11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.
12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.
15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.
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Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
I Peter 1- Our Hope
13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,
15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
16 because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."
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This passage caught my eye and my heart this morning because of the word "hope". A guest speaker preached at my church yesterday and brought to light the Greek meaning of the word hope. He brought to light that the word "hope" is not defined the same as the "hope" we use today... (i.e. "I hope I get an "A" on that test", or "I hope you feel better in the morning." Something that could go either way, but we have a preference for one.) In the Greek, this word "hope" means "a settled certainty based on the promises of God." That is a shortened definition, but get's to point across.
The hope we have in Christ is Perfect in that it is already settled, our sins are forgiven, our Savior was triumphant over the grave so that we can be sure of our eternal position in Christ..
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,
15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
16 because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."
Read More
This passage caught my eye and my heart this morning because of the word "hope". A guest speaker preached at my church yesterday and brought to light the Greek meaning of the word hope. He brought to light that the word "hope" is not defined the same as the "hope" we use today... (i.e. "I hope I get an "A" on that test", or "I hope you feel better in the morning." Something that could go either way, but we have a preference for one.) In the Greek, this word "hope" means "a settled certainty based on the promises of God." That is a shortened definition, but get's to point across.
The hope we have in Christ is Perfect in that it is already settled, our sins are forgiven, our Savior was triumphant over the grave so that we can be sure of our eternal position in Christ..
Thursday, July 22, 2010
James 4- Double Action Required
7 Submit therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
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I am so taken by how often we see this required double action, this two step process, to continue in righteousness. God has placed before us the perfect plan for successful living. I have described this before, but it continues to astound me how often Scriptures are repeated in a slightly different way.
1) Submit to God... pursue righteousness.
2) Resist the devil... flee from evil, hate evil.
We cannot live successful without doing both of these actions... doing one of the two will always result in failure.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Read More
I am so taken by how often we see this required double action, this two step process, to continue in righteousness. God has placed before us the perfect plan for successful living. I have described this before, but it continues to astound me how often Scriptures are repeated in a slightly different way.
1) Submit to God... pursue righteousness.
2) Resist the devil... flee from evil, hate evil.
We cannot live successful without doing both of these actions... doing one of the two will always result in failure.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Jame 3- Untamable Tounge
5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!
6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.
7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.
8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;
10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.
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6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.
7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.
8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;
10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010
James 2- Faith does not exist without Works
14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
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What is the point in all this? That Faith always produces righteous works! However, the opposite is not true...Works does not produce Faith and will not even get you close to Heaven. Salvation alone is God's plan for our eternal dwelling place with Christ. The only path to salvation is through Faith which comes from God alone.
15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
Read More
What is the point in all this? That Faith always produces righteous works! However, the opposite is not true...Works does not produce Faith and will not even get you close to Heaven. Salvation alone is God's plan for our eternal dwelling place with Christ. The only path to salvation is through Faith which comes from God alone.
Monday, July 19, 2010
James 1- The Word, our Yardstick
21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
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Some days I have yearned for a personal road-map of life... you know the special book that tells us exactly what God wants us to do each day. This one needs to be customized so that I can know what jobs to apply for, which home to buy etc. You know all the hard choices...
The Living Word of God is that book. Unfortunately it was not customized for Russ Libby, but with the Holy Spirit working in me while I read God's Word, I have every thing I need for life and godliness. This is the tool with which we are called to measure our lives by. Yes the bar is high, in fact something unattainable on our own. That is the reason for Christ!
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.
25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
Read More
Some days I have yearned for a personal road-map of life... you know the special book that tells us exactly what God wants us to do each day. This one needs to be customized so that I can know what jobs to apply for, which home to buy etc. You know all the hard choices...
The Living Word of God is that book. Unfortunately it was not customized for Russ Libby, but with the Holy Spirit working in me while I read God's Word, I have every thing I need for life and godliness. This is the tool with which we are called to measure our lives by. Yes the bar is high, in fact something unattainable on our own. That is the reason for Christ!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Hebrews 13- Remember our Pastors
7 Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.
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17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.
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The calling to the ministry is amazing and full of trials... We need to remember that and make sure that we are adding to the blessings and not the trials!
...
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.
Read More
The calling to the ministry is amazing and full of trials... We need to remember that and make sure that we are adding to the blessings and not the trials!
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