Loving God and the Sabbath

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Happy Sabbath!

With heartfelt gratitude for a loving God that anticipated humanity’s every need, I invite you to say a simple prayer, “Thank you God for the Sabbath.”

For 24 hours,  we can say goodbye to the routine concerns of everyday life.  Remember the Sabbath day, the day God rested on, and our precious gift to receive spiritual renewal and mental, emotional, and physical rest.

I have been a Sabbath keeper since the age of 15. You may think that my parents enforced Sabbath-keeping, so the choice was not mine. Not so. They were religious, but did not keep the Sabbath. At 15, I became an emancipated teenager who loved God and made the commitment to give my whole heart to our Heavenly Father by doing what my friends did not understand, honoring the fourth commandment.

When I studied the story of the Creation, I knew that I had to keep the Sabbath. Yes, I had to pray and do research to understand Genesis 1:5, And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day., to fully understand the Sabbath begins at sunset Friday and ends at sunset on Saturday. Even so, I felt the need for commitment and obedience to God, which outweighed the need for complete understanding. Deep down, I knew that I was pleasing God by keeping the seventh-day Sabbath.

Many human-made theories attempt to disprove the seventh-day Sabbath. But when I look at how humanity has disregarded and messed up God’s plan for us, I choose God and His plan for my life. There are many worries that I don’t suffer from; burnout, depression, or the accelerated aging process. My gifts for total obedience to God are inner joy and peace. Times that I begin to concentrate on the circumstances instead of praying for divine intervention, God reminds me that He is waiting for me to come to Him through prayer.

The Sabbath provides a weekly spiritual boost and the reinforcement that we need to stay connected to God. Spending 24 hours focused on the Creator and His blessings have great rewards, such as praying for strength (and receiving strength immediately) when faced with temptation, trials, and tribulations. Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear. Isaiah 65:24. I readily admit my dependence on God. Desiring the love and nurturing that only God can give builds my faith and trust, and deepens my relationship with my Father.

I have been asked what are the secular things that I put on hold on the Sabbath.

My Sabbath don’ts: No social media or unnecessary phone conversations. There is nothing that I discuss or resolve that I should have taken care of the other six days of the week: no cooking or any housework. Cleaning, and laundry are completed during the week. And, meals for the Sabbath are cooked on preparation day, Friday before sunset. There are no financial transactions for buying or selling, nor do I purchase restaurant food. All of my favorite online design games or pleasure-seeking activities are placed on hold.

My agenda is geared for spiritual growth and development. For me, the Sabbath is not a ritual or a list of things I cannot do. With love in my heart, it is a day that I dedicate all of my time to God. I love to sing to God. My praise and worship also includes a prayer for the Holy Spirit to anoint me like those on the Day of Pentecost, found in Acts chapter 2. Enjoying nature is a must on the Sabbath! We can witness the mighty power and creativity of our Heavenly Father when we seek out the beauty of His wonderful world.

There is no disagreement that “Life is tough!” After six days of sensory overload, reading, and hearing the worsening conditions that plague our earth, social injustice, and civil unrest, I eagerly await sunset every Friday. I have already tried living as a stubborn, self-seeking, and disobedient person, but I quickly learned that suffering from negative consequences is not for me.

Jesus already told us, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. here on Earth you will have many trials in sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. Because we make a covenant that is a total commitment to God, we trust that His way is perfect. Another reason for devout Sabbath-keeping to stay in sync with God.

Jesus replied, you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Matthew 22:37. There were times that I have gotten off track by loving the people, places, and things that only provided temporary relief from the hardships that I faced. Thankfully, I no longer make frivilous decisions. Since I have decided to go all the way with God, my perspective has changed, but the struggle to do the right thing remains.

I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. Romans 7:15

It takes our everything to serve the Lord. The battle to die daily to our sinful desires will always be our greatest challenge. Still, Jesus promised, And be sure of this I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20, last part. God’s promises are never-failing!

Trust God with your heart, don’t think about the “why” of His commandments. Just obey and do what God requires. “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.” Revelation 22:12. Never forget!  Jesus is coming soon, and so is our forever life in a perfect New Heaven and New Earth where all will keep the seventh-day Sabbath.

Bible Study: Exodus 20

God, thank you for giving us 24 hours of relief from the cares of this world. Please help us to realize that your plans supersede any plans that we can make for ourselves. We commit to obedience and living a faith-based life. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2021, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the author’s written permission.

The Journey for Love

I watched a documentary entitled “Forbidden Love” last evening. The title made me somewhat uncomfortable because I was expecting the worst such as pedophilia, etc. But I was pleasantly surprised when I began to watch, and the content was nothing like I expected.

This well-made documentary was about young love between upper-class young women for lower-class young men in a society where interaction is strictly forbidden. Even speaking to the lower-class is considered taboo. Still, unconditional, innocent love flowed from their young hearts, which knew no boundaries. Their deep-rooted love touched the depths of my heart because the journey involved leaving their families who had raised them with love and in financial comfort.

Despite being disowned by their families, the young women proclaimed, “I would rather kill myself than to leave the man that I love.” Not many of us could have endured the extreme conditions and poverty the young couples faced from staying together. Still, they stayed with each other and raised happy and healthy children.

About the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:46

The journey of love involved harsh, bitter treatment and the death of Jesus Christ on a cross for you and me. We have the opportunity to experience a love relationship like none other. Yes, we say that we love Jesus and that He is our Lord and Savior, but how far are we willing to go to serve God? What are we willing to endure?

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

One day all who believe in the Lord will have to prove their love for Jesus Christ. Will we be faithful and face persecution, or will we deny knowing Jesus like his disciple, Peter?

Bible Verse: Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” Matthew 26:34

God, we say that we love you. Yet, many times we fail in our words and actions, which are sinful against you. Please teach us how to accept your love for us that we may love you and others unconditionally. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2021, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the author’s written permission. 

Loyalty to God

God’s law is a way of living and thinking rather than a list of do’s and don’ts.

A few years ago I had a close friend tell me that being a Christian and serving God is hard. The reality of that thought is true because our desires are always in conflict with God.

Even the Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 7:15, I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.

When I made the decision to eat nutritional, healthy foods, the junk foods, which led to poor health is what I craved. But then I had a friend who shared with me that my taste buds could be retrained. Did it happen overnight? Certainly not!

Even so, I endured the struggle through giant leaps (the list of never will eat again foods) and the baby steps (still junk, but will eat controlled portions) for one year. In the second year, the transition to fully loving myself became second nature. I have eliminated all refined, processed foods that would cause damage to my body.

My body and mind responded in the most wonderful way. Retrained tastes along with walking every day resulted in increased brain power, and massive weight loss. Was it extremely hard? Yes!

If we can learn to love the fearfully and wonderfully made body that God created, and change our habits and lifestyle to achieve optimal health, then we can put aside the desires that cause conflict and disobedience to God. Never forget the greatest reward of eternal life in the New Heaven and New Earth is ours if we change and remain loyal to God.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1

Bible Study: Hebrews 12

God, we pray for the desire and strength to love, and serve you with all of our hearts, souls, and minds. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Give Yourself the Gift of Love

Give Yourself the Gift of Love is part 2 of a series to identify and eliminate external and internal factors that distract us and keep us from achieving spiritual growth and maturity.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs—First Corinthians 13:4–5

How did love become so complicated? If you watch most toddlers interact with each other, they are happy and will share their toys…if they were taught this life-giving behavior. Intervene to prepare your child for the future: If your child is playing by themselves all the time, you may want to encourage them to interact and share with others (even if they are an only child) because this is a crucial skill.

As individuals differ, so will their definition of love. It is almost a certainty that our life experience impacts the way that we understand and express love. If you are raised in an environment where love was understood without physical affection, then you may have matured into an unaffectionate adult who has difficulty forming attachments. In contrast, growing up with healthy physical affection —such as hugs, kisses, and holding hands —promotes a strong sense of well-being and usually results in adults who are nurturing in their relationships.

Compare your view of love with that of 1 Corinthians 13. Perhaps your definition of love does not come close to the love that is expressed in the Bible. Move forward in your spiritual journey to possess agape love. Strive to have the defining characteristics of love that God created us from. “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13. 

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. First Corinthians 13:1 NLT

Is there any purpose to meaningless noise? Most of us desire to give and receive the warmth and overall great feeling from being loved. We must discard our prior life experiences and preconceived notions of what love is if the way we love fails to be an exact match to God’s definition. And once we are in total sync with God’s definition of love, it may become necessary to perform The Big Chop, part 1 of this series, for the unloving individuals who refuse to possess one of humanity’s basic psychological and physiological needs. 

Give yourself the gift of love by reading and memorizing First Corinthians 13 until you possess every godly characteristic of unconditional love. When we understand and practice God’s agape love, we become like Christ. Even Jesus’disciples failed to understand His love and compassion for others. The multitude of 5,000 in Matthew chapter 14 would have never eaten if Jesus had let the disciples make the decision.

Christ was selfless while He lived on this earth. It is love, the core value that forgiveness, grace, and mercy flow from like a river, nourishing everything in its path.

Love God, Love Others, and Love Yourself!

Bible reading: 1 Corinthians 13

God, thank You for loving us and giving us Your definition of love. We ask forgiveness for the unloving and careless ways that we have treated others. Please teach us how to love unconditionally. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2021, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the author’s written permission.

The Big Chop

The Big Chop is part 1 of a series to identify and eliminate external and internal factors that distract us and keep us from achieving spiritual growth and maturity.

Have you ever consoled yourself by asking, “I am a good person, why are all of these bad things happening to me?” Since each of us is as unique as our fingerprints, so are our circumstances. Many internal and external factors influence the challenges in our lives. Because there are variables, we will approach these factors because they impact our spiritual relationship with God.

Looking at the external factors is demanding and takes honesty. We must take a stand and possess the willingness to identify the people, places, and things that are causing chaos and lack of growth and maturity in our lives. Let’s look at the most influential external factor, the people that we have invited into our intimate social circle. The New American Standard Bible tells us: Do not be mismatched with unbelievers; for what do righteousness and lawlessness share together, or what does light have in common with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14.

Many who who say they are believers have the character of unbelievers. How is that possible? Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Galatians 5:24. They acknowledge that there is God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, but they live for self easily giving into the things that please themselves.

The Apostle Paul identifies the most pertinent underlying external factor that deters (hinders) us from following God: You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? Galatians 5:7. Without a doubt, the people we share our innermost thoughts, laugh, and hang out with can influence us to think, act, and live outside of God’s established boundaries.

Serving God is not easy: Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.…James 1:2-3

It will be difficult to make a list of the friends or family that God requires us to distance ourselves from. But I can assure you that if your prayer is to “let God’s will be done in your life,” then God is going to take action if we do not. No, none of us have arrived or reached spiritual perfection. But God is a protective and jealous Father. He will not allow the enemy to destroy our peace and joy.

God reveals His instructions and guides us through the Bible, which is His Voice.

  1. Love Unconditionally: Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:5-7
  2. Possess Righteous characters: But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22, 23
  3. Pray for one another: Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:17

No matter how hard it appears, we must perform the process of elimination. It is not a matter of ceasing all contact, and not speaking to the individuals because of anger, hurt, or unforgiveness. If those are our underlying reasons, then we are sinning against God and the persons. If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 1 John 4:20.

God desires that we are healthy and happy! Remember that God would never place people in our lives that would prevent us from having His peace, love, and joy. As painful as the process is, God expects us to be obedient to His way and will. “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” Isaiah 55:8

Yes, at the beginning, you will miss them. Still, we must put God first! God requires that we love Him enough to eliminate all external factors that prevent our relationship with Him from maturing. Our spiritual journey is tough! I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. Yet, we are not alone!

From personal experience, I admit that I am a hardheaded believer. So God got tired of the back-and-forth, and He did the big chop on my friend/family lists. Now I have a small circle of friends and family–spiritual sisters who pray, study God’s Holy Word, talk about the goodness of God, and support each other with laughter and words of encouragement.

Have faith and trust in your Heavenly Father who reminds us: “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27. God will place the people in your life that know how to love, laugh, and pray. Our wellness and being made whole spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically is His concern. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” Johns 5:6

If we only understood the love of God, The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3, then we would fully understand who we are and who we belong to, a most loving Heavenly Father.

Bible Study: 1 Corinthians 13

God, we come to you broken, wounded, and battered. Without you, we do not have any goodness within us. We ask you to heal our fragile hearts and perform the big chop on the external factors that bring us down. We love you. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2021, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the author’s written permission.

My Words and Thoughts

This morning, a podcast speaker challenged us to seriously reflect on our spoken words and thoughts for the past year. The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. Proverbs 18:21

Did my spoken words that others could hear and the whispers of my heart, which only God could listen to, reflect that I love and honor God? For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7

King David was aware that eventually, our secret thoughts would reveal themselves through our spoken words. Whether good, bad, or ugly, our mask will fall off, and who we are is made evident to others. It takes the right situation to bring out our real character. 

As we reflect on our words and thoughts, may we approach God humbly and ask forgiveness for the selfishness of our unfriendly characteristics. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. Isaiah 65:24.

Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

Make the decision to embrace the new beginnings. We have been blessed with a new day to think lovely thoughts and speak empowering words. Thank you, God, for your grace and mercy.

Bible Study: Proverbs chapters 18 and 23

God, we ask forgiveness for the harsh and hurtful words that we have spoken of because of the sinful thoughts deep in our hearts. It is our desire to be transformed into people that possess unconditional love, mercy, and kindness. We pray this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2021, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the author’s written permission.

Lost in Translation? Happy Sabbath!

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man or woman of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.…2 Timothy 3:16-17 BSB

Did you know that the Bible was translated into English? If you speak another language, then you are familiar with the phrase, “Lost in translation.” Many words in American English have double-meanings or a play on words, “No pun intended.”

The Bible is not complicated. It takes a spiritual mind in Christ Jesus to understand the “Voice of God.” To explain this concept, think about babies. They have the innate ability to recognize their mothers through their five senses. And I thought babies would always remember their fathers, but this proved to be inaccurate with fathers who shaved their facial hair. The babies did not recognize them and cried as if they were looking at a stranger. Of course, those who sought to prove this hypothesis carefully manipulated the experiment with controlled factors, the fathers were not allowed to speak. Certainly, the babies would have recognized their father’s voices.

For us to recognize our Heavenly Father’s voice, we always require Divine intervention when studying God’s Word–the Holy Bible. Before studying the Bible, pray for forgiveness of sins and ask for the Holy Spirit to give you a correct understanding of the scriptures. Also, ask God to provide you with the wisdom to apply the Word of God to your life. If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 AMP

Because we are on a learning curve throughout our lifetime, we can seek a higher level of knowledge from those who are anointed and appointed to minister to mass congregations. Even so, we can attend church services, listen to sermons and study the Bible without experiencing a spiritual transformation. It is not enough to study the Bible. We must also apply it to our lives. Yes, God has anointed many individuals to preach the Word of God, but all who say that Jesus is their Lord and Savior must search the Bible and receive the knowledge to think, act, and live holy, righteous lives. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. 1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV

With the Holy Spirit as our teacher, we will always gain truth when studying biblical principles.

It is true! We may feel overwhelmed when searching the Internet for spiritual guidance through sermons. Who do we listen to? How do we know they are preaching the truth? The Apostle Paul answers those questions: They must preach about Christ!

Because of his love for God, many are familiar with Evangelist Billy Graham, who passed on February 21, 2018. Every sermon that he preached, regardless of the subject matter, always included Jesus and biblical scriptures. He never preached about gaining material wealth, and if he spoke on anxiety, worry, and depression, he explained the reason behind the feelings, “your relationship with Jesus is lacking depth, and commitment.”

I do not promote pastors, ministers, or speakers of any particular denomination or religion. God is no respecter of persons. He does not have favorites based on the denomination of the church or social, educational, and financial statuses. We must pray for spiritual discernment before listening to any sermon and studying the Bible, so we have the correct understanding of the Word of God. My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand.… John 10:27-28 BSB

Many preach with other motives: It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. Philippians 1:15. Because it is impossible for us to know other people’s motives, we can use the Apostle Paul’s message: Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely. … Philippians 1:17. Again, Paul gives us the defining answer, they must preach about Christ! The subject of the sermon may vary; even so, Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.

Every one of us has a spiritual job to fulfill: 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.” Matthew 28:18-20. To receive eternal life, we must have a personal relationship with Christ that grows stronger and deeper every day. When we are in love with God, we excitedly spread the message of His saving grace to others.

Please know that studying the Bible is not an option! The Bible is the Voice of God! To know who God is we must have knowledge of His character, expectations, and promises. Do not be concerned about being lost in translation! When we pray for understanding, God will never allow the scriptures to be confusing. Our Teacher, the Holy Spirit is always ready and available to provide us with the ability to grasp the meaning of God’s Words.

We are blessed to have the most powerful technology available to read and hear the Word of God in many languages. Even for those who live in remote areas or in countries where the Bible is prohibited, and the media is controlled, remember that the angels are God’s messengers. If you are without a Bible, pray and ask God to give you a Bible. “I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27

Bible Study: 2 Timothy 3

God, we thank you for the Bible, your Holy Word. Please forgive us of our sins. We pray for spiritual discernement and wisdom as we seek knowledge through the study of your Word. Our desire is to have a deeper relationship with you as we prepare for Eternal life. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen. 

How far would you go?

Establishing boundaries is necessary to guard against mistreatment and prevent the seduction of disregarding our morals, values, and ethics. Still, most importantly, we strive to live within the boundaries of righteousness because of our love and commitment to God. We may associate seduction to only things that represent a sexual meaning. But the definition of seduction, to be lured by tempting or attractive things, applies to all desires that cause us to sin against God. We live in a time where going after the people, places, and things that please our desires defines success. Unfortunately, self-gratification causes us to forget our covenant vow and sin against God in many areas of life.

God has given us the free will of choice along with the five senses of vision, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. And it is our desires, fueled by our senses, that make us yearn for the ungodly and unholy things. Yes, those secret things that we hold inside our hearts, you know the things that only you (and God) are fully aware of. The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9.

There is something that believers have in common. We have an arch-enemy, you know, the fallen one, Satan. His desires are for us to commit one or more sins at some level every day. Are you aware that God limits Satan’s power? No? One major limitation is that Satan cannot read our minds, because Omniscience is an attribute of God. But Satan quickly observes our behaviors without difficulty because he does have power!  Are you patient, loving, kind, and generous all of the time? Do we wear the mask of being a wonderful person but hold onto grudges and unforgiveness? How much time do we set aside in the 24 hours every day to honor and worship God? We give Satan the upper hand by failing to be steadfast and committed to serving God, our Heavenly Father.

Thankfully, God was fully aware that humanity would continuously fall and transgress His law. Redemption for the human race was set into place before the fall of Adam and Eve. God placed the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil because He did not create robots. God created us in His image out of love. He did not speak us into existence. He knelt down and took dust and carefully formed us with the most complex minds and bodies that no human will ever fully understand. If we thought about the anatomy and physiology of our bodies, like David, we would proclaim, “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” Psalm 139:14 ESV

It is our choice to serve and worship God or make ourselves an idol by giving in to our carnal desires and living without boundaries.

Yes, these are strong words, but we are living in the last days. The Apostle Paul warned Timothy:

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Identifying the character traits and desires that are not in sync with holy and righteous perfection makes us fully aware of how Satan will tempt us. If I choose to live a life of celibacy but watch shows and movies with sexual content, I am setting myself up to fall. Regardless of the trend to be bold, transparent, and seek prosperity, being independent, strong-willed and disobedient are character traits that lead us to sin against God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that. 2 Timothy 3:5

The question is: How do I stay away from myself?

Bible Study: 2 Timothy 3

God, we acknowledge that our desires for worldliness, whether it is striving for financial gain or living according to how we feel, is enmity against you, and for our sins, we ask forgiveness. Please teach us how to walk humbly with you as we await the soon coming of your Son, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We ask this prayer in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2021, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the author’s written permission.

The “We” Concept

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

Walking humbly with God

To “walk humbly with God” is the basis for loving mercy and doing justice. Because of what God has done, we fully invest in healing the world around us through mercy and justice. Cultivating our walk with God provides the power and passion for us to fully engage—it grounds everything else we do. David Kool and Andrew Ryskamp.

Many individuals embrace the duty of alleviating the burdens and poverty of those in need. Simply put, they dedicate their time and money to helping others. We have nonprofit organizations, soup kitchens, sidewalk showers, street barbers, and the list goes on and on. If you have a good heart, unselfish and caring, you naturally desire to extend your helping hands.

But there is a qualifier that distinguishes the believer from the philanthropists or those who perform good deeds. We share our faith in God. We represent the love that God has for humanity. We bring hope to the discouraged and demonstrate that God is real because He cares and provides for us.

To walk humbly with our God takes a willing heart and daily perseverance. Love is the foundation for humility. Yes, we love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind, and we can freely love others under the right conditions. But would we continue to try to help the homeless person who curses at us or says, “get away from me”?

It is the challenging circumstances that produce endurance. Who hasn’t used anger or isolation to protect oneself from the painful adversities of life? All of us require meeting the basic physiological needs of our bodies, of which food and water are mandatory.

Brown bag lunches are simple and effective in helping those who are homeless. A peanut butter sandwich, banana, a bottle of water, and a couple packets of hand wipes meet basic needs.

Start a mason jar bank and place the amount of money you would use to spend for personal desires that bring no real value to your life. Research for safety precautions when interacting with the homeless population. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways…. Psalm 91:11. Find a partner with the same “we concept” values and your life will be fulfilled in ways that you never imagined. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Love God, Love Others, and Love Yourself

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” Acts 20:35

It takes love outside of ourselves to produce the “we concept.” Yes, we like to think of ourselves as good people. But God tells us in Jeremiah 17:9, “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” Ouch! So, now that we are aware of the impact that sin has on every one of us, we can take steps to change our hearts.

We have a helper, the third person of the Trinity Godhead, the Holy Spirit, to help us walk humbly with God. How important is the Holy Spirit to our lives? But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.… Galatians 5:22-23. 

Walking humbly with God requires character development. It is our character that must go through a total makeover. Think about a house that is broken and battered. All it takes is a person with a dream, the desire, and money to refurbish the fixer-upper house that nobody wants into a beautiful and livable home. God planted the seed inside of us to stay connected to Him (the dream), we must possess the (desire), and Jesus paid the price (through His death) to reburbish sinful humanity.

God also functions on the “we concept.” God, the Father, Jesus, His Son, the Holy Spirit, and the messenger angels are always ready and available to intervene for our spiritual makeover. When we give our permission by inviting Jesus Christ into our lives, we experience a complete transformation. The Bible teaches us what is acceptable and pleasing to God. Our awareness elevates, and we strive to rid ourselves of the thoughts, actions, and habits that do not reflect our love for God.

Bible Study: As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” Matthew 14:15-16

Prayer: God, we ask forgiveness for thinking of ourselves first. Please teach us how to walk humbly with you. We desire a spiritual transformation in our lives, and invite you into our lives. We pray for the Holy Spirit to teach and lead us to live righteously. Thank you for hearing and answering our prayer that we ask in the Worthy Name of Jesus. Amen.

© Sonya Johnson Ruiz 2021, No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes without the author’s written permission.