October 27 2013
Sorry for being late, we were on vacation last week!
Do You Plan To Walk With Jesus Every Day?
2 Timothy 1:8b-10 (NIV)
Join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
The opening line from Paul does not seem like a good ad campaign for adding new followers. This kind of invitation would not influence many people to want to join in the suffering. It seems many times this is the way we present Christianity to those who are not already followers of Christ. Sometimes we point out the things good Christians cannot do instead of telling about the "free stuff!" The second part of Paul’s message tells us that we will be able to accomplish great feats of goodness, because of the grace from God. This gift of grace was made available for us before the beginning of time; it does not stem from anything we can do! We know this is true because Jesus came as our Savior. The main requirement is for us to believe that He did actually come for that purpose!
When you were (or will be) “born again” you must decide what will guide your life! The Holy Spirit is (or will be) available for guidance, however, He will only control whatever you grant permission for His control. He will never take control of any part of your life, until you relinquish control of it to Him. This may be what Paul is writing about when he says to “pray continually.” Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 16-18)
In the dark you must know where things are to find them. In life you must believe God really is there–else you will not feel His presence! If you accept the Bible for what it is, God's inspired, inerrant word representing Absolute Truth, and our final authority in all matters, you are then in position to know how to walk with God. However, we must learn to walk just as we learned to walk when we were babies in this new life! The big difference is that we never really learn the total process of walking with God, as we did learning to walk from one place to another in this life.
Many people get fatigued trying to learn to walk with God, because their perspective on it is wrong. They look at it as a chore, and that it requires them to give up stuff! When in fact, it does not remove anything that will truly make us happy, long term, but it adds a tremendous amount of stuff that will make us happier during this lifetime! It can result in the peace that surpasses all understanding. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4: 6-7 (NLT))
Did you get that, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything?” Can you grasp being able to turn over everything that troubles you to God, which frees you up to become more peaceful while still in this lifetime. You do not need to wait to die to get peace! Many reading this may think I’m exaggerating the point here, and you are correct, but many of us “choose” to worry about situations of which we believe we have little or no control! Do you do this? Why? Turn such things over to God through prayer! Start each day in prayer, and believe God will handle the problems for you. Rely on God for your daily agenda not your own! This does not relieve you of planning; it just puts you in more of a trusting mode.
Does this mean everything will go well for you every day? No! Remember in this life there are temptations that will cause us to have difficulty staying in a good, or should I say God, mood! Jesus told us He is willing to share our burdens, and that He will share our trouble by allowing us to share a yoke with Him. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11: 28-30) Sharing a yoke allows Jesus to help us with our problems. To do this we must first know how to walk with Him. Are you trying to walk with Jesus more and more every day?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Do You Plan To Walk With Jesus Every Day?
2 Timothy 1:8b-10 (NIV)
Join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
The opening line from Paul does not seem like a good ad campaign for adding new followers. This kind of invitation would not influence many people to want to join in the suffering. It seems many times this is the way we present Christianity to those who are not already followers of Christ. Sometimes we point out the things good Christians cannot do instead of telling about the "free stuff!" The second part of Paul’s message tells us that we will be able to accomplish great feats of goodness, because of the grace from God. This gift of grace was made available for us before the beginning of time; it does not stem from anything we can do! We know this is true because Jesus came as our Savior. The main requirement is for us to believe that He did actually come for that purpose!
When you were (or will be) “born again” you must decide what will guide your life! The Holy Spirit is (or will be) available for guidance, however, He will only control whatever you grant permission for His control. He will never take control of any part of your life, until you relinquish control of it to Him. This may be what Paul is writing about when he says to “pray continually.” Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 16-18)
In the dark you must know where things are to find them. In life you must believe God really is there–else you will not feel His presence! If you accept the Bible for what it is, God's inspired, inerrant word representing Absolute Truth, and our final authority in all matters, you are then in position to know how to walk with God. However, we must learn to walk just as we learned to walk when we were babies in this new life! The big difference is that we never really learn the total process of walking with God, as we did learning to walk from one place to another in this life.
Many people get fatigued trying to learn to walk with God, because their perspective on it is wrong. They look at it as a chore, and that it requires them to give up stuff! When in fact, it does not remove anything that will truly make us happy, long term, but it adds a tremendous amount of stuff that will make us happier during this lifetime! It can result in the peace that surpasses all understanding. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4: 6-7 (NLT))
Did you get that, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything?” Can you grasp being able to turn over everything that troubles you to God, which frees you up to become more peaceful while still in this lifetime. You do not need to wait to die to get peace! Many reading this may think I’m exaggerating the point here, and you are correct, but many of us “choose” to worry about situations of which we believe we have little or no control! Do you do this? Why? Turn such things over to God through prayer! Start each day in prayer, and believe God will handle the problems for you. Rely on God for your daily agenda not your own! This does not relieve you of planning; it just puts you in more of a trusting mode.
Does this mean everything will go well for you every day? No! Remember in this life there are temptations that will cause us to have difficulty staying in a good, or should I say God, mood! Jesus told us He is willing to share our burdens, and that He will share our trouble by allowing us to share a yoke with Him. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11: 28-30) Sharing a yoke allows Jesus to help us with our problems. To do this we must first know how to walk with Him. Are you trying to walk with Jesus more and more every day?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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