In this the “age of grace” we tend to place so much emphasis on the attributes of God which are love, joy, grace, and forgiveness.  At the same time, many do not want to know of His justice, righteousness, majesty, and power.  It is as though He is to be seen as the doting grandfather or mystical Santa Claus.  But to really understand the depth of His grace and mercy, is it not absolutely necessary to understand the magnitude of His strength, power, and justice.  Do we look too lightly upon the truth that He breathed forth all the galaxies in one breath, sending each to its perfect position in what we call skies. 

The Power of God in Creation

Even scientists have come to discover that everything began in one gigantic explosion from a single source.  (Funny how they think that just happened without a designer that was that source).  But still let’s look at something they have found.

“The Big Bang was like no explosion you might witness on earth today. For instance, a hydrogen bomb explosion, whose center registers approximately 100 million degrees Celsius, moves through the air at about 300 meters per second. In contrast, cosmologists believe the Big Bang flung energy in all directions at the speed of light (300,000,000 meters per second, a million times faster than the H-bomb) and estimate that the temperature of the entire universe was 1000 trillion degrees Celsius at just a tiny fraction of a second after the explosion. Even the cores of the hottest stars in today’s universe are much cooler than that.”[1]

          I fear all too often I do not take into full consideration the majesty and the power that is God. 

A Display of Power on Mt. Sinai

        Then Moses went up to the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; and on the seventh day He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. And to the eyes of the sons of Israel the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountain top. Moses entered the midst of the cloud as he went up to the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights. Exodus 24:15-18

This powerful God, who covered Himself with dark clouds that the brilliance of His Holiness would not burn up sinful man.  We see through a veil dimly were it not for the blood of Jesus Christ that tore open the curtain.  Now the Holy Spirit indwells each believer because the work of redemption was completed as Jesus Christ forth, “It is Finished”.  Tetelestai!  Even then, for the children of Israel there was a means of salvation, looking forward toward the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. 

This same God, when He hid Moses in the cleft of a Rock so Moses might glimpse of His Glory said,

And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty, Exodus 34:6-7

The Temple is Complete

So, it is when the temple was completed, Solomon ordered the Ark be brought and placed in the Holy of Holies. 

I King 8: 6-12⁶ Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the Most Holy Place, underneath the wings of the cherubim. ⁷ For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim overshadowed the ark and its poles.

⁸ And the poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the Holy Place before the inner sanctuary; but they could not be seen from outside. And they are there to this day. ⁹ There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone that Moses put there at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the people of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. ¹⁰ And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, ¹¹ so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord  

¹² Then Solomon said, “The Lord^[a] has said that he would dwell in thick darkness

The Lord has said that He would dwell in thick darkness.  Shrouded that the fierceness of His majestic Holiness, Righteousness, and Power might not immediately burn up everything, apart from the offering itself. 

Power of God Displayed Providing Grace

2 Chronicles 7: 1-3 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. 2 And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord‘s house. 3 And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

When Solomon spoke of the cloud, he also recalled a Psalm of David regarding God’s majesty, power, justice mixed with grace.

Psalm 18

I love you, O Lord, my strength.
² The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
    my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
    my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
³ I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
    and I am saved from my enemies.

⁴ The cords of death encompassed me;
    the torrents of destruction assailed me;^[a]
5 the cords of Sheol entangled me;
    the snares of death confronted me.

⁶ In my distress I called upon the Lord;
    to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
    and my cry to him reached his ears.

THE GOD OF POWER CAME DOWN IN LOVE BREATHING FIRE

⁷ Then the earth reeled and rocked;
    the foundations also of the mountains trembled
    and quaked, because he was angry.
⁸ Smoke went up from his nostrils,^[b]
    and devouring fire from his mouth;
    glowing coals flamed forth from him.
⁹ He bowed the heavens and came down;
    thick darkness was under his feet.
¹⁰ He rode on a cherub and flew;
    he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.
¹¹ He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him,
    thick clouds dark with water.
¹² Out of the brightness before him
    hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds.

¹³ The Lord also thundered in the heavens,
    and the Most High uttered his voice,
    hailstones and coals of fire.
¹⁴ And he sent out his arrows and scattered them;
    he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.
¹⁵ Then the channels of the sea were seen,
    and the foundations of the world were laid bare
at your rebuke, O Lord,
    at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.

The Power that saved Me

¹⁶ He sent from on high, he took me;
    he drew me out of many waters.
¹⁷ He rescued me from my strong enemy
    and from those who hated me,
    for they were too mighty for me.
¹⁸ They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
    but the Lord was my support.
¹⁹ He brought me out into a broad place;
    he rescued me, because he delighted in me…

⁴⁶ The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock,
    and exalted be the God of my salvation—
⁴⁷ the God who gave me vengeance
    and subdued peoples under me,
⁴⁸ who rescued me from my enemies;
    yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me;
    you delivered me from the man of violence.

Well think of that the next time somehow does you wrong.  You don’t need to do anything except pray.

His Power and His Grace—equal parts of His Glory

So, it is.  If we fail to understand the depth of His Power, His hatred of evil, His justice, and His righteousness, then we will never understand the magnitude of His grace toward each one of us.  We see this in the prayer that Solomon prayed.  Note:  I have placed the entirety of the prayer but highlighted what I wish to emphasize.  Still, note the other portions are very specific and can be used when we need to pray for such things as famines, pestilences, enemy attacks, and specific personal sins. 

I Kings 8:

22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven, 23 and said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart; 24 you have kept with your servant David my father what you declared to him. You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day. 25 Now therefore, O Lord, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father what you have promised him, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.’ 26 Now therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David my father.27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! 28 Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O Lord my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day, 29 that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place. 30 And listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.  31 “If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath and comes and swears his oath before your altar in this house, 32 then hear in heaven and act and judge your servants, condemning the guilty by bringing his conduct on his own head, and vindicating the righteous by rewarding him according to his righteousness.
33 “When your people Israel are defeated before the enemy because they have sinned against you, and if they turn again to you and acknowledge your name and pray and plead with you in this house, 34 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them again to the land that you gave to their fathers. 35 “When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and acknowledge your name and turn from their sin, when you afflict them, 36 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk, and grant rain upon your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance. 37 “If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or mildew or locust or caterpillar, if their enemy besieges them in the land at their gates,[b] whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, 38 whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing the affliction of his own heart and stretching out his hands toward this house, 39 then hear in heaven your dwelling place and forgive and act and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways (for you, you only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind), 40 that they may fear you all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our fathers. 41 “Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for your name's sake 42 (for they shall hear of your great name and your mighty hand, and of your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this house, 43 hear in heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name.44 “If your people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to the Lord toward the city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name, 45 then hear in heaven their prayer and their plea and maintain their cause.

AND

46 “If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near,

47 yet if they turn their heart in the land to which they have been carried captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captors, saying, ‘We have sinned and have acted perversely and wickedly,’ 48 if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name, 49 then hear in heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause 50 and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions that they have committed against you, and grant them compassion in the sight of those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them

51 (for they are your people, and your heritage, which you brought out of Egypt, from the midst of the iron furnace). 52 Let your eyes be open to the plea of your servant and to the plea of your people Israel, giving ear to them whenever they call to you. 53 For you separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to be your heritage, as you declared through Moses your servant, when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God.”

Therefore HIS Glory is a Perfect Balance of All His Attributes

Power, Majesty, Righteousness, Justice, Judgement, Grace, Mercy, Love, Joy are all equal parts of God’s Glory.  We must not place one above the other, if we hope to know God as we should.  It is only then that we will bow down honoring Him and humbly worship Him for all that He is. 

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

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Do You Want Wisdom?  Seek God Who Reigns over Life

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

---

[1] https://www.exploratorium.edu/origins/cern/ideas/bang.html#:~:text=In%20contrast%2C%20cosmologists%20believe%20the,a%20second%20after%20the%20explosion.

Estimated reading time: 13 minutes

        Why study the books of Kings or Chronicles in the Old Testament?  After all it is so complex with names, genealogies, intermixed with stories of good and bad.  It is like trying to piece together a very complex puzzle and can leave me as confused as when trying to diagnose a complex set of patient’s symptoms.  And that can be so confusing.  Every piece must interlock.  Furthermore, people’s names all seem confusing enough; yet are at times written a little different in each of the books.  Yet, it is the same God who reigns over life who spoke the words that are included here through various writers.  There were other books even alluded to, which are not here as His inspired word.  In that, we must trust His wisdom concerning it all. 

        So, God’s provision of these text must have purpose in our own life, today.  If we read and study with a desire to know their relevance to us we will find it. They bring us hope and peace even in the complex world we live it.  After all it was Solomon with all his wisdom, who came to see the heart of humanity, even his own.  Vanity of Vanities he wrote, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.  He declared, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.”  Ecclesiastes 1: 9 (ESV). 

        There is no hope apart from the Grace of God and His promises.  As we read the story of Israel, we may feel we are watching the scripts of our own world.  So, the question is “Do we want wisdom?”   Then Study to know He who gives of it freely and discover hope, joy, and peace.

God Reigns in the Affairs of Mankind and Governments

         As the book of 1 Kings opens, we find David very ill on his death bed.  He exemplified a life of faith.  His heart truly loved God.  Despite his faith, he had sinned against God at times.  Yet, remained the man after God’s own heart.  He passionately loved God and trusted God with all his heart.  He suffered many sorrows. Some resulted from his own sins, which even brought devastating effects on his children and his nation.  For these he wept bitterly.  Other sorrows resulted from the sins of others.  He saw the evil in this world and his own heart with clarity. That caused him to fall before God in deep repentance at times.  And at other times he sang forth with such joyous worship, that some thought him crazy.  Through it all, he learned to trust in God and rest in His grace. 

        He desired to build the temple of God; but God said no.  There was too much blood on his hands for that.  Yet, it was through the line of David that Jesus was born.  God designated that David’s son build the temple.  David gathered all the supplies, designated the plans, and taught them all to the one God had chosen to be his successor.  Of all his children, God had declared Solomon to be King of Israel.  You see, God sees the hearts of men and chooses His own by foreknowledge and design.  And in His wisdom, He chose Solomon to build the temple

Solomon to be the King

         As we open the book of Kings, there is laid out a beautiful, tender story of David’s frailty.  It also tells us that his son Adonijah, seizing the opportunity, went out to create a feast where he would be declared the King.  Afterall with Amnon and Absalom dead, he believed himself to be next in line.  I am not certain what happened to David’s second son Daniel (also known as Chileab).  Some speculate that he died in his youth, but this we do not know for certain.    Whatever, the case, Adonijah was in a hurry to claim his position as King. 

        Meanwhile, when Bathsheba heard of this, she came very respectfully to advise David of what was happening.  Nathan, the priest who had called David out for his sin with Bathsheba was also present.  I was at first a bit confused, thinking God allowed all this to place whom He willed on the throne.  Yet, I looked a little farther and found. God had declared this long before.  She was the instrument to remind David. 

Although, what an amazing act of grace and love by God.  It was Bathsheba’s son who was the one to be in the line of Christ.  My romantic side always believed David loved her above all the others.  Furthermore, I believe that Proverbs 31 was a special song written for her.  (It was an acrostic poem.  Only David is recorded writing acrostic poems.  And Solomon recorded it, albeit by a pseudonym).

God’s Reigns over the Affairs of Men

        In I Chronicles, one may read of the sons of David.  In order of birth they were Amnon, Daniel, Absalom, Adonijah, Shephatiah, Ithream all born in Hebron before he was with Bathsheba.  Then in Jerusalem with Bathsheba were born Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and then Solomon. After them were 9 more born.  I Chronicles 1:1-9.  I point this out because in a societal order where the first born would have the right to the throne, Solomon was number 10.  Even of Bathsheba’s children, he was the youngest.   

The Power and Wisdom of God

Yet, God had already instructed David and encouraged him. 

¹² When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³ He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ¹⁴ I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, ¹⁵ but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. ¹⁶ And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.^[c] Your throne shall be established forever.’   2 Samuel 7: (ESV)

As also recorded in Chronicles.  Your throne shall be established forever—Jesus Christ is the one who will return in the line of David to establish His everlasting kingdom

¹¹ When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹² He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. ¹³ I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, ¹⁴ but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.’” ¹⁵ In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.   I Chronicles 17 (ESV)

Furthermore, He named the King

David painstakingly prepared for the temple to be built.  Everything needed was prepared so it could be built quickly. 

⁶ Then he called for Solomon his son and charged him to build a house for the Lord, the God of Israel. ⁷ David said to Solomon, “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the Lord my God. ⁸ But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth.

⁹ Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. ¹⁰ He shall build a house for my name. He shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.’  I Chronicles 22 (ESV)

Not certain about any of you, but I had not noticed this before. 

God’s Chosen Are Not Exempt from Sin

After David had died, Solomon made a treaty with Egypt.  He married Pharoah’s daughter and brought her to the city of David because he had not yet built his house, the walls of Jerusalem, nor the temple.  Although this was a way to maintain peace and a common custom, this practice of marrying pagan women and allowing them to practice idolatry led to the people of Israel sinning against God.  I find it interesting that Solomon delayed at all in the building of the temple and continued to worship in the high places which later became pagan temples. 

He had not forgotten God.  Did he procrastinate or was all this just while the work was being done? We are not told, but we do know he was acting as King already before the encounter in which he asked for wisdom.  We also know that Nehemiah later said,

²⁵ And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. And I made them take an oath in the name of God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. ²⁶ Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin. ²⁷ Shall we then listen to you and do all this great evil and act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women?”  Nehemiah 13 (ESV)

Solomon Asks for Wisdom

³ Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places. ⁴ And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. ⁵ At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” ⁶ And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day.

⁷ And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. ⁸ And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. ⁹ Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

God’s Response–Wisdom is Yours

¹⁰ It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. ¹¹ And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, ¹² behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. ¹³ I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. ¹⁴ And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

¹⁵ And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.  I Kings 3 (ESV)

Concluding thoughts

1.  God is in Control, even when we do not understand
2.   Salvation is by Grace Alone
3.   The best of men are men at best
4.   Seek Wisdom, for God is Wisdom.  He is our hope and joy
5.   As we watch the ups and downs of Israel, we watch the same unfolding of how men and women walk away from God.
6. Be diligent
7. Trust God and He will lead you home. 

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

PREVIOUS

Can Working Hard as the Night Approaches Really Bring Peace?

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

Jesus said, ⁴ I^[a] must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. (John 9 NKJV).  ³⁴ Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. ³⁵ Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! (John 4).  At no point is that truer than today.  Yet it is so easy to grow weary.  To want to sit down and wait.  But we are created and given new birth that we might be like Him.  And we are promised that by working hard, we are also given peace.  Actually, working Hard, does really bring peace.

How might you ask?  Certainly at times it feels like the more I work the more fatigued, frustrated, and sad I become.  Therefore working hard as the night approaches means I must dig down deep into the trenches.  Didn’t memorial day just commemorate that.   How many men and women died in battle working to hold fast to freedom so we might continue to be able to worship.  Will we be called upon again to do just that?  Even now, I recognize how pitifully sad a soldier I am.  All too often I want to cry retreat, or just lay down my sword and surrender.  Ah, but I must not—for that sword is the word of Truth without which I am nothing.  

Working Hard is Part of Who We Are

God, Himself is working hard all the time.  And since we were created in His image, how could we be satisfied with anything less.  Some of the most miserably depressed, discontent and rebel rousers are those who have spent their lives idle.  Some wandering aimlessly without purpose.  When purpose is not defined, there is no peace of mind or spirit.  We were made for working hard both physically and mentally.  That is a part of who we are, without which our hearts become restless.  Searching for peace, we create chaos instead. 

Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works
Which You have done;
And Your thoughts toward us
Cannot be recounted to You in order;
If I would declare and speak of them,
They are more than can be numbered.  Psalm 40: 5

God works and if we who are created in His image are to be content, we must also work.  What work is the one that really brings peace?  It is as Jesus said, doing the work of the Father.  Some their work is worship, some prayer, some service, and others to teach.  Yet, whatever task is yours, you will be most content when you by working hard, see glimpses of God’s Glory shining where you would least expect it.  Those moments, however brief, are when you also will note peace flowing forth over your soul.    

Commit^[b] your works to the Lord,
And your thoughts will be established.  Proverbs 16

You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,  (Isaiah) 26: 3

Note the steps here. 

1. You commit (surrender) your works to the Lord.

2.  He establishes (takes control) of your thoughts

3.  Because He controls your thoughts, your mind is stayed (focused) on Him.  

4.  He keeps you in perfect peace.

Our Sovereign God is Working Hard, Always

“Look among the nations and watch—
Be utterly astounded!
For I will work a work in your days
Which you would not believe, though it were told you. Habakkuk 1:5

Psalm 121

 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
² My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

³ He will not allow your foot to ^[a]be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
⁴ Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord is your ^[b]keeper;
The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord shall ^[c]preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
⁸ The Lord shall preserve^[d] your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.

Working Hard Establishes Purpose and Really Brings Peace

As Paul wrote

²⁸ Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily. (Colossians 1)

Our primary purpose is to Glorify Him in all that we do.  Others then will come to know Him.  Yet, even that is gifted to us.  It is given grace by grace as we are transformed into His image. 

And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us;
Yes, establish the work of our hands.   Psalm 90

Then, God’s light of grace shines through us to invite others. 

¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5

¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2

No Task Too Menial

Whatever is the job God gives you, do it will all your heart and soul as unto the Lord.  Do not cheat your boss.  No dilly dawdling around.  It is your Heavenly Father’s name that is at stake here.  If people see you shirking your work, what kind of testimony will that leave?

²² Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ²³ And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for^[a] you serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 23

Now after all that for introduction, let us look at our text.

2 Thessalonians 3:

⁶ But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which ^[a]he received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; ⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s bread ^[b]free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, ⁹ not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.

¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. ¹¹ For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. ¹² Now those who are such we command and ^[c]exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

¹³ But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. ¹⁴ And if anyone does not obey our word in this ^[d]epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. ¹⁵ Yet do not count him as an enemy, but ^[e]admonish him as a brother.

Therefore, Working hard does really bring peace.

¹⁶ Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.

¹⁷ The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every ^[f]epistle; so I write.

¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Romans 11:

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

³⁴ “For who has known the mind of the Lord,
    or who has been his counselor?”
³⁵ “Or who has given a gift to him
    that he might be repaid?”

³⁶ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

PREVIOUS

How to Remain Free of Anxiety During the End times by Loving Truth

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

        Paul’s letter to the church in Thessalonica could so easily have been addressed to us.  There was an overwhelming anxiety within their church as they looked around them.  After all, maybe it was the end times.  There certainly were false doctrines, false teachers, and tribulations.  They had taken the teaching of all this fully to heart.  Some had quit their jobs and relied on everyone else to provide for them.  After all if the world ends tomorrow, why work?  Here as in his previous letter, Paul once more presents the case for how to remain free of Anxiety Even during the End times by Loving Truth.  Perhaps another way of saying, keep our eyes focused on Jesus and keep on laboring until He calls us home. Until the trumpet sounds, we are to be the light shining into an ever-darkening world.

 It is more than just believing, seeking, and knowing truth.  Although that is part of it.  But it is remembering in a world of constant word bombardment, Jesus is the truth.  Therefore, if we truly love Jesus, then we love truth.  The Holy Spirit helps us to discern truth, if only we ask Him with a sincere heart. As the world heads forward in such turmoil and distress, we must hold fast to the fact that God is on His throne and will accomplish all that He has planned.   

Isaiah 46: 9-11 (AMP)

Remember [carefully] the former things [which I did] from ages past;
For I am God, and there is no one else;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
¹⁰ 
Declaring the end and the result from the beginning,
And from ancient times the things which have not [yet] been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will do all that pleases Me and fulfills My purpose,’
¹¹ ……
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, be assured I will do it.

Remain Free of Anxiety

2 Thessalonians 2 (ESV) Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers,^{[a] 2} not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come

Do not get shook up either by the spirit of fear surrounding us or by a spoken word.  Words are thrown at us every of war, pestilence, famine, disasters, gas prices and shortages.  All of these are distractions to keep us from being focused on Jesus and our mission here.    Together we will be gathered with Him!  The rapture must come before the Day of the Lord.

Do Not be Deceived

 2 Thessalonians 2 ³ Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness^[b] is revealed, the son of destruction,^{[c] 4} who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

The Day of the Lord cannot come until after the Anti-Christ is revealed and he desecrates the temple.  Furthermore, we will not be here for that.  Oh yes we can see the signs of wars, pestilence, famine, financial destruction, the moving toward a new world order, deceit, lies, a drawing away from God.  We see all this spinning faster and faster; but, all that which will occur during the 7 years of tribulation will be even worse.  But we won’t be here.  In fact that is how such evil will grow. 

Free of Anxiety During the End Times

⁵ Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? ⁶ And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. ⁷ For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.

Who is he who restrains the evil at present?  The Holy Spirit.  Who indwells us?  The Holy Spirit.  So, what happens when we are raptured?  The restrainer leaves with us.  Oh, of certain God is still in control; but the restrainer is gone and then the “lawless one comes to power.”   If we think things are evil now, imagine what it will be when we the body of Christ are gone. 

Those who refused To Love the Truth

⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. ⁹ The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, ¹⁰ and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

They sealed their own fate.  Look at that closely, they refused to love the truth.  Who is the truth?  Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  There are no excuses. 

Remaining in Their Delusion

¹¹ Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, ¹² in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

It is just as written in Romans 1:

God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness

¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. ¹⁹ For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. ²⁰ For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,^[g] in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. ²¹ For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Claiming to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

²⁴ Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, ²⁵ because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

²⁶ For this reason God

gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; ²⁷ and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

²⁸ And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. ²⁹ They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, ³⁰ slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, ³¹ foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. ³² Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

So How are we to Remain free of Anxiety during the end times?

1.  Love the Truth, which means to Love Jesus Christ above all else
2. Study the word, so that you know what is coming and can see each day that He is closer.  All the evil and disasters that we see are only proof of that truth.
3. Pray
4. As the end is nearing, we must be more diligently at work for the kingdom.  All this other stuff is trivial when it comes to eternity. 
5. Keep looking up, our salvation draws nigh. 
6. Do not get sidelined by the distractors.  (Politics, money, governments, wars, news, etc)
7. Trust God.  He has always completed all that He planned throughout history and He is not going to this time either.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

PREVIOUS

The name of the Lord Jesus Christ Glorified in a Believer. How?

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.

Paul loved the courage and growth that the church of Thessalonica had shown in the face of difficulties and trials.  He perhaps felt a burden that his time with them had been so short.   It seemed that there were many heretics attempting to create fear and doubt in their hearts.  Not that different from our world except, we have the Bible readily available if we choose to read it.  Paul had gotten back a report again concerning some of the churches difficulty in understanding the wrath, judgement and triumph surrounding the Day of the Lord.  Additionally, they wanted to understand more as to when this could occur and ascertain they had not missed it.  As Paul continued to explain this, he gave a beautify exhortation as to the purpose of it all.  That the name of the Lord Jesus Christ be Glorified.

Surrender In Faith: the name of the Lord Jesus Christ Glorified

   ¹¹ Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, ¹² that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ  2 Thessalonians 1

There is a lot to unpack in these two verses, for they are rich in theology.  But that is not unusual with Paul.  So, where do we begin?  Well, lets begin with the beginning of this chapter.  It is always good to begin in the beginning. 

The Salutation

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The true church are those who are in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are sealed unto the day of promise by the Holy Spirit.  We are then “in Christ”.  Think of this. He is in us. We are also filled by the Holy Spirit.  So, God is in us. Additionally, we are in Christ who is one (united) in the Father.  That is a lot of protection.  He is in us. And surrounds us with His magnificent power to overcome. 

Therefore, grace and peace are ours.  A Gift from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Manifest Evidence of God’s Righteousness and the Name Of Jesus Christ Glorified

³ We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, ⁴ so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and ^[a]tribulations that you endure, ⁵ which is manifest^[b] evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer;

So, here Paul commends this little church for their faith, their growth, and their love toward each other.  He goes so far as to say he boasts of them to other churches, presenting them an example of true faith. Part of their exemplary faith comes from the demonstration of patience and faith while surrounded by a multitude of persecution and tribulation.  He goes further to say that their suffering is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God.  Tried as though by fire, until every blemish of sin is removed.  The name of the Lord Jesus Christ Glorified through their faith shining forth as light into the darkness of the world.

The Certainty of Salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ

whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.  Romans 8:30

That is a certainty.  He is always about the work of our Sanctification—transforming us into the image of His son.  This He never stops doing from the day we first accept Him until the day when the work is completed, and we stand before the throne of our Lord Jesus Christ Glorified.  Therefore, because He loves us, we suffer that we might grow.  Otherwise, we become too complacent with our own search for love and happiness in all the wrong places.  So, we face persecutions and tribulation as manifest evidence of the righteous judgement of God.  And so we might be counted worthy, even though on our own we are not worthy. 

For we are bought with a price as told in 1 Corinthians 6:20. Therefore, He has also chosen to cloak us in His righteousness.  We then have a righteousness, not our own.  He then transforms us into that image of righteousness. 

¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. ¹⁸ But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as ^[b]by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3 (NKJV)

The Lord Jesus Christ will return in Judgement

Some even then wanted to say, God would never punish the unrepentant sinner.  After all isn’t He love? Yet, we who have been cleansed and washed by the Blood of Jesus, must face pain and suffering as part of our transformation to righteousness.  If God then gave a blanket pardon to the rest, would we think it fair?  No. We would not.  Neither would we think it fair that evil go unpunished. 

⁶ since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with ^[c]tribulation those who trouble you, ⁷ and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, ⁸ in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, ¹⁰ when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who ^[d]believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

One day

He will return and set up His Kingdom.  What is the final purpose of it all? 

That the Lord Jesus Christ be glorified to the Glory of the Father and the Holy Spirit. 

³ All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.⁴ In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  John 1

Colossians 1

⁹ For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

¹⁰ That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

¹¹ Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

¹² Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

¹³ Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

¹⁴ In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

¹⁵ Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

¹⁶ For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

¹⁷ And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

That ye might walk Worthy

There we have that again.  That we might walk worthy as though we must obtain worthiness.  However, that is not what it means.  It means, let our life so reflect the light and the transformation.  Were we to see a very rich man or woman walking around in filthy rags and no baths, we would not believe them worthy?   In other words, to walk worthy is to walk in a manner that displays who we are in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Furthermore, knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ is returning in full judgment, why do we think we can do a better job of revenge against an enemy than He can.  If we are forgiven of all our sins against Him, what is so grave an offense another can perpetrate against us that we cannot forgive them?

And so, we are back to this prayer which Paul prayed for the church.

1 Thessalonians 1:11-12

¹¹ Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, ¹² that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Count you worthy.  It is His grace that counts us worthy, with all our unworthiness and shame.  Only He can fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power.  When we understand this and are so mesmerized by Him, the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is glorified in you.  In every action, every deed, every prayer.  And you are glorified in Him according to the Grace of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hannah is an example of that.

After years of pleading with God, desiring a baby, she decided to promise to give God that first born for His service.  So, when Samuel was born, she determined to do as promised.  When he was two or three, she took him to Eli the priest and left him there.  Her only chance to see him would be once a year as they made the journey to worship God.  Still, this was her prayer and I think we can learn a lot from it. 

And Hannah prayed and said:

“My heart rejoices in the Lord;
My [a]horn is exalted in the Lord.
[b]I smile at my enemies,
Because I rejoice in Your salvation.
2 “No one is holy like the LORD,
For there is none besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God.
3 “Talk no more so very proudly;
Let no arrogance come from your mouth,
For the LORD is the God of knowledge;
And by Him actions are weighed.
4 “The bows of the mighty men are broken,
And those who stumbled are girded with strength.
5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
And the hungry have ceased to hunger.
Even the barren has borne seven,
And she who has many children has become feeble.
6 “The LORD kills and makes alive;
He brings down to the grave and brings up.
7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich;
He brings low and lifts up.
8 He raises the poor from the dust
And lifts the beggar from the ash heap,
To set them among princes
And make them inherit the throne of glory.
“For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s,
And He has set the world upon them.
9 He will guard the feet of His saints,
But the wicked shall be silent in darkness.
“For by strength no man shall prevail.
10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces;
From heaven He will thunder against them.
The LORD will judge the ends of the earth.
“He will give strength to His king,
And exalt the [c]horn of His anointed.”
I Samuel 2:1-10

Concluding thoughts

Think of this, she just left her young baby boy.  Yet, little did she know it would be her son who lead the nation out of darkness.  One of the greatest priest, judge, and prophet of the Bible.  So when the world looks all upside down, remember this.  God is on His throne.  Knowing all things will work together for good, stand firm in hope and joy. The more we trust Him, we become the light which shines forth the name of the Lord Jesus Christ Glorified.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

PREVIOUSLY

Because God is Faithful, I Am Fearless in Truth and Love.  Are you?

DISCLOSURES

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Photo licensed through Goodsalt.com