IF THE LORD IS WILLING!

JAMES 4: 13-14-15

"Look here, you who say today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year, how do you know what your life will be like tomorrow?

Your life is like the morning fog, it is here for a little while and then it is gone.

What you ought to say is, IF THE LORD IS WILLING, we will do this or that!"

Have you planned out your whole life? Do you know who you will marry and how many children you will have? Do you know the year of your death? Do you have a plan for your profession or the job you will perform? Have you said you will live here in this city and your home will be located in a certain neighborhood? Have you planned your vacations for years to come? The One Truth Today is to help you remember who is in control! Whenever you talk about the future, or your plans, be sure and say, IF THE LORD IS WILLING! How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Remember we are only here for a little while!

Only Jesus Christ the Lord God knows the end from the beginning. No man can tell you what will happen tomorrow and be absolutely correct! How many times have you personally been surprised by the events that have dramatically changed your own life? Many events do not fit your plan and if you look back you will see that you are not in complete control of your own life. Our life is like a vapor, a fog, a puff of smoke or a flower. You are visible for a time but then gone and forgotten, disappearing into the air. In God's timing your life is only for an instant! You do not control your universe, God does! It is wiser and better if you say you will do something, or go somewhere, IF THE LORD IS WILLING!

We need to acknowledge that God is in control of this world and the entire universe. Our plans will only succeed if they are within the Will of God. Not our will, but thy will be done Lord Jesus. Only God can predict the future. No man can make a perfect plan for the future, because no man is perfect. It is presumptuous and conceited if you boast about your future. You do not control your future. If you say you are going to do something or go somewhere, you had better be sure to add to your statement, IF THE LORD IS WILLING!

TAME THE TONGUE!

JAMES 3: 7-8

"People can tame all kinds of animals , birds, reptiles and fish, but no one can

TAME THE TONGUE! The tongue is restless and evil and full of deadly poison."

Are you able to control your tongue? Your tongue is like a sharp two edged sword capable of doing great damage to others and yourself. We have the ability to use our tongue to bless or to curse, the choice is ours. Do you swear and use the Lord's name in vain? Have you ever said things that you wish you could retract, as though never spoken? Have you harmed anyone with your tongue? You can do great harm to others by what you say about them. Just as a great forest fire begins with a single spark, a single word from your tongue can cause tremendous damage. The tongue is restless and evil and full of deadly poison. The One Truth Today is that we must learn to TAME THE TONGUE!

Even though the tongue is one of the smaller members of the body, it is like the rudder on a large ship, or the bridle in the mouth of a powerful animal. Your destination and the control of your life can be directed by the use of this tiny instrument. As a child we are taught and learn to control our tongue. We learn to be obedient and demonstrate our discipline by controlling our tongue. It is the fear of punishment that motivates us to TAME THE TONGUE! If we fail to learn this lesson, all kinds of evil and harm will come to our life. You may start a fire that you can not put out. If man can tame all kinds of animals, reptiles and birds, they can also TAME THE TONGUE!

We should not send out sweet, fresh, heavenly words in one breath and in another send out evil, poisonous and harmful statements. The same tongue can be used for blessing or for cursing and we are in control and make the choices one at a time. If we are Wise and Listen to the Word of God and the One Truth for Today we will succeed in controlling our tongue and use it for righteousness and blessing. It may require time, effort and conditioning but we can control our tongue and our lives with the help of the Lord. The Lord desires this and others have done it, so it is not impossible for any person. Make it a habit to TAME THE TONGUE!

IS YOUR FAITH DEAD OF ALIVE?

JAMES 2: 17

"So you see, faith by itself is not enough. Unless your faith produces good deeds,

it is dead and useless."

Remember the "Wanted" posters from the old western movies. A Reward was offered if you brought in the fugitive, DEAD OR ALIVE! If God had a poster made it would read "IS YOUR FAITH DEAD OR ALIVE?" The One Truth Today tells us how to know the answer. Unless your faith produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Having faith and nothing to show for it is the same as a living fruit tree that produces no "good fruit". How about you, have you "got fruit"? It is a natural consequence of being "born again", into a new eternal life, that you would change from the old sinful nature and become a person of faith and righteousness. How can you, your family or friends, and the Lord tell if you have a new spirit and a new faith? You will perform good deeds because of what the Lord has done for you, it will be easy and natural!

Your faith will be dead and useless unless there are some good deeds and good fruit to show for it. Have you demonstrated your faith by doing good deeds for others? Can God and your fellow humans easily see the difference in your new nature? Are you alive in Jesus Christ the Lord God. The threshold question, IS YOUR FAITH DEAD OR ALIVE? You will be known by your fruit, which is expressed in your actions and good deeds. Faith that is unproductive and spiritually deficient is not alive and might as well be dead! If you claim you have been Saved and are born again, but you are the same old person, doing the same old things, your faith is dead and useless!

If you want to be justified and acceptable to the Lord God you must prove it by your actions, words, and deeds. You will never have been saved by any works that you may have done and all the Glory for your new life belongs to God. However, the natural consequence of being more like the Lord is that it will be your desire to do good deeds for others. God loved you even when you were a sinner and because of His Love in your heart and life you will want to love and help others. If you belong to God you will want to be more like Him. You will want to please the Lord and be obedient to Him. Because of your faith in the Lord and His promises you will be inclined to express that love in loving others. You will produce good deeds as naturally as a healthy fruit tree produces fruit. Check your fruit. IS YOU FAITH DEAD OR ALIVE!

YOU MUST DO WHAT GOD SAYS!

JAMES 1: 22

"Do not just listen to God's Word. YOU MUST DO WHAT GOD SAYS! Otherwise

you are only fooling yourself."

In the news today a teacher at a Christian school was asked to resign, because she was living with a man outside of marriage. She was not only teaching God's Word to her students but was a professing Christian woman. The One Truth Today is on point to the issue here. You can not just listen to God's Word as a believer and then do whatever you want or believe. YOU MUST DO WHAT GOD SAYS! This person was fooling herself, and for a time the students and faculty of the school, but she never fooled God! Are we going to be obedient to God and His Word and Laws or are we just going to obey 7 out of the 10 commandments? If you fail to listen and obey the Word of the Lord, you will suffer. You can not live an illusion and the results are always predictable. How about you, are you just fooling yourself or do you understand that YOU MUST DO WHAT GOD SAYS!

The Lord does not want us to be a hearer of the Word only. God wants us to be a doer of the Word! We are to be obedient and Love His Laws. If we do not obey, we are just fooling ourselves and some others, but we never fool God. In effect we are punishing ourselves when we know the Law and the Word and then disobey. That is why the Lord is Just. We make the choices and we suffer the consequences. Bad choices lead to bad and predictable results in our lives. Disobeying God is the worst choice of all. You have separated yourself from the Lord and you have sinned. If you want peace on earth, YOU MUST DO WHAT GOD SAYS!

Are you who you say you are, a believer in Jesus Christ the Lord God? You can not fake it for you can not mock God. If you are foolish enough to listen to the Word of God and then go in the opposite direction, you are taking a path that leads away from God. Not a good plan.

We must implement and put into action the Truths of the Lord or we are nothing but fools!

Do not deceive yourself or be deceived by others, YOU MUST DO WHAT GOD SAYS! God is your father and He wants to teach you His truths and give you life and that eternal. Are you His obedient child? Do you trust Him, do you obey Him, do you do what He tells you to do?

If not you are just fooling yourself!

BE QUICK TO LISTEN!

JAMES 1: 19-20

"You must BE QUICK TO LISTEN, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires."

Are you slow to get angry, or do you have a quick temper? Are your children or your family afraid of you because of your angry tongue? Does the family dog cower when you raise your voice and show emotion? You need to learn our One Truth Today. The second half of the scripture, that is so important, is that we need to BE QUICK TO LISTEN! Do you actually listen when you are spoken to, or is what you are doing much more important to you? Do you show a genuine interest in others by paying attention to what they are trying to communicate or do you ignore them? Do you try to dominate conversations or do you allow others an equal share in their ideas and opinions? If you want to please God and have a better and more peaceful life you need to internalize this message. BE QUICK TO LISTEN!

Your personal relationships depend on whether or not you adopt these suggestions. BE QUICK TO LISTEN, slow to speak, and slow to anger. People sense and know when you are paying attention to them and when you are disinterested. Your family and friends along with God want your undivided attention, less of you and more of them. Listen carefully and learn what is being communicated to you. Wait and digest carefully what has been said. Do not interrupt others in the middle of their conversation. Before you give your opinions and speak, be sure your mind is engaged, not just your mouth. Try never to be angry or offensive to others, it will not bring your desired result. Anger does not produce the righteousness God desires of us!

You know that anger does not produce peace, but brings wrath. A soft word turns away that wrath. Do you want conflict or peace with others? This is most important with those who are closest to you. If you have failed to do this, stop right now and ask the Lord to give you the strength to BE QUICK TO LISTEN, slow to speak and above all slow to anger! Confess your sin and ask for forgiveness. Once you have repented you can make the right choices, one at time, in you relationships with others. Our goal is to be like the Lord and to be righteous. Human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires of us. Are you listening? BE QUICK TO LISTEN!

SO LET IT GROW!

JAMES 1: 2-3

"When trouble comes your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For

you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. SO LET IT GROW!"

No one looks for trouble but in this lifetime is is sure to come. Have you ever asked yourself, as a child of God, why is it that you have trouble? Do you think that life on earth is going to be perfect for believer's? How many times has the question been asked, "why do bad things happen to Good, or God's, people? Another favorite of non believer's is, "why would a Good God allow bad things to happen?" If you believe that your life here on earth is all that there is then you could come to that conclusion, but, you would be wrong. They do not know or understand that we are just passing through on our way to Heaven and perfection with God!

The One Truth Today is explaining that when trouble comes your way, and it will, consider it an opportunity for great joy. The Lord is testing your faith to allow your endurance to grow,

SO LET IT GROW!

No matter what trouble you encounter here on earth always remember and understand that this is your way to prove your faith in God and your endurance is being tested! When you seek the Lord first in everything that you do, He will have the right answer for your problem. You will develop steadfastness, endurance and increasing faith and patience as you overcome the troubles of this world. We will become fully developed spiritually even as our body is subjected to death, decay and troubles. There is no perfection here on earth, only in Heaven!

Consider any trouble as an opportunity for great joy as you grow in the Lord! SO LET IT GROW!

We know that it is difficult to feel great joy if you are crippled, or diseased. We know that when you lose a love one it is not a time for happiness. Yet the Lord tells us to Rejoice, and again He says Rejoice. This is where you have an opportunity to realize where you stand when it comes to Faith in God. Do you know for sure that you will trade your imperfect body for one of perfection in Heaven. Do you know that you will be reunited with those you love again on the other side. The blind see, the deaf hear, the lame jump for joy, that is the reward for your endurance. The dead rise to a new and eternal life of perfection. If you are a child of God then when your faith is tested, LET IT GROW!

HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER!

PSALM 136: 1

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER!"

Can you think of anything in this world that endures or lasts forever? Not even the pyramids will last forever. How about Hollywood marriages, how long do they last? How about the winning ways of any sports team? Today's winner is tomorrows loser. How about your youth, strength or memory, have you noticed any change, or will they endure forever? How about the cars and homes that you have loved so dearly, have they endured forever? Every physical thing in the Universe deteriorates with time, nothing lasts forever. Even the Sun and the Earth are in the process of winding down and losing energy. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER!

As a child of God your soul will be saved and join with the Lord in Heaven. Because HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER, your soul will spend eternity with Him. His Love and Mercy will stand the test of time and you will be in perfection, forever. Think about this in that there is some thing that will endure forever. The Lord was from the beginning and He will have no ending.

He will continue to show His Love Mercy and Kindness and Goodness to us forever. His love will never dissipate or weaken. We can derive a great deal of comfort knowing this Truth. While everything is falling apart around us and the end is near for it all, our God and HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER!

In Psalm 136 the message, HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER, is repeated enough times that even a slow learner can grasp its truth. We should conclude that this message and the One Truth Today was important to the Lord, and for us to learn. Has it been lost on you or those you love? God's Love endures forever and is everlasting. His Mercy is new every day and to anyone who will call on His name and believe in Him. There is nothing else that competes with this truth. We need to give thanks to the Lord, that He love us enough to Save us and give us a new and eternal life with Him in Heaven. Praise God, HIS LOVE ENDURE FOREVER!