Psalm 25:12-13

Who is the man who fears the Lord (with awe-inspired reverence and worships Him with submissive wonder)? He will teach him (through His word) in the way he should choose. His soul will dwell in prosperity and goodness, and his descendants will inherit the land.  

The Lord sets before us the pathway to life success. The Bible shows us God’s grace and rewards for believing and following His words. We don’t have to struggle to find the answers. We have to read the book. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10-17. The more we study the word, the more our faith will increase.

Psalm 24:3-4

Who may ascend onto the mountains of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to what is false, nor has sworn (oaths) deceitfully.  

God judges the intent of the heart, whether we keep our hands clean and hearts pure. When sin comes knocking at the door, God is there to help. God tells us to resist all sin and submit to Him, and the devil will flee. Our hearts and actions will follow when we keep a faithful attitude toward God. 

1 Peter 4:1

Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh (and died for us), arm yourselves (like warriors) with the same purpose (being willing to suffer for doing what is right and pleasing to God), because whoever suffered in the flesh (being like-minded with Christ) is done with (intentional) sin (having stopped pleasing the world).

We need to be intentional when we think about our faith, not that it is something we read about in the Bible but that we act upon it in principle. Our lives are not separated from the teachings of Jesus; we are co-warriors in the faith doing what is right and pleasing to God. Society imposes pressure to conform to sin because if a majority does it, then it is okay. No. We, as Christians, are done with sin. 

James 4:6

But he gives us more and more grace (through the power of the Holy Spirit to defy sin and live an obedient life that reflects both our faith and our gratitude for our salvation). Therefore, it says “God is opposed to the proud and haughty, but (continually) gives (the gift of) grace to the humble (who turn away from self-righteousness).

When we seek a closer relationship with Jesus, we are rewarded with a strengthened spirit. In the world we live in, a spirit strengthened by Jesus to resist sin is a phenomenal benefit. Grace increases our faith and grows our faithfulness to the word of God. The more we are obedient to the word of God, the more our faith grows and is rewarded.

James 2:24

You see that a man (believer) is justified by works and not by faith alone (that is, by acts of obedience a born-again believer reveals his faith). In the same way, was Rahab the prostitute not justified by works too, when she received the spies as guests and protected them, and sent them away (to escape) by a different route?

Rahab believed the Hebrew spies’ promise to protect her family. She acted on that promise and placed a red cord out the window, saving her family. How much more the promise remains for us when we believe Jesus at His word and act in faith? 

James 1:23-24

For is anyone only listens to the word without obeying it, he is like a man who looks very carefully at his natural face in the mirror; for once he has look at himself and gone away, he immediately forgets what he looked like.  

Faith needs corresponding action to be activated. When we read the promises in the Bible, we need to believe what it says and that it is possible in our lives. Jesus says we can be healed, saved, prosper, and grow in faith. Beyond reading it, do we have the faith to believe and speak for the answer in our lives? Do we remember the promise after we set the Bible down? 

Luke 8:18

So be careful how you listen; for whoever has (a teachable heart), to him more (understanding) will be given; and whoever do not have (a longing for truth), even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.

It is not an accident that media, news, and distracting chatter bombard our eyes and ears. This chatter turns our focus away from the word and influences opposite of biblical teaching. What we see with the eyes and hear with the ears affects our spirits and thoughts. Yes, we need to be aware of what is happening in the world, but not so much that it affects our faith.  

Luke 8:14

The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, but as they go on their way they are suffocated with the anxieties and riches and pleasures of this life, and they bring no fruit to maturity.  

What we think and let affect our thinking is essential to maintaining our salvation. We can be on the right road with Jesus but exit at all the detours and never get ourselves back. If we don’t value Jesus and the word as highly as riches, Jesus will be sidelined, and all our spiritual gains will be buried in the weeds. 

James 3:13

Who among you is wise and intelligent? Let him by his good conduct show his (good) deeds with the gentleness and humility of true wisdom.  

The world has become a judge and jury without knowing all the facts. Therefore, it is vital that our behavior represents Jesus and the Bible. We may need to stop before speaking because we will sometimes be frustrated, tired, or angry with good reason. We just can’t let the devil use bad behavior as an excuse to turn people from God. 

Hebrews 12:1 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness), stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us. 

If we let sin become a burden and a hindrance to our lives, we hinder our future with God. No person can run their fastest race with extra weight. Sin is additional weight, pulling us back instead of forward. If we remain conscious of our connection to God and follow His commandments as a priority, sin will have a harder time leading us astray.