Memories can be positive and negative. They can be good and bad. They can be downright irritating and they can be a good teaching moment. Remember to take the opportunity to remember and learn what God wants you to know. (cf. "Memorial Day")
"For I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, 'The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.' We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry" (1 Corinthians 10:1-14).
Memories can be positive and negative. They can be good and bad. They can be downright irritating and they can be a good teaching moment. Remember to take the opportunity to remember and learn what God wants you to know. (cf. "Memorial Day")
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"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7).
"but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord" (Philemon 1:14). "So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:1-3). There are those in the "Christian" world that promote tithing. Is this accurate? Is this teaching false? Compulsary serving is something that God does not promote among His people. On the contrary, everything God wants from His people is to be done willingly and from the heart. This includes giving, leading, and serving. I wonder how God views those who teach compulsary Christianity? The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves "Someone told him (Jesus), 'Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.' But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, 'Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?' And pointing to his disciples, he said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother'" (Matthew 12:47-50).
A proper relationship with Jesus is important; at least, it is important to Jesus. First, He distinguishes between a physical heratige and spiritual heratige by stating that blood relationship is not what counts; rather, love, dedication, and an obedient faith to the heavenly Father (cf. Romans; Galatians; 1 John). Second, the spiritual relationship with Jesus is not just based on a "blind" following and meaningless repitition. (Jesus doesn't want a "blind faith"). He pointed to His disciples. A disciple is a follower. A learner in the true sense. They are those who choose to follow by free will. They continue to learn, grow, and produce fruit of righteousness. A person of relationship with Jesus (and God) are those who "does the will of my (Jesus') Father in heaven" (Matthew 12:50). Other passages in Scripture teach that this obedience is not one that attempts to earn their salvation (Romans; Galatians). It is a faith that lives a life worthy of the gospel of Christ; i.e., because one desires to wholeheartedly live for Him because of His love that He has already given. Are you in a relationship with God? The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves Ephesians 5.
I love my wife. She is truly a godly partner in life. She is kind and thoughtful. She seeks to fulfill who and what she was made to be by God - not man. My wife doesn't stive for equal rights. Why would she want to lower her standards. I thank God every day that He blessed me with a woman I DON'T DESERVE. I will accept this beautiful and godly gift under one condition. The condition is . . . that the love of Christ is superior in every way. Jesus is my primary relationship in every relationship. How I treat my wife, as well as all people, must be and remain secondary. The awesome thing about this understanding is that I don't seek to treat people based on how they treat me; rather, how I understand and relate to my primary relationship - Jesus. (cf. Love and Respect) The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves Mosab (Author of The Son of Hamas)
What an awesome opportunity for you to continue to grow in Christ. Our biggest example of sacrifice, Jesus, wasn’t excited about His death on the cross. It was shameful to Him. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted” (Hebrews 12:1-3). He wanted the suffering to pass. “And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will’” Matthew 26:39). I don’t have all the answers myself but God does. Continue to reach for the strength that is not your own. “If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again” (2 Corinthians 1:6-10). The Lord’s humbled . . . Who prays for you. John A. Reeves “For we (Christians) do not have a high priest (Jesus Christ) who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).
What did Jesus need? In reality, He needed everything all humans need. Scripture teaches just this reality (cf. "Spiritual Needs of Jesus"). If Jesus didn't need all that we need, how could He truly undersand us? How could He be our perfect sacrifice? How could He be someone that all people should follow? The reality is that Jesus is God and Jesus was also man (cf. John 1:1-4, 14). The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves "For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10).
Jesus had a mission. His mission is the mission of all His followers - to seek and save the lost. About four years ago my first wife died to cancer. I have never felt so much pain and loss. Fortunately, I know with whom she put her faith and trust. So, in that respect I am happy for her. Yet, I still feel the pain. (See my article on God, Do You Love Me?). Yet, imagine how Jesus feels when those whom He loves reject Him. Does He feel loss? Absolutely. Does He feel pain? Undoubtedly. Does He allow people to choose? Without a doubt. I write because I know the hope there is in an obedient faith in Christ. I write because I feel pain of loss. I write because I know Jesus desire. I write because I want all to know God through His Son - Jesus. The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves "On the first day of the week (Sundays) we came together to break bread (Lord's supper)" (Acts 20:7).
I enjoy remembering significant episodes in my life and I know my wife does as well. Today is the day my wife and I were married. I bought her a card and some flowers. Unfortunately, we have to work all day long; so, we will do more "celebrating" over the weekend. There is nothing like rememberance to keep one's life in focus. This is what Jesus asked all His disciples to do for Him (Matthew 26:17-30; cf. Luke 22:7-30; Acts 20; 1 Corinthians 10:14-17, 11:17-34). Christians remember Jesus life, death, burial, and resurrection. We do this through what is called the Lord's supper. I am impressed with how significant this rememberance is. It is not a "ceremony". It is not a "play". It is not an "act". It is a part of who I am. Jesus died for me. Jesus rose for me. Jesus lives for me (and all people who choose Him). I am completely aware of the significance of remembering this anniversary. The Lord's humbled . . . John A. Reeves "In the Lord I take refuge. How then can you say to me: 'Flee like a bird to your mountain. For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?'"
"The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on is heavenly throne. He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them. The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates. On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot." "For the Lord is rightous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face" (Psalm 11). |
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