Mat 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
Mat 20:2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
Mat 20:3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
Mat 20:4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
Mat 20:5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
Mat 20:6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
Mat 20:7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
Mat 20:8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
Mat 20:9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
Mat 20:10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
Mat 20:11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
Mat 20:12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
Mat 20:13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
Mat 20:14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
Mat 20:15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
When reading this passage I couldn't help but apply it to our common idea of fairness. Our idea that we've tried to make it so that everyone has equality in all things and yet at the same time we promote ingenuity and the ability to get ahead. If we are promoting getting ahead we aren't promoting equality. Socialism - based on the idea that we all deserve equal shares in life with no one able to get ahead of another- we frown on that, right? We love the idea of capitalism- America was founded on this idea in many, many ways and a lot of people would say we've abused it until we've caused our own downfall. The rich have gotten way richer while the poor have become way poorer and we say this is okay because the rich have worked for their riches- or family has worked for family to be rich. We say the poor can always boost themselves up out of being poor and become rich- they just have to work for it. Remember- the American dream? Bring us your tired…hungry…you know the rest or the gist of it. We grow up believing we are entitled- even if we don't always work for it. We grow up believing life should be fair. This parable of Jesus' is telling us that we shouldn't have that illusion and if we do our 'eyes are evil'.
Life isn't fair. Those who have lots also have the right to distribute their wealth as they choose, yes? If they follow Jesus they'll do a lot to help the needy but that doesn't necessarily mean that they have to distribute their wealth equally to every single person they meet, right? Sometimes a need is greater than we realize for one and they need more than another. Fairness isn't Godliness, not in the sense that we've come to learn it.
All too often one person has to work hard to barely make ends meet, while another seems to have a nice easy job and they make more money than they know what to do with- and we call that unfair. Some people are born into wealthy families while others are born into poor families- and we call that unfair. We need to get rid of that sort of idea of fairness because it's not good- in fact it is evil. It rears up inside of us as a breeding ground for envy, for coveting, for selfishness and those are evil traits- not godly at all.
More on this tomorrow… too tired to think.
By the grace of our Lord and Savior may we learn HIS goodness, and not have an eye of evil.
In HIS love!
Amen.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Kept by the POWER of God
1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Kept by the power of God.
Through faith.
Unto salvation.
Ready to be revealed.
In the last time.
We are ONLY kept by the power of God.
We have to believe this- and THIS is our faith.
Our Salvation by faith.
That salvation fully realized in the last time.
A promise can be believed, and a promise can be kept, and a promise can be realized and fulfilled. The promise we must believe is that we DO have salvation as our reward, salvation a gift given to us, a promise made to us by our Savior. We must believe in that promise, we must believe in the eventual fulfillment of that promise.
That there are TWO deaths seems so strange to people but the Bible tells us there is a FIRST and a SECOND death.
Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
There is first resurrection- to be resurrected mustn't you first be dead?
The first resurrection.
Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
This speaks so plainly doesn't it? People are in their graves. People are NOT in heaven and being resurrected from the dead from heaven. IF people are in heaven already there is NO need of any other resurrection, right? It would make NO sense to have a first resurrection, a resurrection of life, if there is already life.
We are promised a resurrection from the dead - those who die in Christ will be called to the resurrection of life. They will be raised from the graves, resurrected to LIFE.
Those who are alive when our Savior returns and raises those that are His to life, do NOT taste even of the first death.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
*
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
*
There is an inheritance waiting for us in heaven, but we MUST be kept by the power of God - through faith, to receive salvation. If we die before our Savior returns we will be raised from the dead when He returns- this is a promise. If we are alive when our Savior returns we will be raised from the earth still living to receive salvation.
We have to believe we are kept by GOD'S power, not ours, but HIS POWER. We MUST BELIEVE this is the faith we must have, all by the grace of God.
All in His love!
Amen.
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Kept by the power of God.
Through faith.
Unto salvation.
Ready to be revealed.
In the last time.
We are ONLY kept by the power of God.
We have to believe this- and THIS is our faith.
Our Salvation by faith.
That salvation fully realized in the last time.
A promise can be believed, and a promise can be kept, and a promise can be realized and fulfilled. The promise we must believe is that we DO have salvation as our reward, salvation a gift given to us, a promise made to us by our Savior. We must believe in that promise, we must believe in the eventual fulfillment of that promise.
That there are TWO deaths seems so strange to people but the Bible tells us there is a FIRST and a SECOND death.
Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
There is first resurrection- to be resurrected mustn't you first be dead?
The first resurrection.
Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
This speaks so plainly doesn't it? People are in their graves. People are NOT in heaven and being resurrected from the dead from heaven. IF people are in heaven already there is NO need of any other resurrection, right? It would make NO sense to have a first resurrection, a resurrection of life, if there is already life.
We are promised a resurrection from the dead - those who die in Christ will be called to the resurrection of life. They will be raised from the graves, resurrected to LIFE.
Those who are alive when our Savior returns and raises those that are His to life, do NOT taste even of the first death.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
*
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
*
There is an inheritance waiting for us in heaven, but we MUST be kept by the power of God - through faith, to receive salvation. If we die before our Savior returns we will be raised from the dead when He returns- this is a promise. If we are alive when our Savior returns we will be raised from the earth still living to receive salvation.
We have to believe we are kept by GOD'S power, not ours, but HIS POWER. We MUST BELIEVE this is the faith we must have, all by the grace of God.
All in His love!
Amen.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
If any do err...
Jas 5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
Jas 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Erring from the truth.
We find the truth in Jesus.
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
If any of us err from the truth we find in our Savior and another person brings us back to Jesus- to the truth then they will hide a multitude of sins. The ONLY way that is possible is because the ONE who reveals the truth to the erring one is living in the truth of our Lord's grace and forgiveness.
We can't go about thinking that we are saved- hiding our own sins when WE bring another to the knowledge of Jesus. We are only EVER saved by Jesus' forgiveness, by Jesus' spilled blood covering our sins. We can understand that our Savior is what matters most in life, truly what matters more than anything. Our Savior matters more than the favor of ANY man! We cannot deny Jesus to keep face with those around us and have hope in Salvation. We must live Jesus- and in living Jesus we - by His grace will be able to share His love. We CANNOT preach Jesus and despise those around us- the worst of sinners does NOT need our shunning, but our LOVE! You can convert no one to the truth by showing hatred. You can convert no one to Jesus' love and salvation by hating and despising them. We have to SEE everyone as Jesus sees them. Not as one to be despised but one to be forgiven. Even the pharisees that sought to kill Jesus more than once were loved.
Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
And those who nailed Him to the cross- they were LOVED.
Luk 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
When we reveal this love to others and those erring from the truth return to the truth, we truly do hide a multitude of sins because we are immersed in that amazing love that brings us forgiveness.
The truth.
Jesus.
The truth.
Salvation only found in Jesus.
The truth.
The kingdom of heaven come down to us in Jesus.
The truth.
Our Savior's amazing love towards us, His unending love!
The truth.
Our King, Jesus!
The truth.
Our Advocate Jesus.
The truth.
Love of God.
The truth.
Love of our fellow man.
The truth.
The Truth, the Way, the Life.
The truth.
Jesus.
Amen.
Jas 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Erring from the truth.
We find the truth in Jesus.
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
If any of us err from the truth we find in our Savior and another person brings us back to Jesus- to the truth then they will hide a multitude of sins. The ONLY way that is possible is because the ONE who reveals the truth to the erring one is living in the truth of our Lord's grace and forgiveness.
We can't go about thinking that we are saved- hiding our own sins when WE bring another to the knowledge of Jesus. We are only EVER saved by Jesus' forgiveness, by Jesus' spilled blood covering our sins. We can understand that our Savior is what matters most in life, truly what matters more than anything. Our Savior matters more than the favor of ANY man! We cannot deny Jesus to keep face with those around us and have hope in Salvation. We must live Jesus- and in living Jesus we - by His grace will be able to share His love. We CANNOT preach Jesus and despise those around us- the worst of sinners does NOT need our shunning, but our LOVE! You can convert no one to the truth by showing hatred. You can convert no one to Jesus' love and salvation by hating and despising them. We have to SEE everyone as Jesus sees them. Not as one to be despised but one to be forgiven. Even the pharisees that sought to kill Jesus more than once were loved.
Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
And those who nailed Him to the cross- they were LOVED.
Luk 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
When we reveal this love to others and those erring from the truth return to the truth, we truly do hide a multitude of sins because we are immersed in that amazing love that brings us forgiveness.
The truth.
Jesus.
The truth.
Salvation only found in Jesus.
The truth.
The kingdom of heaven come down to us in Jesus.
The truth.
Our Savior's amazing love towards us, His unending love!
The truth.
Our King, Jesus!
The truth.
Our Advocate Jesus.
The truth.
Love of God.
The truth.
Love of our fellow man.
The truth.
The Truth, the Way, the Life.
The truth.
Jesus.
Amen.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Earnest Prayers Answered! PRAISE GOD!
Jas 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
Jas 5:18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
Prayer.
Praying earnestly.
Today an earnest prayer of mine was fully realized in the birth of my great niece, Lyla Rose Myers!
ALL GLORY, HONOR, and PRAISE UNTO GOD! This was HIS miracle! This was by HIS grace! Through HIS love!
Back in May 2011 my niece found out she was pregnant, her seventh or sixth pregnancy, all the others having failed through miscarriage. She was resigned to losing this baby too- feeling all the same familiar, horrible pangs of a miscarriage wracking her body. She went to the hospital emergency room and I was asked to go be with her. When I got there I could see the heartache written all over her face, she was devastated already but trying to steel herself for the inevitable outcome of the hospital visit. Doing my best to comfort her, it was only when her mother and husband arrived a short while later that she gave into the tears and heartache full force. With my heartbreaking for her I PRAYED EARNESTLY for a miracle to our LIVING GOD! To a God who hears, to a God who sees, to a God who knows, to a God who LOVES us, and OUR MOST AMAZING WONDERFUL GOD answered that prayer, a prayer that MANY were praying the day. Our LORD answered our prayer! Our living God blessed the womb of my niece and the baby had a heartbeat. In spite of having all the signs of a miscarriage my niece miraculously carried a living child. After nine months- that beautiful miracle baby was born today! PRAISE GOD! PRAISE OUR LIVING, LOVING, WONDERFUL GOD! Our God who answers earnest prayers as ONLY HE CAN!
Do all earnest prayers get answered? Yes. Maybe not the way we always desire because the earnest prayer includes first and foremost God's will to be done, not ours. We can't see the big picture, we just can't, but God can! God sees the end from the beginning and He knows. This miracle blessing of this successful pregnancy is proof. Yes, a thousand prayers might go unanswered in the manner we'd like but all it takes is one prayer to be answered as we earnestly beseech our most HOLY GOD, and we can truly comprehend that our LIVES are in the hands of a living, loving, amazing, and wonderful God.
Yes, our heartaches might out weigh our joys by a million to one, but we need to have faith that HE, our GOD, knows better than we do what sort of refining fires we need to pass through to be His, wholly His!
Thank You GOD! Thank You for this most wonderful of miracles! Please Lord, please continue to bless little Lyla Rose and her parents and keep them IN YOU, in YOUR LOVE!
ALL PRAISE to GOD!
ALL GLORY to GOD!
ALL THANKSGIVING to GOD LORD OF THE SABBATH, OUR CREATOR, OUR SAVIOR, OUR KING!
Amen!
Jas 5:18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
Prayer.
Praying earnestly.
Today an earnest prayer of mine was fully realized in the birth of my great niece, Lyla Rose Myers!
ALL GLORY, HONOR, and PRAISE UNTO GOD! This was HIS miracle! This was by HIS grace! Through HIS love!
Back in May 2011 my niece found out she was pregnant, her seventh or sixth pregnancy, all the others having failed through miscarriage. She was resigned to losing this baby too- feeling all the same familiar, horrible pangs of a miscarriage wracking her body. She went to the hospital emergency room and I was asked to go be with her. When I got there I could see the heartache written all over her face, she was devastated already but trying to steel herself for the inevitable outcome of the hospital visit. Doing my best to comfort her, it was only when her mother and husband arrived a short while later that she gave into the tears and heartache full force. With my heartbreaking for her I PRAYED EARNESTLY for a miracle to our LIVING GOD! To a God who hears, to a God who sees, to a God who knows, to a God who LOVES us, and OUR MOST AMAZING WONDERFUL GOD answered that prayer, a prayer that MANY were praying the day. Our LORD answered our prayer! Our living God blessed the womb of my niece and the baby had a heartbeat. In spite of having all the signs of a miscarriage my niece miraculously carried a living child. After nine months- that beautiful miracle baby was born today! PRAISE GOD! PRAISE OUR LIVING, LOVING, WONDERFUL GOD! Our God who answers earnest prayers as ONLY HE CAN!
Do all earnest prayers get answered? Yes. Maybe not the way we always desire because the earnest prayer includes first and foremost God's will to be done, not ours. We can't see the big picture, we just can't, but God can! God sees the end from the beginning and He knows. This miracle blessing of this successful pregnancy is proof. Yes, a thousand prayers might go unanswered in the manner we'd like but all it takes is one prayer to be answered as we earnestly beseech our most HOLY GOD, and we can truly comprehend that our LIVES are in the hands of a living, loving, amazing, and wonderful God.
Yes, our heartaches might out weigh our joys by a million to one, but we need to have faith that HE, our GOD, knows better than we do what sort of refining fires we need to pass through to be His, wholly His!
Thank You GOD! Thank You for this most wonderful of miracles! Please Lord, please continue to bless little Lyla Rose and her parents and keep them IN YOU, in YOUR LOVE!
ALL PRAISE to GOD!
ALL GLORY to GOD!
ALL THANKSGIVING to GOD LORD OF THE SABBATH, OUR CREATOR, OUR SAVIOR, OUR KING!
Amen!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Fervent Prayer
Jas 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
Jas 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
Jas 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
The power of prayer. You've heard it said before that there is power in prayer and there really is. We are told to pray.
If we are afflicted. Pray.
If we are sick. Pray.
If we are repented and seeking forgiveness. Pray.
If we have faults. Pray.
We must pray!
Prayer is instantly recognizing God as our Creator, our Savior, our Redeemer. At least sincere prayer is all that. Too many pray without sincerity. Too many pray repetitive prayers that lose all their power because they are prayed without any real meaning. When we talk to someone they know whether or not what we are saying is sincere- at least most of the time they do. People can tell when we are speaking from the heart can't they? You can see the interest, or lack of it in another as you are speaking. Have you ever been talking and seen the one you are talking to just lose focus in what you're saying? Have you gotten mad because what you were saying was important- to you at least? When we talk to people it is very seldom just to hear ourselves speak, right? We want the other person to listen to what we are saying and respond as one that has heard. It is NO different with God. When we speak with God it has to be sincere speaking, not passionless, but filled with passion. We can't expect God to hear our prayers if we are praying but NOT really speaking to Him at all. We can't drone on and drone and expect God to listen to us.
The effectual FERVENT prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Fervent- 'having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit, feeling, enthusiasm, etc.; ardent: a fervent admirer; a fervent plea.'
Pasted from
Intensity of spirit. Enthusiasm. Great warmth. Are our prayers fervent? Do we pray with passion? Seriously, do we?
We need to.
Our righteousness is found ONLY in Christ Jesus our Savior. And we can pray fervent in His name knowing He hears, knowing that He cares.
We can choose to pray softly, silently even, and still do so with great intensity.
We need to pray. We need prayer in our lives and it must be a big part of our lives.
All through the grace and mercy of our Savior!
Amen!
Jas 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
Jas 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
The power of prayer. You've heard it said before that there is power in prayer and there really is. We are told to pray.
If we are afflicted. Pray.
If we are sick. Pray.
If we are repented and seeking forgiveness. Pray.
If we have faults. Pray.
We must pray!
Prayer is instantly recognizing God as our Creator, our Savior, our Redeemer. At least sincere prayer is all that. Too many pray without sincerity. Too many pray repetitive prayers that lose all their power because they are prayed without any real meaning. When we talk to someone they know whether or not what we are saying is sincere- at least most of the time they do. People can tell when we are speaking from the heart can't they? You can see the interest, or lack of it in another as you are speaking. Have you ever been talking and seen the one you are talking to just lose focus in what you're saying? Have you gotten mad because what you were saying was important- to you at least? When we talk to people it is very seldom just to hear ourselves speak, right? We want the other person to listen to what we are saying and respond as one that has heard. It is NO different with God. When we speak with God it has to be sincere speaking, not passionless, but filled with passion. We can't expect God to hear our prayers if we are praying but NOT really speaking to Him at all. We can't drone on and drone and expect God to listen to us.
The effectual FERVENT prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Fervent- 'having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit, feeling, enthusiasm, etc.; ardent: a fervent admirer; a fervent plea.'
Pasted from
Intensity of spirit. Enthusiasm. Great warmth. Are our prayers fervent? Do we pray with passion? Seriously, do we?
We need to.
Our righteousness is found ONLY in Christ Jesus our Savior. And we can pray fervent in His name knowing He hears, knowing that He cares.
We can choose to pray softly, silently even, and still do so with great intensity.
We need to pray. We need prayer in our lives and it must be a big part of our lives.
All through the grace and mercy of our Savior!
Amen!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Swear not....any oath
Jas 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
Mat 5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
Mat 5:35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Mat 5:36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
Mat 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
How easy it is for us to 'fall in condemnation' because we enjoy talking. Our tongues enjoy wagging. Where would most of us be if we didn't have wagging tongues? We love the sound of our own voices, don't we? Can we go a month without talking? A week? A single day? Seriously, can we willingly- not medically induced, keep from talking for a single day. What do you think would happen if you tried it? Do you think you'd succeed? You say you have to talk, that family, friends, co-workers and such are dependent upon your talking. Then ask yourself if you did have laryngitis how would they survive without your speaking? That's different you say? No, it's really not. Unless of course you result to writing, which people can do when they can't speak- but in truth it's still a form of communication and don't we need to just see what it's like NOT to speak for a bit?
This verse in James talks about us no swearing by heaven or earth or anything really. We need to speak plainly. What is more than yes and no leads to confusion a lot of times. We want to say more than yes and no we want a lot of leeway.
We do NOT want to fall into condemnation. We should not make any oaths because we have power over NOTHING. We have to realize our place and that is as a creature and as a creature we have no power, our Creator has the power and it's to Him we have to bow down and worship. We have to realize that He has the control we have none.
We are condemned when we believe we have power, when we believe we have control. As long as we believe more in ourselves and less in God we are lost. People have to believe this because it's true.
Our God is so awesome, He is all powerful!
The mercy of God is beyond our comprehension.
God is our all in all, so far above us and we are blessed, blessed to be able to worship Him.
We really do have to consider how we speak much more than we do and James has been paramount in trying to teach us this.
Please Lord help us to take Your words to heart, let us realize our place, You are our all in all forever and ever.
Amen.
Mat 5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
Mat 5:35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Mat 5:36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
Mat 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
How easy it is for us to 'fall in condemnation' because we enjoy talking. Our tongues enjoy wagging. Where would most of us be if we didn't have wagging tongues? We love the sound of our own voices, don't we? Can we go a month without talking? A week? A single day? Seriously, can we willingly- not medically induced, keep from talking for a single day. What do you think would happen if you tried it? Do you think you'd succeed? You say you have to talk, that family, friends, co-workers and such are dependent upon your talking. Then ask yourself if you did have laryngitis how would they survive without your speaking? That's different you say? No, it's really not. Unless of course you result to writing, which people can do when they can't speak- but in truth it's still a form of communication and don't we need to just see what it's like NOT to speak for a bit?
This verse in James talks about us no swearing by heaven or earth or anything really. We need to speak plainly. What is more than yes and no leads to confusion a lot of times. We want to say more than yes and no we want a lot of leeway.
We do NOT want to fall into condemnation. We should not make any oaths because we have power over NOTHING. We have to realize our place and that is as a creature and as a creature we have no power, our Creator has the power and it's to Him we have to bow down and worship. We have to realize that He has the control we have none.
We are condemned when we believe we have power, when we believe we have control. As long as we believe more in ourselves and less in God we are lost. People have to believe this because it's true.
Our God is so awesome, He is all powerful!
The mercy of God is beyond our comprehension.
God is our all in all, so far above us and we are blessed, blessed to be able to worship Him.
We really do have to consider how we speak much more than we do and James has been paramount in trying to teach us this.
Please Lord help us to take Your words to heart, let us realize our place, You are our all in all forever and ever.
Amen.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Endure
Jas 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Endure.
Persevering.
Continuing in spite of wanting to give up.
Carry on, regardless of circumstances.
Having faith, enduring.
We bring up Job as an example all the time and why? Because we need to. We need to understand life at it's possible worse for us and even in that believing in God.
Satan wants us to blame God.
Satan wants us to give up.
Satan does NOT want us to endure.
Satan does NOT want us to have patience.
Satan does NOT want us to have faith.
We have to keep the patience of Job in our lives always when it's the hardest to do so, when it seems impossible to do so. When tragedies strike we CAN'T blame God! We CAN'T give up! We MUST endure!
Our Savior is very compassionate, our Savior's mercy in unending. We have to endure… we have to and by the GRACE and RIGHTEOUSNESS of our SAVIOR we will.
Only through Him, only by Him, always in His love!
Endure.
Persevering.
Continuing in spite of wanting to give up.
Carry on, regardless of circumstances.
Having faith, enduring.
We bring up Job as an example all the time and why? Because we need to. We need to understand life at it's possible worse for us and even in that believing in God.
Satan wants us to blame God.
Satan wants us to give up.
Satan does NOT want us to endure.
Satan does NOT want us to have patience.
Satan does NOT want us to have faith.
We have to keep the patience of Job in our lives always when it's the hardest to do so, when it seems impossible to do so. When tragedies strike we CAN'T blame God! We CAN'T give up! We MUST endure!
Our Savior is very compassionate, our Savior's mercy in unending. We have to endure… we have to and by the GRACE and RIGHTEOUSNESS of our SAVIOR we will.
Only through Him, only by Him, always in His love!
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