Just What We Need Is a Blessing

 

But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.

1 Timothy 6:6-8

The Apostles suffered for their faith and ministry.  They were jailed and all but John, the Beloved, were martyred.

I think that is why Timothy wrote this, because he came to realize that the best of times were those times when he had just what he needed to survive - food and clothing and shelter.  It was in these times that they were able to go about ministering, healing the sick and preaching the Gospel.  They were not looking to become wealthy, but to live holy lives and serve God.

I think that we too can aspire to this - not that we will be poor - but to realize having what we need is a true blessing from God.   

Scary Times

 

Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

James 4:7

It is scary when we are confronted by evil. It might be a corrupt boss who wants us to go along with his or her scheme. It might be people who taunt us because of we are Christians. Evil people work hard to make us miserable and try to destroy our faith. Some are sneaky and others come right out and say their goal is to destroy us. Our best defense is to resist the urge to go along to get along. Eventually the bad guys will give up and move on. Or, as the Bible says, they will run away from us.

Have faith – God is on your side.

We May Not Want To Do The Right Thing, But...

Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.

For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:1-7

Sometimes the right thing is not what we want to do. Maybe it is because it is not convenient or maybe it is because we are lazy or maybe it is because it will benefit someone we don’t particularly like. It does not matter why we don’t want to do the right thing, what matters is that in spite of our personal feelings that we do the right thing.

While the Bible tells we are subject to rulers and authorities, sometimes doing the right thing involves being resistant to things which violate the laws of God and man, and God makes allowance for this in that we are to "malign no one...showing consideration for all men." 

We were not very likable, and yet, Jesus saved us, regenerated us, and renewed us. This being said, is it too much to expect that we show consideration for all men and women by doing the right thing?

 

We Are Better Off Than We Think

 

When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.  He opened His mouth and began to teach them saying,

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

“Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

“Rejoice and be glad for your reward in is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Matthew 5:1-12

You may have figured out, that Jesus saw things differently than most people do, and that as Christians we are to approach everyday life happenings with a different attitude than non-believers. 

In this scripture, commonly known as “The Beatitudes,” Jesus gives us an insight into how the Kingdom of God works.  We are not exempt from trials or tribulations or heartbreak, but we are comforted by God through it all.  When we strive to overcome difficulties and to make peace, we are living out the Gospel. 

We are to embrace our life and to live as Jesus did, not in fear but in confidence that we are blessed to be.

We are better off than we think.

Angels on Guard

 

For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways….

Psalm 91:11

God's angels are on duty and every day they intervene to keep us safe and we are not even aware of their work.

Even now as my husband, Chuck, is seriously ill, I know that God's angels are guarding him.  Please pray for him. 

Thank you. 

God Is Waiting To Welcome You

“Return to me, with all your heart,

And with fasting, weeping and mourning;

And rend your heart and not your garments.”

Now return to the Lord your God,

For He is gracious and compassionate,

Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness….

Joel 2:12-13

The overriding theme of the Bible is that it is never too late to come to God and ask forgiveness.  God is not keeping a score card of our sins, He is keeping watch over us.  No matter what we have done, God still loves us and will forgive us.  

God invites us to return to Him, and He is waiting to welcome us.  

Do not fear God, know that He is on your side and that He loves you. 

We Are The Messengers

 

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18

There are people who will try to silence us when we talk about the love of God and Jesus. They may taunt and ridicule us.  They are not interested in faith or the Bible.  Some think it is all a myth. 

But I have found that some of those who routinely tried to silence me, came to a point where they recognized that there was truth to what I was saying.  Often it was when they were experiencing some sort of upset to their life.  

When we are approached by these people for assurance, we can embrace them with God's love and God's words of comfort.    

It is not us, but the power of God that changes the hearts of men and women.  We are just the messengers.