September 25th 2016
At The Present Time There Is A Remnant Chosen By Grace!
Romans 11:5-6 (NIV)
So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
It seems God has always worked with a remnant, that is, a partial group of His people who actually believe He is who He says he is. Are you striving to be a part of such a remnant today? When Paul wrote a letter to the church in Rome, he wrote, “So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.” In some parts of this world today, we will see people leaving the Christian faith, and in other worldly regions there is growth! In my world, the USA, it seems many people have a difficult time in assessing where they stand in believing that there is a God, who wishes a personal relationship with them. Do you believe that the God of the Bible really wishes to have a personal relationship with you?
Confusion over why there is death and suffering in this world, causes many people to reject that God is really seeking a personal relationship with them. The current generation has been misled about this world, and why there is death and suffering, and thus, they cannot accept that the God of the Bible is a loving God. Many of us have been taught that evolution created mankind, and therefore, we are just another animal, and thus, not looked upon by God as anything special. How could you possibly accept this idea, if you believe that Jesus came into this world as a member of mankind, and then offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice, which covers our sinful nature, so that we appear to God the Father as being like Jesus?
John wrote about how the Spirit of Jesus wants to indwell the soul of everyone who claims the grace offered by this perfect sacrifice. If/when you claim Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit is available to indwell your soul and offer you guidance in all areas of your life, even to assist you in prayer, so you can talk to God on a personal basis! If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. (1John 4:15-17)
Many people in this country today seem to think that discipline is unnecessary and that complying with the laws of the land causes them to be discriminated against. A general disrespect for those in authority and against the laws of the land is seen in the fact that most people ignore the speed limit laws. You may say this is a minor thing but in actuality we see hundreds of people killed on our highways each year. I sight this still somewhat of a minor thing to make the point that discipline is the basis of complying with any law, and perceiving the laws as positive attempts to protect us from danger. My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights (Proverbs 3:11-12). Proper discipline is directed to help us comply with people who are in charge, because they have our safety in mind. Of course, since all people are sinners, then there are those who abuse their authority!
If everyone would take on the love Jesus offers this world would be a better place, but even then it would not be prefect, because sinners would still be the in-charge people. If you are looking for perfection on this earth, then you will be dissatisfied with the results you will witness. It is a shame that there is a distrust between people who just look different than each other. Such distrust sometimes results in formation of a hatred. It would be wonderful if we could all take on the love of people that Jesus showed when He walked this earth as a member of mankind. Paul tried to capture such feelings in the letter he wrote to the church in Rome. Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. (Romans 12:9-10, NLT)
Do you try to take delight in honoring others, as Paul wrote? Paul wrote to about trusting in Jesus/God who is or should be our source of hope. I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13, NLT) Can you overflow with hope in this world of compromise and distrust? John wrote that God is Love! Love then does come as a natural ability, as God created all of us members of mankind!
Therefore, if you are trying to do the will of God in your life, there must be a loving attitude toward other people, even toward those you do not really like! So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. (Hebrews 10:35-36) Try to emulate God, as He does good things even for those who hate Him and do evil! But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:44-45) God does not discriminate, God is Love!
Are you really a son or daughter of God? Jesus once said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21) If you claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ, then you (we) should be trying our best to do as Jesus did when He walked this earth, and be a disciple “who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” If we do not speak up when some of God’s children are being mistreated for any reason, then maybe the stones will speak for you (us)! Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." (Luke 19:39-40)
Maybe the crying you hear is not the stones, but it is a cry for help from our brothers and sisters whom God created too, and whom He loves! All of mankind shares in one blood! Jesus shed His blood for all of mankind!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Romans 11:5-6 (NIV)
So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
It seems God has always worked with a remnant, that is, a partial group of His people who actually believe He is who He says he is. Are you striving to be a part of such a remnant today? When Paul wrote a letter to the church in Rome, he wrote, “So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.” In some parts of this world today, we will see people leaving the Christian faith, and in other worldly regions there is growth! In my world, the USA, it seems many people have a difficult time in assessing where they stand in believing that there is a God, who wishes a personal relationship with them. Do you believe that the God of the Bible really wishes to have a personal relationship with you?
Confusion over why there is death and suffering in this world, causes many people to reject that God is really seeking a personal relationship with them. The current generation has been misled about this world, and why there is death and suffering, and thus, they cannot accept that the God of the Bible is a loving God. Many of us have been taught that evolution created mankind, and therefore, we are just another animal, and thus, not looked upon by God as anything special. How could you possibly accept this idea, if you believe that Jesus came into this world as a member of mankind, and then offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice, which covers our sinful nature, so that we appear to God the Father as being like Jesus?
John wrote about how the Spirit of Jesus wants to indwell the soul of everyone who claims the grace offered by this perfect sacrifice. If/when you claim Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit is available to indwell your soul and offer you guidance in all areas of your life, even to assist you in prayer, so you can talk to God on a personal basis! If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. (1John 4:15-17)
Many people in this country today seem to think that discipline is unnecessary and that complying with the laws of the land causes them to be discriminated against. A general disrespect for those in authority and against the laws of the land is seen in the fact that most people ignore the speed limit laws. You may say this is a minor thing but in actuality we see hundreds of people killed on our highways each year. I sight this still somewhat of a minor thing to make the point that discipline is the basis of complying with any law, and perceiving the laws as positive attempts to protect us from danger. My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights (Proverbs 3:11-12). Proper discipline is directed to help us comply with people who are in charge, because they have our safety in mind. Of course, since all people are sinners, then there are those who abuse their authority!
If everyone would take on the love Jesus offers this world would be a better place, but even then it would not be prefect, because sinners would still be the in-charge people. If you are looking for perfection on this earth, then you will be dissatisfied with the results you will witness. It is a shame that there is a distrust between people who just look different than each other. Such distrust sometimes results in formation of a hatred. It would be wonderful if we could all take on the love of people that Jesus showed when He walked this earth as a member of mankind. Paul tried to capture such feelings in the letter he wrote to the church in Rome. Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. (Romans 12:9-10, NLT)
Do you try to take delight in honoring others, as Paul wrote? Paul wrote to about trusting in Jesus/God who is or should be our source of hope. I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13, NLT) Can you overflow with hope in this world of compromise and distrust? John wrote that God is Love! Love then does come as a natural ability, as God created all of us members of mankind!
Therefore, if you are trying to do the will of God in your life, there must be a loving attitude toward other people, even toward those you do not really like! So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. (Hebrews 10:35-36) Try to emulate God, as He does good things even for those who hate Him and do evil! But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:44-45) God does not discriminate, God is Love!
Are you really a son or daughter of God? Jesus once said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21) If you claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ, then you (we) should be trying our best to do as Jesus did when He walked this earth, and be a disciple “who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” If we do not speak up when some of God’s children are being mistreated for any reason, then maybe the stones will speak for you (us)! Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." (Luke 19:39-40)
Maybe the crying you hear is not the stones, but it is a cry for help from our brothers and sisters whom God created too, and whom He loves! All of mankind shares in one blood! Jesus shed His blood for all of mankind!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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