Grace for your spirit March 9, 2010

Grace for your spirit

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

There are thousands of pieces that are used to construct a ship, but it is doubtful that any of them will float alone. If we throw each part into the sea one at a time, they will sink to the bottom, but when they are all put together by the builder, it will be sea worthy. There are thousands of things that happen in our lives. Some are bad, some are good, and at times, we all face some very bad times. We often wonder, how these bad times can work out for good. Most of the time, no one has the answer except God. Why is there sickness, pain, and death? The answer is right here. God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Love Him, walk in His purpose, and on our worst day, we can know God will cause our boat to float.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

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Grace for your spirit March 8, 2010

Grace for your spirit
But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless. II Peter 3:13-14
Does a hope of a eternal home in heaven change the way we live? If we are making plans to spend an eternity with God, does it help us make key decisions in life? The Scripture tells us that when we have such a hope, we purify ourselves and treat each other better too. We also prepare to be found by Jesus in the way that would please Him. Is anyone aware of the preparations we are making to live where righteousness dwells? At our funeral, when the preacher talks about our new dwelling place in heaven, will our family and friends be puzzled? Most people make preparations for a long trip in this world, and talk about it a lot. If we are planning to be in heaven eternally, it should change our plans, our conversations, and our lives for the better. Let's all fix our hope on that today.


The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
graceforyourspirit.blogspot.com

Grace for your spirit March 5, 2010

Grace for your spirit
As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him. And He did not let him, but He said to him, "Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you." Mark 5:18-19
The man who had his life saved by Jesus, now clothed and in his right mind, wanted to go with Jesus and the apostles. Jesus said no, and gave him a different challenge. A challenge to go home and tell his story. Why, do you suppose? This man, from the east side of Galilee, may not have been readily accepted in the places where Jesus was heading. It might have discouraged him. This man, who was already "leaps and bounds" ahead of the apostles in faith and works, may have been hampered by their very presence. This man, could now go where none of the other apostles could go and be accepted. Like this man, let's all ask God which way He wants us to go, and heed His direction. It may not be the way we wanted to go in the first place, but let's trust God who knows best.


The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
graceforyourspirit.blogspot.com

Grace for your spirit March 4, 2010

Grace for your spirit

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom
He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Romans 8:29-30
Do we like to be surprised about the end of things we experience? We ask people not to tell us how the movie ends? We don't want to ruin it. We don't want to hear the score of the big game so we can enjoy it later with the outcome in suspense. How about our eternal life? Do we want to wake up on the judgment day and be surprised? God has prepared a path for us to walk on that will help us eliminate surprises at the end. First, we are conformed to the image of His Son, when we are called to walk on the path He has prepared. On the path, we are justified by the blood of Jesus, and with Jesus as our Lord, God brings us to glory. The way to walk has been planned ahead of time. Whether we walk on it, is up to us. If we walk in the footsteps of Jesus, yield to His justification, there will be no surprises at the gates of glory.


The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
graceforyourspirit.blogspot.com

Grace for your spirit March 3, 2010

Grace for your spirit

When we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now. I Corinthians 4:13

How much respect do we demand in our Christians walk? Are we willing to look foolish at times, look weak, live without honor? Can we stand people slandering us for our decision to be His disciple? When we choose to walk in the path of Jesus, many will consider us the scum of the earth too. Jesus was slandered, but He didn't demand His rights of respect. When Joseph was slandered and falsely accused in Egypt, he went to prison. He lived in the shadow of slander, but trusted in the Lord and was blessed. Many followers of God have spent their lives being treated badly. What was Paul's answer to slander? He answered kindly, and used his kind answer as a bridge to testify of His salvation in Christ. Let's not be offended, or be offensive. Let's go on the offense with Jesus.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

graceforyourspirit.blogspot.com

Grace for your spirit March 2, 2010

Grace for your spirit

Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. Colossians 3:5

A living will is a statement of your wishes in case you are dying. If you are dying, do you wish to be resuscitated? Do you wish extraordinary measures to sustain your life? It helps your family make the difficult decisions in case of emergency. It is only natural in most cases to wish to keep you alive and bring you back. As Christians, we need to have a living will about our lives of sin. Christ has called us to die to sin, be buried in baptism, and arise to walk in newness of life. We need to be dead to all the evil desires of the flesh. Often our family and friends will apply extraordinary measures to bring us back from the dead. Part of our testimony of life in Christ, needs to be a living will. When I'm dead to worldliness, I will be alive in Christ. Don't try to resuscitate me back into my sinful ways.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

Philippians 4:23

graceforyourspirit.blogspot.com

Grace for your spirit March 1, 2010

Grace for your spirit
And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Mt 26:40-41
It was crunch time for Jesus. The enemy was about to arrest Him in the garden, and He was spending time in prayer. He asked His closest apostles to keep watch and pray. They didn't understand the urgency of the hour, and dozed off at their watch. The things Jesus was asking of them now, was the least of the challenges they would face in the coming days. If they couldn't watch and pray now, how would they react at the time of His death? How about us? Can we stay awake for an hour in the service of the Lord? Jesus asks us to be aware of the critical time we live in and stay alert. There is very little we couldn't accomplish if we could stay focused on His mission. The flesh is always going to be weak, but if the Spirit is weak we are in deep trouble. May we all rekindle the Spirit living in us, so we will not enter into temptation. Let's keep watching and praying.


The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit
Philippians 4:23
graceforyourspirit.blogspot.com