3 sections

How would our lives be different if we REALLY believed this?



Matthew 21:18 In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry,


     19 and he noticed a fig tree beside the road.

      He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves.

      Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!"

      And immediately the fig tree withered up.


  20 The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked,

          "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?"
 

 21 Then Jesus told them,

          "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and much more.

          You can even say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen.


22 You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it."


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We are no longer "lost in our sin".

I thought of a number of celebrities who do a lot of God talk, but don't live lives that show behavior consistent with His identity.

I thought of a number of people who do a lot of God talk, but don't live lives that show behavior consistent with His identity.

I thought of a number of times I do a lot of God talk, but don't live a life that show behavior consistent with His identity.



1 John 2:1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin.

But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father.

     He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.

     2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.


  3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments.


4 If someone claims, "I know God," but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.


5 But those who obey God's word truly show how completely they love him.

     That is how we know we are living in him.


6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.


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And this section just cuts too close to the bone...


1 John 2:15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you,

for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.

16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure,

        a craving for everything we see,

        and pride in our achievements and possessions.

These are not from the Father, but are from this world.


17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave.

But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.