For the early Church, the label “Christian” was anything but a compliment. It was actually a derogatory name given to mock and ridicule Believers by others. Thus the Disciples and other Followers of the Way did not use this term to identify themselves.
Tag: blood of jesus
Isaiah 7:9 ” If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.”
Many have a cause they stand for…endangered animals, human rights abuse, the list is endless. You will hear emotional pleas full of compassion and conviction from motivated people willing to take a stand. So do we as Believers exhibit the same passions and principles when speaking of our faith and trust in Jesus? Are we willing to bear witness to His work in our life and share our testimony with others? If we won’t stand up for Jesus…what will we then depend on?
Romans 11:33 ” Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! “
We can’t begin to know the abundant treasures available to us from the Lord. With Divine counsel and guidance from the Holy Spirit, we can move forward fearlessly…having God-given insight and intimate fellowship from above.
Haggai 1:5 ” Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘ Give careful thought to your ways.’ “
Today is the day the Lord would like you to assess your walk with Him. Are you doing everything He desires…or has life gotten in the way? Has your path veered off course from the perfect plan He set out for you? Prudently, mindfully, evaluate your ways…and the Lord will faithful to reveal any changes that need to be done.
I Kings 8:27 ” But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven cannot contain You. How much less this Temple I have built? “
This verse is part of Solomon’s prayer of dedication for the new Temple in Jerusalem. He doubted that this building could in any way hold the Spirit of the Lord…since God can’t be limited to time/space dimensions. But the Holy Spirit can dwell within the Believer, for in I Corinthians 6:19 it reads, “Your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit.” What a Temple built of stone couldn’t start to hold, can be wonderfully contained within our fleshly Temple.
I Peter 2:25 ” For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and overseer of your soul.”
Why are we so prone to wander away from the loving protection of our Heavenly Father? Most times, it is pride or just plain stupidity that puts us in those unpleasant predicaments. But Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is ever there, watching and guarding His flock of wayward lambs.
II Corinthians 12:7 ” To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh…”
Many think that Paul’s affliction was some kind of chronic skin disease such as psoriasis, which causes unsightly red scaly patches of irritated flesh. Regardless of the cause for his torment and annoyance, Paul went on to say that he had begged the Lord three times to take it away, but each time the Lord had replied, ” My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” ( II Corinthians 12: 8-9) Paul’s fulfilled destiny didn’t rest in himself, but in what God did through him…and it really didn’t matter what the “outside” of the temple looked like, for it was the inside that God was concerned with.
John 17:24 ” Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see My glory, the glory You have given Me because You loved Me before the creation of the world.”
As mere humans, we cannot now behold or truly understand the full glory and exaltation of Jesus Christ. This majesty and splendor, evident before the foundations of the universe was laid, shines forth as Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father in heaven. But someday soon, we’ll be able to behold His glory… face to face.
II Thessalonians 3:1 ” Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.”
Paul’s prayer request is still so very relevant today. We need to pray that God’s Word…the Gospel…the Good News of Christ, be spread abroad to all nations. This important, soul-saving message needs to continue to advance swiftly throughout the world, bringing all to the saving knowledge of Jesus.
Romans 15: 4 ” For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
What do you actually get out of reading the Bible? Is it a task that you feel duty-bound to do? Is it a grouping of feel-good stories you casually enjoy, only to forget soon after? The Scriptures are educational, but if we take them no farther than that, we’re missing the greatest potential God has for us. The Bible is meant to inspire…to transform…to restore…to influence…to motive…to encourage everyone who opens up the Word. And every time you close the Bible, God wants you to be changed.
Safetypinlove 