James 1:27 NLT
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
Having religion involves having serious commitment to something. Being religious is being highly dedicated to something. Usually we attribute these terms to our faith practice. Many will ask what religion you are. What they are really asking is what church you are part of. Are we Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, Muslim, Buddhist, etc.
But this verse is not speaking from the world's definition. It is telling us what God's meaning is. In His eyes we have genuine religion not by belonging to a certain church or movement. No, it is about our personal actions.
First we have to be serving others and especially orphans and widows who are in need. Second we have to not let the world system corrupt us.
The first is easy and yet we often ignore it because of the world system. We figure someone else will take care of them for us. We don't have to bother. We do our part by working in the system and the system will take care of them. Or we give plenty at church and they have people to do that.
And that is one way we allow the world to corrupt us. We figure we are giving all we can. But what do we expect to see when we are on the receiving end of that need? Will we be happy with the system taking over or will we expect our brothers and sister's in Christ to be with us?
But l have digressed from the point. I believe God expects us to serve one another and not let the world system do what He has called us to do.
Monday, December 16, 2013
Monday, December 09, 2013
Judgment
John 3:36 NLT
And anyone who believes in God's Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn't obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God's angry judgment.
The Old Testament is filled with examples of God's angry judgment. Entire groups of people were wiped out in wars and even a great flood that destroyed all but those on Noah's boat. And yet those books were written about His chosen people, the Israelites.
God told them to live by His Ten Commandments and had them create a number of additional laws for them to follow; even traditions to follow to stay in His favor. These laws should have kept His chosen on a straight and narrow path. But this is not what happened.
Those who were not of His chosen people, the gentiles did not come under these books of laws and rules for living a righteous life. And yet I believe good people everywhere have these moral standards built into them along with their basic belief in God.
As Christians it is easy to think everyone on earth is under God's grace and that the days of judgement are over. But as John 3 tells us those who are not walking with Jesus remain under God's angry judgment.
Be Jew or gentile, if we have not given our life to Jesus and follow Him, we are as if living in the Old Testament times. The New Testament does not apply to us. His grace is not for us. His judgement reigns down on all who do not follow Jesus.
Thank God for His saving grace!
And anyone who believes in God's Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn't obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God's angry judgment.
The Old Testament is filled with examples of God's angry judgment. Entire groups of people were wiped out in wars and even a great flood that destroyed all but those on Noah's boat. And yet those books were written about His chosen people, the Israelites.
God told them to live by His Ten Commandments and had them create a number of additional laws for them to follow; even traditions to follow to stay in His favor. These laws should have kept His chosen on a straight and narrow path. But this is not what happened.
Those who were not of His chosen people, the gentiles did not come under these books of laws and rules for living a righteous life. And yet I believe good people everywhere have these moral standards built into them along with their basic belief in God.
As Christians it is easy to think everyone on earth is under God's grace and that the days of judgement are over. But as John 3 tells us those who are not walking with Jesus remain under God's angry judgment.
Be Jew or gentile, if we have not given our life to Jesus and follow Him, we are as if living in the Old Testament times. The New Testament does not apply to us. His grace is not for us. His judgement reigns down on all who do not follow Jesus.
Thank God for His saving grace!
Monday, December 02, 2013
How to Live
2 Peter 3:10-11 NLT
But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live.
Some think they can predict when Jesus is coming back. Others are certain all that is going on in the world means we are in the end times and His return is imminent. I do not believe we are to be doing either. It does not matter when He is returning or what is happening in the world.
No. What matters is what we are doing with what God has given us. Each day we are given is gift to be used to glorify Him. And yet how easy it is to wrap ourselves up in the day to day stuff and our desire to accumulate things.
The Christmas season begins early on what is reffered to as Black Friday. Hard to imagine Christmas being welcomed by a black Friday, isn't it? And it is all about the stuff we can get to add to our collection as well as what we can get to give to others for their collections.
Is this the Holy and godly lives you should live mentioned here? I don't think so. I believe He still wants us to do what Jesus told us. He wants us to be His light shining for all to see. He wants us to go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone and to make disciples (Mark 16:15-18). Through all that is going on around us, shouldn't that still be our focus?
But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live.
Some think they can predict when Jesus is coming back. Others are certain all that is going on in the world means we are in the end times and His return is imminent. I do not believe we are to be doing either. It does not matter when He is returning or what is happening in the world.
No. What matters is what we are doing with what God has given us. Each day we are given is gift to be used to glorify Him. And yet how easy it is to wrap ourselves up in the day to day stuff and our desire to accumulate things.
The Christmas season begins early on what is reffered to as Black Friday. Hard to imagine Christmas being welcomed by a black Friday, isn't it? And it is all about the stuff we can get to add to our collection as well as what we can get to give to others for their collections.
Is this the Holy and godly lives you should live mentioned here? I don't think so. I believe He still wants us to do what Jesus told us. He wants us to be His light shining for all to see. He wants us to go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone and to make disciples (Mark 16:15-18). Through all that is going on around us, shouldn't that still be our focus?
Monday, November 11, 2013
Simon Says
Romans 12:2 NLT
Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.
We have all played that childrens game of Simon Says. If you do not follow the leader exactly, you lose.
It is so easy to get caught up in the way other people think. We are trained to do just that when we grow up. Our parents give us examples to follow in the way they live their lives. Our teachers in school show us their right way to do things and expect us to follow exactly if we want a good grade.
Some move on to the military and are expected under the threat of severe penalty to do exactly as they are taught. And that is important for deviation could be life threatening in situations of war.
So our life in Christ is not about following the rules in our Bible word by word. That we can do in our own mind; in our own understanding. You do not have to be born again to decide to do that. When we are in Him and allow Him to move in us, He changes us.
When we let God transform us into a new person, we are not playing Simon Says. We are giving Him permission to change the way we think so we will know the right things to do and so we will be pleasing to Him.
Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.
We have all played that childrens game of Simon Says. If you do not follow the leader exactly, you lose.
It is so easy to get caught up in the way other people think. We are trained to do just that when we grow up. Our parents give us examples to follow in the way they live their lives. Our teachers in school show us their right way to do things and expect us to follow exactly if we want a good grade.
Some move on to the military and are expected under the threat of severe penalty to do exactly as they are taught. And that is important for deviation could be life threatening in situations of war.
So our life in Christ is not about following the rules in our Bible word by word. That we can do in our own mind; in our own understanding. You do not have to be born again to decide to do that. When we are in Him and allow Him to move in us, He changes us.
When we let God transform us into a new person, we are not playing Simon Says. We are giving Him permission to change the way we think so we will know the right things to do and so we will be pleasing to Him.
Monday, November 04, 2013
It Takes Belief
Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
No matter how hard we work at being a good person following all the rules in the Bible it does not get us salvation. It takes belief. And that is not an easy thing to have in this fast paced techno world we live in.
We can't say we will get into heaven because of the amount of money we donated to our church. Nor can we credit the hours we spend volunteering at the local food bank or even the hospital. Serving others doesn't do it either. It takes belief.
It is that simple. We can be the most successful person in town or be out of work living in a homeless camp. Our circumstances do not matter. It takes belief.
All that is needed is belief that Jesus died for you and forgave you of all your sins. All that takes is for you to follow Him. Ask Him into your heart today. Ask Him to be your Lord and Savior. It is that simple. It just takes belief.
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
No matter how hard we work at being a good person following all the rules in the Bible it does not get us salvation. It takes belief. And that is not an easy thing to have in this fast paced techno world we live in.
We can't say we will get into heaven because of the amount of money we donated to our church. Nor can we credit the hours we spend volunteering at the local food bank or even the hospital. Serving others doesn't do it either. It takes belief.
It is that simple. We can be the most successful person in town or be out of work living in a homeless camp. Our circumstances do not matter. It takes belief.
All that is needed is belief that Jesus died for you and forgave you of all your sins. All that takes is for you to follow Him. Ask Him into your heart today. Ask Him to be your Lord and Savior. It is that simple. It just takes belief.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Serving Others
Acts 20:35 NLT
And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
In society we are filled with workers dedicated to serve their superiors so they can keep their job and depend on that weekly paycheck. The basic desire to serve is out of a need to be paid not a desire to bless them.
Oh that is not true, you say. Consider this. When you leave one job for another you no longer have any thought of serving your former bosses. The need is gone for they no longer have any control over you or your paycheck.
God has given us each gifts to serve the body of Christ. This has nothing to do with finances. It has everything to do with helping each other grow in our relationship with God. For the gifts are given to build up the body of Christ.
"Lord show me how I can serve my fellow Christians today. How I can be a blessing to each I come in contact with. Teach me how to pray for their needs. In Jesus name I pray."
And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
In society we are filled with workers dedicated to serve their superiors so they can keep their job and depend on that weekly paycheck. The basic desire to serve is out of a need to be paid not a desire to bless them.
Oh that is not true, you say. Consider this. When you leave one job for another you no longer have any thought of serving your former bosses. The need is gone for they no longer have any control over you or your paycheck.
God has given us each gifts to serve the body of Christ. This has nothing to do with finances. It has everything to do with helping each other grow in our relationship with God. For the gifts are given to build up the body of Christ.
"Lord show me how I can serve my fellow Christians today. How I can be a blessing to each I come in contact with. Teach me how to pray for their needs. In Jesus name I pray."
Monday, October 21, 2013
Morally Right Lives
Jude 1:4 NLT
I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God's marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
If they took down all the speed limit signs on the highway would it be lawful for us to go as fast as we wanted? Of course not. The speed limit is the same even if you don't see the sign. If you do not think so just try going as fast as you want. When you get pulled over explain that you did not see the sign and see how that works for you.
By God's grace we are saved. It is not a get of out jail free card. Jesus came to fulfill the law, but not to abolish it. We still have to live an upstanding life guided by His laws. Because of His grace we will not be judged worthy based on our living up to the law. However, grace does not give us a license to blatantly ignore Him and do whatever we want.
His commandments show us how to live a morally right life. The world shows us what it thinks is morally right. The world's view on morality changes like the wind. What was good years ago is the opposite today. More and more we see our society shifting away from God. Let us not do the same. There is no shifting with God. What He established years ago stands firm today.
"Father, help me to stand on your Word in all I do here on earth. Holy Spirit guide me into each day and help be be ready to be the Light of Jesus to all I come in contact with. In Jesus name I pray."
I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God's marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
If they took down all the speed limit signs on the highway would it be lawful for us to go as fast as we wanted? Of course not. The speed limit is the same even if you don't see the sign. If you do not think so just try going as fast as you want. When you get pulled over explain that you did not see the sign and see how that works for you.
By God's grace we are saved. It is not a get of out jail free card. Jesus came to fulfill the law, but not to abolish it. We still have to live an upstanding life guided by His laws. Because of His grace we will not be judged worthy based on our living up to the law. However, grace does not give us a license to blatantly ignore Him and do whatever we want.
His commandments show us how to live a morally right life. The world shows us what it thinks is morally right. The world's view on morality changes like the wind. What was good years ago is the opposite today. More and more we see our society shifting away from God. Let us not do the same. There is no shifting with God. What He established years ago stands firm today.
"Father, help me to stand on your Word in all I do here on earth. Holy Spirit guide me into each day and help be be ready to be the Light of Jesus to all I come in contact with. In Jesus name I pray."
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