:8-9)
Even Paul, writer of most of the New Covenant suffered:: Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.; (2 Corinthians 11:23-33)

Why is this, why is it that we who love God and wish to worship Him must suffer persecution of various kinds?: My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.; (James 1:2-5); Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:; (Colossians 1:8-12)

A good example of this is shown us in the Bible concerning the descendants of Jacob's twelve sons. For close on four hundred years they were whipped and held in subjection by the Egyptians and it was only when they came to God in their helplessness that He delivered them.: They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!; (Psalms 107:4-15)

Dear friend, it's only when we actually and willingly obey God's commandment through Jesus of Nazareth that our minds and bodies become prepared for God to accept us.: Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.; (Matthew 22:37-39)

Please understand that the sayings "he loves the Lord", or "I accepted Jesus" is no basis for being accepted into heaven.
Rather, we must ask ourselves "Has God accepted us?"
Only when He has done so will the Holy Spirit come to dwell in us.

Make no mistake, God takes delight in us, but He can see into our hearts and will only accept us if we are washed clean. He will not sully Himself with dirty ones and the greatest proof of this is that He had to call on His only begotten Son to sacrifice Himself to give us this opportunity. He is God; He can do anything, He could have commanded angels to help Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus could have done the same; but that would have been like cheating and the lesson that we must learn is that no cheating will be allowed.

We shall receive the Holy Spirit to be our Spiritual Guide only if we follow God's wishes in the matter.
"Well" you say "I know a lady who is a leader in the local charismatic church, that speaks in tongues, which I understand is the evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit, but she is divorced, lives with another man, smokes and drinks in public. She doesn't seem to have repented any, so where does your story come from?"
Do you know that Hari Crishna's speak in tongues and the Pope is reputed also to do so?
What does the Bible teach us? A repentant and humble heart is what God is looking for.: Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.; (James 4:10)

My friend, please don't expect it to be easy to be a Christian; very few, if any, characters in the Bible had it easy on earth - but God could use them, because they put Him first and self took a back seat.
Paul writes:: But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.; (Philippians 3:7-11)

The heart of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is repentance. When we are genuinely willing to change our very self and make a new person of ourselves because of our love for Jesus - then and then only will God look upon us with favour and actually change us.
And this is only the beginning of a long and difficult walk that we shall be unable to complete on our own and complete it we must.: For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,; (Luke 14:28-29)
The road that we must walk is that of distance and time; of progress. We shall not be expected to do more than we can handle at any time during that walk. Let the Lord the Holy Spirit be that Light that helps us from falling off into the darkness of Satan's kingdom.

God loves us remember, He is not sitting behind us with a big stick just waiting for an opportunity to punish us; He guides us continually, helping that we make the right choices in this temporary life.: The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.; (Psalms 37:23); O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!; For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.; (Psalms 107:1-9); Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.; (Matthew 5:6)

May the Lord bless you and cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you who have read this and have felt your spirit moved within you.