The Lord is forever wanting us to think about our actions and behaviors. Are they righteous or wicked…good or bad…helpful or harmful? God’s precepts are the standard by which we should focus our Way in this world, but the decision to do so is entirely up to us. As it says in Joshua 24:14, “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.”
Tag: religion
Luke 12:49 ” I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled.”
Jesus said He had come to cast His refining fire of purification on the world and all mankind. Elsewhere, in Matthew, He said,” I did not come to bring peace to the earth, but a sword.” Welding the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, Jesus brought forth the cleansing and purifying Way. And this Way is still available today…to anyone.
Titus 3: 4-5 “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.”
The grace and love of our Lord brings salvation to sinful mankind. Jesus came to deliver us from Spiritual death, not from anything we had done, but entirely by His loving compassion towards us. The incomparable riches of God’s grace was expressed in His kindness to us in the form of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Acts 17: 23 ” For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.”
As Paul walked around Athens, he saw thousands of idols and shrines decorating the landscape. He came upon an altar that was designed to appease some unknown god. So when he met with the learned men in the Areopagus, he informed them that he could not only put a name to that particular God, but tell them all about Him. The idolatrous worship they had been taking part in was due to their lack of revelation of this unknown god, and Paul was more than happy to declare to them very plainly everything about Him. The unknown god, was now the Known Lord and Savior.
Luke 6:37 ” Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
The premise is so simple, the impending possible result… eternal. The Lord doesn’t want us doing His job…judging and condemning are His work, not ours. Every time we pass judgment on someone, we take on God’s mantel…which doesn’t fit us at all. Every time we judge, it may make us feel better about ourselves for a moment, but the Lord is grieved for our actions. Let God do His job…judging, and you do yours…forgiving.
I Corinthians 7:7 “…But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.”
As it says elsewhere in I Corinthians,” The Holy Spirit bestows certain gifts to certain people, not the same to all.” The gifts that the Lord gives us are meant to mesh and complement our individual personalities and bents. God uses what we have…not what we wish we had. You might wish that you could sing God’s praise before thousands…but if you don’t have much of a singing voice, I doubt whether the Lord will place you on stage. Our gifts from Him are as individualized as we are.
PSALM 139:1 ” O Lord, you have searched me and know me.”
The Lord knows you intimately…He understands you better than you understand yourself. He knows every deep dark secret in your heart and still loves you. The Lord not only sees everything you do, but keeps count of every step you take. No one knows you better than the Lord…before even a word is out of your mouth He knows it completely. What better person than to put your complete trust in Him today.
I Thessalonians 3:12 ” May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.”
Christian love…brotherly love…love for each other. In this fast pace, hectic world we sure could use more of it. In our daily grind, we too often forget that the person behind the checkout, or assisting us with a purchase is also a fellow brother in Christ, and deserving of our love and respect. Practicing brotherly love takes just that…practice. And it takes practicing it in mundane places that makes the most impact for the Lord.
Proverbs 15:6 ” The house of the righteous contains great treasure.”
I had the opportunity this morning to visit the Church of my childhood. While the people may have changed some, and they have enlarged the building…in many ways it hasn’t changed at all. The stained glass windows were the same, the pews and lighting unchanged…even the color of the sanctuary was as I remembered. In many ways it was very comforting to see my memories still there, still standing strong, still as I remembered.
Jeremiah 15: 11 ” The Lord said, ‘ Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose; surely I will make your enemies plead with you in times of disaster and times of distress.’ “
Do you know God has an ultimate purpose for your life? Now, before you shake you head and tell me God could never use you…let’s think about it. The Lord used Jonah, even though he said no, and ran as far away as he could from God. The Lord used Rahab the prostitute to hide the Israelite spies in the city of Jericho despite her former life-style. The Lord used Peter, even though he used to stick his foot in his mouth on a regular basis. So see, you’re in good company…God uses everyday people to do unbelievable and unimaginable things. What it takes on your part, is just willingness and obedience to listen to that still small voice inside you.
Safetypinlove 