“There is…”

There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Luke 15:10 — King James Version

We are all sinners. And, yes, true Christians, true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ sin after being transformed and made anew by the power of the Holy Spirit. Because the flesh is at constant war with the spirit, and while we are perfected in Christ upon confession of our sin, repentance of our sin, and having faith in the free gift of God for salvation, of which we do not deserve, we are not completely perfected. Not lacking the ability to sin. We sin daily. In our daily lives. And we need to continue to recognize our sin, acknowledge our sin, confess our sin, and repent of our sin in our prayers to God.

It isn’t over when truly born again and converted to the word of the Lord, faith in Jesus Christ. It is truly only beginning then. And if anyone ever told you that once you’re a Christian it gets easier, life is just blissful and good times, no problems ahead? That person lied to you and was utterly clueless as to what being, what occurs in the life of a true believer, a true and authentic follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It takes courage, it takes patience, it takes discernment, it takes thinking and doing and being and resolve to be a Christian. It takes something constant being applied, thought of on the part of the Christian. It isn’t automatic. It isn’t magic dust sprinkled on us and shazam all is well!

On the contrary. The tests, the trials, the sufferings but begin.

The honing. The baptism of fire. The refining. The perfecting. The satisfying upon being justified by God for our faith.

How do we cope? How do we endure? How do we fight the good fight to the end?

Turn to the Lord’s words daily. Open and meditate upon, pray back the Bible to God (think Psalms here), do not neglect the word of God which is the will of God for our lives. Far too many search, ask, how can I know the will of God?

Simply get a Holy Bible in your hands. And approved translation in these days of corrupted versions, and pray before opening God’s word. Ask faithfully, boldly of the Holy Spirit to teach you what no one can know of their own understanding, what those in darkness cannot see or hear, refuse to see or hear.

And do more than merely read. Study. Search out. Prepare. Take notes. Use a concordance. Cross-reference. Study, pray, read God’s word DAILY. Continully.

It is the strength, the nourishment, the food, and living water required DAILY for EVERY person professing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Do not neglect the word of God.

It isn’t over until the Lord returns a Second Time.

In the meantime? We all sin. We all are in need of repenting.

We all are in need of the living word daily.

It begins and grows with and by the word of God.

Neglect the word and shrivel. Die. Dry up. Get lost. Be misguided. Be open to wandering and absorbing false teachings and vain imaginings thinking what you have adopted is in the word when it is not.

Do not neglect the word of God.

For to do that is a sin we all are in need of repenting of…

Ken Pullen

Tuesday, June 8th, 2021

ACP — A Crooked Path