If there was ever a foundational truth that every Christian needed to hear is this episode. In so many religions, many people are told to do good, visit the sick, fast certain foods, try not to sin, all in the name of gaining right standing with God. But none of these things could ever earn us right standing with God. Our own righteous acts are like filthy rags in the eyes of God as the Bible tells us. To gain right standing with God, one must believe in Jesus Christ and receive Him. This is the rest that we must enter as Children of God. We have been given God's way of righteousness, and we must receive it by Faith.

In some religions, men and women work hard to achieve right standing with God. They try to discipline themselves and sometime go to extent of punishing themselves to try and attain this status with God. In Isaiah 64:6, it says that our own righteousness is like filthy rags before God. Nothing we can do, as long as it comes out of human efforts, can never achieve right standing with God. To gain this righteousness with God, we simply believe and receive Christ. Faith in Christ is what justifies us before God and not our own works. Though it sounds simple, it is a profound truth that liberates and changes one's destiny!

Sin never presents itself as dangerous. It's always pleasurable, enjoyable and enticing. But all these masquerade its need to control and enslave people. No one has been able to live a life without sin. One can try to live a sinless life but they soon find out that they are incapable. Only one person has managed to live purely and blamelessly before God and that is Jesus Christ. When He died, He put to death all sin in His human body. He resurrected and became a life giving Spirit to all who receive Him. A person who receives Christ, receives power that defeats sin. Through this, they live victoriously over sin. Nothing else has the power to stand against the power of sin over humanity.

The Bible says that the Israelites knew God's provision but Moses knew God's ways. When trials arose, the Israelites abandoned God and worshiped another a man-made god. But Moses never wavered in his Faith. Why were the two so different with their reactions to God? Because the Israelites only knew God on a transaction basis, they didn't know what to do when trials came. But Moses, familiar with God's ways knew that God is not defined by circumstances. Today, this scenario is also replicated in the church. Some believers only pray when they need something. When provision is lacking, they get discouraged and sometimes run away from the Faith. But there are others who even get persecuted to the point of death because of their beliefs but stand strong till the end. Falling in love with God is not a nice-to-have for a believer, it's a necessity. One cannot survive as a Christian by only interacting with God on a need basis. Intimacy, and relationship must be built with God on a daily basis.

We are living in very special times. In the old testament, the Israelites experienced God's wrath. Today, being in the new testament, we are experiencing God's favor. It is unmerited, undeserved and could never be earned by any human action. We get to receive the fulfillment of the greatest fulfillment of all time. The very Son of God, Jesus Christ, living on the inside of every believer. No greater power can exceed His power! The believer gets to live the supernatural naturally and live the natural supernaturally. Who wouldn't want this?

One of the most important things in life is self-examination. When we begin to sin, it is the first thing that the devil takes away from us. He blinds us from our own mistakes and shortcomings. With this blindness, we are not able to see the consequences of our sins. In the Word, God makes it clear that heaven and hell exists and man gets to choose where he ends up. What sends us to hell is our sins and what sends us to heaven is Christ. Today, do you belong to Hell or to Heaven? If you are unsure, repent of your sins and give your life to Christ. He gives life and life more abundantly!

The Word of God and the world contradict each other when it comes to silence. Where the world tells you to speak up and defend yourself, the Word of God tells you to stay silent. Where the world tells you to share your opinions, the Word of God tells you to be quick to listen and to be slow to speak. The secret lies with those that have learned to control their tongues. It's better to stay silent than to speak a word that goes against your identity as a son and a daughter of God! There are many treasurers hidden in silence that are yet to be discovered!

Some people live unaware of the spiritual world. Others live under the influence of the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of the devil. The Spiritual world is not a myth, it's more real than the physical world. Everything that happens in the physical world, is influenced by the spiritual world. God works in people to produce good and the devil works in people to produce bad. There is no in-between. It is important to know and to be aware of how the devil operates in people so that we may not fall prey to his tactics. May our eyes continue to open as the Word of God illuminates our path so that we may live as wise children of God.

When it comes to sex, the Word of God and the world are completely in opposition without compromise. The world preaches that sex is fun and there are no strings attached so anyone can do it with whomever they choose. But the Word of God only recognizes sex between a wife and a husband. Sex outside of this definition is immorality and prevents one from inheriting the Kingdom of God. To live above society's standard and the pressure of one's lust, a person must choose to yield their body to God and be willing to walk according to His truth. Self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and through this fruit, He helps us to master the desires of our bodies so that we are no longer ruled by them! God wants to help all of us to walk in purity for this aligns with His will. There are no exceptions to this desire of purity from God!