You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing… – John 15:16, Amplified Bible (AMP) We must never lose sight of the sobering truth that we did not choose God as our Master. He… Continue reading You are not the recruiter. You are the recruitee.
Category: Christlikeness
God hates it when people throw away His gifts.
Do not neglect the gift which is in you, [that special inward endowment] which was directly imparted to you [by the Holy Spirit]… – 1 Timothy 4:14, Amplified Bible God designed us all in specific ways for specific reasons. As part of our packages of design, God bestowed upon us certain gifts, and He did… Continue reading God hates it when people throw away His gifts.
The wilderness has its benefits.
Then Jesus was led (guided) by the [Holy] Spirit into the wilderness (desert) to be tempted (tested and tried) by the devil. – Matthew 4:1, Amplified Bible (AMP) The idea of “wandering in the wilderness” doesn’t gin up happy thoughts. Instead, it usually produces thoughts of pain, anguish, and despair. It was in the wilderness… Continue reading The wilderness has its benefits.
Hey, take a minute to pick up your brother’s or sister’s backpack.
Bear (endure, carry) one another’s burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it]. – Galatians 6:2, Amplified Bible (AMP) In my younger years I was extremely judgmental. I had an arrogant, pious attitude towards… Continue reading Hey, take a minute to pick up your brother’s or sister’s backpack.
Try to encourage your shepherd every now and then.
Now also we beseech you, brethren, get to know those who labor among you [recognize them for what they are, acknowledge and appreciate and respect them all]—your leaders who are over you in the Lord and those who warn and kindly reprove and exhort you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:12, Amplified Bible Which profession do you think fits the description… Continue reading Try to encourage your shepherd every now and then.
Stop the nastiness at its source.
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. – Proverbs 4:23, KJV There have been more movies released than I care to count that have the following plot: stop a deadly disease from spreading before it destroys the world. In such movies, the protagonists scramble feverishly to isolate… Continue reading Stop the nastiness at its source.
How do you see people?
Kish had a son named Saul, a choice young man and handsome; among all the Israelites there was not a man more handsome than he. He was a head taller than any of the people. – 1 Samuel 9:2, Amplified Bible Some years ago, a middle-aged man visited a car dealership in Greenville, SC. When… Continue reading How do you see people?
Be content with how God made you.
…be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]… – Hebrews 13:5, Amplified Bible When preachers preach on Hebrews 13:5, they usually focus on being content with the material possessions and circumstances that God has given us. Of course, Hebrews 13:5 absolutely teaches us this lesson, but it also teaches us another lesson… Continue reading Be content with how God made you.
In your next shootout with Satan, make sure you have the right kind of bullets.
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. – Jude 1:9, KJV Have you ever watched an old Western movie where the hero of the movie faces the villain in a good old-fashioned,… Continue reading In your next shootout with Satan, make sure you have the right kind of bullets.
Sorry, but you can’t do one good thing without God.
…all our righteousness (our best deeds of rightness and justice) is like filthy rags… – Isaiah 64:6, Amplified Bible (AMP) Many people – even some who call themselves Christians – adhere to the belief that if they perform more good works than evil ones, they will earn a spot in Heaven when they die. There… Continue reading Sorry, but you can’t do one good thing without God.