COLOSSIANS 3:8-10 AMP
“But now rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene (abusive, filthy, vulgar) language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new [spiritual] self who is being continually renewed in true knowledge in the image of Him who created the new self”
This Right Here…..
It pains me to see Christians who refuse to allow the power of God to renew their minds. Choosing to maintain their normal behaviors because they’re so accustomed to it. Choosing to produce fruit that is not after the vine (Jesus)…….then they wonder why they have bared pain upon pain…… heartache after heartache…… why day after day they continue to bare a cross they were not meant to carry. Read More
Luke 10:41-42 ESV
“But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Necessary-required to be done, needed, essential
We could look at this and say that Mary chose a comfortable spot. That she found a way to not have to lift a finger and still please the Lord. Martha, on the other hand, worked tirelessly believing that she was serving the Lord with everything she had. Martha looks upon her sister and compares what she is doing to what Mary appeared not to be doing and judged her progress according to her own standards and expectations. Yet, Jesus corrects Martha & brings to her attention that Mary is doing what is necessary. Read More
Philippians 1:14-18 ESV
“And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice”
There is a scripture where the disciples saw a man casting out demons in Jesus’s name and they tried to stop him……they asked the man to follow them and the man said no. They go on their way and tell Jesus about what happened but Jesus’s reaction was this, He said “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you” (Luke 9:50 ESV) Read More
Jonah 4:2 AMPC
“And he prayed to the Lord and said, I pray You, O Lord, is not this just what I said when I was still in my country? That is why I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and [when sinners turn to You and meet Your conditions] You revoke the [sentence of] evil against them.”
Jonah in his story was told to go to Nineveh to deliver a word to the people to repent but instead, he decided to go against God and flee to another place. God’s grace and mercy were upon the people of Nineveh but God’s servant didn’t respond correctly to the position he was called to stand in. Later on, God puts things into perspective of how Jonah could feel more mournful for a plant more than the people he was called to speak to. God had mercy. He had a plan to deliver it, yet the vehicle in which He intended to use for its delivery was bound up in the heart of a person who had his own personal intentions…. (he wanted justice to be done when & how he wanted it.) Read More
John 21:21-22 ESV
“When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”
Well that was quite a response lol
How often do we compare or journeys with those around us? Peter asked a pretty legit question (he asked a question anyone in our time period would ask with a quickness….what about him? But his way of thinking was not right & Jesus quickly exposed that.)
What God has for you is for you in all the ups, downs, ins and outs. What you go through may not seem fair, right or even justified when you look at someone else’s life that doesn’t seem to have to travel the same path as you, but they’re not supposed to. Read More
Proverbs 16:2 ESV
“All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.”
Pure is not always pure & just is not always just when the Lord examines your heart. You could boldly present your case about any subject but if God finds within you anger, malice, deceit, jealousy, covertness etc….even further, a spirit of division…… then your well-meaning intention is no longer a good one.
Our mission is to become more like Christ. If that be the case, we should exhibit His traits, His character, His way of viewing things.
So anything that doesn’t look like Him, talk like Him, act like Him isn’t of Him but is representing more of the world’s example of how we should live (we are not students of the world but of the Father.) Read More
Hebrews 13:7 ESV
“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”
It’s hard to imitate what you can not see……
1). Consider the outcome of their way of life
2). Imitate their faith
If I don’t know what obstacles you’ve faced and the areas of your life that you’ve had to stand in faith on…. how can I imitate you? If all I see is your cold exterior and how welcoming you are on a platform yet in person very indifferent…. how can I imitate you? I know nothing about you… your lifestyle… your Godly convictions….furthermore…..you know nothing about me.
The question to be asked at this point would be; How can a exchange be made to promote better communication & understanding? (How can a leader be trusted when those under them do not recognize who they are apart from the position they hold……..their title. Truth be told, you can have a title and still not be known.) Read More