“But Daniel determined in his heart that he would not defile himself by [eating his portion of] the king’s rich and dainty food or by [drinking] the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might [be allowed] not to defile himself.”

Dan. 1:8 AMPC

It took great courage for Daniel, a young teenager at the time and a captive in Babylon,  to take a stand by determining that he would still honor the Lord in spite of his circumstances.  For him it was simply a matter of seeking to honor the Lord by adhering to the dietary laws laid down for Israel in the Word of God (Lev. 11).  It would have been easy for him to simply partake of the rich food provided for him by the king. 
But in the situation he was in, God was all that he had left and he was unwilling to do anything that would hinder that relationship.  In fact, he wanted to do everything he could to still cultivate that relationship. 

He could have looked at the circumstances and reasoned, that it was such a small thing that it really didn’t matter.  But it did matter.  It mattered because it was one of the things  God had commanded  Israel that set them apart as the people of God (Lev. 11:44)!  And Daniel,  though he was a captive in Babylon, still wanted to be identified as one who belonged to God!  So, he made the decision and the  Lord honored him in that decision.  It was this decision that set the precedent for the rest of his life.  Daniel would face far greater challenges in the future.   But because he had determined to obey God in the little things, he had laid the foundation for being able to trust and obey God in far greater situations later. 

If we desire to be a people who genuinely reflect Christ in a dark culture,  it is important that we begin right where we are by obeying  God in the little things (Luke 12:26).  Love one another (John 13:35).  Care for one another.  Be kind to one another (Eph. 4:32).  Be considerate of one another.   Encourage one another (Heb. 10:24).  Help one another.   Let us be mindful of our tongue and how we speak to one another (1 Pet. 3:10).  Let us be known as a people who build up one another instead of tearing one another down (1 Thes. 5:11).   Let us be the people who seek to do what is right regardless of the cost (Psalm 15:4).  Let us be the people who seek to honor the Lord in all things (Matth. 6:33).  If we do these things, we (like Daniel)  will lay the foundation for being able to obey God in the greater challenges that will inevitably come our way. 
James W. Black

“…Abraham believed God and it was imputed unto him for righteousness and he was called the Friend of God.” (James 2: 23 KJV).

One of the most profound statements in scripture concerning Abraham is that he is called “the Friend of God.”  (Isaiah 41:8, 2 Chronicles 20:7).  In Gen. 12:1,  God revealed Himself to Abraham, a former worshipper of idols, and his life and destiny was radically transformed.  He would never be the same again (2 Cor. 5:17).  From that point on, In the midst of a totally pagan culture, he chose to follow God.   That does not mean that he followed God perfectly.  He didn’t. He stumbled a few times along the way (Gen. 12: 10-13).   But he never stopped following.  Whenever he failed, he would get back up and continue to follow.  He never quit. 

The scripture tells us that he became God’s Friend when he chose to believe God!  He didn’t just believe in God.  Many people do that and are not changed.  No.  He chose to actually believe that God was exactly Who He said He was and as a result, Abraham totally committed himself into God’s hands!  In following God, Abraham became a worshipper of God.  Everywhere he settled, he built an altar unto the Lord and worshipped God (Gen. 12:7.).

To be God’s Friend is simple.  When God reveals Himself to us, (as He does in and through His Word) we must choose to follow.  Believing is more than merely acknowledging God or acknowledging truth.   It is committing our heart to Him and trusting Him with all that we are and all that we have.    To be God’s Friend means that we value and treasure the relationship.  We do not take it for granted.  To be God’s friend means that we take time to be with Him.  Being with Him is vitally important to us.  It is a priority to us.  To be God’s Friend means that we listen when He speaks.  We value what He says.  And to be God’s Friend means that we are willing to actually do what He asks us to do.  Why? Because we are God’s Friend!  The overall key to Abraham’s friendship with God was that he believed God.  He listened to God  He adjusted his life to God.  And he followed God.  The key to the entire relationship was that in all things and in all circumstances, Abraham trusted God (Gen. 22: 1-14).  What was true for Abraham is still true for us if we desire to truly be God’s Friend and not just an acquaintance.   

Rev. James W. Black 

“There remaineth  therefore a rest to the people of God. (10) For he that is entered into his  rest, he also hath ceased from his own works as God did from his.  (11) Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest…”

Heb. 4: 9-11 KJV

“There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. (10) For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works as God did from his.  (11) Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest…” (Heb. 4: 9-11 KJV). 

Some of the best rest is when we have worked hard all day and are completely exhausted but feel good about the day because of the work that was accomplished.   As soon as our head hits the pillow we are asleep but we awake refreshed for the coming day. 

The Word of God tells us that there is also a “rest for the people of God.”  This rest also comes at the end of labor.  But it is a different kind of labor than our physical labor.  It is an inner labor that comes from striving to try and please God and yet feeling as if we have not done enough and therefore somehow are not fully accepted by God.  But it is a labor that must be entered into before we can ultimately find the “rest” that the Lord wants us to have.

We have to “labor” through our pride.  We have to “labor” through our self-sufficiency. 
We have to “labor” through having confidence in ourselves;  in our ability to please God with our own efforts.  We have to “labor” through our failures and our disappointments with ourselves and with others.  We have to “labor” through our feelings of inadequacy.  We have to “labor” through our hurts and our pain.  We have to “labor” until we can come to the place of completely surrendering everything that we were, everything that are, everything that we have, and everything we hope to be totally to the Lord. 

It is the place of total surrender to the finished work of Christ and His completed work on our behalf on the cross!  Our sense of worth and meaning is no longer found in our ability to achieve or in our ability to serve and please others; even as Christ Followers.  No.   Our worth meaning and purpose are found in Christ alone!   He is the culmination of all that we are and all that we ever hope to be.  It is all found in Him!  (Phil. 3: 7–9).

And when we finally arrive at that place through the “labor” of full relinquishment and surrender of all things to Him, we find this joyful place of His rest!  We can finally “rest” in the fact that we are full and complete in Him!  And we are totally and completely loved and accepted by Him!  It is amazing how refreshing and renewing that truly is! 

Rev. James W. Black

 “…Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.”

Psalm 92:13-15

In this passage of scripture, the Lord promises that if we are planted (established, rooted, grounded, actively involved) in a growing relationship with Him, and in His house (working to advance His purposes and His Kingdom), then we shall flourish and enjoy the Presence of God. The word “courts” here is a picture of being in His Presence.

There are many today who have given up and abandoned the house of the Lord altogether. Some have done so simply out of neglect; getting caught up in the busyness of life. Some have become disillusioned because of those in the Body of Christ who have failed at times and not lived up to their expectations; while ignoring their own weaknesses and failures. Their focus has been on others instead of Christ. Many see no purpose or value in church at all because they have never truly sought to cultivate an intimate relationship with the Lord. They have substituted “being in church” for a true relationship with the Lord. They have not yet discovered that church has little meaning or value unless one has experienced the reality of Christ in their persona life. Church is no substitute for the reality of a personal relationship with the Jesus. Church encourages it, enhances it and enriches it, but is never a substitute for it. Many put more value in cultivating relationships with others than they do with the Living God who longs to reveal Himself unto them.

But the Holy One has redeemed us for the purpose of bringing forth fruit (the fruit of the Spirit [Gal. 5: 22-23] and the reproduction of disciples (John 15:5}. And like it or not we cannot do that effectively apart from being connected to and engaged with the Body of Christ. We cannot reach our fullest potential in the Kingdom of God apart from our fellowship with Him and our fellowship with one another. The Body of Christ nurtures us and challenges us in our growth and walk with the Lord. If we continue to cultivate our fellowship with Him we will “flourish in the Presence of God” even in our old age. We can delight in and enjoy the Presence of God more and more in this life until He calls us home to be with Him! And then we will see the full revelation of His glory which for now, we can only imagine! (1 Cor. 2: 9-10 & Rev. 4 – 5).

Rev. James W. Black

 “…His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.”

2 Peter 1:3 KJV

Everything that we need to live a Godly life has already been provided for us through the Person of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit Who now dwells within us (Col. 1:27).  All of that became ours, the very moment that we surrendered our heart to Him!  The reason that we often struggle is that we believe the lies of the adversary that somehow we are are inferior, inadequate, and insignificant and  that we need more than what we already have in order to walk with God and please Him!   

While it is true that as followers of Christ we must grow in our faith walk, it is equally true that all that we need to grow has already been provided for us.  We must simply learn to walk in what  we already possess.  We do not need more power or more strength or more wisdom.  We simply need to draw upon what we already have in Christ. 

There is no shortage of power, strength, wisdom, ability, love, grace, joy or peace in Jesus.  There is no lack of anything  in Him!   Therefore if Christ is in us (Rom. 8: 9-11), then we already have all that is needed to live for Him and to be whatever He wants us to be in this life.   Some will say, “Well, I don’t feel strong or wise or full of joy and peace!”  That is certainly true when we are focusing upon ourselves or our circumstances.  But we do not walk by our feelings.  When  we  rivet our attention on Him, focus upon Him, walk in Him and draw upon Him, He will provide for us everything that is needed when it is needed.  Our source for all that we need is in Him, not in ourselves.  Our walk with Christ is not determined by how we feel.  It is determined by the “knowledge of Him that has called us.”   

Thus the key to discovering all that we have in Christ is simply to be intentional in seeking to know Him more and more.  As as we learn to  know Him more, we discover that He is the God Who is more than enough for all things! 

Rev. James W. Black

“I sought the Lord and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”

Psalm 34:4 KJV

David was a man of courage but he also knew the reality of fear.  He lived in fearful times.  He was being hunted by King Saul who wanted to kill him.  He, along with his men, were having to hide in the land of the Philistines, the enemies of Israel.  He had to be constantly on the move lest he be discovered by his enemies.  One misstep could result in death;  not only for himself but for all those who were with him.  But David knew that the remedy for fear could only be found in God Himself.  Therefore in the face of fear, David sought the Lord!

When we genuinely seek the Lord, He will reveal Himself unto us!   We discover afresh and anew that the Lord is our refuge and our strength (Psalm 46:1).   We begin to see things from God’s perspective rather than our circumstances.  We recognize that He is the Sovereign and  Almighty God; the Great El Shaddai!  We remember that we can trust Him.  We have nothing to fear (Psalm 27:1).

We live in fearful times also.  Each one of us faces our own personal difficulties and struggles in life.  We also see the many challenges facing our nation.  We see how our government is unwilling and often inept in its ability to deal with anything.   We see the decline of our culture.  We see the rise of anti-Christian sentiment in our society.  We see the unrest in the Middle East.  We see the rise of China and the War in Ukraine, which could easily get out of hand and become much bigger than anyone ever thought.  We fear for our children and our grandchildren and the difficult future they will face without a change of course in our culture. 

But if we can keep our focus on Jesus and teach our children to do the same, then we have nothing to fear!  Our God is more than enough for ourselves and for the next generation.  It is all a matter of seeking  Him, trusting Him, and resting in Him!  For in Him, there is no fear!

Rev. James W. Black