GIVING AN INCH

The King James Version of The Bible reads Ephesians 4:27 as - "Neither give place to the devil." 

"That word 'place' in Ephesians 4:27 is from the Greek word topos. It describes a specific, marked-off location. But rather than a physical location that we use a map to identify, this 'place' may refer to a rough spot in our relationships, our finances, our thoughts, our personal habits, or to lingering areas of disobedience. Whatever it is, it’s an identifiable location that the devil seeks to find and use as an open door into our lives." (https://renner.org/how-to-keep-the-devil-out-of-your-life/) 

Another word for "place", according to the New International Version is foothold. "We need to be serious about our lives because the devil is always looking for a door, a window, or a crack [a foothold] — any entry point — through which he can access us. We must circumspectly look at our lives to see if there’s any area we’ve left open or unguarded that has allowed the devil to find a way to attack us." (https://renner.org/how-to-keep-the-devil-out-of-your-life/)

“Neither give place to the devil,” is a command, not a suggestion. The statement is weighed this heavy because of the implications. "If you’ve ever come under spiritual assault and found the devil in the middle of your affairs, you understand the value of stopping the enemy at the doorway rather than finding a way to extract him once he has found an access point to worm his way into some area of your life." 

(https://renner.org/how-to-keep-the-devil-out-of-your-life/)

Even if you have found the strength and courage in The Lord to keep the enemy at bay - "the devil will linger a long time to see if you are truly serious about keeping him out of your life." (https://renner.org/how-to-keep-the-devil-out-of-your-life/) We see this in Scripture with the image of what I call The Copy Cat (Lion). Satan has always attempted to have an unholy alternative to God and anything connected to God. Christ is called The Lion of the Tribe of Judah. And in 1 Peter 5:8, Satan is referred as "your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (KJV).

As an unholy lion, the devil "walketh" or in the NIV "prowls" around. This word in its original form is peripateo (per-ee-pat-eh-o), meaning to tread all around, walk at large, especially as proof of ability. In my words - Strut! And a very prideful strut at that. This is the kind of fear tactic that the devil will issue if at first he does not succeed. 

"Since we know the devil is trying to find a way to gain entry into our lives, we must use the weapons of warfare God has given us to resist him (see Ephesians 6:10-18). But it is likewise essential that we diligently keep watch over our lives on a sustained and continual basis, looking for any doors we may have left open that would make it easier for the enemy to find entrance." (https://renner.org/how-to-keep-the-devil-out-of-your-life/)

"One thing is certain: Living a life of obedience shuts doors and makes it more difficult for the devil to find entry into our lives. On the other hand, we must also acknowledge that if we are living in disobedience in any area, those areas may become the very entry points by which the devil gains access to disturb our peace and to try to stop our forward momentum and even bring destruction in our lives." (https://renner.org/how-to-keep-the-devil-out-of-your-life/) You have heard don't give the devil and inch or he will take a mile. This verse and others in The Bible screams warnings that the devil will take more than a mere mile. So, I encourage all of us, especially my fellow believers in Christ, do not compromise in anything you know is Holy by Giving An Inch.

THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE

What makes The Chief Cornerstone different from the remaining three corners of the foundation of one's structure? The answer is the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, which is analogous to our spiritual foundation, is important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.

Cornerstones are important in the building of a physical structure, but even moreso our lives. The cornerstones set the boundaries, give direction and support the load of the structure. All of the cornerstones matter in our lives, but one matters most - The Chief Cornerstone.

In Scripture, Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus and portrayed them and all future believers as living stones set as part of God's Holy Temple with Christ as The Chief Cornerstone.

"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord." - Ephesians 2:19-21

Peter paints an even clearer picture of this image in his first letter to those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. These churches were established by men and women who heard the preaching of Peter in Acts 2 and during their time in Jerusalem who then went back to their homeland and taught their neighbors.

"As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says:

'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.'

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,' and,

'A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.'

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for." - 1 Peter 2:4-8

Notice first of all that the subject of Christ as The Cornerstone is mentioned eight times in just four verses. We see Jesus named "the living Stone", "a stone in Zion", "precious cornerstone", "The stone the builders rejected", "a stone that causes people to stumble" and "a rock that makes them fall" with some repeats thrown in.

Second of all, notice what I have underlined - "you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house...". So, "are being built" implies a process. Yes, Jesus Paid It All, but now sing the rest of that - All To Him I Owe. Christ has Redeemed us with His life and claimed the victory through His Resurrection. However, our part now remains to live a devoted life to Him, hopefully seeing our physical manifestation glorified soon, upon His Return.

In the meantime, a good daily practice would be to die daily to self. However, this practice would be even better if the daily surrender would be initiated by yourself. Luke records Christ speaking to the chief priests and teachers of the law about a verse referring to Himself and them and this daily practice.

"‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed." - Luke 20:17-18

I do not want to be crushed. I would rather fall on the stone, Christ Jesus, by humbling myself before Him. Then allow His Potter's Hands to build me again for His purposes until I finally can be set or placed by Him as a Perfected Stone in His Temple one day.

There are many people who do not start life or later in life select a good cornerstone, even moreso - The Chief Cornerstone, Christ Jesus. Who or What is The Chief Cornerstone of your life? The governing force that people place as their anchor, moral compass, peace and security is weak and temporary if Jesus Christ is not The Chief Cornerstone.

SLAVERY

Slavery to me is forced servant-hood. It is a stronger will imposing itself over another for the benefit of the imposer. Anytime I hear the word slave or slavery - I have no good images associated with it. But then I read Scripture and I hear those words used as a passionate way to communicate Servant-hood, especially being a bonded servant to Christ.

Even though the words used by Paul in his letter to the believers in Rome were interpreted "servants", the meaning of servants was bond-servant by voluntary or involuntary means. The original Greek word he used was Doulos. But Paul comes to the word and term of slavery and flips the negativity of it for me. Listen as he describes this new look in Romans 6:16-18 -

"Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."

Wow! What a switch in perspective. Because of my faith in Christ's sacrifice and victory for me ("been set free from sin") - I have chosen a life of bonded service to my Savior who is worthy of this passionate attachment ("have become slaves to righteousness"). Praise God, the entire Slave Market of Sin has been bought by Christ's very own life and faith in Christ Jesus as The Redeemer sets anyone free. There is no one else in the universe that deserves this bond.

Therefore, since He has died once for us and rose again in victory, let us die daily in Him - placing our thoughts, actions and words in submission and screening of His Holy Spirit. Not that we should consider being Saved every day, but that our Behavior would line-up with God's Word for our benefit and the benefit of others. Paul said it like this -

"Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace." (Romans 6:8-14)

Fear is a liar, it will try to keep you in the negative encampment of whatever bondage you find yourself. But  then we see slavery as a negative connotation re-worked. Jesus changes everything. One might ask - What is the benefit of being a slave in one camp to a slave in the other camp? The answer is - The Master. The Master, Christ Jesus, has set you free, designated you as being set apart for Him and graced you with eternal life, not eternal death. Paul said it like this - 

"I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life." (Romans 6:19-22)

Well, Paul when you say it like that, to be a slave, especially a bond-servant of Christ who loved me first - the idea doesn't sound so bad.

A COMMANDING PRESENCE (REVISED and REVISITED)

I long to be that somebody who can control a room simply by entering it. I desire the pervasive, penetrating presence without a conceited or pompous "air" about me. My hope, prayer and now practice is that the way I carry myself would exude a stronger example of Christ's Presence in my life, but even more-so on my personage. 

2 Corinthians 2:16 says, that believers in Christ Jesus should have a "Heavenly Scent" about them that is so pleasing that it draws all people to them. 

• "To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?" 

I also believe, as Matthew 5:15 says, that believers should be a light to the world and especially within their own household. 

•  "Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house." 

However, I desire to radiate more of God's Presence in my life SO THAT others may take notice of the difference, inquire and consider a change themselves.

In Scripture, there are those like Moses who is known for his faithfulness (Nu. 12:4-8). There is Solomon who is known for requesting wisdom to rule God's people (1 Kings 3). We read about Hezekiah as a great kingly model in 2 Kings 18:3-8. These are all wonderful men who each had their own respected air about them, brought on them by the position they held in the community.

However, what about Daniel, Peter and Paul. Daniel was noted by the angel Gabriel as being "esteemed". Daniel was regarded this way not only on earth, but Gabriel tells him three times - 9:23; 10:11, 19 - that Heaven deems him esteemed. I believe this notoriety was due to his time abiding with God in prayer and having a policy of no compromise.

Peter was seen as "highly regarded by people" in Acts 5:13-15. God's healing power was displayed even in Peter's shadow as a great way to showcase The Commanding Presence of God in Peter's life and person. Here again, this ministry of power comes from a close relationship that Peter had with Jesus. 

We receive a heavy dose of God's Presence exemplified in Paul's life and person as we read his letter to the believers in Rome. Romans 8:38-39 says, 

• "I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Paul went through much hardship in his adult years. His suffering for Christ's sake was even foretold to Ananias by The Lord (Acts 9:15-16). However, it is not just Paul's spoken words that I am sure gave people inspiration. It is not just his and The Holy Spirit's written words that brought many direction and enlightenment. But when I observe Paul's life and hear him say - "I am convinced" - I know that life is the instrument and God is the Teacher of what I am to be convinced.

I would venture to say that the Commanding Presence I seek and Authority that comes with it is derived from God-given experience or opportunities. Those experiences are excellent times to Practice His Presence, His Posture and His Perspective. When we use our verbal and non-verbal skills, we need to take care these are screened through His Holy Spirit, through His Presence. We take Christ everywhere as His Ambassadors. As often as we can, we need to remind ourselves of the position or Posture we have because of Christ and through Christ Jesus. We are seated together with Him in heavenly places. What a privilege and responsibility. We also must always do our best to keep His Perspective as our own - loving the world into His Kingdom.

Looking at Jesus as our ultimate authoritative example, authority was no stranger to Him - 

• "When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law." (Matthew 7:28-29). 

The Good News here is that His authority did not stop with Him, He shares it with those who believe in Him as their personal Lord and Savior - 

• "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus..." (Ephesians 2:6). 

Also, Romans 8:37 assures believers - "in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." So, when I walk into a room I want people to "smell a Heavenly scent", "see a Heavenly light" and hear the Godly authority I have in Him.

If you too desire this, A Commanding Presence begins by abiding in Christ, the True Vine (John 15:5). It is not enough to be "religious". My life must reflect my beliefs, teachings and songs I sing. It is one thing to hear a great orator speak on any topic and be convinced or swayed on the idea presented simply because he/she is an excellent word-smith. But there is a totally different power behind a speaker or author who has experienced what they are convincing you about. This is the authority Christians have with their Testimony. This is the Power Christians have because of Christ's blood. This is the Presence that Christians have continually available to their lives. 

Walking into any room, my desire is to introduce you to Jesus Christ without any words if possible. If you had "spiritual glasses" on - I would want you to see Jesus walk-in with me and speak through me in whatever atmosphere is given. I would want you to know and experience me as a Heavenly scent and light in your midst. I believe the more I find ways to keep close to Christ and abide in His Word daily - He will grant me A Commanding Presence.

GOOD TEACHER

"As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. 'Good teacher,' he asked, 'what must I do to inherit eternal life?'

'Why do you call me good?' Jesus answered. 'No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’'

'Teacher,' he declared, 'all these I have kept since I was a boy.'
Jesus looked at him and loved him. 'One thing you lack,' he said. 'Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'
 

At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, 'How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!'" - Mark 10:17-23

____________________________

Notice that the man who ran up and fell on his knees before Jesus called Him - "Good Teacher". Then after Jesus addressed him, the man simply called Jesus - "teacher". The man replied, 'Teacher, all these I have kept since I was a boy.' Just in the absence of the title "Good" and declaration of keeping all the laws Jesus listed since youth, you could tell the man's view of Jesus and answer he sought to begin with was dwindling fast because something else was required.

Almost as if to see if the man knew the answer to his own question, Jesus asked - "Why do you call me good? No one is good - except God alone." After Jesus told the man of the commandments, the rich, young ruler could have said something like - I have followed those, but now I choose to believe in you as our Messiah, as my Savior - Good Teacher. Jesus gave the man the perfect opportunity to not only say something like that, but to show it also. I love how Mark remembers this and records it - "Jesus looked at him and loved him." Jesus did not leave the man hanging, He told him what must be done but in a direct and loving way. In this manner Christ said, "'One thing you lack,' he said. 'Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.'" 

Interesting that Jesus seems to give the man a lot of steps, but does not name the "one thing" he lacks until the last sentence - "Then come, follow me." Some followed Jesus as a Prophet, some as a Priest and some as potential King. Then there were others who believed Him to be The Messiah, the Son of the living God, the Good Shepherd and The Good Teacher.

The man reminds me of Ebeneezer Scrooge - putting his dependency in his wealth and material possessions. Unfortunately, the man could not get past these. "At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth." The man did not have faith. There was no faith in Jehovah Jireh, The God, his Provider. And Christ's response teaches us this - "Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, 'How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!'" 

In this passage (Mark 10:17-23), the original Greek word for "Good" is agathos, meaning beneficial in anything. This word is also used to describe the kind of gift that comes from Father God in James 1:17 - "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." Jesus, our Redemption is the ultimate "good and perfect gift". Paul said to the believers in Rome - "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

No one is Beneficial for Anything except God alone. He sent His - Beneficial for Anything Gift, Christ Jesus, as our Redemptive Sacrifice. Is Jesus Christ just another teacher to you? Or - is Christ Jesus your Savior, your Life Coach, your Beneficial for Anything, your Good Teacher?

IMITATE AND EMULATE

Even as distinct individuals, we all tend to imitate someone in our lives, whether conscientiously or not. However, when we Emulate someone else, we put forth effort in taking on and sharing some or all of their characteristics. Who is it you imitate? Who is it you Emulate?

THE TORN CURTAIN

For entry into relationship with God and entry into God's Heaven, Christ has been pictured in a few ways - The Gate and The Narrow Door. However, did you know Jesus is also The Curtain? 

In John's recording of The Gospel, Christ referred to Himself as The Gate.  

"Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture." (John 10:7-8) 

As The Gate, Jesus either allows or denies entry to the dwelling of the sheep pen and thus His care as The Shepherd. Anybody that chooses any other way besides The Gate for entry is a thief (John 10:1).

In this same imagery, Luke 13:23-25 depicts Christ Jesus as The Narrow Door. 

"Someone asked him, 'Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?' He said to them, 'Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’" 

Again, entry is the idea and only through Christ Jesus as The Narrow Door is entry possible. As a little extra view of this same idea in Luke, consider Noah and The Ark. One Door for all the land animals and his family to enter and eventually exit through. Plus, Genesis 7:16 records that it was God that personally closed the door of the ark - "Then the Lord shut him in." Can't you just imagine The Lord as guardian at the door of the ark? Acting as Door Keeper, He would manage and protect who and what goes in and then seal the deal by shutting the door Himself. 

In this last analogy, the body of Jesus is our Broken Barrier - "the curtain, that is, His body,". Jesus was The Curtain. Hebrews 10:19-22 says - 

"Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water."

What an incredible symbol - The Curtain that was ripped in two! Christ as our Curtain was beaten beyond recognition (Isaiah 52:14), mocked, tortured, unjustly tried, crowned with thorns, stripped naked and crucified upon a tree. This was the price required for direct access to The Throne of Grace. 

Look at Matthew 27:50-52 and observe the power and significance of the very moment when Christ declared His mission complete by proclaiming - "It is finished." - 

"And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up his spirit.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life." 

Jesus described Himself as The Gate. Jesus also portrayed Himself as The Narrow Door. Paul depicted Christ as The Curtain. All of these communicate only one entry point for Heaven, only one possibility for peace with God - Christ Jesus. If these representations are not enough, hopefully the last and probably most infamous quote on this subject from Jesus I will give you will be enough. His statement is found in John 14:6 - 

Jesus answered "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Notice that there is an article before the subject that defines singularity in Jesus' point. The words "way", "truth" and "life" are all preceded by the article "the". This denotes one, only and solitaire ownership of the following word - "the way, the truth and the life". Jesus left no doubt about this matter. There were no ifs, ands, buts, perhaps or any other conditional words.  There is only one Gate we can enter through for relationship with God and citizenship in His Heaven - Jesus Christ. There is only one Door we can consider and approach that holds Salvation, a blessed eternity and God's presence for now - behind it - Christ Jesus. And The Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, no longer limits access to the Holy of Holies to just the High Priest once a year - for Christ became for us The Torn Curtain.