Luke 8
40 On the other side of the lake the crowds welcomed Jesus, because they had been waiting for him.
41 Then
a man named Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue, came and fell at
Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come home with him.
42 His only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying.
(during the next 7 verses, Jesus heals the woman who touched the hem of his garment)
49 While
(Jesus) was still speaking to to (the woman who touched his hem), a messenger arrived from the home of
Jairus, the leader of the synagogue.
He told him, "Your daughter is
dead. There's no use troubling the Teacher now."
50 But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid. Just trust me, and she will be healed."
51 When
they arrived at the house, Jesus wouldn't let anyone go in with him
except Peter, John, James, and the little girl's father and mother.
52 The house was filled with people weeping and wailing, but he said,
"Stop the weeping! She isn't dead; she's only asleep."
53 But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died.
54 Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, "My child, get up!"
55 And at that moment her life returned, and she immediately stood up!
Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.
56 Her
parents were overwhelmed, but Jesus insisted that they not tell anyone
what had happened.
How many of us are like Jairus?
We have something precious, something so important in our life that is dead - something that seems to have no hope.
And what did Jesus say to Jairus when the servants came with the news that the little girl was dead?
"Don't be afraid - just trust Me..."
That's what Jesus says to each of us that has something precious in our lives that is dead.
"Don't be afraid - just trust Me..."
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Monday, October 6, 2014
useless
So,my brothers & sisters,
be strong & steady,
always enthusiastic about the Lord's work,
for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
1 Corinthians 15:58
..NOTHING you do for the Lord is ever useless.
..nothing YOU do for the Lord is ever useless.
..nothing you DO for the Lord is ever useless.
..nothing you do FOR THE LORD is ever useless.
..nothing you do for the Lord is EVER useless.
..nothing you do for the Lord is ever USELESS.
...nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
Now think about that...
NOTHING we ever do for the Lord is insignificant to God's overarching plan for humankind.
Whatever we DO for Him has some sort of impact.
And if what we are & what we do is focused on what the Lord would have us do, that action means something to Him & what He's up to.
And our actions are of consequence, no matter how slight, short lived, or seemingly unimportant.
But that's hard for us to swallow, isn't it?
Because a lot of us don't feel significant, do we.
We just feel like a face in the crowd - someone whose coming & passing will be acknowledged by very few.
We don't believe what we are & what we do means all that much - I mean, we are all that talented, or compelling, or strong.
But that's NOT what Paul is saying here.
Anything we do for the Lord means something.
Iow, if we're connected to the Lord, whatever He tells us to do fits into the big picture.
So, if what we do is significant, then we must be significant to the Lord.
And our significance is created by the world or what it thinks about us - because most of the time, the world will downplay, or denigrate, who we are as persons & what we do.
But that's not how it is in our connection with God - He's the one who determines our identity.
When we are connected to the Lord, we have meaning, because what we do means something to Him.
Think about that today...
I know I will.
be strong & steady,
always enthusiastic about the Lord's work,
for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
1 Corinthians 15:58
..NOTHING you do for the Lord is ever useless.
..nothing YOU do for the Lord is ever useless.
..nothing you DO for the Lord is ever useless.
..nothing you do FOR THE LORD is ever useless.
..nothing you do for the Lord is EVER useless.
..nothing you do for the Lord is ever USELESS.
...nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
Now think about that...
NOTHING we ever do for the Lord is insignificant to God's overarching plan for humankind.
Whatever we DO for Him has some sort of impact.
And if what we are & what we do is focused on what the Lord would have us do, that action means something to Him & what He's up to.
And our actions are of consequence, no matter how slight, short lived, or seemingly unimportant.
But that's hard for us to swallow, isn't it?
Because a lot of us don't feel significant, do we.
We just feel like a face in the crowd - someone whose coming & passing will be acknowledged by very few.
We don't believe what we are & what we do means all that much - I mean, we are all that talented, or compelling, or strong.
But that's NOT what Paul is saying here.
Anything we do for the Lord means something.
Iow, if we're connected to the Lord, whatever He tells us to do fits into the big picture.
So, if what we do is significant, then we must be significant to the Lord.
And our significance is created by the world or what it thinks about us - because most of the time, the world will downplay, or denigrate, who we are as persons & what we do.
But that's not how it is in our connection with God - He's the one who determines our identity.
When we are connected to the Lord, we have meaning, because what we do means something to Him.
Think about that today...
I know I will.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
enemies
Ok, how to we square this in our lives in the type of world we live in today.
Jesus is pretty straightforward.
Nothing subtle is what He says.
Like I said, how do we live our lives in our world today & follow what Jesus says?
Luke 6
27 "But to you who are willing to listen, I say...
love your enemies!
Do good to those who hate you.
28 Bless those who curse you.
Pray for those who hurt you.
29 If someone slaps you on one cheek,
offer the other cheek also.
If someone demands your coat,
offer your shirt also.
30 Give to anyone who asks;
and when things are taken away from you,
don't try to get them back.
31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you.
32 "If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that?
Even sinners love those who love them!
33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit?
Even sinners do that much!
34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit?
Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.
35 "Love your enemies!
Do good to them.
Lend to them without expecting to be repaid.
Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High,
for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.
36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.
37 "Do not judge others,
and you will not be judged.
Do not condemn others,
or it will all come back against you.
Forgive others,
and you will be forgiven.
38 Give,
and you will receive.
Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap.
The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.
Jesus is pretty straightforward.
Nothing subtle is what He says.
Like I said, how do we live our lives in our world today & follow what Jesus says?
Luke 6
27 "But to you who are willing to listen, I say...
love your enemies!
Do good to those who hate you.
28 Bless those who curse you.
Pray for those who hurt you.
29 If someone slaps you on one cheek,
offer the other cheek also.
If someone demands your coat,
offer your shirt also.
30 Give to anyone who asks;
and when things are taken away from you,
don't try to get them back.
31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you.
32 "If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that?
Even sinners love those who love them!
33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit?
Even sinners do that much!
34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit?
Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.
35 "Love your enemies!
Do good to them.
Lend to them without expecting to be repaid.
Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High,
for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.
36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.
37 "Do not judge others,
and you will not be judged.
Do not condemn others,
or it will all come back against you.
Forgive others,
and you will be forgiven.
38 Give,
and you will receive.
Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap.
The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.
Saturday, October 4, 2014
keep on
There's a half sheet of paper I carry in my Bible. On it is something
I read one morning during a very difficult season in my life.
It is interesting to me that since I've been reading the Bible EVERY day, without fail (almost 12 years now) that moments like this happen quite often. So many times what I'm supposed to read has something that speaks to where I'm at.
You may think it's coincidental, or I could be just reading into something from my own situation that may not really be there - I don't think so - it's happened hundreds & hundreds of times.
Here's what I read that day, & what my Life Application Bible said in the footnotes.
It might be something that speaks to someone else today that needs to hear it as much or more than I did that day.
Hebrews 6
10 For God is not unjust.
He will not forget how hard you have worked for Him
and how you have shown your love for Him by caring for other believers,
as you still do.
11 Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts,
in order to make certain what you hope for will come true.
And here's what my Life Application Bible had in the footnotes for those verses for that day...
It's easy to get discouraged, thinking God has forgotten us.
But God is never unjust - He never forgets or overlooks our hard work for Him.
Presently you may not be receiving rewards or acclaim,
but God knows your efforts of love & ministry.
Let God's love for you & His intimate knowledge of your service for Him bolster you as you face disappointment & rejection here on earth.
Those verses & that footnote was like a lifeline for me that day when I really did feel like I was drowning in disappointment & rejection.
Maybe you are too.
You need to know that a couple of years later, the things that I had been hoping for really did come true, in a BIG way, & I spent one of the most halcyon seasons of my life.
It is interesting to me that since I've been reading the Bible EVERY day, without fail (almost 12 years now) that moments like this happen quite often. So many times what I'm supposed to read has something that speaks to where I'm at.
You may think it's coincidental, or I could be just reading into something from my own situation that may not really be there - I don't think so - it's happened hundreds & hundreds of times.
Here's what I read that day, & what my Life Application Bible said in the footnotes.
It might be something that speaks to someone else today that needs to hear it as much or more than I did that day.
Hebrews 6
10 For God is not unjust.
He will not forget how hard you have worked for Him
and how you have shown your love for Him by caring for other believers,
as you still do.
11 Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts,
in order to make certain what you hope for will come true.
And here's what my Life Application Bible had in the footnotes for those verses for that day...
It's easy to get discouraged, thinking God has forgotten us.
But God is never unjust - He never forgets or overlooks our hard work for Him.
Presently you may not be receiving rewards or acclaim,
but God knows your efforts of love & ministry.
Let God's love for you & His intimate knowledge of your service for Him bolster you as you face disappointment & rejection here on earth.
Those verses & that footnote was like a lifeline for me that day when I really did feel like I was drowning in disappointment & rejection.
Maybe you are too.
You need to know that a couple of years later, the things that I had been hoping for really did come true, in a BIG way, & I spent one of the most halcyon seasons of my life.
Friday, October 3, 2014
gifts & parts
Read all of this passage written by Paul about how the Holy Spirit
works through us & how each one of us is an important & integral
part of the whole picture of God's work among us.
We all may feel insignificant at times, or all the time. But Paul says here that we all have some part of the big picture that we can be & do.
Read this slowly & try to absorb what Paul is trying to say here...
1 Corinthians 12
1 Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us.
I don't want you to misunderstand this.
2 You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols.
3 So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus,
and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts,
but the same Spirit is the source of them all.
5 There are different kinds of service,
but we serve the same Lord.
6 God works in different ways,
but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.
7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice;
to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.
9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another,
and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing.
10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles,
and another the ability to prophesy.
He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit.
Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages,
while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.
11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts.
He alone decides which gift each person should have.
12 The human body has many parts,
but the many parts make up one whole body.
So it is with the body of Christ.
13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free.
But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
14 Yes, the body has many different parts,
not just one part.
15 If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," that does not make it any less a part of the body.
16 And if the ear says, "I am not part of the body because I am not an eye," would that make it any less a part of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear?
Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.
19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part!
20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body.
21 The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you."
The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you."
22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.
23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care.
So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen,
24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care.
So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity.
25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other.
26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it,
and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
27 All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it.
28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church:
first are apostles,
second are prophets,
third are teachers,
then those who do miracles,
those who have the gift of healing,
those who can help others,
those who have the gift of leadership,
those who speak in unknown languages.
29 Are we all apostles?
Are we all prophets?
Are we all teachers?
Do we all have the power to do miracles?
30 Do we all have the gift of healing?
Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages?
Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages?
Of course not!
31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.
We all may feel insignificant at times, or all the time. But Paul says here that we all have some part of the big picture that we can be & do.
Read this slowly & try to absorb what Paul is trying to say here...
1 Corinthians 12
1 Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us.
I don't want you to misunderstand this.
2 You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols.
3 So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus,
and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts,
but the same Spirit is the source of them all.
5 There are different kinds of service,
but we serve the same Lord.
6 God works in different ways,
but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.
7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice;
to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.
9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another,
and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing.
10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles,
and another the ability to prophesy.
He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit.
Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages,
while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.
11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts.
He alone decides which gift each person should have.
12 The human body has many parts,
but the many parts make up one whole body.
So it is with the body of Christ.
13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free.
But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
14 Yes, the body has many different parts,
not just one part.
15 If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," that does not make it any less a part of the body.
16 And if the ear says, "I am not part of the body because I am not an eye," would that make it any less a part of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear?
Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.
19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part!
20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body.
21 The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you."
The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you."
22 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.
23 And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care.
So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen,
24 while the more honorable parts do not require this special care.
So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity.
25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other.
26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it,
and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
27 All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it.
28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church:
first are apostles,
second are prophets,
third are teachers,
then those who do miracles,
those who have the gift of healing,
those who can help others,
those who have the gift of leadership,
those who speak in unknown languages.
29 Are we all apostles?
Are we all prophets?
Are we all teachers?
Do we all have the power to do miracles?
30 Do we all have the gift of healing?
Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages?
Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages?
Of course not!
31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
wicked vs godly
Wicked is not a term we use much when describing people.
(Unless we're talking about the Broadway musical! ;-) LOL)
Dictionary.com defines wicked as: evil or morally bad in principle or practice; sinful; iniquitous
(Iniquitous? Ooooooo... that's a kool word!)
So, in this psalm, the writer juxtaposes what happens to those who are wicked & those who are godly.
I've underlined the verses that have stood out to me through the times I've read it.
(Unless we're talking about the Broadway musical! ;-) LOL)
Dictionary.com defines wicked as: evil or morally bad in principle or practice; sinful; iniquitous
(Iniquitous? Ooooooo... that's a kool word!)
So, in this psalm, the writer juxtaposes what happens to those who are wicked & those who are godly.
I've underlined the verses that have stood out to me through the times I've read it.
Psalm 37
1 Don't worry about the wicked
or envy those who do wrong.
2 For like grass, they soon fade away.
Like spring flowers, they soon wither.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
4 Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you your heart's desires.
5 Commit everything you do to the LORD.
Trust him, and he will help you.
6 He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
7 Be still in the presence of the LORD,
and wait patiently for him to act.
(dan note: I would freely translate this part of the verse as "shut up & wait." ;-) LOL)
Don't worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.
8 Stop being angry!
Turn from your rage!
Do not envy others—
it only leads to harm.
9 For the wicked will be destroyed,
but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land.
10 Soon the wicked will disappear.
Though you look for them, they will be gone.
11 The lowly will possess the land
and will live in peace and prosperity.
12 The wicked plot against the godly;
they snarl at them in defiance.
13 But the Lord just laughs,
for he sees their day of judgment coming.
14 The wicked draw their swords
and string their bows
to kill the poor and the oppressed,
to slaughter those who do right.
15 But their swords will stab their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
16 It is better to be godly and have little
than to be evil and rich.
17 For the strength of the wicked will be shattered,
but the LORD takes care of the godly.
18 Day by day the LORD takes care of the innocent,
and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever.
19 They will not be disgraced in hard times;
even in famine they will have more than enough.
20 But the wicked will die.
The LORD's enemies are like flowers in a field—
they will disappear like smoke.
21 The wicked borrow and never repay,
but the godly are generous givers.
22 Those the LORD blesses will possess the land,
but those he curses will die.
23 The LORD directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
24 Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the LORD holds them by the hand.
25 Once I was young, and now I am old.
Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned
or their children begging for bread.
26 The godly always give generous loans to others,
and their children are a blessing.
27 Turn from evil and do good,
and you will live in the land forever.
28 For the LORD loves justice,
and he will never abandon the godly.
He will keep them safe forever,
but the children of the wicked will die.
29 The godly will possess the land
and will live there forever.
30 The godly offer good counsel;
they teach right from wrong.
31 They have made God's law their own,
so they will never slip from his path.
32 The wicked wait in ambush for the godly,
looking for an excuse to kill them.
33 But the LORD will not let the wicked succeed
or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.
34 Don't be impatient for the Lord to act.
Travel steadily along his path.
He will honor you by giving you the land.
You will see the wicked destroyed.
35 I have seen wicked and ruthless people
flourishing like a tree in its native soil.
36 But when I looked again, they were gone!
Though I searched for them, I could not find them!
37 Look at those who are honest and good,
for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.
38 But the rebellious will be destroyed;
they have no future.
39 The LORD rescues the godly;
he is their fortress in times of trouble.
40 The LORD helps them,
rescuing them from the wicked.
He saves them,
and they find shelter in him.
1 Don't worry about the wicked
or envy those who do wrong.
2 For like grass, they soon fade away.
Like spring flowers, they soon wither.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
4 Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you your heart's desires.
5 Commit everything you do to the LORD.
Trust him, and he will help you.
6 He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
7 Be still in the presence of the LORD,
and wait patiently for him to act.
(dan note: I would freely translate this part of the verse as "shut up & wait." ;-) LOL)
Don't worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.
8 Stop being angry!
Turn from your rage!
Do not envy others—
it only leads to harm.
9 For the wicked will be destroyed,
but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land.
10 Soon the wicked will disappear.
Though you look for them, they will be gone.
11 The lowly will possess the land
and will live in peace and prosperity.
12 The wicked plot against the godly;
they snarl at them in defiance.
13 But the Lord just laughs,
for he sees their day of judgment coming.
14 The wicked draw their swords
and string their bows
to kill the poor and the oppressed,
to slaughter those who do right.
15 But their swords will stab their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
16 It is better to be godly and have little
than to be evil and rich.
17 For the strength of the wicked will be shattered,
but the LORD takes care of the godly.
18 Day by day the LORD takes care of the innocent,
and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever.
19 They will not be disgraced in hard times;
even in famine they will have more than enough.
20 But the wicked will die.
The LORD's enemies are like flowers in a field—
they will disappear like smoke.
21 The wicked borrow and never repay,
but the godly are generous givers.
22 Those the LORD blesses will possess the land,
but those he curses will die.
23 The LORD directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
24 Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the LORD holds them by the hand.
25 Once I was young, and now I am old.
Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned
or their children begging for bread.
26 The godly always give generous loans to others,
and their children are a blessing.
27 Turn from evil and do good,
and you will live in the land forever.
28 For the LORD loves justice,
and he will never abandon the godly.
He will keep them safe forever,
but the children of the wicked will die.
29 The godly will possess the land
and will live there forever.
30 The godly offer good counsel;
they teach right from wrong.
31 They have made God's law their own,
so they will never slip from his path.
32 The wicked wait in ambush for the godly,
looking for an excuse to kill them.
33 But the LORD will not let the wicked succeed
or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.
34 Don't be impatient for the Lord to act.
Travel steadily along his path.
He will honor you by giving you the land.
You will see the wicked destroyed.
35 I have seen wicked and ruthless people
flourishing like a tree in its native soil.
36 But when I looked again, they were gone!
Though I searched for them, I could not find them!
37 Look at those who are honest and good,
for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.
38 But the rebellious will be destroyed;
they have no future.
39 The LORD rescues the godly;
he is their fortress in times of trouble.
40 The LORD helps them,
rescuing them from the wicked.
He saves them,
and they find shelter in him.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
the devil made me do it
Remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different
from what others experience.
And God is faithful.
He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it.
When you are tempted, He will show you a way out,
so that you will not give in to it.
1 Corinthians 10:13
Hmmmm... well I guess that pokes some serious holes in the excuse we all have said when facing a temptation...
"I just couldn't help myself."
So Paul is saying here that whatever the sin is we feel tempted to do, it's not something so unique.
And, we ain't so special - others have faced the same sin countless times down through the millennia.
Add too that this face we ALL ignore...
God is so in tune with every second of our lives & what's going on that He will not allow the temptation to become so strong that we are overwhelmed by it.
Now think about that - chew on that - REALLY consider that...
God's NOT gonna let ANY sin we're tempted to become so strong that it has more power over us
than the force of our own will
& sustaining power of the Holy Spirit.
AND, God will show us a way out of it.
He'll give us an escape opportunity.
Hmmmm...
Now, I struggle with sin & sins, just like you.
I know, you think I'm so ever-lovin' holy...
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!
Now, we all know better than THAT!!!
(Just keepin' real here...)
Anyway, for some reason, God hits me over the head with this verse on a right regular basis.
Usually when I'm trying to get forgiveness for something I've thought or done.
And sometimes He whacks me up the side of the head with this verse when I've managed to resist some temptation.
Bottom line here?
We have no excuses - ever.
We don't have a leg to stand on.
We CHOOSE to sin,
because God has given us a way out.
Chew on that today.
And God is faithful.
He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it.
When you are tempted, He will show you a way out,
so that you will not give in to it.
1 Corinthians 10:13
Hmmmm... well I guess that pokes some serious holes in the excuse we all have said when facing a temptation...
"I just couldn't help myself."
So Paul is saying here that whatever the sin is we feel tempted to do, it's not something so unique.
And, we ain't so special - others have faced the same sin countless times down through the millennia.
Add too that this face we ALL ignore...
God is so in tune with every second of our lives & what's going on that He will not allow the temptation to become so strong that we are overwhelmed by it.
Now think about that - chew on that - REALLY consider that...
God's NOT gonna let ANY sin we're tempted to become so strong that it has more power over us
than the force of our own will
& sustaining power of the Holy Spirit.
AND, God will show us a way out of it.
He'll give us an escape opportunity.
Hmmmm...
Now, I struggle with sin & sins, just like you.
I know, you think I'm so ever-lovin' holy...
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!
Now, we all know better than THAT!!!
(Just keepin' real here...)
Anyway, for some reason, God hits me over the head with this verse on a right regular basis.
Usually when I'm trying to get forgiveness for something I've thought or done.
And sometimes He whacks me up the side of the head with this verse when I've managed to resist some temptation.
Bottom line here?
We have no excuses - ever.
We don't have a leg to stand on.
We CHOOSE to sin,
because God has given us a way out.
Chew on that today.
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