Be Content In Your Life!

“Contentment is a pearl of great price, and whosoever procures it at the expense of ten thousand desires makes a wise and happy purchase.” -John Balguy

Contentment is a very precious commodity to possess in this life of disappointments and heartaches. All Christians should join with King David and say, “He maketh me to lie in green pastures” (Psa. 23:2) – That’s a great picture of contentment! Many today are like the two little teardrops floating down the river of life. One tear drop asked the other, “Who are you?” “I am a teardrop from a girl who loved a man and lost him. But who are you?” The first tear drop replied, “I am a tear drop from the girl who got him.” Life is like as is seen in these teardrops. We all too often cry over the things we can’t have, but we might cry twice as hard if we had received them.

So, what is contentment? Viewed negatively, contentment is not insensibility. For instance, the Stoics strove to eliminate all feeling and all emotion until they could say, “I don’t care” if a plate has broken, or if some bodily injury happened to them. One could say that contentment does not destroy all possibility of caring. Also, contentment is not self-satisfaction, to be so happy with yourself that you never try improve yourself. I feel that it is worth noting here that contentment is not apathetic indifference.

Viewed positively, to be content means to rest satisfied, to be well-pleased; not to be disgruntled or disheartened. Webster says that contentment means “freedom from care and discomfort.” Content comes from autarkhs and means:

1) sufficient for one’s self, strong enough or processing enough to need no aid or support;
2) independent of external circumstances;
3) contented with one’s lot, though the slenderest.

Now what do the scriptures say about contentment?...

-“Be content with your wages” (Luke 3:14). Such was the teaching of John the Baptist to the soldiers. This type of contentment would prevent them from intimidating others, and practicing blackmail because of their low wage scale.
-(Philippians 4:11) Paul penned this while he was in prison! Yet, he was content!! How could this be??? Well, Paul had learned that contentment and happiness are not dependent on external circumstances, but inner qualities of the heart, and upon a right relationship with the Lord.
-(1 Timothy 6:6-8) Someone once said, “The poorest man in the world is the man who has more than he needs but feels like it isn’t enough.” In godliness and contentment there is GREAT gain.
-(Hebrews 13:5) This text is not teaching that we should not try to improve our status in life; but, rather that we should avoid a misplaced emphasis on the material things. This verse does not forbid all lawful efforts to improve our own condition and that of others, for that would be inconsistent with Bible teaching.
-(Ephesians 4:28) … work to be able to give to others.
-(Romans 12:11) … diligent working is serving the Lord. What Paul sets forth in this verse in Hebrews is, that no matter what the circumstances, put your trust in the Lord, and things will work together for our good.

There are six things that try to block the path to our to contentment. These are...

Covetousness - In Hebrews 13:5 covetousness is put over against contentment as the antithesis of contentment, and even as an enemy of contentment. The secret of contentment is knowing how to enjoy what you have and being able to loose all desire for things beyond your reach.
Unbelief - The Lord’s instruction to be content is based upon His promises that He will not forsake us, that He will never leave us, that He will help us and that we need not fear what man may do (Hebrews 13:5-6). He promises to sustain us with the physical necessities of life (Matthew 6:24-34; Psalm 37:25). If we believe God how can not help but be content?
Envy - Envy is the chagrin or discontent at the excellence or good fortune of another. Saul was content with the praise he was getting until he saw David getting more (1 Sam. 18:8-9). The Philistines were content with their lot until they saw the possessions of Isaac (Gen. 26:14). Haman was contented until he saw Mordecai sit in the king’s gate (Est. 5:9-14). Remember that envy is an insidious evil which must be eradicated from our hearts.
Pessimism - The discontented pessimist when asked how things are will reply, “They are so much more worse than yesterday, and so much better than I expect them to be tomorrow.”
Self-pity - The prodigal son was discontent personified, and he was guilty of self-pity (Luke 15:29). Too many cry, “Life has cheated me,” or “I’m so unfortunate.” I say that pity is good, but it ought not be wasted on one’s self.
Complaining - The discontented person is seldom willing to keep his discontent to himself. I'd like to quote this old example to you. “I complained about having no shoes until I saw a man who had no feet. I complained about no one visiting my family until I found a person who had no family. I complained about the family members until I moved where there were none. I complained about the Bible teacher until I tried teaching. I complained about not having fine clothes until I saw one in rags.”

In closing, how do we cultivate contentment? Here are some suggestions...

a) Work at it! Paul had to “learn” contentment (Philippians 4:11). Close the doors to the foes of contentment and develop the things which cultivate it.
b) Count your blessings. I refer you to: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and Ephesians 5:20.
c) Transfer your attention and affection to higher and holier matters (Matthew 6:33).
Christ was contented; and, His meat was to do the will of His Father (John 4:34). You will seldom find a discontented person who is not also materialistic.
d) Keep busy. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Be like Jesus who went about doing good (Acts 10:38), then we will not have time to enlarge our bruises.
e) Think about how bad it could be. Things can always be a lot worse. You do not have to look far to find someone worse off than you!
f) Learn that happiness is not tied to things (Luke 12:15). Our society does not believe this. Thus, many are discontent.

Prayer:

Show us your mercy, O Lord; And grant us your salvation. Clothe your ministers with righteousness; Let your people sing with joy. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; For only in you can we live in safety. Let your way be known upon earth; Your saving health among all nations. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. Create in us clean hearts, O God; And sustain us by your Holy Spirit. Amen

May God bless you,

Karen

Saturday Scripture Gold, 1 Corinthians 10:11

Happy Saturday!

Thank you for joining me today. Each week, I will take a verse (or passage) from the Bible and dig beneath the surface to uncover the precious golden nuggets of truth, wisdom, and knowledge that lie waiting to be discovered. I pray that this will inspire you to do some "digging" of your own into God's scripture!

This week's Bible passage: 1 Corinthians 10:11

The Old Testament provides valuable lessons for the Christian. One such lesson is the importance of making wise choices in our lives (1 Corinthians 10:11). To review just a few of these lessons, we read that Lot made a choice as to where to live and as a result he experienced:
1) War and kidnapping (Genesis 14)
2) Oppression and torment by the ungodly citizens of Sodom (2 Peter 2:7-8).
3) Loss of all his possessions, death of his wife, and incest with his daughters (Genesis 19).
David chose to commit adultery with Bathsheba, and as a consequence he suffered:
1) The death of his infant son (2 Samuel 12).
2) A daughter molested by her half-brother (2 Samuel 13).
3) That son killed by her vengeful brother (2 Samuel 13).
4) A rebellion led by that son, who shamed him publicly, and whose death brought even more grief to David (2 Samuel 15-18).
With Lot and David illustrating the need for making wise choices, let's consider the following examples:
a. Some choices that greatly affect our lives
b. Suggestions for making wise choices
c. What to do when we have made the wrong choice

Let's begin today with choices that greatly affect our lives, starting with choosing Jesus. Will you follow Jesus or not? Will you become His disciple? Or will you refuse to accept His gracious offer of salvation (Matthew 11:28-30)? This one decision will affect your life more than any other! It will determine your place in eternity, and it will have a bearing on every other decision you make. How? As a disciple, you will be concerned with doing His will, and as a disciple, you will not simply "do your own thing" (Matthew 28:18-20).

Then there is choosing a career. Even from a worldly viewpoint, your choice is important. The job market is always changing. The wrong choice could lead to financial ruin or fiscal hardship. More importantly, the choice can have a lasting effect on: Your marriage and family, and your service to God. So make the choice to honor God first, and you will be blessed (Matthew 6:33), or make money the primary factor in your decision, and destruction will follow (1 Timothy 6:6-10).

How about in choosing a mate? This choice will determine to a great extent your degree of happiness (Proverbs 12:4). It will have a permanent bearing on your children and their emotional well-being. You may think you can simply divorce a person if they turn out to be a bad choice. But once you have children, there is no way to reverse the choice you made as to who is the mother or father of your children! The children are not unaffected by the violence of divorce (Malachi 2:16).

Choosing your friends is an important choice. Having close friends can be a wonderful blessing (Proverbs 17:17). But the wrong friends can be a curse (Proverbs 12:26; 1 Corinthians 15:33).

Choosing where to live is important, too. It was this choice where Lot made his mistake. It appeared to be a sound business decision (Genesis 13:10-11), but it was a poor moral decision (Genesis 13:13). Upon what basis do we choose where to live? Is it based solely on how much of house we can afford? Is it based upon the location to work, school, etc.? Do we consider whether it will help or hinder our service to God and His church? Just be aware that there may be some modern-day "Sodoms" and "Gommorahs" to avoid!

Remember, for every action there is a reaction, and for every choice there is a consequence. To increase the likelihood that our choices will have good consequences, here are a few suggestions for making wise choices...

1. Ask God for wisdom. He promises to give wisdom to those who ask in faith (James 1:5-8). Asking for wisdom requires diligence (Proverbs 2:1-9). And always fill your prayers with requests for wisdom to make wise choices!

2. Ask others for advice. There is safety in having many counselors (Proverbs 11:14). There is wisdom in heeding the counsel of others (Proverbs 12:15). in fact, here are two great sources for counsel: The Bible itself, especially a book like Proverbs, and older, mature Christians. Don't hesitate to ask others what they would do!

3. Commit your choices to the Lord. Trusting that you have made choices pleasing to Him, put them in His hands (Psalms 37:5-6, 23-26). Make your choices with the understanding, "if the Lord wills" (James 4:13-15). One might even ask the Lord that if a choice is not according His will... He might frustrate the carrying out of the choice, or to otherwise show you what is His will. Always include God in your decision making, if you wish to make wise choices!

I can honestly say here that there will be times when it becomes apparent that we made poor choices, even wrong ones. What can we do to avoid making matters worse?

We can respond to wrong choices by learning from the mistakes of others. Examples? Do what Lot did, heed and flee! Heed the Word of God. Do what you now know to be right without reservation (remember Lot's wife!) Do what Peter did, repent and serve! Repent, if sin is involved (as when Peter denied Christ). Serve the Lord with what time you have left in this life. Do what Paul did, accept and live! Accept the forgiveness Jesus provides (1 Timothy 1:12-16). Determine to live for the Lord to the best of your ability (Phlippians 3:13-14).

What would be the wrong thing to do? Continue to remain in the choice you've made because of pride, or some other reason! Or wallow in sorrow just to feel sorry for yourself over your guilt or loss!

In closing, may the examples of such men like Lot and David teach us the importance of making wise choices serve as a warning not to make our decisions lightly. And may we ever be open to the wisdom from God and the counsel of others as we make such choices as: our careers, our spouses, our friends, and where we will live.

Have you made the most important decision you will ever face in this life? The decision which will determine your eternal destiny? The decision to follow Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Why not decide today to follow Jesus, and become His disciple? (Matthew 28: 19-20; Act 2:36-41).

Let's Pray:

Dear Lord, govern everything by your wisdom, so that my soul may always be serving you in the way you will and not as I choose. Let me die to myself so that I may serve you; let me live to you who are life itself. Amen.

Until next week...

God bless you,

Rochelle

Bible Study Snacks, Romans 9:24-33

Hi, everyone!

Thank you so much for joining me again as we continue our journey through the Book of Romans. I hope that all has been going well in your life! This week, we will be studying Chapter 9 verses 24-33. It is my most sincere hope that you'll find these Bible Study Snacks helpful and spiritually enlightening in your walk with God.

This week in summary...

Who are the "vessels of mercy"? They consist of Gentiles, and a remnant of Israel, as foretold by Hosea and Isaiah. Paul's conclusion? God's words of promise were not just to the fleshly descendants of Abraham (as the Jews would have it), but to the faithful remnant of Israel and to the Gentiles who accepted the righteousness which is by faith. The only reason any of the Israelites were rejected by God was because of their rejection of the Messiah, even as Isaiah foretold.

Let’s pray:

Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Carefully read through Romans 9:24-33. Here again, I must stress the word “carefully” because if you aren’t “careful” you will miss Paul’s point. Let Paul speak to you through his writings as if he were right there with you, sharing his story in person.

This week’s study questions:

1. Who does the “even us” of verse 24 refer to? Check out Romans 9:22-23.
2. From what two groups were these special people called or taken from (Romans 9:24)?
3. What book of the Bible does he quote verses from to prove this (Romans 9:25)?
4. List the three descriptions of God’s people, before and after God dealt with them (Romans 9:25-26).
5. The Lord states two facts about the Israelites from Romans 9:27. What are they?
6. Are we sure these things will occur (see Romans 9:28)?
7. Verse 29 is rephrased in the NIV with “Unless the Lord Almighty...”. The original text literally translated from the Old Testament says, “Except the LORD of Sabaoth...” What does ‘Sabaoth’ mean? How is it that they translate it “Lord Almighty”?
8. What are we to assume concerning the nature of Israel from what it says in Romans 9:29?
9. Complete the two contrasts Paul mentions in Romans 9:30 & 31. Please circle & fill in.
--The Gentiles (did/did not) pursue ____________ (have/have not) obtained it (9:30).
--The Israelites (did/did not) pursue __________ (have/have not) attained it (9:31).
10. Why is it that the Israelites were unsuccessful (Romans 9:32)?
11. What promise is given both to the Jews and to the Gentiles (Romans 9:33)?

Finally, after answering the study questions, re-read Romans Romans 9:24-33. Take your time and read each question and verse as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you might see something new that you overlooked the first time around.

As we journey through our studies together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!

Sheri

Jesus Already Was!

Jesus Christ did not begin to exist when He was born in Bethlehem, nor even when He was conceived within the virgin, Mary. Scripture teaches that Jesus Christ, unlike us, existed long before His conception and birth.

This is not just an intellectual point or a trivial fact to challenge our imaginations or arouse our curiosities. Rather, the pre-existence of Jesus Christ has a direct bearing on a number of issues that relate to exactly who Jesus is and what He has done for you and for me.

For some biblical evidence of the pre-existence of Christ let’s take a look at (John 1:15). “Preferred before me” has to do with rank – i.e. Jesus out-ranked John. “He was before me” has to do with time – Jesus existed before John did (yet we know Jesus was not conceived until about six months after John was conceived within Elizabeth) – thus Jesus existed before His conception or birth. Additionally, we see some other evidence such as: Jesus has been since before “the beginning” (John 1:1). “The Word” refers to Jesus – (John 1:14). “The beginning” refers to creation(Genesis 1:1). Thus at the creation Jesus already was!

Now that we have some very basic background regarding Christ’s pre-existence, we will now look carefully at some important matters related to his pre-existence. Let’s start with His Deity. John 1:1 tells us that “The Word (i.e. Jesus) was God”; not a god. That Jesus already “was” in the beginning, tells us that He is eternal (one of the attributes of Deity).

This is not just an academic matter – if Jesus is not eternal Deity, then He is not the “Son of God”. (John 8:58)“I am” (“not I was” or “I have been”) – this is an emphatic present -”I Myself am.” This denotes a timeless existence (eternity). We read in Exodus 3:14 that this is exactly what God told Moses he should say if Israel asked what God’s name was (“I am that I am” i.e. He is eternal and self-existent). Therefore, one can easily conclude that Jesus’ pre-existence proves He is Deity.

There is Jesus as Creator. “By Him all things were created” (Colossians 1:16). This agrees with John 1:3 & Hebrews 1:2. Since Jesus is Creator: He must be eternal, or He couldn’t have been there to do the creating! He must be God (thus eternal), or He would not have the ability to create!

There is Jesus as the Condescending One. Not meaning that He humiliated others or looked down on them, but…He humbled Himself, lowered Himself – in doing so He: Emptied Himself (Philippians 2:6-8). Unless He was pre-existent, He could not have “emptied Himself” to come to this earth in the form of a man. (We do not say of anyone born today that he “emptied himself” before conception).

He had equality with God – thus eternal existence. He became poor (2 Corinthians 8:9). He was rich (before incarnation) – cannot be said unless he pre-existed; in other words, rich in the glory of His heavenly being (which He enjoyed eternally before the incarnation). He gave up glory (John 17:5). He had this glory with the Father before the world existed (i.e. prior to creation). If He was not pre-existent, then it could not be accurately said that He gave up His glory, nor would it have been sensible for Him to pray for restoration of such glory.

There is Jesus as the Model of Obedience (John 6:38). Had He not existed prior to conception, He could not have “come down from Heaven” nor could He have been “sent” by the Father. Had He not been perfectly obedient, He couldn’t have been our once-for-all atonement offering. His obedience serves as a model for us (Hebrews 5:8-9).

And there is Jesus as Mediator. Remember, we pray TO the Father in the name of Jesus (John 16:23). Note: we do not pray TO Jesus (v. 23a, Jesus specifically said “you will ask Me nothing”). We should realize that Jesus is not the Father and the Father is not Jesus. It was not the Father who gave His body and blood on the cross, it was Jesus – the Father endured the agony of witnessing His Son’s suffering.

It is true that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one God, but they are not one Person – they are distinct personalities and we should refer to them as such. To effectively mediate, Jesus has to be both God and man – and He is (1Timothy 2:5). To be God (as well as man), Jesus must have existed prior to His incarnation. Jesus affirms that He did (John 16:28). An understanding of this basic fact is necessary for proper faith and acceptable prayer in His name (John 16:26-27).

I hope that the points made here will strengthen your spiritual relation with Jesus Christ. Keep the following in your mind and heart: Jesus did not come into being at the virgin conception or the birth in Bethlehem’s stable. He has always been, and always will be. He is eternal Deity. He is our Creator.

He emptied Himself, gave up the wealth and glory of Heaven, and took upon Himself a body of human flesh in which He obeyed the Father’s will in absolute perfection. That obedience culminated in His sacrificial death upon the cross. Now He calls us to imitate that obedience by dying to sin and self, and living anew for Him. He ever lives as our mediator to help us accomplish that task. All this is possible because of the Pre-Existence of Christ

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:12,13

Prayer:

Lord, my desire is to please You and hold nothing back. I surrender my relationships, my finances, my work, my recreation, my decisions, my time, my body, my mind, my soul, my desires, and my dreams. I put them all in Your hands to be used for Your glory. I declare this day that I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me. Bless me in every area of my life, Lord, and lead me into all that You have for me. I pray in Your name. Amen.

May God bless you,

Briana

You and Your Relationship With God

Many people feel they have a right relationship with God. They mistakenly believe their relationship with God supersedes the necessity for obedience. However, this could not be further from the truth. It is important for us to remember that there are many aspects of the Christian’s relationship with God in scripture. We will examine some of the aspects of a relationship with God and to determine what our role in this relationship is.

Let’s begin with the relationship of love. In Matthew 22:37, we are commanded to love God. This love must be based on our obedience, John 14:15; 21:23-24. On the opposite end, the lack of obedience constitutes a lack of love on our part. Then there is the relationship of friendship with God. After all, Jesus considers us His friends, John 15:14-15. We should know that our friendship with Jesus is dependent upon our obedience. The lack of obedience stands in the way of our friendship with Jesus.

Another type of relationship is the relationship of family. Thankfully, we are in God’s family, Ephesians 3:14-15. Jesus taught that those who obey the will of God are more His family than His own flesh and blood relatives, Matthew 12:46-50. We have a relationship with God as His children, Galatians 3:25; John 1:12. Everyone is the child of either God or Satan, 1 John 3:10. The children of God manifest themselves in obedience to God’s will. The wrath of God is in store for the children of disobedience, Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 3:6. In this family, God is our Father, 2 Corinthians 6:17-18. Our relationship with God as our Father and as His children depends on obedience, as well.

And yet another type is the relationship of fellowship. Christians have fellowship with God, 1 John 1: 3.We cannot claim to have fellowship with God while walking in sin, 1 John 1:6. Our fellowship with God is dependant upon our obedience to His will. While we are at it, there is the relationship of the bondservant. Many Christians in scripture were said to be bondservants of Christ. For instance:
1) Paul, Romans 1:1; Galatians 1:10; Philippians 1:1; Titus 1:1.
2) Epaphras, Colossians 4:12.
3) Timothy, Philippians 1:1.
4) Peter, 2 Peter 1:1.
5) James and Jude, James 1:1; Jude 1.

We are exhorted to conduct ourselves like bondservants, 1 Peter 2:15-16. What is a bondservant? The best definition I could find is “devoted to another to the disregard of one’s own interests.” On its basic level a bondservant is simply following your master to complete disregard of your own will, emotions, and desires. To put it into contrast of being a Bondservant of Christ, it means a complete and utter devotion to God, His word, and His will. It is disregarding your own desires and will in all things to lay your life at the Cross and follow Christ. It is not being perfect, yet it is a dedication to following God in all things.

Paul gave instructions to bondservants, Ephesians 6:5-6. Our bond service must come from our hearts. Christians are called to bond service, 1 Corinthians 7:22-23. Our liberty in Christ Jesus is through our voluntary bond service.

This naturally leads us to the master/servant relationship, which is similar to bond service relationship. In this case, our Master is Jesus Christ, Matthew 23:8-10. Another term used in scripture to mean ‘Master’ is ‘Lord.’ In Luke 6:46, Jesus asks why one would call Him Lord but not obey Him. We have been told that no man can serve two masters, Matthew 6:24. And, that those who do not obey God do not have the right to call Him Lord and Master.

Hopefully, those in relationships know each other. After all, God knows His own, 2 Timothy 2:19. Those who claim to know God but disobey Him are untruthful, 1 John 2:3-5. Needless to say, if we do not know and obey God, He does not know us, Matthew 7:21-23.

Taking all of this into perspective how is your relationship with God?
1. Do you love God?
2. Are you a friend of God?
3. Are you in fellowship with God?
4. Are you a child of God?
5. Is God your Father?
6. Is Jesus your Lord and Master?
7. Do you know God?
8. Does God know you?

If you have obeyed and are continuing to be obedient to God, then the answer to all of these questions is yes. As in any relationship, there is a role to play with both participants. If only one party in a relationship is fulfilling their role, then the relationship either does not exist, or will fade away and die due to a lack of participation. Our obedience to God is the foundation upon which all aspects of our relationship with God is built.

Do you have a right relationship with God? This is a question every accountable person must ask. A one way relationship with God is not good enough. You may have a relationship with God in your own mind, but if you are not obedient to His will, He has no relationship with you and your relationship with Him is not right.

Scripture: 1 John 2:1-5

Let's pray:

Heavenly Father, I pray that You would bring a breakthrough in my relationships. Lord I so desire healthy relationships that would draw me closer to You and not away from You. The struggles I am going through seem so difficult, but You have all the answers to my life's problems. Help me to communicate better dear Lord and to learn to be more giving. Amen

Have a blessed day,

Lindsay

Let's Break Those Hard Hearts!

When a Christian loses his or her faith, it is a difficult thing to behold as they drift further and further away from the Lord. It is especially so, when it involves a dear friend or beloved relative. Some might question whether the person was ever truly saved. The Calvinist would so attest (believing in "once saved, always saved"). While it is possible that one was never saved, another possibility is actual apostasy (Hebrews 3:12-14).

Apostasy means to fall away from the truth. Therefore, an apostate is someone who has once believed and then rejected the truth of God. Apostasy is a rebellion against God because it is a rebellion against truth. In other words, a believer can become an unbeliever; thereby losing any security afforded the believer. It is very possible that apostasy begins when the heart is hardened by deceit. In order that we might better understand what happens and avoid such a tragedy, let's take a closer look at the deceitfulness of sin.

Sin entrances: There are the "passing pleasures of sin" (Hebrews 11:25). Sin can certainly promise pleasure but such pleasure is only temporary ("passing"). Sin's destructive forces soon follow (social, mental, physical, spiritual) e.g., Proverbs 5:8-14. There is "the deceitfulness of riches" (Matthew 13:22). Riches of this world promise much (pleasure, power, security) but they are uncertain, as evidenced in times of economic collapse (1Timothy 6:17). Love of money leads one away from God, toward destruction and sorrow (1Timothy 6:9-10). So we can see that sin entrances, but deceives with its false promises!

Sin enslaves: Those who commit sin become slaves of sin (John 8:34) like one who becomes addicted to drugs. This can include even those who were once delivered from the bondage of sin (2 Peter 2:19-20). The bondage of sin can be overwhelming (Romans 7:14-25). Without Christ, the will to do good might be present, but the ability is not, and thus we become slaves to sin (Romans 6:16). So we can see that sin enslaves, having deceived us through false promises of freedom!

Once enslaved to sin through the entrancement of sin, the downward spiral of apostasy leads toward unbelief through the hardening of sin.

Sin blinds: Consider those who walk in the futility of their minds (Ephesians 4:17-18). Their understanding is darkened. They are alienated from God because of their ignorance, because of their blindness. The same thing happens to those once saved (2 Peter 2:20-22). They are again entangled and overcome by the pollutions of the world but now it is worse than before. Enslaved to sin, one soon becomes blind to reality!

Sin hardens: Consider again those who walk in the futility of their minds (Ephesians 4:19, 22). They are past feeling; they are given over to lewdness, moral uncleanness, greediness. The man of sin grows corrupt according to deceitful lusts. Here too, we see many times that the same thing happens to those once saved (Hebrews 3:12-14). We can become hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, thereby leading to an evil heart of unbelief in departing from God. This in turn makes it difficult for others to reach out to their hard hearts, as long as they persist in crucifying Christ repeatedly (Hebrews 6:4-6) and persist in sinning willfully (Hebrews 10:26-31). The result being here is that the hardening of sin can lead to a terrifying end!

In conclusion, for the alien, or estranged sinner who is hardened by deceit there is still hope: the gospel of Christ! The gospel contains the power of God to save (Romans 1:16) by breaking through the bondage of sin (Romans 7:25; 8:1-2, 12-13). For the confused Christian who is hardened by deceit there is still hope: the chastening, or restraining of the Lord! This is He who chastens that we not be condemned with the world (1Corinthians 11:30-32) because God loves His children (Hebrews 12:5-11).

At times it may seem impossible to break through the hard hearts of loved ones that have been deceived by sin. But let us not underestimate the power of the gospel of Christ and the love of God to break those hard hearts! Let us stand ready to assist those who positively respond to God's grace.

Let’s pray:

God of all ages, who from generation to generation has heard the cries of your children humbly seeking forgiveness, and has welcomed sinners back into your embrace, hear the thoughts of our hearts, examine our motives, and forgive us our faults. We ask this through your Son who died and rose that we might know the true cost of forgiveness. Amen

God bless you,

Roxanne

Saturday Scripture Gold, Philippians 3:17

Happy Saturday!

Thank you for joining me today. Each week, I will take a verse (or passage) from the Bible and dig beneath the surface to uncover the precious golden nuggets of truth, wisdom, and knowledge that lie waiting to be discovered. I pray that this will inspire you to do some "digging" of your own into God's scripture!

This week's Bible passage: Philippians 3:17

The Bible speaks of examples worth following as Christians. It tells us that we are okay in imitating those who are good examples (1 Corinthians 11:1; Philippians 3:17; Hebrews 13:7), and of being a good example to others (1 Timothy 4:12).
Right now you might be thinking that such scriptures should cause one to wonder...
a. Who is my example, my role model as a Christian?
b. Whose example am I as a Christian?
c. What kind of example do I set as a Christian?
These certainly sound like reasonable questions that any good Christian would, and should wonder about. So why don’t we take a closer look at these three question? Let’s break them down a bit and see what we can discover.

First: Who is your example?
Is it the Lord Jesus Christ...? After all, He was the prime example for the apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 11:1). And if he was good enough for Paul, He should be our example as well. He should be our example:
a. On how to please one another (Romans 15:1-3)
b. On how to love one another (Ephesians 5:1-2)
c. On how to look out for one another (Philippians 2:4-5)
d. On how to suffer patiently when mistreated (1 Peter 2:20-23)
As one can see, Jesus certainly serves as our prime example!

Is it the apostle Paul...? As he urged the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 4:6; 11:1):
a. To give no offense (1 Corinthians 10:32)
b. To seek the benefit of others (1 Corinthians 10:33)
Paul urged the Philippians (Philippians 3:17):
a. To not consider themselves as having attained perfection (Philippians 3:12a)
b. To press on to maturity (Philippians 3:12b-15)
c. To live according to the level they have learned (Philippians 3:16)
d. To enjoy a close relationship with the God of peace (Philippians 4:9)
Paul also praised and encouraged the Thessalonians:
a. For receiving the Word despite affliction (1Thessalonians 1:6)
b. To avoid being a burden to others (2 Thessalonians 3:7-10)
Yes, it can certainly be said that Paul and other New Testament Christians provide wonderful examples!
Is it other faithful Christians...? As Paul exhorted the Philippians (Philippians 3:17)
a. To note those walking like Paul
b. To consider them a pattern to follow
Or, as exhorted by the writer to the Hebrews...
a. To imitate the faith and patience of those who inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:12).
b. To follow the faith of those who rule over us (Hebrews 13:7).
If we look around us we see many Christians whom today provide examples worthy of emulation! So, whose example are you following? You are imitating either Christ or some other Christian (either living or dead). Does your life suggest that the example you are following is less than exemplary (e.g., the Laodiceans (Revelations 3:14-16)?

Second: Whose example are you? Is it not other Christians such as your brothers and sisters in the Lord? How about those who are babes in Christ or even older Christians? Christians should be mindful of their example on one another (1 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Timothy 4:12; Titus 2:7). Is it not young children? Who naturally look up to their parents? Who are also influenced by others, such as adults like their parents; and older children as well? Christians should be mindful of their example upon the young (Matthew 18:6).

Is it not unbelievers? How about those who see if we "walk the talk" or those who often gauge the value of following Christ by our example? Have you considered even those who judge the church by its members? Christians should be mindful of their example seen by the world (1 Peter 2:12). Whether we want to be or not, we are examples to others, especially the young in years and young in faith.

Third: What kind of example are you? Is it indicative of a faithful Christian to show the world what it means to be a Christian? Showing babes in Christ what maturity means as a disciple? Is your example helping or hindering discipleship in others? Is it conducive to church growth to offer a noble pattern of faithful church attendance? Setting a good example of developing one's abilities for Christ? Providing a worthy model of involvement in service to the Lord and His Church?

Is your example helping or hindering the progress of the church? Is it worthy of emulation, or imitation? Would you want a child or new Christian to follow your example? If every member provided the same example as you, would the church be strong? Would the church be growing? Would the church have service on Sunday and Wednesday nights? Would the church even exist? Ask yourself: Is your example helping or hindering the cause of Christ?

I truly hope these questions have prompted serious introspection, or thought on your part. Thought as to who is your example or role model as a Christian, and as to the sort of example or role model you are setting for others.

Though written to a young preacher, I encourage you to apply Paul's words to yourself. Be an example to the believers (1Timothy 4:12). Be an example in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity (1 Timothy 4:12). My friends, you cannot escape being an example to others. Your only choice is what kind of example you will be.

Let's pray:

Dear Lord, transform our lives, so that we may accomplish your purpose. Anoint us with your Spirit that we might bring good news to the oppressed, bind up the brokenhearted, and proclaim release to the captive. Surround us with your love, fill us with your grace, and strengthen us for your service. Empower us to respond to the call of Jesus, to deny ourselves, to take up our crosses, and to follow. Amen

Until next week...

God bless you,

Rochelle