January 8th 2023
Worrying Will Not Help You Solve Anything!
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
Do you, like me; need to lose a few pounds, and hope/pray/resolve to watch what you are eating in this just started year? Every follower of Jesus should ask themselves why they have overdone a good thing by eating too much! Can we blame it on the society in which we live? Of course, we supposedly believe that we live in this world, but we as Jesus followers are not supposed to identify ourselves as being a part of this world. Is that not our everyday battle to live here, but to actually not become a true part of it! Are you really different than the people you know who do not profess Jesus as their Savior?
Some of us have inherited genes that make being overweight a good possibility, but then, if we know it there is usually a way out, if we constantly try to control what we eat. Enough about this one area of control, as some reading this do not have this particular problem. The point here is that most of us think about such things to make resolutions about, and these are worldly things or situations. Did you resolve to work on your relationship with Jesus in this coming year? Now making such a resolution would actually be the kind of thought process that would separate you from the worldly thought process!
In the selected verses we read, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” Do you really believe that statement? Do you believe you have a right to do what you want to do? Do you ascribe to adages such as, “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas?” In other words, as long as no one is hurt by your actions, then there is no harm! If you cheat on a test or on someone who loves you, it is okay, if you do not get caught. Paul wrote, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” Paul was of course writing about people who have accepted the perfect sacrifice that Jesus made for them, and thus, taken Him into their lives, as their personal Savior. Was your soul purchased by Jesus sacrifice?
Is Jesus offended when you cheat? Is cheating a sin, even when you were not caught in it? Yes, it is true we inherited a sinful nature, when Adam committed that first sin! This sinful nature was passed along to us by our father in this lifetime, but then that is why we need a Savior, because we cannot save ourselves! Yes, Adam's one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. (Romans 5:18, NLT) This verse sets the pattern for your life, after you have entered into a relationship with Jesus. Christ's one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. You were purchased by the blood Jesus shed for your sins!
We all have a free will, which God has allowed when Jesus created Adam. We can live by this world’s standards, if we chose to, but not after we have accepted the Salvation offered by Jesus’ sacrifice! Yes, Jesus is offended by our sinful action, even if we were not caught by some human worldly standard! God knows everything you do, and He is either offered by your sin, or glorified by your good deeds! Today, will your actions in this world offer glory to God, or will Jesus be offended by your actions? Will you use your free will card to do what pleases you, or will you remember that Jesus offers you another way, and endeavor to stay on that narrow path that leads to Him?
Okay, now for the good news about being a follower of Jesus Christ. Even if you do fail to stay on the right road, the sacrifice Jesus made for YOUR sins, covers over the sin(s) you have committed, because of your sinful nature, and the fact that you are leading a worldly life! The writer of Hebrews amplifies this covering over of our sins, and allowing us, though sinners we are still acceptable as servants of Jesus. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Hebrews 9:14)
So you can see that we need not be hard on ourselves for these worldly failures we commit, but to learn from them, and try to work on becoming more Christ-like. We always have opportunities to improve our walk with Christ, and we need not dwell on our failures. This is a fact, but it does not alleviate our need to work on our personal relationship with Jesus. Working on this relationship should not be drudgery, but instead a joy! Come on, look at the facts, we cannot lose! This does not mean we should be happy without making a true effort to improve our walk with Jesus.
Paul wrote about this stranger than life situation in which we all find ourselves in 1 Corinthians. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. (1 Corinthians 15:22, NLT) We all will eventually die and leave this lifetime, but all of us who have accepted Jesus’ perfect sacrifice for our sins, will continue to live with Jesus, and be in a better place. This place will offer a new dimension, which is called eternity! Notice the comment above that we, “will continue to live with Jesus” this is based on the belief that Jesus will always be with us, starting immediately after we accepted Him as our personal Savior! That sounds like a win-win situation to me!
John wrote the words of assurance from Jesus, for all of Jesus followers to base their lives. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:1-3) You are already prepared for this wonderful trip, and ready to be escorted to heaven by Jesus? Please believe it; you joined the winning team, when you accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior!
Take heart, if your resolutions are to work on becoming a better follower of Jesus, then even if your resolve weakens, you will still win in the very long run! However, do not expect the day-to-day situations to become easier, except that you should believe that Jesus will always be with you, even when you are suffering. It is difficult to not be worldly, but it is not impossible, because you follow the only man who ever lived who did it perfectly!
Thank you, Jesus!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
Do you, like me; need to lose a few pounds, and hope/pray/resolve to watch what you are eating in this just started year? Every follower of Jesus should ask themselves why they have overdone a good thing by eating too much! Can we blame it on the society in which we live? Of course, we supposedly believe that we live in this world, but we as Jesus followers are not supposed to identify ourselves as being a part of this world. Is that not our everyday battle to live here, but to actually not become a true part of it! Are you really different than the people you know who do not profess Jesus as their Savior?
Some of us have inherited genes that make being overweight a good possibility, but then, if we know it there is usually a way out, if we constantly try to control what we eat. Enough about this one area of control, as some reading this do not have this particular problem. The point here is that most of us think about such things to make resolutions about, and these are worldly things or situations. Did you resolve to work on your relationship with Jesus in this coming year? Now making such a resolution would actually be the kind of thought process that would separate you from the worldly thought process!
In the selected verses we read, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” Do you really believe that statement? Do you believe you have a right to do what you want to do? Do you ascribe to adages such as, “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas?” In other words, as long as no one is hurt by your actions, then there is no harm! If you cheat on a test or on someone who loves you, it is okay, if you do not get caught. Paul wrote, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” Paul was of course writing about people who have accepted the perfect sacrifice that Jesus made for them, and thus, taken Him into their lives, as their personal Savior. Was your soul purchased by Jesus sacrifice?
Is Jesus offended when you cheat? Is cheating a sin, even when you were not caught in it? Yes, it is true we inherited a sinful nature, when Adam committed that first sin! This sinful nature was passed along to us by our father in this lifetime, but then that is why we need a Savior, because we cannot save ourselves! Yes, Adam's one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. (Romans 5:18, NLT) This verse sets the pattern for your life, after you have entered into a relationship with Jesus. Christ's one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. You were purchased by the blood Jesus shed for your sins!
We all have a free will, which God has allowed when Jesus created Adam. We can live by this world’s standards, if we chose to, but not after we have accepted the Salvation offered by Jesus’ sacrifice! Yes, Jesus is offended by our sinful action, even if we were not caught by some human worldly standard! God knows everything you do, and He is either offered by your sin, or glorified by your good deeds! Today, will your actions in this world offer glory to God, or will Jesus be offended by your actions? Will you use your free will card to do what pleases you, or will you remember that Jesus offers you another way, and endeavor to stay on that narrow path that leads to Him?
Okay, now for the good news about being a follower of Jesus Christ. Even if you do fail to stay on the right road, the sacrifice Jesus made for YOUR sins, covers over the sin(s) you have committed, because of your sinful nature, and the fact that you are leading a worldly life! The writer of Hebrews amplifies this covering over of our sins, and allowing us, though sinners we are still acceptable as servants of Jesus. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Hebrews 9:14)
So you can see that we need not be hard on ourselves for these worldly failures we commit, but to learn from them, and try to work on becoming more Christ-like. We always have opportunities to improve our walk with Christ, and we need not dwell on our failures. This is a fact, but it does not alleviate our need to work on our personal relationship with Jesus. Working on this relationship should not be drudgery, but instead a joy! Come on, look at the facts, we cannot lose! This does not mean we should be happy without making a true effort to improve our walk with Jesus.
Paul wrote about this stranger than life situation in which we all find ourselves in 1 Corinthians. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. (1 Corinthians 15:22, NLT) We all will eventually die and leave this lifetime, but all of us who have accepted Jesus’ perfect sacrifice for our sins, will continue to live with Jesus, and be in a better place. This place will offer a new dimension, which is called eternity! Notice the comment above that we, “will continue to live with Jesus” this is based on the belief that Jesus will always be with us, starting immediately after we accepted Him as our personal Savior! That sounds like a win-win situation to me!
John wrote the words of assurance from Jesus, for all of Jesus followers to base their lives. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:1-3) You are already prepared for this wonderful trip, and ready to be escorted to heaven by Jesus? Please believe it; you joined the winning team, when you accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior!
Take heart, if your resolutions are to work on becoming a better follower of Jesus, then even if your resolve weakens, you will still win in the very long run! However, do not expect the day-to-day situations to become easier, except that you should believe that Jesus will always be with you, even when you are suffering. It is difficult to not be worldly, but it is not impossible, because you follow the only man who ever lived who did it perfectly!
Thank you, Jesus!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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