That I May Be Merciful...

A prominent Greek Orthodox bishop recently sought to enlist the aid of the Almighty to help save Greece from its mountain of debt. Bishop Anthimos of Thessaloniki read this special debt relief prayer in a televised appearance:

"Oh Lord, we confess that we have sinned as a state and as a people in the management of the economic and monetary benefits entrusted to us. "We ask for Your mercy and request that you continue to support us"

After years of budget deficits, Greece has accumulated a sovereign debt that has spooked investors, dried up the prospect of fresh loans and raised fears about shocks to the broader world economy. Perhaps its time for American leaders, both political and spiritual, to humble themselves as well, and implore God for mercy. Heaven knows we need it.

We know that especially in times of great distress people often pray to our merciful Savior. But, what does it mean to be merciful? Here's what some famous Bible commentators said about the subject:

Albert Barnes wrote, "those who are so affected by the sufferings of others as to be disposed to alleviate them."
Adam Clarke said, "This virtue, therefore, is no other than a lively emotion of the heart, which is excited by the discovery of any creature's misery; and such an emotion as manifests itself outwardly, by effects suited to its nature."
B.W. Johnson said, "those who, instead of resenting injury, are ready to forgive."

Of course, there are many passages in the Bible explaining usage of the word. For example, being merciful: involves love (Ephesians 2:4); involves satisfying needs (Isaiah 49:10); involves forgiveness (Daniel 9:9); and involves love of enemies (Luke 6:35, 36). Simply put, mercy is the out-flowing of love that seeks to satisfy another's true needs with a willingness to forgive their faults.

Now that we have a better idea of what it means to be merciful; who exactly are the merciful? Again, we can turn to the Scriptures for some examples. Let me share a few of these with you. It is: The one who provides for the needy is merciful (Psalm 14:31). Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar (in Daniel 4:27) to practice mercy toward the poor to end his iniquities. The one who tends to the sick is merciful. On numerous occasions Jesus showed mercy to the sick (Matthew 9:27-30; Matthew 17:15 ). The one who pardons the guilty is merciful (Psalm 51:1; Psalm 123:3).

Finally, I'd like to close this discussion by addressing the following question, "Why is it a blessing to be merciful?" Psalms 86:15; Joel 2:13; Luke 6:36 tell us: Because it is an attribute of God! And because it is an attribute of God, it means being merciful is simply the right thing to do! Therefore, if we desire to be like God, then we will be merciful. But that's not all. It's also a blessing because God desires mercy and not sacrifice (Matthew 9:13). In other words, mercy also satifies the golden rule; others are aided as we would want to be aided.

When we show mercy to others they receive what is needful from us (Luke 10:25-37); and we will be blessed because Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive ( Acts 20:35). He assures us that we will, in turn receive mercy by being merciful. So, if we don't show mercy neither will we receive mercy. With this in mind, I would say that it would be wise to do so (James 2:13; James 3:17).

The lesson here is that God wants us to have mercy. We need God's mercy, so let us draw near and do what we need to do to receive God's mercy.

Prayer:

Help me Jesus, that what I ask of You - I will give to others - Mercy, both in deed and word. Amen

God bless you,

Val

Christianity Straight Up - with Halie

You can look long and hard, but you won't find any chapter in the Bible titled, "What Is This Christianity Thing All About Anyway?"...or something similar, that might have made things easier to explain. But one of the beautiful things about Christianity is that it doesn't fit in a nice, convenient, little box. It can't necessarily be explained in "first A, then B, then C" terms, either.

One really needs to study the entire Bible to get a bigger picture of what God has revealed to us. However, sometimes this can be an overwhelming task because of the amount of information contained within its pages. Without some basic background information to guide the way, many soon get bogged down, or even give up all together.

Therefore, I'd like to present some basic information regarding Christianity from the perspective of a new believer, or anyone who seeks a little more enlightenment on the subject. Hopefully, this series on the basics will be helpful to all who are interested in learning more about Christianity! Now, let's begin by addressing some very common questions regarding Christianity.

Who is a Christian?

In essence, a Christian is a person who believes in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. There are many people in the world who seek to know God and to do the will of God in the way they live. It is important to note here, that while Christians do believe in God and seek to live a good life in the service of God and our fellow human beings, that is not what makes a person a Christian. What matters in becoming a Christian is what a person believes about Jesus. It's how a person relates to Jesus Christ that is the unique and crucial character of a Christian.

Who is Jesus Christ?

Jesus was a teacher who lived at Nazareth and taught in Galilee and Jerusalem in the time of the Roman Empire. We believe he is the Son of God, who lived and died for others and was raised from the dead. Jesus of Nazareth announced the coming of the kingdom of God. He lived our human life, healing the sick and teaching his disciples and the crowds who came to him, until he was killed by crucifixion at Jerusalem under the rule of Pontius Pilate, and then God raised him to life again.

Jesus himself, in his life and sacrificial death, made the response of humility, obedience and trust which God had long sought in vain. God confirmed and completed the witness which Jesus bore to God, and made in Jesus a representative beginning of a new order of righteousness and love. To God in Christ all people are called to respond in faith.

Why is Jesus called Christ?

Jesus is called Christ because we believe he is the Messiah, the anointed one, who came from God to establish the Kingdom of God in which people are restored to a new relationship with God. When Jesus was called Christ by the apostles it meant that they accepted him as the Messiah whom God had promised to send to lead his people. The expected Messiah was a king who would establish the rule of God and lead people to victory over the enemies of God. Jesus showed them that his victory would not be like that of earthly kings, for he would humble himself and become their servant, even to the point of dying for them.

In this way he overcame sin and death, the enemies of God and of humanity, which divide people from God and from each other; so he reconciled us to God and to one another and was given great honor as the King of kings and Lord of lords. After his victory Christ was raised up to a special place with God and honored as he had been from the beginning in which he shared with God in the creation of the world.

Why is Jesus called Lord?

Jesus is called Lord because we believe he is God and because he rose from the dead. Jesus is both truly God and truly human. How that can be is learned from scripture, which incorporates the witness of those who knew him well, especially the apostles, and it is confirmed in Christian experience. We believe that Jesus is human and divine; as well as being a humble servant and wise teacher, his is our Savior and Lord. We believe this because of the way he lived and died, according to the scriptures, and because of the difference faith in him makes to our lives.

Why is Jesus called Savior?

Jesus is called Savior because through the sacrifice of his life and his conquest of sin and death he saved us from the consequences of sin. Because of the rebellion of humankind against God and our desire to put ourselves in the place of God, we are alienated from God, and from our fellow human beings. This state of separation, pride and willfulness is sinful, a state from which we cannot rescue ourselves.

Only by the grace of God can we be restored to communion with our Creator and fulfill our potential to become children of God and brothers and sisters of one another. In the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God reached out to us, broke the power of sin, healed and reconciled us, saving us from death and offering us eternal life. -M. Schmidt

There you have it! These are the central Christian beliefs, which are the basis for a life of discipleship. I pray that that you find this beneficial to you in your walk with our Lord Jesus Christ!

May God bless you,

Halie

Saturday Scripture Gold: Psalms 1:1-3

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: Psalms 1:1-3

So, what is the key to true happiness? We all live in a time where boredom, depression and other forms of unhappiness are widespread. Is there some basic principle somewhere that determines success in finding happiness?

The Book of Psalms with its very first psalm shares with us a key principle that can provide true happiness. Notice the very first word of the first psalm "Blessed." The word in Hebrew implies the idea of "happiness" The actual impact of the Hebrew could be translated "O how very happy is the man..."

Consequently, this psalm describes "The Truly Happy Man" This Saturday, we will: take a closer look at Psalms 1:1-3 and seek to obtain the principles necessary for one to truly be happy.

To try to make this a little easier to understand, let’s separate Psalms 1:1-3 into three sections, beginning with the blessedness of the righteous man. In the first verse, we are told about his character which is described from a negative point of view (Psalms 1:1).

We ought to appreciate the value of negative commands because they keep us from going astray; and can protect us from harm and misery. That is why it is says that the truly happy man: "Walks not in the counsel of the ungodly"; "Nor stands in the path of sinners"; "Nor sits in the seat of the scornful."

If you look carefully, this verse (Psalm 1:1) may be taken to describe the path one takes into sin. First, one goes along with a crowd; then takes a stand with the crowd; and finally, reaching the point where sinning is not enough, mockery or jeering is added. Next, let’s take a look at the righteous man’s character from a positive perspective. Psalms 1:2 tells us that the source of his joy and happiness is the Word of God, and that it truly is his delight (see also: Psalms 119:16, 24, 35, 47, 70, 77,92, 174; Jeremiah 15:16-17)!

Correspondingly, "in His law he meditates day and night.” (verse 2) isn’t implying he lives a monk-like existence, but a planned interest that goes beyond a casual acquaintance. Simply put, this is something he does habitually; setting aside portions of each day and night for this purpose.

Finally, in Psalms 1:3 we are told what makes him prosperous. He is righteous and deeply rooted in God’s word; and provides blessings to himself and others. Adverse conditions do not affect the fruitfulness of one whose strength comes from God's word.

And although exceptions may occur for reasons which only God knows, a life of devotion will generally be blessed by prosperity and success in life. According to Psalms 1:1-3, such is the character and prosperity of the righteous man. He is truly happy and a blessing to others because he acknowledges the Word of God; and becomes a monument to God's faithfulness and the value of living by His word.

Let's Pray:

Father, You bless those who revere Your name and delight in Your commands. In the midst of inner turmoil or outer conflict I will not be shaken for my heart remains steadfast trusting in You and Your overall plan for my life. I want to remain firmly grounded as I overcome the daily obstacles common to all who live on earth. Help me to learn the valuable lessons along the way as I press on toward the goal for which You have called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Until next week...

God bless you,

Rochelle

Bible Study Snacks, Romans 7:1-12

Hi, everyone!

Thank you so much for joining me again as we continue our journey through the Book of Romans. I hope your week has been going well. This time, we will be studying Chapter 7 verses 1-12. As always, it's my most sincere hope that you find these Bible Study Snacks helpful and spiritually enlightening in your walk with God.

Each week, before moving on with our study, we briefly review the scripture that was discussed during our last meeting together. I really feel that doing this helps prepare us for our current study. I hope you agree!

In review, we last learned that...

We become slaves to that which we obey, either sin or God. But Paul was grateful that the Romans had begun to obey God and were free to become His servants. Also, how important it was that they continue to do so is to be seen in the outcome of serving sin contrasted to serving God. Serving sin earns death, but in serving God one receives the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus!

This week in summary...

Paul has just completed discussing how being baptized into Christ makes us dead to sin and free to present our bodies as instruments of righteousness unto holiness. For the benefit of his Jewish readers (those who know the Law), he now carries the concept of death and freedom one step further: the Jewish believers become dead to the Law that they might be joined to Christ. He illustrates his point by referring to the marital relationship. The result of being freed from the Law is that they might "serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter."

To prevent his Jewish readers from thinking he is implying that the Law was sinful, Paul is quick to reject that idea. The Law, he says, is "holy and just and good." The problem is that the Law only makes known that which is sinful, but sin took opportunity by the commandment to produce evil desire and deceived him, resulting in death.


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 7:1-12. 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. Paul begins chapter 7 by diving into some legal principles. What principle is stated in Romans 7:1?
2. What example does he give in Romans 7:2?
3. What two cases does Paul give to further clarify the example in verse 2 (see Romans 7:3)?
4. How does he apply this second case to our Christian lives (Romans 7:4)?
5. We are free from the power of the Law but in that process become bound to another. Who is that (Romans 7:4)?
6. What result does that new relationship have upon our lives (Romans 7:4)?
7. Well then, what was the result or fruit of that old relationship to the Law (Romans 7:5)?
8. Why did that old relationship to the law bring about such terrible effects on lives (5)?
9. Go back to verses 7:1-2 and review the proper way to be released from the legal contract. Fill in the wonderful consequences of believing in Christ and being freed from the Law (6). “... so that we serve in the _________________________.”
“...and not (serve) in the ___________________________.”
10. If this is the case (see verses 1-6), does this mean that the Law is sinful (Romans 7:7)?
11. What example does Paul give to show us that the Law is not sin (Romans 7:7)?
12. Read Exodus 20:17. What is coveting?
13. Is it a sinful heart or the commandment (the Law) that produced covetousness (Romans 7:8)?
14. Is it true during part of our lives that Paul and ourselves are free from the Law (Romans 7:9)? __________
15. What stage in our life might that be? (No answer in the text).
16. What is the intent of the commandment (Romans 7:10)?
17. What did sin do through the commandment (Romans 7:11)?
18. Write down the adjectives describing the Law and commandment in Romans 7:12.

Lastly, after answering the study questions, re-read Romans 7:1-12. 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

A Chosen Generation, Too!

"All true Christians are a chosen generation; they make one family, a people distinct from the world: of another spirit, principle, and practice; which they could never be, if they were not chosen in Christ to be such, and sanctified by his Spirit. Their first state is a state of gross darkness, but they are called out of darkness into a state of joy, pleasure, and prosperity; that they should show forth the praises of the Lord by their profession of his truth, and their good conduct. How vast their obligations to Him who has made them his people, and has shown mercy to them!" -Matthew Henry

Peter had warned the scattered Christians in the Roman provinces to dedicate themselves to Christ on the basis that they were: children of God the Father ( 1 Peter 1:13-25); believers of Christ who ought to grow (1 Peter 2:1-3); living stones in the living temple (1 Peter 2:4-8).

He called for their devotion on the basis that they are God's chosen people. One can simply imagine this relationship as a dot drawn within a circle. The circle completely owns the dot. God completely owns his people. Let's take a closer look at God's chosen people.

The text designating Christians as God's chosen people (1 Peter 2:9-10) is almost identical with the words of God spoken through Moses at the foot of Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:3-6). The children of Israel misunderstood the nature of their covenant relationship. They thought that they were better than the Gentiles. They generally thought that they had been elected to salvation rather than service. For the most part, they persecuted and killed God's representatives, culminating in the crucifixtion of Jesus.

Jesus used the parable of the wicked husbandmen (Matthew 21:33-46) as an example of their sad history of poor stewardship. He indicated the end of Israel's special relationship in the words, "Therefore, say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof" (Matthew 21:43). 1 Peter 2:9-10 informs us that the nation, or people who now have a similar relationship to God as the chosen people are the Christians.

If we examine the nature of God's chosen people we find that God had called his people out of darkness into his wonderful light. They had come from heathenism to Christianity (Romans 9:24-26; Ephesians 5:8; Colossians 1:12-13). Regarding these scriptures, you might wonder if Peter was familiar with the writings of Paul, or did these writers independently develop the same ideas?

Following Peter's writings we see that Christians were: 1) a chosen people; an elect race corresponding to spiritual Israel, Abraham's children by faith (Galatians 3:22-29); 2) a royal priesthood; every Christian is a priest who needs no one to go to God on his or her behalf; 3) a holy nation; holy means set apart, or dedicated to God; 4) a people belonging to God; Christ gave himself for us, to rescue us from all wickedness and to make us a pure people who belong to him alone.

So what was the purpose of God's election, or choice of Israel and Christians (1 Peter 2:9)? Remember, when God first chose Israel at Sinai, the reason was not that God loved Israel more than the Gentiles. "For all the earth is mine" (Exodus 19:5) is one of the reasons God gave for calling Israel a special people. God's election of Israel was a method for reaching all nations. God's election of Christians is a method for reaching the unconverted with the gospel.

Let me try to put this all into perspective. The purpose of one's life is to glorify God. Election is not to salvation but to service. The Christian is to bear fruit. God desires his chosen people to be missionaries to all people. If God's people become rebellious and sinful, He may raise up another people who will accomplish his purpose!

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, you have power over life and death. You know even things that are uncertain and obscure, and our very thoughts and feelings are not hidden from you. Give me strength, O Lord, in my frailty and sustain me in my sufferings. Grant me a prudent judgement, dear Lord, and let me always be mindful of your blessings. Let me retain until the end your grace that has protected me till now. Amen

God bless you,

Jeanine

Are You Aware or Unaware?

Many people, just like you and me, like to think that they can trust religious leaders; and rightly so. It's no surprise to most that ministers usually rank high in polls concerning people that you can trust. We will often accept whatever a preacher, priest, or rabbi as truth. However, even Jesus told His disciples to beware of false prophets (Matthew 7:15-20).

He said that they might appear like sheep, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. Therefore, we need to know how to recognize, or identify false prophets when we encounter them. In our present times, there many things that go counter to good Christian beliefs. Today's great diversity of teachings suggests that many are being lead astray. Are we concerned about false prophets today? We should be! We need to be reminded of the danger, and know how to spot any "wolves" that might come our way.

I'd like to underscore the point that without a doubt, there will be false prophets! Paul was so concerned about this that he warned the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:28-31), the Church at Corinth (2 Corinthians 11: 13-15); and even the young preacher Timothy (1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:1-2).

Other New Testament writers issued their own warnings to others, as well. For example, Peter warned of the rise of false teachers (2 Peter 2:1-3); John called for people to "test the spirits" (1 John 4:1); and Jude wrote of some false prophets who had already arrived (Jude 3-4).

Okay, with so many warnings you can see that this subject shouldn't be taken lightly. But how can we spot these "wolves" when they charmingly show up? Thankfully, we can turn to Jesus and the Word of God! He tells us there are couple of ways to identify false prophets.

First, we can identify them by examining the fruit of their life (Matthew 7:16-20). You see, what is truly in their heart will eventually come out (Mark 7:21-23). Both false teachers, and false prophets are often betrayed by: their greediness; their immorality; and their lust for power. In the end, the true character of these false prophets will be exposed by the fruit of their life!

Secondly, false prophets can be identified by the fruit of their teaching. Watch out for those who: work in secrecy (especially finances) rather than openness (2 Peter 2:1; 2 Corinthians 8:20-21); appeal to covetousness (such as health and wealth) instead of preparing people for what Christians can expect (Acts 14:23; 2 Timothy 3:12); use deceptive words or twisting scripture to support their message ( 2 Timothy 2:14-16; Galatians 1:8-9); teach contrary to the scriptures (Deuteronomy 13:1-4; 1 John 4:1, 6).

Of course, I have only scratched the surface here in regards to identifying false prophets and teachers of the Gospel. I can only hope that I have, in the very least, kindled an awareness of this topic within you. And, that you'll go on to strive to become even more informed.

In the end, it's not necessary to judge the hearts of those who claim to speak for God. One only needs to be wary, alert, and informed in regards to who pervert the scriptures for their purpose. Know what to look for and listen for. Equip yourself to be a "fruit-inspector" by growing strong in the knowledge of God's word (Hosea 4:6)!

Prayer:

Lord, God Almighty, defend us today by your mighty power, so that we may not fall into any sin, and that all our words may so proceed and all our thoughts and actions be so directed as to be always just in your sight. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Have a blessed day,

Chloe

A Relationship You Can Count On

Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh!" he whispered. "Yes, Piglet?" "Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw. "I just wanted to be sure of you." ~A.A. Milne

Relationships are as necessary to life as the food that we eat, and each breath that we take. Humans are not just biological creatures. We are also social creatures, the most social on earth. Therefore, the different ways we deal with each other, from personal to international relationships, can have as much an influence on our behavior as our instinctive reactions.

Certainly, the relationships that we have with others play an important part in our lives. But, can we have a relationship with God? All of us have a desire to have meaningful relationships. God made us that way. According to scripture, a relationship with God is the best relationship we could ever have in this life. This is good to know, but how can you or I develop a relationship with Him? Let’s face it. There are many people out there who wonder, ‘how someone is supposed to have a “relationship” with a being they have never met, can’t see, and have not heard?’ You've got to admit, this is a great question.

Lots of well-meaning religious folks might try to explain it by telling you that you can develop a personal relationship with God by “seeing Jesus.” Or, they might also suggest developing a relationship with God in the same way you first developed a relationship with your spouse, for example. They might even wonder how you could possibly see someone who is no longer on Earth, or date the God of the Universe. If you think about this way it does sound a little far-fetched, doesn’t it?

Let’s turn to an authoritative source, the Bible, and see if we can’t clear some of this up. Actually, the Bible provides some pretty clear answers. By the way, in case you were wondering, we trust the Bible because it's the only “spiritual writing” that has been proven to be true. So, the one way to get right with God is based completely on the Bible, not our opinion. Of course, this can easily be checked out by reading the Bible yourself.

Now, one might ask , “Why do I need Jesus?” Most people begin with a wrong view of their condition in relationship to God. If they believe in a life after this life, they think their own way of getting to heaven is “good enough.” Unfortunately, these beliefs measure these people against other people. None of these beliefs really explain those people’s condition when related to God.

The Bible tells us that every person is totally separated from God by a thing called “sin.” (Romans 3:23) Sin is simply disobeying God. Since God is sinless, He can’t stand sin, or people with sin (every one of us). We have to be perfect. The problem is that we can’t be perfect, it is impossible.

This is where Jesus comes in. God knew that there was no possible way that we could ever have any association with Him because of our sin. Knowing that we could not erase even one sin on our own, He loved us so much that He sent His Son Jesus into the world. (John 3:16, 17). Since Jesus never sinned, He didn’t have to die. Still, He chose to die on the cross for the sins of all people. He became the “perfect sacrifice” for all our sins, and God accepted His death for our sins as payment in full! Therefore, Jesus became the “bridge” between us and God. It's only through what He did that we can have any association with God. (John 14:6). All we have to do is accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord and then live for Him.

Then, how do you accept Jesus? Believe in Jesus and put your faith in Him. (Ephesians 2:8-10). Repent of your sins. (Acts 17:30-31). Confess Jesus as Lord to someone. (Matthew 10:32-33; Romans 10:9-10). Be baptized. (See Acts 2:38-39). Okay, once you've done all the above, how do you stay right with God through Jesus? Many times people think that God is going to forgive their past sins, but after becoming a Christian, they can never sin again or God will reject them. But, this isn't the case at all. 1 John 1:5-2:6 gives the best answer. This passage describes people who are right with God, and explains to them that they will still struggle with and fall into sin at times. Hey, that's you and me!

Jesus paid the price for your sins with His blood, (if you are willing to accept His gift), so He will not stand between you and God—He allows you to stand before God. Look at it this way, the relationship we have with God is as His children—“adopted” through His Son, Jesus Christ. Ladies and gentlemen, this is one relationship that we can count on, for sure!

Prayer: O Lord, teach me to seek you, and reveal yourself to me when I seek you. For I cannot seek you unless you first teach me, nor find you unless you first reveal yourself to me. Let me seek you in longing, and long for you in seeking. Let me find you in love, and love you in finding. Amen

May God bless you,

Eve