Good morning! How are we faithing? Thinking about tons of stuff today but I want to reassure you and encourage you in this salvation. Even us who have known the Lord a long time sometimes doubt. Maybe doubt is the incorrect word, more like questioning things. We all try to figure out why things are. Sometimes there is no answer and sometimes the answer is so convoluted we just say "what?!" Jesus lived as an example of how we are to live and man, it's hard. It's hard when people are jerks. It's hard when nothing seems to be going right or how we would like them to go. It's hard to love the unlovable. It's hard to maintain perspective when someone continually dumps on you. It's hard to praise God when the cupboards are empty. These things are not uncommon to us. The beginning to walking the walk begins with faith. I know, that is tough. Hard to be joyous and steadfast in the faith when nothing is going right. Here's what we need to focus on; Jesus. We know from the Word that he is with us always. We know that we will get through this whatever is happening and come out the other side. It may suck during but it will come to an end. We know we are loved. We know we cannot earn salvation so when we goof up we can remain confident that we are still saved and we just need to work on that behavior to overcome so we can be a witness to the grace we enjoy. Following what Jesus and the Word teaches is the guide to a fulfilling holy life. Following those guidelines isn't what saves us, Jesus' sacrifice is. That and that alone. No earning our way to heaven. It's a gift so stop beating yourself and thinking what you did has just made you lose your salvation, that ain't so. Making mistakes, realizing and rectifying them is what faithful people do because it's right, not to look good or to earn grace. When we get a hold of this in our heart, life begins.
Colossians 2:13-15
And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
NAS
Ephesians 1:3-14
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fulness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.
NAS
Remember Linda Harvey...remember Carl...remember Bud...remember the Haneys
Heavenly Father'
We thank you and adore you. We praise your holy name Lord. Thank you for loving us. Lord, teach us to be strong in our faith and help us realize your love and grace never leaves us. We pray for wisdom and peace so we may be witness' for you. Thank you for holding us through the tough times and help us see the lessons to be learned and understand that we need to persevere when we are being taught lessons. Lord, help us seek truth in all we do. Bless the emergency workers and our troops. Grant safe passage and mercy on them, in Jesus' name, amen
No comments:
Post a Comment