20 In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?”21 tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 Before our eyes the Lord sent signs and wonders—great and terrible—on Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. 23 But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land he promised on oath to our ancestors. 24 The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. 25 And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.” -- Deut. 6:20-25
Fear
It is no coincidence that as the fear of God has decreased in our society, all the other fears have increased. We need to return to a right relationship with God.
Matthew 10:26-31 NIV
“So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Proverbs 1:20-33
Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech:
“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you— when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
“Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord . Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”
Matthew 10:26-31 NIV
“So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Proverbs 1:20-33
Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech:
“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you— when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
“Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord . Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”
Broken down only to build back up...
Galatians 2:18 (NIV) says "If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker."
In the "Believer's Bible Commentary" it explains this by stating:
"Peter had abandoned the whole legal system for faith in Christ. He had repudiated any difference between Jew and Gentile when it came to finding favor with God. Now, by refusing to eat with Gentiles, he is building up again what he once destroyed. In so doing, he proves himself to be a transgressor. Either he was wrong in leaving the law for Christ, or he is wrong now in leaving Christ for the law!"
When I was saved God tore down so many walls, removed so many barriers between Him and I and through the years I have built them back up - I am speaking to a struggle with porn, cursing, selfishness and many others that aren't quite so evident. Peter was delivered from the law through Christ. Gods law is this "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law" (Gal.5:22-23).
In your walk, what has God tore down that you are now building back up or have already built back up?
I pray in the name of Jesus it will be tore down again, whether brick by brick or all at once thrown into the dust.
In the "Believer's Bible Commentary" it explains this by stating:
"Peter had abandoned the whole legal system for faith in Christ. He had repudiated any difference between Jew and Gentile when it came to finding favor with God. Now, by refusing to eat with Gentiles, he is building up again what he once destroyed. In so doing, he proves himself to be a transgressor. Either he was wrong in leaving the law for Christ, or he is wrong now in leaving Christ for the law!"
When I was saved God tore down so many walls, removed so many barriers between Him and I and through the years I have built them back up - I am speaking to a struggle with porn, cursing, selfishness and many others that aren't quite so evident. Peter was delivered from the law through Christ. Gods law is this "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law" (Gal.5:22-23).
In your walk, what has God tore down that you are now building back up or have already built back up?
I pray in the name of Jesus it will be tore down again, whether brick by brick or all at once thrown into the dust.
So that I might.....?
I thought I would pass along one thing I read this morning that got me thinking. Galatians 1:12 Paul says "But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in my so that I might ..............".
Making this statement personal, how do you fill in the blank?
John 3:16
After reading John 3:16 this morning I read the commentary below it:
"The entire gospel comes to a focus in this verse. God's love is not static or self-centered; it reaches out and draws others in."
Does yours?
"The entire gospel comes to a focus in this verse. God's love is not static or self-centered; it reaches out and draws others in."
Does yours?
Meek...Like a friggin War Horse!!!
Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth (Matt. 5:5).
"The meek are those who submit themselves to God. Praus, the Greek word translated "meek" is a very interesting word. The ancient Greeks used this word to describe their war horses, among other things. The horse was perfectly trained, ready for battle, and would go into battle and trample enemies underfoot. It would participate in the war with the rider; this was called a meek horse. The words meek and praus are not identical; the translators did the best they could, but the Greek word carries a different range of meaning from ours.
"I'll tell you why the Greeks called their horses praus, or meek. When the horse got to the level of training where it would obey the master (the rider) no matter what was going on, it could be trusted in the heat of battle not to do something stupid or foolish. Once the rider knew that he could trust the animal, and it would obey him no matter what, he called it a meek horse even though it might be a powerful, thoroughbred stallion, capable of killing enemies in the battle.
"This horse has tremendous power, capacity, and ability, but it has given up its own way and is allowing itself to be guided and ordered by the master. That is what the word praus means; it means submission to the master. It doesn't mean submission to just anybody. A meek person in the biblical sense of the word is not someone who allows just anybody to tell them what to do. It is not someone who allows everyone to trample over the top of them and just goes with the flow. It is all of our gifts and abilities, everything that God has put into us, under His control and submitted to Him so that even in the worst crisis imaginable, we're not going to take the bit in our teeth and bolt on our own way. We will continue to go His way under intense pressure, persecution, danger, or need. This is what it means to be meek."
It goes on to say:
"Meekness has to do with faith in Jesus Christ, with submitting to Jesus Christ, with obedience to Jesus Christ. Faith and obedience cannot really be separated. When James says that faith without works is dead, he's not talking about self-works, but of God-ordained works. In other words, if we say that we have faith in God, but we are not doing God's works, the work that God has called us and empowered us to do, then we are just playing games (James 2:14-26). We won't be able to stand in a real battle; we'll be dominated by our fears; our fears will get the better of us. Satan will be able to hem us in, and we will live our lives in a cage of fear that we, ourselves, helped him build."
Taken from God's Plan for Spiritual Battle: Victory over Sin, the World, and the Devil by Russel M. Stendal
Love For All...Hate
Jude 22 says "Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear - hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh."
What does this mean? It sounds like a contradiction...it is not. It sounds like we should separate ourselves from those who don't walk the path or have fallen off...we shouldn't. So what does this mean? How can we be merciful to those who doubt? Isn't doubt a form of corruption? How can we snatch others from the fire if we aren't involved with those who might be headed that way? How do you show mercy if you are only around those "perfect", "holy" individuals? Hate the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Hate it! Homosexuality is a sin. Adultery is a sin. Sex before marriage, lust, gluttony, these are all sins. Greed, idoltary! These all corrupt the flesh. Gossip...yep. Where do you fall?
Ephesians 6:12 states "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." This reminds of the saying "hate the sin and not the sinner".
Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While were were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Please add comments for discussion...
TO BE CONTINUED...
What does this mean? It sounds like a contradiction...it is not. It sounds like we should separate ourselves from those who don't walk the path or have fallen off...we shouldn't. So what does this mean? How can we be merciful to those who doubt? Isn't doubt a form of corruption? How can we snatch others from the fire if we aren't involved with those who might be headed that way? How do you show mercy if you are only around those "perfect", "holy" individuals? Hate the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. Hate it! Homosexuality is a sin. Adultery is a sin. Sex before marriage, lust, gluttony, these are all sins. Greed, idoltary! These all corrupt the flesh. Gossip...yep. Where do you fall?
Ephesians 6:12 states "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." This reminds of the saying "hate the sin and not the sinner".
Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While were were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Please add comments for discussion...
TO BE CONTINUED...
What are you working toward?
Reading this morning I came across Luke 18:29-30:
"I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life."
The thought came to me "What am I working towards?" This thought came to me because my focus has been on me. I want to build my savings so I can do certain things, I want to work my schedule so I have time to exercise and practice my sport, I want a beautiful wife by me so I can act on my lusts. I have put aside those things that mean something to the kingdom because I will need to give up a pursuit of mine and make time for them. Right now I am focused on me and my needs. I think about moving, will I be happier? Maybe I just need to go on a big trip and then I will be happier? These are all my thoughts. None for the kingdom and what I can do for it. You ever experience this? You ever feel or felt to be in the same boat as I am? What did you do? Did you recognize it and get out? Have you stayed in it and wondered why the pursuit of your happiness seems endless? Or shallow? What are you working toward? Eternity? Or.....?
"I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life."
The thought came to me "What am I working towards?" This thought came to me because my focus has been on me. I want to build my savings so I can do certain things, I want to work my schedule so I have time to exercise and practice my sport, I want a beautiful wife by me so I can act on my lusts. I have put aside those things that mean something to the kingdom because I will need to give up a pursuit of mine and make time for them. Right now I am focused on me and my needs. I think about moving, will I be happier? Maybe I just need to go on a big trip and then I will be happier? These are all my thoughts. None for the kingdom and what I can do for it. You ever experience this? You ever feel or felt to be in the same boat as I am? What did you do? Did you recognize it and get out? Have you stayed in it and wondered why the pursuit of your happiness seems endless? Or shallow? What are you working toward? Eternity? Or.....?
Beautiful Feet!
This scripture has been stuck in my mind:
Romans 10:15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
This scripture is quoted from Isaiah 52:7 which says:
Romans 10:15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
This scripture is quoted from Isaiah 52:7 which says:
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
After reading these two scriptures in my study bible I looked to see if there might be any commentary on it. Sure enough there is and here is what it said:
"God says that the feet of those who bring good news are 'beautiful'. It is a wonderful privilege to be able to share God's Good News with others, his news of redemption, salvation, and peace. To whom do you need to give the Good news?"
The word privilege stood out....
The question "To whom do you need to give the good news?", also stood out...
God's Discipline
Job 5:17
“Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty."
Proverbs 3:11,12
My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke,
because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
According to this scripture we understand God disciplines us, but what does that look like? Is any hardship in life we face discipline? Is any diagnosis of an illness discipline? Is any type of friction in our life considered as discipline?
Hebrews 12:7 states "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?"
So does this mean any hardship?
I don't think it could possibly mean any hardship because Jesus seemed to have faced, what we would consider, many hardships in his life. I mean he did not have the best accommodations, he felt hunger, thirst, and being tired. Not to mention he was betrayed, beaten, and crucified upon a cross. This wasn't discipline, because Jesus was perfect, but rather God's will... So how do we know when we are being disciplined and when what we are going through is not a result of something we did, but rather God's will?
I appreciate your insightful feedback.... Thank you.
Proverbs 3:11,12
My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke,
because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
According to this scripture we understand God disciplines us, but what does that look like? Is any hardship in life we face discipline? Is any diagnosis of an illness discipline? Is any type of friction in our life considered as discipline?
Hebrews 12:7 states "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?"
So does this mean any hardship?
I don't think it could possibly mean any hardship because Jesus seemed to have faced, what we would consider, many hardships in his life. I mean he did not have the best accommodations, he felt hunger, thirst, and being tired. Not to mention he was betrayed, beaten, and crucified upon a cross. This wasn't discipline, because Jesus was perfect, but rather God's will... So how do we know when we are being disciplined and when what we are going through is not a result of something we did, but rather God's will?
I appreciate your insightful feedback.... Thank you.
Can I get a WITNESS!
I was reading John 1 and the bible commentary called "Believer's Bible Commentary" and came across the following that I thought was interesting so I thought I would share. It basically concerns witnessing.
John 1:41: "The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ)."
Commentary excerpt of John 1:41: "This teaches us that we do not have to be great preachers or clever speakers. We need only to tell men about the Lord Jesus in simple words, and God will take care of the rest."
John 1:42: "And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter)."
Commentary excerpt of John 1:42: "Andrew brought his brother to the right place and to the right person. He did not bring him to the church, the creed, or the clergyman. He brought him to Jesus"
John 1:45: "Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”"
Commentary excerpt of John 1:45: "His message was simple and to the point..."
"It never was Christ's way to demand a full-fledged faith for a beginning. It never was his way to hold men back from discipleship on the ground of an incomplete creed. And quite certainly that is not his way today. He puts himself alongside his brethren. He bids them attach themselves to him at any point they can. He takes them with the faith that they can offer him. He is content with that as a beginning; and from that he leads his friends on, as he led the first group on , step by step, to the inmost secret of who He is and to the full glory of discipleship."
John 1:46: "“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip."
Commentary excerpt from John 1:46: "Philip did not argue. He felt that the best way to meet objections was to introduce men directly to the Lord Jesus - a valuable lesson for all who are seeking to win others to Christ. Don't argue. Don't engage in prolonged discussion. Just bid men to come and see."
Hope you all can glean something from this as I know I did. Better yet I hope to put it into practice. :)
Proof...
"The question that lingers from the fall of Satan and the fall of man remains: Will anyone trust the great heart of the Father, or will we shrink back in faithless fear?
"As we grow into the love of God and the freedom of our own hearts, we grow in out ability to cast our vote on behalf of God. Our acts of love and sacrifice, the little decisions to leave our false loves behind and the great struggles of our heart reveal to the world our true identity: We really are the sons and daughters of God." (The Sacred Romance p155)
When I think about what is quoted above I think about 1) dying to self and 2) John 3:30 "He must become greater; I must become less."
The quote "Our acts of love and sacrifice, the little decisions to leave our false loves behind" is what made me think about dying to self. How many decisions have I made based on my feelings and my schedule? How many of these decisions were made because of how the decision may or may not benefit me? What are my false loves? Popularity, fitting-in, comforts, money, time?
When we leave our false loves (worldly things), and focus on eternal things we "reveal to the world our true identity: We really are the sons and daughters of God." When we serve and die to self the Lord is glorified! How much greater a witness than this?
Much, much more on this but gotta go to work...:)
"As we grow into the love of God and the freedom of our own hearts, we grow in out ability to cast our vote on behalf of God. Our acts of love and sacrifice, the little decisions to leave our false loves behind and the great struggles of our heart reveal to the world our true identity: We really are the sons and daughters of God." (The Sacred Romance p155)
When I think about what is quoted above I think about 1) dying to self and 2) John 3:30 "He must become greater; I must become less."
The quote "Our acts of love and sacrifice, the little decisions to leave our false loves behind" is what made me think about dying to self. How many decisions have I made based on my feelings and my schedule? How many of these decisions were made because of how the decision may or may not benefit me? What are my false loves? Popularity, fitting-in, comforts, money, time?
When we leave our false loves (worldly things), and focus on eternal things we "reveal to the world our true identity: We really are the sons and daughters of God." When we serve and die to self the Lord is glorified! How much greater a witness than this?
Much, much more on this but gotta go to work...:)
Where do you dwell...?
I was listening to a pastor on the radio this morning and we was talking about running this race with perseverance (Heb.12:1). In speaking of "how" we do this he referred to our thoughts and what we were dwelling on. This was a revelation for me because my thoughts have been on myself. They have been about sex, fun, comfort, happiness and etc. I do have thoughts of others and wanting them to be happy, safe, to have their prayers answered and sicknesses cured, however, my main driving thought is me. In listening to the pastor speak of the "how" he said to focus your thoughts heaven, let your mind dwell on every aspect and detail of heaven, rewards, the rapture, being glorified and etc - have an eternal perspective. If our thoughts are focused on heaven then our actions will follow. I had a friend many years ago print and laminate a saying and hand it out to our bible study, is said:
"Watch your thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions.
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your habits, the become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny."
This reminds of the story of the hungry wolves in your mind. One is a good wolf and the other is bad. The one you feed is the one that will grow strong and survive, the other will become weak and fragile until it is eventually taken over and consumed by the other. What wolf (thoughts) have I been feeding? They have not been eternal thoughts, rather, the lustful and selfish thoughts.
Focusing on eternity and the things of heaven was a revelation for me. My prayer, and please join in prayer for and with me, that my thoughts will be heavenly focused. That I will dwell on eternity and the things of God. I pray these thoughts will become my words, these words will become my actions, these actions will become habits, the habits will become my character, which will become my destiny. I thank the Lord for his revelations and none of this is possible without Jesus Christ having taken away all my sins through his death on the cross and providing his counselor (the Holy Spirit) to come dwell in me, to guide me, counsel me and watch over me.
Show the World Jesus
How will we do this? Sometimes I try so hard to show people Jesus by my actions. Wherever I am I try to be the nice guy. I don't drink because it may ruin my witness. I don't partake in sex/lust talk because it may ruin my witness. I try to look happy, smile, have an encouraging word, not speak down about others, to not act jealous, or envious, or impatient, or untrusting in God's perfect timing. Yet I fail miserably. I am not one to run up to a stranger asking them about heaven and hell and if they know where they are going. Typically my style of witnessing depends on building a relationship with someone and trying to get in nuggets about the Lord and His saving grace. But what about my actions.
As I mentioned before, I try to do good. I try to keep my tongue from evil. Yet, as the verse in James 3:7 states, "The tongue is also a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." So....yeah, my speech does not always justify my means of trying to be a good witness. Just the other day I got a surprised compliment from an unbeliever about the colorful vocabulary I used. They thought it funny and impressive the words I could use. It felt like a slap in the face as that is not who I want to be, that is not how I want people to perceive me, and most importantly, I do not want to ruin my witness for Christ.
This weekend our Pastor left us with John 13:34-35(NLT), "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other." And what stood out to me the most "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." Wow...this was profound for me. It is by our "love" that the world will know we are his disciples. My words fail me, my actions fail me, everything I try to do to reflect Jesus fails me. That is everything with the exception of showing love! Read 1Corinthians 13 concerning love and its power "love never fails". "Never" is a very powerful word. It is a 100% guarantee that when you use it, it will never fail. It will never wear out. It will never tire. It will never fall short. It will never ever be anything but perfect and right. My actions were good for a short period of time, then my flesh reared its head. My tongue was even good for a short period of time - I stress short. But when I act out of love it NEVER fails! NEVER!!!
Thinking and reflecting on John 13:35 "Your love for one another will prove to the world you are my disciples" I think about Acts 2:42-47, "The Fellowship of the Believers" (sounds like a JR Tolkien novel). I think how I want my unsaved friends, and all people for that matter, to be part of Gods eternal kingdom through Jesus Christ. I try to do this by all the ways I mentioned earlier and how I fall short. I try to go out and join them, and meet them where they are. Yet, I read in Acts 2:42-47 how God added to the number of believers. Basically put, the believers were all hanging out and helping each other, as the body, the people saw this, wanted this, and God added to the believers numbers daily. Wow (again).... the church was simply showing love to each other and God was saving and adding people to them DAILY....hmmmm.
Praise God
In reading and studying the first part of Romans 15 verse 4 brought me to Psalm 69. So much stuck out in this Psalm that I can't possibly right about everything, however, what I will mention is the last part of the Psalm.
In verse 29 David says "I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me." After David mentions him being in "pain and distress", what is so profound is what he mentions he will do next:
Verse 30: "I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving."
This is not exactly what I typically think to do when I feel such pain and distress in my life.
The word is encouraging and enlightning, ask God for an eternal perspective and you to, will praise Him for all He has allowed to your life. For seeing as God sees, although not easy, yields peace and joy in and through ALL things.
Hate...
"I will never let another man ruin my life by making me hate him" - George Washington Carver
Sin Cont'd...
Romans 6...
6:2 “…we died to sin”
6:4 “…we too may live a new life”
6:6 “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so
that the body of sin might be done away with, what we should no longer be
slaves to sin”
6:7 “because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.”
6:10 Christ our model “The death he died, he died to sin
once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count
yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
6:17 “But thanks be to God that, though you used be slaves
to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were
entrusted. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to
righteousness.”
And the question of the day from 6:21:
"What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of?"
Sin is temporary gratification...very temporary.
John 4:13 & 14 "'Everyone who drinks this water will be thristy again, but whoever drink that water I give him will never thrist. Indeed, the water I give him will bedome in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.' "
Sin
Reading Romans1:21-32 I came across the following commentary:
"...They soon invent 'gods' that are convenient projections of their own selfish plans and decrees. These gods may be wooden figures, but they may also be goals or things we pursue such as money, power, or comfort..."
"...God gives them over or permits them to experience the naturalconsequences of their sin. Once caught in the downward spiral, no one can pull himself or herself out. Sinners must trust Christ alone to put them on the path of escape..."
"...in time we will become slaves to our own rebellious choices - we will lose our freedom not to sin. Does life without God look like freedom to you? Look more closely. There is no worse slavery than slavery to sin."
This opened my eyes! I feel as if I am in control - even of my sin. But am I? In Romans 7 Paul speaks about struggling with sin.
"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to , it is no longer I who do it, but is sin living in me that does it.
"So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, wagin war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my mebers. What a wretched mand I am Who will rescue me from this body of death: Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!
"So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin."
So is there any hope? Go on reading Romans 8...
"...They soon invent 'gods' that are convenient projections of their own selfish plans and decrees. These gods may be wooden figures, but they may also be goals or things we pursue such as money, power, or comfort..."
"...God gives them over or permits them to experience the naturalconsequences of their sin. Once caught in the downward spiral, no one can pull himself or herself out. Sinners must trust Christ alone to put them on the path of escape..."
"...in time we will become slaves to our own rebellious choices - we will lose our freedom not to sin. Does life without God look like freedom to you? Look more closely. There is no worse slavery than slavery to sin."
This opened my eyes! I feel as if I am in control - even of my sin. But am I? In Romans 7 Paul speaks about struggling with sin.
"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to , it is no longer I who do it, but is sin living in me that does it.
"So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, wagin war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my mebers. What a wretched mand I am Who will rescue me from this body of death: Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!
"So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin."
So is there any hope? Go on reading Romans 8...
Excerpts About Prayer
Some excerpts sent to me by a friend from an article speaking about prayer:
"It stands to reason, therefore, that prayer should consist of personal communion - talking to God with inquisitiveness as to His nature and His desires, and eagerness to learn about the things that please and displease Him."
"Authentic prayer, God-centered prayer, realizes that the promise of prayer is God Himself. Being the the presence of God is the greatest reward of prayer."
"Self-centered praying fails to appreciate that our purpose here on earth is to praise our Creator and Redeemer."
"It stands to reason, therefore, that prayer should consist of personal communion - talking to God with inquisitiveness as to His nature and His desires, and eagerness to learn about the things that please and displease Him."
"Authentic prayer, God-centered prayer, realizes that the promise of prayer is God Himself. Being the the presence of God is the greatest reward of prayer."
"Self-centered praying fails to appreciate that our purpose here on earth is to praise our Creator and Redeemer."
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