A man who feels hopeless, lacks an identity, and has no sense of purpose may appear to be a failure. However, the reality is that every man has the opportunity to embrace victory—if he chooses to take that path.
We’ve all been given the keys to victory, but we must choose to use them. The key that unlocks victory’s door is Jesus. His Word is the key to victory here on earth.
Like Abraham, God has come to bless us. There are two parts to this blessing: first, the forgiveness of our sins and the assurance of our eternal destination; second, the blessings we experience on earth. Without the first, we cannot have the second.
Everyone needs a Savior because we have all sinned—but we are all saved by grace. Romans 3:23 reminds us, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We’re all messed up, but God provides the means for restoration. All we must do is accept the gift. Once we’ve accepted that gift, the second gift—the blessing of walking in His favor on earth—is unlocked.
God desires to bless His children. Yet many people hold the key to the door of blessing and never use it. Learning God’s Word and abiding in it is the first step toward unlocking those blessings. John 15:7 says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” When we abide, we open the door to endless heavenly blessings. God gives us the responsibility—and the opportunity—to use the key He’s provided.
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8
If we look at all God has accomplished, we’ll see that all He asks of us is participation. First, He provided His Son as a sacrifice for our sins—all we must do is recognize that we are sinners in need of a Savior. Second, He desires to bless us, and all we must do is step out in faith and walk in obedience. Faith and obedience are what open Heaven’s floodgates.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres—being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts—he will be blessed in his doing. James 1:22-25
When we consider every aspect of obedience, we find that God is both the Provider of the means to obey and the Benefactor of the blessings that follow. He provides the sacrifice and the strength!
If we take it one step further, He even gave us His Word—the instruction manual for obedience. As we learn and live out His Word, which reveals His will, He responds!
At the core of everything is God working on our behalf—even at the core of tithing. God provides the very resources we give back to Him. When we tithe, He’s the one who enables us to do so.
As our faith and obedience grow, so do our blessings and responsibilities. God longs to bless us and invites us to participate in His work. Yet, even in all this, He never forces Himself upon us. His desire is that no one should walk in defeat.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4
Therefore, if you are experiencing defeat, fear, doubt, or uncertainty about your calling, remember this: God designed and created every part of you. When you accept that truth—and trust that He holds your blessings in His hands—your true significance can be unleashed!
If we walk in defeat, it’s by our choosing, not His. He has already done the work and still holds our blessings in His hands. All we need to do is accept the gift, seek Him, and act on His will: “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” — Matthew 6:33
If you ever doubt what God has in store for you, start with His Word. The key has already been handed to each of us—all we have to do is turn it.
Have a great week,
Stephen L. Thomas, RTM