• 

Kevin is the maintenance man at the hotel I checked into today. Around Kevin’s neck was a silver chain and a cross pendant. Kevin greeted me and I struck up a conversation with him. He looked down at my brand new shoes and commented how much he liked them, in return I told him that I liked his necklace but didn’t stop there.

“Do you know what I love about the cross?” I asked Kevin but before he could answer I told him that “I have been to Calvary, while Jesus was nailed to the cross I was nailed to the cross, while Jesus died on the cross I died on the cross and was buried with him, and when He arose from the dead I was resurrected with Him.” Now I wait for His promise of deliverance which I hold the title deed to in my heart. I am dead to sin and alive to God!

This is what the Bible tells me and this salesman stands firm on the Word of God.

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? ² May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?³ Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? ⁴ Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. ⁵ For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, ⁶ knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; ⁷ for he who has died is freed from sin. Romans 6:1-7

Today I will make two quick points in regards to my death and life.

1. By faith I died with Christ Jesus

The word Baptism means to be fully immersed under water. I have been baptized but my baptism has no impact on my deliverance. The word Baptism also means to be identified with. Baptism is symbolic of my faith and new identity in Christ. The old me is gone by grace through faith because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross. The moment I trusted in Jesus my sin was placed on His account and God looks upon my unrighteous state no longer. I am dead to sin and God doesn’t hold my sin against me. So, does this give me freedom to sin? May it never be! The cross is glorious due to its effect but the Christian should brood over the cross because when we sin it is as if we lay the lashes from the cat o nine tails across our Savior’s back, it is as though we wield the hammer and drive the nails though the flesh and bone of Jesus. It is as though we crucify Jesus all over again.

I died with Christ and I died to sin, therefore I am to strive over my life span to cease sinning and grow in the likeness of Jesus

2. I am alive to God.

The Crucifixion of Jesus would be for not if God had not raised Him from the dead. The resurrection is proof positive that Jesus is Messiah and the sacrifice of His body was received. I identify with Jesus through the resurrection of His body because I walk in a newness of life and when I die I will keep on living eternally. I was once alive in my body yet dead in my trespasses now by grace I am alive to God and called His child.

May I ask you today if you have been to Calvary? Have you died to your sin and are you alive in God. I sure pray so!

Kevin’s necklace brought a joyful remembrance to me today, that I identify with Christ because I have partaken in His death and Resurrection. Yet I brood over the consequences my sin had on the Unblemished Lamb of God, Jesus.

Blessings,

The traveling salesman and His Bible.

• 

Kevin is the maintenance man at the hotel I checked into today. Around Kevin’s neck was a silver chain and a cross pendant. Kevin greeted me and I struck up a conversation with him. He looked down at my brand new shoes and commented how much he liked them, in return I told him that I liked his necklace but didn’t stop there.

“Do you know what I love about the cross?” I asked Kevin but before he could answer I told him that “I have been to Calvary, while Jesus was nailed to the cross I was nailed to the cross, while Jesus died on the cross I died on the cross and was buried with him, and when He arose from the dead I was resurrected with Him.” Now I wait for His promise of deliverance which I hold the title deed to in my heart. I am dead to sin and alive to God!

This is what the Bible tells me and this salesman stands firm on the Word of God.

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? ² May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?³ Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? ⁴ Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. ⁵ For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, ⁶ knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; ⁷ for he who has died is freed from sin. Romans 6:1-7

Today I will make two quick points in regards to my death and life.

1. By faith I died with Christ Jesus

The word Baptism means to be fully immersed under water. I have been baptized but my baptism has no impact on my deliverance. The word Baptism also means to be identified with. Baptism is symbolic of my faith and new identity in Christ. The old me is gone by grace through faith because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross. The moment I trusted in Jesus my sin was placed on His account and God looks upon my unrighteous state no longer. I am dead to sin and God doesn’t hold my sin against me. So, does this give me freedom to sin? May it never be! The cross is glorious due to its effect but the Christian should brood over the cross because when we sin it is as if we lay the lashes from the cat o nine tails across our Savior’s back, it is as though we wield the hammer and drive the nails though the flesh and bone of Jesus. It is as though we crucify Jesus all over again.

I died with Christ and I died to sin, therefore I am to strive over my life span to cease sinning and grow in the likeness of Jesus

2. I am alive to God.

The Crucifixion of Jesus would be for not if God had not raised Him from the dead. The resurrection is proof positive that Jesus is Messiah and the sacrifice of His body was received. I identify with Jesus through the resurrection of His body because I walk in a newness of life and when I die I will keep on living eternally. I was once alive in my body yet dead in my trespasses now by grace I am alive to God and called His child.

May I ask you today if you have been to Calvary? Have you died to your sin and are you alive in God. I sure pray so!

Kevin’s necklace brought a joyful remembrance to me today, that I identify with Christ because I have partaken in His death and Resurrection. Yet I brood over the consequences my sin had on the Unblemished Lamb of God, Jesus.

Blessings,

The traveling salesman and His Bible.

The heart of this author is heavy for the broken-hearted and afflicted who I come in contact with each day. While a pastor I met the broken-hearted in the hills of eastern Kentucky but as a salesman I meet the suffering and afflicted all over the country.

I experienced the grief and devastating pain of a friend not long ago as he received news of the passing of a loved one. My heart broke for him and I wish there was something I could do to take the pain away from him and his family during this trying time.

As a minister of the gospel I plant my feet firmly on the inerrant word of God and below I will introduce to you a quick word of comfort from the bread of life.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-5

As Paul writes these words under the inspiration of God to the established church at Corinth he shows his heart for ministry. He was no stranger to pain and suffering and his words to the Corinthians are a timeless truth and timely for those who find themselves as sufferers in a fallen world.

Today I will make three quick biblical points about comfort in the face of trying times.

First, we see the source of comfort. Vs. 3

Who is the source of comfort? God! He is the God of all comfort. The word comfort means “a calling to ones aid,” or in this context a calling to God’s side.

Can you imagine the great comfort in knowing that regardless of the circumstances you are drawn to the side of the Sovereign over Creation? God comforts His children by His ever present presence.

Are you walking at the side of the Lord God? I sure hope so because He is the only source of true and eternal comfort. However, walking along of side God can only take place through reconciliation to Him found by faith in Christ Jesus alone.

Second, we see the reason for comfort. Vs. 4

This world however perfect it was in creation has fallen due to mankind’s sinful rebellion. Because of the fallen nature of mankind all of earth is in brokenness. We hurt physically and emotionally, those in Christ Jesus and those outside of His loving arms. As God calls us to His side comforting us He is also teaching us a valuable lesson in faith. First to trust Him and second is the experience of His faithfulness.

God is faithful at all times and now that we have seen His faithfulness during times of affliction we are called to share our experience walking alongside Him with others who are going through what we have gone through. As God comforted us He will comfort them. As we walked alongside God we are to walk alongside them.

You see, through our experience God allows us the blessing of being partakers of administering His comfort. We see the vertical and horizontal relationship here, walking with God and with man.

The great preacher Warren Wiersbe once said, “we cannot lead others where we have not been ourselves.”

Are you using your experiences to bring people to the knowledge of the God of all comfort and partaking in His ministry of comforting?

Third and finally, we see the abundance of comfort. Vs. 5

The trials, pains, and sufferings of this world are excessively present. For both the Christian and non-Christian. But for the Christian the sufferings of THIS WORLD can be intense, meaning we are not excluded from suffering. Ask Bro. Paul about suffering! He bore the sufferings of Christ on his back (see Chapter 11) but we have a great promise in Him found in these verses. No matter how great an abundance of sufferings in this world, our comfort in the God of all comfort abounds in Christ Jesus.

The word abounds means “in Excess” so the comfort found in Jesus is so plentiful that there will be leftovers. His comfort is over and beyond the sufferings.

Friends let me wrap this up for you in a nice neat package tied with a bow.

During times of suffering turn to the Lord’s side and when your friends suffer turn to their side. The grace of God is more than sufficient to bring the comfort and peace needed to deal with a lifetime of pain.

Blessings to you and may God’s grace abound in your life,

The traveling salesman and his Bible.

• 

Have you ever asked the question “What is God’s will for my life?” You are not alone, this is a question that many of us ask and seek an answer to. I have asked this question countless times and I will record what I have discovered written in the pages of Scripture about this topic.

First, let me say life can be confusing. Just two months ago I was the Pastor of a wonderful church in Appalachia. My intentions were to pastor a church for the rest of my life. Fast forward to the present and I am not a vocational nor bi-vocational pastor but living in the deep south and working as a sales professional.

Wow! What is going on? What is your will for my life God? I still have the heart of a pastor but I do not have a church to pastor. My world has been turned upside down in a short matter of time.

Perhaps your world has been turned upside down and you are seeking God’s will, here is what the Bible says His will is for your life. We will call this, “God’s revealed will for you,” and I will provide the answer in three different points.

1. God’s will for you is to be SAVED.

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

All through the Old Testament we see God delayed Judgement to allow the opportunity for the wicked to repent. God still allows opportunity for the wicked to repent so that they will be delivered from the coming wrath that is due them for their sinfulness.

You may ask, “who is the wicked?” The answer is simple yet offensive… all of mankind. We live in a fallen world and our hearts are set on rebellion towards God. But, even in our open rebellion God’s will for you is to repent and not perish. The world repent means to do a double turn. Turn away from your sin and turn towards God in faith. When this happens God is faithful and just to forgive us or sins and restore us to His family as a son/daughter and heir along with Christ Jesus!

2. God’s will for you is to SANCTIFIED.

For this is the will of God, your sanctification. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 (A)

Adrian Rodgers simply explained this as meaning, God wants you to live a clean and pure life. A life consecrated to Him that you may grow in the likeness of Christ walking in unbroken fellowship.

Now this is a life long process, walking humbly with God. You may ask, “how do I do this?” You must recognize and put into practice that the Bible is the final authority in doctrine and deed. It should govern how you think and what you do. The Bible is the source of daily renewal (Roman 12:2) and by meditating on the Scriptures and putting them into action you will live a pure and clean life.

3. God’s will for you is to Be Spirit-Filled

So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:17-18

Did you know that when you are saved the Holy Spirit of God is poured out into your life? He gives us all of Himself yet we do not live as though this is true. As one who is a drunkard is intoxicated by the alcohol he consumes and that intoxication leads him while in that state, Christians are to be intoxicated with the Holy Spirit who lives in us. He is to guide us every step of the way as we live out life.

So what is God’s revealed will for you?

1. To be Saved
2. To be Sanctified
3. To be Spirit-Filled

I am convinced that while saved, growing in the likeness of Christ, and living a Spirit-filled life God will reveal to you specifics that He has in store for you. Until then be faithful and walk humbly with the Lord.

Blessings of grace and peace to you,

The Traveling Salesman with his Bible.

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

• Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
• Because it will help you focus you own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

• Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
• What topics do you think you’ll write about?
• Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
• If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.