July 9, 2013

Romans 7:17 & 20

But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

Encouraging Words...

I am not depraved! I am created in the image of God! I am not sinful by nature, but sin which is distinctly separate from me still dwells within my fleshly body. The early church fathers taught that because I am created in the image of God, there is an indelible goodness in my nature that can never be undone. Yes, I can become immersed in sin, but I can know that it is not part of my nature, but a foreign force that dwells within me. Sin is what I do, not what I am. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner! Lord Jesus Christ, Master of my life, give me the power and the desire to say "No!" to sin and "Yes!" to Your will in my life. Glory be to God!

July 8, 2013

Romans 3:10-12

As it is written:
“There is none righteous, no, not one;
There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.”

Encouraging Words...

If I read this passage through the filter that God is a wrathful, judging God, then there is no hope for mankind. If I read this through the filter that God is love and in the context of the entire scriptures, then I can see that God has provided total and complete hope for mankind through the work of His Son, Jesus Christ. The law's purpose was not to condemn mankind, but to point us to Christ and our need for Him. Through Christ the law has been justified and put to death.

July 7, 2013

Romans 2:11

For there is no partiality with God.

Personal Challenge...

Don't we often as Christians show partiality when we label someone as not being a "true" Christian because they practice their Christianity different that us? If God shows no partiality then why do I think that I can?

July 6, 2013

No posting.

July 5, 2013

Luke 6:20-23

Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said:

“Blessed are you poor,
For yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now,
For you shall be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now,
For you shall laugh.
Blessed are you when men hate you,
And when they exclude you,
And revile you, and cast out your name as evil,
For the Son of Man's sake.
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy!
For indeed your reward is great in heaven,
For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets."

Encouraging Words and Personal Challenge...

How easy is it to confuse Jesus' blessings of the "bad" things (poverty, hunger, weeping, being hated) with the things of this world when He is referring to the things of the heavenly realm, which also exists in the present. Am I poor in hour I hold on to the possessions that I have and have a heart for the poor around me (both economically and spiritually)? Am I totally dependent upon God? Do I weep over the sufferings of this physical life and the suffering of those around me as well as those far off in such great need? Do I get persecuted because I uphold the truth, refuse to compromise with the ways of the world and give myself to none other than God? Here is where the blessings of God will pour into my life. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

July 4, 2013

Romans 3:23

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Encouraging Words...

From the Orthodox Study Bible: "The ultimate purpose of man's existence is to attain the glory of God. Even if a person were to keep the whole law, he would still fall short of that glory, because he would still be bound by death. The glory of God is both eternal righteousness and eternal life. Jesus Christ alone lived in completed righteousness, and He alone was resurrected from the dead. Therefore, He alone is the fullness of the glory of God, and we receive that glory in Him (see Jn 14:6)" The encouraging part here is that through the glorious work of JEsus Christ I too will be able to enter in the the glory of God.

July 3, 2013

Matthew 7:21

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."

Personal Challenge...

God does not want His children to be passive followers of Him. He wants us to be active doing His will. But He also doesn't want us to just be busy. If we are not operating within His will we are still just spinning our wheels. The life of a Christian is an active, purposeful, God-centered life.