"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by The Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." Romans 5:1-5 (NIV)
The Apostle Paul argues that God justifies sinners on the basis of their faith. Once We are justified, we have peace with God and we enjoy the grace of God.
Our salvation is based upon our belief in Jesus Christ. Our faith in Him and His love for us allows us to enjoy hope for the future. We can rejoice now, whatever the circumstance or situation, because our current sufferings will lead perseverance, which will produce strong character within us, which will strengthen our faith, and give us hope for a better tomorrow. We are blessed to enjoy the love of God.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Keep The Faith Fan The Flame
"I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:5-7 (NIV)
To encourage his young co-laborer, the Apostle Paul told Timothy that the true and sincere faith that was in his grandmother and in his mother, was also in him. Paul encouraged him to exercise his faith, to fan the flame, so that his gift from God would grow stronger. God did not mean for him to be weak, loving and full of self control, yes, but not weak.
Most of us received our early religious training from our mother and or grandmother. They were our example of faith, strength, and love. It was usually their strong faith in God that kept the family going. That capacity, which is a gift from God, was cultivated by them in each of us and it has been enhanced by life's lessons as we grew. Most of us have a little faith, but it is weak because we do not exercise it. We need to "fan the flame" so that our God given gift can grow stronger. With great faith comes the ability to do great things. We could move mountains if our faith was stronger. Jesus said, "... if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20 NIV) Thank God, and your mother, and your grandmother, for what they gave you, but you must decide to use your gift.
To encourage his young co-laborer, the Apostle Paul told Timothy that the true and sincere faith that was in his grandmother and in his mother, was also in him. Paul encouraged him to exercise his faith, to fan the flame, so that his gift from God would grow stronger. God did not mean for him to be weak, loving and full of self control, yes, but not weak.
Most of us received our early religious training from our mother and or grandmother. They were our example of faith, strength, and love. It was usually their strong faith in God that kept the family going. That capacity, which is a gift from God, was cultivated by them in each of us and it has been enhanced by life's lessons as we grew. Most of us have a little faith, but it is weak because we do not exercise it. We need to "fan the flame" so that our God given gift can grow stronger. With great faith comes the ability to do great things. We could move mountains if our faith was stronger. Jesus said, "... if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20 NIV) Thank God, and your mother, and your grandmother, for what they gave you, but you must decide to use your gift.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Always Have Hope
"But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more." Psalms 71:14 (NIV)
This is the psalm of an elderly man facing trouble. He is a mature man of faith who responds to trouble by displaying his faith and trust in God. He prays for God's help and expresses confidence that his prayer will be answered.
Like this psalmist, we should never lose our hope, faith, and trust in God. What ever the circumstance or situation, we should always have hope. Our prayer during the storms of life should be a request for strength for today and hope for tomorrow, that tomorrow will be a better day. We know that God is with us at all times, so we just have to hold on. Never let the devil get the best of you and cause you to give up. Exercise your faith and always have hope.
We should praise God for what He has done for us in the past, is doing for us right now, and for what He will do for us in the future.
This is the psalm of an elderly man facing trouble. He is a mature man of faith who responds to trouble by displaying his faith and trust in God. He prays for God's help and expresses confidence that his prayer will be answered.
Like this psalmist, we should never lose our hope, faith, and trust in God. What ever the circumstance or situation, we should always have hope. Our prayer during the storms of life should be a request for strength for today and hope for tomorrow, that tomorrow will be a better day. We know that God is with us at all times, so we just have to hold on. Never let the devil get the best of you and cause you to give up. Exercise your faith and always have hope.
We should praise God for what He has done for us in the past, is doing for us right now, and for what He will do for us in the future.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Repeated Disobedience Brings Defeat And Punishment
"Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of The Lord and served the Baals. They forsook The Lord, The God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They provoked The Lord to anger ... In His anger against Israel The Lord handed them over to raiders who plundered them ... Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of The Lord was against them to defeat them, just as He had sworn to them. They were in great distress. Then The Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of these raiders ... The Lord had compassion on them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them. But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their fathers, following other gods and serving and worshiping them ... Therefore The Lord was very angry with Israel ..." Judges 2:11-23 (NIV)
This pattern of disobedience, defeat, and deliverance was repeated throughout the period of the judges. Because of their worship of other gods, The Lord allowed Israel to fall into the hands of their enemies. After letting them suffer for a while, The Lord would use a judge to save them. However, they would soon return to their evil and wicked ways.
Today, in spite of the goodness that God has shown us, we continue to return to our sinful ways. We really enjoy our sins and bad habits, that is why we keep on repeating them. That is also why we have so much trouble in our lives as God is allowing us to be punished. We want to be blessed, but we don't want to follow His word. He said, "If My people, who are called by My name, would humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sins ..." (2 Chronicles 7:14) Repeated disobedience will result in repeated punishment.
This pattern of disobedience, defeat, and deliverance was repeated throughout the period of the judges. Because of their worship of other gods, The Lord allowed Israel to fall into the hands of their enemies. After letting them suffer for a while, The Lord would use a judge to save them. However, they would soon return to their evil and wicked ways.
Today, in spite of the goodness that God has shown us, we continue to return to our sinful ways. We really enjoy our sins and bad habits, that is why we keep on repeating them. That is also why we have so much trouble in our lives as God is allowing us to be punished. We want to be blessed, but we don't want to follow His word. He said, "If My people, who are called by My name, would humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sins ..." (2 Chronicles 7:14) Repeated disobedience will result in repeated punishment.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Having The Complete Joy Of Jesus
"As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love. If you obey My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed My Father's commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." John 15:9-11 (NIV)
After telling His disciples that He would soon leave them, Jesus comforts them by saying that The Holy Spirit would come and be with them. He also said that if they continue to follow His teachings, that they would experience His joy and that their joy would be complete joy.
Jesus makes it clear that obedience is the basis for experiencing joy. His joy was based upon His obedience to the will of His Father. Our joy is based upon our being obedient to His word. We can have the ultimate and complete joy of Jesus. And this joy, the world can't give it to you, and the world can't take it away from you.
After telling His disciples that He would soon leave them, Jesus comforts them by saying that The Holy Spirit would come and be with them. He also said that if they continue to follow His teachings, that they would experience His joy and that their joy would be complete joy.
Jesus makes it clear that obedience is the basis for experiencing joy. His joy was based upon His obedience to the will of His Father. Our joy is based upon our being obedient to His word. We can have the ultimate and complete joy of Jesus. And this joy, the world can't give it to you, and the world can't take it away from you.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
The Truth Will Set You Free From Sin
"To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' They answered Him, 'We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can You say that we shall be set free?' Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin ... I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word ... 'If you were Abraham's children,' said Jesus, 'then you would do the things Abraham did. As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the things your own father does' ... You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies ... He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God." John 8:31-47 (NIV)
Even though the people wanted to kill Him for what He was saying, Jesus continued to teach the truth. To the Jews who were descendants of Abraham physically, their behavior revealed them to be the devil's descendants. The devil is the father of lies and there is no truth in him.
Jesus spoke the truth. We must hear the truth, believe the truth, and live the truth, if we want to be free from the penalty of sin. Those of us who belong to God can hear what He says, and we endeavour to do what He says. Our words and deeds reveal who is our real father.
Even though the people wanted to kill Him for what He was saying, Jesus continued to teach the truth. To the Jews who were descendants of Abraham physically, their behavior revealed them to be the devil's descendants. The devil is the father of lies and there is no truth in him.
Jesus spoke the truth. We must hear the truth, believe the truth, and live the truth, if we want to be free from the penalty of sin. Those of us who belong to God can hear what He says, and we endeavour to do what He says. Our words and deeds reveal who is our real father.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Don't Lie
"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor." Exodus 20:16 (NIV)
The ninth of the ten commandments that God gave to Moses for the Children of Israel and all mankind. One should not speak falsely and lie on or to others, but should tell the truth.
Our legal system, and the legal system of most if not all other societies, is based upon the principal that witnesses should "tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." Societies and personal relationships fail when people cannot be counted on to tell the truth. It is very upsetting for someone, especially someone that you considered a friend, to look you in the eye and tell you a lie. Some people claim that they tell "little white lies" to avoid hurting someone's feelings. There is no such thing as a little lie, a lie is a lie. A lie is speaking falsely to someone about someone or something. Lying in not Christ-like. Good Christian conversation is not based upon lying. The Bible states that there is a special place reserved in hell for "... all liars ..." (Revelation 21:8) It would be much better for all of us, if we cannot tell the truth, then we should not say anything at all. We need to pray for forgiveness and pray for God to guide our tongue.
The ninth of the ten commandments that God gave to Moses for the Children of Israel and all mankind. One should not speak falsely and lie on or to others, but should tell the truth.
Our legal system, and the legal system of most if not all other societies, is based upon the principal that witnesses should "tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." Societies and personal relationships fail when people cannot be counted on to tell the truth. It is very upsetting for someone, especially someone that you considered a friend, to look you in the eye and tell you a lie. Some people claim that they tell "little white lies" to avoid hurting someone's feelings. There is no such thing as a little lie, a lie is a lie. A lie is speaking falsely to someone about someone or something. Lying in not Christ-like. Good Christian conversation is not based upon lying. The Bible states that there is a special place reserved in hell for "... all liars ..." (Revelation 21:8) It would be much better for all of us, if we cannot tell the truth, then we should not say anything at all. We need to pray for forgiveness and pray for God to guide our tongue.
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