Psalm 17:14 (NIV) By your hand save me from such people, Lord,
from those of this world whose reward is in this life.
May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies;
may their children gorge themselves on it,
and may there be leftovers for their little ones.
15 As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;
when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

It’s obvious that to “have” is much more enjoyable than to “have not”. To have all your bills paid and have money left over for that car, that house, that vacation, etc. is the way life should be lived and enjoyed. To do without any of these things is to be bound, frustrated, and despairing for life. Life usually begins with all this being provided by parents and family, as growing up is the entrance into this culture and lifestyle that eventually puts the weight of acquiring all this stuff dutifully upon each mature citizen. This pursuit of happiness becomes the drive, the motivation and the passion of each one, and the means by which this life of having will be reached takes different paths and different routes.

To acquire the most with the least amount of effort or resources naturally becomes the dreamed-of situation. Winning the lottery, receiving an inheritance, or just getting that “lucky” break is an imagination that keeps the dream and hope alive. Thousands are “invested” in the chance of getting that number and entering into the world of the “haves”.
Others are given to the discipline of a career and occupation that will result in an income that will sustain and protect from the threat of “having not”. Driven by the promise of prosperity’s reward, anything will be endured and all effort will be exerted in order to acquire the prize. This drive is most effective in producing great wealth for the talented and gifted ones who are able to build a business and effectively manage the resources they are given.

It would seem that this pursuit of happiness is the way to go as many are living the dream, both on the side of getting something for nothing and those who have produced great wealth by their own efforts. Many are gorged daily and feed their children this same gratification with no apparent lack of supply in the kitchen. While the betterment of “having” is not reduced in the least, though, there is another means of getting to that state that is not culture, society, and flesh driven. By simply following the Lord in a lifestyle of loving worship, there is satisfaction acquired and relief gained from the “have nots”. While giving just to give may not have the same apparent return as continually looking to the return column, there is an assurance in the pursuit of the kingdom that will include this life, but continue beyond into eternity. In the mean time there will be no need to wait for the gratifying reward. He is here now to be awoken to and experienced continually throughout the day- the One who will never leave us or forsake us, the One who knows our name, the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and the One will provide all of our needs according to His great riches in glory. When He is the reward there is never a need for lack, just a need for holiness.

Psalm 4:6 Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
Let the light of your face shine on us.

This would seem to be the deciding question for most- “Who will bring us prosperity?”

The nation that was established in the light of the Creator’s face, with full dependence and reliance upon His provision, has experienced the inevitable of any who is found there- prosperity. And, this prosperity has survived many departures from that light, where the source has appeared to come from elsewhere and a path has been made to that alternative.

The dependence upon God was so great by those who were a part of it’s building that this foundation would endure dangerous challenges to its basic truths. Declaring independence from the start was a bold claim upon a dependence that could not be displaced by any king or other governing entity. It wasn’t a fickle proclamation of desire to be free of any dependence, but rather a sincere recognition that dependence on any other than God was a commitment to be its slave.

The illusion that prosperity would come from enslaving others was also a direct challenge to God-reliance, and this notion, even embraced by those who professed faith, was only brought down by an insistence upon basic truths and principles that could only come from God.

Industrial and technological revelations have introduced significant diversions of dependence and misperception of prosperity’s source. Incredible amounts of wealth have come from God-inspired inventions and devices that have made life easy and entertaining, and have also made it seem that they themselves are the real source of prosperity. Because of the accumulation of wealth by those who successfully produce, they themselves are seen as the source of prosperity from which there may not only be an expectance, but a demand.

While this wealth has really been the result of God’s provision and faithfulness, reliance has been diverted from Him to the place where His supply has been collected and corrupted. Rather than looking to God as the One who will bring the prosperity, the light of His face has been replaced by the shadows of those who promise the most for nothing. From the One who promises to supply not just stuff, but the ability to be fulfilled in producing, caring for and maintaining His provision, faces have been turned towards those who claim to be able to come up with all that in His stead and at the expense of those who have pursued the path of diligence and excellence.

Wherever there is an insistence on taking rather than giving, there is removal of God dependence and the embrace of every other emotional response that cannot and will not reflect an awareness of His presence and the light of His face. However, in the realm of trust, where assurance of His faithfulness extends beyond this life to the eternal one beyond, there is no need to demand anything of a governing entity, a neighbor, or fellow citizen. The compelling desire is more about being a part of God’s provision, to be His hand and His supply, than being a hand that will take it from another and pretend and claim to be the source. To turn off the light of God’s face is turn off the ability to see or hear the right answer to that question of prosperity’s source.   As soon as He is no longer honored or welcomed, there is no ability whatsoever to perceive and pursue the only true source of provision.

Whether or not this nation endures this greatest challenge to its foundation will have everything to do with its answer to the question. Where we look and with whom we find our pleasure will directly determine our ability to stave off the greatest challenges to our existence. It might seem that our wars and foreign enemies have been ominous threats to our continuance, but the greatest threat then and now is the threat to our question’s answer. Will we continue to look to the light for our prosperity or somehow find assurance in voices and promises that have never been proven and could very well be gone in no time?

Any light that God may shine will reflect on all collectively as it has through our history, but the light will only be magnified and made to be significant as it is experienced in each and every life that has found dependence on Him and lets that dependence grow on a daily basis.  With each heart that looks to Him, that boldly draws closer to His throne of grace with a prayer of faith, there is promise of further provision from His abundant heavenly supply.

Philippians 4:19 KJV
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Acts 3:6 Peter said, “I don’t have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!”

Something pretty incredible happened that day, and it had nothing to do with Peter’s apparent financial situation.

How often does the state of affairs regarding things on this earth impact perspectives, attitudes, and faith? As long as all the bills are paid, everybody’s teeth are straight and filled, and nobody’s felt bad in a while, there is a certain sense of, “Hey, I feel pretty confident and sure about what I have to give!”. However, as soon as it looks like maybe the ‘silver and gold’ is down to zero and other values would indicate deficiency, there is a natural tendency to devalue the greatest treasure that yet exists in great measure. It’s interesting that Peter’s mood wasn’t altered in the least by the vacancy in his money belt. Rather, he seemed to have an accelerated sense of anticipation based upon a magnified awareness of what he did possess and how little it depended upon what might otherwise be seen as a lack of success or wealth. He didn’t attempt to avoid the reality of how much money that was actually in his possession and preserve some kind of religious correctness, but instead admitted what could not be denied, both what he didn’t have for the moment, but also how much greater in significance was the wealth he did possess. It was obvious where his thoughts were, and how greatly his values had been transformed by the investment of his time and energies. If he had been consumed by his financial circumstance, allowing it to loom with oppressive clouds of despair, not only would he have been unable to provide monetary aid, but the much greater treasure of healing would have also been withheld. Also, if he had been given to ensuring that his pockets were full, this might have been all he was able to give.

There will be times when lack in one area or another would attempt to become the focus and divert from an abundance that is completely independent of earthly accounting. It is precisely in those moments when the investment of time and energy into the treasure of life in Christ will give rise to the superiority of His wealth and provision. Rather than being deprived of both the material and spiritual abundance available without measure by focusing on the material or physical alone, the simple embrace of the greatest treasure of His presence will usher in the salvation that goes beyond what we could even imagine or hope for. Touched by the incredible hand of the Master we will lack for nothing if we’ll only remain unaffected by any seeming lack as we’re incredibly affected and overwhelmed by the unlimited treasure that is ours continually in Him.

Psalms 37:4 Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

I am wondering if there is ever much consideration of earthly things with regard to desire in the heart of the one who has taken their pleasure in the Lord. The way verse four is stated, it could almost be taken like an ad for a free credit card or sure way to win the lottery and have all the resources to get that long list of stuff you’ve been wanting for so long. You know, just do a little delighting in the morning for a couple minutes a day and, “shazaam!”, all those goodies you’ve had your eye on will show up at the front door. What a great and easy way to finally get what had once seemed to expensive or inaccessible.
There is something that is more easily observed from the parent’s perspective when it comes to delighting. For the child who is experiencing this ‘delight’, there is really nothing else that will console or satisfy them. Video games in particular have a way of gaining fixation in the heart of the young person (maybe old too?) and rendering them mostly oblivious to the world.  Recently there was a new release of a game that had been played in the old version, but the new one apparently had significant new features. My son pre-paid a portion to secure his copy at the store around the corner and prepared for the release party that was supposed to take place at midnight on a certain date. The day prior was filled with reminders and expressions of excitement as to his need for a ride to the video store at midnight to secure his copy. Attempts at motivating him towards other worthy pursuits were futile as his heart became set on how wonderful that new gaming experience would be. I took him and his friend to the store about fifteen minutes before midnight to partake of this video game celebration only to discover that he had misunderstood the time and the party had actually occurred 24 hours earlier.
I am glad for my son’s passion and motivation, and that he is willing to do whatever it takes to get something that he becomes fixed on. He will check all the change repositories, mow the lawn, practice his guitar, and do all his house chores in order to acquire that thing he is delighting in. In the season of his passion, though, the only thing his heart is soft towards and completely embracing of is that object or that experience. Offering other things to him in the moments right before his ‘release party’ would not have produced any light in the eye or joy in his soul. In fact, there was a hardness and resistance towards other objects until that new game was acquired. Other games and stuff that had once been ‘must haves’ he would readily sacrifice for that precious new one.  The only thing that his heart desired at that moment was what he has been delighting in and the only thing that could be given to him to satisfy that desire would be that very object.

I believe that the desires that are promised here in this passage have everything to do with this very same principle. If I am truly delighting in the Lord and my heart is soft towards Him, then there is really only one thing that can be given to me at the moment of my delight- Him. He doesn’t just become a means of getting all that world-produced junk that will become obsolete in a few days. He Himself becomes the desire that is given. I love this, too, because His release parties are never missed and gaining Him never comes with regrets or disappointments. He is unfailing in His love and once He is tasted of, every day becomes a ‘release party’ where that thing that delights the heart and excites the soul is celebrated anew with fresh discoverable features. There may be some other treats He brings to the party to give it His touch and make our experience of what He provides that much greater, but the true desire and the true gratification and the true fulfillment will only be Him in the heart of the one who truly delights in Him.

Psalms 21:1 The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! 2 Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.

13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? 14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Heb 1:13-14 (KJV)

Though I’ve not grown up in a position of royalty, where being born into the royal family comes with a whole entourage of servants to assist in every aspect of daily life, there has been a taste of what this might be like on some of the trips I’ve been privileged to take. Other countries have house servants who are constantly on call to relieve you of overexertion of any kind, while nice hotels have concierges who are quite insistent upon taking your load, providing you with transportation, directing you towards destinations of interest or need, and generally meeting any need you might have as if it really were their pleasure to do so. While it may be good to have enough independence so that you can make it just fine in the absence of any of these helpers, there is a definite relief and release to be productive and enjoy your stay when these things are taken care of for you. Especially in certain areas of the Orient, the honor bestowed upon you by the bowing and the gladness to serve not only enhances your stay, but also elevates a sense of self-worth and confidence in this person that is being given so much respect.

Although there has been a needed return to the ‘real’ world, where the royal treatment is but a fond memory, I believe there is an understanding to be obtained from those experiences that brings to light the provision of service that is part of our salvation’s inheritance. The natural world may be free from the constant care of a willing servant, but our Father, the King, has made sure that in the very real world of the spirit, there is a group of servants ready to carry our load, point us in the right direction, and minister to every need of our spirit. In this new realm that is ours in Christ, we’re made to be kings and priests (Revelations 1:6), and with this royal identification there is an opportunity to take advantage of the concierge service of heaven. There is always an option to ignore the servants and just do it all yourself, but how much more enjoyable is the stay when you just let them do what they’re there for and focus on the purpose of your tenure? How much greater will be our progress towards the fulfillment of our purpose in Christ if the provision of service by ministering spirits is utilized and maximized? Just like it was a bit of an adjustment for me to let someone carry my luggage or arrange for my transportation, there is an adjustment in the spirit where those things that might have formerly been carried are released to the ones who specialize in gladly caring for all of those needs.

There is a provision already made for today, and an opportunity to take advantage of this service that is part of our abundant life in Christ. There are powerful ministering spirits awaiting the words of faith that will direct them to do what they are commissioned to do for us, the heirs of salvation.  May this increasingly become our way of royal living that never requires a return to that old way of self-dependence and burden bearing.

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 Tim 3:1 (KJV)

There is great power in this news. For the wise and equipped there is motivation and inspiration for preparation. On the other hand, for the skeptic caught up in the pleasures and goings on of this life, there will only be despair, loss and servitude. In the peril is an opportunity like none other for either an abundant victorious harvest or an overwhelming defeat and loss of freedom.

37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? 39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:
Gen 41:37-39 (KJV)

Responding only to dreams that were said to be messages from God, Pharaoh took the news of a coming drought to heart and spent the next seven years in preparing as Joseph counseled him. Because of this response to a simple warning supported by nothing more than a nightmare, Egypt was equipped to not only survive, but to prosper beyond what any could have imagined. By simply acknowledging the communication of God and acting for an extended period of time (without further confirmation of that initial contact) as if it were true, preservation was enabled and the potential destructive power of the perilous time was turned into a time of increase and expansion. Long before the first dry summer, the wisdom and action of a God-impressed man turned peril into prosperity.

Even before Pharaoh’s dream, though, Joseph’s wisdom and understanding equipped him in a relationship with God to recognize and interpret His communication. It was all those years of preparation, from the moment of his brothers’ rejection as a boy until he stood before Pharaoh at 30 years of age that enabled Joseph to deliver a nation. It was his faithfulness in daily prayer before his God that equipped him to hear and respond to the voice of the One with the answer. Much action was subsequently necessary, but Joseph had long before understood the power of impending peril to either destroy or promote. Every time he had kept his face towards his God in the middle of apparent loss he had found preservation and provision there.

It seems that there is a natural tendency for the seriousness of the preparation to follow the first raindrop or the first summer with the lack of one. Though Noah preached for years about what was to come, it wasn’t until the doors were closed that those who had heard him decided to act on his warning. If Pharaoh had waited until the dryness of a summer to heed Joseph’s counsel it would have been too late. Though there is more than ample warning coming to America and the world of a coming peril, there is still a reticence to enter the arc before the doors close. For those, though, who have done something other than despair in the challenges of life, for the ones who have set their face towards God, there will not only be a refuge found there in Him, but an opportunity to make His goodness available to all who will but come to Him before it’s too late.

Worship and prayer are optional until what they have prepared is the only salvation.

7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
1 Peter 4:7 (KJV)

8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together. Genesis 22:8

There was something quite prophetic and profound in the personal understanding of God that Abraham was imparting to his son in this statement. In the middle of moving in obedience towards something that had to be tearing at his heart, there was an understanding that the very son he was willing to sacrifice before his God was a son that had been provided to him by that very same God. If God needed Abraham’s son to be offered up to Him it was an offering that had already been provided and Abraham’s understanding of this made it possible to be a part of his own son’s salvation with his proclamation that God would Himself yet provide a lamb.

In all of the perceived sacrifices we’re led to make in an obedient progress towards God’s purpose in our lives, there is a wonderful understanding to be had that He doesn’t ask us to give up anything He hasn’t already provided. When He is in need of a sacrifice the substance of that sacrifice will be something that He has Himself provided and if it has been given by Him, its replacement and even greater will be no problem for Him. Instead of allowing an apparent upcoming loss to shift a focus towards vacancy, there can, instead, be a creative proclamation made declaring the nature of a God who is ever faithful in His abundant provision. If He requires a sacrifice, He will Himself provide the lamb. If He asks a financial sacrifice, He will Himself provide the funds Himself. If He asks for the sacrifice of a dream, He will Himself provide the dream Himself. If He asks for the sacrifice of a relationship, He will provide that relationship Himself. If He asks for the sacrifice of an occupation, He will provide that occupation Himself. There may a be a heart-wrenching trip up a mountain, but when there is a proclamation of God’s provision kept in the mouth there will be loss, but never one that He doesn’t Himself provide.

14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide;[d] as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”

Judges 6:1 KJV  And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.

Judges 6:6-7 KJV  And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.  (7)  And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites,

… and thus went the story of Gideon and the incredible demonstration of God’s loving hand of protection and deliverance over His people.

I don’t even remember what it was she ‘did’ to me, but I clearly remember standing in the back yard of our house in Burlington, greatly tempted to proclaim what I thought one of my sisters to be at that moment. Though I knew better and I’m sure had a clue that there might be something to pay for it, I finally gave in and loudly declared my sister to be (a two word phrase that describes) someone of less that full mental capacity. While my revenge was sweet for the few moments it took to state my feelings, there was someone else who observed my failure. I was quickly ushered in to the ‘room of doom’ where it was made very clear to my soul through the place that I sit down that these kinds of things would never again be spoken. What was interesting about this experience for me was my perception of my Dad during my experience of what my own actions/words brought on me. It seemed that the one who had provided and cared for me, played ball with me and taken me hunting was now severely against me. I had fallen out of his favor and now I had only frustration and anger towards him. What I came to understand, though, was that in the middle of what I saw as a severed relationship, from my father’s side there was no loss of love or care whatsoever. He just needed me to have a heart change. Though there has since been this need over and over again in my life, the change Dad was after that day was largely achieved as I don’t recall having used those words towards anyone since. What I thought to be a separation and abandonment in my relationship was never that from Dad’s standpoint. He was ever ready to do whatever would be in my best interest, even if that meant allowing my actions to have consequences.

Like Gideon, hiding away from the threats of danger in the world around him, there may be a wondering of what has happened to the God who, according to the stories, brought deliverance and the promise of abundance and freedom to His people. What is reality and what is truth, however, is that His position has never changed. He is just in need of a heart change from us and a return to Him for the favor He continually desires to bring into our life. Though the punishment may apparently be great and the risen enemy ominous, God has never forsaken, but always considers ours enemies to be his, no matter how badly we’ve transgressed. Just on the other side of obedience is an overwhelming confirmation of this truth. Until the heart change is demonstrated by complete trust and compliance, though, the perceived separation may continue. Never will His purpose be other than our completeness and restoration,, and an embrace and incredible time of fellowship awaits the son or daughter who will only rise from their self-chosen pigsty to return with repentance to a Father who has never changed in His love and desire to bless. A great victory and demonstration of His love is waiting down the road of pursuing His will and His kingdom.

Psalms 30:5 KJV  For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

1 Corinthians 13:13 ASV(13)  But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

It would seem that nothing in our world today has any permanence or dependability. The companies and businesses that had once been part of our nation’s foundation and stability are falling apart and being bought out by foreign entities. Several years ago I went through the process of getting my securities license in order to sell mutual funds. A strong point in the presentation process for selling many of these products was their history of weathering financial hard times, that they would be there through any difficulties and owning their stock would mean long term growth and security. The car companies were part of this group and it would have never been considered that these rocks of the American economy could not be there at least in our lifetime. Yet, this last week Chrysler has been purchased by Fiat and General Motors is also close to bankruptcy. The indestructible rocks are apparently crumbling under a storm that exposes and attacks a vulnerability that was really there all the time, and while there are other entities that would be still appear secure, nothing in our world today is exempt from this vulnerability. The ground is moving and all things built on these worldly elements are obviously shifting and revealing the weakness of their foundation.

To this atmosphere of uncertainty and fear there is this wonderful word that comes to bring hope of something substantial- ‘abideth’. While there is erosion and removal of all other elements, a rock that is made of an indestructible substance will weather the greatest storm and ‘abide’, remain, and still be something on which you can build a structure throughout a lifetime and beyond. Knowing the true nature of a natural substance beneath the surface is something that can be studied and determined by involved seismic testing and historical reference. There is likewise a proving that has taken place since the beginning of time- storms that have raged and regimes that have been overthrown- and through the greatest of these tests there has been these three elements that have remained after all others have washed away- faith, hope and love. For the one who has established their foundation on the bed-rock, the unshakeable and the immovable, there is great confidence and peace no matter how greatly the storm rages. Sleep can be sweet and rest complete at the very time when the ground is shaking and the thunder is ominous, because there is a knowing that when all else has been beaten down and washed away, there will still ‘abide’ this secure foundation.

There will be an end to all of this. Much will be proven for what it really is and there will be no doubt as to what the true rock is and what has just been sold as secure, but with much vulnerability. Though the shaking is inevitable there is a place of perfect peace for us on the Rock of Ages and as long as the building that takes place in our lives today is a building on faith, hope, and love, there can be an unwavering confidence in the eternal existence and dependability of the One who will abide forever and our permanence in Him.

Joshua 21:1-3 KJV(1)  Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;(2)  And they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.(3)  And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs.

Sometimes it’s just a matter of saying something. I wonder how long it took for these guys before they decided to do more than just fret and stew over things not getting done according to the way they were promised. They saw everyone else getting whole portions of land for their inheritance and although a promise had been made, there was nothing forthcoming- definitely the time for some justified whining.  After all, wasn’t it they who made it possible for all of the rest of the tribes to occupy any of the lands? If it wasn’t for the temple and the glory of God to which they attended, there would be no occupying anything. Obviously this was a pretty major oversight, something that was most disqualifying of the leadership. Actually, it could have been enough to just say, hey, we’re out of here.

Or maybe there just wasn’t any of this. Could it really be that maybe it was simply handled in a mature and loving way? It actually does look like this is was happened, because what could have turned into an ugly situation was simply and quickly resolved with all the tribes immediately agreeing to provide the Levites with enough cities to meet all their needs and that of their cattle. Though there was a possible ‘unfairness’ going on and though it was reason for contention, by simply bringing it to light without emotional frustration there was a resolution that was positive for both the Levites and their brother tribes.

Promises have been made and quite often it may appear that there is an ‘unfairness’ going on, that everyone else is getting theirs and someone’s getting left out. Rather than a potential rift and division resulting and instead of irritation and moaning and groaning going on, maybe it’s just that something needs to be said, apart from any volatility or angry accusation. Possibly a simple presentation to the leadership will bring about a resolution that will be positive for everyone. There is great potential in the moment, both for bad and for good. The difference will completely ride on the choice for mature and loving presentation of the situation or internalized festering of a very healable wound.

May this day be filled with things being said to the One who has the answer, the One who actually made the promise in the first place. And, as His ear is filled with our peace driven presentation, may there be a boldness to bring exposition to other relationships in like manner, completely averting conflicts through the wisdom of the Spirit. There are cities to be lived in and life to be enjoyed far removed from the potential ‘tribal wars’ that are easily averted.

2 Corinthians 1:20 KJV(20)  For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
2 Corinthians 7:1 KJV(1)  Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Hebrews 6:11-12 KJV(11)  And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:(12)  That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

2 Peter 1:3-4 KJV(3)  According as 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:(4)  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.