Weighed down under the burden of his many years, harassed by ingratitude and cruelty, David, in Psalm 71 expresses his unwavering confidence and trust in God.

Increasing afflictions seemed to grow David’s trust in God that ultimately produced a faith that went all the way to the throne of grace. 

We should ask ourselves…

“Do we have a trust like David?”

“Do we pray like David?”

“Are we as comforted by God as was David?”

Hebrews 12:11 says, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:  nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exerised thereby.”

Our trials and tribulations have a purpose.  One of which is to give us just a taste of what it will be like when God ultimately brings us… “up again from the depths of the earth.” Psalm 71:20

Dig Deep!

This is what is commonly referred to as the Roman Road. 

I had a pretty good opinion of myself until a friend invited me to take a walk down the Roman Road.  He used just a single book in the Bible to open my eyes to my relationship with God, and I haven’t been the same since.

He warned me that the trip might hurt, and he was right becaue he started by revealing my real status before God.  “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God…”  Romans 3:23.

Then I learned of sin’s penalty.  “For the wages of sin is death…”  Romans 6:23a.

He went on to tell me that God loves me so much he offers an alternative called ‘eternal life’… “…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 6:23b

Then he showed me how God provided his son Jesus as an atoning sacrafice for my sin.  Jesus took my penalty!  “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8

I wondered if God would accept me.  He assured me with even more good news.  “For WHOSOEVER shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  Romans 10:13

My friend showed me what I should do to received eternal life.  “That if thou shalt confess with they mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”  Romans 10:9

We prayed together, and I gladly accepted God’s gift of eternal life through Jesus.  I asked him if there was anything in the book of Romans that could help me with my new life.  He pointed to the beginning of Romans 12… “… present your bodies a living sacrafice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world:  but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” 

He explained that if I gave God first place in my life, other things would work out according to God’s plan for me.  I read a lot of the Bible since that day, and my friend was right!  My life has been transformed. 

Dig Deep!

I’ve been reading and hearing a lot about leadership across the wire lately.

Authenticity and uniqueness are two words that pop-up quite a bit when talking about leadership.

Have you ever stopped to think about the tribulation you experience in your life is simple training for leadership?  Leadership in faith.

2 Cor. 1:3-4 says, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO COMFORT THEM WHICH ARE IN ANY TROUBLE, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

You know, I believe, true leadership comes from those who have been through the fire (so-to-speak).  Those who have faced extreme difficulties, but yet came through a stronger person. 

Stronger in faith.

God uses those people in our lives to help us grow as well. 

It’s never fun to be tested.  It’s never fun to be tried. 

But when you yield, full well knowing God is working in your life to build a larger faith… He can use you to lead another to higher ground.

I thank God for molding me, and making me.  I pray this blog is a blessing to you and to all who listen and read.

Dig Deep!

Mt. 14:29 says, “… he walked on the water…”  I don’t doubt that he did walk on the water.  The point is back in v. 28, Peter says, “…if it be thou, bid me to come…”

A weak faith is always wishing for signs and miracles. 

However impossible the thing commanded by Christ may appear, it is certain he will give power to accomplish it to those who receive his word by faith; but we must take care never to put Christ’s power to the proof for the gratification of a vain curiosity, or even for the strengthening of our faith.

It was by faith in the power of Christ he was upheld, when that faith failed, Peter began to sink. 

It was not the storm described in v.30 that caused the sinking, but the LITTLENESS of faith.

It’s a simple matter of a “trusting belief” that He is able and that we MOVE FORWARD on that faith.  

To have the desire to accomplish is one element.  But do you have the faith needed to MOVE FORWARD and conquer your objective?

Dig Deep!

Man, I love this entries title. 

It always seems like we call on God at the last minute, when we really should be calling upon him every minute!

We find ourselves at an impasse often believing there’s no way out.

Here’s a little clue, God helps those that  help themselves.

Seriously, don’t quit praying.  But quit “just praying”, and get moving.  Don’t sit idle.  There’s light at the end of the tunnel. 

It’s His desire to help each of us in this life here and now. 

Dig Deep!

How many times have you known the right thing to do, and you failed to do it?

Me, plenty of times.  Now, I’ve finally gotten to the point where I just QUIT!

I quit trying to force the issue.  It really comes when I’m trying to get something done, like this blog entry for example.  If I press and get in my own way it takes hours to get tasks accomplished.

Romans 2:18 says, “For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing:  for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. ”

QUIT TRYING SO HARD!

I’ve found, through experience, that when I try I fail.  But when I let Him “do”, He succeeds!

I’m a firm believer in, not just setting, but knowing my priorities.

Too many times have I experienced defeat by having my priorities out-of-whack. And, I’ve witnessed many people on the fast track to reaching/achieving their goals all of a sudden fall short because their priorities were out-of-whack.

The greatest sermon ever given to mankind is Jesus Christ’s Sermon On The Mount. A tremendous amount of application can be derived from the Gospel of Matthew Chapters 5, 6, and 7.

I want to focus on one particular verse, 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto.”

The Fruit of the Spirit come from a pure heart. It’s from a pure heart that God requires when seeking his will. From a pure heart He can impute His qualities, or characteristics, into us… Love, Joy, Peace, Long-Suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, and Temperance.

It’s the business of bringing forth these characteristics that should engross our lives. Worldly desires, cares, and inquiries ought to end… and Grace should abound. Grace is the way to glory – holiness the way to happiness.

Allowing righteousness to take precedence in our lives leads to heaven and earth too. Godliness has the promise of both lives!

“…and all these things shall be added unto you.” Having your priorities in check, and looking for God’s will first will constitute a surplus of God’s promises. He promises an overly abundant life.

We all have desires for a better life in this world. But set your priorities. Seek heavenly things and earthly things will be, “added unto you.”

One thing you’ll learn about me is that I’m going to get right to the point every time. 

Everything I say on mjlarkin.com is going to have real time Biblical application to your daily focus.

So, the first thing we need to do on this inaugural blog post is start off with the first application that is absolutely vital to understand, if you’re going to understand anything I have to say. 

The Gospel of John 3:3 says, “…Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Keep reading and you’ll see Nicodemus’ reaction to Jesus.  He asks, “How can a man be born when his old?  Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb..? 

Now, I don’t know about you, but that’s not a thought I like to get bouncing around my head. 

Of course the answer is no.  Jesus goes on to explain in verse 5 and 6…, “Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.”

Being born of the water is simply the experience of a natural birth.  We all have a biological mother.  Being born of the Spirit is entering into the Kingdom of God.

Three easy points to understand.

1.  God is Spirit:  and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 

2.   There are benefits to being in the Spirit. In order to receive the “fruit of the Spirit” you must be in the Spirit.  And I can tell you… you want some of that fruit. 

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:  9 great characteristics for all of us to achieve. 

A quick look at these words gives us a little help understanding what it is we really should be striving towards.

Love:  An intense desire to please God, and to do good to mankind; the very soul and spirit of all true religion; the fulfilling of the law, and what gives energy to faith itself.

Joy:  The exultation that arises from a sense of God’s mercy communicated to the soul in the parting of its sins, and the prospect of that eternal glory. 

Peace:  The calm, quiet, and order, which take place in the justified soul, instead of the doubts, fears, alarms, and dreadful forebodings, which every true penitent less or more feels, and must feel till the assurance of pardon brings peace and satisfaction to the mind.  Peace is the first sensible fruit of the pardon of sin.

Long –Suffering:  Long-mindedness, bearing with the frailties and provocations of others, from the consideration that God has borne long with ours. 

Gentleness:  A good education and polished manners, when brought under the influence of the grace of God, will bring out his grace with great effect.

Goodness:  The perpetual desire and sincere study, not only to abstain from every appearance of evil, but to do good to the bodies and souls of men to the utmost of our ability.  But all this must spring from a good heart… a heart purified by the Spirit of God.

Faith:  Fidelity… punctuality in performing promises, conscientious carefulness in preserving what is committed to our trust, in restoring it to its proper owner, in transacting the business confided to us, neither betraying the secret of our friend, nor disappointing the confidence of our employer.

Meekness:  Mildness, indulgence toward the weak and erring, patient suffering of injuries without feeling a spirit of revenge, an even balance of all tempers and passions, the entire opposite of anger.

Temperance:  Continence, self-government, or moderation, principally with regard to sensual appetites.  Moderation in eating, drinking, sleeping… 

3.  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:  for they are foolishness unto him;  neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

I love to talk about this key point in God’s Word.   “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing:  for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” 

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit which is in him?  Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

Dig Deep!