Tag: everyone

41.l. “Reflect on this past year”

 

 

Psalms 107:9  For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.

 Isaiah 55:1-3   “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.  Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.

 Jeremiah 31:25    For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.”

 Matthew 5:6     “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

 Luke 1:53    he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.

 Revelation 7:16-17   They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat.  For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

What fills your desires? What consumes your time? What defines the purpose of your life? What are you chasing after? Could it be that you are chasing after things in this world to fill the void and emptiness in your soul?

When we give thought to what drives us and satisfies our soul and fills us with purpose, it is eternally important that we identify that longing within us as spiritual and godly hunger. Billy Graham, often said that this longing for purpose is the ultimate intent of our creator. It is a void (space/emptiness) inside each of us. It’s that void that many people try to fill with wealth, possessions, sex, drugs, alcohol, sports, gambling, power, beauty, work, recognition, etc…… They search for their purpose or significance to fill this void by every possible means but do so in vain.

The problem is, things that seem right in our eyes and even the culture that we live in are the things that will never fill this void.   Our natural intents are toward every conceivable idea that seems right and has been confirmed by all means possible by others who say this is how they found purpose and satisfaction in their lives. The problem is that all of these attempts mask it, cover it with brief moments of satisfaction but will always fall short of putting one drop of soul-satisfying nourishment into this void. The only way to satisfy it is with more of the same or trying something different, but in the end, they lead you right back to where you were, or worse. The world offers what it can never give. The problem is that these may be brought to us through temptations by Satan and we are easily tempted by them, or worse we are not even tempted, we just choose to close our minds to things of God.  Satan does not need to tempt us at all.  How sad is that?

God stands at the door of our hearts, knocking. He offers forgiveness of sin. He fills those who repent, believe, trust, follow, and obey His Word to come into them and give them living water and the bread of life, not only now but for eternity. He promises to fill them with the Holy Spirit. To those who keep their eyes and focus on Him with the single purpose of honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ, he promises to fill this void with the fruits of the Holy Spirit, love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. To these, their longing for purpose and satisfaction has not only filled but it is overflowing continually.  You may think this is not true and how can this satisfy the emptiness I am feeling deep within my soul?  It is a promise of God. He never lies. He loved us so much that He gave His only Son to redeem us. He gave us the written Word of God to encourage, convict, and lead us to the very point of exposing the void in our hearts with a purpose and satisfaction this world can never do.  Intentionally choose to examine your heart in light of God’s Word and what satisfies it and gives your purpose. If you find an emptiness or void open the door to your heart and purpose to honor and glorify Jesus Christ anew with all you think, say, and do.

 

20.k. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 10:8   “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

 Mark 16:15-16    And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

 Acts 10:43   To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

 Galatians 3:5    Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith

 Acts 13:38-39    Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,  and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

I must admit I am intrigued by the difference between believing and believing in and on Jesus Christ.  I imagine there are those who believe Jesus Christ.  They believe He is the Son of God.  They believe He was sent by God. They believe He died and rose again.  They believe He is coming again.  The believe there is a heaven and a hell.  They believe the bible is God’s Word.  They believe doing good is right.  They believe in some form of justice for the guilty and innocent.  And yet, for all of this belief, they fall short of what it means to believe on/in Jesus Christ.  The difference is they believe about Him but not in/on Him.  One is an intellectual understanding, belief, and knowledge of the subject – Jesus Christ.  To believe in/on Jesus Christ is completely different.  It is life -changing, life-altering, life-leading, and true peace and joy giving faith.  The bible says this is being born again, made new, and being a new creation.  This newness of life comes from believing in, trusting in, clinging to, relying on, surrendering and yielding to, and obeying Jesus Christ. A persons life is changed.  

I fear many believe that the work of Jesus Christ was a blanket forgiveness over all of mankind’s sins and that all who do good things in this life will go to heaven.  They live good lives and can be kind and loving but they never really see a personal need for personal forgiveness of their personal sin.  Their belief in the blanket covering has blinded their personal need for forgiveness.  

Ask God to reveal to your heart if you are believing in/on Jesus Christ or believing about Him.  Only a heart seeking for God to open their hearts, minds, and souls to the wisdom and understanding for the need for forgiveness will see Jesus Christ as redeemer and savior.  It is in this understanding that belief about changes to believing in/on Jesus Christ through faith and trust.  The difference is that this God-given wisdom and understanding will lead to a person calling out to Jesus Christ to save them.  There should be no doubt in your heart, soul, and mind about this.  

6.x. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

Revelation 6:12  When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

The last question in verse 17 is our first challenge of today. “Who is able to stand before the Lamb and the One on the throne in their day of wrath?” Just as surely as God sent the floodwaters on evil during the days of Noah and sent the fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah during the days of Abraham, He will send His wrath on this evil world in the ends of days. In those days, “Who will be able to stand?”

The Creator who created and formed all there is, surely able to cause its destruction as easily as He spoke them into existence.  Denying God and that He is the creator does not mean it is so.  Denying Christ and His grace, mercy, and love demonstrated on the cross, does not make it so.  Denying the need for salvation, redemption, forgiveness, and repentance does not make it so.  Denying the end of times and God’s wrath on earth and those who have denied Him does not make it so.  So many people choose to believe Satan’s lies and disregard God as a make-believe fairy tale.  Their future when they die is an eternity in torment.  Their future if they are still alive at the revealing and unleashing of God’s wrath and anger is certainly going to be a living hell until they are consumed by death.  At this point, they may have relief from physical pain but they will immediately enter into an eternity of hell and torment.

Now is the day of salvation, redemption, forgiveness, and repentance.  Do not intentionally choose to neglect this gift of grace, mercy, and love.  Your eternal future rests in this choice right now.

110.  Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live

1 Samuel 22:1   David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.

Matthew 11:28  Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.   For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Isaiah 45:22-25     “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.

Isaiah 55:1-3    “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.  Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant

John 6:37     All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

Jeremiah 6:16     Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

Isaiah 48:17-18     Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.  Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea;

Where do you find rest from the distress of trials and troubles of this life?  Is there any place of refuge where our soul will find peace of mind?  There is a place of peace and rest for our heart, soul, and mind, but it comes at a price few are willing to pay.  The price is total surrender and total reliance and total trust and a total clinging to Jesus.  Don’t get me wrong on this for many people in their distress come to Jesus to find peace, hope, and rest.  The problem is that once they are on the other side of the trial/trouble they do not see the need anymore.  It is as though Jesus is a sugar daddy who is there to serve them in their distress but He is not worthy of much past this.

There is a place of refuge, peace, rest, hope, joy in the life of those who intentionally choose and are committed to being humbly serving, honoring, following, and obeying Jesus.  Jesus calls out, “come to Me, all who labor and are heavy with burden and I will give you rest.”  “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from Me.”  Jesus did not say come and leave, He said come and yoke to me, learn from me.

If we are looking for a quick fix for our trials/troubles/issues this is not going to give us lasting peace and rest.  Jesus is willing to take on our burdens and He does this out of love, mercy, and grace.  However if there is no daily surrender to Him, no commitment to Him, no humble love, gratitude, and thankfulness to Him, no want or desire to know more of Him and how to honor, glorify, serve, follow and obey Him, there will be no lasting peace, purpose, or satisfaction for your soul.   It seems we see Jesus more as a personal genie for us rather than seeing the Son of God who gave His life for us so that we would not perish but have eternal life.

Jesus is worthy of all honor, glory, and praise.  He wants us to yoke with Him.  He wants to give us abounded life now and for eternity.  Learn to surrender each day to Him.   Learn to trust Him.  Learn to rely on Him.  Cling to Him.  Learn to cast your cares on Him.  Find rest for your souls in Him each day.

8. Whoever is of a generous heart

Exodus 25:1   The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me

Exodus 35:5-29    Take from among you a contribution to the LORD. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the LORD’s contribution: gold, silver, and bronze;

Deuteronomy 16:16 They shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed.  Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that he has given you.

1 Chronicles 29:1-30  Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my God I give it to the house of my God:

Exodus 35:21    And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the LORD’s contribution

1 Chronicles 29:9    Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the LORD.

2 Corinthians 8:12    For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

2 Corinthians 9:7    Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Mark 10:19  And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

A generous heart is a choice to give of what has been given to you by God.  Do we sometimes think we have worked for what we have and it is ours, all ours, with no thought of it being a gift from God?  Our brains, our job, our physical ability, our place in life is all from God, apart from those consequences of choices we have made outside of honoring, serving, following and obeying God. What we have are blessings and gifts from God.

I was thinking about Job and how he was blessed and then it was all taken away.  Some may look at this and say that it is not fair.  But if we were able to speak to Job I think he would tell us even when it was taken away he was blessed by a deeper understanding and knowledge of God.  In the end all and more was given back to Job.

We look at what we have and think it is not enough.  We strive to get more and more to buy more, travel more, experience more and more stuff that will never satisfy our soul.  We keep, we hoard, we want.

What would happen if we chose to be generous with what we have been blessed with?  What would our lives be like free from want and filled with giving?  A heart choice to be generous with our time, talent, and money are never bad.  However, a choice to not be generous leads us down paths that could end up not honoring or serving God.

Distrust and Doubt

Genesis 21:1   The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

Isaac was a result of a promise from God.  This promise was viewed with doubt and seems to be in our nature too.  God gives us promises and we doubt Him.  Because we doubt either,  Him able, or our worthiness, or both, we find ourselves living defeated because we choose doubt, disbelief, and skepticism.  We choose to believe the lies of Satan that rather than the truth of God’s steadfast grace, mercy, and love. Do we put time limits on God’s promises? Do we put natural boundaries on the Creator?  Do we put human limits on a limitless God?

Matthew Henry has some great thoughts on this.

God’s promised mercies will certainly come at the time which He sets, and that is the best time.  When the Sun of comfort is risen upon the soul, it is good to remember how welcome the dawning of the day was. When Sarah received the promise, she laughed with distrust and doubt. When God gives us the mercies we began to despair of, we ought to remember with sorrow and shame our sinful distrust of his power and promise, when we were in pursuit of them. This mercy filled Sarah with joy and wonder. God’s favors to his covenant people are such as surpass their own and others’ thoughts and expectations: who could imagine that he should do so much for those that deserve so little? Who would have said that God should send his Son to die for us, his Spirit to make us holy, his angels to attend us? Who would have said that such great sins should be pardoned, such mean services accepted, and such worthless worms taken into covenant?

Let me hear in the morning

“True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity.”

“I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth,”

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,”

Psalms 86:11  Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.

Psalms 5:8     Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.

Psalms 25:4     Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.

Psalms 25:12     Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.

Psalms 27:11     Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path

Psalms 119:33    Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.

Psalms 119:73    Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.

Psalms 143:8    Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.  Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD! I have fled to you for refuge.  Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!

Job 34:32     teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?

John 6:45-46     It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—

Psalms 119:30     I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.

Jeremiah 32:38     And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.  I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them.

Matthew 6:23     “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

2 Corinthians 11:3    But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

Colossians 3:17     And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The call to us is to have a heart, mind, and soul that desire God and to serve Him in a way that honors and glorifies Him.  Notice the heart of the men in scripture who comment on their want to be led by God.  Teach me, show me, lead me, guide me, deliver me, show me, and instruct me.  How are they different than the way we are looking at God.  It appears they had a deeper desire and longing to honor and glorify Him.  Our lives seem to be so much easier than theirs.  Technology allows us many benefits that were not part of their daily lives.  The ease in our life made by travel, communication, medicine, heating, cooling, freezing, computers, clothing……. should make us more thankful and grateful for God allowing industrialization and technology to flourish.  We seem to think this is all done with the hands and mind of man.  All of this seems to have moved us further and further away from God to the point He is a second thought in times of trouble rather than the first thought.  There is so much in our culture that says “you don’t need God” but the fact remains we do.  What does it mean to have a  heart, mind, and soul desiring Him?  Read these scriptures again and see where others before us have put God in their lives.  The importance of this should not go unnoticed.  Seek Him, Desire Him, Honor Him, Worship Him, Listen to Him, Follow Him, and Obey Him.

God is Great

“There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.”

Psalms 86:10  For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.

Psalms 77:14     You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.  You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph.

Psalms 145:3    Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.  One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.  On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

Exodus 15:11    “Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

Daniel 6:26    I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end.  He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.”

Acts 2:19     And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;  the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.  And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’  “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—

Psalms 105:5    Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,

I will meditate on your majesty and wondrous works.  When I read this, two approaches to looking at and meditating on seem to happen.  The first is I start remembering various wonders that are recalled in scripture – creation, Noah’s ark, judgement – flood, Abraham and promises made and fulfilled to him, Joseph, Pharaoh, Moses, Splitting the Red Sea, water from a rock, numerous times of God intervening in battles when all seemed lost, numerous times God called out the sin of a nation and performed judgement on them, battle of Jericho, stopping of the  Jordan river, prophets, David and Goliath, manna, Jonna and the whale, John the baptist, Jesus and all of the miracles He performed, death and resurrection of Jesus, sending the Holy Spirit to indwell all who believe.  This list of what has been recorded can go on and on.  The second thing I start to remember is His wonders that I have seen in my life.  Saving me from an explosion, softening my heart and mind and bringing Dawn and I to a place where  we saw the absolute need for salvation, Saving us, guiding us, giving us 4 sons, giving us two daughter-in-laws, so far, blessing us through out our lives together, answering prayers, teaching us, correcting us, revealing to us, confirming to us, speaking to us and using us in ways that are through His leading, putting people into our lives, and making His promises alive in our heart and soul.  Behind all of these there are many more specifics and all are at the hand of God.  No life is wasted when it is placed in the hands of God.  Spend time today thinking of and meditating on His greatness, grace, mercy and love.

Living for Jesus

“To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

John 20:11  But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.  They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”  Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.  Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”  Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).  Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”  Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”  When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.  Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”  And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.   If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Matthew 10:16     “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Matthew 28:18    And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Luke 24:46  and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,  and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things.  And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Acts 2:38     And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 13:38     Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,  and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

Forgiveness of sin comes to all who believe and are called.  Our lives are no longer without purpose.  We are to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.  We are to make disciples.  We are to receive the Holy Spirit.  We are to walk in humbleness.  We are to follow and obey.  We are to honor God.  We are to be thankful in all circumstances.  We are to seek and desire Him.  We are to be different from those who do not know or live for Jesus Christ.  We are to be the light to those in darkness.  We are to study His word.  We are to keep our focus on Him and eternity.  We are to pray. We are to be kind.  We are to communicate hope, peace, love, and joy.  We are to find our purpose in humbly serving, honoring, following, and obeying God for His glory. Our life is no longer ours to live but His to live through us.