Posts Tagged ‘faithfulness’
Just recently my beloved unbelieving husband brought me an article from the Tulsa World newspaper. The title of the article is, Priest: Stealing is OK at times. The priest from northern England made a statement that reflects Man’s Ways vs. God’s Ways. His statement caused a disturbance in the congregation, fellow clergy, shop owners and police. The priest told his congregation that it is “sometimes acceptable for desperate people to shoplift – as long as they do it at the large national chain stores, rather than small, family businesses.” The priest also said that, “Shoplifting could help people who are legally entitled to welfare benefits but have them delayed for bureaucratic reasons.”
When man depends on his own reasoning of what is right or wrong, he rejects God’s Ways, “thou shalt not steal.” (Deuteronomy 5:19 [show] [19]"'And you shall not steal. (ESV)
) The Holy Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit is our Instructor, our Guide and the One who reveals the wisdom of God to us as our sensitive Counselor. (John 14:16, 26 [show] [16]And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, (ESV)
[26]But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (ESV); 16: 7-13.)
Some might agree with what appears to be a “compassionate” priest, when they read his reasoning to why he said what he did. But again, Man’s Ways are not God’s Ways and to ignore what God says can cause another to stumble, and in this case those that are struggling with the hardships of life or those that are young in their faith. (Psalm 119:9, 165 [show] [9]How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
[165]Great peace have those who love your law;
nothing can make them stumble.) We in the end know that those in authority as in the priest’s case, distort what Scripture says and in the end brings about destruction. (II Peter 3:16 [show] [16]as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. (ESV))
We as God’s people have a responsibility not only to observe God’s Law but to obey God’s Word and then to teach other’s God Ways. God’s children are nourished by His Words through faith. It brings delight to their spirits when they receive it and produces growth, so that they might live a righteous life before God and others. One way we can teach others to live out their faith is to teach them the importance of giving to others in need. This in itself will help those that are facing difficult times and show them the love of Christ in a practical way through the offering of money and the overflow of our abundance.
God’s Word is the same yesterday, today and forever. It is changeless and all powerful. When we apply it in our lives to do things God’s Way, we see that our circumstances as a time to lean on God for His direction and strength. We also learn to be interdependent on one another in the body of Christ for accountability and receive their support and encouragement.
Take time today to read the amazing Scriptures posted and be encouraged of God’s continuous faithfulness, power and hope of years past. Let it encourage you as you look at your circumstances and the purpose and hope God has in store for you and your life. (Joshua 1:8 [show] [8]This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (ESV); Psalm 19:7-11, 119 [show] [7]The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple;
[8]the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
[9]the fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the LORD are true,
and righteous altogether.
[10]More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
[11]Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.:160; Isaiah 55:11 [show] [11]so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.; Matthew 24:35 [show] [35]Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (ESV); I Peter 1:24-25 [show] [24]for
"All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
[25]but the word of the Lord remains forever."
And this word is the good news that was preached to you. (ESV); Hebrews 4:12 [show] [12]For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (ESV); Romans 15:4 [show] [4]For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (ESV))
Let me ask you, what is your opinion of what this Priest said to his congregation? Do you see the importance of God’s Way vs. Man’s Way? What could this priest have instructed his congregation that would have lined up with God’s Word? We can see there is a reason God has set His rules and regulations before us. It is up to us to appropriate what He instructs us and He will surely bless us. (James 1:22-24 [show] [22]But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. [23]For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. [24]For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. (ESV); Luke 11:28 [show] [28]But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" (ESV); John 13:17 [show] [17]If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (ESV): James 1:25 [show] [25]But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (ESV))
Have a blessed day!!
In recalling, my first encounter and journey and with Jesus, is a refreshing thought. I was so excited to be met by the Savior in one of deepest hours of my life. Alone, scared, depressed, and wondering how I would ever make it another day. While crying out in desperation, a still sweet voice came to me saying, "Pick up your Bible on your end table." My grandmother had given me a little Bible many years ago, during a closet cleaning expedition. Since that time it sat on my end table.
I argued with the thought of picking up my Bible and said out loud, "What good will that do? That is not going to help me!" Again, I heard a soft, sweet voice say, "Miriam, pick up your Bible." On my way over to pick up the Bible, I said again, "What good will that do? This is not going to help me."
This was the beginning of my journey with Jesus. Have you ever been so low that the only place for you to look is up and the only thing left to do is yell out loud, hoping some answer will appear to bring about the hope or answers to your life’s problems. Well that is where I was 37 years ago.
The Bible says in Hebrews 13:8 [show] [8]Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (ESV), "Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever." I am grateful for His constant reminder, that He remains faithful. In Jeremiah 29:13 [show] [13]You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. (ESV), God tells us, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
I find it comforting that when no one else seems to have the answer, or it appears that no one is listening or cares, He, Jesus Christ is able to hear and reach us in our time of need. In my desperation, He heard me. In my deepest sorrow, He knew my heart. In my emptiness He filled it with Himself. On that beautiful day, I became a new believer in Christ Jesus, the Son of the Living God, and my encounter and journey with Jesus, changed my life forever.
Where are you at this moment? Is the journey you are on, leading you into a deeper depression, filled with hopelessness and despair? Is it time that you too, cry out to the Savior, Jesus Christ and allow Him to fill you with His presence in your life? Don’t take a journey in life by yourself but ask Jesus to become your Lord and Savior, right now.
Romans 10:9-10 [show] [9]because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10]For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (ESV) “9That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
Pray with me, Dear Father, I am lost and afraid. I am a sinner and ask for forgiveness of my sins. I believe that Jesus died for my sins and was raised from the dead and sits at your right hand of God. Lord Jesus, would you please come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior. Amen
