You have probably seen and heard this verse many times before, I know I have, but it is still a powerful reminder that none of our actions will please God if they are not mingled with faith. It is NOT "hard" to please God without faith, it is "IMPOSSIBLE". Notice the last part of the last phrase, God rewards those who "diligently" seek him. The Greek carries the idea of an investigation, searching out the details like the FBI in a missing persons case, but when it is personal there is more energy put into it. Imagine if the missing person were your loved one as compared to someone in another town. How different would your desire to solve the problem be? That level of concern, urgency, and energy should be put into searching out God and His will for your life. Now, obviously, God is not lost or missing or even hiding, but is close by (Acts 17:27-28). God could have chosen to use any number of words here, but He did not say - casually, sporadically, occasionally, intellectually, emotionally, frequently, fearfully, doubtfully, economically, distractedly, etc. God says that we must not only believe that He is, but if we are going to come to Him we must believe that He rewards those that diligently seek Him. By default then if we want to receive that reward we have to be part of the group that is seeking Him diligently (daily, determinedly, continually, willingly, faithfully, energetically, etc.). How are you seeking Him? How often? Would you call it diligently? Do you think God considers it diligently seeking? Consider 2 Peter 1:5-10
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
You have probably seen and heard this verse many times before, I know I have, but it is still a powerful reminder that none of our actions will please God if they are not mingled with faith. It is NOT "hard" to please God without faith, it is "IMPOSSIBLE". Notice the last part of the last phrase, God rewards those who "diligently" seek him. The Greek carries the idea of an investigation, searching out the details like the FBI in a missing persons case, but when it is personal there is more energy put into it. Imagine if the missing person were your loved one as compared to someone in another town. How different would your desire to solve the problem be? That level of concern, urgency, and energy should be put into searching out God and His will for your life. Now, obviously, God is not lost or missing or even hiding, but is close by (Acts 17:27-28). God could have chosen to use any number of words here, but He did not say - casually, sporadically, occasionally, intellectually, emotionally, frequently, fearfully, doubtfully, economically, distractedly, etc. God says that we must not only believe that He is, but if we are going to come to Him we must believe that He rewards those that diligently seek Him. By default then if we want to receive that reward we have to be part of the group that is seeking Him diligently (daily, determinedly, continually, willingly, faithfully, energetically, etc.). How are you seeking Him? How often? Would you call it diligently? Do you think God considers it diligently seeking? Consider 2 Peter 1:5-10
0 Comments
Acts 4:13 "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus."
Can you think of a better compliment that someone could give you than to know that you have been with Jesus? The thing is, YOU HAVE TO SPEND TIME WITH JESUS FOR PEOPLE TO NOTICE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN WITH JESUS! Sorry to yell, but I am afraid that too often we want the end result without putting the effort in on the front end. It won't work - Gal 6:7-9 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (8) For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (9) And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Wow 2 scriptures today! Enjoy the bonus. (Exo 19:5) Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a PECULIAR treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
(Deu 7:6) For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a SPECIAL people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. (Deu 14:2) For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a PECULIAR people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth. (Deu 26:18) And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his PECULIAR people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments; (Psa 135:4) For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his PECULIAR treasure. (Tit 2:14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a PECULIAR people, zealous of good works. (1Pe 2:9) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a PECULIAR people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: After reading these verses ask yourself this question: Do I really believe God will be satisfied with me living a "normal" life? I am so sick of being normal and being expected to be normal, I want to be weird, peculiar, unique, different, unusual, strange, abnormal, extraordinary, excellent because I belong to God, not this world. And I don’t care what anyone else says about me, I want God to know I am His and no one else’s. He made me and He bought me and He can do anything He wants to with me and I will not resist Him, rather I will help Him any way I can. How does one get stronger? Exercise of course! See what the scripture says about what we should exercise: "But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." (1 Timothy 4:7-8)
Psa 136:1-26 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. (2) O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. (3) O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. (4) To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. (5) To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever. (6) To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever. (7) To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever: (8) The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever: (9) The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever. (10) To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever: (11) And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever: (12) With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever. (13) To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever: (14) And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever: (15) But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever. (16) To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever. (17) To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: (18) And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: (19) Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever: (20) And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever: (21) And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever: (22) Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever. (23) Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever: (24) And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever. (25) Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever. (26) O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Maybe you've already chosen something to do as a family this year. Maybe it is reading the Bible through in a year or reading it chronologically. If you haven't, here's an option for you. It is a schedule for memorizing the scriptures. Put the word in your heart and in the heart of your children and you'll never regret it!
"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." (Psalms 119:11) I'm not into the pop music scene, but I do read headlines and know a little about some of the bigger "stars" so that I don't seem totally clueless to the younger generation, and to have something to talk to them about. Having said all of that, I have heard of Justin Bieber and have seen some pictures of and headlines about him, but have never heard one of his songs. What I have noticed recently is that a month or so ago the big story was about this teenage boy supposedly fathering a child by a young adult groupie. Then this week a new story about how he has gotten a 5-6 inch tattoo of Jesus on his leg because he is a Christian and couldn't be here without Him, etc.
Now I know as well as you do that even people who are sincerely trying to follow Jesus fall to sin, especially teenagers who are still immature and easily tempted by youthful lusts. This is not about trying to label Bieber as a hypocrite, nor is it about whether tattoos are a sin. The question I have is "Would Jesus want me to have an image of Him inked on my flesh?" Under the Old Testament God expected a physical confirmation of His covenant (Circumcision). Now, under the New Testament, God wants spiritual marks, not physical marks in our lives. Revelation 7:3 says that God's servants are sealed IN their foreheads, not on their foreheads. Ephesians 1:13 and 2 Corinthians 1:22 explain that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit in our hearts, and there is nothing visible about that. In Hebrews 8:10 God promised that He would put His laws in our hearts and minds under the New Law. God wants inward changes, not outward changes. Those inward changes will show in our attitudes, words, and actions. Making outward changes does not necessarily impact the inner man. Instead of tattooing a picture of Jesus on our skin, we should tattoo Him in our hearts and minds. The Bible is not anti-science, just anti-false science. Paul warns of the danger of being led astray by believing false science. There are many Christians today who are in danger of shipwrecking their faith on the treacherous rocks of trying to compromise with evolution, the ideas of hereditary homosexuality, etc.
1Ti 6:20-21 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: (21) Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Romans 6:3-16)
"A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth."
(Ecclesiastes 7:1) |