Being light and salt…
Learning from the Word
Published by Deborah Negron
3/22/2023

My Princess Abi Natalia and I have been going through the Bible.
This has been a long process. We have gone through the book of Genesis and learned about Creation and the fall of Man. (Genesis 1 to 3). We learned of Noah and how son had abounded and there had to be a massive cleansing. As the fllod came. (Genesis 6-9). Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 18) and the Promise. We learned of the wickedness of mankind and how sin continued to spread we learned of Sodom and Gomorrah and God’s judgement. For the sin of going against God’s design. Fire and Brimstone… calamity and chaos is what sin brings.
We saw the promise fulfilled when Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah, a man 100 plus years old and an old woman who had past her childbearing years. We learned of Isaac and Jacob and Esau. We learn of Jacob and of his story. And how the Promise was not forgotten by God. The Lord keeps his promises no matter what. He has patience and continues to work in our lives.
We learned of How God changed Jacobs name to Israel. The Lord gives us a new identity. He restores us to a right mind. He changes our sinful nature and makes of us a new people. (Genesis 30 – 32:22-32)
We have gone through the stories of the famine and the stories of Joseph and his commitment to the Lord.

We went to the book of Esther. We saw how God uses his people who walk in obedience.
He causes his people to be set free. In the midst of adversity he makes a way.

We went through the book of Ruth and saw how she remained faithful and was bkessed for it. How she chose the God of her mother in law Naomi and became a blessing to the purpose of God. She after loosing her husband was given the blessing of marrying Boaz. She was a blessing to her mother in law and gave her grandchildren to call her own. (Ruth 4:13-17).
God never looses a beat. His plan prevails. She is found in the lineage of Christ Jesus. As she was the grandmother of King David. ( Mathew 1:1-17).

We then went to study the New Testament in the book of John. Amazingly, John depicts Jesus as the Creator and collaborator in the History of the Creation story. John demonstrates the divinity of Christ Jesus. He shows us how, clearly, Jesus is the Light of the World. (John 1).
In God’s word, John shows us how God sent his Son to redeem the world. He shows us how we must be Born Again. (John 3).

We then went to study the book of Acts.
We learned of how the Lord Jesus when he wett up to heaven sent his Holy Spirit. We learned hiw God’s Spirit is able to make a person bold and tenacious in order to fulfill his purpose. We learned how Peter the one who had denied Jesus 3 times. Even after he had walked on the water with him. Become the leader of the council of The Early Church. We learned how the Holy Spirit came down on the ones who separated themselves and seeked God’s presence in the upper room. 120 there were who recieved the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2).
Reading through Acts we found the story of the Apostle Paul’s conversion. This man’s name was changed to Paul. He was given a new identity. He was given a new position and a new role. The Lord Jesus transformed his life completely.
We learned of how the Lord can transform and make new, even the worst of sinners. (Acts 9).
We read of the work of the Apostles in the early church and how they suffered and how many souls were saved. We read of miracles and how we too, who believe and have become disciples of Jesus have become the evidence and witness to this present generation.

We are now on the book of Proverbs. To be honest, there is so much in this book.
We started in the begining of March and we have been slowly dissecting the Word.
The amazing thing is how this book makes you jump to consider other scriptures in the New Testament that elaborate and open the knowledge of God and his word even more.

We are only on chapter 9 and 10. Each chapter breaks wisdom down in a way that we must talk about connections and how it realtes to our own lives.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…”
We stopped here today. I share it with you all.

“Wise people store up knowledge, But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, But he who refuses correction goes astray. Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, And whoever spreads slander is a fool. In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; The heart of the wicked is worth little. The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of wisdom. The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it. To do evil is like sport to a fool, But a man of understanding has wisdom. The fear of the wicked will come upon him, And the desire of the righteous will be granted. When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
Proverbs 10:14‭, ‬17‭-‬25

We discussed how so many are concerned with earthly wealth and provoding for their needs. While those who long to please the Lord have come to understand that the greatest wealth we can possess is having the Lord. Understanding his word. This helps us to please him.

We discussed how necessary it is, to be proactive in our faith walk. Understanding that, it is God, who has called us. He, who has washed away our sin. He, who has drawn us to himself and that we can only follow and seek him because, of his, love and mercy that draws us.

Being prudent and wise is a by product amd consequence of grace unfolding in our lives. We cannot do this alone. There is a measure of faith God gives every human being. But when Christ reveals his love to us by way of the Holy Spirit, our response is necessary.

The Lord does his part. He sent his son. He provided the Holy Spirit. But we must engage our hearts and minds to seek him diligently.
We can take a horse to water but forcong him to drink is something we cannot do.

So, today, our thought was, let us be wise in seeking knowledge. Let us be wise, in drawing closer to the Word and obeying and apllying God’s word by living with integrity. Our choices matter. We can choose to be those who seek the things of the Spirit or those who are carnales minded.

Wealth is knowing the Love of God. Provison comes from the Father of Lights who gives good and perfect gifts.
Faith is multiplied as we press in to the Word of God.

So, with this, our prayer this morning,

Lord, help us to be salt and light. Forgove our failures. Cleanse us continually with your word. Renew our minds (Romans 12:2) Let our lives be those of integrity. Let this be the face we show the world. Let us be an example of Jesus. Let others see we are not just Sunday church attendees.
But that we daily, live out this faith.
Help us to be wise and choose what is right.
Let us speak the truth of your love to others. Use us.
Thank you for the fact that your love Covers a multitude of sins.
We were sinners. We were fools. We were alienated from you. But your mercy reached us. You saved us. You opened our understanding to know that you Jesus, are the Redeemer and Saviour. Your blood has made us clean. We are now considered righteous and in good standing with God.
Help us live with these new garments. Help us to keep them unstained.
And help us to continue to learn from your Word.
It is Bread and Life.

Amen and amen.

We will circle back to the book of 1 and 2 Samuel after we finish Proverbs. Lord willing.
I pray this ministers to your life.

#WalkingByFaith

#KeepingTheFaith