Keeping up with the Joneses is certainly not a new thing. Even back in Biblical times people were striving to match or outdo their neighbors in spending and social standing. But this verse looks way beyond the petty jealousy and covetousness to how very difficult it is to maintain that façade and false pretense. It’s like chasing after the wind…useless and meaningless, and laborious to maintain.
Tag: religion
Romans 6: 6-7 ” For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.”
Dead bodies can’t sin…dead bodies can’t be held in bondage by a sinful nature anymore…dead bodies can’t react to the worldly things around them…dead bodies can’t sin. Put off your “old self” and be set free, no longer a slave to sin… now a willing bond servant to righteousness.
Proverbs 13: 12 ” Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”
” You have less than 4 months to live, go home and put your affairs in order.” My husband’s Cardiologist did not mince words after performing an Angiogram on his heart. Thus started one of the most difficult times of our marriage. And so, we waited…waited for changes…waited for declines…waited for the other shoe to fall. I discovered that while you’re in the middle of this gray void there is no future, other than the present moment, there is no hope, other than the eternal hope you cling to. So after a year of living in this wasteland, I sat Landy down and said, “I can’t do this anymore. From this day forward, we’re going to live like you’re healed and not dying. We’re going to move forward in life rather than sit, waiting for something to happen. We’re going to make plans for the future, and start looking forward to things.” And we started doing just that…and 15 years later we’re still making plans and looking eagerly towards the future together. God is so very good!
Colossians 3:21 ” Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.”
This verse deals with the real cause and effect of negative emotions. If we constantly provoke a child, they will soon start to feel disheartened, with low self confidence…which can lead to feelings of hopelessness, indifference, and defeat. Negative emotions can and will only produce more negative emotions in others.
Colossians 3:20 ” Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”
This verse is quoted by many a Mom or Dad in order to get their child to do as they are told…but if read in it’s entirety, the focus of this scripture is not on compliance only, but rather on doing what the Lord desires. A child’s obedience to his/her parents is secondary to the ultimate obedience to God.
Colossians 3:19 ” Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.”
The two emotions spoken of in the verse could not be more diametrically opposed. Husbands are to cherish and honor their wives rather than acting cruelly, or hardhearted towards them. Being mean and abusive towards someone can act like a two-edged sword…for if you look up the Greek word for “being harsh”, it means to turn or make bitter. In other words, harshness will only embitter the person it’s directed towards.
Colossians 3:18 ” Wives , submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.”
The Lord never wanted wives to be spineless, broken-spirited, or even scared of their husbands. Submission has everything to do with a voluntary yielding of ourselves…in the same way as we yield ourselves daily to the Lord. Submission is not taken by force, but rather given freely in love.
Isaiah 6: 8-9 ” Then I heard the Voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’ “
When the Lord’s going to talk to me, I’d sure wish He’d use His huge thunderous voice….so I’d know, that I’d know, that I’d know, it was Him speaking and not just my own silly thoughts. But usually, what I hear is that quiet, still small voice, that I have to strain physically and spiritually to perceive. It’d sure be easier if He’d use a 2×4 up the side of my head to get my attention, rather than that soft whisper I too many times choose to ignore. It doesn’t matter though how the Lord speaks…it only truly matters what I choose do when He calls.
Ephesians 5:8 ” For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.”
We all at one time lived in darkness… in sin and misery, not knowing the way out. But then there appeared a light…a shining illumination that dispelled the blackness from our minds and our souls and filled us with all goodness and righteousness from Him. Jesus Himself said,”…I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” You are a child of the Light…walk in that shining spiritual enlightenment today.
Psalm 30:5 ” For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
Our frail human bodies are not able to endure more than just an instant of God’s wrath…though it may feel like an eternity when we’re in the middle of His fray, it is but a moment. His anger may dissolve us for a night…but will not be held against us as a grudge in the morning. His anger will momentarily suspend our life as we know it… but only to turn and shower us with His tremendous grace and mercy at dawnbreak. The Lord God is good…His love endures forever.
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